Monday, 28 February 2011

Fashion Hoodies - corset, juniors


love the shirt when I saw it on the manniquin but for a bigger size woman it wasn't too great. If you're the type that likes to show off your undies this is a good investment for you lol. It kept creeping up on me and woulnd't stay down. Plus Size Sexy RED Black Lace Corset Top - 1X

This shirt is vary faltering; however if you don't want a shirt to fit snugly, this is not for you. It's conforms to your body and is short, so if you are a large and tall woman, a 3x is about a size 20. It's ployester so wearing it in the summer might be a challeng, we will see. Also, my husband really likes the shirt on me, and it doesn't look bad if I wear the right pants or skirt.

So in the end I would recommend this shirt for a smaller woman then myself, and I might even get another one in a differnt color. - Gothic - Juniors - Corset - Tops'


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Melissa Doug - kitchen sets, melissa doug


I was very pleased with the food sets we purchased last year for Christmas. My daughter loves to play with them.



One note worth mentioning is that the "patty" started peeling paint. I know my daughter isn't chewing on it, so I really don't know what caused this.



With all the lead-paint scares, I promptly threw it away. This product is manufactured in China. I'm not saying that it may have lead paint or anything like that, but it's better to be safe than sorry.



All in all, they're very durable food items and fun. Just regularly check for chips in the paint to be safe. Melissa & Doug Wooden Sandwich-Making Set

I had a friend who's 2yr old child had a food cutting set, and I was skeptical of whether my 2yr old daughter would also like it. I picked Melissa and Doug's set b/c their quality is always excellent, and I am again impressed with the craftsmanship and detail of this set. I am also pleasantly suprised to find that of all the expensive electronic gifts my 2yo got for her birthday, this has turned out to be her favorite toy!!!! It keeps her entertained for quite a while, and is great for parent/child play together. I only wish it came with more pieces, as I run out of combinations of sandwiches to make for her (but she definately doesn't seem to mind, she just keeps cutting!) Excellent for hand-eye and fine motor coordination, educational (verbal, counting, colors, etc) skills, and withstands a significant toddler beating. Also handy to have the storage box for clean-up. I also strongly recommend Melissa and Doug's food cutting set, which makes a nice coordinated set with this one, and increases the educational value and variety (for mommy who seems to get bored more quickly than my daughter!)

My son couldn't get enough of the Food Box from the same company, so I bought him this and now he loves them both! These are great complimentary toys that play well together and give my son hours of entertainment away from the TV. At this price, I recommend buying this for any 3-5 year olds that you are shopping for (even for birthday party presents!)

My children enjoy making sandwiches for all. The product is life-size, extremely durable, and fun. They are able to velcro the cheese to the meats and the meats to the bread and cut them all apart with the wooden knife included. The tray is also nice to use to store everything inside the kitchen set. I highly recommend this product!

This wood sandwich kit is as sturdy and durable as they come. Excellent quality toy, and it gets 5 stars for that. I bought this for my daughter at 18 months.. she is now 22 months. She has loved it from the beginning. Have some drawbacks though:



- My daughter absolutely LOVES "cutting" the sandwich and hamburger.. but thats about it. She doesnt quite get the concept of making a sandwich, which means I have to put all the pieces together.. and she takes them all apart with the wooden knife.



- There's only so many sandwiches you can make with this kit! It would be nice to have more meats.. and fillings, but thats okay I suppose.



- The velcro is starting to wear down. I have this issue with the food cutting set as well - my daughter plays with this toy so often ("cutting" the sandwich), that the velcro is starting to lose its adhesiveness. So I question how long this toy will last if we've only had it for 5 months.. and its already started to wear down like this.



Overall, excellent toy, I highly recommend it - my daughter loves to cut the sandwiches, so it provides excellent playing time for her. It keeps her busy for a long time.. and she loves just loves this toy.

My kids have had fun with this set. It's been put through some serious abuse but has not experienced any peeling or chipping. The slices are thick -- approaching 1/2 inch -- so the resulting sandwiches often look absurdly tall like something Shaggy would swallow in Scooby Doo. The bread, cheese, pickles, and tomatoes are decent approximations but there are some pink lozenges that don't make much sense -- ham perhaps.



One issue that crops up, although I don't really know how it could be remedied, is the small velcro circle that binds the sandwich together while providing the gratifying chop sound when rent apart with the wooden knife. It quickly looses its effectiveness over time and attracts all manner of junk - hair and fuzz. I have this issue with most velcro-fitted M&D toys. Not the end of the world.



Melissa and Doug toys, even handsome wood ones like this, are made in China. That doesn't mean that it is laden with toxins -- the corporate site assures otherwise -- but I do find it disappointing. When I see a company like Melissa "& Doug with wood toys, cute, craftsy labeling, and words like "handcrafted", it evokes a feeling of refreshing escape from the great heaps of cheap, electronic plastic garbage flooding the shelves of the local super-store. There's not much of a point to this last paragraph except to say I'm sure M&D could manufacture their goods here and pay more for a union worker but gain so much more in respect.

Kids really enjoy playing with this and it helps to teach them how food is prepared. They really like putting together different combinations of the inside ingredients. I like the wood better than plastic. I babysit my grandchildren and they like to "make meals" for me.

Good food set, a million times better than the plastic food. I bought this along with the Melissa and Doug Pizza set and so if you only want one set I would go with the pizza set as my girls play with that way more than this but it is well made and the velcro is awesome. Definetly worth it and a great addition to the play kitchen.

We've had this toy for a few years now and it has held up so well! It has been well played with but looks almost new! We bought it when my son was a preschooler and now his little sister can play with it! We've had many "picnics" in our living room with this toy! A good buy! - Wooden Food - Melissa Doug - Kitchen Sets - Wooden Toys'


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Best Finish Nailer


I posted this review over in the Hitachi MA2 version, a long standing favorite amongst the pros. I wanted to post it here as well considering it really is about the MA4. Here it is.



