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A Pleasant Surprise
Having not been a big fan of the original "Men in Black" or its terrible 2002 sequel, this belated third entry in the series comes as a pleasant surprise.Here, Will Smith's Agent J finds his world being altered, wiping out the entire existence of Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) along with it. As it turns out, an extraterrestrial menace has broken free from a prison on the moon, gone back in time and terminated K's life back in the `60s. In order to save the galaxy and his partner, J heads back in time and meets with a younger K (Josh Brolin, brilliantly mimicking Jones' mannerisms and delivery) in order to stop the vile Boris the Terrible (Jemaine Clement).The first two "Men in Black" films got by due to the chemistry between the stars, although I found both pictures to be hollow, one-joke pictures that relied too heavily on special effects. Despite a great deal of trouble behind the scenes with this third installment (production had to be shut down for several weeks while the script was reworked), "Men in Black 3" relies more strongly on its characters and what turns out to be a poignant story line as opposed to a neverending succession of wacky aliens and make-up FX. The film does have - as cliched as it sounds - a lot more heart than its predecessors, with Smith seeming more engaged, Brolin giving a lively performance, and Michael Stuhlbarg chipping in a particularly noteworthy role as a benign, Mork-like alien who spends his life perpetually analyzing possible future outcomes.Director Barry Sonnenfeld helms the material without as much of a frenetic hand this time around - something that might disappoint viewers expecting a larger and louder sequel, but a decision that makes for a more satisfying and developed dramatic experience than its predecessors.Sony's Blu-Ray offerings include a good looking 2D presentation of the film (1080p AVC encoded transfer, DTS MA audio) as well as a fairly effective 3D rendering with decent depth-of-field effects. Extras include an Ultraviolet copy, DVD, and fairly light supplements taking viewers behind the scenes with roughly an hour of content on the 2D BD and a couple of brief extras exclusive to the 3D BD (including a very short look at the conversion process). | 34 stars
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John Lennon Imagine Easy Guitar.
I like John Lennon and he's my first favorite singer of The Beatles. I wish he was still alive. He will be singing again if he was.The seller was nice, kind and corteous. I like the book and I use it alot.Therefore I will give five stars. | 45 stars
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A Masterpiece
I have been traveling the country and living in this tent for the past 4 months. This tent has stood up in all kinds of conditions and been amazing throughout. I have spent weeks camping in and around groups of people who have lived on the road for the past 10-20 years. They were all impressed with the size and durability. At some point, I will wear this tent out. If the price for it doubles during that time, I will still repurchase it.That being said, nothing is perfect. I hear great things about the strength of the flooring of this tent in these other reviews. I have found the floor to be easily torn despite very careful movements on my part. In 4 months I have probably put in 10-20 small tears. These are small holes that are easily repaired. Also, there are about 20 small leaks in the rain fly (though those tiny holes may have occurred by my fault somehow, at some point). So, during a rain storm, a total of about 200 drops of rain will leak into the tent. It isn't enough to `soak everything' but is a pain in the butt. And, after a month of 30-50 mpg wind gusts in the desert this winter, one of the hooks that attaches to the tent pole (mid-way up the tent) has torn off. I plan to sew it back on at some point. Again, not a huge deal.Also, the zippers needed to be retightened with pliers last week (after 4 months of heavy daily use...). Just a quick squeeze and they worked fine again. They are most certainly self-healing zippers. I thought I had ripped some of the teeth right out of the zipper, but after having tightened it and reused it, the teeth were all straightened and in place again.The instructions are the only real weak point. Just before a huge storm came in (the first one I weathered in this tent), I referred to the instructions on how to set up the guy lines for severe weather. The instructions for this are a laughable disaster. We all took turns (remember that these are highly experienced campers - several with engineering degrees) trying to figure out what in the hell the instructions were talking about. Eventually we determined that it was probably a disgruntled employee's idea of a joke. We laughed for a while and just put up the guy lines as normal (plus using the loops mid-way down the pole).I expect that at some point eureka will try to `overly-milk' this cash cow, like most of our companies end up doing. At that point, the quality of the materials and craftsmanship will become unacceptably low. Until then, I HIGHLY recommend this tent. I and those I have camped with it have been extremely impressed, especially for $300.-Dave | 45 stars
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My favorite book
I first read Wuthering Heights when I was in high school. To this day it is still my favorite book. The characters of Heathcliff and Catherine come alive. I still feel the heartache experienced by these two characters whenever I read the final confrontation scene between these two soulmates. You are actually swept away by their passion and pain.This is one book I would highly recommend to anyone who has an appreciation for great literature. | 45 stars
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Jim Has Never Been Better!
Jim Carrey was wonderful in this movie! Why can't he make more movies like this....I absolutly enjoyed this one. After making "The Cable Guy" which was a total disapointment, I think Jim had a great comeback! He really showed that it's the script thats not funny. If you people love Jim Carrey movies, then don't miss out on this one, your really gonna be tied down to your seats and laughing out loud! 5 stars all the way! | 45 stars
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I was bitter when I met you...
"I was bitter when I met you I was eloquent with rage. Like honey from a poison cup I flung from stage to stage."Savage is hands-down the best Eurythmics ever. Add it to your cart NOW!!!!! | 45 stars
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Beneath The Field Mob Standard {3 Stars}
Before you click "no", hear me out.If you love the southern sound and can't get enough of it, then you probably think this is a 5 star album.If you can't stand the southern sound and simply can't take anymore of it, then you probably think this is a 1 star album.I stand in between the two sides and this is just a 3 star album to me. This is coming from someone that owns all three of their albums (I loved their first album). As far as content goes, this album is a step backward from their last album (From The Roota To The Toota). While they had a nice blend of uplifitng and typical southern songs, this album is more typical than anything else. Are there good songs on this album? Definitely. Are the beats tight? Yes they are. What I'm saying is, the little bit of substance they exhibited on their second album has all but disappeared. There are some good tracks to be found though. I can't get enough of "So What" and "At The Park" because of the feel good party vibes I get from them. "Area Code 229", though somewhat silly, is still catchy. "Blacker The Berry" shows what Field Mob is capable of when they actually put some effort into what they do.The problem with this album is the amount of generic content. Tracks like "Baby Bend Over", "Eat 'Em Up, Beat 'Em Up", and "My Wheels" (despite decent production) are the most unoriginal and lazy songs I've heard in a while (I can only take so much babbling about ridin' rims and gettin' laid). I firmly believe that this kind of stuff is beneath them. Just check out the awful "Pistol Grip". It's a perfect example of what I'm getting at.Light Poles & Pine Trees is a solid album to me. I still believe that Shawn Jay and Smoke have very unique and original flows, and when they get good topics and good production, that's when they REALLY shine. They trip up when they lower themselves to do generic tracks dedicated to rims and gettin' head. I think Field Mob can do SO MUCH BETTER and this stuff their putting out is below them. It's kind of like when you see a prospect that you know can become an elite player, but they don't realize their potential yet, so they settle for being good instead of great. I hear two exceptional rappers doing below average songs because they don't seem to realize that they're as good as they really are. Maybe I'm expecting too much from them. Like I said before, how you percieve this album depends on how you view southern rap. Some love it, some hate it. I don't belong to either extreme, I just like it. You probably will too, but if you don't think they can do better, you may be kidding yourself.Standout Tracks: Sorry Baby, Blacker The Berry (My Favorite), So What feat. Ciara, 1 2 3, At The Park, and Georgia feat. Ludacris & Jamie Foxx | 23 stars
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pearl harbor
i love this movie!!! it make you cry alot during the movie!!!! | 45 stars
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Filters
This is a good source for repalcement filters for the compost pail. We use the pail to store items before taking them out to the compost bin. The filters eliminate the odors that some things create while waiting to go outside. | 45 stars
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From 4,004 To 13.8 Billion
