Reviews by Friends of kevin

Katrena says "Krinkles Truck & People are Fun and Entertaining to Kids" about Krinkles Truck Blocks & 4 People

Katrena — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:32:58 GMT

Krinkles Truck Blocks & 4 People comes as a set of 40 interlocking blocks and 4 figures (man, woman, boy, girl) with a krinkle pad on the bottom. These are interesting blocks because they can be stuck together fairly easily and pulled apart to redesign over and over.

What I like about Krinkles truck blocks/people:

Easy to use
Colorful
My kids loved having people to go with it
Cute to have tire-type blocks

What I didn't like about Krinkles truck blocks/people:

My kids like to put people in items and the people would stand on the vehicle but you couldn't have them to sit down
They seem sturdy but they are only recommended for children over 3. If a baby tried to chew on these blocks, the small pegs would probably come loose.
Tires didn't turn

My Viewpoint:

We actually checked this toy out with a toy kit at our Smart Start office. The kids were all drawn right to this particular box and loved to play with it. The 8-year-old and 5-year-old seemed to be able to fit the pieces together pretty...

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Bryan-Carey says "Don't Break the Ice: Simple, Quick Family Game" about Milton Bradley Don't Break the Ice Game

Bryan-Carey — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:55:14 GMT

Most every child likes to play games and many great memories are formed when families take time to play games with their children- even if the game is short and simple. One game that fits this definition is Don't Break the Ice, a simple, quick game from Milton Bradley.

Game Commentary:

Don't Break the Ice is a game consisting of multiple pieces that have to be assembled each time the game is played. There are a total of thirty- eight pieces: 32 small "cubes" of ice; one large cube that is equal in size to four of the smaller cubes; one red- colored person wearing skates; and two interlocking sides that form the base in which the pieces of ice are placed; and two mallets. The base has to be snapped together and the pieces of ice squeezed inside the base (while inverted) in order to prepare for play. The last step is to place the plastic skating figure on top of the large block, pressing the skater into place. Players than tap the blocks of ice, one at a time, while trying to avoid having...

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Fardreamer says "Leia and her Ewok rescuer round out the Princess Leia Collection" about Hasbro Star Wars - The Princess Leia Collection: Princess Leia and Wicket

Fardreamer — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:41:33 GMT

One of the best things about George Lucas as the creator of "modern mythology" is that when he set out to create the Star Wars and Indiana Jones series, he astutely avoided the "damsel in distress" archetype prevalent in action and fantasy films of the 1970s and 1980s.

Clearly, in Star Wars, he did not dispense with female-characters-in-peril altogether; Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia Organa does get captured by Lord Darth Vader's forces twice in the Classic Trilogy, but Lucas wisely envisioned her as a strong character who often takes charge of the situation. (In a clever twist, it's Leia who has to "rescue" Han and Luke after they bungle the breakout from the first Death Star's detention block.)

And because Lucas intended the Star Wars saga to have universal appeal, it's not surprising that many of the movies' most ardent fans have always been girls and women.

When the Princess Leia and... sets were rolled out in 1997, Hasbro still used the Kenner label on its Star Wars collectibles because...

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ChrisJarmick says "Awful Movies that are less fun than watching paint dry." about Worst Movies Bad Films Part 14

ChrisJarmick — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:20:14 GMT

Worst Movies the 14th part in a numbered series of 16. These are not the fun kind of worst movies. Those kind of movies I call baaad movies. These are worthless movies that offer so little to the viewer they will simply suck up your time and make you feel foolish for doing so. Some of these will insult your intelligence, some will appear to offer some good actors, subject matter or something else that might entice you to keep watching.

There are much better choices to make than any of these. Avoid them..

Striptease (1996) Director: Andrew Bergman
Starring: Demi Moore, Armand Assante, Burt Reynolds, Ving Rhames, Robert Patrick, Paul Guilfoyle, Rumer Willis, Frances Fisher

Single mom (Demi Moore) gets a job as a stripper to make money to fight her ex-husband for custody of their child. Burt Reynolds plays a horny congressman and Moore's real-life daughter, Rumer, is the little girl. It wasn't as campy as Showgirls and none of it was very interesting unless you wanted...

