We Called It!

Insignia® - Digital Camcorder NS-DCC5SR09

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 12:02:14 -0500

Insignia are at it again.. a lean and mean product.. You can almost immediately that this lil gadget is dedicated to doing one thing very well.. capturing quick video. Now that we've got YouTube and other sites where people do nothing but upload quick videos capturing the smaller/impromptu things in life that cant be bothered with a full heavy-duty traditional camcorder.. this allows one to simply pull it out of their backpack / purse.. capture the event / subject.. and go on with their day.

I will admit - the camcorder came with bare minimal documentation - and what it did have was very general in nature - which i was perfectly fine with. It comes with the following: 2 AA alkaline batteries (YES!), USB cable, A/V cable, earphone, wrist strap and a pretty nice black carrying pouch.

I played with it for a good full day - taking videos / pics / just audio recordings and transferred them over to my machine without any problems and the videos showed up perfectly. No need to convert or anything like that - so standard codecs seem to be used which makes life so much simpler. I also tested the videos on YouTube and they showed up perfect. Now granted this is a standard-definition and therefore does not capture anything in perfect high-def quality - this is a fun cam and in a well-lit environment can do the job very well.

It is cool to know that it does accomodate for a SD card and has 64MB internal memory - which is more then enough for a couple of days worth of picture snapping and recording... just remember for around $60 this is a quick and simple camcorder. If you want something light and simple to use - seriously consider this device. Perfect gift for the budding YouTube fan and we all know one.

The Office: Seasons 1 - 4 Collection

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:21:08 -0500

Ok .. one thing Ive noticed is that everyone is wearing long overcoats or are just bundled up yet the weather always seems to be pleasant.. must be some quirky aspect that I just haven't 'got' yet.. this show is riddled with comic relief.. I have seen the 'original' British series and this one is just as good. Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) is amazing.. he really is a master of over the top antics without the whole overacting aspect that a Robin Williams would typically bring.. the cast are all hilarious.. and how they all interact with each other is amazing.. its tough to explain but after watching the dvd set one becomes very familiar with all employees in that office.

You will laugh like a banshee and mimic the one-liners you've learnt in awkward situations because that's when things are the best. I highly recommend this set and start watching the show.. it'll make you emphasize the need for education to your kids so that they don't get stuck selling paper in a digital world.

Entourage: The Complete Seasons 1-3

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:51:35 -0500

Cant pick a favorite character.. I cant.. just when I think Vince is uber cool and making everything go his way (somehow - he doesnt do much).. I get a kick out of watching his older brother Johnny Drama pick a fight with a UFC fighter or have 'E' do nothing but fall head over heels from relationship to another and finally turtle having a run-in with Saigon's gangsta agent.. and this is all in the same show! Actually I think its all in the same season too.

A really fun show to watch.. I never started watching it till last month.. and figured I had to get my hands on prior seasons to get acquainted as opposed to just diving in.. and Im glad I did.. its good to know the background relationship between Ari and the gang.. as well as the overall maturation of each characters profile. Well worth the watch.. I will admit this is a guy-friendly show.. and funny.

Im off to see Seasons 4 and 5..

Toro Super Blower Vac

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 22:55:34 -0500

Ok - its autumn.. there are leaves all over the place.. I decided this year I wanted to personally deal with the clean up process.. it looks like fun.. yeah some lawn-service can do it in 20 minutes.. but everyones got to do this at least once right?

I walked into Lowes.. asked the friendly salesperson for something that will blow and vacuum.. I dont intend to just blow leaves onto the road / or other peoples yards.. never understood that..

Here's what I got:
225 mph maximum air speed
2-Speed Motor
3 in 1 machine-blower, vacuum, leaf shredder
Reduces 10 bags of leaves into 1!!!!

I did get tired.. when vacuuming.. this power tool does a great job! Very powerful, and its very quick to convert from a blower to a vac.. and I can easily see multiple uses of a blower.. quick way to blow dust out of my garage!! Why isnt there a tip book for guys on how to make life simple? This tool would be in that book!

Outdoor Products Pinnacle Internal Frame Backpack

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 22:29:03 -0500

I will first off admit that at times during my hike I did not have my backpack strapped on properly.. but when I did get my act together I still had a hard time finding it comfortable. For folks who arent too familiar of the art of packing a backpack - you should pack your heaviest items close to your back and in the middle portion of the pack-bag. Plan on getting a sweaty back with an internal-framed pack (which this is), too, given the fact that they are pressed right against you. Carrying 40lbs was accomplished over a period of 3 days but my shoulders were sore!

This definitely allowed me to pack just enough for a 3 day trip - Im not sure of the detailed specs but the other 3 people I was with seemed to have packs that unzipped and allowed for major expansion and side pockets which this doesnt.. pockets are very helpful.

It is also compatible to carry a water bladder - which is a critical requirement.. I had a larger sized one which was for 3 litres and it slid in with no problems at all.