If you have an old family Bible published as recently as the early 20Th Century, or about 1910, you will find a notation that is remarkable. This was the last year that Bibles gave not only the year that the world began, but also the date, the day, and the time down to the minute. Specifically, the world was to have been created on Saturday October 22 at 6:30 in the year 4,004b.c. An Irish Bishop, James Usher had calculated the date in the early 17th century, and his date prevailed despite challenges for almost 300 years. His methodology was superficially simple, however his source material contained a variety of time spans that were in conflict. Various ancient texts provided reference points when a variety of Biblical events took place, and these contradictions all had to be reconciled or eliminated to arrive at Bishop Usher's Date. Stated simply, he began with Genesis and then added together all of the lives that were listed, and the times they spanned to arrive at his date.At first glance his thinking appears terribly flawed, however the reality of dating the creation of our universe from the, "Big Bang", was only agreed upon after the Hubble Telescope was in orbit for several years, and even the present date comes with a margin of error of plus or minus 10 percent. In practice this amounts to just under 1.4 billion years. It also took until the end of the 20th Century to prove the Universe is expanding, and to agree on the rate of expansion, sort of. For even those who adhere to the present numbers know that few theories never change, and the rate at which the Universe is expanding is still being refined.The centuries that encompassed the search for the origin in time of the space that our planet calls home, was pursued without pause and by familiar and brilliant minds. Throughout the process the Church was always watching carefully for no one knew whether Faith and Science would somehow be reconciled, or whether Science would somehow shatter beliefs held for millennia. Failing to place scientific thought, if not in step with The Church, then at least not in obvious opposition was both critical and potentially fatal to those who espoused such perceived heresy. When the theory of all matter originating from a void at a single moment in time was put forth, The Vatican was so relieved that Pope Pius The XII literally spoke and wrote embracing the theory. Scientists rushed to suggest that their theory was just that and the Pontiff would do well to not continue to celebrate what was not fact. He did not speak publicly on the subject again."Time", is a man-made construct that is relevant only to us. Even to our species, Albert Einstein demonstrated that time was relative, depending on a person's point of view, their position relative to a specific event. "Measuring Eternity" by Mr. Martin Gorst documents the history and the men and woman who sought to measure an area that was both real and had an age, and to use our definition of time to arrive at an answer. The story is incredible, and the book relates the history in both an exciting manner, and one that the non-scientist can enjoy.Mr. Gorst relates the tale of the Irish Bishop already mentioned, up to those who work with The Hubble Telescope today. Many of the earlier methods will seem primitive until they are placed in context. Measuring the saline content of oceans, the changes in elevation after an earthquake, the depth of lava flows, and when known comets repeatedly visited the Earth are just a few of the methodologies that were used. A famous French Scientist would heat metal and equate the time it took for the specimen to cool, to the touch of a hand, and compare that with when the Earth could have sustained life. His answers were not correct, however his progress toward the correct answer was exponentially closer than previously thought.And so history progressed, with seashells found thousands of feet above sea level, and fossils found deep within the Earth. How did they get there, how long did it take? When the methods turned to the stars, again the basic question of how to measure was the primary hurdle. The events that lead to finding reliable reference points, and enough of them literally did not come together until The Hubble Telescope was able to supply all the measurements, and the journey is amazing.All the reader need bring to this book is an inquisitive mind. There are plenty of ideas that can only be understood by a select group, however the author does manage to relate the story for most everyone. The book does require that the reader try and imagine "everything from a void", to get comfortable with the idea that what is observed not only happened long ago, but that if you were able to instantly travel to the event, it would have ended and vanished billions of years ago.And the amazing convergence of science and ancient faith is remarkable. Scientists routinely speak of the two systems working together, being dependent upon one another, almost symbiotic. For some it may read as metaphor, for others it will read literally. Whichever the case, the trip through time about measuring just how long time has been ticking, is extraordinary. | 45 stars
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WHY
Why does everybody not like this movie! It was Sean Connery's best!(It edges out Thunderball) | 45 stars
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Can't live without it
I have had a CX355 since 2002. It is a great item for creating non-stop music from your CD collection. I my house it plays non stop from 0900 through to2000, every day as where I live the local radio only plays rubbish stuff and at age 77 I can live longer without that !Pity Sony discontinued the CX350 which provided even more features.Got one in 1998 and still going strong..... | 45 stars
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Music to Remember
I tend to listen to things obsessively, I'll admit that. On the way to and from work for over a month now, I've kept this CD going. It's that good. Pirates of the Carribbean 2 had kept that slot warm for the months prior to this one, but I think I found my new musical obsession. Heck, I'm listening to it right now, and I'm not driving... yes, I bothered to go out to my car, turn the car on, retrieve my CD, turn off the car, and walk all the way back into the house to play it while I work. | 45 stars
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Indeed, an excellent reference.
An on hand reference for all the immediate details required by Interior Designers and Architects. Quite often a lot of time is wasted searching in numerous texts for information. The Architect's Data has it all-between the covers. User friendly and well illustrated. | 45 stars
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Trust him, he knows what he's doing!
As a 15 year old stuck at home on Friday night, while my sister watched Miami Vice on the big TV, I watched "Sledge Hammer!" in the upstairs den. Seeing ads in People Magazine and on ABC, I started watching the show from the very beginning and was hooked.Anchor Bay has done a wonderful job with the Season 1 DVD release. As soon as I got the DVD, I watched all 534 minutes of it, then re-watched the 4 episodes that had audio commentary. The picture looks great, and the show is as funny as I remember it. Who needs a laugh track? I was providing my own.I look forward to the release of Season 2. Some of those shows I missed when they first aired, being 16 with a drivers license!Hey Alan Spencer, how about a "Sledge Hammer!" motion picture. I bet David Rashe, Harrison Page, and Anne-Marie Martin would be game! | 45 stars
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BEST MOVIE EVER MADE
This has got to be the funniest movie ever. The Blues Brothers are two brothers on a "mission from God" to put their old band back together. It's fast-paced and hilarious at every turn. It also features appearances by James Brown, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, and Aretha Franklin. They sing such songs as Gimme Some Lovin', the theme from the TV show Rawhide, and Everybody Needs Someone to Love. This an amazing movie, and everyone should see it. | 45 stars
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AWESOME!
My husband purchased this mixer for me for an early Christmas present (with a little help), and it was the best thing that has ever happened to Christmas baking. It's the perfect color, works great with double and triple batches of breads and dough, and even mixed up a huge batch of mashed potatoes for the family with ease. I've been wanting a KitchedAid mixer for a while and now I see what all my friends and family have been talking about...not to mention it looks great on my counter! Wonderful product. | 45 stars
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Legends of Wrestling Review
The gameplay & Movement is sluggish but no big-time freezes,bugs or anything else that stops the game dead like third one. It lets you create wrestlers without filling up space in your memory card but you can only make 15 caws. In the career mode,you have to make sure you save it or else it won't. It's also a good reminder of the 1990's ECW because there are no count-outs and no-DQs. Infact this was originally set to be a ECW game but the company went out of business in 2001 so they changed it into this. This is the only L.O.W game that has Rob Van Dam in it. I give this game a 6 out of 10. | 23 stars
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Question????
I just have a question about the PS2,,I have heard that it will play all PS games, then I have heard that it will only play about 25% of them out on the market...So if anyone actually does know, I would like the info.. | 01 star
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A Book To Read
I recently read Black Boy by Richard Wright and I must say it is an amazing book. The book is about Richard growing up in the South in the early 1900's. It may sound a little boring but believe me it's not. Richard had a hard life growing up and that's what makes the book so interesting. Burning up houses, killing cats, and becoming a drunk were just some of the things he did before reaching the age of eight. The thing I like most about him is how he grew up very poor, moved from place to place, including an orphanage, never completed two consecutive school years, and still managed to become a well-educated young man and a world-famous writer. Although the book was very interesting there were some parts at the end that I felt were a little boring, but maybe that's just me. Either way, I think Richard Wright was a very talented writer, and if you get the chance, you should read his autobiography, Black Boy. I recommend this book to anyone over the age of thirteen that is interested in learning about history or just likes to read about some hardships other people had to face growing up. | 45 stars
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Will Farrell is funny
That might seem like a stupid title for a review but I think I'll explain. I have never been a huge fan of Farrell. I think he is good at improvasation but loves to play it over the top, which ruins the humor for me. In Anchorman, he played it just right, no over the top in this and he was very very funny.If Amazon would allow me to give half stars I would of given this three and a half. A very enjoyable comedy. I disagree with the reviewer that says that it should of had an R rating. I really respect movies that can are funny without relying on "how many times can we say a swear word" type humor.A very enjoyable movie that delivered what it promises.As a side note to the person that said that stuff that wasn't in the movie was in the trailer. A trailer is usually made before the final version of a film is cut, so a lot of that stuff could of been on the cutting room floor. I hope you don't see trailers and want to go see exactly what you saw in the trailers. The trailer is to make you want to see the movie, not a promise of what is going to be in the movie. | 34 stars
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Sounds Like a Caribbean Vacation!
I love the Putumayo series of children's music. I owned a children's play center and wanted music playing in the background. Some children's song can be very, let's say, annoying for adult to be subjected to for hours at a time. I and others found these CDs to be fabulous! With music from around the world, children are exposed to different languages, rhythms and instruments. I highly recommend these CDs! | 45 stars
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A time-honored classic, the best of its kind ever.
