Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 49

On day 49, I did the Flexibility and Mobility 1 routine from 25-Minute Speed Train.  I actually made appreciable progress from last week. I could get much deeper into many of the stretches, including ones that I had not been able to get into for quite a while. 

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 48

Day 48 was a rest day, it was also a busy day, so I just did the roll and recover routine from Lift 4. I definitely had some knots in my legs, so it helped, but it was not the best version of the routine I have done. 

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 47

Day 47 is the Full Body HIIT workout. It consists of three blocks, each with two moves.  The first block consists of single-leg lunge jumps for 60 seconds (30 seconds per leg), followed by in-and-out push-ups for 45 seconds. The second block has jump squats for 45 seconds and triple-bear for 30 seconds. The final block has double plyo push-ups (triceps and regular) for 30 seconds, followed by square squats for 15 seconds. You do three sets in each block, then you do a burnout block, doing all six exercises for 30 seconds with no breaks. So, it is a quick workout, but it is hard. It is even difficult to get through the core block because you are wiped from the "main" portion of the workout. That said, I was able to do more unmodified exercises in this workout than I have in any of the other workouts in this round of Lift 4, so I am definitely improving. 

I have one more week of Lift 4, then I will move on to Joel's follow-up program, Lift More. I have been waiting to try Lift More since it requires a bench. In my old townhouse, I did not have enough space to assemble and use my weight bench, but my new workout room does, so I will be trying Lift More for the first time.

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: American Beauty

 

American Beauty is a 1999 drama written by Sam Mendes and Alan Ball, and directed by Mendes (in his directorial debut). It starred Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Mena Suvari, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley, and Chris Cooper. The outstanding supporting cast includes Allison Janney, Peter Gallagher, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Scott Bakula, John Cho, and Amber Smith (the latter two having very brief scenes). In the film, Spacey plays Lester Burnham, a middle-aged guy in a loveless marriage and a dead-end job who goes through a midlife crisis, inspired to quit his job by his new neighbor (and his daughter's new boyfriend), Ricky (played by Bentley). Benning plays his very Type-A wife, Carolyn, and Thora Birch plays his teenage daughter, Jane. Burnham starts lusting after his daughter's friend, Angela, and Cooper plays Ricky's father, Frank. The movie is about the parts of suburban life that people keep hidden behind closed doors, and how the perfect lives people try to project to their neighbors are often not reality.

The blu-ray release is a single-disc release. It carries over some (but not all) of the bonus content from the original DVD release. The bonus features include two versions of the theatrical trailers, a storyboard presentation with commentary by Mendes and the Director of Photography, a behind-the-scenes featurette featuring interviews with the cast and crew, and a commentary track on the film by Mendes and Alan Ball. It does not include the digital screenplay, production notes, the DVD-ROM content, or cast and crew biographies that were included on the DVD. The A/V quality of the Blu-Ray is excellent, and the HD format is a definite upgrade from the DVD. 

Ultimately, the movie is wonderful. It won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It is well-written and very well-acted. Some of the story is very cringeworthy, which was the point. All of the main characters are flawed at the very least, deeply so in some cases. It is a unique movie in which even the protagonists are not all that good. It deals with issues such as homophobia, adultery, lust, drug use, abuse (and ignoring abuse), and the like. It does contain a lot of swearing, sexual content, and nudity, so it very much earns its R-rating. And of course, in the last several years, Spacey has become a persona non grata because of multiple accusations of sexual misconduct. He was absolutely the star of the movie, and his performance helped carry the film and make it what it was. However, he definitely did not carry the film all by himself, and it would not have been as good as it was without the rest of the cast and crew. So, whatever Spacey did or did not do in his personal life, you can still enjoy the movie. Ultimately, it is a great movie that deserved all the acclaim it received and is absolutely worth watching.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 46

Day 46 was shoulders and arms, which was a circuit workout. I tried to increase the weight I used on some of the exercises, but I found I had to drop set many of the exercises after the first set, especially in blocks 2 and 3. It was a challenging workout and I was not really feeling like working out today, but I got it done. 

CD/Music Review: Christina Aguilera: Aguilera

 

Aguilera, released in 2022, is the ninth studio album by Christina Aguilera. It is also her second Spanish-language album. The album features 14 tracks spanning various Latin music genres, including tango, cumbia, Latin pop, ranchera, and more. It also has a mix of more upbeat dance tracks and slower ballads. All the tracks have very distinctive Latin guitar and drum rhythms. The CD includes a fold-out poster with pictures of Aguilera. The liner contains more photos of Aguilera, lyrics, and production notes for the tracks, and a page detailing how the album came together, along with thank-yous. Ultimately, while it is more of a niche album than most of her prior releases and did not include any smash hits on the US pop chart, it is a good listen.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 45

Day 45 was the mid-week rest day, so I just did the stretching routine. That one does not have as many of the stretches that I can use to gauge my progress, but to the extent that I can figure out how I am progressing, I do think I made some slight improvements over last week.  

Book Review: Star Wars: Master of Evil

 

Master of Evil, by Adam Christopher and published in 2025, is, as of this writing, the newest Star Wars canon novel. The events in the book are set shortly after the events of Revenge of the Sith, when Vader is the little-known mysterious enforcer and right-hand of Emperor Palpatine. Despite what you may think from the title and the cover, Darth Vader is not the main character of the book. The main character is actually a member of the Royal Guard (the red-robed masked characters who guard the Emperor) named Halland Goth. When Vader seeks to track down a force-wielding shaman, who reportedly has the power to raise the dead, Goth is tasked by the Emperor to watch Vader and report back on his actions. Of course, Vader is trying to figure out how to bring Padme back to life, but Goth also has a personal interest in Vader's mission, as he is dying from a terminal illness and believes that Vader holds the key to his survival. 

