Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 25

Day 25 was Burn Intervals. I did it in the morning on an empty stomach, which is definitely the best way I have found to do the workout. I did have to keep modifying the jumping/higher impact moves to protect my left knee, but I still got a good workout. I must say I am sorely tempted to mute the TV during this workout just so I do not have to listen to Skip. That aside, the workout went well. 

Supplement Review: Natrol Melatonin Fast Dissolve Tablets

 

I would not say that this really helps me fall asleep, but it definitely helps me to stay asleep once I have fallen asleep. I rarely ever wake up once I have fallen asleep and do not seem to toss and turn in my sleep as much when I use this on a regular basis.

Book/Study Aid Review: How to Ace Calculus: The Streetwise Guide

 

This is a book that I used mostly to help teach myself calculus before I had to take the class. The first handful of chapters (about the first 30 pages or so) deal with things like choosing the right teacher, study tips, exam taking, etc. Then, it gets into the meat of the material that you will learn in class. It covers all of the major topics from the first semester of calculus and most of the material in the second semester. Of course, that depends on how your school structures the calculus curriculum, but if it is a standard split where the first semester deals with derivatives and their application, and then introduces integrals, and the second semester focuses on all of the various integration techniques and their applications, then this will get you through that. Some second-semester calc classes also cover an introduction to differential equations, and if your school does that, this book will not cover that material.

The book is not what I would call a problems repository. It is more like the explanatory material that comes before the problem sets in the textbooks and provides some examples. The explanation of the theory and how to work problems are better than you would get in a lot of textbooks, but if you would need to get something like one of Schaum's guides if you want something that just has a ton of practice problems. One of the very helpful things the author does is give tips for things to look out for when working with different problem types and point out common mistakes that people make. If you can internalize those concepts quickly and do a lot of practice problems you will learn the material and avoid unnecessary mistakes. So, if you can learn from a book, which is definitely hard for some people, this one is a good resource to help you learn the material. I would read this in conjunction with the textbook to help make sense of what the textbook is trying to explain.

Blu Ray/Movie Review: She's Out of My League

 

She's Out of My League is a pretty standard 2000s comedy. It is another one in which a goofy guy named Kirk, played by Jay Baruchel, who is a TSA agent in Pittsburg ends up with the cell phone of a gorgeous event planner named Molly (played by Alice Eve). In the process of returning the phone, she agrees to a date with him and hilarity ensues. It is a pretty standard romantic comedy, especially between a hot girl and average looking guy in which he summons the courage to ask her out, she agrees, things go well until they don't, then we get the will-they-or-won't-they end up together storyline to finish off the movie. I won't spoil anything, but if you have seen any rom-com from 2000 forward, you pretty much know how it will turn out.

For those who get the Blu-Ray, the movie looks and sounds good in HD. It did not get the best Blu-Ray transfer ever, but the shots of Pittsburg do look great, especially if you have a big screen, and unless you are a serious A/V wonk, you probably will not have any issues with it. The extras include a commentary track on the movie with the director, there is a pretty cheesy faux dating show with Nate Torrence's character Devon, a few deleted scenes, and a blooper reel. Nothing spectacular, but there if you like watching the extras.

Overall, the movie is good. It is pretty standard rom-com fare but does mix in some good dramatic moments with the comedy. There are a couple of raunchier comedic moments that seem to have to be included in the more adult rom-coms, but for the most part, the comedy is pretty tame. It has a very good supporting cast including Lindsay Sloane, who plays Kirk's crazy ex, Nate Torrence, T.J. Miller, Mike Vogel who work with Kirk at the airport, and Krysten Ritter as Molly's best friend Patty. There is, as you would expect a lot of swearing, and some sexual situations but nothing explicit and no nudity. If you are looking for something in the rom-com genre or just a comedy to have on in the background it is a good option.

Book/Study Aid Review: Schaum's Outline of Calculus, 5th ed.

 

Schaum's Outlines tend to range from being textbook-like (which this one is) to basically problems repositories. The textbook-like outlines will give an overview of each topic in the chapter sections, and then worked out examples, and then problems. So it is organized much like the textbooks are. The advantage that you get is that the explanatory material is not as long, more concise, and generally better than you get in the textbooks. And, all of the problems have answers, unlike the textbook in which you will only get an answer key for some of the problems.

This book covers all of the material in the first year of calculus, which in most schools is split between Calculus 1 and Calculus 2, and covers some of the material from Multivariable Calculus (usually called Calculus 3). Meaning it will cover derivatives and integrals and their applications, then it gets into partial derivatives and double and triple integrals. I had a great teacher for Calculus 1, a good teacher for Calculus 2, and an average teacher for Calculus 3, so I did not rely on this as much in Calc 1 as I did in the other classes. This definitely helped me figure out how to do the disk and washer methods of integration which neither my textbook nor my Calc 2 teacher (who just lectured from the textbook) explained well. It has over 1000 fully worked-out problems which are way more than any textbook will give you. So, if you are struggling in Calculus and are looking for resources to help you, this is a good one, depending on what your learning syle is.

DVD Review: Roger Dodger

 

Roger Dodger is a 2002 movie that is set in New York, involving a night out between Roger (played by Campbell Scott), a womanizing ad-executive who is not over the fling he had with his boss, Joyce (Isabella Rossellini), and his teenaged nephew, Nick (Jesse Eisenberg). Nick basically wants his uncle's help to hook up with someone and lose his virginity. Roger tried to give Nick lessons in the art of seduction, some of which has a lot to be desired. The highlight of the movie is probably the scenes at the singles bar with Roger, Nick, and two single women, Andrea (played by Elizabeth Berkley) and Sophie (played by Jennifer Beals) who also impart advice to Nick.

