Guy Low Price Electronic: 27 Aug 2010

Friday 27 August 2010

Headphones - sport headphones, earphones

I was looking for a good pair of headphones to replace the ones that came with my portable (the kind that just barely cover the ear and then not very well--you know what I mean) when I came across these. I was a little skeptical because of the price (I was under the misconception that good headgear has to cost a bundle). Boy, was I surprised. The first time I put them on (riding on the commuter train) I was amazed at the sound quality. They beat the ones I had 100% in total sound reaching the ear canal. This helped block out the extraneous sounds of engine and multiple conversations. Plus, the bass was solid as well. As an added bonus, they are incredibly light and are plastic so the headband doesn't scratch your head (something that has irked me with other headsets).With this level quality, and for this price, you just can't go wrong. Sony Ultra Lightweight MDR-W08L Vertical In-The-Ear Headphones

I bought these for my Sony mini-disc player, and they are quite the powerhouse! The sound that comes out of these little guys is amazing. These little phones are a tad awkaward (FOR ME),though, because I always snag the wires on something, but it's my fault. I am never too careful with wires. Speaking of wires, the cable has a volume slide-control whuich is very convenient for when you don'r feel like pulling the player out of your pocket to turn up the volume. That is, when not using the remote.Sony always makes good products, and like always, I am pleased with my purchase. With good compactability, I can pack these guys in my backpack, and because they are so flexible, they still retain their shape and excellent sound and performance standards.Let's talk about bass. The bass expansion is great and because of the volume control slider, you don't have to go deaf because you forgot to turn down the volume (on your player) prior to using it.Not only ismodel MDR08L great for MD players/recorders, but it's also great for cassette and Discman's too! Especially when you don't want a heavy, cumbersome headset weighing you down while on the go. And, the plain black color goes well with any of the portable players today.So, for the price and the brand, get this headset or something similar by Sony today.Hope the review helped you.

Either I am insane or none of you are qualified to review this product. Personally, I've owned six pairs of these and use them for hours on end each week. I wear them on 3-hour runs and I wear them in the computer lab here at school, so I think I know what I am talking about. Firstly, the product design for these headphones is the best I've ever seen. These headphones weigh nothing. That is the reason these headphones are so great. I've looked at other similar products by Sony (they make a model that look similar but are yellow) and by Aiwa and Koss and none of them are as good as these. They're either a folding design, which is a definite no-no, or slightly bulkier and less comfortable. The sound is good. These would be the coolest, sleekest, lightest, most affordable headphones ever, except for one small problem. They don't work! That's right, after moderate use, the sound invariably goes out in one ear. This has happened in six of six pairs of these I've owned. One pair I had lasted for a year. Another was broken THE SECOND I TOOK IT OUT OF THE BOX. The Mean Time Between Failure for the six pairs I've owned is probably at or around 3 months. So, to sum up: These headphones are awesome. I'd gladly pay 30 bucks for a single pair that worked for year. Instead I pay 30 bucks for 3 pairs that, together, work for a year. I'd write Sony and alert them to the problem, but frankly for an eight dollar pair of headphones, I don't expect much. My advice is to buy six or seven pairs just to keep from running back and forth to the store. Hopefully they'll work out the quality issues on this one and jack up the price.

As a runner, I need lightweight headphones that don't jump/move/jar around. I hate ear buds (hate them!) as they are seemingly designed for people w/LARGE ear holes! These things are tiny, fit nicely IN your ear and provide great sound without annoying you on a long run! The price is fabulous too! Last time I ordered, I bought 4 pairs (whenever I like something it seems to be discontinued) and I just broke into pair #2 this week (after almost a year w/the others). I've run in these for 3 half marathons and countless training runs, inside and out. If I wouldn't wad them up and throw them in my gym bag, they'd probably last even longer, but eventually one side tends to give out.

Way too cheap for what they are. I didn't fully realize this until I got a player with a lot of equalization choices. Then I discovered that the changes didn't make much difference in the way the music sounded in all the various earphones I had around the house (because they didn't have enough frequency response to manipulate), except these. Everyone I've shown them to has loved them. The comfort issue someone else mentioned is real--it takes a while to build up the calluses to use them for really long periods of time, and you can't use them lying on your side. But it's worth it.

Ever since 1997, this is the only type of headphones Ive been using. They are very comfortable. Full-size headphones are too heavy for extended or portable use, too bulky to wear them while lying down, and too much like a pair of ear muffs on a warm day! Earphones, on the other hand, always giving me issues: they tend to either sliping out or too tight and uncomfortable. Quality wise, these headphones are also very solid. I've gone though three pairs since 1997. And at around 10 a pop, that's no big deal at all. I'm tempted to buy one of those new and ultra pricy earphones, but at 10 times the price of thse good old Sony, I'll stick to the old faithful.

I use these headphones for running and I have never had a problem with sweat in the ear. The fit nice and always stay on. I have had them for over a year now and I hope to keep running with them for a long time. - Ipod - Running - Earphones - Sport Headphones'

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Video Production - mac, hdtv

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I was able to get this tuner during a 24 sale the weekend after Thanksgiving at a VERY good price (over 50% off) and I have been very happy that I did. To be honest, this model was on my short list to start with but the price made it a no brainer. I've been using this tuner daily since the first week of December when I first installed it and have had very few issues with it.

For the record, I have used this on two different software installs: Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit and the Windows 7 32-bit Beta.

Pros:

Easy integration with Media Center both under Vista and Windows 7. In fact, it's been better under the Windows 7 Beta Media Center than under Vista!