The hardcover version of the book is just under 370 pages. It reads quickly, and if you are a fast reader, you can finish it in a few days (or less, depending on how much time you have to devote to reading). While Vader has a significant presence in the book, very little of it is written from his viewpoint. He is still treated like the mysterious Imperial background character, known more by reputation and rumor than by direct interaction. It would have been nice if the book had been written so we could learn more about what Vader was thinking and feeling. That said, the story does have some tie-ins to the Clone Wars, provides some more information about the Sith master-apprentice dynamic (which to me is a bit contradictory with what has come before, or at least would have made Darth Plagueis nearly impossible to kill), and does give some indication of what Vader was feeling after being encased in the suit (just not enough). Ultimately, it is a good book with a good story; it just wasn't as good as it could have been with some tweaks. I would not call it one of the must-read canon novels, but if you pick and choose which books to read, it is worth reading, but probably not worth reading multiple times.     

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 44

Day 44 was Legs. In the shred weeks, the twist to Leg day is that in the lifting portion, you do triple sets, consisting of three exercises without any breaks between them. Then, instead of the 60-45-30 format for the three HIIT moves in the cardio blocks, you do each move for thirty seconds. So, this is a cross between a circuit workout and a 50/50 workout. Either way, it is tough as hell. I do not sweat a ton in any workout (aside from taekwondo classes), and I was sweating during this one. 

Book Review: What We Saw: The Events of September 11, 2001--In Words, Pictures, and Video

 

What We Saw is a book and DVD combination about the CBS News coverage of the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks. The book mainly contains write-ups by reporters who covered the attacks or their aftermath in the days and months that followed. It also includes accounts from a few of the eyewitnesses or survivors. The DVD contains the documentary that aired on CBS around the first anniversary of the attacks. The documentary includes part of the CBS news coverage from that day, as well as reports from the evening news or 60 Minutes following the attacks, reporting on the recovery operation, clean-up, and the effect the attacks and the following days and months had on the survivors and the friends and loved ones of the people who died.

The hardcover version of the book is 140 pages long and contains many pictures, so it can be finished in an hour or so. The documentary is just under two hours long. While the book is not as emotional as some of the books written about 9/11, the documentary is very emotional, especially for those who lived through the events of the day. The book is absolutely worth reading, and the DVD is worth watching.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 43

Day 43 was the start of week 7, which is the first of two "shred weeks". Joel changes up the workout sequencing, so today was chest and back. He indicated that you can use  the same weight as you used in week 5, but I increased the amount of weight I was using for the various exercises. I did have to drop set in the second block, however, when you essentially do 20 reps of presses in a row without stopping. In block 2, you do rotating chest presses followed by decline presses. I used the increased weight for the first set, but had to drop it for sets 2 and 3. Then, there is a push-up and back extension burnout, and then you finish with core and stretching. It was a challenging workout, but good. 

CD/Music Review: Christina Aguilera: Liberation

 

Liberation, released in 2018, is Christina Aguilera's eighth studio album. The album includes 15 tracks. A few of them are very short interludes that run for a minute or less. The album's total runtime is just under 50 minutes. 

Like her prior albums, the songs on this one mix styles and genres. On the whole, the tracks tend to be slower ballads and ballad-like, rather than the more upbeat dance/club tracks (although there are some of those too). While the album did not have a bunch of hit singles, it does have many good-to-great tracks. For me, the best track on the album is "Deserve," which wasn't released as a single.

The CD liner contains pictures of Aguilera, production notes (but no lyrics) for the various tracks, and thank-you messages on the final page. Ultimately, while this album was not a massive hit like her earlier albums, it is one of her best albums, if not her best overall album. It is absolutely worth listening to, and it has several songs worthy of inclusion on a playlist. 

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 42

Day 42 was the flexibility and mobility routine from 25-Minute Speed Train. I again felt that I could get a bit farther into the stretches this week than I could last week. So, while I am not even close to where I want to be, my flexibility is getting better. 

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 41

Day 41 was a rest day, so I did both of the Lift 4 recovery workouts. I did the roll and recover workout first, then the stretching workout. I again think my range of motion and flexibility improved (a little) from last week. Hopefully, the incremental gains will add up. 

4k-UHD/Movie Review: Deep Impact

 

Deep Impact was a 1998 disaster film directed by Mimi Leder starring Robert Duvall, Elijah Wood, Leelee Sobieski, Tea Leoni, and Morgan Freeman. The supporting cast includes several recognizable actors, including Max Schell, Jon Favreau, Vanessa Redgrave, Blair Underwood, James Cromwell, Laura Innes, Dougray Scott, Mary McCormack, Ron Eldard, Richard Schiff, Charles Martin Smith, Kurtwood Smith, Aleksandr Baluev, and Mark Moses. 

The film's plot centers on a comet discovered by Wood's character, Leo Biederman, during an Astronomy club star party, which is on a collision course with Earth. The government begins preparations for stopping the comet, involving a crew of astronauts (Duvall, McCormack, Eldard, Underwood, Favreaud, and Baluev) being sent to try and blow up the comet using nuclear weapons. As a backup plan, they built a network of caves on Earth to hold a million people underground for two years, instituting a lottery system to randomly select anyone under 50 to be taken to the caves. It is partly an action movie, but mostly a blend of suspense and drama centered around the attempt to destroy the comet.

