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

 

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

DVD Review: The Advanced Algebra Tutor

 

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

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

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

DVD/TV Series Review: The Incredible Hulk Season One

 

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

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

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

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

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

Product Review: Nature's Way 100% Potency Pure Source MCT Oil from Coconut

 

MTC oil is something that a lot of people who do intermittent fasting use to add to coffee or tea to get a calorie boost when they are not consuming calories from food. It is flavorless, and can easily be blended into a smoothie or used with an oil-based salad dressing, or something like that. You definitely want to ease your way into taking it because it can cause GI issues if you take too much too soon.

Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 19

Day 19 of CE was Burn Circuit 3 again. I was able to hit the 12 rep max on almost all of the exercises aside from the shoulder flys at the very end. So, I will be bumping up the amount of weight (mostly up to 12 or 15 lbs from 10 lbs) for the various shoulder exercises. And, I was able to do all three "extreme"/super slow pushups at the end of the workout on my toes and got all the way down to the floor with my chest on the 5 counts down. So, I am definitely getting stronger because of these workouts. 

Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 18

CE day 18 was the burn circuit workout again. I can tell that my stamina is increasing and I can do most of the cardio moves at the same pace as the group. My only real issue is that my knees have been acting up on me a bit so I have had to modify some of the moves to be lower impact than I normally would. It is a matter of still wanting to work out, but also being careful and not overdoing it. I still find Skip super annoying, and constantly want him to shut up during the workout. He definitely overdoes it on being "chipper" the entire time. 

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Dollhouse Season 1

 

Dollhouse was a series that continued Eliza Dushku's run of bad luck as a lead in a series that did not get much traction and was canceled early (the series Tru Calling being the first one). This series was one of Joss Whedon's post-Buffy series. The premise is that there are "dolls" who are people that have had their memories wiped and when they are hired for a job, they are imprinted with whatever memories, skills, emotions, etc., that is needed for whatever they are hired for. Then, when the job is done, the doll's memory is wiped and they return to their "blank" state which is very child-like. The jobs that the dolls are hired for can be just about anything, legal or illegal, and they (supposedly) have no memory of prior jobs once they return to the blank slate.

The series definitely takes a few episodes to find its footing and set up the characters and the world that they inhabit. The show includes a very strong cast including Fran Kranz, as the programmer who gives the dolls their memories (and takes them away), Dichen Lachman as another doll Sierra, Amy Acker, Enver Gjokaj, Tahmoh Pennikett, Miracle Laurie, Harry Lennix, Reed Diamond, and Olivia Williams. Like many of Whedon's other shows about midway through the season the story picks up, and we start getting more twists and backstories to fill in the questions that the initial episodes present.

For those who get the Blu-Ray set, the show looks and sounds great in HD. The extras include commentary tracks for a few episodes. One of them has Whedon and Dushku, one with Whedon alone, and one with Whedon and his wife and brother. The original unaired pilot is included, and a couple of making-of and behind-the-scenes features. A decent amount of material for those who like going through the bonus features.

Overall, the series is very good. It is a good blend of action and drama, with some comedy thrown in there too. It presents a lot of ethical questions (especially in the second season), and it has a lot of twists and turns. Obviously, there is the question of supporting Whedon's shows given everything that has come out about his behavior over time. Obviously, this came out long before any of that was ever public, and it does tarnish his image a lot. I look at it as, I liked the show before all of that came out, and many more people were involved in the production than him. That said, I will not listen to his commentary tracks anymore because you know some of the stuff he says, especially when he goes on about morals and ethics, is contrary to some of the things he was allegedly doing. I still think the show is worth watching, just know that if you do get into it, it only lasted a couple of seasons and was canceled before the entire story could be fleshed out.

Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 17

Day 17 of CE was the Burn Circuit 2 workout. Really nothing all that new to report from last week's workout, but I was able to hit the 12 rep max on a couple of the exercises. I still had to do some of the push-ups at the end on my knees, but I am getting much deeper into the triceps pushups when I do them on my toes than I have ever been able to before. So, I am getting better at them, and can tell that I am getting stronger overall. 