The movie comes down to being about sex and relationships. Roger is pretty much a sleazeball who hooks up with women but never seems to have a successful relationship with one. It is billed as a comedy-drama, but it is far more drama than comedy, although there are some humorous moments in it. The writing and acting are great, this was really Eisenberg's first major role (even though it is definitely an independent film and not even close to a blockbuster) and he did a great job playing a pretty conflicted character and Scott played a great womanizer who seemingly had everything he wanted in life but really did not.

For those who get the DVD, the extras are pretty extensive, especially for an independent film. There are multiple commentary tracks on the movie, several making-of features, a walking tour of NY with Jesse Eisenberg, deleted scenes, the trailer, and a "players guide". So, a lot there if you like going through the extras.

Overall, the movie is very good, but probably not for everyone. It has frank discussions about relationships and sex, but there is not much actual sex in it. It also deals with ethical issues like whether to take advantage of someone who is drunk. It definitely has the feel of an independent movie, but it is a very good one. It holds up well even after 20 years and is worth checking out.

Product Review: Reshow VCR Head Cleaner/VHS Head Cleaner

 

VCRs are mostly extinct, but if you are one of those who still have one, getting a head cleaner is important to keep the thing running (assuming you ever intend to watch movies on it) and keep it from chewing up your tapes. I have some tapes (like the original Star Wars movies and The Godfather Saga (the movies in chronological order) that I like to watch from time to time that will likely never be released on DVD and would be very hard (if not impossible) to replace on VHS. So, this works well to keep the thing in working condition.

Blu Ray/Movie Review: Gone With the Wind 70th Anniversary Edition

 

Gone With the Wind is a movie that causes a lot of division, especially with the rise of the infantile division we have had in the country for years. The truth is, it can both be a classic movie and have a problematic theme. But, it also has to be looked at through the lens of history. It is a movie that could be made the way it was in 1939 with the understanding that it would probably never be made the same way today. And that is not to say it shouldn't be made the same way today. It was set during the Civil War and told from the perspective of people in the south. Obviously, most people today would not agree with the perspective of the rich, slave-owning, southerners of that time, but it does not mean that how they were portrayed in the movie is not how they were. Also, the movie was a dramatic period piece, not a documentary. So, it was never going to show the evils of slavery in all their gory details. And, I do think to say that the movie glorified slavery does a couple of things. First, it ignores the fact that there were in fact slaves that had roles such as "Mammy", and it also diminishes Hattie McDonald's achievement in playing that role. The fact that she was a black woman living under the Jim Crow laws and facing the racism that she did and still won an academy award is frankly amazing. And. let's face it, even states that did not have Jim Crow laws were not (and are still not) devoid of racists by any means, so the fact that a black woman in the late 1930s/early 1940s would even be nominated for an academy award, much less win it, was quite something. All that said, no, the movie is never going to be banned, and anyone who thinks so is kidding themselves, if you want to find it, you will always be able to do so, and if you are such a weenie that a disclaimer at the beginning of a streaming version really triggers you, it has been released on DVD and Blu-Ray multiple times. The people who think the movie is somehow going to be banned, the people triggered by a disclaimer, and the people that think critical race theory is being taught anywhere but in some law schools is probably a circle on a Venn Diagram.

As for the movie itself, as I said above, it is a drama set in the south during (and after) the Civil War. It stars Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara, who is basically a rich brat, who at the beginning of the movie is trying to steal her cousin's boyfriend. Clarke Gable plays Rhett Butler, who was an attendee at a party thrown at the O'Hara estate who did not buy into the fact that the war was going to be a quick and easy thing, and also, ultimately ended up gaining Scarlett's affection, by basically standing up to her and not taking any of her crap, and marrying her. The movie is partly a romance drama, but mostly about the ravages of war, telling how Scarlett had to grow up and transform from the bratty Southern Belle who was handed everything on a silver platter, to having to deal with the realities of war. The first part of the movie (up to the intermission) deals with the war and ends with Atlanta burning. The second part deals with the aftermath of the war, and the characters trying to put their lives back together.

For those who get the movie on Blu-Ray, it looks and sounds great in the HD format. The HD transfer was very well done, and while it still has the Film-noir era look to it, the video transfer does look great. What kind of extras you get depends on the version of the movie you pick up. There is a multi-disc collectors edition that has about 19 hours' worth of bonus content. The version I have is the single-disc 70th Anniversary edition, and the only extra on it is a commentary track by Historian Rudy Behlmer.

Overall, the movie is a timeless classic. It has many great quotable lines, and it tells a good story, although definitely from the perspective of the losing side in the Civil War. Chances are if the movie was made today, more of the evils of slavery would be shown to give it more context and show exactly why the Civil War was being fought. And yes, the civil war was about slavery, pure and simple. If you read the articles of secession from any of the states that formed the Confederacy, that is plain as day, and to say otherwise is denying all reality. I do not think the movie glorified slavery as much as it glorified the south overall. But, again, taking the movie for what it is and considering the time it was made, it can both be a classic movie and a topic of debate at the same time. And, I think a healthy debate about what was good and what may have been problematic about the movies would not necessarily be a bad thing.

Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 24

CE Day 24 was the final Burn Circuit 2 for this round. I did manage to hit the 12 rep max for a couple of the exercises, but for most of the exercises, I could still only hit 11 or 12 reps. The push-ups at the end were still tough. I wanted to get 10 triple-threat push-ups on my toes, but I could still only do nine, and had to do the extreme set on my knees.

Product Review: 2 Pack Replacement Pre Filters for Dyson DC58, DC59, V6, V7, V8.

