Tuesday 30 June 2009

Childhood Memories - board game, childhood memories


I've been playing Trouble since I was a kid and it's still fun to play with my brothers and my niece. You push down on the middle part of the game with the dice in it and the dice will 'pop' and give you a number, telling you how many spaces to move. The first person to get their four pieces around the board and to their base, wins. If you land on a space where one of your opponent's pieces are already at, they will have to start all over with that piece. For that reason, some kids might get mad if they have to start over, but that's the only thing that I see that anyone wouldn't like about Trouble.Playing Trouble can teach kids some counting skills and maybe even some sportsmanship after you teach them not to get mad because they're not winning everytime. Trouble is a lot of fun and I recommend anybody to get it. Trouble Board Game

I think even young children will enjoy this game. My daughter was under 4 when we started, but she loves the counting aspect of the game. It's great for number recognition skills because you make them say the number on the die outloud as they "roll." The only rule I don't like is that you need a "6" to start. Often that makes the beginning a bit slow if no one gets a 6. Once things get going, it's a lot of fun and easy to play. The thing in the middle is harder to push than it looks, so for very young children, they may not be strong enough to push it. 3-4 year olds should have no problem though and it makes a satisfying pop. A fun and easy game -- avoid if your child still puts small plastic pieces in his mouth though.

"I sat hunkered over the board. Five years old, and a "Trouble" champion. My brother stared me down. At eight years old, he knew how to intimidate. My glass of chocolate milk quivered in my nervous hands..." --me... circa 1971 or 1972The sheer delight of a simple game will be satisfying as you see your children pop on the plastic bubble to 'toss the dice.' And you'll smile as you know those dice won't be easily lost. Milton Bradley were smart to use such a creative device without losing an ounce of fun.Easy to learn, keeps a child's attention, and just plain good 'ol fun.My brother usually beat me. But I went at the game as intensely as Michael Jordan plays basketball.I fully recommend "Trouble."Anthony Trendl

I'm a 27 year old mother of 3. I remember loving this game when I was a kid. I was so dissapointed when I opened this game. I couldn't believe how cheesey it is. You can barely 'POP' the dice. And when my kids POP the bubble all the game pieces fly around. Plus the bottom of the game has a pop in piece of cardboard. Shouldn't the bottom be covered with hard plastic??



I also wish there was something to hold all the pieces because my kids (like many others) abuse the box and all of the pieces fall out and get lost.

****Can't the board game makers start making harder cases or Tins so we all don't have a stack of smashed boxes and missing pieces.



The game itself is fun...but I ended up throwing it away because pieces got lost way to fast.

I have a hard time finding a game my daughters will both agree on. When I found Trouble, I found relief! It's one game they agree on and the whole family can get into the action. The die helped my youngest learn to recognize her numbers. What a wonderful family game. My hat's off to you Amazon for selling this game and thank you Hasbro for making such a wonderful family game!

When "I'm bored" rings out, this is a great toy. One of those ones everyone can play together, without sitting mesmerised at a computer or video screen. A good one to take away on holidays too - it gets packed first in our house.

I like many other adults rember this game from when I was a child. My wife and I purchased it as a Christmas gift for our kids. My kids love the game, and have they have lots of fun playing it. Educationally they learn to count and strategize as part of the game(which piece to move, what pieces are at risk).



The construction of the game seems quite flimsy compared to the game I had as a young boy. The kids have to really push down on the bubble to get the die to jump.



Another interesting note, this isn't a complaint, just an observation. With four players the game takes a little longer to play, all four of us were knocking opposing players back to home every few turns. This didn't seem to bother the kids too much, they enjoyed forcing their siblings pieces home, but it happened so often that I commented to my wife that the game might take all day...



Overall the game is fun and the kids enjoy playing it. Sometimes a player can get stuck waiting for a six (we allow 1 and 6 to speed up the game), and there are some games where everyone keeps getting their game pieces sent home, in games like that my kids begin to stop sending other players pieces home. The quality of the product itself is rather cheap, and the little ones have to push the bubble with both hands to get it to pop but I wouldn't let that stop me from purchasing this game.

I always loved this game when I was little - and the fact that my daughter also enjoys it now makes this a special toy for us to share. My four-year old really gets into it. Sometimes the pop-o-matic thing in the center is too hard for her to push. If she has to put a lot of pressure on it, the game pieces can become dislodged. She has learned a lot about counting and strategy - I think the educational value is high. And on a sweeter note, she's learning manners and sportsmanship in a really gentle way. As much as she loves to send her mommy back "home" she always notes "that it's just part of the game".

This is the one game we enjoy playing with our 6 year old -who is a very sore loser. But this game is so much fun, he doesn't mind if he loses. It's great for counting skills and really tests a kid's patience. The pop up dice is fun, too. - Games - Trouble - Board Game - Childhood Memories'


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Staple Remover


The ACCO all metal staple remover allows you to see where you need to slide the slide under edge to enter under the staple, to keep track of the staple as it is removed. The broad oval of the handle allows a steady grip without damaging the hand. It is also the best value available. Swingline Premium Staple Remover, Silver (S7037141P)'


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Recumbent Exercise Bike


We got this so we could add some variety to indoor exercise days. Since walking, cycling, and other exercises that use your thigh muscles a lot can expend an awful lot of calories in a very short amount of time, this little gem compliments a regular kettlebell routine quite nicely. It can help you stick to a High Intensity workout schedule five or six days a week.



It took about 45 minutes for one person to put together and it seems quite a bit sturdier compared to other similarly priced products reviews. It's seen several hundred miles of use in a few months time and it's as good as new. It's only drawback is that the seat and back are not padded nearly enough, in fact hardly at all, especially compared to outdoor recumbent bikes, which tend to be generously padded. Even with an office chair padding set and/or an additional cushion, it can be painful to stand up and walk away from this thing after 30 or 45 minutes of cycling. A+ for being a sturdy workhorse, D- for being a literal pain. Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Bike

Very easy to assemble, wonderful performance, comfortable seat, easy to use, and quality of the material.



I love using it in the morning (not evening, because I noticed it's hard for me to fall asleep after the exercise). It's very good for the knees.



