Day 32 of CE was Burn Intervals. Since I am now in the Push Phase, I upped the weights I was using during the workout to 5lbs, which matches what Chalene, Janelle, and Skip (despite his bullshit claim of using 7.5 lbs) used. I think it actually works well to use 3 lbs (or, even 2 lbs) during this workout in the Burn Phase then increase the weight in the Push phase. Using 5 lbs during the workout was actually not much harder than the 3 lbs, but I think had I started with 5 lbs the first time I did the workout in week 1, it would have been damn near impossible to finish the overhead triceps extensions and the shoulder presses. So, I definitely recommend that strategy.
Thursday, April 7, 2022
Book Review: Introduction to Kinesiology: Studying Physical Activity, Third Edition
This is a book that the vast majority of people would get because it is assigned for a class. It is a pretty straightforward textbook that is easy to read and not bogged down with a lot of technical detail. While it does discuss some biomechanics and the more science-based aspects of Kinesiology, it also delves into the importance of staying physically active, the history of physical activity, the philosophy and sociology of physical activity, and various career options. It is probably not something that a lot of people would read just for pleasure or because they want to become more healthy, although there is some helpful material in the book if you are interested in that. Overall, if it is assigned for a class it is better than a lot of textbooks out there, but can be a bit dry in some parts.
DVD/TV Series Review: Community Season One
Community is a sitcom that ran from 2009 to 2015. It starred Joel McHale as Jeff Winger, a lawyer who was disbarred for obtaining a fraudulent law degree. He is forced to (for some reason) go back to community college to get an undergrad degree so he can restore his law degree. Of course, anyone with any knowledge of the legal profession knows that everything about that is totally preposterous, but in a goofy comedy, it works fine. Winger wants to get through school with the least amount of resistance possible, tries to find the easiest classes to take, and forms a study group with an interesting mix of students. The rest of the main cast included Allison Brie as Annie, a recent high-school graduate who was the classic over-achiever who popped Adderall, Danny Pudi as Abed, an aspiring film student who sees everything through a pop-culture movie or tv show lens, Gillian Jacobs as Britta, a mid-30s cynic trying to figure out what to do with her life, Donald Glover as Troy, an ex high-school football star who personifies the "dumb jock" persona, Yvette Nicole Brown as a middle-aged housewife going to school to put her life back together after a divorce, and Chevy Chase who plays Pierce, a rich, old racist who keeps enrolling in school for something to do. The recurring season one cast included Ken Jeong as Senor Chang, the Spanish teacher who could barely speak Spanish, Jim Rash as the very politically correct Dean of the school (who would become series regulars in subsequent seasons), and John Oliver and John Michael Higgins and professors at the school.
In the first season, the focus of the show was on character development and the school storylines, basically the weird mix of people you get at community college. The show hit home for me as I was, at the time, a lawyer going back to undergrad to get an engineering degree, and I started out by taking classes at a local community college, and there was definitely a weird mix of personalities around campus. The show is basically a story-of-the-week show that has some kind of theme either involving something in the lives of one or more of the characters, or something going on at the school. Toward the end of the season, we get the first of what would become a signature for the series, the paintball episode in which the winner of a school-wide game of paintball gets priority registration the next semester. Of course, the game gets totally out of hand, and the paintball episodes get crazier and crazier as the show went on.
For those who get the DVD set, the extras include audio commentary on every episode with series creator Dan Harmon and various members of the cast. There are also a couple of short mockumentary features, including cast evaluations in which Harmon evaluates the performance of each cast member. There are a few mini-episodes, deleted and alternate scenes, a season highlight reel, and an extended cut of the episode "Communication Studies". A lot of material for those who like watching the extras.
Overall, the show is very good. It is very well-written and well-acted, even if the main cast was made up of mostly unknown actors (aside from Chase; who if rumors about his on-set behavior are to be believed, thought he was better than everyone and treated everyone else like shit) and the guy who hosted "The Soup". While the main premise of the show is totally preposterous, the fact that much of the show was very tongue-in-cheek and did not take itself too seriously, it worked. While it did include some elements common to pretty much every sitcom, it was not a carbon copy of anything and had no problem making fun of pretty much any topic. So, if you have not seen the show and are trying to figure out if you should give it a chance, it is well worth watching.
In the first season, the focus of the show was on character development and the school storylines, basically the weird mix of people you get at community college. The show hit home for me as I was, at the time, a lawyer going back to undergrad to get an engineering degree, and I started out by taking classes at a local community college, and there was definitely a weird mix of personalities around campus. The show is basically a story-of-the-week show that has some kind of theme either involving something in the lives of one or more of the characters, or something going on at the school. Toward the end of the season, we get the first of what would become a signature for the series, the paintball episode in which the winner of a school-wide game of paintball gets priority registration the next semester. Of course, the game gets totally out of hand, and the paintball episodes get crazier and crazier as the show went on.
For those who get the DVD set, the extras include audio commentary on every episode with series creator Dan Harmon and various members of the cast. There are also a couple of short mockumentary features, including cast evaluations in which Harmon evaluates the performance of each cast member. There are a few mini-episodes, deleted and alternate scenes, a season highlight reel, and an extended cut of the episode "Communication Studies". A lot of material for those who like watching the extras.
Overall, the show is very good. It is very well-written and well-acted, even if the main cast was made up of mostly unknown actors (aside from Chase; who if rumors about his on-set behavior are to be believed, thought he was better than everyone and treated everyone else like shit) and the guy who hosted "The Soup". While the main premise of the show is totally preposterous, the fact that much of the show was very tongue-in-cheek and did not take itself too seriously, it worked. While it did include some elements common to pretty much every sitcom, it was not a carbon copy of anything and had no problem making fun of pretty much any topic. So, if you have not seen the show and are trying to figure out if you should give it a chance, it is well worth watching.