The 4k set is a two-disc set containing a UHD disc (with just the movie) and a standard Blu-Ray disc with the movie and extras. The A/V quality of the film in the UHD format is excellent. The video transfer is not reference-quality, but it is a substantial upgrade over the DVD and 1080p versions of the film. The audio track is the same 5.1 lossless track created when the film was released on Blu-Ray. The extras were all carried over from the Blu-Ray release and include a commentary track on the movie by Leder and visual effects supervisor Scott Farrar, a few short making-of and behind-the-scenes featurettes, a photo gallery, the teaser trailer, and the theatrical trailer.

The movie was the "other" disaster film from 1998, along with Armageddon, which had a very similar plot and was the bigger summer blockbuster of that year. Deep Impact was arguably the better, more scientifically accurate movie (though it did stretch things, such as the idea that Earth's surface would be livable two years after a "planet-killing" comet hit it). Ultimately, it is well-written and acted with a great mix of action, drama, and suspense (and gets quite sad at the end). It is absolutely worth watching.

Book Review: The Road to Dune

 

The Road to Dune, published in 2005, is a book that details the process of making the Dune Saga. It contains a collection of deleted and alternate chapters for the original Dune novel and Dune Messiah. The book also features a collection of letters written by and to Frank Herbert detailing the process of getting the original book published. It concludes with a collection of short stories written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, which are also included in the book Tales of Dune.

The hardcover version of the book is just under 400 pages. It reads fairly quickly, especially if you have read the other novels in the series. One of the most interesting parts of the book is the original outline of a portion of the Dune novel, titled Spice Planet, which shows part of the overall story planned out but with less character development. And, many of the characters had totally different names and backgrounds. For example, House Atreides was called House Linkam, and the Harkonnens were called Hoskanner. It also has some elements that were removed from the final version of the book.

Ultimately, I would describe this as an interesting read, but not necessarily a must-read. If you have read the entire saga, then it gets close to must-read territory, as it provides a look into what was changed in the published novels from the original concept and a bit about the process of finding and collecting all the source material that would result in prequel novels and two concluding novels being written.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 40

Day 40 was legs HIIT. It was another tough one in which you do three blocks of single-leg lunge jumps for sixty seconds, triple bear for forty-five seconds, soccer sprints for thirty seconds, and jump squats for fifteen seconds. Then, you do two burnout blocks, performing every exercise for thirty seconds with no breaks. Then, the core block has you doing side planks. So, the only easy thing about the workout is the warm-up and cooldown. 

Product Review: Green Gobbler Ultimate Main Drain Opener

 

This is an excellent drain opener that can be used in toilets (which will get it into the main line), garbage disposals, or bathroom sinks. I had a very clogged sink in my upstairs bathroom that other drain openers couldn't unclog, but a couple of days after pouring this down the drain, it drained as quickly as the other sinks. Ultimately, while it is a bit pricier, it absolutely works. If you have one or more drains in your house that drain slowly, this is definitely worth trying before you call a plumber.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 39

Day 39 was the shoulder workout, which was the interval format. So, it has three blocks consisting of two weighted exercises and one HIIT exercise. The HIIT is not too bad, but there are 180 squat jumps in block 3. I did have to drop set on the front and lateral raises in the second and third block, but for all the other exercises, I was able to maintain the higher weight from last week.  I was also able to do more unmodified HIIT exercises for a longer period of time. I did not have to modify high-knee runs or speed skaters at all, but I did have to jump back into the modifications for the 180 squat jumps. Then, I had to modify the core exercises. 

Product Review: CCidea DVD Storage Bags

 

This set of three storage bags is designed to hold physical media such as DVDs, Blu-rays, or video games. They are very sturdy and can hold around 40 individual disc packages, give or take. Unlike some storage bags, they do not have dividers throughout the interior (just a single open space), so you can fit more in them. Once they are closed, they prevent dust and protect against spills. They are not padded, however, so you do not want to bang them around or drop them. They are wide enough to hold most box sets; however, there are some longer boxes (such as the original Friends Blu-Ray release or the Star Trek Motion Picture special edition release) that are too wide for this to hold unless you turn them lengthwise, in which case you will not be able to get many discs in them. 

I have a huge physical media collection and got several of these to package them for a move this past summer. They work wonderfully and work much better than packing discs in boxes, which can get very heavy. I absolutely recommend them.

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Bewitched: Season 2

 

The 38-episode second season of Bewitched aired during the 1965/1966 TV season. All of the main cast members (Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, Agnes Moorehead, David White, Alice Pierce, and George Tobias) returned for season two; however, Alice Pierce's role was reduced throughout the season as she was sick with cancer and passed away before the season finished filming. Mary Grace Canfield was cast as Abner's sister, Harriet, who was house-sitting while Abner and Gladys were out of town, and filled a similar role to Pierce's nosy neighbor who sees Samantha using magic. The guest cast included several notable guest stars. Paul Lynd returned in a completely different role from his first-season role, now playing Samantha's uncle, Arthur. Bernard Fox and Alice Ghostley made their first appearances in the series in roles different from the ones they would play as recurring characters in later seasons. Other guest stars included James Doohan (who would go on to play Mr. Scott in Star Trek), Maureen McCormick (who would later play Marcia Brady on The Brady Bunch), Eve Arden, and Richard Dreyfuss. Marion Lane and Maurice Evans reprised their roles as Aunt Clara and Maurice, respectively.

As of this writing, the Blu-Rays are only available in the complete series release. The individual seasons are available on DVD. In the Blu-Ray set, the second season episodes are spread across three discs. They are all in black-and-white as originally filmed and aired. The only bonus material on the second-season discs is commentary tracks for a couple of episodes, created for the Blu-Ray release. It has been released on DVD a few times, including one version with the episodes in color and another with them in black and white.