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Katrena says "I Feel LIke I Got Hosed at Lowe's With 12 Hour Green Snap Light" about Snap Light 12 Hour Green Glow Stick

Katrena — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:14:36 GMT

I purchased this Snap Light 12 Hour Green Glow Stick at Lowe's just before Halloween for $2. It is a green colored glow stick that is packaged separately. Take it out of the package and snap it like you would try to break a stick. This allows the chemicals to mix and produce a green glow. We thought glowing magic wands would work really well with our Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather costumes. In case you haven't heard, they are the three fairies in Sleeping Beauty.

What I like about Snap Light Glow Stick:

It's convenient.
It produces a pretty cool green glow.
It does last for a pretty long while.
It was easy to attach to the wands with a rubber band.
The package says it is safe, non-toxic & non-flammable, but we didn't decide to drink it or place it over a flame to test those claims.
My kids had a blast with them!

What I don't like about Snap Light Glow Stick:

I feel like I got hosed at Lowe's. This thing cost $2. It only lasts for 12 hours. Wal-Mart had another brand in packs of 10 for $4,...

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PattyTherre says "I look like I have rabies when I use this. TOO much foam for me!" about Aquafresh Iso-Active Toothpaste

PattyTherre — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:37:27 GMT

Quick View: I received a full sized container of Aquafresh Iso-Active Toothpaste in the Fresh Impact flavor from a program called "She Speaks". It was not sent for me to review, just to use. They send lots of free stuff. I thought I would like this new toothpaste but I don't. It's messy and the dispenser is tough to use. Plus it's pricey and I don't see any difference in the whiteness of my teeth from when I use Sensodyne PRONAMEL Anti-Cavity Fluoride Toothpaste or Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste and they help my sensitive teeth as well as cleaning and whitening my teeth.

My Take on Aquafresh Iso-Active Toothpaste

This toothpaste comes in an plastic standing tube with a big plastic push down top. The top is tough to manipulate and, when the paste comes out, it's hard to meter how much comes out of the tube. Sometimes a little releases, sometimes a lot. Also, I can't see through the packaging to see how much toothpaste I have left and that bugs me. The dispenser also gets foamy and...

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PattyTherre says "Not enough hydration, weird tint, and wears off too fast!" about Blistex Lip Tone

PattyTherre — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:34:54 GMT

Quick View: i have a load of lip balms but always pick up more. I have dry, often times chapped lips so I need a good balm that heals as well as protects. I don't feel Blistex Lip Tone heals at all and it is so thin that it only lasts minutes on my lips. And the tint? Weird!

My Take on Blistex Lip Tone

This balm comes in a Chapstick-like tube and has a brownish tint to it. I think it is supposed to be lip color but my lips are very pink so the tint makes them look brownish. I don't like or need tint in my balms and didn't realize I was buying a tinted balm when I bought this one.

Moving past the color issues, this balm does have SPF 15 in it and the only active ingredients in are sunscreens. It's a nice plus as our lips can and do burn in the sun - summer or winter.

The balm is very thin and somewhat sweet. It smooths on fine but, if I don't look in a mirror when applying, I get that weird tint on the skin around my lips and I look like a kid who has playing in her mother's makeup kit.

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TheBard says "Love The Rise, the Price,and the Taste" about Krusteaz Honey Cornbread & Muffin Mix

TheBard — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:48:11 GMT

Nothing goes better with BBQ ribs and baked beans than freshly baked cornbread coated in rich, creamy butter. I sometimes make my own from scratch, sometimes whip up some Jiffy, but I recently discovered the 15oz. box of Krusteaz Honey Cornbread & Muffin Mix made with real honey.

My Viewpoint

The flavor of Krusteaz Honey Cornbread is not surprisingly, tasty. The honey flavor (honey powder is listed as an ingredient) is mild and not overpowering. The cornbread's texture is moist, not dry like cheaper brands, and almost cake-like. Of course I added my own ingredients to the mix: a teaspoon of nutmeg, and a hint of allspice.

