Reviews Written By: A30UIX94KZY50Pprovided by Amazon.com |
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 | Garmin Nuvi 760 Portable GPS Vehicle Navigator | |
 | "There are better brands and models available." | 2009-11-02 |
| I own a Garmin Nuvi 760. I've had nothing but problems with it since the outset. Gives directions late -- mere seconds before your turn, which is useless at best and dangerous at worst.
Poor value for the money. Plus, they make you pay for accessories that others provide for free. Example: AC charger. I would never buy a Garmin again -- ever. CAVEAT EMPTOR! | ||
 | Panasonic ES4026NC Pro Curve Rechargeable Double Blade Wet/Dry Men's Shaver, Blue/Yellow | |
 | "A Good Shaver, but not right for some" | 2009-07-23 |
| When I first saw this shaver here on Amazon I knew I had to have it. I love the colors and the design. It's a great looking shaver. Now that I own it, here are a few observations that I hope will be helpful: Pros: Quiet. Light weight, easy to grip and comfortable in the hand. The shaver has essentially two heads instead of the three, and it makes shaving under the nose really easy and more accurately with a three blade shaver. Does not give you razor burn. Cons: Not the closest shave you'll ever get. There is no indicator light of any kind. Thus, you'll have to learn from personal experience how many shaves you'll get out of it - and it won't be more than a weeks worth. Of course everyone's beard is different, and thus some will need to shave longer than others. There is no recharging cord, only a plug adapter that fits directly in your wall socket. As some wall sockets lay on their side, your shaver may be on its side pointing left or right when it's recharging, instead of up as would normally expect. Not a deal breaker, just a bit odd and different. Nickel cadmium batteries. This is very old battery technology, the kind that has a "memory". So be sure to discharge your shaver fully before each recharge. Newer models have batteries that recharge in one hour and have no memory effect issues. This model takes a long time to recharge. Summary: An inexpensive, lightweight model shaver. Great for the gym, in your office desk drawer, or as a daily shaver -- if you have a light beard. It does an OK job of shaving, but not as good as the Panasonic three blade, 13,000 rpm linear speed models, such the 8109s. Speaking for myself, I think this is a nice extra shaver to have around, but for my beard I want, need, and now own another, beefier model for everyday use (8109s). | ||
 | Sling Blade | |
| "Wonderful Film, but Director's Cut Version Detracts from Original Release" | 2008-09-30 |
| As others have done a fine job of reviewing the film, I will limit this review to to the subject of this "director's cut" version. I liked the original theatrical release enormously. Yet when I viewed this "director's cut" I was disappointed. In my view, the added scenes detracted from the original and added nothing, and what was edited out took much away from movie we all saw in the theaters. Having said that, the other bonus features included in this two disc set are excellent with lots of interviews and in depth behind the scenes. | ||
 | Titanic | |
| "A Good but Brief Account of the Sinking; There Are Better Books Which Include Gracie's Story" | 2008-01-07 |
| I have read Archibald Gracie's account of the sinking and while the tales of his survival and the aftermath are at times very interesting and useful, I feel that they pale in comparison to that of fellow Titanic passenger, Lawrence Beesley, a teacher by profession and a fine writer. Beesely's accounts are so well written and vividly drawn that you feel as if you are on the ship with him before and during the sinking, as well as in the lifeboats and later upon the Carpathia, heading for New York. His account of the entire Titanic tragedy is so complete that nearly 100 years later much of what he has written remains one of the most fact filled testimonies ever recorded. He writes with sensitivity and a gentileness; and he is masterful at describing visually what he and others saw and felt during that fateful night in April, 1912. But whether you prefer Gracie or Beesely, you can get both in the book "The Story of the Titanic As Told by Its Survivors". A great read which offers the writings of other Titanic survivors as well, all in one volume. | ||
 | Titanic: A Survivor's Story and the Sinking of the S.S. Titanic | |
| "A Good but Brief Account of the Sinking; There Are Better Books Which Include Gracie's Story" | 2008-01-07 |
| I have read Archibald Gracie's account of the sinking and while the tales of his survival and the aftermath are at times very interesting and useful, I feel that they pale in comparison to that of fellow Titanic passenger, Lawrence Beesley, a teacher by profession and a fine writer. Beesely's accounts are so well written and vividly drawn that you feel as if you are on the ship with him before and during the sinking, as well as in the lifeboats and later upon the Carpathia, heading for New York. His account of the entire Titanic tragedy is so complete that nearly 100 years later much of what he has written remains one of the most fact filled testimonies ever recorded. He writes with sensitivity and a gentileness; and he is masterful at describing visually what he and others saw and felt during that fateful night in April, 1912.
