Monday 23 August 2010

Crap Crap Crap - great sound, aquatic mp3 player


Had the Dolphin in the pool 4 times now after a couple of weeks of hesitation. Touch screen works well enough. Screen locks after a few seconds so you don't trigger a song change by accident. Still learning the system, and as a novice MP3 user (yes, at 47 I did not grow up with one in my crib), I find the instructions rather lame. That may be less of a problem for more tech-wise folks. I saw the volume control option on the touchscreen exactly one time in several attempts to locate it. Luckily, I set it at a tolerable level the one time I saw it as I've never been able to find it again! Controls are managed through the on/select/off button and a touch screen with 4 "buttons" and buried menus. Confuses the hell out of me, but I never learned how to use Windows Media Player to set up a playlist to give you some perspective! Need to rent a teenager to explain how to move around on it...



If you screw the waterproof headphone jack in WELL, I can't imagine having leakage (as per other review). I am not thrilled by the earplug headset, but am getting used to it. There are a number of different size earplug covers included so perhaps I am just trying to shove too large a plug in. Mine came with a better quality normal set of earbuds for out of water fun. In the water, you aren't getting high-fidelity, but you DO GET MUSIC. I am a right side breather when doing the crawl, and my right earplug doesn't fit as well as might be possible. I get water in that ear (as it is often held upward and acts as a water trap) that gets past the earplug. Surprisingly, that doesn't much affect the sound. Generally better sound when ears are submerged, but in all cases, I can hear the music clearly enough to keep my head occupied with something other than counting laps. Tonight for the first time, I eliminated the slower songs from my initial upload and swam HARD for 6-7, 3-4 minute songs. While I can swim a mile without too much trouble, I swim fairly casually. I am sure I did at least a half mile in at least 20 minutes of hard swimming and was hardly aware of the strain. The power of music!



Finally, there are wires on this of course. And the unit is designed to be attached to swimming goggle strap. No goggles would be less than ideal I think, though mine also came with an armband I have not used. With goggles, the wires can be tucked up under the strap in the rear to get them out of the way. With the Dolphin strapped onto the goggle strap with the included flexible clips, and the wires tucked into the goggle strap as well, it has held up for 4 long and/or hard swims. I don't notice the Dolphin at all while swimming. Others certainly do. Been asked about it a bunch already at the pool after swimming! I'm quite pleased in general. Wish me luck on getting past my technical limitations with navigating the menus. Nu Dolphin Touch Waterproof 4 GB MP3 Player with FM Radio

I bought this as a gift. The sound is great and yes, it is waterproof, but there are some issues. First of all, what you really cannot tell from pictures or the description is how small the screen is. Had the person I bought this for not had excellent closeup vision, we may have had to return it. I don't need glasses at all and had a very hard time. Second of all, it seems that the player requires charging a bit more often than usual and uses the same mini jack the headphones use to charge so if that cable becomes lost or damaged you will probably need to get that from the manufacturer. The controls take some getting used to, but are fine once you do. Also, the headphones, since they use a mini jack, if you need to replace them, you will either have to order them from the manufacturer, use an adapter or find ones with mini a mini jack. Hopefully the jack and headphones will last. All in all it is an okay buy and a good value. If the manufacturer finds a way to make the changes to the mini jack and enlarge the screen, it could be great.

I had an older Dolphin Underwater MP3 player, but it was only .5 GB. It was great! It lasted approximately 1 1/2 to 2 years and then failed to hold a charge. I decided to get the new 4 GB with stereo headphones. It is wonderful!!!!! I haven't had it long enough to really determine how long it's going to last and whether I will encounter any problems, but so far, it's even better than the old one. I loaded my whole music library onto it, and the stereo earphones have an excellent sound quality - MUCH better than my old Dolphin.



I swim laps usually at least 3 times a week, and it helps liven up my workout. It also comes with regular earphones if you want to use it as a normal MP3 player. It's lightweight, fits on my goggles, and is fairly easy to use. The display is bright and visible, but not for older eyes like mine (I have to wear reading glasses). My solution is to just memorize the sequences and deal with it. So far that has worked just fine. If the readout were larger, the whole unit would have to be larger, and I wouldn't want that, so I don't mind the display size. It's pretty easy to download from my music library and it didn't take long to charge it up and get it loaded.



The only drawback to this product (and my last Dolphin) are the earplugs. They go out occasionally, and I did have to buy new ones for the old player. The ones that came with this were defective, but the return/replace was pretty easy. As I said before, the sound quality is excellent. I have tried other ear plugs, but the Dolphin in-your-ear plug is still my favorite. This new stereo version is even better.



I really can't say enough good things about this. It makes my swimming experience so much better!

We orded the "dolphin" after an extensive search of options other than the very expensive and fragile waterproofed iPod nanos. The expectations were basic...would the MP3 player be easy to operate, easy to affix to goggles, and would it sound good? The product was attractively packaged with seemingly everything necessary for operation and utilization. Like many Chinese made products today, the instructions left a lot to be desired. The full instructions were available via the enclosed mini-CD. Lacking in the instructions were guides for utilizing the player with iTunes and converting ACC files to MP3. Once that was figured out and done, I moved about 5 albums over to the dolphin as it charged.



I was excited to plug in (and twist!) the headphones and listen to the music on dry land. With some review of the menu system and practice with the touch controls, I arrived at "play." The sound quality was good and it rivaled my previous nano. I quickly figured a way to mount the unit on my goggles and clipped the headphone wires into place. Unlike the nano, the controls are largely unusable by feel - one must look at the unit and touch the controls above the water. I finally slipped in and swam for 45 minutes enjoying the limited music I'd loaded. There was some water leakage into my ears, but for the most part it seemed ok.



