Thursday 1 July 2010

Summer Clothes For Men - african american, dashiki


These shirts were beautiful and very comfortable. Not the best quality but what I expected. I wanted the largest size available and the title indicated they fit up to 74 inch. I ordered a King 4 but received a smaller size. But it fit him and he never knew the difference. But sizing is confusing and could be better. Over all very pleased with the shirt. Would love more choices of african clothes for the large guys. King-Sized Traditional Print Unisex Dashiki Top - 5 Sizes up to a 74 Inch Chest - Available in Several Colors, 1X, Orange

I love the tunic length - can wear it with some leggings and boots (could almost wear it as a dress - I'm 5'2"). It's light-weight cotton, so a turtleneck in winter or camisole at other times is needed underneath. Got the red one - bright and beautiful, with detail on both sides. - Dashiki - Peasant Top - African American - Peasant Blouse'


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Bandsaw


Read a lot of reviews on this saw and others before buying and I feel I made the right decision with this one. Wasn't that hard to set up only took about an hour. Made a few practice cuts on some scrap wood and everything seems to be in good working order. This is a really good saw for the price and I do recommend. As for these so call pro's that put this little saw down well I have to ask, if your so damn good at woodworking why are you buying something so cheap, makes one wonder. Skil 3385-02 120-Volt 9-Inch Band Saw

Took me about 5 hours to adjust and align everything because the instructions were so vague, but once I got it together it fired right up. Make sure you tighten everything down good or it will rattle bad. Wood cuts perfect, and it's runs shockingly quiet, however when cutting metal (I tried brass tubing), it ran extremely loud and the cut was far from straight. Couldn't see a difference in the speeds, and it doesn't say which is fast or slow.



Pros:

-Mostly cast and machined metal body and parts

-Runs quietly with wood

-Light weight

-Can be bolted down to work surface

-Table guide and backboard included

-Laser is dead on accurate

-Comes assembled except for table (easily bolts on, set up took 10 minutes)



Cons:

-Cheap red plastic cover (works though)

-Light is horrible

-Takes awhile to set up and align the blade and wheels

-Vague instructions



For the money it's a great option for small wooden and aluminum projects, but I would suggest a different blade for metal work.

I bought this model from a home improvement store a few months back. It simply isn't powerful enough to really be effective. I snapped the blade that came with it going through a 1/4 piece of ebony. Replaced the blade with another, and am finding that getting through a 2x4 is a challenge, as the machine bogs down each time I begin to feed in work.If you do have one of these saws, be very particular about the blade tension you run. Just be sure to adjust the slip angle of the upper wheel each time you make a change.

I purchased this saw on amazon and it arrived as expected. Setting it up was easy, the laser took a little work to get it aligned, but the cherry I pushed through it cut ok. After about 3 months, the saw died while I was cutting a cedar board. I am done with Skil, and buying reconditioned anything...

OK,I'll admit, this is an inexpensive product, so my expectations shouldn't be high. And they aren't.



There really isn't much good about this thing. Setting it up was a pain. I was trying to get the blade to stay in the middle of the wheels when I unscrewed the top knob too much. Clunk, the top wheel dropped off and for 2 hours I had to try to put the spring, a nut, and the bolt back together behing a 1/2 inch gap. Idiots! Don't know why they don't have a cotter pin or something to keep that from happening.



The fence and surface area are worthless. It moves so much, you ignore it.



I bought a new blade because the factory one sucked. the new blade is skinny, and it turns out is even harder to keep in the center.



The mouth is very narrow, so if you want to work on larger pieces or "mill", forget it. Motor's too weak too.



In short, this unit is a real headache. Sure, it's less expensive, but you'll regret it unless you're cutting butter for your croissants.

Bought this to primarily cut steel in the 1/8-3/16" range, because nothing I read anywhere gave any indication it couldn't.

It can't.

It bogs down on 3/16" brass. I did find, buried in the manual, one line to the effect "do not attempt to cut ferrous metals with this bandsaw".... Not even a disclaimer on the company website.

I make knives as a hobby, so I use this for cutting pins and scale material. It'll cut brass bolsters if I'm patient. I DO REGRET buying this unit. I wish I'd taken the ~$100 and added another ~$120 to it and gotten a decent floor stand unit.

The laser doesn't align, the thing won't cut straight, and the motor is so weak, I'm tempted to drill a hole in the cover so I can push the reset button without having to open the cover.



Caveat Emptor....'


