Here are the links to the notes and problems for the Chapter 5 material which covers the Operational Amplifier, Terminal Currents and Voltages, Inverting, Summing, Non-Inverting, and Difference Amplifiers.
Friday, July 8, 2022
DVD/TV Series Review: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 3
+++Warning, this will contain spoilers from season two, but no major season three giveaways+++
The 22-episode third season of Lois and Clark aired during the 1994/1995 TV season. It picks up immediately after the screen faded to black at the end of season two, with Clark proposing to Lois. Her answer to the question has reverberations throughout the rest of the season. It is not really a spoiler to say that she does not give an immediate yes or no answer to the question. The season has some self-contained episodes, but even those do have some of the serial arcs that run throughout the season. The big one is Lois and Clark's relationship status (of course things cannot go off without a hitch) and then toward the end of the season a version of the "new krypton" storyline in which Clark finds out he is not, in fact, the last Kryptonian. There are a lot of notable guest stars this season, including Peter Boyle, Bruce Campbell, Jessica Collins, Julian Stone, Jonathan Frakes, Genie Frances, Shelly Long, Fred Willard, Tony Curtis, and Justine Bateman. This is also the final season in which John Shea physically appears as Lex Luthor in a multi-episode story arc in the second half of the season. During the season, there was a mild controversy about Teri Hatcher cutting her hair (not nearly as big a deal as Kerri Russell cutting her hair during Felicity). That was kind of dumb. Although, I admit that I liked her hair better in the first two seasons than I did the shorter hairstyle.
The DVD set is a six-disc set. The extras include a featurette on the romance story between Lois and Clark, a trivia game hosted by Dean Cain, sporting a ridiculous-looking hairdo (speaking of haircuts), which is quite hilarious now that he does everything he can to pass himself off as a buttoned-up conservative commentator, and an excerpt of the documentary "Look, Up in the Sky" that was produced by Bryan Singer and Ken Burns, telling the history of the Superman character that was made when Singer was making Superman Returns. It is a portion of the same documentary that is an extra feature with the Superman Returns DVD and Blu-Ray (and the Superman Collection disc release) the same except that it was included as an extra on one of the Smallville season sets.
Overall, the season is good, but not as good as the prior seasons. I don't think the villains were as good in this season (aside from Tempus, Luther, and the Church gang) as they had been in the earlier seasons. I think a lot of the tension that the writers were trying to keep in the Lois and Clark relationship (to keep viewers interested) was a bit forced. That said, it was still Superman and was the only live-action superhero show on the air at the time. Because it was on ABC and tried to appeal to as broad an audience as possible to keep ratings up, it is a bit more of a soap opera than it would have been on one of the smaller networks. That said, it is still worth watching.
The 22-episode third season of Lois and Clark aired during the 1994/1995 TV season. It picks up immediately after the screen faded to black at the end of season two, with Clark proposing to Lois. Her answer to the question has reverberations throughout the rest of the season. It is not really a spoiler to say that she does not give an immediate yes or no answer to the question. The season has some self-contained episodes, but even those do have some of the serial arcs that run throughout the season. The big one is Lois and Clark's relationship status (of course things cannot go off without a hitch) and then toward the end of the season a version of the "new krypton" storyline in which Clark finds out he is not, in fact, the last Kryptonian. There are a lot of notable guest stars this season, including Peter Boyle, Bruce Campbell, Jessica Collins, Julian Stone, Jonathan Frakes, Genie Frances, Shelly Long, Fred Willard, Tony Curtis, and Justine Bateman. This is also the final season in which John Shea physically appears as Lex Luthor in a multi-episode story arc in the second half of the season. During the season, there was a mild controversy about Teri Hatcher cutting her hair (not nearly as big a deal as Kerri Russell cutting her hair during Felicity). That was kind of dumb. Although, I admit that I liked her hair better in the first two seasons than I did the shorter hairstyle.
The DVD set is a six-disc set. The extras include a featurette on the romance story between Lois and Clark, a trivia game hosted by Dean Cain, sporting a ridiculous-looking hairdo (speaking of haircuts), which is quite hilarious now that he does everything he can to pass himself off as a buttoned-up conservative commentator, and an excerpt of the documentary "Look, Up in the Sky" that was produced by Bryan Singer and Ken Burns, telling the history of the Superman character that was made when Singer was making Superman Returns. It is a portion of the same documentary that is an extra feature with the Superman Returns DVD and Blu-Ray (and the Superman Collection disc release) the same except that it was included as an extra on one of the Smallville season sets.
Overall, the season is good, but not as good as the prior seasons. I don't think the villains were as good in this season (aside from Tempus, Luther, and the Church gang) as they had been in the earlier seasons. I think a lot of the tension that the writers were trying to keep in the Lois and Clark relationship (to keep viewers interested) was a bit forced. That said, it was still Superman and was the only live-action superhero show on the air at the time. Because it was on ABC and tried to appeal to as broad an audience as possible to keep ratings up, it is a bit more of a soap opera than it would have been on one of the smaller networks. That said, it is still worth watching.
