The Upright Citizens Brigade - The Complete First Season
by Wea Corp
Average Customer Review:
DVD (04 November, 2003)
list price: $29.99 -- our price: $23.99
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Features

• Color

Reviews (56)

Buy It... Do it!
I already own it, I want you to buy it so they will release later seasons.That's not to say that you get nothing out of the deal, you get season one of the funniest show ever.Season one is hilarious, there are so many classic jokes in here.My personal favorite episode is "Bucket of Truth", I like it for the hot chicks room that only men can open the door to, the hilarious portrayal of unibomber, and of course, the emotionally scarred cop, Captain LuNatic, who has his son dance for him like his wife used to.It's hilarious... and this is just one episode.

What seperates this from other sketch comedies is that this is not done live, so you get the best take every time.Also, rather than an incoherent array of semi-funny sketches interrupted by a musical performance or two and everybody saying goodnight at the end... every sketch is funny, and the very end has all of the sketches from that episode come together in a usually seemless and always hilarious fashion.

Buy it.... you'll love it.

SEASON TWO NOW!!!
I saw a few episodes on comedy cenral a couple of weeks ago and i am a HUGE fan of amy poehler so i bought the dvd not thinking i would instantly fall in love. The comentary alone is amazing, they are all so talented and wonderful. everyone go out and buy this NOW! Oh and if comedy cental is listening SEASON TWO NOW!!!

dont use ass pennies !!!
wow ...this show has given me a WHOLE NEW INSIGHT on humor !!!This being said, I have about 200 inside jokes with my friends, that all originate from U.C.B.If you havent seen this show, (or heard of it for that matter) then I strongly advise you to buy it.but unhumorous people beware !!!this is LOL funny !!! ... Read more

Asin: B0000DJYNE
Sales Rank: 3001
Subjects:  1. Television   

Play Poker Like the Pros
by HarperResource
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (06 May, 2003)
list price: $15.95 -- our price: $10.85
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Reviews (125)

I'm Not A Pro But I Have Improved(4.5 Stars)
These negative reviews are out of place. Phil Hellmuth proposes some essential strategies, while letting us know that they will not work at all times. The key idea he presents in this novel is that there are many different approaches to Poker as well as different games for poker. He takes us through NL and PL Hold 'em, Omaha, and 7 Card Stud.

This is a good book for beginners in that a lightly takes you through the basics of Poker. At the time of my purchase, I had already been very familiar with Texas Hold 'em, however hadn't yet played Omaha or 7 Card. His guide taught me how to play these games. There is some great analysis for how to take control of a hand with certain cards, stealing the blinds, smooth calling, Jamming the Pot, bluffing, Reading your opponents, suited connectors, protecting your hand etc. I have certainly improved, however some of these strategies I have found difficult to adapt to since I play alot of Play Money online poker where it is much more difficult to steal blinds and bluff.

Nevertheless, I think it is a great poker book written by one of the best players in the World, and he gives very insightful passages on the game, as well as excellent examples of certain hands he faced against opponents and what happened. I will recommend to beginners, and intermediate poker players like nyself. For those who are advanced, it could be a questionable buy.

Very disappointed
I started playing poker about 6 months ago, and decided to buy this book to learn some new strategies.I am very disappointed with the book.Yes, Phil likes to compliment himself quite a bit, but that is not what bothers me about the book.I like to play No Limit Hold'em and Phil barely talks about this game in the book!It is the most popular game out there right now, and he mainly talks about Limit Hold'em.

I mainly play tournament games, and he had a whole chapter on Limit Hold'em tournament strategy, but NO information on No Limit Hold'em tournament strategy!I feel like I just completely wasted my money.

Great book for when you first start
I think that it is a good book for when you do first start out.I had read other books and had gotten an okay feel for the game.I picked up this book and I learned a lot.If your an advanced player this book probably wouldn't be useful but when you first start it helps.The "Top Ten Hand" strategy is one that when you start out in Hold 'Emhelps you to start winning consistently.Of course having to fold a lot of hands can get boring and playing that way makes you too predictable, a point that is made in the book. You have to play other hands to mix things up and win. The section on Omaha hi/lo was useful in that it showed that Hellmuthhad to go to other pros to get help with strategy, so that if at first you don't seem to understand the game that you not alone.Ilearn a lotabout Omaha Hi/Lo but not as I learned about Hold 'Em but it was a start. Besides if your buying this your probably buying this book for the Hold 'Em.
... Read more

Isbn: 0060005726
Sales Rank: 1760
Subjects:  1. Card Games - General    2. Card Games - Poker    3. Games    4. Games / Gamebooks / Crosswords    5. Games/Puzzles    6. Indoor Games    7. Poker    8. Games / Gambling / Table   

Mr. Show - The Complete First and Second Seasons
by HBO Home Video
Average Customer Review:
DVD (04 June, 2002)
list price: $34.98 -- our price: $31.48
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Editorial Review

Hey, everybody, it's Bob and David on DVD! In 1995 comics Bob Odenkirk and David Cross were simply "two people you've never seen before." Since then, each has insidiously entered the mainstream with appearances on TV (Just Shoot Me, The Drew Carey Show) and movies (Scary Movie 2, Dr. Dolittle 2, Men in Black 2). But to quote Odenkirk's bio (which is included on the first disc), Mr. Show is the thing you should see if you want to check them out. Like the late, lamented The Ben Stiller Show, on which both toiled, and Monty Python before that, this midnight-hour HBO series gave a subversive twist to the traditional sketch comedy series. Classic characters include Cross's white-trash poster boy Ronnie Dobbs, the superstar arrestee on a "Cops"-like TV show. Totally out of left field is an infomercial for an instructional video series by "Van Hammersly, Champion Billiard Player," who at one point re-creates the 1974 Kentucky Derby with billiard balls (one of the equines is named "If Mandy Patinkin Was a Horse"). Punch lines? Mr. Show doesn't need no stinking punch lines, as one sketch flows into another.

Bob and David are ably supported by, among others, Second City veteran Jill Talley, Tom Kenny (the voice of Spongebob Squarepants!), Brian Posehn (the creepy guy on Just Shoot Me), Mary-Lynn Rajskub (from The Larry Sanders Show), Sarah Silverman ("Greg the Bunny"), and a pre-Saturday Night Live Jerry Minor, who enlivens one episode commentary with an impeccable Billy Dee Williams imitation. As with the Velvet Underground’s following, Mr. Show fans make up with fervor what they lack in numbers. According to Mr. Show’s own Web site, "non-fans outnumber our fans by the cajillions," but this essential set should change that. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Box set

Reviews (176)

Sad songs are nature's onions.
This is the fourth time I have watched this first and second season of Mr. Show, and I must admit, it is one of those rare programs that continues to get funnier and funnier each time that you watch it.Literally, you catch something new and fresh each time it is placed inside of your DVD player.What makes this series work better than most other television comedies out there is the chemistry of the cast.Bob Odenkirk and David Cross are perfectly matched while also being completely random choices for the hosts of the show.I had not heard about either of them before watching this series (which I bought due to a recommendation from a friend), now I have watched Melvin Goes to Dinner several times and listened to David Cross' stand-up comedy whenever I need a very social pick-me-up!Needless to say, I have full submersed myself into their world after watching this groundbreaking series.

What continues to work with this program is that the jokes are not your typical slapstick humor that the average "Joe" can get from watching reruns of Friends on NBC.Mr. Show is hard hitting, in your face, political, yet not so political, social satire about the world around us.While you may just see this as just another comedy show, I see it as so much more.The cohesiveness of the skits and the underlying message throughout each show seem to represent the voices that we hear coming from our local papers on a daily basis.They are not afraid to take a delicate issue and twist it into a hysterical moment.The brutal honesty of David Cross makes this show thoroughly enjoyable while the approachable Bob Odenkirk brings it to our level.Also, the interweaving of comic geniuses throughout the show keeps you wanting more.Jack Black is a regular on the program (and really proves why he is funny), and there are appearances by Dave Foley, Sarah Silverman, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Patton Oswalt, Julia Sweeney, Janeane Garofalo, Ben Stiller, Conan O'Brien, and Andy Richter. This is not a show for everyone, but it does showcase the beauty of HBO and the ability that they have to see, and go forward, with avant-garde comedy.

