Posted by Amazon Customer Reviews
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Art reviewed:
Bewitched - The Complete First Season (Black and White)
| 9 of 15 people found the following review helpful:  Black & White vs. Color: A Test-Market?, June 29, 2005 I can't help but wonder if Columbia TriStar is test-marketing this release in both black & white and color formats to see which sells best. Will the outselling of one version over the other mean that future black & white series releases will be released in only ONE format? This seems a likely possibility. For those (like me) who believe that the "colorization" of a series originally shot in black & white is a disaster, be sure to either buy black & white formats of shows that interest you when they are available, or let the companies who release older TV shows on DVD know that black & white is the only way to go. They will do what the market demands, so let your demands be known. |
| June 29, 2005 |
Posted by Amazon Customer Reviews
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Donovan Ritttenbach reviewed:
I'd Rather Have a Root Canal Than Do Cold Calling
| 13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:  Consultative Cold Call Book Mentions Qualifying, June 28, 2005 Why do these people think that the goal of making introductory calls is just to get the appointment? They seem to think that all you have to do is get an appointment with anybody no matter what the quality of the lead is, because you have nothing better to do than spend 2 hours in traffic and 1/2 an hour at a meeting, just to qualify somebody. Shawn's book on the other hand gives great information on qualifying. In addition, it is very readable, because of its great humor. It also has a nice female perspective on a field typically dominated by men, men who have given cold calling a bad name. It is men that need to realize that they have a lot to learn about communication, and its about time to start using some of those skills females are supposedly better at, like listening and asking questions. My conclusion is its a great book, that is very practical and useful. As a side note, I think its fascinating all of this consultative selling stuff has popped up along with the new feminism and I think its great. |
| June 28, 2005 |
Posted by Amazon Customer Reviews
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C. W. Fitch reviewed:
Stripes (Unrated Extended Cut)
| 4 of 5 people found the following review helpful: BAAArmy training, SIR!, June 26, 2005 "Stripes" is one of the modern classics of just about every military guy's DVD collection, and for good reason. The movie pokes a little fun at the Army while providing a little of everything a guy could ask for in a movie: great comedy actors, guns, sex, mud wrestling, explosions, slapstick, lots of great, quotable lines, and of course the armored Winnebago. Bill Murray shines in a breakthrough role as John Winger, a down-on-his luck cab driver who loses his job, car, apartment, and girlfriend all in the same day. Seeing no other direction, he convinces his buddy Russell Zitskey (Harold Ramis, rocking a stylin' 'fro) to join the Army with him. Of course, with Murray at the helm, comedic hijinks ensue as they meet their drill sergeant (Western legend Warren Oates), the rest of their platoon in basic training (with character staples Judge Reinhold and the late, great John Candy), and the lovely MP's who save their necks more than a few times throughout the film (P.J. Soles and a young Sean...Young). The story follows the recruits as they bumble their way through basic (which they end up getting through on their own after their drill sergeant inadvertently gets mortared), and their first assignment overseas as maintainers of a top-secret government project, which leads to international incidents that must be seen to be believed. The comedy practically writes itself, and with Ivan Reitman directing, it's quite hilarious. Murray gets pretty much free reign in his role as Winger, and shows early signs of his incomparable comic genius that gained him fame on "Saturday Night Live". The lines, the physical movements, all pure Bill, make the whole film that much more enjoyable. Ramis is a decent straight man/sidekick. And their "Gals Friday" are excellent foils to their characters. The plot itself is eye-roll inducing, but being a comedy, requires only the viewer sit back and enjoy it. Almost every member of the platoon stands out character-wise, and contributes hilarity to the story. And what would a Reitman flick be without the obligatory one-liners that folks will be quoting for years to come? The "Extended Cut" DVD has several minutes of deleted scenes; a couple of which actually fill a plot "hole" here and there, some left on the cutting room floor likely for being too "over the top" at the time, even for an "R" rating. The format is user-friendly; you can choose to view the "Extended Edition" of the movie, with the deleted scenes inserted (even showing a little graphic on the screen to let you know when they occur), or you can watch the version shown in theaters and access the deleted scenes from another menu. Not much else is on the DVD itself; the original movie trailer, as well as previews for other hit movies from the '80s, a two-part "making of" featurette, with crew and cast interviews (shot around the time Murray was filming "Lost In Translation"), and the usual director commentary. Overall, this is a great tributary DVD edition of a great classic comedy, and whether you're in the service, or just a fan of Bill Murray's work, you won't be disappointed in this small investment in lasting entertainment. And that's the FACTS, JACK! |