The series continues to be a story-of-the-week sitcom, but every so often, the writers do reference earlier plotlines. There is one major ongoing serial arc this season: Samantha's pregnancy and the birth of Tabitha. This was done to write Elizabeth Montgomery's real-life pregnancy into the show. A couple of the episodes this season were repeats of season one episodes (the Christmas Episode and the episode in which Samantha meets Darrin's parents), with the opening scenes reshot, but the bulk of the episodes playing as they aired in season one. This may have been done to give Montgomery time off toward the end of her pregnancy. The episodes are mostly good, but some of the material is very dated (and outdated now). As is the case with many older sitcoms, some of the jokes would never be used today, but overall, it is a very family-friendly sitcom. Ultimately, it is a good season that is worth watching, especially if you watched it when it originally aired or watched the reruns as a kid.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 38

Day 38 was the mid-week rest day, so I did the stretching routine from Lift 4. It went well, and again, I can tell my flexibility and overall range of motion are getting better. I am getting deeper into the stretches, especially the hamstring and hip stretches.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 37

Day 37 was the back and biceps workout, which is a 50/50 workout this week. The lifting portion of the workout was not too bad--three blocks, each consisting of a back exercise and a biceps exercise. The HIIT portion was brutal, however, mainly because your heart rate is elevated during the lifting portion, due to the extremely short breaks between exercises and sets. The sixty-second exercise was catchers jumps, the forty-five-second exercise was wide mountain climbers, and the thirty-second exercise was 180 squat jumps. Then you finish with core and stretching. I was able to use the heavier weights for the lifting portion and did not have to drop set. And, during the HIIT portion I was able to do each exercise unmodified for part of the time, but I did have to take a couple unscheduled breaks to catch my breath.

Product Review: Fresh Wave Orange Odor Removing Gel

 

This is a two-pack of odor-removing gel. It is perfect for use in spaces such as kitchens or bathrooms. The smaller, more enclosed space it's in, the stronger the scent it gives off and the longer it lasts. I have one in my kitchen, which is open to the living room and partially open to the dining room, and one in my workout room downstairs, which is basically a second living room. I have been using them for about 3 months (as of this writing). The one downstairs is about 2/3 full, and the one in the kitchen is about 3/4 empty.

These have a pleasant, non-overpowering citrus scent, at least if you have them in a relatively open space. They are a bit more expensive than some similar products, but they last much longer. Ultimately, they are worth the price and if you like citrus-scented air fresheners.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 36

Day 36 was the start of week 6, which meant the chest and triceps workout. This week, it is a circuit workout with two main blocks of work that alternate two chest exercises with two triceps exercises, then there is a burnout block that alternates wide push-ups with triceps push-ups. 

This is a tough workout. I started each block using the increased weight from last week, but I had to drop set on a couple of the exercises (the skull crushers and single side crushers). Thankfully, the core component did not include planks, so you can just lie on your back for the last three minutes. 

CD/Music Review: 10,000 Maniacs: Hope Chest

 

Hope Chest, released in 1990, is a remix album by the group 10,000 Maniacs that compiles and remixes the tracks from their early albums, Human Conflict Number Five and Secrets of the I Ching. Natalie Merchant, who is probably the group's most popular member, sings lead vocals on most of the tracks, but John Lombardo sings lead on the track "Anthem for Doomed Youth."

The album comprises 14 tracks, totaling just over 46 minutes in run time. The tracks are okay if you are into 1980s alternative rock (which is much different than what alternative rock would become in the 1990s), but none are as good as the group's biggest hits, like "Because the Night," which were popular as the group drifted a bit more toward mainstream pop and became more polished. The CD liner includes a couple of pages detailing the band's history, pictures, and lyrics and production notes for the tracks. Ultimately, it is not one that I would call a must-listen, but if you are a fan of the group, it is worth checking out.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 35

Day 35 was a rest day, so I did the flexibility and mobility workout from 25-Minute Speed Train. Again, I felt that my flexibility and range of motion have definitely improved since last week. Not by leaps and bounds, but incrementally. I still have a ways to go to get to where I want to be, but every improvement is good.

Book Review: Rising Tiger (Scot Harvath Series #21)

 

Rising Tiger, published in 2022, is the twenty-first book in the long-running series of action-adventure/spy novels by Brad Thor. As with many of the books in the series, Thor blends fictional elements with real-world events. Most of the events in the book are set in India, where Harvath is tracking the people responsible for the death of an American operative and friend. There are a few other storylines that intersect with that one, including a fictional Chinese weapon that is responsible for the real-life Havana Syndrome that affected US Intelligence agents. There are a few new characters in the book that could make appearances in subsequent novels, and several of the regular side-characters from the series appear. The most significant character omission is Solvi, Harvath's fiancée, who is mentioned but is not directly involved in any of the storylines.

The hardcover version of the book is 320 pages long (with a few additional pages of thank-yous and notes that Thor includes at the end of every book). It reads very much like his prior novels, so if you have read previous novels, this one will read as quickly or as slowly as those did. The storyline in this book is mostly self-contained. Thor does refer to events from prior books, but nothing so critical that you would not be able to follow the story in this book if you have not read the others. The only thing that you would miss is the development of the established characters. Ultimately, the book tells a good story with a nice blend of action and suspense, while incorporating some drama and humor along the way. It is absolutely worth the time to read.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 34

Day 34 was a rest day, so I did both of the recovery routines: the stretching routine followed by roll and recover. Both of them went well. I definitely had a couple of knots in my quads that the foam rolling helped with, and my flexibility continues to improve.