Easy hardware set up. Plug it into your computer, install drivers, and plug in a TV and radio antenna and you're set. No needs to worry about the hardware aspect (minus turning the antenna in some cases).

Onboard MPEG-2 decoding that takes some of the pressure off of your CPU and other components.

Not very steep hardware requirements for your PC.

Can be used with other Media PC DVR software suites.

Great HD picture!

Cons:

The included Catalyst Media software is very buggy.

Cannot get the included remote to work.

As alluded to under cons the Catalyst Media software is more than a little buggy, both under Vista and Windows 7. It will work, most of the time. However, if you're like me "most of the time" just won't cut it if you're counting on it to record shows when you're away from your PC. Further, the Catalyst software does not seem to be able to display on a 16:10 ration display such as my LG LCD 22 incher. The upside is that if you play the recorded content back in another application such as Windows Media Player the aspect ratios are correct. It's just very distracting, to me at least, when watching live TV.

After two days of trying to get used to Catalyst I decided to seek out alternatives and settled on two. The first was Beyond TV and then Windows Media Center (Vista). Beyond TV works much better than the included software, produces a better picture quality, and has the correct aspect ratios. Windows Media Center under Vista has just a tad under the quality of Beyond TV. To me it was worth it to rely on Media Center after the trial period of Beyond TV was over as I wasn't ready to pay $40 more than I paid for the tuner for a software package.

My only complaint using under Media Center with Vista was the lack of the digital sub channels that many station simulcast. This is a problem with Vista and not the tuner so I do not ding the tuner for it.

The tuner really started to shine though under Windows 7 Beta, of all things! Media Center under 7 is more feature complete than it is under Vista and displays all the digital sub-channels and records in better quality (max quality under settings) than under any of the previously used software packages. In fact, even though the Catalyst software is installed under Windows 7 I have only used it once in the last month and rely totally on Media Center for my TV recording.

Now on to some of the issues some may have with this tuner.

I do not have cable so I rely on over-the-air broadcasts for my TV viewing. At first I was using my old trusty rabbit ear antenna figuring that I live less than 8 miles from the three main broadcast antennas for my television market. This was a mixed bag of results. The three main stations came in fine but I had "issues" picking up others such as the local PBS station. A quick run to the store to pick up an amplified antenna (RCA ANT1450B Multi-Directional Digital Flat Amplified Home Theater Antenna (Black)) and I was in business on all my local stations.

One other issues is my inability to get the included remote control to work. The poor documentation that comes with the tuner offers no help in this regard and I've given up. I don't really listen to FM radio so other than testing it to make sure it works once I've not used that feature.

Overall, this is an excellent choice for someone looking to setup HDTV recording on their computer in either a home media center setup or on their desktop machine for casual watching. VisionTek TV Wonder HD 650 USB TV Dual Tuner/Recorder

There are numerous complaints in various forums about the ATI HD 650 Combo loosing signal, hanging or panicking the system while trying to handle/switch between digital and analog signals. I'm on my second pair from Visiontek and have had nothing but problems with them under Vista and Windows 7. Avoid this product.

I am running Windows 7 RC1 and with media center, when you plug-in this to the USB port, the drivers will automatically download from Windows Update and you are ready to go! The video quality is excellent and the remote control make it a pleasure to use. Highly recommended.

This would have been a good USB digital TV tuner if the included software and drivers weren't so unusably horrible!

(1) The included TV tuner software is unusably buggy. The system often crashes and loses audio/video sync when changing channels. The recorded video stutters. No closed captioning or other advanced features.

(2) Due to the buggy Windows Vista drivers, you cannot use any 3rd-party PVR software to watch digital TV. (Only the analog DirectShow drivers are installed correctly!)

(3) 3rd-party PVR software does work with Windows XP, but even when everything is working, the drivers are crash-prone. I would often get a bluescreen when connecting or disconnecting the device when the computer is on. Rarely, the driver will go into an infinite loop while recording, causing the SYSTEM process to consume 100% CPU until reboot.

(4) The device does not have proper power management support, and the tv tuner consumes a lot of electricity and feels hot to the touch, even when the computer is turned off.

I do not recommend this product to anyone, unless it's on sale and you have a high threshold for frustration. - Hdtv Tuner - Tv Tuner - Hdtv - Mac'

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Critical Thinking - questioning, lesson planning

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As a librarian for a company known for creative thinking and innovation, and as a school volunteer encouraging students to explore science and technology without fear, the approach and activities in this book really spoke to me. Unfortunately, one of the side effects of NCLB and standardized testing is the killing of curiosity in children. The open-inquiry learning advocated and clearly demonstrated in this book is an antidote to the lockstep, regimented instruction that is boring and losing our children at an alarming rate. Nine Thousand Straws: Teaching Thinking Through Open-Inquiry Learning - Lesson Planning - Questioning - Teamwork'

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Milwaukee 18v Lithium-ion

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A Home Improvement contractor for 25 years, I've had the pleasure of working with quality tools built by Milwaukee. Just about 18 months ago I had purchased the 18volt cordless tool kit with saw, hatchet sawzall, drill, and flashlight. Again, I have been loving these tools to no end. Batteries wear out, but thought Milwaukee would last longer. These are fairly expensive to keep replacing.....As long as the tools will do their job, I will continue to provide them with new batteries. These tools are superior. And so, after 18 months, both batteries needed to be replaced. Fortunately, Amazon.com sells the 2 pack for less than 2 individual...it's a great deal. Milwaukee 48-11-2232 Value Pack 18-Volt 2.4 Amp Hour NiCad Slide Style Battery, 2 Pack

I bought the 18 volt combo kit and i had three batteries with it and after a year all thee batteries have died.I have the same thing in a makita and the batteries are over two years old and none have died.I bought another set of batteries for the milwaukee and those batteries are dying.I will never buy another milwukee product with batteries.I'll stick to makita.Milwaukee 18 volt batteries are the worst!!