My favorite episodes were the News Report featured in the extras, Operation Hell on Earth, and If You're Going to Write a Comedy Scene, You're Going to Have Some Rat Feces in There, and the infamous milk machine joke song with Jack Black! Utterly hysterical. (no pun intended)

This DVD set of the first and second seasons is packaged very well.With every season uncensored (were they ever with HBO), you get Mr. Show as it should be and will always be remembered.It also is chalked full of extras that will quench every drop of Mr. Show that resides in you.The news report that they do in the extras portion of this DVD is worth buying alone.Again, it shows the creativity and originality of a program that knew no boundaries.I cannot wait to get my hands on the other seasons and fully explore the world in which I live ... which is the world showcased continually on Mr. Show.The absurdity of our culture is redefined with this program.

Grade: ***** out of *****

Kedzie Matthews is a douche
The episodes are great, don't get me wrong, BUT THE COMMENTARY IS AWFUL, especially when Kedzie Matthews is talking.I hope he's reading this review, b/c he's the dumbest, most unfunny comic ever.He can't seem to stop talking despite NOT being in ANY of these episodes.SHUT UP KEDZIE.

Buy this wonderful DVD now!
I started watching Mr Show on HBO in it's 3rd season on HBO and loved it.I ran accross the DVD for seasons 1 & 2 together and in a fit of nostalgia decided to get it.It was on of the best DVD purchases I've ever made.These men are geniuses, although not everybody gets their brand of comedy.It was fun seeing Jack Black on one of the early episodes as well. ... Read more

Asin: B00005Y3ZL
Subjects:  1. Television   

The Theory of Poker
by Two Plus Two Pub.
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (December, 1994)
list price: $29.95 -- our price: $19.77
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Reviews (54)

High Stakes
A very revealing book that is so easy to read. It is one of the best poker books in the market. Fools Die, Disciples of Fortune are titles, which show that life is a gamble.Revealed a lot about the game.

one of the best
I have read a lot of poker books and I have acquired a good understanding of strategy in conjuction with other texts, especially from applied mathematics and gambling psychology. This book explains in depth the strategy, reading hands and even psychology in an enjoyable manner. But I think it still has no full coverage of odds calulus and interpretation and math behind the poker. I found Catalin Barboianu's "Texas Hold'em Odds" far superior on this count. I recommend it as a completion for this book.

The best book for experts
The Theory of Poker is the best book written on poker.
You will not find information on how to play specific hands but you will find the theory that will teach you how to think-and that is more important.
Unless your are a poker expert The book requires studying for many hours and quite a lot of readings.
The book writes about every poker theory you need (pot odds, effective odds, implied odds........).
This should be your second book not the first one
If you have poker experience and comprehend some poker books, this is the book for you.
... Read more

Isbn: 1880685000
Sales Rank: 109
Subjects:  1. Card Games - Poker    2. Gambling - Card Games    3. Games    4. Games / Gamebooks / Crosswords    5. Games/Puzzles    6. Poker    7. Card Games    8. Gambling   

Live 2003 (CD & DVD)
by Capitol
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (04 November, 2003)
list price: $24.98 -- our price: $22.99
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Editorial Review

Riding high on the phenomenal success of A Rush of Blood to the Head, Coldplay is in peak form on Coldplay Live 2003. This CD/DVD two-pack was filmed (on Super-16mm film) and recorded in Sydney's Horden Pavilion on July 21 and 22, 2003, during an exhaustive year-long world tour, and the medium-sized arena provides a fitting stage for the London-based rock quartet, not so grand as to overwhelm the music, but large enough to indicate their large and loyal following, which includes enthusiastic fans of either gender. Especially when played in DTS 5.1 surround, this 90-minute concert is richer, thicker, and (of course) louder than Coldplay's studio recordings, lending a wall-of-sound expansiveness to the band's signature sound, which draws from such diverse influences as Genesis, Pink Floyd, The Verve, U2, and their own unique sonic landscape. "Politik" gets the gig off to a rousing start, and other impressive!highlights include "Daylight," "Yellow," the as-yet-unreleased new song "Moses," and the popular hits "In My Place," "Clocks," and "The Scientist." And while the concert visuals are slick and professional (perhaps placing a bit too much emphasis on singer/frontman Chris Martin), this DVD and CD--the latter containing a truncated 70-minute version of the same performance--are best appreciated for their pristine audio quality. Culled from 400 hours of home video, the 40-minute "concert diary" represents a wasted opportunity, enjoyable for hardcore fans but offering no insight into the band or its individual members. Much better, then, to play the concert at healthy high volume, and appreciate Coldplay in the prime of their young career. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (73)

Truly amazing.
After I hearing this cd for the first time, I went out and bought tickets for the next Coldplay concert in Buffalo.Quite frankly, there isn't one Coldplay that is below average.Some people say this music is too mellow, but the way I describe is with an oxymoron: "intense-mellow" music....you will agree with me if you really enjoy this music as much as I do.If you're new to coldplay, go out and buy Parachutes or A Rush Of Blood To The Head before getting this cd.

I like their albums better but........
Overall their albums are better. I want to see this band live but I have a feeling their more of an album band instead of a live act. Its very mellow. Sometimes too mellow. However each song is great.

Like Radiohead...
...this is just terrible whining! Why they make this kind of sh**??? People listening to this album? Oh my...I have to go now! ... Read more

Asin: B0000DJZA0
Subjects:  1. Britpop    2. Dream Pop    3. Pop    4. Post-Grunge    5. Rock   

Mr. Show - The Complete Third Season
Average Customer Review:
DVD (26 August, 2003)
list price: $34.98 -- our price: $31.48
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Editorial Review

Who knew that the "Ratings Man," repository of all records concerning television viewership, is actually Santa Claus? Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, stars of the frequently inspired sketch-comedy program Mr. Show, did, and they've got an absurdist skit to prove it on this DVD collection.

Culled from Bob and David's 1997 appearances on HBO, The Complete Third Season includes the wonderful "Hail Satan Network" (a "Praise the Lord" for devil-worshippers), bogus movie-of-the-week "The Bob Lamonta Story" (about an athlete with retarded parents), a Beatles parody ("The Fad 3"), and the hilarious "Hunger Strike" (in which a starving, Gandhi-esque leader wishes to be buried in mashed potatoes).Cross proves a superior performer who salvages several underdeveloped bits, while Odenkirk demonstrates fierce gifts as a mimic. (His puerile, Strom Thurmond-like senator is right on the money.) Don't miss the "Fantastic Newness" special feature, which includes brilliant highlights from Mr. Show's first season. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned

Reviews (44)

Careful: Will Cause Laughter
Mr. Show, season Three, is quite possibly one of the funniest things you will ever see. Unless you're blind, then you're SOL.

The mad minds behind the first two brilliant seasons, Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, return to reprise their roles as "Bob" and "David" (apart from understudy Kedzie Matthews, who takes over for Bob when he has to go shopping). They bring the funny, they make you laugh, they make you wonder how such a glorious creation could exist in the absence of a just and caring God.

Quite simply, this is the finest American sketch comedy I've ever seen (and yes, I have seen Mad TV). If you want smart, savvy, hip and hilarious comedy...this will have to do. No, it's better than that. It will change your life.

I used to be in debt all the time, then I got Mr. Show...I'm still in debt, but the laughter they elicit in me distracts from my gnawing hunger pains!

Anyway, get this when you can (preferably before the Rapture)

Very funny; but you might not like it
I really love the Mr. Show series.The sketch comedy is absolutely great, but many of my friends haven't enjoyed it as much as I have.The humor is a mix of corny and intellectual, and the stories aren't as fast moving as some comedy today.If you are patient with your humor, you will like this, and if this seemed to slow for you, try Chappelles show intead.

As good as Seasons 1 & 2
Season 3 of Mr. Show is about as good as Seasons 1 & 2. The proportion of brilliant bits to bits that don't work is about the same. I was slightly disappointed, because I thought things would get tighter and better, but still, everything is pretty good.

The commentary tracks are excellent. They don't resort to the "Guest Commentator" thing (where a cast member pretends to be one of their characters from the show) as much, and when they do, it's not as cheesy. There's the usual portion of worthless onscreen trivia ("It was really hot that day."), but there's also a lot about bits they loved, bits they hated, bits that didn't quite work, and why.

The bonus features are short and almost worthless. There are two lame joke biographies, apparently extracted from Bob & David like a homework assignment, a "Best of Mr. Show" feature that collects clips from seasons 1 & 2 (which you've probably already seen, if you bought season 3), and a few funny clips from an HBO-sponsored comedy festival.

