Day 47 of CE was the Push 3 workout. This one is mostly chest and back with a couple of squat variations to provide the lower-body exercises. I was able to hit 30lbs on the chest exercises and between 22.5 lbs to 25 lbs in the various rows. I was able to hit the 8 rep max on a couple of exercises, but in the third week of the Push phase, most of my weights were right on to hit 6-7 reps.
Here you will find things about fitness and nutrition, mainly (but not exclusively) in relation to the Beachbody programs like P90x and Insanity. And, I will start adding reviews for Books, DVDs and Blu-Rays, and other products. All views and opinions on this blog are my own.
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. 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.
Friday, April 22, 2022
Thursday, April 21, 2022
Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 46
Day 46 of CE was Burn Intervals. I had to do this one in the evening because of my work schedule. I generally prefer to do it in the morning, on an empty stomach, but that was not to be today. So, I felt a bit off doing the workout, but I managed to make it through and pushed as hard as I could.
Product Review: Roku Streambar
The sound is good, but not overwhelming. You can get the Roku wireless speakers and/or subwoofer that can connect to this wirelessly and get a better surround sound experience. The only real issue I have had is that when I switch to the Blu-Ray input, the soundbar will turn on the player, and then the inputs will jump between the one the Blu-Ray player is plugged into and the one the soundbar is plugged into, and keep jumping between the disc player and the Roku screen. Turning the TV off and back on stops it, but it is irritating. It is definitely an upgrade over the sound that comes out of the TV speakers, but it is not as good as an expensive home-theater setup with a 7.1 Dolby Atmos setup, but it is also a fraction of the cost even if you shell out for the wireless speakers and subwoofer.
Textbook Review: Calculus - Multivariable: Student Solution Manual
The problem with this thing is that it only has solutions for some of the odd problems, and it does have some errors in it. And because it is a solution manual, it just shows the steps (although it does not always show every step, and sometimes omits crucial steps) and does not provide any explanation for why you have to do things a certain way. So, if you do not understand why the problems are being solved the way they are, you will still be lost. But, it will give you some worked-out examples to go off of which is better than nothing.
DVD/TV Series Review: Community Season Two
For those who get the DVD set, the extras include commentary tracks on every episode which included the series creator Dan Harmon and members of the cast, directors, writers, etc. Then there were outtakes, deleted scenes, a featurette on the paintball episode, a couple of features on the Christmas episode, season two cast evaluations, and a musical remix of season one. So, a good amount of material for those who like the bonus features.
Overall, the show continues to be great. My only real complaint is that there was John Oliver's role in the show was still very small. He was a great recurring character that was used pretty sparingly (likely because of his Daily Show commitments). The main recurring characters this season were Jim Rash who played Dean Pelton, Malcolm Hamal Warner, Betty White, Andy Dick, and Kevin Corrigan. It also had a great spate of guest stars including LeVar Burton, Drew Carey, Rob Corddry, Hillary Duff, Anthony Michael Hall, Josh Holloway, Patton Oswalt, Stephen Tobolowsky, Paul F. Tompkins, and Matt Walsh. It was a great season for a show that, while it did carry on a lot of sitcom traditions, it was definitely not a carbon copy of anything else on TV, and rarely passed up an opportunity to make fun of itself. I definitely recommend it.
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Textbook Review: Calculus Multivariable
So, if you have to use this book for class, look at it as a problems repository and if you have a good teacher, then just pay attention to the lectures. If you are looking for a book to teach yourself the material, run in the opposite direction far away from this one. If you need additional study aids, there are some good ones out there including the Calculus 3 Tutor DVDs, REA's Calculus III Essentials, the Schaum's outlines, etc. Any of those will provide much-needed context and guidance for how to solve the problems that this will not give you. Or, you can just look for things on YouTube and find a lot there, some of it better than others.
I do get the idea that the hand-holding and spoon-feeding should get reduced the farther you get into the curriculum. However, multivariable calculus is the most difficult class of the entire calculus sequence (even most professors admit that) so to write a book that basically just shows that you know how to work out the proofs is really not helpful to a student trying to learn the subject. So, I suggest avoiding this book at all costs if you can possibly do so. If you do have to use it, find a good study aid, ask lots of questions in class, and try to form a study group. I did all of those and managed to get an A in Calc III, but I gave up trying to read this to learn the material about three weeks into the semester.
Product Review: Slendertone Ab Belt Gel Pads
DVD/Movie Review: The Dreamers
The film definitely earns an NC-17 rating, as there is a lot of nudity, much of it by Green, and leaves almost nothing to the imagination. It definitely has the feel of a low-budget independent film that is really not "about" any one particular topic. While it does make a lot of references to a lot of movies of the era in which it was set (and older), it is mostly to show off the young cast in various states of undress. Of course, Green is stunningly gorgeous and has never been shy about getting naked on film, and this, really her first big break in movies, is no exception.
