WMF Deco Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $31.99 -- our price: $31.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

A true cocktail party needs a few indisputable elements: top-shelf liquor, witty conversation, salty mixed nuts, a beautiful stranger with a secret, and this art-deco-inspired stainless-steel cocktail shaker from WMF. If you don't have these things, then you're just having people over for drinks. OK, beautiful, mysterious strangers can be hard to come by, I'll give you that, but there's no excuse not to have a cocktail shaker. WMF's shaker makes four to six martinis or manhattans, depending on how strong and cold you like them. --Dana Van Nest ... Read more

Features

• High-quality 18/10 stainless steel
• Sleek German design
• Great for entertaining or everyday use
• Makes four to six martinis or manhattans

Reviews (2)

Looks pretty but...
Looks pretty but the shaker is actually quite a pain to use. Why? When you put ice and drink ingredients in the shaker and seal it with the well fitting lid, the cold creates a vacuum inside the shaker. Thus, separating the lid from the tin becomes INSANELY difficult, slowing down your drink making. Also, there's no built in strainer; if you're going to buy a shaker you might as well get one that has the strainer built in. This shaker only looks good on the shelf, where it will happily gather dust for you. Professionals use a pint glass, mixing tin, and strainer which have a steeper learning curve. However, once you learn the technique those three items are WAY easier to mix with.

Great Shaker
This is a great cocktail shaker.The stainless steel makes for easy rinse and ready to make the next drink.A must for your home cocktail parties! ... Read more

Asin: B00004S4UZ
Subjects:  1. Spirits    2. Martinis    3. Cocktail Shakers    4. Barware    5. (Bar Ware)    6. Bartending    7. Bar Tools   

HoMedics BLTW-500 51-Inch Aquascape Twist Bubble Lamp
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $90.00
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Editorial Review

Remember lava lamps? However nostalgic they might make you feel, they're clearly outclassed by this much bigger, more sophisticated mood light. A vertical water tank, it uses a 20-watt, 12-volt halogen bulb and an air pump (hidden away in the base) to create a rising column of bubbles. A four-color wheel causes the powerful halogen light beam to change colors automatically. The twisty, columnar tank is made of transparent plastic; the domed, corrugated stand is plastic too, but its black surface looks like metal unless you get real close. AC adapter included. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Features

• AC adapter included
• 20-watt halogen lamp is relaxing, decorative
• 51 inches tall, "transparent twist" design
• Fills with air bubbles that change color automatically
• Air pump hidden in base creates rising column of bubbles

Reviews (8)

This is awesome!
I just got my bubble light for Xmas....a little early!LOL!I love it!The colors are vivid and the fish are so cute.It is one of the most relaxing things I have owned.You can just stare at it for hours!!The pump is nice and quiet and runs great.It looks to be well made.They provide you with three halogen bulbs and I found replacements on their web page...if I ever need them.I would highly recommend this product.It's the lava lamp of the 21 century!

Bad Rendition of Great Idea
While the idea behind this product is ingenious, its implementation was very disappointing.After owning several aquatic sculptures hand crafted in the USA by MIDWEST TROPICAL, I decided to buy the Homedics bubble tube.It really did not live up to any of our expectations.The tube's use of cheap, flimsy, tennis-ball-tube-like material reflects its quality as a hastily made piece of Chinese junk.Once this unit starts giving you problems, and it will, you may as well throw it in the garbage.The pump goes dead in a matter of no time, and the light is impossible to find once it burns out.Customer support on this product was non-existent.While the idea of aquatic sculptures is a truly great one, I find Homedics' interpretation of MIDWEST TROPICAL's products crude and cheap.If you're looking for a piece of aquatic artwork, go to the people who invented the idea of indoor water products, Midwest Tropical.MIDWEST TROPICAL's designs are exceptional, staff gracious, and most importantly their quality is second to none.If you're looking for cheap imported garbage look no further than Homedics, if you're looking for an exceptional aquatic piece from the company that created the industry go to MIDWEST TROPICAL.

