http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/GeorgeChabot Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:26:04 GMT Reviews by GeorgeChabot http://www.viewpoints.com/Linby-Twinbar-Model-1201-for-Harley-Heritage-Softail-review-d6743 This is a replacement for the standard chrome engine guard mounted on the heavyweight Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail motorcycle. — — Engine guards, also known as crash bars protect the motorcycle if it should happen to tip over, catching it before the bike lands on the expensive parts like the control levers or the engine. — — I have a 2006 Heritage Softail with the ESFI fuel injected Twin Cam 88B engine. This is a heavyweight cruiser with leather saddlebags and windshield and the bike needed a little customizing so the Linby Twinbar was selected as a key element that would add both safety and a touch of class. — — This bar is quite a bit dressier than the standard chrome steel tubular engine guards that usually are seen on Harleys. The Linby Twinbar is made from billet aluminum, triple chrome plated and is tricked out with both a flat top surface and two swing out blades that can be used as highway pegs. The flip down pegs even angle back... Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:26:04 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Linby-Twinbar-Model-1201-for-Harley-Heritage-Softail-review-d6743 GeorgeChabot 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Granite-Mountain-Harley-Davidson-Conyers-GA-review-15e62 Granite Mountain Harley-Davidson is located near my home in beautiful Conyers, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. — — Granite Mountain is a full service dealer with plenty of new and used Harley-Davidsons in stock for your perusal as well as a service department, a parts department, and motorclothes department. — — The showroom has a full array of Harley's from each family, including the Touring, Softail, Dyna, and Sportster with a full array of optional equipement and color schemes. You can really get lost looking at the luscious paint jobs and chrome accessories and the staff is willing to let you look to your heart's content. — — I chose a Springer Softail 88 cubic inch cruiser and the staff helped me painlessly acquire it with little to no hassle. Financing and insurance through Harley-Davidson is also offered, just ask Jack and he'll be glad to arrange it for you. — — The Service department will install any accessories you... Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:50:48 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Granite-Mountain-Harley-Davidson-Conyers-GA-review-15e62 GeorgeChabot 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Harley-Davidson-Softail-Deluxe-2008-Motorcycle-review-a9de4 Harley-Davidson has developed some exciting bikes since they became employee owned, teetering on the verge of bankruptcy in the mid-eighties. What a turn around for the company, from just about out of business to a lean and mean organization that has case studies written about the excellence of its management for use in prestigious business schools. — — Harley's strength has always been in their heavyweight motorcycles and they have an impressive array of models to choose from. Each model has plenty of unique details to delight your eye and the thumpa-thump idle is guaranteed to ignite your desire for the open road. — — The 2008 Harley Softail Deluxe is a member of the Softail family, one of the three divisions of the heavyweight motorcycle line. There are seven other members of the Softail family to choose from, ranging from mild to wild, but all with that unmistakable 96 cubic inch monster V-Twin with the rumbling exhaust. — — The Softail... Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:13:03 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Harley-Davidson-Softail-Deluxe-2008-Motorcycle-review-a9de4 GeorgeChabot 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Heinz-Sweet-Relish-review-be6b6 Heinz Sweet Relish — — I really enjoy Heinz Sweet Relish on all sorts of sandwiches. It reminds me of great barbecues of the past and those to come. — — Heinz Sweet Relish comes in an easy to handle long-necked plastic squeeze bottle that makes it easy to dispense just the right amount of relish just where you want it. The bottle is the same 12.7 ounce plastic bottle that Heinz Ketchup and Mustard are available in. I am a big fan of the great taste of Heinz and this relish is among my favorite condiments. — — The jar has a white aluminum/plastic safety seal under the cap that you need to peel off before you can dispense the product. — — The flavor is a delectable combination of sweet and tart and sets off hamburgers and hot dogs to their best advantage. I like it on polish sausage, which I slice into long strips and make sandwiches of, and just try a grilled bratwurst with this relish on it. You'll think you died and went to... Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:39:05 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Heinz-Sweet-Relish-review-be6b6 GeorgeChabot 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Wall-Street-review-07663 Wall Street (1987) — — A morality play from the fertile brain of bomb thrower Oliver Stone, Wall Street details the rise and fall of a financial player during the time that has since become known as the decade of greed. — — Charlie Sheen is Bud Fox, an account executive who wants more than anything to make it out of the blue collar world inhabited by his father (Martin Sheen), a union worker in an aircraft company. — — Stuck in an office where he sees the top producer a burned out shell, Bud longs for bigger and better things. He incessently calls high roller Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) who won't give him the time of day. Finally he wins Gekko's confidence with a bit of inside information. — — Then Gekko encourages Bud to get more information and entices him with various "perks" including a nubile young gal (Darryl Hannah) with artistic pretensions. Eager to maintain his foothold, Bud feeds Gekko information and suggests... Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:35:53 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Wall-Street-review-07663 GeorgeChabot 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Barbasol-Shaving-Cream-with-Soothing-Aloe-Each-12-Cans-Per-Case-11-oz-review-753b5 Barbasol has been a top selling shave cream brand for longer than I can remember. — — The can is the regular large 11 ounce size aerosol and the label is striped like a barber pole, in green and white. Most shave creams in green cans contain menthol but this one doesn't. It has super slick aloe vera as its extra ingredient and it makes for a nice, smooth shave with little irritation. The can says it is "The Beard Buster." — — I might as well admit I am a reluctant shaver, going through the ritual Monday through Friday and then hiding from my razor on weekends. I have had my share of nicks, irritation, and razor burn, though, and appreciate the extra aloe that smoothens out the experience. — — I've tried most types of shave creams and like the old traditional foamy types the best. I can see where some may like the glowing gel type but it ends up foaming up anyway. Why bother to work up a fluffy white lather from... Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:10:27 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Barbasol-Shaving-Cream-with-Soothing-Aloe-Each-12-Cans-Per-Case-11-oz-review-753b5 GeorgeChabot 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Gillette-Good-News-Razor-review-375f4 The Good News razor is one of the great inventions in world history. Prior to its introduction, we had the safety razor with the messy blade changing and the razors with the multiple blades and disposable heads where you had to buy the separate handle and heads. — — The Good News introduced the dual blade head mated with a disposable handle and they shave just like an expensive razor. I've tried the disposable shavers by BIC, Schick, and Rite Aid and none of them compare to the Good News razor by Gillette. — — I don't have a really hard beard like some men but I need to clean up for work every day and like the convenience of the Good News disposable. The minute they begin to pull, I just discard it and pull a fresh one. With my beard, I easily get a month of shaves and I usually buy them by the five pack. There is also a ten pack available. — — The razors are dual bladed and come in original and with lubricating strips (Good News Plus) I... Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:43:20 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Gillette-Good-News-Razor-review-375f4 GeorgeChabot 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/American-Gangster-review-c1be2 American Gangster (2007) — — This is another great film by Ridley Scott who continues to prove (to me, at least) he is the greatest working director and the only one who will be remembered fifty years from now when the short list of great directors like Ford, Huston, Welles, and Hitchcock are discussed. — — American Gangster tells the story of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) who begins as a driver for Harlem kingpin Bumpy Jenkins (Clarence Williams, III) and replaces him when Bumpy dies suddenly. Rather than continuing with the numbers game as Bumpy had, Lucas decides to call in a favor from a buddy off in Vietnam. Almost 100% pure heroin is shipped by air freight to NY, courtesy of the US Army... Soon Lucas is the king of NY with the old time mobsters that wouldn't even talk to him before eating out of his hand. He has family members working for him, and that contributes to some of his problems, as you shall see if you see this. — — At the... Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:08:24 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/American-Gangster-review-c1be2 GeorgeChabot 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Mr-Brooks--22196-review-966e0 Mr Brooks is a neat little crime drama with an original story and great casting. The story, by writer-director Bruce A. Evans, is a psychological thriller that is quite intelligent and has a couple of interesting twists that will most likely take you by surprise. — — Kevin Costner stars as a highly successful entrepreneur who is receiving the "Man of the Year" award from the Chamber of Commerce. On the way home from the soiree we see he and his wife are not alone. There is a third party in the back seat, played by William Hurt. Hurt is urging Costner to go by and see about the dance couple he was watching earlier.  You soon learn that Hurt isn't really there, he is just a manifestation of Costner's other personality. — — Brooks (Costner) takes his wife (Marg Helgenberger) home to their palatial mansion and tells her he is going down to the studio to work on some pots. The movie gets going from this point onward and reveals Brooks' obsession and... Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:26:03 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Mr-Brooks--22196-review-966e0 GeorgeChabot 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Folgers-Classic-Roast-Coffee-review-f0c90 Folger's Classic Roast Coffee — — I am a died in the wool coffee drinker who started too many years ago to remember.  Everyday I drink a pot of coffee, rain or shine, summer or winter.  Typically I make it in a no name drip coffee maker that Wal-Mart sells but I also have a percolator and an expensive drip maker, too. — — No matter what kind of coffee maker I use, Folgers Classic Roast always comes out rich, smooth, and enjoyable.   — — I should mention I drink coffee black, with no additives but people who like cream and sugar also drink my coffee and say it's the best. — — My standby brand is Maxwell House Regular Blend, but if the store is out of that for some reason, my second choice is Folger's Classic Roast Coffee.  