Kidde Nighthawk Gas and CO Detector

Background
Back in 2001, my wife complained to me that she smelled gas, and advised me that she was concerned that we might have a gas leak. Not being much of a "nervous nelly," I went into the laundry room, where our heater is located, and attempted to determine if I could smell any gas. I couldn't smell anything unusual, and reassured my wife that everything was okay. My response did not satisfy her. It was late in the evening, but she doggedly kept after me about the gas. I finally told her she could go buy a detector, if she was that sure that we had a gas leak. I felt like the Carbon Monoxide detector we had was adequate protection. I would soon find out how wrong I was. My wife went to several stores, finally purchasing a Kidde Nighthawk Multi- Hazard carbon monoxide/explosive gas alarm. She purchased this unit from Menard's home improvement store for $54.00.

Set-up
Setting up this alarm was a breeze. However, the instruction booklet has about a dozen pages worth of information regarding this alarm. I looked over the important stuff, inserted the battery back-up, and plugged the unit into a wall socket that is near the ceiling. This unit is very simple to operate, and includes detectors for propane as well as natural gas. If you have a propane heater, you should place this unit near the floor for best results. Because I use natural gas, I plugged the unit into a high outlet, as the instruction indicated. After testing the unit, and observing the easy-to-read digital display, we went to bed.

A Rude Awakening
Around one o'clock in the morning, I was rudely awakened by the shrieking beep, beep, beep, beep of the alarm. I looked up at the alarm and observed the Carbon Monoxide readout shooting skyward. When the alarm detects gas, the word "GAS" will display in the monitor. If the unit detects carbon monoxide, it will display the PPM (Parts Per Million) of carbon monoxide detected. According to the book, the lower threshold of PPM is around 30. OSHA recommends no more than 8 hours exposure to 50 PPM. The display on my unit was moving upward past 70 as I jumped out of bed. I noticed that the heater was running. My wife and I agreed that we should immediately shut off the heater, which she did. She also opened the front door of the house, allowing an exchange of fresh air. I watched the monitor on this unit, as it slowly dropped back to a moderate range. It finally dropped below 50 PPM, and I felt that it was safe to reset the unit, and remain in the house. It was a cold night, with plenty of blankets, but the exchange of fresh air was reassuring.

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Bissell Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner

I purchased the Bissell 6596 Bagless Upright Vacuum last earlier this year at Walmart. This vacuum was "rollback" priced in the sixty dollar range. I liked the appearance of this vacuum when I was window shopping at the store, and liked the fact that it is a bagless model.

I have a medium sized (Golden Retriever/Husky mix) dog that has a triple coat. Her hair gets everywhere, especially in the carpet. I love dogs, but I can't stand having dog hair everywhere...especially on my clothing. So finding a vacuum that had adequate suction to remove matted in dog hair from the carpet was essential.

When I brought this unit to the house and began vacuuming, I noticed rather quickly that the canister needed to be changed. This means two things...first, the canister doesn't hold a lot...second, this vacuum doesn't miss much. I emptied the canister and proceeded to finishing my task. I emptied the canister two or three times during the process of vacuuming the entire house. That was due, in part, to the fact that I hadn't vacuumed recently and my dog was shedding.

I am impressed with the suction ability of this vacuum and the clean feeling I get after the floors have been thoroughly inhaled by this mean machine. However, one thing I began to notice is that the suction will start to decline as you vacuum. After inspecting the unit closely, I realized that there is a filter above the "easy empty dirt container." As you vacuum (especially dog hair), the filter will suck some of the debris into the upper chamber. The filter can be removed with a simple twist allowing for the additional debris to be removed (which makes the filter breath better). There is another filter directly below the dirt catcher, and a Heppa filter below that attached directly to the front of the unit. With all of these filters, it is no wonder the room feels a lot cleaner with this product. All of the filter are easy to clean.

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Spinmaster Air Hogs Havoc Helis

The Dictionary defines Havoc as destruction. That might be a fitting definition. These helicopters are very difficult to control, and will either fly into anything they get near, or spin out of control, damaging themselves.

Here's the skinny...there is a process called trimming, which allows the user to adjust the sensitivity of the helicopter to keep it from spinning in circles. This is a delicate process that requires a bit of patience. Additionally, it seems that these helicopters get "out of trim" rather easily. The difficulty in operating these helicopters make it very frustrating, and probably beyond the capabilities of most children. Unless I received a damaged set, I would suggest that it requires an adult to trim these units, and very close supervision to keep them flying right.

The package comes with two helicopters and two controllers, as well as a few extra rotors, and a foil like substance for the nose, to assist in keeping the helicopters level. The controls are very simple, there is a switch on the left that moves away/toward the user that controls lift, there is a switch that moves left/right that controls direction, and there is a button to trim the helicopter. There is also a port used to charge the helicopters. One charge will last between five and ten minutes. These helicopters are for use indoors. This further exacerbates the trimming process. When you "take off" you have to have the switch pushed all the way forward, the heli starts lifting slowly, then darts upward quickly. It takes some getting used to, in order to avoid hitting the ceiling. As you release the switch, you can move to a hover mode. However, when the heli is not in trim, it will begin spinning around violently and unpredictably, striking anything it it's path. This causes additional problems, because the unit has a very flimsy tail stabilizer, which gets out of whack very easily. Once the tail is bent, it is very difficult to get it to work correctly.

Here is my overall experience. I spent eighty dollars at Amazon.com, which was a deal. They are running around $130.00 at most on-line sites. There were two helis in the box, one red, one blue. I trimmed the red heli out without much difficulty. The blue one never worked correctly. Because I was never able to trim the blue heli out, I never actually had the opportunity to "battle" with the lasers. In theory, once the helis are properly trimmed, you chase each other around, trying to fire a laser (which is located in the nose/cockpit area of the heli) at the other heli. If you hit the other heli, it will be temporarily disabled, and will crash. Yet another reason for the delicate parts to bend. The unit itself is primarily foam, and holds up well when you crash. However, the blades spin very fast, and might hurt if they hit you right, which isn't unlikely given the unpredictability of these helis.

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Isotonic Memory Foam Pillow

After a long day at work, the last thing I need is to lay in the bed and drop my head on the pillow, only to have the sides blow up like two balloons, engulfing my ears and leaving my head laying flat on the mattress. After purchasing my Isotonic Memory Foam Pillow, those days are gone. Okay, not all pillows are as bad as the ones I just described, but I have a propensity for buying the two for five dollar pillows at Wal-Mart. And what I just described is exactly what you get when you spend a couple of dollars on a pillow.

Being more than a couple decades removed from my teen years, sleep has become more important to me. When you consider that one third of your life is spent in the bed, I guess it changes your perspective on how much money you spend on that experience. As the bones start creaking and the muscles start revolting with regularity, night time comfort and a good night sleep gains importance. So, I bought a new mattress (A Sterling and Thomas Kingsbridge memory foam/coil combination)...and decided that it might be time to make an equally wise investment in a pillow. I visited several places, and ended up in Bed, Bath and Beyond (without my coupon), and took a deep breath as I prepared for sticker shock.

Pillows come in a lot of shapes and sizes. I didn't realize there were so many varieties until I started looking for a GOOD one. The five dollar pillows are all alike, cheap material, two ounces of fiber fill that compact into a ball the first night, and hot after two minutes of sleeping on them. I don't like down pillows, and was ready for a change from fiber fill pillows. When I started to realize that memory foam pillows can easily run a hundred dollars, I almost changed my mind. Then I noticed the Isotonic Memory Foam Pillow ON SALE! This pillow normally runs $59.99 at Bed, Bath and Beyond. I bought it for just over thirty dollars...almost half off. I didn't even feel bad about forgetting my coupon.

