Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't
by Jim Collins
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (16 October, 2001)
list price: $27.50 -- our price: $16.74
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Editorial Review

Five years ago, Jim Collins asked the question, "Can a good company become a great company and if so, how?" In Good to Great Collins, the author of Built to Last, concludes that it is possible, but finds there are no silver bullets. Collins and his team of researchers began their quest by sorting through a list of 1,435 companies, looking for those that made substantial improvements in their performance over time. They finally settled on 11--including Fannie Mae, Gillette, Walgreens, and Wells Fargo--and discovered common traits that challenged many of the conventional notions of corporate success. Making the transition from good to great doesn't require a high-profile CEO, the latest technology, innovative change management, or even a fine-tuned business strategy. At the heart of those rare and truly great companies was a corporate culture that rigorously found and promoted disciplined people to think and act in a disciplined manner. Peppered with dozens of stories and examples from the great and not so great, the book offers a well-reasoned road map to excellence that any organization would do well to consider. Like Built to Last, Good to Great is one of those books that managers and CEOs will be reading and rereading for years to come. --Harry C. Edwards ... Read more

Reviews (351)

Real Business Book for Real Businesses
This book was recommended to me by a colleague I respect very much who has built a very successful large company.

Good to Great breaks away from 99% of the anecdotal business books out there which simply detail the past actions of successful businesses or people or worse authors with no business knowledge.Knowing what a successful business did is not nearly as useful as knowing whether what they did was the actual reason they were successful.Collins does this only through a painstaking process that took several years and 25 researchers.His team identified companies that had gone from being above average to stellar and then worked to identify the reasons and research it in depth.

The end result is a very readable and easy to understand and use guide that is packed with enough solidness and backbone to please even the toughest academic.Useable knowledge with solid reason and research backing - this is what a business book should be.

No Rocket Science
Its very simple why MOST companies don't become great.They dont want to !!Its alot cheaper to just edge out your competition (if you even have to), than to start a price war, or any other kind of war.Also, most companies are clueless, since they cant tell the difference between an investment, and a cost.They would rather not invest in their people because, they either might take the jobs of the one who taught them, or go somewhere else, and get paid a higher salary, from a company that didnt have to invest in them, so then that other company can then steal what they didnt have to invest in.Lets face it, the company with the lowest cost wins.That one statement explains everything else.There will never be greatness as long as this is true.The race to the botton, trumps the race to the top.

SO MUCH TO OFFER HERE
If you liked Jim Collins' book, "Built to Last," you will love his follow up called, "Good to Great." This is one of those rare cases, where the sequel is actually better than the original. "Good to Great" is more than a business book. It is a book with principles applicable to many aspects of life. Collins challenges his readers to aspire to greatness rather than the mediocrity of being good. He says, "Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life."

In Collins' study to be considered "great," a company's stock had to earn more than triple the general stock market for fifteen consecutive years. The research found seven keys common with the eleven companies, which were able to make the "Good to Great" transition:

1. LEVEL FIVE LEADERSHIP - They had leaders who were a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will.
2. FIRST WHO...THEN WHAT - People are not the most important asset. The right people are.
3. CONFRONT THE BRUTAL FACTS - They maintained unwavering faith that they would prevail in the end, and at the same time the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of the current reality.
4. THE HEDGEHOG CONCEPT - Their core business was that at which they believed they could be the best in the world.
5. THE CULTURE OF DISCIPLINE - When a company employs disciplined people hierarchy, bureaucracy, and excessive controls are not necessary.
6. TECHNOLOGY ACCELERATORS - Technology by itself is never a primary, root cause of either greatness or decline.
7. THE FLYWHEEL AND THE DOOM LOOP - Good-to-great transformation never happened in one fell swoop but as a relentless push to breakthrough and beyond.

A unique feature of Collins' work is that it is not from the perspective of a practitioner who models his "how I did it" formula. Such a formula is often based on an extraordinary person in a unique circumstance and, as such, it isn't easily transferable. Neither is it the postulation of an unproven theory by a philosopher. Rather it is the conclusions of a researcher, who found what has worked and is reporting it for our benefit.

