Guy Low Price Electronic: 16 Jul 2010

Friday 16 July 2010

Marathon Training - marathon, kindle

I like the authors' practical approach to being a Fit Mom. The book includes suggestions for fitting workouts into family life as well as tips for handling spouses who may or may not support your athletic endeavors. I like the Mom2Mom sections where real moms 'fess up to some of the crazy things they've done in the name of post-natal exercise. (anyone else used your baby as a dumbell?)

The authors acknowledge the fact that some advice is just tired. "Work out while the baby sleeps" assumes that your baby will always sleep! Instead, the book offers suggestions for exercising with the baby and guilt-free motivation for leaving baby at home while you run, bike, swim etc. Hot (Sweaty) Mamas: Five Secrets to Life as a Fit Mom

It gets 5 stars for getting me off the couch and training for my first 5 k! Anyone who knows me can tell you what an incredible feat that is. It's perfect for those of us who, in our minivans or mom-mobiles, drive by those joggers in their matching outfits and spandex and feel intimidated.

This is an incredible book; inspiring and entertaining without being pushy and judgmental.

As a (previously) non exercising mother I liked how it read. At some points it almost felt like they were in my living room talking about my piles of laundry stacking up and my kids running around. At one point they compared squeezing exercise into your day to squeezing that last box of waffles into the freezer after doing groceries. Who can't relate to that?

It encourages you to " treat your body as well as you treat your kids" .

It's a good, easy read and has some great advice.

The mom to mom quotes also gives you a sense of camaraderie. Ladies, we are not in this alone!!!!

Hot (Sweaty) Mamas is a fantastic and encouraging book for mothers of young children who are trying to stay fit or want to get fit. I love the funny and inspiring "mom 2 mom" quotes from mothers throughout the US. Hot (Sweaty) Mamas is very motivating and a great read that I have suggested to all my friends.

LOVE, love this book. I'm returning to fitness after using parenthood as an excuse for 7 years now. This book? Did it for me. And I read anything and everything I can get my hands on. Most books about being a mom and juggling things don't delve deep enough to address fitness; and most books on fitness don't address the unique needs of a mom. This book is a practical approach that is helpful for ANY mom at ANY fitness level to figure out how to fit (haha - pun intended) fitness in her life. What really resonated with me was the section on finding the time - the authors label it as, "take it, make it, share it, or snare it." It's an awesome way to think about how to organize your time and fit it in. I used this logic just a few days ago and actually completed a run when my day was really challenging and normally I would have given up. Highly recommend this book, no matter where you are on your fitness journey.

This book is not just for women. I found it informative, funny, entertaining and insightful. I love the Mom2Mom quotes as well as Kara and Laurie's personal examples. The appendix is loaded with great lists and resources, along with a fitness challenge, priority inventory, and a great "sweat decision tree" which lets you know when it's okay to miss a workout or when you'd better suck it up and sweat.

As a running dad of 2 girls I tend to exercise early in the morning before they're awake. This book has made me realize it's okay for them to see me exercise and it's okay for me to involve them with my exercise routine.

I read about this book in Parenting magazine and immediately picked it up. Easy to read. Funny. Inspiring. My daughter is only 7 months old, but this book has taught me how to incorporate my healthy lifestyle with her needy lifestyle. I look forward to hearing the authors speak at this year's marathon expo in St. Paul, MN!

As a first time mom trying to maintain my fitness, I found this book extremely useful! It is filled with tips on how to fit fitness into motherhood; a "work out" does not have to be a run, it can be push-ups while playing with my baby on the floor or squats while changing a diaper. It also reminded me that being fit is part of being a good mom; I want to be able to keep up with my daughter! This book is a must read! - Female Fitness - Kindle - Fitness - Marathon'

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Baby Clothing

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I love this purchase! My son had head surgery so I was looking for onsies that didn't need to be pulled over the head. This was not only perfect because it's cute (and the doctors and nurses loved it), but it comes with a hat (which I needed) and cute booties which are wonderful for babies since they are easy on/off. It's the perfect combination of an outfit for what I needed. Plus the quality is great; very well made and has held up well over several washings.

Great item! And, now I can use it for Halloween!! Baby Aspen "Big Dreamzzz" Baby M.D. Two-Piece Layette Set in "Doctor's Bag" Gift Box, Green

Gave this Baby Aspen product to my daughter at her baby shower. Her baby is now here. She put this item on when he was less than 1 day old in the hospital. She had his first professional picture taken in the outfit. It was so cute! After the picture taking was over, I held him. He seemed quite content in the outfit and went to sleep and slept for a long time. My husband checked on his diaper twice and that was really easy to do with the snaps. I high recommend Baby Aspen and this outfit to anyone who wants a cute baby item. The scrubs color is also pretty unique in baby outfits for boys.