Compared to the pillows I'm used to laying my head on, this pillow is fairly heavy, and dense. I liked it almost immediately. It was a little bit weird, because I'm used to balling my pillow in half to sleep on it. I'm not sure you could even ball this pillow in half, but it wouldn't be comfortable if you did. When I laid my head on the pillow, the pillow gave slightly and then cradled my head. I felt like a swaddled baby. The dense foam gives enough so you don't feel like you are sleeping on a brick, but is solid enough that your ears aren't covered...that's always a bad sign in a pillow. Another benefit of this pillow is that it remains a lot cooler. The foam must allow for a greater exchange of air. I still turn the pillow over in the middle of the night...something about that cool side of the pillow....mmmmmm. But the pillow maintains a tolerable temperature even if you don't turn it.

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West Bend Coffee Maker and Espresso Machine

I previously owned a Kitchen Selectives, extremely low-end coffee pot. I bought it for ten dollars at Wal-Mart until I could get something a little bit better. The Kitchen Selectives hot pad stopped keeping the coffee warm, so I decided it was time to look for another coffee maker. When I went back to Wal-Mart, I intended to purchase a normal coffee maker, preferably with a timer. While looking through the products available at Wal-Mart, I noticed the West Bend Coffee/Cappuccino maker, which was on sale for $45.00. After weighing my options, I decided to take a risk and purchase a brand I was unfamiliar with in order to get the inexpensive cappuccino feature.

I have owned this model for about three months. I have only made a couple of pots of coffee with this machine. It takes the cone-shaped filters, so the first time I was ready to make a pot of coffee, I realized I had the wrong filters. I have read some other reviews that indicate the hot pad on the West Bend coffee maker has a tendency to stop keeping the coffee warm. I do not leave my coffee pot on all day, usually consuming a couple of cups in the morning and carrying the rest with me to work. However, based on my last purchase, it would not surprise me if this hot pad also has issues. As of yet, I have not had a problem with the hot pad. I have also read that some other customers have had problems with spillage while pouring...I have not experienced that with the coffee pot, but have had a little spillage with the cappuccino. I solved that by removing the lid while I pour.

I make cappuccino every morning. I have made over a hundred small pots of espresso/cappuccino since I have owned this machine and haven't had a problem yet with the cappuccino maker. I normally make two runs of Cappuccino each morning, using the same grounds for both runs. The first run is obviously a little stronger. I pour my half-and-half into my coffee mug while the cappuccino is brewing, and steam it as the machine reaches it's peak. The window of opportunity for steaming your milk is very limited with this machine. If you miss it, forget about hot milk...just put it in the microwave to heat it up for the cappuccino. The cappuccino is stronger than regular coffee, which I have grown accustomed to now. I don't know if I could go back if I had to.

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Dunkin Donuts Coffee

I have been a fan of Dunkin Donuts since childhood. I remember my grandfather bringing me dunkin munchins more than thirty years ago. The coffee he served at his house was probably Maxwell House back then. When I started drinking coffee regularly, dunkin donuts coffee was available for purchase at Dunkin Donuts shops.

Several months ago, I purchased a two and a half pound bag of Dunkin Donuts coffee at Sam's Club. I was surprised to see it for sale, in bulk at that. I have purchased Starbucks coffee at Sam's before, in a similar sized bag. The cost of Starbucks is slightly higher than Dunkin Donuts, but not by much. So really, picking between the two is more a matter of choice. I like both coffees, and decided to give the Dunkin Donuts a try. The Dunkin Donuts coffee was as good as I remembered.

Dunkin Donuts coffee has a full flavor, but is not quite as earthy as the Starbucks roasts. I hate to consider Starbucks as the gold standard considering Dunkin Donuts has been around longer. However, Starbucks has been marketing their beans aggressively...something Dunkin Donuts has only recently begun doing. Dunkin Donuts would compare to a mild roast from Starbucks, like the Breakfast Blend.

I received another shock last week, when walking through my local grocery store. I found one pound bags of Dunkin Donuts coffee for sale in the coffee aisle. It appears to me that Dunkin Donuts has launched a campaign to regain some of the market share that they have lost to Starbucks. The aggressive marketing and availability of Dunkin Donuts coffee may help Dunkin Donuts re-establish their toe-hold in the coffee market. The company recently announced that they are building 40 stores in my area, where we previously had just two. The expansion of their sales into retail markets indicates that this is a calculated effort.

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Polaroid I531 Digital Camera

My son plays pee-wee football. Last year, I used a work camera to take pictures at the games. This season, I decided to buy a cheap digital camera to record his games. While visiting Wal-mart, I stopped by the Electronics Department and scoped out the cameras. I wanted an inexpensive camera that was compact, so I could carry it up and down the sidelines with me, or stick in my pocket if needed.

I noticed the Polaroid I531 which was priced at $89.00. I see that it is available through Epinions partners for $69.00 currently. The on-line price is a good deal, I checked just before Christmas, and the price at Wal-Mart is still $89.00. My rating of this camera is based on the purchase point, and not the overall photographic abilities. Professional cameras can be very expensive. This camera is for personal use, and was purchased for it's cost, size and zoom features.

When I opened the box, I found that there were some extra pieces. Open further inspection, I discovered that there are three different face plates that can be installed on this camera. That indicates to me that this camera is intended to be marketed toward young people. I kept the faceplate that was on it when it came...that doesn't matter to me. The box also contained a USB bridge for downloading photos to your computer. I purchased a memory card for my camera, which can also install pictures directly to my computer, so I haven't used the bridge at all.

Most of the cameras in this price range had 3.0 Mexapixels. The Polaroid I531 is slightly superior in that area, delivering 5.0 megapixels in the same price range. If you go up another fifty to a hundred dollars in price, you can find newer camera models with even more megapixels. 5.0 megapixels serves my purpose just fine. The camera I had last year had a 12X zoom, which was pure optic zoom. This camera comes with 12X zoom also, but the zoom is divided...3X optical zoom and 4X digital zoom. What that means is that you are basically stuck with 3X zoom, but are using the same zoom feature that you would use on your PC to zoom in closer on the action. The advantage of having it built into the camera is that you can better frame your subject matter from a distance, as well as capturing the image without requiring further manipulation. Most cameras in this price range are also delivering 3X optical zoom, but none of the others had the built in digital zoom. I actually like this feature. One thing I would note...from a 12X optical zoom, to a split zoom feature, there is a substantial difference in the quality of the photos. This camera delivers a much less desirable end product than the optical zoom.

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Hasbro Cosmic Catch

My nine-year-old son received the Hasbro Cosmic Catch as a Christmas present. The game comes with six multi-colored hand bands that have a coded reader embedded inside. The ball will automatically detect the color of the reader on your hand. Each person selects a color and then the fun begins. Warning: This game is addictive, even for adults!

Easy to Set Up
The bands that you attach to your hand do not require batteries. The ball itself has a removable piece which is best accessed using a small phillips head screwdriver. The ball requires four AAA 1.5 Volt batteries. The battery section is about an inch deep inside the ball, once the outer piece is removed, however the positive/negative symbols are easy to read. Installation is relatively easy...once the batteries are installed, the removable section is replaced over the batteries, and the two phillips head screws are screwed back into place.

