Products you have seen on TV

Big Top Cupcake

2010-01-06T14:14:00.003-05:00

Product Description
Well for the holidays my family received the Big Top Cupcake. You say big top what?????

It allows you to make one cupcake, a cupcake on steroids, supersized if you will. And as anyone who knows me would tell you, I do like cake. MMMMMMMMMMM.

From the people at www.bigtopcupcake.com...

“T he fast and easy way to make colossal cupcakes that are up to 25x bigger than normal size cupcakes! Everyone’s face will light up when you make a king-sized cupcake kitten!”

What It Costs $19.95 + Shipping and Handling. I got mine as a give so don’t know the shipping and handling costs.

Ease of assembly 5 Stars (no assembly)

Ease of use 5 Stars

To use the Big Top Cupcake you first need to pick up some cake mix. We also picked up icing and pudding to put in the middle of our Big Top Cupcake. The instructions are fairly straight forward. Pour your batter into the bottom and top parts and since we were going to fill the center with pudding, we used the special magic center insert.

Actual performance 5 Stars
The Big Top Cupcake is made of soft silicon (just like Pamela Anderson) so no cake sticks to the forms. We followed the instructions and just like in the commercial our cake came out perfect. We added the pudding middle and then placed the top of the cupcake onto the base. We decorated it with the help of our Betty Crocker Cake Decorating. The end result was a fun time with the kids and a delicious snack.

Final thoughts on practicality
Does one need a supersized cupcake? Of course not. But then again, who needs cake at all. The Big Top Cupcake lived up to its infomercial hype. My boys loved helping make the big cupcake and they sure did enjoy eating it! This As Seen On TV item is going to get used a bunch of times.

Final Score
5 stars out of 5

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T10:37:00.002-05:00

Hoping everyone has a pleasant and prosperous 2010.

Google Chrome

2009-12-21T13:28:00.001-05:00

Well the job hunt still continues for me so it's a tight Christmas.

On a different tangent, I hate Internet Explore 8.

Slow, Buggy, and it crashes alot.

So today I upgraded to Google Chrome.

So far its fast, and error free.

5 Stars

Lack Of Posts

2009-12-01T16:51:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately but I was downsized. As a result my money needs to go for food and mortgage.

As you know I actually have purchased each product on my blog so my reviews are real.

Hope springs an new with 2010 and I look forward to employment and extra cash to purchase new as seen on tv items.

Have a happy holiday.

Ped Egg

2009-08-26T10:00:00.003-04:00

Product Description
The other day I was heading off to the CVS convenience store. I needed to pick up some basic items, batteries, soap, trash bags and a birthday card. Now normally my wife would never let me go into the CVS alone due to my fondness of the As Seen On TV isle, however she was busy and could not chaperone me.

So I set off to the CVS store and went right to the As Seen On TV isle. Now it has been a while since I purchased anything (being unemployed will do that) but I started thinking, I’m getting a birthday card so I should also pick up a small gift to go with it.

So I head straight for the As Seen On TV isle and start to play,,, errrr. Shop. Aqua Globe, Pedi Paws, Save A Blade, Tap Light, got them all. Then my eyes fall onto the Ped Egg. And it now comes with a handle!!!!. CA CHING! A sale is made. I take my purchase and head home, happy and content. Unfortunately I forgot to pick up the other items on my shopping list so my wife was not as enthusiastic about my find.

From the As Seen On TV website… “You and your feet will love the new Ped Egg!

The original Ped Egg has been precision engineered with 135 stainless steal micro files to gently remove calluses and dead skin to give your feet the incredible baby soft look and feel that everyone loves.

Two high quality emery buffing pads have been included for the ultimate finishing touch.

The unique egg shape of the Ped Egg not only looks great, but is ergonomically designed to fit perfectly into the palm of your hand for easy and convenient use.

Best of all, Ped Egg has been designed to collect all the skin shavings in a convenient storage compartment allowing you to use it anywhere with no mess. “

What It Costs $9.95 + Shipping and Handling. I got mine at the CVS convenience store

Ease of assembly 5 Stars (no assembly)

Ease of use 5 Stars (come on, its a foot scraper)
To use the Ped Egg you first remove the cap covering the cheese grater (well that’s what it looks like). The instructions advise to use the Ped Egg on dry skin. Simply rub back and forth. All scraped off skin is cleanly collected in the Ped Egg for easy disposal.

Actual performance 5 Stars
Oddly enough my wife did not think giving a Ped Egg as a gift was a good idea. Something about insinuating horse hoof feet or something… Well that meant that the Ped Egg falls into my hands. And I got to say, it does work well. And the handle makes reaching those difficult places easy to reach.

Final thoughts on practicality
Diabetics are not suppose to use this product and apparently it’s not an ideal gift idea. However, it does work well and will help remove rough skin from the feet.

Final Score
5 stars out of 5

Where Have I Been?

2009-07-07T21:37:00.002-04:00

A few have sent emails asking where have I been? Well, first my computer crashed and then I lost my job.

With reduced income I need to curb my AsSeenOnTV purchases for a while.

But no worries, I have a few updates to make on items I purchased.

First the Ped Egg. My wife just purchased this so I will be having a review on it shortly.

Also the Save A Blade review keeps on generating great comments from everyone.

Finally, so long Billy Mays. Your unique style of pitching products will not be easily replaced.

Billy Mays Dead

2009-06-28T18:39:00.001-04:00

from the consumerist.com...

"You have to wonder if before going to sleep last night, pitchman Billie Mays thought of Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Ed McMahon, and said to himself one last time, "but wait, there's more!"

The OxyClean pitchman was found dead this morning in his Tampa home. No foul play is suspected, although the wires are reporting that Mays might have hit his head yesterday when a U.S. Airways flight he was blew out a tire while landing.

Born William Mays in McKees Rocks, Pa., on July 20, 1958, Mays developed his style demonstrating knives, mops and other "as seen on TV" gadgets on Atlantic City's boardwalk. For years he worked as a hired gun on the state fair and home show circuits, attracting crowds with his booming voice and genial manner.

After meeting Orange Glo International founder Max Appel at a home show in Pittsburgh in the mid-1990s, Mays was recruited to demonstrate the environmentally friendly line of cleaning products on the St. Petersburg-based Home Shopping Network.

Commercials and informercials followed, anchored by the high-energy Mays showing how it's done while tossing out kitschy phrases like, "Long live your laundry!"

Recently he's been seen on commercials for a wide variety of products and is featured on the reality TV show "Pitchmen" on the Discovery Channel, which follows Mays and Anthony Sullivan in their marketing jobs. He's also been seen in ESPN ads.

His ubiquitousness and thumbs-up, in-your-face pitches won Mays plenty of fans. People line up at his personal appearances for autographed color glossies, and strangers stop him in airports to chat about the products.

"I enjoy what I do," Mays told The Associated Press in a 2002 interview. "I think it shows."

Forearm Forklift

2009-05-06T09:16:00.005-04:00

Product Description

I hate moving furniture. I always end up with scratched floors, dented walls and a sore back. So when I decided (thanks to my dog eating my carpet) to install new carpet, I thought to myself… “There has got to be a better way”.

So while I was with the family at the local big box store, I quietly snuck my older son away to go visit the best isle in the store… The as seen on tv isle!

Oh what wonders filled he small eyes. A cornucopia of delights!!! A true father son moment that I am sure he will share with his children.

From https://www.getthestraps.com/

Forearm Forklift® Lifting Straps

· Ergonomically designed to encourage proper lifting techniques
· OSHA accepted to reduce potential injuries due to heavy & repetitive lifting
· Adjustable up to 48 inches
· Easy to use - instructions included
· Safe - won’t damage floors
· Portable - conveniently stores in drawer, tool box or under a truck seat
What It Costs $19.95 (+ S&H) I got mine at the local big box store.

Ease of assembly 5 Stars

These are straps, no need for assembly (unless you get the extenders – I didn’t)

Ease of use 4 Stars

To use the Forearm Forklift, you need to put the straps under the item you want to move. Then with the help of your partner, adjust the straps to find the correct balance on your forearms and the furniture. Using the Forearm Forklift does help take the pressure off of your back and is much better then trying to hold furniture with just your hands. One neat feature of the Forearm Forklift is that the straps have different openings to insert your arms into. This helps you maximize your leveraging potential.

Actual performance 4 1/2 Stars
Oddly enough, this works best on heavier furniture. It also helps to position the straps correctly. Give a small lift first to ensure the furniture is properly balances (thus avoiding falling furniture.

Final thoughts on practicality

You still need to be careful. Lift by bending at the knees, not with your back. Also you still need an assistant to properly use the Forearm Forklift. Also I highly recommend getting the extra extensions for this. It will be a big help with larger items.

If you are using this on stairs the person on the lower side needs to use the lower slots in the Forearm Forklift. The person on the higher side needs to use the highest slots. This will help keep the item balanced. This is one area where the extensions are truly necessary.

Overall, I like the Forearm Forklift. It helps make a difficult job, less difficult.

Final Score

4 1/2 stars out of 5

Whats the deal

2009-04-17T11:31:00.002-04:00

Some people have asked me why haven't I posted a review in a while.

Well, to be honest, I havent purchased any as seen on tv stuff since the Slap Chop.

But I have my eyes on a few items....

Smart Lidz and Rip Stick Caster Board.

So thanks for your patience and new reviews will be coming shortly.

Oh and thanks for all the people taking time to leave their comments on the Save A Blade review.

Slap Chop

2009-03-18T15:06:00.003-04:00

Product Description

“Life’s hard enough as it is, you don’t need to cry anymore.”

Oh Vince. Your Sham Wow was not so great, but darn you and your charismatic commercials, I just can’t resist. Here I was preparing some chili, chopping onions, garlic and peppers. In the background the television was on. Now I did not have enough chopping to do to break out the food processor, but enough chopping that the cutting board was quite full. For those that don’t know, I am a nervous chopper, afraid that one day one of my 10 little piggy’s will be separated from the heard by an error in my knife chopping skills. As I was thinking, there has got to be a better way, fate (and a large advertising budget) intervened. I look up to see that giant head of Vince.

From https://www.slapchop.com/

The Slap Chop is a manual chopper machine that works when you slap the plunger part. Every slap triggers the 3 blades below to chop and cut the food. The more you slap the Slap Chop, the finer the food gets. Chop up potatoes for home fries, or add mushrooms and green peppers for a tasty side to your eggs. Even use the Slap Chop for vegetables like carrots, celery and radishes for an instant salad. Nuts and chocolate are chopped easy for toppings on ice cream. The Slap Chop is great for onions and even garlic so your fingers don't smell and it saves time. The Slap Chop's base opens up to expose the blades for easy cleaning.

The Graty for cheese comes with 2 blades, fine and coarse. Place any kind of cheese in the container, turn and press the black top twister and the cheese comes right out for omelets, salads and pasta. It comes with a black cover to seal the cheese so it stays fresh in the refrigerator. Take it out whenever you need a little or a lot of cheese. The Slap Chop and the Graty for cheese both come with a 10 year warranty and are both dish washer safe.

What It Costs $19.99 (S&H $7.95) (plus $5.00 for the Graty and oh yes, I need my Graty).

Ease of assembly 5 Stars

It’s a slap chop, there is no assembly

Ease of use 5 Stars

Oh how I eagerly awaited and soon I was rewarded. I open the package as a child opens a birthday gift, excited with my new chopping toy!

What makes the Slap Chop different from other ordinary choppers is the sturdy construction.

Why the Egyptian pyramid builders would be proud with the engineering built into my Slap Chop. Once super cool thing is how the blades are positioned. Most choppers have blades in an X pattern. The SlapChop has blades positioned in a W position.

As we all know, W comes before X in the alphabet so W must be better. And in this case it is as there is more chopping blade with a W shape then with an X shape.

Actual performance 5 Stars

Now Vince said I would be in a great mood because I would be slapping my troubles away… So I set off to test that theory.

I break out some chopping items from the fridge. First I take a wack at some onions. I pull out the cutting board and slice the onion in half. Now the onion barely fits into the Slap Chop but sure enough a couple of slaps later and the only tears I have are tears of joy. Next I try some whole garlic, again the Slap Chop works flawlessly.

In fact it does a great job on everything I put under it and I start getting into a great mood, just as Vince said I would. So….. I break out some of my old ShamWow to see what the Slap Chop will do to it. Oddly enough, the ShamWow appears to be Slap Chop resistant.

Final thoughts on practicality

The ShapChop works well, and is easy to clean since I can put it into the dishwasher. Now I know, it did not work well on my ShamWow but I blame the ShamWow since that never worked well to begin with.

As for the cheese Graty, it does a decent job on hard cheese.

Final Score

5 stars out of 5

Bendaroos

2009-01-20T14:10:00.003-05:00

Product Description
It has been a while since I reviewed a child product. Under this years Christmas tree was something new from santa. Bendaroos. From http://www.bendaroostv.com/. Draw with Bendaroos, Build with Bendaroos, Transform with Bendaroos and Decorate with Bendaroos.

What It Costs $19.99 (S&H of $7.99)

You get 250 rainbow colors and 250 neon color Bendaroos

Ease of assembly 5 Stars
There is no assembly required

Ease of use 5 Stars
The hardest part of bendaroos is getting them out of the packaging.

Actual performance 5 Stars
I first thought Bendaroos were just pipe cleaners. However upon closer inspection they are much more versatile. They are kind of waxy sticks that you can bend and twist into shapes (much like pipe cleaners). However Bendaroos stick to glass and walls. They are also reusable.

Final thoughts on practicality
A couple of thought on Bendaroos. First they are reusable. However once my boys use them, separating is not that easy. They do stick to most anything and are easily removed from said stuck surface. At first my boys did not take a shining to these but recently I have been noticing little Bendaroo projects decorating the house.

Now I have not actually seen anyone using them but based on the quantity of Bendaroo art decorating my home, it seems to be a big hit.

Final Score
5 stars out of 5

2008-12-16T09:24:00.003-05:00

Product Description
Why It’s a major award! It’s a thing of beauty. It’s, it's indescribable!!!

This beautiful 45-inch A Christmas Story Leg Lamp is a life size replica of the Leg Lamp in A Christmas Story.

I have seen the movie a hundred times. As Ralphie said so well all those years ago… “the irresistible glow of electric sex”.

For all these years something was missing from my holiday display. Sure sure sure, I had the tree, the wreath, the inflatable Santa on the lawn but still something was missing. Then yesterday what did my eyes see at my door. A package. A large package. Why after digging into it a bit, it even had the fancy “fragile” on the side just like in the movie.

Never has a Christmas gift been so perfect.

From the good folks at http://www.redriderleglamps.com

What It Costs $99.99 with a cardboard box ($169 gets you the full size wooden crate).
Packaging option prices are for the packaging alone. Standard shipping rates still apply in addition to packaging prices.
Shipping charge for the Standard 45" Full Size Leg Lamp is $45. Shipping charge for the Deluxe 50" Full Size Leg Lamp is $55.

Ease of assembly 5 Stars
Just plug her in!!!

Ease of use 5 Stars
Just plug her in!!!

Actual performance 5 Stars
Just plug her in!!! It’s a thing of beauty. The hardest part was finding the right window to proudly display my new glowing leg. I settled on the dining room. And just like in the movie, shortly after turning it on curious neighbors wanted to see it up close.

Final thoughts on practicality
Practicality is not a term I use for Christmas displays. After all, what’s practical about an inflatable Santa or Christmas lights. And there is nothing practical about a glowing leg. Christmas displays are supposed to be fun.

Oh and if you visit the www.redriderleglamp.com website, you will also find all sorts of items to purchase from “A Christmas Story”.

Final Score
5 stars out of 5

Honorable Mention

2008-12-04T09:48:00.002-05:00

Some folks have questioned my Holiday Pick List as I have left off one super gift.

The George Foreman Grill.

Now don't get me wrong, I love my Foreman Grill. In fact I had the original (pain in the but to clean) and when that got old, I upgraded to the one where you can remove the treys for cleaning (much better!!!).

I have seen that he has a new grill out that can do all sorts of fancy things. Rest assured when my current Foreman Grill dies (that could be years away due to its sturdy construction), I will be replacing it with another Foreman Grill.

Here is my review of the Foreman Grill

My As Seen On TV Holiday Picks

2008-11-05T11:53:00.003-05:00

I have had a few inquiries as to what I thing are the best as seen on tv holiday gifts. Here are a few choices that I recommend.

Price Range $10 - $20

For Her
Aqua Globes

Keep your plants alive and healthy using Aqua Globes.

For Him
Save A Blade

I know the Save A Blade controversy still rages on here on this blog but I have been using the same blade for 2 months now so for me I give it a thumbs up.

For Kids
Floam

Crayola Color Explosion

Both are big hits here in my home with my two sons (ages 5 and 8).

Price Range $21 - $50

For Her and Him
Show Time Six Star Cutlery Set

Perfect for the college student or new couple. Even better for the chef in training (or trained).

Price Range $100 and Up

Hyloft

Organizing could not be made any easier. Perfect for cleaning up the garage and workshop.

Little Giant

Now I know the little Giant comes with a little giant price but if you have a handy person that is a true do it yourself type. Then this is da bomb of gifts.

Aqua Globe

2008-10-30T10:31:00.004-04:00

Description

Around my home I am known as the killer of all plants. I don’t have a green thumb. Perhaps its because I don’t have time in my schedule. Perhaps its because I tend to forget to water my plants and when I do remember, I overwater them. Well last week my neighbor was thoughtful enough to purchase me a house plant as a thank you for watching her pets while she was away on vacation. I guess she was thinking that if I did not kill her cats, then I should be able to keep a plant alive.

Well being that it was a gift, I graciously accepted it and knew exactly what to do. I jumped into my car and went down to my big box store. A brisk walk towards the back of the store brought me to my favorite place… The As Seen On TV isle. Oh the cornucopia of delights that befell my eyes. All my favorite infomercial products right in front of me.

But with little time to spare, I quickly find the product I was looking for…

From the http://www.asseenontv.com/ people

“Now, there is a simple and attractive way to keep plants perfectly watered all the times. Aqua Globes the hand-blown glass watering bulb automatically waters plant for up to 2 weeks Easy-to-use Aqua Globes are the most beautiful solution for automatic plant watering ever. Just fill the Aqua Globes with water and insert into the soil of plant. As soil becomes dry, it releases oxygen into Aqua Globes, which releases the exact amount of water your plant needs - it´s that simple! Aqua Globes are the perfect alternative to daily watering and an excellent solution to watering plants while on vacation. Aqua Globes the work of art that waters your plants for you! “

What It Costs $14.99 + $7.95 shipping and handling ( I got mine at the store)

Ease of use 5 Stars

Okay so I get my Aqua Globes home and read the directions. I first need to poke a hole in the soil to help make inserting the Aqua Globe easier. Now I have heard of people breaking theirs when inserting into the soil so I wanted to be sure that did not happen to me. Fortunately I had a wooden spoon handy. I used the handle to make a hole in the soil to insert the globe. Once satisfied, I took the Aqua Globe to the kitchen sink and filled it.

