Friday 31 December 2010

Vincent Price


After I saw the "Mad Magician" when I was 14, I became a Vincent Price fan forever. What a wonderful surprise to discover that he also loved art and cooking! I saw him lecture on art at the University of Kentucky and read his book "I Like What I Know." I was thrilled to buy his cookbook in the late 60's--it has remained one of my most prized possessions. The recipes are just the best, but the real wonderment for me was to see the beautiful full page color plates of his house and his extensive collection of plates, glasses, pots, pans, etc. All sorts of things I had never heard of at the time. Just wonder-full. So not only did I enjoy your movies and cooking expertise, I felt that I shared in a part of your life, too. Thank you and God bless you, Vincent! Mary and Vincent Price's Come into the Kitchen Cook Book ( A collector's treasury of America's great recipes)

I've been looking for this book for many years, and infortunatly I coudln't find it. I hope, Amazon.com can to find it for me. I will be very glad for your help. thank you. (SORRY, BUT I'M LEARNING ENGLISH)'


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Belly Dance Instruction - bellydance, bellydance dvd


If you are a beginner Belly Dancer looking for some good instruction this DVD is incredible I wish I had it along time ago..The instructor is absolutely wonderful and really explains the moves...This DVD has a wonderful section in the beginning on arms and hands which I wish I had a long time ago..Well worth the money plenty of information..The only thing I wish it had was a section on walking undulation I may have missed this part but will go through it again today...This DVD was well put together...I hope she puts out more as she is very easy to understand and packed with information...I will purchase any and all that she puts out...I have a huge collection of DVD's and this is a keeper won't sit and collect dust...Better than those DVD's that I spent &40.00 on... Belly Dance For Beginners

If you have ever wanted to try Belly Dance, this is a perfect selection. I had been considering to do it for awhile and after some looking, settled on this one two months ago or so. Since then I have been learning and having fun.



She is really good at showing you how to do things with examples that are easy to understand. The presentation works well as she shows things from all sides when describing what to do, such as how much movement is needed. Very warm personality that is realy enjoying showing me how to Belly Dance.

This DVD has a couple of short sections to start - general introductions and cautions plus an interview with Leila, which provides a good overview of what to expect and things to keep in mind.



Then there are three main sections - Basic Movements, Intergrated Movements and Dances To Follow.



Basic movements has sections which cover Posture, Arms, Hip Circles, Hip Pushes, Basic Shimmies and Basic Camels. Leile builds on each movement in each section and then at the end puts the moves together. Leila will show the moves from different angles so you can see what she is doing, and does not say "left" or "right" and shows "one side" then "the other" so it makes it easy to follow. The movements are Moving with Shimmies, Egyptian Walk and Moving with Hip Circles. Then there are three more dances to follow and improvise to. There is no instruction on the last three dances - Leila explains this is how dance is often taught when you learn more. There is also a perfomance by Leila to watch which is beautiful.



I have started to feel like I am able to do some of the Basics fairly well and gaining coordination.

I admit it. I am a klutz, born with two left feet. I'm nearly 50 and I'm not in the best shape. I have taken belly dance classes in the past, and I despaired of ever being able to attempt it. Enter Leila of Cairo.



Leila is funny, unassuming, and wholly natural behind the camera. She doesn't put on a saccharine, obviously fake smile. One gets the notion that she is simply being herself. Yet, she explains each move slowly, telling the viewer which muscles should feel the work.



The primary strength of this DVD to me is the sheer amount of time Leila spends on each set of movements. For example, the hip circles section is about 37 minutes. She starts with the simplest movements and drills them (but gently, and in a fun, companionable way so that one doesn't feel one has been ordered about by a drill sergeant.) Without my noticing it, I was able to increase my range of motion and execution of the move. She then moves to the more complicated movements, one step at a time, until before one knows it, one is doing horizontal and vertical figure 8s. This is a move I have never before been able to execute - but keep in my age and my reforming couch-potato lifestyle.



The entire DVD is about 4 hours in length, so one gets a great bang for one's buck, and it's all instruction that coordination-challenged folks like me can assimilate. Her warm and thorough presentation of the basic movements is superb.



The only flaws in this dvd are:



as another reviewer has noted, the poor menuing system is irksome;



there is no warm-up so I suggest that you purchase another DVD for that purpose; and



again, as another reviewer has noted, the dance-to-follow has no instructions - however, Leila notes that this is the traditional way for a senior dancer to teach a novice - but, again, she suggests that you master the first two sections before you attempt the dance-to-follow.



All in all, this is a wonderful DVD. I never thought I'd be able to belly dance, but I'm beginning to see results! No wonder this is the top seller on Amazon.

I don't write reviews for many things.

Keeping that in mind: This isn't a bad dvd, however I'm a fan of something that you push play and it goes through the warm-up and everything.



In other words something that keeps you going and in the groove. This failed. It was like pulling teeth to plug it in and go through the "menu play menu play menu play". If that sort of thing doesn't irritate you this is for you.



The instructor is the only thing that saved this dvd. However because of it's "Menu Play MPMP" it's at the bottom of my stack. I like the "Body by Bellydance" for the beginners (which I definitely am). They are set up like a workout dvd but you get all the basics (figure 8, shimmy, warm-ups) in a smooth play, and if you advance in your ability it's right there (and all you have to do is forward).



