Apple has had a long history of making things smaller and smaller. They have done it again with the Mac Mini. They also have a history of making things pretty expensive. This time, the tradition does not continue. Instead of a large tower desktop, the Mac Mini is the size of a small lunchbox, and yet manages to pack everything you need into it, without any frills or bells and wh...

The Motorola V190 is not a snazzy phone. It does not try to be. Unlike the Razr, Krazr, or Pebl (all also by Motorola), the V190 does not aim to be the next big phone. What it does aim for is to be a great all-around phone with good reception, internet capabilities, and some added bonus features for a lot less than its more chic cousins. The V190 is small, but not so much that it interferes wit...

So, you love burgers and barbecued chicken, but it's freezing outside because it's December. It's too cold to grill, right? Well, with the George Foreman Grill, you can grill indoors, quickly and with little to no hassle. This grill is perfect for those who live in places where a regular grill can't fit (apartment, dorm room), or in places where it gets too cold to gri...

I bought this in June after playing guitar for four years and mandolin for one, I figured I'd give the banjo a shot. I found it very easy to play, and with no defects like buzzing frets or loose tuners that seem to plague the imported brands of instruments. The Gold Tones are actually assembled in the US, although the parts are made overseas, and mine was set up at the factory in Florida. S...

This is my third guitar, and it is by far my favorite. Like many other Martins, it has a rich bass sound, and the construction is impeccable. The fretboard is easy to play and has no buzzing. The guitar itself has a great sound, perfect for anyone who uses an acoustic guitar for acoustic accompaniment or with a band. The electronics are Fishman, with both a pickup and a microphone in the soundh...

The Old Crow Medicine Show is a new string band in the old-time tradition. Their eponymous debut wowed many critics, and their song "Wagon Wheel" became a minor underground hit. Their sophomore effort, Big Iron World, lives up to expectations as a sometimes slow, sometimes up beat, but always fun and powerful album. A slight departure from their traditionalist debut, the quintet ventu...

Philosophy can be a pretty daunting topic, especially for those without a PH.D. This book helps alleviate some of the anxiety surrounding the field by putting complex philosophical theories in terms of jokes. Each concept is explained well enough so that the reader can understand it, but it does not going into dizzying detail. And scattered throughout the book are jokes to help the reader bette...

In this recipe book, author Fred Thompson (not the candidate!) searches for the best of that quintessential american cuisine: the barbeque. Far from being a gourmet affair, his book offers delicious recipes that anyone with a grill can make, an idea that has somehow been excluded from many barbeque cookbooks. All the recipes he makes utilize ingredients that anyone can find, and the thorough in...

With their debut, Revival, Gillian Welch and her partner and husband David Rawlings have created a great addition to the Americana genre. Her clear voice glides over every word and note, giving meaning to every one. Meanwhile, his guitar provides a great background for her lyrics and melodies. When in harmony, their voices combine to remember the old mountain gospel sound. While many of the son...

For many people, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" was their first exposure to bluegrass music. And featured prominently on the soundtrack are the Stanley Brothers. Dr. Ralph Stanley has been known around bluegrass circles for years as a pioneering banjo player, and Carter Stanley as a songwriter and one of the first voices of bluegrass. This album is a compilation of over 20 tracks that t...