DVD/TV-Series Review: The Killing: Season Two
+++Warning, this contains spoilers from season one, but no major season two spoilers.+++
Season two picks up shortly after where season one ended, with Mayoral candidate Darren Richmond being arrested for the murder of Rosie Larson. The arrest, however, drives a wedge between Linden and Holder, with Linden convinced he had nothing to do with the murder. Of course, they figure out that there is a larger conspiracy at play, and manage to solve the case, after having to navigate a few more twists along the way. The murder is solved, although the actual murderer is somewhat non-sensical, and I think done for shock value. The show also does very subtly set up the storyline for the next season, with an almost throwaway conversation between Linden and her boss.
For those who get the DVD set, it is mostly just a MOD release, with the episodes and one short extra, Rosie's video blog that she made shortly before her murder. Given that season one got a Blu-Ray release that included some decent extras, the DVD release is a definite step down. But, if you prefer physical media, it is the only option.
Overall, the season was good but not as good as the first. As I said, the killer reveal was a bit dumb, but up to that point, the writers did a good job interweaving a bunch of different story arcs. Of course, when a show is built around one central mystery, solving the mystery can mean the death knell for the show, so they have to make it as dramatic as possible. So, I would say that the season was mostly well-written and very well acted. I liked the fact that it felt like it was grounded in the real world and you did not have a bunch of characters that looked like models. The characters looked like real people and had depth, flaws, and the like. So, if you like crime dramas, this is a good one to check out.
Season two picks up shortly after where season one ended, with Mayoral candidate Darren Richmond being arrested for the murder of Rosie Larson. The arrest, however, drives a wedge between Linden and Holder, with Linden convinced he had nothing to do with the murder. Of course, they figure out that there is a larger conspiracy at play, and manage to solve the case, after having to navigate a few more twists along the way. The murder is solved, although the actual murderer is somewhat non-sensical, and I think done for shock value. The show also does very subtly set up the storyline for the next season, with an almost throwaway conversation between Linden and her boss.
For those who get the DVD set, it is mostly just a MOD release, with the episodes and one short extra, Rosie's video blog that she made shortly before her murder. Given that season one got a Blu-Ray release that included some decent extras, the DVD release is a definite step down. But, if you prefer physical media, it is the only option.
Overall, the season was good but not as good as the first. As I said, the killer reveal was a bit dumb, but up to that point, the writers did a good job interweaving a bunch of different story arcs. Of course, when a show is built around one central mystery, solving the mystery can mean the death knell for the show, so they have to make it as dramatic as possible. So, I would say that the season was mostly well-written and very well acted. I liked the fact that it felt like it was grounded in the real world and you did not have a bunch of characters that looked like models. The characters looked like real people and had depth, flaws, and the like. So, if you like crime dramas, this is a good one to check out.
Workout Update: Power-90/Chalean Extreme Hybrid: Day 39
Day 39 was the Burn Intervals workout. It was not as good a workout as the past couple of Burn it Off workouts were, but I managed to get through it. I did have to slow down and pause a couple of times however.
Workout Update: Power-90/Chalean Extreme Hybrid: Day 38
Day 38 was the second go-around with Push Circuit 2. This one was a bit better than last week. As anyone who reads my workout updates on a regular basis knows, I am not a huge fan of shoulder exercises because I struggle with them and it takes me a long time to make significant progress. But, I was able to hit the 8 rep max on a couple of the exercises so I will be able to bump up the weight a bit next time.
Textbook Review: Statics (Engineering Mechanics) 13th ed. Edition
Statics and its horrible sibling Dynamics were my two least favorite engineering subjects. They take the worst physics problems, make them harder, and then use them in an entire semester-long course. This book just covers the Statics material. There is a different edition that covers both Statics and Dynamics and one that just covers Dynamics.
How helpful the book will be to you depends on i) how good a teacher you have and ii) the kind of homework problems he or she assigns. Overall, I found that the theory was explained reasonably well, and the examples gave you a good idea of how to approach solving many of the problems in the problem sets. But, as pretty much every math, science, and engineering textbook does, this one does have problems in the problem set that are much harder than the examples in the chapter text. If your professor assigns the harder problems and/or is not easy to follow, you will probably need to get a study guide to supplement the textbook. But, if you have a pretty decent teacher who assigns problems from the chapter that are similar in difficulty to the examples in the chapter text or that are shown during lecture, then the book will give you a pretty good understanding of the material and you can probably understand it without any additional supplements or study guides.
How helpful the book will be to you depends on i) how good a teacher you have and ii) the kind of homework problems he or she assigns. Overall, I found that the theory was explained reasonably well, and the examples gave you a good idea of how to approach solving many of the problems in the problem sets. But, as pretty much every math, science, and engineering textbook does, this one does have problems in the problem set that are much harder than the examples in the chapter text. If your professor assigns the harder problems and/or is not easy to follow, you will probably need to get a study guide to supplement the textbook. But, if you have a pretty decent teacher who assigns problems from the chapter that are similar in difficulty to the examples in the chapter text or that are shown during lecture, then the book will give you a pretty good understanding of the material and you can probably understand it without any additional supplements or study guides.
