Reviews by Friends of SpokaneMan

jdt2912 says "Panasonic Viera TV is great" about Panasonic Viera TC-37LZ85 37 in. HDTV LCD TV

jdt2912 — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:35:43 GMT

I was a bit limited on the new TV I could get because the space I have is pretty specific -- I could only go up to about 36-37 inches. I did a bunch of research and I decided that the Panasonic Viera was the best buy. I ordered a 1080p, 37-inch model, and then the company put them on back order, so I had to go with the 780p model. That was pretty upsetting, but I am not a huge image fidelity guy, so I tried not to let it bother me all that much. The upside was that the 780 model featured a built-in ipod doc, which the 1080 didn't have.

My wife and I bought ours at BestBuy for about $600, which was a great deal. Set up was fast and easy, and we think the image quality is excellent, even when viewed from a slightly side angle. In addiiton to the amazing ipod doc, another great extra is a slot in the side of the TV for a camera memory card. Like everytihng on the TV, the on-screen menus were simple and very intuitive, and the pictures look great on the big screen -- talk about a giant digital...

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AngelaWLaFon says "MK Signature Eye Color Duets Color Me Happy" about Mary Kay Eye Shadow

AngelaWLaFon — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:12:24 GMT

Mary Kay Signature Eye Color Duets

Mary Kay Signature Eye Color Duets makes choosing compimentary eye colors easy. Each eye color duet comes with two sections with two shades of one hue. MK consultants can also give you a helpful eye color application guide that shows you how to apply you're duets eye colors.

Why I like MK Eye Color Duets:

-Complimentary colors are already paired.

-Lots of colors to choose from.

-Can be applied "wet" or "dry."

-Stays put and doesn't crease.

My latest favorite MK Signature is "Blue Moon." The name is misleading because it's not exactly "blue" but rather one is smoky and the other silvery. It's been my go to eye color fo the holidays. Blue Moon looks really good on people with "Spring" or "Ocean" coloring like blonde hair and blue eyes.

A lot of Mary Kay makeup is made in the U.S.A. I noticed that this eye color duet is made in Italy.

With any eye shadows I think a eye color primer is helpful for longer lasting color and I think good applying...

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BayouBengal says "Cold Sores and/or Chapped Lips? Carmex to Rescue!" about Carmex Lip Balm - 0.5 oz tub

BayouBengal — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:39:05 GMT

I was never one to pick up Carmex when winter weather brought on dry, chapped and cracking lips. My husband, on the other hand is a Carmex believer. It is his product of choice and the first he will pick up when he feels a cold sore coming on or has chapped lips.

Carmex .5 oz Tub

The famous little Carmex Tub with a yellow lid is a familiar thing to see on my husbands nightstand. He reaches for it at bedtime and puts it in his pocket in the mornings on the way to work.

Carmex .5 oz Tub is designed to relieve the symptoms of cold sores and dry, cracked or chapped lips. It contains moisturizers along with active ingredients of menthol and camphor to sooth lips.

Priced at $1.99 or less, it is a good choice for relieving dry, chapped lips or when you are coming down with a fever blister. The product works well at soothing and contains a moisturizer to help restore moisture back to your lips. Carmex can also be found at just about any store or convenience store. Look by the checkout...

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Fardreamer says "One star is way too good for lame Jaws: The Revenge" about Jaws 4 - The Revenge

Fardreamer — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:48:15 GMT

One of the many sad truths about being a constant movie watcher and film reviewer is that for every good movie that comes to a local multiplex near you, there are usually two or three fair-to-middlin' ones and quite a few bad apples in the same cinematic menu.

Sure, what might be a good moviegoing experience for me doesn't necessarily mean it will be for some. For instance, I honestly like the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy which was out in theaters between 1999 and 2005, while others honestly and earnestly don't. Conversely, I don't like Michael Bay movies along the lines of Pearl Harbor or Transformers, and yet I've come across reviews that defend those films with an equal passion as my write-ups for, say, The Phantom Menace or Revenge of the Sith.