Seems like sturdy and comfortable material, quality product with a cute design. My mother-in-law is a nurse, so I can't wait to dress up our newborn when she arrives to introduce her to my husband's family. Also predict the doctors & nurses at the hospital will coo with delight as well. :)

I was happy with the quality of this outfit, which I ordered in size 0-6 months. Unfortunately, by the time my baby was three months old, he had outgrown the hat and the rest of the outfit was quite tight. He was big, though - 17 lbs at that point with a rather large head (97%), so it probably would be a good fit for most babies in that age range.'

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Kindle Devices - ebook, e-reader

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I wanted phillips head screws for applying deck boards to my dock. The advertisement stated these screws could be used on all outdoor projects including docks. When I received the screws the box had a statement that these screws should not ne used on docks. Fortunately Amazon allowed me to return them. Grip-Rite PTN212S1 2-1/2-Inch 8 Coarse Thread Exterior Screw with Bugle Head, 1-Pound - Kindle Devices - E-reader - Screw - Ebook'

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Computer Accessories

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For many years I have used a portable vacuum to clean out my customer's computers when I make house calls. I now have replaced that vacuum and only use the Metro DataVac Electric Duster.

This nifty electric duster is basically one of Metro's powerful vacuum motors enclosed in a small can. It comes with many attachments and outputs a very powerful and consistent stream of air. Unlike expensive air cans which become cold and loose their power after a few minutes of use, the Electric Duster blows hard as long as you need it to.

Some of the cons to using this instead of a vacuum is the fact you will need to take the PC outside to blow it out otherwise dust will go everywhere (you will not believe how much dust comes out of some of them, easily 10 times more than a normal compressed air can would blow out). It runs on standard 120v AC so you will need to have a plug available within range of the (ample) 15ft or so foot cord. If you use it continuously for more than 5 minutes or so the air and can becomes very hot but not so hot that it will burn you or cause problems for the PC. It is also VERY loud, louder than most Vacuums.

The positives vs vacuuming the PC, or using a standard compressed air can, outweigh the negatives. The risk of accidentally damaging a component or creating a static discharge when using a vacuum is higher (although I have never had this happen). A vacuum will do a good job at cleaning the PC, but the force of the air stream from the Electric Duster is very powerful and reaches cracks and crevasses to blow out dust in places I didn't even knew existed! Versus compressed air, aside from the massive savings, you also have no problem turning the Electric Duster upside down or at any angle to position it - compressed air cans will blow ice out if you turn them upside down. The Electric Duster is also much smaller and easier to carry around than my portable vacuum. Finally, the Electric Duster is environmentally friendly compared to compressed air cans or even Vacuums which you have to throw away the bags etc.

While the Electric Duster is a bit pricey, for those of you who buy a lot of compressed air this is a must have replacement.

EDIT: Almost a year later this blower is still working strong! The complaints about the black nozzle shooting off seen in other reviews were listened to by Metro and the newer versions have a button/release mechanism. I still stand behind this 5-star review!

EDIT: Two years now, my original blower is still a strong as day one. I now own two more just for convienance, I keep one in the car for on site work, one at the office, the other at home! The price seems to vary greatly, so look around and you may catch it on sale! Metro Vacuum ED500 DataVac 500-Watt, 0.75-HP Electric Duster

This duster is so powerful! Much more power than canned air. I haven't had to to put the micro nozzles on it yet. I'm guessing you use those if you need to cut through metal! But seriuosly, this is the best solution to canned air. I've been wasting money on canned air for nearly 10 years of computer repair, and just recently was going to by a compressor for my tech bench... Until I found this product. For $50 it can't be beat!

The only issue is that the motor gets warm fast (no warmer than a vacuum motor)... But you only run it for a few minutes at a time and it has a 5 year motor warranty. So I'm not concerned.

Highly recommended!

Bought and received this just a few days ago to replace the crazy amount of canned air we have to purchase to keep our machines and printers dust free. It works very well, with a strong flow of air and good length power cord to help you move around. Puts out the same noise as a vacuum so you'll have to be careful no one is on the phone! If your in IT and looking to save costs on canned air, this is the product for you

Pros :

1) No more buying canned airs. This product works.

2) The air blast is "very" powerful. It thoroughly cleans every corner.

Cons :

1) Black nozzle needs to be somehow secured. This is serious and needs to fixed immediately.

I almost shot the nozzle towards my CPU because there's no way to secure it and the air

blast is just too powerful. Now I tape secure the nozzle to prevent accidental shoot out.

They could've just implemented some kind of locking mechanism like a vacuum hose.

2) Very loud and gets hot too quickly.

* Warning : This will blow a whole lot of dust so USE OUTSIDE of the house.

In conclusion, I had to make adjustments but it does the job. Wish there was something better,

but so far the best find for my use.

I bought this for photography use. Unfortunately, when I pressed the button papers flew off my desk as the curtains reeled back while a wild stream of air came blasting out of the nozzle. The motor became hot after a few minutes and the sound was a bit deafening. Wow. Well, can't fault the company for making a wimpy product.

I wrote to customer service through their website to ask them what type of motor it had and if they had any suggestions on how to tone it down. I never received a response.

