Reviews by Friends of RudiXeno

njchicaa says "We are very happy with this Samsung 50 inch Plasma TV." about Samsung PN50A550 50 in. Plasma TV

njchicaa — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:44:34 GMT

When we decided to finish our basement, my husband decided it was the perfect opportunity to buy a ginormous HD plasma TV, upgrade the cable, buy a Blu-Ray player, etc. He chose the Samsung PN50A550 Plasma TV because it was highly rated by Consumer Reports and last year's model so he could pick it up for a nice price online.

I've never been one for super-fancy electronics and didn't have a burning desire for HD TV... until we actually sat down and watched an episode of 24 on this Samsung 50 Inch Plasma. The difference was like night and day and I found myself migrating to the basement each Monday night so I could see Jack Bauer in HD. The picture quality really is incredible and far surpasses what we've seen at local sports bars and even some of our relatives' houses.

When the upstairs TV died and we decided to move the 50" upstairs and buy a 58" for the basement, I was a bit nervous because I had heard that plasmas were better for low-light areas while LCDs were better for brighter...

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CyndiA says "GR stand grill. Not a real grill but a lot of fun and safe too. " about George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Electric Barbeque Grill GGR50B

CyndiA — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:16:12 GMT

If you have had problems grilling or if you live in an apartment where you can't have flames or even if you just like to have easy fun, then the George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor grill is the ticket.

As a Grill Girl with my own grilling web site - Yes You Can Grill - you might think that I'd turn up my nose at this pseudo grill. But, no. This really is a fun grill-ette and super for a generation that has grown up with the GF press grill.

You have the flat plate with ridges here and the channel for the grease to slide into a grease holder. The whole grill top is tilted to make that happen.

Rather than press the food, you have a dome. This means your food really is more moist as you don't mash all the juices out. Also, you can even put a full chicken under the dome.

Unlike other "grills," you can take this outside and use the stand or put it on a picnic table etc or carry it inside if the weather gets bad and again use the stand in the middle of the kitchen or take it off and put the GF on...

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njchicaa says "Thanks for saving my basement, Haier 45 Pint Dehumidifier." about Haier DE45EA 45 Pint Dehumidifier

njchicaa — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:14:21 GMT

Our winter project was to turn our basement into a space where we could entertain friends and family. In fact, we were doing just that last weekend during a thunderstorm when the door suddenly burst open and water started rushing into the basement. Within 2 minutes, we had 4 inches of water covering the entire floor. Not cool.

We used the Shop Vac to get all of the standing water up off of the floor, but the basement was very damp, as were parts of the rugs that we weren't able to get completely up off of the floor in time. After 6 days, we broke down and bought the Haier DE45EA 45 Pint Dehumidifier.

My husband had it up and running in minutes and found that he had to dump the water bin after only a couple of hours. It was incredible to see just how much water this 45 Pint Dehumidifier was removing from the air in the basement. We've had it running constantly for the past four days and the humidity level has dropped from 88% to something like 53%. The area rugs I thought...

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CyndiA says "Open the bottle and yum - great smell. Go easy on it though." about Lawry's Mexican Chile & Lime 30 Minute Marinade

CyndiA — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:56:25 GMT

I like Lawry's brand, so when I saw the new marinades, I knew I'd have to give them a try. I got a couple of bottles including Lawry's Mexican Chile & Lime.

These are billed as 30 minute marinades, and I'll stick with that next time. I did marinate for about 30 minutes but also mopped the pork loin. That was a little too much of a good thing. The flavor was a bit too strong with the extra sauce with mild pork.

The smell of this marinade is out of this world. I keep opening the bottle just to smell the marinade. That lime with a little heat really is nice. The flavor is too. I liked the pork, but it just got a little lost with my North Carolina pork mopping habits.

I'd suggest this for a London broil cooked close rare and cut against the grain and served on soft burrito shells or on shrimp and mayb with some pineapple between on kabobs.

Very nice sauce. Just don't overdo it.