Blu Ray/Movie Review: Kick Ass
Kick-Ass is a great movie, but it is definitely not for everyone. It is an action-comedy that is part homage and part spoof of the comic book superhero movies. It is very adult and most assuredly not family-friendly. It is basically a movie that involves a bunch of absolutely normal people dressing up in costumes and fighting crime (and finding out that doing so is not all that easy, and very painful). It stars Aaron Taylor Johnson as a nerdy teenager named Dave Lizewski who basically buys a costume online, dubs himself the name Kick-Ass, and goes out to fight crime (with very underwhelming results at first). As a result of being majorly hurt he develops a nerve problem that results in his not feeling pain, and with metal implants that actually allow him to kick ass, and then his heroic antics go much better.
The movie boasts a strong cast, including Nicholas Cage and a very young Chole Grace Moretz as "Big Daddy" and "Hit Girl" respectively, which are most definitely a takeoff on Batman and Robin. Moretz's character is the main reason that the movie is not for kids as pretty much every word out of her mouth is a swear word. You could tell she was having a ball being able to use the kind of language she was not allowed to in "real life" at the time. The rest of the case included Christopher Mintz-Plasse who is best known for his role as McLovin in the movie Superbad, Lyndsy Fonseca, Evan Peters, and Mark Strong, who basically plays a mob boss. The movie is over the top violent (mostly with tongue firmly planted in cheek) and does have some sexual situations, but no outright nudity.
For those who get the Blu-Ray, the movie looks and sounds great in the HD format. The extras include a commentary track with the director and a BonusView mode that combines the director commentary track with clips of interviews with members of the cast and crew and behind-the-scenes footage. There is also a making-of documentary that clocks in at just under two hours, but it is split into four parts so you don't have to watch the entire thing in one sitting. Then there is a twenty-minute feature on the comic book the movie was adapted from, a photo gallery, and trailers for the movie, including the Red Band trailer.
The movie is definitely not for everyone. As I said it is very violent and certainly having a twelve-year-old spouting profanity and killing people left and right will turn a lot of people off to the movie. So, if you are one of those, it is best not to even consider this. If, however, you are generally a fan of superhero/comic book movies and also like spoof movies (which this sort of is, although not in the "scary movie" franchise) and do not take it too seriously, this is a fun movie.
The movie boasts a strong cast, including Nicholas Cage and a very young Chole Grace Moretz as "Big Daddy" and "Hit Girl" respectively, which are most definitely a takeoff on Batman and Robin. Moretz's character is the main reason that the movie is not for kids as pretty much every word out of her mouth is a swear word. You could tell she was having a ball being able to use the kind of language she was not allowed to in "real life" at the time. The rest of the case included Christopher Mintz-Plasse who is best known for his role as McLovin in the movie Superbad, Lyndsy Fonseca, Evan Peters, and Mark Strong, who basically plays a mob boss. The movie is over the top violent (mostly with tongue firmly planted in cheek) and does have some sexual situations, but no outright nudity.
For those who get the Blu-Ray, the movie looks and sounds great in the HD format. The extras include a commentary track with the director and a BonusView mode that combines the director commentary track with clips of interviews with members of the cast and crew and behind-the-scenes footage. There is also a making-of documentary that clocks in at just under two hours, but it is split into four parts so you don't have to watch the entire thing in one sitting. Then there is a twenty-minute feature on the comic book the movie was adapted from, a photo gallery, and trailers for the movie, including the Red Band trailer.
The movie is definitely not for everyone. As I said it is very violent and certainly having a twelve-year-old spouting profanity and killing people left and right will turn a lot of people off to the movie. So, if you are one of those, it is best not to even consider this. If, however, you are generally a fan of superhero/comic book movies and also like spoof movies (which this sort of is, although not in the "scary movie" franchise) and do not take it too seriously, this is a fun movie.
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 31
Day 31 of CE was my first go-around with Push Circuit 2. This workout is mostly focused on shoulders but does have a few lower-body exercises as well. As was the case with Push Circuit 1, there are no compound moves, so you are either just doing a shoulder exercise or just a lower-body exercise, but not both at the same time. Again, the goal is to choose a weight so you can only do 6-8 reps. I would say I underestimated the weight I should use for most of the exercises, so I will be increasing the amount of weight for almost all of the nine exercises in the circuit. Also, like the Push Circuit 1 workout, the last six exercises in the circuit have extreme sets after the regular set in which you do the same move ultra-slow.
Overall, the workout is very good. It is tough and my shoulders were on fire by the end of it. It is still relatively short, just 36 minutes including the warm-up and the cool down. There are modifications both using bands and just lighter weights as has been the case for all of the other resistance workouts, so it can easily be tailored to your fitness level.
Book Review: No Better Time: The Brief, Remarkable Life of Danny Lewin, the Genius Who Transformed the Internet
No Better Time is a biography, written by Molly Knight Raskin, of a math/tech genius named Danny Lewin who, as a graduate student at MIT, developed a computer algorithm that kept websites experiencing a high amount of traffic from crashing. He, along with one of his professors at MIT created a company called Akamai Technologies that made a ton of money in the "Dotcom" bubble of the mid-1990s and barely managed to survive the bust that occurred at the end of the 1990s and early 2000s. The company's technology helped transform the internet from its early dial-up modem days to what it is today.
Even if that was all he was known for Lewin's story would be impressive, but he was also unique in that he was born and grew up for a time in America, then moved to Isreal in the mid-1980s (against his will) and managed to flourish not only in school but becoming a member of the elite military unit (Isreal's version of special forces) that is usually reserved for people who were born and raised in Isreal. He also had the misfortune to have booked a trip from Boston to Los Angeles on September 11, 2001, onboard American Airlines flight 11 which, of course, was the first plane hijacked and the first to fly into the World Trade Center. It would also turn out that he was most certainly the first passenger killed on any of the airplanes but was very likely the first person overall to be killed on 9/11 as he tried to intervene to stop the hijacking.
The book does a good job of portraying the good and the bad of Lewin's personality and work ethic. It does not paint a completely rosy picture as it details how he was prone to outbursts of anger, was a workaholic who often put work above family, and had a management style that definitely chaffed some of the people he worked with. On the other hand, he never asked anyone to do something he was not willing to do himself, and his force of personality got the company contracts with entities like Yahoo, Apple, CNN, and more, when most of the time the people he was making pitches to had no idea what he was talking about.
