World of Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar with Martin Taylor

World of Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar is definitely NOT for beginners or even intermediate players. A solid understanding of chord spellings and a relatively good ear is necessary before checking out this DVD.

Martin Taylor basically introduces a singular approach to solo performance using the different chord tones as melody, bass, and accompaniment. The rest of the DVD simply reinforces this one concept. Mr. Taylor demonstrates his approach with five standards, and then shows a few variations of those standards. If you don’t have an understanding of chord spellings, (what’s the 3rd? 7th?!?) then you WILL be completely lost, and this video will be of little use.

If nothing else, this video serves as an excellent example of some very fine playing with an introduction to some basic solo jazz techniques. This DVD is great for some motivation, or just fast-forward through the repetitive instruction and check out the excellent PDF file for some more explicit information.

Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote

It's a remote control that you program with your computer. Does anything else really matter?

The Harmony 880, and it's sibling upgrade the Harmony 890, are the ultimate solution to the dozen-remotes-to-do-one-damn-thing dillema prevelant in so many of today's homes. That is, if you're tech-savvy enough to use it. It basically does nothing out of the box, so if you're the type who wants things to work without having to fiddle, you're probably not looking for the Harmony 880. Go buy one of those $15 "universal" remotes they sell at Walmart and suffer the consequences, bitch! Err, conversely, if you're the type who likes to be able to adjust the functionality of every single button, alter the timing of command sequences, and program your own macros... well, then! Welcome to paradise!

Via a relatively simple online interface, users can upload information to the remote at will. First you'll want to set up the remote to work with all of your components. No problem! The online database includes hundreds, if not thousands, of pre-programmed command sets you can browse. Tape deck is 15 years old, you say? Chances are, unless it's a Panasonix from Aldis, it'll be there. What about your brand new DVR box that was just released within the past year--more recently than the 880 itself? You haven't stumped the thing yet, since new products are continually added to the online database. As for the Kenwald you bought at the dollar store, you can use the IR panel on the base of the 880 to "learn" new commands off the original remote. Meaning the possibilities are endless.

And that's just the beginning! Assuming there are others in the household who are not as nerdy as the individual doing the programming, the 880 comes to the rescue by allowing macros. A macro to "Watch TV", one to "Play Xbox," or "Watch DVD"--anything you can imagine, really. Once the online application has been told which components make up your system, it's smart enough to know basically what will need to happen for any standard macro event. For the first time only, it will walk the user through a series of questions to find out which TV inputs to use, whether anything else needs to be turned on or off, which component should control the volume, etc. Thus, the "Watch DVD" button will perform a simple "Turn on TV, turn on DVD player, turn on stereo, get everything set to the proper inputs, start DVD" sequence with very little extra programming required. You do NOT need to be a rocket scientist to get the 880 to do what you need it to do! (Although you should probably at least have a high school diploma or GED, if not for figuring out your Harmony 880, then just for the self-satisfaction and sense of personal fulfillment an education will provide). However, the macro events are HIGHLY customizable: The touch of a single button can be made to switch channels, screen resolutions, adjust your volume, then wait 10 seconds and execute the "play" command on the DVD player so you don't even have to be bothered to navigate the opening menu if that's what you want. It can do everything but make the popcorn. On second thought, if you had a remote to control the microwave, you could teach the 880 to do that, too!

Customization goes far beyond macros to even allow the user to upload .jpgs for the screen saver, change how bright the backlit display shines, and more. Each device can have several "pages" (display screens) full of learned commands that are assigned customizable titles. No more struggling to remember which non-standard functions are mapped to which pre-fab buttons; you can use a word descriptive of the actual command! Plus, it's just fun to play with all the features via the online interface. It looks very technical. You can imagine that you're doing something productive and worthwhile with your life for a change.