In short, as the old TV sitcom theme song written by Alan Thicke puts it, Different Strokes for different folks.

But there are times when studios, either for financial or artistic reasons, release realy bad movies that most reasonable viewers...

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TheBard says "Just Plain Fun to Watch" about Mamma Mia! (2008 movie)

TheBard — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:07:56 GMT

Bottom-Line: In my estimation Mamma Mia! deserved all of the hype surrounding its release...

I am usually not one for musicals, but I did enjoy the music of the Swedish Pop group ABBA like everyone seemed to in '70's and '80's; there I admitted that I liked ABBA! So a musical-Mamma Mia! (2008)-set to the bubblegum pop music of ABBA needed to be seen, especially one staring the timeless Meryl Streep was not to be missed. So I watched and...

My Viewpoints

Bubblegum music or no, the music of ABBA is infectious and still fun to listen to. And watching Mamma Mia!, however silly the premise was just great fun. Is the movie Oscar material? No, but I seriously don't think it was meant to be. Can Pierce Brosnan sing? No, but I over looked that because at least he tried! Did Meryl Streep look at tad out of place? Well, yes, if you take in her enormous body of work and juxtapose it against Mamma Mia!, but at least it looked as though the woman had fun making this campy...

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Matt says "Last Man Standing is enjoyable but formulaic thriller" about David Baldacci - Last Man Standing

Matt — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 07:14:14 GMT

Last Man Standing is a formulaic thriller that was decidedly easy to read that and was enjoyable but it did not rise to the level of memorable or distinguished for what it was. That said, I am not a regular reader of this genre of fiction, but I was generally underwhelmed with the quality of writing in David Baldacci.

I found the plot to be both predictable and ridiculous which frankly is not such a good combination. On one hand I knew what was coming next, on the other hand the string of coincidences stretched the thin line of believability so much that the end of the book just felt like he was tying up a whole mess of loose ends.

Bottom line? A good very light vacation read but you can do better.

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AngelaWLaFon says "Variety is the spice of life and I like the Aramis Life variety." about Aramis Life Eau de Toilette Spray

AngelaWLaFon — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:29:57 GMT

Aramis Life Eau de Toilette Spray

I like it! My husband has been a Estee Lauder for Men cologne wearer for a long time and I love the scent. He occassionally also wears Royall Lymn which is a winner with me too. It's easy to get comfortable in our ways and in our sprays but recently my husband tried out some Aramis Life Eau de Toilette. I like this one too!

Aramis Life has been described as "woodsy" and "spicy." I don't disagree but to me the scent is really soft. I don't mean "baby" soft. It's a very manly scent but many men's colognes start out soft and end with an edge and this cologne is just really smooth all the way through.

Yes, the bottle is attractive too. It's a bright blue with a silver top.

Aramis Life is very reasonably priced. It's smells clean and manly but yet very smooth and soft. It's more of a casual scent. It's easily an every day scent because it's in no way overpowering but to me anyway, it's very attractive. It makes you snuggle up a little closer...

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onyx95 says "Cute and fun following a parrot on his adventures." about Patrick Shannon - Viva Cisco

onyx95 — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:13:18 GMT

This book contains three short stories about the life of Cisco the parrot and all his animal friend of Topopootl. ….. The first story introduces us to Cisco and his gift of words, how he has finally got the job that he thought was perfect for him, the Answer Man at the library, he found himself unhappy. Thinking that the job lacked fame and fortune, he set out to find another line of work. Trying to find his place in the community of Topopootl seemed to be more difficult than he first expected. In fact, wrestling, flamenco dancing, and even soaring high in the sky was much more difficult that he originally thought it would be, but with the help of his friends, he may find the fame he had always wanted in a way that is much more his speed. … Cisco and his friends return in the second story to solve a very interesting mystery of Topopootl’s crime wave that had most of the town nervous and worried about leaving their homes. ….. In the third story Cisco and his friends want...