I will agree with the other reviewers...If you are considering a cordless tool purchase, make Makita your choice. I have owned DeWalt and Milwaukee kits, as well as a variety of Makita tools, and without question the Makita will outperform the others. I don't know what the engineers at Milwaukee were thinking when they marketed that 18-volt line. It will long be a blemish on the reputation of Milwaukee Tools, considering the fine line of tools produced by that manufacturer.

(...)

The Milwaukee batteries are bad, but no worse than Dewalt and the rest. Bosch with their new "Bluecore" may be better. For those of us who already own Milwaukee or others, there is still an answer. Two companies that I know of, Batteries Plus, and VoltMan, will rebuild these with batteries that last much longer. The replacement cells have a slightly lower amp hour rating, may well be underrated as they seem to have at least all the torq of the originals. I am sure there are more other companies who can rebuild the battery packs as well, but these are the 2 I know of. They take your battery pack and rebuild it using all new cells. Voltman is less expensive, but Batteries Plus may have a store in your area so they may be more convenient for you...

Update:

While wildly more expensive, you can change over to Lithium Ion batteries which hold a charge for a year, and unlike Ni Cads do not die if not charged monthly. For home users who only use their tools every few months, they are the way to go. Amazon has them listed as:

Milwaukee 48-11-1833 V18 Multi-Pack 18-Volt and 28-Volt Lithium-Ion Charger with 2 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Batteries Combo Pack

The charger must be purchased as Ni Cad chargers will damage Lithium Ion batteries. The charger in this set can be used to charge Lithium Ion and Ni Cad batteries though.

I have nothing new to add, these batteries suck and die within a matter of a few months! I'm a moderate user of my milwaukee 18v drill, and the cost to keep operating it only in the price of batteries is out of control!

I've been unhappy with the lifespan of the 18v Milwaukee batteries. Compared to my Makita batteries, the Milwaukees last only half as long or less, before they won't take a charge anymore.

Too bad, because I really like the 18v Milwaukee circular saw and the 18v Hatchet recip saw. Rather than purchase new batteries from Milwaukee, I'm going to try having the old ones rebuilt and see if that improves their performance.

Though I did not buy brand new 18v Milwaukee batteries from Amazon (yet) more customers need to be aware their Ni-Cad 18v series has major issues. I bought a multipiece kit, impact wrench, and one extra battery. Not 10 months later, ALL batteried began losing charge in a matter of days to the point the charger would not recharge them they were so dead. No other brand of Ni-Cad's have done this. NOT ONE. And I have 3 other brands, and one generic American Gardner 18v bush trimmer battery.

Milwaukee 18v batteries are complete junk, and not worth a dime.

Look for their 18v lithium series though. Since I have their tools aready, I dont have much choice but to pay (what I'm sure to be) an insanly high price for one.

I have purchased many contractor grade tools in the past 10 years. Without a doubt, these batteries (all 6!) are the worst purchases I have made. My 18-volt drill runs great, if only I did not have to blow $80 on a new battery every 4 months. I give up... I am going with Makita. No complaints from my friends on the job site with Makita drills and impact drivers.

I hope Milwaukee tools reads your reviews about their batteries. Mine last about a year under light to moderate usage. Makita batteries last about 3 years!! I will not buy another Milwaukee battery powered tool!!

S. Duke'

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Bdu Pants - primal play shirt outdoor clothi, cargo pants

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I've been wearing several different pairs in solid colors of 65/35 poly-cotton Tru-Spec pants daily for almost ten years; THE SAME PAIRS. I haven't noticed any fading on any of the colors except the black pair is now slightly lighter. I do wash them exclusively in cold water though. No holes, tears or rips on any of the exteriors. I had to repair one hole in the pocket of the khaki pair and that was probably due to the massive key ring I used to carry. These pants cannot be beat. They're cool in the summer, decent in the winter (but I usually wear coolmax leggings if its cold out). I wear them casual with boots and t-shirts or a little dressy. I'm 5'7" and got Medium Regular; same size I wore in my work BDUs (I'm in the Air Force). They have the blousing ties built in at the bottom; you can rip them out but I roll the cuff just slightly to cover them and like the look (plus it doesn't drag on the ground). All of my pairs are "Made in the USA" of US made materials; I don't know if these still are. Some other brands have their BDUs made of US fabric but sewn in the Dominican Republic. I'll try to find out and amend my review. I've been quite pleased with these pants over the years and wonder if I'll ever need to buy another pair! Maybe if they came out with more colors? Tru-Spec 65/35 Polyester Cotton Rip-Stop BDU Pants in Black - Large Long

Was wearing the item during a few long late-season hikes in Sierra. Very durable, rip-stop really works, pockets are located exactly where one expects them to be. When wet retains some heat and dries quickly.