 

The filters on the Dyson handheld vacuums (or really on any vacuum) are critical to maintaining good suction power. You can rinse off the filters but you need to let them dry before using them, so it is good to have at least one spare so that you can basically rotate them when they get dirty. These fit in the handheld vacuums easily, they just slip in and out. Just make sure to check the model number of your vacuum.

Product Review: Dezin Electric Kettle

 

I generally only fill it about 1/3 of the way full, enough to make a cup of tea or some instant oatmeal. Using cool or lukewarm water that amount of water takes about 2 minutes (at most) to boil. You do want to dump any excess water out after you use it because the inside can get scummy and these are not the easiest things to clean.

DVD/TV Series Review: The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.: The Complete Series

 

The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. was a series that ran on Fox from 1993 to 1994. It ran for 27 episodes. I did watch it when it originally aired, and cannot really remember if it got two partial seasons or one really long season, but that is essentially what the complete series consisted of. The story is centered around the titular Brisco County, Jr. (played by the wonderful Bruce Campbell, who is best known for the Evil Dead series of campy horror movies) as a lawyer turned bounty hunter back in the late 1800s. He is hired by a group of wealthy industrialists to capture a notorious outlaw named John Bly (played by Billy Drago) and works along with the mouthpiece of the group Socrates Poole (played by Christian Clemenson) and often joined by sometimes rival bounty hunter sometimes sidekick Lord Bowler (played by Julius Carey). Brisco is consumed with the advancement of technology and pursuing "The Coming Thing". To that end, a plot device known as "The Orb" was used to that was a futuristic device that Bly was trying to use to rule the world.

The show was a mix of procedural case-of-the-week with a larger story arc involving Bly and the orb that intertwined. The case-of-the-week aspect usually involved Brisco trying to capture one of the members of Bly's gang as he is trying to find Bly. The show also had a strong supporting cast which included Kelly Rutheford as Dixie Cousins, a love-interest for Brisco who was kind of a combination of the characters that Mae West played and Madeline Kahn's character from "Blazing Saddles", and John Austin (from the Addams Family) who played a kookie professor/inventor who would help Brisco from time to time.

For those who get the DVD set, the extras include a commentary track on the pilot episode featuring Campbell and the series creator. There is also a feature called Brisco's Book of Coming Things which referenced the various future ideas/inventions from the show. There is also a documentary that was a look back at the making of the show and the various cast members, a feature on the various gadgets that appeared in the show, a Reading from the Book of Bruce, in which Campbell reads a chapter of his autobiography that mentioned the show, and a feature on the writers of the show. All in all, a very good collection of extras.

Overall, the series was very good and very unique. It was not a carbon copy of anything else that was on at the time which may have both helped and hurt the show. It had a very rabid fanbase, but not enough of one to ever get past the "cult following" category. It had a great mix of drama, action, and comedy and was a perfect blend of western and sci-fi/fantasy. It was very well written and acted, and the writers did a good job not overdoing the supernatural aspect of the show keeping the orb episodes infrequent so that they really advanced the storyline along. Chances are people reading this by now watched the show when it was on and are only looking to pick up the DVD, but if you have never seen the show and are trying to decide whether to watch it, I definitely recommend checking it out. It is a bit unsatisfying since the show never gets a great payoff (although the writers did have enough time from the cancellation announcement to make the season finale into a series finale, so fans did get an idea of what would have become of the characters), but still worth watching.

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Chuck Season 3

 

+++Warning, this contains a minor season two spoiler, but no major season three giveaways +++

Season three of Chuck picks up with Chuck wanting to be a "real" spy and take down The Ring, but his relationship with Sarah is on the rocks because of his refusal to run off with her and leave the spy life for good. Of course, he ends up back at the Buy More, and things proceed from there. This season sees more guest stars including Brandon Routh, Kristen Kreuk, Angie Harmon, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Fred Willard, Swoosie Kurtz, Tony Sirico, and Louis Lombardi (the last two recognizable from The Sopranos). The season packs a lot into the 13 episodes shortened season. The focus is mainly on Chuck and Sarah's relationship, but the show does a good job incorporating the Buy More characters into the storylines giving all of them good material to work with.

For those who get the Blu-Ray set, the show looks and sounds great in HD. The extras include a 22-minute making-of feature, a mockumentary on "Jeffster", deleted scenes, and a gag reel. What was included was good, but definitely not as much as were included in the earlier season sets.

Overall, the series continued to be strong, despite being on the brink of cancellation from the second season forward. The acting and writing continued to be stellar, with a very good blend of drama and comedy (with a ton of pop culture references thrown in). The show did get a bit into "teen angst" territory with the Chuck and Sarah relationship this year, but, of course, getting the main characters together can be the death knell for a show (especially one already on the brink of cancellation) so they had to throw any kind of wrench into it that they could. I would say that this season has more drama than comedy, but there are still a lot of good funny moments throughout.

If you loved the first couple of seasons, you will likely enjoy this one. If you have not liked the first two seasons, this one is not likely to change your mind. If you have not seen the show yet are wondering whether to watch it, watch season one (you cannot really jump in partway and have it make a ton of sense) and enjoy. It lives up to all the hype that fans give it.

Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 23

Day 23 of CE was the recharge workout again. I have done it in place of the rest days for the entire first month, and am glad I did. It is not quite as good a stretch workout as x-stretch, but it is also about 1/3 of the time. It is definitely more lower-body focused, which is good if you have tight hips and hamstrings.  I did not get much sleep last night, so having the non-impact workout was very nice today.