Once that was done, I inserted it into the soil and basked at a job well done.

Actual performance 5 Stars

The water in the Aqua Globe slowly is released into the soil. My fern is green and happy.

Final thoughts on practicality

This is a handy product for people who do not like to pay a lot of attention to their household plants. However you still need to remember to fill the Aqua Globe. That’s going to be a problem with me as I tend to forget about my plants. You also don’t want to force the Aqua Globe into the soil as they are a bit delicate and can crack.

You will want to fill your Aqua Globe over a sink as the water tends to not only go in but pour over the outside of the Aqua Globe when filling it.

The other item I would like to mention about the Aqua Globe is its funky design. It’s kinda like a 70s design, a bit funky. That may not match the décor of your room.

All in all, a good product.

Final Score

5 out of 5 stars

ShamWow

2008-10-16T15:59:00.004-04:00

Ladies and Gentlemen. This next contender is new to the infomercial arena. You have seen him on tv... Young, brash, working his way through the ranks. Let’s put our hands together and give a rousing round of applause for our newest infomercial star…..

VINCE!!!!!

Description
Okay, so he has messy hair and a cheesy microphone headset. Some have compared him to a boardwalk carnival pitchman. To me that does not matter, as I am interested in his pitched wares. Oh yes Vince, I want your pitched wares.....

I am going to sum up this review up with one of two phrases…. SHAMWOW or SHAM OW!

Sham what you say??? Have you been living under a rock? According to Vince, this fine piece of engineering is straight from Germany and will clean up any spill you can throw at it.

ShamWow will…
Hold 21 times its weight in liquid.
Machine washable and bleachable
Cleans up spills fast!
Lasts for years
Will not scratch surfaces
Great camp towel and dries pets too.

Perfect for the car, boat and household uses!

What It Costs $19.99 + shipping and handling ( I got mine as a gift)

Ease of use 5 Stars
It’s a towel, not a rocket (sheesh how could it not get 5 stars for ease of use)

Actual performance ½ Stars

There I was, at the edge of a deep swimming pool with my brand new ShamWow’s. Out of no where a cry rings out through the air! Help my baby has fallen into the pool and he’s drowning, somebody help!!!! I immediately spring into action throwing my entire collection of ShamWow’s into the pool. Immediately the towels absorb all the water, saving the baby. the mother gently holding her child looks up and says "thank you ShamWow man for saving my baby!!!"

And now back to reality… When you take three dogs and combine them with two young boys you are bound to get spills that need absorbing. I always seem to be wiping up some spill.

Now normally I reach for the paper towels, but now that I have my ShamWow….
I reach for the paper towels after I use the ShamWow.

Vince oh Vince, why, why why? I so wanted these to work wonders. However the reality is that they don’t seem to work any better then any other towel.

Final thoughts on practicality
Practicality is what I was hoping for. A reusable towel that can be washed over and over and over. Unfortunately the product just does not live up to the hype. It pushes spills as much as it absorbs them. Some people claim that these work better after you wash them a few times, if thats true, I will update this review.

I do have one use for my big orange ShamWow towel. I put it under the dog bowel and it keeps my floor from becoming sopping wet.

Final Score
1 out of 5 stars

so I sum this review up with... SHAM OW

PediPaws

2008-10-04T07:30:00.006-04:00

Description

It’s no secret. I like dogs as pets. In fact for the past decade I have had at least two or three dogs. Now having a small pack of dogs has provided me with some unique insights over the years.

Perhaps the most unique sentence I have ever muttered was regarding my son and my yellow labrador retriever…. “DON”T PAINT THE DOG”.

Keeping these dogs happy requires lots of food and lots of grooming. Now my dogs are really good when being bathed, or brushed but they are not too keen on getting their nails trimmed. They try to pull their paw away whenever I try to trim their nails with my old nail clipper. Well I thought to myselft that there has got to be a better way.

From the good people at www.pedipaws.com.

"PediPaws™ is the revolutionary nail trimmer for your dog or cat. It’s the newest and fastest way to keep your pet’s nails trim rounded and smooth with no mess! Now you can easily trim your pet’s nails anywhere without the pain caused by traditional nail clippers. The secret is PediPaws™’ precision emery filing wheel that gently removes thin layers of nail to leave your pet’s paws touchably soft and your home safe from scratches. The unique protective cap allows only the perfect amount of nail to be removed and contains all the filings so there’s no mess! Start treating your pet like one of the family. You and your pet will love PediPaws™!

PediPaws™ gently and painlessly files your Pet’s nails to leave them trim, rounded and smooth. Say goodbye to scratched furniture and floors forever! Today as part of this special internet offer, you will receive one premium PediPaws™ nail trimmer, complete with precision filing bands, for only $19.99 plus $7.99 shipping and handling. As a BONUS you’ll also receive the amazing Shed Ender, the professional de-shedding tool for dogs and cats. It removes shedding hair trapped in the undercoat and makes their topcoat shine! You’ll receive this bonus, a $15 value for no additional charge, just pay a separate $7.99 shipping and handling. This special offer is not available in stores so the only way to get it is to place your order now! "

What It Costs $19.99 + $7.99 shipping and handling

Ease of use 5 Stars

This product requires 2 C batteries (not included) so when it arrived in the mail, and I opened it up, it was not able immediately try it.

Sadly I needed to go to the big box store to pick up some C batteries since I did not have any in the house. Well at least I got the chance to walk back down the assseenontv isle.

Actual performance 4 ½ Stars

PediPaws is similar in concept to a dremmel sanding tool. The sanding pad spins around and allows you to grind down items that touch the sanding pad.

I put in the batteries and turn the PediPaws on. It makes a noise, not too quiet but not too loud. It is loud enough to get the dogs attention. So I start my orientation of the dogs to their new nail trimmer by just having it run while I gently pet them. After a while or orientation, I decide to give it a try and get my big dog Sparky. Now avid readers of my blog may remember Sparky from the only other post that he starred, the Eggstractor.

Sparky has a good even temperament, a gentle giant, weighing in just under 110 pounds. I have him sit on his side and take one of his paws. I gently put one of his nails against the PediPaws grinding wheel and the nail starts to be trimmed. He protests slightly but soon enough realizes that Pedi Paws is not going to hurt him. I slowely grind the nail away.

Final thoughts on practicality

If your dog nails are long, this will take some time to grind down the nail as it does not grind down as quickly as shown on the commercial. It does work but will take some time.

Also, grinding a dog nail smells (not a nice smell). They forgot to mention that on the commercial.

After PediPaws Sparky's nails are smooth which is nice as my old nail trimmer would leave them with sharp areas.

So does this product work??? The answer is YES.

Is it better then a sharp nail clipper. YES.

Is it faster then a sharp nail clipper. NO.

Will your dog let you use it. PERHAPS.

Some dogs don’t like their paws touched or nails trimmed and using Pedi Paws takes longer then a conventional nail trimmer. Also the noise of the trimmer might scare your dog. I am still trying to get my puppy Moose to allow me to use it.

Final Score

5 out of 5 stars

Autobell Car Wash

2008-09-15T21:55:00.004-04:00

Description
I lead a busy life. There is only so much time in one day and as a result, some things don’t get the attention that they deserve. One of these things is my Jeep Liberty. With 3 dogs and 2 boys, this car gets a lot of wear and tear on the inside. I also use it to tow my boat.

Now I am quite good at maintenance with the engine and never let my tiers wear down. Unfortunately I do neglect the cleaning of the Jeep. My three dogs ensure that my back windows are full of snot and my kids seem to get more ice cream on the seats then into their mouths. Compound that with the fact that I don’t really like washing and waxing my cars. The worst is lugging the vacuum cleaner outside to the car. I need to get the extension cord, and I can never seem to get all the dirt and grime out from my carpets.

So last Saturday I thought to myself….. There has got to be a better way.

From www.autobell.com “Autobell Car Wash Inc.® was founded in 1969 by the late Charles Howard Sr. as a way to showcase the latest in car wash equipment technology . What started as an exterior only conveyorized car wash has grown into a chain of 51 full service facilities across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia. Our corporate offices are located in Charlotte.” Autobell has always used the best equipment and solutions to effectively and safely maintain the appearance of your automobile. We were among the first in the country to offer on-line polishing and waxing. Today we offer our exclusive Double-Polyprocess to safely clean, polish and protect today’s delicate clear coat finishes. All of our cleaning solutions, waxes and equipment are formulated and built to our demanding specifications by Howco Inc. The experience we have gained over 39 years results allows our friendly staff to deliver a quality wash both inside and out in less than 20 minutes. Stop into one of our convenient locations near you and find out why your neighbors' car always looks so good.”

What It Costs $21.95
Autobell has different prices for different services. I got the Super Polyprocess which consisted of a full Service Wash, Double Polyprocess, Auto Gloss, Underbody Wash, Tire Gloss, and Fragrance

Ease of use 5 Stars
I pull up to the Autobell and am greeted by someone who helps me decide what I need done. Then I just hand over my keys. It could not have been easier.

Actual performance 4 ½ Stars
They clean the car with the car wash and hand clean spots that are missed. They vacuum the inside, gloss the tiers, clean my windows and even throw out the refuse in the back of my Jeep. They even take the Jeep back for a second vacuuming to get it completely spotless.

Whats this???? Why only 4 ½ stars? Well they did not give me my Fragrance.

Final thoughts on practicality
My son liked it since he could watch the car go through the car wash. I liked it since I did not have to line up my tiers to go through the car wash. They took care of everything. The entire process took about 20 minutes from start to end. If I did it myself, it would have taken me a few hours and I would not have gotten the car as clean.

Would I use their service again? Absolutely, but at $20 a pop, I might just pay them a visit twice a year.

Oh and I used the time I saved to take the kids fishing. Now thats worth $20.

Final Score
5 out of 5 stars

Now 5 stars was a tough one to give since they did not give me the fragrance. I had this at 4 1/2 but I am going to overlook the oversight since they did such a fantastic job with everything else.

Crayola Color Explosion

2008-08-31T07:39:00.004-04:00

Description

When it rains its pours…. Nothing so sad as when my two boys are trapped in the house during a rainy summer day. Oddly enough, suggestions of cleaning their room or picking up the toys in the family room don’t go over too well. Now when I was young and it rained, we broke out the Monopoly board game for an afternoon of fun. But today’s kids want more and this modern day caveman knows just what to do.

“Crayola Color Explosion™ lets you create wild multicolored effects with a single color-reveal marker! The unique clear-ink marker works only with black Color Explosion paper, revealing hidden colors for amazing designs. Drawings can be done freehand or with stencils.”

What It Costs $10.99 (+S&H)

I got mine at Amazon using my above discount. Since I purchased a few items, FREE SHIPPING!!!! I am not sure if they have these at your local big box. I have not checked.

Ease of use 4 Stars

Crayola has turned around the concept of colored pens applying ink onto paper. The pens in this case, remove the black film on the paper exposing the color underneath. The hardest part with using this product is getting it out of the packaging.

Once they were out my older son took right to it and had a great time with it. My youger son.... well he prefered SpongeBob on TV.

Actual performance 4 Stars

My older son loves this product. But you do need to exercise some caution when using this. You should let the kids draw with these on the table. If the kids hands are wet, then the paper gets wet and the black gets on the hands, then the table, then the clothes, etc.

Final thoughts on practicality

I like it. My older son likes it. It might be a bit too much for my 5 year old. I think that this falls into one of the categories of possible messy fun. Take the right precautions by keeping the juice boxes away and you won't have too many problems. Granted my son is no Picasso, but he does enjoy drawing and he does enjoy this product.

If you child likes to draw, then perhaps you should give this a try. I would consider this a good inexpensive gift for the child that likes to draw.

Final Score

4 ½ out of 5 stars

Moving Men Furniture Sliders

2008-08-12T16:34:00.006-04:00

Description
There are only two things this modern cave man hates more then moving furniture. One is nuclear war. The second is… well that does not matter. Lets get back to the topic at hand. Moving Furniture.

Sometimes I need to get the vacuum behind the couch. Sometimes (practically ever other week) my wife decides to move all the furniture in the home. The result is always the same. I end up pushing a sideboard, hutch, entertainment unit or couch. Well I got to thinking that there has got to be a better way….

On a side note.... I use the phrase “Well I got to thinking that there has got to be a better way” in a lot of my reviews….

Well I was at my local big box store enjoying my walk down the as seen on tv isle when low and behold, the solution to my problem was right in front of me.

“Make Moving Heavy Furniture Childes Play”

Want to rearrange the living room, dust behind your bookshelf, or move that king size bed? Then it's time to get some Moving Men - the furniture sliders that make moving seem easy. Just slip a moving men under each leg of your furniture, and even the heaviest and largest pieces slide along effortlessly!

Scientifically Designed:
Each Moving Men is made of a highly polished polymer and fitted with a special cushion grip pad
Moving Men slide across carpeting like skis on snow
Even a loaded bookcase practically floats along
Move living room furniture and bedroom furniture with ease. With Moving Men, you can move entire entertainment centers without rewiring. Move loaded bookcases without removing a single book. Move heavy appliances with ease. Kit includes: 4 giant furniture sliders, and 4 mini sliders. Re-arrange your living room in just a few minutes. Move to a new home or apartment without having to ask your friends for help.

What It Costs $12.95 (S&H of $5.95) – I got mine at the store so I did not pay any shipping and handling charges.

Ease of use 4 Stars
To use these you need to put one under each leg of the furniture. This requires that you lift the corner and slide the slider under the leg. That takes a bit of coordination if you are doing the moving alone. However, once you have the sliders in place, moving the furniture is a breeze.

Of course if you dont have fancy furnature with legs on it or with one leg missing (thinking back to my college days... Ahh good times) then you might have other issues.

Actual performance 5 Stars
This works well on both carpet and wood floors. I found that if I tip the furniture slightly it is easier to position each slider. Once the furniture is on the slider, its easy to move by pushing.

Final thoughts on practicality
This is one of those pleasant surprises. So simple and yet so effective. Unfortunately you can’t use these to move items up or down stairs. Also if you have a raised threshold, you may have problems getting the sliders across it.

I am going to use these when I paint my bedroom in a few weeks. Moving my bed is quite difficult due to its size and weight. I was dreading the thought but now I am eager to give it a go.

Final Score
5 out of 5 stars

Vacu Vin Pineapple Easy Slicer

2008-08-07T16:45:00.003-04:00

Description

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. Who doesn’t like summertime fruit. Grapes, watermelon, apples, plums, pairs, the list goes on and on. Well one guilty pleasure that I don’t indulge in too much is Pineapple. It’s not that I don’t like them, they are sweet as summer days are warm. The problem I have is getting the delicious fruit out from the hard pineapple skin.

While flipping through the shopping channels on tv, I found the Vacu Vin Pineapple Easy Slicer. But before I could break out the credit card, the infomercial ended. There I sat, lost, not knowing where to turn. I searched the internet and in short fashion found my Pineapple Easy Slicer at http://www.amazon.com/. Now I know that I have an Amazon coupon at the top of my blog but this is where I got mine from (and I suggest you also use my amazon coupon for savings).

What It Costs $13.97

Ease of use 3 Stars

Slicing a Pineapple is not easy, I need to break out the cutting board, large knife, and bowels to put the fruit into. With the Vacu Vin Pineapple Easy Slicer, I still need the large knife, and bowels and cutting board. First I slice the top off of the pineapple. The turn the Vacu Vin Pineapple Easy Slicer into the pineapple. It cuts as it digs into the fruit. As expected the commercial makes it look much easier.

Actual performance 4 Stars

Okay I like toys. I wouldn't have this blog if I didn't and this falls into the kitchen toy category. First you need to select the correct size slicer. Then twist the Vacu Vin Pineapple Easy Slicer into the pineapple. That takes some effort. Then when the Vacu Vin Pineapple Easy Slicer bottoms out you can pull the slicer out. The fruit comes right out with it. Now it’s best to do this in the sink as pineapples are very juicy and this will make a mess. Now in the infomercial they also commented on the juice mess so I give praise for pointing out this during the commercial.

Final thoughts on practicality

The pineapple comes out like a curly fry. You can then cut down one side with a knife to get delicious pineapple rings. Its messy, but fun. If you like pineapple and kitchen gadgets, then you will like this product.

Final Score

4 out of 5 stars

Tripple Wave Water Slide

2008-07-27T21:55:00.004-04:00

Description
During the hot dog days of summer, my kids need a way to cool off. Now its always fun breaking out the garden hose for a little cooling down but sometimes that’s just not enough. Such is the case this past week when a heat wave took hold for the week. So off to the big box store I went in search of something fun for the boys to do.

The Triple Wave Water Slide was just what the doctor ordered.

What It Costs $19.95

Ease of use 4 Stars
Hooking up the Triple Wave Water Slide is not that hard. The garden hoses screws into the slide. The harder part is blowing the Triple Wave Water Slide up. To do that I used an electric air pump that I use to inflate air mattresses.

Actual performance 5 Stars
This is like a slip and slide but it has three lanes for racing fun. Small squirting streams of water go up the slide to keep it wet. It also has a small pool of water at the end of the slide to splash into. This also comes with three small inflate rafts to use on the slide.

Final thoughts on practicality
A couple of things that I never like. First the picture on the box is misleading. The actual product is much smaller then what the packaging indicates. As a result, larger children (8 or 9 years old) will probably be too large for it. You also need a place to put it on that does not have many rocks sticking up from the ground. Also if you leave this on the lawn for too long, you will kill the grass under the slide.

My boys like running through the squirting streams of water that shoot out from the slide. I could have used a sprinkler and gotten a better result, but they do like the rafts. In fact they have raft wars (smacking each other with them). I don’t think that’s how the inventors expected the rafts to be used.

Myself, I like to bust out the old school moves to impress the kids. I have the skipper (one foot on the slide, while saluting), the belly flop, and of course, the slip and fall.

Final Score
4 out of 5 stars

Would have gotten 5 stars if not for the deceiving image on the box.

HyLoft

2008-07-09T13:49:00.004-04:00

Description
If you are like me, sometimes clutter in the garage can start to add up. Now I am a big fan of organizing my tools. I recently finished off the inside of my garage with insulation, sheetrock and pegboard. I then added wire shelving and organized my tools by function. I have an pegboard with electrical tools, another for painting, a third for plumbing, and a fourth for carpentry. I also have my power tools on the wire shelving organized for easy finding. Nothing drives me more insane then not being able to find the correct tool for the job at hand.