Before I tossed the duster onto a shelf of seldom used power tools, I discovered I had another seldom used tool - a Variac. This allowed me to vary the AC voltage from 0-110 volts. Combined with this duster, I discovered that around 10-30vac, I had something perfect for photography use. The motor runs cool and quiet and produces a steady stream of clean, filtered air delicate enough for photography equipment and dusting off slides and film.

Admittedly, I wasn't reading reviews when I bought this... I simply needed a computer vacuum, saw the number of favorable reviews for the "Metro Vacuum," saw that the Amazon "frequently bought together" list included the "micro vacuum attachment kit" and "replacement filter bags," and ordered what I thought was... well... a vacuum. I was pretty surprised when I hooked it up and a VERY powerful burst of air shot out of this thing. Perhaps I wouldn't have been so surprised had I not been trying to vacuum glitter from my son's art table. On the bright side, I now know what figurines in a snow globe feel like.

So, for those who -- unlike me -- are responsibly reading product reviews, this is not a vacuum. It's a blower, and it's pretty amazing the magnitude of air coming out of this little can. The attachments fit nicely (the picture doesn't show it, but there's a little ball "push button" that pops into the fitting hole on the attachments), and the concentrated airflow from the 500-watt motor may startle you. The canister is a very sturdy all-steel construction, weighing just under 3 pounds, and made in the USA. The only drawback, besides Amazon calling it a vacuum, is that it does get quite warm after a short duration of operation (< 1 minute). This is to be expected, according to the manufacturer, but the heat usually makes me limit my cleaning time to about 3 minutes, as I worry that continuous operation might damage something (it probably won't, but that's just how I roll).'

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Digital Photography - adobe photoshop, photography

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I am a middle aged woman, almost a senior citizen, who did not work on a personal computer until my 30s and with little graphics software experience. I purchased and downloaded Pixelmator to my Intel Mac. I am running Leopard.

I found the software easy to download and install. No hang ups, no crashes, just download, open and drag the icon to the applications folder found on my Mac.

I then opened Pixelmator. I was in love. The program is so easy to use that I was able to create my own graphics using various pens, brushes, etc. to make my own pictures on my Mac.

I later sized the graphics using Pixelmator. This was easy too as the software allows you to choose between pixel or image size. You can also select constrain to automatically size the graphic proportionally.

You can also open and manipulate graphics using public domain or purchased images. Again, you can colorize or change image size easily with this program.

Highly recommend based on ease of download, ease of installation and ease of use. Pixelmator

I've used extensively Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, and Gimp. They all have their pluses and their minuses. Yes, Photoshop does everything but it is also an enormous systems hog and has a huge learning curve. It also does nothing simply and many times I LIKE taking the easiest course to get from point A to point B.

I devised a test for how well this new program does against the others. I took the image of a lily which I had photographed. I previously had tried to turn it to a pleasing mauve in Elements and failed miserably. I put it into this program and within about twenty minutes I had a gorgeous mauve lily ready to save. I was frankly surprised I had done that well.

Although it has less tools on the toolbar, I discovered by using other features under the menu that I was able to do pretty much anything I wanted to do. Also, it seems that it may have made one tool to do it all rather than making three or four, like Photoshop or Elements does. For example, the clone tool on this program seemed to do everything for me that I use clone tool and all aspects of the healing tool for in Photoshop and Elements. However, I do miss a polygon lasso as this program only has the regular lasso. Both Photoshop and Elements have the polygon lasso. Next, I miss the burn, dodge, and smudge tools, again found in both Adobe programs. On the plus side though, there are filters with controls in this program which go beyond the ones in Photoshop and I am eager to work my way through them. For example, there is a new filter called Bloom that does a wonderful job on enhancing images.

The user interface is absolutely gorgeous, the best ever. I like the way it looks on my macbook screen better than any other image editing program. Everything automatically disappears while I am working on the image too. It all reappears the moment I am ready to proceed. I love that feature! It is so intuitive. Plus the shortcuts you use in the Adobe programs are the same in this program.

I think this program has enormous potential and I especially like that it was designed solely with my OS in mind. I am so tired of products designed primarily for Windows.

This is the first image editing product I've seen that potentially could go the distance against Adobe at least for the non graphic designer market. Only time will tell. This is also a heck of a value for the money. Certainly Adobe would never think of selling this full featured a software for less than thirty dollars! - Photography - Graphics - Adobe Photoshop - Mac'

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Roadtrip Grill - coleman, coleman grill

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My family and friends have been camping together since "04" and every year we accumulate more and more camping gear. This year I bought the Paul Jr. Coleman Roadtrip Grill (which is excellent) because of its compact design and wanted to keep it clean and stored away without damaging it so I bought this carrying case/bag for it and it fits perfectly. All I had to do was remove the grills removable handle and it was a snug and perfect fit. There's no shifting or rattling. The bag has its own handle and wheels for easy accessibility. It also has straps inside to strap everything in place. If you're in a quandary about which carrying case to get for your Paul Jr. Roadtrip Grill this is it. I read other reviews and none mentioned this specific grill so that's why I'm emphasizing it. Hope this review helps you. Coleman Road Trip Accessory Wheeled Carry Case

In addition to providing extra storage for hookup or cooking accessories, the case prevents dust or other particulate matter from getting into the cooking areas (the grill's metal lid closes and fits fine, but it's not airtight, of course) or into the propane connection.