Krusteaz Honey Cornbread is a simple cornbread mix making it easy to prepare. To make the basic recipe, add to the mix is 2/3 cups of milk, 1/3 cup of vegetable oil, and 1 Lg. egg. On the side and back of the box are two more recipes to spice up the cornbread and turn the mix into a full meal; Bacon & Cheddar Mini Corn Loaves anyone?

I highly recommend...

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SantaC says "The best Christmas movies, according to Santa." about Best Christmas Holiday Movies

SantaC — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:03:34 GMT

I've made my list and checked it twice. Here are Santa's picks for the best Christmas movies of all time!

1. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) - Your favorite Muppets, like Kermit and Miss Piggy, re-tell Charles Dickens' classic story about Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmases past, present and future.

Why I picked The Muppet Christmas Carol as one of the best Christmas movies: This is one of my favorite versions of the story because it's good for all ages. Children are especially able to understand the plot as it's told by some of the most loveable characters ever. I chose it over Disney's version because I enjoy the puppets and performance by Michael Caine.

2. Love Actually (2003) - Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Keirta Knightley and a slew of others star in the tale of four couples dealing with love in the month leading up to Christmas. The characters' lives are all loosely related, so it's fun to watch the story unfold and discover how love really is all around (like...

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ChrisJarmick says "Worst of the Worst Movies ; Stinkeroos to avoid." about Worst Movies, Bad Films Part 13 of 16

ChrisJarmick — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:39:55 GMT

Part 13 of the Worst Movies at your service. These are movies that are worthless wastes of time. If any of them offer a few minutes of entertainment, consider that there are many movies that you probably have not seen, that offer much more. Your investment of time has value...more value than any of these movies will return to you.

Avoid the following:

Shanghai Surprise (1986) Director: Jim Goddard
Starring: Sean Penn, Madonna, Paul Freeman, Richard Griffiths, Philip Sayer, Clyde Kusatsu, Kay Tong Lim

Madonna plays a missionary nurse in 1937 China who hires a dim-witted American fortune hunter (her then-real-life-husband, Sean Penn) to find a stash of stolen opium. She wants the drugs so she can help her patients and get out of China. There's no chemistry between Penn and Madonna and the pacing of the movie is awful, and the dialogue is terrible. George Harrison who was the executive producer of this film said working with the very spoiled Madonna and on this movie was the...

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ChrisJarmick says "Rotten, Lousy, Worthless movies to avoid." about Worst Movies, Bad Films Part 12 of 16

ChrisJarmick — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:08:09 GMT

Worst Movies Part 12. Here are several more movies to avoid. They might look like something worth watching but don't be fooled, these movies are a waste of time. Choose something else or read a book, instead. These are not worth your time.

The Postman (1997)
Director: Kevin Costner Starring: Kevin Costner, Will Patton, Larenz Tate, Olivia Williams, James Russo, Daniel Von Bargen, Tom Petty, Scott Bairstow, Roberta Maxwell

Postman is a very very long movie that Costner directed himself. You'd think after Waterworld he would stay away from these post-apocalypse tales.. but no.. In this lousy film he's a survivor who passes himself off as a postman in order to give hope to the ravaged communities left alive in the world. Why didn't he give hope to movie audiences and not make this movie? Story has it, the project was falling apart until he signed onto it originally just to act in it, but then he took on directing the movie. Let's assume Costner had the best of intentions. ...

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Jo says "Where's all the protein in Healthy Meal Nutritional Shake? " about Herbalife Shakes

Jo — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:00:49 GMT

I am doing a 12-week weight loss program sponsored by Herbalife. When I enrolled I didn't know that they were sponsoring it. I have bought quite a few of their products. The first one I bought was the Healthy Meal Nutritional Shake Mix. It is for "healthy nutrition and weight management".

The flavor I chose is french vanilla, which is delicious. I add soy or almond mix to two scoops and ice cubes and have a yummy snack. The program suggests that we have one or two shakes a day. I normally have one and stick to the amount of calories per day I should eat.

I paid about $35.00 for a 26.5 ounce canister. This makes 30 servings per container.