Easy to Operate
This ball really doesn't require any instruction. The section of ball that covers the batteries also contains the on/off switch. This switch also doubles as the game-mode switch. One button...it doesn't get any easier than that. Once you turn on the game, it will ask you to identify players. You can pick the number of players, and each player chooses a color. The ball then tells you to pass the ball to each of the players. As the ball moves from player to player it will identify the color they are wearing. Once each player is identified, the ball should be returned to the first player, which will indicate to the game that all players are "in." In this manner, you don't have to program the number of players, regardless of the number, once the ball identifies a color it has already identified, it "reads" that as all players being selected. The ball will then ask which game you want to play. There are four options...Fast Pass, Code Challenge, Add One and You're Out.

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Dean EVO XM Guitar

Last Christmas I purchased an "entry-level" guitar and amp. I purchased a package at Guitar Center which included a miniature Epiphone electric guitar and a 10 Watt Amplifier. We had several problems with this package. Two of the major problems were that the amplifier was cheap and is no longer working, and the guitar never seemed to stay in tune. We wore the tuner out just trying.

An Excellent Deal
This year, I needed to purchase a new amplifier for my son. I purchased a 15 Watt Crate Amplifier at Guitar Center for under sixty dollars. While I was visiting the store, I noticed that they had the Dean Evo Xm electric guitar on sale for $55.00. When you consider that I had over one hundred dollars invested in the package deal from last year, I would have come out way ahead to have purchased the Crate Amp along with the Dean Evo XM guitar...and still saved a few dollars.

Tuning
The first thing I noticed about the guitar is that once it is tuned, it stays in tune. Not that the tuning doesn't need adjusting...it just doesn't need to be adjusted constantly the way the Epiphone did. The Epiphone wouldn't stay in tune for an entire song.

Sound
The sound on the Dean Evo Xm surprised me. The tone has a full robust sound to it. For an entry level guitar, I was surprised at the quality of the sound that this guitar creates. This guitar has dual humbuckers, which are the coils on the front that produce sound. My son adjusts the sustain and the amp and creates some pretty impressive sounds. Because he is a beginner, this guitar has not been tested like it would be in a rock band. I have a feeling it would not stand up to heavy rocking, and create the same sound. Maybe that is because the guitar looks and feels kind of cheap. However, to my untrained ear, the sound is great.

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Fellowes Shredder

To introduce you to the importance of owning a shredder, let me cover a few important points before moving on to the product review. Financial Crimes Fraud accounts for five percent of the Gross Domestic Product in the United States every year. The primary ways that an individuals identity becomes compromised are through Skimming, Hacking, Phishing and Pharming. Skimming requires the complicity of an individual at the point of sale. This individual moves your credit card over a "reader" while processing the card through the system at the store or restaurant you are visiting. This reader is a small device that captures your information for transfer to a PC at a later time. Hacking is not as complicated as it may seem. This happens when a criminal hacks the point of sale terminal at a business, capturing any financial information that is transmitted via that terminal. In this manner, it does not require any complicity of an employee of that business. The business normally will not even know that their terminal has been compromised. Anyone reading this article has probably been targeted by Phishing. This is one of those emails that tells you that you need to update your account information at E-Bay or Bank X. If you click on the hyper-link in the email, it will take you to a site that resembles the official website for the financial institution...however it is a scam site with a URL that does not match your banks web address. This website asks you to input your password, at which time you have compromised your account. Hint: Never click the URL in an email to get to any of your accounts...visit the website directly. Also, your bank will never ask you to click a URL in an e-mail to begin with. Pharming is accomplished by Domain Spoofing, which is difficult to get around...you are unknowingly redirected to a spoof website. These types of attacks are aimed at the domain itself, and are usually spotted quickly by the financial institution. Finally, the low tech approach to identity theft...dumpster diving. This may also be done by stealing from your mailbox. Dumpster diving is nothing more than picking through your garbage searching for financial information. You might be surprised how much information about yourself you put in the trash. Protect yourself by ensuring that none of this information is usable.

My Past Experience with Fellowes
Along with this shredder, I have also owned the Fellowes 300, which is an expandable shredder that adjusts to fit a wastebasket of your choosing. The wastebasket does not come with the shredder. I also currently own a PS30, which (like the 300) is a ribbon-style shredder. These shredders are effective shredders, although ribbons are still capable of being reconstructed. The objective here is to make it more trouble than it's worth. These ribbon shredders both have worn down over the years, and no longer shred as effectively as they did initially. I imagine the blades become dull from all of the paper. These blades are contained within the unit and are difficult to get to, although they may have a device that can sharpen the blades. I don't know how much that would cost, but considering these shredders are inexpensive, it may not be worth your while to even try. I have not tried to find a way to sharpen them, opting instead to purchase a new one, and using the old ones as a backup.

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Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate Mint

I have seen a bumper sticker slogan (which is repeated on an Epinions home page) that goes "save the Earth...it's the only Planet that has Chocolate." That sort of sums up my feelings about chocolate. I certainly could live without it, but why bother? I remember the first time I walked into the Ghiradelli store in Chicago...it took me back to childhood memories...only this was adult candy. And good stuff, at that. (If you're interested in the store, it's located at 830 N Michigan Ave in Chicago).

Chocolate, in and of itself, is a special commodity. We are talking the gold standard of the ancient Americans. Chocolate has been around for two thousand years...so one might think that the product just can't be improved upon. There, my friend, you would be wrong. First of all, Ghiradelli as a brand has set the bar higher than the time tested Hershey products. Even Cadbury (of which I am quite fond) lacks when stacked up next to Ghiradelli. All chocolate is not created equal. Furthermore, all types of chocolate are not created equal. Ghiradelli's Dark chocolate is a decadent, indulgent treat. The Dark Chocolate from Ghiradelli contains 60% cacao, which isn't the highest cacao content, but must be the right combination.

The Ghiradelli Dark chocolate comes in a solid bar, or as a mint square, caramel square or raspberry square. The dark chocolate does an excellent job of offsetting the sweetness in the flavor-filled types. The mint is refreshingly sweet, with that bittery delicious chocolate that lingers with the mint. The thin ribbon of caramel in the caramel squares equally balances the sweetness of the caramel against the boldness of the chocolate. I don't care much for the raspberry filled dark chocolate...the chocolate is good...I don't care much for the filling...it's like the boxed chocolate piece that never gets eaten (you know the one that everyone pokes a hole in and sees it's the fruit flavored one...) The richness of Ghiradelli's dark chocolate is something that you really have experience.

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Perry Man by Perry Ellis

My taste in men's cologne is eclectic, without being very broad. I tend to gravitate toward fragrances that are clean, sweet and/or fruity, while shying away from fragrances that are musky or pine (I don't like smelling like a Christmas tree or Pine Sol)! I'm not a fragrance prude...I will wear less expensive colognes, but I prefer the ones that are going to last all day, which means you generally have to spend a little bit of money on a designer brand. My Favorite Cologne is Issey Miyake, while a less expensive alternative for me is Escada Pour Homme.

Perry Ellis' Man is a clean fragrance with a hint of sweetness to it. The cologne goes on strong, but fades quickly. It stays at a moderate level all day long. It is not overpowering, but you will definitely get compliments. When I wear Perry Ellis Man, it is not uncommon for people (especially women people) to ask me what type of cologne I'm wearing...several times during the course of a single day. I'm just an average guy, so it makes me feel sexy to get asked about my cologne all the time. There are several that have this effect. Aside from Perry Ellis Man, there is the traditional Escada, Perry Ellis Red, Issay Miyaki and believe it or not, the inexpensive Wings For Men brand.

I have tried samples of other Perry Ellis fragrances, but have not found any others that I like. I recently sampled the 360 and Reserved fragrances from Perry Ellis, and did not like them very much. Other fragrances from Perry Ellis that I have tried, but do not like include White, Black, Blue, Perry Ellis and America.