However my caveman organization skills stop with my tools. All other items in the garage seem to wind up on the floor in a pile. I like to call it the lost and never found again pile. Well a couple of weeks ago while looking at my organized tools and then the big pile, I decided to find a better way. So as always I went to my good friends at http://www.asseenontv.com/ for inspiration.

"HyLoft Overhead Garage Storage system hangs from garage joists or ceiling to create a super-strong storage rack for all that stuff that used to waste floor space in your house, attic, basement or garage. It utilizes wasted space by storing large and oversize items overhead, freeing up space. Each unit holds up to 250 pounds of weight, tie straps for joining multiple units together are included. Made of durable steel with a steel wire gird and a scratch resistant white finish. Each unit is 45" x 45" with height adjustable from 16" to 28". Will not interfere with garage openers. Includes written instructions and an installation video with each purchase. "

What It Costs $99.95 & $25.95 Shipping and handling

Ease of use 3 Stars (using it is easy, installing it is harder)

Okay so Saturday comes and I scope out a corner of the garage to install my HyLoft. Good thing I have my Little Giant Ladder to help. After playing with the Little Giant Ladder trying to configure it into a super cool shape, I settle on breaking it out into two a frames and adding the scaffolding. SWEET!!!! Well that was fun but between moving the pile of that I want to put on the HyLoft, configuring the ladder, reviewing the installation video and laying out all the HyLoft parts, I have burned through the entire afternoon. Oh well There is always tomorrow….

Sunday afternoon comes and I start installing the HyLoft. The installation was not too bad and can be done by most people with time and a bit of patience.

I also got to use my stud finder (it always is beeps when I hold it) yea baby, I’m a stud!

It took a good 2 hours to complete the installation but I did waste some of that time playing with other tools that I have.

Actual performance 5 Stars (come on now, it's a shelf - how could it not get 5 stars)

A couple of things I like about the HyLoft is that it can configure in height from 16 inches to 28 inches. I set mine up for the full 28. The hyLoft also is white and matches the wire shelving for my tools. The bottom of the HyLoft is a grid so air can pass through for circulation. I like that feature as it helps me find things from down below.

Final thoughts on practicality

It’s a bit pricey but for my man cave, nothing but the finest will do. Besides it's a one time expense.

I even went down to the local big box and picked up some clear storage bins so that my HyLoft looks like the one in the following picture.

Installation can be tricky if you have a high ceiling in your garage and if you are not handy with tools, you may want to have your handy neighbor come over and help you install this. I find a pizza and some beer seem to help get the neighbor over.

One last peice of advice. Please don't overload the HyLoft with too much weight. The unit can hold up to 250 Lbs which should be enought for most homeowners.

Final Score

4 1/2 out of 5 stars

Zenni Optical Rx Eyeglasses

2008-07-07T22:16:00.003-04:00

“SPONSOR POST” July 8, 2008

$ 8 Zenni Optical Rx Eyeglasses

I am an active caveman. But as I have gotten older, and hopefully wiser, I have needed to adjust to certain realities. One of these realities are prescription glasses. Now I have a pair of driving glasses but don’t have any glasses for when I play racket ball. That puts me at a disadvantage since if I cannot see the ball, then I cannot hit it. Fortunately the folks at Zenni Optical has just what I need.

A quick browse of their web site and I was on my way to having the protection I need.

Frame#: 7001 Prescription Wind Goggles

Cost $39.95

Description
Inside prescription frame: Lens Width 40mm, Height 30mm, Bridge 26mm.
Outside wind shade: Lens Width 70mm, Height 39mm, Bridge 10mm, Frame Width 141mm, Temple Arm Length 138mm.

Frame Color: Silver.

Actual Performance
Nice fitting goggles with no glare. The website is easy to navigate and secure.

Final Thoughts On Practicality
A better choice then going down to the local Walmart. As long as you know your prescription, you should have no problems. The goggles were delivered on time and are comfortable to wear. Overall I am pleased with the goggles. The cost is not the least expensive but the quality is good.

Couch Saver

2008-06-20T15:45:00.006-04:00

Description

Sadly I must state that my oldest dog of 14 years passed away. He had a good life, big yard, plenty of food and water, lots of activities to do with my family and other pets.

Well while poking around the internet we found a rescue shelter near by that happened to have a brown Labrador puppy. Well I have a black and brown already so was looking for a yellow (like my dog who passed away). But puppy was so cute that we had to have him. (his name is Moose)

What’s all this about you are asking??? Well my dogs are not allowed on my couch but for some reason puppy seems to have complete access to the home and that includes the couch.

So I need to find a way to protect my couch so I turn to the http://www.asseenontv.com/ folks.

Does your pet love to cuddle up on your couch, bed or love going for rides
in the car? Are you left with piles of hair on your furniture that eventually
ends up on your clothes?

Don´t separate your pet from the family anymore try the Couch Saver!

The Couch Saver will create a cozy resting place for your pet on the couch, in the car or on the bed while protecting your furniture.

Great for dogs and cats the Couch Saver is made of a reversible and washable soft quilted fabric that repells dirt, pet hair and stains.

Also features a supportive bolster for added comfort. Ideal for sofas, chairs, floors, beds or even in the car. Does your pet love to cuddle up on your couch, bed or love going for rides in the car? Are you left with piles of hair on your furniture that eventually ends up on your clothes? Don´t separate your pet from the family anymore try the Couch Saver! The Couch Saver will create a cozy resting place for your pet on the couch, in the car or on the bed while protecting your furniture.

What It Costs $39.95 & 7.95 Shipping and handling

Ease of use 5 Stars
Okay so it’s a blanket. But it has nice side walls to add support and protect the backs of my couch. Just throw it on the couch and your done!

Actual performance 4 Stars
Now I know a few things about dogs. First a dog will have no problems laying on the carpet. Second, if a towel is on the carpet, the dog will sit down on the towel. Third, dogs will always choose the couch over the towel on the carpet when given the chance.

So you would think that if a dog likes laying on a blanket on the carpet then he would like lying on the Couch Saver on the couch. Well oddly enough, puppy wants nothing to do with it. In fact he goes out of his way to avoid it. So for its intended use, it fails. However my other two dogs have no problems jumping up onto it so for them its great.

Unfortunately two big dogs on a couch leaves little room for me to sit. Perhaps I will sit on the towel on the carpet…..

Final thoughts on practicality
Do you really need to spend $40 on this when a blanket will do the job? I don’t know. I do know that it’s easy to clean and my older dogs like it. I can even put it into my jeep when taking the dogs to the vet. I don’t particularly like the blue checkered pattern on the back of the Couch Saver. It does not quite match the color of my living room. If it came in a matching room color, I might bump it to a 5 out of 5 rating....

Final Score
4 out of 5 stars

General Comments

2008-06-06T10:09:00.003-04:00

Oh how I love asseenontv.

I am always visiting their website.

I just can’t pass by their display down at the local CVS convenience store.

I go out of my way at the local Target big box store just to see if there is anything new in the asseenontv isle.

Perhaps I need to start a support group.

Shipping and Handling
I often have problems with excessive shipping and handling. Lately I have been thinking more about the cost as gas has increased in price.

If I would drive down to my local CVS or Target big box store, I would use 1 ½ gallons of gas for the round trip. That works out to $6. Many items on asseenontv cost about $7 shipping and handling on an item. When you think of the gas cost and cost of wear and tear on the car (not including my time spent), $7 is not that high of a price.

Finally
What you read on this blog is an honest opinion, my opinion of products I actually purchased. For those who have asked, the answer is YES. I do have all of these products. I do have advertising on this blog but it does not sway my opinion. If you don’t believe me, check out my rocket fishing rod review.

As for my favorite infomercial product that I have (some have asked).

It’s a tie between two…
Showtime Six Star Cutlery Set (a gift given to me)

and
Food Saver

however Save A Blade and Rotozip is right up there…

So thanks for stopping by, I appreciate the fact that you take a few minutes out of your day to read the ramblings of an infomercial addict.

Roll 'n Grow

2008-05-30T16:30:00.004-04:00

Description
Spring is in the air. Time to get the lawn ship shape. Now for me that’s almost an acre of property with some formidable hills, trees, and shoreline. I also have unique landscaping issues due to some new additions (my hot tub). What I need is some color but don’t have a green thumb. So what’s a modern caveman to do. I turn to my friends at http://www.asseenontv.com/ for inspiration.

Roll 'n Grow, the new and easy way to have a beautiful garden without all the shoveling, raking and digging. Simply roll out and water the seeded mat that has over 2,000 premium selected flower seeds. Your garden will magically come to life with vivid colors and wonderful fragrances that will last all summer long! Made with 100% biodegradable materials, the 10' x 10" mat can be cut to fit any area. Perfect for gardens, borders, flower boxes, even flower pots.

What It Costs $19.95 & 6.95 Shipping and handling

Ease of use 5 Stars
I have just a spot where this would be perfect. As for ease of use, as the box reads, roll and go. Basically what you get is a biodegradable mat with seeds of wild flowers embedded. All you need to do is role it out and water. The mat is easy to cut to shape.

Actual performance 5 Stars
I first cut out a strip for my window planters, a quick yank removed the dead plants in it and I laid down my new roll and grow. Then I watered. I also put a nice strip of role and go along the side of my house by the hot tub. Easy to cut, easy to put into place. Just what I was looking for.

That was a few weeks ago and sure enough (with a bit of watering) I have little green things sprouting out from all over my role and go. No bare spots in my role and go. I am eagerly looking forward to 2000 flowers.

Final thoughts on practicality
Well to be honest, you don’t need role and go to plant these types of flowers. A quick trip down to the local garden center and you can pick up plenty of seed packages for around $1.00 each. Of course you would need to spread out the seeds. Role and go does that for you.

Is it worth the $25.00? It's a bit much but you do get the added convince of the padding. But don’t be deceived. A 10 foot mat (10 inches wide) does not cover that much in a garden or path area. Fortunately, lining a walkway can be easily accomplished by splitting up the 10 inches into 2 – 5 inch strips.

Final Score
5 out of 5 stars

Little Giant

2008-04-30T10:08:00.008-04:00

Description
For years I withstood it’s charms. So simple, so versatile, so strong. But NO, I will not I said to myself over and over. But eventually I gave in, I could not resist. I, a full blown infomercial addict once again have succumb. Curse you Little Giant and your cunning infomercial.

But in my own defense, who can resist a ladder that can fold and contort into 24 different configurations???? Now there are different sizes and options for this ladder so the price will change (i.e. increase) as you decide what options you want.

As so perfectly described..... "The most versatile adjustable ladder on the market.
No other ladder compares to the Little Giant Ladder when it comes to the ease of use, usable ladder positions, safety and quality workmanship.

Don't confuse the Little Giant's patented telescopic design with the cheaper 6-hinged folding ladders. The heavy duty Little Giant Ladder replaces several sizes of conventional and telescoping ladders and stepladders. Adjusts to fit safely on stairs and other uneven surfaces. Think of the space you'll save with only one versatile ladder to use and store instead of 3 or 4 ordinary ones. The Little Giant stores in only one forth of its fully extended height, comes complete with skid resistant feet, flared legs for improved stability and a 5 year manufacturers warranty.The Little Giant Ladder meets or exceed ANSI and OSHA standards, as well as complying with UL code.

· Replaces need for multiple ladders
· Telescopically adjustable in one foot increments, both in the stepladder position and extension position
· Heavy duty aluminum construction
· Pinched fingers are not a problem due to design and engineering.
· Tested at 1200 lbs. in every recommended ladder position.
· In the stepladder position, there are rungs on both sides of the ladder, so it can be used as a 2-man ladder.
Meets or exceeds OSHA's Type 1A, 300 lb rating for ladders,
Meets ANSI 14.2 requirements for ladders
Saves storage space
Five year warranty.
Made in the USA."

What It Costs $320 – 440 depending on the size.

I paid $359.95 for the Model 17. You can also break out the payments into 4 easy payments to lessen the bite of the cost. (FREE SHIPPING). Note that www,asseenontv.com charges almost $40, so do like I did.

I got mine from Amazon.com (You can click on the Amazon ad at the top of my website for free shipping!!!!)

Ease of use 5 Stars
Sometimes there are areas where a normal ladder just wont due. The Little Giant is all that it claims to be and more. A straight ladder to lean onto a home to clean gutters, a normal A frame ladder to be used to change high light bulbs. The ladder has numerous options for use on stairs and un level ground. It even can be broken out to become two supports for scaffolding (sold separately of course).

The hardest part of using the Little Giant is its weight. At 35 lbs it is not the easiest thing to lug around. Fortunately it has a tip and glide feature to help (little wheels that you and maneuver the ladder on (on size ladders 17, 22 and 26)).

Configuring my ladder is a breeze. The problem I have is wasting time trying to origami the ladder into the coolest configuration when a more simple setup would suffice.

Actual performance 5 Stars
This might be too much of a ladder for some and at the cost, it is on the high end. However if you have to paint a stairway with high ceilings, this is the way to go. Like I said earlier, it’s a bit hard to lug around and the glider won’t help with lifting the ladder up a few flights of stairs.

Final thoughts on practicality
Unlike some of my smaller asseenontv purchases, this is not one that you can hide from the spouse. They will see the ladder in the garage. So its best to be upfront about it and purchase it, then when it comes, set it up to do a job that they want done. This way it’s a win win situation for all.

Heavy to haul up stairs, and with additions to the basic ladder, costly. But it does exactly what claimed. Probably the last ladder you will ever need. Be sure to select the correct size as an undersized ladder is an unsafe ladder.

Now I just need to figure out what to do with my old multi folding ladder......

Final Score

5 out of 5 stars

Twin Draft Guard

2008-04-01T16:38:00.004-04:00

Description

I live a busy life. Work, kids, there seems to be little time available. House chores always seem to be last on the list. Now I have a door connecting my garage to my kitchen and there is a draft coming from under it.

Normally that allows me to do man work. I planned to take off the door, remove the old weather stripping from under the door and replace it with new weather stripping. I love this type of project, not too hard, I get to use tools and I have a high success rate. Unfortunately for me one of my kids was sick so I could not take the door off of the hinge without freezing the downstairs of the home. Fortunately I found a solution…

From the folks at http://www.asseenontv.com/, The amazing patented Twin Draft Guard will help you to instantly insulate your windows and doors. Use the Twin Draft Guard all year round to block out cold, heat, noise or bad odors from the outdoors while keeping in that expensive heat or air conditioning. Twin Draft Guards are double sided to provide double air leak protection and move with the door when opening and closing. No more bending or repositioning!!

What It Costs $9.95 with shipping and handling charges of $6.95. I purchased mine at the local drug store.

Ease of use 5 Stars

The premise is simple enough (I always say that). You put the Draft Guard under your door and it blocks the cold air from blowing in (or heat from escaping).

Actual performance 4 Stars

What do you know, it works!!! But it’s not the best looking thing out there. Basically it’s two rolls of foam wrapped in felt.

Final thoughts on practicality

Proper insulation is necessary but some times you don’t have the time or skills to fix a problem. Think of the Draft Guard as a temporary fix and you won’t be disappointed.

It doesn’t block the entire draft but it’s a great improvement. It also slips from time to time and requires repositioning. This best works on smooth surfaces and doors with no high thresholds.

Some people have reported difficulties with this product due to their door width and length so be sure that it fits your need. Customization is limited to cutting down the foam to match the size door or window you have.

Final Score

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Walk Fit Orthotic Insoles

2008-03-04T10:43:00.002-05:00

Description
I am always skeptical about health items, especially ones sold on TV. Now this review comes courtesy of my wife. She had been complaining about her feet hurting. She used to work for a podiatrist so she has some general knowledge in the area of the foot (and much more then i have). Hold on you’re saying… a pod what???? A podiatrist is a foot doctor. And as for my knowledge... I know that each foot should have 5 little piggies.

So imagine my surprise when delivered to my home was the Walk Fit™ orthotic insoles by Phase 4™.

From the folks at www.asseenontv.com, The Walk Fit “orthotic insoles help to reduce pain in feet, knees, hips and back. The are arch supports insoles that realign your bones, joint, tendons and muscles helping alleviate heel pain, plantar fasciitis, flat feet, tendonitis, general foot fatigue, knee and lower back pain caused by misalignment of the feet. WalkFit insoles come with 3 arch inserts: Low, Medium and High providing you with customized comfort. You and your feet will notice the increase in arch support and comfort. WalkFit orthotics are perfect for use in all of your shoes. Available in men's sizes 6-14½ and women's sizes 6-12½.”

Who Should Use Walkfit Orthotics?
People with painful feet
People on their feet all day
People with knee, hip, or back pain
People with tired legs, cramping, or poor posture
Anyone who suffers from calluses or blisters
Athletes
People with a weight problem
Senior Citizens
Children

Walkfit Orthotics are:
Available in men's and women's sizes
Able to fit most shoes
Washable
Odor Free
Vented for Cool Comfort
Virtually Indestructible

What It Costs
$19.95 with shipping and handling charges of $6.95.

Ease of use 5 Stars
The premise is simple enough, stick them in your shoe.
Now being skeptical, I know that my shoes already had a bumpy thing (technical term) to support my arch. I am not sure if she had to remove her bumpy thing first.

Actual performance 0 Stars
While walking past the closet the other day I saw them sitting on the shelf. That’s never a good sign. When I inquired, she advised that her feet still hurt while using them.

Final thoughts on practicality
Foot inserts probably are best when a Doctor fits them to the individual. A Doctor can also determine if a foot insert will help with a specific issue.

Perhaps my wife did not give them enough time. I only know that the end result is that they are sitting on the shelf.

Final Score
0 out of 5 stars

Save A Blade

2008-01-16T11:17:00.027-05:00

July 3, 2009

Another update. Many people have asked about how many blades my razor had. I use the Mach3 which has 3 blades. I tried a 4 blade and 5 blade with the Save A Blade but the results were not as good.

March 09, 2009

Holly wow!!! 100 shaves with one razor blade. I would never have thought that.

There are so many people I want to thank. First the Save A Blade team. They put together one heck of a product. Next I would like to acknowledge the voice of the Save A Blade commercial. Your confident tone urged me to purchase the Save A Blade. And finally, thanks to all of you who have commented on my blog.

I am going to end this portion of the test. 100 shaves is far more then most people get with a razor blade (as indicated in the survey results).

Survey Results

01 - 10 Shaves 49%
11 - 20 Shaves 26%
21 - 30 Shaves 12%
31 and More Shaves 11%

As for my razor blade that I have named old faithful, I just might enact a small temple to place it upon.

Final results...

Date 11/13/2008 First Shave
Date 03/9/2009 Last Shave

Smoothness of Shave at end of test 6.5
Number of cuts during the entire test 3
Overall Impression 10

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHASE 2 OF THE TEST

First Shave
Date 03/10/2009

From the same pack of razors, I placed a new Mach 3 into my handle. I used the blade just as I did with the blade I used the Save A Blade on, except this blade will go though life without the help of the Save A Blade.

