Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 60

Day 60 of CE was the burn intervals workout. I actually found that I had more stamina during the workout today than I have had this entire round of CE and was able to jump a bit more than I had when doing the workout previously. Definitely a good sign.

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Bridesmaids

 

Bridesmaids was a comedy written by SNL alum Kristen Wig, who plays Annie a woman in her 30s going through a typical mid-life crisis. She agrees to be the Maid of Honor at her best friend Lillian's (Maya Rudolph) wedding. She then has to plan festivities and get the other bridesmaids (played by Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and Ellie Kemper) to the wedding and pull off everything without a hitch. Of course, there are a ton of hitches that come up along the way. The movie is really a spoof on the craziness of wedding planning, wedding events, the whole Bridezilla phenomenon, and more. The movie does have a lot of gross-out jokes and more raunchy comedy, especially involving Melissa McCarthy, who steals pretty much every scene she is in, but it is really meant to be a tongue-in-cheek comedy that makes fun of weddings, not to be taken seriously.

For those who get the Blu-Ray set, you get both the theatrical and extended (unrated) versions of the movie. The extended edition adds about five minutes to the run time, and really nothing that changes the movie or really makes it better. The extras include a commentary track with director Paul Feig and many of the cast members and writers, then there is a half-hour long behind the scenes documentary, deleted and extended/alternate scenes that run for almost an hour, a short gag reel, and then some in-character featurettes that basically have the actors riffing or improvising during different scenes (some of which were scenes that made the movie and others were not).

Overall, the movie is very good. It definitely has some of the raunchy and adult comedy that the Apatow universe of movies are known for (he was a producer on this movie), so it is not something I would call family-friendly by any means. It is almost a female version of The Hangover, although not as good as the original Hangover movie. As you can see from the widely varied reviews, not everyone will like it, but if you are looking for a more adult comedy this is definitely worth checking out. Personally, if you are on the fence about whether it is something you would like, I would try to stream it before shelling out for the physical discs. But, if you know you love the movie and like going through bonus material (or just prefer physical media to streaming) this is definitely worth the pickup.

Welcome

Welcome to my ever-evolving blog. It started out as a blog on Beachbody workouts and products, mainly when I was a Beachbody coach. I no longer coach, not because I don't believe in Beachbody's programs (I subscribe to Beachbody on Demand and use their workouts every day), I am just not a salesperson and hated that aspect of it. I am more than willing to answer questions about my experiences with their products and the various workouts, and I feel freer to do so without the appearance of giving a biased review of something.

I have also started adding reviews for various things I have purchased like movies, books, CDs, and other products. This was brought about by a fight with Amazon in which all of my reviews were removed over a completely bullshit allegation that I posted a review that violated their terms of service. After going back and forth with the morons in the community-reviews department (even after they admitted that my posts did not violate their guidelines) they restored my account (which took them six months to do), but I have been posting my reviews on my blog to have them preserved in case something like that happens again. And here, I will post uncensored reviews so I will swear from time to time and post reviews that may be longer than Amazon's character limit. Everything I post here on any topic or product is my personal opinion, and I take no compensation for any product reviews I post. I am a member of Amazon's vine program and because I get those products for free, I keep those reviews on Amazon only, but everything I have purchased with my own money, whether from Amazon or some other store/website/outlet, I will post here.  

I also plan to do some longer blog posts on various topics, such as how to learn physics, how to get through calculus and longer reviews of workout programs as I do them. Basically, whatever strikes me as interesting at the time.  I will also start the long process of linking my class material (lecture notes, notes I took out of the books, and my worked-out homework problems) from my math, science, and engineering classes). As you can see if you navigate around the blog, I had many years in between postings. During that time I was going back to school to get an engineering degree, and learning material that I avoided my first time through college was a different experience and one that gave me a lot of insight into how to do well in those classes, which I will try to impart here for those who are looking to get a science or engineering degree. 

Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 59

Day 59 of CE was the first go around with Push Circuit 2. It is a very hard circuit working the shoulders for the upper body moves, and again doing a lot of leg lifts, and squats at the same time to work the lower body. Again, every move in the circuit has a breakdown set. Sometimes the breakdown set is whatever shoulder exercise you are doing, sometimes it is the lower-body exercise, and in one instance it is a set of three push-ups.  Doing the shoulder exercises while balancing on one leg is very hard, even if you are using very light weights, and there were a couple of exercises in which I actually had to use less weight than I originally planned on because it was just too hard to lift and keep my balance. So, it is a good, but very challenging workout. 

Book Review: The Kremlin's Candidate

 

This is the final novel in the Red Sparrow series of spy novels involving the Russian double agent Dominika Egorova. There is a time jump from the end of the second novel, and now Dominika is in the running to become the new head of the SVR. This means she will have unparalleled access to information to feed to the Americans, but it also puts her in more danger as it becomes much harder for her to pass the information along to the CIA. The main plot of the novel is that there is a Russian mole, code-named Magnit, who is in line to become the new director of the CIA after the death of the current director. Of course, if the mole becomes the director, Dominika's identity immediately becomes known to the Russians and she would be sent off to a Gulag and killed. So, there is a race to uncover the identity of the mole and prevent the mole from being confirmed as director, and it, of course, includes the usual spy thriller twists and turns with nearly every main character in danger at some point.

The book clocks in at about 430 pages. It is not an extremely fast read (it took me 21 days to get through it, and I am a fairly quick reader), but how quickly you can get through it really depends on how much time you can devote to reading it. The chapters are fairly short, anywhere from five to ten pages on average, so there are plenty of natural stopping points if you read just an hour or two at a time. There are a few new characters in the book, but the focus is mostly on the established characters, especially Dominika and Nate, and Putin plays a very large role in this novel, much moreso than he did in the prior two. The ending does leave open the possibility of additional stories, but the tone would definitely be changed somewhat because the characters definitely end up in a very different place from where they started. Chances are, it will be the end of the story, however, especially since the Red Sparrow movie pretty much flopped and there is not any pressure to keep a movie franchise alive. If you liked the prior novels, this is definitely worth reading.

DVD/Movie Review: Clueless (Whatever! Edition)

 

Clueless is the iconic mid-90s coming of age movie starring Alicia Silverstone, Brittany Murphy, and Paul Rudd (in one of his first roles), and sporting a supporting cast of Breckin Meyer, Donald Faison, Wallace Shawn, Dan Hedaya, and Stacey Dash. It is loosely based on Jane Austen's 1815 novel Emma, and directed by Amy Heckerling who also directed the 1980s coming of age classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

The movie is basically set around the life of pampered rich girl Cher (played by Silvertone) who can argue anything to get what she wants, as taught to her by her lawyer father (played by Hedaya). In her high school, she is the leader of a group of girls just as vain and clueless as she is, including her best friend Dionne (played by Dash). Brittany Murphy plays Tai, a new student at the school whom Cher takes on as her charity case to make her over into one of the groups. When Tai's personality changes Cher then sees firsthand how she treats people and ultimately learns to grow up. The other big plot revolves around Cher's love life. She tries to make out with her school crush and is surprisingly rebuffed, and then falls for Rudd's character, which is a bit creepy given that he is her stepbrother.

For those who get the Whatever! edition of the DVD, the extras include the trailers, a bunch of behind-the-scenes featurettes (seven in all ranging from about three minutes to almost twenty minutes), and then a bunch of previews for other movies. So, if you like bonus material, you get a good amount here.

Overall, the movie is a classic. It is very funny and has some dramatic moments. Yes, the thought of Cher and Josh becoming a thing is a bit creepy and is probably not something that would be added to the storyline if it was made today, but it was not the focus of the movie by any means. Of course, the various actors have gone on to have wildly varied careers since Clueless with Silverstone basically having retired from acting, Rudd making blockbuster movies (and hardly aging), and Murphy having tragically passed away after her career hitting a bit of a slump. It would be nice if they make a 20th-anniversary Blu-Ray within the next couple of years and get the cast together to do a commentary track and new cast interviews. Who knows whether that will actually happen, but for now, this is a great version of the movie (there is a Blu-Ray upgrade of this set floating around out there), and it is definitely worth watching.

