Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 47

Day 47 is the Full Body HIIT workout. It consists of three blocks, each with two moves.  The first block consists of single-leg lunge jumps for 60 seconds (30 seconds per leg), followed by in-and-out push-ups for 45 seconds. The second block has jump squats for 45 seconds and triple-bear for 30 seconds. The final block has double plyo push-ups (triceps and regular) for 30 seconds, followed by square squats for 15 seconds. You do three sets in each block, then you do a burnout block, doing all six exercises for 30 seconds with no breaks. So, it is a quick workout, but it is hard. It is even difficult to get through the core block because you are wiped from the "main" portion of the workout. That said, I was able to do more unmodified exercises in this workout than I have in any of the other workouts in this round of Lift 4, so I am definitely improving. 

I have one more week of Lift 4, then I will move on to Joel's follow-up program, Lift More. I have been waiting to try Lift More since it requires a bench. In my old townhouse, I did not have enough space to assemble and use my weight bench, but my new workout room does, so I will be trying Lift More for the first time.

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: American Beauty

 

American Beauty is a 1999 drama written by Sam Mendes and Alan Ball, and directed by Mendes (in his directorial debut). It starred Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Mena Suvari, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley, and Chris Cooper. The outstanding supporting cast includes Allison Janney, Peter Gallagher, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Scott Bakula, John Cho, and Amber Smith (the latter two having very brief scenes). In the film, Spacey plays Lester Burnham, a middle-aged guy in a loveless marriage and a dead-end job who goes through a midlife crisis, inspired to quit his job by his new neighbor (and his daughter's new boyfriend), Ricky (played by Bentley). Benning plays his very Type-A wife, Carolyn, and Thora Birch plays his teenage daughter, Jane. Burnham starts lusting after his daughter's friend, Angela, and Cooper plays Ricky's father, Frank. The movie is about the parts of suburban life that people keep hidden behind closed doors, and how the perfect lives people try to project to their neighbors are often not reality.

The blu-ray release is a single-disc release. It carries over some (but not all) of the bonus content from the original DVD release. The bonus features include two versions of the theatrical trailers, a storyboard presentation with commentary by Mendes and the Director of Photography, a behind-the-scenes featurette featuring interviews with the cast and crew, and a commentary track on the film by Mendes and Alan Ball. It does not include the digital screenplay, production notes, the DVD-ROM content, or cast and crew biographies that were included on the DVD. The A/V quality of the Blu-Ray is excellent, and the HD format is a definite upgrade from the DVD. 

Ultimately, the movie is wonderful. It won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It is well-written and very well-acted. Some of the story is very cringeworthy, which was the point. All of the main characters are flawed at the very least, deeply so in some cases. It is a unique movie in which even the protagonists are not all that good. It deals with issues such as homophobia, adultery, lust, drug use, abuse (and ignoring abuse), and the like. It does contain a lot of swearing, sexual content, and nudity, so it very much earns its R-rating. And of course, in the last several years, Spacey has become a persona non grata because of multiple accusations of sexual misconduct. He was absolutely the star of the movie, and his performance helped carry the film and make it what it was. However, he definitely did not carry the film all by himself, and it would not have been as good as it was without the rest of the cast and crew. So, whatever Spacey did or did not do in his personal life, you can still enjoy the movie. Ultimately, it is a great movie that deserved all the acclaim it received and is absolutely worth watching.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 46

Day 46 was shoulders and arms, which was a circuit workout. I tried to increase the weight I used on some of the exercises, but I found I had to drop set many of the exercises after the first set, especially in blocks 2 and 3. It was a challenging workout and I was not really feeling like working out today, but I got it done. 

CD/Music Review: Christina Aguilera: Aguilera

 

Aguilera, released in 2022, is the ninth studio album by Christina Aguilera. It is also her second Spanish-language album. The album features 14 tracks spanning various Latin music genres, including tango, cumbia, Latin pop, ranchera, and more. It also has a mix of more upbeat dance tracks and slower ballads. All the tracks have very distinctive Latin guitar and drum rhythms. The CD includes a fold-out poster with pictures of Aguilera. The liner contains more photos of Aguilera, lyrics, and production notes for the tracks, and a page detailing how the album came together, along with thank-yous. Ultimately, while it is more of a niche album than most of her prior releases and did not include any smash hits on the US pop chart, it is a good listen.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 45

Day 45 was the mid-week rest day, so I just did the stretching routine. That one does not have as many of the stretches that I can use to gauge my progress, but to the extent that I can figure out how I am progressing, I do think I made some slight improvements over last week.  