Blu-Ray Review: Ghostbusters (2009 25th Anniversary release)

 

Ghostbusters is the iconic 1984 comedy starring Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts, and Rick Moranis (the last two in supporting roles). The idea is that a group of scientists (Ramis, Murray, and Akroyd) is convinced that ghosts are real (which is established fairly early on in the movie) and can be captured and stored. They end up purchasing a fire station and selling their services as Ghostbusters. Of course, by the end of the movie, there is a threat not only to New York City as a whole but to the world if the Ghostbusters do not stop it.

Chances are, anyone reading this by now has seen the movie at least once. For the handful who may not have, it is definitely an adult comedy. It has a lot of swearing and some sexually suggestive material (but no nudity). It is extremely funny with jokes that you may miss the first time around. Even with a large ensemble cast all of the actors get at least some good material, and pretty much every character gets at least one memorable line.

The movie has been released multiple times on DVD and Blu-Ray. If you end up with the 25th-anniversary set, it carries over all of the making-of and behind-the-scenes material from the DVD release and includes the commentary track with the director Ivan Reitman, Harold Ramis, and one of the producers. The big addition to this set is a "Slimer" mode, which is a picture-in-picture viewing of the movie that has a ton of material including interviews with cast members and pop-up facts about the movie. There is also a preview of the video game that was released at the same time, and a feature on restoration of the Ecto-1 car. All in all, a bunch of good material for those who like going through the bonus material.

It is one of the best comedies not only of the 1980s but of all time. Even though it looks like a movie that was made in the 1980s, the story holds up even though it is now almost 40 years old. If you have not yet bought it on disc, you may want to get the 4K version, but if you are a fan of physical media it is worth picking up.

Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 16

Day 16 was the recharge workout again. Given that I only got a few hours of sleep the night before, doing recharge was actually very nice because I was not up to a very intense workout. Again, I can tell that my flexibility has been getting better through the P90X yoga and stretch workouts into this one. I still definitely have tight spots, especially in my lower back and hamstrings, but those are getting more flexible (slowly).

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Fringe Season 1

 

Fringe was a very unique series that ran from 2008 to 2013. It was part police procedural and part supernatural thriller that involved a division of the FBI headed by Lance Reddick's character Phillip Broyles that investigated a series of strange phenomena that would come to be called "The Pattern". Anna Torv played FBI agent Olivia Dunham who investigated Pattern incidents with the help of a scientist who had been in a mental hospital for years named Walter Bishop (played by John Noble) who had studied similar incidents before he went crazy, and his son Peter (played by Joshua Jackson of Dawson's Creek fame) who was basically Walter's babysitter after he was checked out of the hospital. Of course, there was much more to the plot as the series unfolded with a lot of twists and turns. It was created by JJ Abrams, so it has a somewhat similar feel to the series Lost, although in a totally different context. If you take Lost and mix in a bit of X-files and even some Twin Peaks, that is kind of what Fringe gives you. That said, it is definitely its own show and was not derivative of anything else at the time. It is a cross between a case-of-the-week procedural series and a serial series with a long arc that stretches through the season. Events in one episode most definitely impact other episodes down the line, so you really have to watch it from the start to get what is going on. The season ends on a pretty big cliffhanger and teases the introduction of a character that is played by a Sci-Fi icon.

For those who get the Blu-Ray set, the show looks and sounds great in HD. It definitely had, and made use of, a health special effects budget, and it is definitely worth watching in the high-definition format. The extras include commentary tracks on select episodes, several making-of and behind-the-scenes featurettes, and deleted scenes for many of the episodes.  About an hour and a half plus of material (not including the commentaries).

While I cannot say the series will appeal to everyone, if you are a fan of the sci-fi/fantasy genre, chances are you will like it. It is a unique series in that not everything is made up. It actually does include some actual scientific concepts and then mixes them with totally made-up sci-fi stuff. It does have some violence and some gross visuals, but not much in the way of sexual content. It is very well written and acted, and definitely worth checking out.

