Workout Update: P90X Day 86

Day 86 was the last core synergistics workout. I decided I am going to do the cardio workout in place of the second core workout this week. I am still not a fan of this workout, but I think that is mostly because it is probably the hardest one for me to do. But, I can tell it has gotten a bit easier from the first time I did it to now. But, I have a long way to go before I can even get close to keeping up with the people in the video. 

Workout Update: P90X Day 85

Day 85 was another yoga session. Again, I cut this one short, mainly because of timing during the day when I could do the workout. Thankfully, I only have one more yoga session this round of P90x.  I am going to try to get through more of the workout more consistently when I do the next round, probably after I am done with Chalean Extreme. 

Product Review: Atlantic Oskar Media Cabinet

 

This is basically a particle board shelf that can hold quite a few CDs or DVDs, so in that way, it is good for those of us who still have a pretty extensive physical media collection. But, it is definitely a "get what you pay for" item. It is not very sturdy (although once you have it full of CDs or DVDs it won't tip over without some effort). One plus is that you can stagger the height of the shelves if you need to in order to accommodate taller items. But, I will not really hold any oversized box sets, so if you have a lot of those, that is something to be aware of.

Workout Update: P90X Day 84

Day 84 was another truncated version of yoga-x. This is really the only workout that I have consistently slacked off on during this round of P90x. As I have said before, it is my least favorite of the P90x workouts, not because I hate yoga, but because it is just too damn long. If it was cut down to an hour, it would be a great workout. But, the hour and a half length is too much most of the time, especially if you consistently do the x-stretch.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 83

Day 83 was x-stretch. Really, the only thing notable from the workout was that I was able to stay in the low-squat position the entire 45 seconds (or however long it is) without having to raise up at all. It took me until the last week, but I did get there. I still cannot get close to doing the shoulder stand into plow though, so I just do a butterfly stretch to work my inner thighs. 

Book Review: Red Sparrow

 

Red Sparrow is a spy thriller set in Eastern Europe. It is centered around a former ballerina named Dominika who, after an injury is forced out of ballet, and thanks to the connections of her uncle who is a top member of the Russian SVR, ends up going to "Sparrow School." The intention is for her to use her sexuality to seduce and/or blackmail targets of the SVR. She ends up becoming a much more accomplished agent and becomes entwined in a plot that involves moles for both the United States and Russia and essentially a game of chess between the CIA and the SVR.

The book, as most know, was adapted into a movie starring Jennifer Lawrence. While I do not think the movie was horrible, too much of the book had to be cut out, and things like the inner monologues of characters that really advanced the plot of the book, could not translate easily to film, and hence were removed. So, the motivations of the characters that we learn in the book are missing from the movie. I think finding a way to get much of that into the movie would have helped it. Thus, as is almost always the case, the book ends up being better than the movie.

Overall, the book is well-written and easy to read with a plot that flows well. The author is an ex-CIA agent who was stationed in that part of the world and draws on his experience, which gives a lot of authenticity to the story even though it is fictional. Each chapter ends with a recipe for some food item that was mentioned in that chapter. They are not key to the story in any way but are a unique addition to the book. It is a mix of action thriller, espionage, with a bit of sex thrown in. It is definitely worth reading, especially if you have seen the movie.

Workout Update: P90X Day 82

 Day 82 was the last regular resistance workout of this round of P90X. That means the last legs and back workout and the last ab-ripper x workout. Both went well. I was able to increase the weight on a couple of the exercises that used weights in the legs and back workout and again got in all the reps during ab-ripper. 

Product Review: Burnes of Boston LL2963 Level Line 24" Walnut Cambridge Ledge

 

I purchased this to display some knick-knacks above my fireplace. It was very easy to install, and I was able to put it up, without any assistance, in about five minutes. There is a plastic piece that the wood ledge mounts onto. The plastic piece has nail holes pre-drilled and a built-in level. So you just place it where you want to ledge to sit, nail the plastic piece into the wall, and then mount the ledge on the plastic piece. Very easy.

Workout Update: P90X Day 81

Day 81 was Kenpo-x. Overall, it went fine. Nothing much was different between the last time I did the workout and this time. I am at the point where I can pretty easily keep up with the people in the video now, although my balance on some of the kicks can still be a bit shaky.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 80

Day 80 was my last Back and Biceps workout in this round. It went well, with again being able to hit the 10 rep max on a couple of the exercises, but mostly (if I had to do the workout again next week) the weights I am using would remain the same. But, I was able to hit 12 reps on all of the pull-ups/pull-downs with the 115 lb band resistance (aside from the corn-cobs), so I continue to make progress there. On the ab-ripper warm-up I was again able to do all the reps but still had to modify some of the moves. 