Product/Book/Study Aid Review: Student Solutions Manual for Precalculus: Enhanced with Graphing Utilities 5th Edition

 

This is a decent solution manual. Of course, unlike the instructor's solution manual, this does not have all the problems in the book worked out. It mostly just works out the odd problems, but it definitely helps you if you get stuck on a problem. It works out enough of the problems that even if you are assigned one that is not worked out, one of the problems that are worked out will likely help you. The textbook this corresponds to is one of the better math textbooks that I had when I was taking classes, but even so, I did have to use this from time to time because the examples in the book were not always helpful for all of the problems we were assigned.

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Twilight

 

Twilight is a movie that is adapted from a series of books that are mainly aimed at teens or young adults, setting teenage love drama in the world of vampires and werewolves (although the wolves are only hinted at in this movie). It stars Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen, a vampire who is over 200 years old but perpetually stuck as a 17-year old, and Kristen Stewart who plays Bella Swan, a teenager whose parents are divorced, who just moves in with her dad in the Pacific Northwest, and ends up going to school with Edward and his "siblings" played by Ashley Greene, Nikki Reed, Kellan Lutz, and Jackson Rathborne. Of course, Bella and Edward fall for each other, and chaos (and sappiness) ensues. Taylor Lautner plays Jacob Black, a member of the local Native Americal tribe who also falls for Bella. His role in this movie is limited but gets more extensive over the course of the series.

The movie is decent to good in some parts and bad in others. Despite having a cast with people who have proven acting chops (including Anna Kendrick, Peter Facinelli, Sarah Clarke (whom fans of the show 24 will recognize), and Billy Burke, it definitely suffers from some of the clunky dialog carried over from the books or made worse by the screenplay. And, the special effects have (at times) a lot to be desired for a big-budget movie. That said Pattinson and Stewart have very good chemistry (they would actually start dating while filming the movie) and did their best with sometimes very limited material to work with. They were both still pretty young when the movie was filmed (especially Stewart) and each has grown into being very good actors beyond what was shown in this film. Another issue with the film is that the ancillary characters truly do feel ancillary. They were always trying to get to the next scene between Edward and Bella and so the other characters (especially the other high schoolers) really did just feel like filler. Kendrick had a couple of good snarky lines, but beyond that, those characters were pretty useless.

For those who get the Blu-Ray, the movie looks and sounds great. Especially the cinematography. As I said, some of the special effects left a bit to be desired, especially when the vampires were moving fast (superseded is done a lot better on the Flash TV series), but still I think the movie is worth seeing in the HD format. There are actually a ton of extras, including a commentary track on the film with the director, Pattinson, and Stewart, deleted and extended scenes, music videos, an almost hour-long making-of feature, a feature on the movie at comic-con, the trailers, some promotional material. All in all a good amount for people who like going through extras.

Overall, the movie is good, but not great. Obviously, anything that is adapted from a series of novels that are aimed at teens is going to have a lot of people that love it and a lot of people that hate it. I think that the movie can be enjoyed even if you are not in the target audience if you know what to expect. It is mostly a love story, and one set in high school at that, and while it does have some action and a bit of violence, it is not a gory horror movie. That said, it is worth a look.

Product Review: Neutrogena Rapid Clear Maximum Strength Acne Face Pads

 

Luckily, I am past the stage in my life of getting frequent acne (and thankfully, I never got it as severely as some, even when I did get it frequently) so I am not sure how well these would work for that. My guess, however, is pretty good. I do have pretty sensitive skin, and these do not irritate much at all (although it does dry out the skin under my eyes a bit). But, when I do get a breakout (usually on my nose or on the back of my head, these get rid of them in a day or two. So, I definitely recommend it.

DVD Review: The Ultimate Physics Tutor

 

As most are likely aware, physics classes range from very introductory, with little to no math (usually in a college class called something like physics for poets or something like that), then algebra-based/high-school physics, where you use math but the equations are pretty much given to you and the problems are easier, and then calculus-based or high-school AP physics, where the equations are derived using calculus, but the problems are harder. Even in calculus-based physics (which is the one you have to take if you are going into any of the engineering disciplines) you only use calculus on a very limited basis in the problems. I think when I took calc-based physics I had two exam problems that required using calculus and maybe 4-5 homework problems between the two semesters. But, the problems were a lot harder than in the algebra-based physics class (or so my professor told our class).

At any rate, the problems in this, while geared more toward the algebra-based physics level, still helped me get through the first semester of calc-based physics with an A. And, there were actually a couple of problems worked out in this set that was very similar to the "easier" homework problems we were assigned (when our professor occasionally assigned us a level-1 problem). The set covers the major topics from the first semester of physics, which is basically the semester on Newton's laws of motion. It starts out with motion in one dimension, then discusses the equations of motion in one dimension (which you will have to memorize), scalars and vectors, projectile motion, Newton's laws of motion, Newton's Laws with friction, kinetic, and potential energy, impulse and momentum, work, collisions, angular speed, and acceleration, totational motion, tangential speed, and centripetal force, gravitation, torque, and then ends with the physics of liquids.

Like Jason's math sets, it is just him in front of a whiteboard working out problems. He takes you through the process of breaking down problems, writing a picture and creating force diagrams, and then working out the steps. He also shows how he does unit conversion/dimensional analysis (which makes way more sense than reading it from the first chapter of the book) to make sure to get the problem into the correct units before you solve it. He gives enough of the theory to understand the equations but focuses on solving problems. Really the only topic he did not go as deeply as I would have liked is the problems involving static equilibrium. He did have some, but those were the bane of my existence in first semester physics, and I hated Statics class (although my teacher for that was better than my physics teacher, so I understood it a bit more) with a passion.

