Reviews by zwep

zwep says "Dries clothes quickly but creates wrinkles in the process" about Frigidaire GLGQ332

zwep — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:41:23 GMT

At the same time I bought the Frigidaire GLTF1040SA front-loading washer, I bought this Frigidaire GLGQ332 "matching" gas dryer (please see my separate review for the washer if you're interested). The Frigidaire GLGQ332 dryer is the same form-factor as the Frigidaire GLTF1040SA washing machine, namely it can be stacked or used side-by-side, and the controls are located on the front of the machine, rather than on a panel mounted on the top of the machine towards the back edge as is more common with most laundry appliances.

The main reason I bought this dryer was that it matched the form-factor of the washing machine I wanted to buy, and also that it ran on gas. Electric dryers are more flexable if you move and cannot get gas where your new home is, since you certainly are likely to have a 230V connection for an electric dryer in your laundry area even if you have a home plumbed for gas...without going into the merits of natural gas to heat rather than electricity, I will just say that...

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zwep says "Uses less water, though specific detergent required" about Frigidaire GLTF1040SA Washing Machine

zwep — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:12:29 GMT

A few years ago my 11 year old washing machine started leaking (I had bought it used when I bought my home) and I was thus in the market for a new washing machine. I live in a fairly arid state where water use is an issue (cost of water goes up based on amount used, especially in summer) as well as energy...so I was interested in going with a front-loading washing machine, since they are known to use less water than a typical top-loading machine...I shopped around, and ended up going with the Frigidaire Model GLTF1040SA front loading washing machine, after I found a good deal on it at a retailer (I also bought at the same time the "matching" Frigidaire Model GLGQ332A51 gas fired dryer which I'll review separately).

The Frigidaire Model GLTF1040SA has controls only on the front, which allows you to stack the matching dryer if you want, using a kit to mechanically hold them together...if you don't want to stack them you can still use them side-by-side and have a nice top to fold clothes...

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zwep says "If you can't FTP a file...flash drives in place of old floppy" about SanDisk Cruzer® Micro (512 MB) USB 2.0 Flash Drive (sdcz4512a10)

zwep — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:18:40 GMT

Well, guess I have to put this in perspective...my SANDISK Cruzer® Micro (512 MB) USB 2.0 Flash Drive is a convenient "sneakernet" tool (i.e. something you can physically copy files to from one computer and handcarry it to another computer (or give it to another person) to affect a file transfer) when I can't otherwise electronically copy a file by network copy (FTP, etc.). Of course, the old "standby" used to be the 3.5" floppy disk, and I'm dating myself by saying I used 5.25" and 8" floppies, before that digital cassette tape, and even paper (or mylar) tape and card stacks. ...of course compared to this, the SANDISK Cruzer® Micro (512 MB) USB 2.0 Flash Drive is a pleasure to use and like other flash drives almost de reguir when giving someone a file that they need on a system that you can't otherwise send to them or have them "pull" from an ftp server.

Yes, of course there are physically larger flash drives, but compared to the one I'm replacing this with (an original...

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zwep says "Durability questionable, plus non-user replaceable battery " about Palm Tungsten E Handheld

zwep — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:32 GMT

Maybe I'm not meant to be the personal organizer type, but I acquired a Palm Tungsten E. I used it for maybe 6 months before it died (wouldn't take a charge) and did use it and found parts of it useful, others less so, but I guess everyone is a bit different in some ways, and that's why opinions on usefuilness vary so much.

First I should mention that I also have a CASIO DBC-310 calculator wristwatch which doesn't really replace an organizer, but has several functions that most wristwatches don't have, which I'd otherwise use an organizer for, besides the requisite calculator function, it also stores phone numbers and can be used to set appointments. The latter functions are admittedly less user-friendly on my watch, since the watch has less memory and not really an operating system per se like the PALM OS, nor do you have the useful sync function on the watch (some watches now do have , but not the CASIO). However, I never really got comfortable carrying the PALM organizer with me......

zwep says "Great place to Shop---wish we had KMART where I live now" about Kmart - Wilkes Barre, PA

zwep — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:59:50 GMT

Although we used to have KMART stores in the town I live in, about 5 years ago they all closed, so the only chance we get to visit one is when we go out of town on vacation.
We went to the KMART in Wilkes-Barre (there's also a KMART across the river in Edwardsville/Larksville on Rt. 11 near Narrows Shopping Center which we shop in more often when we're in the area, but both KMARTS appear to be well-stocked and it is easy to find things in the stores). My father likes the lightweight denim jeans (hard to find in other stores, including Walmart) at KMART. He bought some shoes (velcro-closing walking shoes).
We seem always to have good luck finding things at KMART (I'm not the type that likes to browse while shopping; I like to find what I'm looking for quickly then leave ...not the kind of shopper most stores want...I appreciate that KMART makes it easy to find things, are well laid out, have good stock, and attractive merchandise. I just wish we still had them in the town I currently......

