http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/RudiXeno Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:54:14 GMT Reviews by RudiXeno http://www.viewpoints.com/Rudis-Organic-Bakery-Jewish-Light-Rye-Bread-review-98010 Okay, I'd be lying if I didn't admit that the name of this product didn't influence my purchase.  Goodness, he even spells Rudi the same way. — Rudi's Organic Bakery — Rudi's Organic Bakery has been a small batch artisan bread-maker operating in Boulder Colorado since 1976.  Recently I purchased a loaf of their Jewish Light Rye Bread. — I am a lover of Jewish Rye Bread with caraway seeds.  Preferably I buy it at a local bakery and have them slice it for me.  At times when I lack that much ambition, I find either Levy's or Arnold's to be adequate substitutes. — Certified Organic — Yes, it's certified organic.  Rather than give you a tedious list of ingredients, let's stipulate that it's all organic.  In place of high fructose corn syrup, an extract of natural cane sugar is used to sweeten the dough.  Since no preservatives of any kind are used its shelf life will be shorter than that of most store bought breads. —... Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:54:14 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Rudis-Organic-Bakery-Jewish-Light-Rye-Bread-review-98010 RudiXeno 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Applegate-Farms-Organic-Herb-Turkey-Breast-review-091e2 So I'm at Whole Foods trying to use up the gift card some  mother gave my wife (the teacher) this last semester.  Whole Foods is not my favorite place to shop and $100 is certainly not a lot of money to spend there.  But still, I find it hard to find things I really want or need there. — But recently in their cold cut section I came across  Applegate Farms Organic Herb Turkey Breast in a 7oz. package. — Ordinarily, my Turkey Breast brand of choice is Boar's Head, but the Applegate Farms Turkey looked interesting and so I thought I'd give it a try. — Applegate Farms Organic Herb Turkey Breast — Taste-wise, let me say up front this is a winner.  The combination of whole organic turkey breast combined with organic spices and organic parsley, to my taste is clearly outstanding.  This turkey breast makes a very tasty sandwich and shredded in a salad its taste is prominent enough to be appreciated as more than just some added... Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:51:32 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Applegate-Farms-Organic-Herb-Turkey-Breast-review-091e2 RudiXeno 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Lanacane-Spray-Maximum-Strength-4oz-review-65a42 It's summertime in South Florida.  Hot, sticky, buggy and wet, there's no shortage of things to make you itch.  It's just the the type of environment that gets you running for your can of Lanacane Spray Maximum Strength. — Lanacane Spray Maximum Strength 4oz — Essentially, Lanacane is a 20% spray of benzocaine with .2% of Benzethonium Chloride.  It's an anesthetic/antiseptic spray, ideal for the temporary relief of painful sunburn  and all things that make you itch. — Fortunately, I am neither the meal of choice for most South Florida insects nor a frequent victim of our hot sun.  I am however plagued often by heat rash.  It will generally start in the center of my chest.  At first it's just a tingle.  I scratch it through my shirt just a bit.  Left untreated, my fingers will find their way inside my shirt.  That's when the real damage gets done. — My nails offer only a moments relief, but scratch I must, more... Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:02:57 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Lanacane-Spray-Maximum-Strength-4oz-review-65a42 RudiXeno 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Carrs-Water-Table-Crackers-review-df663 Truth be told, I'm such a fool for fine cheese that I can eat it neat. — But a fine cheese benefits greatly when it is combined with a contrasting taste.  When eating cheese as a starter we're usually talking about a cracker.  And, since we know from my earlier reviews, I tend to prefer stronger cheese flavors the crackers that I prefer are Carr's Water Table Crackers.  In their original flavor (plain) they are an excellent palette for cheeses in the Blue family. — Their taste is mild and does not interfere with the taste of the cheese.  While light, they are firm and remain crisp under the cheese.  Neither sweet nor salty they allow you to get a full measure of the taste of the cheese.  A great way to start a meal. — How to describe their taste? — Ever eat matzoh? You have?  Okay, imagine a piece of circular matzoh about 2 1/2 inches in diameter.  