This bike is adjustable - you can control the tension and adjust the bike size to your height (make the bike shorter of longer). And, it's not huge, you can keep it in any room - it doesn't take much space.



I'd recommend this bike to everyone! The big advantage is - you can use it any time, in any weather, unlike the regular bicycles (I don't mean it's better, but more convenient for people who don't spend much time outdoors).

When I was deciding on a recumbent bike, it came down to this one and the Mary Recumbent Mag Cycle. I chose this one because it had a pulse reader on it. The only thing that I do not like about this bike is that when "scanning" between the time, distance, pace, total, and calories... it doesn't go to pulse. You have to press "Mode" and then it starts to calculate your pulse. No matter if your fingers are already on the pulse, it will still start from 72 and take a minute or so to calculate.



Other than that, my husband and I have had great work outs on the machine. The tension knob is not numbered, but it tells you to twist left if you want less tension, and twist right if you want more. This is not calculated into your calories burned, which is another downside. However, I know the amount of tension I am comfortable with and as long as I get my hour in every day around a certain pace, I feel great about my work out.



It is definitely worth the great price!

This is a great bike. Love it! I had a hard time assembling it though. I was able to put the bike together, but cannot figure out how to attach the tension cord, the arm rests, and hook up the computer cords.'


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High Definition - tivo hd, esata


If you're a Tivo owner with a HD Tivo, then chances are you've come to the right place. This drive is the right choice for upgrading your capacity. It is the ONLY brand that is supported by Tivo, your warranty will remain in effect, and it is a painless install.



This package is the right enclosure, the right eSATA cable, and most importantly the right drive. This drive is NOT a standard PC drive. It is specially designed for 24/7 spinning, low noise, PVR use.



Note that 1TB should give you over 165 hours of HD, not the "60 hours" in this listing. Also note that most Tivos don't recognize drives over 1TB, so spending more won't help you.



If you really want to get into the details of upgrading your Tivo storage, look here: [...]



All my info is current as of Spring 2009. Things change. Western Digital My DVR Expander 1 TB eSATA External Hard Drive

Those that live in the NY/NJ area and have Cablevision know that they changed most, if not all, of the regular channels to HD channels. So our DVR has been filling up faster than usual, and there is no way around it. Most of the popular channels are all in HD. So for the past month or so, my wife and I have been looking for a solution. Our DVR was always 70-80% full and we were constantly erasing stuff. I found the Western Digital My DVR Expander, and it was the solution to our problem. I called Cablevision customer support and asked them if it was compatible with our DVR. They said yes, and that it was actually the only one compatible, meaning that you can't just get any eSATA drive and plug it in. The My DVR Expander is formatted to function just like your DVR. I did read somewhere that only the 500 GB version is the only one compatible with the Scientific Atlanta Explorer, but the Cablevision customer support tech did not mention that.



It took one day to receive my package after ordering, AMAZING! I looked up the installation instruction on the Cablevision website and they were identical to the instructions that came with the drive. "Power off cable box, plug in the power cord for the DVR Expander, connect the eSATA cable, power on DVR Expander, and power on cable box, follow on screen instructions to format the drive." Simple right? You would think that, but I did not get the on screen instructions, so I knew something was wrong. I checked to see the about of space used, and it was still 85% full. I started to get a little frustrated, but I decided to try it again, thinking maybe I did something wrong. Followed the instructions again, and still it was not recognized. Now my frustration was starting to show, especially because I bought another one for our bedroom. I called Cablevision tech support, and spoke to high level tech guy. I explained the problem, and he said he doesn't understand why it wasn't working. He first said that maybe my DVR Expander was defective and to take it back. I said I can't do that. Then he came back and asked me if I had the 500 GB version or the 1 TB versions. I told him I had the 1 TB version, then he said that he checked with his supervisor and that this version is not compatible, and sorry for the inconvenience. Now I was furious, but I did not give up. I decided to try my own SIMPLE installation. With both the DVR Expander and the cable box powered on, I just pluged the eSATA cable to the back of the cable box, and VIOLA!!!! The on screen instruction came up asking to format the drive. It took less than one minute. I checked the space used, and I was delighted to see that it was only 10% full! The installation should have taken less than 2 minutes. You don't even have to wait for your cable box to reboot, which takes like 5 minutes or more.



Overall, I am very pleased with it so far. I've had it for two weeks now, and everything is working fine. I put my ear next to it, and I could barely hear it running. It has never gotten too hot, and I have it set next to my cable box in my entertainment center. If you are a cablevision customer, this is such a great upgrade, and it works fine. If you are having trouble, feel free to leave a comment.

When I saw Western Digital had come out with a 1 TB model, I decided to take the plunge and hoped it wouldn't exhibit the quality problems that plague so many new models. When the hard drive arrived, I connected to my HD TiVo with the included eSATA connector. Unfortunately, TiVo did not recognize the external hard drive despite numerous tries. After a bit of troubleshooting, I determined that the eSATA connector into the back of the My DVR Expander wasn;t making a solid connection. Nothing a little duct tape can't fix, right? I then enjoyed a wonderful month or so with the hard drive and was able to record over 100 programs in both HD and SD formats. Can't stay awake for the Tonight Show? No problem. I could record every night and not have to worry about running out of disk space.



Then a more serious quality problem emerged. Shortly after the disk space filled up, my TiVo froze in the middle of a program I was recording. Nothing I did could get it to restart. After a long phone call with TiVo technical support, together we identified that the DVR Expander had caused the meltdown. The only way to use TiVo again was to disconnect the hard drive (and lose ALL those recorded programs) and reboot without the external hard drive. What choice did I have? Fortunately, the drive was still under warranty.



I called Western Digital customer support, who assured me a new unit would be shipped in 3-5 business days. After a week, I checked its status on the WD website and read a notice explaining there were delays and it would be another 2 weeks. Another 2 weeks passed and I called again. The customer rep explained they were experiencing manufacturing problems with the new 1 TB model and were out of stock, but he would try to expedite my replacement request. Another 2 weeks and another call. This time the rep tells the problems are so severe, the company hasn't been able to make a single good unit since I first called and he could not assure me delivery "in any reasonable time frame." Holy Cow! So naturally I ask for a refund. The rep refuses my request for a refund because it's against company policy. So now it's been almost three months, I'm out the price of the hard drive and some recorded programs, and am on an indefinite wait for a replacement.



