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Game Change: The Aftermath

I spent my Saturday evening watching the HBO debut of — Game Change — the misanthropic story of how Sarah Palin almost ruined our nation by becoming Vice-President.

I did not appreciate Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin because she was too reserved and imitative instead of inhabitative.  I much prefer Tina Fey’s combative sendup of Ms. Palin because she better characterizes the manic wackiness that made Palin so ridiculous and so very dangerous — we laugh because we are terrified of what could have been.  Ed Harris as McCain was ordinary and not angry enough and not stiff enough to be convincing.  Woody Harrelson was magnificent.  He stole the show as campaign advisor Steve Schmidt.

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The Psychology Book Review

Late last night, UPS rang my bell and I was surprised to be handed a book from DK Publishing submitted for review simply titled — The Psychology Book — and I immediately ripped open the box, broke the book’s binding, and dug into the glossy pages.  The subtitle of the hefty, hardcover, $25,00USD tome is — “Big Ideas Simply Explained” — and really like the visual learning style of the layout.

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The Glee Review!

In May of 2009, the life of my wife and I changed with the early premiere of the show Glee on Fox. We were both intrigued for different reasons. Elizabeth liked the idea of a show about people in a singing group. I was more interested in yet another attempt to capture the genuine experience — I was happy to see that, unlike the original series of Beverly Hills, 90210, the teenagers on Glee are mostly actual teenagers. I also thought back to my time at Peddie and how I did not know much of the Glee club other than when they performed for the school.

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The Apple iBooks Author Review

When it comes to creative software, from my perspective, there are two important factors — the most important factors, really. They are ease of use and power — interdependent in that creative software can be good with one but not the other, yet not nearly as good when both are present. For example, Microsoft Paint is an easy to use program but all but the most skilled artists would find it difficult to make something really beautiful with it. Final Cut is one of the most powerful pieces of software for editing video but I have found it extremely difficult to do even the most simple task.

I am happy to say that I have found iBooks Author to be a perfect combination of ease of use and power. I have only had it since Sunday morning and I am already blown away by what I have been able to make with it. It is quite clear that Apple wants people to start making fun and educational iBooks right out of the box, excuse the antiquated expression.

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The VTech Learning Sit to Stand Walker Review

Before really getting into this review I would like to state that it took awhile for my wife and I to even agree on the VTech Learning Sit to Stand Walker as the tool we would use to help our son Chaim Yosef learn how to walk. In the latter stages of Elizabeth’s pregnancy we discussed what kinds of toys and equipment we would get for him. I was and to some extent of the opinion that it would be best to expose him to as few electronically driven toys and tools as possible — I wanted to get him a crank driven wind-up rocker, for example, but soon found out that it is nearly impossible to buy one new.

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The Chuck Review

Since 2007, my wife and I have thoroughly enjoyed the NBC cult favorite television dramedy Chuck, starring Zachary Levy as the titular character. For most of its existence it has struggled to stay on the air with at least one fan launched campaign to save the show from cancellation. I have to admit right up front that this is more of a retrospective than a standard review. In a more standard review, the show has more or less just started and the review has much to do not just with what has been on the show but what could be — and what kind of future the show might have. I have been meaning to review Chuck for awhile but it never happened — and now that the show is coming to a swift end soon, it behooves me to look back and think about the show that was and a few places where the show went not quite right.

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American Horror Story Review

We may not all care for the stylings of the television show Glee. Tonight, however, I would like to introduce you to another show created by the same makers of said Glee that, should you choose to sit down and watch it, will make you wonder how the makers of one show could possibly be the same as the makers of the other. The television show of which I speak is American Horror Story, and even though the season is about to be over, I would like for you to seriously considering going back and watching the whole season any way you can and then watching the season finale when it airs.

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Creating a Publication Network with Google+ Pages

Yesterday, Google finally made Google+ Pages available to the masses.  I immediately logged in and started creating pages for all the web properties I own, and I’ll tell you why I decided to spend an afternoon clicking and linking on Google+.

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The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams Review

I am not, generally speaking, a big fan of country music. For some reason when I think of country music today I think of songs with names like “Drop Kick Me Jesus (Through The Goal Posts of Life)” — I know that song was recorded in 1976 but it seems to be a sign of what was to come. When it comes to the music of Hank Williams, on the other hand, I make an exception. He wrote masterful lyrics and sang beautifully. I don’t properly own any classic Hank Williams albums but I have enjoyed listening to recordings of him on Spotify and watching videos of him online.

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The Tom Bihn Ristretto Bag Review for My 11-inch MacBook Air

I am a big bag lover.  I am constantly on the move to find the perfect bag for every moment.  It’s rare that you can find a single bag that can unite your days.  It’s more likely you’ll have to use a purpose-drive purse — I mean “Man Bag!” — to help sort and protect your day.

I always wanted to try a Tom Bihn bag made by hand in Seattle.  I have always liked the whole mission and purpose of the company —

At TOM BIHN, we design and manufacture sophisticated laptop bags and cases, laptop backpacks, messenger bags, briefcases, travel bags, checkpoint-friendly bags and accessories in our own Seattle factory. We offer eye-catching designs and unusually attentive customer service. We use the best quality materials, superior construction and Tom’s 30+ years of design experience to build a better laptop bag. Our bags are available for order through this Web site with worldwide shipping or at our Seattle retail store.

— and when my new MacBook Air 11-inch showed up needing some protection, I knew the time was right to sidle up and settle down $120.00USD to the West Coast for a Bihn bag especially made and designed for my tiny beauty.

I present to you the Tom Bihn Ristretto for the 11-inch MacBook Air:

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