But this one isn't horrible, it's just not with my attention span.

I have been practicing belly dance on and of for several years. I have attended one formal class session and what little I know is through DVD instruction. By now, I have an extensive belly dance instruction DVD collection and gotten to know what the market offers pretty well. With this said, this instructional DVD is one of the best I have purchased. What you get for the price and Leila's method of instruction is what makes this DVD more than worth it. While the DVD is not perfect, Leila's method of instruction is and that is what matters if your serious about learning and cannot attend formal classes like me. For example, I have back problems so learning the camel as well as other moves have been a struggle but the way Leila explained it, explaining were to put your focus and intention, the safety tips given and ease of movement cause me to do it and I felt no strain on my back and was actually pretty amazed at how good it look so then I was thrilled. Another example, I thought something was wrong with me because after all this years I could not get the shimmies then after watching her section on shimmies something clicked and there I was shimming with no strain on my knees because she explains were the energy focus needs to be. The background music is great and very upbeat. She shares her thoughts about femininity and has a beautiful performance at the end. Loved the costume. Oh! and this is Egyptian style Belly Dancing. I love this DVD and highly recommended. - Bellydance - Bellydance Dvd - Belly Dance Instruction - Belly Dance'


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Tomtom One 3rd Edition - tom tom one, tomtom


I originally ordered this for my Garmin GPS but with the cloth bag I can fit both my GPS and my XM satellite radio and they wont touch each other in the case. I love the little net for accessories. Very functional and good quality. USA Gear Hard Shell EVA GPS Carrying Case with Accessory Storage for GARMIN / TomTom / Magellan and other 4.3 inch GPS Navigation Systems

I saw the model numbers and assumed this case would be the exact size for my new Garmin 3790T. In fact, this as the new model is, I could fit at least 4 of them inside the case. Not only too large, the internal pouch for accessories is difficult to close with the short velcro tab that locks inside the pouch. Also, lateral elastic tapes make the case almost impossible to open wide. This is a general purpose case - not specific for the listed GPS models. Try something else.

I purchased this item as I had a Garmin damaged and wanted more carrying protection. It was a little more bulky than I had anticipated. I just happened to have a Case Logic Compact Portable Hard Drive Case from a portable hard disk drive. It is about 25 percent thinner, much more sturdier and fits the Garmin 3790 as if it were made for it. The price is about the same. Case Logic Compact Portable Hard Drive Case (Black)

This is the perfect case for the third edition TomTom One! Mine did not come with the bag, but came with a nice cloth to put over the screen so that it does not get scratched. The GPS fits perfectly in the case and then both fit nicely in my purse.



Be aware that the case holds the GPS only, do not expect it to hold the charger cord and mounting accessories too. I really don't think the extra space is necessary, I just like to keep the GPS itself safe when I am not in the car and this works perfectly for me!

The product itself is fine. However, it turned out to be made by Case Logic, which I could have bought for $12 in another place on Amamzon (or for $20 at a Target store)if I had known the brand. The brand name seems to purposefully have been deleted from the photo. I think that was sneaky of this vendor.

Although this is a nice case, it is either too large for convenience, or too small and lacking pockets for components. Go with a camera case with multiple compartments or slip the device into your pocket. - 3rd Edition - Tom Tom One - Tomtom - Carrying Case For Garmin Nuvi'


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Av Receiver - home theater, denon


I was looking for a midrange receiver with features and functions that are useful but not so many that I don't know what to do with them all. At the price this unit has enough HDMI ports for me to connect my PS3, Xbox, and cable box. The onscreen setup is easy enough and the instruction booklet is actually very helpful. It is nice to be able to connect my iPod and use an onscreen interface to select songs and playlists; however, it is not very nice to look at and I expected a bit more from the interface - it looks like an old MSDOS screen. I also wish the little cover for the iPod connects in the front didnt pop-off, I wish it slid so I don't have to worry about losing it. The banana connectors in the back seem quite sturdy and were easy to connect with the speaker wire. Over all I am very happy with the purchase and it is up to date enough that I will be using it for many years to come. Pioneer VSX-821-K 5.1 Home Theater Receiver, Glossy Black

Well...I'm not an expert, but I think that the receiver does pretty darn good....both for movies and music. Takes a bit to figure out the features, but it's not all that bad. I have 4 BCI Venturi's hooked up to front and back...a BCI center and a BCI sub. All in all pretty great sound. The room is medium size...I'd say around 20x20...definitely fills the space and could easily do a larger area. Best of all? My wife loves it!! - Hdmi - Denon - Home Theater - Receiver'


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Shotgun Mic - canon, azden


I've had the mic for two weeks now and I'm using it w/a Canon HV30 and a NRG 59111 bracket. In quiet shooting situations, the mic will pick up a lot of motor noise if mounted directly to the camera; this is normal. The bracket suspends the mic about 5" above the camera and motor noise pickup is eliminated. The supplied windscreen does a pretty good job. I would prefer if there was a "power on" LED to serve as a reminder to shut the mic off but that would just draw power too. I understand the rationale behind not having one, but want one anyway. The mic cord is NOT detachable as shown in the picture. Maybe newer versions are, but the one I received does not detach. The shockmount is not that great. The upper/lower parts of the mount are connected by hard rubber squares. So, it's not really "shock mounted" but more of a "dampened mounted." Some handling noise/tapping the camera will be picked up by the mic. This is due to the "not really a shockmount" shockmount.