I definitely recommend getting this set no matter what level of physics you are taking (unless it is a physics class with no math, then this is probably overkill). Jason makes a lot more sense of the material than a lot of professors do (certainly better than mine did), and he walks through each problem step-by-step never assuming the person watching knows more than they do. Really, the only thing he assumes is that you know algebra, which anyone taking a class with this material should know. So, if you are a visual learner, then this will probably be very helpful for you and I highly recommend it.

Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 22

Day 22 marked the fourth and final week of the Burn Phase. So, this was the last Burn Circuit 1 workout in this round of CE. The workout went really well. I was able to hit the 12 rep max on all but two of the exercises and I was able to do the entire "extreme" set of push-ups at the very end on my toes. It was tough and I REALLY wanted to go to my knees for the last one, but I pushed through and got myself back up on that last rep. Barely, but I did. So, I am definitely making some strength gains in this portion of the program. 

DVD/TV Series Review: The Bionic Woman Volume One

 

This series is the 2007 reboot of the 1976 series of the same name. It starred Michelle Ryan as Jamie Sommers a bartender who is taking care of her younger sister Becca (played by Lucy Hale). When she is involved in a nearly fatal car accident, Jamie is saved by her boyfriend who implants cybernetic devices that basically turn her into a superhuman. She reluctantly becomes an agent for a shadowy organization called The Berkut Group, headed by a man named Jonas Bledsoe(played by Miguel Ferrer).

As people may remember, this show got a ton of hype before it debut, to the detriment of shows like Chuck (which was a better show). It fell victim to a couple of issues, the fact that it (like most shows of its ilk) took some time to find its footing, and when it did, it ran headlong into the writers strike that ended every show prematurely that year, and it ended up being canceled after just eight episodes. The show definitely had a lot of potential but was not around long enough to realize that potential. It was a procedural case-of-the-week show that had a larger story arc that was playing out throughout the season that involved Battlestar Galactica's, Katee Sackhoff. The show had a good cast, that included not only those I mentioned but also Will Yun Lee (who would go on to have roles on the rebooted Hawaii Five-0 and currently stars on The Good Doctor) and Molly Price. Ryan did a great job in the main role and even had a chance to break out her real English accent.

For those who get the DVD set (it was never released on Blu-Ray, which is not all that surprising) the eight episodes are spread over two discs. The extras include a commentary track on the pilot episode, a few behind-the-scenes featurettes, and cast profiles. I decent amount of material for those who like watching the extras.

Overall, the series was good but did not have a chance to really show how good it could be. If you get invested in it you will probably end up disappointed because there is no real conclusion to the series, and it leaves a lot unresolved. So really, the only reason to pick this up is if you are a fan of any of the actors or you watched the series when it aired and want the DVD for your collection.

DVD/TV Series Review: Bitten - The Complete Series

 

Bitten was a TV series that aired in the US on the Syfy channel. It starred Laura Vandervoort, probably best known for playing Supergirl on Smallville, as Elena Michaels, a photographer living in Toronto, who is secretly the only female werewolf in existence. She is estranged from her pack but gets called back when the pack is threatened by a group of "mutts" (werewolves with no pack allegiance), which puts her "normal" life in danger. The show was adapted from a series of novels, that I have never read, so I am not sure how faithfully the show sticks to the source material.

The show has a bit of a "Twilight" feel, with generally better writing, and without the high-school romance. There is some love-triangle stuff going on, but it is not as dumb as Twilight could get sometimes. The show definitely pushed the boundaries of what could be shown on basic cable in terms of violence, nudity, and sex. The DVDs actually have more nudity than the US broadcast did because most of the butt shots (mostly from the males on the show, but also quite a few from Laura Vandervoort) got edited out on the US broadcasts. The series is made up of relatively unknown actors (at least here in the US) which included Greyson Holt, Steve Lund, Greg Bryk, Michael Xavier, and Genelle Williams.

The first season is really about the pack versus Mutts (werewolves that do not belong to a pack that are forced to move around and never put down roots). The second season is basically a wolf versus witches theme, with magic being introduced into the series, and the third season has a pack vs. pack theme. The set is just the DVD released for the three seasons packaged together, and the extras as just what was included in the individual season releases. There are no special bonus features that just come with the complete series set. Each season has some deleted scenes and at least one behind-the-scenes featurette. The second season also has a 45-minute portion of the NY Comic-Con panel, and an episode of an aftershow that aired in Canada.

Overall, the series is good, but a bit predictable. It is definitely not a family-friendly show as there is a lot of violence, some swearing, and a lot of sexual content (and as much nudity as they could get away with). The sexual content decreases with each season, but the violence is prevalent the entire way through (and it does get quite bloody). The series is well-written and acted. It was adapted from a set of books, but I have never read them so I am not sure how faithful the show was to the books. I would say that if you are a fan of the sci-fi/fantasy genre, it is worth checking out, whether you stream it or pick up the DVDs. Note, that the first season is available on Blu-Ray, but at least in the US seasons, two and three, and the complete series are only available on DVD.

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: 17 Again

 

17 again is a comedy that many people may avoid because of the presence of Zac Efron, who up to that point had mostly just done the High School Musical series. That would be a huge mistake as it is actually a very good comedy. The premise is that a guy named Mike O'Donnell (played as an adult by Matthew Perry and as a teenager by Efron), basically going through a mid-life crisis (losing his job and going through a divorce). Wishing to relive his glory years as a high-school basketball player he is turned into his 17-year old self while still living in the present day. He discovers that he has to fix things with his family in order to become an adult again.

The movie has a great supporting cast including Leslie Mann as Mike's ex-wife Scarlett, Michelle Trachtenberg (probably best known for her time on Buffy at that point) as his daughter Maggie, who of course falls for him when he is a teenager, Thomas Lennon as his best friend, Ned, Jim Gaffigan as the high school basketball coach, and Melora Hardin as the high school principal. Everyone in the cast did a great job in their roles, but Efron really showed that he had the acting chops to go between the comedic scenes and the more dramatic ones with ease, and he proved he could do more than just look good.

