http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/becklomax Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:07:20 GMT Reviews by becklomax http://www.viewpoints.com/Beaulieu-Vineyard-2001-Cabernet-Sauvignon-review-434b4 Beaulieu Vineyards is the oldest continuing wine producer in the United States. Founded in 1900, it follows very traditional principals and produces consistently good wines. The BV Cabernet Sauvignon is likely the flagship for the company, but the wise consumer will know that it comes in three grades (excluding certain reserves) that can easily be distinguished by price and labeling. In short, if it is around $10 and says "Coastal," that's the lower end. "Napa" is around $20 and "Rutherford" is closer to $25. Treat yourself right and get the Rutherford. The grape selection and care that goes into the wine outshines the others and is on par with the BV reserve labels that go for $40 to $50 a pop. — — In brief, the BV Rutherford Cabernet is very close to some of the best things that Bordeaux has to offer...but it's from California! —... Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:07:20 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Beaulieu-Vineyard-2001-Cabernet-Sauvignon-review-434b4 becklomax 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Yellow-tail-shiraz-2006-review-ff033 Yellow Tail Shiraz is very jammy. By that, I mean that it is heavy, a bit sweet, and packs a lot of fruit and tannin. Of course, that is typical for many Australian wines, but Yellow Tail is a bit more so than others. I wold recommend this with very spicy and savory dishes since it will undoubtedly overwhelm your... Sat, 26 Jul 2008 01:56:16 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Yellow-tail-shiraz-2006-review-ff033 becklomax 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Wild-Vines-Blackberry-Merlot-review-a48d3 Okay, let's get serious. Too call this wine, is to insult the entire oeonophilic industry. This is essentially Hawaiian Punch for adults. I suspect that it is marketed towards young people who are taking their first baby-steps into some errantly perceived sense of being grown up. Okay, I guess bums, vagrants, and your local corner wino will like it... Sat, 26 Jul 2008 01:51:17 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Wild-Vines-Blackberry-Merlot-review-a48d3 becklomax 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/Apple-iPod-Nano-2-GB-MP3-Player-review-cf7b4 The inherent flaw in the iPod Nano, like so many other apple products, is its point of origin. These devices are made in Longhua, China in modern-day sweat shops. Plus, anything out of China ALWAYS has the risk of being counterfeit...in part or in... Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:56:00 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Apple-iPod-Nano-2-GB-MP3-Player-review-cf7b4 becklomax 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/Necco-Wafers-review-3ebd0 Perhaps one of the most insidious confections designed by man. Somehow I see this as the being a lowly taste treat during the depression. I also get the idea that people who like this are of the same ilk as those who put ketchup on eggs and gorge themselves with sliced white bread at dinner.... Tue, 18 Mar 2008 01:39:30 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Necco-Wafers-review-3ebd0 becklomax 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/Little-Debbie-Zebra-Cakes-review-65e82 Yet another creative combination of sugar and fat. Fat people will love these and ask for... Tue, 18 Mar 2008 01:33:29 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Little-Debbie-Zebra-Cakes-review-65e82 becklomax 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Borat-Cultural-Learnings-of-America-for-Make-Benefit-Glorious-Nation-of-Kazakhstan-review-a9463 This movie is well written and of he genre that needs to be viewed on multiple occasions to catch all of the subtle elements that are intertwined with the more raucous, in-your-face humor. Crude and sophomoric? Yes. Will it make you uncomfortable at times? Oh, indeed! Sasha Cohen Baron's genius is clearly evident in his ability to make you guffaw and cringe all at once. Better yet is his uncanny ability to use Borat as a vehicle for exposing various elements of American culture that are often taken for granted and not examined for what they really are as evinced by the myopic racism at the rodeo. — — This thing is a cinematic gem despite the occasional lulls and the fine line drawn between fiction and truth. Of course, you have to be a Borat fan to understand the humor that is found with this wretched lout's anti-semitic fears and ham-fisted attempts at social niceties. For my money, the movie's epitome is reach when Borat runs of afoul of a southern lady's ersatz charm.... Tue, 18 Mar 2008 01:30:25 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Borat-Cultural-Learnings-of-America-for-Make-Benefit-Glorious-Nation-of-Kazakhstan-review-a9463 becklomax 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Sirius-Satellite-Radio-review-f0413 I had this for six months free in a car that I recently purchased and allowed it to expire without a second though. Generally, my taste in music is not very broad and I could not justify the monthly expense to listen to all of three channels that repeat a lot of content. Sirius might advertise its voluminous content and variety, but you have to step back and first ask yourself if you really want to listen to all of that. I'm not one for country, gospel,  rap, hip hop, most rock, "smooth" jazz (blech), sports, and political yammering, so that effectively limits me to just a handful of channels. It's better to just spend my money on a multi-disk CD player where I have full control over the content. — — I will admit one thing....the jazz selection was a bit better than XM. —... Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:43:09 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Sirius-Satellite-Radio-review-f0413 becklomax 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/Creative-Technology-ZEN-Vision-M-30-GB-Black-Digital-Media-Player-review-42022 As someone who doesn't care for Apple's in-your-face, trendy hipster marketing, I deliberately steered away from the Ipod. I did look at it, but it was a typical Apple product - limited compatibility. I had a smaller, solid-state Creative Lab mp3 player, so I instinctively went towards the Zen Vision M, but only after doing the research. It does have a few quirks like to occasional freeze, but this thing is a delight. It has one of the clearest full color screens around, but I really don't understand the need for that. Who is really going to download a whole video onto something like this just to watch in on a tiny screen. Of course, the clarity does come in handy when reading album data and the like. — — The Vision M has a very nice interface, but there is a bit of learning curve for anything beyond adjust volume and skipping to the next tune. The accompanying software is very intuitive and is also quite good for ripping and burning CDs. — — I don't care for... Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:31:26 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Creative-Technology-ZEN-Vision-M-30-GB-Black-Digital-Media-Player-review-42022 becklomax 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/InterContinental-MARK-HOPKINS-SAN-FRANCISCO-San-Francisco-CA-review-5fd62 In reading other reviews, I was a bit put off by people griping about value and cost of the staying at the Mark Hopkins. First, it is California, so you will end up paying a number of excessive taxes. Second, it is in San Francisco, so will will pay more tax, plus a premium for being in the city. Third, this is not they type of hotel that caters to people on a budget. — — Having said all that, if you choose the Mark Hopkins, pay the extra money and get a premium room with access to the lounge. This gives you access to all that the lounge provides for all of the day and most of the night. I do this when I stay there and that means that my breakfast, light lunches, and afternoon snacks are covered. You also get access to the pour-your-own bar. — — There is also an exceptional limo service on call to and from the hotel. It comes with the room, but I always give the guy a nice tip that amounts to the same as a taxi fare without all the BO, bad music, and disdain... Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:02:33 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/InterContinental-MARK-HOPKINS-SAN-FRANCISCO-San-Francisco-CA-review-5fd62 becklomax 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Walther-P-22-review-24e02 While Walther is likely best known for its venerable PPK, the P-22 pales in comparison. The composite frame makes for a light stowaway pistol perfect for a prolonged hike or a camping trip. It is also comfortable in the hand by virtue of some well planned ergonomics. All that aside, the general engineering is rather cheap and it fouls easily after expending 20 rounds or so. Additionally, you MUST use hotter .22 ammo in order for this thing to function properly. Failure to do so results in spent cases not extracting... Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:18:06 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Walther-P-22-review-24e02 becklomax 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Blue-Moon-Belgian-Style-White-Wheat-ale-review-71195 An exceptional Belgian style beer made in Canada. A bit on the fruity side, but that should be expected since it is a wheat ale made with a bit of orange peel. Personally, I forego the trendy orange slice garnish. That's for the posers. Drink it straight without adulteration. Keep in mind that this stuff will collect sediment as it sits, so buy it only when you want it. It's not meant to be refrigerated for extended... Tue, 04 Mar 2008 02:14:23 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Blue-Moon-Belgian-Style-White-Wheat-ale-review-71195 becklomax 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Trader-Joes-Chopped-Basil-review-b0661 TJ's pack of cubed basil might sound like an oddity, but rest assure that this beats the dried stuff hands down. Okay, it's not as good as fresh, but I would give it an award for  second runner up anytime. The cubes are roughly the size of a bullion cube and come in a resealable tray. They are flash frozen which means that the basil retains most of its color and flavor. If I make a large pot of spaghetti sauce for eight people, three to four cubes will pack in a bunch of basil flavor. It has plenty of other uses as well. Try it next time you think about shaking one of those little McCormick bottles over whatever you are cooking. It will make a big difference. — — TJ's also makes similarly packaged garlic and parsley. Add the basil, mix in some butter and Parmesan cheese and you can come up with a very delightful spread for your next loaf of garlic bread. —... Tue, 04 Mar 2008 02:05:53 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Trader-Joes-Chopped-Basil-review-b0661 becklomax 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Nikon-D70s-Digital-Camera-with-18-70mm-Lens-Digital-Camera-review-e5804 The Nikon D70 was a great purchase. I compared it to Pentax and Canon equivalents. In the end, I think that the Nikon brand was my principal decision point, that and the fact that the D70 came with an exceptional 18-70mm lens in a package deal that ran $1200 after a rebate. As compared to current camera advancement over the past two years, the 6 megapixel rate it now considered on the lower end of the scale, but I find image quality to be very good. — — My only gripe is with the pop-up flash. It is inadequate and tends to cast a shadow when used with longer lenses. This makes getting a Nikon Speedlight a must. —... Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:52:07 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Nikon-D70s-Digital-Camera-with-18-70mm-Lens-Digital-Camera-review-e5804 becklomax 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Charles-Shaw-2-Buck-Chuck-2006-review-8b222 Add another dollar for purchases on the east coast to cover the shipping costs. This stuff is worth the money, but you can take that as either accolade or insult given the low price. Interestingly, Trader Joe's has a number of French, Italian, Spanish, and South American wine that are far superior with only a modest increase in... Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:39:04 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Charles-Shaw-2-Buck-Chuck-2006-review-8b222 becklomax 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Ford-F150-2007-review-f4e42 The F-150 is a truck for people who NEED a pick up. I found the Japanese, Dodge, and GM counterparts to be a bit too urbanized when I chose the F-150. Actually it came down to the Dodge Ram as the only other choice and the deciding factor was the impractical length of the standard bed on the Dodge because of the quad cab option. I wanted an extended cab (not a quad) and I had a minimum bed length requirement. Only Ford met that challenge. The fact that the competition focuses more on doors and bed utility illustrates that their trucks are for people who are using them more as minivans than pickups. Thank goodness that Ford saw through that myopic premise. — — While not a quad, the rear seats can still accommodate two people with comfort and three in a pinch. In general, the cab is spacious with ample visibility, but the width of this beast still makes it a chore to park in a standard space. Good thing I have folding mirrors. — — The single problem so far is... Sat, 01 Mar 2008 22:40:39 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Ford-F150-2007-review-f4e42 becklomax 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Coastal-Flats-Fairfax-VA-review-56f36 Like many of the prominent chain restaurants in Fairfax, Virginia, this place gets very crowded on the weekends and on most weeknights when the happy hour buffoons stake their claim on society. Coastal Flats is well managed and the food is consistently good. All of the Great American chain has that going for it. These restaurants occupy a nice niche between places like Friday's and Chile's and upscale, formal establishments. Given the crowd, try going a bit earlier or on an off night. Sunday evenings are normally quieter if you want to dine while being able to converse with the people at your... Sat, 01 Mar 2008 22:21:59 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Coastal-Flats-Fairfax-VA-review-56f36 becklomax 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Maxpedition-Last-Resort-Tactical-Attache-review-0e791 Maxpedition makes an entire line of bags, backpacks, and cases, so I naturally looked into their products when I needed a durable soft case for my 14" Dell notebook. The Tactical Attache is made a dense but pliable ballistic nylon. It comes if black and foliage green. There are two main compartments, the largest of which will hold a notebook computer as well as an inch thick collection of documents. There is also an array of small outer packets on one side for miscellaneous items and two end pouches with retaining cords designed to hold Nalgene or similar water bottles. Finally there is a concealed security pocket with can accommodate a large frame pistol such as a Sig 226 or a 1911. — — Overall, I have been very pleased with this unobtrusive and feature packed bag for the past two years. The only drawback is with the fact that you can cram if full of stuff which creates quite a bit of weight to carry around all day. Don't be fooled by it's outwardly small... Sat, 01 Mar 2008 22:05:37 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Maxpedition-Last-Resort-Tactical-Attache-review-0e791 becklomax 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Kershaw-Leek-Knife-review-04594 I purchased this knife in 2004 and it has been an accoutrement in my pocket ever since. I have the version with the black "DLC" protective coating. Aside from some lint here and there, it still looks new. The thin form and elegant contours make for an unobtrusive item even in the pocket of a pair of dress slacks in the office. I keep mine clipped on the inside of my pocket for quick access, but the clip is hardly noticeable on most slacks. The "Speedsafe" feature allows for very rapid deplyment with one hand which is very practical in those instances where you already have the other hand... Sat, 01 Mar 2008 21:33:57 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Kershaw-Leek-Knife-review-04594 becklomax 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Sutter-Home-White-Zinfandel-2000-review-96a71 Whether, this brand or any other, white zinfandel is essentially one step above above the likes of Boones Farm and Mad Dog. This is a wine for folks who enjoy soda with a meal. If your palette has yet to mature and you still crave something sweet to drink, try a Beaujolais. It is generally light and floral, but lacks all of the overwhelming... Sat, 01 Mar 2008 21:09:46 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Sutter-Home-White-Zinfandel-2000-review-96a71 becklomax 1