If you're a Mr. Show fan, it's worth buying just for the commentaries. ... Read more

Asin: B00009W8JZ
Subjects:  1. Television   

Zen and the Art of Poker : Timeless Secrets to Transform Your Game
by Plume
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 November, 1999)
list price: $14.00 -- our price: $11.20
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Reviews (15)

Waste of Time
This book is helpful if you really have trouble managing your emotions at the poker table.It's more of a "chicken soup..." type book than a book that can lead to improved poker play, that is, unless you're having trouble with the emotions of the game.It's not even an enjoyable read.Read "Zen and the Martial Arts" by Joe Hyams if you're looking for a good zen book, and basically any other poker book if you're looking to master poker concepts.

It took 192 pages to make a simple point
Stay calm. No matter what happens, stay cool when you win and lose. It takes practice to control your emotions and that is the basis of this entire book. I think that if you had some time on your hands, and didn't mind wasting a couple of bucks, than I am sure that you will enjoy it, but I wouldn't recommend it. There are some concepts that you MIGHT find helpful, but you have to sort through all of the non-essential info first.

Remember: This is MY opinion of the book! I am not much of a critic either.

A different kind of strategy book
Once you've memorized the starting hands chart in a Sklansky book and learned how to calculate odds, you still have a long way to go to be a great poker player.
In this book, the author stresses letting go of ego, not letting emotions rule your game, and not allowing yourself to go on tilt.
Let's face it: your aces get cracked, and the next hand, you hold some piece of cheese that you normally would muck, but because you just got a bad beat, you're looking to put a beat on someone else.This usually leads to you losing another stack of chips.
Once you've learned more about tapping into the Zen of poker, you're one step closer to playing winning poker. ... Read more

Isbn: 0452281261
Sales Rank: 13265
Subjects:  1. Card Games - General    2. Card Games - Poker    3. Eastern - Zen    4. Games    5. Games / Gamebooks / Crosswords    6. Games/Puzzles    7. Poker    8. Psychological aspects    9. Zen Buddhism    10. Games / General   

Pearl Jam - Live at the Garden
by Sony Music Entertain
Average Customer Review:
DVD (11 November, 2003)
list price: $19.98 -- our price: $17.98
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Features

• Color

Reviews (51)

The ULTIMATE PJ DVD Experience!
I thought "Touring Band 2000" was good, but this is so awesome that words simply can't describe it. I was a bit reluctant to ask for it for Christmas '03 at first because I wasn't sure how many "repeated" songs were on it from "TB2000". But to my pleasure, the only repeats (and they were actually even better) were "Grievance", "Even Flow", "Lukin", "Daughter", "Better Man", "Rearviewmirror", "Wishlist", and "Do The Evolution". All the rest are other mind-blowing tracks from all of their epic albums from "Ten" to "Lost Dogs". This concert was during their "Riot Act" tour, so there are fortunately a lot of songs from that awesome album. If you liked their latest material, you'll absolutely love this DVD. They also performed several other impressive numbers that have never been filmed before, such as "In My Tree", "Breath", "Yellow Ledbetter", "Low Light", and "Indifference" to name a few. However, in my opinion, the ONE song performance that was icing on the cake was the emotionally POWERFUL and one of my all time favorites, "Black". WOW!!! Words can't describe what seeing that segment does for me. Simply Beautiful!! PJ also performs a few really good covers, like "Gimme Some Truth", "Crown of Thorns", "Crazy Mary", "Sonic Reducer", and "Baba O' Riley". They all show PJ's umatched talent of covering songs, and they flow nicely with the bands original material. They also had newcomer organ player from Hawaii, Boom Gaspar, who really knows how to play. But for some reason the crowd doesn't seem to like him a whole lot- you'll see how when you watch and listen. I'm not sure why- his touch on the organ seems to flow nicely with PJ's unique blend of music. As for all the players, this concert really showcases their talent. Jeff Ament is incredible with bass, Mike Mccready demonstrates why he is becoming a legendary lead guitarist; he just closes his eyes and looks ups and envelopes himself in the "zone", Stone Gossard works his guitar with ease and his talent on shaping and writing songs is evident in a few numbers, Matt Cameron is simply a phenominal drummer who is truly a pleasure to watch, and ofcourse you have our main man Eddie with his unstoppable voice that I can never get tired of. Musician and big fan, Ben Harper, also shows up on "Daughter" and "Indifference" and offers his vocal ability, and also statesTHE truth of truths, that "Pearl Jam is the GREATEST band in the WORLD". The Bonus Features on this set are to die for; "Throw Your Arms Around Me" with actual writer Mark Seymour is truly a treat to watch and listen to, as is "Dead Man", an Eddie Vedder accoustic solo that also appears on "Lost Dogs". "Bushleaguer" is entertaining to watch as the band makes fun of Bush, "Fortunate Son" is a fun little cover with clips of "Heart" and other groups playing on stage alongside PJ, "Down" is an up-beat number that didn't make "Riot Act", and "All Those Yesterdays" closes the Bonus features as it did with "Yield", showing clips of the band and crew on the road. Ending the actual concert is ofcourse, "Yellow Ledbetter", which has sort of become a traditional concert closer. I was so happy with this this 2-DVD set that I couldn't get enough of it. Hell, I still can't- it never gets old and it is a must-have for any PJ fan. A major treat that only improves upon their "TB2000" DVD. As most of their material, WORTH EVERY PENNY. Rock on, PEARL JAM!!!

They used to be alot better live.
And please don't think that many are expecting their long hair performances from the "EVEN FLOW" video clip, but remember that Pearl Jam are suppossed to be exciting live and this DVD, as nicely packaged as it is, is terrible.

The performance is the problem.
Eddie Vedder, you'd think could move around a bit more, and sing with a bit more emotion instead of just stumbling into the microphone face first. (he also looks like he's put on to much weight since the 2000 binural tour, and looks weird with short hair and no beard?) not to be a whiner here but a bands image is important too.

Rockstars are'nt suppossed to dress like everyday people innice tidy polo shirts?
Matt cameron does a great job on drums, as for the organ player ........this band are really taking an odd direction and its not really neccesary.

Hopefully they can step it up a bit next time.
They really should release one of their live shows from 1994 or 1995 on DVD.

Lukin alone is worth it
I had never seen a Pearl Jam concert before viewing this and was wary to buy it. I ended up taking the plunge and rushed home to pop it in. It's way better than I expected. I had always heard Pearl Jam was a band that proved themselves through their performances and I finally understand why. All the songs are performed amazingly, they don't follow the exact version of a few songs like on their CDs but they add something extra to them to make them special. While the footage is pretty raw, you get the general feel of a Pearl Jam concert. You feel the intensity, you see the passion, you can tell they love what they do.

Most of their huge hits are played, but Dissident is mysteriously missing. That's the only thing missing from this wonderful collection. Other than that one song, they highlight their career very well. I really liked Gimme Some Truth, I think Ed was particularly intense on this song. I was glad to see Lukin was on here. While it is a very short song, it's a song I felt they played perfectly. The songs where Ben Harper sang were nice, but I would have rather heard Ed alone. He does have a great voice though, so they are worth a listen. The little conversation between some songs is nice, I especially liked the conversation after Do The Evolution (which is definitely one of the best on here). The fact that they're not afraid to play slower songs in concert is also nice, most bands would only play their heaviest, fastest material.

Overall this is definitely worth the price. You get a high energy performance by one of the best bands in years. The bonus features are a nice addition as well. This is a performance worthy of DVD viewing and worthy of the infamous Madison Square Garden. ... Read more

Asin: B0000TG9V0
Sales Rank: 15485
Subjects:  1. Music Video - Pop/Rock   

Strangers With Candy - Season One
by Wea Corp
Average Customer Review:
DVD (17 June, 2003)
list price: $29.99 -- our price: $22.49
(price subject to change: see help)
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Features

• Color

Reviews (85)

Wickedly Funny
Totally inappropriate and off-color, bordering on offensive, and always absolutely hilarious.

Comedy Central is famous for producing shows that are either outrageously funny or painfully boring. "Strangers With Candy" tops out the list of the Best Comedy Central has ever put out.

Amy Sedaris is hilarious. Just the facial expression she wears from episode to episode is in itself sheer comedy, not to mention the horrific wardrobe she parades each week (acid-wash coveralls, anyone?). The writing on the show is both low-brow and subtly clever at the same time.

Each episode runs like an after-school special on acid, exploiting the hinjinx and lessons learned by Jerri Blank, a 46-year-old high school freshman settling back into the grind after 32 years spent as a high school runaway. The premise alone is genius. Some highlights include taking care of a live baby (who works on a rotated schedule) for a Home Ec project, overdosing a cheerleader, contracting anorexia to make the required weight for the Debate Team, and reuniting with her long lost son (after an inadvertently incestuous romantic development).