A real solid piece of gear that doesn't look like a military issue. - Cargo Pants - Cool - Bdu - Primal Play Shirt Outdoor Clothi'

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Textual Criticism - textual criticism, bible

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Every Christian who believes that the Bible is God's Word should read the first part of this book, whether they agree with the author's stance or not, or whether they are interested in the controversy or not, since it covers quite a bit of background information relating to the history and nature of New Testament translation, including its history, major translations, translators, and other key figures, information about the nature of the greek manuscripts, and so on.Most of what I would comment about on this book has already been said, so I won't push the point much further.However, I would like to add another point which James White seems to have overlooked in his book, I assume because of his lack of international/missionary experience:I come from Singapore where not everyone is fluent in English, or even knows English, much less read English. For the ethnic Chinese who only reads and understands the Chinese language, the only Bible they can read would obviously be on that is translated to Chinese. Unfortunately (or fortunately?), none of the Chinese Bibles, as far as I know, are translated from the TR, and you cannot find a Chinese Bible translated from the King James version. Now that's just the Bible in Chinese, where there are a few versions/translations. How about those other Bibles in languages where there's only ONE translation (mostly translated by UBS, and not translated from TR/KJV)?Those who insist on KJV Only should perhaps remember that there's a whole world out there that does not and cannot understand English, much less KJV English. I supposed they are doomed, unless they learn English, KJV English.That said, my opinion is that this is probably the best book on the subject. Read it, unless your mind is already made up (see those 1 star reviews). King James Only Controversy, The: Can You Trust Modern Translations?

This book is as thorough as could be possible in presenting its case. Since some have overtly slandered the author (James White), let me tell you what this book does NOT do. It does not tell people that the King James Version (KJV) is evil or that it should not be used. There are numerous places where Mr. White recommends using various translations (including KJV) to ascertain the exact meaning of a particular Biblical passage. The purpose of this book is to refute those people who would claim that the KJV is the only true word of God. Let me say Mr. White goes above and beyond in proving his case. Unfortunately, most of those who disagree will not read this book with an open heart and mind. White covers basic manuscript and textual issues. He then gives some excellent background info regarding the making of the KJV. He also covers the numerous passages that "KJV only" advocates use in their arguments. After reading this book, I can not fathom how anyone could believe that the KJV is the only valid Bible translation.

Book Summary Report: The King James Controversy

Theologian and apologist, James R. White, tackles the King James Only controversy with clarity and sobriety in his book The King James Controversy. With the heart of a pastor he addresses what has become a highly emotional issue for many people. As such, his tone and purpose are immediately evident. He strives for peace in the church. He tactfully dispels ignorance, and he responds to the often bombastic and vitriolic statements common to KJV Only advocates. James White is concerned to show that his readers can trust many of the modern translations, and while the KJV is a good translation it is far from being a perfect translation. Moreover, he seeks to demonstrate that charges of grand conspiracy on the part of modern translators are misguided and quite false. All of these points are developed with an eye on the novice. Therefore, the flow of his book is structured in such a way as to introduce the reader to some history and to textual concepts before moving into more detailed and theme specific areas of the KJV Only debate.

There is a logical construction to the book. Chapters one through three are more preparatory in character, in that they establish some rudimentary concepts before delving into the specifics of the debate. Chapters four through ten then dig into the details of the debate. The nature of these initiatory chapters will now be explored.

Chapter one delineates five basic KJV perspectives. The spectrum ranges from those who simply prefer the KJV as a translation to those who actually believe the KJV is a new revelation from God. White notes that most KJV Only advocates fall into group 4, which teaches that the KJV, as an English translation, is inspired.

Chapter two delves into history. The author intends to show that the KJV Only perspective, or mentality, isn't new to history. The great fifth century scholar, Jerome, provided a new translation of the Old Testament in Latin. The esteemed translation of that day was the Septuagint; it was the standard, the norm. When the people were confronted with the Vulgate they were very suspicious and many considered the new translation a threat. As time went on the Vulgate, ironically, became the accepted norm. Centuries later, when Erasmus sought to improve upon the Vulgate by consulting the original languages, a similar reluctance, and even disdain, erupted from the people. White draws parallels to the current debate. Like the Vulgate and the TR, people today murmur at new translations that seek to be more faithful to the original languages and more accurate in their textual choices. White stresses that the resistance from KJV Only adherents is not a historical novelty.

Chapter three educates the reader in foundational textual concepts. Subjects such as "manuscripts," "text-types," and "textual variants" are explored and defined by the author. White provides the reader with a broad sense of how we have come to possess the New Testament as we have it today. He wants the reader to understand that differences in Bible versions stem from translational differences, text-type differences (and therefore, different sources to be translated), and/or textual variants. He also introduces the reader to the different text-type families, with an emphasis upon the validity of the Alexandrian text.

Having laid some foundational groundwork in translational and textual issues, White begins to dismantle the KJV Only position in the remaining chapters of the book. The thrust of his polemic revolves roughly around five major thoughts. They are as follows:

(1) Erasmus and the original AV translators adhered, in substance, to the same translational and textual methodologies as practiced by modern translators.

(2) The charge of "grand conspiracy" leveled against modern translations, whether it is the "covering up of sins," undermining the deity of Christ Jesus, etc., is not only untrue, but hypocritically asserted by KJV Only advocates.

(3) The KJV Only position engages in slander, mischaracterization, and presents misleading data regarding alleged Scriptural deletions.

(4) The KJV doesn't always translate the Greek satisfactorily.

(5) The TR text harbors some poor textual choices.

In the case of the first point, the author surveys Erasmus' methodology noting that he recognized copyist errors, found examples of harmonization, perceived instances of transferred material in the Gospels, was extremely hesitant to include the Comma Johanneum, and other such points that agree with the approach of modern translators. The same is true of the KJV committee. They didn't conceive of themselves as being infallible. This point is made manifestly evident by White's citing excerpts from The Translators to the Reader. The translators explicitly state that they are attempting to improve upon older translations by examining textual data and pondering afresh the original languages. White challenges KJV Only adherents to be consistent in their assessment of Erasmus. Indeed, he calls them to reject Erasmus' work on the same grounds that they reject the modern translations.