I've done/doing some professional woodworking and have a lifetime of experience. In air driven nailers I have Porter Cables upholstery stapler, their 23 gauge pin nailer, an 18 gauge, two of their 16 gauge nailers. I impulsively bought the Bostitch after reading the first page reviews, and then spent a couple of hours researching the Hitachi vs. the Bostitch. After comparing, this is what I found.



A lot of people are jumping on the Bostitch band wagon because it is the lightest at 3.8 pounds, it is dry as in no oil, and it has class leading 400 inch pounds of power. I was dazzled and bought right away. After digging deeper, I am refusing the Bostitch and getting the Hitachi. They both have the "durable composite magazine" (plastic) that holds the nails. The Hitachi with its aluminum housing only weighs .4 pounds more as in 4.2 instead of 3.8. That extra .4 is not going to make a difference. The oil issue is seemingly an advantage in that the Bostitch runs dry, but my other nailers are all oiled, and all I do is drive 2 or 3 nails into a piece of scrap to blow out the excess oil when first putting a couple of drops in the gun, and the rest of the time it is dry. Also the 400 pounds of torque is not an issue because the 15 gauge nailers have tons of power as compared to the 16 gauge, so much so that a small difference in power is irrelevant. When I borrowed a PC 15 gauge and first fired it, it went off with a POW instead of a pop like the 16. Substantially more power resulted in me being able to drive the nails into the tongue side of a 7/8" board deep enough that I didn't have to get out my center punch and tap it in the rest of the way; it drove deep and flush on the first try every time after setting it properly.



I am concerned about the many reviews that appear mostly all on the secondary pages on the Bostitch about having driver failure problems. Professionals who hit nails when driving a nail complain of having to go back and spend $35 to have the driver replaced every time they do. On the other hand the Hitachi has a ton of reviews many from deeply seasoned pro's that use it daily, for years, and never had a hiccup, other than an occasional, easily correctable nail jam. I'm using this right away on driving nails into crown moldings in a circa 1955 house with plaster walls, and the corners are all strengthened with lath wire so it is probable that I will be hitting metal more than just a few times. I don't want to worry about having to send it back to the shop to replace a driver every time I do.



This Hitachi NT65MA2 15 gauge has been updated twice. The 3 was out before in a lime green, and now the new item is the same model with a 4, as in NT65MA4. It has the same layout, but a slightly different look with the same industrial feel to it, and it is not lime green or gray, but silver. It appears that the main body is also a little bit larger.

The Bostitch is a fine tool but you will notice that the home hobbyist is praising it more and the pro's are booing it more. All you have to do is look down the review results and you will see the Bostitch has a wide spread review base with a liberal amount of 3's, 2's, and 1's as well as the 4's and 5's. The Hitachi is mostly 5's, and some 4's with no 3's, 2's, or 1's at all. That's quite a drastic difference. With reviews going all the way back to 2004 that is quite a lot of time for someone to hate the tool, and nobody does.



I wanted to say that the MA4 is only available at the time of writing this review through an Amazon merchant and not an Amazon in stock item, but I am sure Amazon will be picking it up directly soon. That was another decision I had to make. Do I buy the older tried and true, super reviewed MA2 model, or go for the newest version from Hitachi and get the MA4. After speaking to the rep he mentioned that it was the same industrial grade piece of equipment as the MA2 so I went for it. The body of the MA4 is even a little beefier.



Now onto the Hitachi and some of the things I love about it. First off it has an air blowing feature. You may think that is trivial, but it is a great feature that everyone is raving about. When I bought my Bosch jig saw it had an air blowing line that would remove the dust from where the blade meets the wood so you can see the line. After using lesser jig saws and not being able to see the line due to instant dust buildup, that was quite an improvement, so I am partial to air blowing capabilities. Even though with a nailer you don't wind up with the same problem, this thing has an air blower that is so strong that you can clean off a large workbench in only a few seconds; it comes in handy. It also has an interesting air input connection that is configured so you can keep the air line out of the way, and suspended in air so it is not so likely to bump into things. The Hitachi also has the continuous firing option whereas the Bostitch has the single firing option only. With continuous firing you can squeeze the trigger, and as fast as you plunge the head into the workpiece it fires repeatedly. You may have seen this feature on guns that are used to place tar paper on the side of buildings. Once up on the ladder they spread out a sheet, and pow, pow, pow. None of this stuff of positioning the gun, depress the nose, and then fire. That is great when you are doing precision work, but when you have larger areas that require multiple shots the multiple fire feature is great.



Nail availability. The Bostitch is the odd man out when it comes to nails in the industry; they only accept Bostitch nails. So Bostitch is proprietary forcing you to buy their nails. The Hitachi accepts the popular standard size from other manufacturers so when you are in the middle of a job you can access them locally, and not have to worry about overstocking everything all of the time. I normally would still prefer to use Hitachi nails in the Hitachi gun just in case but when viewing the ads for B&C Eagle nails they state, "Fits Senco, Hitachi, PC, Rigid, Milwaukee, Makita, Craftsman, Dewalt, and most other 15 gauge angled finish nailers." So you can see that you will never be stuck finding a compatible nail for the Hitachi 15 gauge nailer.



Overall the Bostitch is not a bad gun, but it appears that jams are more frequent after some use, and of course when they occur they bend over and mar the wood. Maybe this feature of having more power may be the reason why the driver gets broken. Combining that with a no oil environment may be the culprit.



