http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/steve9631 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:42:05 GMT Reviews by steve9631 http://www.viewpoints.com/XM-Satellite-Radio-Service-review-1f684 It's completely ridiculous to pay for satellite radio!  You have to be out of your mind to pay for something you can get for free!  But.........I do, and I'm addicted.   Is it practical?  Oh hell no, but I can't help myself, cause the music is fine, and the sound is impeccable. Ever been driving through the Nevada desert, or the mountain passes of Idaho or Montana and tried to find something on the radio other than the farm report or some right wing nut job ranting about something inane that we should all be concerned about in his or her feeble mind?  Ever stopped for gas at some one horse town and wanted to listen to some music on the radio that didn't have a banjo or mandolin playing on it?  Ever been commuting or cruising through the big city and listened to commercial after commercial about some new dating service for the truly dysfunctional, or about some new medicine for combating ear wax?  If so, I got... Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:42:05 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/XM-Satellite-Radio-Service-review-1f684 steve9631 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Plantronics-Plantronics-330-review-5c552 Starting July 1st of the year 2008, it will be illegal to talk on a cell phone without the implementation of a hands free device in my state.  It was a long time coming, but it's finally here, and now if you chat on your cell phone without a bluetooth like connection, it's gonna cost ya.  — The Plantronics 330 ear piece I have found to be quite user friendly, comfortable, and functional.  It's easy to hear, easy to use, and quite reasonably priced.  The volume control is easily accessible when your on the go, and a charger comes with the unit.  While this unit has no noise reduction features, I have yet to have a problem hearing, or being heard with it. — As newer models are now available with more features, this one does what its supposed to, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.  I like it, and give it 4 stars. — ... Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:23:06 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Plantronics-Plantronics-330-review-5c552 steve9631 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Escort-Passport-8500-Radar-Detector-review-f8554 The Escort Passport 8500 radar detector is one of the best performing radar detectors on the market today, and everyone who I know who owns one, loves it.  Along with superior performance, the 8500 features a multiple contact display which can detect and alert you to a possible 8 different radar contacts at once. The 8500 features an auto sensitivity mode that automatically adjusts sensitivity levels to your driving conditions, eliminates most false alarms, and will also detect the new POP mode radar as well.  This detector has the detection ability to alert you of radar contacts to the front, and to the rear.  Very handy on the Interstate.  What I really like about the 8500 is the distance of which it will pick up a radar contact.  Miles.   A much farther distance than which a radar unit will pick your vehicle up.  — Radar waves in addition to being direct, bounce off of everything.  Hills, signs, other... Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:56:32 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Escort-Passport-8500-Radar-Detector-review-f8554 steve9631 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Pantheon-Rome-Italy-review-56354 Built originally in 27 A.D., and then rebuilt in 120 A.D. after several fires, by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, the temple was built to honor all the gods that the Romans worshiped. This incredible structure was said to have influenced the erection of the Florence cathedral dome which launched the renaissance era of architecture, and even the Capitol Dome in Washington DC.  — Looking like many other marble columned buildings of it's time from the outside, the inside is said to be a perfect radius design, and a 142 foot ball would fit perfectly inside the structure.  A task to be reckoned with today, but an astounding achievement for the second century.  The walls are said to be 23 feet thick at the base, and five feet thick at the apex of the radius.  The whole at the top of the dome to let the light in, (no electricity in those days), is 30 feet across.  — The marble floor which was slanted towards the edges to drain the rainwater coming in through... Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:05:29 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Pantheon-Rome-Italy-review-56354 steve9631 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/United-Airlines-review-1f7b2 The only real criteria for judging an air flight is did it get you where you wanted to go, and not fall from the sky.  If that works out OK, everything else is almost inconsequential.  But in the case of United, with their legendary non customer service and penchant for screwing up my travel schedule, I feel compelled to dive down to the 1 star rating.  I won't even dwell on the baggage issue, or the timeliness of flights, or the unbridled non enthusiasm of the in cabin flight attendants for the needs of the business, leisure, or family traveler.  — I feel my review title sums my feelings up perfectly.  I fly a lot, and have accumulated well over half a million air miles with ease, and I won't fly United again unless they become the last airline on the planet.  Even writing about them raises my ire, and trashes my calm.  — There are many fine airlines which perform the service aspect of airline travel very well.  Transporting... Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:58:51 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/United-Airlines-review-1f7b2 steve9631 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/London-review-23d45 Number 1 Travelers tip:  Save lots o' money before you land at Heathrow Airport, cause merry ol' England will bankrupt you fast enough to make your head spin!  Aside from that, it's a wonderful place to travel to.  Where I found the best bargains in Great Britain were on the web, because you can get affordable "American" type prices before you arrive and have to deal with the oppressive exchange rate.  And when I say oppressive, I'm not exaggerating.  I found my hotel online, and got a great rate right next to Hyde Park, bought theater tickets online, and saved a bundle, and wished I had done more online, as it would have made England much less financially painful. — Number 2 Travelers tip:  Take the Tube.  It will get you where you want to go in London, cheaply, and in an efficient manner.  If you've never taken public transportation before, this would be the place to start.  Clean, efficient, easy to navigate with the maps in... Mon, 30 Jun 2008 06:29:10 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/London-review-23d45 steve9631 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Waldshut-Germany-review-a0731 Just across the border from Switzerland, about 20 minutes north of Zurich, lies medieval Waldshut, (pronounced Vald-shoot), nestled around the roaming Rhine River in Germany.  A fabulous day trip.  Great shopping, wonderfully preserved old town area, plenty of local coffee haus establishments, and very good restaurants.  The nice thing about being in Germany after Switzerland, is how far your dollar goes in comparison.  Shopping and dining aren't nearly as painful as in neighboring Switzerland.  — The old town area is in the central part of the city on a hillside, and has two main entries to the north and the south passing through the entry tunnels into the city.  The town streets veer off to the west and form a grid work with some shopping, churches, and a few museums, but the majority of sightseeing and dining is on the main street through town.  — The rest of Waldshut resembles a typical resort/retirement community,... Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:08:57 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Waldshut-Germany-review-a0731 steve9631 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Colossuem-Rome-Italy-review-77fd3 Built at the highlight of the rollicking Roman good times in A.D. 80, the Colosseum still stands as the most recognizable symbol of ancient Rome.  It's presence some 2000 years after erection still stops one in their tracks from the simple magnificence of the structure.  Nestled amongst the residences and thoroughfares of modern Rome, it's still the major tourist draw in Rome.  — Hours of operations:  9:00 am till one hour before sunset all year long. — Cost:  11 Euros (appox. 17 USD) which includes entry into the Colosseum and Palatine Hill.  Tours are available for 20 to 25 Euros and allow you to skip the sometimes very, very long lines.  Less crowded ticket booths are located in front of the Arch of Constantine, and two at the Palatine Hill site.  Both sites can make it easier to scoot past the mile long lines at the Colosseum.  You'll have to go through security wherever you get your tickets, but shorter ticket lines will... Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:36:27 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Colossuem-Rome-Italy-review-77fd3 steve9631 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Palantine-Hill-Rome-Italy-review-a9233 Incredible doesn't come close to describing it.  Spectacle from lost ages on all sides, whist treading upon the ancient roadways constructed by the slaves of the Roman Empire.  Starting at the Colosseum, winding up hill on the ancient stones of Via Sacra, (the road depicted in movies with the Roman Legions marching down it and the crowds standing on the sides of the road cheering), passing Caligula's Palace, the Basilica of Emperor Constantine, and through the archway of the Roman Senate. Smack in the heart of Rome, surrounded by the modern ways of a modern city with the Roman Coliseum to the South, lies the ruins and the history of the former greatness of Rome. Easy to get to off of Metro line A, (Colosseo stop), or by taking bus number 60 to the Coliseum, Via Sacra wanders up the hill through the columns and arches of the Empire. The cost is relatively inexpensive for the experience, 11 euros, (around 17 USD), for entry into the... Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:54:50 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Palantine-Hill-Rome-Italy-review-a9233 steve9631 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Ralph-Lauren-com-review-d2234 I do most of my shopping online.  While the reasons for this are many, living in a semi rural area, lack of time to go to a retail location, or just a out and out having a lazy day, I find that  if I find the right web site for my needs, mostly its just a whole lot easier.  Ralph Lauren is my favorite clothing online retailer with only one small problem........Ralph Lauren dot com is outrageously overpriced.  Overpriced that is unless you click on the Outlet / sale icon where you can find quality bargains for an exceptional clothing line and at a reasonable price.  At least for the most part.  You still have to look for bargains, but you don't have to toy with the notion of taking out a second mortgage just to clothe yourself.  Despite the hassles of finding the online clothing deals, Ralph Lauren has been a quality designer for decades, and turns out quality well designed clothing.  If costs are not a concern, the options are... Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:48:06 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Ralph-Lauren-com-review-d2234 steve9631 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Speed-Trap-Exchange-com-review-ea5c0 In the age where you can find anything on the web, this site can be a very useful tool in keeping you on the right side of the law.  Speed Trap Exchange.com is a site put together by the National Motorists Association, (a.k.a. NMA), that lists speed traps locally and nationally, and allows for personal additions from your experience to add to the lists and warn other motorists.  — Pros:  This site warns you of speed traps in your area so you may avoid the local revenue stream, and I have found it to be quite accurate as far as trends, times, and placement, including types of radar used.  Personal experience with speed traps in your area can be added to the site to warn others of the "ticketing" potential of the location, and a space for comments on your placement is also provided. A listing of lawyers specializing in your area for those with traffic related problems is available on the site for those in need.  — Cons:  The National... Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:33:01 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Speed-Trap-Exchange-com-review-ea5c0 steve9631 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Citi-AAdvantage-Platinum-Mastercard-review-b1353 If airmiles are your goal, this is a great card.  I have seen bonus sign up offers ranging from 15,000 to 25,000 airmiles, and this through a very good organization in my opinion. In the 10 years I have carried an AAdvantage Citibank Mastercard, I have had zero problems, and have found Citibank to have a very helpful staff.  This is much more than I can say for some other cards I have carried.  — 1 airmile per dollar spent through the card is awarded, and your airmiles can be utilized on many other carriers participating in the One World network. which means you can fly anyplace in the world you find you want to go on airmiles. Offers for increased mileage awards are also available for hotels, car rentals, dining, etc.  — There is an annual fee involved, but the fee is waived for the first year of card utilization.  I carry no credit card balances, so the interest rate is not as important as the benefits to me, but if a low interest rate is... Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:12:45 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Citi-AAdvantage-Platinum-Mastercard-review-b1353 steve9631 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Columbia-Sportswear-The-Great-Conversion-Backpack-review-b3972 Don't choose between a bag and a backpack, cause you can have it all in one bag.  The (UU9201) Columbia Great Conversion Backpack makes traveling in carry on mode a snap.   Want a backpack?  Unzip the shoulder straps from the strap concealing compartment on the back of the pack and clip them to the bottom of the pack.  You're off!  Want a bag?  Unclasp the shoulder straps from the bottom of the pack, and zip them away.  Away you go!  Want to check your bag, just stow the straps and join the "I hope my bag made it", lottery with the airlines. It has an external compartment for your luggage tag by the handle with a retracting strap.  — Add strong zippers and waterproof construction, and you have the ultimate conversion type carry on vehicle for your travels.  It's comfortable enough to haul around on your back, fits easily into the overhead, plus you have a special padded compartment for carrying your... Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:37:02 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Columbia-Sportswear-The-Great-Conversion-Backpack-review-b3972 steve9631 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Cuisinart-Grind-Brew-Thermal-Coffee-Maker-review-2e017 If you like freshly ground coffee in the morning with no effort involved other than waking up, this is the horse right here.  You load it up with beans in the grinder apparatus, pour in the water, insert the filter, turn on the timer, and voila!  Freshly ground coffee upon awakening.  It's a solidly made coffee maker/grinder from Cuisinart, and sports a stainless steel carafe that if preheated, will keep your coffee hot all day long without the use of a underneath the pot type heating element.  Ground coffee may also be utilized should you wish, by pouring the grind into the filter basket, and turning off the grinding mechanism, which is quite simple.  — This machine takes a small bit more effort on the cleaning front as there are more parts than a traditional coffee maker, but cleaning can be accomplished in under 60 seconds, and the small amount of effort it takes by cleaning the surfaces for the reward of freshly ground coffee in the... Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:00:11 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Cuisinart-Grind-Brew-Thermal-Coffee-Maker-review-2e017 steve9631 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Comcast-Cable-Company-review-a3844 I like Comcast quite a bit as a service provider.  While there are some cheaper options out there, Comcast has always performed like a champ for us.  I have their Triple Play Option - cable entertainment, phone/fax lines, Internet service, and I can do nothing but rave about the service they provide.  — I have two phone lines, one fax, and one personal with all of the options, and no long distance charges.  In the five plus years I have had Comcast, and living in an area with occasional really nasty weather, I have never had one service go down, and thats a lot more than I can say for my previous provider.  The Internet connection is lightening like fast, and the cable package has it all.  As a plus for having all three services, I get a discount on my bill, and also receive frequent free ON DEMAND movie vouchers.  — As I go through the continual process of remodeling my vintage 1924 house, barn, and garage, Comcast techs have been... Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:41:04 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Comcast-Cable-Company-review-a3844 steve9631 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Fox-News-review-1a102 1.)  Unethical — 2.)  Distortion of truth to promote right winged agenda — 3.)  Totally biased — 4.)  That O'Reilly idiot — 5.)  Believe attacking an innocent country was a good idea — 6.)  Believe outing a CIA agent isn't treason, and responsible party should be pardoned — 7.)  Still believe there were WMD's in Iraq. — 8.)  Fox & Friends — 9.)  Think Cheney is a good guy — 10.)  The entire "News" staff — 11.)  They think Bush is a good President — 12.)  They believe waterboarding is a recreational sport. — 13.)   The Constitution just gets in the way — 14.)  They believe Islamic terrorists are responsible for Hurricane Katrina — 15.)   Shopping should be the first response to any national emergency.  — 16.)   Thinks the housing crisis was the Democrats fault — 17,)  Karl Rove —... Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:17:56 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Fox-News-review-1a102 steve9631 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/Blue-Mountain-Jamaica-Blue-Mountain-Coffee-review-29065 Ever had a cup of coffee that you just wanted to stay full all day long so you could just sip at it?  Me too, and this is the one for me.  Great body, great flavor, organic, fresh, and with a high price to match it's elite status.  It's just one great coffee.  — Grown in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica at 5,500 ft. in a forest reserve, (where Jamaica is actually the recipient of snow at times), this coffee is unique.  I've never tasted a coffee I like as much and savor the moments when I have it around the kitchen.   It's available in ground or whole beans, and several types of #1 coffee beans are available for your purchase.  There is nothing like a coffee that your friends will come from near and far to share a cup with you, but I'd hoard it for myself because this coffee isn't cheap, and you can always find more friends.  Know what I mean? — Priced at around $2.00 USD an ounce, it's the most expensive coffee in... Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:27:22 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Blue-Mountain-Jamaica-Blue-Mountain-Coffee-review-29065 steve9631 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Tube-review-7b460 When I'm traveling I'm a frequent user of public transportation, and the Tube in London, England is probably the best mass transit system I have ever been on.  Take heed America, in this case, Britain does it better, and does it with a comprehensive transit network, and frequent convienient local stops that are designed to move massive amounts of people quickly and efficiently, and it works.    — Fast, clean, safe, efficient, affordable, and will take you close to wherever you wish to go in merry old London.  The airport, it goes there, Hyde Park, no problem, Waterloo Train Station, yep, a connection to the Eurostar, yes there too, Soho and the theater district, yes, out for Chinese food, yes, yes, and yes.  It just works so well the locals all take it for granted, while the Americans traveling abroad are simply amazed at it's simplicity and utter efficiency.  Why can't we do this?  We put men on the moon, but our... Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:55:45 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Tube-review-7b460 steve9631 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Bank-of-America-Alaska-Airlines-Signature-Visa-review-b7e53 A great card with great benefits.  With the Alaska Airlines Signature Visa you get: — 1.)  One companion 1/2 price ticket good for anywhere Alaska/Horizon Air flies every year. — 2.)  Discount option for Alaska Airlines Board Room membership. — 3.)  2000 bonus mile anniversary award for each year you have your card. — 4.)  24/7 Concierge service. — 5.)  2 miles for every dollar spent on Alaska/Horizon Air travel — 6.)  1 mile for every dollar spent on your card. — This card in short, rocks!!!  You can redeem your miles on Alaska Airlines web site for Alaska or other participating airlines with your airmiles, get awards for other airlines and choose your seats on other airlines.  — It's the best card I have found for actual functionality with the bank card /airmiles connection.  Best of all, it's with Bank of America.  I find it to be a solidly good investment of my... Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:00:29 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Bank-of-America-Alaska-Airlines-Signature-Visa-review-b7e53 steve9631 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Santa-Clara-Panama-review-9ddc7 Is there anything better than hangin' at the beach on a sunny day?  Not in my world.  In my world there's sunshine, turquoise water, sand, surf, an abundance of hammocks, and two watering holes where you can get Mojitos to go.  Errrr......hay that discribes Santa Clara beach in the Republic of Panama, and I think it may be one of my favorite beaches in the world.  — It's not a tourist spot exactly, it's much more a local spot where those of Panama City come to shake off the work week and just enjoy the sun.  Those kind of spots are my favorite as you get to meet the locals, and they tend to give you more of the flavor of the country.  Just about an hour west of Panama City,over the Bridge of the Americas, (the bridge that connects the North and South American continents over the Panama Canal), and down the Pan American Highway lies Santa Clara beach and the very small town of Santa Clara.  Beautiful?  No, that doesn't quite cover... Tue, 10 Jun 2008 02:34:54 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Santa-Clara-Panama-review-9ddc7 steve9631 5