The book is mostly focused on Lewin's life. Only one chapter at the very end of the book discusses the events of his death. In that chapter the author does not speculate as to what happened on the plane, just giving general details that resulted from the investigation which was based on what the flight attendants on flight 11 who managed to reach people on the ground were reporting. What is known is that Danny was seated across the aisle from two of the terrorists on the plane (including the pilot hijacker) and directly in front of the 5th hijacker sitting in business class. He likely knew immediately what was happening because he understood Arabic and because of his anti-terrorism training. It is not known exactly how the hijacking played out and if Danny was stabbed simply because of where he was sitting (on United 93, the passenger seated in front of the hijacker who was farthest back in first-class was stabbed basically as a warning to the other passengers) or if he actually started to fight the hijackers in front of him. There are some reports online that he managed to tackle one of the hijackers but all the author says is that it is likely that Lewin tried to thwart the hijacking and had his throat slashed by the hijacker who was sitting behind him. He was certainly the person most equipped to stop the hijacking but he would have been in a three, four, or five-on-one situation with one of the hijackers directly behind him. The fact that Danny could not stop the hijacking makes Mark Whalberg's insinuation that if he had been on the plane (he was originally booked on Flight 11 until he changed his travel plans) things would have turned out differently. Once the hijackers got on the plane, Danny was probably the only person who could have stopped them.
The book is definitely more interesting the better you understand computers. The author admits that it is hard to understand and describe exactly what Lewin figured out and what Akamai as a company does. She does a fairly good job of putting a very complex subject into layman's terms and not focusing on the overly technical aspects. As I said above, this is not a detailed look at all into the 9/11 attacks, so if that is what you are after, this is not the book for you. Chances are, had he lived, Lewin may have been up there in the pantheon of tech giants like Steve Jobs or Bill Gates because what he did for the internet was certainly worthy of that company. For years, the only way most people (aside from those who met him or knew him personally) would have ever heard of him was by reading the 9/11 Commission report. Otherwise, the only reference to him for years was a line in the National Geographic Inside 9/11 documentary in which an unnamed passenger is mentioned as trying to intervene in the hijacking but is stabbed. While the book can be a bit dry and will not appeal to everyone, I think it is an interesting read and if you are a fan of biographies this is worth checking out.
Even if that was all he was known for Lewin's story would be impressive, but he was also unique in that he was born and grew up for a time in America, then moved to Isreal in the mid-1980s (against his will) and managed to flourish not only in school but becoming a member of the elite military unit (Isreal's version of special forces) that is usually reserved for people who were born and raised in Isreal. He also had the misfortune to have booked a trip from Boston to Los Angeles on September 11, 2001, onboard American Airlines flight 11 which, of course, was the first plane hijacked and the first to fly into the World Trade Center. It would also turn out that he was most certainly the first passenger killed on any of the airplanes but was very likely the first person overall to be killed on 9/11 as he tried to intervene to stop the hijacking.
The book does a good job of portraying the good and the bad of Lewin's personality and work ethic. It does not paint a completely rosy picture as it details how he was prone to outbursts of anger, was a workaholic who often put work above family, and had a management style that definitely chaffed some of the people he worked with. On the other hand, he never asked anyone to do something he was not willing to do himself, and his force of personality got the company contracts with entities like Yahoo, Apple, CNN, and more, when most of the time the people he was making pitches to had no idea what he was talking about.
The book is mostly focused on Lewin's life. Only one chapter at the very end of the book discusses the events of his death. In that chapter the author does not speculate as to what happened on the plane, just giving general details that resulted from the investigation which was based on what the flight attendants on flight 11 who managed to reach people on the ground were reporting. What is known is that Danny was seated across the aisle from two of the terrorists on the plane (including the pilot hijacker) and directly in front of the 5th hijacker sitting in business class. He likely knew immediately what was happening because he understood Arabic and because of his anti-terrorism training. It is not known exactly how the hijacking played out and if Danny was stabbed simply because of where he was sitting (on United 93, the passenger seated in front of the hijacker who was farthest back in first-class was stabbed basically as a warning to the other passengers) or if he actually started to fight the hijackers in front of him. There are some reports online that he managed to tackle one of the hijackers but all the author says is that it is likely that Lewin tried to thwart the hijacking and had his throat slashed by the hijacker who was sitting behind him. He was certainly the person most equipped to stop the hijacking but he would have been in a three, four, or five-on-one situation with one of the hijackers directly behind him. The fact that Danny could not stop the hijacking makes Mark Whalberg's insinuation that if he had been on the plane (he was originally booked on Flight 11 until he changed his travel plans) things would have turned out differently. Once the hijackers got on the plane, Danny was probably the only person who could have stopped them.
The book is definitely more interesting the better you understand computers. The author admits that it is hard to understand and describe exactly what Lewin figured out and what Akamai as a company does. She does a fairly good job of putting a very complex subject into layman's terms and not focusing on the overly technical aspects. As I said above, this is not a detailed look at all into the 9/11 attacks, so if that is what you are after, this is not the book for you. Chances are, had he lived, Lewin may have been up there in the pantheon of tech giants like Steve Jobs or Bill Gates because what he did for the internet was certainly worthy of that company. For years, the only way most people (aside from those who met him or knew him personally) would have ever heard of him was by reading the 9/11 Commission report. Otherwise, the only reference to him for years was a line in the National Geographic Inside 9/11 documentary in which an unnamed passenger is mentioned as trying to intervene in the hijacking but is stabbed. While the book can be a bit dry and will not appeal to everyone, I think it is an interesting read and if you are a fan of biographies this is worth checking out.
Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Dexter - New Blood
+++Warning, this contains spoilers from Season 8 of the original series but does not contain any major giveaways from New Blood.+++
As most are likely aware, Dexter is a tv series about a "good" serial killer that ran from 2006 to 2013. It ended with Dexter having gotten away with everything, faking his death, and moving to Oregon. That ending left pretty much everyone, including Michael C. Hall, with a bad taste in their mouth. Because of that, this series was thought up by the original series creator, Clyde Phillips, who was no longer a part of the show in season 8, to retcon that ending.
