Reviews by Friends of ZPublicist

TheBard says "An Affordable, Reliable Network Adapter" about Linksys LNE100TX EtherFast 10/100 LAN Card

TheBard — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:03:34 GMT

Bottom-Line: If you need an affordable, reliable, easy-to-install and configure 32-Bit NIC look no further than the Linksys LNE100TX EtherFast 10/100 LAN Card.

For the past few months the unthinkable has been happening, my Intel Pro 100/1000Gbps desktop-class Network Interface Card (NIC) had been failing. I didn’t want to believe it, but the last few days it has been none too obvious.

The problem: every time I restarted the (file) server the NIC was installed in, the adapter flapped, that is the link was dropping for long seconds, then come back for a minute, then dropping the link again.

The solution: the Linksys LNE100TX EtherFast 10/100 LAN Card

The 411

The LNE100TX EtherFast 10/100 LAN Card is a high performance NIC designed for desktop computers with 32-bit PCI expansion slots. Right out of the box, the LNE100TX EtherFast 10/100 LAN Card is ready to run on both 10BaseT and 100BaseTX networks. The 10/100Mbps NIC can automatically detect your networks maximum speed and adjusts...

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vivasuzi says "I'm making Fannie May into a new Christmas Tradition" about Fannie May Candies

vivasuzi — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:28:18 GMT

I discovered Fannie May Candies last year after a supplier sent us some Trinidads at work. Trinidads are made of chocolate cream covered in a toasted coconut shell. They are very yummy! So I went online to find Fannie May and ended up buying an assortment that very same year. The gift went over so well that I did the same thing this year!

The Create Your Own Assortment allows you to pick your favorite chocolates to build an assortment of any size ranging from 1 pound to 2.5 pounds. I purchased the 2.5 pounds assortment and picked 10 different 1/4 lb candies to include. This assortment cost $45 before shipping and I think that is pretty reasonable considering how I distribute the candy to 6 or more people.

What I have been doing for the last 2 years is ordering a variety of 10 of my favorite Fannie May candies. The assortment comes in a large tower box that is decorated to look nice under the tree. However I take things a step further! I open the assortment and all...

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Fardreamer says "Up is a heartwarming film by the animators at Pixar Studios!" about Up

Fardreamer — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:57:45 GMT

Although I have watched, perhaps, hundreds. if not thousands, of movies of all types (ranging from adult films to Z-grade Westerns) since the mid-1960s, I've never really been a fan of "family fare" or animated movies.

Perhaps this reluctance to like anything that smacks of kid-friendly fare stems from the razzing I suffered when, in the fifth grade, I remarked that I had gone to see Snow White and the Seven Dwarves when Walt Disney Pictures re-released it in theaters in one of those "once in a blue moon" Special Engagements. I, like many others before and since, had loved that first of the Disney classic animated films, but lots of my friends considered Disney movies "baby stuff" and totally uncool.

So even though I've seen some of the last batch of 2-D Disney Classics (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King), I tend to ignore tons of movies which are animated or are produced/released by Walt Disney Pictures.

For some reason, though, I've liked quite a few of...

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jasyjen says "A fun game that the whole family likes to play together" about I Can Do It Games The Grinch Christmas Bingo Game

jasyjen — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:29:31 GMT

I stumbled across The Grinch Christmas Bingo Game at Target and as soon as I saw it, I grabbed it up. I love Christmas, I love The Grinch, and I like playing Bingo, so this game had a lot going for it. I was attracted right away to the packaging of The Grinch Christmas Bingo Game because it comes in a brightly colored tin container with 3D lettering and graphics. The game is approved for children 4+, so I was pretty safe in the age department.

As soon as I showed The Grinch Christmas Bingo Game to my two children (boys, ages 8 & 13) they wanted to play. OF COURSE THEY DID! It's the Grinch! When we opened up the game, there were a lot of "oohs" and 'aahs' from us, as the game is has a 3D piece that sets up to look like part of a living room with Christmas tree and a chimney! HOW COOL!