Montrail Torre GTX Hiking Boots

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:51:06 -0500

Bought these puppies a month before my Grand Canyon adventure.. and spent it wearing in non-stop for that month as well as the amazing 3-day experience. I will admit that my feet where the last thing I thought about.. well not really.. my feet in fact were always at full attention but the shoes did an amazing job. Waterproof, high ankle protection, sturdy and EXTREMELY comfortable! Lots of toe-room space and the standard soles did well. Highly recommended and it may cost a little bit expensive ($120) but remember it is a pro hiking boot and does its job well. Certain things you dont compromise and your feet is one of them.

Bourne Ultimatum

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:00:43 -0500

"He is SO cool!" I found myself saying this about Matt Damon's character, Jason Bourne throughout the third Bourne movie. And that's how the whole movie was...SO cool. If you liked the first two, you're going to love this one. In this movie, Bourne is being chased by authorities as they believe he has committed a crime while he is simply trying to find the truth about his beginnings as Jason Bourne.

The movie moves quickly and is filled with tons of actions. But it's not empty, violent filled action (if there is such). It's smart, it's inventive, it's unique and it's just SO COOL.

I don't want to spoil the details of the plot but it's definitely worth checking out and buying when it comes out on DVD!

Bed Head Superstar Leave-in Conditioner

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:57:56 -0500

The summer has not been kind to my already fine (and I don't mean hot or pretty) hair. We put a pool in so my hair has been doused with chemicals almost daily. At my latest stop at the salon last week, my stylist immediately put on Bed Head's newest leave-in conditioner. She recommended using it every day for normal styling and also putting some in before I got in the pool to protect my hair from absorbing the pool chemicals. This stuff has been great. This is the newest hair product at the top of my list. It makes my hair soft and shiny without leaving it greasy in the least. It's easy as pie to spray in and in full Bed Head product fashion, it smells great!

V_BOT by The Learning Curve

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:08:27 -0500

Now why couldn't I be a kid in this day and age?! Not only do I have before me a 15" tall and decently weighty transformer robot (reg $129) but this guy has the ability to truly transform into a fully functioning remote-controlled vehicle that even comes with an MP3 adapter to hook up and blast tunes off your mp3 player. I really do like how with a push of a button on the remote control, the bot transforms very nicely into a nice decked out SUV looking vehicle. The bot in car mode actually has the ability to take off! Definitely able to give your small pet dog a good chasing around the house. Granted the turning radius isn't that great but for the size/functionality and attractive stylings of the product I can easily over look something as small as that. Johnny (yes I gave it a name) has the ability to perform 100+ action moves.. they range from a nice karate chop type action to being able to dance while playing your mp3 tunes through it!. Its funny how with certain products you can just expect consumers to personalize them in some way.. I definitely think that this is one of those type of products. You'll probably start seeing lots of YouTube videos showing off how their V_Bot can rock out to certain popular tunes. Make sure you are well equipped with rechargeable batteries and of course a battery charger. This big guy is going to keep everyone occupied and drooling over the million functions it can perform. Important Note: Show V_Bot to anyone and they will want one! This has extreme appeal on multiple levels so be prepared to handle their demands.

Pavonia Skin Care

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:57:29 -0500

I’ve always looked much younger than my age, and I’ve enjoyed it tremendously. I was genetically lucky, since I did absolutely nothing special to stay that way. Then I hit my 40s. I thought it was bad at 30 when I finally got hips, but this was worse. Adult acne, wrinkles, and stuff I think they call ‘crepe’ above my eyes. Creepy is more like it. Who wants to see their mother in the mirror? I was not and never would be a dedicated product user, so I needed something that would work simply and quickly. I tried a lot of different products with no real results until I tried the Pavonia line. Crepe-ee eyelids were cured within days, I have very little acne, and the wrinkles have slowed down to a distinguished few. I can live with that. I now use the caviar line that includes a cleanser, a cream, serum and lotion. The gift set of these costs about $350, so they’re not cheap, but they last. And I’m still not a dedicated product user. Although I use the cleanser every day sometimes I skip the rest. I wonder what I’d look like if I was actually a girly-girl?

Presto -- HP Mailbox Printing System

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:25:06 -0500

Imagine this. Someone you care about is not connected to the internet. Hard to imagine, but they’re still out there. It could be a parent or grandparent, a brother or sister, a favorite cousin, or even someone's sick child. You call this person every week or maybe even every day. You can’t see them in person as much as you’d like, and you know they’re lonely and feeling left out. You also own a digital camera, but they can’t or just don’t have the ability to have an internet connection or a computer to make messages and pictures easy to share.

Set up a Presto for them and they can receive a daily email from you to brighten their day, without an internet connection. Attach a picture of you waving hello, or of any important event they have to miss. Then when you call it makes talking about the day or event even more special.