zwep says "Separate from TGI Fridays...worth a stay when in Wilkes-Barre" about Holiday Inn WILKES - BARRE (ARENA) - Wilkes-Barre, PA

zwep — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:38:26 GMT

I stayed at the Holiday Inn Wilkes-Barre on Kidder St. From the road (Kidder St) the first thing you see is the attached TGI FRIDAY'S restaurant, but the restaurant and the hotel are separate (just close-by) establishments...There's also another nearby motel Host Inn which is a bit more expensive than the Holiday Inn, which I've not stayed at. They are near the interchange of Kidder St. and the Cross-Valley Expressway, which is one of the busier locations in Wilkes-Barre, but I didn't notice any more noise that in an other hotel while staying there. There are just enough parking spots for the 2 hotels and 1 restaurant; the backside of the motel overlooks the cross valley expressway and has a sharp drop-off (fenced in, so no worry about falling).
The rooms were very nice and comfortable. I stayed for about 3 days in the fall, and the room was nice and warm. A nice continental breakfast was included; at the time they were using 2 adjoining rooms at one end of the hotel for breakfast......

zwep says "Good deal in Wilkes-Barre" about Days Inn Wilkes Barre - Wilkes Barre, PA

zwep — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:21:04 GMT

We stayed for a week at the Days Inn Wilkes-Barre, which is conveniently located on route 315, near the Cross-Valley expressway, and down from (and across rte 315 from) the Wyoming Valley Mall. There are several other hotels in this area, and we had last stayed at this Days Inn about 25 years ago, hadn't had a chance to stay there since then.
We asked for a first-floor room, even though there is an elevator, since my father is handicapped he prefers rooms on the first floor, and the office found one available. You go through a small lobby, through an equally small breakfast area (almost a hallway) to the elevator or to the first-floor rooms.
The rooms come with the normal amenities, and a continental breakfast is included.We liked the large amount of available "flat" parking (Wilkes-Barre is a hilly area, and many places are built into and around the hills). Also the location is conveinent to restaurants and shopping (especially if you have a car) as well as the Cross-Valley expressway......

zwep says "Quite a bit of disassembly; worth it if you want to keep opener" about Sears Craftsman LiftMaster Chamberlain Gear & Sprocket Assembly Kit

zwep — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:20:53 GMT

I'm a big believer in fix-it yourself if possible, so when my 22 year old Sears Garage door opener stopped working, I took off the cover and saw lots of nylon shavings and a stripped main gear (also nylon). I guess I should have removed the cover earlier and made sure it had lots of grease on it (I grease the rails, but I guess I forgot about the moving parts inside the opener...good tip to those who still have a working one, open yours up and put some grease on the gears to save you from having to do this repair. My review is for the replacement gear kit (p/n 41C4220A from Sears).

I could have just replaced the opener with a new one, but I wanted to save some money (at the expense of several hours of my time); also the new openers I think have a different remote control system; I sometimes use my opener to open similar garage doors for my parents and my sister's house (we all have our garage door openers coded the same). Maybe Sears sells downward-compatible openers, but I don't...

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zwep says "Does what I need it to do...just a phone" about Tracfone - Motorola V170 Prepaid Cell Phone

zwep — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:00:43 GMT

I'll admit that I'm probably one of the last people around to own a cellular phone, which is a bit strange (when I was in school I read papers describing cell phone networks, and early in my career I worked for the Bell system (pre-breakup), though on transmission equipment, not end-user items like phones). I waited for the longest time to get one, but finally said "Uncle" this year and got this phone (in black rather than silver). In contast, my youngest sister has had a series of different ones since the early 90's (including one of the big clunky analog Motorola phones they had back then).

Well I don't think you can even buy an analog phone anymore, but probably one of the most basic phones you can get nowdays is probably the Motorola V170. It is just a phone; no camera, no browser (though this might be implementation-specific, the Tracfone I have lacks this browser), though you can use it to send text messages. So have no illusions, if you only need a phone, no organizer, etc.,...

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zwep says "Great blower---so-so vacuum" about Craftsman 12amp Electric Blower with Vac Kit

zwep — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:45:24 GMT

I'm not really a big fan of leaf blowers; most of the time you'll see me sweeping up with a broom; likewise I'm not a big weedwacker fan (do it as seldom as I thing I can get away with), but I do admit that there are times when I've got a lot of debris I want to move around that would take awhile with a broom (mostly when I'm hot, tired, and lack for time)...so I went out and bought a Craftsman 12amp Electric Blower with Vac Kit (Sears item# 07174824000) when my old blower conked out and I couldn't repair it (circuit board broke apart around motor).