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Issey Miyake Cologne

I purchased my first bottle of Issey Miyake at Macy’s in New York City about five or six years ago. I think the brand was retailing anywhere between fifty and eighty dollars a bottle. I don’t remember the original price at Macy’s, but I found this brand on sale for just under (or about) forty dollars. What I do remember is thinking “this fragrance can’t be this cheap.” After checking the current prices for Issey Miyake I see that the price I paid would still be a bargain. The best price I have seen for this fragrance (which has been around for over a decade) is about $52.00.

Issey Miyake is my favorite of three fragrances. The other two are Escada Pour Homme, and Perry Man by Perry Ellis. These fragrances are all a little bit sweet, with a variety of different florals, woods and spices that set them apart. Issey Miyake is my favorite of the three because it has the cleanest smell. There is an aquatic undertone to the scent that makes me feel fresh and clean all day. It is also a very erotic aroma that will definitely create conversation. The cologne is a long-lasting fragrance that will stay with you all day. It is recommended as an evening cologne, but I don’t really buy into all of that. I wear the fragrances I like whenever I feel like wearing them…I don’t get out much anyway.

The components of Issey Miyake include: Verbena, Tangerine, Cypress, Yuzu Zest, Coriander, Clary Sage, Geranium Bourbon, Blue Water Lily, Nutmeg, Saffron, Cinnamon Bark from Ceylon, Amber Tobacco, Vetiver, Sandalwood, and Musk. None of that really means anything to me. There are a lot of spices in this cologne, but as I have indicated in my review on Perry Man, I do not care for a strong spicy aroma. I like the spice to take a back seat to the sweetness of the cologne. Issey Miyake succeeds in this in a way that no other fragrance I have worn succeeds. The spices are secondary to the clean water-based notes that rise to the surface after the cologne has a chance to adapt to your skin. These are the notes that tease the nostrils of the ladies who get close enough to catch the waft.

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Escada Cologne

As indicated by my previous fragrance reviews, my favorite fragrance is Issey Miyake, while the next two fragrances at the top of my list are Perry Man by Perry Ellis and Escada Pour Homme. I was first introduced to Escada Pour Homme while I was visiting New York City. There is an Escada Store right there on 5th Avenue, but I didn’t discover this fragrance at the designer shop. I actually stumbled across it at one of the department stores (I don’t remember which one).

I was looking for a new fragrance that I liked, and the salesperson showed me several different designer fragrances. This was before I fell in love with Issey Miyake. I sampled a few until the Escada came out. As soon as I smelled this fragrance, I knew that it was the one. I purchased a bottle (this was more than five years ago, and I believe I paid at least fifty dollars for the bottle). Escada Pour Homme has been around since 1993, so it was not a new fragrance, even five years ago when I “discovered” it. There have been newer versions of Escada that I have seen at the Department stores over the past few years, but I haven’t liked any of them. I believe there was a blue colored fragrance that I really didn’t like. I checked the Escada website and didn’t see it on there, so they may have discontinued it. From my perspective, I see why...it wasn’t nearly as captivating as the original Escada Pour Homme.

Escada Pour Homme is a bit stronger in terms of the spiciness, which is odd considering the fact that this rich fragrance claims to have a strong essences of coconut, peach, and orange. I like the fruity and sweet fragrances, so this doesn’t surprise me, but the spice finds it’s way through the fragrance a bit more noticeably than my other fragrances. This masculine fragrance is also reveals shades of sandalwood, musk, and orris along with subtle hints of cedar, lavendar and basil. The combination of notes in this fragrance are pungent in a pleasant way. The complexity and weight of the aroma require a minimal application. The fragrance is strong and like the others I mentioned, will last you throughout the day.

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Wings Cologne

I was going to refer to Wings as the poor-man’s alternative to my three favorite colognes, Issey Miyake, Perry Man by Perry Ellis and Escada Pour Homme. I purchased this set at Wal-Mart just before Christmas as part of a Christmas Gift Set for $19.99. This is just about the proper price point for this cologne. However, I noticed that Epinions lists the best price through partner websites as $30.00. That seems just a tad bit too high. Considering Epinions partner websites are offering Escada for ten dollars less than Wings, I would recommend going for the Escada. However, taste is subjective.

Wings is a four star fragrance. It tends to be less expensive than other designer brands, but still has an extremely sweet, long-lasting and complex aroma, that sets it apart from other less expensive fragrances. I would describe this cologne as the best option for those with Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget. You get a high quality fragrance for a fraction of the price of many other designers.

One thing I have noticed about Wings is my ability to attract bees. That is not necessarily a good quality in a fragrance, but it is a quality that possesses nonetheless. After your initial application, the strong sweet aroma will fill the room where you applied it for a good while afterwards. The fragrance will fade on your skin, but stays at an intensity around you that is slightly stronger than some other aromas. The sweet notes of this fragrance really overpower the spicy notes, which might otherwise be more prominent. The notes include bergamot, clove and cumin (which indicates a heavier tilt toward spice than citrus, but the citrus is more prominent). The middle notes are amber, cedar and oak while the fragrance base contains sandalwood, moss and vetiver. The woody middle and base notes are not at all “pine” woody, like the cheaply made Aspen brand. The middle note of amber gives this fragrance a sensuality beneath the otherwise potent sweetness.

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Chocolate Riesen

If you haven’t figured out yet that I like chocolate, I will try my best to make that fully apparent. Chocolate Riesen has been around for a long time, but I only discovered it in recent years. In fact, Storck introduced the first Riesen candy in Germany in the 1930s. It was actually Germany’s first branded candy. The candy started out as an individually wrapped caramel, progressing through the years until someone at the company had the brilliant idea to wrap the caramel in dark chocolate. In the early 1990s, this delicious candy was expanded to the international market, finally reaching the shores of the United States….home to the world’s worst chocoholics. The parent company, Storck, is also well-known for other tasty varieties, such as Werther’s Original and one of my old favorites, toffifay (or toffifee) . Storck also makes the disgusting Mamba fruit chews which I don’t care much for.

Chocolate Riesen provides an interesting combination of tough chewy caramel in a rich dark chocolate covering that dissolves into the caramel as you chew. If you don’t eat these candies quick enough (a problem I don’t seem to have) the caramel turns to brick. Not literally, but close enough. The pieces become very difficult to chew. I like the dark chocolate (as you can see by my Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate Squares review. The European dark chocolate that they layer over the Chocolate Riesen is a rich chocolate with enough flavor to give you the dark chocolate sensation, while not overwhelming the caramel experience. What you get is a burst of the rich dark chocolate followed by the chewy sweetness of the caramel piece inside. The flavors compliment each other well.

A bag of Chocolate Riesen Chews normally lasts a while around my house. I know I stated that I’m a chocoholic, but the rich pieces satisfy my sweet tooth in small amounts. One piece (okay maybe two) take care of the chocolate craving well enough to last me all day. The 11 ounce bag of Chocolate Riesen will set you back several dollars, but it is money well spent. The price is competitive with other chocolates of equal weight.

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Seattle's Best Coffee

I'm a coffee aficionado. Growing up in New England, my grandfather used to make an extra pot of coffee in the morning, which would be allowed to cool. This delicious liquid would be used to make Iced Coffee (back in the early 1970s before the idea caught on everywhere else), or even better...he would blend it with vanilla ice cream and make frappes! (In Rhode Island we called them coffee cabinets...another term for a coffee milkshake).

I traveled to Seattle, Washington, for a conference in 2006. While I was at that conference, I stopped at a small coffeeshop just up the street from Fisherman's Wharf called Seattle's Best Coffee. At that time, Seattle's Best was not available in my local area. I stopped at the coffee shop and ordered the best Americano I have had outside of Italy!