| June 26, 2005 |
Posted by Amazon Customer Reviews
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Bruce Stern reviewed:
Tijuana Straits: A Novel
| 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: Even Better than I Expected, June 26, 2005 I connected wholly with Kem's characters, in spite of his main protagonist's nefarious past. I even felt sympathy for the book's central character of evil, such was Mr. Nunn's way with words that he composed whole, original and believable human beings. What a way with words he has! Redemption plays an important role, as well as one's coming to terms with realities, past and present. And, besides the human characters of this exquisite story, the geography and the environment of the California-Mexican border play an important role, particularly the Tijuana River Valley and the Pacific Ocean beyond. Don't get dissuaded because of the surfing stuff you may have read about the story(--if that's a potential turn-off for you). Surfing plays a special, but ancillary role, in Tijuana Straits. This book is a beautifully written, sad and honest tale of some less than advantaged people doing what they can (and what they need to be doing) to ride out their struggles (and, perhaps thrive a bit) in our unfair, but potentially redemptive world. It brought out empathy in me I didn't know existed. I hope you'll give it a chance. |
| June 26, 2005 |
Posted by TheTechLounge - Recent Articles: Networking: Wireless
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| June 19, 2005 |
Posted by Amazon Customer Reviews
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C. W. Fitch reviewed:
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004
| 7 of 7 people found the following review helpful: Realistic, fun, and deep!, June 18, 2005 Creating your own golfer and taking him through a prestigious career is of course the most enjoyable aspect of this game. Entering competitions around the world to build potential and competing in tournaments to earn money to buy better equipment, fill those potential attributes, and get more stylin' threads will eat up a lot of your free time. As with most EA Sports games, once you start your dynasty, it's very hard to stop. (Especially since you can breeze through an 18-hole stroke match in under 10 minutes once you get the hang of swinging the club and using the "Esc" key to your advantage.) Eventually you'll get good enough to take on the Tour pros themselves, which is when things really get interesting and you'll need every bit of the experience you've built to beat them. You can also take one of the pros in the game through several seasons, but the career mode is where the best treasures lie. The graphics in the game really shine as well. Of course, you'll need to have a top-of-the-line graphics card in your PC to enjoy absolutely all of them, which I don't. I'm told every detail of the course comes alive, with moving tree leaves, reflecting water hazards, moving clouds, wind, etc...Maybe I'll save up and get that Radeon 9600 I've had my eye on. Still, with 1024 x 768 resolution, the game is gorgeous. The golfers have amazing detail and fluidity, and the ball reacts just like a real ball would whenever it's struck. EA Sports goes to very great lengths to ensure the most realistic experience, whether it's golf, football, hockey, or any other sport, and they spared no expense with their golf game either. (On the other hand, it's just as frustrating as real golf when you screw up...you'll know what I mean when you miss your first 32-inch putt by half a hair and the ball ends up 10 feet from the hole, or get your first 12 on a Par 5.) The realism is enhanced by the True Swing feature, where your swing is all in the wrist and the movement of the mouse. "Tiger Woods" has had this for a few years, but old schoolers like me can still choose the 3-click swing. There's even a 2-click swing option for absolute beginners. Of course, there's also online play available, which makes the game even more absorbing. Taking on anyone in the world is always fun, although you may have a hard time finding folks to play with since 2005's been out for a while. The commentary, with Gary McCord and David "Fairway" Fehrty on the mic, is decent for the most part, but as with most EA Sports games, the phrases get repetitive after a while. (I'm starting to hear "David...the angle of the dangle?" in my sleep.) Not only that, it misfires once in a while. More than once, I've sunk a wicked right-to-lefter from 30 feet and heard, "Oh, that'll make you want to stick your head in the sand." Wh-huh? It's a very small detractor, though. Overall, this is golf's total package for the PC. The arcade elements in the game add to the fun factor, and there are enough modes and unlockable features (courses, golfers, equipment, etc.) to keep you occupied for several months. You won't find a more fun and realistic experience. Yes, 2005 is out by now, and it's probably got a few extra features that hardcore PC golfers can't live without, but this game costs less than $10, and is probably just as enjoyable. For the money, you simply can't go wrong. You don't really need the latest and greatest to have fun with this title. |