I read the book when it was first released, then I purchased and listened to the audio book, next I heard Collins lecture on the subject and now I've gone back to re-read my highlights annually. I've found the principles to be effective in various avenues of life. Whether you are in the business world or a person wanting to experience higher levels of achievement and satisfaction, I highly recommend "Good to Great."
... Read more

Isbn: 0066620996
Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Corporate & Business History - Strategies    5. Leadership    6. Management    7. Management - General    8. Organizational change    9. Strategic Planning    10. Technological innovations    11. Business & Economics / Management    12. Reading Group Guide   

Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life
by Spencer Johnson Kenneth H. Blanchard
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 September, 1998)
list price: $19.95 -- our price: $12.03
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Editorial Review

Change can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your perspective. The message of Who Moved My Cheese? is that all can come to see it as a blessing, if they understand the nature of cheese and the role it plays in their lives. Who Moved My Cheese? is a parable that takes place in a maze. Four beings live in that maze: Sniff and Scurry are mice--nonanalytical and nonjudgmental, they just want cheese and are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Hem and Haw are "littlepeople," mouse-size humans who have an entirely different relationship with cheese. It's not just sustenance to them; it's their self-image. Their lives and belief systems are built around the cheese they've found. Most of us reading the story will see the cheese as something related to our livelihoods--our jobs, our career paths, the industries we work in--although it can stand for anything, from health to relationships. The point of the story is that we have to be alert to changes in the cheese, and be prepared to go running off in search of new sources of cheese when the cheese we have runs out.

Dr. Johnson, coauthor ofThe One Minute Manager and many other books, presents this parable to business, church groups, schools, military organizations--anyplace where you find people who may fear or resist change. And although more analytical and skeptical readers may find the tale a little too simplistic, its beauty is that it sums up all natural history in just 94 pages: Things change. They always have changed and always will change. And while there's no single way to deal with change, the consequence of pretending change won't happen is always the same: The cheese runs out. --Lou Schuler ... Read more

Reviews (1275)

OK, but overpriced
An "interesting" idea of teaching adults by anecdotes and fairy tales... I don't want to be too harsh but I find this book overpriced. I also think that this is not a book that you will want to keep.

To give an example of a book that everyone will want to keep, which at the same time is under-priced, consider Can We Live 150 Years? by Dr. Tombak. A different kind of read, but a gem it its genre (health, longevity).

Figure it out for yourself
AND then act on what you know!!

That is the message I got from this book.Simple, and straight forward.If you have ever gone through a company shake-up then this book is for you.I suggest you buy the audio version and listen to it for full impact.Because the message is short and to the point maybe buy it used to save a little cash.It is only 1 hour long - perfect for a trip to and from the office in one day.
Buy this audio book for one reason - the change it will make in your overall thought process.

Simple Story/Profound Marketing
I chose to review Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson, M.D. because it was recommended for a Leadership Workshop.
Who Moved My Cheese? An A-Mazing Way to Deal With Change In Your Work And In Your Life, Published 1998 by Putnam. 94 pages, $19.95 ISBN 0-399-14446-3.

Who Moved My Cheese is a parable that addresses the concept of change and the ways in which we deal with change. This book is for everyone because everyone encounters change in personal and professional endeavors. The four characters in this story are the mice Sniff and Scurry and the little people Hem and Haw. Cheese represents whatever object of desire the reader may have in mind, such as a job or a relationship. For the simpleminded rodents Sniff and Scurry, cheese is cheese, and their desire for cheese is an instinctual hunt for nourishment. When their cheese is devoured, they merely move through the maze to find new cheese. The maze is the metaphor for the paths of change we must navigate on our journey through life. To get through the maze, Hem uses the "paralysis by analysis" method due to fear of change while Haw adventurously adapts to change. Anyone can relate to the super simple sentences, such as when Hem says, "I like it here. It's comfortable. It's what I know." He has no more cheese to eat, and he would rather get weak and dizzy than move through the strange maze to find new cheese. Even destructive familiarity can be comfortable when the ultimate result of a change is unknown. Haw uses the technique of visualization to prepare himself for finding and enjoying new cheese. He is willing to risk the unknown by venturing out of his comfort zone. Haw puts the handwriting on the wall in instant messages for Hem, such as "If you do not change, you become extinct." The overall theory Spencer conveys is that humans have emotions, and it is the negative feelings and resultant lack of action that can prevent us from moving to meet with the cheese. Or, we can use positive energy to propel us toward our desire and find new cheese or make our own!