DVD/Movie Review: Dirty Love

 

Dirty love is an early 2000s movie that starred and was written by Jenny McCarthy. She was not quite at the height of her fame (when she was Playmate of the Year and then in her MTV days), but she was not far removed from it. It is basically a comedy about a hot girl getting dumped, doing a bunch of stupid stuff, and then ending up with the geeky guy who really loves her (played by American Pie's Eddie Kaye Thomas).

I would not really classify it as a romantic comedy, more just a straight-up comedy. And, anyone who is familiar with McCarthy's brand of comedy knows that it is raunchy. While there is some sex (more discussion than actual depiction) there are some boob shots from McCarthy, who has never been shy about taking off her clothes. But, they are fairly quick and it is not anything all that explicit.

For those who get the DVDs, the extras include a commentary track by McCarthy and the director John Asher (whom McCarthy was engaged to at the time the movie was made), some behind-the-scenes clips, and cast interviews. Nothing spectacular, but they're for people who want to go through the bonus material

Overall, the movie pretty much stays in its lane and does not try to take itself too seriously. No, it is not an award winner by any stretch, but it does not pretend to be. It is just kind of a dumb, fun movie with MaCarthy poking fun at herself, and her and Carmen Electra looking good. If you expect anything more than that you will definitely be disappointed. But, if you take it for what it is, a dumb movie that has some funny moments, then you may enjoy it.

DVD/TV Series Review: The Incredible Hulk: Season 5

 

Season five of The Incredible Hulk is barely a season, just seven episodes. For those who are not aware, the series was actually canceled by CBS before the fifth season would have aired, but, the producers filmed the first seven episodes to be aired in the fifth season at the end of season four to have ready in case a strike shut down Hollywood productions. I don't know if the strike ever materialized, but unbeknownst to anyone involved with the show, the head of CBS decided to can the show basically right before he was fired from the Network, and as a result, the show was left without any real conclusion to the story. The seven episodes were really just the same story-of-the-week episodes that the show had been running since the first season. Jack Colvin only appears in a single episode, and what ended up being the series finale (which for sharp-eyed viewers features a young Xander Berkeley, probably best known for his roles on 24 and the series Nikita), while a good episode (the best of the season) was just another "regular" episode. The showrunner, Kenneth Johnson, did try to get CBS to agree to film an additional six episodes to give the story a proper conclusion, but that never came to pass, and thus the show just abruptly ended.

For those who get the DVD set, the only extras are a 20-minute retrospective on the series in which Johnson and some of the other writers and producers shared their thoughts on the series. Of course, Bill Bixby had passed away by the time any of the extras for any of the seasons were filmed so he could not participate, and Lou Ferrigno was not interviewed for the feature. Then, there is a gag reel from episodes throughout the series, basically involving Bixby, which is funny but does include a lot of swearing (for those who care).

Overall, the season, for what it was, was good, but very much incomplete. It definitely had that early 1980s feel to it, and like the other seasons, some things hold up better than others. Surely the series would not be made the same way today as it was back then. For one, there probably would have been a lot less of recycling the same guest stars in different roles. This season Diana Mulder, who had guest-starred as David's sister in an earlier episode, played a nun in a convent near the Mexican border in an episode that involved the local bad guy trafficking illegal immigrants across the border and making them work for him. Even though the season ended abruptly and without a proper conclusion, if you have liked the other seasons, this one is worth having if nothing else to complete your collection.

DVD/Study Aid Review: Texas Instruments TI-89 Calculator Tutor - Volume 2

 

This is the second volume of the TI89 calculator tutorial from Jason. This one covers things you will absolutely use in the latter portions of a pre-calculus class and throughout all levels of calculus and engineering. The first volume covered the stuff that is important to know when you are in algebra (where you likely will not be able to use the calculator because it can give you the answers to almost everything), but this one goes through calculating derivatives and integrals, working with vectors, creating and editing matrices (which will be used a lot if you go on to higher-level classes), and graphing parametric and polar equations. Jason also covers some of the statistics functions of the calculator, but honestly, if you have to take a statistics or data analysis class when it comes to making the plots, you are most likely going to use something like Excel or one of the Statistics-specific computer programs like Minitab to do your homework, so chances are you will not be relying on the calculator all that much. So, I think he could have focused less on the plots and more on the actual calculations. Then he finishes with a couple of sections on differential equations.