If you're willing to gamble, the 1 TB model is a great product concept and chances are your unit will work fine. If not, you might want to wait for Western Digital to work out the quality bugs or go with their tried-and-tested 500 GB model instead. - Dvr - Tivo Hd - Esata - Tivo Expander'


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Fiber Optic Cables - digital cable, audio


I bought this to replace my previous Toslink cable. I wanted to run the cable through the wall around the room. This was perfect. No signal loss over distance. I really like it.

Keep up the good work guys! RiteAV Digital Optical Toslink Cable (50ft)

i used the 50 feet to connect my logitech squeezebox to another receiveS in a different room,..wow, wow,.. the sound is so clear and excellent. the cable went through walls ansd attick and celinsS,.. not a drop in the quality,..



I was nervous at first, about a 50 FOOT OPTICAL CABLE BUT MAN, THE SOUND THROUGH MY CEILING SPEAKERS AND YAMAHA RECIEVER, IS AWSOME.. BUY WITHOUT HESITATION

As another reviewer observed, we really don't need to have gold-plated parts in these TOSLINK connectors. They might look cool or give a sense of great quality to have fat insulating jackets and metal connector terminator plugs, but the real truth is, if the fiber cable inside is doing its job, then you are good.

If the cable terminators snap into your equipment and stay put, you are doing great, and if the cable is sturdy and flexible enough to bend around corners then you are golden. This product does all four, and without costing a week's pay!



I am running out of a satellite receiver into a two-way splitter then running 50 feet with this cable into a Denon receiver which is getting Dolby D +PL IIx and outputting 7.1 audio as though the source is in the same rack.



This Rite AV cable snaps securely into its connectors and wraps pretty closely around corners such as door frames and 90-degree wall corners. I'm very pleased that it's working as well as I'd hoped. Highly recommended.

I received the cable. Shipping was fine.

When I first opened the package and saw the cable, I was surprised on how thin the cable is. I was concerned how fraile the cable looked.

Before I ran the cable through my walls, I checked the sound quality and compared the sound with a higher priced and thicker cable from Monster.

I could not notice a difference. Ran the cable the walls. Connected my TV to my digital audio on my 5.1 surround sound receiver.

Excellent!

Very pleased!

For the price on a 50ft. cable, you cannot beat it.

I received a component cable instead of an optical. I have tried to contact this seller for two weeks with no reply. I guess I am just stuck with the component and apparently I am not the only buyer this has happed to. Buy from someone else.

I assumed that these types of cables would be very expensive, but this one was a great price and seems to work very nicely. Now I'm no audiophile but this optical cable is leaps and bounds better than the standard RCA cables I was using previously.



I know there are more expensive cables out there but this brand--even if it does not have nice steel connectors (as you can see by the picture, these are black rubber/plastic)--seems to work very nicely for the average user.

I ordered the Toslink optical cable and what arrived was a 3 wire AV cable. They had even taken the correct Toslink sticker and placed it over the sticker for the incorrect cable and sent it. I could only get a refund and have now placed a second order for the same cable. I'll let you know if I get the wrong one again. Mine is not the first complaint I have seen regarding bait and switching of incorrect cables or cables from a cheaper manufacturer. - Home Theater - Digital Audio - Audio - Digital Cable'


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Accessories - swiss ball, fitness ball


I bought this GoFit 75cm Stability Ball as a replacement for my desk chair at home. I've learned (from a trusted source) that sitting on a stability ball can burn 100 calories an hour. After using this for a month now, I'll bet that's true.



As for this specific stability ball - it's certainly a heavy-duty ball. It states a burst-rating of 1,200 lbs. I work at home and probably spend 6-8-hours a day sitting on this thing and it's very comfortable. At 6'2" and 220lbs, the 75cm size is perfect for use at my desk.



Use a bigger air pump if you have one. The pump that comes with it will take you a month to pump it up. I used a small portable air compressor and even that took a while to inflate. I did have to re-inflate it a bit after the first few days once it settled-in. That was no problem. I just used a pair of pliers to remove the plug.



I looked everywhere, but there were no instructions on inflating the GoFit ball that came with it. Not that it's rocket-science to pump up a ball, but a few tips might have been helpful. I used a long level and a measuring tape to figure out when the ball was close to full-inflation. Just hold the level (or a yardstick, etc.) on top and measure the distance from the level to the floor.



The DVD and booklet that come with it seem to be a good bonus too.



All-in-all, a great Stability Ball for what I needed -- and a much healthier option than sitting in a regular chair all day! GoFit 75cm Professional Stability Ball

I was a 470lb man when I bought this ball. I use it in my daily exersice routine. It has made a world of difference in my core muscles. I feel stronger throughout the mid section and I stand up straighter. I recomend following the video and incorperating it into your workout. I saw a personal trainer and she got me goin on the ball. I tried to find a ball to hold me but kept feeling unsure if a ball with a 300lb rating. If you are seriouse about loosing weight and strengthening your mid section, GET THIS BALL!!!

I love this ball. I use it for workouts, and also my chair for at the desk. I find this to be a very sturdy ball. Inflating it was not very hard. I found that if you can use a air compressor that was much easier than the hand pump. It is a very sturdy ball and not a lot of things stick to it which is nice for around the house. It was also big enough for me to use, I am 6'2 so if your tall this will work for you.

This is a high quality stability ball and the pump is also very good. I wish the ball came with instructions. I needed to inflate my ball 3x's in the first week to maintain proper inflation, but I think that's normal. (I just used a flathead screwdriver to pry the plug out--its seems to have caused no damage.)

The video that came with it is excellent. It includes a good variety of exercises which are clearly explained and modeled.

I use this ball as a desk chair and it meets my needs perfectly. For some context, I'm 6'1", 200 lbs, and my desktop is at 30" with 25" clearance underneath. I inflated the ball to almost exactly 75 cm without any concerns. The included pump is adequate, but you'll pump for 15 minutes or so. The plastic plugs seal up the ball just fine, and come out easily enough with the help of a pointy object. I haven't had to do this but once initially to adjust the amount of air. It has held the pressure pretty much constant for 5 weeks now. The ball does not pick up lint and dust, so it stays looking clean. I like that it's rated for so much weight--it doesn't feel at all vulnerable to bursting, even when I bounce on it, which is a nearly automatic reaction to sitting on the thing.