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Photo Paper - canon, photo paper pro


This photo paper is pretty good. I have no real complaint. The only negative thing I can think of is that for half the price you can get "Canon's Photo Paper Plus Glossy II" without any noticeable difference in quality. I bought both and printed the same images using both the Pro Platinum and Plus Glossy II and saw no noticeable difference. So because of that, I deducted one star. Canon Photo Paper Pro Platinum, 4 x 6 Inches, 100 Sheets (2768B015)

For comparison purposes, I have compared the Canon Photo Paper Platinum to Canon Photo Paper Plus Glossy II, 4 x 6 Inches, 100 Sheets (2311B023) that came with my printer (Canon PIXMA MP990 Wireless Inkjet Photo All-In-One Printer (3749B002)).



For a casual photographer or hobbyist, I don't believe there is a real valid difference in the paper quality itself. In terms of the way the paper feels, the Pro Platinum feels like a heavier stock, only slightly and only because I had the two types of paper in my hands at the same time. If I didn't, I never would have been able to tell a difference. Comparing the brightness of the two, the Pro Platinum is ever so slightly brighter than the Plus Glossy II.



Where the Pro Platinum has the edge, however, is archival ability. Using the Pro Platinum with Canon ink will, supposedly, last for up to 200 years if stored in an archival photo album. I still haven't found the statistics for the Glossy II paper, but the previous generation of paper the Glossy II replaced was tested to last up to 25 years in an archival album. If you're not printing to have family heirloom style photos and don't care if it doesn't last for more than a couple years, obviously you won't waste money on the Pro Platinum.



Comparing the same photo from the same original and the same printer between the two paper types, there is a slight perception of brightness/vividness in the photos on the Pro Platinum. I did a blind test with some family members whom all preferred the Pro Platinum, but generally only just barely. Few could discern a huge difference in the two. Color representation more closely matched the original colors on my calibrated monitor, but only slightly better than the Glossy II.



From this paper I have seen some amazing print productions that are without a doubt professional in quality. But I've seen similar results from the Glossy II and since I'm not an artist or professional, my eye may not be as trained as a pro and as such if you're just a hobbyist, be aware that this paper looks great, but so does the Glossy II.



However, given the beefier stock of the Pro Platinum, and the brighter white, I will most likely be sticking with the Pro Platinum for the prints I want vivid color and more accurate color representation from. With Amazon's current price for 100 sheets (about $.16 compared to $.10 for Glossy II), this is a great deal, but for some the difference may not even be worth the $.06.



Personally I will continue to buy the Pro Platinum paper until Amazon raises the price as for me an extra $.10 per sheet isn't worth it. Yes, it's only $.10 but with how much I print, it will definitely pay in the long run.

This paper is far, far superior to the other glossy papers out there.



The color rendition is superb, as is the out-of-the-box contrast and brightness.



It makes you want to toss your stock of older glossy papers.



Can't recommend it enough.

I have a Canon MP980 and the photo paper is of good quality. It is hard to tell the difference when using high quality photo paper and generic, but you can feel the difference and some photos do turn out much better.

I'll never go to a photo lab again. Printing on this paper produces nice sharp colorful glossy images. I'm using this paper with a Canon Pixma Pro9000 MkII printer and the results are much better than any glossy prints ordered from a photo lab. The blacks are super-black, and the colors are vibrant. I've also ordered the 19x13 and 8x10 Pro Platinum paper and the quality is very consistent. I haven't used this paper with any other printers yet, but I can tell you that if you have a decent quality printer, you will love printing to this paper.

I bought this paper based on the reviews I read here. I was curious as to whether or not I would get the same awesome results since I was not using the expensive high end printer model that many of the other reviewers were using but I still needed to make some high quality prints. I'm happy to say that my results were seemingly just as spectacular.



I'm printing on aHP Deskjet 6940 Color Printer (C8970A#B1H) and using the HP inks recommended for this printer. I set up my printer to print on HP Premium luster paper and the results were amazing. The prints look like I took them to a photo lab and had them done professionally.



This paper also has a really nice weight and feels like professional photo paper. I did not have any trouble with finger prints as some reviewers mentioned and I handled the paper (trimming it on a paper cutter) immediately after removing it from the printer. This may be due to the fact that I'm using a cheaper (and therefore more quickly drying) inkjet printer ink.



I have not tried the other canon photo paper, so I cannot say how this compares but I can say that you will get excellent results with this paper. Well worth the extra cost if you need a quality print suitable for framing. - Canon - Photo Paper Pro - Canon Photo Paper'


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Thickness Planer


I purchased this planer because mechanically, it is the same as a Grizzly model I had for five years with good success. Amazon had this Rockwell model for the same price as a new Grizzly, and shipping was free from amazon vs. almost $50 from Grizzly.