Add just a touch of refinement and there you have a plain Water Table... Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:23:26 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Carrs-Water-Table-Crackers-review-df663 RudiXeno 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Doris-Italian-Market-and-Bakery-Boca-Raton-FL-review-f8632 Living in South Florida, it's hard to to think of a food market without thinking Publix.  The Publix chain is now so prolific in South Florida that it is hard to imagine finding yourself at any major intersection without spotting a Publix Supermarket there.  This is good.  They are a first class supermarket chain. — But that is not to say that if you look hard enough, you can't find alternatives, sometimes even superior alternatives.  This is where we turn to Doris Italian Market and Bakery. — From its name you might get the impression that this is a small niche specialty market.  Perhaps it once was.  But these days, while still quite small in comparison to the Publix superstore model, it's possible to do your weekly shop at Doris'.  Predictably, the brand selection isn't as broad, but what you're assured of is that if its found its way into this store, it's a top-rated product. — What it excels at — The meat and poultry... Sun, 29 Jun 2008 11:30:19 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Doris-Italian-Market-and-Bakery-Boca-Raton-FL-review-f8632 RudiXeno 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Royal-Stilton-Blue-Cheese-review-81933 Sometime during the 1980's I was in London celebrating another grand victory for my International Financial Witchcraft Division.  We were on fire that year.  Ever have one of those years?  We were flying so high around the globe that we could have sold futures contracts on belly button lint, left the major multinational client smiling while lining our pockets with unconscionable fees.  But I digress.  We're here to talk about cheese. — Following an evening of absolute gluttony we capped our celebration with a couple of bottles of aged port and a fabulous cheese and fruit platter (oh, and some big fat Cuban cigars). — One of the cheeses on the platter was a blue veined cheese with a decidedly yellow creamy cast and a thick crust.  Now I've been partial to Blues (bleus) for a long time.  I made my approach, cut a small wedge and placed it on a pear.  Moments after it entered my mouth I experienced bliss. — So while my guys... Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:49:37 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Royal-Stilton-Blue-Cheese-review-81933 RudiXeno 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Folgers-Classic-Roast-Coffee-review-d9363 If you read me here and elsewhere you know that I've a healthy regard for Folger's Coffee.  Give me their Columbian, Gourmet Supreme or Black Silk and I need nothing more exotic. — But, when it comes to their Classic Roast, the word "flaccid" jumps into my head.  Trust me, I know that this is not an adjective generally used with the noun, coffee.  Nonetheless, it's the word that comes to mind. — Weak, limp, it does nothing for me.  It reminds me of Maxwell House Original Blend, another insipid coffee.  That makes sense.  I grew up in the Northeast.  Maxwell House was the popular home blend in that region at the time. — I believe that Folger's had more mid-western roots.  But as time has marched on either brand is available nation-wide. — Folgers Classic Roast Coffee Description — No matter how much of this coffee I use when preparing my morning brew, I find it thin.  If I use too much of it, instead of... Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:59:09 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Folgers-Classic-Roast-Coffee-review-d9363 RudiXeno 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Swingtown-review-b7363 After being away from home for four weeks, I arrived home just in time to kiss my daughter and put her on the plane for Summer Camp in the Georgia Mountains.  Two days later I kissed my wife and put her on an El Al Flight to Israel so she could participate in a teachers' tour of the Holy Land. — So here I am at home, banging against walls.  What to do? — Well Tivo of course.  Catch up on a little television.  So a couple of evenings ago I clicked "Now Playing" and saw Tivo had recorded the first three episodes of Swingtown, a CBS summer series. — But First — It occurs to me that many of the members on this site weren't adults during the 1970's and may actually believe that this show represents the period accurately.  If it does, I must have been mentally MIA because I was there. — The Setting and Premise — The show takes place in the mid-1970's in a wealthy Chicago suburb.  