But whether you prefer Gracie or Beesely, you can get both in the book "The Story of the Titanic As Told by Its Survivors". A great read which offers the writings of other Titanic survivors as well, all in one volume. | ||
 | Braun Activator 8585 | |
| "Big, Bulky, Noisey. Shaves No Better than Earlier Models. Build quality just fair." | 2007-06-22 |
| I have been happily using Braun shavers for over 20 years. My model 6520 Ultra Speed is stiil going strong. I mention this for a couple of reasons: 1) I am a fan of Braun; 2) I have owned various models and thus can compare new models to the older versions. Here's my take on the 8585 Activator: JUNK! First, the shaver is way too wide. It's difficult to get a good grip on it -- very few rubber contact pads -- and your hand fatigues more easily. Compared to my Braun 6520 (slim and elegant), this new model is a tank (big and unwieldy). Second, it's LOUD! Way too loud. No way to start the day. Third, there's nothing special about the way it shaves. I saw no material difference between the Activator and my five year old Braun. Granted, every man's beard is different, so your results may be different. Finally, build quality and features. I don't think Braun is building the same high quality shavers of yesteryear. Too much plastic. The locking feature (designed to prevent your shaver from turning on while in your suitcase) is nowhere in the same league as prior models. I wouldn't trust it. Then there's the cleaning program. You either use a brush or Braun's new clean and charge stand. You can't clean it in the sink like you can with a Panasonic wet/dry shaver. Personally, I think that the Braun cleaning system is more about sellling cleaning cartridges than providing a significantly better shave. Braun (owned by Gillette) has cleverly gotten you to pay big bucks for an electric shaver, then get you to buy a new cleaning cartridge every month. That's akin to buying new blades month after month. I've used a brush for years and never had a problem. I returned this Activator and have since picked up a Panasonic Linear shaver. I'm very happy with it. Gives an excellent, super close shave -- wet or dry. It's compact and easy to grip. And the best part, you can clean the blades right in the sink, and you can shave in the shower using shave cream. Now, I know that may sound like heresy, but brother, once you try it, you'll be amazed. So to sum up. I am still a Braun man at heart, but their new models are a step down in my book. Way down. With a little web surfing you can get a top of the line Panasonic shaver for under a $100 bucks. Worth a try! | ||
 | HP Deskjet 6980 Color Printer | |
 | " Solid, Well Built, Prints Fast. Easy to install. An excellent printer for home or home office" | 2007-03-04 |
| I purchased this printer earlier this week for an older parent. I installed the software and had it up and running in about 10 minutes. The installation was simple and straightforward, and could not have been easier. The install was on a Mac and not a PC -- in case that is a factor. My impressions: This machine has a very solid feel to it; it's weight and construction makes it feel like it is built to last. I mention this because I have examined other HP printers priced for less and found many to be very lightweight and made primarily of plastic. HP rates this model as capable of printing 5,000 copies per month ... which should speak to it's durability and build quality. Print speed is remarkably fast. The quality of the printing is excellent too -- HP describes it as laser quality and I would agree. The printing appears sharp, clean, crisp and very professional. It's quiet too. If you are seeking a printer for your home or home office do consider this model. It's a good, solid, well built printer that should last many years and which produces high quality printing. Indeed it is so good that I plan to buy one for my own use. | ||
 | The Fringes of Power: The Incredible Inside Story of Winston Churchill During WW II | |
| "A Disappointing, Esoteric Book Recounting the Memories of a Fringe Churchill Aide" | 2006-12-30 |
| As I am a longtime admirer of Winston Churchill -- whose face and name is prominently featured on the dust jacket cover -- I eagerly looked forward to receiving this book. However, after reading through several chapters and numerous passages I ended up tossing the book into a pile that will eventually be given away as charity to the local library. Notably, the title of this book, "The Fringes of Power", is an apt description for this work; and that title should be taken at face value. This book is very much about the people who worked at the fringes of power; not those who truly wielded it. To paraphrase a famous American television hamburger commercial: "Where's the beef?" Colville gives us a "fluffy bun", but precious little beef. First of all, this diary is not written by Churchill, but by someone who worked with Churchill. We are promised "the incredible inside story of Winston Churchill", yet we get the John Colville story instead. Indeed, we are reading Colville's diary; not Churchill's. These are Colville's thoughts, his impressions, and most notably, the minutiae of his daily life -- where he ate dinner, with whom, and even what the weather was like on a given day. In some passages, this reads more like introspective poetry rather than solid insights into Churchill the man. Secondly, there are a great many names of people and players who are identified in this diary, some of them quite obscure. But unless you are a Churchill historian, they will likely mean little to the average reader. Indeed, there are esoteric qualities about Colville's writing which seem impenetrable unless you are British, and a scholar of British politics during the run up to and during the World