Supplement Review: Premier Protein Shake, Caramel, 11.5 Fl. Oz (Pack of 12)

 

As most probably know, RTD protein drinks can range from awful tasting to pretty good. This is definitely on the pretty good (maybe great depending on your taste) end of the spectrum. You get 30g of protein, which is on the higher-end of the RTD spectrum for protein content, which is nice if you work out pretty regularly. It is a bit on the pricey side, with a case of 12 costing upwards of $20 depending on what the inventory levels are. But, if you can get it at a reasonable price, it is definitely worth trying.

Blu-Ray Review: Chuck Season 2

 

The second season of Chuck is where the series really hit its stride. The beginning of the season involves a storyline of a second intersect and the possibility of Chuck getting his normal life back, which is a blessing and a curse for him given his feelings for Sarah, and not wanting her to leave. Of course, plans go awry, and (since the show went on), he does not end up getting out. The season also expands the role of Fulcrum and the evil organization trying to get their hands on the intersect. This season also involves more of the Buy More group of characters, with hilarious results. We also get a ton of pop culture references in the season, the best of which is a "Die Hard" themed Christmas episode, that included Reginald VelJohnson, and an episode with a bunch of Back to the Future references, including a DeLorean.

For those who get the Blu-Ray set, there are a handful of short making-of and behind-the-scenes features, an 18-minute featurette on the stunt work, and a gag reel. Some sets have the 3D version of the episode Chuck vs. the Third-dimension and others have just the 2D version. There is also 10 minutes worth of webisodes. So, a nice amount of extras for those who like bonus features.

Overall, the season was great. The show continues to be well written and acted. This season also saw a ton of guest stars including, Melinda Clark (from the OC), Michael Clarke Duncan, Nicole Ritchie, Michael Strahan, Jordana Brewster, Morgan Fairchild, Bruce Boxleitner, Scott Bakula, Chevy Chase, Tricia Helfer, Jerome Bettis, and more. Matt Bomer also made an appearance as Bryce Larkin to throw a wrench not only into the intersect storyline but the Chuck-Sarah relationship. If you are one of the few people reading this who knows nothing about the show and are just trying to figure out if you want to watch it, I highly recommend it. It has a great blend of action, comedy, and drama (and having Yvonne Strahovski in lingerie on a regular basis does not hurt either). You definitely need to watch the first season in order for the second season to make sense because the show is much more of a serial storyline than a procedural one. And, if you liked or loved the first season, you will probably feel the same way about this one.

Product Review: OULII Toilet Flush Lever Handle Universal Toilet Handle Replacement for Toilet Tank (Side Mount)

 

I got this to replace the part on my existing toilet that had rusted through. The one that I was sent did not have any holes to hook the chain onto, but I could hook the chain over the bar and then use duct tape to keep it in place. So, it is not exactly how it is supposed to work, but it gets the job done. The only reason I knocked it down to three stars is because of the quality control issue of letting a defective part get shipped out.

Product Review: Coolmax ES-300 Esata to USB Adapter

 

If you have an external eSata drive but have a laptop with just USB ports, this will do the job. My laptop was able to recognize the drive without a problem, and everything worked fine.

Product Review: MANGROOMER Do-It-Yourself Electric Back Hair Shaver

 

The best way to describe this is that it works well until it doesn't. The one I owned went through batteries like crazy, and eventually putting in new batteries would not power it. And, because it is made of cheap plastic, the hinge broke and got stuck in one position. Thankfully, it was in the open position so I could still use it until the battery thing made it non-functional, but it was not as easy to store like that. So, it worked as intended until it did not, so I would look for other options.

Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 15

Day 15 of CE was the third round of Burn Circuit 1. I could tell in this workout that I am getting appreciably stronger. I was able to max out at the 12 reps on most of the exercises, aside from the very last shoulder raise at the end. And, I was able to do two of the three ultra slow pushups (8-counts up and 8 counts down) at the end on my toes, and go all the way down so my chest touched the ground. I still had to do the last one on my knees, but I am making progress.  