Last Shave
Date 04/10/2009

Number of Shaves 30
Number of Cuts 4
Overall Impression - The Save A Blade allowed me to get over 70 more shaves to the razor blade.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also I thought some of you might find this picture of interest. Here is the inside of a Save A Blade (found on www.flickr.com)

UPDATE 3

ORIGINAL REVIEW

Description

As a descendent of a caveman, I have a lot of hair. Shaving is a daily part of my routine. Through the long years I have tried many razor blades, the disposable bick, to the Mach 3. The problem with them all is that they get dull and cut.

Well while lying on the couch one night my eyes found a commercial for The Save A Blade. From the good folks at http://www.asseenontv.com/ .

“Save a bundle on razor blades with the ingenious new razor sharpener, Save A Blade™. Save A Blade´s patented Micro Honing technology sharpens old, dull blades to like-new condition saving you hundreds of dollars every year and it works on all types of razors. Get up to 200 smooth shaves from a single blade.”

I thought to myself, I must have it. Oh yes, it will be mine…….

What It Costs
I purchased mine at the local CVS convienence store for $19.95 which matches the http://www.asseenontv.com/ website. However asseenontv charges $6.95 shipping and handling.

Ease of use 5 Stars
The premise is simple enough, stick your new razor blade into the device and press the button. In fact the hardest part of using the Save A Blade is getting it out of the tamper proof packaging!!! And in a rare occurrence, the Save A Blade already has a battery in it.

Actual performance 5 Star
The Save A Blade makes a somewhat loud noise while it buffs the blades. The instructions recommend using a new blade to start with. Currently I am using the Schick Xtreme 3. Normally I get 8 to 10 shaves out of one blade. Currently I have 28 shaves using the same blade (and still going!!!) No cuts or nicks on my chin.

Final thoughts on practicality
The Save A Blade is a bit noisy to use early in the morning but I can’t argue with results. One complaint is for Schick Quattro blade. The instructions advise that you need to remove a small wire that that blade has. I guess the wire mucks up the buffer on the Save A Blade. They don’t tell you that when reading about the product online or when watching the commercial.

Final Score

5 out of 5 stars

UPDATE
I have to admit, I continue to use this product and am still impressed with it. In fact i feel a bit guilty when I don't use it before shaving.

I have noticed that the lid you have to press open to insert your blade into the Save A Blade is not the best design. I sometimes have difficulties keeping the lid open.

Also an eagle eyed reader caught a mistake I made. I mentioned an incorrect blade type when commenting about a wire that needed to be removed. I have corrected my error. Thanks for keeping me honest.

Betty Crocker Cake Decorating Kit

2007-12-26T09:33:00.000-05:00

Description
The good folks at Betty Crocker have truly outdone themselves with advertising for this product. As a result, it was a request of my older son for Christmas. After speaking with Santa, it was decided that perhaps this should go to the mother in the home and my son can get another toy instead. From the www.asseenontv.com website….

The Betty Crocker Cake Decorating Kit will enable you to create beautifully decorated cakes, cookies and other treats and it’s easy as 1-2-3! With the easy to follow instructions and your imagination, you’ll be creating fabulous treats that will impress and delight your family and friends. This extraordinary 100 piece cake decorating set will provide the basis for limitless decorating from the most basic to the most advanced.

Includes3-Profile Icing KnifePetal TipRibbon Basket TipRound TipStar TipLeaf TipFlower TipGrass Hair TipUniversal CouplerApplicatorBag Retainer RingLetter StencilsLetter Holder"C" StencilHeart StencilFleur´de lis StencilVine/Swag StencilWooden Flower Nail15 Icing BagsInstruction Book

FREE Storage Box - highlighted for a reason... See below.

Decorate Cakes and Cookies with:• Dots/Balls • Writing/Lines • Confetti • Shells • Braided Rope • Loop Border • Roses • Petals • Zig-Zag Garland • Blossoms• Basket Weave • Leaves, Flowers

What It Costs
I purchased mine at the local Target Super Center for $14.95 which matches the www.asseenontv.com website. However asseenontv charges $6.95 shipping and handling (can you say shipping cost ripoff???)

Ease of use 2 Stars
The premise is simple enough, an all inclusive cake decorating kit. It even has those cool bags to stick the icing into!!! However reality is quite different from advertised performance.

Actual performance 1 Star
First impressions with the kit was the clear plastic storage box. I opened the fastener in the front and lifted the lid which promptly broke on the right back hinge. In Baseball terms that’s what we would call STRIKE ONE.

The kit is everything advertised and even comes with a cheep instruction booklet. I say cheep since it feels and looks like it cost 1 cent to make. (STRIKE TWO).

So we set off on making a cake, and to keep brand loyalty, I picked up a Betty Crocker cake mix. I love this cake mix, always comes out perfect and is a crowd pleaser. However being Christmas I did not have time to make an icing so I deviated and picked up a pre-made Pillsbury icing. Here is where things went downhill….

We start with the three profile knife to add the icing to the cake. It works as expected, nothing great but still does the job. Now we move onto the grass hair tip. We fill the bag with the icing and attached the tip. We then squeeze the bag, and squeeze and squeeze. The icing was so thick that it did not want to come out of the squeezer bag thingy. It took great strength to get it out (STRIKE THREE). If you have problems with arthritis or have limited gripping capabilities, then this is not a product for you.

However, I do think this product should be listed under exercise equipment since the calories burned trying to get the icing out of the bag, easily surpassed the amount of calories that we gained from eating the cake.

The end result did not even closely resemble the pictures shown on the box or tv commercial. However my son loved every minute of it since he gave it to his mother for Christmas.

Final thoughts on practicality
I like the idea and perhaps with a thinner icing my results would be better. However I am left with the impression that this is a cheaply made product. Is it worth $14.95??? No, perhaps $7.00 if you don’t have to pay shipping costs. I also have concerns with people that have limited mobility with their hands. This product requires that you can squeeze, and also screw on the icing shape caps.

Final Score
1 1/2 out of 5 stars

Air Hogs Havoc Heli

2007-12-17T11:17:00.001-05:00

Description

Being a big kid I sometimes get excited when my kids get something that looks cool (something I want to play with). Air Hogs Havoc Heli is one of those toys. My son got it as a gift the other day and it reaches right down into my fun sole.

What it comes with....
One Amazingly Small Infrared Remote Control Helicopter in Red, Yellow, or Blue (each a different frequency)
Flashing Blue LED for Night Flying
Intended for indoor use. Outdoor flying only under ZERO wind conditions.
Full Flight control with up/down and turn right/left
Body is constructed from durable EPP foam
Internal helicopter battery charges from remote control unit
15 minute charge time, 5 - 7 minute flight time
Extra rotor included
Uses 6AA Batteries (Not Included)

What It Costs

I found this online at amazon.com (free coupon for amazon at the top of this blog!!!). $59.99 + shipping and handling.

Ease of use 4 Stars

The premise is simple enough, a tiny helicopter, that charges for multiple flights.

Actual performance 1/2 Stars

Why oh why do toy companies make flying toys that can’t take any amount of banging. We take the Air Hog Havoc Heli out of the packaging, insert the batteries for the remote control, then plug in the heli to charge. Then we wait. When ready, My son takes control for the maiden voyage. Unfortunately they should have named this toy the Titanic since much like the ill fated vessel, the Heli was not long for this world. It takes off into the air (way cool) and my boys get excited. Then the Heli pitches to the right and flys into the kitchen table. Mortally wounded it drops to the ground. Upon closer inspection, the Heli has little “guides” that join the double blades to each other. One of these guides broke. So I replace the blades and recharge. The Heli again flys!!!! Way cool. Then it pitches into the wall, again dropping like a rock. The guide wire is broken again.

Final thoughts on practicality

Looking at the Amazon URL. I see that you can purchase (hold on to your hats) replacement blades. You would think for $60 they would throw in a few for the price (but they don’t). Toys this expensive should last longer then 5 minutes. Too expensive, too fragile, way cool but not worth it.

Final Score

1/2 out of 5 stars

Tap Light

2007-11-05T15:35:00.000-05:00

Product Description

The other day in the middle of the night, I lost power to my home. Normally this would not be a problem as it was 2am and the kids were asleep. However, the silence must have awoken my younger caveboy. His stirring had me spring into action with my Faraday flashlight.

Now some of you have read my review of the Faraday flashlight. I am a big fan of the Faraday flashlight but it has one major disadvantage. My kids keep taking it and I can’t find it when I need it most. And this was the case during the power failure. It was no where to be found and I resolved myself to find another option.

That is where the Tap Light comes in. From the folks at http://www.asontv.com

Taplight is ideal for children and for getting around easily in the middle of the night.

What It Costs $11.99 + shipping and handling for 4 Tap Lights. I purchased mine at the local convienence store.

Ease of use 5 Stars

The premise is simple enough, the Tap Light works as an emergency light that you press to turn on.

Actual performance 3 1/2 Stars

I have attached one of these in each of my children’s rooms as well as one in the hallway and one in the upstairs bathroom. When needed I turn on the light by pressing the top of the light. It works off of batteries and does not generate much heat so it is safe to touch.

Final thoughts on practicality

Not the brightest lighting option you can have but in a pinch such as a power failure, they are quite helpful. Each light also requires 4 AA batteries (not included of course).

Now if I can just keep my kids from turning them on when not needed....

Final Score
4 out of 5 stars

SonicScrubber

2007-09-13T08:33:00.000-04:00

Product Description

Being a modern day caveman, my little home gets all kinds of dirt. Between the kids and dogs, it’s a wonder that the home stays as clean as it does. Sometimes, I find areas that are hard to clean with conventional cleaning products. Perhaps it’s the bathroom faucet, or the dark lines that form in the grout joints on the shower. Even a worse offender is the glass shower door itself. I can never get the gunk by the shower door handle clean. Well that has all changed with the SonicScrubber.

From the folks at http://www.sonicscrubbertvoffer.com/ SonicScrubbers use powerful sonic technology to clean even the toughest stains faster, easier and better!

What It Costs $19.95 + $13.98 shipping and handling.

Hold on there. That’s a lot of shipping and handling for this product. However if you order online, you can get a bonus Kitchen and Bathroom scrubber for free (just pay $6.99 shipping and handling). Hmmm, that does not seem free, that seems to cost $6.99 more.

Ease of use 3 Stars

The sonic scrubber has different size heads that attach to the handle. When you turn it on, the head vibrates providing the necessary friction required to remove the gunk and grime. There are different size heads for different uses.

Actual performance 3 1/2 Stars

I was excited when I saw this on TV and eagerly shipped off my money and the product does exactly what it claims to do. However the heads provided are small. They are good for grout lines, and for getting into little areas. The SonicScrubber is not good for covering large areas due to the size of the head attachments. Sure you could clean your entire shower door with it but you would need all day. I also have an issue with using the same cleaning device on a faucit and a more dirty area of the bathroom (you know what I mean). You can get the SonicScrubber with the seperate Kitchen and Bath attachements but I did not due to the free shipping charge of $6.99.

Final thoughts on practicality

This is a specialty tool, designed to get the gunk out of areas you normally could not. If you use the SonicScrubber for those hard to clean areas, then you won’t be disappointed. I was hoping to use it on larger areas, but this is not the tool to clean an entire shower door.

I was disappointed on the excessive shipping and handling charges.

Final Score

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Micro Fiber Miracle Cloth

2007-09-05T15:18:00.000-04:00

Product Description
Oh how I love my Micro Fiber Miracle Cloth!!!!! Now I know what you are saying…. “Your what????”

Well let me tell you a bit about this wonder towel….

From the good people at http://www.asseenontv.com/ the Micro Fiber Miracle Cloth Cleans Everything Faster, Easier, and Better!

This set of 4 special MicroFiber Miracle Cloths cleans everything faster, easier, and better and saves you money; you can wash and reuse over and over and over again. Made of super soft micro fibers (over 90,000 fibers per square inch) that loosen and absorb dirt and liquids like magic. You'll find these MicroFiber cloths have a variety of uses. Use them dry for dusting, for tougher jobs use them damp or wet, and you can use your chemical cleansers. You'll receive 3 Micro Fiber Miracle cloths PLUS for cleaning delicate surfaces such as CD's, camera lenses, eyeglasses; you'll receive the special 6" x 6" Optical MicroFiber™ Cloth specially designed for these delicate surfaces. By following the cleaning instructions your MicroFiber™ cloths will last a long time. Simply machine wash at any temperature without bleach or fabric softner and machine or air dry. (Do not use with any fabric softners of any kind (liquid or dryer sheets).

What It Costs $9.95 + shipping and handling.

Here's what you'll receive:
• One 16" x 16" Super Size MicroFiber™ cloth
• Two 12" x 12" All-Purpose MicroFiber™
• One 6" x 6" Optical MicrEase of assembly N/AIt’s a towel, there is no assembly.

Ease of use 5 Stars
The concept is simple enough, these little beauties fill in for your old outdated paper towels. Just wipe, wet or dry.

Actual performance 5 Stars
I love these for cleaning windows. For you fans of this Blog, you already know I have 3 big dogs and they just love pressing their wet noses onto my glass doors. I used to have to break out the windex and some paper towels to clean off all the nose marks (i.e. dog snot). Well with the Micro Fiber Miracle Cloth, all I do is we the towel and wring it out. Then I clean the windows. The results are as good as if a professional did them.

Well to be honest, I don’t know how good they would look with a professional cleaning as I would never pay for something like that. Now don’t get me wrong, a professional person with a squeegee can be a honorable calling. I just am too cheep to pay for someone to clean my windows.

These also do a great job with my HD TV screen. Since I can only clean it with water, the Micro Fiber Miracle Cloth works great, leaving no residue.

Final thoughts on practicality
This is a must have. Better then paper towels, better then cotten rags. I believe in the right tool for the right job. The Micro Fiber Miracle Cloth fits that description perfectly.

Final Score
5 out of 5

4 Minute Mattress

2007-08-14T11:46:00.000-04:00

Product Description
I live on a lake and sometimes unexpectedly people will stop by and visit for a few days. When that happens, I need to find a place for them to sleep and since I can’t have them sleeping on the floor, I needed to find another option. From our friends at http://www.boscovs.com, the 4-Minute Raised Queen Size Bed seemed to fill the need I had.. From their website…

A full-sized Queen bed that inflates and deflates in minutes. Top nozzle adjusts mattress for firmness. Includes electric pump. Twice the height of a regular air mattress. Bed size is 74" X 54" X 24". Includes carrying case.

What It Costs $99.99 but hold on, now it’s only $39.97. + shipping and handling. Wow what a savings, perhaps the fine folks at ww.boscovs.com take us shoppers for stupid...

However when I add the product to my shopping cart, www.boscovs.com need my email and a pw before I can proceed to checkout. I hate it when websites put up obstacles that hinder me from purchasing items. Fortunately I was on my way out to the mall and could stop by and pick it up in person.

Ease of assembly 5 Stars
The bed has a few air chambers that need to be filled but the product comes with an air pump. Just insert the nozzle and turn the pump on.

Ease of use 5 Stars
The concept is simple enough, fill up each air chamber then remove the air pump hose. Then screw down the caps covering the air ports. By monitoring how much air you insert into the top chamber, you can modify the firmness of the air mattress.

Actual performance 1 Star
It looked nice when inflated. Laying on the mattress I notice that unlike other air mattresses, this one is almost a normal bed height. And being a queen size mattress, I have bed sheets that fit. Even my kids like it and can’t wait to sleep on it. Well not wanting to disappoint them, I set it up and let them sleep on it.

Now being a parent, I normally check in on my kids a couple of times a night. About 1 am, I hear a slight cry coming out from the room. I go to investigate and find that my older son is on the floor (sound asleep). However looking at the 4 minute bed, I see that is it terribly leaning to one corner. Apparently it’s deflating slowly. The resulting angle, deposited my son onto the floor. My other son is stuck in a depression in the middle of the mattress (kinda like a olive in a bowl). I pick him up from the middle of the mattress and put him into his bed.

Final thoughts on practicality
An air mattress is very handy to have when you have guests over. The 4 minute mattress seems like a good concept, a high bed that can have the firmness adjusted. However the 4 minute mattress just did not work well for me. Perhaps I just got a bad one but given the dangers of having a child stuck in a deflating mattress, I aired on the side of caution and returned mine to the store. With a lower air mattress, there is less chance of having a child get stuck in the mattress.

Final Score
1 out of 5

Rocket Fishing Rod

2007-06-15T10:21:00.000-04:00

Product Description
I live on a lake. A big lake. When I was a young caveboy, my father and uncle would take me fishing. Now that I have grown up, I do the same for my two cave boys. Now the moment my boys saw this advertised on tv, they wanted it. From our friends at http://www.asseenontv.com/, the Rocket Fishing Rod claims to cast with the touch of a button. From their website…

TV Offer–Not Available In Stores! Don't just cast – Blast 10, 20, 30 feet with the touch of a button. Fishing rocks with the Rocket Fishing Rod featuring rocket launch casting system, hi-tech engineering, a patented hook hiding bobber that hides the hook until it hits the water, a secret compartment for weights and lures and a safety release, so it only launches when you're ready! Fishing has never so fun and easy! No more crazy casting, just pump, aim, launch and hit your mark every time!

And it's pitched by Roland Martin, one of the most respected fishing experts of our time.

What It Costs $39.95 + shipping and handling.
The www.asseenontv.com web site claims it’s a TV offer only. Rubbish (not the only time I will use this word in this review), this item is available EVERYWHERE. http://www.walmart.com/ has it for $26.97.

Ease of assembly N/A
There is no real assembly here

Ease of use 0 Stars
The concept is simple enough, even for this caveman. Point and shoot. Of course you need to bait the hook and get it into the bobber. However the reality of this product is quite different.

Actual performance 0 Stars
Rubbish... This item fails on all levels.

They clam that you can cast up to 30 feet. Now first off, 30 feet is not very far in fishing terms. My best efforts yielded about 15 feet. Next the line tangled up in it on the third cast. The final straw was that the bobber would not drop the hook.

Final thoughts on practicality
Fishing is suppose to be fun, not aggravating. This product is rubbish, poorly made and due to its limitations, not very fun. I returned the two I got to the store the day after I got them. The return item counter person said that they get many of the rocket launcher’s returned.

Final Score

0 out of 5

And to Roland Martin... Shame on you for putting your good reputation to this product.

Faraday Flashlight

2007-06-01T12:31:00.000-04:00

Product Description

This weeks review comes direct from our friends at http://www.asseenontv.com/. As a civilized caveman, I like light at night but I don’t always have two sticks to rub together to make fire. Besides, I have evolved and have found the next best thing. The Faraday Flashlight.