DVD/TV Series Review: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman: Season 2
+++Warning, this contains spoilers from season 1, but no major spoilers from the second season+++
The 22-episode second season of Lois and Clark aired during the 1994/1995 TV season. In my opinion, this is the best season of the series and definitely the high point after which the show started to decline. It picks up down the line from the events of the first season finale in which Lex had jumped off his building, and Clark told Lois he just wanted to remain friends. Of course, even though John Shea had left as a series regular, Lex still had a presence in the storylines. Several episodes involve him and introduce new characters, such as his ex-wife, played by Emma Samms, and his doctor, played by Denise Crosby. There was more cast turnover, with Michael Landes leaving the show and Jimmy and Justin Whalen taking over that role. I don't think Whalen did a bad job, but I preferred Landes.
This season also introduced new characters such as The Prankster (played by the wonderful Bronson Pinchot) and Professor Emil Hamilton (played by John Pleshette). One of the season's best episodes involves H.G. Wells and a fugitive from the future named Tempus, who knows that Clark is Superman and involves a trip to the past to save Superman as a baby. There is also an incredible slate of recognizable guest stars, including Raquel Welch, Sherman Hemsley playing the Toymaster, Isabel Sanford as his assistant, Cindy Williams, Peter Scolari, Melora Hardin, and the great Bruce Campbell. The season ends on a massive cliffhanger that sets up season three.
The DVD set is a six-disc set. The extras include a commentary track on the episode "Season's Greedings" by Dean Cain (who also wrote the episode), a making-of featurette on the making of season two, and a featurette about the series' fans. So, there is a good amount of material if you like watching the bonus features. The season is very good, even with the cast departures like Landes, Shea, and Tracy Scoggins. To me, Hatcher really carries the show as Lois, even more than Clark/Superman does. Lane Smith is great in almost every scene, and K Callan and Eddie Jones are wonderful as Clark's Earth parents. So, if you are a fan of the Superman story, this is definitely worth watching.
This season also introduced new characters such as The Prankster (played by the wonderful Bronson Pinchot) and Professor Emil Hamilton (played by John Pleshette). One of the season's best episodes involves H.G. Wells and a fugitive from the future named Tempus, who knows that Clark is Superman and involves a trip to the past to save Superman as a baby. There is also an incredible slate of recognizable guest stars, including Raquel Welch, Sherman Hemsley playing the Toymaster, Isabel Sanford as his assistant, Cindy Williams, Peter Scolari, Melora Hardin, and the great Bruce Campbell. The season ends on a massive cliffhanger that sets up season three.
The DVD set is a six-disc set. The extras include a commentary track on the episode "Season's Greedings" by Dean Cain (who also wrote the episode), a making-of featurette on the making of season two, and a featurette about the series' fans. So, there is a good amount of material if you like watching the bonus features. The season is very good, even with the cast departures like Landes, Shea, and Tracy Scoggins. To me, Hatcher really carries the show as Lois, even more than Clark/Superman does. Lane Smith is great in almost every scene, and K Callan and Eddie Jones are wonderful as Clark's Earth parents. So, if you are a fan of the Superman story, this is definitely worth watching.
DVD/TV Series Review: The Good Fight: Season Five
The Good Fight is, of course, the spin-off of the series "The Good Wife" but is pretty far removed from the parent series. This season starts with tying up the prior season's storylines with the episode titled "Previously On" which shows how the events of 2021, including Covid, the election, and the attack on the capital, affected the characters, including a great long-haul Covid storyline involving Jay that makes him hallucinate throughout the season. It also provides a proper sendoff for Cush Jumbo and Delroy Lindo, both of whom intended to leave the show after season 4, but came back for the premiere since the prior season was cut short by the pandemic.
The main serial story arc this season involves a fake court run out of a copy shop, run by Mandy Pakankin's character "Judge" Hal Whackner. Marissa (who somehow goes to and graduates law school in a year) ends up becoming his court clerk (and tries cases in front of him). It is an amusing, but totally unrealistic storyline that gets silly by the end of the season. Another new addition to the cast is Charmaine Bingwa, who plays a first-year associate named Carmen Moyo, who ends up being the only lawyer one of the firm's sketchier clients will work with. This also allowed for a couple of appearances by Wallace Shawn in his role as Charles Lester, the fixer for bad guys. Unfortunately, there was no Princess Bride reunion between Shawn and Patinkin. The show does continue the STR Laurie conglomerate storyline, but John Larroquette left the show and his role was taken over by David Lee (played by Zach Grenier, the other carryover from The Good Wife) who is always great.
For those who get the DVD set, it is pretty bare-bones. The ten episodes are spread over three discs. There are deleted scenes for some of the episodes, but not all of them. There is not an extras menu on any of the discs, so if you want to watch the deleted scenes you have to go onto the menu for each individual episode. If you use the "play all" function, you will not see which episodes have deleted scenes available.