New Blood sees Dexter living a normal life in a fictional town called Iron Lake in upstate New York. He works at a fish and game shop, is dating the chief of police (played by Julia Jones), and is living the typical small-town life. We find out that he has abstained from killing for ten years, and seemingly has everything he ever wanted. Of course, things do not remain rosy as his dark passenger rears its ugly head again, and Harrison (played by Jack Alcott) manages to track Dexter down seeking answers.
This series has a mostly new cast that includes Jones and Alcott, and also includes the great Clancy Brown, Jamie Chung, Johnny Sequoyah, and Alano Miller. There is a handful of returning characters from the original series, most notably Jennifer Carpenter. I will not spoil her role, but it is not hard to figure out in what capacity she is brought back.
I do think the series gets a bad rap for how it ended (there are some absolute crazy one-star reviews on Amazon from right-wing nutjobs and Q dipshits that should be totally ignored), but most of the negative reviews revolve around the last few minutes of the final episode. Although I do think some variation on how it ended is the way the show should have ended, I do think that it could have been done better. I personally would have liked to see a bit more of a tie-in with the original series and have the original cast members included in the climax of the series, even if it meant making one more episode.
For those who get the Blu-Ray set, the show looks and sounds great in HD. There is some really great cinematography that shows off the filming locations very well. The extras include short featurettes on reviving the show on discs one and two (each just 2-3 minutes long) and then on the fourth disc there is a making-of documentary that runs about 30 minutes. A good amount of material, especially since many series, if they are lucky enough to get a DVD release much less a Blu-Ray release have almost no bonus features.
Overall, the series is very good. The ending is controversial, but I do think it is better upon second viewing than it was the first time I watched it, and I get why they made the choices they did. The writing, on the whole, was much better than what we got in Season 8, and the acting by all was superb. Hall and Carpenter fell back into their roles seemingly with ease, Clancy Brown was great, and Jamie Chung pretty much stole every scene she was in (all but one). I certainly cannot say that everyone will like this season, but I think most fans of the show's original run will find this season to be more satisfying than what season eight provided.
As most are likely aware, Dexter is a tv series about a "good" serial killer that ran from 2006 to 2013. It ended with Dexter having gotten away with everything, faking his death, and moving to Oregon. That ending left pretty much everyone, including Michael C. Hall, with a bad taste in their mouth. Because of that, this series was thought up by the original series creator, Clyde Phillips, who was no longer a part of the show in season 8, to retcon that ending.
New Blood sees Dexter living a normal life in a fictional town called Iron Lake in upstate New York. He works at a fish and game shop, is dating the chief of police (played by Julia Jones), and is living the typical small-town life. We find out that he has abstained from killing for ten years, and seemingly has everything he ever wanted. Of course, things do not remain rosy as his dark passenger rears its ugly head again, and Harrison (played by Jack Alcott) manages to track Dexter down seeking answers.
This series has a mostly new cast that includes Jones and Alcott, and also includes the great Clancy Brown, Jamie Chung, Johnny Sequoyah, and Alano Miller. There is a handful of returning characters from the original series, most notably Jennifer Carpenter. I will not spoil her role, but it is not hard to figure out in what capacity she is brought back.
I do think the series gets a bad rap for how it ended (there are some absolute crazy one-star reviews on Amazon from right-wing nutjobs and Q dipshits that should be totally ignored), but most of the negative reviews revolve around the last few minutes of the final episode. Although I do think some variation on how it ended is the way the show should have ended, I do think that it could have been done better. I personally would have liked to see a bit more of a tie-in with the original series and have the original cast members included in the climax of the series, even if it meant making one more episode.
For those who get the Blu-Ray set, the show looks and sounds great in HD. There is some really great cinematography that shows off the filming locations very well. The extras include short featurettes on reviving the show on discs one and two (each just 2-3 minutes long) and then on the fourth disc there is a making-of documentary that runs about 30 minutes. A good amount of material, especially since many series, if they are lucky enough to get a DVD release much less a Blu-Ray release have almost no bonus features.
Overall, the series is very good. The ending is controversial, but I do think it is better upon second viewing than it was the first time I watched it, and I get why they made the choices they did. The writing, on the whole, was much better than what we got in Season 8, and the acting by all was superb. Hall and Carpenter fell back into their roles seemingly with ease, Clancy Brown was great, and Jamie Chung pretty much stole every scene she was in (all but one). I certainly cannot say that everyone will like this season, but I think most fans of the show's original run will find this season to be more satisfying than what season eight provided.
DVD/TV Series Review: Blade The Complete Series
This was a TV series adaptation of Blade, one of the lesser-known Marvel comics that was first adapted for the big screen in the trilogy of movies that starred Wesley Snipes. The series was created by Geoff Johns and David S. Goyer who have been involved in a lot of the comic book adaptations (both movie and tv series adaptions) over the years. The series starred Jill Wagner as Krista, an Iraq war veteran who returns to the US to find that her brother has been killed under mysterious circumstances. She discovers that he was a familiar (lackey) for a group of vampires led by Marcus Van Sciver (played by Neil Jackson) and crosses paths with Blade (played by rapper Kirk Jones).
The series ended up being canceled after its initial run of 13 episodes expired. Unlike the movies that got progressively worse as they went on, the series actually got better. It took a few episodes to get its footing, and right as it was hitting its stride and developing what was going to be a very interesting story, it was canceled. So, if you do watch it and like it, it is going to leave you feeling unsatisfied because it ends on a pretty big unresolved cliffhanger.
For those who get the DVD set, the extras include commentary tracks on the pilot episode as well as an hour-long making of documentary. I good amount of material for a series that was canceled after one season. Overall, the series was good, but not great. As I said, it was just finding its footing when it was canceled, and having an unresolved cliffhanger always sucks. The writing was good and the acting was good to very good. Jones was definitely a green actor, but I think he did a decent job in the role and definitely could handle the physical aspects. Wagner was great as Krista in what was her first "main" role in a TV series, and Jackson was great as Marcus Van Sciver. The series was very violent and did have some sexual content. And, the DVD has unedited episodes so you get a lot more of both than what was broadcast. While I cannot say that either fans of the comics or the movies will automatically like this version, I do think that it is worth watching even though the story will never be completed.