Lordy, people... simmer down. I just inflated my 75 cm ball in 10 minutes using the hand pump, and during that 10 minutes I got up and grabbed a tissue and took off my hat and turned down the heater and read an email... We have two compressors, but I'm not familiar with how to operate them; and my spouse, who is the compressor operator of the family, was taking a nap, so I decided to just have a go with the hand pump and see if it was indeed going to "take a month" to inflate, as one reviewer said.



It would have taken me/us longer to plug up the compressor and find an attachment that fit the ball than it took me to inflate the ball by hand.



Sure, my heart rate increased a little bit. But I didn't sweat. And I didn't breathe through my mouth. I consider it my first workout with the ball!... You could take it slower and easier if you wanted, even watch the evening news while pumping away, and have it inflated in 15 minutes.



I am currently using the ball as a chair. And liking the feel of that. Hip wiggle, hip wiggle... giggle, giggle... work is fun, life is good. Happy day. It's good to move and breathe and flow! Bye now!

I had a 65 cm ball that was too short for me (6 ft). The 75 cm ball is the right height for me. I love that it keeps me moving while I'm sitting at my desk. It also provides me with a reason to sneak in some crunches every now and then. It takes a few days to get used to sitting on it, but I think I've actually lost a little weight in the week or so that I've been using the ball.

I purchased this exercise ball as a replacement for my desk chair after borrowing a same-size ball from a friend (a Gymnic Classic 75cm ball). After inflating this ball and putting it side by side with the Gymnic I found it to be slightly smaller, no matter how much I inflated it. The quality of the ball itself is very good - the plastic is thick and I truly believe that this ball will stand up to some wear and tear. As a desk chair, though, I found it to be slightly too small (5'10, 180 pounds) and the thick plastic made it less comfortable than the Gymnic (which unfortunately is also more expensive!)

I am 6', 280+ lbs and wanted an exercise ball to use as a desk chair - this one is perfect! It is exactly what they say it is and is durable enough that I'm pretty sure I could strap it on and jump out a two story window onto it without it bursting.

75cm is also the perfect height for my desk. - Swiss Ball - Stability Ball - Ball Chair - Fitness Ball'


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Coupon Organizer - coupon organizer, saving money


Susan Samtur is the coupon queen and has previously written Cashing in at the Checkout; and appeared on many TV shows giving breathtaking demonstrations of saving money at grocery store checkouts. This book will show you how and convince you that it is worth doing. My only complaint is that, having been a confirmed coupon, sale, rebate user for years, I cannot agree on the little amount of time it takes her to accomplish her amazing goals.



For those of you that feel $20 saved on every $100 spent is terrific, she can show you how to save more, and even if you do not use all of her methods, including saving proofs of purchases and squashed boxes for rebates you can still bank much more than you are doing.

There are great hints for filing and storing and using coupons. She has charts on how to save more money at supermarkets with sales and coupons than at the super stores with bulk items - something that will come as a surprise to many shoppers.

There are web sites to get coupons, including hers and major manufactures and stores. She gives good hints on marketing techniques and the store's practice of moving goods around, so you have to spend longer looking for items and may be tempted to purchase other items.



If you are already a dedicated, organized coupon user, rebate mailer there is probably not much new for you in this book. However, if not you can probably use these hints and determination to save money. This would also make a good gift for those just graduating or starting to live out on their own, even if they have watched you- the supper shopper for years. Supershop like the Coupon Queen: How to Save 50% or More Every Time You Shop

If you like paying for everything offered, then this book might be for you. I find that in order to take advantage of this book, one must purchase from Susan many other things. Nothing is free. I much prefer the Coupon Mom book. She charge nothing and has a great set up.



So, if you want to spend bucks to get into couponing go ahead and follow susan samtur.

Written by the original coupon queen, there was little I learned from this book that I couldn't learn from the Internet. There are better books about couponing than this. The author directs the reader to her website which she makes sound like there is a lot of resources available to the new couponer. There might be but you have to pay to join. I felt very deceived. - Budget - Saving Money - Shopping - Coupon Organizer'


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Children Table Chairs


We've had this table for years, since my daughter was in preschool. It has and continues to serve us well.



HEIGHT ADJUSTMENTS



I bought this table for my kids to do their crafts at when they were toddlers. At the lowest setting, it worked well with the toddler size chairs. Now that they are older, I can raise it to the dining table height and adult sized chairs fit under it. I can raise it even higher to countertop height and put barstools under them or just use them as an extension of my kitchen counter.



It is most stable up to kitchen table height. At countertop height, it wobbles more, but not so much that I'd be worried it would fall apart.



SETTING UP



The table is easy to open up and set up. The legs extend in a snap. It's also easy to collapse and fold up to carry or store, and it is lightweight enough to not fear transporting it.



SURFACE



The surface has been a cinch to maintain. The children have managed to get crayons or markers and food all over it. If a wet towel won't get it off, the Magic Eraser will.



One big problem with the table is the surface is textured, so the children do not like doing homework on it, because it's difficult to write on. Placing a board on the table would be a workaround, but the children choose not to do their writing there.



SIZE



The table does sit four children around it comfortably for dinner. For temporary uses, four adults could sit, but it would not be something to do regularly, as they might normally want more room.



PROS:

+ lightweight

+ easy to set up

+ easy to fold up

+ height adjustable

+ easy to maintain

+ sturdy



CONS:

- textured surface is not good for writing

- narrow table



SUMMARY



I'm glad I bought this table. It's one of those things where I look back and think how well I've gotten my money's worth. I'd buy this again for it versatility and portability. Lifetime Prod. Inc. 4435 4' Fold-in-Half Adjustable Folding Table

I am a mobile DJ. I bought this table to be used when I am DJing. It's just about perfect for that use. When set up it is 4ft. It folds in half when not in use so it's only 2ft when carrying it. It has a handle for easy carrying. It's lightweight and the best feature (for me) is the height adjustment. In the past my table was about waist height so I had to lean forward and bend over slightly to operate my DJ equipment (I never sit when I'm DJing, if the DJ looks bored the crowd's more likely to be bored). After a 4 to 6 hour gig my back and shoulders would be hurting. With this table all the equipment is within arms reach while standing straight up. I've only used it twice so far but it seems pretty sturdy too. It's not "completely" solid but I don't have any fear of it collapsing or falling over.