The planer arrived with the box almost completely destroyed. Upon initial inspection, everything was ok. As I assembled the stand though, I found that parts were missing. Amazon was less than helpfull when I called to inquire on the missing parts. I was told to send it back (not feasable without packaging), or buy the parts out of my pocket from the manufacturer and recieve reimbursement from Amazon. Basically, it was now my problem. Thanks.



So, I called Rockwell, and discovered they are generally unfamiliar with the products they sell. I was told by the rep that Rockwell is only a distributor, not a manufacturer, so who knows who made this tool, Rockwell is only a name. Rockwell did agree to send the missing parts, but after more than a month, they still have not arrived, and based on the cluelessness of the rep, I'll be amazed if the right pieces actually arrive.



After using the planer, I have also discovered that the infeed and outfeed rollers are warped, creating waves in the finished boards. I'll be more inclined to try to remedy this by my own means, after the stand problems.



If I had another chance, I would pony up a couple hundred more for the Makita Planer, and purchase it locally. I'm not satisfied with any part of this purchase, and will be hesitant to buy any more tools from Amazon- major fail.



UPDATE: Finally, fed up with poor performance and still missing parts, I wrote Amazon, received return authorization, and returned this unit. The return took about 10 days from the time I wrote until I had my refund. Amazon is off the hook, thank you for backing up the product you sold, but I still wouldn't recomend buying this unit because of below average quality, poor packaging, and poor customer service by Rockwell. Rockwell RK9010 12-1/2-Inch Thickness Planer

Nice Planer for the money, my old one died and i tried this one would have give 5 stars but the instructions was very poorly done and you do have to put it together but works real well have done 500 BF of mixed hardwood with it and leaves nice finish'


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Affordable Watch - armitron, geneva


I love it! It has a leather strap with a buckle so it's easy to get on and off (the clasp on my fancy gold watch is often hard to un-do). I have a large wrist but the strap is more than long enough. It does have a second hand. And the face is very easy to read. Like I said, I love it! Coleman Women's 40506 Analog Casual Sport Watch

I bought one of these watches a couple years ago and it's going strong. The band is wearing out and I decided I wanted a second one in case they stopped making them. Love the watch and it's comfortable to wear. - Armitron - Geneva - Blind Side - Sport Watch'


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Creative Photography - exposure, photography book


Understanding exposure third edition. Although it could be called understanding your camera



This is a fairly complete overhaul of the second edition. It covers all of the things covered in the second edition and additionally Author Bryan Peterson covers HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography.



One of the sections I enjoyed the most is Peterson's photographic triangle. aperture, shutter speed and iso. All three are of equal importance in the photo tough I sometimes forget about the effects of different iso's so this section brought that to life for me. Some of the other subjects that were interesting to me was his explanation of white balance and how it's over rated "It's my opinion that, next to the histogram, the white balance is one of the most overrated controls on the digital camera". Another section I liked was one entitled "The sky brothers" Here Peterson talks about difficult light and contracts situations that meters have difficulty with. Peterson moves the light meeter to one area or another to get a reading that's not so effected by bad light or contrast including the always difficult photos of snow.



Peterson also covers in detail all of the camera settings and discussed the advantages of one setting over another, aperture priority versus shutter priority etc. One of the things he covers in detail is the usage of automatic settings and how they can hinder photographic creativity. Including Exposure Peterson covers all aspects of photography, lighting, DOF, sports settings, portrait settings, landscape, night and low light photography. Paterson does a great job of describing who each of the settings work together and effect each other.



Peterson really encourages the reader to think outside of the box (or view finder) to understand and use all of the creative features of the camera and your imagination.



The book is a good mix of photos and descriptive writing that gives the reader the camera setting information but the thought process in deciding what settings to use.



Peterson's writing style while describing the subject matter and the settings used on the camera really bring the reader into the idea behind the photo.





The appeal of this book is really for the novice to intermediate photographer. I can't think of any one subject about photography that Peterson doesn't present and explanation about.



Beautiful photography, nice writing style, detailed but concise explanations makes this one a keeper. If you like the second edition you'll find the third edition invaluable. Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera

This third edition of "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson is brilliant! In the first 30 pages, I've gotten more information on how to use my camera settings to take creative photographs than the dozens of books I've read, or all the courses and seminars I've taken. And all for less than $20!