The TI89 is a calculator that a lot of people getting hard science or engineering degrees use because it is very powerful and can give exact answers. That is also why a lot of teachers will not let students use it. But, unless you get one of the programs (or figure out how to make your own) to show the exact steps, you still have to figure out how to work out the answer. But, if you know how to use this, you can use it on an exam to know the correct answer and use it to check your work or know what the answer to the problem should be while you do your work. This will help you get familiar with the major functions of the calculator, which is essential if you are going to use it efficiently.

Textbook Review: Linear Algebra and Its Applications, 4th Edition

 

This was one of the required books for my Calculus 4 class, which was a combination of an introduction to linear algebra and an introduction to differential equations. So, it was not a full course for either subject and as a result, we did not cover everything in this book. 

This is a pretty standard math book. It explains the theory fairly well and generally does not make it harder than necessary to learn the material. It gives a decent amount of examples, although, like all math textbooks, the examples tend to be of the "easier" problems, while the problem sets can get a lot more complicated. One thing that was a pain about the book is that many times in the answer key at the back, instead of giving an answer to an odd-numbered problem it will refer to the solution manual, so you could not even get the answer to the problem to see if you did the problem correctly.

Overall, I would say it is a decent book. It is not the best math book I had to use as I was getting my degree, but it is certainly not the worst. If you are trying to learn the material yourself, it will be a helpful reference, but you may want to get one of the study aid supplements out there to help you work through the problems.

Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 58

CE day 58 was the recharge and ab-burner workout. Nothing was really new about this one although I could get a bit deeper into the crouches at the beginning of the routine, so my hamstrings are getting more flexible. I can also do more of the ab-burner moves without having to alter them. My lower back is still not strong enough to do all of the moves with my legs elevated, but I can do more of them. 

Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 57

Day 57 of CE was the first day of the Push workouts, which meant Push Circuit 1. In the Push month, you go back to doing 10-12 reps for each exercise (which Chalene annoyingly calls sets during the workout) and go back to doing an upper-body and a lower-body workout at the same time. And, many of the lower-body exercises (at least in Push 1) involve you balancing on one leg in order to engage your core.  Also, in the Push month, every single workout has a breakdown set after you max out, but not every breakdown set involves the upper body. In some of the exercises, you will break down with squats instead of biceps or triceps (which are the two upper-body parts that are targeted in this workout). Overall, it is a good workout, but very challenging. I had to use much lighter weights during this workout than even in the Burn month because of the fact that balancing on one leg is much tougher than doing a squat and bicep curl at the same time.

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

 

The second season of Dollhouse almost feels like two different shows. For part of the season, it is much the same story of the week kind of show that it was in the first. Then, once the announcement was made that the show would be canceled, it rushed to tell the "rest" of the story that would have been dragged out more over at least a couple more seasons had they got the chance to make them. The show was on thin ice after season one and it was brought back for a second season with a much-reduced budget so more of the show was shot on the set of the dollhouse and they rotated which of the series regulars appeared in which episodes. This season also saw other alums from Whedon's shows appear in recurring roles, specifically Summer Glau and Alexis Denisof. Dichen Lachman and Enver Gjokaj are really the standouts this season, and Alan Tudyk was great as Alpha in a couple of episodes he returned for.

For those who get the Blu-Ray set, there are commentary tracks on selected episodes, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and a couple of making-of featurettes. Of course, the show was made before Whedon's fall from grace due to his awful treatment of (some) of the cast and crew on his various projects, so he is featured heavily in the extras. Whether that lessens your enjoyment of them or would make you avoid watching them is something you have to consider. But, in general, if you like watching the extras, there is a lot there.

Overall, the season was good, but because it was yet another show that was canceled before the story could really be told, felt rushed. You do get a good sense of how the show would have been wrapped up if it had been given a 4-5 season run, but it is not as satisfying because they had just a few episodes in which to end the series.