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jps246 says "Keeps my campsite hydrated - Coleman 5-gallon Water Carrier" about Coleman 5 Gallon Water Carrier

jps246 — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:18:13 GMT

Sometimes it is just easier to have a good supply of water at your campsite rather than having to go back and forth to the water source in the campground and that's why I bring the Coleman 5-gallon Water Carrier with me on most of my car camping trips. The hardened plastic container holds enough water for me to fill water bottles, cook with and even rinse our hands off with.

This is a really simple water carrier. It is made from a scratch and impact resistant plastic that won't deform when you fill it with water or move it around. There is also molded handle that is comfortable to hold and makes the container easy to carrier. The container is tough to withstand bumps and bangs and the occasional drop when you've got water in it (though not onto a sharp object or a very large fall). Once you have the container filled it up, there is a "fast-flow" spigot that lets you quickly start and stop dispensing water from the container.

I usually fill up this carrier when I get to a campsite...

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TheBard says "Blood, bullets, outlaws and the birth of the F.B.I." about "PUBLIC ENEMIES"

TheBard — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:12:04 GMT

Bottom-Line: Intellect is in short supply throughout Public Enemies, but it is good entertainment nonetheless.

Directed and produced by Michael Mann Public Enemies chronicles the newly minted Federal Bureau of Investigation's (F.B.I.) battle to rein in the outlaws of the Great Depression period. Special Agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale), is sent to head up the F.B.I.'s Chicago field office by then head of the agency, J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup).

Once ensconced in Chicago Purvis leads the manhunt for Indiana born John Dillinger (Johnny Depp ). Dillinger has already served eight years for armed robbery, been captured once, but then escapes, and is responsible for some two dozen robberies and at least 6 police slayings in three states.

My Viewpoint

As the nexus of this tale of criminals, G-Men, bank robberies, and bullets, Jonny Depp as John Dillinger comes close to embodying the man who is part Robin Hood, part cold blooded killer, and quintessentially American. As it...

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JovialCougar says "Clorox Bleach is more than just a laundry whitener" about Clorox bleach

JovialCougar — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:11:13 GMT

Clorox Bleach has been around for many decades. It's one of those products you probably have somewhere around the house, and it's probably used in the laundry. But Clorox Bleach has many other uses besides in the laundry.

First off, the laundry is where bleach is used most often. What does it do? Bleach brightens clothes (especially whites) making them look almost new again. I most often use Clorox to brighten up those undies and undershirts. But using too much is detrimental since it leaves behind a slight unpleasant scent and can leaves clothes feeling stiff.

The biggest all-around benefit of Clorox Bleach is just the fact that it kills germs dead. If someone in the home in sick, using bleach in the laundry will prevent the germs from spreading. Here's a list of harmful organisms that Clorox Bleach will kill using 1 tablespoon of bleach to 1 gallon of water:

Bacteria:

Staphylococcus aureus (Staph.) Salmonella choleraesuis Pseudomonas aeruginosa Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep.) Escherichia...

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JovialCougar says "Werner 5' Aluminum Ladder: Stairway to Heaven?" about Werner Aluminum 5' Household Ladder

JovialCougar — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:26:36 GMT

I can't think of any household item that has been more useful to have than a sturdy, durable ladder. I bought a Werner 5' Aluminum Household Ladder when I owned my last home, and now will be using it a lot when painting inside a new home.

This ladder is by Werner is solidly built. The aluminum construction makes it lightweight, but it's a rigid, tempered aluminum with plenty rugged feet at the bottom and several braces. The steps are grooved so it's harder to slip off and the folding ''spreaders'' on the sides are pinch proof - at least on top.

The top of this ladder has a durable plastic cap, which has a molded ring for setting a paint can in and several holes where you can place tools in a slot without them falling. They also warn not to step on the top. Another nice feature of this Werner Househould Ladder is a fold-down tray that is perfect for a paint tray, rags, or small tools.

I have used this ladder for painting, dusting high ceilings, moving items in and out of high...