CD/Music Review: Christina Aguilera: Lotus

 

Lotus is the seventh studio album by Christina Aguilera. It was released in 2012 and contains either 13 tracks (on the standard edition of the album) or 17 tracks (on the deluxe edition). As with her past few albums, Aguilera co-wrote and produced several of the tracks on the album, which includes a wide range of topics and mixes genres and styles. It features a mix of upbeat pop and dance-style songs and ballads. Two singles were released from the album: "Your Body" and a duet with Blake Shelton, "Just a Fool." Both of them are good, but neither became a massive hit.

The CD liner features pictures of Augilera, lyrics, and production notes for each song, as well as several thank-you messages at the end. The album has a very similar feel and tone to her last few albums, which may be appreciated by some and found to be cookie-cutter by others. While the songs on the album were not as popular as some of her earlier hits, they feature a good mix of songs that showcase Aguilera's vocal range and talent. If you are a fan of Aguilera's it is worth listening to and, depending on your tastes, some of the tracks are worth adding to a playlist, even if you would not listen to the entire album multiple times. 

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 33

Day 33 is legs. It is a 50/50 workout and probably the hardest workout of the program up to this point. Both because you are increasing the amount of weight you used from two weeks ago, and because the HIIT moves are brutal. By the time I got to the HIIT, I was beat, so I was taking a lot of breaks. But I made it through the best I could. Thankfully, the core portion was not extremely difficult, and stretching is always good.

Product Review: Small Parts Organizer

 

This is a double-sided organizer that is perfect for holding small parts or accessories such as screws, nails, bolts, washers, or things like craft supplies (e.g., beads), or small electronic components such as resistors. Each side has 15 smaller compartments, separated by dividers, and two larger compartments that can hold things the size of socket heads, small wrenches, or Allen wrenches. Each side has clips that will hold its respective side shut. When you turn it over, the things in the compartments mostly stay in their respective compartments, but items such as small nails may fall out of their compartment (but not the case as a whole) because there is some space between the tops of the dividers and the lids. 

It would have been nice if one or two of the compartments had individual lids that could be closed to prevent small items from falling out of the compartments when the organizer is moved from place to place. That is what knocks it down a star for me. It is made from relatively sturdy material, but I would be careful not to drop it because if one of the sides popped, you would be picking things up for days. The clips do seem to keep each side pretty secure, however. Overall, it is a good value for the money and a good way to keep small accessories organized and in one place.

Product Review: Wool Ironing Mat

 

This is a relatively small ironing mat. It is 14" x 11" and is best suited for ironing small items such as t-shirts. I could be used to iron a dress shirt in a pinch, but it would be a bit hard to use it for items much larger than that (like a suit jacket). It is perfect for someone with limited space who cannot accommodate a full-size ironing board, or for those who only need to iron occasionally. It is thick enough to protect whatever surface you put it on, and it does not slide around. The one drawback is that it is not really big enough to set an iron on and reposition what you are ironing, which is why you want to stick with smaller items. Ultimately, it works, but if you iron a lot, you will definitely need something larger than this. 

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 32

Day 32 was the shoulders interval workout. I used the increased weight for most of the sets, but I did have to drop set on a couple of exercises in the third block. The cardio exercises were okay in this workout, but not the ones I like the most. I was able to do the 180 squat jumps for part of the time. This round has been the first one I have attempted them.  

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 31

Day 31 was the mid-week rest day, so I did the flexibility routine. It went well, and I felt like I had a little bit more range of motion than I did last week. It was definitely nice to have a rest day, especially after yesterday's circuit workout.

Book Review: Star Wars: Mace Windu: The Glass Abyss

 

The Glass Abyss is a 2024 Star Wars canon novel written by Steven Barnes, set shortly after the events of The Phantom Menace, centered around the character of Mace Windu. In it, Windu receives a posthumous message from Qui-Gon Jinn, asking him to help the inhabitants of an Outer Rim planet called Metagos. Windu travels to the planet where its inhabitants live underground because the surface has been turned to glass as a result of a solar flare, to aid the members of a farming clan called the Sa'ad in dealing with the crime lords, led by a being named Chulok. 

The hardcover version of the book is just under 400 pages long. It is a fine ancillary story, but I believe it would have been better suited as a young adult novel, as it is not closely tied to the main Skywalker saga storyline (although Anakin is mentioned a couple of times and Yoda makes an appearance toward the end of the book). For the most part, the adult canon novels have advanced (or fleshed out) the main storyline of the era in which they are set, and the young adult and junior novels tell the side stories (which the story in this book is). That said, Barnes does a good job fleshing out the character of Mace and providing a backstory for the character that was not seen in the films. What knocks it down a couple of stars for me is that this version of Mace does not feel like the same one that was in the movies. It would be one thing if the version of Mace in the book were a much younger version of the character, but I could not envision Samuel L. Jackson's character from the films in this story. It just seemed like Mace Windu was shoehorned into a story that he did not belong in. Ultimately, it is an okay story, but it is not one of the must-read canon novels.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 30

Day 30 was the week five back and biceps workout, which was a circuit workout. I attempted to increase the weights for most exercises, but because of the circuit format, I was drop setting in the first block in the second and third sets, and I used a lower weight than I intended for some of the exercises in the second block. Next week, when it is the 50/50 format, I will try to bump up the amount of weight again. The circuit format makes it very hard because you are doing four exercises back to back. It is not easy with light weights by the time you get to the third set of the blocks, and it can be damn near impossible if you are using heavier weights. Of course, the workout finishes with a core block and then stretching.  