For those who get the Blu-Ray, the movie looks and sounds good in the HD format. It is not really heaving on special effects that make it a must-see in HD, but it the cinematography looks very good. For extras, the most extensive is about 16 minutes of deleted scenes, then there are a handful of behind-the-scenes and making-of featurettes that range from about 3 minutes to about 12 minutes in length.

Overall, the movie is good. It is a pretty wholesome comedy (although there is some swearing and a bit of sexual innuendo, really nothing more than that), which also adds in some touching elements. The easy comparison to make is with the movie Big with a bit of Its a Wonderful Life mixed in. While it is not as good as either of those movies, it was clearly inspired by them, yet manages to be its own story and does not try to copy either of those. It is a pretty simple formula that works. Efron, Mann, and Lennon have great chemistry, and all of the scenes with two or more of them interacting were great. It is definitely not one of the best comedies of all time, but it is worth checking out if you are looking for a pretty light-hearted comedy that can be watched with the family.

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: 2010 - The Year We Make Contact

 

2010 is the follow-up to the classic film directed by Stanley Kubrick, 2001. It was made during the cold war, so it capitalized on the US vs. Russia conflict of that time. The premise is that both the US and Russia are preparing missions to go to Jupiter to investigate what happened to the Discovery spacecraft, during its failed 2001 mission. When it is learned that the Discovery is going to crash into Jupiter's moon Io, a team of Americans, including Dr. Haywood (played in a recast role by Roy Scheider (replacing William Sylvester)) who was the Earth-based head of the original Discovery mission, the Discovery ship designer Walter Curnow (played by John Lithgow), and the programmer of the HAL 9000 (which seemingly went crazy in 2001), Dr. Chandra, played by Bob Balaban. The movie also stars Helen Mirren as the commander of the Russian ship and includes the nearly ageless Keir Dullea and Douglas Rain reprising their roles as Dave and the voice of HAL from the first movie.

The movie was made during the height of both the cold war and the tail end of the space race, and both of those themes are prevalent throughout. The movie pays homage to but has a much different feel than 2001. That is due in large part because it was made about sixteen years after the original film, but also because the director Peter Hyams did not try to copy Kubrick's style and tone. Personally, I like this movie more than I do 2001, both when I was a kid and as an adult. There is a lot more suspense that is mixed throughout the movie, not just packed in at the end. And, since it has a much shorter running time, it does not feel like it goes on and on as 2001 does.

For those who get the Blu-Ray, it does not really have any extras. Just the movie. The A/V quality is okay, but it definitely did not get a major restoration, certainly not approaching anything like what 2001 received with its 4k UHD transfer. That said, I have never seen the movie on any of the major streaming services, so if you want to watch it physical discs seem to be the easiest way to do so.

Overall, the movie presents a good conclusion to the story. It explains the events from the first movie and gives audiences a hopeful ending. There were other books written that continued the story from here, but it is unlikely that they will ever be adapted into a movie after all this time. I think most people who will consider getting this will be people who either saw it in the theater or on TV back in the 80s. But, if you are one who only recently discovered the movie 2001 and are trying to decide whether to get this, I would say it is worth watching. I cannot guarantee you will like it as much as 2001 (assuming you liked or loved that one), but I think it is worth watching just to get the entire story. And, if you were lukewarm to the original movie, this is definitely worth giving a chance to because, as I said above, it does have a much different feel than the first movie did.

Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 21

Day 21 of CE was the recharge workout and abs. The combination of the two come in at just over half an hour, which is why I like to double up these workouts as opposed to doing abs after the Burn Intervals workout (which is about 45 minutes long) or do recharge after the Burn it Off workout (which is about half an hour long).  Plus, doing abs gives me more of a feeling of having worked out than the recharge workout which really only has two challenging parts to it (when you are holding yourself in downward dog for about a minute and holding your leg in the air for about 45 seconds. 

DVD/TV Series Review: Bitten - The Final Season

 

The third season of Bitten picks up about four months after the events of the season two finale. Elana is still trying to figure out the meaning of the vision she had of being covered in blood with Stonehaven on fire. Jeremy is still reeling from Logan's death and is trying to consolidate power and get revenge on Eduardo. The main crux of the story this season is the pack versus the Russians, headed by Roman Navikev (played by Canadian actor Daniel Kash who was also on the great 1990s show Due South). The season involves a blood feud between Roman and a character with ties to Elana that spills over into the pack's territory and threatens everyone. It pretty much dispenses with the witch storyline, although Tommie-Amber Pirie does make a few appearances.

For those who get the DVD set, while it is technically not a MOD set, it is pretty close to it. The ten episodes are spread across three discs. There are only a couple of extras, about seven minutes of deleted and extended scenes, and then a short four-minute featurette on the making of the final season. The episodes have English captions but the extras do not.

Overall, the season is good, but it felt like the series was canceled very late in production the showrunners did not really know if the show was going to be picked up for another season or not. Although, they did write the final episode so that it could work as a season finale or a series finale, which, of course, it ended up being, even though things were not tied up in a tidy bow. It felt like the scenes at the very end were added to give fans an idea of what the future of the characters held. Like the prior seasons, there is some swearing and sexual content, although there is not nearly as much sex as there was in seasons one and two. I think if you enjoyed the prior seasons you will probably like this one.