That said, I'm very happy with it. Note: This is not a shotgun mic, so don't expect to pickup conversation-level sound from 30 feet away. This mic is a true stereo mic and outputs two distinct L/R channel. This mic beats the pants off the stock in-camera mics in every way. There is much more clarity as compared to the stock mic. The best way to describe it is that with the stock mics, all the sounds are "mixed together and indistinct." Whereas with the SMX-10 each sound "stands out from all the others." Frequency response is also better with the SMX-10; I find there is a lot more high-end frequency information in recordings made with it vs. stock.



The mic is very light, not too long (doesn't hang over the front of the camera) and the cord is of the coiled variety so it doesn't hang all over the place. It's designed very well. Body is all-aluminum and very solid feeling. Switches are recessed into the body of the mic, so it would be very difficult to accidently slide them one way or the other. There really isn't anything else in it's price range that is better. Another option/very popular video mic is the Rode Stereo Videomic, but it is literally 2x the price and twice the size. I took a chance with the SMX-10 and am very happy with my purchase. Azden High-performance(SMX-10) Stereo Condenser Microphone

This has been a really nice addition to my Canon HV20 camcorder. I like it because it provides far superior sound than the built in mic on the HV20 and it is not too bulky. I can leave it attached to my camcorder and still fit the entire rig in a relatively small camera bag (Tamrac Velocity 7x). I did not rate it a 5 because of the shockmount that it comes with is not the greatest. I substituted the Rode SM3 shockmount, which works much better. I highly recommend this combination. It has added a new dimension to my videos and my rig still remains highly portable.

I bought this mic half-heartedly. It might possibly be complete junk, or might possibly be one of my greatest buys. And sure enough. It was a great buy. This mic is very very good for what I plan to use it for. I, sadly, have yet to test it out on a camcorder, but I have used it plugged into my computer and receive, nothing below, AMAZING sound quality from this mic. It has a very wide area pick up also, which I was very surprised with for its price. I am not sure about how it reacts to picking up DV Tape sound or that stuff, because I use it on a boom pole. This is a great item and well worth it if your on a budget for filming or voice over. The VO is pretty awsome with this thing. There is no noticeable white noise and the actually QUALITY of the recordings are just clear and normal. There is nothing that makes it sound like it couldn't be from a professional studio. Made my day. Great buy for the price!

This mic was purchased to be used in a classroom environment with teenage kids, so I didn't want to spend a lot of money. The mic seems well constructed and sturdy. The sound recorded with it is ok. It is better than the sound off the camera mic, and doesn't pick up near as much motor noise and handling noise as the camera mic did. The one negative to the mic is the lack of a power indicator. I think a simple LED would remind people to turn the mic off after use. Other than that, this is a decent mic, and good bang for the buck.

Seeking to produce something other than the usual crushingly boring home movies, I was looking for a good external stereo shotgun microphone for my small Digital Video Camera and my digital stereo sound recorder. Priced under $100, the SMX-10 was the most affordable serious stereo shotgun microphone I could find. It has the advantage if being intended for small video cameras, mounting on the camera and using the small external mike plug. Power is from a regular AA battery, nothing exotic. It is small enough to fit in my camera bag. In addition to using it on the camera I have used it with the recorder to collect sound environments, rain, thunder, a brook, wind chimes, night insects... To my untrained ears, the recordings are indistinguishable from the real thing.



With the included wind screen, this microphone is a vast improvement over the camera's internal microphone, however it inhibits, but my no means, eliminates that pesky wind noise. I can not tell any difference in the sound quality if the microphone battery power is on or off. Overall, highly recommended for the ambitious but impoverished amateur videographer. - Mics - Azden - Canon - Camcorder'


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Dewalt Replacement Batteries - dewalt, rechargeable batteries


I own/run a low voltage company in St. Louis. We pre-wire houses for phone/TV/networking, install intercoms, security, and central vacuum systems, and home theatres as well. We currently have 20+ DeWalt 18volt cordless tools and at least that many batteries. We are constantly asked by carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and competitiors how the tools hold up.



We can drill 100+ 3/4 holes on one battery every day with no problem. We can drill 10+ 2 1/4" holes with a DeWalt self feed bit on one battery. The recip saw, the circular saw, the angle grinder, and the flashlights all work flawlessly. We even have the vacuums so we can clean up after ourselves.



Now the old batteries (all black) last about 1 year for regular use. We have a few new batteries (yellow top) that are a little over a year old that show no sign of slowing down.



We have found that when it is cold they do not last as long. Also the charge needs to be in a semi warm area (not in a garage). Also, the battery needs to be drained most of the way before charging. Repeated recharging of a half dead battery dramatically reduces the life. But any battery manufacturer will tell you that. DEWALT DC9096-2 18-Volt XRP 2.4 Amp Hour NiCad Pod-Style Battery, 2 Pack

I'm hearing a lot of complaints about the batteries. Face it, the batteries are based on NiCad technology. NiCad are not known for infinite shelf-life, has a memory, and absolutely hates to be placed on a charger for extended periods of time.