I came across Holst's ABC's 35 years ago as a teen and it gave me endless delight, fascination, inspiration and motivation. The explanations are clear and direct, classic in their simplicity. I rate this book as one of the keys to my becoming a professional musician. | 45 stars
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"Citizen Kane" Magnificent on Blu-Ray
After the disappointing previous DVD release of "Citizen Kane," which was gray, smeary and over-processed to the point of looking like it was shot on videotape instead of film, I was hoping the new hi-def Blu-Ray version would reverse those errors are restore the evocatively shadowy and contrasty look of cinematographer Gregg Toland's beautiful black-and-white photography. It does so, and more. The images are now perfect, pristine, luminous; the shadows are deep and black, the whites sparkle. Faces that were intended to be in deep shadow are. With the photographic style of the film meticulously honored in this hi-def version, it is amazing how compelling the images are, and how they convey and deepen the poetic and psychological aspects of the story. After watching this movie at least 25 times -- first on TV in the 50s (where its modern reputation began to build), later on 16mm and 35mm film, VHS and DVD -- watching this hi-def Blu-Ray is almost like seeing it for the first time, with the subtlety and nuance of the images visible as never before. The sound is also perfect. Pops, hiss, clicks: all gone. Bernard Hermann's music regains its startling and layered complexity, and Welles' orchestration of every aspect of the soundtrack (using techniques from his years directing radio dramas) is a master class in sound design. If you have one of the old DVDs, now's the time to upgrade. On this 2011 Blu-Ray disc, "Citizen Kane" is brand new again, and timeless. | 45 stars
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Hardest game ever in Simcity history!
This game is hardest game in history. Every time, I tried to build a town I failed, I have no money, I was fired from the office. You have to make town beautiful such as place open grass, park, etc. which makes game even harder.If you have a Mac that runs Mac OS 9, I recommend to play Simcity 3000. But if you want a very hard game, then Simcity 4 is for you! | 23 stars
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Little Dreamer Peter Green
Great songs for all blues rock FUNS!Try it and you'll love this album!One of the Green's best! | 45 stars
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This is a keeper.
I had this album as a LP and am buying it again as a CD. Wonderful combination of energy (When will I be loved) and wistful tenderness (Keep Me from Blowing Away). | 45 stars
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Awwwwwwsome.
This is an awesome book. Worth the $.Paul D. MacLean, is my favorite neuroscientist. A man ahead of his time. His work is timeless, it is the seeds to the future understanding of the brain and the mind.Paul D. MacLean's work must be read by anyone who wants to enter the medical field.Read it, and stimulate your Neo-Cortex.:) | 45 stars
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An interesting psychological account of Czarist Russia
Joseph Conrad's Under Western Eyes should be of interest to those with a particular interest in Russia, especially the period of the late 19th century. Others may find the book boring, given that it is largely devoted to dialogue rather than action and trite in that the main conflict is the inner struggle of a man with his conscience. The title refers to the fact that the story is told by an English professor of literature who comes across a diary written by the book's protagonist. The reason Conrad gives for this manner of telling the story is that, in his view, Western readers cannot comprehend the circumstances of life in imperial Russia and can only view them through the eyes of a fellow Westerner. On pages 106 and 107 he has the professor say, "for this is a Russian story for Western ears (sic), which, as I have already observed, are not attuned to certain tones of cynicism and cruelty, of moral negation, and even of moral distress already silenced at our end of Europe." I find this statement to be incredibly ethnocentric, and as events later proved, entirely wrong. He adds that Western European countries have already had their revolutions and thus are no longer able to fully understand czarist Russia. We can certainly argue with this viewpoint and in my view this literary device does more to get in the way of the story than to help explain it.In any case, the book begins with the professor saying that he has come across a manuscript written by a Russian student at St. Petersburg University, Kirylo Sidorovitch Razumov. Razumov is impoverished and without family and sees his only chance for success in life as coming from academic success. Accordingly he largely avoids the other students and is intent on his studies. As he is in his room one evening another student, Victor Haldin, comes to see him proclaiming that he has just assassinated a prominent political figure and asks Razumov to help him to escape. Razumov, having no sympathy for Haldin's cause, is reluctant to get involved but finally agrees to go to the lodgings of a sledge driver who has agreed to drive Haldin away to safety. But when he finds the man he is drunk and Razumov cannot arouse him. After beating him in disgust he begins to walk back to his room, pondering what to do next. Fearful that if Haldin stays with him too long he will be implicated as well, Razumov decides to give him up to the authorities. Haldin is then captured and executed.Razumov is still under suspicion and finally receives a summons to go to the office of Councillor Milukin, who, as it turns out, is the head of the bureau in charge of revolutionary investigations. After what appears to Razamov to be a kind of cat-and-mouse game he is given permission to leave. As he puts his hand on the doorknob Milukin asks him where is going to go.At this point part one of the book ends and the scene shifts to Geneva in part two. Here we meet the mother and sister of Haldin. They see him as the hope for their future lives and are devastated when they learn of Haldin's death. The mother goes into a state of shock and stays in her room staring out the window, while the daughter, Nathalie, an idealistic, but nave, young woman, tries to make the best of the situation. Other revolutionaries appear on the scene most notably Peter Ivanovitch, the leader of the group, Madame de S___, whose money is apparently financing their operations and Sophia Antonova, a long time revolutionary.The Haldin women receive a letter stating that a "friend" of Haldin is coming to Geneva and Nathalie begins to believe that this person will help them. The friend, of course, is Razumov, who has apparently reached an agreement with the government agents to spy on the revolutionaries. Razumov arrives and is accepted as a fellow revolutionary and friend of Haldin. He undergoes a difficult inner struggle trying to maintain this pretense, particularly in the light of the goodness and trust Nathalie shows him. The story then progresses as a struggle by Razumov with his conscience, whether to report on the revolutionaries or to reveal the truth about himself.The book bears some resemblance to Crime and Punishment with its psychological overtones and dialogues about good and evil, right and wrong. Much of parts two and three are devoted to conversations and it is only in the last part that there is dramatic action. I rate it as three stars because it is not as good as the best of Conrad (Lord Jim), nor is it on a level with the really good fiction of Russian writers. I could rate it at 3 and a half or even 4 as well. It can be interesting reading and thought provoking and does end in dramatic fashion. | 23 stars
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Great Coffeemaker...does what it's made to do
I replaced my old Mr. Coffee for this Krups model and have had no problems whatsoever. The flavor is great, and the water filter is a great bonus. I bought it to make my morning coffee and that's what it does! | 45 stars
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The Grammy Award Winning...