Regarding the second point, White deals with the KJV Only allegation that the modern translations, and their "corrupted texts," deny the deity of Jesus Christ and undermine His Person by arguing several key points. He argues that the Byzantine text is "fuller" due the expansion of piety principle and that earlier manuscripts are simply more compact in their titles surrounding Jesus. He also compares passages on the deity of Christ in the NIV and NASB with the KJV and proves that the modern translations are in no way inferior in their affirmation of Christ's deity; if anything, they are clearer.

Point three is the focus of chapter five. In this chapter the author examines the writings of leading KJV Only advocates, Dr. Peter Ruchman, Dr. Edward Hills, and Gail Riplinger. White points out Riplinger's poor handling of the data (one might dare say deceitful). In the case of Dr. Hills, White sheds light on his fundamentally circular argumentation, but praises his honesty and irenic tone. Dr. Ruchman is shown to be a man of bombastic and caustic irritancy who, while exhibiting the sarcasm of a Luther, should prove to be more logical and scholarly in his handling of the data. After debunking Dr. Ruchman's "Creed of the Alexandrian Cult," White says that the term "misrepresentation" seems, at times, simply too mild for Dr. Ruchman's writings. KJV Only advocates can charge the modern translations with Scriptural deletion, but the facts will not substantiate these claims.

When James White turns to translational differences he catalogs a series of examples whereby the NIV and NASB are shown to be more accurate, or at least valid and clearer in their choice of translation. The same type of "example and respond" argumentation is utilized in his discussion on textual differences. But he begins the discussion by first outlining the means by which modern Christians go about studying and gathering and analyzing ancient manuscripts. He points out that one cannot simply count the number of extant manuscripts in a given text-type; rather, we must weigh them. For although the Majority Text greatly outnumbers Alexandrian manuscripts it must be carefully observed that Alexandrian manuscripts are the earliest and outnumber Byzantine manuscripts up until the eighth century. Upon examining the evidence White presents a compelling case that there are a significant number of displacements, examples of parallel influence, expansions of piety, and balancing within the Byzantine family. All of this is done in the context of specific passages that serve as concrete examples. And all of this done to demonstrate that the NIV and NASB are justified in their textual choices, and that the accusations of KJV Only advocates are unwarranted. Such discussions are written in a semi-detailed manner, with Part II serving as a detailed and scholarly defense of key textual choices within modern translations.

In conclusion, the book is written as a plea for understanding. He wants to help people understand why our English Bibles read the way they do. He seeks to demonstrate that KJV Only arguments are viciously circular and blatantly use double standards as they attack modern translations. Moreover, he seeks to show us that the movement is a human tradition without a basis in history. I think he has succeeded, and he has done so with tact and tough love. I would heartily recommend the book to anyone interested in the topic. - Textual Criticism - Bible Translation - Bibliophile - Bible'

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Physical Therapy Aids - exercise, fitness

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These weights are easy to use - they use velcro straps and can be placed on the ankles or on the wrists. I am very pleased with them and have been using them ever since they arrived. I am small-boned and often have trouble with items being too big but these have enough adjustment to make them comfortable. TKO Neoprene Wrist/Ankle Weights, 2 lb. pair, Blue

These worked great for about 3 weeks, until the fabric right next to the sewn-in Velcro began to rip and leak the inner pebbles on both weights. Unacceptable quality, they should have at least lasted me 6 months.

If you're looking for something to add a little more heft to your routine, skip these and spend a bit more money on a product that will actually keep up with your workout.

My wrists and ankles are very small, but I had no trouble fastening these around my ankles with the velcro straps. The only complaints that I have is that they are too bulky to really be worn on the wrist and that if I wear them too tightly, the metal hook cuts into my skin and leaves a bruise so I have to wear thick socks or wear two socks at once to make sure that doesn't happen.

These weights are very comfortable, but that's about all they have going for them. The material the weights are made from is very thin and tears very easy. My weights lasted about 2 weeks before one of them started to leak sand. You'd be much better off buying a set of more expensive, adjustable weights as the time these last just makes them not worth the purchase.

These are definitely not dainty weights...but they hold strong and in place through rigorous runs and plyo workouts. I've tried other brands made especially for women and they didn't hold up (velcro came loose, wiggled around) I have fairly small ankles and they fit snug. I would not recommend these as wrist weights as they're too bulky. - Wrist Weights - Weights - Fitness - Exercise'

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Digital Timer - digital timer, digital outlet timer

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I've only had it an hour but I'm already pleased. I have two Intermatic timers, the DT1 and the DT7, which is similar to this Hydrofarm. I outgrew the DT1, and DT7 fulfilled my needs but the buttons have gotten unresponsive to the point where it's a knock-down-drag-out fight to reprogram it or adjust anything at all, this after having it for maybe 10 years. This Hydrofarm seems to work great. Hopefully, the buttons will remain responsive.

You can set up a schedule with up to 8 separate On events and 8 separate Off events. Each single event can be for all days of the week, any one day of the week, Monday through Friday, Saturday and Sunday, all days but Sunday, Monday Wednesday Friday, Tuesday Thursday Saturday, Monday Tuesday Wednesday, Tuesday Friday Saturday. There's a random mode you can toggle to get from 2 up to 32 minutes of "random" variation.