Sedaris' supporting cast are each perfect in their own right. Living with her callous step-mother, whose character must be at least 10 years younger than our own Jerri Blank, and with her bully teen-age step brother, the family dynamics are so skewed, but yet such a wicked portrayal of true American family life.

Requires a warped sense of humor; akin to Napolean Dynamite, Arrested Development, and Reno 911.

This is one to put into your permanent collection.

Cheap as dirt, with nonsensical plot points , like A.S.S.'s
Yes, After School Specials.This is probably one of the shows that is better on VHS because the worn tapes because so much funnier given their low production look and feel.Given that, it's one of the funniest shows ever because, like all sketch comedy, it goes too far, but it's satiric aim is dead on.The only reason this series didn't take off is that it's dramatic effect is so arcane that many who see it for the first time willbe shocked, or disgusted by what they see and not watch it again. Well, even those who like the show are sometimes shocked and disgusted, but the show more than makes up for it by being absolutely hysterical and featuring performers who can improvise on a dime and have wits like razors.The same can be said of the writers.When you combine these two elements you get a timeless show and this is the beginning.Enjoy

dear real diary...
This is definitely the most hilarious (non-animated) sitcom series I've ever seen.After all the cheesily formulated, badly scripted, family oriented after-school dramas and sitcoms which has been pumped out year after year - trying to re-educate the impressionable youth (particularly rich white suburban kids) about finding a true sense of direction and morality, etc, whilst also trying to be 'entertaining' for braindead Christian families - this show was just begging to be made.If the style of humour in shows such as South Park and Family Guy appeals to you, chances are you'll probably enjoy this one.If you don't end up loving it you'll at least appreciate the satire, characterization and randomness all in impeccable timing.One episode alone contains enough original and biting material to stay in your head for weeks.Just watch for Jerri's rubber-faced expressions and reactions - a killer!! ... Read more

Asin: B00009B8FW
Sales Rank: 2104
Subjects:  1. Television   

Lost Dogs
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (11 November, 2003)
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Reviews (152)

It's hard to imagine...
Pearl Jam are all in all, the most consistent and lasting grunge band of all time. Every other band to be born out of the music scene in the early 90s has faded away, some tragically. Alice In Chains, Nirvana, and Smashing Pumpkins all were all destroyed by heroin (Jimmy Chamberlian being cut from the Smashing Pumpkins counts, and lets face the truth, Adore and MACHINA are no Gish, Siamese Dream, and Mellon Collie.) Eddie Vedder and his cronies however still stand today.

With a lasting career in music and a large range of songs and albums, Pearl Jam have come a long way in their career. Today, Eddie and co. are the same band they were in 91, but indredibly matured musically. With grunge albums Ten and Vs., cryptic and daring albums like Vitalogy and No Code, the upbeat Yield, the spaced out Binaural, and the gritty Riot Act, their is a wealth of b-sides that have been below the surface of their releases for years, which show who Pearl Jam really are at the core.

Lost Dogs is an amazing compilation because it shows who Pearl Jam are and what they are all about, greater than any A-side track in their career. We see sides of Pearl Jam that have never been seen by the public eye before, and this is the sound of who Pearl Jam really are below the serious shell we've seen all along.

Disc One has all the rockers. Songs like All Night, Undone, Down, Black, Red, and Yellow, Hitchiker, and Don't Gimme No Lip, are songs where Pearl Jam show their hidden rocking, and upbeat side. Down is the greatest example, a song where you could picture Vedder having a fun time in the studio with the band. Gremmie Out Of Control and Leavin' Here are other great examples, where the band is even humurous. These songs were made you could tell, written when the band couldn't help but fool around and have fun in the studio like a teenage garage band, excited about stardom.

Disc Two has all the slow, acoustic, melodic songs, these are beatiful songs that just couldn't fit the sound of any of their albums, songs one could play around a bond-fire. Fatal is one of the best songs, and well worth the price of the album. Along with the two best songs of Pearl Jam's career, Footsteps and the incredible Hard To Imagine. Hard To Imagine defines Pearl Jam better than any other song of their career, it is a slow-building epic song, featuring aspects of everything the band has covered throughout seven studio albums. Vedder's voice start out soft and melodic like his later music, and then builds to an anthemic chant that reminds one of Ten and Vs.

All in all, this is one of hell of a cd. This is the album that started me off with Pearl Jam, and it is a great place to start. This album shows that Pearl Jam are not just serious about music, that is only the surface of them.

Pearl Jam Taking Care Of Their Fans
Pearl Jam does the rarities record with the same style and class that they lend to all of their releases. This two-disc set is loaded with some of their best work. This band has not been greedy about giving some of their best songs away as charity album contributions or releasing them as B-sides. Also unbelievably, they have left some of their best songs off their official releases because they did not fit the flow of the album (this is not boasting, the proof is here).

Honestly, I have not gotten to the bottom of this set yet, it is the kind of recording that you can come back to over the months and years and always find new things to appreciate. Just off the top of my head, the tip of the iceberg of treasures collected here include:

Yellow Ledbetter: (perhaps THE fan favorite)
Leavin' Here: (Wherein Eddie first reveals his love of the early Who)
Hitchhiker (Currently my favorite song on the record)
Gremmie Out of Control (goofy surf tune)

As other reviewers have mentioned, the detailed liner notes are the icing on the cake. Eddie is a giant Pete Townsend fan and you know he had one eye on the Scoop records and the expanded Odds & Sods when the band was formulating this great release.

PJ's Double Rarities Album will BLOW YOUR MIND!!!
As if 6.5 awesome albums (Vitalogy's their only WEAK link) wasn't enough for crazed fans, the MIGHTY Pearl Jam gives us a gift for Christmas '03: "Lost Dogs"! What a TREAT!! I am in complete AWE of this UNBELIEVABLE collection of both old and new Pearl Jam B-sides. And yes, just one CD would make me happy, but they gave us a DOUBLE dose of awesome material, 90% of which should've made all their studio albums!! If you are a TRUE Pearl Jam fan, this is a MUST HAVE, HANDS DOWN! Your PJ collection, no matter how awesome you may think it is, IS NOT COMPLETE without "Lost Dogs", PERIOD! There are simply too many awesome songs on here to go over, so I'll just randomly pick a few. "Sad" has got an intense feel to it, from noneother than "Binaural", "Down" is a real up-beat song, one that almost made "Riot Act", "Alone" is a track that says "Ten" all over it, "You" has got a real beautiful sound from the "Yield" sessions, "Whale Song" is TRUELY unique and unlike anything else they've ever done, "Hold On" is one of my favorites from the "Vs" sessions because it gives me a chill every time, "Yellow Ledbetter" is a CLASSIC from noneother than "Ten" that seems to close alot of concerts, "Other Side" is just touching, "Footseps" is another classic from the "Ten" era, "Strangest Tribe" is plain BEAUTIFUL, "Last Kiss" is one of the band's most well known covers, and "Brother" is an AWESOME instrumental. To top all that off, there is also a hidden track at the very end (give it a minute or two) entitled "4/20/02" (I think) that is a tribute to Layne Stayley. So, that's just a little of what's in store with "Lost Dogs". Only a FEW are actually songs that you have no problem understanding why they didn't make an album, but that just makes the whole experience interesting. This classic compilation comes with a booklet that has a small story behind each song. And OFCOURSE, you will find that there are ZERO songs from the "Vitalogy" era (what a RELIEF!). What does that tell you about "Vitalogy"?? But despite putting out a mediocre album back in '94, the world's GREATEST rock group continues putting out one fantasic album after another, and now we have a double-rarities album to top it all off. "Lost Dogs" is ESSENTIAL to any serious fan, and I highly recommend it! Some new-comers may not get it at first, but die-hard fans will cherish it forever. ... Read more

Asin: B0000DYJM6
Sales Rank: 1750
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Grunge    3. Hard Rock    4. Pop    5. Rock   

The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition)
by New Line Home Entertainment
Average Customer Review:
DVD (18 November, 2003)
list price: $39.99 -- our price: $29.99
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Editorial Review

The extended edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was perhaps the most comprehensive DVD release to date, and its follow-up proves a similarly colossal achievement, with significant extra footage and a multitude of worthwhile bonus features. The extended version of The Two Towers adds 43 minutes to the theatrical version's 179-minute running time, and there are valuable additions to the film.Two new scenes might appease those who feel that the characterization of Faramir was the film's most egregious departure from the book, and fans will appreciate an appearance of the Huorns at Helm's Deep plus a nod to the absence of Tom Bombadil.Seeing a little more interplay between the gorgeous Eowyn and Aragorn is welcome, as is a grim introduction to Eomer and Theoden's son.And among the many other additions, there's an extended epilogue that might not have worked in the theater, but is more effective here in setting up The Return of the King.While the 30 minutes added to The Fellowship of the Ring felt just right in enriching the film, the extra footage in The Two Towers at times seems a bit extraneous--we see moments that in the theatrical version we had been told about, and some fleshed-out conversations and incidents are rather minor.But director Peter Jackson's vision of J.R.R. Tolkien's world is so marvelous that it's hard to complain about any extra time we can spend there.