I found "Come Away With Me" on Amazon last year, and ever since i first listened through the album in its entireity, i hoped that something big would become of this artists. Norah's soothing, mellow vocals pulsate through your speakers with the effect of Sting, never letting you turn it off. Great songs, great romantic songs...great date music. Buy this album if you want a good cd you will listen to for a while. | 45 stars
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For a complete career change, consider a different book
This book was not helpful for finding the right career, in a complete career change. I lothed the career I was in. This was the first career book I bought because of the recomendation of several people including a couple of career counselers. I believe people recommend this book because of its popularity and not its content. Finding the right career is not a quick and easy 1,2,3 process, it takes time and consideration. I believe this book makes it a bit more difficult than it has to be. I found this book wordy and lengthy; and it seems to have lots of useless information. The excersizes, while interesting, leave alot to be desired and they are a bit time comsuming. After getting fustrated with this book I bought a much more useful book called "I Don't Know What I Want, but I Know It's Not This". | 01 star
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(revised) this is grown up stuff/ Future's a philosopher on how to LIVE art/dance
(revised part) i watched future on anasma's other video and while he kills, slaughters and maims regarding his performance on her thang, his teaching here in his own project is like floating in and FEELING his knowledge.(he's also great teaching alongside anasma in her videos, also available from world dance new york. they complement each others' work well.)he'd dated himself in anasma's vid by saying he's been doing this since '80, back when i used to steal from alexander's on fordham road, back when they'd smack down linoleum and that's why he's so riiiight-- he's before crack, poverty, capitalism/gentrification, mass imprisonment/enslavement of our men/boys interrupted the teachings and lessons of power and honor in our neighborhoods. he's a line to the original inspiration and beauty, and beyond and above simple "technique." you've gotta get the philosophy and imbibe it, live it, feel it, and sing the song in your way. it's not just dance. it's empowerment, joy, resistance and freedom. it's a way of doing/being.i read reviews of dance DVDs and i scratch my head because it all seems so surgical and stilted. i'm trying to find the larger mystical connections as my own art evolves and it's dry out there in the way of teachers who've been dragged behind the trucks of their artistic endeavors. art will kick your behind... if you're doing it right.(back to passion/discipline and the eternal balancing act)so i'm glad i found this. future's a whole experience. he's culture, too. he's GROWN and i'm grateful for some challenging adult artist teachings. reminds me of home and the artists and teachers and philosophers who made me the artist i am today. you've gotta have a base, a grounding before you're putting tinsel on anything.anyhow, i hope future does a series of DVDs where he authors the time/delivery because he's a natural. i could just watch him teach without even moving because he's a wild lullaby. you just could watch and watch and listen. his voice and body and spirit move all in the same direction and he intuits his students' minds well.this is what we were supposed to have brought to america. soul and heart. time for a return to that and let technique and flash sit out the first dance. this is a form of prayer and "i was here" graffiti. a song. all that gushy art stuff. passion with discipline. that's what future's work apparently seems to be about. fusing passion and discipline with giving back and teaching another way of "telling stories" with your dance.and with the audacity and pomp of "i was here." it's a beautiful thing. when it's beyond that ego thing. when it's "you are here with me, too."thanks, future. that's why you look eternally young. because you are. so alive.amazing of you to share your whole heart like that. you never rush through. so in the moment!world dance new york is amazing for existing and building such a library.(to do a series with future would be very "future thinking" because he's also straight up history and a lasting line to the future)if world dance new york had more output, i'd be inclined to join a "month of the vid club" if they had one for different genres.but it's gotta be expensive with all the hard copies and the system, just like with book publishing, i imagine.--erika lopez in san francisco--(written earlier)he's beautiful because he's beyond technique and into the philosophy and love of the dance and how to live life. see for yourself. so many others skate on surfaces like mosquitoes because they don't know there's a whole world under the surface of the water yet. i can see how it'd be hard to "market" him because the women imbibing all the bellydance vids should watch this for a nice foundation on getting the mind and body right with the mind. | 45 stars
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Absolutely Fabulous Darlings!!!!
Jennifer Saunders has done it once again...The absolutely fabulous series 1-3 DVD set is the best so far.All the series have a true point of view,along with the Unstopable Edina And Patsy..Awsome DVD's Definatly worth the money!!! | 45 stars
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Shavings - a heartwarming story
The story was well-developed, and the characters were wonderful. I had a hard time putting it down, once started. There were funny areas, tearful times, but overall, the book was well worth the read. I'd recommend it to others. The main character has so much to give, and gives to so many, that how he changed as the story progressed, was beautifully recognized. Great dialogue and hard to put down. | 34 stars
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A solid story with a strong heart.
Firstly I'd like to commend the reader of this eight audio cassette version, Ms. Alison Fraser, for having done as superb a narration I've yet heard on an audio version of any book. Secondly, the story itself has little to do with "The Buffalo Soldiers" story itself, yet the author, even by mentioning them very little in comparison with the rest of the story, manages to incorporate the essence of "The Buffalo Soldiers" themselves so that without it, I don't think this book could make it. Beginning with the tragic deaths of two little girls and the effect their deaths has on their family, Laura, their mother and Terry, their father, and intricately weaving in the story of a young, black, foster child, this story manages to capture and tug at your heart quite strongly. Terry is a "tough guy" state trooper you have to be careful not to dislike, but by tape 2 I was transfixed, listening more and more each day, needing outcomes. The author's message seems clear, triumph over tragedy, victory despite adversity, harsh realities we ignore when we could help, yet this tender story of Alfred, a ten year old black child, says so much more. Chris Bohjalian speaks to prejudice, to nightmares, to heartaches, to love and to spirit in the harsh settings of today and during the Buffalo Soldier's time as well. The story is brilliantly crafted and excellently told. This one, well, you might, perhaps, come to believe in your dreams again. | 45 stars
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KORN ROCKS
KORNS NEW ALBUM IS WAY BETTER THAN THE LAST TWO. KORN IS THE BEST BAND IN THE WHOLE WORLD, THIS ALBUM IS SO DAMB PHAT. ITS HEAVY AND MORE HIP HOP. | 45 stars
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Buyer Beware
If you buy the $125 version of this you get what you pay for. Most of season 3 through 6 had bad pressings (.ie they were unplayable). I'd say about a little more than half the episodes were playable. Almost all of the extra stuff was playable. That helped. | 12 stars
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A GOOD MOVIE (EVEN IF IT DOESN'T REALLY FOLLOW THE BOOK)
I always cringe when I see a movie come out that is based on a book I have enjoyed in the past. I have had too many disappointments from movies such as "Planet of the Apes" (both versions), "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," and "Earthsea" to not be wary. There have been pleasant surprises, such as "The Stand" or "The Green Mile," but usually movies based on books are a big risk.Having said that, I have to admit that Alex Proyas' vision for this story was well worth watching. He captured the whole conundrum that fans of SF have debated for decades: What constitutes "life?" What is intelligence? What makes a soul?Will Smith's character, Spooner, has an inherent distrust for robots, but finds in Sonny a friend who is willing to make sacrifices for those close to him, and for the greater good.I agree that the use of the Three Laws of Robotics made "I, Robot" the obvious title, but there are also major elements taken from "The Humanoids" by Jack Williamson and "Rossum's Universal Robots" by Karel Capek (who actually coined the word, "robot" in his story.)The story is fairly tight, and Will Smith is at his wisecracking best. This is worth more than one viewing. | 34 stars
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The best series ever!
I LOVE these books. The characters are written so well and you feel like you are getting to know them as you read. the stories are inspirational and show an example of the love of God all throughout the books. You HAVE to read these books. | 45 stars
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The most tedious, fustrating book I have ever read.
This book is shockingly bad.There is no story, endless pages of nonsense, with descriptions which are quite franky tedious and childish.I had read The wasp factory and thought I would give the sci-fi side of Ian Banks a go.I read in the hope the book would improve, which took a year as I read several books in between desperate for a good story.The book did not improve.How the book has received so many good reviews reminded me of another story.The Emperor's New Clothes. | 01 star
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oh...my...god...this is the good stuff!
just click 'buy it now' you won't be disappointed!!! an afternoons worth of the best blues music money can buy...quickly rose to the top of my playlist...great mastering, selection of material & el cheapo price...can't be beat period. (i also bought the new woody guthrie properbox 'some folk' & it's every bit as good) it's stuff like this that simply defines the two great idioms of folk 'n blues music & makes life better! | 45 stars
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dont deserve #1
its for kids.. not recommended for teenage people.read the reviews before buying cd's people... | 01 star
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0 Stars - This movie is awful!
I only wish that I could give this lousy piece of crap 0 stars. The plot is disjointed at best. Meatloaf as a villain is a joke. The actors are boring and lack charisma. The story takes far too long to unfold, so for the first 30 minutes you don't know what you're watching. The ending is just plain dumb. Samuel Jackson should be ashamed of himself. | 01 star
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It's round and rubbery
Dunno what to say about an o-ring, but they appear to be well-made, come nicely packaged, etc. | 45 stars
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Delish
If you want a healthy bar, that is Vegan, tastey and gives you 'real' energy, then I woul suggest you at least try all these bar's flavours. I love this brand and bar!!!And I'm not a VEGAN!! | 45 stars
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Best book in the series
I am a sucker for anything with a helicopter on the cover. In the case of this series, the reward is a fun read, fast action, and something fun to dream about.The air dual over Hollywood is too short, and the defiling of "Leggs" is a bit campy, but I still was drawn into the story.Great service, and the price was right. | 45 stars
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My first pirate story
I recommend reading the forewords before starting the story. I started this book with some skepticism because I don't usually read adventure stories so I was surprised when it was so hard to tear myself away from it each night. I found the very start slow and the very end a bit incredulous (well, it's a pirate story after all!) but the other 98% of the story was riveting.I found the foreword important because it helps to understand the author's frame of mind. | 34 stars
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I loved the film!