You can override the settings. For instance, suppose right at this moment the timer when according to the schedule would be Off (meaning no power is supplied to the device plugged into it) and you decide you want it On. There's a button marked ON/AUTO/OFF. The LCD display as you keep pressing that button goes like this: On, Auto, Off, Auto, On, Auto, Off, Auto, On, etc. Thus, if I want it On right now although the programmed schedule has it normally off at this time, I press the ON/AUTO/OFF button and after seeing On in the display I press it one more time so Auto will appear in the display and it will be On and remain On until one of the scheduled events turns it Off, being the schedule taking control again. With my Intermatic DT7 due to the unresponsiveness of the buttons if I wanted to override the schedule I used to have to unplug my device from the timer and plug it into a regular outlet for the time being (if I wanted it On, or leave it unplugged if I wanted it off) and then remember to plug it back into the timer to get back on schedule. Problem solved with my new Hydromatic.

I was concerned when I found out that it has a rechargable battery in it that is not replaceable. The Intermatics each use a single AA alkaline battery, obviously replaceable, to retain settings when you remove the timer from AC power. I contacted Hydrofarm and asked about the installed battery and they contacted the vendor and replied to me by email that the internal battery is NiMH. A review here states that the battery is soldered in. It might be replaceable, I don't know, I haven't removed the 4 screws and looked inside. However, maybe the installed battery will remain good enough for many years, as long as you don't remove the timer from AC power for too long. It shouldn't need much energy to retain information and run for just a few minutes when unplugged.

It comes in a hard plastic bubble pack, but that was a pleasant surprise. I didn't have to use a knife or a sissors to remove it and risk cutting my hands with either a blade or the sharp edge of cut hard plastic. The timer, etc. popped right out with a slight twist. I wish this were more commonly done.

It can deliver a lot of power (15 amps) and the price is quite reasonable. I looked all over for 7 day timers and this one won out easily.

I scanned and used OCR software on the printed instructions (couldn't find them online), did a bit of editing to make it more clear and saved as a text file. Here is my improved version:

- - - -

DIGITAL GROUNDED 7-DAY TIMER

1. Press the reset button. (Do this if you want to erase all settings)

The reset button is the small round white recessed button on the right

side of the timer face. Use a pointed object to reach it in order to

erase all previous programming.

2. Set the clock.

HOUR: Press the clock button and simultaneously press the HOUR button

until you arrive at the correct hour. (Be aware of AM and PM hours.)

MIN: Again pressing the CLOCK button, simultaneously press the MIN

button until you arrive at the correct minute.

WEEK: Press the clock button and simultaneously press the WEEK button

until you arrive at the current day of the week.

3. Program your settings.

Each event is numbered and has a time to come on and a time to go off.

You can set 1, 2, or up to n different events using the PROG (program)

button. The PROG display will start at 1 ON. As you keep pressing the

button, the display will cycle through all the events: 1 ON, 1 OFF; 2

ON, 2 OFF; 3 ON, etc.. up to 8 OFF. For each event you must set WEEK,

HOUR, and MIN. First select which days of the week this particular event

will function (WEEK button.) As you press the button, it will cycle

through all the possibilities which include: MoTuWeThFrSaSu (everyday of

the week); Mo, Tu, We, Th, Fr, Sa, Su (each individual day of the week);

MoTuWeThFr (only week days); SaSu (only weekends); MoTuWeThFrSa; MoWeFr;

TuThSa; MoTuWe; or ThFrSa. After selecting the desired day(s) your event

will function, select the timing for the event to come on or go off

using the HOUR and MIN buttons. (Be aware of AM and PM hours.)

4. Set to automatic.

Use the ON/OFF/AUTO button to set to automatic. The button cycles

through ON, AUTO, OFF, AUTO, ON, AUTO, OFF, AUTO, ON, etc. as you keep

pushing it. If, according to the schedule you have programmed, it is

supposed to be off at that time of day (and day of the week), you cycle

it through to AUTO after cycling past OFF. If, according to the schedule

you have programmed, it is supposed to be on at that time of day, you

cycle it through to AUTO after cycling past ON. If you are using the

timer for subtle equipment like C02 and you want to test your programmed

schedule, you can try plugging in something more obvious like a light or

a fan so that you can see the changes more easily.

NOTE: Daylight Savings mode -- IF you press HOUR and MIN at the same

time you will get Daylight Savings mode which will delay your settings

by one hour automatically. This will be shown as a clock symbol over the

black dot in the right lower corner of the display. Press HOUR and MIN

simultaneously to remove the Daylight Savings mode. Random mode -- If you

press WEEK and MIN simultaneously, the display will show a O above the

clock symbol which will flash when functioning. This is random mode. The

on and off timing will be delayed by 2 up to 32 minutes randomly. This

setting is probably not useful for gardening purposes. One use of this

setting is for lights, to fool would-be burglars when you are not home.

Again press WEEK and MIN simultaneously to remove this mode.

Edit: I've had it 60 days now and I'm using almost all of the on/off events and it has been working perfectly.

Edit 2: I can't tell you how aggravating it was trying to reprogram or adjust the time on the Intermatic D7 (mentioned near the beginning of this review) once the buttons became almost totally unresponsive. Lest this Hydrofarm timer suffer the same fate, I've decided to not orient it in such a way that dust can settle into the buttons' crevices (easily managed, because the timer is plugged into a short extension cord), and in addition I have taped a piece of Saran Wrap to the front face. I can see through that and press buttons fine. These tactics will hopefully prevent most dust and dirt from reaching and penetrating the face of the device and will significantly extend its useful life. Hydrofarm TM01715D 7-Day Digital Program Timer - Digital Outlet Timer - Programmable Digital Timer - Lamp Timer - Digital Timer'

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Metal Connector Nailer

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I've had the Bostitch MCN-150 for just about a year now. In that time it has paid for itself two or three times over. One house, with lots of straps and hangers and one deck rebuild with a couple hundred joist hangers is all it took. This tool can do in an hour what it would take a person all day to do by hand. And it saves your fingers in the process. Anyone who has tried to set tico nails in tight spaces knows what I mean. I really can't stress the time savings enough. The size of this gun is great, you can get into some amazingly tight spots and because of the innovative tip design, you can shoot at less than ideal angles.