Book Review: Star Wars: Master of Evil

 

Master of Evil, by Adam Christopher and published in 2025, is, as of this writing, the newest Star Wars canon novel. The events in the book are set shortly after the events of Revenge of the Sith, when Vader is the little-known mysterious enforcer and right-hand of Emperor Palpatine. Despite what you may think from the title and the cover, Darth Vader is not the main character of the book. The main character is actually a member of the Royal Guard (the red-robed masked characters who guard the Emperor) named Halland Goth. When Vader seeks to track down a force-wielding shaman, who reportedly has the power to raise the dead, Goth is tasked by the Emperor to watch Vader and report back on his actions. Of course, Vader is trying to figure out how to bring Padme back to life, but Goth also has a personal interest in Vader's mission, as he is dying from a terminal illness and believes that Vader holds the key to his survival. 

The hardcover version of the book is just under 370 pages. It reads quickly, and if you are a fast reader, you can finish it in a few days (or less, depending on how much time you have to devote to reading). While Vader has a significant presence in the book, very little of it is written from his viewpoint. He is still treated like the mysterious Imperial background character, known more by reputation and rumor than by direct interaction. It would have been nice if the book had been written so we could learn more about what Vader was thinking and feeling. That said, the story does have some tie-ins to the Clone Wars, provides some more information about the Sith master-apprentice dynamic (which to me is a bit contradictory with what has come before, or at least would have made Darth Plagueis nearly impossible to kill), and does give some indication of what Vader was feeling after being encased in the suit (just not enough). Ultimately, it is a good book with a good story; it just wasn't as good as it could have been with some tweaks. I would not call it one of the must-read canon novels, but if you pick and choose which books to read, it is worth reading, but probably not worth reading multiple times.     

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 44

Day 44 was Legs. In the shred weeks, the twist to Leg day is that in the lifting portion, you do triple sets, consisting of three exercises without any breaks between them. Then, instead of the 60-45-30 format for the three HIIT moves in the cardio blocks, you do each move for thirty seconds. So, this is a cross between a circuit workout and a 50/50 workout. Either way, it is tough as hell. I do not sweat a ton in any workout (aside from taekwondo classes), and I was sweating during this one. 

Book Review: What We Saw: The Events of September 11, 2001--In Words, Pictures, and Video

 

What We Saw is a book and DVD combination about the CBS News coverage of the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks. The book mainly contains write-ups by reporters who covered the attacks or their aftermath in the days and months that followed. It also includes accounts from a few of the eyewitnesses or survivors. The DVD contains the documentary that aired on CBS around the first anniversary of the attacks. The documentary includes part of the CBS news coverage from that day, as well as reports from the evening news or 60 Minutes following the attacks, reporting on the recovery operation, clean-up, and the effect the attacks and the following days and months had on the survivors and the friends and loved ones of the people who died.

The hardcover version of the book is 140 pages long and contains many pictures, so it can be finished in an hour or so. The documentary is just under two hours long. While the book is not as emotional as some of the books written about 9/11, the documentary is very emotional, especially for those who lived through the events of the day. The book is absolutely worth reading, and the DVD is worth watching.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 43

Day 43 was the start of week 7, which is the first of two "shred weeks". Joel changes up the workout sequencing, so today was chest and back. He indicated that you can use  the same weight as you used in week 5, but I increased the amount of weight I was using for the various exercises. I did have to drop set in the second block, however, when you essentially do 20 reps of presses in a row without stopping. In block 2, you do rotating chest presses followed by decline presses. I used the increased weight for the first set, but had to drop it for sets 2 and 3. Then, there is a push-up and back extension burnout, and then you finish with core and stretching. It was a challenging workout, but good. 