I've also seen some pretty high priced Hitachi equipment, and with the discount I was able to purchase it for a price super close to the Bostitch. Bostitch is a good name, but in this case, I like the Hitachi better. Hitachi includes a nice case, and even a pair of safety glasses; nice touch. I just wish they included a small bottle of the oil. Maybe they didn't want to deal with the oil spill creating a mess problems. Oh well, no biggie. The bottom line to me is ease of use with multiple nail driving options and reliability. Hitachi NT65MA4 15 Gauge Angle Finish Nailer'


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Benchtop Jointers - benchtop jointers, jointers


Knives were used on a Grizzly 8 in jointer. The Grizzly jointer has a 4 knife cutter head, so I got 3 sets of 3. At that they were still only about $10 more than one set from Grizzly. Quality wasn't quite what I'd expect from Freud. There were small burrs on the back sides of the knives and most of the knives had a slight bow (maybe .015 in). A diamond hone took care of the burr, and the gibs straightened the bow. At least the things were made in Italy - a damn site better than China!! Freud C460 8-Inch x 3/4-Inch x 1/8-Inch Jointer Knives - 3-Piece Set - Planer - Benchtop Jointers - Jet - Jointers'


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Athletic Pants - exercise pants, athletic pants


Don't waste you money! Really... I purchased 3 pairs of pants because of the good reviews and their price. However when I received them I immediately noticed how very thin they are. I wanted to give them a chance so I tried them on and they were almost see-through and if I pull them just a bit (like when either of my two toddlers pulls on them or I bend over) they are down my thighs in two seconds, very annoying. These pants have no waist band... no elastic band... nothing to help hold them up. It's too much of a hassle to return them so I plan on getting elastic bands to sew and fix my pants. Seriously, if you plan on using them (especially in public) save yourself the embarrassment of them falling off. Don't purchase these. Active Basic Fold Over Flared Athletic Pant (Large, Black)

When I first got the pants I was very happy. They fit perfectly and were very comfortable. After I washed them they shrunk a ton. Next time I will just hang dry them. They are still perfect for lounging and yoga, just a little on the short side. They were shipped very quickly. Thank you.

I agree these pants basically have no waistband, unless you keep the fold-over up. They weren't see-through whatsoever. Heres a suggestion: These are JUNIOR'S sizes, and they only go up to LARGE. If you're a grown woman, and not extremely slim. Of course these pants are going to be see-through.. They're for teenage girls.



And these run small. I'm a medium in juniors, and I got a large, and they're a tiny bit big, but I ordered a size up with the assumption that if they shrink, I won't have any problems.



Other than the waistband, nice pants all around.

These are very nice pants, but I do have a few critical comments: after wearing them for a few times, they stretched more than I'd have liked; the problem is especially at the waist/hips because they don't quite stay put; I hope they'll shrink after I wash them. They are also very thin -- it works for me, but I was expecting them to be a bit thicker.

I LOVE these! I only ordered one pair and want to order more now that I know they fit so well. When will these be back available agian? I just ordered a couple of days ago and now they're all gone! : (

I bought these pants for my TINY daughter-in-law. They were part of what she wanted for x-mas & was very surprized that I found them in her size. She was so thrilled with them, she didn't have to carry on about how she loved them, you could see it in her face. - Athletic Pants - Active Pants - Sweat Pants - Exercise Pants'


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Exercise Headphones - exercise, sennheiser


I didn't like the lime green color of the Sen PMX70's, so I had first bought the nicely designed Nike-Philips neckband phones. They were THE perfect design for a runner. However, the left side went out after 3 weeks! I'm a 50yr old who has been lifting weights for years, but just started running 3yrs ago. I searched and researched for headphones for runners because I sweat like a horse, and I didn't want to waste money on another pair that wouldn't suit my purpose.



So the PMX80 Sport II had just come out. Better design than the 70's, but the price is very hefty at $55. Still, I needed what these said they could do. No regrets!



First, they sound great. They have a natural bass advantage because of the way they fit in your ears. Basically, they "fill" the entire gap. However, this can be a drawback of sorts; as sweat builds up and drips down the ear-way, the excess water can create a "seal" between your ear canal and the speaker of each bud. This in turn, can create an "underwater" sound, so to speak. I see this as a design flaw, despite the waterproof nature of these phones because the sound will become muffled. Not frequently, but this CAN/DOES happen. There is also one other little issue to mention; because of the way these fill the ear canal and form that "seal"...the rigid neckband will carry the slightest sound waves (vibration). A bouncing necklace...the excess wire that may touch the neckband, etc., will magnify the sound and carry it right to your ears. A picky and perhaps minor point, but I felt I should mention it. In reality, it's only happened a few times, and only happens after you're soaked with sweat. It can be stooped by simply adjusting the neckband with one fairly effortless movement.



The video clip review you'll see here? The guy tosses out the clip saying you won't need it. Trust me, the clip is there for a reason. Maybe he's a casual jogger? Anyway, Sennheiser knew exactly why they needed to include the clip; because the one-piece wire attaches to the left ear bud, the wire WILL tug back & forth if you have it running down the back of your shirt...like everyone is going to do. The clip clips right to your shirt's neckline and keeps the wire from "moving". And actually, the wire can still tug its way through the clip channel and STILL pull! I've had to adjust it to get more slack in the middle of a long run. I'm just covering all the bases here, but trust me here...KEEP and USE the provided clip!



And yes, you can actually rinse these off under light running water after a run! Yes, the ear buds! I hold them so the buds are "vertical", so I'm not trying to force water into the bud. I simply let light running water cascade down the screen of the ear bud to rinse away sweat. I then use a towel to lightly dab off the excess water and then let them sit on my desk to dry for a few hours. Been doing this for several weeks and I haven't had any problems.



The bottom line; The rear exiting site of the Nike phones is a better design, but the quality of the Sennheisers (beefy wire, rugged, washable, better sound) negate that factor entirely. I only wish they'd just change this one design feature!!! Other than that, if you're a runner and enjoy quality sound and want durability....the PMX80's are exactly what you're looking for. They're comfy and you won't even know you have them on. I'm sure the price will drop, as I believe they are somewhat overpriced for MP3 phones, but they're also what I was looking for, so whaddayagonnado? These phones rock.