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TheBard says "Another Eastwood American History Lesson Thoughtfully Told " about The Changeling

TheBard — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:30:20 GMT

Bottom-Line: A little plodding at times Changeling is a great film.

Produced and directed by Clint Eastwood Changeling chronicles the true story Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie) a single mother whose son Walter (Gattlin Griffith) goes missing one day from their Los Angeles home in 1925.

Christine calls the police and after the mandatory 24-hour waiting period the much maligned Los Angeles Police Department starts looking for her son. They think they have found him in DeKalb, IL and Captain J.J. Jones (Jeffrey Donovan) contacts Christine with the good news. But when the boy arrives Christine insists that he is not her son...

The plot in Changeling is quite involved, too involved to detail here, sufficed to say, the script is brilliantly done and recounts in some detail the events that transpired between 1925 and 1935.

My Viewpoint

The title, Changeling, and the trailers for the movie carry with them an allusion that this was to be a science fiction film and that the events that...

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Brittanyls says "They pay you alright, but not for the reason you think." about cashcrate

Brittanyls — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:24:49 GMT

So recently I've been searching online for ways to make money. When I stumbled upon CashCrate, I found tons upon tons of glowing reviews, and how it's a really simple, easy way to make money. The only downside, their reviews said, was that it was boring.

So, I decided to try it out.

With CashCrate, you can make about $0.25 for each "offer" you complete. Some offers actually require you to pay to complete them, but the payout is more.

After I clicked on the first offer, I immediately knew this website wasn't for me.

You've seen those advertisements on the internet, the ones that claim, "Click here for your free laptop!" or, "Is the sky blue? Click here and win money!" And, if you've every clicked on one of those advertisements, either on purpose or by accident, you will see that you are required to put in information such as your age, where you live, your phone number, e-mail address, etc. With CashCrate, every "offer" was like this.

The CashCrate privacy policy states that...

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awlafon says "Black & Decker Toast-R-Oven: Great option for breads, pizza" about Black & Decker TRO651 Toast-R-Oven Toaster Oven

awlafon — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:17:42 GMT

Black & Decker Toast-R-Oven

When our GE 2 Slice Bagel Toaster stopped toasting on one side and now became useless to me, my husband came home with a Black & Decker Toast-R-Oven. I wasn't all that thrilled as I like to be a minimalist as far as appliances sitting out on my counter and unlike the small toaster, this wasn't an appliance that could be put away daily.

Despite the space the Black & Decker Toast-R-Oven takes up on my counter, I have come to appreciate some advantages of housing this toaster oven on my counter.

-I can heat a variety of breads on both sides. It works well for small crustinis or thick sandwich breads that are nightmares in a traditional pop up toaster.

-For some reason, maybe because it is eye level and has the added advantage fo making the ticking sound, I seem less likely to forget about and burn bread.

-It has a 9 inch pizza capacity which I haven't tested because a 9 inch pizza at my house would be a snack but it does work very well for heating up left...

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jps246 says "Coleman 22-ounce Fuel Container is a decent choice for camping" about Coleman Exponent 22-ounce Fuel Container

jps246 — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:16:37 GMT

The Coleman Exponent 22-ounce Fuel Container provides 22 ounces of fuel storage for your backpacking stove, including the Coleman Exponent stove models. For some of these models the pump assembly is installed directly into the fuel bottle and with other stove models, you pour the gas out of the bottle and into your stove. This bottle can be used for both types of Exponent stoves along with other stoves where the fuel pump threads directly into the fuel bottle (including MSR stoves such as the Whisperlite models). The bottle is made from a single piece of aluminum that is light and strong at the same time. The bottle is about 4 inches in diameter and is about 12 to 13 inches high with the cap on it. Both the aluminum and the plastic that forms the cap are rugged and shouldn't have any issues being packed into a backpack and brought into the backcountry.

In my mind the 22-ounce sized bottle is designed for longer backpacking trip since a full bottle of fuel will last for about a week...