If you're transporting the grill on your car's roof rack, having it in the case makes it easier and safer to bring down off of the roof and hand it to your helper. There won't be a chance of your helper's hand being cut on a sharp edge or of having the metal lid come open when you're moving it. Yes, the grill's metal lid has a latch but if you or a helper forgets to engage the latch or accidentally opens it while moving the grill, disaster will invariably follow. Roof transport also increases the likelihood of road dirt, bugs, or other unwanted items getting into your grill, and being able to avoid a half-hour of cleaning bug debris off of your grill before you can start cooking at your campsite will most likely result in happier campers all 'round.

If the grill is used for car-camping at a remote campsite location, you may not have the facilities available to clean the grill up perfectly after it's used, and you may wish to do a final cleanup at home where it will be easier. The case allows you to pack the grill into your vehicle without the worry of having a part of the grill that you missed cleaning touch something else and cause it to become soiled. With the popularity of compact cars, it's not always easy to pack your camping gear in a manner that precludes any chance of something touching your grill. Having a favorite article of clothing ruined because it brushed against a greasy spot on the grill may cause a frown to risk spoiling an otherwise splendid camping excursion. Similarly, getting a dark grease stain out of your car's carpeting or upholstery may be difficult. This case takes away all such worries and allows you to spend more time enjoying your trip and less time worrying whether you missed a spot while cleaning the grill in the rain as you were packing up your gear.

I like the cover with its inside pockets and the velcro straps and wheels. However, it does not fit all the grills as the description says. The handle sticks out of the case if you have a Road Trip LXE (red grill) so you can not zip it up all the way. I kept the case because it does protect it better than nothing and it does give us a way to store the extra grills, etc.

Bought this for my hubbys road trip grill. The grill fits really well and gives me a warm fuzzy knowing that any grease not cleaned will not end up where it should not (on the camper or the truck). It has handy wheels that make moving it around real easy, and getting it down from the pick up with the built in handles also makes things easier. The extra grates that we have bought for the grill fit in the pockets and storing the grill brush with the grill is another plus. It seems really well constructed and I expect will last us for years to come.

We purchased the Coleman RoadTrip Grill LXE 9949-750 and absolutely love it! Whenever we set it up, people always come around asking questions about it. Even more heads turn when I close the lid and lock it, and with one swift move, the whole grill folds flat. I then slide it into the wheeled carrying case and pop it in the trunk. Awesome. No messy coals or irritating smoke. I soak the grill grates in soapy water when I get home and wipe out some spattered grease. Ready for the next BBQ!

This review is about the carrying case. The case keeps any dirt or grease on the grill from spreading to the trunk of our car. It has handy-dandy exterior pockets for holding extra propane cans or extra accessory stove grates. The wheeled case will also keep your grill from getting scratches and make it easier for two people to lift it into and out of the trunk of a car.

If you decide that you can live without the Wheeled Carry Case, (after all, the RoadTrip Grill has wheels of it's own) be careful when wheeling the grill around. Coleman didn't make the grill lid lock very well and the slightest jar will cause the two interior grill grates to tumble out and onto the ground. Yikes!

I found this wheeled carrying case to be useless for our Coleman Road Trip Grill. We purchased a new Coleman Road Trip Grill, Model No. 9941A (the Blue one) in July. Although the ads say that this carrying case with wheels works on all Coleman Road Trip Grill models, this is simply not true. We could not get the grill to fit in the case with the stand, let alone the two side tables and the tank. This carrying case must only fit the older grills that are red in color and have the older fold-up stand. Coleman was not helpful at all and it took two emails and several weeks before they even acknowledged my questions and concerns. I returned the carrying case as it is of no use to us if we can't get the grill in it. Don't waste your time if you have purchased the blue grill and think it will fit in this case. - Coleman - Coleman Grill - Accessories - Carrying Case'

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Woodworking - woodworking, table saw

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I was a little skeptical buying this saw since there were no customer reviews to read on account of it being so new. I was torn between buying the this and 10 inch Dewalt priced around 320 at home depot. I had previously worked with the Dewalt and it was a decent tool but it seemed that the new Bosch had a lot more features. I have to say I've only been pleasantly surprised so far.

The Bosch is slightly heavier than the Dewalt at 52 pounds but the side handle makes it so easy to carry around that you don't mind. On top of which this saw can store vertically saving a bunch of space. It was perfect out of the box, no adjustment needed and it took me less than 15 minutes to assemble all parts and get a general working idea of how to operate it. The rip fence was a little awkard intially, the release mechanism requires a lot of force to push up and you almost feel like you're breaking something but after a couple of uses it loosened up and felt more natural. The Dewalt rip fence slides more easily because it sits on a movable track but the Bosch is more accurate, toting it's self aligning, and it is, so far. The table can extend to allow for an 18 inch cut, beating out Dewalt's 16 inch max and I love that the Bosch is not completely made out of plastic! This thing can actually take some abuse. But the best part yet though is you can store all attachements underneath the table.