Overall, the show is one that you will either love or you will hate, probably depending on your political leanings. Unlike what some people seem to think, the show did not "go political" it was always political and has always been critical of the former guy. Although the show does portray conservative characters, including Diane's (Christine Baranski) husband, played by Gary Cole, and Michael Boatman's character Julius. But, the writers and producers most definitely have a liberal bent. The show is a combination of drama and comedy, but mostly very dark comedy. Because it streams on Paramount Plus there is a lot of swearing, including f-bombs. There is some sexual content, but it is not too over the top. There was one pretty hilarious bare butt shot, however, but that was the extent of the nudity. So, it is definitely not going to appeal to everyone. There has been a lot of cast turnover, with three main characters from the start of the show now gone. I'd say, in general, if you were a fan of the prior seasons, unless you were really invested in one of the characters who are no longer on the show, you will probably like this one. But, if you did not like the prior seasons, nothing about this season is likely to change your mind.
The main serial story arc this season involves a fake court run out of a copy shop, run by Mandy Pakankin's character "Judge" Hal Whackner. Marissa (who somehow goes to and graduates law school in a year) ends up becoming his court clerk (and tries cases in front of him). It is an amusing, but totally unrealistic storyline that gets silly by the end of the season. Another new addition to the cast is Charmaine Bingwa, who plays a first-year associate named Carmen Moyo, who ends up being the only lawyer one of the firm's sketchier clients will work with. This also allowed for a couple of appearances by Wallace Shawn in his role as Charles Lester, the fixer for bad guys. Unfortunately, there was no Princess Bride reunion between Shawn and Patinkin. The show does continue the STR Laurie conglomerate storyline, but John Larroquette left the show and his role was taken over by David Lee (played by Zach Grenier, the other carryover from The Good Wife) who is always great.
For those who get the DVD set, it is pretty bare-bones. The ten episodes are spread over three discs. There are deleted scenes for some of the episodes, but not all of them. There is not an extras menu on any of the discs, so if you want to watch the deleted scenes you have to go onto the menu for each individual episode. If you use the "play all" function, you will not see which episodes have deleted scenes available.
Overall, the show is one that you will either love or you will hate, probably depending on your political leanings. Unlike what some people seem to think, the show did not "go political" it was always political and has always been critical of the former guy. Although the show does portray conservative characters, including Diane's (Christine Baranski) husband, played by Gary Cole, and Michael Boatman's character Julius. But, the writers and producers most definitely have a liberal bent. The show is a combination of drama and comedy, but mostly very dark comedy. Because it streams on Paramount Plus there is a lot of swearing, including f-bombs. There is some sexual content, but it is not too over the top. There was one pretty hilarious bare butt shot, however, but that was the extent of the nudity. So, it is definitely not going to appeal to everyone. There has been a lot of cast turnover, with three main characters from the start of the show now gone. I'd say, in general, if you were a fan of the prior seasons, unless you were really invested in one of the characters who are no longer on the show, you will probably like this one. But, if you did not like the prior seasons, nothing about this season is likely to change your mind.
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
Circuits 1 Chapter 4 (Techniques of Circuit Analysis Matrix Math, Node Voltage, Mesh Current, Source Transformation, Thevenin and Norton Equivalent, and Superposition) Notes and Examples
Here are the links to the Chapter 4 materials:
Tuesday, July 5, 2022
Circuits 1: Chapter 3 (Simple Resistive Circuits Parallel and Serial Connections, Voltage and Current Divider, and Delta-to-Wye Equivalent) Notes and Examples
Here are the links to my notes and homework problems for the Chapter 3 material.
Product Review: Lavish Home Storage Bench Ottoman Large Folding Tufted Foot Rest Organizer with Removable Bin
I purchased this to put in front of my couch to use as a footrest and to store blankets that I would otherwise have draped over the couch. The pros are that there is no assembly required, you just unfold it, put the insert in the bottom and it is ready to go. There is also a small basket (that also unfolds and has a bottom insert for stability) that you can put inside it which is great for holding remotes or any other small items you that can easily get lost in couch cushions. It is also very sturdy. While I would not sit on it for hours, you can easily sit on it to put your shoes on or something like that and it does not feel like it would collapse under you.
The only con is that there is definitely an "industrial" smell to it when it is open. You do not really smell it when it is closed (at least I cannot smell it when the lid is on it), but it could definitely irritate some people. So, overall, if you are looking for a reasonably priced storage ottoman that does not have to be assembled, this is a very good option.
The only con is that there is definitely an "industrial" smell to it when it is open. You do not really smell it when it is closed (at least I cannot smell it when the lid is on it), but it could definitely irritate some people. So, overall, if you are looking for a reasonably priced storage ottoman that does not have to be assembled, this is a very good option.
DVD/TV Series Review: Hart of Dixie: Season 2
+++Warning, this contains spoilers from the first season, but no major spoilers from season two.+++
Hart of Dixie is a serial prime time soap-opera set in the fictional small town of Bluebell Alabama. Season one focused on the fish-out-of-water storyline with Rachel Bilson's character Zoe Hart, leaving NY and taking over her father's portion of a medical practice that he shared with Tim Mattheson's character, Brick Breeland, and trying to assimilate to life in a small southern town. Season two picks up immediately after the events that ended the first season, with George calling off the wedding to Lemon Breeland and walking out on her because of his feelings for Zoe. The repercussions of this event ripple through the entire season and result in major shifts in character arcs as Lemon has to grow on her own without George (and Jamie King does a great job this season), and Zoe having to decide between George and Wade, as well as continuing to acclimate to the town. In another side arc, Lavon's ex played by Golden Brooks returns to town and decides to run against him for mayor.