The series ended up being canceled after its initial run of 13 episodes expired. Unlike the movies that got progressively worse as they went on, the series actually got better. It took a few episodes to get its footing, and right as it was hitting its stride and developing what was going to be a very interesting story, it was canceled. So, if you do watch it and like it, it is going to leave you feeling unsatisfied because it ends on a pretty big unresolved cliffhanger.
For those who get the DVD set, the extras include commentary tracks on the pilot episode as well as an hour-long making of documentary. I good amount of material for a series that was canceled after one season. Overall, the series was good, but not great. As I said, it was just finding its footing when it was canceled, and having an unresolved cliffhanger always sucks. The writing was good and the acting was good to very good. Jones was definitely a green actor, but I think he did a decent job in the role and definitely could handle the physical aspects. Wagner was great as Krista in what was her first "main" role in a TV series, and Jackson was great as Marcus Van Sciver. The series was very violent and did have some sexual content. And, the DVD has unedited episodes so you get a lot more of both than what was broadcast. While I cannot say that either fans of the comics or the movies will automatically like this version, I do think that it is worth watching even though the story will never be completed.
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 30
Day 30 of CE was recharge and abs. This is the first time I have done the ab workout along with the recharge workout on Tuesday. In the Burn phase, I just did recharge as opposed to taking a rest day as is scheduled on the workout calendar. I do like doing the recharge workout twice a week and adding the ab workout to the back end of it makes it seem like I am getting more exercise than I really am.
Product Review: Pumice Stone for Feet - Foot Stone with Handle
Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Angels & Demons
The movie stars Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, and Stellan Skarsgard. Like the Da Vinci Code, this movie entwines real-life historical figures, locations, and events into a fictional suspense storyline. The acting is great, and the screenplay stuck pretty faithfully to the novel. And, Tom Hanks has a much better hairstyle in this movie, which stupidly was a big deal when Da Vinci Code came out.
For those who get the Blu-Ray, the movie looks and sounds great in HD. The cinematography showing off Rome in all its glory looks wonderful, especially if you have a big screen to watch the movie on. The extras include a Movie-IQ function that provides an in-movie experience with facts that pop up as you are watching the movie, and several making-of and behind-the-scenes features that range from about five minutes to almost twenty minutes. A good amount of material for those who like watching the bonus features.
Overall, the movie is very good. Better than the underrated Da Vinci Code, so if you like that you will probably like this one. Of course, there are a lot of people who will never watch the movie because they considered the Da Vinci Code blasphemous and hence will never read any of the books or watch any of the movies. Chances are people in that category will probably not even consider watching the movie and are unlikely to read the reviews for it. But, if you are on the fence about whether to watch it, I definitely think it is worth giving it a chance. And, you really do not have to watch the first movie to understand what is going on in this one. The only thing the first movie will give you is a bit of the character development of Robert Langdon where this movie assumes you are at least somewhat familiar with the character.
DVD/Study Aid Review: Algebra and Graphing: TI-89 Calculator Tutor: Vol 1
This is a three-disc DVD set that is actually the first of two volumes Jason put out. This volume basically introduces you to the calculator, the menus, how to navigate it, and then how to perform algebraic operations and graphing. Basically the kind of operations you would use it for in algebra and/or trig/precalculus. In this video, Jason is not in front of a whiteboard, but he is using the TI virtual software that reproduces the calculator on the computer and walking through what buttons you have to push or what menus you need to use to perform different operations. So, you can have your calculator out and follow along with what Jason is doing to really drill the lessons into your mind. I definitely recommend this (and volume two) if you have purchased the calculator since you will likely be going into higher-level math and science classes, and possibly engineering classes, and knowing how to use the calculator well will be a huge asset in any of those classes.
Monday, April 4, 2022
Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 29
Day 29 of CE is the first day of the Push phase, with the Push Circuit 1 video. Like the Burn Phase, there are 9 total moves in the workout, so it is relatively short (about 32 minutes including warm-up and cool-down). None of the moves are compound, so you are just focusing on one muscle group at a time. This workout mostly focuses on arms (biceps and triceps) and then has a couple of squat moves and a set of push-ups at the end. In the push phase, you lift heavier weights and max out at between 6 and 8 reps. The last six exercises all have an extreme set at the end (three ultra-slow reps). For the most part, I guessed the weight correctly. For some of the exercises, I could only get to six reps, and for a couple, I was able to hit the 8 reps, but barely. The only exercise I greatly underestimated the amount of weight on was the heel squats, so I will be bumping that up pretty significantly next week. In the Push videos, Skip and Toni replace Mike and Donna, with Skip using the SelectTech dumbells along with Chalene, and Toni using the bands. Skip is not as annoying in this one as he is in the Burn Intervals workout, but there are times when he feels the need to reply to everything Chalene is saying, and I just want to punch him through my TV.
Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 28
Day 28 of CE was the recharge and stretch workout, and also marked the final day of the Burn phase. My weight did not really change much at all during the Burn phase, but I can tell I did get appreciably stronger. I also think that my posture improved overall since almost all of the exercises in the burn phase have a core focus since you are doing compound moves. I did feel that my flexibility improved somewhat during the burn phase, but not a ton. In the Push phase I plan on still doing recharge two days a week but adding the ab workout both days since the Push phase is not as core focused as the Burn phase is.
Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Fast Times is one of the great coming-of-age comedies of all time, and one of the best comedies of the 1980s. It starred Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates, Sean Penn (in a role that he has never come close to playing since), Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ray Walston (as the great Mr. Hand), Brian Backer, and Robert Romanus. It also featured Forrest Whittaker, and in a (almost) blink and you'll miss them roles, Nicholas Cage, Anthony Edwards, and Eric Stoltz.
The movie is really about the trials and tribulations of high school and growing up, and all that comes with it. It tackles subjects like dating, sex, and drugs all with a comedic bent, and also gets into deeper dramatic topics like abortion. Sean Penn and Ray Walston had great chemistry as the stoner loser Jeff Spicoli and his teacher nemesis Mr. Hand and played off each other very well. And, of course, there was "that scene" with Phoebe Cates taking off her bikini top which is one of the most (if not the most) paused scenes in movie history and launched thousands of crushes during the 1980s. There is also a great scene in which Cates' character teaches Leigh's character how to give a blowjob using carrots during school lunch.