Dr. Johnson's previous publication The One Minute Manager (with Kenneth Blanchard, Ph.D) made the bestseller list in the 1990's by promoting the concept of working smarter, not harder. So, there was promise that Dr. Johnson had revealed new principles for paradigm shifts in Who Moved My Cheese? In the forward to Who Moved My Cheese, Johnson's former writing partner, Blanchard, says, "This brief parable takes little time to read but its impact can be profound." Well, that's overstating the result. I'm okay with this book as a recommendation for discussions about change, but I'm glad I didn't let a bookstore nibble at the $20.00 bill in my wallet.

Review completed by Lynn C. Tolson, author of Beyond the Tears: A True Survivor's Story.
... Read more

Isbn: 0399144463
Subjects:  1. Adjustment (Psychology)    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Life - General    4. Change (Psychology)    5. Personal Growth - General    6. Personal Growth - Success    7. Self-Help    8. Stress Management   

The Sales Bible: The Ultimate Sales Resource, Revised Edition
by JeffreyGitomer
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (08 August, 2003)
list price: $19.95 -- our price: $13.57
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Reviews (53)

He tells it like it is
Gitomer tells it like it is. Sales isn't just about pleasing your prospects. It's about pleasing yourself. Too many times salespeople apologize for what it is they do or worse yet they blame the customer. The key is to take ownership about who you are and what you do in sales, then success will follow. An overall great book!

for EVERYONE
EVERYONE sells ALL the time - whether it's your product, service, or yourself - and everyone needs to read everything Jeffrey Gitomer writes - especially this classic!

Great Book
I have been doing sales for over twenty years and have read many books on the subject.I would have to say this has to be one of the best books I have read.

The author has spent a great deal of time on each aspect of selling and it has provided me with a vast amount of helpful information.

Whether you are a veteran of selling or starting out new then this is the book you need to help.

... Read more

Isbn: 0471456292
Sales Rank: 3347
Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Management - General    5. Sales    6. Sales & Selling - General    7. Sales & Selling - Techniques    8. Selling    9. Skills    10. Study and teaching    11. Business & Economics / Sales & Selling    12. Sales & marketing   

Tourist
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (12 September, 2000)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $9.99
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Editorial Review

Smooth, downtempo grace flows through the veins of St. Germain, a.k.a. noted French composer-producer Ludovic Navarre. His record is a sensual flow of jazzy textures, Latin rhythms, and bass-ridden beats, hovering on the verge of techno, jazz, or experimental headphone music without tipping its hand too far in any direction. The result is irresistible: class with an edge. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (113)

One of the best albums ever
Seriously, that title is not an exaggeration. This is one of the best electronic albums ever, and certainly the greatest of the 90's
"nu-jazz" and chillout trend. Sort of like what "Kind of Blue" is to jazz, or what "Sgt. Peppers" or "Revolver" is to pop music, etc. This is the best of its kind ever created. No other "chillout" or "lounge" or "nu jazz" cd ever matched the brilliance of this release. I would rank this along with Thievery Corporation's "Mirror Conspiracy", Koop's "Waiting for Koop", and perhaps the first few "Hi-Fidelity Lounge" and "Private Lounge" releases as the best chillout albums ever. If you are a fan of the above-type music or are just interested in hearing some wonderful nu jazz, this is highly recommended. In fact, it is required!