For those who get the DVD, the extras include a commentary track on the film by the director, writer, and producer, a making-of documentary, a featurette on the 1968 political climate in France, a music video, and the trailer. A good amount of bonus material, especially for a non-blockbuster movie.
Overall, the movie is not going to appeal to everyone. Some people will get it just to see Eva Green nude, and will not care about the plot (or lack thereof), others will totally hate the plot regardless of the nudity, and others will hate the nudity and sexual content regardless of how much they would otherwise like the plot. If you are a fan of independent films that are kind of period pieces, then you may like this. If you are simply a fan of Eva Green, you will love this, and if you are one that gets turned off by nudity and strong sexual content, you should avoid this like the plague.
Product Review: Omega Paw Self-Cleaning Litter Box
One thing that I will say for this is that, if you have a larger cat, like a Maine Coon cat, this is a great option because there is little chance that the cat will miss the box because of hanging over the edge. Plus, it gives the cat some privacy. So, while it is not really self-cleaning, it is a decent option if you do not want to spend the money for a real self-cleaning litter box.
Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 45
Day 45 of CE was the Push Circuit 2 workout. It was a challenging workout today, but it went well. I maxed out on a few moves, but there were a lot of exercises that I could only get to seven reps. This is probably the hardest of the push workouts because it is all shoulders, including working the back of the shoulders which are small muscles and easy to fatigue.
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 44
Day 44 of CE was Recharge and ab-burner. I like having the two "rest" days in the program that I can use for a non-impact workout that gets me moving (and working on flexibility, which I need) but allows me to recover, especially if I have not slept well the night before. At the halfway point of this round of CE I am definitely finding myself to be stronger but I do like having the three ab workouts per week in P90x. Other than that, I generally prefer CE over P90X.
Product Review: Shredcare Paper Shredder Lubricant Sheets
Blu-Ray/Movie Review: The Count of Monte Cristo
Of course, making a movie from a classic novel is always tricky, but because the book is so long, a lot had to be cut out to make the run time of the movie. Most of what was cut came from the middle of the book from the period of Dante's imprisonment. The focus of the movie is really his revenge against Mondego. The pacing of the movie was actually very good, and if more from the book would have been put in, the movie probably would have slowed down too much. So, the screenplay ended up being a very good adaptation, and the acting all around was excellent.
For those who get the Blu-Ray, the A/V quality is very good. There are some great location shots of Malta, where the vast majority of the movie was shot, that really look great in HD. The extras include a thirty-five-minute making-of documentary that is split into fourth parts. There are about twenty-three minutes of deleted scenes, a feature on the climactic fight at the end of the movie, a feature on the sound design of the scene where Edmond escapes from the prison, and a commentary track on the movie with the director. So, a good amount of material for those who like watching the bonus features.
Overall, the movie is very good. As I said before, a lot had to be cut from the book in adapting it to a two-hour movie. So, people who are die-hard fans of the book may not like the fact that so much was cut out, but as someone who has read the book, I did not find there was anything that was cut that I really missed from the movie. There are also some who may not want to watch the movie because of the political views of the lead actor, Jim Caviezel, who has turned out to be a right-wing Q nutjob. While I do not agree with anything he has said over the past handful of years, he is hardly the only one that made this movie work and was not the only one who gave a great performance. So, if you can compartmentalize any feelings you have about the person and just watch the movie, it is worth it.
DVD/TV Series Review: The Incredible Hulk Season Three
For those who get the DVD, the big extra is a 17-minute retrospective on the show that features interviews with a couple of the writers and series creator Kenneth Johnson, who discuss making the show, working with Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno, and the challenges they faced when making the show. If you are a fan of the show it is very interesting. There are no commentary tracks like there were in the first and second-season DVD releases.
Overall, as I said, the season is uneven. The episodes are mostly good, but the bad ones are really bad. I think most of the attempts to inject humor via the Hulk fell pretty flat, and the sound effects they inserted sometimes were just cheesy. The good episodes hold up now even forty-plus years later, but the bad ones seem to be the kinds of things that could have only been made at that time. But, it will always be nostalgic for those of us who are old enough to remember the show being on TV, either during its original run, or who, like me mostly saw it in re-runs.
DVD/TV Series Review: Castle Season Three
For those who get the DVD set, the extras include a blooper reel, a few behind-the-scenes featurettes, and commentary tracks on select episodes. The A/V quality is pretty much what you would expect for a non-special effects-laden show. There was no Blu-Ray release.