DVD Review: The Good Fight Season 4

 

+++Warning, this contains minor spoilers from season three, but no major season four giveaways.+++

Season three of The Good Fight picks up basically after the Swat Team busting in on Kurt and Diane, and but is a twist episode in which Diane thinks the past three years has been a dream. Then, episode two picks up some time down the line after the events of season three in which the firm agreed to merge with STR Laurie. John Larroquette joins the cast as the managing partner of STR Laurie and basically the boss of Diane,  Adrian, and Liz. There are a couple of main plot points throughout the season. One is a plot involving something called Memo 618 that basically causes judges to throw out cases for the rich and well-connected. The other is life at the firm under the new management. Luca also has a pretty significant side-story in which she befriends a rich client and gets in with her social group.

There is definitely a lot of cast turnover this year. Of course, Rosie Leslie left the show after season three with Mia being written out as leaving with Roland Blum. Hugh Dancy joined the cast in a recurring role as an STR Laurie associate assigned to keep tabs on the Reddick Boseman team. And, the guest stars this season included Michael J. Fox, Gary Cole, Rob Reiner, and Raul Esparza. There is also a couple of Good Wife mentions in Will Garner being name-dropped, and a blink and you will miss it reference to Alicia. 

Overall, the show keeps up the same format, blending in real-world events with fictional storylines. It is, as it has always been, very political, and very much left-leaning politically (even though some of the characters on the show are conservative). So, anyone bitching about the fact that this season is political obviously did not pay attention to seasons 1-3. Yes, the writers (and at least some of the actors) hate the former guy and make no bones about it. But that was apparent from season 1 episode 1. For those who get the DVD set, it is just a MOD set with the episodes, but no extras. It does have English captions however for those who are hearing-impaired. It is shorter because production ended due to Covid before the last three episodes were finished, so there are only seven episodes as opposed to the usual ten. Also, because it is not broadcast on CBS and just airs on the streaming platform, like in past seasons, there is a lot of swearing, including liberal use of the word "fuck". So if that turns you off, then it is best to find another show to watch. But, if you have been a fan of seasons 1-3 you will probably like this one. If not, there is nothing in this season that is likely to convert you.

CD Review: Wanted Soundtrack

 

I mainly purchased this to get the song, "The Little Things" but was very pleased by the rest of the material. All of the other songs are instrumental, and make up the score of the movie. Personally, I did not really realize how good the score was while watching the movie, but the soundtrack really makes you appreciate how well it was done. I definitely recommend this.

Product Review: Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells

 

These are, unlike some Bowflex products, mostly good. However, there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind. First, and probably most importantly, they do have plastic parts, so you definitely do not want to drop them, especially on a hard floor. If you have relatively thick mats, like tumbling mats, it is possible they could be dropped safely, but most definitely not on concrete or some kind of hard flooring. I would be hesitant to even drop them on a carpeted surface. The inner mechanism could easily break in that situation, then you basically have a very heavy paperweight. Also, these are much bulkier than traditional free-weight dumbbells, which can be an issue if you have low ceilings and are doing shoulder-press type exercises standing up. I work out in my basement, which has seven-foot ceilings, and even though I am not extremely tall, I am tall enough that if I do standing shoulder presses with these I will easily hit the ceiling and put a nice gash in it. Finally, when you dial in a weight selection the locking mechanism does not always totally engage the plates so you may have to slightly turn the dial and/or jiggle the weights to get them out of the stack. The first two things are major, the other is relatively minor.

Overall, the ability to get 50lbs of dumbbell weight in a compact space is very nice. And for a lot of people, that is probably all the dumbbell weight they will ever need. The handle grip is much better than most dumbbells and they do not get slippery in your hands. I would highly suggest getting the stand that can hold them because constantly bending down to pick them up and put them back may be hard on some people's backs. They are also a lot cheaper than getting 50lbs of regular dumbbells, which is nice. I personally use these in conjunction with regular dumbbells, and for exercises where I am concerned about dropping them if I use max weight I use the regular dumbbells I use those, and for those, I am not concerned about it, I use these.

Overall, these are a pretty good option, but you do kind of have to treat them with kid gloves. Much more than you would ever have to with regular iron dumbbells. I have had these for years and never had an issue with them and do recommend them as long as you keep the things I mentioned in mind.