2 YEAR UPDATE: I'm only weeks away from having owned these headphones for two full years. The result? I sweat like an animal from hell, and I've run well over 1200 outdoor miles (3-5 mile avg run) with these phones...and they are as good as the day I got them delivered. Seriously, I will buy another pair of these if/when these ever fail me.



As to comments from others about hurting/discomfort on the ears; my wife liked the sound & feel of mine so much that she got the 70's model (cheaper at the time, and she only does light treadmill walking). Like some here, she also experienced the "over-tight" feeling the band caused on her ears. However, she liked them enough that kept them and when done using....places them over the treadmill panel arm/part so that they rest in a "stretched out" state. This seems to have solved her issue. Sennheiser PMX80 In-Ear Sport Series II Behind the Head Earphones

At a lower price point I would probably be less critical. I also follow the reviews closely and trust them. I was apprehensive going in a little as I intended to buy buds to workout with. The wrap was a concern but the reviews were so positive about this unit that I gave it a shot.



I am not upset but not altogether satisfied either. This headphone is not as comfortable as I expected. That is not to say they are uncomfortable. They exert a little more pressure on my ear canal than expected (based on reviews that talked about not even feeling them) and getting the in-ear position correct requires some adjustment (maximizing sound by getting the driver pointed in the right direction).



I like them ok for running but working out is a little more work. Anytime I lay down on a bench at the gym, the back moves around requiring a readjustment. I do appreciate them being less sensitive to sweat. However the cord has a more rubbery tactile fell that tends to stick or grab things as you walk by at the gym a bit more.



I will likely continue to use these but may go back to buds for most applications. Buds have challenges of their own but these may end up being my choice for running only. At this price point that is a bit disappointing.

These are sturdy headphones and work as advertised to stay on during even a strenuous workout... however... if you have small ears like me, you'll be lucky if you can make it an hour. I love the durability, color, one cord design and the clip to hold the cord in place. I love everything except the fact that they kill my ears after just a short use. I wish the manufacturers would make a small and a large size of their popular products. If these were a bit smaller, I'd give them 5 stars. I give them 2 as they are because they really hurt!





Pro - good construction

Pro - stays on

Pro - good sound for the price

Pro - clip and one cord design



Con - ouch!!! Not for small ears - Running Headphones - Sennheiser - Sports Headphones - Exercise'


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Multipurpose Paper - paper, multipurpose paper white


Turns out that shipping 26 lbs of paper in a thin cardboard box is somewhat problamatic. Ours arrived with the top busted off and the box taped back together by the shipping company. I assume this happened because the box was being handled individually and tossed from station to station by the shipping personnel and equipment. 26lbs of paper has a lot of momentum and that is a pretty thin cardboard box. So the top split open and spilled the contents. That box was meant to be shipped on a pallet not individually. The top 10-15% of paper was all dishuffled and wrinkled. We kept the box as I didn't want to hassle with returning it but I think I'll go back to picking up a case at the local Office[Depot/Max].The cost is about the same and I will get the paper intact. HP Office Quickpack Paper, 92 Brightness, 8.5 x 11 Inches, 2500 Sheets (11210-3)

While the price is right on this box of loose paper, it is has a major shortcoming: it is very flimsy. Usually, I buy 24lb paper, and I didn't realize the plunge from 24 to 20 would be so drastic, but it is. So, I just use this paper as draft paper, and when I need to print out an essay for college etc., I pop in the 24 lb paper.



I gave 5 stars because it is not HP's fault that I didn't know the drastic difference in paper weight etc. In the end, paper is paper!

I've ordered hundreds of items from Amazon over the years and have come to depend on their packaging to protect my items -- I've been very satisfied until I ordered this HP Office paper Quickpack. They just slapped a label and an invoice on the book and shipped it. The cardboard is thin (THIS IS NOT A SHIPPING BOX!!) and inside this thin layer of cardboard is just one big stack of 2500 individual sheets -- not a collection of wrapped 500 sheet reams.

I see from other reviews that I am not the only one to have had this problem. Personally I submitted a packaging review along with photos -- I hope that others will do the same.

I do not know how they decide on type of packaging, but I think that unless a box is clearly a shipping box - which this one clearly is not designed to be, it should be protected inside a proper shipping box. AMAZON -- you "dropped the ball" on this one.

HP Office Quickpack Paper, 92 Brightness, 8.5 x 11 Inches, 2500 Sheets (11210-3)

I love these 2500 paper packs. I don't know why some reviews have has an issue with the paper quality; this is standard quality laser printer paper in a standard brightness level. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the product, and prints on it turn out beautiful in both black-and-white as well as color. The carton is now shipping nested in a larger, thicker brown cardboard box, so shipping problems described by other reviewers are a thing of the past (at least those caused by shipping the paper without proper protection). When Amazon puts these cartons on sale, they're much cheaper than buying a ream of individually wrapped paper like you get at an office big-box store. This is standard (and by standard I mean excellent) quality printing paper at a great price. You can't go wrong here.

The easy to open box without internal wrappers seems like a great idea except Amazon ships the box without an outer-box, so the box that you are stuck with is covered in grime and dirt when it arrives. If Amazon would ship the box within another box to protect it from damage and dirt, this product would be a great idea. Now I am stuck with a 2500 sheet box of paper that is dented, torn, dusty, and partially covered in an unknown sticky black residue.

I bought the HP 11210 box specifically because I hate unwrapping reams of paper. It's wasteful and I find it depressing. The HP 20' paper is fine - it's very white, thin and lightweight. It doesn't cause jams and it takes the toner nice and tight. All in all this is fine everyday laser printer paper in an inexpensive and convenient form. - Copy - Good Price - Multipurpose Paper White - Paper'


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Blu-ray 3d - blu-ray player, hdtv


Panasonic's DMP-BDT100 Blu-ray 3D player is currently one of the least expensive options for 3D Blu-ray playback, but this doesn't mean it sacrifices performance for the sake of cost savings. The player offers a robust set of streaming options (Netflix, Amazon VOD, YouTube, Pandora, etc.) as well as very good DVD upconversion and outstanding Blu-ray playback, for the same price as many standard 2D Blu-ray players. UPDATE: VUDU is now also available on the BDT100 via a recent firmware and server update.



