We purchased the PDC5080 last year, and initially I was pleased with the product.  However, after realizing it was not an “out of the box ready” digital camera, I was a bit disappointed.  Let me explain.The display is fine, although a bit small, but considering the price of the camera I was okay with it.  The internal memory storage is a bit skimpy at 16MB, but it has...

I bought the Bissell Powerforce 12amp vacuum cleaner for my wife, to replace our 15 year old model.  We were tired of replacing bags and belts.  The new Bissell has more power than we were used to, as it uses a bagless centrifical force mode of suction.  The bagless system is really nice!Edge cleaning and attachments are pretty standard, nothing special there.  The machine i...

I decided it was about time to get certified so I could have something to back up the fact that I really do know something about computers.  This is one of two books that I purchased in anticipation of the A+ Certification Exam.  The book comes with a CD-ROM that contains study materials as well as randomly generated sample tests.  This software was very helpful, as it really hel...

I purchased this book in anticipation of taking the CompTIA A+ Certification exam.  The book is written on a very good professional level.  It is even designed for newbies to the field, starting out with the most basic of information.It does contain a CD-ROM which has some practice tests and software.  However, I found that the practice tests were limited, because once you took i...

"The Brainiacs.com" is a nice movie for kids around 8 to 12.  Our son is 7 and he enjoyed it, although some stuff was still over his head.  The movie teaches family values through a set of circumstances in a family owned and operated toy business.  The kids are the catalyst to make things right, and in a big way!Feature Films For Families has done an excellent job with ...

"The Retrievers" are all over the place in this family friendly film.  Kids learn about new responsibilities and taking care of animals.  In addition, talking about issues we face as well as how we spend our time are all issues dramatized in this production.Another great movie from Feature Films For Families.  Our oldest kids (5 & 7) both enjoyed this one, but the 7...

“No More Baths!” is a great movie for older kids, say age 10 and up.  The subject matter was a little over our kids’ heads, even our oldest, who is seven.  Teaching how to handle some of life’s hardest lessons, this movie really hits some hot spots.  Kids will learn about being ‘your brother’s keeper’, as well as what it takes to stand up...

DreamWorks & Aardman have done an excellent job with the claymation effects in "Flushed Away".  The visual performance is great, and creates many believable episodes (if they weren’t mice).  Overall this is a good movie, but I do have a few caveats.First of all, realize that it is a rated ‘PG’ movie, for crude humor and some language.  Boy they are...

“Happy Feet” is a really funny movie that our whole house (wife and I included) dancing all over the place.  Robin Williams brings his own brand of talent and humor to this movie.  It does have a serious side, as the concept of our global environment is brought out for some discussion.  We used this as a springboard for discussion in our home.Keep in mind this movie i...

“The Self-Reliant Homestead” by Charles A. Sanders is a great book to get someone started on thinking about living in the country.  It covers quite a bit of ground in its 295 pages of material, and herein lies the problem.It actually attempts to cover too many topics for the beginner.  You know what they say ... if you spread yourself too thin, you won’t get good cov...

“Square Foot Gardening” by Mel Bartholomew is a classic piece on an alternative gardening method.  Carefully researched and written, this book presents a great alternative to those who think:(a) they don’t have the space for a garden, or(b) they don’t have the time for a garden.Bartholomew convincingly shares how just a 4’x4’ plot of ground can grow an a...

Mel Bartholomew’s second book on his gardening phenomenon, “Cash from Square Foot Gardening” attempts to ride the wave of success from his first book.  However, it falls short in several areas.First, there are no real improvements over the methods from the first book.  Much of the first few chapters covers the same material, as if we had not read the first book. ...

“Heavens to Betsy! & Other Curious Sayings” by Charles E. Funk presents an assortment of phrases and where they come from.  This book will help to satisfy your curiousity about the origins of some of our common English phrases.‘Mad as a hatter’, or ‘take forty winks’ ... these are the things you will learn about in this book.  If you love curiou...

This is another offering from Charles E. Funk.  This book focuses on the meaning of words, or more specifically, where they came from.From ‘bigot’, ‘diploma’, ‘camera’, and ‘namby-pamby’, you’ll learn quite a bit about the English language and its use and evolution.  English is rich with history and events - so much has been lost i...

“Country Wisdom & Know-How” is another country living / live off the land guide.  However, this one is a bit different from most of the others you will run across.The first thing you will notice is its size.  It’s not the size of a standard trade paperback.  Instead, it’s like a large magazine, measuring approx. 10” x 13”.  Now combine...

“Escape to God” is a great story about a family that moves to the wilderness of Montana in order to find a closer spiritual walk to God.  This book by Jim Hohnberger has been very inspiration to me and my family.Jim shares from his personal experiences very candidly about being an “un-converted” Christian - talking the talk, but not truly walking the walk where it c...

After reading Jim Hohnberger’s first book, “Escape to God” I was wondering how on Earth I could ever manage to gain an experience like he had.  He addresses that and so much more in his second book, “Come to the Quiet”.It’s not really about moving to the wilderness, although many people do end up moving out to the country.  Consider this short excer...