I had to decide between four stars or five because I'd say it's inbetween those numbers but ultimately since I called my bro and sister-in-law to check it out and because I think the film is somehow endearing I gave it five. The acting is great, Ashton and Anne were fantastic and so was the other main girl. Anne always comes across as real in every film she makes and this was no exception. It was really about relationships, the shallowness of just "being good looking" and living for that alone. And Anne's character was so sad, just desperate to hang on to a man to the point of extreme measures. Her self esteem was so low but ultimately she stood up for herself. And by the end everybody Ashton did too and you are left with the feeling that he finally gets it..that to just live a shallow life without love is really rather meaningless. I thought the ending was realistic and didn't dwelve into sappiness. This definitely won't be any huge hit as was the incredible Fatal Attraction but for a film that didn't put much money in production it's a winner to me; poignant, makes you think long after it's over. | 45 stars
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Horrible install nightmare leads to a solid game
First off the install is horribly botched. If you choose to not install Counter-Strike (the ONLY install option besides the location) the install fails. Luckily for me it was a known issue and the fix was on the Web (you HAVE to install it). After that you get to the online registration for Vue. This turns out to be bogus, marketing fluff NOT the game registration but you don't learn that until later. Then you finally get to the game registration that requires an Internet connection and then ERROR. Well it turns out my firewall was blocking the sign-up but the game interface does not say 'can't connect' or anything remotely helpful I just got some bogus error. I thought it was the timeout error everyone was talking about with the Steam service. It wasn't until a lot of hassle later I learned otherwise. All of this is insanely annoying for a game everyone knew would be a hot seller.Anyway, once installed, registered, and running the game is simply gorgeous and the sound and music awesome. Best of any game to date, period. Blows away Doom 3 and runs in full glory at high res with no problem on good hardware (again better than Doom 3). It also does the best job of creating an 'atmosphere' than any game to date.The gameplay is what you would expect but with an excellent physics engine. The in-game character interactions are the best ever done. The characters can actually EMOTE to a small degree and do simple things like look at you as you move and follow you with their eyes. You really have to see it.Now having said all that the story is very disappointing and quickly predictable. The initial mystery wears off real fast. Worse, the first few levels of the game are rather boring (although nicely creepy at first) as are some later ones. Things that are novel at first are way over done and you just feel "ok, let's move on" but then you get more levels of the same. The game does a great job of guiding you through each level without being obvious but I did need to use a cheat guide for a few tricky spots. It took me around 40 hours to finish and I have no desire to play the whole thing again because of some of the tedium but will re-visit some particular levels. The save system allows you to save at any time and also auto-saves for you so you can easily go back.Overall it is a gorgeous looking/sounding game with an OK story and average gameplay. It blows Doom 3 away but I think Far Cry still had more interesting story/levels. | 34 stars
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Brilliant
First of all, I've read some of the other customer reviews and frankly, I wonder if some of these people got past the first 20 pages. If you're looking for a light, chatty book about restaurants and resorts, this ain't the book for you. If you want easy beach reading, look elsewhere. Storace is an extremely intelligent person who is not just hanging out in Greece, but who really attempts to understand its culture and to make connections with Greece's past and present. I thought this was one of the most delightful travel books I've ever read. And anyone who says that Storace is provincial and has never encountered people from other cultures just hasn't read carefully. (As for the customer who said she's "not a newyorker"--she attended Columbia U, for God's sake!) I love the way that Storace delves into classical Greece. This is perhaps because I studied Greek in college and have read lots of Homer in the original, as has Storace. She tapped into my fascination with Ancient Greece and its remnants in the modern world. I ended up buying copies of this book for several of my friends who I knew would enjoy it, because I couldn't bear to part with my copy of this book. | 45 stars
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Love these
I bought two, then I bought two more. Easy to install. Easy to adjust width so varying neck sizes can fit. Great value. | 34 stars
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What's so funny?
I can't claim to be a total naif in regards to this movie. I had read a bit about it well before I ever saw it and knew that it would be strong stuff. But I came to it as someone who is interested in German language cinema and not as hardcore thriller fan. For that reason, I think, I found not only the film's brutality but the assumption that viewers are "complicit" in the violence all the more bothersome.Simply stated, I did not feel "complicit"--and felt a little resentful of the notion that I should. What I did feel was horror and a sense of compassion for some perfectly average, reasonably likeable people who fall victim to vicious young sadists. I just wanted it to end, in other words, and I wanted some justice for the victims and punishment for the perpetrators.I guess that may be one of the reactions that director Michael Haneke was actually aiming for. Actually, however, it's almost impossible to state conclusively just what he hoped to achieve with this film. If he wanted to make a statement that horrible crimes are just that--horrible--and should not be the basis of our entertainment, well, I'd have to agree with him. But I also tend to agree with numerous reviewers both in Amazon and the IMDb, that Haneke seems to want to have it both ways, coming up with a film that is supposed to be simultaneously an effective thriller and a scathing critique of the genre.The movie may be accurately termed as "devilishly clever"--with all that that phrase implies. Although the Amazon reviewer above is certainly justified in referring to the two young murderers as being like Leopold and Loeb, that is only an impression. The two characters remain cyphers throughout--no psychologigizing a la "Rope" or "Swoon"--and one can't help feeling that's deliberate. We don't even ever really learn their actual names ("Peter and Paul"? "Tom and Jerry"? "Beavis and Butthead"?). Of course, we aren't told all that much about the victims either, but as stultifyingly middle class as the family seems, they become almost endearing in their averageness. There is no way in God's heaven and earth that they can be said to deserve their fate.When he breaks down the fourth wall, as he does in a couple of key scenes, Haneke actually provides the viewer with a sense of relief. As others have noted, you can actually catch your breath at these moments and remind yourself, "It's only a movie." After the "remote" scene, the film's power is considerably deflated. Thankfully too, since it was probably the only way that I could watch the film to its end. | 34 stars
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Great book
Everyone in Boston needs to read this book. It is an excellent history of what has happened in Boston and Boston education. And it is this history that informs what is happening today. IF you want to informed about boston read this book. | 45 stars
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Cuisinart TOB-195 LOVE IT
First off...I love this oven. Best I have ever owned.If it does not break down it will always rate 5 stars in my book.A few answers/comments:1. I checked the temp with a calibrated thermometer. From 200 Degrees to 500 Degrees it is right on the money.Much more accurate than my $2000 main stove.2. Unless you are very careless I don't see how you could burn your fingers while opening the door. I have large hands and have no problem.3. Yes it gets hot,it's an oven. I don't grab a hot pot,touch my toaster, lay my hand on my outdoor grill (I think you get the picture).4. I don't find the convection feature noisy.In fact I can just about tell that it's on.5. Why would you not use the convection feature? It cooks in 25% less time, can be set at 25 degrees lower and cooks much more evenly. | 45 stars
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Strongly recommend to read it!
Three years ago, I read Miao's book "Dancing on Rooftops with Dragons". I was deeply impressive by her stories. I wanted to know her and I met her through the Book Publisher. And then I started to practice her "Yoga of Joy". I am so grateful to her guiding and her kindness. I got a lot of benefits from practicing "Yoga of Joy". My health got stronger in all. For example, more than 10 coworkers in my department got a serious flu months ago, I was the only one didn't get infected. They asked me Why, I told them Yoga helps. Also I became more happy and helpful to others. I am so lucky to met Miao and enjoy my new happy life since then. All these good fortunes coming to me just start from reading her book.Rebeca Cai | 45 stars
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Quite Good
Of course I had Elisabeth Taylor in mind when I downloaded this book and it was nothing like the movie. Yet, it was a good read and very historical. Not one of my favorites, but worth reading. | 23 stars
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Sometimes drags but worth the wait
Deniro Kilmer,and Sizemore are great, but Pacino's wierd performance almost ruins the movie. Someone who acts that goofy would not be a high-ranking police officer.As usual, the main black character played by Mikelti Williamson is written as not as smart as his white colleagues. | 23 stars
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works well after some tweking of WIN XP2
The manual was a bit confusing, but XP found the device each of 4 separate attempts. I them conducted a troubleshoot under WIN XP and disovered that I needed to delete the MS Generic BT radio. After that, all went flawlessly and I was able to pair up with my 2005 Prius and Motorola e815 cellphone. | 34 stars
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stop and shop
i have been known to like what some people consider to be bad movies, and this movie is not exactly casablanca, but i have to say i watch it alot, and i like it. I personally think the scene where he calls the store is hysterical. I would tell other people to watch it, but it is not for all. | 45 stars
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One of those books that change your life forever.