Some reviews have suggested that this book is only for the very basic beginner. I beg to differ. I have been counseled by and shadowed many professionals who've been in the industry a number of years, (never mind all the money spent on books, videos, seminars, clinics and courses). After spending any time with the pros, I was always certain that the only way to get the best photos was to get a bigger bank account to be able to purchase the best, most up-to-date gadgets, special lights, expensive strobes (in multiples), and super expensive/fancy lenses. Oh... let's not forget the assistants that you'll also have to hire to hold some of the gadgets. And yet, most of their photos looked so homogenized and truly a product of all the photographic "stuff" rather than the camera. I kept thinking that maybe I was just not getting it. I was almost convinced that obviously, all the creative photos are just good quality, basic photos which have been processed, and re-processed in one or more editing software programs such as Photoshop (another one of the "must have" gadgets). NO!! Bryan Peterson explains how to really use the camera to get that creative shot. After all, capturing a photo, is really nothing more than capturing and manipulating light. He makes it simple enough for the beginner to understand, and yet, without being condescending, can teach (or remind) the pros of the all-too-frequently overlooked simplicity of how to use only the camera, considering ISO, aperture and shutter speed to work in harmony to get a 'one of a kind' photo.



One of the statements I have heard all too often from professional photographers is that the on-camera flash is useless. Interestingly, I have found it to be a godsend in many photographic situations, and then get accalades from the same professionals about the quality of the lighting. Hmmm... Anyway, Bryan Peterson shares information on what I've already discovered; the on-camera flash is another great tool that already comes with your camera.



I will, in all fairness, confess that I have a DSLR, so I can't deny or confirm the book's subtitle of "how to shoot great photographs with any camera" and how it relates to the 'point and shoot' cameras.

Having both run a photo business and been a high school teacher (both science and photography), I tutor a lot of beginners in photography and I have been looking for a book to recommend to them. Although this book is not organized the way I would prefer, it is reasonably good and will help the beginning photographer learn some of the fundamentals. It's biggest faults are in the author's distain for any use of the histogram, saying nothing about computer processing (which is the second half of the photographer's task - just like learning the darkroom years ago), and giving such slight coverage to such topics as flash fill. I am also disturbed that the book is of only two components: words and photographs. He has ignored the usefulness of diagrams which can be such important learning tools. One example: a diagram of a series of lens apertures, labeled with f/stops below them would be such an efficient way to get the idea across. Instead he uses words, which can easily be misinterpreted.



It is OK for beginners, but I'll keep looking for something better. - Photography Book - Digital Photography - Creative Photography - Exposure'


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120hz


I did a lot of research before deciding on this Samsung. I paired it with Google TV (using Logitech Revue), and NOW everything works like a charm, but neither the three salesmen I spoke with at Best Buy, nor the installers from Best Buy, nor any of the previous reviews I read informed me that you can't access the Internet with this TV UNLESS you also buy the Samsung LAN Adapter. Not a big deal (it's about $80), but that would have been nice to know before I spent several hours wondering why my Internet-accessible TV was not accessing the Internet. Samsung LN40D550 40-Inch 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV (Black)

I purchased this TV for an elderly family member who's 2 year old 42" Dynex took a dump.



The Samsung is much more aesthetically pleasing and the picture quality is definitely more crisp and clear than her old Dynex.



The TV is extremely easy to set up...all you need is a #2 philips screwdriver and maybe an additional person to lift the TV and place it on the base.



For 2011, Samsung redesigned the remote control and the buttons are much easier to use (compared to the 2010 models). The remote is extremely long and odd shaped, but it fits comfortably in my hand.



Menu options are plentiful which makes the customization process a breeze. Samsung's definitely have the most options from what I have seen.



All in all, this is a nice TV and should be more than sufficient for what it is being used for.

I have purchased this TV for $629 at Wallmart, so I did not have high expectation, though I did chose Samsung, because I generally like their displays.



I am really impressed by the quality of this product. Everything is great. There are lots of options to tweak, the colors are amazing, the sound is very, very good for this quite thin TV, there are lots of input (4 hdmi, 2 USB, 2 components, etc...), have nice energy saving options, and even 480i looks much nicer than on other LCDs I have tested. I honestly did not expect this for $629.



The only possible issues are:

1) The black becomes dark blue if viewed from the angle. This is common problem for LCDs, and I think that as LCD TV goes, it is very minor effect (it is very even dark blue background, noticeable when you view TV at around 30 degree of axis), but some other TVs (like plasma or projection TVs) do not have it by design.

2) While piano black design is very nice to look at, if you have source of light behind you, you will see some reflection from the edge of the screen, which may be a bit destructing. True, though, if you watch TV, you should not have sources of light behind you anyway, still, this may be a small factor on your choice of the TV.

3) This is 60Hz model, so, for fast moving images this is not the best TV (consider 120Hz ones, but it costs $$)



That's it! The negatives did not cost a star, so 5 stars for TV this price.