Bosch focused their efforts on creating smart and inituitve design features that really make this saw fun and easy to use. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is that Bosch only offeres a 1 year warranty compared to Dewalt's 3 and the plug is slightly smaller than normal so any tugging on it pulls it quite easily out of the outlet. I have a Bosch palm sander that does the same thing. It's either a design flaw or they intended to prevent tripping on cords. Either way I would definitely recommend this highly portable table saw. It's more expensive than the Dewalt but so worth it. Bosch GTS1031 10-Inch Portable Jobsite Table Saw

I am actually surprised at the negative reviews for this saw. I've had mine for a few weeks now and would have to say that I am very happy with it. The alignments are right on the money and I absolutely love how all the accesories store underneath the saw. It doesn't come with the best miter gauge but, then again, what saw in this price range " does " come with a decent miter gauge? Even the blade that comes with this saw cuts pretty well. I have crosscut and ripped and cut plywood with the included blade and they have all come out with better than expected results, not perfect, but pretty good. I don't think that I could expect more from a $400 saw. It's not comparable to a $5000 cabinet saw but it only costs $400 so that is to be expected. The fence is true, the blade is 90 degrees and if you invest in an aftermarket miter gauge ( like an Incra ) you will have a saw that can give you very accurate results. I love this saw, well worth the money and I bet that it is probably the best made TS in this price range. Way to go Bosch...:).

6/19/2011 update: I just wanted to mention that after having this saw for a few more weeks that it has performed flawlessly. I ripped a 2" thick piece of hard maple a few days ago ( about 3 rips total for the board ) and it chewed that wood up without a hiccup...:). The saw has plenty of power and even with the stock blade you can get real nice rips and crosscuts and the wood has a pretty good finish on it when you're done. Still needs to be jointed but the finish is pretty good. I'll add another update in a few more months. Thanks for reading...:).

What I saw this saw in print and in the Bosch videos, I was extremely anxious to get my hands on one.

I am a contractor and I use a lot of tools daily. I have 3 other table saws...... But the design of this saw is a HUGE improvement over any other portable saw I have seen.

I am used to contractor grade tools, you just open the box and go to work all day without issue. Like said, I have to depend on my tools all day, every day.

In the past, Bosch tools have never let me down. But right out of the box this saw did not feel right, the fit and finish just was not up to where Bosch used to be. Some components were loose that should not have been.

The blade was quite low-end (made in China), not used to seeing that in a "contractor-grade" tool.

The fence was not square to the blade.

Interesting, my old contractor-grade saw is starting to show it's age. The blade elevator sticks and binds. But this new Bosch saws elevator sticks & binds worse and it had not yet been used....

The safety components like the "smart guard system" and the "anti-kickback device" are by far the best designs I have ever seen.

I should note that as well as being an experienced contractor, I was an Engineer for 27 years, so I do know a good design from the rest.

Components were loose like I said, but some were loose even after being tightened up. Clearance holes in detail parts were off, sometimes off a lot.

Bottom line, this saw is by far the best design in a portable table saw that I have ever seen, that says a LOT! But even the best design in the world cannot compensate for the tool being made in China (Taiwan). The quality of manufacturing and assembly is far short of "adequate".

The bean counters ruined this tool. Instead of concentrating on building a quality tool, they squeezed that last penny out of it and sent the manufacturing to China.

This one is definitely being returned.

Nuff said,

D. Merrill

I have been waiting for a quality table saw that was portable in a sense you don't need two people to lift it up onto the tailgate. I am on my second Bosch table saw, 4000 and now the 4100...great saws both of them. I use the saw with the Dewalt rolling stand Dw7440RS... but very heavy to transport...now it will stay in my garage for larger work projects.

I just received my new Bosch GTS1031 and stand. Out of the box the saw is dead on- all alignments, blade is very cheap but who cares, cheap miter gauge but who cares I have a Incra, positive locking fence that is on the money- this I care, this you have to have.

I'm in the home improvement business and the table saw is the tool I use most. Having a one hand carry table saw is hard to pass up. Set up and knock down time is important to me and this Bosch system does it for me. I wish it had some type of out feed support but I not complaining I will figure something out. Build quality is pretty good so I will have to see how it really holds up in the field. The Dewalt portable looks cheaply made so I always passed on it.

I can fit this saw standing up on the back seat floor of my Dodge Ram Quad cab.

Bosch has built this saw with the contractor in mind but will it hold up in everyday use? I will follow up after several months of use. - Table Saw - Portable Table Saw - Woodworking'

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Soap Dishes - stainless steel, suction

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I make my own soap, and a soap dish that allows the soap to dry out between uses is important. This one does the trick beautifully. I have four in my home and plan to get four more, one more for myself and three for my mother's home. The suction cups could be stronger, so I position the soap dish on top of the water tap and attach the suction cups to the mirror. Works great! Interdesign 67902 Soap Dish

I used this soap holder for about 8 years until the plastic in the suction cups got too old. It helps soap to dry out faster so it lasts longer; it probably saved me more money that it was worth. It almost never fell off the wall. I used it in a glass shower and it stuck great, but I could see how it might not stick as well in a tile shower. I'm going to buy another one now.