Colors are really pale.
I like this lamp.I did find the ad a little misleading.The colors are not vivid at all,are really pale.So it's not like it shows on the box or here on this site.
Was worried about the hum of the pump. but it's not bad at all.
Did find that it helps to put those little pads in between the two part base.Discovered alot of the humming noise was from vibration. So that solved that.Takes less than 2 gallons of distilled water to fill it.Overall wish the colors were more intense.Yellow is the clearest one, can't see the others at all. But still like it. ... Read more

Asin: B000050FF6
Subjects:  1. Spa    2. Tabletop Fountains   

Polaris 60mm AZ-D Telescope
Average Customer Review:
Toy
list price: $129.99
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Editorial Review

The Meade Polaris 60 AZ-D is a quality refracting telescope for land or sky viewing. It is perfect for observing celestial objects like Saturn, Jupiter,and the moon. It has an attractive design and fits in any room. The Polaris 60AZ-D is a cost-efficient telescope for the beginner. ... Read more

Features

• Model Number: 4304
• Objective Lens: 60 Millimeters
• Focal Length: 700 Millimeters

Reviews (6)

Telescope
Its nice and you can look at the stars and its so fun.

You get what you pay for
with this cheap and cheerful 'scope from Meade. I liked their 90-AZ-F model far more, but it's [$$$] more expensive and you have to purpose build a stable viewing platform out of red brick in order to use it, so as a compromise, the 60-AZ-D is a much better choice. For children wishing to spy on school friends two blocks down you can't go wrong with this. Does exactly what it says on the box - "Warning - this product may contain nuts."

eyepieces serverly limit view-here are tips for you...
not a bad little telescope but the eye pieces are of the poorest
quality .not what i expected from a company with such a good name.
if you use the scope with out the 3x barlow (total junk) and with out angle mirror (also very poor resoslution )and use the eye piece dirrectly its just ok . then add a stone or other near by heavy object on tripod stay and the shaking will stop..
adjust the thumb screws so you get just enough resistance to move scope -good luck -and buy better eye pieces if you plan to keep it .. ... Read more

Asin: B00004TDPP
Subjects:  1. 60 AZ D 60AZD    2. Learning    3. Science    4. Astronomy    5. Space    6. Telescope (Telescopes)    7. Star Gazing (Gaze)    8. Refractor (Refractors)   

Mad Catz Joy Stick
Average Customer Review:
Electronics

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Features

• For 1 player
• Joy stick for Playstation
• 3 thumb buttons
• 10 buttons
• Classic gray color matches the Playstation

Reviews (2)

one handed miracle
I have a nine year old that is handicapped and can use only one hand. This joy stick rocks because it allows him to play games on the playstaion and be like the other kids. It is the only one on the market that really works for him. Which means it works for me.Thank You Mad Catz!!!!!!!!!!

Mediocre joystick
Well yes, it is a joystick, but beware because it is NOT analog, and the simulated pulse digital mode I found unsatisfactory, at least on the flying game I was most keenly interested in using this on (Colony Wars).It's big, it's sturdy, and I guess it's ok, provided you don't need fine analog control (don't count on the pulse digital mode to fulfill that role very well) and are really looking for a big stick with large action buttons.To me, it's not worth paying a lot for, especially when there are analog sticks out there, and analog pads with full-disc rocker-style direction pads on them...either of these could serve you better, and the pads are often quite cheap. ... Read more

Asin: B00002CETS
Sales Rank: 13812
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Hardware    3. Controllers    4. Sony Playstation (Play station)    5. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    6. Controller   

Fiskars 92345935Pruning Stik
Average Customer Review:
Tools & Hardware
list price: $69.99 -- our price: $49.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