When I arrived home, I noticed browsing the menus that the battery was a bit down (after one use), so I plugged the unit into my USB port. The unit neither indicated a charging battery nor did it auto-start a window to exchange MP3's. It did not connect to my computer. I tried other computers...no connection. I now owned a $110 disposable MP3 player with 50 songs on it. I went, got the box and packaging materials together and shipped it back to AMAZON.COM...which has to be the greatest company on Earth! Then I ordered a new waterproof iPod nano from the other guys...for over twice the price. Order the dolphin at some risk of disappointment, and keep your packaging together, because I'm sure you'll end up sending it somewhere for return, repair, or replacement. - Waterproof Mp3 - Aquatic Mp3 Player - Great Sound - Mp3 Player'


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The Original Bed Buddy - hot, the original bed buddy


We have been using Bed Buddies for years (both the back wrap and shoulder/neck version), and like them a lot. They really do deliver prolonged moist heat and relieve sore, tense muscles. The Velcro closures make them especially convenient to use.



Our Bed Buddies were getting pretty tattered, so I ordered a couple of new ones. This time, though, they have a chemical smell that I can't remedy - I've tried airing them for days in the sun, storing them with baking soda sachets...nothing works. I don't want them in my microwave oven, where we cook food - so we continue to use the old ones, not the new ones. It's been a big disappointment. Carex Bed Buddy, Back Wrap

I had the same product before and it performed well. This one lasted only a few weeks before a hole melted into a seam and the contents developed a permanent burnt smell. Never heated more than 3 minutes. Shame, great product design for the back, poor quality material.

The size is great. And so versatile! The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is I would like a little more heat. I first tried the recommended 1.5 min. Then had to heat for an additional minute. I'm going to be giving these as Christmas gifts this year.

I got this to use around my neck for tension headaches at the recommendation of my doctor. First of all it smells so bad it makes me nauseous. I don't know how to describe it, like maybe something rotted inside? I heat it for the maxmimum allowable time and it's just barely hot enough to relax my muscles at all. There isn't enough stuffing in it to actually hit all the areas I need it to hit though, and the areas where there is stuffing cool off within about 5 minutes. Useless. Would give it 1 star, but mine hasn't burned up.... yet.

I am a pianist and play for hours each day. My shoulders and neck muscles can become very tight. I have used a Bed Buddy for the back for years, which really didn't cover my shoulders to the extent that I needed as well as my neck area. When I discovered the "cape" design, I knew I had to have this particular product! I have no regrets about purchasing this unique design; it delivers all the heat I need simultaneously to the areas affected by discomfort- no shifting from one shoulder to the other!

My wife found this for me initially several years ago. We both used it off and on for minor aches and pains. The product heats in around 2 minutes on high in the microwave and produces perfect warm, moist heat. I recently had arthroscopic shoulder surgery and used this product on a regular basis for months. I did notice that after continued, constant use, the product starts to loose its moisture a bit. Perhaps through my own aggressive use, the product finally produces a hot spot and melted a small hole through which the filling leaked out. I immediately, by next day delivery, ordered not only this product again, but also another, different heat pad.

These things are great! I think that they are a good value for the money.

I had an older version of this product that retained heat for over an hour at a time. This recently purchased, new version doesn't retain heat nearly as long as the older one did. I have to keep reheating it. - The Original Bed Buddy - Hot - Arthritis - Hot Treatments'


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Workout Shorts


I ordered both the hot pants and matching zipper bras of these items

Got them in white, yellow, blue, pink, black, & red



I use them in my photography studios, and the models love them



For the one size that fits all, Well just make sure you are using the right size model

Some models should not be wearing form fitting clothing.



Over all they were a great addition to my photography studio wardrobe.



Hope they get more colors in...



Photographer:Kirby

BIGEASYSTUDIOS.BIZ Blue Hot Pants Seamless 6.5 Inches Short Pants'


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Playstation 3 Move Accessory


I don't write many reviews, but right now there are only 3 reviews for this product and 2 of them are (unbelievably) 5 stars. I was moved by CTA's response to the 1 star review (I figured they must really believe in the product if they wanted to address the complaints), so I decided buy this rifle instead of the $30 one. Although not very articulate, the 1 star reviewer is basically correct. The other 2 reviews, especially the "Grand Canyon" reviewer, sound like commercials from people working for CTA.



The plastic feels very cheap. I didn't expect carbon fiber, but for $60, it doesn't have the quality feel of the other PS3 controllers or accessories that I have. My kids toy rifles have a better build quality.



If you want to use the Move Controller (which is basically the point), you connect a side accessory that adds a 2nd trigger, which is a little weird. The two are separated by about 1/2 inch, like old double barrel shotguns, so you can't pull both at the same time, although I guess you wouldn't really want to.



With the Move attached, the "zwink" reviewer is right that it's a very narrow space to then try to use the L1, x, o, triangle and square buttons on the gun (although they are all on the Move controller except for the L1). It basically makes these buttons useless.



The Left thumbstick is on the left side of the barrel, so if the game requires you to move with this (like Dangerous Hunts does), it's impossible to control this and your buttons on the Move Controller (see above) at the same time (ie- can't move and reload, change guns, etc). This wasn't a problem for Killzone 3, because if you use the Move Controller for that game, it lets you use R1 to move your guy (which is where your right thumb is near the trigger).



When I seated the Move Controller completely in the holder, it wouldn't fire at all. I tried this multiple times and finally was able to get it to work by not completely seating it down in the holder and rotating it slightly to one side. Looking at the trigger mechanism, it again looks like poor build quality.



The trigger for the Move Controller is a little sluggish to respond. No big deal with a machine gun, but when you need to fire in rapid succession (Dangerous Hunts and The Shoot both depend on this) it's a significant problem. The Playstation Move - Dual Shot are much more responsive, as is the Move Controller by itself.