While it may seem that there would be nothing left to say after the bevy of features on the extended Fellowship, the four commentary tracks and two discs of supplements on The Two Towers remain informative, fascinating, and funny, far surpassing the recycled materials on the two-disc theatrical version.Highlights of the 6.5 hours' worth of documentaries offer insight on the stunts, the design work, the locations, and the creation of Gollum, and--most intriguing for rabid fans--the film's writers (including Jackson) discuss why they created events that weren't in the book. Providing variety are animatics, rough footage, countless sketches, and a sound-mixing demonstration.Again, the most interesting commentary tracks are by Jackson and writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens and by 16 members of the cast (eight of whom didn't appear in the first film, and even including John Noble, whose Denethor character only appears in this extended cut).The first two installments of Peter Jackson's trilogy have established themselves as the best fantasy films of all time, and among the best film trilogies of all time, and their extended-edition DVD sets have set a new standard for expanding on the already-epic films and providing comprehensive bonus features.--David Horiuchi ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Widescreen
• Box set
• Dolby
• DTS Surround Sound

Reviews (1928)

Better than the first. Still part of single great work.
`The Two Towers' is the second of the three movies capturing the novel, `Lord of the Rings' by philologist J. R. R. Tolkien. This is one of the most influential popular novels of the 20th century. Other bases of big motion pictures such as `Ben-Hur' and `Gone With the Wind' can't hold a candle to it as it had an influence far beyond its role as the basis for a movie script. For starters, `Lord of the Rings' has had a large and growing readership from its original publication in the mid 1950s to the present, while I suspect practically no one reads Lew Wallace's `Ben-Hur' any more and few people have recently read Margaret Mitchell's `Gone With the Wind'. Another `Lord of the Rings' offspring is the whole `Dungeons and Dragons' role playing games phenomenon. This game originally appeared a few years after the second blooming of `Lord of the Rings' popularity in 1965, when the books were published in paperback by Houghton Mifflin in response to a pirated copy published by Ace. This is when I first became enraptured by the stories of Middle Earth.

It is impossible to speak of any one of the three movies by themselves as they do not in the usual sense of the word form a trilogy of three independent films related by common characters, location, and history. `The Lord of the Rings' was a single novel which was serialized in three volumes published over two and a half years in the mid 1950's. When the three titles are published in a single volume, it is not hard to see that the work is really not much longer than `Gone With the Wind' and it is certainly shorter than some notable novels such as `Atlas Shrugged'. One virtue we did get from the division into three titles by Tolkien is that Peter Jackson had a valid basis on which to split a single story into three long movies totaling close to 10 hours of viewing time.

Unlike the movies of the first and third books, almost every major scene of the book `The Two Towers', is captured in the movie. The chapters of Merry and Pippin with Treebeard and the Ents are shortened a bit. Seems as if the Ents are much too slow for 21st century cinema. One thing the movie did get wrong in its promotional artwork is the suggestion that the two towers of the title were Orthanc and Baradur, the fortress of Sauron. Actually, the second tower of the title is Minas Morgul, the city of Gondor, originally named Minas Ithil, but renamed when the Nazgul captured it several years before the start of the events in `Lord of the Rings'. Minas Morgul plays a much bigger role in the middle of the story than does Sauron's stronghold. Part of this change of tower may be due to the fact that some of the action involving Minas Morgul was moved to the third movie, `The Return of the King'.

The only piece of action I really miss is the role of Fangorn in the defeat of the besiegers of the Hornburg. And, in one of the very rare Peter Jackson additions to the story, I thought the skirmish between the Rohrrim / Aragorn and Saruman's warg riders was great cinema action, but just too much of a replay of Gandalf at the bridge in Moria, where a principle character is thought to have been killed and lost.

I have read `The Lord of the Rings' at least 10 times, and the story of Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli from the banks of the Anduin to the victory at the Hornburg is by far one of my favorite parts of the novel. Treebeard comes in a close second, as he is a part of the same ancient history of Middle Earth to which only the faintest hints are given in the stories of Fangorn, The Old Forest by the Shire, and Tom Bombadil. Basically, Bombadil and the Ents stand for what is most worth saving from the evil of Sauron. This innocence is something that is tainted even in the sheltered lives of the Hobbits.

In contrast, after about the third or fourth reading, I often became anxious to get through the chapters about Frodo, Sam, and Gollum as quickly as possible. One of the greatest of Jackson's accomplishments in the films was to breath life into the characterization of Frodo Baggins, who always seemed to be to be something of a wimp, drawn along by the inexorable hand of fate. Sam, on the other hand, was pursuing the quest entirely out of love and grit. Another great service of the movie was the realization of Gollum. I think that Gollum's implementation may be about as close as we will come for a long time in seeing a computer generated character be nominated for an Academy Award for acting.

Even though `The Two Towers' is the middle third of a very long three part movie, it really has a much more satisfying ending than `The Fellowship of the Ring'. One starts to see how it may be possible to defeat the great evil challanging all the good guys in the story, but of course, the difficulty of Saruman's defeat is just a way of showing that defeating Sauron will be just that much more difficult.

The second of the great three part classic!

The book is better
But this said, I believe that there couldn't be a better movie.It captures the epic sweep and the pain and turmoil as Frodo and Sam approach the cracks of doom.It was fantastic.The filming was beyond scope.The characters were perfect.

Once again Jackson captures the brilliance of Tolkien
THe Two Towers is the second part of Peter Jackson's acclaimed adaption of JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.The Journey continues in this movie.Beginning with beautiful scenic shots of the moutains of the Middle-Earth, the Two Towers has climactic battles, struggles of will, moments of pure joy and beauty.Frodo and Sam continue to scratch their way to Mordor, pursued not just by agents of the Dark Lord but by Gollum, slave to the lust of the ring.Meanwhile, Merry and Pippin have been captured by Uruk-Hai and are hunted by Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli.The hunt takes Merry and Pippin to the center of Fanghorn Forrest in the company of the Ent Treebeard, a 14 foot tall walking talking tree.The 3 hunters fall in the Rhohirram under the command of Eomer (Karl Urban), a culture of horse lords threatened by the evil wizard Saruman, with their king Theoden (Bernard Hill) enchanted by Saruman's agent Wormtongue (Brad Dourif).Now on horseback, the 3 hunters encounter a resurrected Gandalf the White, now with power over Saruman. They ride to free Theoden, where they encounter Theoden's beautiful and strong niece Eowyn (Miranda Otto).Taking his people to the safety of Helm's Deep, Saruman sends his hordes after the king and in an impressive night battle, the Rohirram are aided by a contingent of Elven warriors (the biggest deviation by Jackson from the book). Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam encounter Faramir, the brother of Boromir on their way to Mordor led by Gollum.While our heroes triumph at Helm's Deep, and Saruman is defeated, the menace of Mordor grows greater as Sam and Frodo move closer to the fulfillment of their quest. I found The Two Towers to be a beautiful and profoundly moving film.The affects were amazing and the ability of Peter Jackson to combine live action, computer graphics and minature shots make this a great film.Once again, this movie should have won an Academy Award and the fact that it didn't is almost a crime. ... Read more

Asin: B00009TB5G
Subjects:  1. Feature Film-action/Adventure   

The Complete Bitches Brew Sessions
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (24 November, 1998)
list price: $69.98 -- our price: $69.98
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Editorial Review

These historic sessions, recorded between 1969 and 1970 and originally released as a 90-minute double LP, merged jazz and rock into the hybrid genre known as fusion. They remain Miles Davis's most controversial recordings. Davis, along with pianists Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Joe Zawinul; bassist Dave Holland; soprano saxophonist Wayne Shorter; bass clarinetist Benny Maupin; drummers Jack DeJohnette, Billy Cobham, and Lenny White; and percussionist Airto Moreira, went electric with rock rhythms, and the rest, as they say, is history, or as some feel, the end of jazz history.