Overall, the show continues to be well-written and well-acted. The cast has great chemistry, and if the animosity that Fillion and Katic reportedly had by the end of the series' run had started, it was not apparent during the third season. The show is a good mix of drama, some action, and comedy. Castle's bulletproof vest with "Writer" on the back always manages to get at least a chuckle. If you liked the first couple of seasons then you will probably like this one as it moves the series forward and continues to develop the characters well. I definitely recommend it.
Monday, April 18, 2022
Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 43
Day 43 of CE was Push Circuit 1. I was able to max out on a couple of the exercises, but for most of them, I was hitting 6-7 reps. I was able to do one more push-up on my toes on the set of push-ups at the very end of the workout. I don't really feel bad about struggling because Toni, the woman in many of Chalene's videos has a ton of kids (she had seven at the time CE was filmed and is now up to 9 or 10), yet still looks like a fitness model had to do a bunch of them on her knees too. If you are really pushing yourself and lifting heavy, your arms will be like jelly by the end of that workout, and doing the push-ups at the end are very hard even though none of the prior moves work your chest at all.
DVD/Study Aid Review: Calculus 1: Extra Practice With Derivatives
Like in his other tutorials, Jason solves the problems step-by-step, not only explaining what he is doing as he goes but also recapping the problems after he has worked them out. His presentation is not flashy. It is just him in front of a whiteboard working through examples. He does a great job of breaking down the problems and explaining the process to solve them. Of course, since it is a recorded tutorial, you cannot interact with him and ask questions, so you do have to be aware of what your style of learning is, and if this would fit. But, if you are a visual learner and can learn on your own to some extent, this is a great resource and will help anyone trying to learn calculus, whether you are taking a class, are going to be taking a class, or just trying to learn it on your own.
Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Career Opportunities
For those who get the Blu-Ray, the A/V quality is good, but not great. It is a slight step up from the quality of the DVD release, but it definitely did not get a great remaster. The extras are fairly sparse. The main one is a commentary track on the movie by a film critic, and some trailers for the movie as well as other Kino Lorber releases.
Overall, the movie is fun, but kind of dumb. Connelly was just at the point of her career where she was about to become a bigger star, having transitioned from child actor to more adult roles in this movie and The Hot Spot. This was pretty much the last movie she made in which she would be there mostly for eye candy, which the cover of the Blu-Ray pretty much establishes that she was. In fact, I saw an interview with Whaley years later in which he said that they never actually took that picture, but that it was photoshopped for the movie poster to capitalize on her sex appeal. For many of us who were teenagers back in the early 90s, it worked because Connelly in a tight tank top was definitely the main attraction. But, Whaley did a good job as a wisecracking Ferris-lite type character. The plot was totally unrealistic if, for no other reason, there is no way a single janitor is the only employee in the store overnight, and could never really figure out exactly what kind of movie it wanted to be. But, if you turn off your brain and don't over-analyze it, the movie is pretty fun and a nostalgic blast from the past.
Sunday, April 17, 2022
Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 42
Day 43 of CE was the recharge workout and ab-burner. I am still in the process of getting over some kind of cold, so this was a much-needed rest/break while still getting a workout in. Nothing much to report from it aside from the fact that it gave me a nice rest.
Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Chuck Season Four
The fourth season of Chuck continues to reinvent the show through the large story arc, this time involving Chuck's mom, while still managing to continue the things (mainly the humor and the romance between Chuck and Sarah) that have made the show work. Morgan, having learned of Chuck's secret becomes a manager at the Buy More, and has to keep things running, which includes keeping the other Buy More employees out of the loop and out of the CIA's way. There is also a running gag with a rotating Buy More employee named Greta who is played throughout the season by Olivia Munn, Isaiah Mustafa, Stacy Keibler, and Summer Glau.
The show continues much in the same vein as it has the first few seasons. It is partly a case-of-the-week procedural show with a larger serial arc that spans through the season. It has a great mix of action and comedy, with some drama mixed in as well. There are a ton of pop culture references, and many great Guest Stars including Lauren Cohan, Robin Givens, Linda Hamilton, Ray Wise, Nicole Richie, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Dave Bautista, Lou Ferrigno, Timothy Daulton, Dolph Lundgren, and Eric Roberts.
For those who get the Blu-Ray, the A/V quality is great, as it has been with the prior releases. The extras include a video commentary track on the episode Chuck vs. The First Fight, a series of short webisodes featuring Lester and Jeff, an in-character interview with Joshua Gomez, and a feature on the episode that Zachary Levi directed during the season.
Overall, the show continues to be well written and very well acted. It was again on the brink of cancellation but still managed to get a full 24-episode season. If you have been a fan of the prior seasons then you will almost certainly like this one as it continues the formula that earned the show the cult following that it had without getting stale.