For those who get the Blu-Ray, the movie looks and sounds good. It did not get as good an HD restoration as some movies have received, but it definitely looks better than the VHS and DVD releases. The extras include a "u-control" mode that plays making-of clips as the movie plays, and identifies the songs. There is also a making-of documentary that features interviews with the cast and crew (made about the time the movie came out), a commentary track with director Amy Heckerling and screenwriter Cameron Crowe, and the trailer. A good amount of material for those who like watching the bonus features.
The movie does have a reputation as a cult classic, as most of the coming-of-age comedies do, regardless of the era in which they were made. It is certainly a bit dated now and does feel like a movie from the 1980s, both in the way it was filmed, the hair and clothing styles, and the teen slang. Even so, some of the things from the movie are timeless no matter what the era, especially the teenage awkwardness and insecurity. Penn steals pretty much every scene he is in, and as I said, it is the type of role he never played after that, going for much darker and more serious roles after this one. I think most people who are likely to be interested in this probably are in their mid-forties or older, including a lot who, like me first saw it on cable in the mid-1980s and instantly fell in love with Phoebe Cates. But, if you are one who has never seen the movie and are looking for a good comedy, this is definitely worth watching.
The movie is really about the trials and tribulations of high school and growing up, and all that comes with it. It tackles subjects like dating, sex, and drugs all with a comedic bent, and also gets into deeper dramatic topics like abortion. Sean Penn and Ray Walston had great chemistry as the stoner loser Jeff Spicoli and his teacher nemesis Mr. Hand and played off each other very well. And, of course, there was "that scene" with Phoebe Cates taking off her bikini top which is one of the most (if not the most) paused scenes in movie history and launched thousands of crushes during the 1980s. There is also a great scene in which Cates' character teaches Leigh's character how to give a blowjob using carrots during school lunch.
For those who get the Blu-Ray, the movie looks and sounds good. It did not get as good an HD restoration as some movies have received, but it definitely looks better than the VHS and DVD releases. The extras include a "u-control" mode that plays making-of clips as the movie plays, and identifies the songs. There is also a making-of documentary that features interviews with the cast and crew (made about the time the movie came out), a commentary track with director Amy Heckerling and screenwriter Cameron Crowe, and the trailer. A good amount of material for those who like watching the bonus features.
The movie does have a reputation as a cult classic, as most of the coming-of-age comedies do, regardless of the era in which they were made. It is certainly a bit dated now and does feel like a movie from the 1980s, both in the way it was filmed, the hair and clothing styles, and the teen slang. Even so, some of the things from the movie are timeless no matter what the era, especially the teenage awkwardness and insecurity. Penn steals pretty much every scene he is in, and as I said, it is the type of role he never played after that, going for much darker and more serious roles after this one. I think most people who are likely to be interested in this probably are in their mid-forties or older, including a lot who, like me first saw it on cable in the mid-1980s and instantly fell in love with Phoebe Cates. But, if you are one who has never seen the movie and are looking for a good comedy, this is definitely worth watching.
DVD/TV Series Review: American Dad Volume 5
Volume five of American Dad actually has some of the season four episodes on it. Volume 4 had the first six episodes of season four and this one has the remaining fourteen episodes. The highlights of the season, for me, are the episodes Bar Mitzvah hustle, in which Steve steals the Bar Mitzvah gifts of a kid who steals the girl he likes, and Stan's Night Out, which is a total play on the movie The Hangover, when a "boy's night" for Stan with his CIA coworkers goes awry.
For those who get the DVD set, there are commentary tracks on every episode, deleted scenes, and an option to play the uncensored version of the episodes. There are also trivia and drinking game featurettes. So, there is a lot of bonus material if you like going through it.
Overall, the show continues to be very strong. It is a story (or stories) of the week format, but it does sometimes refer back to events from prior episodes. It is most definitely not a show for kids despite being animated as there are a ton of adult jokes and swearing. So, if you are a fan of the show, this is a good pickup.
For those who get the DVD set, there are commentary tracks on every episode, deleted scenes, and an option to play the uncensored version of the episodes. There are also trivia and drinking game featurettes. So, there is a lot of bonus material if you like going through it.
Overall, the show continues to be very strong. It is a story (or stories) of the week format, but it does sometimes refer back to events from prior episodes. It is most definitely not a show for kids despite being animated as there are a ton of adult jokes and swearing. So, if you are a fan of the show, this is a good pickup.
DVD/TV Series Review: American Dad: Volumes 1-4
American Dad is a now long-running adult animated comedy that was created by the creator of Family Guy, Seth McFarlane, who also voices multiple characters on the show, including the lead character Stan Smith. The show is set in Langly Falls Virginia and focuses on Stan's life as a CIA agent, and his family which includes his wife Francine, his son Steve, his daughter Haley, an alien named Roger, and a talking fish named Klaus. Stan saved Roger from the CIA and Klaus was a German olympian whose consciousness was transferred into a fish. So, the show does get a bit silly under the guise of the CIA covering tons of things up. In the early seasons, the show really focused on Stan's job and then tied in "side stories" that involved the other characters. Over the course of time the show gets more off the wall and usually involves Roger and his various characters (people he dresses up as to hide the fact he is an alien).
This set has the first five DVD volumes. They are not really seasons, as when the show was released on DVD in the early years, much like family guy, they did not put all the season episodes in one DVD set. For example, Volume 1 has the first 13 episodes from season one, and then Volume 2 has the rest of the season one episodes and the first nine episodes from season 2. In the early releases, the sets included a lot of extras including commentary tracks on some episodes, featurettes, deleted scenes, animatics, and the ability to watch the episodes with uncensored or censored audio. In later releases, they just released the DVDs with uncensored audio.
Overall, the show is a story-of-the-week type of show that occasionally refers back to prior episodes or events. But mostly, you don't have to have seen prior episodes to in order to get what is going on. It has a very similar comedy style as Family Guy, but it does not do as many cutaways or include as many pop culture references as Family Guy does. It is definitely not a show for kids as there is swearing and a lot of adult jokes, including many that it is surprising made it past censors when the show was on Fox. Chances are, most people reading this have an idea of what the show is and is not, but if you are just trying to figure out whether to watch the show if you like more adult humor and are not offended easily, it is worth watching, especially the early seasons which were, in my opinion, better than the later seasons are.