It's nice to know that geniuses are working to make your pruning jobs easier. Fiskars' Pruning Stik is cleverly designed and built to professional-quality standards. Featuring ingenious PowerStroke sliding-grip cutting action, the Stik lets you prune by simply sliding the plastic grip (or pulling the orange ball end), which makes use of a chain and spring to snip the blades closed. In addition, the cutting head rotates 240 degrees to allow you the best pruning angle (didn't we say it was clever?). The replaceable xylan-coated blade is ultrahardened to stay sharp longer than most blades on the market, and it offers a cutting capacity of 1-1/4 inches. The aluminum handles are durable and light, weighing less than 2 pounds, and their length allows you to reach high branches without a ladder and remove growth at ground level while standing. ... Read more

Features

• Limited lifetime warranty
• Overall length: 62 inches
• Unique sliding-grip cutting action
• Replaceable xylan-coated-ultrahardened blade with 1-1/4-inch cutting capacity
• Cutting head rotates 240 degrees for best pruning angle

Reviews (15)

like buttah!!!!
excellent trimmer!!! i have a couple of hedges that are "a few feet" out of reach of my cordless trimmer. i looked around for awhile and all i saw were these ENORMOUS "telescopic" trimmers with dangling strings that looked IMPOSSIBLY "un-wieldy". with the aid of my stepladder i was able to EFFORTLESSLY trim branches at the top of my tallest hedges and the lower regions of the trees in my yard. you can cut the limbs SIMPLY by pulling the "ball-end" of the trimmer OR (in closer corners) the sliding-handle midway up the shaft. IN EITHER CASE the cuts are EFFORTLESS. perhaps it's the "chain drive" of the cutting mechanism. ALL IN ALL,..this is a QUALITY tool. do you REALLY need a HEAVY "extension" trimmer that weighs in a 10-15 pounds?? (like me) maybe not. the Fiskar is 2 lbs. (tops) and is EASY to handle whilst navigating an average ladder AND it stores away easily in a closet/shed AND it cuts through moderately sized twigs and limbs LIKE BUTTER . PERFECT i say...just PERFECT.

Fiskars 92345935 Pruning Stik
VERY HANDY AND LIGHT,AVAILABLE AT TARGET FOR 39.99. I LIKE THE ADJUSTABLE ANGLE OF THE HEAD AND NO DANGLY ROPE TO TANGLE UP!

Here's one thats not gonna break!
I had a cable driven long pruner, and besides the fact that it ... near broke my hand to clip a large branch with it, the thing was fragile.I used to live on nearly and acre of property with a row of pines along the back.They would get all brown near the bottom so I would try and prune them up to about the point where they could get enough sun to stay green. To do that you need a pruner with a little reach to it?

I saw this model on TV and hunted it down, finding it first on Amazon.I could barely believe the price quoted on the TV show, (it wasn't a commercial, it was a how-to show) they said the stick only cost about [$$$].Its not quite that cheap, but the quality here is excellent.It uses a chain, not unlike a bike chain, to drive the extended cutter. It uses a slider, leverage system to pull the chain to make the cuts.The cutting blades themselves are very sharp and can be adjusted to any angle.This becomes an important concern when you have about a dozen pine trees to trip.

The stick will also do fine when you don't need the extended length.Remember those hedge trimmers that looked like a huge pair of scissors? I used to hurt my wrists every year, trying to get enough momentum to trim the bushes in front of the house I was renting.If you tried to cut too, slow it would get stuck, too fast, and the handles would stop abruptly hurting my wrists!This cutter, although smaller than a hedge trimmer, cut so quick and easily that it made trimming the bushes a pleasure.I could even get lazy, and sit down in a chair, and do them from a distance. Try that with your electric model! The bushes never shaped up so well before.

The blades will cut close to a one-inch branch, and I haven't had to sharpen it yet.Just keep the chain free of dirt, and keep a little mower oil on it, or cycle spray and it continues to work like new.Sometimes they just make a tool that becomes the defacto standard for a while, and for my money this is it.Don't risk cutting your arm off with a chainsaw. If you've got a little pruning to do, get this Pruning Stik and start clipping away. ... Read more

Asin: B00004SD6U
Subjects:  1. Landscaping Tools    2. Hand Tools    3. Pruners   

The drill comes in a sturdy plastic carrying case with a battery charger and one driver bit that fits in a handy slot in the top of the drill. The bottom line? You'll have no problem completing any basic household projects with the FireStorm. If you have major home improvement plans, though, you may want to consider stepping up to a professional-grade model. --Tim Block ... Read more