Shortly after my return to the Southeastern United States, I discovered Seattle's Best for sale in the grocery store and Wal-Mart. I started purchasing the Seattle's Best Best Blend because I don't care too much for the flavored coffees. The Best Blend is an amazing combination of coffee beans that delivers a rich robust cup of coffee without the harshness of Starbucks. The other brand of coffee I buy quite a bit is Dunkin Donuts, which is another rich mellow blend, but not quite as robust as Seattle's Best.

While visiting Seattle, I stopped into the Seattle's Best store several times for my Americano fix. During one of my visits I commented on the superiority of Seattle's Best to Seattle's other coffee. The barista advised me that Starbuck's had actually purchased Seattle's Best, but that they still roasted their own beans. I researched this on the internet and see that there is a story regarding a 72 million dollar buyout in 2003. If this is true, it is a good thing that Starbuck's allowed Seattle's Best to continue roasting their own beans, as their roasting process and bean selection produces a product that I feel is superior to the Starbuck's bean.

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Godiva Chocolate Liqueur

I have been on a chocolate kick lately, so why stop. The name Godiva will instantly illicit thoughts of a blond goddess riding naked on horseback through her city streets…or fine chocolate. One of these two thoughts are bound to be what pops into your mind when you hear the word. I’m a red-blooded American…but the thought I have is chocolate. Good Chocolate.

I am not much of a drinker, but there are several drinks that call for Chocolate Liqueur. Drinks from Chocolate Martinis, to Mudslides to Breast Milk…I don’t make this stuff up. Personally, I don’t think I’d be too keen on a drink called “Breast Milk.” Just a matter of setting the right mood if I decide to have a drink. If you are going to go to the trouble to fix one of these drinks, you may as well start with the best ingredients. The velvety smooth Godiva Chocolate Liqueur delivers what you need.

As I mentioned, I’m not much of a drinker. I actually use my Godiva Chocolate Liqueur in place of Rum in my home made Tiramisu. In fact, I will share the recipe here:

6 egg yolks, 5 egg whites (figure out what to do with the extra egg white…you don’t need it), ¾ cup sugar, one pound mascarpone cheese (softened), 2 cups heavy whipping cream, 2 tablespoons Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 tablespoons and 2 cups of espresso, one large package of lady finger cookies, a couple of squares of Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate.

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Aspen Cologne

It's not that I dislike this cologne...considering the price point it's not a bad deal. For under ten dollars a bottle (As of this writing it is $8.50...if you click through to Amazon.com), the bang for the back isn't too bad. However, this is not a brand I would have purchased myself. I received this bottle of Aspen for Christmas, in a gift pack that also included a bottle of Gravity as well as a bottle of Preferred Stock.

As my title suggests, this cologne is a woodsy fragrance. The top notes are lemon, bergamot and mint, with middle notes of spice, lavender and vetiver. The bottom notes of this cologne contain oakmoss, amber and musk. This combination has a slightly clean, woodsy smell to it. However, in my experience the pleasant notes of this cologne evaporate with the alcohol during application, leaving mostly woodsy tones without the clean aspect. I like clean smelling fragrances, and would probably like this one much more if the clean tones remained after application.

The Aspen fragrance also fades quicker than higher end fragrances. If you intend to wear this fragrance all day, you need to bring it with you. The aroma fades very quickly after application. I don't put oodles of cologne on when I apply it. With more expensive fragrances, it normally takes a small amount to get the job done. One or two squirts will normally last all day, with fragrances such as Issey Miyake, Perry Man by Perry Ellis, Escada Pour Homme or even the less expensive Wings.

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Preferred Stock Cologne

I received a gift set for Christmas that included Preferred Stock, Gravity and Aspen. Of the three colognes in this gift set, I like Preferred Stock the least. This fragrance literally gives me a headache when I wear it. I don’t know what aspect of this fragrance causes this effect, but it happens every time I wear it.

I am rating this cologne based on the price point (which is currently $8.38 at Amazon Marketplace). You can check current pricing in the lower right hand corner of this review. I do not normally wear the less expensive brands of cologne because they tend to fade quickly, requiring frequent application, and the scent often changes once some of the notes evaporate with the alcohol. With Preferred Stock I don’t care for the fragrance even at the initial point of application. I feel like a walking Christmas Tree when I wear this cologne. It may not have pine in it, but that’s the sensation I get from the fragrance. The notes are actually comprised of citrus notes on the high end (like the lemon found in Aspen), spicy notes in the middle, with a base of sandalwood, vetiver, patchouli, and musk. I really don’t like musky smells, which I think tends to overtake the vetiver in this fragrance. Patchouli is a strong scent derived from the Patchouli plant grown in the West Indies. This scent was popular during the 1970s for it’s ability to cover the odor of cannabis. Understanding that I am wearing a 1970s outfit in my profile picture…I do not smoke pot, nor do I wear cologne designed to cover the scent of dope.

Preferred Stock is made by the Coty US Limited Liability Corporation. Coty bears the name of it’s founder, Francois Coty, who established the company in France in 1904. This fragrance is part of Coty’s beauty line (code word for low end) which includes such must-have products as Desperate Housewives perfume and Shania Twain. That should say it all right there. Coty does produce a Prestige Line (Read that as: the good stuff). This line includes much more notable fragrances, such as Kenneth Cole and Phat Farm. Obviously, Coty has the capability to produce quality fragrances. It appears that the market that this product is designed for doesn’t rate the additional expense required to produce a higher quality product.

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Gravity Cologne

The Dictionary defines Gravity as a natural force of attraction exerted by a celestial body. I have to report that I have worn Gravity and have not had any celestial bodies drawn to me. It must be the cologne. As I reported in my reviews of Preferred Stock and Aspen, this fragrance was given to me for Christmas as part of a gift set.

Gravity is produced by Coty LLC, a French based company that has a manufacturing centers in North Carolina and New Jersey. Gravity was introduced in 1992. The scent is a woodsy oriental fragrance with mandarin, sage and vanilla. The vanilla adds a sweet undertone that is not readily noticeable. The spice is present, but hides with the vanilla as an undercurrent. After the alcohol evaporates, Gravity leaves a slight powdery scent with a pleasant woodsy tilt. This fragrance is not woodsy in the pungent sense, leading off with an aroma that is closer to talcum powder. The fragrance has a clean finish.

Coty began selling perfume in 1904 in France. In 2005, after a century in the perfume industry, Coty acquired Calvin Klein, Cerruti, Chloe and Vera Wang. This acquisition propelled Coty into the number one spot for fragrance production...with sales in 2006 topping 2.9 Billion dollars. The company has a Prestige Line that sells quality perfume and cologne, which accounts for 55 percent of all sales. The Beauty Line is made up of the less expensive brands and makes up the other 45 percent of sales. Coty is primarily a European Company, with 55 percent of sales coming from Europe, while on 33 percent of their sales are here in the United States. Based on my experience with the Coty Beauty Line, I would suggest Gravity is one of the better selling brands in the US. Adidas and Aspen also seem to sell well. Gravity is available at most Department Stores and is generally stocked at Wal-Mart.

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TaxAct For The Web

Several years ago at tax time, I visited the IRS website prior to filling out my taxes. The website had a questionnaire that you could fill out, which would assist you in finding a free tax filing service. This piqued my interest, so I filled out the questionnaire and ended up at TaxActOnline.com. The rest, as they say, is history.