That being said: There are two cons to this tool. It only holds small clips of nails (24, i think) so you are constantly reloading, but even with a clip of 50 you would be reloading often because of the speed that you can shoot. When nailing off long Simpson type straps, you really notice this. The other con is the fact that you can only shoot 1.5" nails. Which is a bummer here in California, where longer nails are often required. But apparently they now have the MCN-250 which addresses both of these issues. I will be ordering one of those also.

I have also used the Hitachi NR65AK, which is good, but I really think the Bostitch is better and for the price of the Hitachi you could order both Bostitch models and still be in the same ballpark.

One last thing. You can use other companies nails in a pinch. The manual stressed using only Bostitch Nails, but I was forced to use Senco at one point. They work OK but jam in the track occasionally due to burs on the nails. But they'll get you through. Bostitch MCN-150 StrapShot Metal Connector Nailer

we love this little guy...makes quick work of decks, roof ties, hurricane straps, and the like...you will never want to frame without it....we got ours through HD Contractor services for $219...so far the unit is flawless and durable..and the case keeps her ready and clean between jobs.

Quality tool. Used it for a couple deck jobs and I must have hung 100+ joist hangers, it made the difference between making and losing money. Payed for itself the first day in speed and effectiveness. I used a swivel air hose connector for the tight areas. Great addition to my air tools.

If you're in a trade long enough you start getting excited when new, well thought out and engineered tools appear. A while back, the JLC reviewed the Bostitch StrapShot metal connector nailer. After reading the review I knew that there would be a job in my future that would be THE job that would be the perfect excuse to purchase this nailer and put it to use.

Oh Baby!! Where have you been all my life! During the age of dinosaurs we used to beat in teco nails with rocks. That was kind of hard on the rocks and our fingers. Then during the middle ages we would beat in those blasted nails with our 24 oz. serrated face framing hammers. Did you ever notice how the holes in the metal connectors were always just a little bit tinier than the loose (not collated) teco nails? If you didn't hit that frickin' nail with just the right amount of blast the hammer would home in on the nearest thumb and index finger - usually yours - and scrape off a nice thick layer of skin.

Then came the last decade of the 20th century. Homo Constructus Almosterectus, evolved to the point where we actually could nail those pesky metal hangers with our pneumatic framing nailers. The only thing you had to worry about was placing the tip of the nailer near the hole the nail was meant to go into. For those who had difficulty achieving this, numerous jokes involving hair were coined.

Along came the Bostitch MCN-150 StrapShot nailer. If there were a Nobel prize for innovative tool development, I would nominate the boys at Bostitch. It fits in tight joist spaces, it actually uses the nail point to locate the point of aim and after 1 week of daily usage, installing many hundreds of Simpson connectors, I can honestly say we had not one misfire.

If you're in the building business and your crews aren't using this nailer chances are they're not making you any money either. The only complaint I have is the local lack of nails for this gun. Until they become available I'll just keep on ordering them up on Amazon.

I originally purchased a Porter Cable palm nailer, thinking that this was going to be the best [and only] option for hammering home the hundreds (ok...thousands) of nails required to fasten all of the hurricane ties and joist hangers for my 500+ square foot deck.

Thankfully I was wrong and happened to come across this nailer which I was more than happy to add to my collection of pneumatic tools.

My joists are 12" on center and this gun fits as promised in that tight space. Yes - it would be nice if the magazine held more nails than it does, but if that were the case, it wouldn't fit between the joists. I've shot over 1,300 nails so far, both 10d and 8d, and haven't had a single jam...which is good because the nose of the gun doesn't open to clear jams similar to my other porter cable nailers.

I'm a 1-man operation, and using this gun has allowed me to do 75% of the framing for the 2-level deck in less than a week of working only at night after I get home from work.

Overall, I couldn't be happier with the gun - with that said, I still haven't even used my palm nailer - I guess that I'll save that little guy for another project. The only downside to this nailer is it's versatility after the project is over...unless you're going to put a few decks onto friend's houses, it's not an 'around-the-house' nailer, since it won't fire if it doesn't detect a metal strap that you're trying to shoot through.

If you build decks or use a lot of hangers like hurricane clips that are required nowadays, this gun is a must. For the price you can't beat it, it does exactly what it's supposed to do and the size is perfect. I purchased the larger gun that does the same thing with replacing the tip and liked it but the gun is huge, didn't work well between joists so I broke down and bought this gun and love it. The other gun will only be used if I need two guys going together with hurricane clips, but the MCN-150 will do all of the grunt work. If you have the Rap-A-Nail gun the nails will work in this gun.'

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Dash Mounting Kits - installation, car stereo

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To get this product to fit correctly into my Jeep's pre-existing mounts, I had to do quite a bit of cutting on this product. So if you want something that will just fit perfectly without you doing anything to it, then this is not for you. Scosche CJ1278B Multi Kit with 1 CD Storage Pocket for 1974-99 Chrysler

Fit perfectly, good instructions. Didn't give it 5 stars because it appears to be missing a couple screws that hold the side pieces to the actual stereo. But the stereo doesn't move at all without them, so I'm not worried.