Product Review: WD My DVR Expander 500 GB eSATA External Hard Drive

 

I purchased this hoping to be able to expand the storage capacity on my Tivo 2 DVR. Unfortunately, this does not work with that series (although it may work with later versions of the TiVo DVRs) so you definitely need to make sure this is compatible with what you are trying to hook it up to. You can use it as an external hard drive for a regular computer (you may need to format it), but it is pretty bulky and not something most people are likely to use these days as external drives are getting smaller and smaller.

Product Review: Reebok Men's RBK Integrity Trainer Cross Training

 

These fit very well, have good stability, and are quite comfortable. They are very good for higher impact exercises like plyometrics or jumping that running shoes are not designed for. So, if you are doing workout programs like P90X or Insanity (or any other program that has a lot of jumping), these are a very good option. It would be great if there was a high-top version that provided a bit more ankle support, but even so, they are good shoes.

DVD Review: The Algebra 2 Tutor - 6 Hour Course

 

I found Jason's material years ago when I started taking math classes to get what would eventually turn into an Electrical Engineering degree. I was not a great math student my first time through college, so I was looking for any kind of study material I could find to help get myself ready for the classes I would have to take.

This set of DVDs covers much of the material that you would see in an intermediate algebra level course in college, as well as some of the material that you get in a college algebra course. At six hours it does not, obviously, cover an entire semester's worth of material. It starts out with graphing equations (pretty much of lines), then gets into the slope of a line, writing equations of lines, solving systems of equations, equations with radicals, fractional exponents, and then ends with polynomial equations and the quadratic formula. So, it covers a lot of key material, but as I said, it does not get into everything in a full semester-long course. But, if paired with Jason's other sets, the advanced algebra and matrix algebra tutors, you will get about 85-90% of what you will see in a college algebra course.

One thing to be aware of, this is a lecture-like series of videos with Jason standing in front of a whiteboard working on problems. So, you have to know what your particular learning style is. Even though it is lecture-like, it is not exactly the same kind of lecture you will get in a "regular" class, where professors tend to go through the theory ad-nauseum. Jason explains just enough of the theory to get you to understand the concepts but then goes through a bunch of example problems, step-by-step. He explains each step as he goes along and then recaps the process after the problem is fully worked out. He also gives hints about what can trip people up, and things to watch out for when solving problems. He also encourages students to go back and work the problems on their own to drill the concepts into their heads.

Overall, this is a great set, and if you are an audio and/or visual learner, this will help you a lot. It is a lot cheaper than an in-person tutor, but the trade-off is the lack of ability to ask questions or get help with real homework problems which you can get with an in-person tutor. With those caveats, it is definitely a good investment for anyone needing extra help with math or just wanting to learn the material on their own.

DVD Review: Bitten Season Two

 

+++Warning, this contains spoilers from season one, but no major season two giveaways. +++

The second season of Bitten picks up shortly after the events of the Season 1 finale. The entire pack is looking for Malcolm to bring him to justice for the attack on the pack and killing Phillip, which Elana is still reeling from (to some extent). She has embraced her role in the pack and has come to accept her feelings for Clay after finding out that he bit her to protect her. In the first episode, that storyline is combined with the new storyline that will play out for the rest of the season, that is the arrival of Witches. The season is kind of wolves v. witches theme, and kind of a wolves and witches team up to prevent a threat to each group.

The show continues to be very violent and has a lot of sexual content (and as much nudity as they could get away with). There may be a bit less sex this season than in season one, but not much less, and they definitely take advantage of showing off the ridiculously good-looking cast. All of the characters continue to evolve, especially Nick and Jordan, and all of the actors do a great job with their characters.

For those who get the DVD, the extras include deleted scenes, a portion of the NY comic-con panel discussion, a feature on the fight choreography, a gag reel, and the episode of the aftershow (that aired in Canada I believe) for the season finale. All, in all, about an hour and a half of bonus features, which is getting rarer and rarer for DVD sets.