Now knowing all the good and bad things about NiCads, these batteries are absolutely no different than you will find in any other system using NiCads. If you don't understand the why your batteries are dying off so quickly, it most likely can be explained by researching the things to do and not do to NiCads.



I've beat the hell out of the tools and the batteries and still manage to get an excess of 2yrs of service out of these batteries. If you open one of these up, all you find is a series of sub-C NiCad batteries in them. Count them up and just go price sub-C NiCad batteries with the same Amp-Hr rating. You will soon fine that even if you tried to replace the batteries into the existing battery case, it is still cheaper and easier to buy replacements.



Rechargable batteries of any technology do NOT have infinite life. With absolutely following standard practice care of the battery type, you can extend this life to the theoritical max. That is hard to do on the job site when you need to get the job done quick. I use the 15min. charger, which is great but at a significant cost in service life of the batteries. You are never supposed to charge the batteries while they are hot. This means if you run it down at the job site, you shouldn't be placing them into a rapid charger. You should have enough spare batteries to get you busy while letting a natural battery rotation occur that insures they are cool when you charge. Slow charging extends the life of the batteries as well by getting internal temperatures lower. You should never leave a NiCad on a charger. You should run down the NiCad battery before charging to help avoid memory.



You can mention any battery technology and there are do's and don'ts. I've had Lithium Ion batteries in a cell phone last less than 1yr.



It all depends on your battery usage habits. Once you understand what you are supposed to do to extend the batteries life, you can usually figure out pretty quickly why you are not getting the life you expected.



Good solid product. I'd buy them again without hesitation. And I have yet to see any group of cordless tool manufacture's use a standard battery interface so that you can use the same battery in different brands of cordless tools. So being locked-in to a particular cordless tool manufacturer is a given.



This is all the price you pay for being cordless. The only way around all this is to pull out the ole 50' extension cord.



IMHO

If you expect to buy these new in the package, you will be disappointed. ToolKing offers cheap prices by reselling you returned merchandise (I suspect)from their retail stores. I received my batteries used, you can tell by the brass connection points being ruffed up, and not in their original packages. One of the batteries takes forever to charge and this may be why it was returned. I also ordered a charger (not in the orig Package) where they were nice enough to place a crappy ToolKing inventory sticker over the vent holes. You know, the kind that peels off flake by flake. They dont return emails or phone calls. I was ripped off, so beware!

I wasn't going to bother to write a review for a couple of replacement power cells, until I saw some of the other opinions, here. I am very pleased with all the DeWalt equipment I use. The batteries do a fine job of powering everything except the circular saw - that one lacks guts.

I used my original power cells for a couple of years before they died of old-age and recharging. I am confident that they lasted for the number of rechargings that DeWalt promises. I followed the guidelines, and only occasionally hit the reconditioner button on the charging cycle. The people who get such short lives out of these power cells may not be bothering to use that feature of their DeWalt charger.

Yes, I am pleased with these replacements. They work well, and are the genuine DeWalt parts. Yes, I've had a really good experience with these power cells. Yes, I'd recommend them.

I have used Dewalt 18 volt tools for several years and a 24 volt saw for the last 3 years. Out of 5 18 volt batteries only one died after 2 years of use and it was used when I got it. The 24 volt saw has only one battery and it works as good as the day I bought it. These tools are used almost daily and I dont do a good job of taking care of them. - Dewalt - Battery - Rechargeable Batteries - Dewalt Replacement Batteries'


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Mens Groomer - mens groomer, shaving


Super impressed at the ability of this device to just mow through my back forest. I'm Italian and my hair is thick and wirey and the Mangroomer didnt have any problems getting the job done. Cool. The black rubber is a nice touch and gives you grip to go from any angle under the arms too. Overall I am happy I bought it. Mangroomer Sku 211-6 Professional Do-it-yourself Electric Back Hair Shaver

I'm a hairy dude, and my back hair is thick and I've tried everything over the years to keep it trimmed short of permanent hair removal (which I would totally do if it were more affordable). The only method that would keep things relatively neat was get a friend/girlfriend to trim with haircut clippers (no guard) and then shave with a blade razor if I wanted it especially smooth. Body trimmers I've tried did not work on my thick hair, creams take several painful and smelly applications, waxing made me break out and doesn't last long enough, until I found the Mangroomer I thought I would have to spent summers with my shirt on.



This product is awesome, not only does it tame the wild forest that is my back, but I can use it alone which makes the process of keeping myself neatly groomed much less embarassing for me. I love it.

I must admit that I never really write reviews, but I just had to after using the new pro back-shaver. I received this as a gift and really didn't know if I would use it at first. Anyhow, I ended up trying it out last week and i'm pissed I didn't know about it sooner. The best part (and weirdest part) is that I can finally feel my shirts against the skin on my back again after I use it. Hooray! and I actually feel a little leaner as a bonus.



The shaver itself has a great rubber feel to the whole body and the power is good. Haven't had to recharge it yet and used probably 5 or 6 times. Who knew shaving my back hair off could make me feel so good.

I had the old Mangroomer and the blades on it just tore my back up! The teeth on the old model had square edges, and if you didn't use a VERY light touch when shaving your back it would give you a terrible case of razor rash. I've had this new Professional model for about 2 months now, and I'm Happy to report that it does not have this problem at all. The blades are very smooth with slightly rounded over edges. You can apply a little pressure in order to get a close cut without the razor rash. Big improvement. And the rechargeable internal battery is a nice improvement too.