TaxActOnline is the web version of TaxAct, which can be purchased at your local buy-anything electronics store (in other words, Best Buy or Circuit City). However, you can save yourself some money by simply using the web based version. What I discovered about my return was that the federal return was free, but the State return required a purchase. They allow you to make your purchase at the very end of the process, on a secure site. If my memory serves me correctly, I have been paying approximately $9.95 every year for my tax returns, but there may have been another five dollars either added to the cost, or added as a fee. I am certain that I have not paid more than Fifteen dollars total for both returns. I have been using TaxActOnline ever since (approximately four years).

The process for entering your information at TaxAct Online is fairly simple. It is a question and answer format, with prompts that walk you through each stage of the form. You begin by entering biographical information, to include Social Security Numbers (for those of you afraid of providing any information on-line). The information that goes on your written tax returns is stored at TaxAct, so all of this information is required as you fill out the forms. The program will inquire about specific categories that allow for deductions or credits, and then advise you of what forms need to be included to get those credits (in most cases, providing the forms for you). You can skip around the form if you are lacking information but want to get a head start on your returns. For instance, my mortgage form always seems to be the last document I get. That's a pretty heft deduction, so we can't leave that out. I will normally have my format complete and go back and add that prior to filing. You can save your progress and "quit" the form without losing the data you have already entered. Once you have completed the Federal Form, the program will run a diagnostic test to determine if there are any areas where an error may have occurred. Once this is completed, you will be asked if you want to complete the State return for a fee.

There is a very simple advantage to completing your State returns with TaxAct Online. You can pull all of the required information (to include your biographical information) off of the Federal Return, and apply it to the State Return. Once you agree to complete a State Tax Return (if that is your option), you will be asked which state you are filing with. The database will determine any deductions or credits that are unique to your home State (such as Energy Credits, National Guard Credits or Disability Credits). The State Return will also provide a series of prompts to determine which deductions you qualify for. The nice thing about these prompts is that you don't have to go researching the individual requirements or cap amounts...the program will ask you if you reached a certain level in a particular type of spending and then tell you if you qualify.

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Bit O' Honey

I have written several reviews lately on chocolate. I've covered my two favorites Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate and Chocolate Riesen. For the chocolate thirst-quencher, you've got Godiva Chocolate Liqueur! If I need a break from chocolate, but want a quick rich sugar fix, I reach for the Bit-O-Honey.

If candy can be comfort food then Bit-O-Honey fits the bill. I remember when I was little, the store on the corner was called Joanna's. Back in those days (it was only the 1970s so don't get carried away guessing dates), you could still go to the corner store and buy penny candy. Two of my favorites back then were Bit-O-Honey and the ever popular Mary Janes. They delivered sweet chewy perfection that lingered on your tongue. So now, chewing on a Bit-O-Honey, I get the honey sweet sugar fix AND a trip down memory lane.

Bit-O-Honey was introduced in 1924 by the Chicago based Schutter-Johnson Company. Today they are produced by Nestle, who acquired the brand in 1984. I wasn't introduced to them until many, many years after they were first introduced. (That would be many, many, many years in fact). They are produced in a segmented candy bar style, divided into six sections and wrapped in wax paper, or as individually wrapped chews, which are the one that I have grown to love.

Bit-O-Honey resembles a caramel in texture, but the flavor is honey and almond. The texture isn't quite a smooth as caramel either, with the microscopic almonds providing just a bit of grit in the mix. Although these candies are very inexpensive (you can get a 4.8 ounce bag for a dollar at the dollar store), they have the rich flavor of the good stuff. I guess that is why they were so popular as penny candy.

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General Electric 800 Watt Microwave

The GE REM25SJ Microwave Oven is a small microwave (1.0 cubic feet). I have owned this microwave for several years and take it for granted. Whether I throw a lukewarm cup of coffee in for re-heating, pop a bag of popcorn for movie night or reheat leftovers this microwave has performed to expectations.

One unique feature that this microwave has is a Child Lockout capability. Because my children are old enough to utilize the microwave (and would probably be more adept at me at enabling or disabling the features on this product), I do not use this feature. The feature itself is easy enough to use. If you hold the "clear/off" button for three seconds you change the current status of this microwave. If it is locked, holding the off button will unlock it (and vice versa). That is simple enough, but something a young child wouldn't necessarily figure out.

If you are short on counter space this microwave is capable of being mounted beneath your cabinets. I currently live in an apartment, and have not mounted this microwave to the cabinets here. It does not take up a tremendous amount of counter space, because it is one of the smaller microwaves produced (even though it is touted as mid-sized...which I think is a stretch). It is a hair under two feet wide, just under thirteen inches back to front and a bit more than eleven inches tall. This microwave is not very heavy, either, weighing in at thirty pounds.

Read More About The GE 800 Watt Microwave Oven

Black And Decker Smart Grind Coffee Grinder

When I'm not too lazy, I grind my own beans in the morning. I like the intense flavor you get from freshly ground coffee beans. I also like the pleasant aroma that grinding the beans creates. I love the smell of coffee in the morning, and grinding the beans increases that aroma.

The Black and Decker SmarGrind is an inexpensive coffee grinder that is sufficient for my morning coffee needs. I paid under fifteen dollars for this coffee grinder at Wal-Mart. I checked Epinions for prices and did not see any listed. However, there was a unit similar to this one available for twelve dollars from one of Epinions partner sites.

This grinder is easy to operate. It allows you to grind beans in small amounts, so you don't grind too many beans at once. The individual serving sizes are convenient for me, since I do not make a full pot of coffee. If I am making coffee, I normally make a half pot. If I'm making cappuccino, I only need a fraction of the amount of coffee that you would use for a pot of coffee. Operation entails placing removing the plastic see-through top, placing your beans inside the grinding area, replacing the lid and pushing a brown button attached to the lid. This grinder only grinds while the button is depressed. The grinder will not operate while the lid is off. Once your grind is chopped to your desired level, remove the lid and tap your grounds into your filter. The grinding area is not removable, so this can be a little bit messy.

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Botan Rice Candy

I was first introduced to Botan Rice Candy when I lived in Hawaii. There is a great deal of Asian influence in the Hawaiian Islands. You will find Asian products more readily available at the corner store, as opposed to visiting a specialty store. These sweet little treats are available at Asian Food Markets, or if you are lucky, you may find it at your local Chinese Restaurant.

Botan Rice Candy might be considered the Cracker Jack’s of Asia. They come with a small prize inside. The small box normally runs about one dollar, and contains six small candies. The candies come in a plastic outer wrapper, and are wrapped again with a plastic-like inner wrapper which is edible. The inner wrapper melts in your mouth when you pop the candy in. The candy itself is a chewy sweet slightly citrus candy that melts as you chew it. The texture is different from caramel or taffy, somewhat softer and dissolving a bit quicker. The flavor is also a lot less intense than chews that we in America are more accustomed to. I would point to Starburst, Now and Laters or Mambo Chews which all have strong flavorings. The light pleasant flavoring in the Botan Rice Candy is a nice change from the stronger flavorings I’m used to.

I’ve only seen one type of packaging for Botan Rice Candy. This packaging is very distinct. The small box is red and green with a kitten and a flower on the front and a fat kid on the back (I don‘t know how else to describe it). The box contains ¾ ounce of candy. If you consider the price per pound, the total would be over twenty dollars a pound. I guess that’s why you only get six pieces in a box. Although the price is high for what you get, the ingredients are not very exotic. This candy contains Glucose syrup (cornstarch, water), sugar, sweet rice, water, lemon flavor, orange flavor, FD&C Red No. 40. Yes, that is sweet rice in the ingredients…hence the name rice candy. Now I know you might be thinking that rice is a disgusting ingredient to include in candy, but I can not even tell that there is rice in this candy. The flavor is mostly sweetness, with a hint of the citrus flavors.