Now, all of the sessions' 265 minutes are contained on this four-CD set, compiled from alternate takes, nine unreleased tracks, and selections from previously released LPs. The superb remastering reveals the spectral power of Davis's amplified, muted, and open trumpet painting on a swirling harmonic canvas created by Hancock, Corea, and Zawinul, especially on Zawinul's impressionistic "Pharoah's Dance," Shorter's elliptical "Sanctuary," and Davis's rocking "John McLaughlin."

The previously unreleased tracks, including "Yaphet," "Corrado," "Tevere," "The Big Green Serpent," and Zawinul's "Double Image," contain some interesting East Indian motifs and inventive arrangements but will probably not change anyone's mind about this well-debated period of Miles Davis's career. --Eugene Holley Jr. ... Read more

Features

• Box set

Reviews (44)

If your a fan of Electric Miles this is a must own.
This is a phenominal album.If you are a fan of Miles' Electric/Fusion era, then you should buy this immediatly.If your a fan of his earlier work, you may find this album a bit more abstract than you would like, however it does showcase Miles' incredible playing.

Miles, The Magic Man
This album came at a point when Mr. Davis had
gone as far as he could in the traditional jazz
vein. He was looking for something new, and this
hit the mark.
For me, it was Ken Burns who led me to Miles
Davis. After watching his JAZZ Series, I was
curious, and looking for something differant. This
set hit me like a lightning bolt. It does take a
few listens, but you will see the genius behind it.
My only gripe is the packaging. Over time, the
CD sleeves separate and the glue ruins the discs.
I've bought this set 3 times because of it. But
the music is really worth it...

warrrpp
inaccessable but worth it. ... Read more

Asin: B00000FC7S
Subjects:  1. Box Sets (Audio Only)    2. Fusion    3. Jazz    4. Jazz-Rock    5. Pop   

Hold 'Em Poker
by Two Plus Two Pub.
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (December, 1996)
list price: $19.95 -- our price: $13.57
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Reviews (37)

Terse, but packed with power
Hold'em Poker is a revision of Sklansky's classic from 1976.It was the first authoritative poker book to actually give starting hands in hold'em.Sklansky arranged the hands into eight groups and gave recommendations on which ones to open with depending on position.

In this edition he has revised the groups and corrected some minor errors.For example, 7-6s was then both the #30 hand in Group 5 and the #53 hand in Group 8.That has been corrected.

In addition to being the first book devoted exclusively to hold'em, Sklansky's little gem is perhaps the best introductory book on hold'em ever written, and then some.Sklansky does a masterful job of introducing the reader to the game, pointing out how it differs from other poker games, narrows in on the community card essence of the game, and then, amazingly enough, gives the reader information and ideas of considerable value to even seasoned players.Even if you have been playing hold'em for some time, and even if you have read Brunson's SuperSystem, I still recommend that you spend some time with this book.

Sklansky writes in a deceptively terse style so that the ideas and concepts are plainly stated without elaboration.This has frustrated some readers because in some cases what Sklansky is saying is clear at first blush, while in other cases the text seems cryptic.There are three reasons for this.

One, Sklansky thought of himself primarily as a teacher and deliberately left out some explanations while inviting readers to work out the reasoning for themselves.Serious players who want to improve their game will benefit from this approach.Take out a deck of cards and deal out some hands if necessary.For example, near the end of the section on "Odds and Implied Odds" he explains why it is often correct to call with a small pair before the flop.He notes that you'll often "win a nice pot if your card flops."He adds without further explanation, "Get out if it doesn't, unless you make an open-end straight."He wants you to work that out.If you do, you will come to note (after some study) that a draw to an open-ended straight that figures to be the nut is enormously better than an inside draw to the bottom end.I would add that if you have two sixes, the board 754 is significantly better than 987.Sklansky doesn't mention it, but in this latter case, you should usually not draw, but toss.

Two, like all experts writing for a general readership, Sklansky unconsciously takes some ideas for granted since he himself knows them so very well, but doesn't realize that the less experienced reader needs more explanation.I've read many books by experts in all sorts of fields from cosmology to Scrabble, and I can tell you that this is a common phenomenon.What the expert needs when writing a book for a general readership is a very good editor who is less than expert him- or herself.So, yes, this book would benefit from the work of a top notch editor.

An example of Sklansky's not explaining something that would be cryptic to most players comes from the "Semi-Bluffing" section of the "Strategy" chapter.First he notes that "If you never bluff on the flop or fourth street, you are giving away too much information when you do bet."Then he writes, "Rather than try to guess when to bluff, it is much better to use your cards to randomize your play."He is referring to semi-bluffing situations described in the proceeding paragraphs rather than a seat-of-your-pants bluff when you feel you haven't been bluffing enough.However, his use of the word "randomize" recalls a technique some pros use.Say it is correct to bluff one-fourth of the time in a certain situation.Everything else being equal, how do you decide?Take the first card on the flop.If it is a spade, bluff, otherwise don't.That will randomize.

Three, the expert is always aware of his learned colleagues looking over his shoulder; and so to some extent writes for that readership as well.We can see this in Sklansky's almost exhaustive treatment of how to play heads-up on fifth street in the "Strategy" chapter.Sklansky is anticipating knowledgeable critics familiar with saddle-point ideas from Game Theory, which are applicable to heads-up decisions on the river.You might profitably skim this section and save its intricacies for graduate school!But be aware that the top experts understand it very well.

I found it strangely synchronistic in rereading this book to fall upon Sklansky's ideas about the pause as a "tell."As Internet players know, how long it takes you to respond may give your opponents some information about your hand.Sklansky writes, "If a good player does not pause at all after he has bet and has been raised...he is most likely on the come for a flush or straight if such a hand is possible.With almost any other hand in this situation he has to pause to consider either folding or reraising."This is exactly the sort of "tell" that still exists in Internet play, and Sklansky's reasoning is as sound today as it was when he wrote this in the seventies.

This is not only a classic, but a book that almost thirty years after its creation is still very much worth reading.The fact that he devised his strategies originally for a game with only a single blind and an ante (the Las Vegas 10&20 hold'em game circa 1975) should be kept in mind.Yet the ideas and strategies are mostly still of great value.I played cards with Sklansky and I can tell you he is a very good player, but more than that he is a great theoretician who understands the game better than many world champions.Indeed they have learned from him.

*** Hold'em Poker Books Don't Get Any Better Than This ***

"Hold'em Poker" by David Sklansky is about as good as poker books get.This is not a Johnnie-come-lately effort trying to cash in on the new found popularity of Hold'em Poker.This is a solid classic that has been around for a while.

Even though this book has some age on it, the odds and probabilities in Poker haven't haven't changed, and neither has the value of this book.If you are going to play Hold'em for money, this is an essential book.

This is an fundamental background work, necessary homework for serious Poker players.It is not a simple, entertaining read.It contains real information that requires serious consideration.

Failure to read and understand this book will put you at risk of being a "producer". One losing session will cost you many times the price of this book.

Great beginners guide!
Holdem Poker is a great beginner's guide to limit Texas holdem.Sklansky is recognized as the authority on limit play.His straight forward technical approach in this book not only teaches you the fundamentals, but this book alone can make you a winning player! This is the most popular game being played online, at casinos, and in local card rooms.Learn this game and you can make a living anywhere in the world, online or live!
... Read more

Isbn: 1880685086
Sales Rank: 2055
Subjects:  1. Card Games - Poker    2. Gambling - Card Games    3. Games    4. Games / Gamebooks / Crosswords    5. Games/Puzzles    6. Card Games    7. Gambling    8. Poker   

Strangers With Candy - Season Two
by Wea Corp
Average Customer Review:
DVD (04 November, 2003)
list price: $29.99 -- our price: $22.49
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Features

• Color

Reviews (38)

5 Stars for Season Two - But Season One Deserved 6!
Season Two is a glorious revelation from the Gods of Comedy and features such wiley moments (often musical) such as Noblett singing 80s power rock ballads and yellow-clad cult members of the Safe Trap House joyously chanting, "I'm gonna sit at the Welcome Table, Hallelujah!", but unfortunately Season Two is missing a bit of that life-altering je ne sais quoi of the first.Guy, Jerri's actively catatonic father, is dead by episode three to be replaced by a weakened rendition of the old favorite, Stu, the Meat Guy.The sexual tension between Noblett and Jellineck has fizzled.