Product Review: Amazon Basics Compact Plastic Trash Can

 

This compact trash can is ideal for use in small spaces, such as bathrooms, RVs, dorm rooms, or outdoors on a deck or porch. Personally, I use it on my front porch to put dog poop bags in, so I do not have to put them in the large can in my garage, and potentially stink up the garage (especially in the summer). The lid closes to keep animals out (to an extent), and a foot pedal allows you to open it without bending down. It also has an inner liner that can be pulled out, making it easier to replace a bag. Anyone considering it should note that it is very small (just six liters) and will not hold a lot. So, if you plan to use it in a bathroom, unless your bathroom is tiny and you need to conserve space, it would be better in a guest bathroom that is not frequently used; otherwise, it will fill up quickly.  

Product Review: 3-in-1 Bathroom Sink Drain Strainer

 

This is an excellent bathroom sink strainer that prevents debris from entering your drains and allows for easy plugging and unplugging of the sink as needed. It comes in a two-pack, which is convenient if you have multiple bathrooms or a bathroom with two sinks. The basket will catch anything large, and the bottom of the basket can be removed for easy cleaning.

One of the sinks in my master bath was horribly clogged and drained extremely slowly. After replacing the old plug with this and pouring a drain opener down the drain, water now drains very quickly, at the same rate as the other sink. And, these look much nicer than the old plugs. They will universally fit most bathroom drains and do not require any tools to install (unless you need a wrench or screwdriver to remove the old flange). This is a great value and absolutely worth the price.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 29

Day 29 was the start of week 5, which was chest and back again. This was a 50/50 workout, so you do three blocks of lifting, each block consisting of one chest exercise and one triceps exercise. Then, you do three blocks of cardio/HIIT. The HIIT exercises were more difficult this week, but not horrible. I did have to drop set on both exercises in block 2, but I was able to use increased weight for the first sets in each block and in all three sets of blocks 1 and 3. So overall, it was a good workout. 

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: The Good Place: Complete Series

 

The Good Place was a comedy series that aired over four seasons on NBC from 2016 to 2020. The primary cast included Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, D'Arcy Carden, Manny Jacinto, and Ted Danson. The supporting cast included many recognizable actors, including Tiya Sircar, Adam Scott, Marc Evan Jackson, Jason Mantzoukas, and Maya Rudolph. The show was created by Michael Schur, who was a writer on The Office (and also played Dwight's cousin Mose), as well as an executive producer of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Parks and Recreation. While this show is totally different from either of those, you do get some cameo appearances by some of the actors from those shows, as well as some SNL alums. The series was relatively short, with 13 episodes per season, and just 4 seasons. 

It was a show about the afterlife that managed to avoid discussing religion or its implications. The premise is that during your time on Earth, you earn or lose points through your actions and that depending on your point total at death you end up in The Good Place, or The Bad Place. Bell stars as Eleanor Shellstrop, a person who was essentially a horrible human being and ended up in The Good Place due to a clerical error. Ted Danson plays Michael, the architect of the neighborhood that Elanor lives in during the afterlife. D'Arcy Carden plays the afterlife version of Alexa or Siri, named Janet. William Jackson Harper plays Chidi, a recently deceased professor of ethics and moral philosophy. Jameela Jamil plays Tahani, a rich British socialite. Manny Jacinto plays Jianyu, a monk who has taken a vow of silence. There are a lot of twists and turns throughout the course of the series, and not everything, and everyone, is as they seem. I will not go into too much detail to keep from spoiling anything, but the show (and the characters) go through a ton of change and development over the course of the series. However, the main themes narrow down to what it means to be family, what it means to be friends, and what it means to be a soulmate. The show also explores what makes a good person good and a bad person bad, and whether a person can improve themselves to become better. And of course, a take on what happens after we die. It is primarily a serial comedy, where events in each episode build upon those in previous episodes, but it also includes some drama, especially in the final season. The series finale was one of the best I have seen for any show. The writers found a way to perfectly end the series and give a great send-off to all the characters. The finale was the one episode of the series with almost no comedy. It was really an hour-long, very sad goodbye to both the fans of the show and the characters and actors who played them.

The Blu-Ray set is a nine-disc set stored in a large keep case that can be stored in a slip cover. The set contains two discs per season, each featuring only the episodes, and a ninth disc with bonus material. The extras were carried over from the individual season DVD releases and include gag reels, special effects reels, a 50-minute long portion of the 2019 Comic-Con panel, and the after-show that ran on NBC after the series finale. Apparently, the extended episodes that are included here are not the same as those that can be streamed on the NBC website or that were included in the UK Blu-Ray releases, nor were there the episodes (which sound like web shorts) that bridged seasons three and four. So, while what was included was good, it is not complete. In the US, the show is only available on Blu-ray as a complete series set; individual season sets are only available on DVD.

The series itself was fantastic. The show was well served by having a shorter run of episodes per season, and it ended before it got stale and repetitive. The acting and writing were top-notch. It was very cleverly written, and the writers did a good job making a series about the afterlife that managed to steer clear of any real discussion of religion and never endorsed or took shots at any particular religion. I think a special shout-out has to go out to D'Arcy Carden, who not only had to play different versions of her own character but, in one season-three episode, had to play most of the other characters on the show as well. I would describe the show as PG-13 plus, as there were definitely sex and drug references, although the show did cleverly find a way to get around swearing. Although, the gag reels had a ton of swearing in them. While I cannot guarantee that everyone will love the show, if you are looking for a good comedy to check out, this one is definitely worth it. And, while getting this Blu-Ray set does require a lot of people to double-dip who likely bought the individual season sets on DVD for seasons 1-3, and the extras are not as good as they should have been, I believe it is still worth picking up on Blu-Ray.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 28

Day 28 was the flexibility and mobility routine from 25-Minute Speed Train. I again feel like I made slight progress from last week. While I am still tight in all the same muscles, I do feel that my range of motion is getting better, little by little.  