Product Review: FYL 30-Pin for iPod/iPhone ip ad Dock to 3.5mm Mini Jack Auxiliary Connector Cable

 

My car is old enough to have an aux connection, and I still have a classic iPod. This allows me to have access to my entire CD collection in my car without having to bring physical CDs in the car (yes my car is also old enough to have a CD player in it). So, if your car has an aux connection and you have an older iPod with the 30 pin connector, this definitely gets the job done.

DVD Review: The Geometry Tutor

 

Geometry is a subject that carries over into almost all of the higher-level math classes, including pre-calculus, trig, and calculus, as well as physics and engineering. The set covers lines, rays, and planes, angles, intersecting lines, triangles, the Pythagorean Theorem, Polygons, Quadrilaterals, area and perimeter of different shapes, volume, circles, cylinders, cones, and spheres, and then ends with a lesson on Geometric Proofs. Like Jason's other programs, he gives just enough theory to introduce the topic, but then spends the bulk of the lessons going through examples, step-by-step. It is just Jason in front of a whiteboard working on problems, and so that has to mesh with your learning style if you are going to find it helpful.

This is a set that will give you a foundation for material that you will need long after a geometry class. Even if you are in college and your school does not have a geometry class as a part of the curriculum, this set will be helpful even in algebra and especially in trig. And, if you are taking geometry, it will work well as a study aid. The lesson on proofs, in my opinion, is worth the cost of the set. Jason gives a great explanation for how to approach them and makes them a lot less difficult than they can be if you don't get a good explanation on how to do them. I definitely recommend this.

DVD Review: The Algebra Word Problem Tutor

 

I came across Jason's material when I started going back to school for what would eventually become an electrical engineering degree. I loved his teaching style so much I ended up getting most of his DVD tutors. Word problems tend to be the bane of algebra students' existence. As anyone who has taken algebra knows, most people hope to never see one on an exam and hate doing them as homework problems. But, if you go on to take chemistry, physics, or engineering classes, you know that word problems will eventually be the only kind of problems you see, and many times, the word problems you see in algebra are just really easy chemistry and physics problems. So, the earlier you learn how to deal with them (if you have plans on going beyond algebra) the better off you will be. When I tutored people I would always tell people taking algebra, if you plan on going into higher-level science or engineering classes, do some of the word problems, even if they are not assigned, because practicing the easy ones will help you in the long run.

Jason does a great job of breaking down how to set up and solve word problems. He includes a good mix of problem types starting out with simpler concepts like problems that just involve numbers, then getting into those that involve averages, coin and money, and age. Then he gets into the kinds of problems that are chemistry and physics problems like those involving mixtures, distance, rate and time, levers, work, and more. The set is only 6 hrs long so you do not get exposed to all of the possible word problem types, but the strategies that Jason gives you for solving them can really be applied to any type of problem. These problems are not as challenging as the hardest problems that you will likely come across, but it gives you a good foundation for how to approach any word problem and will be invaluable if you are going into higher-level classes.

Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 20

Day 20 of CE was the burn it off workout. This was a bit tougher because my left knee was still giving me problems, so I definitely had to modify the workout.  Aside from that, the workout was good. I like that this is a short workout, and it gets you in and out pretty quickly. It has a good pace with the five moves, break, and six more moves before cooling down. It does have some plyometrics in it, so if you want to do it as a higher-impact workout you can do so. Even if you do a modified version of the workout, it can still wear you out. 

DVD Review: The Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus Tutor

 

This is the first of a two-volume trig and precalculus tutor. How much of the class this covers depends on your school's curriculum. In my college, the precalculus class started with a review of algebra, then went into the material on angles, finding the trig functions of the angles using triangles and the unit circle (which this volume covers), then went on to the more advanced material like solving trig equations and the like which Jason covers in the Trig and Precalculus Tutor volume 2. This volume starts out with complex numbers, exponential and logarithmic functions, then gets into the material on angles, triangles, trig functions, and then ends on trig identities. So, in my pre-calc class, this would get through about the first exam. Depending on your school, the early sections may have been covered in college algebra, so you kind of have to pay attention to your class syllabus and then figure out which DVDs cover what parts of the class. Between Jason's algebra 2, advanced algebra, and two volumes of trig/pre-calc, you get about 95% of the material that you would see in combination college algebra and trig class, or a split up college algebra class and pre-calc class. Really, the only main subjects you would get in those classes that Jason does not cover in any of the DVDs are the conic functions and their graphs, and partial fractions (although he does cover partial fractions in the calculus DVDs).

I personally feel that Jason's teaching style is great. He goes through everything step-by-step, and rarely ever skips steps. When he does skip steps he will usually say so, and it is because the example he is working through uses the same process that several earlier examples have used. He does occasionally make mistakes. Sometimes they get corrected in post-production, and sometimes he will say while working out the problem that he made an error and fixes it as he goes. He also gives a lot of good problem-solving tips that really help. Specifically, on this set, one of the biggest is a "tree" that you can write in the corner of your paper to help you remember the trig functions and their inverses.

Like with his other DVDs you have to balance some considerations. First, he is just standing in front of a whiteboard doing problems. So, your learning style has to mesh with that. Second, you obviously cannot interact with him and ask questions as he is working out the problems like you could with a live tutor. But, the cost of the DVD is a lot less than a couple of sessions with a tutor unless your school provides them for free. But, I personally think the way Jason explains the material is as good or better than many of the teachers I had and a lot better than the explanations in the textbook. He provides just enough of the theory to understand the concepts and then just spends the bulk of the time working through problems. So, if that fits your learning style, this is definitely worth picking up, as long as you understand that it is a supplement to class, not a replacement for going to class. If you just rely on this and skip class because you think you will know everything from class, you will probably be in for a rude awakening after your first test. But, if you use it as intended, it will absolutely help you.