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awlafon says "Kenmore Undercounter Ice Maker: Never run out of ice again." about Kenmore Undercounter Ice Maker Refrigerator

awlafon — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:55:39 GMT

Kenmore Elite Coldspot Undercounter Ice Maker

On a visit to my future would be in-laws home years ago, I found that they had an undercounter ice maker and I thought it was such a convenient idea that I put it on my list of things I wanted in my dream home. I got it and I am very glad to I did.

The Kenmore Elite Coldspot Undercounter Ice Maker, resembles on the outside, and takes up about as much space as, an undercounter trash compacter. Ours has a stainless steel front panel but there are other options as well.

The Kenmore Ice Maker takes the guess work out with a green light for "clean," yellow light for "OK," and red light for "needs cleaning." It is easy to clean. Simply push the clean button and the ice maker will empty. Wipe out the inside and pour the ice maker cleaning solution through the tray as instructed.

Why I love having the Kenmore Elite Coldspot Undercounter Ice Maker:

-It makes small, square ice cubes perfect for glasses or throwing in the blender for making...

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JovialCougar says "Tums for your tum-tum" about Tums Extra Strength Antacid Chewable Tablets, Tropical Flavor 48 Each

JovialCougar — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:16:46 GMT

When I get an occasional tummy ache I always reach for Tums for first relief. More often than not, a couple of Tums tablets will quell my queasy stomach within an hour or so. Tums are primarily designed to combat heartburn by neutralizing stomach acid in your stomach and esophagus.

I most often use Tums Extra Strength tablets, which contain 750 mg of calcium carbonate. According to the manufacturer of Tums, the following foods can cause heartburn or acid indigestion:

• Greasy and spicy foods

• Alcohol

• Tomato-based products

• Citrus fruits and juices

• Chocolate

• Milk

• Caffeine

• Peppermint or Spearmint

• Peppers and onions

• Toabbaco

For me green peppers, grapefruit, and some kinds of pasta sauce can set me off. I try to avoid these foods (I even pick peppers out of any food I find them in), but sometime stress seems to add fuel to the fire too. Whatever the cause, Tums Extra Strength usually calms my stomach by tamping down acid.

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TheBard says "Lets All hear it for Megan "pouty lips" Fox and Explosions!" about Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

TheBard — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:09:58 GMT

Bottom-Line: Don't expect great cinema and you won't be disappointed.

The first Transformers movie released in 2007, grossed some 708 million dollar worldwide (319 domestically, 389 overseas) according to boxofficemojo.com. Not a bad take for movie that lacked a coherent plot-line, but sort of made up for it by dishing out the action in loving spoonfuls. With that kind of gross a sequel was a foregone conclusion and so Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was born once again directed by explosion junkie Michael Bay (The Rock, Armageddon, The Island).

The Story-line (I'm being kind)

The Transformers (good and evil) have been watching Earth for quite some time, and some have been living on the planet for centuries soaking up little nuggets of human culture to call their own. But, wait there is more: The Transformers first came to earth when man was still hunting for his food with crude spears and rocks; the year was 17,000 BCE. They came to suck the life from our sun in order...

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TheBard says "My these drives are getting sheaper and better!" about Hewlett Packard HP DVD1040E External 20x Dual Layer Burner w/ LightScribe

TheBard — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:05:13 GMT

Bottom-Line: The HP DVD1040E with LightScribe technology is an outstanding bargain and a must have for anyone who needs to burn CD's or DVD's in single or double-layer format.

The matt black HP DVD1040E is an external USB 2.0 connected drive with DVD+-R/+-RW with DVD+-R up to 20x, double layer recording, DVD-RAM, and LightScribe. The "Double Layer" feature allows the drive to record and store up to 8.5 GB of data or music. The drive also acts as a fully functional CD-R/RW & DVD+R/+RW drive, however it is also compatible with single-layer DVD's (4.7 GB storage). The HP DVD1040E can burn data at speeds of up to 20x single layer (8x double layer), and a CD writing speed of up to 40x.

