Product Review: EZYA Heavy Duty Carabiner Clips

 

This is a good pair of inexpensive carabiner clips that can be used for hanging things, attaching to a keychain, or the like. Personally, I used them to hang a couple of solar-powered lamps from hooks on my front porch. Because the solar collector is on top of the lamps and the hanging strap doesn't lower them all that low, I used these to increase clearance between the top of the lamps and the porch overhang, so the solar collectors get more sunlight. They work well for that, and really anything else you would need a sturdy carabiner clip for. Ultimately, if you are looking for a good set of clips but do not need a lot of them, this is a good option.  

Book Review: World Book Encyclopedia of Science: Space

 

This is one of the nine volumes of the World Book Encyclopedia of Science, first published in 2014 and updated in 2019. I have the 2019 version of the set. The volume on space is just under 250 pages. The entries include things such as the history of some famous constellations and stars, the more famous deep-sky objects, and all the planets. It also includes biographies of famous scientists who contributed to the advancement of Astronomy and Astrophysics, as well as some of the most famous Astronauts throughout history. Everything is in alphabetical order, with some entries getting 1-2 paragraphs of write-up, and others receiving multiple pages. 

If you are a fan of Astronomy and have read many books on the subject, you will probably know a lot of the information contained in this volume. It does, however, include information on some of the more recent NASA missions, such as the New Horizons mission to Pluto, which some people may not be as familiar with. And, while it is not overly technical, it does contain some technical information and includes information that you may not know, even if you have read several space-related books. It also includes a couple of how-to projects, such as how to make a mobile of the solar system, how to make a home-made planetarium that you can project using a flashlight, etc. It is written in a way that kids about 10 years old and up can understand it, but it can still be informative for adults. The set is out of print now, but if you can find a copy, it is worth reading. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 90

 Day 90, which is actually the second-to-last day of the program, so I did the second core synergistics workout. Normally, this would be on Tuesday and Friday, but I mixed the workouts up this week, so I had to do the two routines I hate the most three days in a row. Oh, well. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 89

 Day 89 was yoga. Still hated it, but I got through it. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 88

On day 88, I did core synergistics. This, behind the yoga routine, is my least favorite workout in the program. Unlike what Tony Horton tries to say in the video intro, it is not anything that is remotely fundamental to the program. It is just a bunch of weird push-up variations, mixed with different cardio exercises, and some high-volume weight exercises, all of which require you to keep your core tight. But, if you are lifting with proper form, you would be doing that anyway. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 87

On day 87, I did x-stretch. It went well, and unlike the yoga routine, I love this one. It felt good to get it in. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 86

Day 86 was the start of the final week, which is the recovery week. I did the Kenpo routine today, mainly because I had just done yoga a couple of days ago, and did not want to do that again so soon.

Workout Update: P90X Day 85

Day 85 was a rest day going into the final recovery week of the program. I did the 645 cardio routine in the evening, again to get some movement in, but that was it. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 84

Day 84 was yoga. I feel like my flexibility and mobility have plateaued a bit, as my range of motion has not really improved since last week. But, it is kind of hard for me to tell during the yoga routine because it has never been easy for me to do.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 83

 Day 83 was the final Legs and Back workout. I was again able to get in a couple more assisted pull-up reps, but kept the weight for the weighted portions the same.

Workout Update: P90X Day 82

 Day 82 was Kenpo. It was fine. Nothing to really write home about. The workouts are definitely getting super repetitive and boring at this point, so it is a slog to get through them. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 81

Day 81 was the final back and biceps workout. This is still probably my favorite lifting workout in the program (aside from the corn-cob pull-ups), but I was even able to get a couple more assisted reps with those. So, overall, a decent workout.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 80

Day 80 was the final plyometrics workout of the routine. I must admit by this point, I am pretty much slacking in the program, so I did not go balls to the wall during this. But I got through it. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 79

Day 79 was the final Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps workout of the program. There was no big change from the last time I did the workout to speak of.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 78

 Day 78 was a rest day, but I did the 645 cardio routine in the evening just to get some activity in. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 77

Day 77 was Yoga. I still cannot stand the routine, but I can tell that my flexibility is improving incrementally.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 76

Day 76 was Legs and Back. I again was able to get a couple more reps on some of the pull-up exercises, but the amount of weight I used for the weighted exercises stayed the same.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 75

Day 75 was the Kenpo workout again. It went okay, but I did it later in the evening than I intended, so I did not get a ton of sleep during the night because I was still kind of wired from the workout.

Workout Update: P90X Day 74

Day 74 was the last Shoulders and Arms workout of the program. No big changes or advancements from the last time I did the workout.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 73

Day 73 was plyometrics. I was a bit tired during the workout so I did not go all out, but I made it through.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 72

Day 72 was the last Chest and Back workout. It went very well, as I was able to increase the number of assisted pull-ups for almost every pull-up variation, and added a rep or 2 to my push-up total. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 71

Day 71 was the rest day. I did do the 645 cardio routine in the evening just so I could get some movement in during the day, and since we had nice weather, I did go on a couple of longer walks.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 70

Day 70 was the legs and back workout. I used the same weight for all the weighted exercises, and I got a few more pull-ups in.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 69

 On day 69, I did the yoga routine. I am still skipping through portions of it until I get to the point where I can do the portions I can do, well, before I start incorporating the harder elements. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 68

Day 68 was the back and biceps workout. Again, nothing was all that different from the last time I did the workout, but my pull-up numbers increased a bit.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 67

On day 67, I did Kenpo, again switching the workout order. It went well, and I can tell my stamina is getting better, and my speed is getting better when doing the workout. However, I still have a long way to get where I want to be with the workout being as easy as it was for me years ago. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 66

On day 66, I did the chest, shoulders, and triceps workout. There were no huge changes from the last time I did the workout, but I was able to do another couple of corn-cob pull-ups (still assisted) than I did the last time.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 65

On day 65, which was the start of week 2 of Phase 3, I decided to change things up a bit and reorder the workouts. So, instead of starting with Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps, I started with Plyometrics. It went well, and I could tell that my body was not expecting the mix-up in workouts.

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: From Dusk Till Dawn

 

From Dusk Till Dawn is a 1996 film that blends the action, crime-drama, and monster genres. It was directed by Robert Rodriguez and stars George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino (who also wrote the screenplay), Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, Ernest Liu, and Salma Hayek (in her second major film role). The supporting cast includes Cheech Marin (who plays three different roles), John Saxon, Danny Trejo, Fred Williamson, Tom Savini, and Kelly Preston. In it, Clooney and Tarantino play criminal brothers who have recently robbed a bank and taken one of the tellers hostage. They end up taking a family (Keitel, Lewis, and Liu) hostage and force Keitel, who plays a former minister named Jacob Fuller (who has lost his faith after his wife's death), to Mexico in the family's RV. Seth (Clooney's character) assures Jacob that his family will be safe after they meet the brother's contact the following morning at a strip club in Mexico that is open from dusk till dawn. It turns out the strip club is run by vampires who steal from truckers and bikers who frequent the club. 

The blu-ray release is a single-disc release with no bonus content. The A/V transfer is okay, but not outstanding. If you have a large screen and a good sound system, the movie will look and sound very good, even if the HD transfer is not of the highest quality.