My first experience with The Stars My Destination was when I was only 13 and at that time I read its Russian translation (I only recently began to learn English language). Since then, I consider it to be the best SF novel there is.From its explosive begining, TSMD captured me with its amazing scenery, unusual - yet so closely familiar - protagonist and fresh writing style that characterize Bester's works. I won't go into details of TSMD's depth in terms of revolutionary but probable ideas, masterfully balanced pace, brilliant storyline, etc. They are all there, and some. All those elements, however are present in a number of other SF novels, yet I mark TSMD as the best one.What makes Bester's masterpiece so special is the growth of the novel's protagonist. Starting as a mindless creature and through trial and error (as well as occasional twist of fate), Gully moves through the "evolutionary stages," eventually surpassing even the wildest expectations the reader might delevelop over the course of reading this novel. Depiction of Gully's "human" nature in all its perversion is simply brilliant. I can't believe 1950's public allowed that! But then making him use every conceivable method to fight that nature of his, bring it under control, it's really astonishing.The buttom line: TSMD will be more than just a novel for many readers (myself included). It's a guide (perhaps somewhat sick and twisted, but still a guide) of how to change your life and pursue your goals, no matter the obstacle. | 45 stars
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Damn good album
This is one hell of a good album. Every track on it is awesome. Treat me like the dog that I am is a very very very good song. and all the other songs. Buy this cd, you will not regret it. | 45 stars
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and of course........they're canadian! :P
this cd rocks! lillix is one of my favourite bands. at first they seem a bit poppy in some of their songs, but once u listen to them a couple times, you can tell they're pop/rock.heehee. what the kool thing is, is their hometown is about three hours away from where i live!they had a concert here recently, and my friend's dad met them, he said they were really nice girls. and from what i see on interviews, and what songs they come up with, these girls are NOT posers. nothing close. why do ppl think that famous ppl (ie. avril lavigne) who act themselves are posers?? like really! ur all just jealous!!the thing about lillix that makes me appreciate them more than avril lavigne, is they sound AWESOME live. don't miss this cd! it's quite varied, and VERY good!!! so if u wanna hear more avril/michelle branch, i recomend picking up this cd, cuz these gurls are gonna pick up their guitars, and follow in avril's and michelle's footsteps! | 45 stars
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The Hobbite
I thought that this book was a very interesting tale about a hobbite who went on an interesting journey to fight a dragon . I thought Tolkien made the charectors come to life in your head. e made theem sem like they pop off the page. When i was reading the page i could image the scenes in my head. Over all it was and exciting book. I liked it alot. | 34 stars
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Funny if you look at it the right way
Moby Dick: or, the White Whale is one of the few American classic novels that I actually enjoyed reading. When it comes to classics, I usually enjoy European novels the most. Herman Melville writes with a dry sense of humor that I enjoy. | 45 stars
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My kind of club music
Kerrier District pulls off a well made, hip update of disco pacing that does after some time become boring when the music revolves around that single tempo with uninspired sound clips guiding us through the shallow journey. Thankfully, most tracks are not like that, as Luke Vibert once again attests to the fact that he is one of the only artist's who can make decent art in an overwhelmingly shallow and cheesily produced genre. When the tracks work best is the same case as with any other project of his- when he is truly trying to step outside of himself as a house artist, utilizing his slick production skills and wonderful keyboard approach in ways that do more then just make you want to get up and dance, or at least make you want to articulate your dance patterns that much more specificly to reflect the nature of this intellegent dancesmith. | 23 stars
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So excited!
I was so excited to see that The Young Riders has finally been released! I have most of the episodes on VHS, but as they were taped in the 90's, they are beginning to wear out. I've been checking periodically online for years, just hoping to finally come across the series. I can only hope that the remainder of the seasons will also be released!This series is clean (which most people can't relate to on TV now a days), funny, very historically accurate for a fictional show, and touching. I recommend it for all ages - I hope that this release leads to a whole new generation that falls in love with this series! | 34 stars
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Too much hit-and-miss
It seems that most reviews about Radiohead are written either by individuals who feel it their personal duty to either demolish the Radiohead "myth" or defend it with blind ferocity from such attacks. In a sense this itself proves their greatness, simply by their innate ability to provoke such strong emotion. So let me say right off that I am a HUGE Radiohead fan, and this CD, flawed though it may be, is still better than most stuff out there. However, it sounds too much like leftovers (which it is). I have no qualms with experimentation (I truly love "Kid A", and it IS one of the first CD's I put in the player-see below) but it must have two things to be successful:1) some continuity throughout the album to give it some sort of meaning 2) It must still be enjoyable to listen to (yes it IS possible). On "Amnesiac" Radiohead fail completely on the first point and often forget the second. True, a couple of the odder songs on the album are quite good; unfortuantly there are just as many songs that are, sadly, quite unlistenable. You just sit there waiting for something magical to happen, but it never does. The sad thing about this album is that (at least for fans) it really DOES have some great songs on it ("Packt like...", "Knives Out", "Life in a Glasshouse", "You and whose army?"), but they all sound like they would fit in better on different albums; maybe even an album that doesn't exist, with "Big Boots" and "Big Ideas" (oh well... in a perfect world...). Thom seems to have developed an aversion to actually singing (there is only one song with truly unaltered vocals), which is quite disappointing because he has the best, most distinctive voice in rock music today. Consequently, what you're left with is a collection of songs that would have otherwise been "the weird one" on other albums. However, this album is still worth buying. To sum it up as simply as I can:If you're not a Radiohead fan, you still won't be after this album. If you ARE a Radiohead fan, you still will be after this album. My advice? Make a mix CD with the best songs from this album spliced into "Kid A", "The Bends" and "OK Computer"--it's the only way to see what could have been. | 23 stars
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It's OK but...
The guy kind of crosses the line to obnoxious from funny. A couple of them are OK but it gets old fast. He's a one trick pony.Save your money - download a few of the more interesting ones for free and see if you like it. Then re-consider buying the cd. As an example, if you listen to one, would you like to hear it again? No. My point is, unlike Sam Kinison, or any talented comic, this material interesting and a little funny once but it has no staying power. Once you've heard one or two, you've heard them all. | 12 stars
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made me appreciate bob dylan
before this i just had the best of bob dylan and hardly ever listened to it, but i was in best buy and saw this cd and decided to take a chance, glad i took that chance, this cd is classic from beginning to end and i reccomend it to all music lovers | 45 stars
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The Old West: Wild and Funny
111-year-old Jack Crabb relates part of his life story, from the time he was kidnapped and raised by the Cheyenne to the time he was the only white survivor at Custer's Last Stand. Berger writes with great wit and authority. To my mind it's one of the best novels of the last half of the 20th century. If you saw the movie with Dustin Hoffman, be assured that the book is just as good, even better. In terms of the western genre (which really is an unfair way to categorize this novel), it is on a par with Larry McMurtry's LONESOME DOVE, another one of the great novels of the last century. | 45 stars
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Poorly Played
From the amateurish color registration of the cover to the numerous editorial errors and vague rambling advice, this is nothing more than a thin piece of cheese. Someone is simply out to impress his friends with all the new 'hearts' jargon buzzing around some of the Zone rooms. Save your money and your time. | 12 stars
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cute, yes; but contoversial ???
this was a nice travelogue in the 1950s-60s disney tradition, but was nowhere near as impressive as id been led to believe. and i saw nothing cloying about the morgan freeman narration, which was serviceable in the best sense of the word. and what the hell was that stupid fuss between the lifers and the choicers claiming that this was some sort of parable about the sanctity of life? jeez, its just a nice movie about penguins! | 23 stars
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Magical Story and Smart Script. A Children's Parable for All Ages.
Director Danny Boyle, of "Trainspotting" fame, shows his versatility with "Millions", a part fable, part parable, and a little bit of thriller about values and wealth, based on the children's novel by Frank Cottrell Boyce. Brothers Damian and Anthony Cunningham have just moved with their father (James Nesbitt) to a bigger house in the suburbs and started at a new school when a gym bag full of money lands on Damian's play house near the railroad tracks. Damian (Alex Etel) is a religious boy who has unusual visions of Saints and Martyrs, and he believes the money is a gift from God to help the poor. Anthony (Lewis McGibbon) is more worldly and wants to invest and spend for himself. But there are only a couple of weeks until "E Day", when Great Britain will abandon pounds sterling for the euro, and someone is looking for his missing 230,000.Eight-year-old Alex Etel is the star of "Millions", and he carries it well. He doesn't have any great screen presence, but his perfect line delivery and his nave earnestness steal the show. Ten-year-old Lewis McGibbon nails his role just as well. It's great to see real character roles for children instead of their usual performing seal acts in movies. Pearce Quigley is a welcome addition to the cast as a friendly and slightly comical neighborhood policeman. The best thing about "Millions" is that, through moments of magic and materialism, the film has an overwhelming quality of being full of life. I think the production design and Damian's sincerity get credit for that. "Millions" is a film about children, but its suitable for all ages. And it makes a better "Christmas" or "holiday" film than any I've seen.The DVD (Fox Home Entertainment 2005): Bonus features include a soundtrack spot (30 sec), a theatrical trailer (2 min), 10 deleted scenes, a "DVD Cutdown" (4 min), which is an abstract of the film, similar to a trailer, a "Behind the Scenes" featurette, and an audio commentary. "Behind the Scenes" (13 min) has 4 parts which discuss, respectively, the role of money in the film, the Saints, creating the film's generous spirit, and filming the robbery scene. Includes interviews with director Danny Boyle, writer Frank Cottrell Boyce, and the cast. In the audio commentary, Danny Boyle and writer Frank Cottrell Boyce discuss actors, themes, locations, filming, politics, and some technical details. | 45 stars
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A Serial Success!!!