What a waste of money! I bought this to go in my shower, but the suction cups won't stay! The point of a soap dish is to keep the soap out of the water, not constantly dropping into it. I bought this one over the 3M one because I thought it would match my almond color tub better, but oh well. I'd rather it not match and have it stay than look nice and have it fall off the wall. I also tried it in my kitchen with the same results, fell right off the tile. Cheaply made = poor quality. Save your money.

Things I dislike about this soap holder - you can't put it anywhere you want to in the shower because it hangs downwards once you put the soap in it and it comes off of the wall if you don't keep the suction cups wet. Other than that it does it's job.. - Stainless Steel - Soap Dishes - Suction'

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Sony 1080p Flash Camera - sony 1080p flash camera, camcorder

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Amazon is obviously filled with fake reviews from either fanboys or competing company employes. I bought this camera, and even reviewed it, compared it to other cameras like the Kodak zi8 (search google for "letsfindjesus bloggie" to find videos of my review). The Sony is the best under $200 camcorder on the market. Its auto focus is quick, the colors are rich and accurate, and the mono mic actually sounds good. It has a built in usb plug (which is also used to charge) and pretty good face detection. The still camera (unlike the pocket cams) actually takes decent 5 megapixel photos. It has a playback speaker which is loud enough. The 5X optical zoom is smooth, and the digital zoom is well... a digital zoom. Bottom line, for the price the picture quality and build is mighty good.

There is some negatives, I listed them below, none are deal breaking.. more of a wish list. The biggest feature missing for me is Steady Shot (image stabilization) on the 1080p and 720/60 frame modes. The Kodak zi8 has this, but it looks like crap on 1080p so I guess I would rather not have this feature if the hardware is too slow to process the steady shot. Which is why im guessing Sony didnt include this feature on the higher quality modes.

Pros:

-Very acceptable video quality

-Good sounding mic

-GREAT accurate colors

-5X optical zoom

-for once a decent still camera

-quick zoom

-SD memory card capable and Memory Stick Pro Duo

-Record and upload.. its in a format that just.. Works.

-Mac and PC friendly

Cons:

-Battery lasts a little over an hour (buy an extra!)

-Steady Shot is only on 720P (30 Frames/sec) and VGA

-lens cap instead of hardware lens open/close

-mic is mono (but its not bad)

-no manual focus

-low light (like all low cost camcorders) isnt the best, and the focus is slow/struggles in low light Sony MHS-CM5 bloggie HD Video Camera (Violet)

I bought the CM5 after trying out a couple of other HD camcorders. I just wanted a basic, easy-to-use camcorder that films in 1080p and was easy to upload to YouTube, Facebook, etc. This camera met all those requirements. It is very easy to use, takes great quality video and uploading to YouTube was a snap with the included software. I've never been a BIG fan of Sony's imaging products because they use the Memory sticks but this camcorder will accept either the Memory sticks OR SD cards. It was easy to setup. The camera has software built-in (like the Flip does) but it also comes with a more feature filled version that you can install on your computer. It transfers and uploads easily. The only drawback is that it won't stand up on its own whereas, based on the location of the flip-out USB connection, you would "think" that it should. It has froze a couple of times but not while recording, only when trying to turn it off. I had to pop the battery out and back in and it worked fine again. Certainly not a deal-breaker for me. The mic is good also despite being a mono mic. The camera has an image stabilization feature but it is NOT available at 1080p. That being said, I did not encounter too much shaking (that wasn't my fault) when filming in 1080p. Nice things about this camera vs the Flip (as that is obviously what it's trying to compete with): it films in 1080p/30fps (no Flip does that), it has removable memory (SD or Memory sticks)so you can bring along extra memory, and it has a removable battery (so you can bring along an extra battery without having to recharge it). The view screen is a little hard to see unless it's angled right at you. Other than that, I really like the camera. If you are a non-techie that wants an easy to use camera that films in 1080p, you should get this camera.

I bought this camera as we prepared to go on spring break. We didn't have a whole lot of time to figure things out before we left so we had to learn on the fly.

The good:

Lightweight, easy to use

Good picture quality overall

Color does shift with different light levels though

The bad:

An issue I found was with the image stabilizer. Honestly the images look better with it off. The picture is too jumpy and struggles to frame things up and focus with it on. Seems counter-intuitive but I can't explain it any other way.

The Ugly:

The Sony web site indicates the unit comes with a charger - wrong

In typical Sony style the customer service agent tried to imply to me that the charger was only included if I bought it directly from Sony. The problem is that if you intend to travel and do not have a computer to hook the USB cable up to you are out of luck for charging the battery. After multiple calls to Sony pointing out their website is wrong I finally gave up and called the local Sony Style Store. The manager looked up the website info and agreed that it was wrong. He had me come by the store and gave me the charger needed to charge the battery without a computer. A huge thanks goes out to him, I hope Sony corp customer service can learn something from this.