The directions were very easy to follow, and this Bingo game has a little twist that makes it different from other Bingo games. We all liked the twist a lot. Here is how you play The Grinch...

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vivasuzi says "Cute but a little silly" about I Me Wed (2007)

vivasuzi — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 05:48:25 GMT

Isabelle is a successful 30 year old woman who is sick and tired of all her friends and family pressuring her to settle down. She's perfectly happy being single and successful and finally decides she is going to prove it to everyone once and for all. How can she do that? By marrying herself!

I Me Wed follows Isabelle as she plans her wedding - in which she plans to marry herself. It starts as a simple fun thing she wants to do for herself, but then a news story comes out of it. That news story turns into more newspaper stories and then the tv shows get involved. Isabelle meets a man that she actually really likes! Will she still go through with wedding? Will the man be okay with it all? And can she get her friends and family to understand what she is doing?

I Me Wed is cute but silly. Ok, so I get the point Isabelle is trying to prove. She wants to show her friends that she can be perfectly happy even if she never finds a man. Her story starts to inspire other...

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lilsquibb says "Transform your baby into a big boy with Transformers Underwear" about Fruit of the Loom Transformers 3-Pack Underwear

lilsquibb — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 04:11:17 GMT

Underwear is sort of a family tradition. At least someone receives a package of undies as a gift. Two years ago was my son's year to get underwear for Christmas and he thought it was the coolest thing. Since he had become a huge fan of Transformers, grandma decided to get him some Transformer underwear.

More than Meets the Eye
Designed after the Transformer animated series cartoons, this 3 pack of Fruit of the Loom underwear comes in sizes as small as Toddler 3T and as large as boys 6. The front of each pair displays the Autobot symbol and each pair depicts on the back end one of three Transformers - Bumblebee, Optimus Prime and Bulkhead. My son received his love of Transformers from daddy so he was already well aware of several of the characters. Bumblebee and Optimus were already fan favorites in our house but at the, my son had no clue who Bulkhead was. Afterward we started watching the series and he instantly became a fan of Bulkhead.

Fit for the Transformer Lover
For being...

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vivasuzi says "A yummy gift for the winter holidays!" about L.L. Bean - Hot Cocoa

vivasuzi — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:15:16 GMT

I love Hot Chocolate and will drink it non-stop around the winter season to stay warm. So when a coworker got all of us the L.L. Bean Hot Cocoa Mix for Christmas last year, I couldn't wait to try it. Unfortunately the first time I tried it, I used water, and it was disgusting! Most hot chocolate mixes I've owned work with water or milk so I assumed this would be the same. I found out after I made it that it calls for milk specifically, but I was so turned off that I didn't bother trying it.

The hot cocoa mix sat on my shelf until this winter when I decided to finally give it a try with milk. The L.L. Bean Hot Cocoa Mix is delicious with milk! It tastes just as good as hot chocolate that you might get from a coffee shop. Now that I've finally tasted this with milk, I know it will be gone quickly as I drink it every week.

How To Make It: It calls for 8oz of milk but I like more than that so I usually make 12. Just warm up 12 oz of milk, then pour it in a mug and add...

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Jo says "Tick tock says Bella Cucina 4 slice toaster over 13407" about Bella Cucina 4 slice toaster oven 13407

Jo — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:35:52 GMT

To the Point

Our last toaster oven lasted a few weeks. Although I read that toasters might smoke at first, WeatherWorks started smoking later! The review has been updated. I bought and returned two other toasters and then finally decided that the 4 slice oven toaster by Bella Cucina might be good. I thought buying it at Bed, Bath, and Beyond might be better than Wal-Mart. Having spent $60.00 on one that was way to huge for our counter, I bought the 4 slice oven toaster by Bella Cucina for $30.00

A Closer Look

The features:

15 minute timer with auto shut off

temperature control dial

audible tone when toasting is complete

indicator on light

baking pan and broiling rack

crumb tray underneath

limited one-year warranty

The 4 slice oven toaster by Bella Cucina is made in China.

It measures approximately 8" High x 16" Wide x 8 1/2" Deep.