No really! It's hard to find books where the sequel is better than the original but each book I pick up in this series is better than the last.Only Anne McCaffrey could manage to make a princess into an underdog as sweetly as this story does. Damia is even deeper than her mother Rowan and even more trapped by her talents. Even with a strong mother, Damia has to struggle to find herself before she can become more than a liability to her talents.A story where a mother does everything right and her daughter still has trouble because she's smarter and stronger than her peers. | 45 stars
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Just Might Be The Best Science Fiction Book Ever
I have read a lot of science fiction, and this is right at the top. | 45 stars
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Camera is good and excellent for the money - but, don't drop
I loved the camera and I love it more now that I've purchased a Mustek which is going back. Just be careful - don't drop it! The batteries burn out very quickly and it would be great if it came with some kind of adapter. | 23 stars
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Total POS
The unit was simple to install and I was on-line on the internet in minutes with NO hassles. HOWEVER... it will NOT connect to HP iPaq devices at ALL. All it will do is show the router as Available, but will NOT, EVER connect. Just ask: If you Google the DI-524 and iPaq 4155, you can see more information. The tech support guy actually said that his best suggestion would be to return the router. I unplugged it, popped my Netgear 802.11b back in and voila, I was back on-line with NO problems.I'd avoid D-Links products. I have a PCMCIA card arriving tomorrow which I'm returning without even opening the box.What a bunch of low-budget crap! Go with Netgear or Linksys, you'll never be sorry. | 01 star
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Great
I'm from austria and i like german and american hiphop and so i'm of the opinion that wu-tang and cyprss hill are very good Lot's of props | 45 stars
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better than the stabat mater
The dismal reviews for most performances of the petite messe solennelle have deterred me in the past. Then there is the question of orchestration: original or revised? Francis Toye (a Rossini biographer) thought it one of Rossini's best works, especially in the original orchestration (for two pianos and a harmonium). Here Quink employ that orchestration to excellent effect. They cannot go quite all the way and use castrati, but the pianos are Pleyels built in 1858 and 1869 (the mass was written in 1864), and the harmonium is from 1878. The recorded sound is very natural and the singing refreshingly un-theatrical. Of course, Rossini was accused of hypocrisy, but (as Toye wrote), 'there is not a trace of flippancy' in the mass. There are some references to the stabat mater (written 22 years earlier) but this is a far better work. | 45 stars
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Review of Red River series by Lauraine Snelling
The whole Red River series is a marvelous read. We have got acquainted with all the character, feeling like they are old friends! We heartily recommend this book, as well as the rest of the series. ADG | 45 stars
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Poses
This record is so pleasing to the ear that it awakens all the other senses and they come alive. Rufus Wainwright is so articulate a lyricist, it brings a slight discomfort at his honesty. This album, like his first, is intoxicating. It's also a semester of music school - and I mean that it the most positive way. You must hear this. | 45 stars
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Mesmerizing and Relevant!!
If you want to see the future, read this book! This book will challenge & enthrall you with it's incredible character depth, setting descriptions and plot. Once you start reading, you can't put it down. This book seeks out and engages the part inside of every human being that cries out for freedom and individuality!! | 45 stars
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Bias Does Come Through
Like most of the Lonely Planet books with which I am familiar, this one has a lot of good facts that are very useful for the traveler. The information on passport stamps, for example, is very handy if you plan on traveling in other countries in the Middle East.However, I have to disagree with avalonwitch and agree with alfassa; the pro-Palestinian (or anti-Israeli; pick your poison) bias in this book is very strong and pervasive. Right from the beginning, one notices things such as the fact that B.C. and A.D. are used, rather than the Jewish or Muslim equivalents (or the widely-accepted B.C.E. and C.E.) There's a sidebar swipe at the Mossad, for example, that concentrates on their "bungles" (of which there are, of course, some) rather than such successes as the detection of the Iraqi nuclear reactor, the successful capture of Nazi war-criminals, and so on. This attitude is all through the book.That said, there's some good stuff here. I just wish Lonely Planet's editors could have been more even-handed. After all, while Israel has certainly done some things that are pretty awful (e.g., Lebannon), the Palestinians aren't exactly free of blame, either (e.g., strapping bombs to themselves and going to discos to blow themselves up). An even-handed approach would have made this another excellent Lonely Planets guidebook. | 23 stars
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ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS PHILOSOPHIES OF HISTORY
Johann Gottfried von Herder (1744-1803) was a German philosopher, theologian, poet, and literary critic. This book---considered Herder's masterpiece---was written between 1784-1791.He states early in the book, "The philosopher of history can proceed on no abstract notion, but on history alone; and he is in danger for forming erroneous conclusions, if he do not generalize at least in some degree the numerous facts before him." (Pg. 33) He argues, "Still less comprehensible is it, how man should be made for the state, so that his first true happiness must necessarily spring from its constitution: for how many people upon Earth are entirely ignorant of all government, and yet are happier than many, who have sacrificed themselves for the good of the state?" (Pg. 76-77)He observes, "Yet, if there be a god in nature, there is in history too; for man is also a part of the creation, and in his wildest extravagances and passions must obey laws, not less beautiful and excellent than those, by which all the celestial bodies move." (Pg. 82) He suggests, "the philosopher of history belongs particularly to Greece; for the Greeks alone possessed what might properly be called history." (Pg. 202)He summarizes his first principle, "Whatever can take place among mankind, within the sphere of given circumstances of time, place, and nation, actually does take place... The whole history of mankind is a pure natural history of human powers, actions, and propensities, modified by time and place... With this rigorous principle, every thing ideal, all the phantoms of a magic creation, will vanish: it will endeavor to see simply what is: and as soon as this is seen, the causes why it could not be otherwise will commonly appear... History is the science of what is, not of what possibly may be according to the hidden designs of fate." (Pg. 213-215)He adds later, "Thus contemplated, everything arbitrary and irrational vanishes from history. In it... all, or nothing, is fortuitous; all, or nothing, is arbitrary. Every phenomenon in history is a natural production, and for man perhaps of all most worthy contemplation... This is the only philosophical method of contemplating history, and it has been even unconsciously practiced by all thinking minds." (Pg. 264-265)He says of Jesus, "The most genuine humanity is contained in the few discourses of his, that are preserved: humanity he displayed in his life, and confirmed by his death... But what was this kingdom of heaven, the approach of which Jesus announced, urged others to desire, and strove himself to establish?... As a spiritual deliverer, he sought to form children of God, who... should promote the welfare of others from the purest principles... With reverence I bend before thy noble form, thou head and founder of a kingdom, so great in its object, so durable in its extent... that the sphere of this terrestrial life appears too narrow for it." (Pg. 269-270)Herder's work is of considerable interest to anyone studying the development of the philosophy of history. | 45 stars
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Great Bread Knife
There are really two main competitors in the high-end mainstream kitchen knife market: Henckels and Wusthof. Those who have used both usually have a preference. My preference (and therefore bias you should know about) is for the Wusthofs.The Wusthof Culinar line is an all stainless steel look, rather than a black handle. Although the picture and some descriptions want you to think this is a single piece knife, be advised that the hand is a separate piece of stainless steel molded onto the tang. I personally prefer the handle of the Grand Prix and Classic, because the grip is surer for me, but this is, to some extent, a matter of personal preference. This series "looks" more professional to some (like a Viking stove).This particular model, the bread knife, is a great knife. Many people think tomatoes are the hardest food items to clearly cut. I think bread is much more difficult; but this knife makes the task seem easy.I highly recommend the Wusthof 9" bread knife. | 45 stars
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signpost on the road to the abandonment of God