Now I know what you are thinking right now… The WHATTTT????

Basically it’s a flashlight that does not require batteries to work.
As described by our friends at http://www.asseenontv.com/, The Faraday Flashlight uses no batteries or bulbs. Instead it uses your energy and induction to produce a bright light using efficient LED technology. Just shake the light for about 30 seconds and the Faraday Flashlight will provide about 5 minutes of light. During prolonged use it can be shaken for 10-15 seconds every 2 or 3 minutes giving you an unlimited supply of light.

The Faraday Flashlight, the everlasting flashlight, requires no maintenance. You can leave it in your car, home, boat or RV for a long time and it will still be ready to produce light when you need it.

What It Costs $19.95 + shipping and handling.

Fortunately I got mine at the local drug store so I avoided the shipping cost.

Ease of assembly N/A

There is no assembly

Ease of use 5 Stars

The concept is simple enough, even for this caveman. Just shake the light back and forth for a bit and due to the Faraday principal, the shaking powers the light.

Right about now you are thinking to yourself, Hold on there. I am not a professor of science. What’s all this nonsense about Faraday and his principal…. Were they dating, was the principal his mentor??? What’s the deal?

Well don’t worry about it. Some times it’s just best to be uninformed.

Any ya ya, I know I used the wrong principal but it would not be much of a joke if I spelled it correctly...

And for all you evolved caveman, as defined from Wiki...

"The Faraday flashlight contains a super capacitor and charging mechanism that uses induction to power a high-intensity white LED array. Simply shaking the light for about thirty seconds provides about five minutes of light. Shaking the unit for 10 to 15 seconds every 2 or 3 minutes as necessary permits the device to be used continuously. This particular design of flashlight is documented in United States patent #6729744.

Inside the flashlight, a sliding magnet moves back and forth inside a solenoid, or a spool of copper wire. Current is induced through the loops in the copper wire to create a current per Faraday's law of induction. This charges a capacitor, which essentially acts as a short-term battery. To produce light, the capacitor powers an array of LEDs."

Actual performance 5 Stars

There are two things in life that I hate… First is Nuclear War. The second is trying to use my flashlight only to find out that my little cavemen have left it on draining the batteries. Usually I find out about the dead batteries when I need the light the most.

As promised by the http://www.asseenontv.com/ folks, the light works. I shake the light forward and back for about 5 seconds before my oldest son takes it from me and starts shaking the flashlight. He is quite enamored with it and the smaller one is also fascinated. Now that does not surprise me as they are ALWAYS using my flashlights. Well soon enough the light is shining and the two of them run off into a closet to play with the light.

Final thoughts on practicality

I see that this would be really handy to keep in the glove compartment of the car for when the tire goes flat at night. It also can be good for camping or for emergencies such as a power failure. The only problem I have here is that my sons keep taking it out of the glove compartment of my car to play with it.

I guess I will be picking up a few more to keep around the home.

Final Score
5 out of 5

PODS

2007-05-13T12:37:00.000-04:00

Product Description
Moving… There are few things in life less enjoyable then packing up and relocating. Now I have moved from smaller caves to larger ones as my caveman family has grown. I have often gone down to the local UHaul or Ryder rental place and picked a truck to haul all my stuff. But now, the people at www.pods.com have another solution. Pods stands for Portable On Demand Storage. Basically its a shipping container that is dropped off at your home. You load it on your schedule then call the pods people and they pick it up and store it for you. Once you are ready, they deliver the storage unit at your new location. When empty, they come and pick it up.

What It Costs 2 – 8X8X16 pods - a few hundred dollars each
Prices of Pods vary depending on your location and where you are traveling too. Also storage costs of pods run on a monthly basis. They also offer a smaller sized pod.

Ease of assembly N/A
They drop it off and pick it up. There is no assembly

Ease of use 5 Stars.
Ease of use and moving furnature don't really go well together. However, I am reviewing the Pod service and not the actual effort in moving my furnature....

The driver delivers a pod unit to our home and has it positioned exactly where we asked it to be place. All in all it took about 20 minutes from the time he rang our doorbell until he left. He also arrived exactly when they said he would arrive.

Actual performance 5 Stars
I open the pod up and notice the unit is spotless clean. I begin to get a good feeling as in the past some of the rental trucks I have used have been less then clean. Also some of the rental trucks I have used in the past should not have been allowed on the road due to their poor condition. I have also previously used professional movers and was left with damaged and missing furniture. For me the pod seemed to be a good fit to save money and save me from having to drive an oversized truck with all my possessions around.

The pod has some unique features which are apparent when you enter the pod. First off is the roof. It is opaque so the unit is flooded with light so it is easy to load my stuff. There is no lighting in the pod so at night this feature won't help. The pod also has tie downs to help keep everything secure. The pod units are also water tight. One more important feature is the low profile of the pod entrance. When using a rental truck I would have to climb a ramp to get into the truck. Depending on what I was carrying, it would be difficult at times and dangerous at other times. With the pod that is not a problem. The pod sits right onto the ground so to get into the pod you only need to step onto the bottom of the pod (about 4 inches). This makes loading and unloading the pod easy.

Final thoughts on practicality
I like the pod option for moving stuff. First off I don’t have to drive a huge moving van. Secondly, I can load it at my leisure. With a rental truck I always felt the need to get it all packed in one day. With the pod I can take my time loading and unloading. This helps make the job of moving easier. If I get tired, I just stop for the day and pick up where I left off the next day. I also like the low profile step to get into the pod and the opaque roof that allows plenty of light into the unit. The pod people also will store my unit in a climate controlled facility.

Moving furniture is never easy but if you are going to do it yourself, check out pods.

One negative I have found is that the cost of getting a pod greatly increases with the distance you are moving to as well as your starting location. For the same two pods, my brother in law had an estimate of a few thousand dollars. This is due to the great distance that he is moving (New York to North Carolina (about 900 miles).

Also you can get insurance on the pod for a reasonable price. However this only covers the pod and not your stuff inside the pod. If you want to insure your stuff, pods will do that but it’s an additional cost. You might want to check with your insurance company as you may already be covered under your existing policy.

Final Score
5 stars out of 5

UPDATE

I was in a bit of a bind. My closing was scheduled for a Tuesday but the day before was a holiday. I also needed the weekend to finish packing so there was a chance that the Pod would still be on site after closing. This was not good. However, one of the Pods workers named Christian went out of his way on a holiday to come by and pick up my last pod so that I would not have any problems on the day of closing.

Now that is what I call EXCEPTIONAL customer service.

watchband

2007-05-02T09:05:00.000-04:00

Product Description

My friends and family know a few things about me. Perhaps one of my strongest passion is regarding watches. I have a nice collection of watches ranging from the kick around Fossil, to my super high quality Citizen dive watches (I have both a digital and hand sweep). In fact, my older dive watch has been in almost every ocean on the planet. As a result of heavy use, I need to replace the band every few years. The last time I had a band snap on my digital dive watch, it cost me $80 to replace and much to my dismay, it is cracking again. There has got to be a better option so when the folks at ReviewMe asked me to do an "advertisement:" for http://www.watchband.biz/ I was intrigued. But I never review a product or service with purchasing so....

I clicked onto their web site and found that they have a large inventory of leather and Metal Bands. They even have tools to help replace batteries.

What It Costs $39.00 to replace my Citizen Rubber Watch Band, with Depth Scale. Shipping was $16.80

Ease of assembly N/A

It’s a watch band.

Ease of use 5 Stars
Their web site is setup logically enough, A navigator on the top and left side with a search bar. Being a caveman, I like simplicity. I typed in Citizen and the band I was looking for showed up.

Actual performance 4 1/2 Stars

The website checkout was easy enough and my watch band arrived as promised. Now this is the first time I actually purchased a watch band over the internet and I have to admit, I was concerned about receiving some kind of replica. This is because the cost was half of what I paid to have it previously replaced. Fortunately what I received was the real deal. The exact band that was originally on my watch. I also liked the fact that when I read a bit more I found out that the band came in 3 colors. I always thought it only came in black.

Final thoughts on practicality

Installing a watch band is not difficult (even for this caveman). Shipping was fast and I think I’m hooked on this website.

Active Sandals

2007-05-01T13:16:00.000-04:00

Product Description
Boating season is upon us here in North Carolina and many people claim that Lake Norman located in NC is a boating paradise. It’s a large lake and hard to argue with these claims. As such, I needed to get some fashionable apparel for the boating and beach season. That is where the folks at http://www.active-sandals.com come in. I ran across their web site the other day while watching a show on my computer (yea yea, I know, GEEK!!!). Now I know this is an review website for television commercials but since I was watching Gilligans Island on the computer, I think this works... The other reason the name stuck with me is because ReviewMe asked me to do an “advertisement:” for the company. So I though to myself, let’s take a look. After all, even a caveman needs a good pair of Reef Sandals (or kicks as I like to call them) to get around in.

I clicked onto their web site and found that they have both Men and Women sandals. They stock Rainbow, Chaco, Keen, Medium, Cobian, Danskos, Crocs, HOLD ON THERE….. Did they say Crocs? When I think of Crocs, the name conjures up a fierce animal with teeth. Unfortunately, the Crocs they sell are for the feet…

What It Costs FREE GROUND SHIPPING on all orders over $75.00! and they ship nationwide (sorry for you folks in the UK) - They have a 100% satisfaction guarantee on items they sell.

Ease of assembly N/A
It’s footwear. If you can snap a clasp or tie a shoe lace, your set.

Ease of use 4 1/2 Stars.

Their web site is setup logically enough, A navigator on the top and left side with a search bar. Being a caveman, I don’t have much fashion sense but I know what I like when I see it. Also being a caveman, I have a rather large foot. My cousin, Mr. Big Foot can never seem to find a shoe in his size (and I sympathize). I jump down to the Mens Navigator and start clicking away. What I need is a sandal that I can wear on the boat and wear when I jump off the boat and into the water. Soon enough I find what I need and in my size!!! (In fact they have many sizes larger then mine) I click on the add to cart and check out.

Actual performance 4 1/2 Stars
The website checkout was easy enough and my Chaco sandals arrived as promised. Now usually I have some reluctance purchasing shoes on the internet but took the chance due to their return policy.

Final thoughts on practicality
Comfort Comfort Comfort. I was surprised how comfortable the sandals were. And they fit also!!! So now I am styling while boating. Perhaps my kids might start to think their dad is cool…

Final Score
4 1/2 stars out of 5

Hercules Hook

2007-04-11T10:39:00.000-04:00

Product Description

Billy Mays, I call your wonder hooks out to do battle.

Ahh hooks. Now that word conjures up thoughts of fishing, and that's something that I like to do. However these hooks are not for catching fish, but for hanging items on your walls. And Billy makes a strong argument for these hooks on his commercials. He claims that you can hold up to 150 lbs.

Hanging heavy weights on hooks is something that reaches into my caveman soul. I can not resist…

The folks at http://www.amazon.com/ has the Hercules Hooks 20 Pack with Free Bonus Laser Marker for purchase.

Being a technical savvy caveman, I click add to cart and eagerly await my booty in the mail. Soon enough they arrive.

What It Costs 14.88 + shipping and handling
(You also get a small Laser level with your purchase) - Yea Yea I know I previously mentionend in an earlier review that I had a few lazers, but as Dr. Evil knows, you can never have enough lazers. Perhaps I will attach this lazer to my dogs head (just kidding).

Ease of assembly N/A

It’s a hook. There is no assembly

Ease of use 4 1/2 Stars.
Ahhh. Saturday comes and I get up early. I put the kids through a full day of exercise with the plans to put them to sleep early. Once they are in bed, I sneak out into the garage and open my box of hooks. Looking at them I notice that they are sharp on one side have a little bump on the other side. Seems simple enough. I decide to start off small and hang my 14 inch pipe wrench. I choose a clear spot on my garage wall and push the hook into the wall. I need to use a bit of back and forth twisting motion and the hook goes in. I insert the hook as shown in the instructions and hang my wrench. The hook holds.

Actual performance 4 1/2 Stars

Time to kick it up a notch. I remove the wrench and grab my sons bicycle. I attach a bungee cord to it and hang the bike from the bungee on the hook. The Hercules hook holds.
Determined to find something to rip the hook out of the wall I start looking around. However I can’t find anything in the garage that I can hang that will remove the hook from the wall.

Next I remove the hook as Billy claims that the hook does not damage the wall. The hook removes from the wall cleanly leaving only a tiny hole (much smaller then a screw hole). This would be easily filled with spackle so the hooks get a good review on the damage that they cause.

Final thoughts on practicality

I find a few problems with the Hercules hooks. First you need to be able to push the hook into the wall. If you have a concrete block wall you won’t be able to use this hook. Also if you hit a stud behind the sheetrock, you will need to move the hook. If you have plaster walls, the wood strips behind the plaster will impede your ability to use the hooks.

I also have concerns regarding the strength of sheet rock. If you only have ¼ inch sheetrock, I would avoid hanging heavier objects on the hooks. ½ or 5/8 sheetrock is stronger (due to its thickness). Even Billy Mays cautions the users and the box says the hook's limitations depend on the thickness of the drywall.

These hooks are good for hanging pictures and small shelves on sheetrock walls. That’s what they do best. It takes a bit of effort to insert the hook into the sheet rock but once inserted, they work.

Final Score

4 1/2 stars out of 5

Kaboom Toilet Cleaner

2007-04-03T08:45:00.000-04:00

Product Description
Billy Mays has done it again. A wonder cleaner that promises me that I will never need to scrub my toilet again (yea... me scrub a toilet - it would loose all of its character).

From the people at http://www.kaboomkaboom.com/index.m

The new Kaboom NeverScrub!® attaches easily out of sight within your toilet tank and provides powerful stain cleaning continuously for up to 3 months.

Easy to install – takes less than 1 minutes
Refillable
Prevents rust and hard water stains
Safe for septic systems
Wont harm tank parts
Cleans completely, even under the rim.

Ease of assembly 3 Stars
Now this appeals to me not only because I like a clean bathroom but also because I get to take the lid off of my toilet to hook this up. Kaboom attaches to your water discharge line inside your toilet. I know what you are saying, Hold on now, I am not a plumber. No worries, this hooks up easier then a call girl at fleet week. I wonder if Billy will be annoyed that I just use the phrase call girl in reference to his toilet cleaner???

In the above picture I show how it hooks up. It works in a similar way to some of the old fashioned blue toilet cleaners.

What It Costs $FREE + shipping and handling
or $4.99 at the store.

Why, Billy, Why? If you click on the Try It Free option on the above web site, Billy pitches you a "fantastic" deal. Get 2 extra Kabooms for $9.98 each + shipping and handling. I click no. Then Billy tries to get me to purchase 1 extra Kaboom. I click no. Then Billy tries to make me join the never scrub again club. Apparently he does not know that I am already a part of that club (much to my wife’s distain). I click no and then Billy pitches never scrub refills. I click no and Billy pitches 2 Kabooms squirt bottles. Way too much annoyance. All I wanted was the Kaboom Toilet cleaner. I close the web site and pick it up at the local store.

Ease of use 5 Stars
If you can flush, you can use Kaboom.

Actual performance 4 Stars
Well I hooked it up and test it (flushed the toilet). The toilet operates properly. Thats good, no flooding or problems. Billy claims that you never have to scrub again. That’s not entirely accurate. But after 2 weeks of testing, Kaboom has helped keep the toilet clean.

Final thoughts on practicality
Think of Kaboom as a maintenance product to help minimize toilet gunk. Kaboom won’t get the top rim of the toilet clean as the toilet water with Kaboom does not touch the top of the toilet (and if it did, you would an overflowing toilet – a much larger problem).

Final Score
4 Stars
I Can't give Kaboom 5 stars because they claim you never have to scrub the toilet again. Thats not true. Kaboom also does not clean the entire toilet. I also did not like the repetitive pitches from the web site as I tried to purchase this product online.

Eggstractor

2007-03-25T13:32:00.000-04:00

Product Description
I love this commercial and I like hard boiled eggs. I also like slicing hard boiled eggs and placing them into my salads. However I do not like removing the shell of the egg.

From the people at http://www.eggstractor.net/
Eggstractor Egg Peeler is the amazing new revolutionary egg peeler! Tired of peeling eggs?.........Not anymore! Simply place a hardboiled egg into the Eggstractor Egg Peeler, and out pops your peeled egg. It's that easy! For snacks, parties, meals, fast food, and fun food. It's quick easy and convenient. Also included with the Egg Peeler is a free Egg Slicer and recipe book! You will have perfectly sliced eggs every time!

Ease of assembly 5 Stars
The white accordion top part of the eggstractor needs to be placed on top of the base.

What It Costs $14.95 + shipping and handling (I got mine at the CVS convenience story so I don’t have the website shipping and handling charge)

Ease of use 2 1/2 Stars
For the eggstractor to work you must follow the following instructions….”Simply place raw eggs in a metal pot with enough water to cover the eggs, add a breeze of salt and turn up the heat. Wait until water boils ( big bubbles ) start your timer and leave eggs boiling for 5 minutes. Drain the water and poor cold water over the eggs or even better place eggs into a container with ice water and let them cool down for 15 seconds. Then puncture a little hole in the top of the egg using the pin on top of the Eggstractor Egg Peeler and then crack the egg slightly on the bottom. Place egg in Egg Peeler, put bellow over it and give it a little push and wolllllaaaa here is the perfectly peeled egg.”

So you need two pots of water, ice and some salt. No big deal but I do not like the idea of putting my nicely cooked eggs into cold water.

Actual performance 2 1/2 Stars
With the anticipation of attempting to eat many eggs, ala one of my favorite movies “Cool Hand Luke”; I went to my local buy in bulk warehouse store (BJ Wholesale’s) and picked up about 30 eggs. I wait for the kids to go to sleep as this is the quite time in my home. A time when a man can think and contemplate the finer nuances of life. All while making enough eggs to feed a firehouse without arousing suspicion… So I break out the big soup pot and fill er up!!! Now they say a watched pot never boils, but soon enough my water is boiling with the big bubbles. I start dropping my 30 eggs into the water and set the timer.

DING!!!!! The timer goes off…. Egggggcellent, old fashioned eggggcellent. My big dog comes into the kitchen as the timer is his signal that food is being made. I remove my 30 eggs and place each one lovingly into another pot of ice water. LET THE EGGSTRACTING BEGIN!!!!

I gently pierce the shell of the first egg and position it in the eggstractor. With one mighty push the egg completely is removed from the shell!!!! However I pushed so hard that the egg rolls off of the counter and my dog eats it in mid air. Hmmm, thats 1 for him. Reflecting on this I notice that the picture shows the eggstractor being used on a plate. I figure out that the plate keeps the eggs on the counter and away from my dog. I grab a plate and place the eggstractor ontop of it.