Cracking stuff.
This album is like the best kind of hypnotic, chilled out trip,
but it is so much more than the current abundance of chilled out tunes, the tracks are historic reworkings of jazz classics which have been cleverly engineered in a loop fashion, with beautiful jazzy voice samples so as to make an entirely new, mesmeric sound and feel.
The music really is the kind of stuff that is pleasurable both audibly and in a more transcended, visceral sense, it works it's way into your head and your being so as to become memorable and classic and a kind of theme for times and places.

Tourist Rules!
Saint Germain's Tourist is an excellent album, acid jazz at it's finest. One of the greatest downtempo groups along with Air in the french scene.

Great music to get chill anywhere anytime, very smooth and stylish music, highly recommend!! ... Read more

Asin: B00004SU5J
Subjects:  1. Club/Dance    2. Dance Music    3. House    4. Jazz-House    5. Pop   

Global (Bonus DVD)
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (11 February, 2003)
list price: $20.98 -- our price: $20.98
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Editorial Review

A combination CD-DVD set, Global acts as a handy greatest hits collection of Paul van Dyk's wildly popular brand of shiny trance, featuring two previously unreleased tracks along with a mix of his best-known work. While he's justifiably famous as a DJ, it's really van Dyk's production, filled with shimmering electronics and relentlessly upbeat rhythms, that sets his recorded work apart from the pack. His knack for catchy hooks turns songs like "Another Way" from 2000's Out There and Back into swirling epics designed for jolting the dance floor into glowstick overdrive. Of the record's two previously unreleased tracks, "Animacion" sounds more like Van Dyk's recent work. The other, "My World," with its speedy, early-trance-house feel, may have sat in the back of Van Dyk's record crate for years. The DVD includes live footage, interview snippets, fan testimonials, and a 5.1 surround-sound mix. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (50)

A PVD Essential
When I first heard of PVD,I thought all he did was make mainstream cheesey dance music.After hearing this awesome collection of his best songs,I immediately changed my mind.Hell,I'd buy this album just to hear "step right on"...the best PVD song ever!This cd will get you moving on the dancefloor and make you chill out afterwards.The songs flow well together,and in my opinion "Politics of Dancing"is NOT his best work ...this is(even though it's not an actual mix)Dance lovers,If you want a cd that gives you plenty of motivation and smiles...get this one!

A Precious Gift Paul Van Dyk Has Given To His Fans!!!
First and most Paul Van Dyk is a Genius when it comes to his production. He takes an average of 2 years to compose his CDs. So when they are finished and released, they are almost a perfection. If you are a PVD fan, then this is a must have, hands down. This CD is a perfectly mixed CD of his Bests productions. If your a PVD fan and you see the tracklist, you automatically know that this is PVDs "Finest Hour". Plus the DVD is just to die for. Apart from showing everywhere PVD has played and been, commentaries of his fans around the world, and some of the music videos of the songs; it also has an interview with Paul. I mean what more can you ask for. Trust me (a pvd fan till i die) you will be overwhelm with Global CD/DVD package.

Now, for a person who has never heard Paul or doesn't know much about him, this compilation is a Great introduction. IF you like TRANCE, then after listening to this compilation numerous of times, you will like PVD and may even fall in love with his music. But that will only happen if you like Trance and Electronic Music.
To those who haven't heard Trance too much or are not very familiar with electronic music, then I would suggest that you start with this CD, which comes from one of the most talented and highly respected Producer/DJ in the Electronic Music scene all around the world.

Perfection Reached !
A MUST HAVE ! Excellent Compilation of best PaulVanDyk's best Tracks.Can't resist it, even if you've got most of the songs on it!W O R T HI Tfor music alone, visials ... are ok. ... Read more

Asin: B000083MC0
Subjects:  1. Club/Dance    2. Dance Music    3. House    4. Pop    5. Progressive House    6. Progressive Trance    7. Trance   

The Most Famous Opera Arias
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (19 July, 1994)
list price: $3.98 -- our price: $3.98
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Reviews (15)

Beautiful to listen (and sing)to
I sing myself as a hobby and love the classical voice so much that I bought and do singing lessons on CD by an opera singer, "Voice Lessons To Go" by Vaccarino. AS my confidence has grown, I have now begun singing along with this CD of Arias. I'm not sure I am quite Anna Moffo yet, but I love the whole process! How rare do we sing along with our favorite opera tunes on the radio.