Despite its faults, Season Two is gem of hilarity.I give it five stars, but I still think that Season One deserved six!

Fandango? Hobo Camp?
Season Two of "Strangers With Candy" brings back the comic genius that is Amy Sedaris and her equally gifted supporting cast/writers for another round of wickedly inappropriate and hilariously dark humor.

In this season, Jerri reclaims her virginity (the club wears buttons with cherries hanging from them), befriends a blind football player (and blindfolds herself in an act of pseudo-empathy), gets abducted by (and kicked out of) a local cult, loses her father (which she witnesses while eating a hot dog), tries out for cheerleading, and learns to read (excellent Helen Keller rip-off scene).

In the grand scheme of things, every episode of this show, in every season, deserves 5 stars. Season Two, however, is second place to the first season. While just as side-splitting (the neighbors could hear me laughing), the humor is not quite as clever and a little more obvious than season one. And although Jellyneck and Noblet are excellent support, the heightened focus of these characters this season, in scenes and storylines not involving Sedaris, were a little tiresome.

All in all, this is a DVD that deserves long-term ownership, settled right in between season one and season three. Oh for a fourth season!!

Same story, second verse
You can read my review of the first season if you want a description of the content in this series, but this is here just to say that of the three seasons, this is the best and most consistenty funny, in my opinion.It also makes greater use of Tammy Littlenut. Oh Yes! ... Read more

Asin: B0000DJYML
Sales Rank: 2456
Subjects:  1. Television   

X2 - X-Men United (Widescreen Edition)
by Fox Home Entertainme
Average Customer Review:
DVD (25 November, 2003)
list price: $29.98 -- our price: $17.99
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Editorial Review

X2 does a fine job of picking up where X-Men left off, giving fans more of what they liked the first time around. Under the serious-minded custody of returning director Bryan Singer, the second film of this Marvel comics franchise ups the ante on Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and the superhero mutants from the first film, pitting them against a mutant-hating scientist (Brian Cox) who's determined to wipe out the mutant race by tricking Xavier into abusing his telepathic powers. More a series of spectacles than a truly satisfying thriller, X2 introduces new mutant allies while giving each of the X-Men alumni--notably the temporarily helpful Magneto (Ian McKellen)--their own time in the spotlight. Well aware of the parallels between "mutantism" and virulent intolerance in the real world, Singer lends real gravity to the proceedings, injecting dramatic urgency into a continuing franchise that, in lesser hands, might've grown patently absurd. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Features

• DTS Surround Sound
• Color
• Widescreen
• Dolby
• DTS Surround Sound

Reviews (507)

Fantastic!
Goodness, there sure have been a lot of movies based on comic books coming out in the past few years. We've seen "Spiderman" and its sequel, "Elektra," "Daredevil," "Sin City," "Hellboy," "The Punisher," and probably a few others I'm forgetting. Heck, we can expect to see new installments in the "Superman" and "Batman" franchises soon, too. Personally, I haven't seen any of the above listed films with the exception of the first Spiderman, and it's likely I won't see more than a couple of them any time soon. I'm not trying to bash comic books or anything like that, but for some reason I tend to shy away from films based on this medium. Why? I hear very bad things about many of these films, most of which involve complaints about how the films forego important things like plot and character development in favor of shock and awe special effects. If I remember correctly from my comic book reading days, most of the stories dealt heavily with superheroes faced with moral quandaries and personality problems that translated over into the real world. Not so in the movies. The emphasis here is on blowing stuff up and using the biggest CGI effects possible.

There are exceptions: "Spiderman" did a good job focusing on the characters' problems. So did "X-Men" and "X2: X-Men United." I have seen these movies, and I liked all three of them. "X2," however, is arguably the best of the lot. The film continues the story of the characters we saw in the first film--namely Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Storm (Halle Berry), Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), Cyclops (James Marsden), Rogue (Anna Paquin), Magneto (Ian McKellen), and Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos)--while adding a few new faces. After the X-Men saved the world in the first film, not much changed regarding human/mutant relations. Normal people still freak out whenever they see someone shape change, produce fire out of thin air, or any of the other assorted abilities common to mutants. The opening sequences of "X2" do little to alleviate such fears. An attack on the White House by a mutant with the ability to teleport (Nightcrawler, played effectively by Alan Cumming) nearly costs the president his life. The result is a crackdown on mutants everywhere with the resurrection of the dreaded Mutant Registration Act, a draconian measure that will severely restrict the activities of mutants everywhere.

The man in charge of carrying out the new act is General William Stryker (deliciously evil Brian Cox), a man whose new mission allows him to carry out his own personal vendetta against Xavier and his protégés. I won't spoil the reasons behind the vendetta, but his official mission sees him launch an attack against Xavier's school in order to round up the freaks. Unfortunately, he picked a bad time to make an appearance--Wolverine is back from his soul searching and is ready to kick some serious you know what. While he assists in salvaging what he can from the fiasco at Xavier's pad, the rest of the X-Men are out and about trying to track down the mutant responsible for the attack on the White House. If they can find this person, they reason, they might be able to head off the impending crackdown. Of course, their mission soon discovers that Stryker's fingerprints are all over the place. Too, Magneto manages to escape from his plastic prison and, with the oddly alluring Mystique at his side, throws a few wrenches into the whole process. By the time the movie comes to an end, we've seen the overall storyline advance amidst an avalanche of mind-blowing special effects including but not limited to huge tornados, rushing walls of water, and whipsaw quick fight sequences. Fun stuff!

Heartfelt thanks should go to director Bryan Singer for masterfully balancing the action and CGI with numerous character driven arcs. It's great to see fights and mutant powers blasting away at everything in sight, don't get me wrong, but it's more interesting to see how the characters develop. And in that department Singer and company do a good job. The whole human versus mutant conflict receives fresh treatment, as does Wolverine's eternal struggle to understand who he is and how he came to be. The latter is probably the most intriguing element in the storyline due to its relevancy. Who among us hasn't struggled to understand our identity at some point in life? Of course, most of us haven't been the subject of government experimentation that grafted metal to our bones and wiped our memories clean in the process, but you get the idea. And while the movie simplifies that theme so even the densest dolts in the audience will catch on, it's still an almost universal human issue that resonates with all of us. CGI and character dynamics aside, "X2" is a lot of fun if for no other reason than checking out all the babes. Halle Berry (not a favorite of mine), Anna Paquin, Famke Janssen, and Kelly Hu provide more than enough eye candy for us older "kids" in the audience.

"X2: X-Men United" has something for everyone. And check out the extras on the two-disc set! That's what I call a DVD! I won't waste time going over them in detail except to say that the sheer number of supplements guarantees a viewer can spend plenty of time exploring every aspect of this film's production process if he or she wishes to do so. If you haven't seen "X2" yet, prepare to be blown away. One hopes the next installment will surpass the previous two, but the absence of Singer behind the camera should cause some concerns. Oh well, even if the next one stinks we've still got these two great films to watch over and over again.

Great movie!!!
This is another favorite movie of mine. It is really well done. The action and the special effects are really cool. If you like superhero action flicks, you'll like this movie.

X2 is the rare hollywood sequel that's better than the first
X2 is one of hollywoods greatest movie sequels that rivals the first movie in every way. Better story, better acting ,better action scenes, better music, better characters, and better suspense. This is what all sequels should be like. Bryan Singer did a great job with continuing the X-men series with a thrilling second chapter that can be called "The Empire Strikes Back" of this trilogy. It keeps gettng better and better, and I only hope that X-men 3 can do the same, and continue the series to an explosive conclusion without director Bryan Singer at the helm. Good luck Matthew Vaugn, and do the very best job that you can to pull it off. ... Read more

Asin: B0000BWVCM
Subjects:  1. Science Fiction   

Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right
by Dutton Adult
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (29 August, 2003)
list price: $24.95 -- our price: $9.98
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Editorial Review