It comes with a scope, but you can't even look through it (plastic in the middle). I really don't care, but why put it there if you can't see through it?



It is a plus that you don't have to use Move Navigation Controller because it basically acts like a Dual Shock or Move Navigation Controller. They talk about using it instead of a Dual Shock Controller for shooting games like Call of Duty, etc. I didn't try this (I got too fed up with it), but I really can't picture anyone sitting there going through Black Ops with this thing instead of the regular controller. The lay out and feel of the buttons would make it too difficult to move, aim, and shoot quickly.



The pairing with the PS3 was quick and easy.



It does vibrate and make shooting sounds that you can turn on and off - yeah.



I really don't like bashing someone's product, but on the other hand I don't want anyone else to waste their time and money (although Amazon's return policy is awesome - I have returned it and am going to go with one of the other rifles).



ADDENDUM: You would think that I've got better ways to spend my time, but I went through the reviews for the other CTA PS3 rifles PS3 Assault Rifle Controller and PlayStation Move Submachine Gun and almost all of the 5 star reviews have the same tone ("Awesome," "rocks the house", "best ever")as the ones here, and, similarly, are written by people with only one review in their profile. 2 of the people with multiple reviews ("fat jay" and "dave the maven") have almost all of their reviews for CTA products (surprisingly, all are unequivocally 5 stars).



I don't know why this bothers me, but it does. These are obviously CTA employees (although when others have called them out, they deny it). It's not like we're dealing with physicians, but shouldn't there be some ethics involved? Shouldn't the quality of the products and the independent reviews speak for themselves (which they obviously do if you take out the phony 5 star reviews)? I'm now going to go out of my way to avoid any CTA products in the future. Ironically, looking at the reviewer profiles, I found out that CTA also makes Wii Inflatable Kart - Red, which both of my kids got for Christmas - one never stayed inflated and both had the steering wheels brake off within 2 weeks because of cheap build quality. PS3 / PS3 Move Assault Rifle Controller

I have been trying to make this gun work but it's the worst piece of junk I ever paid for. The gun looks all realistic and nice from the picture but when it arrives you'll notice how poorly and cheap this gun was made. How it's warrants a $60 price has me scratching my head for the longest time.



Now when you go to put the move attachment on, place the move control in, or remove the attachment you need to be really careful because the prongs that attach it to the gun itself break out. I found myself after three days breaking out the hot glue gun to hold it in place but because of removing the Move controller to charge or play a different game the hot glue rips out.



As far as gameplay goes the gun again fails.. When you squeeze the trigger your character on the screen unloads the entire clip for some reason. The button placement on the gun is all out of place you found yourself using the move controller, the gun buttons etc because of how out of place the button on the gun are. Now the buttons side of the barrel weren't designed for adult gamers because once the move is in place you can barely get your hand to other side of the barrel. The scope on the game is basically pointless and must take off to even get your gun calibrated on a move shooting game because it makes your aim all out of wack.



Stay far away from this junk piece of crap gun if I were amazon I would be feel bad for my customers who even paid $60 for this and refunded them $60.'


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Stainless Steel Cookware - bpa-free, stainless steel cookware


I love the idea of a durable ice cube tray. I've quite accidentally destroyed many plastic ones over the years, and I grow tired of adding more stuff into landfills needlessly. When i saw this, it was elated to think I'd have something that would be quite durable.



I'm torn about this product, for i like the concept. For 38 dollars with shipping, this thing should be built like a tank. Given how it's built, it should be [...] So I've given it 3 stars for this reason. The lever/cube mechanism (quality) is far too weak and thin---after all, i was looking for durability and longevity. I'm not confident that it will last for decades unless treated quite cautiously. In my first few trays and testing, I've put a sleight bend into the cube separators where the lever puts pressure on it. *It can be bent back* but anytime metal is flexed to the point of distortion, and flexed back, eventually it will crack if it happens enough. Now that i know, i can be more cautious with it, but as i said, it's not built like it should be for the price.





Dimensions of tray interior where cubes are made: 4x10x1 (but as i said, fill to only half full, so 4x10x0.5) Smaller than i would have estimated from pictures, but still adequate in my opinion.



No instructions: A Recommended fill level would be nice. After my own little testing, I don't recommend over half full, maybe a bit less.

Freeze it with the lever down, as the description says. For someone with grip issues, do not freeze it with the lever up and try to push it down to separate cubes--the lever is not designed for stress in that direction.



One more thing: being all metal, I feel it certainly makes solid cubes faster than plastic trays ever will. As a single person, with a small cube bucket, i feel no need for more than one of these trays. Stainless Steel Ice Cube Tray - BPA Free

I have an ice maker in my refrigerator, but it's extremely old (and plastic). This is an awesome ice cube tray, and no more plastic! It looks beautiful; it works beautiful. I've made tons of ice cubes with it, and will continue to do so. I keep my ice cubes in a stainless steel loaf-type pan, so I just make the ice cubes whenever it starts to get low. I don't think I'll ever need two trays. If for some reason I do, I'll get another one of these. This would also make a great gift!

I bought this ice cube tray because I was tired of using plastic or silicone ice cube trays that made my ice cubes taste funky. On that count, this tray has delivered fantastically well--my ice cubes taste great! The water also freezes super fast. I transfer the cubes from this tray into an enclosed container in my freezer, to prevent evaporation, retain flavor, and to keep more cubes on hand.



The handle for removing the cubes was very stiff the first time I tried to use it, and the metal was so cold, it actually cut my skin, so I'd recommend using a towel or gloves the first few times. After that, it does loosen up, but is still sturdy.



I don't get whole ice cubes--it's more like big chunks with a lot of crushed ice.