DVD/TV Series Review: Fairly Legal: Complete TV Series Seasons 1 & 2 DVD Collection

 

Fairly Legal was a USA Network original series that ran just two seasons from 2011 to 2012. It starred Sarah Shahi (at that point best known for her roles on the series Alias, the other short-lived series Life, and the L-Word). She plays Kate Reed, a lawyer who worked in her father's law firm, but stopped practicing law to become a mediator because she thought that the legal system treated people unfairly. She still works for the firm, which is managed by her "evil" stepmother, Lauren, played by Virginia Williams. The rest of the main cast is rounded out by Michael Trucco, who plays the assistant district attorney for San Fransisco and Kate's ex-husband, Justin, Baron Vaughn who plays Kate's sarcastic assistant, Leo, and in the second season, Ryan Johnson, who plays a new partner at the firm, Ben Grogan. Gerald McRaney and Esai Morales have substantial recurring roles as well.

The series is mainly a case-of-the-week format in which kate has to mediate some dispute, either involving a client of the firm or via court-ordered mediation. To say she does things in a very informal way is an understatement, and the show definitely makes the process seem more exciting than it actually is. In the second season, the show takes on more of a soap opera-like tone with a love triangle between Kate, Justin, and Ben. Unfortunately, the show never really managed to boost its ratings and was canceled after the second season. The writers were definitely setting up storylines for a third season that would never materialize and does leave fans feeling a bit underwhelmed as there are threads that get dangled in the series finale that will never be paid off.

This set is just the first and second season DVD sets packaged together. So, the extras are just what was included on the individual season sets. For the first season, the extras included commentary tracks on select episodes, deleted scenes, and a gag reel. In season two, there are just deleted scenes and a gag reel. Shahi is great on the commentary tracks and ends one of them with a pretty funny story about her first day of filming on the L-Word that ends the commentary in a very colorful way.

Overall, the series is very good and deserved a longer run. I would not say that it was as good as series like Psych and Burn Notice but was definitely on par with series like Covert Affairs and In Plain Sight. That, of course, is very subjective, but for me, that is where it falls compared to the other series that were airing on the network at the time. I cannot guarantee that everyone will love the show, but if you have not seen it and are looking for a good dramadey, it is worth checking out.

Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 56

Day 56 of CE was the last day of the Push phase, which was a rest day. Of course, as I have all along, I did the recharge workout and the ab-burner workout. Tomorrow marks day one of the third phase, the Lean phase, so the workouts will switch up again. I plan to do Lean Circuit 1 right away in the morning tomorrow to get it out of the way. From what I remember, the lean circuit workouts are very challenging, so it will be interesting to see how they go.  

DVD/TV Series Review: Chicago Fire Season One

 

Chicago Fire was at the time it premiered, in 2012, the newest entry into the massive Wolf production machine which includes the various installments of the Law and Order Franchise. This involved a Firehouse in Chicago, Firehouse 51, and revolved around the members of the truck crew, headed by Jesse Spencer's character Lieutenant Matthew Casey, the rescue squad crew, headed by Taylor Kinney's character as Lieutenant Kelly Severide, and the Ambulance unit, headed by Monica Raymund's Gabriella Dawson. The show was mostly an episodic case/accident of the week kind of show intertwined with the lives of the various characters in the firehouse. In many episodes, there were several minor accidents the crew had to deal with and then one major accident. The show starts out with an accident that kills a member of the firehouse and causes tension between Casey and Severide that lasts for part of the season. The show does a great job with character development and does more than just make the show about the accidents/action and nothing else. It really makes the audience care about the characters, which definitely helps when they are put into life and death situations, which happens often (as you can imagine). The show has a strong main and recurring cast including Lauren German, Charlie Barnett, Eamonn Walker, and David Eigenberg. The show also introduces characters played by Jon Seda, Jason Beghe, and LaRoyce Hawkins, who would later become a part of the spin-off show Chicago PD, in a story arc that runs throughout a good chunk of the season.