For about $100 - $130 you can buy the Presto. It’s basically an easy-to-use printer that receives email up to five different times a day, at times that you control. You set up the account online, set the preferences, and set up payment for the service at a cost of only about $10 a month. Plug in the Presto, plug their phone line to it, and it’s ready to go. Paper and ink are included and can be monitored on-line. Both are easy to replace when needed. No need to worry about spam, either, since you have to specifically set people up to allow them to send to the account. Information cards are also provided that contain access numbers. Your loved one can hand them out to other friends/family members to set themselves up, so they don’t have to wait for you to do it for them.

Go to www.Presto.com and check it out. As a Hospice volunteer I made friends with a lovely lady whose husband had passed away while under Hospice care. Her grown children and grandchildren were connected to the internet, but this lady had no way to receive emails, and no way to set up an internet connection. I hooked her up with one of these and it’s been working great for three months. I’ve yet to have to change the ink. I was also able to set her up to receive ‘Newsstand’ items such as a weekly article from Andy Rooney and daily gossip article from Liz Smith.

Presto – it was just that easy.

Vacation Week!

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 00:08:21 -0500

WeCalledIt.com is on holiday for this week! We'll be back with more reviews!

Nascar - A Fast History - Greg Fielden

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:15:46 -0500

Its no secret that Im a Nascar fan, and you've got my father-in-law to blame/congratulate for this occurring. I did have a run in with some Nascar fans back in my mid-90s but for whatever reason I had written it off as merely being a southern pride sport... I was correct, to a certain degree , with that assumption but as of late that is clearly no longer the case. We've got drivers from all over the place and as of this season we've got an international participant too. I came across this book at my local Barnes & Nobles store and figured it would be time to read up on how this sport has matured with brief reviews of all notables events. Here's a brief listing that I found particular interesting: Jocko Flocko the Monkey Copilot Hudson Hornets winning the majority of races from 51 - 53 and then disappearing Nascar Converitble Division First Daytona 500 Cale Yarborough , Donnie Allison and Bobby Allison engaged in fisticuffs I also did enjoy how it provided a review of each year's series winning driver and one can understand why certain things are just the way they are. The book has a very coffee-table type appeal to it, where you can simply flip through it and focus on what interests you most and it doesn't require you to have read anything prior. For $6.99, located in the bargain section, its a great deal for those who want to learn some history or for those interesed in refreshing their memories of this crazy crazy sport.

Around the world in 80 days - Michael Palin

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:04:17 -0500

Monty Python's Michael Palin gets asked to do a repeat of explorer Phileas Fog's adventure of travelling around the world in 80 days. At first I was thinking this was going to be a no-biggie in terms of meeting and in fact being able to easily beat the 80 day restriction.. but its absolutely amazing to see how certain parts of the world are still operating like time hasnt changed since the first attempt. Luckily Michael's up-beat humor always keeps the viewer entertained and hopefully optimistic that though he's close to 2 weeks behind schedule and stuck drifting 6 days in the indian ocean on a dhow , ancient wooden boat with no modern day facilities, with a crew of individuals whom dont speak English. It was also interesting to see quirky observerations - such as how in China you could buy a calculator but the checkout person would stll use an abacus to figure out how much change to give you back. I did see that apparently he has been since asked to go on additional adventures (Pole to Pole and Sahara). This is a great series to watch, shows the true reality of the countries he visits and gives you a very well informed view of what to expect if you were to set foot in any of those locations.

Hairspray

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 08:36:44 -0500

I have never seen a version of this movie..whether the original movie, on Broadway or even a high school play. Honestly, I was a little skeptical. But my sister who had seen it on Broadway this year insisted it would be great. I walked out of the theater saying, "I love that movie. That was a great movie." Nikki Blonsky was perfect for the role and she did a fabulous job. She hardly quit smiling or dancing the entire time and she just did such a great job. John Travolta was hilarious as her mother. And hearing him say tired as "tard" or iron "ern" made me crack up every time. Amanda Bynes was cute as could be and her physical humor always entertains me. Although my sister tells me Diana DeGarmo fulfilled the role better on Broadway. Veterans Christopher Walken and Michelle Pfeiffer did a great job. Michelle had a very Cruella Deville vibe about her that went over well. One might have hardly recognized Zac Efron with the suits and slicked back hair. His blue eyes and inate charm pulled off the Elvis type role of Link to a tee. The storyline was great. The fluff of the dance show seemed to be grounded with the deep-rooted integration issues they dealt with. My only issue with this movie was that there were SO MANY songs. Yes, it was a musical but every time they turned around they were singing. And according to my sister, there were songs in it that were not in the original. The songs weren't bad, in fact I enjoyed them. Just be prepared to hear a lot of singing. If you enjoyed movies like Grease or High School Musical, you will definitely like this. And even if you didn't, give this one a try. You might be surprised.