Once it's been set up, the Harmony 880 makes a complicated A/V system simple for anyone--even guests--to operate. Wouldn't it be fun to have someone ask, "Hey, how do I work your TV?" and then you respond, "Duh, push the WATCH TV button!" (Note: not responsible for any physical violence that may ensue). The 880 is helpful, too! If something doesn't work like it was supposed to, there is a "HELP" button that will ask the user step-by-step what went wrong: Is the TV on? Is the TV set to VIDEO 1? Is the DVD player on? Etc. If the answer is "no" at any point along the way, it will correct that problem and ask if you still need help.

... which brings up the few negatives about the 880. The way the macros work, the remote needs to make assumptions about the state of various components in order to execute the proper sequence of commands. It bases the assumptions on it's memory of previous commands. Thus, if you use the 880 to turn on the TV, but use another remote turn it off, the 880 won't know about it. Later when you hit "Watch DVD" on the 880, it will assume the TV is already on and won't include that step in the macro. This issue, although annoying, is easily resolved either through the HELP feature or by using the 880 exclusively to control the system. Or, if things get out of whack, you can manually set the components to match whatever state the 880 believes is correct; for example, turn everything off manually or with other remotes and then point the 880 away (to avoid sending futher signals to the components) while you hit it's giant all-inclusive OFF switch. Now it "thinks" it's turned everything off, so all is well again. It's just a remote, quit confusing the poor thing! Jeez!

Another negative about the Harmony 880 is that it can only do IR signals, not UHF, so line-of-sight must be obtained to control your components. The 890 solved this issue, but unfortunately, was not available right away and thus users who spent mega-bucks to purchase the 880 are screwed. This is inconvenient but probably not a deal-breaker for most potential buyers.

With the highly luminous LCD screen and backlit buttons, you'd think the Harmony 880 would be a battery hog, but it comes with it's own recharagable battery and charging station. The remote actually lasts for quite some time between charges--at least a week, or long enough for this user to forget how long it's been since she last set it on the cradle. Also, the remote will "sleep" until it senses movement, conserving power. And prompting veteran users to shake it awake each time they pick it up, which is amusing from the perspective that "outsiders" would believe you are either threatening it or have some kind of magic powers that cause it to obey. Once the motion sensor is activated, the 880 comes to life and instills awe in anyone who looks upon it.

Overall, the Harmony 880 is awesome. A true replacement option for ALL of your remotes, even the ones with special functionality that other univerals, including other "learning" models, could only replicate poorly at best. Plus, it looks cool and is impressive as hell. Isn't that just as important? Admit it! Admit that you want to be the envy of all your friends!

Reinvigorating a Genre: Half-Life 2 (for Xbox)

The first person shooter genre hasn't thrilled me since the original Quake. Each "new" version was a slightly slicker substitute for the original Doom. That is, until Half-Life came along.

Half-Life was the most fun I had playing a computer game since the early days of DOS games migrating to Windows. It had such a unique premise, and rarely seemed repetitive or cumbersome, or overly frustrating, like virtually every other shooter on the market. After wiping the sweat off my brow and taking several minutes to calm down after my victory over the original Half-Life, I began a search for something else, something new, something equally as enthralling and invigorating as what I had just experienced.

Little came along to fill the capacious void until I spied Half-Life 2 on the shelf of one of the local mega marts.

(Fast forward a week or so while I bought the game on eBay and anxiously waited for the thing to arrive!)

Not since Wing Commander IV (Luke freaking Skywalker versus the Kilrathi!) or Tetris during my college years has a game gotten under my skin so deeply or so completely. I spent more time in front of the TV with a controller in my hand the next week or so than I have at any time in the previous fifteen years. I dreamed Half-Life 2. I positively JONESED for Half-Life 2.

The pro's are numerous. It is NOT repetitive. You get to do many different things besides the cliche "run and shoot". Nor is it necessary to spend frustrating hours sneaking around in the shadows, holding the control stick at the most acute angle possible to get past the bad guys. The weapons are fun. What you can do with one particular weapon is exceptionally fun. (Who doesn't dream about bisecting a room full of zombie critters with a single shot?)The game is challenging, but not daunting. It is clever, scary, immensely interesting, and just darn fun!