SUPERWIDE BLADE AND EXTRA LONG HANDLE MAKE THIS A GREAT MACHINE. HAVIN A LARGE MIRROR TO USE WITH IT IS AN ADVANTAGE TO MAKING POSITIVE ALL AREAS ARE SHAVED. SHAVE TIME IS APPROX. 5-7 MINUTES AND PROBABLY EVERY 4-5 DAYS TO KEEP SUPER SMOOTH. RUBBER BODY IS A NICE FEATURE AND FIND MYSELF GRIPPING IT ALL OVER AND USING ON MY OTHER BODY PARTS TOO AS A RESULT.

the original mangroomer was great, but i just received this new pro model and i like it more. this one has a rechargeable battery and much stronger construction. i would buy this one if posed with the decision of which one.

I read lots of reviews of this product and then I found this pro version and decided to go for it. It's amazing. Use it like a hair-eraser in a back scratcher-like motion. It can scratch you up a bit but with some practice, it's not that bad and way less scratches than with hair clipper acrobatics. I probably have medium coverage, mostly on the shoulders and in 5 minutes, I'm all cleaned up. Guys, this will do the job and no more waxing, asking a partner to do this, or clippers. Ladies, this will make a great gift for the yeti in your life.

I was astounded at the performance of the ManGroomer. Thoughtful ergonomic design. Even though a large mirror is good to have while shaving, the design allows you success without one. I use mine like a back scratcher. Quick and easy for grooming maintenance. The rubber body and compact design make it ideal for the bathroom and storage.



Addendum April 24, 2011: Plugged my Man Groomer in to charge and when I came back to it hours later it was sputtering like it had no juice. SO I charged it overnight thinking it needed more time to charge. After a 20 hour charge...same sputtering and then death. It does not work anymore. My original statement stands about how well it worked but I was hoping for a bit more longevity out of it.

Mangroomer Pro- Wow, what an incredible product! For the first time in my life I was able to shave my own back and with ease. I have a very hairy back that has grown wild over the last 4 years without having assistance, and has been a constant source of embarrassment for myself. It took me about 20mins. to slash though the jungle to find my back. I found for the first time it was easier to first trim down the jungle to a manageable level before really going at it. After that, it was a breeze to remove the rest. I am a tall guy and had no problems reaching all areas. I can't believe I waited this long to buy it. I am glad that after reading some negative comments about the original that I got to by pass that one. I love that Pro is rechargeable, however, charging instructions are pretty vague. I'm trying to get answers from support. It says to do a first time charge of 24hrs which is fine, but it also claims to have a rapid recharge, but there is no way to know how long it takes or any indication when it is done charging. Support said the blue light stays on all the time while charging for safety. Also, every 6 months drain the battery completely and do another 24hr recharge. Aside from the vague charging instructions, this is with out a doubt the best product I have every bought. Freedom is literally at hand! - Mens Grooming - Body Groomer - Mens Groomer - Shaving'


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Car Electricity - inverter, car adapter


Got this to put in my little RV. I was looking for something small enough to not draw down

the one battery I have in the Coach. Installed under a cabinet close to the battery and

ran 10 ga wire to it. Plug in the Coach electrical cord to it and turned it on. It will

run a Radio or TV or the Microwave or the Fan in my A/C but not the A/C itself which would

take about a 3000 watt inverter which would drain my battery really fast! I watched TV and

listened to the radio for 2 days and finally ran the battery down running the A/C fan on the

second day. It's a little workhorse. Good for the price too! Cobra CPI 880 800 Watt 12 Volt DC to 120 Volt AC Power Inverter with 5 Volt USB output

Bought this for tailgating at Buffet. I was actually able to hook it up to a lawn tractor battery and power a blender. I wasn't sure if the battery would have enough juice, but it worked great and was much easier to transport than a car or marine battery. Testing at home showed the low voltage alarms and whatnot work very well. I just wish this came with a cigarette lighter cord for those times you're just using it on low-amp devices the way some other inverters do. Also, I agree with some other reviews that the mounting tab locations look like they would make getting the screws in there difficult. I haven't tried mounting it, but the edges of the case definitely would get in the way. Creative DIYers would find a way to make it work, so no big deal.

The first one died within about 6 weeks. That is not a good sign... but Cobra made good and sent me a new one which has been working flawlessly for > year. I like this unit because the fan is active, not passive. So if you are using it to, say, charge a phone or run a laptop with a charged battery, (e.g. not much current draw) the fan stays off. As a noise-freak, that makes me happy. The power rating seems realistic, unlike two other units I tried. I'm quite happy with it, minus the dead original of course.

I do NOT have electricity in my Carport, so this little gadget is a GODSEND. It runs my Elipitical Buffer (for my Cars) wonderfully, and cuts out BEFORE my Cars' Battery Charge is emptied. I would not want to be without it!