I think the price is too high for an ice cube tray--it should cost about half as much, but it's commensurately priced with all other stainless steel ice cube trays that I looked for, so I doubt you'll find a cheaper stainless steel tray anywhere else. You can find cheaper metal trays for about $8, but they'll be made out of aluminum, which is arguably less safe than stainless steel.



Overall, I am satisfied with this product.

Through some trial and error, I have written instructions for this:



1. Place lever in the downward position.

2. Fill tray about half way with water (to just below the rivets that hold the lever in place).

3. Place in freezer and remove when frozen.

4. Pull up on lever to free ice.



I tried filling it all the way with water, but it's impossible to crack the ice that way. I'm very pleased with this tray, and I'd definitely recommend it to a friend.

I ordered this tray because I was tired of plastic ice cube trays that quickly broke, and I had read that some people think silicon trays impart an "off" taste to the ice.



It's a great investment and I only wish I had bought one years ago. It does take a bit of effort to pull the lever and free the ice, but way less effort than it has always taken me to wrestle with the cubes that get stuck in the plastic trays.



The product photo makes this tray look larger and clunkier than it actually is. It turns out it's about the same size as an ordinary plastic tray.

I have used this item several times since its arrival

only have 1 complaint, I knew this prob before buying ice tray.

It is very difficult removing the cubes once frozen, thanks to

another reviewer who had posted before I bought this tray it

was a fairly simple matter in removing ice cubes, without

bending the release arm!!!

Run tap water on the backside of the tray to release seperator

and cubes fm the tray, then run some tap water on top of the cubes

let sit for a min or so then gently pull up on release arm and

like magic the cubes will fall out into your waiting container

such as the Stainless Steel bread loaf container.

I was forced to buy this since my market quit carrying normal

ice cubes if u can believe that, that really Sucked LoL

PS: Glad I did buy the StainLess Steel Ice Cube Tray!! 8 ^ )

As far as metal ice trays on the net, these are the best I've found so far. I tried the aluminum trays on amazon and they broke in a little over a month. If you're looking to cut out toxic chemicals in your life like my wife and I are, then this is the best quality. I'll be sure to update this review if something bad happens. But, for now, these trays are very sturdy and solid. - Ice Cube Trays - Bpa-free - Stainless Steel Cookware - Non-toxic'


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Cordless Screwdriver - hand tools, cordless tools


I happen to have all three Dewalt 12 volt Max: Impact, Screw Driver, and Drill Driver. Like another reviewer here, I too am puzzled as to why this Screwdriver is better than the Impact for most situations. Having used all three Max drivers, I find that the Impact driver does pretty much everything the Screwdriver would do, but better. Only thing the Screw driver would be better at is if you are screwing in to more delicate (electronics) or fragile material, but if you were doing that then you really don't even need this much power since much cheaper & more compact alternatives exist. The "IMPACT" feature on the Dewalt Impact Driver, only comes on automatically when there is a need for it; so even if you were doing delicate screwing, it still works fine if you can just adjust finger pressure a bit; so I'm really puzzled as to the existence of this Dewalt Screwdriver product.



I also find that I'm far less likely to strip phillips screws using the Impact Driver than this Screwdriver. One reviewer commented that this driver has impact-like feature. I don't think that is true. I think he might be referring to the torque control knob similar to a drill driver. This is nothing like the Impact Driver. You can really feel the difference when you use both. When challenged, the Max ScrewDriver will either strip the screw or just start free spinning because of the torque control setting, but the Impact Driver will really drive the screw in when you hold the trigger all the way down. If you didn't want the screw to over tighten, then you apply, say, half the trigger pressure, and it will tap lightly, still without stripping or free-spinning.



This is an exceptionally well made tool. The build quality is much finer than most other tools I've tried around. The power on these Max drills are surprisingly strong. I also have a bigger 18v lithium Hitachi, but I really can't tell the difference in power between the Max (12v) and the 18v for most of the stuff I do around the house.



However, I regret purchasing this one from the Max series, because I seem to favor the Dewalt Max 12v Impact Driver for most jobs. For me, this is an over-powered screw driver that I might use only on delicate parts connected to electronics or something; again, I would rather have less power and smaller size for that though. It doesn't make sense for me to own this, but I'm no expert, so if anyone can explain to me why I should keep this, please make a comment soon. I would return this right away if I hadn't purchased it as a bundle with the other Max drivers. DEWALT DCF610S2 12-Volt Max 1/4-Inch Screwdriver Kit

Pros:

- compact, short, lightweight = a joy to use

- slim handle is great for smaller hands (e.g. women, kids)

- LED lighting is superb

- well balanced

- stands upright; belt hook

- excellent battery life between uses

- relatively inexpensive for additional battery packs (30 USD)

- powerful enough for 98% of my drilling/driving needs



Cons:

- hex chucks require special hex shank drill bits

- not cheap (but worth the price I think)



Dewalt was little late in releasing their compact driver drills (Bosch has had one for years), but they really set themselves apart for the rest with this one.



I think this category of drill is perfect for most homeowners. Bosch, Porter-Cable, Makita, Milwaukee, Dewalt, and others all make ultra compact 12V lithium ion driver/drills. They are all a vast improvement over previous options because:



1) Lightweight: e.g. drilling over you head to hang pictures

2) Lithium Ion Batteries: don't lose as much charge between uses

3) Compact: can fit your drill in tight places



All manufacturers except Dewalt put the battery in the handle which makes for a beefy handle and an off balance drill. Dewalt puts the battery at the bottom which balances the drill and allows it to have a more ergonomic grip. My wife tried some of the other drills with the battery in the handle and found them awkward to hold because of the size of the grip. She loves this one.