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 27

Day 27 was the roll and recover foam rolling routine. This week, I just used the regular foam roller. I may switch to the rumble roller next week, depending on how I feel. I either didn't have as many knots in my muscles, or I wasn't feeling it as much with the regular foam roller. Or, it may have been a bit of both.

CD/Music Review: Christina Aguilera: Bionic

 

Bionic, released in 2010, is the sixth studio album from Christina Aguilera. The album features 18 tracks in total, some of which are brief "intro" tracks lasting under a minute. Like her prior albums, especially Stripped and Back to Basics, it mixes genres. The first half of the album includes upbeat club/dance songs that employ an electronica sound, and the second half has the ballads (which tend to be Aguilera's better songs). As has been the case since Aguilera started taking more control of her music and sound, this album features songs with more adult-oriented themes, particularly those related to sex and feminism.  For example, the song Woohoo is about oral sex, and Desnudate is Spanish for "get naked." The album also features songs about marriage and motherhood. The biggest hit from the album is the song "Not Myself Tonight," which peaked at number 23 on the US Top 100 chart.

The CD liner contains pictures of Aguilera (mostly scantily clad or nude), lyrics, production notes, and a thank-you note on the final page. While the album was not as big a hit as some of her prior albums and did not have as many hit singles, it is still good, especially the second half, which features more of the ballads. The easy comparison to make for the sound and feel of this album is to Madonna's Erotica and Janet Jackson's Janet albums. While I don't think this album is as good as those two, it shares some parallels with them. It is definitely not an album that is kid-friendly, like her first couple of albums, which were more bubblegum pop albums. While some of the songs are okay for younger kids to listen to, along with the sexual content of some songs, she does drop a couple of f-bombs that are not edited out. Ultimately, if you are a fan of Aguilera, this one is worth listening to, and many of the tracks are worthy of inclusion in a playlist.   

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 26

Day 26 was the week 4 legs workout, which is a HIIT-only workout. The four exercises that you do for three blocks are Soccer Runs/Sprints for 60 seconds, Triple Bear for 45 seconds, Sumo Jumps for 30 seconds, and jump lunges for 15 seconds. The amount of rest between exercises decreases as you progress, from 20 seconds between the first and second exercises to 15 seconds between the second and third exercises, and then to 10 seconds between the third and fourth exercises. Then, you get a 30-second rest between blocks. Then, you do two burnout blocks in which you do each exercise for 30 seconds with no rest between them, and finish with core and stretching. The workout was tough, but the only exercise I had to modify significantly was Triple Bear. I could do the hops for about 10 seconds in the first block, but then had to hold the bear position in the rest of them. And, in the burnout rounds, I also had to modify the jump lunges. Otherwise, however, I could do them all unmodified, so I am progressing.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 25

Day 25 was shoulders, which was an interval workout. So, in each block, you do two weighted exercises followed by a 30-second HIIT exercise. I was able to use the increased weight from last week on all the weighted exercises and did not have to drop set. And, I was able to do almost all of the HIIT without modifying. I did have to modify the last 10 seconds of each set of squat jumps, but otherwise I did the HIIT unmodified. And, of course, the workout ends with core and stretching. 

Book Review: The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe

 

The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe is a biography of Marilyn Monroe by celebrity biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli. It was first published in 2009 and details the significant events in Marilyn's life, from her childhood to her death in 1962. He details her chaotic childhood in which she was moved from place to place when her mother was institutionalized (the best guess is that it was due to paranoid schizophrenia), her transformation from Norma Jeane Mortenson to Marilyn Monroe, and her struggles with mental illness and the effect it had on her career and personal life. 

The large print hardcover version of the book is very lengthy, comprising approximately 900 pages of substantive text and several pages of appendices, in which Taraborrelli discusses the research for the book, including interviews he conducted with multiple people in or adjacent to Marilyn's life, and breaks down her filmography. The book is about 950 pages in all. The only thing that this version of the book does not include, which knocks it down a star for me, is the pictures that the "regular" edition had. Given that the book is out of print, it can be difficult to find at a reasonable price, and the large print edition was the only one available when I purchased it that was reasonably priced in hardcover. Otherwise, the substance of the book is great. 

The book is organized into topical chapters corresponding to time frames in Marilyn's life with subtopics within each chapter. There are topics that Taraborrelli does not broach or even address, such as the rumors that Marilyn had been sexually assaulted as a young girl. He did indicate that it was challenging to separate fact from fiction when it came to Marilyn because she would make things up about herself and her childhood as an adult, so he only included what he could prove or, in some cases, disprove (or at least dispute). The biggest being that while Marilyn did spend a weekend with JFK, and almost certainly had sex with him, it was not an ongoing affair, and those who knew her and knew RFK indicated they did not believe that she and RFK were ever romantically involved. He does talk about her drug use, her high-profile failed marriages, and her attempt to take more control of her career, and get out of playing ditzy gold-digger and/or sexpot roles. He also addresses the circumstances of her death and why he believes she committed suicide, and was not killed, including events that happened in the weeks leading up to her death that showed she was not mentally or physically healthy. Ultimately, it is one of the best-researched and written biographies on Marilyn Monroe and is absolutely worth reading.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 24

Day 24 was the mid-week off day, so I did the stretching routine. It went well. I think I am slowly progressing in the amount of flexibility I have in my hamstrings, which is a good sign. 