An excellent introduction
This CD is offered at a very attractive price, and features an excellent selection of opera arias.Most of the great composers are represented (such as Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, and Bizet) as well as some lesser-known but worthwhile names (such as Gluck, Gounod, and Saint-Saens).

There is only one superstar singer on this album (Placido Domingo singing "Celeste Aida"), but don't let that deter you: the singing is uniformly rich, skillful, and warm.As another reviewer has pointed out, of the total of 16 tracks, 3 are performed by tenors and 13 by sopranos, but I feel nonetheless that the selection of arias found here is both broad and representative.

The orchestras that are featured are lesser-known ensembles from Western and Central Europe, but they play with conviction and precision, and the CD's sound-recording quality (all the tracks are either "ADD" or "DDD") is first-rate.

All in all, this is a great product brought to you from the vaults of the prestigious EMI Classical label.This is the perfect CD to add to your Amazon.com order if you need to get your grand total above $25 to qualify for free shipping

A great collection for beginners!
I am brand new to most opera - my main exposure has been Bugs Bunny cartoons!But, I've always loved hearing the Three Tenors sing, and I liked the symphony the few times I have been.So, I thought maybe there was something I was missing.I ordered this CD and from the first minute I was transfixed.I don't understand a word of what they are singing, and I understand from other reviews that these are not the famous folks performing the selections, but this CD is wonderful!I have never been moved to tears by anyone's voice in my life, but Anna Moffo (from Rigoletto, the first selection on the album) did it to me.She also sings a selection from The Barber of Seville, which is beautiful.There's a song by Placido Domingo, and many other gifted and beautiful voices besides.If you are looking for an introduction to opera, buy this one! ... Read more

Asin: B000002SCE
Sales Rank: 729
Subjects:  1. Classical    2. Opera    3. Opera / Operetta / Oratorio    4. V/a Compilations   

DVD Remote Controller Kit
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM
list price: $19.99 -- our price: $14.99
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Editorial Review

Admit it: all in all, the PS2 is a pretty good video game console, butit's a mediocre DVD player. Easily the most major sin Sony committed againstDVDphiles was the initial unavailability of an official remote control. Becausethe PS2 gamepad is a stunningly poor substitute for a real remote, Sony'sofficial remote control entry comes as a welcome, but not quite perfect,solution.

Compared to most third-party PS2 remotes, Sony's design is much less childish.It's quite comfy, and, aside from a few extra buttons modeled after the PS2controller (X, O, R1, R2, etc.), it features the same style as most of Sony'sslick AV remotes. Tragically, Sony omitted both eject and power buttons. Whatwere they thinking?

The supplied new software drivers add quite a bit of functionality to the PS2,making it almost as feature-packed as a regular low-end DVD player. Three-speedscan, slow motion, A-B play, shuffle, chapter program, and other enhancementshave now been added to the PS2's playback capabilities. Most of these featuresrequire the remote to access. Also, to use the drivers, you'll need to keep a PS2 memory card (where the new software is stored) and the IR receiverconstantly plugged into a gamepad port--a minor headache. Also, while most ofthe problems with untimely frame skipping are solved, I still found the chapterrewind to be somewhat slow and unresponsive.

DVD fiends who can bear Sony's tiny control buttons will find this model easilythe most functional of the PS2 remotes. While the PS2 will never replace afull-fledged DVD box, at least it now has a decent remote control that's on par withthe big boys. --Mark Brooks

Pros:

• Full-featured DVD remote looks and acts similar to most AV gear
• DVD software adds many new features for picture setup and playback
• Comfortable in the average-size hand

Cons:

• Requires use of a memory card and a controller port to operate
• Tiny buttons
• No power or eject buttons
• Sluggish chapter rewind

... Read more

Features

• Platform: PlayStation 2

Reviews (88)

whats the point
I don't see the point of buying a remote control for your PS2 when you can use your controller to play DVDs. to me a product like this is a waste of money.