The combination of a lightweight drill with a slim grip makes this the perfect drill for many women. Even my kids can use it. My wife hates my Porter Cable 14.4 volt NiCad because it is so darn heavy that she has to use two hands and almost throws out her back doing it. Now my doesn't have to ask me to do the drilling because she can do it herself comfortably.



Dewalt is a great choice for drill to have around the house that every one can use.

What a great piece of equipment! It is so light and handy that I wish I had bought it a long time ago. So easy to use and just the right amount of power for doing small engine work. Not as clumsy and the 18v tool that I had been using and seems to have almost as much power. Battery lasts a long time too. Would recommend this to anyone.

I bought this Dewalt DCF610 (the 1/4 screwdriver, with adjustable clutch settings, but no chuck) to do general woodworking and as a "carry around" cordless drill/driver. Although DeWalt calls it a screwdriver, I use it as a drill too. I use quick change drill bit and driver bits almost all the time, and I wanted the compact size more than I wanted a chuck.



The size, weight and ergonomics are perfect for me. It has a bright white LED light that comes on before the drill starts, which is great for working in dim areas. The clutch has a nice range of torque settings, to keep from stripping or "camming out" small screws. On higher settings, the tool has plenty of torque for larger jobs. The trigger range is smooth and predictable, and has a lockout position on the reversing slider that leaves the LED light available, but keeps the drill off. The upper speed is 1050 RPM, which is fine for me. I also like the you can set it upright on the battery housing, which is a nice touch.



Will it match or replace a 18V impact drill or hammer drill? No. If you are fastening down decking or drilling holes in concrete, this is not the tool to use. But it is the right tool for most of my work, and is the first drill I reach for in the shop or in my carry around tool box.



It comes with a basic charger, two batteries, and a decent if not fancy bag that I will find a use for. I paid $139 for it at home and farm center, but received a $50 gift card rebate that is as good as cash to me. I have learned to check replacement battery costs before buying, and the $40 batteries are a welcome benefit.



For the general woodworker and DIYer, this is a really nice tool. Thanks for reading!



Matthew - Hand Tools - Drills - Lightweight - Cordless Tools'


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Mechanical Pencils


This is another nifty mechanical pencil for our already throw-a-way society. These pencils are ideal for the class room in that they actually work, are indeed shatter resistant, and when they are lost or not returned, and I guarantee that this will happen, you are not out big bucks.



The lead is No.2 and leaves a nice bold mark, bet not so bold that it smears all over the place. It comes with to refill leads which really is not all that important as in a school situation, you will never see the thing again once you loose sight of it; but it is never the less nice to know the lead is there...just in case.



The eraser is quite effective. Keep in mind that this has a top lead advance mechanism, so you do have to stop writing to advance the lead. This does not seem to bother the students all that much though.



These pencils are ideal for math or accounting classes.



They do come in nice colors (the shell), but not so nice that they look "cool," ergo, more are returned than if they were nice shinny things.



I suppose you could sum it up as "cheap and serviceable." In this day and age, what more could you ask for?



Don Blankenship

The Ozarks BIC Mechanical Pencil with Colorful Barrels, Medium Point (0.7 mm), 24 Pencils

The pencil has top lead advance, which can be stressfull, since you have to stop writting to advance the lead. They are perfect for students, who tend to loose alot of pencils. The price ($4.49) makes it very affordable. They aren't the best penclis, but for people who loose alot of pencils they are absolutly perfect.

The one BIG problem with these pencils is that if you put any pressure on the lead, it goes back up forcing you to have to click constantly. I don't think I put excess pressure on the pencil (the lead doesn't break), but I'm having to constantly click to bring the lead back down because it keeps pushing back up. Frustrating!!!



I would try another product, I wouldn't buy these again.

We use these Bic Mechanical Pencils at home, in our small business, and for our high school age kids. These are fairly inexpensive so we scatter them all over ensuring there is always a working pencil at hand when needed and the colorful bodies make them easy to spot.



The pencils work well mechanically with the lead being advanced by pressing the eraser top. These are #2 leads so they can be used on the standardized testing as well. The eraser is the hard white rubber type and it works well enough. As other reviewers have noted, the lead does brake fairly easily so a lighter pressure is needed when writing with these compared to a regular pencil.



We buy several packs a year and will likely continue to do so until the kids are out of school.



Recommended!



CFH

As a joke, I bought these for my husband (who is an engineer) as a stocking stuffer. He has been using them regularly ever since and recently asked me to get more. They're nothing fancy, but he is out in the field evaluating projects often, and they are reliable for that but cheap enough that it's no big deal if he loses one or two.

This pencil is perhaps the worst i have ever used. the lead breaks so easily that i constantly have to pump out more and there is no tension on the lead so you have to hold the pencil flat for it to come out or else the whole piece falls out. I would recommend spending the extra money and getting a quality mechanical pencil or just using an old fashioned one'


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Personal Training


I've been doing the "Buff Brides" workout for 1.5 weeks now and already feel more energetic and, well, buff. Yesterday, my pants kept slipping down!The book, complete with large, black and white pictures, is arranged by exercise group (e.g. butt, arms, back, abs), allowing you to pick and choose which area(s) you would like to focus on. Detailed instructions are listed for each exercise. What I like is that this book encourages a healthy lifestyle by promoting moderation. The author discourages straining muscles or going on a starvation diet. The book assumes that you have both little time and little space to work out. As such, most of the strength training exercises can be completed in approximately 1/2 hour in a very small space. Frankly, I would rather eat a bag of broken glass than exercise. However, this workout is high-impact enough to get results, but easy enough to keep my interest.My only criticism has to do with the construction of the book. The book is very tightly bound. As such, it's difficult to hold the book open *&* concentrate on your form, especially when you're learning new excercises. Ring binding is a must for the next edition! Buff Brides: The Complete Guide to Getting in Shape and Looking Great for Your Wedding Day