DVD/TV Series Review: Castle Seasons One and Two
The first season is a short one (just ten episodes) and really is focused on character development and establishing the "will they, won't they" get together storyline for Castle and Beckett. It is mostly a crime-of-the-week procedural show but does have larger story arcs that play out throughout the season, the biggest one being the mystery around the death of Beckett's mother. Season two continues those themes and, of course, throws the usual roadblocks in the main character's relationship. It ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger with the partnership at a crossroads. In the second season, the show started getting more established guest stars including Alyssa Milano, and Dana Delaney.
For those who get the DVD sets, in both seasons, the extras include a gag reel, behind-the-scenes features, and deleted scenes. In the season one set, there are commentary tracks on selected episodes, and a feature with the producer Stephen J. Cannell, who was the creator of many 1980s TV series. So, a good amount for people who like watching the bonus content.
Overall, the show is very good. It is well written and acted, and even though it can be a bit predictable at times, and does have some of the canned themes that all romantic dramas have, it does not feel cookie cutter. The cast has great chemistry, which is interesting because, as some may know Katic and Fillion reportedly hated each other in real life by the end of the series run. If there was any animosity between them in the first couple of seasons you definitely could not tell. So, if you are looking for a show that has a good blend of drama, comedy, and mystery, this is a good option.
Saturday, April 16, 2022
Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 41
Day 41 was the Burn it Off workout. Overall, the workout went well. I was a bit tired during it, but once I got into it and warmed up, it progressed fine. There are really not any moves in the workout I absolutely hate, aside from the burpees, but everything flows well and it is short enough that just by the time you get sick of it, it is over.
DVD Review: Burn Notice Season Four
Season four of Burn Notice picks up almost immediately after the events at the end of season three, with Michael still in prison, having been framed for the crimes committed by Simon Escher. He is given a deal, basically that he can be let out of jail if he starts working for the organization that burned him. He reluctantly agrees and is assigned a handler named Vaughn, played by Robert Wisdom. As you can imagine, the relationship does not stay on good terms, and by the end of the season Michael (and everyone around him) is in danger yet again. This season sees a new addition to the cast with Coby Bell being brought on as Jessee Porter, another counter-intelligence agent who is burned. The big story arc of the season involves a NOC list, naming members of the organization, and the team trying to get possession of the list. The season ends on yet another cliffhanger (not with the life of a character hanging in the balance) teasing yet another new direction. There are several recognizable guest stars this season including Richard Kind, Tim Mattheson, John Doman, and Dylan Baker.
For those who get the DVD set, the extras include a commentary track on the season premiere, deleted scenes, a gag reel, a feature on the stunts, and a feature in which the casts of Burn Notice and White Collar roast the other show, a feature on the stunts of the show, and a feature called Sam Axe's Guide to Ladies and Libations, which is basically a fun bit with Bruce Campbell.
Overall, the series continues to be well-written and acted. You still have to suspend your disbelief, but not so much that anything comes across as just plain stupid. It has a good mix of action, comedy, and drama, and the cast has very good chemistry. So, if you have liked the prior seasons of the show you will probably enjoy this one as well.
Blu Ray/Movie Review: Armageddon
There is a strong cast including Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Michael Clarke Duncan, Steve Buscemi, Billy Bob Thornton, Owen Wilson, Will Patton, Jason Issacs, and William Fichtner. The members of the drilling team are pretty much lovable losers, and the astronauts are hard-nosed by the books types that don't want them there. Of course, the inevitable conflict between the team members as well as the threat of the asteroid intensifies throughout the movie.
For those who get the Blu-Ray, the movie looks and sounds great in HD. The extras are sparse, however. The trailers and the video for Aerosmith's song "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", which was probably as popular as the movie itself. The video quality is upgraded from the Criterion Collection release, but the extras are a big downgrade.
Overall, the movie is what you would expect from a Michael Bay summer blockbuster. Lots of action and heroics, but nothing that you would expect to have a deep conversation about. The acting in this is much better than some of the Transformers movies (especially the various sequels), which helps offset the completely stupid plot. The romance story between Affleck and Tyler's characters was not really needed but was okay in the grand scheme of things. So, if you are looking for an action movie that you can kind of just turn your brain off and enjoy, this is a good one.
Friday, April 15, 2022
Workout Update: Chalean Extreme Day 40
Day 40 of CE was the Push Circuit 3 workout. This one is mostly chest and back focused and then a few lower-body exercises. I definitely like all of the Push workouts more than I liked the Burn workouts, mainly because I can really appreciate my strength gains this month. And, I love that the workouts are a lot shorter than the P90X workouts, although I like the variety of the P90X workouts more than the variety of these workouts.