This does work for the compact designPS2 (SCPH-70012)
Ok I bought this so that my 6 year old could play DVD's in his PS2. It works really good. BUT if you have your PS2 connected to your VCR instead of directly to the TV, you have to buy a special cable to hook your PS2 to the TV (about $15).This cable doesnt interfere with you satelite or cable because there is a place on the side to screw that to. If you dont have this special cable you will have blackouts on the DVD's you play to keep you from recording the DVD's with your VCR. We really do like this remote because we have the TV on a wall hanger to keep my boys 3,4 and 6 from messing with it, and it makes it easier for us to use the PS2.

When fowns attak
I thought this remote would work for my PS2.I was wrong.The only thing it did was make the screen go all white.Don't waste your money on this remote! ... Read more

Asin: B00005NYZ1
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Sony Playstation (Play station)    3. PSX (PS1 PSOne PS (1 one I)    4. Controller    5. Rumble Packs (Paks)    6. Cables (Cable)    7. Adapters (Adapter)    8. PS2 (PSX2)    9. Sony Playstation (Play station) 2    10. Playstation2 (Play station2)    11. Great Deals (Outlet store)    12. Cases    13. Storage   

Wired
Average Customer Review:
Magazine
list price: $59.40 -- our price: $12.00
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Features

• Magazine Subscription

Reviews (68)

Lots of Flash, No Bang.
Wired purports to be a cutting edge high tech magazine. In fact, it is little more than a Nerd's version of People magazine, with a lot of short, unconnected articles purporting to offer inside information from the tech community. It is most likely to be of interest to Gamers (and has lots of ads addressed to that crowd).

The best thing about it is its (expensive) graphics, but that doesn't justify wasting your time or money on it.

BEWARE OF YOUR SUBSCRIPTION
I got a letter from a collecting agency stating WIRED hired them "to write you as to why payment has not been made as of this letter date." The letter ends in a bold, italicized threat:

"This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose."

I never subscribed to this magazine yet I got this letter. I called the handy number right at the top of the "bill" and I was forwarded to a recording with the following instructions:

press "1" to make payment
press "2" if already paid
press "3" never received subscription
press "4" never renewed subsciption
press "5" never ordered subscription


I pressed 5, and that was that. Talk about a low way to get subscribers. This is bottom feeding. Magazines used to offer you incentives. Now they threaten to louse up your credit rating.

Anyway, I am writing this to inform and warn existing and future subscribers about this magazine. Based on the options given above, not only "non-subscribers" like me get a letter from a collecting agency to subscribe to this magazine, but also existing subscribers who did not renew their subscriptions.

I think this is taking guerilla marketing a bit too far - not only are you being billed for something you didn't order, but they're skipping right over you and sending your name directly to a collection agency.

The Dark Side Of Wired
I was a Wired subscriber for 2 years but later on decided not to continue with the subscription. I wish it was that easy! They sent me a couple issues after the subscription ended (without any approval!) and then started to bomb with those endless mail reminders like "we still didn't get your payment, please don't forget" and "we want you not to miss any of our great issues". Sure thing, I ignored them but now they forwarded my info to some collecting agency which threatens me and asks to pay the subscriprion fee plus late fees plus collection fees.