The show continues to be a good blend of comedy and drama. Because it is a prime-time soap it can get sappy and a bit much with all the various love triangles going on. That said, it is pretty well-written and very well-acted. The only disappointing thing about the DVD release is that it has no extras, just the episodes, so it is basically a MOD release. But, the second season of the show aired just when physical releases for TV series were getting scaled way back, so the fact that it got any physical media release is nice. If you were a fan of the first season, I definitely recommend season two.
Hart of Dixie is a serial prime time soap-opera set in the fictional small town of Bluebell Alabama. Season one focused on the fish-out-of-water storyline with Rachel Bilson's character Zoe Hart, leaving NY and taking over her father's portion of a medical practice that he shared with Tim Mattheson's character, Brick Breeland, and trying to assimilate to life in a small southern town. Season two picks up immediately after the events that ended the first season, with George calling off the wedding to Lemon Breeland and walking out on her because of his feelings for Zoe. The repercussions of this event ripple through the entire season and result in major shifts in character arcs as Lemon has to grow on her own without George (and Jamie King does a great job this season), and Zoe having to decide between George and Wade, as well as continuing to acclimate to the town. In another side arc, Lavon's ex played by Golden Brooks returns to town and decides to run against him for mayor.
The show continues to be a good blend of comedy and drama. Because it is a prime-time soap it can get sappy and a bit much with all the various love triangles going on. That said, it is pretty well-written and very well-acted. The only disappointing thing about the DVD release is that it has no extras, just the episodes, so it is basically a MOD release. But, the second season of the show aired just when physical releases for TV series were getting scaled way back, so the fact that it got any physical media release is nice. If you were a fan of the first season, I definitely recommend season two.
Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Fast & Furious 6
The "Fast" movies are definitely in the category of you know what you get. They are faced-paced action movies, with totally unrealistic plots and over-the-top stunts that are set (mostly) around crazy car chases. If you are expecting great writing or acting you are out of luck, although Ludacris and Tyreese do form a pretty good comedy pair. It has torched the idea of needing to suspend your disbelief and into the territory of just going with it and not thinking too hard about it.
The movie is set sometime after the events of the fifth movie with the team having received amnesty for their various crimes by helping out Hobbs (The Rock) in Rio. When Hobbs and his partner Riley Hicks (played by Gina Carano) investigate the destruction of a Russian military convoy by a crew led by former British SAS Major and special ops soldier Owen Shaw (played by Luke Evans), Hobbs recruits Dom to track them down using evidence that Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) is alive. What follows is lots of explosions, fighting, car chases, and what you would expect. Of course, there are plot twists, and the movie continues to be set before the events of Tokyo Drift so that Han can keep being included (with jokes about getting to Tokyo at some point).
For those who get the Blu-Ray, the movie looks and sounds great in HD. The movie uses a blend of CGI and practical effects and they basically look seamless. The extras include c commentary track on the movie with director Justin Lin, several making-of and behind-the-scenes featurettes, and deleted scenes. They all total to just under two hours' worth of extras. You also get the extended edition and theatrical version of the movie. Nothing is really changed in the extended edition, and the additions are "blink and you will miss them" quick. So, very minimal.
Overall, the movie is a fun action film that is meant to be a turn off your brain and enjoy it kind of thing. The movies in the franchise have become a tongue-in-cheek action-fest and really do not try to be anything more than that. Obviously, some people love the movies others hate them, and this is probably not going to change your mind about them regardless of which category you fall into.
The movie is set sometime after the events of the fifth movie with the team having received amnesty for their various crimes by helping out Hobbs (The Rock) in Rio. When Hobbs and his partner Riley Hicks (played by Gina Carano) investigate the destruction of a Russian military convoy by a crew led by former British SAS Major and special ops soldier Owen Shaw (played by Luke Evans), Hobbs recruits Dom to track them down using evidence that Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) is alive. What follows is lots of explosions, fighting, car chases, and what you would expect. Of course, there are plot twists, and the movie continues to be set before the events of Tokyo Drift so that Han can keep being included (with jokes about getting to Tokyo at some point).
For those who get the Blu-Ray, the movie looks and sounds great in HD. The movie uses a blend of CGI and practical effects and they basically look seamless. The extras include c commentary track on the movie with director Justin Lin, several making-of and behind-the-scenes featurettes, and deleted scenes. They all total to just under two hours' worth of extras. You also get the extended edition and theatrical version of the movie. Nothing is really changed in the extended edition, and the additions are "blink and you will miss them" quick. So, very minimal.
Overall, the movie is a fun action film that is meant to be a turn off your brain and enjoy it kind of thing. The movies in the franchise have become a tongue-in-cheek action-fest and really do not try to be anything more than that. Obviously, some people love the movies others hate them, and this is probably not going to change your mind about them regardless of which category you fall into.