I purchased this book a few years ago when I was working part time in a bookstore. At the time I was in a relationship and thought I might be a bride someday soon, and I wanted a workout that would give me tone (I don't need to lose a lot of weight, just firm and strengthen those muscles that give us trouble once we hit 25...) and help me feel more energized. Well, the relationship broke up and I put the book on the shelf and forgot about it.Until a few weeks ago, when I was visiting a friend and we watched an episode of the "Buff Brides" show on TV. After watching the trainers instruct the brides-to-be, and seeing the great results, I remembered I had this book at home. Even though I am nowhere near being a bride, getting in better shape is never a bad thing, right?! So as soon as I returned home I dug the book out and started looking at the exercises. I realized I already had almost everything I would need to get started on the program...I had 3 lb and 5 lb weights, and a sturdy coffee table and chair to use in place of the aerobic stepper they show in the book...and after a quick trip to Target for a very inexpensive exercise ball I was all set. (I even got a great workout using the hand pump to inflate the exercise ball!!!)I've only been doing this workout for 1 week now but I absolutely LOVE it!! I can already feel my arms and legs getting stronger and more toned. I commute to work and have about 30 minutes of walking time from the Metro to my office...so I have started wearing my sneakers and making that walk part of my workout plan too. My HUGE problem area is my tummy, so I expect it will take a little longer to see results there. And I love the fact that I don't have to starve myself, I have always tried to eat sensibly anyway and I can just continue to do that with this workout. And as soon as it gets warm enough out I also plan to start rollerblading (something I saw one of the brides on the show doing) to supplement the workouts.I am NOT one to exercise, the thought of going to a gym is so foreign to me...and like everyone I have little free time. These workouts take around 30 minutes a day, 3 or 4 times a week, and require very little space. I love them so much I don't want to skip the day in between...so on those days I do extra exercises for my tummy, which the book specifically says is a muscle group that can be exercised every day. I especially love that the book advises you to rest your muscles, and not exercise yourself to the point of pain. After the first day I did feel some soreness in a few muscles I hadn't used in a long time (mainly triceps) but that quickly went away.I could go on forever so I will end here by saying if you are a bride-to-be, or just someone who wants to get into better shape and hopefully shed a few pounds too, BUY THIS BOOK!!!! I agree that the book should be spiral bound though, it is a little difficult to get it to sit flat while doing the exercises.

This book is great! I hate working out and am the type of person who avoids it at all costs. This book gave me no excuses. The program does not require a lot of space, nor does it require a large investment in time or pricey equipment to do these exercises. I could do the workout at my convenience in the privacy of my own home. Now who can find excuses with flexibility like that? The exercises were explained well and the book was very easy to follow. The workout switches up from week to week so it doesn't get boring. I LOVED the results I achieved, and the fact it didn't take forever to start noticing the improvement (another key element to keeping me motivated).I received so many compliments from friends who said things like "I wish I had the arms to be able to wear a dress like that" and "You are so lucky to have a nice back so you can wear that style". Believe me, I looked like an over-stuffed sausage in that dress when I first tried it on. We all know how slimming white is anyway. It was my dream dress though, and thanks to this book I was able to look the way I should have looked in it. I can't say enough good things about the Buff Brides workout. My husband is quite happy with the results too. ;)

As a bride to be I recently purchased a copy of Buff Brides. Living in an apartment and saving every dollar for my wedding I don't have the room, nor the funds, for bulky gym equipment. After only 2 weeks of following Buff Bride's workout program I can already feel the results. The exercises require very liitle equipment and are less time consuming than picking out bridesmaid dresses. Planning for a June wedding has left me with little time to think of myself and how I will look in my strapless wedding dress. However, the exercises in Buff Brides are illustrated, to the point, and results driven. In June, I know I will have the confidence to wear my strapless gown and I'm incredibly thankful to Buff Brides for helping me look my best.I certainly recommend Buff Brides for every bride, whether you need the confidence to look great in your gown or you are just looking to tone up, you will find it in Buff Brides.Thanks.'


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23 Guage


These pins work great in the Grex 23 gauge pin nailer. I haven't had any jams or problems at all. The only reason I'm taking off one star is that some of the clips were broken when I received the package. GREX P6/MP-3 23 Gauge Multi-Pack Headless Pins (3,000 per box)

The nails are okay. However, some lengths aren't very exact at all. Of the six different lengths, three were kind of off. The 3/4 were a little too long. Two of the others were a little too short. I can't remember the exact errors, but I think two were off by about 1/32 inches and the third a bit more than that. I mean it's close enough to work but still. Do pin nailers have some sort of convention I'm unaware of? I doubt it.

The nails seem to shoot fine with my inexpensive central pneumatic (Harbor Freight) gun.

Also, to save time I organized the nails into three small bins on one of those shelving units with lots of bins. I put the 3/8 with the 3/4, the 1/2 with the 1, and the 5/8 with the 1 3/8 nails. Now, I can quickly and confidently get the nails I need right away.

Overall, I would recommend these, but I'm won't get them again.'


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Leather Bracelet


My daughter's bracelet arrived very quickly, but I admit to being a little disappointed with the quality. When I took it out of the package today, I noticed that the green cord wrap looks like it has been chewed on (but I couldn't venture to guess by what). Given that it looks pretty worn when it's brand new, I'm not sure it will hold up for any length of time. I'll try to post an update in a week or two and let you know how it's doing...