What I like

It fits perfectly on our counter.
It is attractive.
It is inexpensive.
The crumb tray though it is not a tray. The bottom opens up which is just fine...

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Jo says "Dell on Call- call anyone else! " about Dell Service plans/Warranties

Jo — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:39:06 GMT

To the Point

There are a couple of things I've learned over the years. One is when the warranty on my car is up, it's time to trade it in. The next thing I've learned is when the warranty on my computer is up it is time to get a new computer.

A Closer View

Back in October my computer was very sick. I found "The Dell On Call" support system from the website and called.

From the website dell.com

"We provide solutions that help you Setup, Maintain and Protect your PC. We are here to help with your "how to" questions and we'll diagnose your common PC problems like spyware.

Why Use Dell On Call?

Who better to help you get the most out of your system than the ones who built it? Dell is here for you every step of the way - from helping you set up your system out of the box and to walk you through the different needs that can come-up along the way. Don't face those problems on your own - Dell is here for you

Clean/remove unwanted Internet files
Clean/ remove temporary file
Enable automatic Windows...

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Jo says "The Agile Fitness Core Block is just right for my yoga practice" about Agile Fitness Core Building Block

Jo — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:43:20 GMT

My newest addition to my Yoga collection is a block by Agile Fitness. The Core Building Block is larger than any I have although at the Yoga studio in which I go there are two sizes of blocks and this is one of them.

The block makes some exercises easier and some harder according to the tag that came with The Core Building Block by Agile.

Like any block I have or use there are three sides for different poses. When the block is face down it is closest to the floor so I will use it if I don't need much boosting or if I want to stretch more. In that case that position will make using the The Core Building Block by Agile harder.

I stand the block up to make poses easier. On its side - well that's a compromise and probably the position I use for most of my yoga practice specially standing postures and postures like lunges (Ardha Mandalasana).

I have found the The Core Building Block by Agile very durable. Like any foam block if I dig my nails into it there will be a dent left so using...

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AnnaBanana says "A great treat but -- Chocoholics, don't hold your breath!" about Skinny Cow Low Fat Fudge Bars

AnnaBanana — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:03:02 GMT

Just in time for Thanksgiving, I found another "alternate" dessert since one cannot live by Pumpkin Pie alone. If you've eaten a big dinner or it is getting late in the evening and you just want a light sweet snack, you might want to try Skinny Cow Low Fat Fudge Bars which are delicious big hunks of ice cream firmly grounded on a sturdy stick for convenient indulging. These frozen bars don't really taste like a low-fat product -- alas, they do not really taste much like chocolate either! To all the Chocoholics out there, I can save you a lot of time and disappointment by advising you to look somewhere else for your true fudge fix.

STATS:

A 74 gram frozen bar is considered to be a single serving containing 100 calories with 10 calories from fat. There are 1 gram Total Fat, a half a gram Saturated Fat, zero Trans Fat, 3 mg. Cholesterol, 45 mg. Sodium, 22 grams Total Carbs, 4 grams Dietary Fiber, 13 grams Sugars and 4 grams Protein. Also included in each bar are 2% (D.V.) Vitamin A, 4% Iron,...

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AnnaBanana says "I could get used to this!" about Progresso 100% Natural Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth

AnnaBanana — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:24:12 GMT

There I was the other day, rudely shoving the last leftovers from Thanksgiving around, when to my horror I discovered MORE leftovers in my freezer compartment. Apparently the last time I had bought a roast chicken from Dominick's, I had not finished it and just stuffed what was left in the freezer for "later." Now here I was, with some leftover chicken and also -- as fate would have it -- most of the Del Monte convenience cut onions and celery (which I had used for my stuffing), a half a pound of baby carrots, a half a bag of egg noodles and -- most importantly -- almost an entire 32 oz. carton of Progresso 100% Natural Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth. If ever there was a time to make Chicken Noodle Soup, this was it but first I tried a little of the broth.

A BETTER IDEA

Progresso means what they say when it comes to "All Natural" as this ingredients list bears out: chicken broth, autolyzed yeast extract, sugar, sea salt, carrot puree, salt, natural flavor, chicken powder, chicken...