War II era. Moreover, Colville's recollections of his life as a soldier add little but distraction. His recollections of his work for Neville Chamberlain is of doubtful utility, unless of course Neville Chamberlain is someone you wish to study. On that point, count me out. So, buyer beware: this is not truly a book about Churchill as the dust jacket cover suggests. Finally, this book did little to satisfy my curiousity about Churchill. Were this Churchill's diary, I would be thrilled. But alas, it was written by a man who was acquainted with and for a time worked with Churchill. But there are many others who worked for and with Churchill who offer much better insights to the man. As mentioned earlier, if you are a serious historian, intimately familiar with the entire cast of characters in the British political scene during Churchill's tenure in parliament and as Prime Minister, you may find this book interesting and enlightening. But if you are like many of us who want to know Churchill and care little about fringe minutiae, I would respectfully submit that there are much better offerings, including of course, the work of Martin Gilbert, Churchill's official biographer. | ||
 | Mothers California Gold Showtime Instant Detailer | |
| "The Best "Instant" Detailer on the Market Today -- Brilliant Shine & Depth" | 2006-07-04 |
| I have been using "instant detailers"for over a decade, mostly the Meguiar's product in the purple spray bottle. It did a good job, smelled good, and left the car clean. But as I am always looking for a better shine, I decided to give the Mother's Instant Detailer a try, and I'm glad I did. Indeed, until I decided to try the Mother's product, I assumed that all "instant detailers" were pretty much alike. Not so! In my experience, the Mother's product not only cleans the car but it also produces greater shine, depth and gloss. It also seems to brighten the finish as well. My take: it's a superior product. Mother's Instant Detailer is very mild, it smells great, and makes a noticeable difference in a car's appearance. I no longer use the other brand. Since discovering Mother's Instant Detailer I have tried a number of other Mother's wax products, and found them to be at least a notch or two above the current offerings of the major retail store competitors. Of course, car detailing goals and results can be very subjective; nonetheless, for the discriminating car enthusiast who wants their car to look its best, do yourself a favor and give this product a try -- I think you'll like it. | ||
 | What Planet Are You From? | |
| "Funny, Witty and Endlessly Entertaining" | 2001-07-24 |
| This is a charming, witty, poignant, clever and endlessly entertaining film. Director Mike Nichols ("The Graduate") has deftly handcrafted another wonderful film that can be watched again and again. Shandling's script is funny, modern and urbane yet at the same time sensitive and thoughtful. The perfomances by each and every actor is terrific, and the comedic timing is right on the money. Greg Kinnear is better than ever and John Goodman turns in yet another great performance. Annette Benning is wonderful; and the ensemble cast of her on-screen girlfriends is terrific. Ben Kingsley is a delight in this droll role as Shandling's on-screen superior. Linda Fiorentino is perfectly cast as the femme fetale. This was a sleeper at the box office (one heck of a great date movie!) but will keep you laughing and wide awake while you enjoy it at home on your VCR or DVD. It's a wonderful film. Buy it, rent it ... then get ready to roll on the floor laughing. | ||
 | Your Purebred Puppy, Second Edition : A Buyer's Guide, Completely Revised and Updated | |
| "This Is the Book to Buy" | 2001-07-19 |
| You can believe all of the many five star ratings for this book because they are absolutely true! This book is superbly written and very user friendly. The author conveys what you need to know in succinct yet incredibly thorough passages that seem to anticipate and answer most any question you may have. You can almost hear Michelle Welton talking to YOU when you read her advice; it's like having an expert along with you every step of the way. Complete with photographs, Welton tells you in plain English whether a dog is right for novice owners or for experienced owners; whether the breed is good with young children and most meaningful for me, cautions when buying. I have read several similar offerings on the subject of breed selection and this is by far the best. In conclusion, I can only echo what the many other reviewers have said and that is that this book is superlative in every respect. Worth every penny! | ||
 | RIGHT DOG FOR YOU | |
| "Overly Complex - No Photos" | 2001-07-18 |
| I have read a number of breed selection books and while Tortora's book is thorough, it will come across for many as overly complex and long in the tooth. There are no photos, but is replete with plenty of charts and grids. No question there is a lot of info, which is commendable, but nonetheless I found it leaving me with unanswered questions. Perhaps a more accessible and user friendly book is Michelle Welton's "Your Purebred Puppy - A Buyer's Guide" (second edition). Complete with photographs, Welton tells you in plain English whether a dog is right for novice owners or for experienced owners; whether the breed is good with young children and most meaningful for me, cautions when buying. Welton talks to you in personal way, like having an expert at your side. If you want to buy just one book, consider "Your Purebred Puppy" by Michelle Welton. If you want to do in depth research before selecting a breed, then buying both of these books together should answer just about anyone's breed choice questions. | ||
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