It has 19 essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients; however, you will get these in a multi-vitamin. For example, you'll get 35% of Vitamin A when you add milk and 50% of Vitamin D, which you will get if you go outside for 15 minutes a day. Yes I am skeptical because I haven't seen results and I think it is over priced.

The "wellness coaches" say that...

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Fardreamer says "A Princess Leia two pack which features Han Solo? Nice!" about Hasbro Star Wars - The Princess Leia Collection: Princess Leia and Han Solo

Fardreamer — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:27:03 GMT

Star Wars has always had a multi-cultural, multi-generational and cross-gender appeal which is partly based on the universality of its roots as a "modern myth" for our times, and partly because Lucas was smart enough to take archetypes such as the hero on a quest, the mysterious wise man, the rogue with the heart of gold and, of course, the damsel in distress and tweaked them for the sensibilities of the late 1970s.

Thus it's safe to say that even though guys have always been in the majority within the Star Wars collecting community, lots of girls and women of all ages like the Kenner/Hasbro Star Wars action figures and other toys, too.

Hasbro's erstwhile competitor, Kenner Toys of Columbus, Ohio knew that many girls were fans of Princess Leia Organa, the cosmopolitan, politically-well connected Senator from Alderaan who was as fast with a quick quip ("Would someone get this walking carpet out of my way?") as well as with a blaster pistol. Thus, in the early days of the Kenner/Star Wars...

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Fardreamer says "Luke and Leia make nice additions to Princess Leia Collection" about Hasbro Star Wars - The Princess Leia Collection: Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker

Fardreamer — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:00:54 GMT

Although most of Kenner/Hasbro's Star Wars action figures are marketed almost exclusively for guys (either kids or guys who were kids when Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope premiered in May of 1977), the marketing division figured out that the films also appeal to girls, so why not release a few collectibles that, while still having "guy approval," might please them as well.

The result of this reasoning (or Jedi marketing meditation) was The Princess Leia Collection, a quartet of two-figure sets pairing off the formidable Rebel leader and Luke Skywalker's twin sister with other characters from the Classic Trilogy.

Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker

The beautiful Princess Leia, Senator and Cell Leader for the Rebel Alliance, rewards the young Luke Skywalker for his heroic role in the destruction of the Imperial Death Star.

Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker features both of the Skywalker twins as they appear at the end of Episode IV: A New Hope during the award ceremony in the Massassi temple...

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Fardreamer says "Fans of both genders will enjoy this Leia and R2-D2 duo!" about Hasbro Star Wars - The Princess Leia Collection: Princess Leia and R2-D2

Fardreamer — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:30:20 GMT

One of the reasons George Lucas' Star Wars saga has been so entrenched in our popular culture is the wide appeal its story and characters has across a wide spectrum of humanity.

Though most non-fans think only young boys and socially-challenged adult men "geek out" over the multi-media Empire built upon the six live-action Episodes, three Cartoon Network animated series, an animated feature, several live-action TV projects and a Death Star's worth of books, graphic novels, computer and role-playing games, it ain't necessarily so.

Indeed, Star Wars has always had a multi-cultural, multi-generational and cross-gender appeal which is partly based on the universality of its roots as a "modern myth" for our times, and partly because Lucas was smart enough to take archetypes such as the hero on a quest, the mysterious wise man, the rogue with the heart of gold and, of course, the damsel in distress and tweaked them for the sensibilities of the late 1970s.

Thus it's safe to say that even...

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ChrisJarmick says "Worst of the Worst Movies. The ones to avoid." about Worst Movies Bad Films Part 11

ChrisJarmick — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:27:31 GMT

Welcome to Part 11 of my round up of some of the Worst Films ever made. These are not the kind of bad films that are fun to watch. These are just terrible films possessing such little entertainment that in my opinion they are to be avoided.

There are so many better choices out there, I hope you’ll be able to avoid the movies I’ve listed here and you gain from my pain and suffering, avoiding the agony of wasted time for little to no reward. Most of these movies I saw in movie theaters sometimes at screenings or I watched them as part of an assignment for an article or essay or larger review I was working on. Most of these are not direct to video type movies. There have been some very good direct to video movies, but the percentage of good ones to worthwhile ones is pretty low; a little bit of research and you should be able to spare yourself disappointment.