I take the second egg and pierce the shell, place it onto the eggstractor and push. Blamo!!!! Egg shrapnel everywhere. This egg blew apart. I place the plate onto the floor and Sparky (who is now very attentive) gets his second egg of the night. I grab a new plate and continue. Eventually my dog has eaten his fill of eggs and just lays there looking at me with brown eyes begging me to stop.

In total I got about 10 eggs to leave their shell and remain intact. Most of them blew apart. Perhaps I was doing something wrong. I put the good eggs into the fridge and make egg salad out of the smashed 13. Now if you are doing your math, that makes 7 eggs for Sparky.

Final thoughts on practicality
If you are making egg salad, this is a good product as you don’t need perfectly extracted eggs. If you were going to be making deviled eggs, then you might just want to do it the old fashioned way. I did enjoy using the eggstractor and it did remove the eggs from the shells. However it was not consistent in results.

I also did not like having to soak the eggs in cold water. If I wanted a hot hard boiled egg, why would I want to soak it in cold water?

Would I use the eggstractor again? Perhaps when I am getting ready to have a party and need to mush a buch of eggs. Perhaps I will leave the eggs out and let my guests have some eggstractor fun.

Besides I enjoyed the cave man aspect of forcing the egg out of the shell. And Sparky my dog has completely recovered from his late night feast and is up for another egg feeding.

Final Score
2 stars out of 5

OneSweep Broom

2007-03-12T09:50:00.000-04:00

Product Description
What’s this??? Another broom review. Sheesh you are going to start to think that my cave floor is all dirt…. A little while back I reviewed the Swiffer Sweeper and also the cordless shark. Now here I am writing about the One Sweep Broom. From the folks at http://www.asseenontv.com/ Nothing Sweeps Better! (of course they are going to say that).

Unlike standard bristle brooms that have been around for hundreds of years, the OneSweep has been scientifically engineered to be the most advanced broom ever created. The OneSweep is constructed of indestructible space-age polymers with strategically placed bristle design. The OneSweep sweeps better than anything you’ve ever used before. The name says it all. OneSweep picks it all (dirt and dust) up in just one sweep. Nothing sweeps better.

Tough Yet Gentle!OneSweep is tough enough to clean ceramic tile, even concrete, without wearing down. OneSweep’s bristles are also soft enough for wood floors. Many people even use the OneSweep to remove snow from their cars without the fear of leaving a hair line scratch on the car’s paint. It’s truly amazing!

What About Pets?If you have a dog or cat, you know how difficult it is to remove pet hair from carpet. NOTHING does this better than OneSweep. The special bristles work with static electricity so pet hair jumps onto OneSweep. You’ll clean up pet hair in seconds!
Scrub and Squeegee... It Even Does Windows!Does your floor need a good scrubbing? Don’t get down on your hands and knees! With a little soap and water, OneSweep is the best scrub brush you’ve ever used. With the 56” handle, you can now stand while you scrub. There’s even a built-in squeegee to dry surfaces off. Window cleaning has never been easier.

Ease of assembly 5 Stars
It’s a broom, not rocket science. Just screw the handle onto the broom head. So easy even a caveman can do it.

What It Costs $9.95 + $6.95 shipping (as usual if you order online you get your choice of a fabulous gift (you still need to pay shipping and handling on the gift)

Ease of use 4 Stars
The OneSweep Broom is designed as multipurpose broom, with rubber fingers on one side and a squeegee on the other side. The handle of the broom is a standard height of 4’ 8”. That’s a bit low for me so I went down to the Home Depot and picked out a slightly longer one.

Actual performance 2 1/2 Stars
I had the OneSweep prior to my Swiffer or Shark. I got the Swiffer and Shark because the OneSweep did not get the job done. To be honest, this does an okay job on sawdust. The squeegee is fair at best. The rubber fingers are rugged enough to last a long time (as I have had mine for quite some time now). Of course since I use it in the garage you probably have figured that I have given up on using this inside the home. The rubber fingers let dust through as they are not spaced as close as a whisk broom. The asseenontv folks show the broom cleaning up spills with the squeegee but I have found that if the spill is on tile, the liquid still stays in the grout cracks.

The asseenontv people also show the OneSweep Broom cleaning up pet hair. Now here the OneSweep Broom shines. I had a husky and he would shed capacious amounts of hair twice a year. The broom would neatly gather up the hair on wooden and tile floors. Carpeting would still require a bit more work. Was cleaning up the dog hair with the OneSweep easier then breaking out the vaccum? Not really.

Final thoughts on practicality
As a shop broom it is good for doing the large cleanup. However residual will remain and require you to still vacuum. I did not like the squeegee (perhaps I’m not a squeegee type of person). I have not tried the squeegee on my windows (I am more of a miracle cloth window cleaner). However this has lasted a long time so it is rugged enough to take some abuse.

Final Score
3 stars out of 5

Laser Level

2007-03-02T14:42:00.000-05:00

Product Description

Tools, now here is a subject I have a fair bit of knowledge about. The only thing better then low tech smashing tools like my sledge hammer are high tech laser tools. From the http://www.asseenontv.com/ people. Now you can affordably harness the benefits of laser assisted leveling!

The Laser Level allows you to project a powerful laser beam over 1500 feet to hit a specific point. You can tell immediately if floor tiles or wall hangings are lined up straight. 12 inch laser level has large vertical and horizontal indicator bubbles, handy lens refractor shows line or dot image, two rulers.

Anytime you need to level or line something up you’ll reach for this tool. A fantastic value on a tool every handyman will want. This is the original product not a cheap imitation. Meets all FDA Laser standards. Beware imitations. Has 2 rulers: inches and metric (centimeters) This quality machined aluminum straight line level is 16 inches long.

USE THE LASER "LINE" TO:
Install Ceiling Tile
Align Shelves
USE THE LASER "DOT" TO:
Hang Pictures
Build A Level Wall
Install Flooring
PERFECT FOR:
Contractors
Home Inspectors
Plumbers
Engineers
Interior Designers
Do-It-Yourselfers

Ease of assembly 5 Stars

You need to insert a battery into the level.

What It Costs $9.95 + shipping and handling ($7.43 for express shipping /$4.95 for regular shipping) (you get a bonus gift if you order online but have to pay shipping and handling on the gift)

Ease of use 4 Stars

Normally I don’t care if my projects turn out level. Well that’s not true….. I do care and already have a big 4ft level, some small torpedo levels, a water bubble level and a super laser level with tripod and cool red glasses. But one can never have enough tools. As a result, I was given this level as a gift. For ease of use, it’s a level, put it on a surface, check the bubble (not rocket science).

Actual performance 4 1/2 Stars

This level has its nich in the tool world. It works in places where you can’t use your larger level. It’s a perfect size for shelves and pictures. As with most levels, there is a vertical and horizontal bubble for reference.

Now Dr. Evil was not able to get his laser on the shark heads but the folks over at www.asseenontv.com have managed to place a small led laser in the front of this level. This allows you to project a dot onto a surface or if positioned correctly, a red level mark along a wall.

Final thoughts on practicality

A good level for hanging shelves or pictures. As for the laser, caution must be taken as it can pose a danger if shined directly into a persons eyes. Naturally my 2 little cavemen love to turn it on and try to look at it. So this is defiantly not a tool that kids should play with. Then again, kids should not be playing with any tools. As for practicality, I have not found the laser particularly useful. Lets say you wanted to transfer the level of a surface of a cabinet across the room. You place the level on the cabinet and turn on the light. A dot appears across the room. You would think you are done but you are not. Is the cabinet completely level? If it's off even the slightest bit, the dot projected location will deviate from the true height when shown on the wall. As a regular bubble level, it works perfect. It also makes a good straight edge for drawing on wood and tile and has a ruler on the side in both standard and metric.

Another problem with this level is that there is no practical way to raise or lower the level in a horizontal position. Most dedicated laser levels have a tripod that allow you to do this.

So for the person that needs a small level for the shelf or picture handing project, this tool might be right for you.

Final Score

4 stars out of 5

Lionel Railroad Crossing Coin Bank

2007-02-26T10:23:00.000-05:00

Product Description
This was given to my older son as a holiday gift. From the www.asseenontv.com website, Standing over 4 feet tall, the Lionel® Railroad Crossing Coin Bank features authentic-looking RAILROAD CROSSING, STOP signs and two flashing red signals. Just insert a coin into the Lionel® Railroad Crossing Coin Bank and watch the signal lights flash red and the whistle sound. And, best of all, the signpost is clear plastic so your kids can actually see their money grow! They'll be absolutely thrilled by this one-of-a-kind bank! Battery Operated with replaceable bulbs.

Features:
• Over 4 Feet Tall
• An Authentic Reproduction
Of Traditional Railroad Sign
• Realistic Railroad-Crossing
Signal Lights and Sounds
• Works With All U.S. Coins
• Clear Plastic Body Lets Your Children
Watch Their Savings Grow
Includes:
Lionel® Railroad Crossing Coin Bank

What it costs $29.95 (plus $9.95 shipping and handling)

Ease of assembly 1 Star
This product falls into the some assembly required category. Unfortunately assembly is not that easy. The parts did not fit together well and it took some time to get it all correct. This bank also requires 3 AAA batteries which of course are not included.

Ease of use 5 Stars
Drop a coin into the bank and watch the lights flash and hear the train noises. As you drop in coins, you can see your coins in the bank so it helps reinforce saving money.

Actual performance 0 Stars
Wow a zero star rating! On the surface it seems like a nice item for my little train conductor in training. Unfortunately, the product is of such low quality that it broke within the first day of use. Now this is targeted to kids so you would expect it to be able to withstand a small amount of kid abuse. This was not the case. My 3 year old knocked it over (while walking by it he bumped into it as all 3 year olds have a tendency to bump into things) and the flashing lights portion broke off. I guess if there is 20 lbs of pennies in the bank that might not happen but when empty, it is easily knocked over.

Final thoughts on practicality
It’s a bank, it’s a BIG bank. It’s a $42.93 bank when you add shipping and handling. If I took that $42.93 and actually put it into a real bank that money would help send my son to college. Now I like train stuff, I had a train track in my room when growing up. However, I am unimpressed with this bank. Cheaply made, poor assembly instructions, and over priced.

Final Score
0 stars out of 5

Gator Grip Universal Socket

2007-02-22T11:03:00.000-05:00

Product Description
I received the Gator Grip as a Christmas gift last year. From the www.asseenontv.com website,
GATOR-GRIP Does The Work Of Many Tools, sets of sockets (both english and metric), standard and locking pliers, and an entire range of open end wrenches.

Why waste time searching for the correct tool when one socket can do the work of a whole set? The ingenious Gator Grip makes half of your toolbox obsolete! It fits virtually anything. The one socket fits fasteners of almost any shape - square, hex, wing nuts, cup hooks, eye screws and even broken, stripped and rusted nuts other wrenches can't move.

No more reaching into your tool box, grabbing socket after socket until you find one that fits. The Gator Grip instantly conforms and locks onto any shape nut, bolt or fastener. It won't slip off nuts or strip them. With Gator Grip, you get the job done fast with no hassle and little effort.
The revolutionary socket design automatically adjusts to fit any nut or bolt from 1/4" to 3/4" , 7-19 mm! Works great on metric, standard, wing nuts, broken nuts, stripped nuts, eye bolts, square nuts, hexes and more! Save Time! Save Work! Save Hassles with GATOR GRIP!
Includes:
Gator Grip Socket
Ratchet Wrench

What it costs $17.95 (plus $7.95 shipping and handling)

Amazon.com has it for $16.49

Ease of assembly 5 Stars
You need to put the Gator Grip Socket onto the Ratchet Wrench.

Ease of use 5 Stars
The Gator Grip fits on top of nuts and conforms to their shape. That means you don’t have to search for the correct wrench.

Actual performance 4 Stars
There are a few short comings with the Gator Grip. First, if you are trying to remove a nut that is deep on a bolt (i.e. the bolt sticks out above the nut), the Gator Grip might not work. The bolt can stop the Gator Grip from seating down onto the nut. The Second issue I found with the Gator Grip was the strength that I was able to apply to a nut. If the nut was really tight or rusted on solid, the Gator Grip would slip. That happens because the pins are spring mounted. For the average do it your self person, this would be good for tightening a bolt on a fence lock, or setting the bolts on a swing set (which I have done both with the Gator Grip). I also can see a practical use for this with bicycle repairs.

For automotive repairs, the Gator Grip comes up short and I depend upon my crescent wrenches. Much of this review has been toward the socket portion of the Gator Grip. The ratched wrench is the other part of this tool. I found it to be smooth and worked well. Not better then a Snap On or Craftsman ratchet wrench but they are in a higher price bracket.

Final thoughts on practicality
Is the Gator Grip worth $25??? No. Will it replace all your other wrenches??? No. Is it a handy tool when you need to quickly snug down or loosen a nut??? Yes. You won’t be repairing your car with the Gator Grip but if you don't have much space to store tools, the Gator Grip might be the one wrench to add to your toolbox to get your house hold jobs done.

Again I have a problem with the Shipping and Handling from the folks at www.asseenontv.com website. ($7.95 is too much for shipping and handling). If you want the Gator Grip, check around as I have seen it around in stores from time to time.

Final Score
4 stars out of 5

Bacon Wave

2007-02-19T09:57:00.000-05:00

Product Description

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM, BACON. I love bacon. I love the smell of it cooking. I love the taste of it with my eggs. But cooking it can be messy. From the www.asseenontv.com people…. Use your microwave to make crisp bacon ... Faster, Healthier, Crispier & It Tastes Great Too!

The Bacon Wave is fast, healthy, and with no mess!

The Bacon Wave Cooks Bacon With Less Fat, Less Calories, And Less Cholesterol!

The Bacon Wave Cooks 14 Slices at a Time and is Dishwasher Safe

The Bacon Wave is Stackable, you can cook up to 28 pieces at once!

It's As Easy As...
• Place bacon strips on special cooking rods.
• Serve and enjoy perfect bacon every time!
A cooking guide is included with each Bacon Wave!

What It Costs $14.95 + $(5.95 Shipping and Handling)

Ease of assembly N/A

Ease of use 3 Stars

You need to position each piece of bacon into the bacon wave. Doing this takes longer then throwing the pieces of bacon into the frying pan. One bonus with the Bacon Wave is that you can cook up to 14 slices at once which is more then I can cook in my frying pan. If you have two Bacon Waves, you can stack them and make 28 heart stopping slices of love at the same time!!!!

Actual performance 3 Stars

There is always one problem with cooking bacon, whether it is in a frying pan or in the microwave with the Bacon Wave. Grease! It spatters on the stove, and will also spatter in your microwave. I gave the BaconWave a proper shake down loading it up to it’s full capacity of 14 slices. I popped it into the microwave and started to cook (or is it nuke?). When done, the bacon did come out crisp with the Bacon Wave but was a bit dry. Perhaps I cooked it too long… I also burned my fingers removing the hot bacon from the Bacon Wave (my fault as I just can’t resist hot bacon). As for cleanup, I drained the grease that fell to the bottom of the Bacon Wave and stuck it into the dishwasher (top rack).

Final thoughts on practicality
Finally science has solved one of mans greatest problems.….
With the Bacon Wave you can actually cook bacon with your shirt off.

To me, putting the slices of bacon into the Bacon Wave was a hassle. Being old school, I like arranging the slices of bacon in the frying pan. Also, being a caveman, I like the flame of my stove. Also much like a caveman, I often get my fingers burned making my bacon…

The Bacon Wave allows you to cook more slices of bacon then a frying pan, and that’s a bonus when I have a full table of little cavemen waiting for Saturday breakfast. However, I cook my eggs in the same pan after I cook my bacon so the flavor of the bacon enhances my eggs. With the Bacon Wave I don’t have that option. I also have a problem with the excessive shipping and handling cost of $5.95 as the Bacon Wave does not weigh much.

Final Score
3 stars out of 5

OxiClean

2007-02-16T12:27:00.000-05:00

Product Description
I must admit, this review came about quite by accident. My wife was getting ready to steam clean our white carpets as our 3 dogs like to make them grey. So there I am sitting at my desk working. My wife has a small bottle of “water” and a toothbrush and is applying the “water” to the spots on the carpet as a pre-treatment before steam cleaning. Now normally I completely ignore this type of activity for fear of being dragged into it. But then she said, “This stuff really works…” My caveman instincts kick in and I let out a UGHHHH? My head turns in her direction and a review is born.

Billy Mays. You have seen him, the smiling pitchman with a beard selling his products on tv. From the www.oxiclean.com website…. Powered by the Air You Breathe, Activated by the Water You DrinkTM.

Removing stains in and around the home just got easier with the new and improved OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover. The new formulation works better in the wash and when used as a pretreater, and is more advanced in fighting grass, grease and dirt stains than the original formulation.

Need to tackle stains outside of the laundry room? Living up to its name, OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover tackles over 101 stains on multiple surfaces like carpet, upholstery, kitchen and bath surfaces and even works outdoors on gutters, unfinished decks, and patio furniture. And it’s colorsafe and 100% chlorine-free!

Unleash the Power of OxygenTM.

What it costs $11.99 for 6 lbs of OxiClean (5.99 shipping and handling).

Ease of assembly 4 1/2 Stars
Open the lid and follow the directions adding the OxiClean formula to water, then stir and you are ready to go.

Ease of use 5 Stars
Dab on the OxiClean to the spot and let sit. It’s that easy.

Actual performance 5 Stars
The carpet where OxiClean is applied is bright and white.

Final thoughts on practicality
A good stain remover at a fair price. Shipping is $5.99 but it is a few lbs of weight so that’s not bad. I am not too sure I would use it for my gutters but hey, if you have dirty gutters, give it a try.

Oh and a personal note to Billy Mayes (I’m sure he reads this Blog…), I see you have been advertising some wonder hooks to hang things…. Hooks and weights, that reaches right into my caveman soul. Oh yea, I will be hanging some 50lb weights real soon to see if they can hold. But that is for another review….

Final Score
5 stars out of 5

FoneFree

2007-02-13T15:23:00.000-05:00

Product Description
This is advertised as a safe alternative to talking on your cell phone while driving. From the http://www.tvproducts4less.com/ website…FoneFree is truly universal, transforming your cell phone into a speakerphone everywhere. Dual band! Use either FM stations 88.7 or 106.5. Easy to set-up. No Wires! No Plug-Ins! Elegant, sleek design that is portable and easy to transport from one car to another, in your home, office or wherever there is a radio. Can also be used as a conferencing system. Great sound quality. FoneFree takes advantage of your car speaker system.

What it costs $17.95 (you get two for this price) + $7.95 shipping and handling (on the http://www.asseenontv.com/ website). Now normally I would give the price of the website where I get the product description but that cost was $19.95. Why pay more for the same product?