No, I didn't live in Chicago.  I lived in... Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:30:17 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Swingtown-review-b7363 RudiXeno 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/LG-VX5200-Cell-Phone-review-5e3f2 When I arrived in the NYC metro area just before the start of the Memorial Day holiday I had my Moto Razr V3m with me.  In the almost 2 years I have owned it it's never given me any problems.  OK, so you can't see the screen in the sun.  I've learned to live with it. — — But in every other respect, I've been satisfied with my Razr.  Good voice quality, bluetooth, nice keyboard and form, yada, yada, yada. — — That is until I took it out of my pocket on that weekend to find it deader than a milky-eyed mackerel.  Not dead battery dead.  We're talking completely dead.  My contract is up in October and although I have insurance on my phone I was thinking, do I really want to pony up a $50 deductible for a phone I'll probably upgrade in October?  What to do? — — Sister-in-law to the rescue — "Rudi, open the top drawer, there's a collection of Verizon phones in there".  My brother, sister-in-law and... Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:51:34 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/LG-VX5200-Cell-Phone-review-5e3f2 RudiXeno 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Dunkin-Donuts-Original-Blend-review-c3304 Several years ago, one of my daughters was working at a local (Stamford, CT) Starbuck's clone type of coffee bar.  I had been away for a few days on a business trip and as I got closer to home I thought I might drop into the coffee bar to surprise her. — When I entered the place she was nowhere in sight.  As I turned to leave I heard "Hey Mr. Zee, she'll be back in a few minutes.  She's on a mission and as soon as she gets back she's on break." — So of course I waited.  In just a few minutes she returned carrying a small carton.  Its contents?  Cup after cup of Dunkin' Donuts coffee.  Huh? — Yes, as it turns out, the entire staff was waiting for their DD coffee.  "But you work in a coffee house", I said puzzled. — "Yeah, but Dunkin Donuts coffee tastes better", they chimed.  Guess I wasn't the first to make this observation.  I did notice that they quickly transferred the coffee into cups proclaiming "Coffee... Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:36:34 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Dunkin-Donuts-Original-Blend-review-c3304 RudiXeno 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Plot-Against-America-review-77c54 Imagine that in 1940, with WWII already in progress (yet without our participation), instead of FDR being re-elected for a historic third term, Charles A Lindbergh running as a Republican wins the election. — — Imagine, that under Lindbergh, an understanding is established between Hitler's Germany and America that keeps us out of the war. — — Imagine, Jewish families being "encouraged" to leave the urban centers and relocate to small towns in the heartland of America. — — Imagine, pogroms occurring here in the USA that are only surpassed by Kristalnacht in 1930's Nazi Germany. — — Now imagine witnessing this through the eyes of a young boy growing up in Newark New Jersey during that time. — — This is what Philip Roth accomplishes in this amazing re-write of American history.  Don't worry.  I'm not going to throw in any spoilers.  I'm not going to give away any more of the plot.  I just want you to... Mon, 09 Jun 2008 22:09:03 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Plot-Against-America-review-77c54 RudiXeno 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Social-Security-Administration-review-6f724 Let me preface this review with "no, I'm not anywhere near retirement age". — But this morning, my wife called me to tell me she needed some Social Security documents ASAP.  So, of course I told her where they were filed, but she came up empty.  "Not there", she told me before launching into a 10 minute discourse about the need for organization.  So, with the phone somewhere in the vicinity of my ear I used the 10 minutes to finish watching a Tivo'd episode of Weeds that I had missed. — Now I know exactly where these papers are filed and I told her that just as soon as I got home next Wednesday I'd give them to her. — A Digression — You'd have no way of knowing this but I've been up north for the last two weeks taking care of some family matters, some nice (My granddaughter's baptism and first birthday) and some not so nice (we won't go there). — Back to the Story — "Nope", she said.  It couldn't wait for Wednesday.  She... Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:32:39 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Social-Security-Administration-review-6f724 RudiXeno 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Saboteurs-review-1d4b2 W.E.B. Griffin has always been a writing hero of mine.  He can weave a tale that blends history, fictional characters and intrigue as only a master of the craft can do. — Griffin has always specialized writing of men at arms, facing peril bravely.  Of the 38 books he's written through six different series I have read 35.  I'm a fan.  No doubt about it. — So recently when I saw there was a recent addition to his Men at War series, a series that chronicles the creation and fictional adventures of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)during WWII it was a very easy purchase for me to make and I couldn't wait to crack the cover. — All the familiar characters were there.  Richard Canidy, Eric Fulmar, Stan Fine and of course, "Wild Bill" Donovan, the legendary leader of the OSS and confidante of FDR during the war. — Setting — It's 1943 and the Germans still have their U-boats mauling shipping in the Atlantic. But now the German's... Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:16:42 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Saboteurs-review-1d4b2 RudiXeno 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Tholstrup-Saga-Blue-review-9d154 I love cheese. I've always loved cheese. Of course, growing up, although there was always cheese in the house it was usually a very mild cheese. American, Sweet Muenster, Swiss or Cheddar was about as adventurous as my family got. — But as I grew up my tastes matured and I discovered bolder and more sophisticated cheeses. — All things Blue — — I remember my first reaction to Bleu Cheese was one of revulsion. Here was a cheese that just slapped me in the face hard. Who, I wanted to know would voluntarily eat this cheese? —  No one could possibly predict that the Bleu Cheese family would come to be my favorite. Show me a blue veined cheese and I'll show you a very quickly disappearing piece of cheese. —  The Brie Connection — I also love the smooth creaminess of Brie. For me, it is a perfect snack with crackers or a dessert on apple or pear slices. Mild and creamy, it also seems so at home on a sandwich with god... Tue, 27 May 2008 13:28:15 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Tholstrup-Saga-Blue-review-9d154 RudiXeno 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Bucklers-Craft-Fairs-review-a93f3 This past weekend the lovely Mrs. Xeno and I attended Buckler's Craft Fair at the Americraft Expo Center in West Palm Beach. — Buckler's promotes Craft Fairs all over the state of Florida and attending one of their fairs is always an enjoyable outing. — Living in South Florida as we do it's easy to get caught up in all the "glitz" and somehow miss out on the down-home feeling you get when you're attending a craft fair.  It's nice to be in an environment where the exhibitors have an opportunity to demonstrate their crafting skills. — Types of Crafts — Well, if it can be made by hand (even with machine assistance) you're likely to find it here.  I love talking to the woodcrafters and the soapers.  The lovely Veronica loves visiting the jewelry crafters and the leather workers.  She says there is just something about owning a one-of-kind handbag. — My daughter likes to sample the home-made fudge (who doesn't) and shares her mother's... Tue, 20 May 2008 21:46:50 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Bucklers-Craft-Fairs-review-a93f3 RudiXeno 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Casio-MS-80TV-Scientific-Calculator-review-cc683 It seems like only yesterday that I pulled out my Texas Instruments Calculator on a flight to god knows where.  I'm thinking it was around 1970 give or take a year or so.  Except that they were still very rare. it was hardly anything special by today's standard. — But with my yellow pad beside me and a sharpened pencil I was able to revise some budget figures with a minimum of effort.  All the while, the traveller sitting next to me had his eyes on this small (for its time) electronic calculator.  I think I paid about $179 for this model. — To put that in perspective, the behemouth electro-mechanical calculator back in the office that was shared by as many as four other analysts cost somewhere in the vicinity of $3500.  Requisitioning additional machines took time and groveling.  It also meant late nights in the office if you were to get your work done.  