The player lacks some features compared to the top of the line DMP-BDT350: no dual HDMI output (only needed if you are using this with an older non 3D-compliant receiver), no multichannel analog outputs (for use with non-HDMI receivers) and no built-in WiFi networking (can be added via the Panasonic Wireless LAN Adapter). It also offers a fairly clunky user interface lacking the modern graphic-driven GUI that you see on current LG and Samsung Blu-ray players, though it is superior to the user menu on the Pioneer players. But the DMP-BDT100 provides all the basics, and several advanced features, as well as strong high def video and audio performance. The player passes all the upconversion and film cadence detection tests on the "Spears and Munsil" and "HQV Benchmark" DVDs and Blu-ray Discs with flying colors and also offers enhanced 4:4:4 color output with 24p (24 frame/second) output options for both DVDs and Blu-ray Discs. If silver discs are primarily how you watch your movies, then there is little to fault in the BDT100.



We did notice a peculiarity with Netflix streaming on the BDT100. Streaming SD content from Netflix, we observed something called the "CUE" (chroma upsampling error or "chroma bug"). This is something that can occur when a compressed video source has its color information upconverted to restore color detail lost in the compression process. On the BDT100, this upconversion is imperfect, which can cause visible color banding or jagged edges on the borders between colors. The problem is only noticeable on standard definition Netflix streaming content. Netflix HD, standard DVD and Blu-ray Disc playback do not exhibit this issue. And frankly, those with untrained eyes might not even notice it. It becomes more evident as you move to larger screens (e.g., front projection systems), but it can be viewed on some Netflix SD content even at the more common 42-inch and up screen sizes. As to whether this issue is a deal-breaker to you or not, that depends on how much standard def streaming you do from Netflix, and whether the chroma bug is something that bothers you. But we would be remiss not to mention it. According to our contacts at Panasonic, they are aware of the issue and are working toward a fix.



If Netflix SD content is not a part of your streaming media diet, then we give the BDT100 an unqualified recommendation. But if you do find yourself watching a lot of standard def streaming content on Netflix then you may want to look elsewhere or wait to see if Panasonic can deliver a fix to this issue on the BDT100.



Our more detailed review of the player is available on our web site at Big Picture Big Sound (dot com). Panasonic DMP-BDT100 Full HD 3D Blu-ray Disc Player

This player was thrown into the deal when I bought my Panasonic TC-P58VT25 TV two weeks ago. The TV is terrific. This player worked fine but was shipped with downlevel ver. 1.04 of the firmware. The Panasonic site had a download and instruction to update the firmware to ver. 1.14. Followed all the instructions, burned the update disc and followed the instructions for the update. Everything worked per the instructions except the last step. Tray opened and message on panel says UPDNG. OK so far. However I never got a finish message and can now do nothing with the player. Called Panasonic Tech Support which is a nightmare and I said it's been sitting on UPDNG for well over and hour without going to Finish. Was told the update normally only takes about 30 minutes and they had me try the update again with the same results. I even tried burning another disc in ISO 9660 format as per the instructions with the same results. Tech Support said they'd send me an update disc but will take 7-10 business days to arrive. I have doubts it will fix the problem and now my player is useless until I can try what they send. Anyone else have update problems and figured how to solve it? Except for this problem I was happy with the player and TV combo.



UPDATE: After getting nowhere with Panasonic help and having a player that did not work I managed to return the broken player and exchange it for another one. This time I waited until I had my ethernet connection in place and saw the message about a new version of firmware available. I followed the directions in the manual for a network update and it worked flawlessly. So I guess my advice would be to not try burning an update CD yourself. If you need to go that route contact Panasonic to mail you one (they will). - Hdtv - Blu-ray Player - Netflix - Blu-ray 3d'


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Bluetooth Headset - bluetooth, bluetooth headset


The ear hooks fit on the Jawbone Icon, but the hooks hold the Icon away from my face, rendering useless the noise cancellation. Since the hooks are fairly rigid, they can't be readjusted for a better fit. SALE 50% OFF! Ear Hook Kit Replacement for Bluetooth earhook 2-black, 2-clear clip loop (6-free Foam Buds) COMPATABLE WITH: Lg-hbm 210 230 235 330 520 570 730 760 770 800 Motorola h12 h15 H270 h371 h375 h385 h390 h560 h620 h680 h681 h690 h695 h780 h790 HK100 HK200 Samsung Wep 480 490 650 750 850 870 Samsung Bhm 3500 & Plantronics 925 975 M100 Please Verify Your Make/model Before Purchase! Contact Us with Issues. Thanks Bluetooth Fixer

Okay, I knew that it was an inexpensive set of ear hooks. But I have already broken two of the hooks, just by trying to put them on my ears. They break in the small half-cirlce that clips onto the Bluetooth. They are just too brittle and break with too little pressure. Also, when I wear them (before they break), they tend to hold the Bluetooth out at an angle from my jaw, so I am constantly trying to readjust it to sit angled in towards me.

I have gone through 3 of the hooks that go around the ear because they break so easily. I don't know why, but my original ear hook lasted over a year, but these last less than two weeks. I makes no sense to purchase a new earpiece just to get a more sturdy ear hook, but I would recommend that Motorola provide extras in the original package when the consumer purchases it.



Delivery was on time and on the date expected!



Thank you.

I have an LG-Bluetooth HBM-235.



The attachments do not fit my bluetooth. They are either too small or too big. The attchment slides around and around thus not staying in my ear properly.



I am dissatisfied with this purchase.

"Cheap" is not synonymous with "inexpensive." I broke the ear hook on my Motorola bluetooth several months ago and couldn't find a replacement for under $10. Can you believe $10 for a tiny piece of plastic?!