Workout Update: P90X Day 79

Day 79 was the last Plyo-X workout for this round. It was, at least for the beginning of the workout, the best I have been able to do. I was able to keep up with everyone and get much deeper into the squat moves than I had before. That resulted in my being pretty gassed by the end of the workout so I was having to modify a lot for the last couple of rounds of exercises, but overall, it was my best Plyo session. And, my legs are very sore today from all the squats, which is ultimately a good thing. 

Product Review: Bowflex SelectTech 552 / 1090 Dumbbell Stand

 

This is the stand made to hold the Bowflex SelectTech dumbbell sets. I have the SelectTech 552 set (that goes up to 52.5 lbs, but this will also hold the 1090 set that goes up to 90 lbs. The stand is easy to put together and is very sturdy. It fits easily into a corner so it can be a bit out of the way in whatever room you have it in. Having the dumbbells up off the floor makes dialing in the resistance a lot easier, and saves you back not having to bend over to pick them up. I definitely recommend this if you have or are thinking of purchasing the SelectTech dumbbells.

Workout Update: P90X Day 78

Day 78 was my last Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps workout for this round of P90X. As I have said before, this is probably my least favorite of the resistance workouts. That said, I think that I had my best workout for this one last night. I was able to do better on some of the push-up moves, and I was able to hit the 10 rep max on a couple of the moves that used weights. So overall, I think it went pretty well, but I am still a long way from keeping up with either Dave or Phil.  

DVD Review: American Dad Volume 13

 

As most die-hard fans of the show know, the quality of the DVD releases has gone way down over the course of time. However, the one saving grace is that the episodes on the DVD were uncensored, so you would get the unedited jokes, f-bombs, and all. Now the MOD sets are just releasing the broadcast versions of the show, with the edits. And, they are not even captioning the sets as they have done in past years. So, really, the only reason to get this is if you already have the prior seasons on DVD and you want to keep your collection complete.

As far as the show goes, it pretty much follows the story-of-the-week format it always has. Some of the episodes they just plain make as weird as they possibly can. Of course, because it is a cartoon it is easy for the writers and showrunners to do so. I still think the best episodes are the ones that somehow involve Stan's job at the CIA, which the show has really removed as a focus. The show is definitely getting a bit long in the tooth but, like Family Guy, it seems that this one is going to go on as long as Seth McFarlane wants to continue making it. So, I cannot say that everyone, even people who have been fans of the show are going to like this season. Certainly, die-hard fans will probably still like it, even if not as much as in prior seasons, but if you have never liked the show, this season is not going to do anything to change your mind.

Workout Update: P90X Day 77

 Day 77 was a very shortened version of Yoga. I basically went until the break (after chair and twisting chair) then bailed out. I was not feeling very well at all, and figured it would be better to just rest instead of pushing through any longer. 

Product Review: Calphalon One Nonstick 11-Inch Square Griddle

 

I have mainly only used this for french toast and pancakes, and it works great for those. The heating is very even. I have never run into a situation where one pancake toward the center is cooked and one of the other ones on the edges is not. As long as you let the thing warm up, it cooks everything evenly no matter how things are distributed when you are cooking. It is definitely worth the purchase.

Workout Update: P90X Day 76

Day 76 was x-stretch. Nothing much new to report about this workout, except that I am closer to being able to actually put my elbow on the side of my knee on the seated spinal twists. I can get my low forearm over there now, where up until now I had to use my hand. So, I am definitely losing weight and getting more flexible.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 75

Day 75 was Legs and Back and ab-ripper-x. I was again able to do all the reps during ab-ripper, although still had to modify some of the moves. And, I was able to hit at least 10 reps on all of the pull-up moves with 110lbs of resistance, so I will be increasing that to 115 for the Back and Biceps workout next week.  

DVD/Movie Review: Halloween H20

 

Halloween H20 was released twenty years after the original movie and saw the first of what has become multiple returns to the franchise for Jamie Lee Curtis reprising her role as Laurie Strode. It is revealed that she faked her death (really the only tie-in to Halloween 4-6, otherwise it ignored the prior sequels aside from Halloween II) and is now working as the headmistress at an elite private school. She has a son played by Josh Hartnett who chafes under her strict rules meant to keep him safe from the ever-present threat of Michael Myers finding them and finishing what he started. Of course, Michael manages to track her down and the usual terror ensues.