Ease of assembly 3 1/2 Stars
You need to program one of your preset radio stations on your car radio to either 88.7 FM or 106.5 FM. To be truly hands free you need to put a dash mount onto your dashboard. Basically a rectangle magnet (thin and black) that is affixed with double stick tape. Finally you need to mount a thin black piece of metal with double stick tape to your phone so that it can stick to your dash mount.

Ease of use 2 Stars
Now I have a flip phone so to use this I first must flip open my phone, then attached the FoneFree transmitter to the phone. It clips on easily enough with a small clip on the back of it. Then I need to press my radio preset to select the correct FM frequency. Now if I have not yet crashed doing all this (or the person calling has gone to voicemail), I can answer the phone and stick the phone onto my dashboard mount.

Actual performance 1 Star
I have a few problems with FoneFree. First off this is a speaker phone so quality is not the best. I also need to speak louder then normally since the phone is mounted onto my dashboard. People can hear me but also say that I am either distant sounding or there is an echo. The next problem I have is the weight of the metal plate FoneFree wants me to stick to my phone. It is not much but is noticeable. This is not so much a problem when using FoneFree but when I want to just hold my phone. It is annoying.

Final thoughts on practicality
If you do not have a speaker phone (are there phones now days that are not speaker phones???) this product may help you. Also most states now have laws prohibiting driving while talking on a held cell phone). However I do not recommend trying to connect everything while driving. Set it up before you start your trip and if your phone rings, you will be able to answer it easier then the way I described above. Unfortunately my phone always seems to ring when I don’t have it hooked up.

And to the http://www.asseenontv.com/ people... How do you get off charging $7.95 for shipping and handling? This product weighs almost nothing.

A good idea who’s time may have passed. There are many other options out there from speaker phones to other headsets that provide a higher quality.

Final Score
2 stars out of 5

Grease Bullet

2007-02-08T08:41:00.000-05:00

Product Description
I hate dirty dishes and worse then dirty dishes are greasy dishes so when I saw the Grease Bullet commercial I was hooked. From the http://www.greasebullet.net/ website…

Grease Bullet is the Ultimate Cookware Cleaner. Just fill your sink with hot tap water, drop in the Grease Bullet, and soak your toughest baked on cookware.In just minutes, it will sparkle like new, inside and out, without scrubbing!The Grease Bullet cuts thru caked on cookie sheets, grimy glassware, even scorched iron skillets!Grease Bullet is armed with enzymes that eat away baked on grease and grime, making your cookware look like new again. It’s the non-toxic cleaner that’s tough on grease, but easy on your hands.
The Grease Bullet Includes: A 30 day money back guarantee.12 Grease and Stain Remover tablets. Bullet shape container.

What it costs $9.99 (for 12 tablets)
You can get this product in stores or online. If you order online, there is a shipping charge but they will give you a fabulous gift for ordering! (Quick Silver Lightning tarnish remover plate)

Ease of assembly N/A

Ease of use 3 Stars
First you need to have an empty sink. That’s a problem when I cook as the dishes pile up. However, for this I put most of the dishes on the counter (above my dishwasher).

Actual performance 0 Stars
Wait a minute, in the ease of use section I said that I have a dishwasher. Why do I need the grease bullet if I have a dishwasher? I DON’T KNOW, but I do love the commercial…

Anyway, so I fill my sink with hot tap water, and as per the instructions drop in the grease bullet. Almost immediately the sink water starts to change to a bubbly white substance (soap???). I drop my pan into the water and wait, and wait, and wait. Apparently the commercial does not tell you that you need to wait 30 minutes for this to work. Well that gives me time to put the other dishes into the dishwasher…

Finally the half hour is up. I lift out my pan with hopes of a mirror reflection…. Unfortunately the pan looks remarkably similar to what I put in the water. In short, IT DID NOT WORK. Back in for another 1/2 hour but still little change when I remove the pan.

Saddened and bewildered by the betrayal of a TV commercial, I quietly drain the water and put the pan into my dishwasher to clean with the rest of my dishes. Once my dishwasher was done, the pan was clean. Now they claim you can also use the Grease Bullet in the dishwasher, but why bother? The dishwasher got the pan clean witout the Grease Bullet.

As for the remaining Magic Bullets, I place them under the sink in the back corner with my goo be gone and other products that don't work (yet I can't throw out).

Final thoughts on practicality
You need an empty sink and ½ hour of waiting time. I usually don’t have either when I finish cooking. Perhaps the grease on my pan was some sort of super grease, impervious to the magic of the Grease Bullet. I will stick with my dishwasher.

Final Score
0 stars out of 5

Floam

2007-02-02T10:23:00.000-05:00

Product Description
Viacom must be making a fortune off of the Floam commercials. They are on constantly.

Kids building castles, dinosaurs, all kinds of interesting items with their Floam. My 6 year old son loves this commercial, and loves his floam. From the amazon.com website… Floam is made of special, tiny micro beads that stick to one another to form anything you want. It's safe, non-toxic and can be used over and over again. Kids LOVE Floam! It sticks to most anything, but can be easily removed - so parents love it too. You can even mix the colors of Floam together to create a rainbow of colors. There's nothing like it! Features: Micro Beaded Moldeing fun Floam Sticks to almost anything Fun to wear Non toxic There's nothing like Floam. What will you Get? 4 Assorted Large Tubs of Floam.

What it costs $14.99

Ease of assembly N/A

Ease of use 5 Stars
The hardest part of using Floam is opening up the plastic jars it comes in. Once you open it up, the fun begins.

Actual performance 5 Stars
When you open your Floam containers the first thing you notice is the texture. It is kind of slimy but still firm. You reach in and scoop out (more like break off) a chunk of Floam. Its hard not to take a moment to just squish it between your fingers. Floam is firm enough to mould into shapes, and that’s what you do with it. Now in the commercials, they show a perfect replica of a dinosaur. And yes you can do that if you are an artist, but for the rest of us, we need some help. And since Floam sticks to things you put it on, you can take that plastic dinosaur and turn it into a Floam creation by covering it. When done, you can peal off your Floam and put it back into the jar for the next time the kids (or you) want to play.

You can also leave the Floam onto the toy and it will harden. My son has made Christmas tree ornaments with Floam. I had forgotten about them until we went to setup the tree this year and he reached into the box of decorations and came out with them (he also had a brimming smile having found them).

Final thoughts on practicality
Floam is Fun. It is easy to clean up and kids like to play with it. Floam will eventually dry out (even in its containers). If you are a do it yourself type of person, you can actually make Floam. The recepie is not too difficult. Here is a website with the instructions http://www.beyondsatire.us/?q=node/82

Final Score
5 stars out of 5

Gears! Gears! Gears!

2007-01-30T12:53:00.000-05:00

Product Description
As seen on the kids commercials, Gears Gears Gears by Learning Resources is exactly what is sounds like, lots of gears that can be combined into many interesting shapes. As per amazon.com, The perfect beginning set! Heavy-duty plastic gears spin and twirl together in a colorful display that kids will find fascinating. This 95-piece set includes gears, pillars, crank, connectors and interlocking bases for endless building possibilities. Ages 3 to 10

· Includes 95 plastic pieces, gears, pillars, cranks, connectors, and interlocking plates
· All pieces are compatible with Gears! Gears! Gears! building sets
· Skills: creativity, building, spatial reasoning

Winner of the Oppenheim Best Toy Award

What it costs $18.99

Ease of assembly N/A

The whole concept of gears is assembly. Kids spending time putting it together.

Ease of use 5 Stars

The gears join together easily. Easy enough for my 3 year old to do it while at the same time, interesting enough to keep my 6 year old’s attention.

Actual performance 5 Stars

This is one of those fun toys that allows a kid to just play. You can arrange the colorful gears in different configurations, and turn them with supplied handles. You are not limited to 2 dimensions so kids can build upward also! Everything spins and rattles. A nice option with this toy is that you can get add on’s (reasonably priced).

Final thoughts on practicality

My kids love this toy. It is not too expensive and is easier to clean up then legos.

Final Score

5 stars out of 5

Swiffer WetJet

2007-01-26T14:59:00.000-05:00

Product Description As seen on the tv show Trading Spaces and commercials, the Swiffer WetJet (SWJ “new catch phrase just developed by me”) cleans your floors better then a regular mop. From the Amazon web site… The Swiffer WetJet Starter Kit, Includes Ergonomically Designed WetJet Device, Liter Of WetJet Cleaning Solution & 6 Super-Absorbent WetJet Cleaning Pads, Enough Solution To Clean 6 To 7 Large Rooms, Solution Is Safe To Use On All Types Of Floors, Cleaning Pads Work With The Solution To Help Dissolve & Trap Dirt, Each Cleaning Pad Cleans An Area Equivalent To The Entire Floor Surface Of Approximately 2 Large Rooms.

What it costs $20.00 for the starter kit. $4.00 for the multipurpose floor cleaner refills (32 ounces) – Cleaning pad refills (12 for $7.99)

Ease of assembly 5 Stars
You need to assemble the Swiffer Wet Jet. It is easy to put together and comes with instructions (you probably won’t need them).

Ease of use 5 Stars
The SWJ is mopping made easy. No bucket needed so it gets bonus points for that.

Actual performance 5 Stars
The Swiffer Wet Jet has a spray feature that shoots the cleaning solution out in front of the SWJ so as you move the SWJ, you can wet down the floor as needed. It is lighter then most mops and that aids in the comfort of using it. However, the head of this mop is not as large as a standard string mop so you don’t cover as much floor at one time. If I had to choose between the string mop with bucket or the SWJ, I would choose the SWJ.

Final thoughts on practicality
This is a product for home use. I would not want to have to depend on this for cleaning the halls of a school. The product does exactly what it claims to do. However refills for the cleaning solution and pads can add up if you use the SWJ often. If not for the price of the refills and new pads, this would have gotten a perfect 5 star review.

I have also had some mixed results cleaning my wooden floors. Some times after they are cleaned they seem a bit dull.

Also there is an urban legend about this product being harmful to pets. It's not true. I have attached a url addressing this urban legend...

http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/swiffer.asp

Final Score
4 stars out of 5

Kid-Tough Digital Camera

2007-01-17T15:56:00.000-05:00

Product Description
This was heavily advertised on tv prior to Christmas and turned out to be a gift from Santa to my older son.

From the Fisher-Price web site, http://www.fisher-price.com Here’s a real digital camera that’s tough enough–and easy enough–for kids to use. What a perfect way for kids to get creative by taking, viewing and even printing their own digital pictures!

The Kid-Tough™ Digital Camera features:
1.3” color LCD preview screen that lets kids instantly see the pictures they’ve taken;
Two-eye viewing which makes it easy to look through the viewfinder;
Sturdy, dual handgrips for a steady shot;
Big buttons that make it easy for little hands to use;
Controls are simple for kids to understand – no reading required;
Best of all, it’s built with a durable, kid-tough™ design.

Additional features include:
Built-in auto flash;
Stores over 60 pictures, with 8 MB built-in memory;
SD memory card slot for increased storage capacity (SD card sold separately);
640 x 480 resolution;
USB cord for computer connection;
CD of digital camera software;
Wrist strap.

Camera compatible with Windows 2000 or higher and MacIntosh.

Camera is approx. 5½" W x 4" H.

What it costs $60.00 to $90.00 (so shop around)

Ease of assembly 2 Stars
You need to install the memory card as well as batteries. As with all digital cameras, you must also load the necessary software to a computer.

Ease of use 3 Stars
This needs to be broken out into camera use and downloading of the images into the computer.

A simple button turns it on and one button takes the picture. It's shape is like a viewmaster so the child can look through the camera or use the digital display to see what he or she is taking a picture of. So for ease of use for the kids, 5 stars.

However, downloading the pics to a computer is more difficult and not something a child will be able to do on their own. Also the interface is not the best. So for ease of use for the adults, 2 stars.

Actual performance 2 1/2 Stars
I am pretty good with computers but could not get the software to load on my desktop computer (pentium4, running xp pro, 2048 mb ram, 500 gb hd). I was able to load it to my Dell laptop (pentium 4, xp pro, 2048 mb ram, 120 gm hd).

As for ease of use, my three year old loves it and has taken many pictures of his Thomas The Train. This camera is tough enough to take drops and abuse that a child will dish out.

As for quality of the picture, it leaves much to be desired (620 x 480 resolution). However, now that my kids have their own digital camera, I don't have to lend them mine providing peace of mind knowing that they are not going to drop my camera. The camera turns itself off when not used to save the batteries. The camera is also light enough for kids to carry around.

Final thoughts on practicality
This is a toy, a kids camera, designed for kids. My kids love it. I don't like the software interface provided for my computer. The installation of the software also changed the way my expensive digital camera interfaces with my laptop. the camera comes in Pink, Blue, or Red so you can choose the color. I would give this a higher final score except for the miserable computer interface and for the way the software screwed up my expensive digital cameras computer interface.

Final Score
2 1/2 stars out of 5

Swiffer Duster

2007-01-12T10:29:00.000-05:00

Product Description
From the swiffer web site, http://www.swiffer.com/
Swiffer Dusters fluffy fibers trap and lock dust that traditional methods just spread around. The fluffy fibers also change shape to get into tight spaces and dust virtually any surface, even surfaces that spray polish shouldn’t go like electronics and plants. Best of all, Swiffer Dusters leaves behind no smeary residue.

What it costs $4.99
Refills - 10 for $8.39

Ease of assembly 5 Stars

Match the handle to the duster and snap it on. Then slide the sweeping cloth onto the duster.

Ease of use 5 Stars

It’s dusting, not rocket science (sheesh)

Actual performance 5 Stars

The duster gets into those little areas around my computer and on the mantle. It even does a good job on the ceiling fan blads. This works well on window blindes. You can also get an extender (i.e. long stick) to help reach those high places such as the top of bookshelves.

Final thoughts on practicality

When I think of manly men, I think of John Wayne, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris. In these thoughts I never see them dusting. Now my caveman instincts tell me to grab the old tee shirt and go to town and that sufficed during my bachelor life. However now married, I have evolved (forced to get rid of that old tee shirt). Dusting is dusting and as a guy, I want to get it done as quickly as possible (i.e. before my guy friends see me holding a duster). The swiffer does a good job although the replacement refills are a bit costly (10 for $8.39).

Final Score

5 stars out of 5

Showtime Six Star Cutlery Set

2007-01-06T21:21:00.000-05:00

Product Description

From the popeilfamilystore.com, the Ronco Showtime Six Star Cutlery Set by Ron Popeil makes a fantastic gift! This high-quality stainless steel cutlery set has all of the knives a home will ever need and is designed for the ultimate in performance, quality, and durability.

Just a side note - I do not know if www.popeilfamilystore.com is affiliated with Ronco (www.ronco.com) The price of the set of knives is the same on both web sites.

Product Features:
• All of the knives feature full tang impact-resistant riveting
• Perfectly balanced
• Made of the best high carbon stainless steel
• Lifetime guarantee
• 25-piece set includes: 22 knives, carving fork, poultry shears, and knife sharpener

What it costs $39.99

Ease of assembly N/A

Ease of use 5 Stars
Just pick the correct knife for the job. The only tears I shed when chopping onions now are tears of joy (I always wanted to say that!!!)

Actual performance 5 Stars
This was a Christmas gift I received. The knives come boxed and each knife is sheathed in a cardboard sleeve. There is an old saying, "a dull knife will cut you". No worries with this set as they are super sharp.

These knives are great and perfect for the chef or chef in training. You can also get the optional knife block to display your purchase proudly on your counter for an additional $30. Having children, I keep my set safely locked away in a kitchen draw with a child lock firmly in place. The steak knives get the most use, but I also like the chop and serve knife as well as the bread knife. For carving, I usually use my old electric knife but the six star carving knife tugs at the heart of my caveman sole. As a bonus, Ron throws in the solid food injector for free (I have not used the solid food injector yet). There is also a poultry shears that comes with the set. I use the shears mostly for cutting open my food saver bags (see my earlier review about the vacuum food saver and how the bags are tough as a rhino). The set also comes with a knife sharpener.

Final thoughts on practicality
Good quality knife set. In fact the only knife set you will need if you purchase this set.

I have one minor issue that I am sure Ron will address when he reads this…. When I use the steak knives, and put them down onto the counter or into my knife draw, they some times turn blade up because the back of the knife is flat. This poses a cutting hazard. If the back of the knife was just slightly curved, this would not happen.

A great gift and you can also get the knife set in white.

Final Score
5 stars out of 5

Food Saver

2007-01-04T08:43:00.000-05:00

Product Description
This is in my top 10 infomercials. The foodsaver allows you to purchase whole cows and keep them fresh..... Err, no that's not right. The foodsaver allows you to keep food fresh by sealing them into special bags (that you purchase from foodsaver). On the infomercial I love the part when they make the marshmallows shrink in the container!!!

From their website... Keep food fresh up to five times longer with America's #1 home vacuum packaging system. Visit foodsaver.com for usage tips, recipes and more and to view the complete line of FoodSaver products.

What it costs $129.99

Ease of assembly 5 Stars
There are multiple models available, some of them have the roll for the bags right inside the machine. If you have this type of model, just drop the roll in and you are ready to go.

Ease of use 5 Stars

To start you need to make a bag by sealing one end of the roll. Simple enough (and fun to do with the kids. Then you roll out the length of the bag and cut it off. Again depending on the model, there may be a cutter right on the foodsaver to do the cutting. Then you put your food in and then slip the open end into the foodsaver, lock the side tabs and start to seal. The air is sucked out and the bag sealed tight. there is also attachments for sealing cans and you can also get canisters that are designed to work with the foodsaver.

Actual performance 5 Stars

This is a great product especially if you buy in bulk at warehouses. No more freezer burns on meats if you take a few minutes when you get home to seal them with the foodsaver. Also the bags are dishwasher safe so cut them a bit long so you can reuse them. You can also store items for camping such as matches, flares, etc. (you need to make sure you can cut the bag open as they are tough as a rhino skin).

Final thoughts on practicality
I only have minor issues, the first is the typical out of site, out of mind problem. I don't use the machine for leftovers as it is stored in a cabinet and a hassel to get out.

The infomercial also shows them saving bulk cheese. However the cheese in the infomercial is NOT SLICED. If you go to the trouble of slicing up 5 lbs of cheeze and then try to seal it, the cheese will once again join together (and you know how frustrating separating cheese slices can be). So seal the cheese un sliced.

A great gift with plenty of add-ons that you can get. However you need to purchase all supplies from foodsaver and unlike the Rotozip, these are not so inexpensive. Still if you save one or two meats by vacuum packing them, then the cost is offset.