Well, the blower part seems to work well enough except for one "infant mortality" issue: almost immediately the lower of the two blower speeds on the leaf blower stopped working for me (only now works at high speed)...The lower speed worked for a minute or so before it stopped, must have blown out a resistor or contact quickly. Other than that, the blower seems to work fine.

I also was attracted to the vaccuum function of this blower. It is...

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zwep says "Easily Broken door handle holds your dishes/glassware hostage" about Maytag Dishwasher - Quiet Series 200

zwep — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:47:13 GMT

My parents own this diswasher (Maytag Quiet Series 200) but I'm very familar with it, having loaded/emptied dishes and also unfortunately had to repair it frequently when it gave them problems.

Starting out on a positive note, the dishwasher has some nice features, like the all nylon rack (keeps you from having rusty rack stain your dishes/silverware as the washer gets inevitable nicks in coating). It is also well laid out, though it makes you think a bit differently about loading the dishes to use the most of its capacity. In particular, the racks are canted such that one side holds tall glasses better, and opposite side below holds tall dishes. There's even a handy "flat" rack to lay skinny plates or lids on very bottom of dishwasher. The dishwasher has a "tall capacity" form factor that seems to be able to hold a lot of dishes/glasses/etc. It does a credible job of washing them, though we do pre-rinse/scrape dishes and sliverware before putting them in the dishwasher.

So...what's...

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zwep says "Very nice, spacious vehicle that gets great regular gas mileage" about Chevrolet Impala - 2006

zwep — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:00:31 GMT

My father has a 2006 Chevrolet Impala, which I've driven often (mostly on long road trips, 3500 miles round-trip). He bought this car new to replace his 2000 Chevrolet Impala when it developed a big electrical problem. Naturally my review will compare/contrast the two cars, since Chevrolet updated the car between these model years, and the two cars are similar but with important differences due to these updates (and some equipment variation, since the two cars have different options). I've put a similar review for the 2000 Chevrolet Impala on this site.

His 2006 Chevrolet Impala is a base LS model, having exactly one option (a range extender for his keyfob remote control, not sure why it is needed, since the old car without that option seemed to have a keyfob that unlocked doors at adequate ranges for practical purposes). His 2000 Chevrolet Impala had a few more options, like radio with RDS (radio data system, identifies station content), drivers (but not passenger) side-mounted...

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zwep says "Great car, but seemed to have electrical gremlin" about Chevrolet Impala - 2000

zwep — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 20:57:33 GMT

My father had a 2000 Chevrolet Impala. He no longer owns this car (more about this later) but I drove the car often (mostly on long road trips, 3500 miles round-trip). He now owns a 2006 Chevrolet Impala, which I've also driven similarly, and will review separately, but naturally my review will compare/contrast the two cars, since Chevrolet updated the car between these model years, and the two cars are similar but with important differences due to these updates (and some equipment variation, since the two cars have different options).

The 2000 Chevrolet Impala is a very nice car, I think in many ways I preferred it to the 2006 Impala. For instance, the rear seat on the 2000 Impala was very roomy, much roomier than on the 2006 model. It also folded down (even on the base model), whereas on the 2006 you must get a higher trim model to get the fold down rear seat (I think it was an option on the base model in 2000). The fold down rear seat allows you to carry longer items than...

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zwep says "Convienient to I30" about executive inn arkadelphia - Arkadelphia, AR

zwep — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:02:18 GMT

We had a motel coupon for the Executive Inn in Arkadelphia, AR., which we used while passing through on our trip. The hotel was easy to find off of I30 in Arkadelphia, We had a nonsmoking room with 2 double beds on the ground floor (which is important to my Father, who is handicapped).

The hotel was comfortable for an overnight stay. It had the normal breakfast offering, available pretty early (we were there at 6 AM, not sure when they open on the weekend as we were there during a weekday).

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zwep says "Pretty Plush" about Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Marshall - Marshall, TX

zwep — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:40:24 GMT

My father had a $50 off card for a stay at a Marriott or Fairfield Inn, and for the last stay of our trip we stayed at the Fairfield Inn in Marshall, Texas. It appears to be a pretty new property, and they reserved us a ground floor room (even though it has an elevator, my Father prefers ground floor). It took them a few minutes at checkin to make sure the room was ready for us (we checked in a bit early, having arrived earlier than we expected), but the double room was very nice.

Fairfield Inn seems to have all sorts of hospitable touches, like fresh-baked cookies and lemonade in the lobby. The breakfast or common room was set up for a lunch, with hamburgers, soup, and even kimchee, but we gathered that it was from a special function. The hotel had an indoor pool/hot tub, and a small exercise room with 2 treadmills and a recumbant cycle.