For those who get the DVD set, the extras include several behind-the-scenes featurettes of varying length, but mostly in the 3-4 minute range, and then a series of in-character podcasts by Otis (played by Yuri Sardarov). So, if you like going through the bonus material, there is quite a bit there.

Overall, the show is a good mix of action and drama with a little bit of humor mixed in. It juggles the large ensemble cast well and really does a good job developing the characters which is crucial for a procedural drama. It is well-written and very well acted, so if you are a fan of story-of-the-week procedural shows, this is definitely worth checking out.

Textbook Review: Differential Equations (Blanchard) Fourth Edition

 

This was the required book for my calculus 4 class which was a combination of linear algebra and differential equations. My professor did not actually use the book all that much so I honestly did not use it as much as I used other books in other classes. This is definitely a different kind of textbook. It does not really jump right into the theory and then problem sets like most books do. Instead, it almost reads like a novel, then starts getting into theory and examples, then has the problem sets after that. I am not exactly sure how I would have felt about that style had I needed to use the book more. In the differential equations portion of the class my professor basically taught from his own notes and made up his own problem sets (although he did use some problems from the book), so this was more ancillary to the class than the books I used in some of my other math. I remember thinking that it was kind of an odd way to set up a math book when I did read it until I discovered I could follow along with what my teacher was saying without having to consult the book. If you are in a class and your teacher does rely on the book heavily you may need to get some kind of study guide to go along with this, depending on how well you can understand how it presents the material.

DVD/TV Series Review: Fairly Legal Season 2

 

+++Warning, this contains a spoiler from the end of season one, but no major season two giveaways.+++

This is the second, and unfortunately the last, season of Fairly Legal, a USA Network original series that ran from 2011 to 2012. It starts off shortly after the events of the season one finale (enough time for Leo to get a haircut). Kate decides that she is not going to be fired and just shows back up to work and ends up weaseling her way back into her job (but charmingly). She continues her hookups with Justin and spends the entire season deciding if she wants to really get back together with him, a decision that is complicated by a new partner for Reed and Reed (who had to be brought in to save the firm), Ben Grogan, played by Ryan Johnson, who is a stereotypical smarmy lawyer. Like season one, the show mainly takes on the case-of-the-week format, with the larger story arcs being the soap operaish relationship and potential love triangle between Kate, Justin, and Ben, and Justin deciding to run for District Attorney against his boss (played by Esai Morales). The supporting and guest cast this year included Gerald McRaney, Meatloaf, and Lindy Booth (from the Librarians) as the most notable and recognizable guest stars.

For those who get the DVD set, the extras are much lighter than they were for season one. There are no commentary tracks. Just deleted scenes on discs 2 and 3 and a gag reel (which is pretty hilarious) on disc 3. What was included was decent, but not anywhere near as much or as good as what was put out for the season one set, which was interesting because it seems like the season one commentaries were recorded either while season two was being filmed or had wrapped.

Overall, the season is good, but will probably leave you feeling a bit unsatisfied. The writers were clearly setting up a larger story arc going into season three involving Lauren and did leave the Kate, Justin, and Ben relationship somewhat unresolved. Unfortunately, the show was canceled after the finale had been shot, although there may have been some heads up given that the final episode of the season was titled finale. If the writers did know the show was going to be canceled going into the final episodes they could have come up with a much better conclusion to everyone's story. That is what knocks it down a star for me.

Product Review: Ten Fitness Exercise Sport Yoga Ball Air Stopper | Replacement Plug Stem

 

These are replacement plugs for inflatable exercise balls, yoga balls, or the like. They fit perfectly, and you get a removal tool that makes removing the plug much easier than trying to get them out with your fingers. So, if you have exercise balls and have lost the plugs, this is definitely a good pickup.