The magazine itself is okay though. I quite understand this review is basically not what people write about things but anyway. I just wanted to address this information to whoever might be interested in it. ... Read more

Asin: B00005N7TL
Sales Rank: 8
Subjects:  1. Computers & Internet    2. Internet    3. Business    4. Technology   

SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM (07 November, 2003)
list price: $49.99 -- our price: $19.88
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Editorial Review

The sequel is here with new challenges, enhanced graphics, and eviler terrorists! ... Read more

Features

• Battle the world's terrorists in 12 intense missions
• Command and strategize with SEALs and other special operations forces with a SOCOM headset
• For 1 to 16 players over the Internet
• Play as an elite SEAL commander and strike targets of importanse within 12 intense international missions
• Confront deadly enemies with the most skilled Special Ops force ever assembled

Reviews (225)

JOIN MY CLAN ITS CALLED CRIPS-4-LIFE
THIS GAME IS THE BEST GAME FOR ONLINE EVER FORGET XBOX LIVE
P.S JOIN MY CLAN ANYBODY IS WELCOME

great game
this is one of the best shooters for ps2. socom 1 was a little better, but this is still fun. i dont have online play though so that takes some of the fun away but i still recomend this, and socom 1

no title
so, i know everybodys dying to hear the story...ah, who am i kidding?...nobody plays this for the story...they play it to be a navy seal..i dont even remember the storyline...the gameplay: now thats where its at...thats where this game holds its ground..i never remember the storys of these games with terrorits and such..unless is mgs..instead what sticks in my mind is the gameplay...lets recall wat i remember...stalking a gaurd for 5 minutes, gets my rifle sights on him, then BOOM....HE SEES ME!! and ahhh im dead...thats the worst thing of these games..is when i mess up i dont feel like going back to play it again...five minutes stalking a gaurd only to have him kill me, really makes me feel like "aw just screw it"...which is why i never finished this game...but its not the games fault.. it comes with the genre...and if u like the genre u cant go wrong with this game ... Read more

Asin: B000099T2H
Subjects:  1. Action    2. Adventure    3. Video Games    4. PS2 (PSX2)    5. Sony Playstation (Play station) 2    6. Playstation2 (Play station2)   

Michael Graves 16-oz. Travel Mug
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $7.99
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Reviews (7)

Label Impossible to Remove
I wish I would have thought of Goo-Gone before attempting rubbing alchol, soaking and fingernail polish remover.Now the mugs are full of water which I can't get out!And yet, the label still remains...

Not Hot
This mug does not keep your coffee warm at all!It looks like other insulated mugs, but does not work the same.After only 20 minutes or so, the coffee becomes room temperature.Don't purchase this mug if you need one that will keep your beverage warm for long periods of time.

On the other hand, it looks nifty, so if you just want a cool looking mug, this works great!Never had a problem with ours getting water inbetween the insulating layer.Always run it through the dishwasher...

You got me through the morning!
...I can finally have some coffee safely in the morning as I wait in rush hour traffic!This is a sturdy, nice 16 oz. cup that fits in my SUV's cup holder, but also has enough rubber molding so that it stays put when I place it on the hood as I struggle to leave the car!I do wish the paper would come off, but it's a small price for a great mug!Didn't think I could get so excited about a mug, ha! ... Read more

Asin: B00005OUFA
Sales Rank: 28740
Subjects:  1. Coffee    2. Insulated Beverage    3. Travel Mugs    4. Tea    5. Cups    6. Mugs    7. Thermal    8. Commuter Mugs    9. Commuting    10. Tumblers    11. Kitchen    12. Camping Accessories    13. Michael Graves Kitchen    14. Michael Graves    15. Housewares   

All-Clad LTD 12-Inch Round Nonstick Grille Pan
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $137.00 -- our price: $49.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Distinguished among All-Clad's renowned cookware collections by its stylish charcoal black hard anodized-aluminum exterior, the LTD line provides serious and professional cooks with all the virtues that make All-Clad's worldwide reputation unsurpassed. Key to its high performance is a three-ply, bonded construction. Sandwiched between the exterior and the interior lies a thick core of pure aluminum that spreads heat evenly across the bottoms of pots and pans and all the way up the sides. The striking exterior resists scratching, chipping, and peeling. Certain pieces, such as this one, have two interior layers, one of 18/10 stainless steel and the other of scratch-resistant, professional-grade nonstick bonded to the steel.