DVD/TV Series Review: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman: Season 1
Lois and Clark was an attempt in the mid-1990s to revive the Superman character on network television on a major broadcast network (ABC). The 22-episode first season aired during the 1993/1994 TV season. It starred Dean Cain as Clark Kent and Teri Hatcher as Lois Lane and launched both careers. The first season was an origin story for Clark's transition to Superman, beginning with Clark coming to Metropolis and trying to get a shot at The Daily Planet. The show does mix out the story as it is in the comics and was seen in the movies, for example, not using the fortress of solitude or having Clark "trained" by Jor-EL. The first season does establish Lex as the main villain (played wonderfully by John Shea). It has a great supporting cast, including Lane Smith as an Elvis-loving Perry White, Eddie Jones as Jonathan Kent, K Callan as Martha Kent, Michael Landes as Jimmy Olsen, and Tracy Scoggins as Catherine "Cat" Grant. Landes does a great job as Jimmy, and Tracy Scoggins steals nearly every scene she is in.
The season is a blend of a case-of-the-week procedural with a serial arc (basically involving Superman and Lex and who will "win" both in terms of whether Luther will be brought to justice but Lois' love. Of course, Lois is clueless as to who Clark really is, but she fawns after Superman. The season builds perfectly to what is a two-part season finale. It does not end on a cliffhanger, probably because John Shea left the show as a series regular after season one.
The extras include a commentary track on the pilot episode, a making-of documentary, a featurette on the visual effects, and a conversation with Cain and Hatcher. So, while not a ton of extras, it is still a good amount for the people who like watching the bonus material. It is weird that now years later, Dean Cain has turned out to be a right-wing nutjob (although usually not as big an asshole as some of the celebrity right-wing nutjobs are), and Terri Hatcher has a reputation for being awful to people because neither gave off that kind of vibe in their Lois and Clark days.
Overall, the show is terrific, with some great moments. Teri Hater is absolutely great as Lois (I actually preferred her take on the character over Margot Kidder's), but the writing and acting all around are excellent. The special effects were good for the time, thanks to the larger budget. This was, however, pre-matrix and the big CGI revolution that came after that, so the effects can be cheesy sometimes. The show also got a great slate of guest stars, including Ben Vereen, Elliot Gould, David Warner, Penn Jillette, and Phyllis Coates, who played Lois in the 1951 film Superman and the Mole Men and during Season 1 of The Adventures of Superman television series.
The season is a blend of a case-of-the-week procedural with a serial arc (basically involving Superman and Lex and who will "win" both in terms of whether Luther will be brought to justice but Lois' love. Of course, Lois is clueless as to who Clark really is, but she fawns after Superman. The season builds perfectly to what is a two-part season finale. It does not end on a cliffhanger, probably because John Shea left the show as a series regular after season one.
The extras include a commentary track on the pilot episode, a making-of documentary, a featurette on the visual effects, and a conversation with Cain and Hatcher. So, while not a ton of extras, it is still a good amount for the people who like watching the bonus material. It is weird that now years later, Dean Cain has turned out to be a right-wing nutjob (although usually not as big an asshole as some of the celebrity right-wing nutjobs are), and Terri Hatcher has a reputation for being awful to people because neither gave off that kind of vibe in their Lois and Clark days.
Overall, the show is terrific, with some great moments. Teri Hater is absolutely great as Lois (I actually preferred her take on the character over Margot Kidder's), but the writing and acting all around are excellent. The special effects were good for the time, thanks to the larger budget. This was, however, pre-matrix and the big CGI revolution that came after that, so the effects can be cheesy sometimes. The show also got a great slate of guest stars, including Ben Vereen, Elliot Gould, David Warner, Penn Jillette, and Phyllis Coates, who played Lois in the 1951 film Superman and the Mole Men and during Season 1 of The Adventures of Superman television series.
Workout Update: Power-90/Chalean Extreme Hybrid: Day 37
Day 37 was Burn it Off again. This had mixed results. I did get tired in spots and had to pause a couple of times, but I think that was because I was able to push harder during portions of the workout than I had before. So I was working harder but getting more worn out. So, overall, I think that was positive.
Workout Update: Power-90/Chalean Extreme Hybrid: Day 36
Day 36 was the Push Circuit 1 workout again. This time I was able to hit the 8 rep max easily on a couple of exercises, but for most of the moves, I will be using the same weight next week. This is mainly to keep my back safe given that I am lifting 35-40 lbs on some of the moves. Since I have had issues with my back before, I do not want to bite off more than I can chew.
Workout Update: Power-90/Chalean Extreme Hybrid: Day 35
Day 35 was the Recharge workout. I can definitely tell that my flexibility is getting better, gradually. It is not where I would like it to be, but each time I do the routine I can get lower in the crouches and the run lunges.
Circuits 1: Chapter 2 (Circuit Elements Interconnections, Ideal Voltage and Current Sources, Independent and Dependent Sources, Ideal Resistors, Ohm’s Law, KVL and KCL) Notes and Example Problems
Here are the links to the notes for the Chapter 2 material:
Link to Book Notes
Link to lecture notes
Link to Homework Problems
Circuits 1: Chapter1 (Introduction, SI Units, Sign Convention, Voltage, Current, and Power) Notes and Example Problems
Here are my notes for Chapter I of my Circuits Analysis Class;
Chapter 1: Introduction, SI Units, Sign Convention, Voltage, Current, and Power
Link to book notes
Link to class notes
Link to homework problems
Sunday, July 3, 2022
Study Guide Review: Electric Circuits Problem Solver (Problem Solvers Solution Guides) Revised, Subsequent Edition
This is a guide that I would describe more as a book of problems to help you do your homework or give you additional examples than it is a guide that will directly teach you the material. It is geared toward the first couple of semesters of circuits, although, depending on how your school divides up material, may also be helpful in some other classes, but the bulk of it deals with the stuff you will see in Circuits I and II, like the various methods of circuits analysis for both AC and DC circuits. So, if you get stuck on a problem, chances are you can find an example in this to help.