Had this for some time now never let me down it's got over load shut off and 1600 watt peak power so can power almost any thing I want and if I power so much stuff it shuts it's self off so I don't mess it up

The inverter is great, and the cables that Amazon recommends are useful. However, there are 3 cables in the package when you only need 2. You only need a red and black to install the inverter. Also, you don't need an additional fuse box as Amazon recommends since the inverter has its own protective circuitry that will alarm and shut it off if it is overpowered or overheated. You'll need a large soldering iron to solder the cable ends on. I had to shorten the 10 foot cables by about 8 inches to install in my truck, so the ends of the cables that were already tinned were cut off. My little 25 watt soldering iron didn't make enough heat to re-tin the ends and solder on the connectors. No biggie, just time for me to step up to a big boy soldering iron. Hope this helps. Good luck.

mine works great. i don't use the wires that it comes with. they are short and thin. i modified my old jumper cables to use with it. i cut the clamps off of one end and permanently attached that to the inverter. now i have big clamps with 12 foot wires for a little more flexibility. i have used it for camping to make coffee and it worked great. i have also hooked up various power tools and those fired right up. (power drill, circ saw). i had my truck running while i was using it only because i was nervous about killing my battery. (we camp out in the middle of nowhere). it's a good little tool, i would recommend it.

Works great in my car.



The cables provided are undersized for the current levels the unit is capable of drawing. For an 800 W load at the 120 VAC output, that's about 80 A at the 12 VDC input. In order to safely use this unit continuously at its max power output, it would need 4 gauge cables on the input, not 10 gauge. Don't bother buying the cables from Cobra, just go to a car audio supply place and make your own. Don't forget an 80-100A fuse close to the battery - the unit has its own fuse but you don't want to rely on that if the cable breaks elsewhere and shorts before the unit's fuse, blowing up your battery.



For automotive applications, you don't need to run the negative cable all the way back to the battery, just ground it to the frame.



I agree, the mounting bracket is stupid, as you can't quite get the screwdriver in there parallel to the screw body. I managed but it was hackish.



Use star lockwashers on all connections, especially in automotive applications as the thumbscrews will work themselves loose.



I like the fact that it blips the fans on and off when it starts, that tells you that the unit is working even if you can't see it. - Car Electricity - Ac-dc Converter - Inverter - Car Adapter'


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Car Electricity - inverter, car adapter


Got this to put in my little RV. I was looking for something small enough to not draw down

the one battery I have in the Coach. Installed under a cabinet close to the battery and

ran 10 ga wire to it. Plug in the Coach electrical cord to it and turned it on. It will

run a Radio or TV or the Microwave or the Fan in my A/C but not the A/C itself which would

take about a 3000 watt inverter which would drain my battery really fast! I watched TV and

listened to the radio for 2 days and finally ran the battery down running the A/C fan on the

second day. It's a little workhorse. Good for the price too! Cobra CPI 880 800 Watt 12 Volt DC to 120 Volt AC Power Inverter with 5 Volt USB output

Bought this for tailgating at Buffet. I was actually able to hook it up to a lawn tractor battery and power a blender. I wasn't sure if the battery would have enough juice, but it worked great and was much easier to transport than a car or marine battery. Testing at home showed the low voltage alarms and whatnot work very well. I just wish this came with a cigarette lighter cord for those times you're just using it on low-amp devices the way some other inverters do. Also, I agree with some other reviews that the mounting tab locations look like they would make getting the screws in there difficult. I haven't tried mounting it, but the edges of the case definitely would get in the way. Creative DIYers would find a way to make it work, so no big deal.

The first one died within about 6 weeks. That is not a good sign... but Cobra made good and sent me a new one which has been working flawlessly for > year. I like this unit because the fan is active, not passive. So if you are using it to, say, charge a phone or run a laptop with a charged battery, (e.g. not much current draw) the fan stays off. As a noise-freak, that makes me happy. The power rating seems realistic, unlike two other units I tried. I'm quite happy with it, minus the dead original of course.

I do NOT have electricity in my Carport, so this little gadget is a GODSEND. It runs my Elipitical Buffer (for my Cars) wonderfully, and cuts out BEFORE my Cars' Battery Charge is emptied. I would not want to be without it!

Had this for some time now never let me down it's got over load shut off and 1600 watt peak power so can power almost any thing I want and if I power so much stuff it shuts it's self off so I don't mess it up

The inverter is great, and the cables that Amazon recommends are useful. However, there are 3 cables in the package when you only need 2. You only need a red and black to install the inverter. Also, you don't need an additional fuse box as Amazon recommends since the inverter has its own protective circuitry that will alarm and shut it off if it is overpowered or overheated. You'll need a large soldering iron to solder the cable ends on. I had to shorten the 10 foot cables by about 8 inches to install in my truck, so the ends of the cables that were already tinned were cut off. My little 25 watt soldering iron didn't make enough heat to re-tin the ends and solder on the connectors. No biggie, just time for me to step up to a big boy soldering iron. Hope this helps. Good luck.

mine works great. i don't use the wires that it comes with. they are short and thin. i modified my old jumper cables to use with it. i cut the clamps off of one end and permanently attached that to the inverter. now i have big clamps with 12 foot wires for a little more flexibility. i have used it for camping to make coffee and it worked great. i have also hooked up various power tools and those fired right up. (power drill, circ saw). i had my truck running while i was using it only because i was nervous about killing my battery. (we camp out in the middle of nowhere). it's a good little tool, i would recommend it.

Works great in my car.