The movie is good overall but does have some silly points (pretty much everything with LL Cool J). I like that they changed the character of Laurie from being the scared weakling to being willing to stand up to Michael. This time, when she drops a weapon she picks up another one and does not assume he is dead. It sports a very recognizable cast (especially back in 1998) including Adam Arkin, Michelle Williams, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, and Joseph Gordon Levitt. It also had a pretty nice nod to the late Donald Pleasance and had a cameo by Nancy Stephens reprising her role as Marion Chambers, the nurse from the first two movies. There was also a fun cameo by Janet Leigh, who was of course Jamie Lee Curtis' mother and the original scream queen from the movie Psycho.

For those who get the original DVD version, the extras a pretty minimal. There is a short behind-the-scenes feature, a music video, and a trivia game. The extras released with the complete Blu-Ray set are much better and more extensive.

Of course, there have been other sequels after this one, including basically resetting the franchise with Curtis returning as a slightly different version of Laurie. Had this actually been the end of the Halloween franchise, as I think a lot of people would have liked, it would have been the perfect conclusion to the story. But, now, you really just have to look at it as one of the sequels and enjoy it (or not) for the story it tells. I think the original movie is one of the best, if not the best, horror movies ever, and while this is not as good as that, it is still very good and one of the best sequels that have been made. Definitely worth watching.

Workout Update: P90X Day 74

Day 74 was Kenpo-x. Nothing new to report about this one. It pretty much went the same as it has the past few times I have done it. I was a bit off-balance during some of the kicking exercises, but nothing too bad.  

Workout Update: P90X Day 73

Day 73 was the last of the shoulders and arms workouts. Again, I was able to hit the 10 rep max for some of the moves, and for others, I could only hit 8-9 reps. But, I did manage to increase the weight for all of the exercises by at least a bit from the start of this round to the end. So, that was progress. And, when doing ab-ripper I was finally able to do all 349 moves, hitting the 25 reps on all of the moves and the 50 for the mason twists (although I do have to keep my feet on the floor for that one). I did decide that my next workout will be a round of Chalene Extreme and then I will switch back to P90X. My hope is that I can get in good enough shape during the Chalene Extreme round that when I do P90X again I can do regular pull-ups instead of using the bands. But, if not, I should be able to do the 155 lbs of band resistance when doing the pull-up moves for round two of P90X. But, for now, I will be focusing on finishing this round of P90X and then on Chalene Extreme. 

DVD Review: Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers

 

Haloween Six, also called The Curse of Michael Myers, was really a mess of a movie. The mess, admittedly (by the producers) started with the production of the movie and carried through to the final product. It picks up years after the events of Halloween 5 in which Michael is broken out of jail and Jamie is kidnapped by the man in black. In this movie, we learn the identity of the man in black and find out that he is a larger part of a larger cult (essentially). The movie is pretty much non-sensical from beginning to end. The basic plot is that Jamie is pregnant (and it is very much hinted that Michael is somehow the father), has the baby, and escapes from the cult. Then, of course, Michael tries to track down the baby and in the process comes back to Haddonfield and wreaks havoc.

Really, the only thing that makes the movie worth watching is seeing Paul Rudd in one of his first major movie roles (this movie came out the same year as Clueless), as Tommy Doyle (the kid Laurie babysat in the original movie) who has become obsessed with Michael Meyers and seeing Donald Pleasance for the last time as Loomis. Everything else about the movie pretty much fell into the hot garbage category. Firstly, Danielle Harris, who was open to reprising her role as Jamie, hated what was done to the character so much she decided to not have anything to do with the movie. The plot was just stupid, and because the audience reception was so bad there were major reshoots done, including after Donald Pleasance died, that the character of Loomis was essentially written out offscreen.

This is just the theatrical cut of the movie. The disc does not include the producer's cut that was for years just available as a bootleg, but finally released in the Blu-ray box set a handful of years ago. I think the actors did the best they could with what they were given, which was not much, but Rudd and Pleasance did a really good job in their roles and basically kept the movie from being total garbage. I think if Jamie would have been incorporated better into the movie so that Danielle Harris would have come back, and they dispensed with the silly cult stuff, the movie would have been a lot better. That said, it is a very dark sequel, and it did have some good elements to it, just not enough (in my opinion).

If you get the original DVD release, you just basically get the movie itself. There are no extras (besides some coming soon trailers). Ultimately, the movie is not for everyone. Even for Halloween fans, it is not even close to being the best Halloween movie (or even the best sequel). So, I cannot say that even fans of the series are going to love it, but I still think it is worth watching as long as you temper your expectations.