| June 18, 2005 |
Posted by Amazon Customer Reviews
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Bruce Stern reviewed:
The Great Mortality : An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time
| 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful: Let's hope this history doesn't repeat itself!, June 17, 2005 I liked this book, in spite of its sad and ugly subject matter, because the author does a craftman's job of writing a fairly complete history of this terrible and important event. Mr. Kelly presents us with the important biological, sociological, political, economic and religious facts and attitudes of the mid-14th century European scene. He does so by explaining the relevant, and intriguing, history that is necessary to show us the whys, hows, wheres and whens of this, indeed, devastating plague. The author, in an inferential fashion, shows us, too, how such an event can be replicated today. I would suggest that to call the Black Death, The Most Devastating Plague of All Time, is more of a marketing ploy, than, perhaps, a true statement of fact--if there can factually be a "most devastating plague". As Mr. Kelly writes, China, in particular, lost an estimated half of its population, and a great many more people, during a similar plague, whereas Europe lost about a third of its people during The Great Mortality. I suppose calling this event the most devastating of all time has more to do with the fact that it took place in Europe, and the profligate Eurocentrism of the American historical perspective . I sense that the bulk of the new material for this book comes from the biological realm, now that we know more about epidemiology than ever before. If one wants to learn more about how infectious diseases are spread, a la SARS, the avian flu, and the recent Ebola outbreaks in Africa, this book will help you to understand. This book is a good one for the general population about this terrible tragedy of human history, and will help educate those who wish to know more about human nature amidst the spread of infectious disease and its attendant fear, anxiety, stupidity and hatreds. |
| June 17, 2005 |
Posted by Amazon Customer Reviews
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Bruce Stern reviewed:
The Kite Runner
| 3 of 4 people found the following review helpful: Extraordinary, Timely and Courageous, June 17, 2005 He says, in effect, here is a story about people in my land of origin. Yes, they are people of Afghanistan, but they are simply people, too, who are much like us. The main character, Amir, a young boy of privilege living in Kabul with his distant and concerned father. Amir is the narrator of this intimate, yet big story, who yearns for his father's acceptance and love. Amir's pal is Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant, who is of a lesser class of Afghanis, the Hazaras. Because of this class relationship, Amir cannot consider Hassan his friend. Like many aspects of this distant and strange land, one comes to a grudging understanding of this titling by Amir that is too be avoided. A horrific incident happens, as Amir says, during the winter of his twelfth year, that shows Amir, sadly and painfully, who he is. And, the picture is not a pretty one. This event scars Amir, and provides the foundation for most of this remarkable story. I quickly came to care very much about the characters. I couldn't put the book down; I didn't want the story to end. One learns that the road to redemption is difficult, and can appear in an unexpected way, and achieved painfully, with courage, vulnerability and fortitude. This is a story about the simple, but important aspects of life and living, what it means to (perhaps) lose your country, achieve success and joyfulness in a country of necessity, and about getting your soul back, then "The Kite Runner" just might be one of your all-time favorite reads, as it has been mine. Enjoy! |
| June 17, 2005 |
Posted by TheTechLounge - Recent Articles: Multimedia: Headphones
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| June 16, 2005 |
Posted by Amazon Customer Reviews
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L. Lombardo reviewed:
Columbia Elkhorn II Rectangular Sleeping Bag with Pillow
| 7 of 8 people found the following review helpful: Great Sleeping Bag!, June 14, 2005 |
| June 14, 2005 |