Product Review: Safe Paw Child Plant Dog Paw & Pet Safe Ice Melter

 

While this is a bit pricey, it works well to melt ice, even in MN winters, and I was always able to walk my dog through the melt without it burning his paws, which was definitely not the case when using just regular salt. And, I never had an issue with it discoloring the pavement in front of the door. So, I definitely recommend it, especially if it becomes available as a subscribe and save item again.

DVD Review: The Advanced Algebra Tutor

 

This DVD covers the material that appears near the end of a college algebra course. It starts out with a review of basic graphing of functions, then it goes on to discuss transformations of functions (shifting functions up and down or side to side), combinations of functions [those that look like f(g(x))], finding real and complex zeros of polynomials, rational functions, and then ends with the material on sequences and series and the binomial theorem. Really, the only material that it does not cover is the intro to probability and statistics that some college algebra courses give you or the introduction to Matrix algebra. However, Jason does cover that material in different DVD sets.

A couple of things to take note of when considering purchasing this. As I have said, this is only part of what you will see in a college algebra class. In order to get the majority of what the class would cover, you would need to combine this with Jason's algebra 2 tutor video, his matrix algebra tutor, and the probability and statistics tutor. Those would get you about 95% of what a college algebra class covers. Also, you need to be aware of what your learning style is. If you are an audio and/or visual learner, who likes seeing the problems worked through step-by-step, this is a great option. Jason really breaks down the problems well and not only explains the steps as he goes along, but he does a very good recap after the problems are finished. He does occasionally make mistakes. Sometime they get caught in post-production and they will superimpose what he was supposed to be putting on the board, and sometimes they get missed. Generally, when it happens they are fairly easy to spot and don't really alter the process at all. You also have to consider that it is just Jason standing in front a whiteboard working on problems. You cannot interact with him or ask questions. If you don't understand what he is saying you pretty much have to rewatch it until the concept sinks in. However, getting the DVDs is much less expensive than hiring a tutor, so there is a tradeoff. It is NOT a substitute for going to class, however. Jason picks examples that are generally like what you would see on an exam or quiz, but the only way to know what your teacher focuses on is to go to class.

I used Jason's material to prepare for all of my math and physics classes as I was working toward and electrical engineering degree. They helped me immensely, and I found that the way Jason explained the material made a lot more sense than some of my teachers, and infinitely more sense than the textbook's explanation of things ever did. So, if you are looking for a good supplement/study aid to help you in Algebra, or just wanting to teach yourself math and need help, this is an invaluable resource.

DVD/TV Series Review: The Incredible Hulk Season One

 

This is the first season of the 1977 series, The Incredible Hulk starring Bill Bixby as Bruce Banner, and bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk (mostly referred to as "The Creature"). It is adapted from but changed significantly from the comic book series. Some of the changes (like changing the lead character's name from Bruce Banner to David Banner) irked Stan Lee, but overall, I think the changes worked for what the showrunners wanted to do and probably kept the series from getting canceled after 2-3 seasons which had been the fate of series like Batman and Wonder Woman. It was, up until the 1990s series Lois and Clark, the live-action comic book series with the most episodes (80) after the 1950s George Reeves Superman series (which had 104 episodes). Lois and Clark just edged it out with 88 episodes.

As my headline says, it is the character of the Hulk set in the real world. The series started with two made for tv movies. The pilot episode established that David Banner is a scientist looking into why people get superhuman strength in life-threatening situations, and why he did not when he was in a car accident that ended up killing his wife. He ends up giving himself a massive dose of Gamma Radiation which triggers the transformation to the Hulk when he gets angry or scared. Banner and his co-worker are presumed killed by the Hulk, so Banner becomes a drifter looking for a way to cure himself. As he moves around from location to location he always finds someone who needs help from some criminal element and always ends up transforming into the Hulk to save the day.

This set consists of the 10 "regular" episodes and the two made for tv movies that began the series. Those run about an hour and a half and then the regular episodes run about 50 minutes, give or take. The show definitely has a 1970s look and feel to it. It mostly holds up well 45+ years down the line, but parts of it are definitely dated. The DVD set includes a commentary track by the executive producer (and writer and director of the pilot and some of the regular episodes throughout the series run) Kenneth Johnson. It is a good commentary in which he goes through the process of filming the pilot and why he made the changes he did.

The series is well written (even if some of the dialog is a bit hokey now) and fairly well-acted. I think it worked to not have the Hulk going against supervillains, or Banner getting his powers because the military was trying to develop super-soldiers, as were the origins of the character in the comic books. Also, since the series was made before the advent of CGI (and did not have the budget for what little there was available), almost everything was done with practical effects. Of course, Ferrigno was painted green and put in wigs and sometimes silly-looking prosthetics. It is interesting that a different actor who was taller but not as muscular as Ferrigno (who was 6'5" and about 270+ pounds) was originally cast for the role, so they often filmed Ferrigno from below and with a different camera lens to make him look like he was seven feet tall (of course in the comics the Hulk was nine-feet tall), but every so often the shots would establish that he was not much taller than some of the extras. You definitely have to suspend a lot of disbelief not only of the premise of someone transforming into a big green creature as a result of Gamma Radiation overdose versus just getting cancer and/or dying instantly, or that David could have just said he was not killed in the accident and the Hulk did not harm anyone, but then the series would not have come to be.

Overall, the season is good, even if it is dated. The cast changes a lot, and if you are old enough you will recognize some of the character actors. In the first season, the two most recognizable guest stars are Gerald McRaney who would go on to have a pretty prolific TV career, and Martin Kove who is best known for playing Kreese in the Karate Kid movies and the series Cobra Kai. It is definitely worth watching even though it has a much different feel than today's superhero shows.