Having previously dissected the factual inaccuracies of a single bellicose talk show host inRush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot, Al Franken takes his fight to a larger foe: President George W. Bush, the Bush Administration, Ann Coulter, Bill O’Reilly, and scores of other conservatives whom, he says, are playing loose with the facts. It's a lot of ground to cover, as evidenced by the 43 chapters in Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, but the results are often entertaining and insightful. Franken occupies a unique place in the modern political dialogue as perhaps the media's only comedy writer and performer who is also a Harvard fellow as well as a liberal political commentator. This unique and vaguely lonely position lends a charming quixotic quality to adventures such as a tense encounter with the Fox News staff at the National Press Club, a challenge to fisticuffs with National Review Editor Rich Lowry, and an oddly sweet admissions visit to ultra-conservative Bob Jones University (with a young research assistant posing as his son when Franken's real-life son refuses to participate in the charade). Less useful are comic book dramatizations of "Supply Side Jesus" and a fictitious Vietnam War story featuring the numerous righties who, Franken intimates, improperly avoided service. And Franken's criticisms of conservative talk show hosts Sean Hannity, O’Reilly, and columnist Coulter, while admirable in their attention to detail, fail to shed much new light on people who have built careers on broad arguments and relentless self-aggrandizement. But Franken is at his best, and most compellingly readable, when he backs off the wackiness and the personal grudges and writes about more personal matters such as the political circus surrounding the memorial service of the late Senator Paul Wellstone. But even on these more serious topics, Franken's wit is still present and, in fact, grows sharper. In a time when much political discourse is composed of rage and shouting, it's refreshing that Al Franken is able to shout in a witty manner. --John Moe ... Read more

Reviews (2988)

Public Service to readers
May 22nd, 2005, ChronWatch.com reports interesting testimony in court proceedings against the author. To summarize the report, Franken is inundated with libel suits from this book. The path to safety is for the author to testify that this book is not meant to be truthful, it is a fictional joke book. Case dismissed. Isn't this IRONIC!! A book with this title is full of lies??!! The Michael Moore school of journalism welcomes another graduate!I can visualize Moore and Franken seated side by side with former President Carter at the 2008 Dem convention, watching Whoopi delight the crowd with her keen political insight as Kutcher applauds in the background. Laterwe see GOP raise Senate count from 55 to 80!

Everyone is a Liar, A Fair & Balanced Review
From the time you got caught with your hand in the cookie jar at age 3..."Honey, are you taking that cookie I told you not to take?"..."No, Mommy" (while your hand is still in the jar)...to my grandson, who after eating his half of the fries last week, informed me that his tardy brother "didn't like fries"...and during all of humanity, people have learned to lie.At a college party, researchers videoed the conversations, then isolated selected students and showed them the video.The students had to admit, just during meaningless conversation, they lied an average of 50% of the time they spoke.I forgot the real statistic, so I'm lying, but that's close.

In any event, lying is part of life, whether you're a death row felon or the Pope (sorry to break this to the Catholics).The idea is to be the most convincing liar, and that means a liar who is so good at it, he has even deluded himself (He believes his own...well, you know what I mean).

Anyway, since I expect politicians (or anybody else) to lie, I feel guilty that I am not current on the specific lying situation in the highest levels of government, as I certainly should be.I will say that whenever I do read or hear political statements on either side, I hear a lot more polemics than I think are represented in the general public.Academic political scientists assure us that the good old US is hopelessly reddish-blue and centrist, even on abortion, sexual orientation, and other supposedly devisive issues.

Now that I got that out of the way, may I compliment Al Franken on his audio presentation, which was not only extremely funny, but (if he's not lying) very well researched.I'll have to admit, even I realized after only seeing Hannity & Colmes once, that Colmes was pretty wimpy with his liberal rebuttals (not near as good a liar as Hannity).Extrapolating from that controlled study of 1, the rest of Franken's inspired work MUST be true.

A Lying Liar makes it big!Franken play fast and loose!

"Franken says that the Republican party as a whole, is a racist party and finds every excuse he can to justify that label. He scoffs at the party of Lincoln that freed the slaves and disregards the fact that more Republicans than Democrats voted for the civil rights bill.

Franken thinks the Trent Lott comment about Strom Thurmond (Lott said that things would have been better off had Thurmond ) was racist and see's it fit to indict the Republican party with racism. The issue wasn't as black and white (pardon the pun) as Franken dishonestly represents it however. He of course doesn't mention the liberal pundits that supported Lott in saying it was just a freaking offhanded comment at the mans birthday party for Christ sakes, nor does Franken mention the conservatives that hammered down on him over it. Rich Lowry elaborates on the latter point:

Franken deals with the Trent Lott/Strom Thurmond controversy without noting that conservatives helped publicize Lott's comments and called for him to step aside, including National Review. If you are writing a book about conservatives, this would seem a pretty important datum to include. But Franken bulldozes on. He argues that Republicans are "racist," (p. 255) and only make gestures toward blacks to try - futilely - to avoid appearing too "overtly racist." (p. 256) (Later, he does say that not "all Republicans are racist," in what, in this book, qualifies as a generous concession.) (p. 259) He suggests -- sort of jokingly, but not really -- that the Bush tax cuts were motivated by racial bigotry. And he notes that black poverty declined under Clinton without mentioning the Republican-sponsored welfare reform of 1996 that had a big hand in this trend.

Lowry continues:

--Franken partly rests his case for the racism of the Republican party on the defeat of Sen. Max Cleland in Georgia in 2002. He quotes Cleland saying that his defeat was the result of a backlash against a change in the state flag in 2001 by then-Gov. Roy Barnes, a Democrat, to de-emphasize the St. Andrew's Cross - a symbol of segregation - in the state flag. Franken says that Cleland was undone by a "racist avalanche." Cleland himself alleges in the book that the Republican party did push-polling on the issue of the flag, thus doing him in. Franken offers no evidence for Cleland's outrageous claim, I assume because there is none. (Franken didn't even bother to check with the Georgia GOP official mentioned by name as the mastermind of the push-polling - what were those research assistants doing?)

Sonny Perdue, who would defeat Barnes for governor, didn't oppose the change in the flag, but called for a referendum on it. It was on the ballot on March 2, and the Barnes flag won. (CORRECTION: I was wrong about the Barnes flag. It actually lost a couple of weeks ago to yet another version of the Georgia flag, which seems broadly acceptable to all sides. As the Palm Beach Post put it in this story, "Black and white voters across Georgia finally have a flag on which they can agree." I regret the error.)

The only candidate I am aware of who featured the old flag and his support for it on his campaign literature in 2002 was a Democrat, Mike Snow from Northwest Georgia. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in October 2002, "Nearly two years after the fact, a majority of Georgia voters either favor the change made in the state flag-or say they don't care." All of this hardly adds up to a "racist avalanche" burying Cleland.

Also, during this "racist avalanche," Georgia was re-electing a black attorney general and a black labor commissioner. When I tried to figure out why Franken would leave this fact out of his account of the 2002 election, I came up with a few possibilities: a) he didn't know; b) he worried it wouldn't fit his thesis; c) his editor demanded that he trim 28 words from his final manuscript and these just happened to be the ones; d) Franken figured the Georgia "racist avalanche" buried a white candidate, but spared black candidates -- you know, that happens in racist avalanches all the time.

What possibly, then, could have led to the defeat of Max Cleland if not racism? Franken and other liberals have complained bitterly about a tough ad against him which featured Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. Cleland wasn't "pictured with" the two as Franken says. (p. 254) If we're being sticklers for accuracy, neither was Cleland wounded by a "VC grenade," as Franken maintains. (p.163) The ad didn't morph Cleland into either of these figures, or say that he supported them, or question his patriotism. Bin Laden and Hussein were used to illustrate the point that the U.S. was facing threats to its security. It then explained that Cleland had voted 11 times against a homeland security bill that would have given President Bush freedom from union strictures in creating and running the new department. Cleland was voting against a bill sponsored by his popular Senate colleague Zell Miller, a Democrat, setting himself up perfectly for the charge that he was voting with Daschle and the unions against Georgia common sense. If you can't criticize the Senate votes of a Senator in a Senate race, what can you criticize? Cleland had also made himself vulnerable on national security, taxes, and social issues.

Franken mentions none of this because he is so busy advancing his unsupportable racism allegation. In doing so, he relies on a stereotype of Southerners that should be fading into nonexistence. As Zell Miller notes in his book, in 1990 there were 565 African-American officeholders in the South. In 2000, there were 5,579. Georgia has elected seven African-American to statewide office, this in a state that is 70 percent white. There is no other word for Franken's stilted account of all this except dishonest."

http://www.lyingliar.com/lies/racism.htm ... Read more

Isbn: 0525947647
Subjects:  1. 2001-    2. Conservatism    3. General    4. Humor    5. Political Doctrines    6. Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism    7. Political aspects    8. Politics - Current Events    9. Politics and government    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Right and left (Political science)    12. Topic - Political    13. Truthfulness and falsehood    14. U.S. Practical Politics    15. United States