Amazon buyers please be aware your package will not include a battery charger. It will only have the USB cable to charge the camera.

Overall:

Don't expect quality on par with a $1000+ camera. But as far as this camera goes it's pretty good and a good value

For those of you that think $200 will get you results of a $1500 video camera, you can forget that! For the price, this is an excellent camera. It's small, easy to use, starts up quickly, and takes great video. It does struggle in low light, but most cameras do. The picture looks great on my Sony 1080P TV.

A great feature the camera has is the ability to zoom while recording. Many point and shoot cameras do not allow.

As for it being 1080P. Of course it's not Blue Ray quality 1080P. But the resolution is there. It does have a sharper picture than the 720P Sony DSC-W290.

This camera is worth every penny. And this is coming from someone who installs home theaters for a living.

As for the review about the 1080P complaint. You need to learn that it's more marketing than anything. There is a difference between low cost 1080 sensors and expensive 1080 sensors. Yes it shoots great videos. No it's not as good as a high end $125,000 piece of equipment. And yes you will get better video if you spend $1500.

As for taking still images, it's your average camera phone quality. But that's what the DSLR is for. - Camcorder - 1080 Flash Camcorder - Bloggie - Sony 1080p Flash Camera'

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Financial Independence - simple living, financial independence

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but beware; it's not really a how-to manual. It's the personal and very specific homesteading experiences of the authors. There is some good how-to information but it is not covered in any depth; there are whole books dedicated to topics that "Extreme Simplicity" covers in a page or two. This is the book for you if you are looking for an extensive overview, personal anecdotes and ideas to get you started in your homesteading lifestyle.I only gave it 4 stars because I felt the title was a bit misleading. I purchased the book based on the subtitle "Homesteading in the City". What they really mean is "Homesteading in the Suburbs of a Major City Where You Have a Bit of Land and Own Your Own Home". I was hoping to be able to recommend this book to my apartment bound friends in NYC but if you don't have even a bit of land or you are in a rental, this book won't help much. Still, it's a good read if you are interested in the topic. Kudos to the authors for what they are doing. Extreme Simplicity: Homesteading in the City

This is a timeless and well written book for anyone interested in the idea of living as self sufficient as one can within an urban or suburban area, especially in California.

The authors writing style is a combination of journal and how to genre. From fruits, vegetables, flowers, small livestock, water and unexpected issues like how to protect what you have the authors lay out a cornucopia of facts and think ahead ideas that will help anyone interested in urban homesteading.

Loved reading how they started with a fixer upper home and made it into a home to be proud of and how they took a totally neglected yard and made it into an Eden to be proud of as well as an inspiration to the rest of the neighborhood.

Also nice to read how their efforts also saved open space around them that was a dumping ground for junk but became a safe haven for wild birds etc.

First of all, it's nice to see a book that deals with urban/suburban (rather than rural) homesteading! Some of what the authors suggest is not terribly practical in my region, such as going without air conditioning in the summer (Michigan's humidity can be pretty unbearable), but there are plenty of good suggestions that can be adapted for any climate.

Extreme Simplicity is a look inside the life of Christopher and Deolores Nyerges as they practice simple, sustainable living in urban California.

While not a true "How to" manual, this book is thought provoking and encourages the reader to seek out additional information. The real strength of this book is the quiet yet compelling way the authors strive to value their environment, and live within it. They demonstrate a real respect for their surroundings.

This book is also full of a variety of suggestions to maximize ways a city dweller can live sustainably. Without preaching "do this", but rather through the conversation of the book, the authors discuss ways they maximize their food growing and gathering through the use of open spaces, woods, community garden spaces and the like. They present a full picture of how they provide for themselves by growing their own, gathering food stuffs that others overlook, and taking advantage of space outside their own yard to provide for their needs.

If you are looking for a step by step manual for homsteading in he city, this book is not for you. If you enjoy reading about others who live the lifestyle, and are looking to get ideas from people walking the talk, however, then Extreme Simplicity is a rich edition to your home library.

I thought this fairly well written and reasonably detailed. I have read a variety of money saving books - hints, tips, etc. I liked that this was more structured than many. I am working slowly (radically downsizing shelter / stuff) to achieve the lifestyle described in the book. I recently donated most of the books I owned (a few hundred) but this is in my group to keep ! - Financial Independence - Gardening - Simple Living - Frugality'

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Silverspeckcom - silverspeckcom, black cat

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I bought this as a gift for my mom on Mother's Day. The necklace is beautiful and very elegant looking. I probably wear it more than my mom does because I love it so much!

The only thing I would change about the product is the size. The picture of the necklace is kind of misleading and it looks like it would bigger. I would say the cat is about one inch or so in length. I personally prefer my pendants to be larger, but the piece is just so nice and I can look past that. Sterling Silver Black Diamond Accent Cat Slide Necklace, 18" - Black Diamond - Silverspeckcom - Black Cat - Jewelry'

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Flat Front - 29 inch inseam, pants

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The good: Dockers makes khakis for skinny men, with a good range of inseam lengths. These fit me quite well.