Blu_ray/Movie Review: Jurassic Park: Ultimate Trilogy

 

This is a three-disc set with the first three Jurassic Park movies that starred Sam Neil, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum. The first movie, which of course, is the iconic movie that started it all and was directed by Steven Speilberg starred all of them, the second movie, The Lost World starred Goldblum, and Jurassic Park III brought back Neil and had Laura Dern in what amounted to an extended cameo. I will not spend a ton of time reviewing each movie because chances are, anyone reading this by now has seen them all more than once. I think most people will agree with the notion that the original film is the best of the group, by far, and that the other two, while good, were not great. Jurassic Park III gets dumped on, I think unfairly, did have some good moments, but was a bit cookie-cutter. The CGI quality gets better (obviously) with each movie as the first was made in 1993 before CGI was really revolutionized by movies like The Matrix, Harry Potter, and the Star Wars Prequels. The third installment was made in 2001, so there was a big leap in special effects technology by that point.

Really, the big reason to get this set is the bonus material. There is a ton of bonus content for each movie. The big one is a "Return to Jurassic Park" documentary that has at least one installment for each movie (the first movie has three chapters of it, the second movie has two, and the third movie has just one chapter). There are also deleted scenes, and a lot of behind-the-scenes material for each movie, including archival footage for the original film, the theatrical trailers, and a commentary track on the third movie with the special effects team. So, if you like watching the bonus material, you get hours worth in this set.

Overall, the movies range from good to great. They are definitely not always historically accurate (the thing about a T-Rex not being able to see you if you stand still has been totally debunked, but it makes for good drama) but the movies are not trying to be a nature documentary about dinosaurs. They are well-acted and mostly well-written. The set that I have packages the movies in a folding case with each disc in its own holder. The movies look and sound great in HD. Of course, now they are being released in 4K so if you do not already own them, you may want to opt for that. But, if you have not upgraded to 4k, this is a great way to see the movies. I definitely recommend it.

Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 55

 Day 55 of CE was the Burn it Off workout. Honestly, it was a pretty crappy workout. I was tired and for some reason, my left knee decided to be sore again after being fine for a couple of weeks. So, I did what I could, but it was definitely not one of my better workouts.

DVD/TV Series Review: Dawson's Creek: The Complete Series

 

Dawson's Creek was a late 1990s coming-of-age teen drama set in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts. It starred James Van Der Beek, Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, and Joshua Jackson, as the main case members throughout the series, and pretty much launched all of their careers, and also included Mary-Margaret Humes, Mary-Margaret Humes, Mary Beth Peil, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe, and Busy Philipps as series regulars at different points in the run of the series. While it could be a bit cheesy with the teen drama and angst, especially with the will-they-or-wont they get together storyline between Dawson (Van Der Beek) and Joey (Holmes), or would Joey choose Dawson or Pacey (Jackson), it also tackled difficult and sometimes controversial subjects. For example, there were storylines that involved divorce and the effect on kids, a teacher sleeping with a student, the death of a parent, and a character dealing with their sexuality. The series finale was unique in that it did a time jump to show where the characters ultimately ended up and had a very emotional wrap-up to the series.

For those who get the complete series, the discs seem to be the same as those included in the individual seasons. The packaging is weird as all of the discs are stacked on top of each other in two large spindles. So, you should definitely check to see if you have any scratched discs. The extras include commentary tracks on selected episodes as well as a few featurettes and/or interactive items in seasons 1-4, and then a commentary track on the series finale. There are no extras on the season five discs. Then, there is a separate disc just with bonus features like deleted scenes and an interview with series creator Kevin Williamson. The extras vary in quality, but there is a decent amount of you who like watching them.

Chances are, most people are going to get this because they watched the show when they were growing up (or as a young adult). For anyone who has never seen the show before, as I said above, it can be a bit cheesy, but it does kind of suck you in, whether you want it to or not. Even if it was not always well written, it was well-acted and the issues that the characters faced were really many of the timeless issues that everyone faces to some extent growing up. I cannot say that everyone will love the show. If you have not seen it you probably want to check out a few episodes before buying the DVD set, but if you are a fan of the show this is a way to always have access to it and not risk it disappearing from the streaming services.