The movie falls into the category of good, but not great. It was made just before the big advancement in CGI effects and technology (basically before the first Matrix film and the subsequent Star Wars and Harry Potter films revolutionized movie effects), so some of the effects are extremely fake-looking and cheesy. It is absolutely not family-friendly as it has a lot of violence, swearing, and some nudity. It is well-written and well-acted, and Hayek looks stunning in her bikini scene and takes over the movie at one point despite the limited screen time she gets. While it is not really a comedy, it does have some funny moments, such as Cheech Marin showing up throughout the film in different roles. Ultimately, if you are a fan of action films and shoot-em-up monster movies, you will probably like this one. 

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Frasier: Season 5

 

The 24-episode fifth season of Frasier aired during the 1997/1998 TV season. All members of the main cast/series regulars returned for the season, as did recurring cast members such as Edward Hibbert (who plays Gil Chesterson) and Marsha Mason (who plays Sherry). Bebe Neuwirth also reprised her role as Lilith in a hilarious episode later in the season. The notable guest stars this season included Sela Ward, Lisa Edelstein, Larry King, and Leslie Stahl. There were fewer radio station segments this season, so there were fewer celebrity callers, but those who did appear included Cindy Crawford, John Waters, Rob Reiner, Halle Berry, and John McEnroe.

As of this writing, the individual seasons are available only on DVD in a four-disc set. The Blu-Rays are available in a complete series release, with each season packaged in its own keep case. The fifth season set is a three-disc set on blu-ray. The A/V quality of the blu-rays is excellent and absolutely a step-up in quality from the DVD release. There are no bonus features this season, but the episodes can be played with or without English captions. 

The show remained primarily a story-of-the-week procedural, but there were some ongoing storylines throughout the season, including the ongoing saga of Niles and Maris's marriage, hints of Niles and Daphne getting together, and a pregnancy storyline for Roz. This season also included the series' 100th episode, with a storyline in which Frasier celebrated 1000 episodes of his radio show. The show continues to be very funny in season five, with many laugh-out-loud moments. The episode in which Lilith returns was hilarious, with standout performances by David Hyde Pierce and Bebe Neuwirth. The Niles-Maris storyline is finally resolved this season, and the season ends on a significant cliffhanger going into season six. While some elements of the series are very dated by today's standards, it remained well-written and well-acted, and if you liked the first four seasons, this one is worth watching.

CD/Music Review: Anastacia (self-titled)

 

This is the 2004 self-titled album by Anastacia. It is her third studio album and mixes elements of pop, soul, rock, and R&B. It was not released on physical media in the US  but is available on CD as an import. The album did very well overseas, topping the charts in Germany and the UK. The album has 12 tracks in all. Most of them fall into more of a power-rock category. There are not many ballads or slower songs. The standout tracks, in my opinion, are Left Alone Outside and Sick and Tired. The CD liner includes track listings with lyrics and liner notes, several pictures of Anastacia, and a thank-you note on the final page. The album is good. It has many good tracks, but it definitely has some weaker tracks mixed in. Ultimately, if you liked or loved her first two albums, you will probably like this one as well. 

Magazine Review: Maxim: June 2000

 

Maxim is a magazine created in 1999 to compete with Playboy, without the nudity. The June 2000 issue was its 30th issue, when the magazine was arguably at its height (and before it was sold off to the MAGA nutcase who currently owns and publishes it). The pictorials in this issue were centered on the women who starred in various WB shows, including Brittany Daniel, Charisma Carpenter, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Katie Holmes, Paula Devicq, and Jessica Biel. Most of the actresses had a single pic and a short bio and in the cases of Daniel and Devicq, short interviews. The main pictorial featured Katherine Heigl, who was starring in her breakout role on the series Roswell. Hers had the most pictures (including an incredible sideboob shot) and included a more lengthy interview. The other notable pictorial and write-up (unrelated to the WB actresses) featured Angelina Jolie, who was in the midst of her wild days as a young adult. 

Some of the articles featured in this edition included one about New Mexico's most notorious serial killer, David Parker Ray, an interview with Dave Grohl, and the usual sex-themed articles in which women were interviewed about things such as penis size and their willingness to engage in various fantasy play during sex. There is also an article profiling various young millionaires and how they made their money, and another about the popular convertibles of the time. Some of the ads were quite hilarious. There were tons of cigarette ads, one for a smart grill, and one promoting the release of the movie Fight Club, available for VHS and DVD rental. Ultimately, you have to take Maxim for what it was (especially back then). It definitely was written to appeal to the frat boy crowd in their late teens and early 20s. Some of the material is definitely cringe-worthy 25-plus years later (as of this writing), but some of the more serious material in it holds up well. 

Book Review: The Tales of Guy de Maupassant (Easton Press Edition)

 

The Tales of Guy de Maupassant is a collection of short stories written by Guy de Maupassant during the 1800s. None of the stories are connected, so it feels very choppy to read them all in one sitting. The topics vary from romance to crime. Some of them are definitely better than others. The best story in the collection, in my opinion, is the one titled "Diary of a Madman," which is about a judge who is revealed to be a serial killer when his diary is discovered after his death. 

The Easton Press version of the book is leatherbound and is just under 475 pages long. It also includes an introduction by the Easton Press editors that extends the length a bit. There are some illustrations throughout the book, but not an excessive amount. The book is included in Easton Press' "100 Greatest Books Ever Written" collection. While I would not go so far as to say it should have been included in that collection, it is interesting to read, especially if you like reading stories from the 19th century. 

4k-UHD/Movie Review: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

 

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a 2023 film directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, Daisy Head, Sophia Lillis, Chloe Coleman, and Justice Smith. The supporting cast includes Bradley Cooper and Rege-Jean Page. Goldstein and Daley also co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Gillo. It is, of course, based on the role-playing game and is set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. 

In it, Pine plays a bard named Edgin "Ed" Davis, who was in an order of peacekeepers until his wife was killed by disciples of a wizard that he arrested. He then becomes a thief, teaming up with a barbarian named Helga (played by Rodriguez), a sorcerer named Simon (played by Smith), and a con artist named Fitzwilliam (played by Grant). Ed and Helga are caught during a robbery and are imprisoned for 2 years. After escaping, Ed tries to track down Fitzwilliam and his daughter, Kira, whom Fitzwilliam has been caring for. Daisy Head plays Sofina, a red wizard, working for Fitzwilliam. 

The 4K release is a single-disc release. The UHD disc contains the movie and all the bonus content. The A/V quality is outstanding, and the movie looks and sounds wonderful in UHD, especially on a large screen with a good sound system.  The bonus material includes about an hour of content, including a making-of featurette, featurettes on the heroes and villains, a gag reel, and about ten minutes of deleted scenes. 

I would classify the movie as good (and better than the other live-action D&D movies that have come before), but not great. It has a decent mix of action and humor, and the effects are outstanding. The humor can be a bit much, a bit corny, and a bit cheesy at times, but the writers do stay pretty faithful to the setting. Ultimately, if you are a fan of fantasy films, you will probably find this one enjoyable and worth watching. If, however, you are holding out for something like the Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends series, this is definitely not it. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 64

Day 64 was a rest day, but I did get in a little extra cardio (the 645 cardio workout) in the evening.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 63

Day 63 was yoga, which I had swapped out during the week. I again skipped past the parts that still give me trouble, but I can tell that my flexibility and mobility are getting better in the parts that I do. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 62

 Day 62 was legs and back. I used the same amount of weight for all of the weighted exercises, aside for the toe-roll iso lunges, which I bumped up from 12 to 15 lbs (and felt the difference). And I was able to get more reps on the pull-ups (again using the chair assist). 