The couple of issues that it has is, the diagrams are not the greatest and it is not always easy to follow how they are reducing the circuit. Also, there are errors, sometimes minor and sometimes not, and they are not always easy to spot, especially when you are just learning the material. So, on the whole, I think it is helpful, but there are things you have to watch out for, and I would definitely pair it with something like the Schaum's outline of basic circuit analysis that is geared more toward teaching the concepts than they are just being a problems repository.
The couple of issues that it has is, the diagrams are not the greatest and it is not always easy to follow how they are reducing the circuit. Also, there are errors, sometimes minor and sometimes not, and they are not always easy to spot, especially when you are just learning the material. So, on the whole, I think it is helpful, but there are things you have to watch out for, and I would definitely pair it with something like the Schaum's outline of basic circuit analysis that is geared more toward teaching the concepts than they are just being a problems repository.
Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Justified: Season 4 Blu-Ray
+++Warning, this contains minor spoilerish material from prior seasons, but no major giveaways from the fourth season.+++
The big serial plot point for season four is a mystery that is clearly based on the real-life DB Cooper case that was never solved. In this version, a guy named Drew Thomson jumped out of a plane with a defective parachute and a bunch of drugs. Raylan, while searching his father's house, comes to learn that the official version of events may not be true, and has to try to get the truth out of Arlo. The other big arc this year is Boyd's criminal empire expanding, and Ava (played by Joelle Carter) going all-in on being bad, basically running a prostitution ring for Boyd. Her character has probably developed the most over the course of the four seasons from where she was in the pilot to what she has become, and Carter does a great job with the character. There are a couple of good cast additions this season, including the wonderful Patton Oswalt who plays "Constable Bob" who is a volunteer cop whom everyone thinks is a joke, and Ron Eldard as Colton "Colt" Rhodes who is an old friend of Boyd's.
For those who get the Blu-Ray set, the series looks and sounds great in the HD format as it has from season one. The bonus material is spread across the three discs. There are a few shorter (7-10 minutes) behind-the-scenes and character features, and a short gag reel. Then, there are a couple of longer features, one specific to the season finale that runs about 14 minutes and one on the second to the last episode of the season that runs about 40 minutes. So, if you like watching the bonus material, you have some but not as much as in prior seasons.
Overall, the series continues to be written very well, and the acting is top-notch. The show does a good job balancing the large ensemble cast so that all the characters (and actors) get something even though Olyphant, Goggins, and Carter do most of the heavy lifting. I think it was wise of the show to mix the plot up from the "big bad" format that the first few seasons used, and have a few separate storylines that all crossed over with each other at some point. It made the show feel fresh and not just a recycled version of the prior seasons. It is still violent and does have some sex (and as much nudity as is allowed on basic cable) and some swearing (basically everything but f-bombs). So, if that turns you off to a show you should skip it, and it is definitely not for younger kids. But, if you are a fan of well-acted crime dramas, then this is a great one, with the proviso that it is a good idea to watch the prior seasons first. The series will not be as good if you try to jump into it in the middle.
The big serial plot point for season four is a mystery that is clearly based on the real-life DB Cooper case that was never solved. In this version, a guy named Drew Thomson jumped out of a plane with a defective parachute and a bunch of drugs. Raylan, while searching his father's house, comes to learn that the official version of events may not be true, and has to try to get the truth out of Arlo. The other big arc this year is Boyd's criminal empire expanding, and Ava (played by Joelle Carter) going all-in on being bad, basically running a prostitution ring for Boyd. Her character has probably developed the most over the course of the four seasons from where she was in the pilot to what she has become, and Carter does a great job with the character. There are a couple of good cast additions this season, including the wonderful Patton Oswalt who plays "Constable Bob" who is a volunteer cop whom everyone thinks is a joke, and Ron Eldard as Colton "Colt" Rhodes who is an old friend of Boyd's.
For those who get the Blu-Ray set, the series looks and sounds great in the HD format as it has from season one. The bonus material is spread across the three discs. There are a few shorter (7-10 minutes) behind-the-scenes and character features, and a short gag reel. Then, there are a couple of longer features, one specific to the season finale that runs about 14 minutes and one on the second to the last episode of the season that runs about 40 minutes. So, if you like watching the bonus material, you have some but not as much as in prior seasons.