Luckily I came across Bluetooth Fixer on Amazon and for pennies have enough ear hooks and bud covers to last forever. The order was shipped in 2 days under standard shipping. No more scouting Radio Shack and Sprint stores for ear buds.

Thanks Bluetooth Fixer! Companies like you make me proud to be an American capitalist who has a choice in the international market. These ear hooks aren't some cheap communist Chinese knock-off, and if they are, I don't care because I live indoors under air conditioning and watch a 57 inch TV at night with a belly full of USDA T-Bone steaks. I recommend Bluetooth Fixer to every Christian soul on the planet.

Not to mention the easy checkout through Amazon and search engine optimization to find the cheapest products. I would however recommend a pairing with Amazon and Pay Pal in the future to halt identity theft.



Amazon. Engineered to Amaze.

(Unfortunately that catch phrase been taken already by a totally un-amazing mortgage scheme in bed with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and that slobbering Massachusetts congressman/peter-puffer Barney Frank. How is Quicken Loans "engineered" to do anything but scam people? Why so many commercials with the 30-something baby face know-nothing who tells his reps to charge more refinancing fees than allowed by law? Just a thought...)

After purchase was received, I found some of the earhooks fit (loose) on device, allowing the device to drop down and hang heavily on ear, this cut down on clarity. Would I by the product again? Maybe. That would depend on if product availability and cost.

It was a welcome package when my ear hooks showed up in the mail. I use my blue tooth ear piece all the time and really needed to use it again by the time the earhooks arrived. The hooks fit the earpiece okay, but to be honest, they are pretty flimsy and a bit difficult to wear. However, for the price, they get the job done. - Motorola - Bluetooth Headset - Bluetooth'


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African-america


After finding her boyfriend, Terrance in bed with another woman, Vicki Holiday decides that she will not accept nor forgive him. So she decides to break the relationship off. Unfortunately, Terrance does not accept the fact that Vicki does not want anything more to do with him.



Terrance soon realizes that old saying "you don't know what you got, until it's gone" is so true. He wants Vicki back and he will stop at nothing to have a second chance with her. He begins by following Vicki around, stalking her, sitting outside her house, spying on her and her friends, he even vandalizes her property and threatens any man that comes near her. Terrance adapts the mindset that, if he can not have her, nobody will!



EX-BOYFRIEND by Teresa D. Patterson was a page-turner. The story flowed nicely. Despite it being a page-turner, I would have liked to see more development and suspense with the story and its characters. I also felt as though there could have been more action within the story. All this said I really enjoy reading Ms. Patterson`s novels. My favorite novel to date by Ms. Patterson is PROJECT QUEEN, that book was a definite five star read! I eagerly anticipate reading more by Ms. Patterson.



Reviewed by Leona

Urban Fire Books

[...] Ex-boyfriend

Terrence James is in love with Vicky Holiday. The only problem is that they are broken up, a detail that Terrence refuses to admit. Terrence has always been the forgotten child, abandoned by his mother; Terrance refuses to let Vicky leave him.





Vicky loves Terrance, but after walking in on him cheating on her in their bed, she refuses to take him back. Vicky is determined to move on with her life, minus Terrence. Terrence begins to follow Vicky, harass her, and even vandalizes her friends and her property. Vicky feels like the best way to get over one love is to find a new one.





Terrence learns some devastating news that will change his life forever. With the news and knowledge of Vicky's new friend it seems to be too much to handle, and in Terrence's eyes someone has to pay.





Patterson is a dynamic author. The story draws you from page one. Patterson touches on topics that are sometimes overlooked: incest and mental illness. Ex-boyfriend is a well-developed story, which is worth putting on your shelf.





Final Rating: 5 stars



Reviewed by Kim for

Readers In Motion Book Club

www.readerinmotionbookclub.ning.com

This book started off pretty good but then turned into very boring. Nothing really happened that wowed me. But it wont stop me from buying other books from her. I heard she is a pretty good writer so I'll keep supporting her!

I'm glad that I bought this book for 0.99 on kindle. The story line could of been much better than what it was. It was straight up boring to me and I couldn't understand some of the actions of the characters.(Gary,Vicki). I read a book by Da'Neen Hale and Kia Dupree call Possession that dealt with the same thing. That book was really good.

I loved reading this book! I felt like I really got to know the characters and they were all (well...mostly) likable even with their flaws. However, I must say that the book ended a bit abruptly. I really hope there is a sequel in the works as Terrance, Tenesha, Gary and Vicki seem to have so much more to say.

I was surprised that this author had another book out so quickly, but glad. She is really doing her thing.



Ex-boyfriend was a different read, but intriguing all the way through. Once again, I picked up another book that I couldn't put down. I read this one while at work and kept looking around to make sure my supervisor wouldn't catch me.



Vicki Holiday has an ex-boyfriend, Terrence James, who won't leave her alone. She broke up with him after catching him in bed with Tenesha, a ghetto, project chick with a serious attitude.



Even though Terrence is forced to be with Tenesha because of circumstances, he is still obsessed with Vicki. He watches her every move, sits outside her apartment, spies on her friends and follows her around. His obsession escalates into pure rage when he thinks she's dating a new man. He confronts the man and even shows up at their dinner date and turns over the table.



Terrence goes through a major transition. The reader gets to see another side of him when they learn about his upbringing, childhood issues and a shocking family secret.



I think that the ending leaves an opening for a part two. (I hope so.) I'd like to know more about Terrence, his mother, and even Tenesha.



Even though I didn't fall in love with any of the characters, all of them had characteristics that I could relate to. I'd recommend this book to all who love a fast-past, drama-filled read with some hot sex scenes that are not too vulgar.



Author Teresa D. Patterson has a very creative imagination and I'm looking forward to reading more books by her.