I bought 2 of these tables, and I'm so happy I did. At the lowest height, I use the table as a laptop table for getting work done while I'm outdoors on the back patio (sitting in an armless lawn chair). The middle height is of course the height of a regular dining table. The highest height is the "counter height" which is good with bar stools, or applications where you need to use a table while standing up. We've used this as a prep table outdoors when grilling or cutting up pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns, etc. (Note that you should not use the table as a platform for a table-top grill, since it's not heat resistant.)



These tables are very lightweight and not cumbersome to carry. They fold in half, and they have a carrying handle. So I can take 2 of these tables with me as I do, walking a mile or so to the train station, for some event or whatever. The table we had before did not fold in half, and it was 30 inches wide instead of only 24 inches like these .... so there was no way I could take that table with me anywhere. I like the narrower width because it makes it lot easier to fit the tables into compact spaces. You can also easily pop these tables in the back of a trunk or a bike trailer. These are versatile, portable, really useful tables.



For an outdoor party, I'm wondering how these might look if I paint the top brown with some gold-tan pattern/texture, to mimic something like flagstone. Or I could just put a table cloth on top, of course.



You can do so many things with these tables! I'm very happy with my purchase.

great table. only one small flaw, pressing both buttons to extend the leg at the same time, while pulling on the leg, takes 3 hands. You can pull one side at a time but it's tricky. Maybe in the next iteration they can consolidate the 2 buttons into one?

I make jewelry and needed a table for my first trunk show. This was the perfect size, easy to transport and easy to store in my storage-challenged condo. The adjustable height gets my products up to the customer without them having to bend or stoop. My only challenge with this table is adjusting the legs by myself -- hard to slide them out while holding the buttons down. I'll figure out a way tho....or just have someone lend me a hand. All in all, it's a great product!

The table arrived on time, in good condition and I was pleased with it. There is only one little problem, and it's probably just my built-in clutziness. When I opened it up, laid it on its side and lifted it to standing position, it kept folding on me. But yeah, perfect little adjustable craft table. I use mine for my laptop so I can sit in my recliner and keep my feet up. It just slides right up to me, wide enough to fit over the arms of the chair.

Recommended.

I bought this table for camping, for extra counter space for cooking. I didn't buy it through Amazon but at K-mart and for only $35.00. It works just fine and with the adjustable legs, you can use it as a dinning table if you wanted or needed to.'


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Garmin Nuvi 260 - garmin nuvi 260, garmin charger


I have bought at least 6 Garmin Nuvi's for automobiles and I always like to have the 120 Volt adapter for each. This allows you to charge in your hotel room when using the Nuvi when using it on foot as your personal assistant. I have bought three of this model as they will be used here in the USA only and are about $14.00 cheaper than the fancy one with changable plugs for Europe etc. Totally not necessary here and for about $11.00 this does the trick and it is compact and easy to take along. If you consider buying a nice Garmin unit, treat yourself to this device as you don't need to be in the car to charge it. You can practice with your unit in your living room while plugged into the wall when you do some trip planning and your battery will be right up to par when you put it in your pocket and hit the streets. Or check some locations for tomorrows travel while in your hotel room. OneOwl Rapid Wall / AC Charger for Garmin Nuvi & TomTom GPS Devices - Accessory Power Brand

I selected this product as it was one piece of equipment. It has built in adaptability(for other electric currents) without extra adapters to float around in my house as they somehow always disapppear when I need them.

I purchased this charger for my Garman Nuvi just to keep the batteries up when I don't use the Garmin for a while. I am an electronics hobbiest and opened the charger(not recommended as I imagine it would void the warranty)just to see what I'd bought. Circuitry is very nice setup and not just a cheap transformer and dc bridge like on some chargers I've seen. Nice unit.

I ordered this product because my new Garmin GPS can be used as a pedestrian as well as vehicle GPS. I wanted to keep it charged for when I'm in a major city and walking around. This item works GREAT! It not only fit my new GPS but fit my older model Garmin as well which was an added bonus! - Garmin Nuvi 260 - Garmin Charger'


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Cordless Saw - cordless drill, combo


The purpose of this review is to help contractors make an informed decision about this Makita cordless kit. I spent hours researching before I decided on this one (LXT601) and I hope to make your search easier.



I am a remodeling contractor and I use these tools HARD five days a week. I bought this kit in July of 2008. After getting over the euphoria of brand new cordless tools and using them for several months, I have a list of pros and cons.



One random note. I thought that all lithium-ion tools stop dead when the battery gets too low. This is certainly not the case. All of these tools wind down just as my old NiCad kit did.



The impact driver is by far the best and most useful tool in the kit. The belt clip is wonderful and the LED light at the front of the tool, which I admit that I thought was silly at first, has a surprising number of uses. The fact that it stays on when you release the trigger is great - most other lights will flash on with every slight squeeze. I can drive 3" screws constantly for over an hour on a single battery.



The hammerdrill/driver is on the weak side. When drilling 5/32" holes for tapcons, the tool seemed to buzz and vibrate more than actually hammer. It works great for light and even some medium-duty jobs, but not much beyond that. It works well for driving, but with the impact driver, I don't even use the drill for driving anymore. All in all, the drill is not impressive.



The circular saw cut like a hot knife through butter with the supplied blade. However, as with any thin kerf blade, the cut deteriorated significantly as the blade became more used. The motor and power are fine, and the grip feels very natural. However, I have two major gripes. The first is that the lever that controls the depth-of-cut seems to strip out repeatedly and I have to remove the E-clip and manually return the lever to its intended position. It's quite frustrating at times. The second gripe is that the lever for the blade guard is not big enough and I have to contort my hand into a very awkward position to reach it. I'm not impressed with those two design elements.