UPDATE* I was very surprised and so impressed to receive an apology with a replacement bracelet from the seller today. The replacement is in perfect condition, and I have to say that I would have no reservations doing business with this seller due to the very quick manner in which they handled my situation. Customer Service is SO important these days, especially when doing internet sales in which the customer cannot see beforehand the actual item being purchased. I am glad to know there are those who go above and beyond what is expected! I have no doubt that I will do more business in the future with them :) Swirl Bead Leather Zen Bracelet, Adjustable'


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Earphones - earphones, running


I was looking for some small, lightweight headphones that I could wear while running and working out. Ruled out, of course, were the normal earbuds, which have a tendency to fall out at the gentlest breeze, or at least at the slightest tug or jar. So, to that end, I picked up a pair of Sony MDR-J10 h.ear clips.First, the good. They're very light and reasonably comfortable for something that's sticking just into your ear. No problem. The clips work very well -- no matter how hard I work I can't get them to fall off. It might help that they tend to get tangled in my hair. I personally prefer the clip style to a headband -- this way, there's absolutely nothing to bounce around while you're running. I should also mention that they look very sleek worn. The cable features an adjustable restraint, above the normal fixed thing that marks the beginning of the dual cord, so you'll never have too much cord flying around your neck.Second, the bad. The cord is a bit shorter than I'm used to, but hey, no problem. The sound from these features a whole lot of midrange without a lot of bass or even treble definition. You have to remember, however, that the drivers in these things measure in at like thirteen millimeters, so if you're expecting Sennheiser clarity, you're looking at the wrong headphones.Overall, these earclips are quite satisfactory. They do what they need to do: They stay on no matter what, and they transmit music from your walkman/discman/MP3 player to your ears. If you're looking for headphones to wear while doing active things, then these are great. It needs to be mentioned that, with music playing all up in your eardrums, these things do a startling job at blocking out other noises, so be careful not to jog into a moving van or anything. Safety first! Sony MDR-J10 h.ear Headphones with Non-Slip Design (Black)

I got these headphones to replace the ones that came with my iPod mini; those were very uncomfortable. I wanted a small, comfortable, unobtrusive pair that wouldn't leak any sound and bother my fellow commuters (or at least advertise to them what I like to listen to!). I almost didn't buy them because all I saw in the store was orange, which sort of defeats the "unobtrusive" idea, at least for me. But I found them and bought them in basic black.



They are definitely small, and I like the design. They hook completely over your ears, and the ear piece goes inside your ear. Once I figured out how to slip them on, they stay on, no falling off or sliding around. But they're not so tight that they give me a headache or hurt my ears, thankfully. The earbuds are fairly comfortable- some days they need adjusting, other days not.



These headphones leak hardly any sound! I've performed a bunch of tests with friends, with me asking "can you hear anything now?" I wasn't anywhere nears as cool as the guy in the cell phone commercials, but everyone I asked did assure me they couldn't hear my music, even when I played it pretty loud.



They have one neat little feature I didn't consider when buying but certainly appreciate- the "tangle-free cord." Most headphones are made up of one cord which splits at a fixed point. However, that point, or junction, is not fixed on these, which means you can pull up the little piece of plastic to join the two loose strings for easy storage. Or, split the cord entirely, all the way down to the jack, and give an earphone to somebody else.



These fit the bill if you're looking for a comfortable, cheap, easy-to-store pair of headphones, and even though they're not quite the perfect ones for me, they're a solid buy.

They have a very sharp, clear sound. I used them to edit my writing on computer, using a program called ReadPlease. It's a great program that reads text back to you. With the earphones, I can work no matter what is going around around me.



The wire is very limber, with a rubbery coating instead of more plastic. I have had two pair built along these lines, but the wires are wrapped in plastics covers which made then less flexible, causing them to kink. This soft rubber coating, left you move around without worrying about bending or kinks in the line that could ruin them. The rubber cover wire is virtually tangle free.



The ear wrap is very comfortable. On the other two pair, I was aware of their pressure and after long hours of working my ears would be slightly sore. I barely notice these and have not had any lingers soreness as I did with the other two.



So for comfort, easy use and prices, this is a good buy.

I love these headphones. Really, I do. This must be my 4th pair in 2 years.



Pros:

- block out external sound pretty darn well (great for blocking out loud, obnoxious people on the trains, but you'll hear enough to notice your car sounding funny)

- keeps sound internal (little sound leakage, if you're one of those that love to BLAST music, there's a good chance the people around you might not hear it.)

- extremely clear sounds (there have been times when I've heard something in a song that I've never head before)

- great volume (I can't turn my iPod more than 1/3 of the way up)

- if they fit, they're not likely to fall out



Cons:

- after a while, one side goes dead (it's usually the right side. This is why I'm on my 4th pair. But I'm seeing other reviews saying they've lasted years. So I must be abusing them somehow)

- weird popping sound when walking? (this has only happened with my last pair, and it started happening before the right side went dead. I wouldn't call it a shock, because..I didn't feel shocked.)

- this is a huge problem for a lot of people: THEY DON'T FIT SOME EARS (that's a major complaint with a lot of the negative reviews, and yeah they aren't one-size-fits-all. But they fit me fine, so I don't care much for this point)

- they do tangle, but that's not important either - Running - Earphones - Sports Headphones - Sony'


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Iphone Charger - ipod cable, iphone


The plug (adapter) is not the proper amperage and therefore it will take 5+ hours to charge your phone.



The clips on the sides of the wire are static and don't bend in to make a smooth in and out connection to your iphone. I'm afraid that if you aren't careful, you will rip your iphone apart trying to unplug it.



Do not buy. Wall Ac Charger USB Sync Data Cable for Iphone 4 3g/s Ipod

I wanted this to take to work for charging my phone. I was very disappointed. It is useless for the my intended purpose. While the cable works fine for charging my phone from my computer I cannot plug it into an outlet and charge because the adapter plug does not work. The cord itself will not transfer data. What you really get is a cheap cord for only charging your phone by attaching to your computer.