CD/Music Review: Christina Aguilera: Liberation

 

Liberation, released in 2018, is Christina Aguilera's eighth studio album. The album includes 15 tracks. A few of them are very short interludes that run for a minute or less. The album's total runtime is just under 50 minutes. 

Like her prior albums, the songs on this one mix styles and genres. On the whole, the tracks tend to be slower ballads and ballad-like, rather than the more upbeat dance/club tracks (although there are some of those too). While the album did not have a bunch of hit singles, it does have many good-to-great tracks. For me, the best track on the album is "Deserve," which wasn't released as a single.

The CD liner contains pictures of Aguilera, production notes (but no lyrics) for the various tracks, and thank-you messages on the final page. Ultimately, while this album was not a massive hit like her earlier albums, it is one of her best albums, if not her best overall album. It is absolutely worth listening to, and it has several songs worthy of inclusion on a playlist. 

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 42

Day 42 was the flexibility and mobility routine from 25-Minute Speed Train. I again felt that I could get a bit farther into the stretches this week than I could last week. So, while I am not even close to where I want to be, my flexibility is getting better. 

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 41

Day 41 was a rest day, so I did both of the Lift 4 recovery workouts. I did the roll and recover workout first, then the stretching workout. I again think my range of motion and flexibility improved (a little) from last week. Hopefully, the incremental gains will add up. 

4k-UHD/Movie Review: Deep Impact

 

Deep Impact was a 1998 disaster film directed by Mimi Leder starring Robert Duvall, Elijah Wood, Leelee Sobieski, Tea Leoni, and Morgan Freeman. The supporting cast includes several recognizable actors, including Max Schell, Jon Favreau, Vanessa Redgrave, Blair Underwood, James Cromwell, Laura Innes, Dougray Scott, Mary McCormack, Ron Eldard, Richard Schiff, Charles Martin Smith, Kurtwood Smith, Aleksandr Baluev, and Mark Moses. 

The film's plot centers on a comet discovered by Wood's character, Leo Biederman, during an Astronomy club star party, which is on a collision course with Earth. The government begins preparations for stopping the comet, involving a crew of astronauts (Duvall, McCormack, Eldard, Underwood, Favreaud, and Baluev) being sent to try and blow up the comet using nuclear weapons. As a backup plan, they built a network of caves on Earth to hold a million people underground for two years, instituting a lottery system to randomly select anyone under 50 to be taken to the caves. It is partly an action movie, but mostly a blend of suspense and drama centered around the attempt to destroy the comet.

The 4k set is a two-disc set containing a UHD disc (with just the movie) and a standard Blu-Ray disc with the movie and extras. The A/V quality of the film in the UHD format is excellent. The video transfer is not reference-quality, but it is a substantial upgrade over the DVD and 1080p versions of the film. The audio track is the same 5.1 lossless track created when the film was released on Blu-Ray. The extras were all carried over from the Blu-Ray release and include a commentary track on the movie by Leder and visual effects supervisor Scott Farrar, a few short making-of and behind-the-scenes featurettes, a photo gallery, the teaser trailer, and the theatrical trailer.

The movie was the "other" disaster film from 1998, along with Armageddon, which had a very similar plot and was the bigger summer blockbuster of that year. Deep Impact was arguably the better, more scientifically accurate movie (though it did stretch things, such as the idea that Earth's surface would be livable two years after a "planet-killing" comet hit it). Ultimately, it is well-written and acted with a great mix of action, drama, and suspense (and gets quite sad at the end). It is absolutely worth watching.

Book Review: The Road to Dune

 

The Road to Dune, published in 2005, is a book that details the process of making the Dune Saga. It contains a collection of deleted and alternate chapters for the original Dune novel and Dune Messiah. The book also features a collection of letters written by and to Frank Herbert detailing the process of getting the original book published. It concludes with a collection of short stories written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, which are also included in the book Tales of Dune.

The hardcover version of the book is just under 400 pages. It reads fairly quickly, especially if you have read the other novels in the series. One of the most interesting parts of the book is the original outline of a portion of the Dune novel, titled Spice Planet, which shows part of the overall story planned out but with less character development. And, many of the characters had totally different names and backgrounds. For example, House Atreides was called House Linkam, and the Harkonnens were called Hoskanner. It also has some elements that were removed from the final version of the book.