The sawzall feels great in my hands, but seems underpowered. It's certainly not up to any significant cutting task. It would be fine for cutting a hole in a roof for a ventilation fan or something of that nature, but it wouldn't be able to cut out all of the studs in a window opening, for example. Also, when the tool vibrates excessively such as when cutting metal bolts, hardware, or the like the blade clamp is not able to hang on to the blade and it keeps flying out. THAT gets old in a hurry.



And the flashlight, although bright, only has four positions. I have had other lights in the past that swivel and are much more useful. I have a much tougher time getting this one into position, such as on a mudsill to shine into the electrical panel in the basement I'm working on.



And here's the verdict... The best tool is the impact driver. There is a 2-piece kit available that contains the impact driver and a much heavier hammerdrill which I've used and found to be a much better tool. I would buy the 2-piece kit if I had it to do over. If you're a contractor, as I am, and you intend to use these tools to make a living, as I do, I would recommend not buying this kit. DeWalt has kits that are heavier because they're NiCad, but the saws work better. As much as I hate to say it, if I were to start from scratch and were to only buy one tool platform, it would be DeWalt. If I could mix and match, I would buy the DeWalt kit for the saws, and the Makita 2-piece for the drill and impact driver.



There you have it. I know that was long-winded, but hopefully it was helpful. Happy tool hunting! Makita LXT601 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit, 6-Piece

I absolutely love the impact in this set, I'm in the HVAC industry and work with a lot of metal so it is always in use. The drill is good but doesn't have as good of torque as a DeWalt. This drill is not the same as the one that comes with the 2pc., its smaller and less powerful. The grinder and circular saw are too under powered to do any real work. The reciprocating saw is good, but drains the battery in about 5 min. of good use. The flashlight is great, runs about 6 hours on a fully charged battery, is very durable. The Batteries are amazing! extremely light and have a fast, long lasting charge. I can run my impact for 2 days of heavy use per charge. the light on the impact and drill are indispensable, they make my life so much easier. all the tools are very light and extremely durable. my impact survived an 18 ft. fall to a concrete floor and only had a small scratch on the battery, nothing else. the bag is just impractical, its way to big to be carrying anything around in.

I would just recommend getting the 2 or 3pc. instead, and use corded saws and grinder.

I bought this set for about 2 weeks.



A new version to replace LXT600 / LXT700 (both were retired). Look at the spec and here's the difference:

1. BHP452 maybe less powerful than BHP451 (just by spec; I don't own BHP451 to compare);

2. BSS611 is 0.2 lb lighter than BSS610; (Dewalt circular saw blade (18 tooth) made finish smoother in this set.)

3. BJR182 is 1.875" shorter than BJR181 and w/o the LED front light;

4. BTD141 has 50 in-lbs Torque more than BTD140 (I don't like the cheap silver plastic at the body, but not enough to make me deduct a star from this set);

5. DC18RA 30 minutes rapid charger vs old DC18SC 45 minutes charger.



Forget the LXT700, you don't want to pay $100 more for a on-site radio. You can have it free through rebate if you bought this set on/before 5/31/08.

I rather Makita offered an extra battery (even it's cheaper), but there is no choice. As another reviewer pointed out MP3 is a better choice.



You can still go to LXT600 to see all the users' reviews.



Best price/quality/size/weight/completion comapre with other brands like Dewalt, Milwaukee, Ridgid (no cordless grinder), Bosch, etc.

Prefect if Maikta replace the flashlight by a Jig Saw. Every brands practice to make money/looks better by placing a flashlight in their combos. What can I said...



I used to own Dewalt DC4PAKA combo kit but found the Ni-cad battery didn't last long so returned it and decided to go Lithium-ion.

IMO Dewalt quality is excellcent but the weight (me not a big guy) and price is too heavy; Milwaukee just too heavy and I don't like its hand-feel. Ridgid has lifetime service guarantee (including battery) but I'm not sure the quality of both tools and service. Tools look and feel good in HD but offer no cordless grinder.



So far every tools included are doing their job as what they suppose to. Again I compare this set with Dewalt Ni-Cad 4 pc combo set, not any other cord/cordless tools.



One LXT600 reviewer said the recipro saw is a pc of junk. I don't know but for me it did what Dewalt recipro saw capable to, only the weight is much lighter.



However, I did extended research before my decision and much appreciate opinions from all reviewers. - Cordless Drill - Lithium-ion - 18 Volt - Combo'


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Mp3 Speakers - laptop speaker, panda


This little Panda Pal is one of the best portable speakers I have ever owned. When I saw this speaker system on Amazon, from the pictures it looked like it would be quite big but when I got it the Panda turned out to be so tiny it could fit on the palm of my hand (and I'm a petite little lady). Even though the speaker system is small the sound is nice and big! No matter if they work off the batteries or the USB plugged into a computer the sound is clear and it has a nice bass to it too. Even when I turn up my volume all the way up the sound doesn't distort. I also admire the cute little design. The eyes are the speakers and the earphone jack wraps around its "waist" and tucks nicely in the back. One thing though: It doesn't come with a wall charger but otherwise it's perfect. It's very convenient to carry because it's small and the sound is great. I recommend. GOgroove Panda Pal High-Powered Portable Laptop / MP3 / and Tablet Speaker System

A friend showed me this because she knew how much I love pandas. This little guy is great! It really packs a punch in such a tiny package! The quality of sound is actually pretty impressive. You'd expect something like this, made in China, to suck or break in a few weeks but I've had it for about a month and it's still going strong. I put rechargeable AAA batteries in it, I think it uses a lot of power, especially if you listen to music loudly. It's so perfectly portable and convenient to take around with you whenever you and your friends want to listen to music.

-Accepts 3 AAA batteries

-Has on/off switch

-Has blue light that lights up when panda is on

-Can be plugged into computer with (included) USB cord, and uses computer energy instead of batteries

-Can get pretty loud

-Decent bass!

-Weighs less than a pound

-Has ears, tweeters are the eyes. Haha!