In Ex-boyfriend,it introduces us to Vicki who works as a forms processor at an insurance company.Terrance is Vicki's ex-boyfriend.He cheated on Vicki and she refuses to take him back.He stalks her and still behaves as if they will be together.Will Vicki give in or will she put an end to Terrance's crazy behavior.Even though the book moved at a fast pace,I felt there wasn't enough character development.There wasn't any major drama happening in the book.The main character mostly went to work or back home and Terrance watched her from afar or blew her phone up.The book lacked any real excitement and twists.I thought the book was just okay.



Reviewed by nicole098

Street Lit Clique

streetlitclique.ning.com'


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Brake Pads - cycling, brake pads


Put these on the rear of my trek 1.2 road bike. Far better than what was there before. The brakes are more linear in their application and instill more confidence in the rider. The initial break tip in is soft and the stopping power is very progressive with application of the brake lever. M0F0



UPDATE: August-2011



I bought another set of pads for the front of the bike a few months ago. It was just a matter of safety, and I did not want to compromise with anything less. It was a good idea, no regrets. Kool Stop Bicycle Brake Pads with X Pad (Dura-Ace/Ultegra)

Kept hearing about how great Kool Stop pads are but I never got to buying one. I have the "if it's not broken, don't fix it" mentality. My old brake pads wore off and I was in need of a new pair so I thought this'll be the chance to try them out.



Wow! Stopping power improved dramatically. I originally set my caliper brakes to be extremely responsive with very little room between the pads and my rim. After I put these on, I dialed back my lever's responsiveness just because a little contact on these does a lot more in stopping than the older pads I had on my brakes.



Overall, great!

I installed this set of brakes to the front wheel of my bike. I have to say that it is so much more superior to the stock brakes that I replaced with these. It helps me decelerate much quicker so that I am less hesitant to ride fast around busy city streets where cars can suddenly appear. Good brakes for the price.

I couldn't have been more pleased with this purchase. Additionally, if your bike already has a functional pad holders, this particular set includes a second pair of pads, allowing you to upgrade the entire bike with a single purchase. Braking is noticeably improved. I will purchase this item again.

My first Kool Stop brake pads were the Eagle 2, which replaced the stock Shimano pads on my MTB, and were a huge improvement, especially in wet weather (as well as putting an end to the destruction that Shimano was causing to my rims). Now I have a road bike, and after searching for a compatible set of replacement brakes, I chose these.



The performance is much better, especially in terms of modulation and consistency, and I can actually stop in the rain, though it does take a few rotations of the rims before the water is cleared off by the pads. I had to clean off the old Shimano brake residue from my rims by shoving a dampened, folded paper towel between each of the pads and the rim, and then riding for a few minutes while applying the brake (steel wool was not necessary in this case). I also had to buy four #12 washers to "widen" my Royal Gran Compe brake mounts as they were not quite wide enough for these holders.



The pads do not capture small rocks and road grit like the Shimanos, so I rarely hear a grinding noise from particles embedded in the pads. I have had the dual-compound pads mounted on the front for 2500 miles, and it looks like they are almost halfway worn, so I'd say they could make it to 5000 (I'm tempted to put the included salmon pads on afterward to get more value from my purchase, we'll see how that goes).



If you already have Shimano holders (Dura-Ace or Ultegra), then I recommend just buying the Kool Stop cartridges Kool Stop Bicycle Brake Pads, as the holders are virtually the same. You'll be glad you did!

While these Kool Stop brake pads do out perform & out stop the O.E. pads by a bit, by no way am I going all 5 stars. After reading all the other reviews, I was expecting something just short of a miracle. It didn't happen. And yes...I do have the brakes adjusted tight. The slightest movement on the brake handles & they are in contact with the rim.



Bottom line: Do they work better? Yes - a little. Are they worth that much extra ($$$) from normal pads you can pick up at your LBS (local bike shop)? Not in my book.

I got stuck in the rain and found my brakes didn't work very well at all. A quick visit to Google let me know that the Kool Stop salmon-colored pads would solve the problem. That's when I found these.



Another reviewer mentioned that the more expensive pads had additional adjustments, but they didn't mention what those adjustments are. Always in the past, I had "rubber on a stick" break pads -- a piece of rubber with a piece of all-thread coming out the side. Very cheap. These have a metallic holder and a funny looking washer. It took me some time to figure out that the washer was curved, and fit over a curved part of the holder. This creates a small "ball and socket" joint to allow aligning the brakes to the wheel.



Ideally, there are three axis to align. Looking at the side of the wheel, the pad should be parallel to the wheel. Looking at the wheel from the top, and imagining the tire is not there, the face of the brake pad should be parallel to the surface of the wheel. Finally, the pad should be "toed in" so the front of the pad strikes the wheel before he back of the pad. This prevents the brakes from screeching when brakes are applied.Just about any bike repair book or web site will show a picture of a rubber band tied around the back of the pad to allow the correct amount of toe-in. I've never been successful with all this -- probably because my rubber on a stick pads couldn't really be aligned, except for the first axis. But these holders make it possible to align all three axis.



What's even better -- these pads (both the salmon and the mixed) have a curved surface -- the front of the pad is thicker than the rest. Pad alignment is little more than squeezing the brake handle. It makes installing the pads much simpler, and it's very effective at keeping the brakes quiet.

I put these on a Cannondale R900 to replace the original Shimano pads. The bolt needed a couple washers and some coaxing during installation. No filing just a little push and turn. The pads provide great stopping power and are quiet. - Road Bike - Cycling - Shimano - Brake Pads'


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Cable Management - home theater, cable organizer


Look closely at the pictures, the product is very good quality but it needs to be stated that the 110V side only works with a deep style wire box and the A/V side will not work with any box. So to mount this item to the wall correctly, the installer needs to use a deep wall box for the electrical side and ten take a open frame style style mount for the A/V side. Such an animal does not exist, so the best you can do will be to take a double gang deep wire box and cut away most of the back side on the A/V side. Definitely a headache maker.