This round grill pan makes clear the appeal of All-Clad's LTD cookware to contemporary cooks. It's 12 inches in diameter, perfect for grilling four big burgers or two porterhouse steaks and searing them with appetizing-looking grill marks. Because the grill's cooking surface is durable nonstick, you can grill healthful meals without using butter or oil and you'll have an easier cleanup. Its polished 18/10 stainless-steel handle is secured to the pan by stainless-steel rivets for strength, grooved on the top and rounded on the bottom for comfort, and holed in the end for hanging on a hook or peg. The long handle stays cool on the stovetop but won't be harmed by an oven's heat. LTD cookware carries a lifetime warranty against defects and should be hand washed. --Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• Lifetime warranty against defects
• 12-inch round, nonstick grill for stovetop grilling
• Stainless-steel interior, hard-anodized aluminum exterior, aluminum core
• Layer of scratch-resistant, professional-grade nonstick bonded to interior
• Stainless-steel, stay-cool handles riveted for strength

Reviews (14)

My favorite pan
I have a growing set of All Clad, and this is the pan I get the most use out of. It is completely nonstick, and the surface is as tough as nails. I cook delicate fish with it, and never have a problem. I often use it without any oil or anything, it's appropriate (and yummy!) to cook on it dry. Nothing every sticks to it, and cleanup is a snap. I will wash with warm water and/or deglaze, and it's good as new.
I purchased the 12" dome lid to accompany this and another pan I have, and I use the two in combination when I am cooking larger cuts.
It's an absolutely fabulous item. At $49.99, it's a bargain!

Super price for a super pan!
First let me say that I do not own any other All-Clad LTD cookware.This is my one and only.My main set is the Anolon Titanium 10-Piece Cookware Set.Secondly, even though I'm an attorney, I am still a seasoned cook.We entertain frequently, so having quality cookware is essential to a great meal.

Anyway, the reason I chose this grill pan instead of getting a matching Anolon Titanium grill pan is because I like the size and feel of the All-Clad grill pan better...even though it's not dishwasher safe like the Anolon Titanium pans.The Anolon grill pan seems to be deeper and more rounded at the botton...I wanted a more shallow pan and the All-Clad looked perfect.

For larger cuts of meat like porterhouse steaks, the All-Clad is only good for grilling two (2) portions at a time.For smaller cuts like hamburgers or filet mignons, it's good for grilling up four (4) portions.The depth and width of the grill grooves are just right for perfect searing.

And yes, it's definitely nonstick.I can cook hamburgers on it without it falling apart when I turn them over.Salmon too!Even though it's not dishwasher safe, clean up is pretty easy.Just wash with warm water and a non-scratch sponge and it's ready to go.(And trust me...I hate washing dishes...so that was a major concern!)

I'm not quite sure how a previous review did babyback ribs on this thing though...it's a grill, not a BBQ.There's no lid, so you can't do slow cooking on it unless you stick it in an oven.But since it's hard anodized...I guess you can stick it in an oven if you want to.(That's how I cook really thick cuts of meat for my in-laws who like everything well done.)

And another previous reviewer said that Le Creuset might provide a better flavor to meat...I'm not sure what that means either.The Le Creuset brand grill pans are cast iron.The only way the cast iron would have a different taste than the anodized pans is if there were old food/oil stuck to it...which is really how those pans work.You won't get old food/oil flavors on a nonstick pan.

Cooks great, but not really nonstick
This is a great pan and at the sale price it's also a tremendous value.I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could.It cooks beautifully, heats evenly, and stands up to use in the oven.The only thing negative I can say about it is that it doens't really live up to the claim of being nonstick.It's not hard to clean, but I have a Calphalon nonstick skillet that you can literally just run water into to clean.You don't even have to dry it beacuse the water won't stick to it!The All-Clad doesn't quite manage that, but is still a remarkable pan at an awesome price. ... Read more

Asin: B00005AL8R
Subjects:  1. Griddles    2. LTD    3. Open Stock    4. Cookware    5. (Cook Ware)    6. Grill Pans    7. Stovetop Grilling    8. All-Clad    9. (Allclad)    10. (Al-Clad)