Workout Update: P90X Day 61

On Day 61, I again swapped out yoga for kenpo. Nothing new to report about Kenpo. It was fine, nothing much different than the last time.

Workout Update: P90X Day 60

 Day 60 was the shoulders and arms workout. It went well, and I was able to bump the amount of weight that I used on a couple of the exercises up just a bit. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 59

Day 59 was plyometrics. I did not feel as tired during this one as I did after the first recovery week. I was able to jump back into it pretty well.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 58

Day 58 was the beginning of Phase 3, the last block of P90X. This is the block that you do Chest and Back and Shoulders and Arms for weeks 9 and 11 (1 and 3 of the block) and Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps, and Back and Biceps in weeks 10 and 12 (2 and 4 of the block). So, today was going back to Chest and Back. I was able to do more (assisted) pull-ups, but the push-up numbers were not all that different than the last time I did the workout. 

Book Review: Never Forget: An Oral History of September 11, 2001

 

Never Forget: An Oral History of September 11, 2001, first published in 2002, is a collection of stories of people who either survived the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, had loved ones killed in the attack, or helped in the aftermath of the attacks. Some of the stories are very well known if you have watched any of the 9/11 documentaries made over the years, and some are lesser-known. They were created from interviews conducted by authors Mitchell Fink and Lois Mathias with the people involved. All of the stories are at least a page long, and some stretch for a few pages. 

The hardcover version of the book is just under 300 pages. The authors did an excellent job of conveying the emotions of the people who participated in interviews, which, given that the book was published in January of 2002, just a few months after the attacks, were quite raw. Most of the stories are from people who were in New York, either during the attacks or helping with the search-and-rescue efforts. The authors did, however, interview some people who were at the Pentagon and interviewed some of the family members of passengers on Flight 93. Ultimately, it is a very emotional read that provides a lot of detail about things that were not apparent from watching the TV coverage (for those who are old enough to have done so that day) or from the documentaries. It is absolutely worth reading. 

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Bewitched: Season 6

 

The 30-episode 6th season of Bewitched aired during the 1969/1970 TV season. This season saw the largest cast shakeup, with Dick Sargent taking over the role of Darrin following Dick York's exit after season 5 due to a long-term back injury. David White was promoted to a series regular and added to the opening credits, and Alice Ghostley (who played a guest role in season 2) joined the cast in a new recurring role as Esmeralda, a part-time housekeeper/babysitter who is a witch with spotty powers (much like Aunt Clara). Elizabeth Montgomery returned (albeit begrudgingly) as Samantha (and occasionally Serena), Erin Murphy returned as Tabitha, and Agnes Moorehead returned as Endora. The guest stars this season included NFL star Deacon Jones, Bernie Koppell (who appeared as several different characters), Danny Bonaduce, J. Edward McKinley (who also made multiple appearances as different characters), and Jay Robinson (who also made multiple appearances). Bernard Fox, Maurice Evans, George Tobias, Sandra Gould, and Paul Lynde also made appearances in their recurring roles.  

The blu-rays are, as of this writing, only available in the complete series set, and the 6th season episodes span three discs. The epsisodes can be played with English captions, but the only bonus feature is a commentary track on the season premiere by Herbie Pilato and Johnny Whitaker (who guest-starred in the first episode of the season). The DVD set is a four-disc set. 

The series continues to mostly be a story-of-the-week procedural sitcom. Some elements (such as Samantha's pregnancy) spanned multiple episodes, but for the most part, the episodes are stand-alone. The writers do recycle storylines every so often, and as mentioned above, some of the same guest stars play totally different characters in different episodes. Interestingly, the writers did not address the fact that Darrin looked totally different after recasting the role, even though it would have been easy to explain with a spell gone awry that could not be reversed. The series was getting a bit stale by this point in its run. Montgomery had to be coerced to return (and given a significant raise in the process). Even so, there were definitely some funny moments, and it remained well-acted. Sargent did a good job making the role of Darrin his own, incorporating some of what Dick York did with the character without being a carbon copy of York. Ultimately, if you liked the prior seasons of the series, this one is worth checking out. 

Book Review: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

 

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a 2015 novel by George R.R. Martin set in the Game of Thrones universe. The events occur approximately 100 years before those depicted in the Song of Ice and Fire novels and the Game of Thrones TV series. The story involves a low-born "hedge knight" named Duncan (nicknamed Dunk), who goes by Ser Duncan the Tall, who was knighted by the knight for whom he squired. He looks to make a living competing in various tournaments. While traveling to a tournament, a small boy who calls himself Egg, whom Dunk mistakes for a stable boy at a local inn, asks to be his squire. Dunk ends up begrudgingly taking on Egg, who is definitely not a lowly stableboy, as his squire, and traveling through Westeros and getting into all manner of trouble.

The hardcover version of the book is just over 350 pages. I found that it reads much quicker than the Song of Ice and Fire novels, as there are far fewer characters and the book does not jump between storylines. The book actually has three different stories, with time jumps between each of them. While it does not have as much action or sex as the GoT novels, it is still entertaining. Martin does a great job of focusing the story on the relationship between Dunk and Egg, who have an older-brother-younger-brother dynamic. Of course, everyone wants Martin to actually finish the GoT series, and he received a lot of criticism for going off on side tangents with stories like this. However, if you are a fan of the series (regardless of what you think of Martin's writing pace), you will probably like this one. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 57

Day 57 was a rest day, and I did not do any workout and just enjoyed the off day. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 56

Day 56 was the second yoga workout of the week. Nothing new to say about this one, it is still way too long and has too much in it and I definitely fast forwarded through parts of it. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 55

Day 55 was the second core synergistics workout of the week. I still can't stand this workout and think it is mostly a waste of time, but I got through it.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 54

Day 54 was x-stretch. As I have said before, I like this routine much better than the yoga routine. Again, I could tell my flexibility and range of motion are improving.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 53

Day 53 was Kenpo. It went well, and I am getting faster and able to better keep up with the cast members. While I am not as good as I was when I was actively in taekwondo, I am improving.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 52

Day 52 was yoga. I again only did a portion of the routine, skipping past the parts that I hate doing or still cannot do well. The parts that I did tackle are getting better as my flexibility and range of motion is improving. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 51

Day 51 was the beginning of the recovery week. I did core synergistics even though this was supposed to be Yoga. I did not pay attention to the calendar. Overall, it went pretty much the same as the last time, however I was able to do a few more of the push-up variations. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 50

 Day 50 was a rest day, but I did the stretch routine to get ready for recovery week. 

Book Review: Denied Access (Mitch Rapp Series #24)

 

Denied Access, published in 2025, is the 24th book in the prolific Mitch Rapp series of novels created by Vince Flynn. It is the second book written by Don Bentley, after he took over the series from Kyle Mills, who continued the series after Flynn's death. If you read the books in chronological order, it is now the third in the series, creating a trilogy of novels (along with American Assassin and Kill Shot) detailing Rapp's early days after joining the CIA. The events in the novel (save for the prologue) are set in the early 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In it, Rapp finds himself caught in a conflict between the American and Russian Intelligence services, focused on protecting Greta, whose life has been threatened in the process. 

The hardcover version of the book is just over 400 pages long. It reads fairly quickly, and Bentley mirrors Flynn's overall style and tone for the characters while making the story his own. Because this is set during Rapp's early days, characters like Thomas Stansfield and Stan Hurley are heavily featured, and we learn more about Irene's career in the agency. Obviously, as Bentley indicates in the Author's Note, we will never know where Vince Flynn would have taken the story after the novel Kill Shot, had he continued young Rapp's story, but Bentley does a great job concluding that portion of the story. Ultimately, if you are a fan of the series, this is worth reading.