Yet with all my experience and knowledge I will still make mistakes. Today, if a film does not impress or at...

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PattyTherre says "A great value but I wish the primer wasn't so chalky colored." about e.l.f. Studio Lip Primer & Plumper

PattyTherre — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:58:31 GMT

Quick View: e.l.f.'s studio line is a little pricier than their dollar cosmetics but by only a couple of bucks. This dual use product is just $3.00 and works fairly well. I don't love the nude color of the lip primer though. It is a bit chalky looking.

My Take on e.l.f. Studio Lip Primer & Plumper

This little stick costs $3.00. One one side is a natural/nude lip primer that you apply before using lip color to help make the color cling and last and to fill in little lip lines. On the other side is the nearly clear plumper than can be worn over the primer, alone, or over lip colors.

The plumper has cinnamon in it which boosts circulation, giving lips a temporary look of fullness and a flush of color. I like the cinnamon scent and taste and don't mind the slight burning sensation I get when I use the plumper. It's very common for plumpers and this one isn't nearly as bad as many other plumpers.

I often will use the primer, apply the plumper and then color or do it the other way around and...

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Bryan-Carey says "Ravensburger Princess Puzzle will keep Your Princesses Occupied " about Ravensburger Princess Jigsaw Puzzle 24pc

Bryan-Carey — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:40:04 GMT

Putting puzzles together is a great exercise for youngsters, for it improves fine motor skills and gives children a sense of achievement. Some puzzles have far too many pieces for the youngest children, but this problem is eliminated with the Ravensburger Princess Jigsaw Puzzle, a large, twenty- four piece puzzle that kids can put together with ease.

Puzzle Commentary:

The Ravensburger Princess Jigsaw Puzzle is a large puzzle with large pieces. The pieces are interlocking and feature the same standard shape common to a traditional puzzle. Each piece of this puzzle measures about four by six inches, is made out of thick, heavy cardboard stock, and is unlikely to get broken. The pieces are specially coated, with a so- called Easy Clean Surface that can be wiped clean with a damp cloth without damaging the pieces of the puzzle.

Jigsaw puzzles are a great learning tool for children and they offer a nice departure from the usual type of toy. The problem with most puzzles, from the perspective...

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Jo says "I watch TV; my husband works. Thank you Sony Infrared Headphones" about Sony - Infrared Cordless Headphones MDR-IF240RK

Jo — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:45:15 GMT

To the Point

The problem isn't new but the technology to fix it seems to be new - at least new to us. The problem was that our house has an open floor plan meaning my husband's office and our living room are connected. I got used to reading the closed caption wording but sometimes my reading was slower than the words on the screen.

In comes wireless headphones. I tried out a pair of Radio Shack brand headphones at our daughter and son-in-law's but my husband ended up buying me the Sony Infrared Cordless Headphones MDR-IF240RK.

A Closer View: The features

The Sony Infrared Cordless Headphones

come with a transmitter. The transmitter is placed near the television and comes with an AC power adapter.
come with a connecting cord. The box says that the connection to the TV, Audio, or PC equipment is easy. It probably is. For some reason it took us awhile to figure out what plugs went into what holes.
a range of 24 feet depending on the angle of your head.
will last for 60 hours using regular...

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Fardreamer says "Bowden sheds light on Battle of Mogadishu in this masterpiece" about Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War

Fardreamer — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:20:48 GMT

"It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell." - William Tecumseh Sherman

For all my interest in all things related to the military and especially military history, I have never lost sight of two very important concepts.

One, of course, is the obvious reality that war is never something to be undertaken lightly, It doesn't matter, in the long run, whether we choose to go to war or it is forced upon us, but the whole endeavor is, by its very nature, messy, cruel and unpredictable.

The other concept I try to always remember is that we Americans, as a society, seem to have a tendency to not understand the military, its culture and its very important role in our Republic. Right now, only those who serve (or have served) in the active duty and reserve units of the various armed services and their families know just what wearing the American uniform entails, especially...

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