But the benefits of eliminating 4 connections and 2 extra wires per connection more than make up for the headache once it had been figured out. Otherwise, it looks good and the piece is actually pretty good quality. DataComm 45-0021-WH Recessed Low Voltage Cable Plate with Recessed Power (White)

This product is a perfect solution for keeping wiring hidden behind a flat screen TV. It is high quality

plastic. Be aware however that it will only fit into a sigle gang box, the data portion is open to the

drywall.

I was hoping to get a plug that was not recessed but this looks good and works well, since it stays hidden the looks are not really an issue. One is placed at the TV height at the mount, the other is down low. The low one I placed upside down and it worked better for me, I can run a few cords with ease and now have power for my TV and other toys.

Be aware, this will give you headaches when you try to install it on drywall.The holes on the power outlet side are way to close to back profile.In other words the edge of the cut out in the wall is 4 mm (5/32 inch)away from the mounting hole, no way to be able to use a screw. - Plasma - Lcd - Cable Organizer - Home Theater'


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Universal Adapter - plug, adapter


I have a set of cheap non-grounded plug adapters, but needed a grounded one for a computer with a three-pronged plug. If you look at [...] you'll see that there are two types of grounded plugs in use in Europe, type E and type F. The prongs are the same size and shape, but the grounding is different. Type E is grounded via a bump in the outlet that inserts into a recessed part of the plug (we encountered this type in Belgium). Type F doesn't have the bump, but is grounded by means of metal clips on the sides of the outlets (we saw these in the Netherlands). This plug adapter works with BOTH types, so no need to fuss with multiple adapters for different parts of mainland Europe. (As others have noted, the UK uses completely different outlets.) Plus it is very snug-fitting and will not accidentally fall out due to the weight of whatever it is you have plugged into it. VP 11B - Grounded Europe Adapter - USA to Europe Heavy Duty Adaptor Plug German Schuko

They worked perfectly throughout France. Got two coupled with the Monster portable power strips and they were perfect for airports and hotels. They seemed very sold. Make sure you get these round type for France because ALL of the outlets seemed to be these round, recessed types so the generic square adapters will not work well. Remember to make sure your stuff will work at 220, because these don't convert voltage. Most electronics will.

I recommend this round adapter for US 3-prong as well as 2-prong plugs. Why? Because it has a nice snug fit on both sides. This makes it much more stable in the Euro/Schuko socket unlike the flat 2-prong ones that in my experience tend to have a loose connection or even fall out of the socket - esp. if yours is a heavy cable or if it has one of those AD/DC converters at the plug end pulling down on the adapter. Plus, this adapter has a nice lip which makes it easier to pull out of the socket. Good quality for the price. I paid mine $2.50/piece shipped -- make sure you don't overpay as there are many merchants selling at very different prices, some as high as $10/piece with shipping included.



Lastly, keep in mind, the schuko socket fits most European countries but not all - most notably UK, and Italy which have their own plugs.

I HIGHLY recommend this adapter for laptops or any other U.S.-style three-prong plugs that you may need to use in countries with European-style plugs. The adapter has a snug fit in the outlets, which makes it an excellent design compared to other similar products. I purchased one for myself and will order a second one for my husband (he has a "comparable" adapter which fits loosely in the outlet, so whenever you accidentally wiggle the plug or cord, it disconnects the power - awful!). The lip on the adapter makes it easier to remove the plug from the socket. Excellent product, even more so when considering the price.

This adapter worked well in Paris for charging and using two-prong and three-prong American electronics. If you're planning to do the same, make sure your devices' chargers or power blocks read "100-240V" and "50-60 Hz."

This adapter also fit most electrical outlets that we encountered in Italy. (Note, however, that Italian outlets have a different location for the ground, so you'll need an Italian plug adapter if you need to have your device be grounded.)

Bought this last minute and took it to France with me. The fit for U.S 3 and 2 prongs are great, no complaints about that. It also fits perfectly on the other side. Definitely recommend a circle adapter, since that's all I saw in France. I used it for my curling iron, hair dryer, and laptop charger (Both Mac and PC). No problem. Easy to carry, since it's so small. The only thing you do have to remember is that it's a power adapter, not a power converter. When I turned my hair dryer on low, it felt like it was on high times 2. The only way I made it work, was pressing the cool button every three seconds. Remember that the voltage is higher in Europe. Same thing happen to my curling iron, which I set on 12 in France, when it's usually set on 30. Nothing bad happened to my laptop, so don't worry about it exploding in your face. Other than that, I will definitely bring it with me again when I visit Europe.

With something so simple and cheap you sort of expect it to be "the wrong thing"; at least I did when we were planning our trip to Greece with friends.



These ended up being *perfect*. Charging iPad's, iPod's, using hair straighteners and blow dryers, powering laptops and radios... these worked for everything. I actually ended up buying two and sure enough one of the couples we went with needed one the whole trip so I just gave the extra one to them.



These apparently work through all of Europe; given that they worked no problem in all of Greece (Athens, Santorini, Delphi, Nafplio) I imagine you should be good to go with a couple of these anywhere in Europe as advertised.

I bought two of these to bring with me on a 6-month study abroad excursion to Germany. They're just what i needed: a simple plug converter for my multi-voltage electronics. A nice feature that may or may not be standard on such devices is the optional ground on the non-American side - I recently took a jaunt to Prague, where, unlike in Germany, the outlets are grounded. This converter still worked.



Obviously if you need something to change the voltage this will not do the trick, but for modern multivoltage phone/computer/camera chargers (and one dual voltage hair straightener) these are perfect.

I bought this before my study abroad to South Korea, and I've been using it for about a week with my Macbook Pro. It's a little difficult to find this kind of thing here in Korea (at least for me), so I'm glad I bought it before coming. Note that things like laptop computers often have voltage converts (like my Macbook and camera's battery charger) and only need to fit in the plug.



If you have other appliances without this feature (alarm clocks, hair irons, etc.) for Korea (where there is higher voltage than in America), you need a converter. - Plug - Germany - Adapter - Travel Adapter'


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