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: 13 Going on 30

 

13 Going on 30 is a 2004 romantic comedy directed by Gary Winick and starring Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer, and Andy Serkis. The supporting cast includes Christa B. Allen, Alexandra Kyle, Sean Marquette, Kathy Baker, Renee Olstead, Samuel Ball, Phil Reeves, and Marcia DeBonis. It also includes Jim Gaffigan, Kiersten Warren, Brie Larson, and Ashley Benson in very minor bit parts. It starts in 1987 with a girl named Jenna Rink (Allen) turning 13. She is a nerdy kid whose best friend is her next-door neighbor Matt (Marquette), who is also nerdy and has a huge crush on Jenna. She desperately wants to be part of the popular group of girls at her school, nicknamed The Six Chicks, led by the most popular girl, Lucy/"Tom-Tom" (Kyle). Jenna ends up wishing that she were "thirty, flirty, and thriving" and, through the magic of movies, wakes up in 2004 as a 30-year-old (played by Garner) in New York City. The last thing she remembers is being humiliated by the Six Chicks at her birthday party, with no memory of the intervening 17 years. She ends up tracking down Matt (played by Ruffalo) and enlists his help to figure out what happened, discovering that she does not like who she ultimately grew up to be.

The Blu-Ray is a single-disc release. The A/V quality is very good, with an outstanding HD video transfer and very good 5.1 channel audio transfer. The bonus content includes two commentary tracks on the film: a director's commentary by Winick and a producer's commentary by two of the film's producers, Gina Matthews and Susan Arnold. Then there are just under a half hour's worth of deleted scenees, a couple of making-of featurettes, a featurette on 80s fashion, a featurette in which the cast members discuss their awkward teenage years, and two music videos (Pat Benatar's "Love is a Battlefield" and Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl," both of which are featured in the movie). Finally, there are trailers for three other films, but not the trailer for 13 Going on 30 itself. 

The movie is a fun and pretty innocent romantic comedy. It is to millennials what the movie "Big" was to Gen-Xers. The best way I can describe the movie is that it is what you would get if you mixed Big with the other huge 2004 comedy, "Mean Girls." Garner, who was still in her run as a TV action star playing Sidney Bristow on Alias, proved that she has great comedic acting skills. She totally made you buy that she was a clueless and innocent 13-year-old in the body of a smoking hot 30-year-old. Greer (who plays the adult version of Lucy) was great in her role, and Ruffalo was perfect for the part of the adult version of Matt. It is not a raunchy comedy by any means; there are some sex jokes and a couple of swear words thrown in, but it is definitely appropriate for a PG-13 audience, and can be enjoyed by adults (especially those who were in middle school or high school in the late 80s/early 90s). There are several laugh-out-loud moments, and the film features a wonderful 1980s soundtrack. While parts of it are a bit corny, it does hold up well even after 20-plus years. It is absolutely worth watching. 

Product Review: Chamberlain 1HP Smart Belt Drive Garage Door Opener with Battery Backup, Camera, and Motion Sensing Wall Control

 

A few years ago, I installed a Chamberlain smart garage door opener with a belt drive at my old house. When I moved, my new place had an old chain drive opener, which was loud and had the small remotes that were the size of key fobs and either had to be put on a keychain or in the center console, making them difficult to deal with, and you basically had to be right at the garage door to open it. So, I decided to get the upgraded version of the opener I had before. 

This is a belt drive, so it is very quiet. I have it on my two-car garage door, and although the door is not heavy or oversized, because I live in a region that can have harsh winters, I decided to go with the 1 HP version over the 1/2 or 3/4 HP versions. It can be controlled via the MyQ app or with the remotes (which are the kind that can be clipped onto your car's sun visor, which is much more convenient than the keyfob remotes, and they have great range as I can open the garage door when I am still down the block before pulling into my driveway. The remotes are pre-programmed, so you do not have to pair them with the opener. If you have multiple garage doors, the remotes can also be paired with another opener so you can open two doors from the same remote. 

This version has a camera and a battery backup, so if the power goes out, you can still use the opener for about 24 hours without having to pull the cord to open and close the garage door manually. And, when the power comes back on, the battery automatically starts recharging. You also get a 30-day trial of the MyQ monitoring service, which alerts you to activity detected by the camera. The app automatically alerts whenever the garage door opens and closes, which is part of the base features, and does not require an upgraded subscription. You can link it to an Amazon account for the "key" in-garage delivery service, which allows Amazon drivers to open and close the garage when delivering packages. 

I purchased the opener through Home Depot and paid for professional installation, which is handled by a local garage door service. If you can afford it, I highly recommend using that, as a pro can install it in a couple of hours, and they recycle your old garage door opener (if you already have one installed). Ultimately, this is a great garage door opener and absolutely worth the price.

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Frasier: Season 4

 

The 24-episode fourth season of Frasier aired during the 1996/1997 TV season. All of the main cast members returned for the fourth season, with Dan Butler (who played Bulldog) being promoted to a series regular. The guest and recurring cast this season included Robert Prosky, Marsha Mason, James Earl Jones, Linda Hamilton, Jane Lynch, Zeljko Ivanek, Lisa Darr, Megan Mullally, Pauley Perrette, Jane Kaczmarek, and Bobby Sherman. Bebe Neuwirth made another appearance as Lilith, and Harriet Sansom Harris made another appearance as Frasier's agent, Bebe. The guest callers this season included Marv Albert, Dr. J., Bob Costas, Kieran Culkin, John Cusack, Patty Duke, and Eric Roberts. The show remained a story-of-the-week procedural, with longer story arcs mixed in. The longer storylines this season included the "will-they-or-won't-they" get-together between Niles and Daphnie (including teasing that Niles would get back together with Maris) and a new love interest for Martin. The season ends on a bit of a cliffhanger with Frasier making an impulsive decision to head off to Mexico with a woman he meets in the airport.

As of this writing, the blu-rays are only available in the complete series box set. The individual seasons are available on DVD. In the blu-ray set, the fourth season is a three-disc set that is included in its own keep case. The DVD set is a four-disc set. There is no bonus material included on the fourth season discs, just the episodes that can be played with or without English captions. The A/V quality of the blu-rays is mostly very good, and a significant upgrade from the DVDs. 

By the fourth season, the show had found the format that worked and stuck to it. Some of the jokes are definitely more adult-oriented, but the sex jokes were toned way down from what was on Cheers, especially in the early seasons. The writing and acting continued to be great, and while some things about the show are a bit dated thirty-plus years later, it holds up fairly well. In one eerie bit of coincidence, in the season finale, there is a reference to American Flight 11, which is a flight that series creator David Angell often took when he flew back to Los Angeles, including on September 11th 2001. Of course, that was the first plane hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center that day. Ultimately, if you liked the first three seasons, you will like this one, and it is worth watching. 