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ChrisJarmick says "Holiday delights, dashing Colman, original Wicker and Demon too!" about Classic Movies, Holiday Movies, Turner Classic, Christmas, Ronald Colman and 2 Cult gems this Weekend Dec. 2009

ChrisJarmick — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:12:10 GMT

Turner Classic Movies delivers Christmas themed movies tonight, Shop Around the Corner and some superb cult thriller/horror films on Friday Night, and My Fair Lady and Ronald Colman movies on Saturday December 5th. Deck the Halls....

Tonight Starting at 5 p.m. TCM starts showing Holiday movies. It begins with the excellent 1938 version of Charles Dickens' The Christmas Carol starring Reginald Owen as Ebenezer Scrooge. My favorite version remains the one starring Alastair Sim's 1951 version sometimes called A Christmas Carol sometimes called Scrooge. The 1938 version is solid and one of the best film adaptations of the timeless, classic story. Sure to put you in the holiday spirit, always worth another viewing. Enjoy it.

There's an important holiday scene or two in the Mervyn LeRoy directed 1949 version of Little Women which stars June Allyson, Margaret O'Brien, Elizabeth Taylor (in a Blonde wig) and Janet Leigh as the March sisters with Peter Lawford and Rossano Brazzi...

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Fardreamer says "This Special Edition Boba Fett figure is, well, special!" about Hasbro Star Wars - Power of the Jedi Boba Fett Special Edition (300th Figure)

Fardreamer — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:55:58 GMT

In 1977, Star Wars magically transported millions of moviegoers to a galaxy far, far away. With its 3-¾" - scale figures, Kenner allowed kids of all ages to take pieces of that galaxy into their homes and forever changed the way children play with toys. As the Star Wars saga expanded and evolved over the last twenty + years, so did Hasbro-Kenner's action figure lines. It is with great pleasure that we celebrate these decades of fun with this Special Edition Star Wars 300th 3-¾ " figure. - from the package blurb

When I began collecting Star Wars action figures in the spring of 1978, little did I realize that a gift of the original Kenner Landspeeder and two small figures would be the foundation of a modestly large collection of figures, vehicles and "action playsets" based on the characters and situations created by George Lucas.

I don't, of course, have every action figure, vehicle or accessory ever made; I lack both the financial resources and the space to have amassed the most complete...

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Bryan-Carey says "Discovery Channel Meets E-Commerce" about The Discovery Store

Bryan-Carey — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:02:31 GMT

If you like the subject of science, then chances are you are a fan of the many science- oriented television channels and you likely enjoy the educational aspects that make this type of viewing more worthwhile than other channels. And, chances are, you probably count the Discovery Channel among your favorites. If you do, then you might also enjoy The Discovery Store Online, the online store for the popular cable channel.

Online Store Commentary:

The Discovery Store offers items for sale in several categories, including toys and games, dvd, books, telescopes, fan gear, and more. Along with the merchandise available in these categories, visitors to The Discovery Store can also purchase gift cards, request a catalog, and sign up for e-mail alerts when specific items of merchandise or events become available or known.

I first visited The Discovery Store looking for items for my two girls and I did find some good, educational toys and games for sale- items that help to expand knowledge...

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Jolie says "buyuggsboot.net is a scam! Ugg Boots from China that are fake." about www.buyuggsboot.net

Jolie — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:22:46 GMT

Background on Buyuggsboot.net

A friend of mine at Viewpoints recently passed along a site called www.buyuggsboot.net. She found it online. www.buyuggsboot.net is a web site that sells all styles of Ugg Boots at discounted prices.

We werent certain if www.buyuggsboot.net were the real or not. But after a thorough review of the site, we thought it was legit. Buyuggsboot.net looks like a reasonable reseller of Ugg Boots. The page is designed well, the pictures look authentic and they make claim to having the real deal. They also consistently site throughout the web site having customer satisfaction commitments.