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Caprig says "From Crepe to Cream- Try This At Home" about Lancome genifique eye

Caprig — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:10:48 GMT

I first was doing research on the LANCOME GENIFIQUE products when they came out and for a long time I did not find anything that made me want to TRY LANCOME GENIFIQUE.

However, not too long ago I finally was able to get a large amount of LANCOME GENIFIQUE for face and eye to test out and see what all of the fuss was about. I was able to test LANCOME GENIFIQUE through Sephora and LANCOME.

WHAT IS GENIFIQUE EYE LIKE?

More recently released than LANCOME GENIFIQUE, the LANCOME GENIFIQUE for EYE is a more gentle product. A bit thicker than the serum for the face, LANCOME GENIFIQUE EYE is very concentrated. I found that putting a tiny amount on my finger, I could distribute on both eyes easily and have a little left for around my lipline.

There is no heavy fragrance or residue left when applying LANCOME GENIFIQUE.

HOW DOES LANCOME GENIFIQUE EYE WORK?

LANCOME GENIFIQUE EYE is a nice light thick serum that applies well to both eyes with a small drop. The serum soaks in quickly leaving...

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Caprig says "Gaze Into the Looking Glass and See Your Past" about Lancome 'Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate

Caprig — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:50:03 GMT

When I first heard of Lancome's new product GENEFIQUE, I thought it was an interesting concept, but seriously, I did not really get anything out of what the people said it was supposed to do.

I began to interview people and the responses I got were very vague.

*It makes my skin velvety*

(big deal- what else does it do?)

*It makes me have a glow*

(well, so do a lot of products- then what?)

*It does not take a lot*

Okay, well, neither does arsenic...

And the list went on and on.

WHAT IS LANCOME GENIFIQUE LIKE?

LANCOME GENEFIQUE is a very runny serum. It is almost like water. I first tried it on the back of my hand at a Lancome counter and was unimpressed. I tried it several times, and it did not seem to do anything in particular- at least swatched on the back of my hand.

LANCOME GENEFIQUE had a large sized sample available on Sephora that I would have to pay for with points, so I decided to purchase it with some points that I had so I could try this amazing so-called ground-breaking...

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onyx95 says "Second in the series, and it keeps getting better." about Christina Dodd - Storm of Shadows

onyx95 — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:37:36 GMT

The goal was to find a reputable and learned antiquities and linguistic expert to help find a prophecy that their seer thought would give them an edge in the battle against the Others. Aaron Eagle had known Dr. Hall from previous dealings, but walking into the museum style basement of the library and finding a younger, female Dr. Hall and then finding out that one of the Others had already contacted her had put him in a difficult mood. Finally convincing Dr. Rosamund Hall to take a look at Mr. Irving Shea’s personal collection, the two made there way to the mansion where all of the new recruits were staying after an explosion wiped out most of the Chosen Ones. With a little bit of convincing, Aaron and Rosamund set out on a journey that would hopefully end with the information that they all needed to save the world from the Others, even if along the way they had to make some of the biggest sacrifices they ever thought they would.

Book 2 ….. I love a good series and this is...

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bkovacs says "Good hard drive for the older laptop computer" about Samsung HM160HC 160GB 2.5-inch IDE/PATA Laptop Drive

bkovacs — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 22:54:35 GMT

I have a five-year-old laptop computer that came with a 60 GB hard drive. Although the computer generally worked fine, it had a couple of minor problems related to its Windows XP operating system. After all, the OS had been updated over five years, and the computer has had two different anti-virus packages running on it. That's a sure way to make a computer sluggish and occasionally ornery, which this computer was.

A solution was to reload the operating system and if I was going to do that, I wanted to upgrade the old 60 GB hard drive to something bigger. The catch was that this laptop is so old that it uses a hard drive connection standard called IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics), a standard that has been out of fashion for... well, five years. Please note that IDE means the same thing as PATA (Parallel AT Attachment), and that the "AT" in the middle of PATA refers to the now-ancient IBM AT computer that was state-of-the-art in 1987. We're talking really old technology here.

So I went...