The room was, well, roomy (pun intended), with flat-screen TV, a desk, with both wireless (802.5b) and hardwired connections in room and in the common...

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zwep says "Convienient to I70 and Buckeye Lake" about Super 8 Motel - Buckeye Lake, Ohio - Buckeye Lake, OH

zwep — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:36:44 GMT

We were looking for a hotel near Buckeye Lake in Ohio, and found the Super 8 Motel in Buckeye Lake. It is an older property just off I70, and looked to have been adjacent to a truckstop which looked to have gone out of business (the entrance to the property is near the truckstop). We only stayed one night, it was a bit threadbare around the edges, but was adequete for our needs. The room didn't have a refrigerator (some Super 8's do, others do not) which we would have apprciated, but did have icemaker. The room was quiet. We had the normal Super 8 breakfast, which we appreciated. We are very likely to return to the area, and when we do, we will certainly consider staying at this Super 8 hotel....

zwep says "Good deal" about Comfort Inn Northeast - Cincinnati, OH

zwep — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:14:52 GMT

We were passing through Cincinnati, and wanted to stay on the northeast part of town off I71 so that we could drive up to I70 without having to go through the city the next morning. Ths Comfort inn Northeast in Cincinnati worked well for us in this respect. We asked for a downstairs room since my father is handicapped, which they arranged for us.

The room was comfortable. The hotel is close to lots of restaurants, stores, etc, being near to Kings Island (we didn't visit there, it wasn't an issue in our choosing this hotel). There was a fair amount of traffic on the roads near the hotel, which made it a little difficult to return to the hotel when we went out to eat, but not really a big deal.

The hotel included a breakfast which was pretty good.

We enjoyed our stay here, and would return if the opportunity came up again to be in the area.

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zwep says "First stay in Effingham" about Super 8 Motel - Effingham - Effingham, IL

zwep — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:05:57 GMT

The Super8 Effingham Ill was a good choice.

We had only travelled through Effingham 6 months previously, but hadn't gotten a chance to stay the night until this trip. We had a coupon for a discount on the room and decided to check it out.

The person checking us in was very helpful, got us a downstairs room (my father is handicapped) and let us know that the previous trip rewards program had morphed into the new Wyndham Rewards, and let us know our info so we could get credit for the night.

The room was pretty standard as far as Super 8's go, but also had a refrigerator and seemed better maintained than other Super 8's. The breakfast was pretty basic, but it was well appreciated by us so we didn't need to stop for breakfast the next morning.

There are lots of restaurants, stores, etc. nearby as well as the Interstate(s). The only confusing part of the directions is this is where I70 and I57 come together, so the exit numbers jump suddenly from about 97 to 162 (the hotel is at exit...

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zwep says "Finally got to stay at Comfort Inn Rodi Road" about Comfort Inn Conference Center - Pittsburgh, PA

zwep — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:47:02 GMT

We had originally planned to stay at Comfort Inn Pittsburgh East in July 2006, but an illness in my family revectored our plans, and even last year when we stopped in Pittsburgh we didn't get to stay, but for a mistake in directions, we might not have even stayed this year (we missed turnoff for I79 N and ended up going through the tunnel into downtown Pittsburgh). However, it turned out to work well for us.

I'll be first to admit I'm not very familar with Pittsburgh, despite having lived there 47 years ago (at a tender age), but I was travelling with my Parents who understandably recall the area better than I do. We checked into the motel on Rodi road (not too hard to find, but getting back onto Rodi Road can be tricky making left hand turn during rush hour). The hotel is on several levels on a hillside, and the lobby is on its own level, the rooms on another level (kind of like a split-level house, the rooms might be 1/2 floor up or down from Lobby level).

The rooms were spacious;...

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zwep says "Classic Sears in old Hancock shopping center" about Sears - Austin, TX

zwep — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:19:38 GMT

What can I say about Sears at Hancock shopping center besides "classic"? I picture the store opening in 1963 in Austin located on part of the land that used to be the Hancock Golf course, to me somehow that seems to be a "snapshot" of the 1960's. Fast forward to the present, though I've been shopping at Sears Hancock for 25 years (I wasn't in Austin in 1963 when Sears opened here), but I've spent a fair amount of time (and money) at this store...when I first moved to Austin I used to live near here, and would sometimes come down on my bicycle (before I had a bicycle accident) to shop here, later and currently by car...in fact I still take my car to the auto service center here for new tires and alignment service. The service can take awhile, but I don't mind, I often go over to Sears to look over some other purchase I may be planning to eventually make (which isn't like me normally, I'm not much of an in-person shopper, I like to browse online and figure out what I want to buy, then...

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