Overall, the season is good. The show will definitely not appeal to everyone, but I think most fans of sci-fi and fantasy will like it. I have personally never read the books that the series was adapted from. According to the showrunner, this season deviated quite a bit from the second book, so people who are fans of the book may not like it that much. But, if you are a fan of the genre or just a fan of Laura Vandervoort from her Smallville or Haven days, it is definitely worth checking out.

Product Review: TP-Link AC750 WiFi Extender

 

I have a split-level townhouse that results in multiple Wi-Fi dead zones. I have a couple of these, and they all but eliminate the dead spots where I either get a very weak signal or no signal at all. They are very easy to set up. You plug the extender in near your router, press the WPS button on the router and the WPS button on the extender, wait for them to pair (all the lights on the extender to stop blinking), then unplug the extender and move it to where you want to boost the signal. My router is on the main level and I have one of these in my basement and one on the third level in my bedroom. I will very likely get another one when I set my theater room up on the fourth level. I definitely recommend these.

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: The Dark Knight

 

The Dark Knight has the distinction of being in a class of sequels that overtake the original movie. It is, of course, the follow-up to 2005's Batman Begins, which pays off on the tease of the arrival of The Joker that occurred at the end of Batman Begins. The Joker was played, controversially until people actually saw the movie, by Heath Ledger. Internet chat rooms were lit with how horrible a casting choice it was, and as it turns out, Leger provided certainly one of the best, if not the best, live-action performances of The Joker ever. He definitely made the character his own and did not try to copy what Cesar Romero or Jack Nicholson did with other performances. I was, of course, Ledger's last full performance on film as he tragically died shortly after filming wrapped. His performance was so good that it won Ledger a posthumous Oscar.

The plot of the movie is basically Batman v. The Mob v. The Joker v. The System, all of which work with and against each other at times, and all of which are, at least to some extent, either corrupt or doing something less than righteous. The movie brings back much of the cast from the first movie, including Bale, Freeman, Caine, and Oldman. The role of Rachel Dawes was recast with Maggie Gyllenhall replacing Katie Holmes. While I think Gyllenhall did fine, I would have preferred the continuity of keeping Holmes in the role. Apparently, however, it was Holmes' decision not to return for the sequel so she kind of left everyone in the lurch. The big addition to the cast was Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent, the new District Attorney of Gotham. As pretty much everyone knows, Dent becomes Two-Face, and the one change I would have made to the movie would be to have Two-Face be unleashed a bit earlier in the movie so he had more screen time. But, Eckhart did a good job with the character for the short time he got to play the full version.

For those who get the Blu-Ray, the movie looks and sounds great. The extras include several making-of and behind-the-scenes features, features about the various characters, stills galleries, trailers, and more. A lot of extras for those who like to watch them.

Overall, the movie is wonderful. The acting is great, and the writing is mostly good. There are some plot points that are kind of dumb, but they are very minor. Ledger's performance was definitely the highlight of the movie, even though he was not in nearly as many scenes as it seems like he was, and it rightly deserves its praise as one of the best comic book movies of all time.

Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 14

Day 14 was recharge and Ab-Burner. Both went well. I like doing recharge twice a week as opposed to the recommended one time, and I think doing it separately from the Burn it Off workout works well. Ab burner was much easier the second time. In the Burn Circuit phase, I think there is enough ab work in the regular workouts that you do not have to do ab burner more than once a week, but I may do it a couple days a week once I get to the other phases.  

Product Review: Mr. Pen- Small Hammer

 

This is great for putting picture hangers on the wall, or small things like that. The one area where you lose a bit of functionality because it is shorter than a "regular" sized hammer is if you are trying to remove nails, it is not as long a lever, which may be a bit problematic. That aside, it is a very good hammer, especially if you have smaller hands. If your hands are the size of baseball gloves, then this is definitely going to be way too small for you to use.