Features

• 3/8" keyless chuck for easy bit changes
• Variable speed switch with electric brake
• High output, fan cooled motor for longer life
• Mid handle balanced design
• Two year home use warranty

Asin: B0000302UM
Subjects:  1. Black & Decker    2. (Black and Decker)    3. Cordless Tools    4. (Volt)    5. (V)    6. Drill-Drivers   

Apollo 13
by Tom Hanks Bill Paxton Kevin Bacon Gary Sinise Ed Harris
Director: Ron Howard
Average Customer Review:
VHS Tape (02 January, 2000)
list price: $9.98
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Editorial Review

NASA's worst nightmare turned into one of the space agency's most heroic moments in 1970, when the Apollo 13 crew was forced to hobble home in a disabled capsule after an explosion seriously damaged the moon-bound spacecraft. Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton play (respectively) astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise in director Ron Howard's intense, painstakingly authentic docudrama. The Apollo 13 crew and Houston-based mission controllers race against time and heavy odds to return the damaged spacecraft safely to Earth from a distance of 205,500 miles. Using state-of-the-art special effects and ingenious filmmaking techniques, Howard and his stellar cast and crew build nail-biting tension while maintaining close fidelity to the facts. The result is a fitting tribute to the Apollo 13 mission and one of the biggest box-office hits of 1995. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• NTSC

Reviews (105)

Cropping DVD = Super 35 format used in most films today.
Actually, the 'cropping' seen on the DVD was also on the laserdisc, letterboxed VHS, and theatrical editions of the film.This was also evident in films like "Terminator 2" and "The Matrix", where films are shot in fullframe 1.33:1 and later reframed to either 1.85:1 or preferably 2.35:1 theatrical aspect, thus masking the top and bottom of the picture.A lot of directors like to use this format, one: because it is easier to frame a shot this way, and two: they are thinking of the afterlife the film will have on video and how little differences there will be in the positioning of the shot.Rather than have panning or scanning as with the Panavision format, Super 35 can exist in both fullscreen or widescreen without actually panning or scanning.The only difference is that the widescreen edition actually masks the top and bottom of the screen in this case.

Still, the fullscreen edition can reveal mistakes, such as a certain 'bug' disappearing and reappearing in 'The Matrix', or going back to 'Pee Wee's Big Adventure', a certain endless bicycle chain coming up through the bottom of the box containing the chain.Without the bars masking the top and bottom for proper framing, unwanted things are often revealed and, quite frankly, there is too much headroom and the shot isn't framed properly.Whether you see more on the top and bottom in fullscreen versus Super 35 widescreen, seeing more isn't necessarily better or for that matter, proper.

Stranger still are some cases in which Super 35 alternates between cropped shots, like the ones some have complained about versus the fullscreen version, and true widescreen.For example, another Super 35 film, 'Fire in the Sky', is almost all Super 35 cropping, until we get to the expensive 'alien abduction' scene. Here, there are closeups that are clearly cropped when compared to the fullscreen edition intercut with shots that do in fact show more picture information on the sides of the frame.The shot of the alien sneaking up behind Travis Walton only shows Travis Walton in the fullscreen edition, excluding the alien from the shot.In 'Terminator 2', during the 'nuclear nightmare' scene, the wide shot of the blast wave remains still in the widescreen version but pans to the left in the fullscreen version.It's a give and take process, where most shots in widescreen Super 35 films are cropped but then you get shots that are definitely in true widescreen.Still, this was how it was seen in theaters and therefore this is the film seen properly.