DVD/TV Series Review: Castle Season 4

 

+++Warning, this contains spoilers from the prior season, but no major season four giveaways+++

The fourth season picks up after Beckett is shot and Montgomery is killed. We see that Beckett has undergone extensive surgery, and then takes a three-month leave to recover from her injuries. Much of the season's larger arc deals with Beckett trying to find out who shot her, as well as Castle and Beckett dealing with their feelings for each other. The big addition to the main cast this season is Penny Johnson Jerald (probably best known for the series 24) who plays Captain Victoria Gates. She is not a fan of Castle's "assistance" and generally makes life miserable for everyone. The season ends on another cliffhanger (although not the same as the season three cliffhanger) with the future of Beckett and Castle in the balance.

The season has a strong supporting and guest cast including Michael Dorn, Geoff Pierson, Jennifer Beals, Meghan Markle, and Tahmoh Penikett. There is also a mini Firefly reunion as well. For those who get the DVD set, the extras include commentary tracks on selected episodes, bloopers and outtakes, deleted scenes, a feature on the stunts, and a couple of other behind-the-scenes features. A good amount of material for those who like the extras.

Overall, the series continues to be strong. The show has a good balance of stand-alone case-of-the-week stories and does a good job stretching out the larger storylines. It continues to be well written and acted, and all of the actors do a great job with their roles. Fillion and Katic continue to either have or fake good chemistry. Most fans of the show probably know the rumors that the two could not stand each other by the time the series ended, so if any of that animosity had started at this point, it was not apparent when watching the episodes. If you are a fan of the prior seasons then you will probably like this one. On the other hand, if the prior seasons did not do much for you, this is probably not going to change your mind about the show.

DVD/Study Aid Review: The Calculus Differential Equations Tutor: Volume 2 - Higher Order Equations

 

This is the second volume of Jason's differential equations tutor. Like the first volume, Jason introduces the concept of higher-order differential equations, discusses how to identify them, and then goes through solving the basic/elementary problems. That material takes up most of disc one, then on discs two and three, Jason goes through Homogeneous and Non-homogeneous ordinary differential equations, and goes through several examples of the various ways to solve them (depending on the types of problems). I heartily disagree with the one-star reviewer on Amazon who says Jason talks too much and takes too long to get to the point. If you already understand the material, then yes, it can be a bit long. But, if you are just learning the material, or do not have a good grasp of the material, then Jason gives you as much background as you need to understand the concepts and talks through the process of how to solve them, explaining each step along the way. It would not work very well for Jason to just be silently going through the problems on the board and expect most people to follow what he is doing. That said, you do have to take your learning style into account, and decide whether watching what amounts to a modified college lecture will work for you and hold your attention.

Between this set and the first volume of the differential equations tutor, you will see much of what you will see in a basic differential equations class (which is usually the version of the class people in engineering programs take). Of course, it depends on your school and how it sets up the curriculum, but in many schools, there is a class that either combines linear algebra and differential equations (in my school it was called Calculus 4), or there will be two separate classes called basic linear algebra and basic differential equations. And, in some schools, the differential equations material gets split up so that some of it is taught in Calc 2 and the rest in Calc 4). So, if you are currently in school, you need to figure out how the classes are set up to know what class corresponds to this material.

The only large subject that a differential equations class includes that this, and the first set, do not, is Laplace Transforms. However, Jason did create a Laplace Transforms Tutor that can really be thought of as the third volume of this set. Differential equations do pop up to varying degrees in more advanced classes down the line, so you really do need to understand this material if you are going on to take engineering classes, which, chances are, the vast majority of people looking at this are going to do. Jason makes the concepts very understandable and gives you the tools necessary to understand how to tackle solving differential equations problems.

Product Review: Unjumbly Over The Door Hook- 4 Pack Sturdy Metal Over Door Hook

 

This is a set of four metal over the door hangers. They are fairly small, but they are durable and can easily hold a shirt, bathrobe, towel, or the like. They are slim so you should have no problem shutting whatever door you hang them on (I have definitely had issues with not being able to shut a door using some plastic hangers). Also, the size of the "hook" is different on each side to accommodate the thickness of the door you are hanging it on. If your door is thicker you use one side, and if it is thinner, you just turn it around and use the other side, that way it will stay secure and not slide around as you open and close the door. They are definitely a good pick up and perfect for use on a bathroom or closet door.