Book Review: The Dragons: Dragonlance Lost Histories Volume VI

 

The Dragons, written by Douglas Niles and published in 1996, is a novel in the prolific Dragonlance series of fantasy novels, which began with a story in a Dungeons & Dragons role-playing campaign in the early 1980s and later expanded into the trilogy known as the Chronicles series. That series spawned hundreds of other novels, including this one. This book is part of a series of novels that fill in gaps in events mentioned but not fully explored in the Chronicles and Legends trilogies. This book details the lives of a number of good and evil dragons, some of whom are first introduced in the Chronicles series, but most are new to this book. The events begin about 8500 years before the Cataclysm (the big event in the Dragonlance setting that divides time periods), making it the first novel if you read them in chronological order, and end with the conclusion to the War of the Lance (which occurred 350 years after the Cataclysm and was the story in the Chronicles trilogy). In it, we learn about the dragons' role in the original war in which Takhisis attempted to take over, their subsequent exile from Krynn, and the good dragons' decision to return to fight in the War of the Lance. 

For years, the book was only available in mass-market paperback, and is now available in electronic form. The first edition of the paperback book is 315 pages long. It does spoil some of what happens in the Chronicles series. So, if you are just getting into the Dragonlance series and have not read the Chronicles trilogy (or have not finished them) and care about spoilers, then it is best to read this after those novels. Most of the book (about 3/4) is set in the centuries before the War of the Lance. If you have read the Chronicles series, the last 1/4 of the story will be more familiar and will probably read more quickly. While I would not say that it is as good as any of the novels in the Chronicles and Legends trilogies (basically, the original six books in the Dragonlance universe) and can be slow in parts, it is worth reading if that part of the story interests you. It is not, however, integral to the storyline in the "primary" novels, so you will not miss anything vital if you do not read this one.

Workout Update: P90X Day 49

On day 49, I did yoga. I was going to try and do more of the asana portion, but I did not get started until about 9:00 at night, so I again went up through the "chair" portion of the first part of the workout, then skipped to balance poses and went up to the yoga-belly-seven portion. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 48

On Day 48, I did the final legs and back workout for Phase II. It went pretty well. I decided to swap using the pull-up assist for a chair (since I bought a pull-up stand with a bar much higher than the old pull-up bar I had attached to a door frame in my old house). I found that using a chair works much better, so I was able to get a couple more reps in during each pull-up move during the workout.

Workout Update: P90X Day 47

I used Day 47 as a rest day, but did do ab-ripper in the evening. I was just not feeling like doing a long workout today, so I shuffled my schedule again.  

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: The Incredible Mr. Limpet

 

The Incredible Mr. Limpet is a 1964 comedy starring Don Knotts, Carole Cook, Jack Weston, Andrew Duggan, Larry Keating, Paul Frees, and Elizabeth MacRae. Most of the story is set in the 1940s during World War II. Knotts plays a bookkeeper named Henry Limpet, who loves fish and often wishes he were one. He attempts to enlist to fight in the war, but is denied due to poor eyesight. He is the classic wimpy pushover who is browbeaten by his wife, Bessie (played by Cook), and is mercilessly teased by his best friend George (played by Weston). When he falls off the pier at Coney Island, he transforms into a fish, and when he discovers that he has a powerful underwater roar that he calls a "thrum," he begins helping the Navy destroy German U-boats.

The blu-ray release is a single-disc release. The A/V quality is good, but it did not receive the high-quality restoration some older films have. If you have a decent home-theater setup, the movie will look and sound okay, but it will not be as good as those that receive an extensive HD transfer. There is a little over 20 minutes of bonus content, including an introduction to the film by Knotts, a promotional short film about the film's premier in Weeki Wachee, FL, a series of short segments in which Knotts reflects on the various actors who worked on the fim, and the theatrical trailer (which is preceeded by a promotion for the songs from the film which was relased as a single).

The movie is a bit corny and cheesy, but it was one of the first (if not the first) movies to blend live-action with animation. And unlike many of today's comedies, it is absolutely family-friendly and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. There is one sex joke at the end that is pretty mild and would probably go over most kids' heads, but there is no swearing or anything that is not appropriate for young kids. It holds up fairly well, even after 60+ years. Ultimately, the movie is a fun, offbeat film that is worth watching. 

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Bewitched: Season 5

 

The 30-episode fifth season of Bewitched aired during the 1968/1969 TV season. All of the main cast returned, including Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, and Agnes Moorehead. Erin Murphy, and/or Diane Murphy, and David White appeared in most episodes, and George Tobias and Sandra Gould appeared in a handful of episodes. Paul Lynde, Maurice Evans, and Bernard Fox also made several appearances throughout the season. Some of the guest stars this season included Isabel Sanford (best known for her role on The Jeffersons), Art Metrano (who would later star in some of the Police Academy films), and Danny Bonaduce.

As of this writing, the blu-rays are only available in the complete series release. In that set, the fifth season episodes are spread across three discs. The only bonus content is commentary tracks on a couple of episodes by Herbie Pilato and York's son. The restoration of the episodes is very good, but the HD format does show the limitations of 1960s effects. The individual season is available on DVD in a four-disc set, but does not have the commentary tracks that were done for the blu-ray release. 

The fifth season marked the start of the series' transition, as it would be the last season in which Dick York appeared due to a back injury that affected his ability to work. This season, he was absent for several episodes, and the writers found different ways to write excuses for Darrin's absence into the show. As a result, there were more appearances by characters like Uncle Author, Maurice, and Serena (with Elizabeth Montgomery pulling double duty). The writers continued to work in some real-world 1960s themes (including social themes like women's rights and civil rights) into the show from time to time (sometimes subtly, sometimes not), but mostly kept the show lighthearted and fictional. The show was definitely getting repetitive and recycling or repackaging old storylines. However, it was still very entertaining. The one issue I had with the show was that it would often reuse the same supporting actors in totally different roles. So, if you are big on continuity, there was not much in this show, as you would often see the same actors playing different characters just a few episodes apart. In one of the commentary tracks, Pilato mentioned that if Montgomery and William Asher (Montgomery's husband and one of the show's producers) liked someone, they would bring that person back multiple times. So you can definitely tell which actors they liked. 

Ultimately, the season is good, and the show continued to be funny in the fifth season, even if it was getting a bit stale. There are definitely some elements of the series that would likely not be used if it were made today, but it mostly holds up well. If you liked the first few seasons, this one is not as good as those, but it is still entertaining and worth watching.

Workout Update: P90X Day 46

On Day 46, I again swapped Yoga for Kenpo. For some reason, I just prefer keeping the yoga routine (especially that one) for the weekend. I am definitely getting faster and have more stamina during the workout, but I still have a ways to go before I am at the level I want to be with that one.

Workout Update: P90X Day 45

Day 45 was Back and Biceps again. Like the Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps workout, I was able to increase the amount of weight I used on a couple of the exercises, and do a couple more pull-ups, but overall it was pretty much the same as last week.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 44

Day 44 was plyo. I again decided to skip the last chunk of the workout (the "sports bonus"), mostly because I got a later start to the workout than I would have liked. Ultimately, however, it went fine. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 43

Day 43 enters the last week of Phase 2, which means the Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps workout again. No big changes from last week's workout. I increased the amount of weight I used for a couple of exercises during the workout, but for the most part, they stayed the same as last week. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 42

On day 42, I got a lot of exercise. In the afternoon, I had to shovel my driveway after we got a nice dumping of spring snow. Then, in the evening, I did yoga (which I had substituted earlier in the week) and ab-ripper. Basically, I stopped once I got to the core exercises in the yoga workout and then did ab-ripper since I generally like those exercises more.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 41

I used day 41 as the off day this week. I had a party at my house, so, since I knew I was not going to be eating all that well, I just took the day off (but I did get in a session of ab-ripper in the evening.