Overall, the series continues to be written very well, and the acting is top-notch. The show does a good job balancing the large ensemble cast so that all the characters (and actors) get something even though Olyphant, Goggins, and Carter do most of the heavy lifting. I think it was wise of the show to mix the plot up from the "big bad" format that the first few seasons used, and have a few separate storylines that all crossed over with each other at some point. It made the show feel fresh and not just a recycled version of the prior seasons. It is still violent and does have some sex (and as much nudity as is allowed on basic cable) and some swearing (basically everything but f-bombs). So, if that turns you off to a show you should skip it, and it is definitely not for younger kids. But, if you are a fan of well-acted crime dramas, then this is a great one, with the proviso that it is a good idea to watch the prior seasons first. The series will not be as good if you try to jump into it in the middle.
Study Guide Review: 3,000 Solved Problems In Chemistry (Schaum's Outlines) 1st Edition
This is a very good resource to help you get through the two semesters of a college-level General Chemistry course. It will also help in a high school chemistry course, or an intro to chemistry course. It has problems from all of the main topics you would be exposed to in one of those classes, including an intro to Organic Chemistry and Nuclear Chemistry which you tend to get toward the end of the second semester of General Chemistry if you have to take it.
Keep in mind this is a problems guide. It is not meant to be, nor is it good for, actually trying to learn the fundamental concepts. It does have some very bare-bones explanatory material, but it is not as extensive as you would see in the chapter text of a textbook or in supplements that are geared more to teaching the theory. But, this will give you examples of nearly every possible type of problem you will be exposed to either as a homework problem or on an exam or quiz. So, if you get stuck on homework you will very likely find an analogous problem in this guide that can help you out. So, you are in the unfortunate position of having a teacher you do not understand and cannot follow the explanations and examples in a textbook very easily, this is a good resource to use.
Keep in mind this is a problems guide. It is not meant to be, nor is it good for, actually trying to learn the fundamental concepts. It does have some very bare-bones explanatory material, but it is not as extensive as you would see in the chapter text of a textbook or in supplements that are geared more to teaching the theory. But, this will give you examples of nearly every possible type of problem you will be exposed to either as a homework problem or on an exam or quiz. So, if you get stuck on homework you will very likely find an analogous problem in this guide that can help you out. So, you are in the unfortunate position of having a teacher you do not understand and cannot follow the explanations and examples in a textbook very easily, this is a good resource to use.
Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Justified: Season 3 Blu-Ray
The third season of Justified continues to expand the criminal world in Harlan with Boyd basically returning to his criminal ways with the void left by the takedown of the Bennett clan, and the introduction of Ellstin Limehouse (played by Mykelti Williamson) who is basically the criminal leader of Noble's Holler, which is where (seemingly) a good chunk of the black population in the area lives, and Robert Quarles (played by the great professional character bad guy Neal McDonough) who is an Oxycontin dealer looking to get cheap oxy in Kentucky. The serial arcs really involve the old adage "there is no honor among thieves" with the bad guys basically trying to get one over on each other, and Raylan getting caught in the middle. There are also arcs about Raylan's personal life which intertwine with the other arcs. While there are definitely side stories this season, the show has pretty much abandoned any pretense of being a procedural show with stand-alone episodes. You pretty much have to watch them all in order to understand what is going on in any subsequent episode.
For those who get the Blu-Ray set, the A/V quality continues to be very good. Even though the show is not very effects-heavy, the fact that the colors and the scenery really pop in the HD format is worth getting the Blu-Ray versus DVD. The extras, which are spread across all the discs, include commentary tracks on many (but not all) episodes, deleted scenes and outtakes, a few making-of and behind-the-scenes featurettes that range from about nine minutes to about twenty minutes, and an almost half-hour-long conversation between Olyphant and Goggins. So, there is a lot there if you like the bonus material.
Overall, the series continues to be well-written and acted. I still think the smaller slate of episodes per season (13 this season) works to tell the story yet leaves the audience wanting more because they are not stretching things out to fill a 22-24 episode season. If you are a fan of the first two seasons, then you will probably be a fan of this one as well.
For those who get the Blu-Ray set, the A/V quality continues to be very good. Even though the show is not very effects-heavy, the fact that the colors and the scenery really pop in the HD format is worth getting the Blu-Ray versus DVD. The extras, which are spread across all the discs, include commentary tracks on many (but not all) episodes, deleted scenes and outtakes, a few making-of and behind-the-scenes featurettes that range from about nine minutes to about twenty minutes, and an almost half-hour-long conversation between Olyphant and Goggins. So, there is a lot there if you like the bonus material.
Overall, the series continues to be well-written and acted. I still think the smaller slate of episodes per season (13 this season) works to tell the story yet leaves the audience wanting more because they are not stretching things out to fill a 22-24 episode season. If you are a fan of the first two seasons, then you will probably be a fan of this one as well.
Workout Update: Power-90/Chalean Extreme Hybrid: Day 34
Day 34 was the second Burn it Off workout of the week. It went a little better than the first one; I did not have to pause at all in the workout, but because my back was a bit sore there were a couple of times I switched out the regular moves for running in place or the 1-2-3 Heisman from Insanity. Overall, however, it went pretty well.
Workout Update: Power-90/Chalean Extreme Hybrid: Day 33
Day 33 was the Push Circuit 3 workout. I found that the weights I used were pretty much spot-on as I could not hit the 8 rep max for all but one exercise. This is the workout in the push phase that alternates between chest and back moves and then throws in a few lower-body moves (basically some variation on lunges).
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