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Gillette Mach 3 Shaving Gel

I have tried different shaving creams through the years, but I always seem to come back to either Gillette or Edge. Brands like Barbasol are less expensive. However, I don't care for the aerated cream that they dispense. When you attempt to apply this type of shaving cream to your face it sort of rolls off. The adhesiveness of the cheaper brands is not nearly as strong at Gillette, resulting in a foamy mess on the sink. That's more to clean which is the last thing I want to do before I've had my first cup of coffee for the day.

Gillette Mach3 Comfort Gel indicates that it should be used with the Mach3 razor for maximum effectiveness. Personally, as much as I like this shaving gel, I dislike the Mach3 razor. I feel like I'm trying to run my face through a set of venetian blinds when I use that razor. I have one that sits in a drawer in bathroom collecting dust. I actually prefer to use the Bic Sensitive Skin razors, which work well with my skin type. Although Gillette recommends using their product with the Mach3 razor, there is not special relationship between the two products that enhances the result. Use whatever razor you are most comfortable using.

The application process for this gel is fairly simple. You squirt a very small amount of this gel into the palm of your hand. The gel will foam up while it is being applied to your face. You will actually see the aqua gel start foaming white around the edges as you squirt it into your hand. The dense gel applies smoothly to your face, creating an even foam that doesn't drop everywhere during application. After using the can, you may want to wipe the can with a washcloth. Otherwise, a small amount of gel will be left near the lip of the can, creating a crusty mess as it accumulates.

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Glico Chocolate Pocky Biscuit Sticks

Let me start with a disclaimer. Down here in the south, the term biscuit means something entirely different, and usually involves a hunk of greasy meat, an egg and possibly cheese. This review refers to the English biscuit, you know the kind...we call them...cookies. These are about the funniest looking cookies you will ever see (except for maybe them "Nutter Butters").

Just like Botan Rice Candy, these tasty little treats are available at your local Asian Food Market. If you don't have an Asian Food Market, you may be lucky enough to find it in the specialty or international foods section at your grocery store. If you really live in the boonies, you might just have to order them online. According to Epinions, they are currently available at Amazon Marketplace for $1.99, which is a competitive price (plus shipping).

Glico Chocolate Pocky Biscuit Sticks are long finger-like cookies (sort of like a naked, elongated cadbury Fingers). The rather bland cookies are dipped in rich chocolate halfway up the stick. Half the stick remains naked, while half the stick is coated in chocolate. The chocolate has a surprisingly rich flavor for an inexpensive imported cookie. The cookie itself does not have much flavor, somewhat resembling those crackers in the cheese-and-cracker snacks.

My kids love these cookies. They always grab a box when he happen to visit an Asian Food Market. The chocolate filled Koala cookies and the Pocky Sticks are their favorite. Pocky also makes strawberry flavored sticks. Aside from the pre-dipped sticks, Pocky also makes a variety that has a "dipping sauce" that allows the kids to dip their cookies themselves. This allows the kids to "play with their food" which always makes for a popular snack. They also produce other flavors that are harder to find. They include Green Tea, Coconut, Milk, Mousse, Almond and Men's Dark Chocolate!

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Oro De Olivo Extra Virgin Olive Oil Spray

When I cook with oil, I prefer to use Olive Oil. I have a large bottle of olive oil that I use liberally when cooking, and also as a base for my salad dressing. The only problem I have when coating the bottom of my Teflon pans with Olive Oil is that the oil tends to congregate at the lowest point in the pan. No matter how many ways I've tried to "level" my frying pan, I always seem to get a deep end and a shallow end. Enter...Olivo!

Oro De Olivo is one hundred percent olive oil, it simply comes in a spray can. When sprayed from the can onto my pans, it coats with a fine mist that has a greater adhesiveness. The amount of oil that I am using when I apply Olivo is far less than I use when I coat the bottom of my pans with olive oil from the bottle. Hence, the Olivo requires less oil and coats my pan better. This is effective for cooking foods that do not need to be submerged in the oil. If I am frying up Mandoo (Dumplings), then it's time to "hit the bottle" again.

If I am in a hurry and don't have salad dressing already made, it is convenient to just spray my greens with a bit of Olivo and then season them. This gives the salad a little bit of flavor, without drenching it in oil. The can actually recommends this product to be used on salads, pasta, vegetables, fish, meat and breads. Because the spray applies a thin even coat, you get the flavor without getting the calories!

Oro De Olivo comes in several flavors, as well as an original that does not have any additional flavoring (I consider olive oil to be flavored in and of itself). The flavors that Olive is available in include Hot Pepper, Garlic, Butter and Lime. Olivo is a product of Spain, but is packaged in Mexico. It conducts business in the United States under Oro de Olivo USA out of Coral Gables, Florida.

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Cadbury Finger Cookies

Cadbury Fingers are the grown up version of Chocolate Pocky Sticks. This product combines the rich velvety chocolate of Cadbury with a crisp thin buttery cookie. The combination is addictive. The thin cookies come stacked together inside a plastic cookie “tin.” These cookies are a decadently delicious option for chocolate lovers.

Cadbury Fingers are relatively inexpensive. Compared to the price of other quality cookies, such as the Pepperidge Farm Brand. They are currently advertised at Amazon Marketplace for $3.39, which seems a tad bit higher than what I have paid recently at Wal-Mart. Pepperidge Farm cookies run right around the three dollar mark at the grocery store, as well.

The flavor of Cadbury Fingers is overwhelmingly chocolate. The Cadbury Company, which is based in England, was founded by John Cadbury in 1824. The Finger Cookies were introduced in 1897! The company has been producing a quality line of chocolate ever since. Let me make a quick caveat about Cadbury. Anyone who has eaten Cadbury Chocolate that is made in England may notice a difference between the Cadbury products they eat in the United States. I don’t know if the exact same process is used, but Cadbury in the United States is made by the Nestle Company. It may be my imagination, but the Cadbury Chocolate in England tastes better. Other products produced by Cadbury include my favorite, the Crunchie Bar (which is a honeycomb covered in rich chocolate), Cadbury Mini Eggs, Cadbury Eggs, Caramilk and many more.

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Schumacher Trickle Charger

I finally got tired of putting a new battery in my motorcycle every year. At close to a hundred dollars per battery, it was getting expensive. While visiting Wal-Mart to purchase fuel stabilizer for my Excelsior Henderson, I stopped by the Automotive Department to take a look at Trickle Chargers. While browsing through the selection, I found the Schumacher SEM-1562A Slow Charge Battery Companion for under twenty dollars. Knowing a good deal when I see one, I purchased this product with my fuel stabilizer and headed to the house. Twenty dollars to save a hundred every year just sense.

This Trickle Charger was very easy to install. There are two ways that you can use this charger. If your battery has already lost it's charge, but is not dead, you can place the jumper cables on the battery, and use the charger to slow charge the battery. I needed to hook this charger up to my bike for the Winter to keep it charged. The kit comes with a set of ring connectors, which attach to the battery posts beneath the screws that fasten the motorcycle screws to the bike. This process was fairly easy to accomplish.

The advantage of using the ring connectors is that you can leave them attached to the bike even when you ride it. Both the connectors and jumper cables have a plug that connects to the actual charger, which is then plugged into an outlet. If you have the ring connectors installed, you can simply unplug the ring connectors from the charger, and take the motorcycle for a spin. When you return from your trip, simply connect the battery back to the trickle charger.

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Zojirushi Rice Cooker

I was given the Zojirushi 3-Cup Rice Cooker as a gift. I do not know how much this unit cost or where it was purchased. However, I see that it is currently available through Amazon Marketplace for $37.90. That price is probably comparable for this cooker which likely came from a specialty store.