Workout Update: P90X Day 40

Day 40 was the Legs and Back workout. The most progress I have made was on the Bulgarian Squats. My balance was better, and I could go a bit deeper on them. All of the rest of the exercises were pretty much the same. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 39

On day 39, I switched Yoga for the Kenpo workout. It went fine, really no better or worse than the last time I did it. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 38

Day 38 was the second round of the Back and Biceps workout. I again was able to increase the amount of weight I was using for a couple of the exercises. I had the same pull-up numbers from last week, probably because I was still not feeling great. I still cannot do corn-cob pull-ups for shit, but I can do a handful of the rest of them. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 37

Day 37 was plyo again. I was not feeling great and got a late start, so I ended the workout once I did the five main blocks and skipped the "sports bonus" portion. It was slow starting, but once I was warmed up, I made it through fine.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 36

Day 36 was the second round of Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps. Overall, the workout went well. I was able to increase the number of reps on some of the push-up exercises and the amount of weight I used for a couple of the exercises.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 35

Day 35 was the rest day, so I just did ab-ripper (since I did not do it on Friday after the Legs and Back workout). I am still doing 15 reps of all of the exercises except Mason Twists. I will probably bump it up to 20 reps soon (maybe next week, maybe the week after).  

Workout Update: P90X Day 34

Day 34 was Kenpo X. I am getting better at it, both in terms of my cardio stamina and speed. I still skip that beginning stretching (which really should be the cool down) and use the twist and pivot and punching sequences as a warm up. That knocks about 11 minutes off the total time of the workout which makes it more palatable.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 33

Day 33 was Legs and Back. I did find that it was a bit harder after the off week than it was in the last week of Phase I (especially the pull-ups), but I was able to get through it.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 32

Day 32 was Yoga. As with the past few times I have done the yoga routine, I focused on improving the parts that I can do well or semi-well, and altering the parts that I currently struggle with. Basically, I want to get stronger and more flexible and then work in the things (like the end of the moving asanas) that give me trouble.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 31

Day 31 was the first back and biceps workout in Phase 2 of P90X. It is the second "new" workout after the first month. Like the Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps workout, this one incorporates many of the exercises from Phase 1's Chest and Back and Shoulders and Arms workouts. And, it adds a couple of new exercises into the mix. It has two blocks of work with a one-minute rest between them. You alternate two back exercises (one that is a version of a pull-up and one that uses weights) followed by two biceps exercises. The workout ends with a strip set of bicep curls, where you do 8 reps with the heaviest weight you can use, then drop the weight (5 lbs or more), do eight reps with the lighter weight, and repeat that two more times. So, it is a challenging workout and it does get tiring toward the end, especially once you get to the point where you can do more pull-ups at the beginning.

Workout Update: P90X Day 30

Day 30 was plyo. Interestingly, I felt that I had a bit less stamina since I had not done this one for a week. Core synergistics and kenpo are the only "up-tempo" workouts that you do during the recovery weeks, but neither of them is as effective cardio-wise as plyo. But, ultimately, I go through it.  

CD/Music Review: Ashanti: Chapter II

 

Chapter II is the 2003 sophomore album by Ashanti. It features 20 tracks total, but some are very short skits or interludes that run around a minute or less, give or take (similar to those on her first album). The album features three singles, the most successful of which is "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)," which peaked at number 2 on the US Top 100. Like her first album, this one mixes R&B, rap, funk, hip-hop, soul, and pop and includes more upbeat dance tracks and ballads. The CD liner unfolds into a poster of Ashanti on one side, and pictures, lyrics, production notes, and a thank-you message on the other. Ultimately, the album has a very similar style and sound to her debut album, which some may like and some may feel is too much of a carbon copy of her first album. Personally, I liked her first album a bit more than this one, but ultimately, if you enjoyed her debut album, you will probably like this one. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 29

Day 29 was the first workout of Phase 2 of P90X, which meant doing the first of two new workouts, Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps. Several of the exercises are carried over from the Chest and Back and Shoulders and Arms workouts in Phase 1, but this one also includes a few new ones.  It also includes new cast members, one of whom does modified versions of the exercises. Overall, it went well.

Workout Update: P90X Day 28

Day 28 was the last day of recovery week, which I just used as a rest day. I do feel refreshed going into Phase 2 and the two new lifting workouts. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 27

Day 27 was the sixth day of recovery week, which meant yoga again. I just did the "main" part of it (up to the ab exercises) and skipped the end, which I will probably do going forward. There was no big change from when I did it earlier in the week.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 26

Day 26 was the fifth day of the recovery week, which meant doing core synergistics again. It really went exactly the same as Tuesday. I could do the same amount of reps and had to modify or skip the same exercises I did then. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 25

Day 25 was the fourth day of recovery week, which was x-stretch. As much as I hate the yoga routine, I love this. It is the perfect length (just under an hour), and it does not have a ton of overly advanced moves. Had this been included in Power 90, it would have been perfect to get people ready for the P90X yoga routine. 

4K-UHD/Movie Review: Dogma

 

Dogma is the 1999 film written and directed by Kevin Smith. It was the fourth film in what is known as the View Askewinverse, which is the series of comedies written and directed by Smith, which at the time, included the films Clerks, Mallrats, and Chasing Amy. It stars Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Salma Hayek, Jason Lee, Alan Rickman, and Chris Rock, as well as Smith and Jason Mewes as the characters Jay and Silent Bob. George Carlin and Alanis Morissette also have what amounts to extended cameos. Brian O'Halloran and Jeff Anderson (who were the leads in Clerks) made cameo appearances, and Janeane Garofalo and Bud Cort have small roles. In the film, Affleck and Damon play fallen angels named Bartleby and Loki, who attempt to exploit a loophole in their banishment to Earth and re-enter Heaven, which, if successful, will wipe out everything in existence. Fiorentino plays Bethany, a counselor at an abortion clinic who is undergoing a crisis of faith and is recruited by the angel Metatron (played by Rickman) to stop them. She is aided by Jay and Silent Bob, as well as Rock's character Rufus, and Hayek's character Serendipity, while Lee's character, the demon Azrael, tries to stop her. 

The 4k set is a two-disc set containing a UHD disc and a standard blu-ray disc. The A/V quality of the UHD disc is very good. It is definitely an upgrade over the initial DVD release, and a good, but not outstanding upgrade over the blu-ray (which had been out of print for many years). The UHD disc includes the two original commentary tracks, one with Smith, Affleck, Lee, Mewes, producer Scott Moser, and Vincent Pereira, which focuses on the movie itself, and the second is a technical commentary track with Smith, Moser, and Pereira in which they discuss more of the details about filming and getting the movie made. New features include a short introduction by Smith for the 4k release that plays after the disc loads, a new making-of documentary that runs almost an hour and a half that features updated interviews, a portion of a Q&A session with Smith after a screening of the film, an interview with Smith that runs about 15 minutes, the original trailer and a 25th anniversary trailer, and a few shorter featurettes. 

The standard blu-ray contains the films and both commentary tracks (although the track with Smith and the cast includes video pop-ups that are not in the version on the UHD disc), the intro by Smith, and all the legacy content carried over from the original release. Those include about an hour and a half of deleted and extended scenes, a 40-minute documentary focusing on the very stupid controversy surrounding the film when it was made, some storyboard sequences, more trailers and TV spots, among other things. As with the original release, most references to Miramax and Harvey Weinstein are censored from the extras (with only a couple of exceptions).