Ultimately, I would describe this as an interesting read, but not necessarily a must-read. If you have read the entire saga, then it gets close to must-read territory, as it provides a look into what was changed in the published novels from the original concept and a bit about the process of finding and collecting all the source material that would result in prequel novels and two concluding novels being written.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 40

Day 40 was legs HIIT. It was another tough one in which you do three blocks of single-leg lunge jumps for sixty seconds, triple bear for forty-five seconds, soccer sprints for thirty seconds, and jump squats for fifteen seconds. Then, you do two burnout blocks, performing every exercise for thirty seconds with no breaks. Then, the core block has you doing side planks. So, the only easy thing about the workout is the warm-up and cooldown. 

Product Review: Green Gobbler Ultimate Main Drain Opener

 

This is an excellent drain opener that can be used in toilets (which will get it into the main line), garbage disposals, or bathroom sinks. I had a very clogged sink in my upstairs bathroom that other drain openers couldn't unclog, but a couple of days after pouring this down the drain, it drained as quickly as the other sinks. Ultimately, while it is a bit pricier, it absolutely works. If you have one or more drains in your house that drain slowly, this is definitely worth trying before you call a plumber.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 39

Day 39 was the shoulder workout, which was the interval format. So, it has three blocks consisting of two weighted exercises and one HIIT exercise. The HIIT is not too bad, but there are 180 squat jumps in block 3. I did have to drop set on the front and lateral raises in the second and third block, but for all the other exercises, I was able to maintain the higher weight from last week.  I was also able to do more unmodified HIIT exercises for a longer period of time. I did not have to modify high-knee runs or speed skaters at all, but I did have to jump back into the modifications for the 180 squat jumps. Then, I had to modify the core exercises. 

Product Review: CCidea DVD Storage Bags

 

This set of three storage bags is designed to hold physical media such as DVDs, Blu-rays, or video games. They are very sturdy and can hold around 40 individual disc packages, give or take. Unlike some storage bags, they do not have dividers throughout the interior (just a single open space), so you can fit more in them. Once they are closed, they prevent dust and protect against spills. They are not padded, however, so you do not want to bang them around or drop them. They are wide enough to hold most box sets; however, there are some longer boxes (such as the original Friends Blu-Ray release or the Star Trek Motion Picture special edition release) that are too wide for this to hold unless you turn them lengthwise, in which case you will not be able to get many discs in them. 

I have a huge physical media collection and got several of these to package them for a move this past summer. They work wonderfully and work much better than packing discs in boxes, which can get very heavy. I absolutely recommend them.

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

 

The 38-episode second season of Bewitched aired during the 1965/1966 TV season. All of the main cast members (Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, Agnes Moorehead, David White, Alice Pierce, and George Tobias) returned for season two; however, Alice Pierce's role was reduced throughout the season as she was sick with cancer and passed away before the season finished filming. Mary Grace Canfield was cast as Abner's sister, Harriet, who was house-sitting while Abner and Gladys were out of town, and filled a similar role to Pierce's nosy neighbor who sees Samantha using magic. The guest cast included several notable guest stars. Paul Lynd returned in a completely different role from his first-season role, now playing Samantha's uncle, Arthur. Bernard Fox and Alice Ghostley made their first appearances in the series in roles different from the ones they would play as recurring characters in later seasons. Other guest stars included James Doohan (who would go on to play Mr. Scott in Star Trek), Maureen McCormick (who would later play Marcia Brady on The Brady Bunch), Eve Arden, and Richard Dreyfuss. Marion Lane and Maurice Evans reprised their roles as Aunt Clara and Maurice, respectively.

As of this writing, the Blu-Rays are only available in the complete series release. The individual seasons are available on DVD. In the Blu-Ray set, the second season episodes are spread across three discs. They are all in black-and-white as originally filmed and aired. The only bonus material on the second-season discs is commentary tracks for a couple of episodes, created for the Blu-Ray release. It has been released on DVD a few times, including one version with the episodes in color and another with them in black and white.