The rest are all positives! Samsung really does it quite well with this TV.'


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Responsibility Chart - dry erase boards, to do list


This magnetic dry erase board is perfect for reminding children & parents which chores are whose to do daily.



I have 2 ADD/ADHD children and I am ADD, I am great at forgetting to double check the chores are done for each child before they are in bed asleep.



NOW I have one board for each of us (mom included) to remind us to do certain things daily/weekly. Instead of writing the chores in the provided space I used a label maker and it is nice and neatly typed and I do not have to re-write them weekly.



Chores include simple reminders to brush teeth and take AM/PM ADD medicine and as each one is completed the person using the board simply places a magnet on the space provided for the day and time.



Instead of using multiple magnets, we simply use one for each chore and slide it over to the next day slot as it is completed the next day.



Although it comes with magnets for attaching to the fridge, I choose to use industrial STRENGTH Velcro and have attached them to my children's bedroom doors, easily visible by me and them to keep us all reminded what needs to be done.



As the editor for BellaOnline's Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) website this has proven to be one of the BEST organizational ideas I have mastered. After all, out of sight equals out of mind and this provides a very VISUAL aid in reminding everyone to hop to it! Have a blessed day! Board Dudes Magnetic Dry Erase Rewards Chore Chart (11020-4)

I originally purchased two of these boards, one for each child, but realized there is space to have both children's chores outlined. I added extra lines by dividing the wide lines in half with a permanent marker. This board completely serves it's purpose: plenty of magnetic stars in different colors (90), bright child-friendly colors, ability to add my own chores, and seems to be good quality.

We have been having trouble getting our 3 1/2 year old daughter to complete her getting dressed and getting ready for bed routines. I bought this and our daughter took to it immediately. There are eight spaces so I wrote in four steps in her morning routine and four steps in her bedtime routine. She loves completing the steps then getting her stars. If she gets all her stars, at the end of the week she gets a small toy or a fun outing.



I only have one complaint which is the reason I gave four stars instead of five - the magnets are covered with paper that has the stars on it. Many of the paper parts came apart from the magnets. I know I can just glue them back on, but like I have the time to glue little pieces of paper on to little magnets - NOT!

I am using one per child due to the chores and daily reminders that my oldest has. But it's great for my two kids to see on a daily basis what is expected to help them plan their free time. And because it's erasable, I can add or subtract reminders, leave messages, etc.

For 10 bucks you can't go wrong. It comes with a lot of magnetic stars to add whatever you write with the dry erase marker. We're using it as a "Rewards" chart for the kids and are loving how the kids are responding to it. We added a Nintendo flair so that if they do all 8 things for the day [eat a veggie, don't talk back, brush teeth, etc] they get a super star for the day. Super stars then can be traded in for prizes [silly bands, small toys] or used for family things like "pick dinner" or "special lunch with mom or dad".

My 6 year old is excited about doing chores now! The design is cute and practical.



The magnets come on a sheet and need to be punched out. It's very difficult to do this without tearing them or separating the magnet from the printed paper top.

My daughter is very excited about doing her chores now. She is 4 years old, so we were able to put chores and activities customized for her level rather than other charts that have pre-typed ones to choose from. She loves putting her star on the chart when something is completed and insists on completely all her chores on her own to get a start. We included chores like getting herself dressed, praticing her letters, and cleaning up her toys.

I was disappointed to find I did not get the exact board I ordered. The specific reward chores at the bottom of the board are different than the ones pictured, that I really needed; clothes, making the bed, brushing teeth, animal care. Instead I got a board with homework, a closet full of stuff, brushing teeth, and a different animal care picture, which I think is supposed to mean feeding fish. I got the board specifically for an older person with specific needs, and this board renders the entire bottom of it practically useless. Plenty of magnets, but they are really cheap and fall off the board very easily.

This has been an excellent motivation tool for both of my kids (ages 4 and 8). They really enjoy earning their stars and receiving rewards and it has helped with getting them to take responsibility for themselves. It has helped Mom and Dad too because we no longer have to nag them as much to get things done, creating a less stressful and more positive environment for all. When they do not do something, they realize it was their decision and they understand the consequence a little more. The only down side is that the magnets do not stick well and the dry erase marker rubs off too easily, but all in all, it gets the job done.

I purchased this for my 7 year old daughter to keep track of what chores she has daily. I like that you can make your own chores using the white board but it also comes with magnets to show if the chore was done that day. My daughter loves it and feels involved with her responsibilites which seemed to motivate her to do them. - Kids Jobs - To Do List - Dry Erase Boards - Responsibility Chart'


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