The cables provided are undersized for the current levels the unit is capable of drawing. For an 800 W load at the 120 VAC output, that's about 80 A at the 12 VDC input. In order to safely use this unit continuously at its max power output, it would need 4 gauge cables on the input, not 10 gauge. Don't bother buying the cables from Cobra, just go to a car audio supply place and make your own. Don't forget an 80-100A fuse close to the battery - the unit has its own fuse but you don't want to rely on that if the cable breaks elsewhere and shorts before the unit's fuse, blowing up your battery.



For automotive applications, you don't need to run the negative cable all the way back to the battery, just ground it to the frame.



I agree, the mounting bracket is stupid, as you can't quite get the screwdriver in there parallel to the screw body. I managed but it was hackish.



Use star lockwashers on all connections, especially in automotive applications as the thumbscrews will work themselves loose.



I like the fact that it blips the fans on and off when it starts, that tells you that the unit is working even if you can't see it. - Car Electricity - Ac-dc Converter - Inverter - Car Adapter'


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Firewire 800 - adapters, firewire 800 to 400 adapter


This adapter makes my old firewire 400 external hard drives work on my new macbook pro (which only came with a firewire 800 port). Just plug it all together and everything reads/writes/transfers just fine. No problems so far. It also works for my mini-DV video camera's firewire cord. Basically any firewire 400 cord you have becomes usuable again with the new macbook pro. I like it. Micro Accessories FIR-1369-AD-01 400 to 800 FireWire Adapter

I'm happy to see that this item has worked for others but it doesn't work for me. Tried plugging in a 400 hard drive and DV cam. Neither worked, but both work with my old machine with 400 ports. Trying to find out how to exchange it but of course Amazon doesn't make that part as easy.

This is a slick little adapter that works as advertised. The transition between 400 and 800 is a little bulky for closely spaced ports (such as the MacPro), so you might not be able to cram two onto your system; better to use this to connect to a FireWire 400 hub (like this one, though I haven't used that particular model) and then use that to connect your other FireWire 400 devices.



My one tiny wish is that it had a small LED to indicate that data was moving through it; it would speed connection diagnostics a little.

I'm not sure why I'm writing a review for this. It's not like an adapter has any real functionality or cool attributes. It either works or it doesn't. This one does what it's supposed to, so I guess I'm content. - Firewire 800 To 400 Adapter - Adapter - Adapters - Apple'


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weight lifting gloves


Boy have I had a hard time finding a pair of weight lifting gloves! My previous ones were simple leather Saranac gloves, not much padding but they lasted for several years. The leather eventually rotted out forming huge holes. But I can definitely say that the Saranac gloves were awesome.



Now onto the replacement. I tried four different types of gloves.



Harbinger 143

Harbinger 1260

Harbinger 1215 Big Grip II

GoFit Diamond-Trac



The Harbinger 143 gloves were OK. They didn't have too much padding, but fit very snug and were difficult to get off. Also, the fingers were short.



The Harbinger 1260 and 1215 were both unusable due to having too much padding in the palm and knuckle area. The padding is comfortable for pressing exercises (e.g. bench press), but makes it all but impossible to do pulling exercises (e.g. pull ups, curls, deadlifts, rows, etc.). You can try them yourselves, but save some money and take my word for it.



The GoFit Diamond-Trac gloves are the best of the bunch for my needs. They have a little padding in the palm, but not enough to interfere with your grip. They are lightweight, so I'm not sure how long they'll last, but I'll reserve judgment on that. They do make my hands sweat, because the neoprene on the back doesn't seem to breathe well. They run a little larger in size than the other gloves. Also, I like that they have a finger tab to help you pull off the gloves.



UPDATE: I've been using the GoFit Gloves four times a week for the last few months, and they are very comfortable and showing no wear. So far so good!



Please be kind enough to indicate if reviews are helpful. GoFit Diamond-Tac Weightlifting Glove and Training CD (Medium)

I am a serious lifter, and lift heavy and hard. Padding? I wear gloves for one reason, to keep my hands from getting calloused (my wife appreciates this). These are durable, last me longer (6 months) than any other brand I've used. Fit is good, as well as comfort. I don't like a lot of padding, doesn't feel right. I can't believe some one has the audacity to say a glove isn't for serious lifters, over lack of padding. These gloves are a rock solid value. And have become the only brand I purchase.

I had to recently replace a pair of old Harbinger workout gloves. I had gotten a pair of Nikes, and absolutely hated them (they were so slick, I was scared of losing my grip on the bar).



Anyway, after reading the reviews of the GoFit Diamond-Tac gloves, I decided to give them and try.



I'm very glad I did. They were everything I read about in the reviews and then some. The grip extremely well, yet breathe better than any glove I've ever had. They're easy to take off (thanks to the slightly extra long index finger).



I didn't view the video that comes w/ it. The other reviewers said it wasn't very good, so I decided to take their word for it.



I heartily recommend them. You absolutely won't regret using these gloves.



The only other thing I should mention is that they do run a tad on the large side. So if you typically wear an XL glove, just get a large. If you typically wear a large, get a medium.