The only negative I can come up with is that the final quarter of the game is it's weakest. It starts strong, grows to be one of the best times I've had playing a game, but then just falls off at the end. The end of the game is not at all bad, it just pales in comparison to the rest of the game.

Half-Life 2 comes in at number 3 of my all time favorite non-Zelda non-Mario games. If you're into first-person shooters at all, or have ever considered trying one, I vehemently urge you to RUN not walk and find a copy today!

Liquid Paper DryLine Grip

This handy invention is a God send for all those impatient folk who can't wait 30 seconds for the actual LIQUID form of liquid paper to dry completely before trying to write over it. Simply press the tip of DryLine Grip to paper and draw; a thin, opaque white line obscures the humiliating mistakes you made on those important documents (you nitwit!) and allows for immediate correction.

The Grip fits comfortably in your hand and is embelleshed with finger-sized dents on the top and sides for ease of control. Each roll of DryLine has a surprisingly long life, assuming it isn't being used for the purpose of turning a pad of college-rule into typing paper. The rolls are also supposedly replacable though it might prove difficult to actually find the refills in a store. Just throw it away and swipe another one from the office supply closet, jeez!

Body for LIFE for Women

Clearly, this book is written for women, thus all information contained within is useful only to those lacking the Y-chromosome. Also, the capitalization and italics repeated each and every time the title is written demonstrate just how much purpose is behind each word. Body. for LIFE. for Women.

Written by Dr. Pamela Peeke, "Body for LIFE for Women" is a lifestyle plan that emphasizes regular strength training combined with cardiovascular exercise, relaxation or meditation, and a sensible diet to achieve and maintain a healthy body composition. It has a very no-nonsense approach to these topics; none of the fun and laughs most people have come to associate with books about diet and exercise.

The diet plan is similar to South Beach, minus the lunacy of the so-called "induction phase" of the SBD. You want a piece of fruit? Go for it! Thank goodness it's changed it's evil ways and will no longer gleefully launch buckets of insulin into your blood, which everyone knows can only result in stored fat. No calorie counting required, just simple portion control and regular meals (it is recommended to eat five to six time per day--no skipping breakfast!). Vegetables, fruits, lean meats, low-fat dairy, and "smart" carbs are the building blocks of your Body for LIFE. That's right--you will learn to distinguish "smart" carbs and fats from "junk" carbs and fats. Amazingly, one will kill you and the other won't... but you'll have to read the book to find out which is which!

Dr. Peeke stresses the importance of at least 30 minutes of cardio 3-5 days per week, and 30 minutes of strength training 1-2 times per week, then delves into illustrated examples of what to do with those heavy metal weight-thingys collecting dust in the corner. The front and back pages of the book are covered with before and after shots of women with body-builder physiques--your proof that it only takes as little as 1/2 hour of exercise each day to be on your way to looking like some scary Amazon chick who can strangle life's daily stressor with her bare hands. You won't even need the chapters on meditation and rejuvenation by the time you're through; you can just go rambo on everyone's asses!

One of the more practical diet and exercise books on the market, with the exception of the miracle results it claims to produce in just 12 short weeks. The fine print reveals that a person "may" need more than one 12-week cycle to achieve notable progress. Or to be able to look at any page in the book without being overwhelmed by the gratuitous use of italic font.

Caribou Coffee Vanilla Latte snack bar

It really does taste like coffee! STRONG coffee. Should contain recommended serving suggestion, "Do not consume while drinking coffee. Or whilest coffee in any form is otherwise present within 25 foot radius. You will be sorry."

The Vanilla Latte bar (not pictured) is dipped in vanilla rather than chocolate as shown above. Only slightly affects the overall flavor, which has enough java bean to ninja storm the Starbucks franchise.

At 140 calories and 13 grams of sugar, this bar is the equivalent of a vanilla latte in more ways than one. The convenient part is that it's in solid form. Mmmm, solid form...