The series continues to be a story-of-the-week sitcom, but every so often, the writers do reference earlier plotlines. There is one major ongoing serial arc this season: Samantha's pregnancy and the birth of Tabitha. This was done to write Elizabeth Montgomery's real-life pregnancy into the show. A couple of the episodes this season were repeats of season one episodes (the Christmas Episode and the episode in which Samantha meets Darrin's parents), with the opening scenes reshot, but the bulk of the episodes playing as they aired in season one. This may have been done to give Montgomery time off toward the end of her pregnancy. The episodes are mostly good, but some of the material is very dated (and outdated now). As is the case with many older sitcoms, some of the jokes would never be used today, but overall, it is a very family-friendly sitcom. Ultimately, it is a good season that is worth watching, especially if you watched it when it originally aired or watched the reruns as a kid.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 38

Day 38 was the mid-week rest day, so I did the stretching routine from Lift 4. It went well, and again, I can tell my flexibility and overall range of motion are getting better. I am getting deeper into the stretches, especially the hamstring and hip stretches.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 37

Day 37 was the back and biceps workout, which is a 50/50 workout this week. The lifting portion of the workout was not too bad--three blocks, each consisting of a back exercise and a biceps exercise. The HIIT portion was brutal, however, mainly because your heart rate is elevated during the lifting portion, due to the extremely short breaks between exercises and sets. The sixty-second exercise was catchers jumps, the forty-five-second exercise was wide mountain climbers, and the thirty-second exercise was 180 squat jumps. Then you finish with core and stretching. I was able to use the heavier weights for the lifting portion and did not have to drop set. And, during the HIIT portion I was able to do each exercise unmodified for part of the time, but I did have to take a couple unscheduled breaks to catch my breath.

Product Review: Fresh Wave Orange Odor Removing Gel

 

This is a two-pack of odor-removing gel. It is perfect for use in spaces such as kitchens or bathrooms. The smaller, more enclosed space it's in, the stronger the scent it gives off and the longer it lasts. I have one in my kitchen, which is open to the living room and partially open to the dining room, and one in my workout room downstairs, which is basically a second living room. I have been using them for about 3 months (as of this writing). The one downstairs is about 2/3 full, and the one in the kitchen is about 3/4 empty.

These have a pleasant, non-overpowering citrus scent, at least if you have them in a relatively open space. They are a bit more expensive than some similar products, but they last much longer. Ultimately, they are worth the price and if you like citrus-scented air fresheners.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 36

Day 36 was the start of week 6, which meant the chest and triceps workout. This week, it is a circuit workout with two main blocks of work that alternate two chest exercises with two triceps exercises, then there is a burnout block that alternates wide push-ups with triceps push-ups. 

This is a tough workout. I started each block using the increased weight from last week, but I had to drop set on a couple of the exercises (the skull crushers and single side crushers). Thankfully, the core component did not include planks, so you can just lie on your back for the last three minutes. 

CD/Music Review: 10,000 Maniacs: Hope Chest

 

Hope Chest, released in 1990, is a remix album by the group 10,000 Maniacs that compiles and remixes the tracks from their early albums, Human Conflict Number Five and Secrets of the I Ching. Natalie Merchant, who is probably the group's most popular member, sings lead vocals on most of the tracks, but John Lombardo sings lead on the track "Anthem for Doomed Youth."

The album comprises 14 tracks, totaling just over 46 minutes in run time. The tracks are okay if you are into 1980s alternative rock (which is much different than what alternative rock would become in the 1990s), but none are as good as the group's biggest hits, like "Because the Night," which were popular as the group drifted a bit more toward mainstream pop and became more polished. The CD liner includes a couple of pages detailing the band's history, pictures, and lyrics and production notes for the tracks. Ultimately, it is not one that I would call a must-listen, but if you are a fan of the group, it is worth checking out.

Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 35

Day 35 was a rest day, so I did the flexibility and mobility workout from 25-Minute Speed Train. Again, I felt that my flexibility and range of motion have definitely improved since last week. Not by leaps and bounds, but incrementally. I still have a ways to go to get to where I want to be, but every improvement is good.