The film is good, but it will definitely not appeal to everyone. First and foremost, it is a crude comedy with crude humor (as is the case with most of Smith's movies). It happens to involve religion, unlike what some think, it does not make fun of religion or faith in general. It is a comedy that is set around religious concepts, some controversial and some not. Smith, who was a practicing Catholic for years, wanted to make a comedy that explored the religious dogma he learned growing up. He does poke fun at the Catholic Church, but not the concept of faith in general. Ultimately, if you do not mind crude humor and swearing, it is a good movie that actually teaches some aspects of Christianity and Catholicism, which some people may not otherwise know. If you can accept that, the movie is absolutely worth watching. 

Book Review: Star Wars: Trials of the Jedi

 

Trials of the Jedi, published in 2025 and written by Charles Soule, is the conclusion to the High Republic era storyline involving the Jedi and the Republic's fight against the Nihil. Obviously, we know that Marchion Ro would have to be defeated for the Skywalker era to occur, but this details how he was taken down and finally reveals the full history of the Nameless creatures and how they are tied to the mysterious blight that has been devouring planets. It also (at least potentially) sets up how the Sith line that went through Palpatine may have started. Since the events in the book are set approximately 130 years before The Phantom Menace, there would have been time for a potential Sith reveal toward the end of the book to make sense. 

The hardcover version of the book is just over 420 pages long. It was a fairly quick read, but not as fast as some of the other High Republic novels, mainly because the storyline shifts between several different settings. Most of the story is set on the Namless' homeworld, Planet X, but parts of it are set on the planet Eridau, on Coruscant (both in the Jedi Temple and the Senate building), and on a world being consumed by the blight. Ultimately, it is a good conclusion to the bulk of the High Republic story (the Acolyte era is considered the end of the High Republic, and there have already been a couple of novels set during that time). The storyline in the novel starts out a bit slow, but picks up well in the last third of the book. If you have enjoyed the prior novels set during the High Republic era, this one is absolutely worth reading.

CD/Music Review: Ashanti: Self-Titled Debut Album

 

This is Ashanti's self-titled debut album, released in 2002. Ashanti had been writing for other artists, penning hooks for various rap and hip-hop artists. The album contains 17 tracks, some of which are very short "skits" or interludes that last around a minute or less. The tracks are mostly dance/hip-hop, fused with a bit of pop or ballads. The three hit singles from the album are "Foolish" (which spent several weeks at the top of the US charts), "Happy" (which reached the top 10), and "Baby" (which peaked at number 15). Some tracks are collaborations with Ja Rule, Irv Gotti, and one a remix of Foolish, titled "Unfoolish" features The Notorious B.I.G., using a sample of one of his tracks. The album's total run time is just over an hour.

The CD liner includes several pictures of Ashanti, a track listing with production notes, a separate track listing with lyrics for each track, and a thank-you note. Ultimately, if you are a fan of late '90s/early 2000s R&B and hip-hop, you will probably like this album. While there is some rap on it, it is mostly an R&B album that showcases Ashanti's wonderful vocal talent and singing. Some of the tracks, especially the skits, have swearing in them, so you probably want to avoid playing some of the tracks around young kids. It is absolutely worth listening to, with several tracks worthy of inclusion on one or more playlists.

Workout Update: P90X Day 24

Day 24 was the third day of recovery week, which meant doing Kenpo X. It went well. I noticed I could keep up with the cast more easily this time than in the prior few weeks. I skipped the useless stretching at the beginning and used the punching sequence as a dynamic warm-up. 

CD/Music Review: Anastacia: Freak of Nature

 

Freak of Nature, released in 2001, is the second studio album by Anastacia. Like her first album, this one blends sounds from different genres, blending funk, soul, pop, and R&B. The album consists of 13 tracks totaling just over 50 minutes. Most of the tracks are upbeat dance numbers, but on this album, she also includes more ballads. It was a good follow-up to her debut album, but it was not the same jump in quality that, for example, Adele had from her debut album, 19, to her second album, 21. 

The CD liner contains pictures, track listings (with production notes but no lyrics), and a thank-you message at the end. Ultimately, I would describe the album as good, but not great. I think part of the issue that Anastacia faced was that she came along at a time when the pop charts were dominated by people in their early 20s (Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera), and she (despite looking much younger than her age) was in her mid-30s so putting out songs trying to compete with the "pop princesses" just did not work. I think the album would have been a bigger success if she had stuck with material geared toward the age group beyond the clubbing scene. That said, it is still worth checking out if you liked her first album.

Workout Update: P90X Day 23

Day 23 was the second day of recovery week, which meant doing Core Synergistics. It is a full-body workout that uses exercises that engage your core. There are some Yoga exercises, such as Bow and Boat, as well as other functional exercises, like lifts and reaches, using small weights. Only a handful of exercises in the workout require weights, and they are all high-repetition exercises (to help with muscular endurance), so you will be using lighter weights (the heaviest that anyone in the cast uses is 15 lbs). Some of the exercises (even the modified versions) are very challenging and advanced (like the Dreya rolls toward the end of the workout). So, did as many unmodified exercises as I could, modified others, and skipped those I cannot yet do, even in the modified versions. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 22

Day 22 was the first day of the recovery week between Phases 1 and 2. That meant doing Yoga again. There was not much difference between when I did it on Saturday and today. But it was nice to have a day off from lifting. 

CD/Music Review: Anastacia: Not That Kind

 

Not That Kind is Anastacia's 2000 debut album, released after she gained notoriety on the late-1990s MTV talent show, The Cut. The album contains 13 tracks in all, including four singles: "I'm Outta Love" (the most successful and popular song on the album), the title track "Not That Kind," "Cowboys & Kisses," and "Made for Lovin' You." The songs on the album are quite eclectic in terms of sound. Some very much sound like late '90s/early '00s dance pop tracks (although slightly different from what younger stars like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera were doing), Cowboys & Kisses is a mix of pop and country, and some are slower ballads. She has described her style as a mix of soul, pop, and rock, and that definitely describes the mix of genres on the album. 

The CD liner contains pictures of Anastacia, a listing of all the tracks with production notes (but no lyrics), and the requisite thank-yous. While Anastacia never broke out into superstardom, she has a very good voice and was one of the better lesser-known pop acts of that time. The album is absolutely worth listening to and has several songs worth of inclusion on one or more playlists.

Workout Update: P90X Day 21

Day 21 was the rest day, so I just did ab-ripper (which I skipped on Legs and Back day), again doing 15 reps of all the exercises except Mason Twists, which I did all 50 reps of. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 20

Day 20 was yoga, which I did up to the point of doing the ab exercises (so basically, I skipped the final 17 minutes). I did all of the moving asanas, but in the last block, where they do Warrior 3, Standing Splits, and Half Moon, I just held (or attempted to) Warrior 3 the entire time. I felt it was better to work on my balance than try to get into poses that I could not do all that well years ago, and definitely do not have the stamina or balance to pull off yet. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 19

Day 19 was the final legs and back workout for Phase 1. I used the same weight as I did last week for the weighted exercises, but I will be able to bump a couple of them up for the first workout in Phase 2. I was also able to get a couple of more pull-ups in on some of the pull-up variations. I am saving ab-ripper for the rest day. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 18

On day 18, I again swapped out Yoga for Kenpo, mainly because I did not feel like doing an hour plus of Yoga. There was nothing huge to report from this one. I was still not feeling great, but better than I did a few days ago, so it was kind of a middle-of-the-road effort.

