I got suckered into buying a car security system because, well, who knows where I'll take my car in this life. It's an investment, so why not put the money down? I have a KARR Security System and I can say there are some benefits and some negatives here.Does it do a good job as an alarm system? Yes. It has three modes so I can set the security level of the system to suit my taste. There...

I was ready and prepared to give a good review to my Bell brand bicycle U-Lock tonight... except this was also the night my bike got jacked.Hmmmmm....I felt confident that the Bell U-Lock would provide adequate locking power to me. It is a better choice than a cable lock, hands down, and it was fairly inexpensive. It also has a good locking mechanism that wouldn't budge from the times I had...

On my laptop I had a Fujitsu MHT2030AT ATA-6 30GB drive. Happily, it lasted for three years and I got extensive use out of it.From memory, the Fujitsu MHT2030AT worked fine. In the end, it died on me, but considering the amount of use I put it through, that shouldn't be anything to sneeze at.The Fujitsu drive was nice and quiet, with the most noise it made was the crunching sound a drive ma...

I'm a man, but I can iron, if I have to, I guess. The Black and Decker Quick Press F975 suits my needs perfectly. With six settings (labeled on the bottom of the iron on what they're for no less!) and a steam button -- all at a decent price -- I have been quite happy with this iron. I also appreciate the internal gizmo that turns off the iron if it is tipped incorrectly to avoid scaldin...

I wrote earlier about a bad, bad experience with a Nuon brand laptop battery. I replaced that battery with a Rayovac Maximum high capacity because that other battery pretty much crapped out.So far I've been happy with my experience with the Rayovac Maximum battery. It is kind of slow to charge, but once charged it works really well. How much charge a battery holds is the more important thin...

I've been a loyal buyer of Genuine ACE Hard Rubber combs, and yes, in the world of combs, quality makes a difference.ACE Hard Rubber combs are slightly more expensive than a dollar store comb, but to my delight, they last for the long haul.The secret is the fact that these American-made combs are built with hardy, firm rubber, almost to the point of unbreakable. No worries about carrying on...

I remember like it was yesterday when I bought this modern blue helmet. I say modern because it has vents in the design to get air in while cycling.I remember the positive feeling I got from going from an older style helmet (plain white and styrofoam in construction) to this.One of the biggest boons for the Serfas brand, from browsing internet reviews of the brand, is its fit, and I can speak t...

I needed a new laptop battery so I picked up one at the local battery speciality store after doing my homework on what I'd need. This Nuon battery was the right voltage, right compatibility, right everything --- too bad I didn't know that it would break within about three months of use.Break? Yeah.  The battery turned into a worthy doorstop about three months into its use and I am ...

I got my Dell Inspiron 8200 laptop about 5 years ago, and I do not believe they sell this laptop anymore. This review may be more helpful if you're searching for a decent used laptop.Nonetheless, I would recommend the Dell Inspiron 8200. I call it a computer that's taken a licking and keeps on ticking. It has been a good investment, although required some upkeep and maintenance after 5 ...

When I go to get a greeting card, the first stop I go to are the cards made from recycled paper. The brand that my local shop carries is Tiffany Tomato ( http://www.tiffanytomato.com/ ) .The range of Tiffany Tomato Greeting cards is okay, but not as large as Hallmark's. However, they do have some cutting edge political cards that can be used for birthday greetings. Where else can you get a ...

I've tried Speed Stick solid. I've tried Axe gel. I find I'm always drawn back to Arrid, though. I use Arrid XX Extra Extra Dry and have found that it always gives me protection throughout the day. The solid they oroduce is not very flaky and does not seem to leave a mess. My only complaint is that it is meant to be unscented, but it does have a scent to it. In fact, the scent smell...

I needed a pair of shorts to fit my expanding waistline (ahem) and since these were for mainly around the house and chilling at barbeques or around the pool, I was looking to get something casual. Hence the trip to Tar-jay. At the store their main shorts selection was Mossimo, so my choices were moderately limited, but that is okay. The Mossimo Mission Cargo short looked like the best bet, so t...

Wigwam, the American manufacturer, is known best for its socks, but they also make a big variety of wool caps.Most recommended.The Wigwam wool cap I have, made of worsted wool, is both comfortable and enjoyable. It also effectively keeps the cold out well, better than some other caps I have worn, especially around the ears. The beauty is that it fits snugly around the head even though it is mea...

I picked up a HP OfficeJet v40xi from someone a while back. Lo and behold it apparently is not worth the effort to work on.The HP OfficeJet v40xi is a printer/copier/scanner/fax machine. HP generally makes great printers, but in this case they let down the consumer.The problem? Once it breaks, it's done, son. What happens is that the print mechanism has a read error that causes it to not be...

When I bought a new car, it was ingrained in me by the paint and body guys to buy a soft washing mitt to keep the paint in tip-top shape.Sold.I love this washing mitt from Meguiar's because it actually makes my job easier when washing the car, and it lets me wipe my hand all over the car to wash it more effectively.It also lets me scrub at the car to get off goo and residue from driving. Us...

The Wahl Groomsman Revolution is an excellent choice for your beard and mustache trimming needs. In six months of ownership, it has done quite well for my needs.The Groomsman Revolution is slightly more expensive than a Norelco/Phillips or other competitor, but it is a solid product that has lasted well considering it's been knocked off my bathroom counter and hit the hard tile floor more t...

As more people have seen the economical value of content to keep visitors "on the site longer", the Internet has exploded with trite Flash games. Not just time wasters, but wastes of energy.Death Trip seems to be a great example of this.You play some schmuck taxi driver, with a completely unlenient boss. You pick up passengers, drive them somewhere else on a map from a top-down perspe...

American Crew is a hair gel that is only sold through professional hairstylists. I picked my bottle up at the local hair place and have used it when I wanted a gelled look.The medium-sized bottle I got was like nine bucks, which was my only negative. I think the price was based on the haircutter's whims, though, so that may have been the factor, but I still docked it for value for price. I ...

Rehab isn't emo. It isn't hard rock. Rehab is more like a rap-rock outfit with both straight rap beats and also mellow pieces. All are doused with a nihlist point of view, combined with talking from living a hard, poor life smokin' Marlboro Reds and drinking down 40s. Imagine depressing music that discusses hardcore addictions from real-life experience and the depressing hard-knock ...

Amy Winehouse burst onto the scene sometime last year and with good reason: She's got a great vibe going on in her music. Her biggest sales success has come from the track "Rehab," but there are a few listenable tracks that make you want to go back for more. "Tears Dry on Their Own", "Back to Black," "Me and Mr. Jones," and "You Know I'm No G...