To add to the thought it was authentic, the pricing seemed good but not amazing. As you probably know a typical pair of Ugg Boots cost about $110. On Buyuggsboot.net the cost was $89.00- approximately a $20 savings. Seemed like a good deal, but they werent so cheap that I thought it could be scam. As an aside, last year Nordstrom had a similiar sale on Ugg boots so the pricing seemed...

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whispfeath says "Cranberry Sweets is my favorite gourmet candy store!" about Cranberry Sweets

whispfeath — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:30:10 GMT

I discovered Cranberry Sweets (www.cranberrysweets.com) several years ago after picking up a bag or two of their wine candies at a California winery, and I was instantly in love! Their Vineyard Sweets, as they are called, are basically like a pate de fruit but with wine instead of fruit--the perfect candy for the wine lover! They have three varieties--white merlot, white zinfendel, and cabernet sauvignon. While all three are good, the cabernet sauvignon is definately my favorite because cabernet it one of my favorite wines and the dryness of the wine is a great balance to the sweetness of the candy. On the other hand, the two white varieties tend to be a bit too sweet at times. In addition to the Vineyard Sweets, all their other products that I have tried have been equally delicious. They obviously take great pride in making the best confections possible so they are well worth their cost and almost everything they sell they make themselves. They have very rich and delicious milk......

whispfeath says "Breathe Right strips give me a better night's sleep." about Breathe Right Nasal Strips

whispfeath — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:45:20 GMT

I admit, I was a sceptic about these Breathe Right strips ever since seeing the first commercials several years ago. Why did I change my mind? After receiving some samples from my local pharmacy and having my partner complain about my snoring at night (a trait I've inherited from my dad), I decided to try the samples and had great results.

The construction of the strips really does allow it to open the nasal passages. Because of this, I apparently don't snore when I use the strips. Another problem I have at night is nasal congestion, and I found that the Breathe Right strips help with that as well (a bonus I was not expecting). I can tell that I am having a much easier time breathing at night so I have been feeling more rested after my sleep.

The strip is firm but not too hard, so it hasn't been uncomfortable for me, and the sticky residue left after I pull the strip off in the morning isn't too difficult to remove. The only thing I really only have to remember is to not use moisturizer...

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Jo says "Clinique Lines and Defines my Lips" about Clinique Defining Liner for Lips

Jo — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:15:38 GMT

To the Point

Clinique Defining Liner for Lips is the second lip liner I have bought in about 10 years. My first experience wasn't great. However, my friend told me that it keeps her lipstick on longer.

On my makeup shopping spree to the Clinque counter I bought Clinique Defining Liner for Lips.

A Closer View

I took the advice of the sales clerk and bought the color pomegranate. Clinique Defining Liner for Lips costs $14.00 which is about the same amount as I would pay for any decent liner.

I didn't know until I went to write this review that the cover has a built in pencil sharpener. That's really cool. I have a pencil sharpener but it's nice to have one anytime I need it.

Clinique Defining Liner for Lips is creamy and goes on very smoothly even when sharp. I agree with the claims that it goes on evenly as well. I line my lips and then was told to color my lips with the liner. Another method is to draw two dots on the upper lip's bow, a dash across the bottom of the lower lip and then...

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Fardreamer says "Hasbro's Palpatine is nice rendition of Star Wars' main baddie! " about Hasbro Star Wars Saga: Supreme Chancellor Palpatine

Fardreamer — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:36:08 GMT

A Look at Supreme Chancellor Palpatine from Attack of the Clones

For all their flaws (real or perceived), the Star Wars prequels finally get around to explaining how a once-great and thriving democracy evolved into a tyrannical dictatorship even though it was protected by the formidable Jedi Order.

The Republic didn't become the evil Empire because Palpatine -- who was introduced into the film series in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi -- came from another galaxy and took it over by an external attack, but because the Senator/Sith Lord wormed his way patiently into the office of the Supreme Chancellor by using the weaknesses of the democratic system against itself. By allying himself with greedy ultra-capitalist organizations such as the Trade Federation and employing subtle "dirty tricks" to remove Supreme Chancellor Valorum from office, Palpatine cleverly manipulates people and events to get himself elected as head of the Senate and the Republic's Chief Executive.

As George...

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