Installation

The HP DVD1040E is a rather large drive, but it ships with a vertical stand, so one can tuck it away. I choose to let it lay horizontally on my desk. Though earlier HP external (LightScribe) drives shipped with Firewire and USB connectivity, the HP DVD1040E only has USB 2.0 ports. ...

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Bryan-Carey says "Cisco IP Phone offers Technology and Some Advanced Features" about Cisco - 7940 IP Telephone

Bryan-Carey — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:05:41 GMT

Telephones continue to change and it seems like new phones and new versions of old phones pop up faster than one can press the redial button. Business phones change even more quickly then other phones and one technologically up- to- date phone that I have used on the job is the CISCO IP Phone 7940, a phone that connects to the internet.

Telephone Commentary:

This CISCO phone is designed for office use with multiple functions that make it very useful for phones that are used for business purposes. CISCO makes this phone so that its viewing screen stands up at roughly a 60- degree angle, allowing the user to view the panel and the buttons with ease. The handset is small and is placed on the left hand side of the phone. There is also a headphone jack, an internet connection jack, and a speaker phone. The panel on the CISCO IP 7940 phone features a black LCD display with four programmable buttons below the panel and two programmable buttons on the right side of the panel.

CISCO IP...

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JovialCougar says "This boxing tape dispenser is only partially helpful" about Scotch Handheld Packing Tape Dispenser

JovialCougar — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:47:30 GMT

If you have ever needed to tape-up boxes for mailing, moving, or just for storage, you know how fast you can go through boxing tape. Since I am planning to move soon, and am currently taping up dozens of boxes, and opted to buy a Scotch Handheld Packing Tape Dispenser. This saves a lot of money in the long run, but did not solve all my boxing problems.

One big benefit of this box tape dispenser is that it makes it easier to tape-up large quantities of boxes for shipping. It uses 2'' wide sealing tape which applies a nice, wide swath of tape around the box. Once you get the tape started, you just pull the taping gun across the top of the box, down the side, then point the dispenser downward so a blade can cut the tape. This should keep the boxes sealed for shipping.

Another benefit of buying a full-sized taping dispenser is that the larger 2'' rolls of tape are cheaper (especially when bought in 3-packs) than the small disposable box tape dispensers. I also like the fact the...

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stef42678 says "Great Tasting Sandwich" about Amy's Broccoli & Cheese in a Pocket Sandwich

stef42678 — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:00:02 GMT

I really love Amy's products because they are perfect for any vegetarian and taste so good. I take these Amy's Broccoli & Cheese in a Pocket Sandwiches to work for lunch because they taste great and I love that they are made with organic ingredients. The pocket bread is soft and flaky and holds in all the delicious filling. I like that the filling has a cheese sauce, but it isn't too heavy. The vegetables are carrots and broccoli and bake up warm and tender. These sandwiches are easy to make because they just microwave in a few minutes and taste so good. The sandwiches have less than 300 calories, but are a little high in fat. These taste great with a side salad and makes the perfect meal to get me through the day. These sandwiches are warm and comforting and a great organic spin on a regular grilled cheese....

stef42678 says "Great Tasting Lunch" about Amy's Teriyaki made with Organic Tofu, Brown Rice & Vegetables

stef42678 — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:55:04 GMT

I love Amy's products and I just found a new favorite in the Amy's Teriyaki made with Organic Tofu, Brown Rice & Vegetables bowl. I like these bowls because they have amazing flavor and are great for a quick and healthy lunch. Each bowl is less than 300 calories and is low in fat so I feel good about eating it. The ingredients are so tasty and include brown rice, bell peppers, mushrooms, carrots, tofu, and brocolli with so much flavor. The sweet sauce has a tang of teriyaki and a sweetness of pineapple. This bowl is filling and so flavorful, I ate every bite. The tofu takes on the great flavor of the vegetables and sauce and is organic. These bowls are a little hard to find, so stock up when you find them because they taste so good.

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