With my new purchase I could take the work home with me. — Today —... Mon, 12 May 2008 14:45:54 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Casio-MS-80TV-Scientific-Calculator-review-cc683 RudiXeno 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Dreamfields-Pasta-Healthy-Carb-Living-Lasagna-16-Ounce-Box-Pack-of-6-review-3dcf1 A short while back I wrote a review on Ronzoni Oven Ready Lasagna noodles.  They're very convenient and they make it easy for my daughter to really get into cooking with us.  In fact, she was able to make a lasagna all by herself. — The problem with them and most pastas is that they are just so loaded with carbs.  And here in the Xeno household we really like to control our carbs. — Dreamfields Foods has been producing controlled carb pastas for a couple of years now.  Sure they start out with the usual 42 grams of carbohydrates per serving as most semolina pastas do, but through a process that I still don't understand, render all but 5 grams undigestible. — I've enjoyed their spaghetti, linguine, penne and on occasion even their elbows.  But just last week a new Variety of Dreamfields Pasta appeared on the shelf at Publix. — I do love my lasagna I couldn't wait to try this lasagna out.  The thought of carb-controlled... Mon, 12 May 2008 11:03:07 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Dreamfields-Pasta-Healthy-Carb-Living-Lasagna-16-Ounce-Box-Pack-of-6-review-3dcf1 RudiXeno 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Mrs-Smiths-Deep-Dish-Apple-Pie-review-eea22 When it comes to desserts, I'm a guy who likes to stick with the basics.  Apple pie (maybe a la mode, maybe some cheese), but Apple pie usually does it for me. — If you read me often, you know I do enjoy cooking  Whether cooking for myself or for a crowd I so enjoy the sense of accomplishment taking a list of ingredients and turning it into something special. — Having developed most of my cooking skills since becoming "suddenly single" in the late 80's, I focused on entrees, soups, salads and sides.  I have learned to make a killer appetizer or two along the way. — Desserts — No doubt about it.  If there's a void in my mix of culinary skill it's here in desserts.  Hey, it's easy to hide.  Cut up some fresh fruit, whip up some fresh whipped cream and extoll the virtues of the "fresh and simple". — On a few occasions I dusted off a recipe for "old fashioned apple pie" that I guess was my grandmother's.  Know what?  It... Sat, 10 May 2008 18:59:45 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Mrs-Smiths-Deep-Dish-Apple-Pie-review-eea22 RudiXeno 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Smart-Balance-Margarine-review-39f31 I love butter!  I love eating it on some toasted bread and I love cooking with it.  There's nothing like sauteing shrimp in butter. — But then, butter is high in saturated fats.  In fact of the 11 grams of fat in a tablespoon of butter, 7 grams, or nearly 2/3's are saturated.  Not good.  Not good at all. — In the 1950's, margarine became a popular substitute for butter.  Saturated fat was largely replaced with polyunsaturated fat.  Made primarily from vegetable oils it was thought to be the healthy alternative.  No one seemed to understand that the need to hydrogenate the vegetable oils in order to solidity them might have any ill effects.  Of course we didn't know about trans fats in those days.  Common margarines were just loaded with them and apparently a good portion of the medical/nutritional community now feel that maybe butter was the better of the two alternatives. — But besides, I've never tasted a margarine... Sat, 10 May 2008 15:54:50 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Smart-Balance-Margarine-review-39f31 RudiXeno 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Uniden-TRU9465-5-8Ghz-Twin-1-Line-Cordless-Phone-review-90ab It's true.  You just can never have enough cordless phones.  Why?  Because they're cordless, and therefore, almost never where you expect them to be.  The answer? Simple, buy some more. — Background — A few years ago I went out and purchased a VTEC 5.8Ghz Digital phone sysem.  At the time I think it came fully expanded to 5 handsets including the base station.  I figured there were only 3 of us.  Five phones should handle us nicely.  And, we're not talking about South Fork here.  We're talking about a 2 story moderately large South Florida home. — But increasingly, especially as our youngest daughter has grown (all of 11 now), whenever the phone rings and I instinctively go to one of the base stations theres no phone there to greet me.  Yes, you can hear them chiming throughout the house, but find one?  Afraid not.  And before long I can hear the call go to the answering machine. — Uniden - TRU9465-2... Fri, 09 May 2008 11:17:19 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Uniden-TRU9465-5-8Ghz-Twin-1-Line-Cordless-Phone-review-90ab RudiXeno 4