Final Score
5 stars out of 5

Rotozip Spiral Saw

2007-01-01T09:40:00.000-05:00

Product Description

This is one of my favorite infomercials. From the Home Depot website… The Rotozip spiral saw kit includes RZ5 spiral saw, Zipmate ZM2 Cutting attachment, bit accessory pack, bit case, masonry cut-off wheel, metal cut-off wheel, dry diamond cut-off wheel, and tool bag. Features include a dust sealed switch for long life; wrenchless bit change for fast and easy bit changes; Improved body design with soft grip & detachable handle. Manufactured by the Bosch company (a name well respected in the tool industry)

What they claim it does
Easily cut through brick, concrete, metal, sheetrock, tile, wood, and anything else you can think of.

What it costs $99.97

Ease of assembly 3 Stars
You need to be familiar with power tools to really use this. There is an instruction manual that explains how to use each accessory. It is important to thoroughly read and understand the instructions. Eye protections is mandatory. Ear protection would also be a something to consider.

Ease of use 5 Stars
This is not your ordinary cordless screwdriver. This is one kick but tool. You need a firm grip as the tork from this tool is strong. (kind of like holding a gyroscope). This tool slices through steel (any anything else you put in front of it) without batting an eye. You definitely need eye protection as the grinding wheels throw up quite a light show from the sparks when cutting steel (as any grinding attachment would). I have used this tool more times then I can recall. Cleaning out old grout, cutting off locks, sanding and cutting wood. Making electrical box openings in sheetrock, etc.

Actual performance 4.5 Stars
This is a great specialty tool. As with most spiral bit cutters, making a straight line is difficult. The power of this tool is a bit intimidating and my wife won’t use it. I mostly use the cutting tool (grinder attachment) to cut through tile, metal, and sand wood. As with most spiral bits, they snap often wich is not much of a problem since they are really inexpensive. So you should stock up on them so you have them when needed. Replacement grinding, and sanding wheels also are quite affordable. This is nice since many products soak you on additional parts. You can also find the bits and grinding wheels at most hardware stores.

A neet little feature is the sanding wheel. It has 3 holes in the pads that line up with 3 hole where the pads attach. I did not know why they did that until I turned it on. When spinning the holes provide a perfect view of what you are sanding (don't ask me how).

Final thoughts on practicality

The Rotozip will be forever on my must have tool list. This is a handy tool that can do those little jobs that frustrate the weekend warrior. Broken tile, no problem, rusted on lock, no problem. Sheetrock, “forgetaboutit”. Cutting access panels into you car floor bed, done deal. Cutting cooper pipes, easy. But extreme caution needs to be used. Treat this tool with the up most respect and it won’t let you down. I used this to clear out old grout in my kitchen floor during a recent renovation. Did a great job but WOW the dust storm caused was quite a site. This would get a 5 out of 5 rating if not for the intimidation factor of it. It is not for the faint of heart. Also cutting with the spiral bit can be frustrating if you need an exact straight line.

Final Score

4 1/2 stars out of 5

Shark Cordless Sweeper

2006-12-29T11:36:00.000-05:00

Product Description
From the Office Depot website - The Shark Next Generation Intelligent Sweeper features a wide 13" cleaning path and 3-speed electronic control designed for superior all-surface cleaning. The wall-hugging design of the side brush gets into corners and grabs dirt along the walls. The easy steering swivel head provides excellent maneuverability. The telescoping handle allows for easy conversion into a hand-held sweeper that is ideal for stairs. The unique brush-roll system propels messes straight into the dust tray, wet or dry. Instantly available, no bags, filters, cables hoses or dirty exhaust air. The low profile with long reach allows you to clean difficult-to-reach areas under furniture. Cordless design allows for a 60-minute cleaning time, then just recharge it.

What they claim it does

Easily clean up messes without the need to break out the heavy vacuum.

What it costs $59.99

Ease of assembly 3 Stars

You need to assemble the handle, insert the dust tray, and charge the unit prior to use. I had some minor difficulties getting the handle assembled. Perhaps it was just my model as it was a little difficult getting the top handle to insert into the poles.

Ease of use 5 Stars

Simple, enough, just unplug the unit from the cord that it charges with and tap on the power button with your foot. The sweeper bottom pivots so you can reach into those hard to get places (like under the bed).

Actual performance 4 Stars

It does a great job getting the dog hair on my wood floor. The sweeper is only .05 horse power so it is not a replacement for a regular vacuum cleaner. It is light weight enough that you might want to try it on your stairs. This is a bag less system and the dust tray pulls out for easy cleaning. However, if you have dust allergies, handling the tray may cause you irritation.

Final thoughts on practicality
This is an electric sweeper, not a vacuum. It cannot replace your vacuum and really shines for those quick clean ups. I keep it continuously plugged into charge when not in use so that it is always ready to go. I found that if I did not do that, when I needed it, the unit would not have any power. That’s not because of the unit, but rather the unit being used often and the battery just running down.

Final Score
4 stars out of 5

Light Brite Flash Art

2006-12-28T08:34:00.000-05:00

Light Brit Flash Art

by Hasbro

Product Description
This was one of those toys heavily pushed to the kids by commercials. Smiling kids making all kinds of cool designs.

From the Target web site.

• Mix lights, music and motion for a new spin on making art

• Watch as your creations spin around and around

• Music and lights spur creativity and add to the fun

• Includes 7 design cards and 4 bottles of paint

What they claim it does
Young artists show “flashes” of greatness in a whole new way with LITE-BRITE FX - FLASH ART Neon Paint Spinner. Children can paint one of many animated design cards to place into the LITE-BRITE unit, or they can insert a blank card and squirt paint onto it as the unit plays. In both cases, the art spins ‘round and ‘round to create a unique light show with electronic lights, music and motion. Children use a variety of buttons to start, stop and showcase their masterpiece. They won’t believe their eyes.

What it costs $19.99

Ease of assembly 5 Stars - Just add batteries and you are ready to go.

Ease of use 4 Stars
Simple, enough, add the blank card to the wheel and start it up. The card spins round and round while fun music plays. Then you squirt the neon color paint onto the card and it makes a swirling design.

Actual performance 5 Stars
It can be messy. You definately don't want to do this on a white carpet. The Light Brite Flash Art lived up to all the claims. It spins, makes sounds, and allows kids to make neon designs on the cards.

Final thoughts on practicality

Messy so be sure to do it in an area easily cleaned. Also my son had some difficulties adding the paint (would use too much paint). My wife did not like it (perhaps because she had to clean it up).

Perhaps some toys should not be practical. They should just be fun. I think this is one of those type of toys. The recommended age is 3 and up but I would recommend 5 and up. So put down a table cloth, put the kids in some old clothing and let them have fun.

Final Score

3 1/2 stars out of 5

Fix A Flat

2006-12-27T14:33:00.000-05:00

Pennzoil Fix A Flat

Product Description

Pennzoil Fix a Flat has been around for many years now and is touted as being a key part of any car emergency kit. Fix a flat give you the ability to seal a tire with a slow leak, and even re inflate it, allowing you to continue moving. As it happens, I received this as a stocking stuffer a while back.

What they claim it does

Fixes a flat tier and re inflates it so that you can drive on it.

What it costs $3.99

Ease of assembly N/A

Ease of use 4 Stars

Simple to add to a flat tire. It can be messy if you do not thread the cap onto the tire correctly. I had the opportunity to use this one raining night. To use fix a flat, you screw the nozzle onto the flat tire and put the button at the top of the can. The can injects the solution into the air nozzle of the tire, filling the tire up. Once you have filled the tire, you need to drive on it. Driving moves the sealant around, enabling it to better seal the puncture. I was able to get back on the road much faster then changing the tire and fix a flat got me home safely.

Actual performance 5 Stars

Final thoughts on practicality
I like this product. It makes a great stocking stuffer. It is recommended that you wear some sort of eye protection when using this product.

Fix a flat is for emergencies only. You still need to have the tire repaired and it is not recommended that you drive around for extended periods with the sealant in the tier.

You should advise your tire person or mechanic that you have used fix a flat so that they are aware when they go to permanently repair the tire. Also this can is under pressure and proper storage and handling is advised.

Final Score
5 stars out of 5

George Foreman Next Grilleration

2006-12-27T13:49:00.000-05:00

George Foreman Next Grilleration with Removable Plates

George Foreman should never have gone into boxing. His true talent is that of a pitchman on tv.

Product Description
From the Target website… And you thought the FIRST George Foreman grill was cool. The Next Generation lets you grill more and grill bigger with a 96" cooking surface and 1" floating hinge for thicker food. Do it better, too—set the adjustable temperature gauge and timer to control just how done your wienies get, and always know how things are cooking, thanks to the oversized LED readouts. And cleanup. Removable nonstick grill plates make it a snap. Includes 2 drip trays and a spatula. Hand wash. Imported. 7Hx17Wx14D".

What they claim it does
Grill food indoors. Reduce fat, eat healthier.

What it costs $89.99

Ease of assembly N/A

Ease of use 5 Stars

Actual performance 5 Stars

Final thoughts on practicality

I had the original Forman grill and liked it but cleanup was next to impossible since the nonstick grill plates were not removable. Well George must have heard my complaints because in this model, they are removable. Just stick them in the dishwasher.

The Foreman grill is great for burgers, chicken, steaks, basically anything that you would normally grill.

And now George has a newer model, the G5 grill. It costs $30.00 more but has different removable plates 1 grill, 1 steak, 2 waffle, and 1 shallow pan. At a cost of 129.99, a bit much but if you have the ability and space to store them, you might want to consider it.

Final Score

Quality product, does exactly what the manufacturer claims it does. George, if you are reading this, I have one minor problem. When cooking cheeseburgers, I have a hard time melting the cheese. I either have to lower the lid and hold it off of the burgers to warm the cheese or place pan cover onto the grill to keep the heat in so the cheese can melt.

5 stars out of 5

Moon Sand

2006-12-27T09:08:00.000-05:00

The commercial was targeted to kids on Nickelodeon every 12 minutes prior to Christmas and as a result, was a must have gift for my son.

Product Description
Squish it. Shape it. Moon Sand molds like dough. Your child can create and play for hours and hours and Moon Sand will never dry out! Cleans up easily and won't stick or stain. There are 3 double disc, cool color combination sets to choose from: Planet Purple/Satellite White, Rocket Red/Lunar Yellow and Space Blue/Galaxy Green. Each set includes a 1/2 lb. of sand plus a sand tool.

What they claim it does

Just like play dough but with sand. Plus this never dries out.

What it costs $7.00

Ease of assembly – N/A

Ease of use 3 Stars

Actual performance 3 Stars

Final thoughts on practicality
Well we opened up the sand at the kitchen table. What was I thinking, sand indoors… It's more like stickey sand but still is sand. It's harder to mold then play dough or floam. My son who is 6 lost interest fairly quickly as it was difficult to work with.

Now the manufacturer claims it wont stick or stain and they are correct. But sand is not the easiest thing to clean up. I suggest that this should be used outside on the deck.

Final Score
I know some kids that love it. Parents won’t due to the clean up. I was not impressed and will stick with floam. But since its the holiday season and some kids love it....

2 stars out of 5

Turkey Dinner of Alton Brown

2006-12-25T13:26:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of Food Network and Alton Brown.

The most juicy turkey you will ever, ever, ever eat. Well thats the claim and I love turkey. However, I am no chef. I can barely navigate the grocery store much less cook a turkey. But bolstered by Alton's confidence, I gave it a shot.

My thoughts on this recipe, a bit more work but once try it, you will throw out your old recipe.

GUARENTEED!

Ingredients

1 (14 to 16 pound) frozen young turkey

For the brine:

1 cup kosher salt

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 gallon vegetable stock

1 tablespoon black peppercorns

1/2 tablespoon allspice berries

1/2 tablespoon candied ginger

1 gallon iced water

For the aromatics:

1 red apple, sliced

1/2 onion, sliced

1 cinnamon stick

1 cup water

4 sprigs rosemary

6 leaves sage

Canola oil

Combine all brine ingredients, except ice water, in a stockpot, and bring to a boil. Stir to dissolve solids, then remove from heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.

Early on the day of cooking, (or late the night before) combine the brine and ice water in a clean 5-gallon bucket. Place thawed turkey breast side down in brine, cover, and refrigerate or set in cool area (like a basement) for 6 hours. Turn turkey over once, half way through brining. A few minutes before roasting, heat oven to 500 degrees. Combine the apple, onion, cinnamon stick, and cup of water in a microwave safe dish and microwave on high for 5 minutes.
Remove bird from brine and rinse inside and out with cold water. Discard brine. Place bird on roasting rack inside wide, low pan and pat dry with paper towels. Add steeped aromatics to cavity along with rosemary and sage. Tuck back wings and coat whole bird liberally with canola (or other neutral) oil.

Roast on lowest level of the oven at 500 degrees F. for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and cover breast with double layer of aluminum foil, insert probe thermometer into thickest part of the breast and return to oven, reducing temperature to 350 degrees F. Set thermometer alarm (if available) to 161 degrees. A 14 to 16 pound bird should require a total of 2 to 2 1/2 hours of roasting. Let turkey rest, loosely covered for 15 minutes before carving.TIPS: create the brine solution the night before. Since the turkey must soak for a while, try placing the bird in the brine solution around 7 AM if you want to eat late in the afternoon.

What they claim it does – Super moist turkey.

What it costs About $12 more then a normal Turkey prep

Ease of assembly (prep for the bird) 5 Stars

Ease of use (actualy makeing of the bird) 3 Stars

Actual performance 5 Stars

Final thoughts on practicality

Just as claimed, the best turkey you will ever have. It takes a while to make, try preparing the brine solution the night before. If you put the turkey in the brine in the morning, say 7 am, you should be eating by late afternoon.

5 out of 5 Stars

SIRIUS Boom Box

2006-12-20T11:15:00.000-05:00

All right, on this one I was given a subscription to SIRIUS by a family member. The Sportster 4 arrived in a box with a Receiver, vehicle power adapter, remote control, vehicle antenna, vehicle dock, and suction cup mount. Commercial free radio while I drive my car. A very nice gift indeed.

Eagerly opening the box I come to the realization that I don’t spend that much time driving. Sitting in front of my TV, there is the solution right in front of me. The SIRIUS Universal BoomBox. The BoomBox is simply a radio that the SIRIUS receive plugs into. Seems simple enough, soon I will be enjoying my SIRIUS Satellite radio stations at my desk, at the park, by the pool… well you get the idea.

So off to the local Walmart I went and picked up the BoomBox, for a cost of $97.00

Item Description from Walmart’s website.
The Sirius SUBX1 Plug and Play Universal Boombox features a sporty design and top quality sound, allowing you to enjoy all of the newest Sirius Plug and Play radios with universal docking capabilities.

Key Features & Benefits:
Sirius Universal Dock - Allows it to be compatible with all universal Sirius Plug and Play radios
Easy portability - Up to 9 hours of portable use with 8 D-cell batteries (not included)
Top quality sound - Enjoy dynamic sound provided by 2.1 full-range sound system with separate tweeters, mid-range speaker and powerful subwoofer
Antenna cradle - Antenna cradle and cable storage allows you to take your antenna effortlessly with you
Headphone jack - Ideal for private listening

I open the box, and there it is. Black and silver, a perfect match for my SIRIUS receiver. Installing the receiver takes about 10 seconds, as it simply plugs into the radio just like the receiver plugs into the docking station for the car. The BoomBox comes with a power cord (the AC adaptor as SIRIUS describes it). Again easily installed by plugging it into the back of the BoomBox and plugged into a near electrical outlet (now you kids have your parents do that for you). The final item in the box is the antenna. Again simply plugs into the back of the BoomBox. Hold on now, that’s one long antenna, that should have been my first clue of troubled water on the horizon. The BoomBox has convenient tabs on the back of the radio to wrap up all that excessive antenna wire. So I start to wrap, and I wrap and continue to wrap.

When I am done, I push the power button on the front of the BoomBox and wait for the BoomBox to start filling the room with sound. And I wait, and wait, and wait. Hmmm, no sound, the receiver cannot seem to acquire the signal. The light goes off above my head and I now realize what that long antenna wire is for. So I start to unwrap the wire, and unwrap and unwrap. Finally the wire is all uncoiled and I set off in search of a location for the antenna. Since I have the radio at my desk I place the antenna on top of my monitor. No luck, then on top of the cabinet next to my desk, still no luck. Finally I put it on top of my printer and sound fills the room. But the signal is not constant, checking the signal indicator, I see that I have 3 out of 10 bars.

So off to the instructions I go a searching and find out that for where I live, the antenna should point West or North. My desk is in a room that has a South facing window. Undaunted I try other locations for the antenna, on the treadmill, out the window, in the next room. Sometimes I get a 7 out of 10 signal but it is not constant.

However, the BoomBox is portable. So I load it up with 8 D Cell batteries and take it outside. Signal strength is great and no problems with the sound. Now the weight of the radio with batteries brings me back to the 80s when my friend Sean would carry a radio around that took about 20 batteries. Ahhhh, the 80s, good times.... good times......

When I have a signal the sound on the BoomBox is quite good, base tones are strong and the BoomBox provides an overall satisfactory experience. In fact the louder you turn it up, the better the sound. Loud enough for any teenager.

What they claim it does – Allows you to listen to your SIRIUS Satellite radio indoors or outdoors.
What it costs $97.88
Ease of assembly 5 Stars
Ease of use 5 Stars
Actual performance 3 Stars

Final thoughts on practicality
The antenna signal strength varies and can be frustrating when the station you are listening to breaks up. Also 8 D Cell batteries adds to the already 10.6 Lbs of weight.

Final Score

If I could get a constant signal, this product would get 5 stars but I can't so I give this:

3 1/2 stars out of 5
Overall a good option to get the full use out of your SIRIUS Receiver.

UPDATE -

I have been using my boombox for a few months now and I love the content Sirius produces but hate the fact that I cannot keep receiving the signal (i.e. the radio goes quiet). I have been to a few Sirius forums and apparently the fix is to put an antenna onto my roof. YEA RIGHT. I am going to climb up on a ladder and put an antenna onto my roof. Sirius should be more upfront about reception in their marketing. When outside, the boombox is great, but indoors, without added equipment it may frustrate you.

Revised Final Score
2 stars out of 5

Welcome

2006-12-20T10:26:00.000-05:00

This BLOG will try to provide you with my experiences regarding products sold via infomercials and commercials.

I just love them, Ron P. you are my infomercial hero. George F., I wish you were my neighbor. However, do these products really work. Over the coming months I will review products I find on TV. I will rate them on the following...

What they claim they do
What they cost
Ease of assembly
Ease of use
Actual performance
Final thoughts on practicality

Now where am I going to get these products, I already have many of them. I just can't resist. I can't pass the As Seen On TV store without stopping.

I will be rating them on a 0 to 5 Star Rating (0 the worst, 5 the best). If warrented, I will from time to time update the reviews if its a product that gets constant use.