Its a good product and worked on my 97 Cherokee (XJ) like amazon said, even though manual didn't list my vehicle. I bought with Naxa NCA-670 and didn't think it was going to fit at first. Of course I don't read instructions, figured out that the facing plate was already clipped into opening, so I just had to pull it out first. I also was playing around and clipped the two brackets in on each side of the radio with all the bolt holes, which of course I didn't need for my vehicle/radio. So, I had to unclick them. Also, be careful when you are bending tabs (if radio has a sleeve) on the 'cd pocket' side (bottom of stereo), because when you get it all together you may find that your opening for your cd pocket is construed at the top on the opening because the radio tab(s) is pushing up against it (which I also figured out from trial and error). Hope my choice to not read instructions has helped a fellow human.

The trim ring feels a bit flimsy. I've had it in for a week and it seems good. It was straight forward to install. There are a bunch of tabs around it to mate up with different vehicles, and you have to cut of the ones that don't belong there for your application. A dremel tool with a cut off wheel would be handy. I managed with a hack saw and being careful.

The 1.5 DIN space is a pain to deal with. I like the small pocket space better than the alternative which is a flat piece of plastic that centers the 1 DIN radio in the middle. The small crevice is good for stuffing a map, directions, or the cord to your mp3 player.

I'd prefer it was built a little stronger, but it was the best option out there for a Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ, and I'm happy with it so far.

I know it has to do with the space that is there, but I got this one because of the shelf. The shelf is not really even big enough to put one CD case in. It will work of the slim line case though. Other then that is a mount like most of the other I have used, it works. - Installation - Car Stereo'

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Manual Pencil Sharpener - pencil sharpener, school supplies

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Redesigned for manufacture in china this sharpener no longer offers long life and worry free use. Out of the box crank was on crooked, screws holding it together were stripped. The eight hole front pencil guiede is flimsy. The design will not stand up to class room use. Look else where. X-Acto Ranger 55 Table- or Wall-Mount Heavy-Duty Pencil Sharpener, Black, 1 Unit (1001)

Very nice heavy duty feel - quite rugged, Sharpens very quickly, better than most electric sharpeners AND takes different diameter pencils.

BUT, sharpens to an off-center point. That was a very significant disappointment in an otherwise super product.

Some pencils sharpen to an unusable state as the point is so off-center. Kids who tend to not keep the pencil perpendicular to the sharpener when inserting the pencil may have a hard time getting a usable point.

What a contrast between how rugged it is and how great the sharpening heads are generally with how the pencil actually gets sharpened.

I would bet some of these will sharpen off center like mine does & some not - it's a manufacturing consistency issue I would guess.

I am a teacher and have gone through a lot of pencil sharpeners in my classroom...manual and electric...and they were all JUNK. I was looking for and industrial strength pencil sharpener that would sharpen all kinds of pencils (even the cheap ones manufactured today), withstand the use of 120 kids a day, and last a long, long time. Well, I think I found it. I LOVE THIS PENCIL SHARPENER! I have only had it a few weeks, but I think that it will stand the test of time. And the word is out...kids from other classrooms come and use MY pencil sharpener now because the one in their room stinks! It may be expensive, but you get what you pay for!

I have two of these - made in USA circa 1950s or 1960s. The original models were made of heavy cast metal with chrome plated steel sides. They offered a point adjustment that moved the cutting heads closer or farther apart. And they size wheel was a solid cast piece.

This - while it has some of the best cutting heads on a pencil sharpener - doesn't measure up to the original Boston Ranger 55 sharpener. Still nice to be able to order one new instead of hunting through auction sites.

Several reviews said this pencil sharpener was heavy duty and worked very well. I teach school and have yet to find a sharpener that will consistently sharpen the poorly-made pencils in my classroom. I purchased this one in hopes that it was do the job. Unfortunately, it sharpens on one side of the pencil so it was a waste of money.

We homeschool our 8 children, and we have been through quite a few pencil sharpeners (manual and electric). This pencil sharpener takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'! It even sharpens those cheap "made in China" pencils! I highly recommend this pencil sharpener!!!

I bought this pencil sharpener based on other reviews I saw and was not disappointed. I was so very tired of having all of the other sharpeners we tried break down on us. Electric, hand held, wall-mounted, you name it, they all wore out very quickly. This one sharpens pencils to a very fine point and seems like it is going to last.

I'm a 2nd grade teacher and have struggled to find a solution to pencil sharpening issues. I spent an entire day researching various pencil sharpeners. I have employed a multitude of different pencil sharpeners, including the behemoth electric pencil sharpeners that are supposedly designed for school use. All have failed me. To be fair, I also believe the quality of pencils have deteriorated as of late, and that has not helped the issue. As my research into pencil sharpeners turned up no clear "winner," as even as the highest rated sharpener still got pretty dismal reviews, I began to think that the issue was that electric pencil sharpeners are just simply doomed to fail. Too many moving parts, and opportunities for malfunction. I turned my attention to manual pencil sharpeners and soon stumbled upon this beauty of a sharpener. I had it mounted upright on top of a bookshelf and it has been pencil sharpening bliss. I regularly have teachers come into my room with baskets full of pencils to sharpen, and have convinced a number of teachers to purchase one for their classrooms. Re-sharpening a dull point truly takes just a few turns of the crank. Butter. I will say that I've only had the sharpener for 6 months, but it is purring like a kitten, and I'll certainly let you know if my dreams of the perfect pencil sharpener get shattered. Anyway, keep it simple...remember that older technology isn't always obsolete...this sharpener is pretty sweet. - Pencil Sharpener - Pencil Sharpeners - School Supplies - Home Office'

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