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jasyjen says "We laughed so hard from this movie, my husband almost threw up!" about The Hangover

jasyjen — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:19:53 GMT

OH-MY-GOD! The Hangover is one of the FUNNIEST movies I have ever seen in my life. If you have ever, even just once, drank much more than you should have and have been unable to remember the night before, you will find this movie absolutely riotous!

NO SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW---

The Hangoveris a 2009 film that is about four men that head to Las Vegas, as one of the men is about to be married. The trip to Las Vegas is supposed to last just one night, and is a bachelor's party of sorts that goes horribly wrong. To quickly sum up the worst of it, when then men wake up in the morning, there is a tiger in the bathroom, a baby in the closet, and the groom-to-be has gone missing. The remainder of the movie is the other men's attempt at locating their lost friend and trying to piece together what happened that they cannot remember.

Honestly, The Hangover was so hilarious, there were parts in the movie that had my husband and I laughing so hard, we had to rewind the movie to see what...

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jasyjen says "These night vision goggles really work! VERY COOL TOY." about EyeClops Night Vision Infared Stealth Goggles V2

jasyjen — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:51:13 GMT

My eight year son asked for a pair of spy glasses that would work in the dark for Christmas. I had no idea what he wanted, so I went to the store looking for something that matched the description. I saw a pair of Spy Gear night vision goggles, but in all honestly, they looked like they were made really cheap and I refused to buy them. I went to a few stores before I found these goggles that cost about $ 45.00. They were made by Eyeclops, and they looked a lot more durable than the Spy Gear brand. I was a little turned off by the price though, and didn't buy them right away. After about a month of looking, I broke down and bought the Eyeclops Night Vision Infared Stealth Goggles, and I am SO GLAD that I did! These are one of the coolest toys I have ever purchased! THEY REALLY WORK! I mean they REALLY work! You can use them in complete darkness and see as clear as a bell with them. The Eyeclops Night Vision Infared Stealth Goggles look a lot like a bulky pair of binoculars.......

bkovacs says "This movie really left me "Up In The Air"" about Up in the Air

bkovacs — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:46:42 GMT

I usually like George Clooney in movies and the previews for Up In The Air looked good, so I went to the cheap matinee at the theater. I'm glad I did, as Up In The Air was a good movie, even if it had a vague and not particularly satisfying ending.

Ryan Bingham's (Clooney) job is to visit people at work and fire them. He is good at it, hiring his service out to weeny bosses who don't have the guts to do the firing themselves. Ryan flies all over the country and has accumulated millions of frequent-flyer miles, and is closing in on his goal of 10 million miles. He loves all the perqs he gets at the airline, hotels and car rentals.

He also loves the bachelor life, especially when he meets Alex (Vera Farmiga), a fellow frequent flier who shares Ryan Bingham's travel sensibilities. The two quickly spark a relationship that starts Ryan thinking that maybe flying solo isn't as much fun as it used to be. At the same time back at Ryan's home office in Omaha, a hotshot young business analyst named...

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jasyjen says "Feels wonderful on your skin, and smells fabulous too." about Biore 4-in-1 Self-Foaming Cleanser

jasyjen — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:22:48 GMT

My husband always fills my Christmas stocking with products that I can pamper myself with. This year, he was sweet enough to give me a Biore' product that I had never used. It is Biore 4-in-1 Self-Foaming Cleanser and I LOVE IT! The smell alone is just amazing, and if I had picked it up at the store myself, it's the gentle scent that would have sold me on it. To me, the scent is reminiscent of a high-quality product that a professional at a spa would apply to your face.

Aside from smelling great, what I love about Biore 4-in1 Self-Foaming Cleanser is that it does the job of four separate skin products. It cleanses your skin and leaves it feeling squeaky clean, plus it tones, stimulates, and detoxifies it in a way that leaves skin feeling refreshed and vibrant.

As a person with slightly oily skin, I can't use any beauty product that will make that oily condition any worse. Biore 4-in-1 Self-Foaming Cleaner is oil-free and safe to use everyday. It cleans away toxins from...