I took a chance after reading some bad reviews with this charger and cord and bought 2 units. I tested out the 2 chargers and cords on both my iphone 3GS and first gen ipod touch.



The iphone cables: The cables are the newer type without the buttons on the side. The apple connector springs that hold onto the iphone/ipod are tight and the connector takes a firm push or pull to go into or out of the iphone/ipod. This isn't a bad thing as unlike my car adaptor, the iphone/ipod connector will never accidently fall out of the phone. I don't think the connector will ever cause damage to the iphone/ipod as some others have thought in their reviews. The connector has tight springs that hold the cable to the iphone/ipod.



Charger 1 charged perfectly. It might charge a little slower than the OEM Apple charger but it still charged the iphone to 100% perfectly out of the box. No issues and very satisfied charging my iphone 3GS and ipot touch first gen.



Charger 2 also charged the iphone 3gs and ipod touch fine but it made a hissing sound which was loud enough to be annoying. I bought another cheap charger for a camera which makes the same sound. I returned the charger because of the hissing sound.



Overall I'm happy that one worked perfectly and I'd be OK with the other charger if I weren't in the same room as the charger that hissed.



Basically I took a chance and bought 2 cables and 2 chargers for less than an OEM Apple cable cost. Returning with Amazon is so easy that it was well worth taking the chance on these.

I got the charger within a couple of days or so and it works perfectly, I would recommend to buy these cheaper versions then get the authentic chargers from the Mac store because they all break after a year or so, well with me they do lol and the quality of this one is not cheap or anything it's actually pretty sturdy.

Not sure what the other reviewer was having problems with, but this works with my Iphone 4 perfectly. It's a cheap alternative to the official Apple charger (which is WAY too expensive!) I'd recommend it to anybody needing a cheaper alternative. I'm probably going to order another to have as a spare.

Sorry to say , but the item I recieved is not in a working condition. I tried to return it through Amazon but the process is so cumbersome Ileft it mid way. I hope they send me a replacement. The product as of today is not working for me.

Great replacement for original. Sync cable with wall AC plug for charging allows compact bundle to charge your iThings and transfer data. Priced right to have one at home, at the office and a spare in your travel bag.

The charger works great for my iPhone 3G. I bought 2 since the price was so good. However, my wife has used the charger on her iPhone 3Gs and has complained that it makes her phone "wacky". Since I bought it for my 3G and it works great, I gave this 5 stars.

The price was good, the product looks good, only problem is the sync data cable is labeled wrong on the end that plugs in to the phone, so you have to plug it in upside down. I wish I'd stop buying Chinese. - Iphone Charger - Iphone 4 - Ipod Cable - Iphone'


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Disaster Preparedness - lithium batteries, flashlight


With the number of high performance flashlights that Surefire sales it only makes sense for them to sell batteries, and at a good price. The 123A batteries you find at most super stores will normally cost you quite a bit more than the $1.75 a piece you will pay for these. You can sometimes find a bulk buy that works out cheaper per battery but you really don't know what you are going to end up with. With the Surefire batteries you are going to get a good price on well made, high quality batteries. Like the other reviewed noted though, Surefire actually sells these on their web site for $21 a 12 pack. Surefire SF12-BB Box of 12 123A 3 Volt Lithium Batteries 12-Pack SF123A

Surefire CR123A are excellent batteries. I use them. Just be aware that they are made by Panasonic. I cannot believe that Panasonic makes better batteries for Surefire, so if you can get a better deal for Panasonic batteries that are fresh (recent dates), then you are saving some dough and getting the same product.

Surefire is the best, their Lithium batteries boast a 10 year shelf life. I am thankful for that, because the batteries I received (from CargoLargo) are already 5 years into their shelf life. That's a bit on the annoying side. The expiration date is printed on the batteries themselves. Mine say 2014. As a comparison, the batteries I received with a new Surefire (E2D LED Defender) are set to expire in 2019. For an extra couple of bucks I could have purchased the batteries directly from Surefire (I doubt they are sending out 5 year old batteries). Which is exactly what I will do from now on.



This is not a slam on Surefire Batteries, merely a seller selling 5 year old batteries for about the same price as new ones. Even though the batteries are still considered good, I would have liked to have the option to store them for a longer period of time. Fortunately, I only purchased the 12 pack, and I'm pretty sure I can go through 12 batteries in 4 years.

Good News. Others have complained about the near expiration date on these Surefire Batteries from Ace Photo. I just ordered some in 03/2011 with an expiration date of 09/2020. That's 9 1/2 years. As for the batteries themselves, I've used them in the past with great success.

I just wanted to post a review to let everyone know that the batteries I received today had a Nov 2020 expiration date. I can't speak for batteries being shipped in the future but I can say that I received three FRESH boxes.



These batteries might be a bit more expensive but I think the peace of mind is worth it. I've never had any trouble with any surefire products. I sleep soundly at night knowing that when I'm battling the undead after the zombie apocalypse, my flashlight won't let me down.

Nearly all quality high-output halogen and LED flashlights use these cells. But buying them over the counter is needlessly expensive. Since they last about 5 years in storage, why not buy a bunch? For those of us in areas prone to natural disaster, these are a good investment and don't take up a lot of space.

They came in a nice box for storage, with a 12/2020 expiration date AND they all tested out at the max for a 3-volt lithium battery. These batteries will be used in my Davis VantagePro2 weather stations(3 of them), so I've got enough for 3-5 years. Time will tell how they last, but I'll do the 5 stars for now....Amazon service does not get any stars...bad experience with C/S.

The batteries work great. Even though the surfire website sells them for 21 dollars, after tax and shipping the cost is 30 dollars, so if you have an Amazon Prime account you're better off ordering it from Amazon for the same price with 2 day shipping. - Lithium - Battery - Lithium Batteries - Flashlight'


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