I find it is just a little weaker than Maxwell House so I add an additional half scoop of grounds and enjoy piping hot delicious coffee just like I do every day. — — With... Sun, 15 Jun 2008 09:34:46 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Folgers-Classic-Roast-Coffee-review-f0c90 GeorgeChabot 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Yojimbo-review-03984 Yojimbo (1961) — — This is a samurai movie from the great Akiro Kurasawa who brought us several memorable period movies starring Japanese legend Toshiro Mifune. — — Yojimbo is a movie that is reponsible for inspiring at least two American films - A Fistful of Dollars and Last Man Standing, but did you know it was derived itself from American director John Ford's early western movies, of whom Kurasawa was an ardent admirer. — — Yojimbo (Toshiro Mifune) is a masterless samurai bodyguard who must fend for himself.  — — Following the random direction he learns by the indication of a stick he tosses, he soon finds himself in a typical Western town, complete with tumbleweeds and fearful townsfolk staring out from behind curtained windows; and a coffin maker. — — The samurai soon learns that there are rival factions of gamblers, and like a good western gunfighter agrees to sell his services to the high bidder. A quick... Sun, 15 Jun 2008 01:06:21 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Yojimbo-review-03984 GeorgeChabot 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Schumacher-Battery-Charger-SEM-1562A-review-c0a01 Schumacher is one of the biggest battery charger companies in the business and has years of experience.  I was recently in the market for a new charger as my old Schumacher had seen better days. — — I was pleasantly surprised at the changes in technology that had taken place since I last had shopped for a battery charger.  The charger is compact and comes in a rugged plastic housing as opposed to the old metal usually seen.  The charger is fully automatic and just needs to be set on 12 V or 6, whichever is needed.  — — The leads have quick disconnects with two sets of ends, conventional battery clamp ends and ring terminal ends for permanent mounting on a battery.  The charger works at 1.5 amp, which is enough to charge a battery but not enough to boil the fluid and create hydrogen gas, which is a fire hazard.  — — I needed this charger for my motorcycle and charged the battery with no problems.  Typically you... Sat, 14 Jun 2008 16:42:27 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Schumacher-Battery-Charger-SEM-1562A-review-c0a01 GeorgeChabot 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/White-Heat-review-56923 James Cagney was one of Warner Bros top stars virtually defining the gangster genre with a string of thrillers starting with The Public Enemy in 1930. The cocky star made dozens of low budget crime stories then branched out to other work in many genres. He returned after almost 20 years, however, to cap off the gangster genre with one of the best of the bunch - White Heat. — — The gangster genre had evolved over the years and now the characters were more rounded and even sinister.  Cody Jarrett (Cagney) boss of his mob had psychopathic tendencies and was a little too attached to his mother, as well. — — His mother (Margaret Wycherly) is a standby in these old movies playing in hundreds of them. In White Heat she is just as evil as Cody and you can see her staring at him admiringly with eyes glowing as he outlines his latest scheme.  This is the performance of the unsung Wycherly's career. — — Cody's gang pull down big scores like... Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:27:23 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/White-Heat-review-56923 GeorgeChabot 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Enemy-Below-review-02576 The Enemy Below (1957) — — Made in the aftermath of World War II, The Enemy Below examines a cat and mouse game between two highly skilled sea captains, an American destroyer commanded by Robert Mitchum and a German U-boat, commanded by Curt Jurgens, both highly moral men as well. — — Robert Mitchum (1917 - 1997) is the commander of the destroyer escort USS Haynes on patrol in the South Atlantic sometime early in the war.  He is new on the ship and has not come forth from his cabin.  The crew speculates that the new skipper is not very experienced, but when a sonar blip brings back a return, he correctly surmises it is an enemy sub's conning tower and begins stalking it with the sure steps of a born hunter. — — The submarine is commanded by an equally wily skipper (Curt Jurgens) who leads the Americans on a merry chase while the pursuers rain down depth charges almost endlessly.  They are concerned that he may lead them to a big... Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:38:43 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Enemy-Below-review-02576 GeorgeChabot 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Vise-Grip-2078900-Convertible-Snap-Ring-Plier-Set-review-0ce14 Vise Grip Convertible Snap Ring Pliers — — This is a set I really admired when I first saw it because it looks so well thought out compared to most snap ring pliers and the price is right on the money. — — Snap rings are fasteners that either hold a shaft in a bore or go around a shaft to keep it from pulling out of a bore. The pliers fit into little holes in the end of the rings and you can lift them out after expanding or contracting the ring, as needed. — — My pet peeve with snap ring pliers is they always seem just adequate, never refined but requiriing a wrench to change jaws and lots of small pieces to lose. These pliers have a push button release and the whole set of jaws complete with the pin tips are removed and replaced. The set has the bonus of working with either internal or external snap rings where most manufacturers make you buy separate pliers for each. There are four sets of jaws provided variously angled and straight. You... Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:47:21 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Vise-Grip-2078900-Convertible-Snap-Ring-Plier-Set-review-0ce14 GeorgeChabot 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Harley-Davidson-S-Liberate-Mens-Motorcycle-Boots-review-518c6 Harley-Davidson Liberate boots — — When you ride motorcycles, good safety gear is important to enjoy your riding and get the most out of your riding experience. I know it's unpleasant to think about the spills that sometimes go along with the thrills and chills of motorcycling, but a good pair of riding boots allow you to work your controls positively, and heaven forbid, provide protection in event of an incident. Good footwear is as important to your comfort and safety as your crash helmet. — — I bought these boots for my summer riding. They are something like jungle boots with the cloth uppers reinforced with hard leather so they breathe and don't make your feet sweat like solid leather boots. Like all Harley boots, they are expensive but the quality is worth it. — — The Liberate boot has shock absorber technology for comfort and once you lace up the fronts and get them feeling right, there is an inside zipper for quick donning and doffing... Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:49:11 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Harley-Davidson-S-Liberate-Mens-Motorcycle-Boots-review-518c6 GeorgeChabot 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Maxwell-House-Original-Blend-review-27694 This is the ground coffee that they always said was "Good to the last drop," and they were right. Maxwell House Original Blend is a great, consistent, everyday coffee that never gets bitter or harsh. — — I drink a pot of Maxwell House Regular every day and friends all tell me I make the best coffee they ever tasted. This is what I use. I drink my coffee black but many use cream and sugar and Maxwell House stands up to it. — — More recently the coffee market has tried to go upscale with the hogwash they sell in the fancy coffee places for people who just "discovered" coffee. I find that stuff unfit to drink as coffee because it is meant to be adulterated with about 50% sweetening and flavors, etc. Maxwell House has also come out with several "designer" coffees, like Dark Roast, Columbian Supreme , etc., that are not as good as the original stuff.  — — I guess I can't blame them for chasing the yuppie dollar but this Original Blend... Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:40:48 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Maxwell-House-Original-Blend-review-27694 GeorgeChabot 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Maxwell-House-Colombian-Supreme-Coffee-review-491a0 Maxwell House Columbian Supreme — — I am a life long coffee drinker who has a pot of coffee every day.  I make the best coffee of anybody I know - everybody tells me so, but maybe that is because they don't like to make coffee themselves.  — — I drink coffee black and bitter, no cream or sugar or kiddie additives and therefore I go for the taste of the coffee itself.  Most of the frou frou coffees like Columbia Supreme are far too strong and harsh for real coffee drinkers because they are made to be adulterated by additives by weekend coffee drinkers used to swilling Starbucks ersatz coffee. — — The best coffee in the Maxwell House line is Original.  I make it in a drip coffee maker and its the brand I've relied on for years.  Never bitter, and always good to the last drop. — —... Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:31:16 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Maxwell-House-Colombian-Supreme-Coffee-review-491a0 GeorgeChabot 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/Kd-Tools-Universal-Convertible-Retaining-Ring-Pliers-review-d4122 KD tools are specialty tools available at auto parts stores and some times hardware stores. You may have seen their displays with the carded tools with various unusual names like "window crank remover" or "spark plug boot tool." Many of these tools are not necessary but some of the tools are. — — Since I got back involved in motorcycles I have had to renew my tool kit which had eroded over time to include more tools for servicing my Twin Cam 88 Harley Davidson. — — Motorcycles have several fastener types that require special tools apart from the usual automotive stuff.  For example, they use snap rings to hold in the pivots for the clutch and brake levers. These fasteners are used on typical autoparts, too, but usually as parts of internal assemblies that most people don't try to take apart. — — The snap rings are used to hold shafts in place either by locking into the bore the shaft is in (internal) or in a groove around the shaft to keep... Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:08:02 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Kd-Tools-Universal-Convertible-Retaining-Ring-Pliers-review-d4122 GeorgeChabot 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Haynes-Harley-Davidson-Twin-Cam-88-Shop-Manual-review-b9d08 I recently got back into motorcycles after a long hiatus and needed to update my tool kit and literature for doing routine maintenance on my 2000 Harley Twin Cam 88B Softail Springer motorcycle. — — After a search of Internet sources, I found the Haynes manual for the 1999 - 2003 Twin Cam motorcycles was the one I needed. I paid around $30 for the manual while a factory Harley service manual runs about $55. — — Haynes has been writing technical manuals for the automotive field for years and if you've ever been to an auto parts store, you may have noticed their hard cover books displayed. They offer a comprehensive array of manuals covering most vehicles and motorcycles, with relatively complete information at a price and in a picture rich format. Haynes goes from routine maintenance all the way to tearing it down to the last nut and bolt, so chances are what you want to do to your bike will be covered. — — The manual is informative and uses... Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:25:42 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Haynes-Harley-Davidson-Twin-Cam-88-Shop-Manual-review-b9d08 GeorgeChabot 5