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dmlichnerowicz says "How my husband keeps me happy" about Ferrero Rocher - Ferrero Rocher Fine Hazelnut Chocolates

dmlichnerowicz — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 19:33:48 GMT

Every year for Christmas, my husband gets me a box of Ferrero Rocher for my stocking. Frankly, he could get me absolutely nothing else, and I'd be happy. Well, not really, because I love presents, but you know what I mean!

Ferrero Rocher Fine Hazelnut Chocolates are a delicious combination that starts with a whole hazelnut buried in creamy chocolate filling, surrounded by a crisp wafer, all of which is then dipped into a milk chocolate and chopped hazelnut coating. Every candy is wrapped in gold foil for a beautiful presentation.

These chocolate candies are fantastic! The blend of crunchy, crisp, and creamy textures keeps them interesting, and the flavor of hazelnut and chocolate just can't be beat! Ferrero Rocher is available in various package sizes, from little rolls with just three candies to an entire pyramid or holiday-themed boxes containing 24 individual pieces. In my opinion, the small package of three is just enough to get you craving more, so buy in bulk! Five...

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TheBard says "And here I thought I was living the good live in the burbs!" about Revolutionary Road

TheBard — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:01:40 GMT

Bottom-Line: Though wonderfully acted and intelligently laid out, I find it hard to recommend Revolutionary Road because I just can't relate nor empathize with the characters.

Story-Line

Revolutionary Road is directed by Sam Mendes (Jarhead, Road to Perdition, American Beauty), and is based on the novel of the same name by Richard Yates. The setting is suburban Connecticut in the mid-1950's, not too far from New York City.

Frank Wheeler (Leonardo DiCaprio ~ The Man in The Iron Mask, The Aviator, Blood Diamond) and his wife April (Kate Winslet ~ Quills, Little Children, The Reader) appear to be living the American Dream with a shining little white house in the burbs, a beautiful wife, and 2.5 children. Frank has a plumb marketing job in the same Manhattan company his father used to work at (Knox Business Machines, read: IBM), while April is aspiring-but mostly unsuccessful-actress.

They should be happy, but they are, unfulfilled; especially April she wants something...

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sharoncookie says "ALWAY LOOKING FOR NEW THINGS TO EAT" about Vitalicious VitaMuffin VitaTops

sharoncookie — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:27:04 GMT

THIS SOUNDS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE. I CAN'T EAT SO MANY THING'S BECAUSE OF FIBROMYALIGA, LOW THYROID AND OSROPENINA.

NO WHITE THING'S, SUGAR,W FLOUR, PASTA POT'S. NOTHING SMOKED FOOD'S LIKE HOTDOG'S. NO POP,CHIPS POPCORN. TO MAKE IT SIMPLE. JUST CHICKEN FISH AND BEEF ONCE A WEEK. HAVE TO EAT LOTS OF FRESH VEG'S FRESH FRUIT'S.

AS YOU KNOW THE FRUITS AT THE STORE LACK TASTE, AND COST DEARLY. DON'T KNOW WHY THEY HAVE NO TASTE. WHAT COULD THEY HAVE DONE TO THEM. MAYBE THEY COME FROM CHINA

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dmlichnerowicz says "Share your faith and brighten your home with Blessings Unlimited" about Blessings Unlimited

dmlichnerowicz — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:19:08 GMT

I have become a fan of Blessings Unlimited recently, after receiving several gifts from their collection. Blessings Unlimited, a company that functions as home-based businesses, markets inspirational home decor and gifts. The company's motto is, "Be inspired. Be connected. Be blessed." As much home-business as ministry opportunity, Blessings Unlimited offers people the opportunity to share their faith along with building financial stability for themselves. Their website has a catalog that can be viewed, but purchases have to be made either by calling the company or by hosting a gathering.

My take: The products that are offered are absolutely beautiful. I own several different types of products, from tea towels to serving platters to figurines (see photos, but view their catalog online at blessingsunlimited.com for better images). While their prices are a little steep, every item I have purchased or received from Blessings Unlimited has been well worth it. Fabrics are...

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