The 12-inch audio cable is too short to allow much flexibility in terms of placement of the speaker unit in relation to the computer. I wanted to put the speakers on top of my Mac G5 tower, but the speaker's audio cable isn't long enough to reach my audio port from the top of the computer. Also, when you wrap the audio cable around the speaker for portability, you have to remove the USB cable in order to get the audio plug to lock into its "wrapped" position (leaving the USB cable to float around and probably get lost).

I like to listen to music in the mornings while I'm getting ready in the bathroom and was looking for something small that could put out enough sound to be heard while in the shower. Upon reading the reviews, I ordered the panda and it is just like all previous reviews! Very cute and light weight, fits in the palm of your hand and puts out a lot of sound!!

Fuzzy Wuzzy's Summary:

***** Highly recommended with warm fuzzies!



I love this little speaker!



First of all, how can you NOT like a panda?!?



And what if this affordably-priced cute little panda head had two great-sounding stereo speakers designed as its big round eyes, a blue LED "smiley" that lights up when the speaker is turned on, a headphone plug and cable that wraps around the panda head and neatly tucks behind its head when you are not using it, and surprisingly good distortion-free sound if you crank up its sound volume?!



The panda head speaker is a round globe, about 3.7 inches in diameter (the size of a softball), with a flat bottom base that has four small round rubber pads for non-sliding grip when set on a table or desk. The speaker's on/off switch and battery door are also on the bottom. Its cute black rounded ears and little button nose stick out from the spherical head, and the two 1.5-inch stereo speakers that are its eyes are covered by protective metal screens. The volume-adjustment wheel is on the right side of the panda head (right-side when you are facing it). The Panda Pal weights 6.1 ounces with only its non-detachable headphone plug and cable, 7.3 ounces with 3 AAA batteries installed, and the detachable 43-inch mini-USB-to-USB cord weighs 0.8 ounces.



The headphone jack and cord has a 12-inch reach after you unwind it from its clever storage groove that is located between the black and white parts of the panda head. This means that your Panda Pal has to stay fairly close to your sound source while you are using it. The short cord was purposely designed so that it could wrap around the panda head once and have the headphone jack neatly tucked away behind the panda head. Really an elegant design. But if you need more distance between the Panda Pal and your sound source, there are a variety of headphone extension cords that can be purchased.



You can power this panda speaker either using 3 AAA batteries (not included in the box), or using the included detachable USB cord. If you want to power your Panda Pal through an electrical wall outlet, you can use the combination of a USB AC adapter (e.g. Belkin Mini Surge Protector Dual USB Charger) and, optionally, a USB extension cord to place your Panda Pal away from your computer and also not use AAA batteries. I now always pack my Panda Pal speaker whenever I travel, along with my iPod Touch/Nano and Dell Mini M1012 netbook. With those items compactly tucked into my backpack, I can stay connected and listen to classical, jazz, punk, alternative, rock, rhythm & blues, and world music anywhere in the world. And if you like to ROCK OUT, this deceptively small speaker can keep up with a loud volume and drums without distorting the sound. Of course, it will not sound as nice as larger speakers, but I was really surprised by how loud it can get and still definitely punch out quite a respectable (for its small size) amount of bass with clarity. I have this plugged into my iPod Touch using the iPod's "Bass Booster" EQ setting and percussion sounds have a nice impact.



Because this speaker gets its audio input from a mini headphone jack, you can plug this speaker into any computer, MP3 player, or handheld device that has a headphone output (i.e. it does not rely on an iPod's 30-pin connector). Devices that retrieve the sound from an iPod's 30-pin connector have higher sound fidelity than via the headphone jack, but for a portable speaker system like this, you would not notice a difference anyway.



This is guaranteed to give the warm fuzzies to children, teenagers, and adults alike. I bought this both for myself and I also purchased additional speakers to give as gifts. This speaker can attract quite the envious adoring crowd once you take it out, plug it into your laptop or MP3 player, and crank it up! And unlike many other desktop speakers that look like electronic computer gear when you are not using it, the Panda Pal looks adorable and fun just sitting on your desktop, nightstand, or kitchen or bathroom counter even when you are not using it.



If you want to continue the panda theme for your portable music, also consider getting the Pineapple Panda Sound Isolating Design Crystal Clear Mega Bass Sound Earphone. The 'Accessory Power' company also bundles the Panda Pal with a 'Solar ReStore' solar rechargeable battery pack in GOgroove Panda Pal Portable Speaker With 1500mAh Solar Rechargeable Extended Battery for Google Android HTC , Motorola Droid / Apple iPhone , iPod , touch / Windows / T Mobile Smartphones and more! - 5 Hours of Music on one Charge!



This Panda Pal is PERFECT! Just about the only improvement that I can possibly suggest for this Panda Pal is for an optional separately-purchased subwoofer utilizing a 4-inch woofer that is hidden inside a fully compatible panda body. So for non-portable home/office use, you could prop this cute panda head onto the panda body subwoofer so that it looks like a full panda, and get even better sound. If a matching panda body subwoofer could be designed for this panda head, I would really be in a tizzy.



At the time of this review's writing, the 'List Price' being displayed for Panda Pal of $64 was ridiculously expensive (perhaps very purposely overinflated to make it look like you are saving more with the "reduced" price, a dumb marketing gimmick that some manufacturers use), but the Amazon-discounted price was competitive. I noticed that Accessory Genie has been increasing the price from the $17 that I paid for my cute pandas.



There are some other portable speakers out there shaped like small panda heads, but some of them are not stereo speakers, they do not sound as nice, and none of them are nearly as adorable and cute as this one. At least for right now, I cannot think of any small portable speakers on the market with this much cuteness and fun factor. This panda speaker is made in China, the land of the panda. This is not some poorly made piece of electronic novelty junk. Everything about this Panda Pal's build seems to be of high quality and very intelligently designed. It comes with a generous 3-year warranty. Don't ponder about getting this... get it!!!! - Laptop Speaker - Desktop Speakers - Panda - Mp3 Speakers'


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Monday 29 June 2009

Michelle Williams - excrement, thriller


I know this kid (Webber) has had a hell of a life and his performances are definitely worth watching. This film has been horribly mislabeled and advertised so I am hoping it gets a fair shake on DVD just to showcase his performance.