Published in 1859, the same year as Darwin's Origin of Species, the Rubaiyat, in addition to being great poetry, is a key signpost on the road to the abandonment of God by Western Civilization. After meager initial sales, the poems were passed around by such figures as Richard Burton, Dante Gabriel Rosetti, Robert Browning, William Morris & Swinburne and the praise from these men lead to it's becoming a bestseller.FitzGerald, was born on March 31, 1809 in Suffolk. He married unhappily and escaped from his marriage by devoting himself to translating Omar Kayyam's poetry. Kayyam was a Persian mathematician and astronomer, born in Persia on May 18, 1048. The rubaiyat are sort of like haiku in that they were not really the product of poets, they were mostly written by Persian intellectuals.. They are two line stanzas, split in two again. The first, second and last lines rhyme; the third is unrhymed. FitzGerald was captivated by Kayyam's work, but in translating them, he made them very much his own, rather than slavishly reproducing them word for word:VII25 Come, fill the Cup, and in the Fire of Spring 26 The Winter Garment of Repentance fling: 27 The Bird of Time has but a little way 28 To fly--and Lo! the Bird is on the Wing.XI41 Here with a Loaf of Bread beneath the Bough, 42 A Flask of Wine, a Book of Verse--and Thou 43 Beside me singing in the Wilderness-- 44 And Wilderness is Paradise enow.XXIII89 Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend, 90 Before we too into the Dust descend; 91 Dust into Dust, and under Dust, to lie, 92 Sans Wine, sans Song, sans Singer, and--sans End!XXVI101 Oh, come with old Khayyám, and leave the Wise 102 To talk; one thing is certain, that Life flies; 103 One thing is certain, and the Rest is Lies; 104 The Flower that once has blown for ever dies.XXXIV133 Then to this earthen Bowl did I adjourn 134 My Lip the secret Well of Life to learn: 135 And Lip to Lip it murmur'd--"While you live 136 Drink!--for once dead you never shall return."XXXVII145 Ah, fill the Cup:--what boots it to repeat 146 How Time is slipping underneath our Feet: 147 Unborn TO-MORROW, and dead YESTERDAY,148 Why fret about them if TO-DAY be sweet!XXXIX153 How long, how long, in infinite Pursuit 154 Of This and That endeavour and dispute? 155 Better be merry with the fruitful Grape 156 Than sadden after none, or bitter, Fruit.XLIX193 'Tis all a Chequer-board of Nights and Days 194 Where Destiny with Men for Pieces plays: 195 Hither and thither moves, and mates, and slays, 196 And one by one back in the Closet lays.LI201 The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, 202 Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit 203 Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, 204 Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.These resulting poems reflect the atheism of the two men and are pretty much nihilist, existential and decadent. But they struck an immediate chord with the dissipated intellectuals of FitzGerald's time and have naturally retained their appeal in our Godless age. Moreover, as A.S. Byatt writes, "FitzGerald's verse is insidiously memorable. It sings in the mind, controlled by its steady rapid rhythm and its strong, emphatic, reiterated rhyme, which in turn is made mysteriously open by the one unrhymed line in each verse." The end product is some of the most memorable poetry of all time. And the final one reproduced above, "The Moving Finger writes", is one of the most quoted poems in the English language.This is a work worth knowing, both for its beauty and because of the influence of the malignant message it conveys, which sadly has become the ethos of the age--Carpe Diem!GRADE: C | 23 stars
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Strayhorn and Ellington
I would read this along with Walter van de Leur's "Something to Live For," a more musicological treatise. Hadju's biography is well-written and very readable. If you are like me and into everything relating to Ellington and Strayhorn, I cannot see how you can pass this book up.Strayhorn gave new life to Ellington's orchestra. Of course, Ellington would have still been Ellington without him, but the two of them together went on to create some of the greatest music in jazz. Strayhorn was also a unique, fascinating character in his own right, and Hadju is good storyteller. | 45 stars
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Power Man 5000 When Stars Revolt
It was great Cd and glad to see the Zombie music is still out there. If you like Zombie and Sevendust you'll enjoy this. | 34 stars
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Very Good DVD
This is a very good DVD. If you are a fan of the Fairly Odd Parents TV Show or if you just want to see something funny, give this DVD a shot. I thought it was quite funny. You won't completely get it unless you have seen the TV show, but you can still get the idea even if you haven't. All kids should be adding this to thier rental queues and adults might want to give it a shot. Overall, Very Good.This is about Timmy's 1 year anniversary of having his godparents and he is given lots of gifts. Those gifts will all come in handy, when his magical muffin, which gives him a rule-free wish, is missing. | 34 stars
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sheer escapisism
while i must conceed that this book is better than the last few, the whole series has been great.because i have waited impatiently for the next in the series, i find that i tend to read very quickly to finish the book. however the story is so gripping and so well planned and constructed, that i find that i can reread after a while and enjoy the book as much if not more than reading it for the first time.if you are so fed up of the series - don't read it. or wait until the whole series is complete. i find that the attention to the detail and mundane matters makes the escape that much more real.it is the mark of an author if he / she can make you live with - like or dislike the characters and can make you wait for 10 years to finish the series.besides if the series was finished what else would you read ? thanx to robert jordaan for allowing us to share this. | 34 stars
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It's Still an Audience Pleaser...
... judging by the high marks it gets in these 28 (so far) amazon reviews. One does need to wonder why, especially since Conrad scholars and literary critics have never ranked it as one of Conrad's best. Mr. H. Schneider, the most recent reviewer before me, suggests that the "likability" of the protagonist, the Swede Axel Heyst, stirs up enough empathy in the readers to make them fear for his welfare and thus experience suspense. As one Swede reading about another, hey, I'm delighted that Axel's virtues are appreciated. The other side of the coin is the portrayal of the two "bad guys", who are easily the baddest baddies Conrad ever wrote into a novel. I mean, they are nasty! Gnarly! One can only hope to see them dismembered and pulverized in the final chapters. But don't count on any well-rounded happy ending in a Conrad novel, friends; you'll need to read the book to see whether modest virtues triumph over immoderate villainy.Conrad is (IMHO to be sure) one of the greatest 20th novelists in any language. If you've never read him, or had trouble liking what you've read of him before, it would seem that Victory is the amazon readers' choice for an introduction to his brilliance. | 45 stars
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Owner ,Hairdesigner
As a owner & hairdesigner of a hair salon for more than 25yrs,Having experience with other Oster clippers, I definetly reccomend these clippers.They barley get hot & they go through my Cavachons hair like nothing.They are not that loud either.I have always used Oster brand clippers in my career for hair. My choice would be the Golden A 5 single speed clipper as a dog groomer also. But just a fair warning,These are professional& powerful clippers,so for those of you who do not have much experiance,these clippers might be to much. | 34 stars
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An amazing body of work
This CD is fantastic. Much of Carly Simon's music is outstanding and this collection showcases her better-known songs, which makes it perfect for the occasional listener like me. One of the reasons I enjoy her music is that many of her lyrics really pique my curiosity and make me want to know the entire story behind them. Some are melancholic and some are haunting, while others are exuberant love songs. Unlike "The Best of Carly Simon," this CD fortunately contains no live recordings, which always ruins greatest hits compilations. Also, the digital mastering sounds fantastic. If you like Carly Simon's music, yet not enough to invest a small fortune to buy her catalogue of work, this is the one CD to get. I consider it a must have. | 45 stars
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Classic
This is one of the top ten albums ever done. "After the Gold Rush", is timeless. Especially today, we talk about semiconductors, biotech, nuclear energy and congratulate ourselves for the "great" economy with little or no regard to the environment. "Southern Man" is more of a period piece. The South has changed a LOT since 1970; heck, it's changed a lot since 1995! "Don't forget what your good book says." Lynyrd Skynyrd should have looked around before their retort to this song in "Sweet Home Alabama". Being non-white and having grown up in the South, I tend to agree with Neil Young a bit more.The rest of the album is lyrically and musically strong as well, hence, a classic! | 45 stars
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Great Movie
This is a great movie!! It is the perfect combo along with Sleepless in Seattle! I love how funny and great the chemistry is between Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan! I totally recommend it to everyone!! | 45 stars
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Traditional Dickies are great pants
I've been buying Dickies work pants for my son for years. They wear well, wash well, and generally need no ironing. They're great as working pants, but when necessary, they can be dressed up too. He is tall and thin (32 x 34) and prefers the traditional style over the one that accomodates a cell phone. | 45 stars
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No, no thanks to you, Rod.
Now you not only lost your voice, you lost a lot of people's respect too. It's a memory scarred me for life, man -- your ex-fan. | 01 star
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may want a bigger one if possible
bought this to help heat half of my basement during usage times. Does'nt do a great job on this size area but will toast a 12x12 bedroom with regular heat comming in | 23 stars
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Simple and great
I got this scale book about 5 years ago and always come back to it. Its has all the basic scales and exotic scales and modes. There are diagrams for each position and then a diagram of the scale all the way up the fretboard. For how cheap it is, this book is a great usefull buy. | 45 stars
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