I'd say the only complaint about the Apollo 13 DVD I would have is that it's a lousy first generation transfer.At the time, the new advent of DVD looked amazing.Now with improved technology, the transfer looks terrible, with lots of artifacting, lack thereof detail, and yucky colors that recall the grotestque laserdisc transfer of '2010'.Also, though the DTS track is nice, it sans extras whereas DVDs made today wouldn't have that kind of pressing problem.Hopefully the upcoming anniversary edition will clear up those problems with a nice new transfer.But for now, one must settle with the disc available, and yes, it is properly framed in 2.35:1 and it is not incorrectly cropped in the way some would like to think it is.

AMAZING STORY
This is an excellent real story movie, very good performances, a master piece of art

Correction to previous post. regarding cropping the DVD...
Hey Zahnduhl,

You're right to point out that we want to see movies in their true "theatrical aspect ratio" so I commend you for that.Film is an artform - would you crop a Picasso to fit your TV screen?

However, I felt it necessary to note that what you have noticed here in this case is most likely an instance of Universal Pictures releasing the un-masked (or Full-Ap) version of the movie as a 1.33:1 release instead of the typically butchered Pan&Scan version that we all so detest.I can't say for 100% sure on this DVD, but I will say that this was fairly common in the past to help the VHS sales.I commend them for at least doing this as opposed to cropping, but I can see how it could leave you (and others) thinking that your precious movie was cropped for the WS transfer.

Rest assured, however, that most likely you are just getting "more" in this VHS version than was ever released theatrically.This is possible when the studio decides to release original Full Aperture footage for the VHS release.Although, you will likely find that Visual Effects shots will still typically be cropped b/c most of the time VFX houses will only work in the final theatrical aspect ratio.

Anyway, I hope this clears up any confusion for you, now go buy the DVD.;)

-anonymous ... Read more

Asin: 630382790X
Subjects:  1. Feature Film-drama   

This lovely crystal bottle stopper adds just the right touch of romantic elegance to your wet bar or dining table. It's surprisingly sturdy, and the solid yet regal design holds up nicely to a few wet-fingered drops. The stopper is 6 inches long from tip to tip, with a bottom tapered to fit a variety of bottle sizes. The decorative end resembles the top of a king's scepter--several stacked rings, finished with a frosted ball and flared end piece. If your home is your castle, then let your accessories show it off! --Jill Lightner ... Read more

Features

• Hand wash with soft cloth
• Lovely crystal stopper
• Fits a variety of bottle and decanter sizes
• 6 inches long
• Frosted and clear finish

Asin: B00004S4V8
Subjects:  1. Wine    2. Spirits    3. Bar Tools    4. Barware    5. (Bar Ware)    6. Bartending    7. Wine Products   

Enchanted Golf Clubs
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (15 May, 1999)
list price: $10.95 -- our price: $10.95
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Reviews (2)

Ur-Wodehouse
originally published (and still available as) The Haunted Major, this is a minor comic masterpiece.The narrator is Major Jacky Gore, the self-proclaimed 'greatest sportsman living'.He excels at all sports but despises golf on the grounds that it is not dangerous enough.However, in order to win the hand of a rich American widow he finds he has to defeat the US Open golf champion...With the aid of a ghostly and vengeful 16th century Scottish Cardinal Jacky goes head to head...Despite Jacky being pompous, vain, disdainful, arrogant, he is an attractive character.This is the kind of paradox that masterpieces are made of, and this is certainly one.

Enchanting Scottish Tale
This book was originally published under another name in England in 1920, then in American in the twenties.Now, reprinted again.

Almost put it down at the beginning first forty pages or so.Just wasn't going anywhere, setting up this arrogant, pompish, stuffy British guy who excels at everything, and thinks he can do the same with golf.

Stay in there as I did, until the golf begins, and it becomes a good read.Then, I kept waiting for some twist or such, and none came.

Almost quit again before the last chapter, but am glad I continued and encourage you to do the same.The outcome was unexpected, and I resonated to it, as a golfer.

You know, golf is about life.What other games calls penalties on themselves?

Golfers, you'll enjoy this Scottish tale! ... Read more

Isbn: 1891369091
Sales Rank: 1037520
Subjects:  1. Fiction - General    2. General    3. Humorous    4. Poetry    5. Golf stories    6. Scotland    7. Ghosts