This set has the first five DVD volumes. They are not really seasons, as when the show was released on DVD in the early years, much like family guy, they did not put all the season episodes in one DVD set. For example, Volume 1 has the first 13 episodes from season one, and then Volume 2 has the rest of the season one episodes and the first nine episodes from season 2. In the early releases, the sets included a lot of extras including commentary tracks on some episodes, featurettes, deleted scenes, animatics, and the ability to watch the episodes with uncensored or censored audio. In later releases, they just released the DVDs with uncensored audio.
Overall, the show is a story-of-the-week type of show that occasionally refers back to prior episodes or events. But mostly, you don't have to have seen prior episodes to in order to get what is going on. It has a very similar comedy style as Family Guy, but it does not do as many cutaways or include as many pop culture references as Family Guy does. It is definitely not a show for kids as there is swearing and a lot of adult jokes, including many that it is surprising made it past censors when the show was on Fox. Chances are, most people reading this have an idea of what the show is and is not, but if you are just trying to figure out whether to watch the show if you like more adult humor and are not offended easily, it is worth watching, especially the early seasons which were, in my opinion, better than the later seasons are.
Saturday, April 2, 2022
Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 27
Day 27 of CE was the burn it off workout. This was better than the last couple of weeks, mostly because my left knee felt a bit better than it has the past couple of times I have done this workout. I still did have to modify some of the moves, but I was definitely able to push myself harder. Tomorrow is the last day of the Burn Phase, then I will transition into the Push Phase which is living as heavy as you can for fewer reps.
Book Review: Fast This Way: How to Lose Weight, Get Smarter, and Live Your Longest, Healthiest Life with the Bulletproof Guide to Fasting
Fast this way is a primer on fasting, but it is entwined in the author's personal experience when he did a long-term fast that included a Shaman and living in a cave. It is not a traditional health book that focuses on step 1 is ________, step 2 is _______, etc. There is some "how-to" content and the book does go into the science behind fasting, but that is sometimes in the background. The author does shill a bit for "bulletproof coffee" which is basically the idea of drinking coffee with MTC (coconut) oil added to it. Bulletproof Coffee is a brand that the author sells, but you do not have to use that brand in order to make the concoction.
The book gives tips for how to do different kinds of fasts, from the easiest, intermittent fasting (which basically amounts to skipping dinner or breakfast so you do not eat for 12-16 hours), to the harder multi-day fasts. He also gives you an idea of what to expect from your body when you do the various kinds of fasts. So, if you are interested in the concept of fasting and are looking for something that will give you both an idea of how to do it and what you can expect your body (and mind) to go through, this is a good book to read.
The book gives tips for how to do different kinds of fasts, from the easiest, intermittent fasting (which basically amounts to skipping dinner or breakfast so you do not eat for 12-16 hours), to the harder multi-day fasts. He also gives you an idea of what to expect from your body when you do the various kinds of fasts. So, if you are interested in the concept of fasting and are looking for something that will give you both an idea of how to do it and what you can expect your body (and mind) to go through, this is a good book to read.
Book Review: Palace of Treason
This is the second in the trilogy of Red Sparrow novels by ex-CIA agent Jason Matthews. It continues the story of Dominika acting as a double agent for the USA against Russia. The plot involves a new boss that wants her out of the way, an Iranian nuclear facility that the Americans want to sabotage, and Dominika becoming a favorite of Putin. There is also the discovery of another mole for Russia inside the US government who presents a threat to Dominika's cover.
This is a very good middle portion of the story. It has a lot of action and does not get bogged down like a lot of middle installments of trilogies do. It does continue the complicated romance story between Nate and Dominika, but that part does not dominate the book so much that it gets annoying or slows down the plot. The pace of the story is much like the first book, and like in the first book, the end of each chapter includes a recipe for some dish that was mentioned in the chapter.
Overall, if you like spy thriller novels, and you liked the first book, you will probably like this one. On the other hand, if you did not get into the first book, this one is not likely to do much for you. The only thing I would caution is that if you did not like the movie Red Sparrow, do not let that dissuade you from reading the books if you are generally a fan of spy thrillers because the books are much better than the movie adaptation.
This is a very good middle portion of the story. It has a lot of action and does not get bogged down like a lot of middle installments of trilogies do. It does continue the complicated romance story between Nate and Dominika, but that part does not dominate the book so much that it gets annoying or slows down the plot. The pace of the story is much like the first book, and like in the first book, the end of each chapter includes a recipe for some dish that was mentioned in the chapter.
Overall, if you like spy thriller novels, and you liked the first book, you will probably like this one. On the other hand, if you did not get into the first book, this one is not likely to do much for you. The only thing I would caution is that if you did not like the movie Red Sparrow, do not let that dissuade you from reading the books if you are generally a fan of spy thrillers because the books are much better than the movie adaptation.
DVD Review: The Incredible Hulk: Season 2
The second season of the Incredible Hulk pretty much follows the same format as the first. David Banner is traveling around from place to place trying to find a way to rid himself of (or at least control) the Hulk. Everywhere he goes he manages to find someone in need of help and/or comes up against the worst criminals in town, all while having to avoid the reporter Jack McGee who is obsessed with finding The Hulk. Throughout the season there are a number of notable guest stars (along with a bevy of recognizable character actors). The guest stars this season include Pat Morita (The Karate Kid), Gerald McRaney (best known for Simon & Simon, incidentally playing a totally different character than he did in the first season), a very young Kim Cattrall (best known for Sex and the City), a very young and almost unrecognizable Ernie Hudson (best known for Ghostbusters), Rick Springfield (yes the Jesse's Girl singer who was also an actor at the time), Sherman Hemsley (of The Jeffersons), Markie Post (of Night Court fame), and Mariette Hartley (of Law & Order: SVU).
For those who get the DVD, the extras include a commentary track by Kenneth Johnson (the show's creator) on the first episode of the season, which was another two-hour movie), and deleted scenes for another episode. The commentary track was pretty similar to the commentary track Johnson did for the pilot episode.