The bad: The sewing and fabric is of a poorer quality than before. It looks as if headquarters figured that they could make money in the recession only if they switched to a lower tier of suppliers, or asked the old suppliers to do it faster, with lower-quality fabric. The cotton is getting fuzzy on my new D1 and D2 Dockers in a way my old Dockers (here next to me) and my LL Beans (ditto) never did, even now. The length of the cotton fibers controls this, and when the company pays more for fabric, they get longer, more stable fibers that don't fuzz or pill. They don't drape as well as they did before, either. They drape like discount-quality pants, which is what they have become, I guess.

The sewing is not as good as before, in every seam. Just doesn't compare. There are stray threads in a few places, there is not enough thread on some seams, and I can see too much thread where I shouldn't. The front buttonhole was not sewed tight, and the button is becoming undone; I have only worn these D1s maybe 10 times, mind you. The buttons fell off my LL Bean's too, but after several years! And they cost about the same.

The belt loop is bigger than before, but now it is too big. For jeans I understand that some people wear a 2" belt. But for nice-looking khakis? I mean, these are not work pants. Far from it. They aren't tough enough. The waistband is 1.25" wide, and the loops drop 0.75" below that. I wouldn't say it looks silly with a normal belt, but close. Dockers Men's Signature Khaki D1 Slim Fit Flat Front Pant,British Khaki,33x30

I've bought Docker pants for many years for my husband. They have lasted a good long time. He has slim hips so I was excited when they came out with the slim fit. I bought 5 pair--1 for each day of his work week. Three buttons have broken---not com unsewn. Two have worn thin in spots and cannot be worn anymore. I replaced one pair so that makes 6 bought in all. So after a few months, he is now down to two out of the 6 that were bought. I can't find slims in any other brand and they look so much better on him than the regular fit but it just isn't worth my money to keep replacing them.

Fit: I am a thin guy and have trouble finding pants to fit me in the waist. These pants fit me perfectly all over and they look great! I wear them to work in the office a lot and hope Docker's will continue to make this style. Also, I'm glad to see some new colors were added to their selection. Quality: Dockers should consider reinforcing the seams in the seat and some other areas. It would be great if their products were made in the USA for better QC.

I have bought 5 pairs of the Signature D1 slim fit Dockers from a local department store and Amazon.com. I am very happy to finally find a pair pants that fit well, usually I find pants (especially casual pants) are too baggy on me. I did have to return one pair of pants because the zipper broke after just one wearing.

They fit well, but true to the reviews I'd read, the zippers break -- and never at a good moment. The first pair that broke, broke the first time I wore them; I was too busy to return right away and now Amazon is making it impossible to contact them to explain there is a serious manufacturing problem here -- there are no longer any people to contact. The second pair's zipper broke in the middle of live professional board exams, people all around! I had to repair emergency-style with a paper clip stitch! The problem is the product, but also that Amazon won't allow this sort of problem to be addressed if it occurs after 30 days-- the online "easy" return process also is operating to control their liability and responsiveness, limiting what they'll do to neat, pre-packaged, pre-set responses, subtly allowing them to dodge a variety of legitimate claims with the smoke screen of internet "ease" pitched to be all about helping YOU.

I love these pants. First of all, they come in hard to find sizes (ie 29" waist). Secondly, the Amazon price is better than those found at department stores. Lastly, they FIT me. I recommend going to JCP or Kohls and trying on a pair before buying them though, since we all prefer our fits a little different. That said, for me these are absolutely the best fitting khakis I've ever owned. I will be buying several more pair in different colors (I bought the Fog [grey] ones and they look pretty nice if I do say so myself). Overall, a great khaki if you want a slim fit.

I've purchased three pairs of Dockers D1's from Amazon and, for the most part, I've been very happy with them. Construction is better than just about any other pant I've seen at this price point. In general, I think you'd be hard pressed to find another pant for this price with the same quality.

The fit of the D1 is great as far as slim fitting, flat front trousers go. Again, the next pant with comparable fit is something like a Banana Republic slim fit that costs around $100.

Fit is very consistent across pants. I typically wear 31x30 or 31x32 (I think I am ideally a 31x31), and the 31x30 fits me perfectly in the waist, through the leg, and length allows a nice break at the cuff.

My only gripe is with the colors. I am very pleased with the black and grey D1's. I also ordered a pair of "branch" D1's -- as far as I'm concerned, "branch" is pretty useless as a description of color. I purchased them thinking they were reddish brown (based on the photos) and they turned out to be pretty strongly greenish. (I'd describe them as dark olive green, with some brownish tones.) I ended up returning this pair because they don't match any of my shirts - be aware when purchasing these that they are on the green (and not the red) side of the spectrum. I also wish there was a dark grey pant available, as "fog" is a pretty light grey. - 29 Inch Inseam - Pants - Khakis - Slim Fit'

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