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 23

Day 23 was the back and biceps workout for week 4, which was a 50/50 workout. I was able to maintain using the heavier weight that I used in week 3 for all of the exercises, and increased the amount of weight that I used on full curls from last week. Since last week was a circuit format, by the time I got to full curls at the end of the workout I was spent. But this week, since there are fewer lifting exercises and you do get a little rest between the shorter blocks, I could use more weight. The HIIT portion was tough, but I was able to do some of the exercises unmodified for longer.  

4k-UHD/Movie Review: Dark City (Limited Edition)

 

Dark City is a 1998 film starring Rufus Sewell, Jennifer Connelly, Kiefer Sutherland, William Hurt, Ian Richardson, and Richard O'Brien. It also features Colin Friels and Melissa George in supporting roles. It was directed by Proyas and written by Proyas, Lem Dobbs, and David S. Goyer. The movie was actually filmed in 1996, but got stuck in post-production and underwent extensive reshoots before it was finally released. The film is difficult to describe without giving too much away, but the basic plotline revolves around a man named John Murdoch (Sewell), who wakes up in a hotel bathtub with no memory of who he is or why he is there. After receiving a call from a doctor (Sutherland) telling him that someone is coming for him and to get out of the hotel now, he tries to piece his life together and while evading the police inspector (played by Hurt) trying to arrest him, reconnect with a wife he does not remember (Connelly), avoid a weird group of people called "The Strangers" who are after him, and trying to figure out what is going on in a strange city where the sun never comes up. 

The 4k set is a two-disc set released by Arrow Films in 2025, containing two UHD discs: one with the theatrical version of the film and one with the director's cut. The significant difference between the two is that the director's cut eliminates the voice-over that opens the theatrical version and reveals a substantial portion of the plot upfront. It also includes some deleted and extended scenes that add about 10 minutes to the runtime of the theatrical version. Each disc features bonus content, including multiple commentary tracks (five on the director's cut disc and two on the theatrical version disc), behind-the-scenes and making-of material, and the trailer. Most of the bonus content is archival material from the 2008 release, but a couple of commentary tracks and featurettes are new for this 2025 release. For example, the director's cut features a 2008 commentary track by Proyas and a 2025 commentary track. Each is very different. In the 2008 commentary, Proyas primarily focuses on describing the current scene, whereas his 2025 track is more of a retrospective on the movie, including the casting and filming process. In the 2025 commentary, he does not always discuss what is happening in the currently playing scene. The discs are held in a keep case that also includes a postcard from Shell Beach, Dr. Schreber's business card, a couple of art cards, and a poster. It also has a 60-page booklet with facts and commentary about the film. The keep case and booklet are held in a decorative outer box. The bonus material on the discs is very good. It would have been nice if Connelly and Sutherland had been included in the updated content (although one of the new bonus features does include Sewell).

The movie is difficult to categorize, as it blends genres. It combines horror, action, sci-fi, dystopian nightmare, and film noir elements. It is often compared to The Matrix, which was released a year after this one and overshadowed it. While there are definitely many similarities to The Matrix, this film tells a much different story. It is well-written and acted, and the story has some twists in it that are not predictable. It is not perfect, as it was a much lower-budget film than The Matrix, and Proyas had to make concessions with the story to get the movie made, which kept it from being exactly what he wanted. Ultimately, it is a very good and very underrated film that got lost in the shuffle after The Matrix became a huge hit. It is absolutely worth watching. 

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 22

Day 22 was the chest and triceps workout for week 4. This week, it is a circuit workout. I was able to start with the heavier weights that I used last week, but I did have to drop set some of the exercises in block 2 (in the second and third sets) to finish. It is a tough workout, especially once you get to the burnout block where you alternate wide push-ups and triceps push-ups. Everyone in the cast was doing push-ups on their knees at some point. 

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 21

On day 21, I again did the flexibility and mobility 1 routine from 25-Minute Speed Train. I again feel that my flexibility is improving, as is my balance, but neither is yet where I want them to be. 

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 20

Day 20 was the second rest day of the week, and since it was post-leg day, I did the foam rolling routine. The twist is, I did it using the rumble roller for the first time in a long time. Needless to say, that was tough. I definitely could not go for as long as I could with the regular foam roller, but the rumble roller definitely worked a bunch of knots out of my muscles. 

DVD/TV Series Review: The Good Place: Season 4

 

The 13-episode fourth and final season of The Good Place aired during the 2019/2020 TV season. All of the main cast members return for the final season, as do several of the major recurring cast members, including Marc Evan Jackson, Jason Mantzoukas, Maribeth Monroe, Tiya Sircar, Adam Scott, and Mya Rudolph. The guest stars this season included Timothy Olyphant and Nick Offerman playing themselves, Lisa Kudrow, and Mary Steenburgen (Ted Danson's real-life wife). The main plot of the fourth season revolves around the group attempting to prove that the point system, which determines whether someone ends up in The Good Place or The Bad Place, is fundamentally flawed. They are allowed to test their hypothesis through a series of experiments and, as has been the case in prior seasons, things do not always go as expected. 

The DVD set is a two-disc set. The bonus features include a gag reel and extended episodes. The season puts a very nice bow on the series. While it does stick to the comedy that worked for the first three seasons (and there are many laugh-out-loud moments), this season includes a lot more emotional drama, especially in the final episode. The series finale was an absolutely perfect ending to the show and was one of the best final episodes of any series I have watched. Because the show is essentially one long serial arc, you need to watch the prior seasons to fully follow what is happening in this one and get the most out of the experience. Ultimately, if you enjoyed the first three seasons, this is definitely worth watching.