Overall, the show has a good theme, but it is very dated. It definitely has the look and feel of a show from the 1970s. Obviously, everything back then was shot on film so it does not look anything like the shows that are shot digitally these days. Also, the 70s wardrobes and slang terms will always date the show. It actually did tackle heavier topics like race, drugs, the pillaging of Native American land, mental illness, etc., however, did not always do so tactfully. The special effects could be hilariously bad. The show did not have the budget for what little CGI technology there was out there, so pretty much everything was done practically, and a lot of it looked fake. And, some of the decisions on how to shoot scenes were a little head-scratching. Like getting Lou Ferrigno's feet in the shots when he is running, when he was clearly wearing green slippers when the Hulk is supposed to be barefoot. That said it is a pretty classic show, and unique in that most of the comic-book aspect of the character was left out of the show. He was not going up against evil supervillains, there were no hero team-ups or anything like that. If you have seen season one and like that then you will probably like season two.
Friday, April 1, 2022
Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 26
Day 26 was the last day of the Burn Circuit resistance workouts, with Burn Circuit 3. Overall, it went very well. I hit the 12 rep max on a few exercises and was in the 10-11 range for the others. What I like about this one is that, with a couple exceptions, the weight you are using is a bit lighter because the upper-body exercises are all shoulder presses or flys, so you can get really deep into the squats and lunges with good form. And, I really like the workout because it is the shortest of the Burn Circuit workouts, just 32 minutes including warm-up and cool-down.
Product Review: Joycube No Touch Door Opener Tool with Stylus
If you are one who, like me, was leery of touching surfaces in high-traffic areas (like elevators) even before covid reared its ugly head, these are great to use to buttons or pull doors open. They are very sturdy and durable and do not feel cheap at all. I have not used them on a touchscreen surface, so I am not sure how well they do or do not work for that, but for touching elevator buttons or pressing buttons on keypads, they work great.
Book Set Review: Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-7)
This is the full set of the original Harry Potter novels in a paperback version. It is much more than just a mass-market paperback, however. The books are just a bit smaller in size than the hardcover versions, and they have the same kind of quality illustrations and look great. They also come in a collector box that you can either store them in on a shelf, or the box can be displayed separately if you are one of those who goes all in decking out a bookshelf.
Harry Potter is, of course, the massive series that consisted of these 7 books, which were ultimately adapted into 8 movies, and then spun off the Fantastic Beasts franchise that is currently still going strong. The books are set in the 1990s at a time when a ten-year-old Harry learns that he is a wizard, and starts attending school at Hogwarts school for witchcraft and wizardry. The theme throughout the series of books is the looming threat of the dark wizard Voldemort who tried and failed to kill Harry as an infant. The author JK Rowling, wrote the books with the intention that kids about Harry's age could start reading them and then age with the characters in the books. So, they do get progressively darker and more "adult" as the series goes on. The first couple of books are easily appropriate for 10-11 year-olds, but the later books are probably more appropriate for those in the 13-15-year-old (on up) age range. Even though they are technically kids' books, they can easily be enjoyed by adults. The books also get longer as the series goes on, so if you have seen the movies, there is a lot that happens in the books, especially books 3-6 that get cut out of the movies. I do think, on the whole, the books are better than the movies, but I think there are some things that the movies tweaked from the books that worked better.
Overall, it is a great book series. The story is unique in that, as opposed to a lot of other books in the sci-fi/fantasy genre that set their stories on made-up worlds that have little in common with our reality, it sets the world of magic in the "real" world in contemporary times, just making it clear that people without the magical ability (called muggles) are largely unaware of the existence of magic. If you are one of the few who have yet to read the books, I highly recommend them.
Harry Potter is, of course, the massive series that consisted of these 7 books, which were ultimately adapted into 8 movies, and then spun off the Fantastic Beasts franchise that is currently still going strong. The books are set in the 1990s at a time when a ten-year-old Harry learns that he is a wizard, and starts attending school at Hogwarts school for witchcraft and wizardry. The theme throughout the series of books is the looming threat of the dark wizard Voldemort who tried and failed to kill Harry as an infant. The author JK Rowling, wrote the books with the intention that kids about Harry's age could start reading them and then age with the characters in the books. So, they do get progressively darker and more "adult" as the series goes on. The first couple of books are easily appropriate for 10-11 year-olds, but the later books are probably more appropriate for those in the 13-15-year-old (on up) age range. Even though they are technically kids' books, they can easily be enjoyed by adults. The books also get longer as the series goes on, so if you have seen the movies, there is a lot that happens in the books, especially books 3-6 that get cut out of the movies. I do think, on the whole, the books are better than the movies, but I think there are some things that the movies tweaked from the books that worked better.
Overall, it is a great book series. The story is unique in that, as opposed to a lot of other books in the sci-fi/fantasy genre that set their stories on made-up worlds that have little in common with our reality, it sets the world of magic in the "real" world in contemporary times, just making it clear that people without the magical ability (called muggles) are largely unaware of the existence of magic. If you are one of the few who have yet to read the books, I highly recommend them.
Product Review: DLO Jam Jacket with Cord Management for the 80/120 GB iPod classic 6G
This is a cover for the older, "classic" iPods. I have a Sixth Generation 160GB iPod classic and this fits it fine. It is not for an iPod nano or one of the thicker iPods. It is basically a piece of Silicon in the shape of an iPod classic that slips over it. I would classify this as good for "everyday" use to keep your iPod protected. Everyday use being things like carrying it in a bag and then putting it on a dock (such as a radio that has a 30 pin connector) at your office or in a bedroom, or hooking it up to an aux connection in a car, this is fine. I would not, however, use this if you want to take your iPod with you when you go jogging or something like that where there is a risk of it falling on the pavement. It does not have any screen protection at all, so if it falls on a hard enough surface at the right angle, it will still get broken. But, if you generally use it in a situation in which the hardest thing it is likely to fall on is a carpeted floor or the floor of your car, then this will be fine to keep it protected and keep it from getting scuffed up. The wheel on the iPod can be a bit hard to turn when you first put this on, but once you get used to it and figure out how hard you have to press as you are turning, it is not that hard.
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