First and foremost, I have customers asking about this because they want to see Paxton and/or Drea De Matteo films; they are front billed on this and Webber gets buried on second tier. To be clear - Paxton has 3 minutes and De Matteo has 2 minutes and 6 lines. Zooey has a supporting role but the writing makes it to where her role is (supposedly) important (with a twist in the end) but falls well short of meeting reality. The story of a young adult living a tough inner-city life making ends meet is covered adequately in the writing, and the lengths shown to facilitate his worthiness are noble, but in the end count on it becoming tedious.



I love the whole premise of a classic movie theater being run by the time challenged curator (played by Stanton) and the foreshadowing of the end of our story being played in the first scene - but once you see how this all plays together it leaves more questions than answers and believability goes right out the window. I know I get in trouble whenever I pan a ZD film, but this film cannot hold together above a 3 star reference - I would highly recommend it just to see Webber's thorough performance and Klein showing a much darker (and misplaced for the film) character.



Ignore the whole DVD cover (front and back - "He's finally had enough" - whatever; "Phenomenal" - not really) and rent this to watch some young performers fill some vacant roles. The Good Life

I grew up in Lincoln in a non-football family. While that doesn't sound like a big deal to rest of the nation, Nebraskans will understand that we might as well have been Satan worshipers as far as the Lincoln community is concerned. It's hard to explain to an outsider what kind of insanity is involved when it comes to college football and Nebraska in general but Lincoln more specifically. This movie comes the closest I have seen to capturing it. While many movies have set stage in Nebraska, this is the only movie I have seen that doesn't push the "hick" aspect too far. Whomever wrote this movie had to have lived in Nebraska at some point. You can't make this kind of thing up. I thought the movie was very well written and exceptionally well acted. But people who are not from Nebraska will see the film in an entirely different light than Nebraskans will. To non-Nebraskans, the movie might seem over the top in places and slow in others. But that's how life is there. I found the story to be interested and well thought out. I think that even if there hadn't been the emotional connection to the premise, the movie would have still held my interest.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I rented this, having never heard of it. But it was a chance I'm glad I took - the acting is extremely strong and it's directed with care. It's a slow film, with some interesting plot twists and a generally dark mood...which is fitting, given the storyline. It could have fallen in the trap of just being another "oh I hate my town and I'm bored" flick, but it emerges as much more than that. Highly recommended.

I never heard of this movie. I bought this based on the two best reviews here. I should have made my decision based on the other reviews, like Robin King's:



"If you[`re] looking for a good story, action or suspense skip this movie."



The best part of it was that it was only 89 minutes, but still it was a waste. It was time spent waiting for the story to unfold, to draw you in; but, it never happened! I'm glad also that I only spent a few bucks on it, including shipping.



As for the great actors/acting other reviewers mention, I cannot remember them. I guess they did not make a lasting impression on me, or they are not worth remembering.



I am only reviewing it so that others may not waste their time either.

If your looking for a good story, action or suspense skip this movie. But if you like to see quirky characters played by exellent actors well maybe. Everything about this movie was good,except the story. Being a fan of more suspense or action or even stronger characters I would watch something else. - Thriller - Drivel - Cats - Excrement'


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Blackberry Tour - small, blackberry tour


I bought 3 on Friday Jan 7, and they arrived on Jan. 14, shipped USPS from Michigan. I was happily surprised that they came with 6' cables, not mentioned in the product description. My 3 came with 2 micro cables and 1 mini cable. So far, they work fine.



Packaging is the same as these items would be found in a BlackBerry 9300 or 9670 box - just a clear or bubblewrap bag with a label with same ASY numbers. It looks genuine to me.



Charger bag says ASY-24479-002, unit says Part No. HDW-24481-001, Input 100-240V 50-60Hz, Output 5v 750mA.



Micro 1m cable bag says ASY-18683-001, mini ASY-06610-001 RIM ASY-24479-002 USB Power Plag - Charger - Retail Packaging - Black

I used this overnight with my Apple iPod Touch. The power plug stayed cool, which inspires confidence.



I like the compact size of this plug. It does not monopolize a wall socket or power strip. Plus, it looks nice.



My plug did NOT ship with cables. This is not a complaint, just a comment regarding other reviews right here.

I purchased this as an alternative way to charge the battery for my Blackberry Curve. I must mention that the charger I received was pre-owned and I absolutely do not mind because a new one would serve the same purpose! I am equally enthralled by the compact size of the charger (it fits greatly alongside adapters and plugs that are quite cumbersome) and the portability with devices that allows battery charging via USB cable. Shipping was expeditious as well. Although its use is intended for Blackberry devices, I also highly recommend its use for devices from other brands. This is a great charger to own! :)

I purchased this due to its size. I'm a gadget guy and have lots of stuff that charge VIA USB so tend to buy these to leave all over the house :) This charges my iPhone4, iPhone3GS, and Iphone 3G. I was also curious if it would charge my iPad, and it did :) Although the iPad states its not charging, it does. I had my ipad at %40 before i went to bed and was %100 when I woke up. Used this several times with the iPad and same result (charged). I have tried other chargers as well and ones that are rated at under 1A are the ones that the iPad states that it is not charging. But it does :) I also like the fact that i can still use my other wall port due to its tiny size. I gave it 5 stars cause it wasn't meant to charge an iPad that normally charges with a 2A charger but it does and the size and price is great.

The charger charged the product (albeit it took six or seven hours) and then after the first day, the charger did not charge my BlackBerry Storm 2. I tried different outlets, and I plugged the phone into my computer. The charger did not work anywhere in the house, but the phone could charge using the computer's USB port so there's obviously something flawed with the charger. It will show the lightning bolt on the phone but it won 't charge phone even after being left there for 6+ hours. Lost a day of productivity...

This item looks like an OEM, but I cannot believe it is. It takes 5-6+ hours to charge a Bold 9780 with about 30% charge left in the battery (the original charger takes less than 2 hours). It seems like it is not generating enough power to properly charge.

i bought this to use with my iphone 4 and i must say its a great product. Its a shame that i could not find an authentic apple charge cable on amazon, but i had a spare one and i used it. Does its job for its price - Usb - Blackberry Tour - Small - Case'


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