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Frasier: Season 3

 

The 24-episode third season of Frasier aired during the 1995/1996 TV season. All of the primary cast members returned for season 3, and there was a new recurring character introduced in the season premiere: Mercedes Ruehl playing Kate Costas, the new station manager who immediately has tension with Frasier. There were several notable guest appearances this season, including Tony Shalhoub, Harris Yulin, and Jane Kaczmarek. Harriet Sansom Harris returned in her recurring role as Frasier's agent, Bebe, and Shelly Long made her second appearance in the series as Diane Chambers. This season, instead of a one-second, blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo like Long had in season 2, this time she actually has a storyline that makes another hilarious nod to Cheers and provides closure to Diane's and Frasier's relationship. And, of course, there is the usual cavalcade of celebrity voices playing characters who call into Frasier's show. This season, they include Matthew Broderick, Carrie Fisher, Terri Garr, Blair Brown, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Billy Crystal, Ed Harris, Laura Dern, Ray Liotta, Jodie Foster, Randy Travis, Katarina Witt, Mrs. Fields, and David Duchovny. The series continues to primarily be a story-of-the-week procedural, with serial storylines intertwined. This season, the main storyline spanning the majority of the season involves Niles' relationship with the still-unseen Maris. David Hyde Pierce really stole the show this season, playing Niles. John Mahoney,  Jane Leeves, and Peri Gilpin also had several wonderful moments throughout the season.

The blu-ray set is a three-disc set that is, as of this writing, still only available in the complete series release. The individual seasons are only still available on DVD (which is a four-disc set). All the bonus content that was included on the DVD release is carried over. Those include interview segments with Grammer and Pierce discussing the brothers' storylines this season, an interview with the series' art director, a list of some of the celebrity voices, and another featurette on the mystery of Maris. All of the bonus features are included on the third disc, while on the DVDs, they are spread across the four discs. The A/V quality of the blu-rays is good and a significant upgrade over the DVDs. However, in some episodes, I did notice that the audio and/or video were not as good as in others. 

Ultimately, the third season was strong, especially once the Maris-Niles storyline (and the resulting consequences) took off. The two best episodes of the season were episodes 13 ("Moon Dance") and 14 ("The Show Where Diane Comes Back"). The spoof of Cheers characters in episode 14 was hilarious, and the chemistry between Leeves and Pierce in Moon Dance was wonderful. So, if you liked the first two seasons, this one is worth watching.

4k-UHD/Movie Review: Boogie Nights

 

Boogie Nights is a 1997 film about the golden era of porn and is very loosely based on and inspired by events in the life of John Holmes. It was written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starred Mack Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, Heather Graham, and John C. Reilly in the main roles, and Don Cheadle, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Luis Guzman, Nicole Ari Parker, Nina Hartley, Thomas Jane, Melora Walters, Robert Ridgely, Alfred Molina, Phillip Baker Hall, and Ricky Jay in supporting roles. The story begins in 1977, when Wahlberg's character, Eddie Adams, is discovered by Reynolds' character, adult film director Jack Horner, while working as a busboy at a Hollywood nightclub. Adams, who it is hinted is very well-endowed (and we find out at the end of the movie just how much so via a prosthetic penis), takes on the stage name Dirk Diggler and becomes the biggest name in porn as the story progresses into the mid-1980s. The first half of the film shows the glamorous side of the life of porn stars in that era, specifically the money, sex, and partying. The second half shows the dark side of that lifestyle and how the lives of some performers were ruined by the rampant drug use, the struggle (and sometimes inability) to get out, and how slimy some of the power brokers could be. Many of the events in the film are based on things that happened to real porn actors over the years.

The 4k release is a single-disc edition released in 2025 after the film was remastered. It carries over most of the bonus content from the original DVD release, but not all. The director's commentary track, deleted scenes, and music video are carried over, but the character profiles are not, nor is the ability to jump to specific musical numbers in the film from the disc menu. It also includes additional bonus material for this release, including more deleted and extended scenes focused on John C. Reilly's character, a two-part Q&A session, the first part featuring Anderson and Reilly, and the second featuring just Anderson, filmed in 2025. There is also a second commentary track featuring Anderson and many of the actors, spliced together from several conversations. It was not a situation in which the entire group was in a room watching the film and recording commentary as it played. Instead, it was created from several conversations, such as Anderson discussing the movie with some actors separately, and others where a couple of the actors were in the same place discussing the movie. In all, Wahlberg, Moore, Graham, Reilly, Cheadle, Macy, Guzman, and Walters all appear at various points in the second commentary track. Of the two, Anderson's solo commentary provides the most interesting details on the process of making the film. The A/V quality of the 4k restoration is excellent. The film looks and sounds great in the UHD format and is a very significant upgrade from the original DVD release.

The movie is well-written and very-well acted. While it does have a lot of nudity and sexual content (as well as fake drug use) it was not gratuitous and fit within the story being told. That said, it is definitely not family-friendly. It was the film that helped launch or further the careers of many of the cast members who would go on to become A or B-list stars, and revived Reynolds' career (even though he reportedly hated filming it and went on record as saying he never watched it). Ultimately, if you are a fan of good dramas, especially period pieces, this is absolutely worth watching.

Workout Update: P90X Day 17

Day 17 was the last Shoulders and Arms workout of Phase I. I was able to bump the amount of weight up for a couple of the exercises, but I mostly used the same weight as I did last week. I will probably be able to bump up the weight for some of the exercises that are included in the Phase II workouts after the recovery week, because there were some that I easily hit 10 reps on.  

CD/Music Review: Marc Anthony Self Titled Album

 

Marc Anthony's self-titled album was released in 1999. It was his fourth studio album and his second English-language album. It contains 15 tracks; most are ballads or Latin-dance tracks. Most of the songs are in English, but the last few are in Spanish. The most popular song on the album is probably "I Need to Know," which peaked at number 10 on the US Top 100 chart. The best song on the album, in my opinion, is the first track, which is the ballad "When I Dream at Night." The CD liner contains pictures, the track listings (which include lyrics and production notes), and the traditional thank-yous at the end. Ultimately, this is a wonderful album with a good mix of songs. While many pop acts back in the late 1990s sounded very similar, Anthony's album was not a cookie-cutter carbon copy of what was popular at the time. It is absolutely worth listening to with multiple tracks worthy of inclusion on one or more playlists. 

CD/Music Review: All Saints: Self-Titled Album

 

All Saints was a 1990s "girl group" from England. Their debut self-titled album was released in 1997. It contained 12 tracks, mainly ballads and R&B dance numbers, along with a couple of covers. The biggest hit on the album (and the best overall song) was the ballad Never Ever, which reached number one in several countries and peaked at number 4 on the Top 100 in the US. The CD liner includes pictures of the group members, track listings with production notes (but no lyrics), and separate "thank you" messages from each member. 

Of course, in the late 1990s, the Spice Girls were the dominant girl group, eclipsing all others, and All Saints did not gain much traction. Ultimately, the album is okay, but not great. The covers of Lady Marmalade and Under the Bridge were okay, but did not achieve the success of Never Ever, and the other tracks just sound like cookie-cutter '90s pop songs. While I would not call it a must-listen, if you were a fan of the group in the '90s or just a fan of '90s pop, it is worth checking out. 

 

Workout Update: P90X Day 16

Day 16 was Plyometrics. I felt pretty shitty during the workout, so I modified a lot, even modifying some of the modifications in the video. But I got through it, even if it was not the greatest workout I have ever had.