I often cook meals, where I am the only one who will be eating. I sometimes cook extra to eat later, which can be a time saver. When it comes to rice, the only time I cook extra is if I'm planning to make fried rice. The size of this cooker makes it convenient for preparation of smaller portion sizes. I will normally half the recipe on the rice bag when I am cooking for myself. I use Botan Brand Rice which recommends 1 1/2 cups of rice to 2 cups of water. I normally half those amounts, and end up with a nice portion size.

The Zojirushi Rice Cooker is very easy to use, and you don't have to worry about overcooking. There is a small lever on the front that you push down to begin cooking. The rice only requires several minutes to cook, resulting in a fluffy moist rice. If you use a high quality rice like Botan, you will find that you get a nice sticky end-product, like you will find in Asian restaurants. This is how I prefer to eat my rice, unlike the grainy dry rice I ate growing up.

Clean up is a breeze with the Zojirushi Rice Cooker. After you have removed your rice from the container (which will keep it hot for several hours after cooking), the interior bowl removes for easy cleaning. If you use the high quality rice, you will get those stick to anything grains that really don't want to cooperate. By removing the entire inner bowl, you can submerge it in water and allow the water to further soften any remaining grains for easy washing.

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Surefire 9P Flashlight

The Surefire 9P Original Flashlight is a high powered, lightweight flashlight that is convenient to carry and produces a brilliant light to create maximum visibility even in the absence of any other light source.

The Surefire 9P take three 3-Volt (CR123A) Batteries. These are the same batteries that are used to power the flashbulb in many high end cameras. These batteries used to be expensive...I remember paying seventeen dollars for two of these batteries several years ago. These batteries are much more affordable now. I normally buy these lights in bulk, paying less than two dollars a piece for each battery. That price is competitive with the price of regular batteries.

The amount of Power that the Surefire 9P produces is amazing. For such a small compact flashlight, an amazing 105 lumens (which can be increased to 200 lumens with installation of a special bulb). This output is five times the light intensity of the standard flashlights that operate on two D-Cell Batteries. That is a substantial increase for a flashlight that is lighter and easy to carry than the D-Cell lights.

The battery life on these flashlights varies depending on the quality of battery that you purchase. With decent batteries, you can get up to an hour of use before the light starts getting dim on you. With a lower quality battery, like the ones that I have recently purchased, you can cut that run time almost in half. Depending on how frequently you use this flashlight, you can end up going through a lot of batteries. However, if you need the intensity of light that these flashlights produce, the number of batteries becomes a non-issue.

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Toffifay

I remember when Toffifay started advertising big in the United States. I was a kid...and the slogan they chose was Toffifay...it's too good for kids...but it's not too good for you! As a kid, I was obviously offended and had to buy a pack just to prove them wrong. I guess that means the marketing strategy worked.

Toffifay is produced by the Storck Company...the same company that brought us Chocolate Riesen. The product was first introduced in 1973 and is also known as Toffifee. The combination of a caramel cup, filled with a hazelnut and hazelnut chocolate, and then topped with a dab of chocolate amounts to confectionary perfection. Chocolate and caramel are a winning combination even without the hazelnut. The hazelnut adds flavor and texture to a chewy flavorful candy that combines in your mouth to create tastebud ecstacy.

Toffifay was originally sold in packs of four. It seemed expensive at the time, for four tiny bits of candy. That was, of course, until I tasted what I was getting for my money. The candy is also available in packages of twelve, fifteen, twenty-four and fourty-eight. I have seen Toffifay sell for as cheap as one dollar at the dollar store for a package of fifteen. Amazon Marketplace currently has Toffifay on sale for twelve 4.3 ounce packages (which have fifteen pieces in each) for $15.60. That works out to over a dollar per pack. It may be cheaper to just check your local dollars store, although purchasing through Amazon Marketplace may ensure that you are getting a fresher package of candy.

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Hershey's Cacao Reserve Chocolate

I recently wrote a review on Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate. Being a chocolate lover, I am always on the lookout for quality chocolate. I decided to make Tiramisu this past weekend, and was going to purchase a bag of Ghiradelli squares to shred on top of my dessert. However, at the last moment, I decided I would try Cacao Reserve by Hershey’s, which is priced about the same as the Ghiradelli. The Cacao Reserve looks like an attempt by Hershey to tap into the specialty chocolate market, and Hershey’s is a name that I have come to trust.

My first impression of the Hershey’s Cacao Reserve was mixed. The squares are substantially smaller than the Ghiradelli squares. The flavor was better than your average Hershey’s product, being made from a recipe including 65% Cacao. However, the chocolate was not as polished as the Ghiradelli. The bitterness was not quite as balanced with the smooth deep flavor that you will find in Ghiradelli’s chocolate.

I have a really weird story to share regarding these chocolate squares. I needed to shred the Cacao Reserve, which I did using a cheese grater. I have done this in the past, uneventfully. I used a plastic dish to catch the chocolate as I was shredding it, which I have never done before. This may have had something to do with my experience, but I’m not sure because a great deal of chocolate appeared to be sticking to the inside of the grater, eventually dropping down onto the plate. When I went to pick up the plate, the chocolate sprayed everywhere. Somehow it became magnetized, sort of like the plastic wrappers that you pull off a piece of candy and then you can’t drop it in the trash. I didn’t realize that chocolate could become statically charged, but that is my only explanation as to what happened. I left the grater (which had a decent amount of chocolate shavings still clinging to the inside) sitting on another plate, and the chocolate (which looked like a bunch of magnetized metal filings) eventually let loose and settled on the plate. When I moved my hands over the chocolate, the filings clinged to my fingers! Maybe I should not have been sampling the Godiva Chocolate Liqueur while I was baking!

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Lucky Brand Jeans No. 6 Cologne

Lucky Six Cologne (or, Lucky No. 6 Eau De Toilette) is marketed by the Lucky Blue Jeans company. The number Six name for this cologne comes from the Chinese belief that the number Six means perfect balance. This cologne is a pleasant balance of notes, that create a sweet lasting aroma. If you like Wings by Giorgio of Beverly Hills, then this fragrance is one you may like.

The Notes in Lucky for men appear to create balance, although I might not refer to it as perfect. A rather exhaustive search of the internet fails to disclose the individual notes in this cologne. They are a combination of Natural herbs, Wood, Spices, Flora, Neroli, Hydroponic Plum, Amber, and Sandalwood. Neroli is similar in scent to bergamot which is made from the blossoms of the bitter orange tree. Neroli likely produces the sweet spicy notes that I favor in this cologne. It has been used since the late 17th Century as an essence used in fragrances. I believe hydroponic plum is a fancy word invented by Lucky in the marketing of this perfume. Hydroponic being a method of growing plants. The plum essence probably adds additional sweetness to this fragrance. The sandalwood is likely in the low range, as it is a bright essence that is long-lasting . The woody scent of the sandalwood does not overpower the sweet notes in the upper ranges of this fragrance, making it a sensual warm fragrance that is likely to attract attention. I like this fragrance, but I would prefer Wings For Men to Lucky No. Six For Men.

Lucky Six was introduced in 2006. It is a relatively new fragrance that does not seem to have really taken hold. The lack of marketing of this fragrance has relinquished it to a niche market. The Epinions partner sites have this fragrance listed between the twenty and thirty dollar range, with the best price currently set at $17.99 from Scented Monkey. I have seen this fragrance at TJ Maxx and Burlington Coat Factory with a price tag of $19.99. The TJ Maxx price included a stick of matching deodorant. I’ve never really been big on the fragranced deodorants since they are generally not very effective when I use them. However, it’s practically a freebie at that price.

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