After a few weeks of working out with kettlebell weights, my hands became blistered and painful. After the blisters on my hands became so painful I could hardly get through a modest workout, I finally decided to buy these gloves. The gloves allow me to firmly grip the kettlebell, but at the same time it allows the weight to slide when I loosen my grip. Keep in mind that the skin on the base of your fingers and possibly part of your palm will still get rubbed and may tear open the skin using these gloves with the kettlebell weights. Although the skin may tear, it can always heal and become tougher. When you don't use gloves however, it will pinch the skin and cause blisters and contusions to form which are much harder to deal with.

The padding is in horizontal strips across the palms. When it lines up with the weights you're holding, it is helpful but I've found that to only happen on curls and vertical presses, not standard bench press. Instead the bar settle in between the padding and the gloves are only marginally helpful.

I just picked these gloves up today and used them at the gym for the first time.....and overall they were ok. The gripping strength is definitely there as I had no problems with grip for weight training. The only major problem these gloves have is that they have NO PADDING at all ....If you are a serious weightlifter using serious weights like me, then these gloves are not for you. If you do light weight or you are in the gym for lighter weight and more repetitions, then these gloves will definitely serve their purpose. Overall, for $12 bucks, these are a good deal, but Go Fit definitely does not impress on the comfort and padding level for the more rigorous weightlifters. I am not sure how well the duration holds up on these gloves since it was the first time at the gym but if they fall apart quickly I will make sure to update on that.

I have used these for about a half dozen workouts so far. I am not a body builder, but I workout hard for about an hour. They show no signs of wear. The pads seem very durable, but they are not so thick that they cause pinching (99% of the time).



I wear between large and extra large. I ordered XL. These seem true to size. I'm glad I rounded up. When your hands/arms are dead and the gloves are sweaty, a little larger size is easier to remove.



The main reason for buying these is that the material is synthetic so I can wash it without fear.



About the only nit is that there is a useless velcro closure which serves more of a purpose for advertising. I wish it didn't have it. I was not looking for gloves with wrist wraps. I wanted something simple on/off as sometimes I take a break to mix in some cardio exercises.'


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Usb Printer Cable - printer cable, usb cables


I am not sure why anyone would buy ANY cable from a box store. The stores will put the cable in a pretty box and then charge you 5X the price you could buy them on Amazon. The Mediabridge USB Printer cable is a perfect example - it works great and offers all of the performance of the MUCH more expensive cables that are offered at the retail stores. Mediabridge offers gold plated connection that work great I am using a set on my printer!



Final Verdict - I would recommend never buying any type of cable at a box store - there is money to saved!



5 Stars Mediabridge - Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Cable (6 Feet)

I use a Canon classImage printer which didn't come with a printer cable, so I ordered this one online seeing as it was very inexpensive and Amazon Prime gave me free shipping. The printer cable came very quickly and worked perfectly with my printer. No complaints!

These cables by Mediabridge are realistically priced and quality made. When you look at at stores like Best Buy and see what they charge for cables, you realize the tremendous markup. Have used 3 different cables from them-HDMI, coaxial and printer cable- all worth the price.

I ordered this cable as a replacement for my HP Photosmart Printer. It arrived in very secure packaging and it perfect condition. The length is great and it connected to my computer perfectly. The cable seems pretty sturdy and it does it's job well. I chose the 2 day shipping and it actually arrived in 1 day so I was very pleased at how fast I got it.

This isn't the only Mediabridge cable I have ever purchased. I also bought the Mediabridge HDMI cable, and I am completely satisfied with their quality construction. Mediabridge is giving Belkin a run for their money. Can you believe that similar cables are $20 at Walmart? Note to Self: Buy all your cables on Amazon, and you'll save a fortune! - Usb Cable - Usb - Usb Cables - Printer Cable'


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Usb Printer Cable - printer cable, usb cables


I am not sure why anyone would buy ANY cable from a box store. The stores will put the cable in a pretty box and then charge you 5X the price you could buy them on Amazon. The Mediabridge USB Printer cable is a perfect example - it works great and offers all of the performance of the MUCH more expensive cables that are offered at the retail stores. Mediabridge offers gold plated connection that work great I am using a set on my printer!



Final Verdict - I would recommend never buying any type of cable at a box store - there is money to saved!



5 Stars Mediabridge - Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Cable (6 Feet)

I use a Canon classImage printer which didn't come with a printer cable, so I ordered this one online seeing as it was very inexpensive and Amazon Prime gave me free shipping. The printer cable came very quickly and worked perfectly with my printer. No complaints!

These cables by Mediabridge are realistically priced and quality made. When you look at at stores like Best Buy and see what they charge for cables, you realize the tremendous markup. Have used 3 different cables from them-HDMI, coaxial and printer cable- all worth the price.

I ordered this cable as a replacement for my HP Photosmart Printer. It arrived in very secure packaging and it perfect condition. The length is great and it connected to my computer perfectly. The cable seems pretty sturdy and it does it's job well. I chose the 2 day shipping and it actually arrived in 1 day so I was very pleased at how fast I got it.

This isn't the only Mediabridge cable I have ever purchased. I also bought the Mediabridge HDMI cable, and I am completely satisfied with their quality construction. Mediabridge is giving Belkin a run for their money. Can you believe that similar cables are $20 at Walmart? Note to Self: Buy all your cables on Amazon, and you'll save a fortune! - Usb Cable - Usb - Usb Cables - Printer Cable'


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