Teva Mush Flip-flops

I hadn’t written anything to my review blog in awhile and I thought it was high time I did; but what to write about? What had I put through enough use to have a worthwhile opinion about? As I spun around in my chair, looking around my music room/den I happened to glance down at what was on me feet. My favorite around-the-house kicks; my Teva Mush Flip-flops. The ones on my feet are actually my second pair. After truckin’ around in my last pair for about 3 or 4 years the mush was quite mushed and it was time for some new ones. Three to four years for a pair of flip-flops sounds pretty good to me, and I wore mine pretty much everyday. Like I said though, just around the house. The soles on these feel kinda airy-foamy-plasticy so I don’t know how long they’d last rompin’ around out there in the real world. I think they got more foot time in the house though, rather than had I wore them solely outdoors (we don’t wear shoes in our house).

How I happened to buy my first pair was because since I do 95% of all the cooking in our house, and since we don’t wear shoes indoors, my feet were starting to hurt standing all that time on our hard, cold, kitchen floor. I didn’t want traditional moccasin or clog like house slippers because my feet always seemed to get sweaty in those; yuck. So flip-flops seemed like a logical choice and I was able to score a pair of Teva Mush’s at a discount on REI’s outlet site.

Like Teva’s product page says the Mush name comes from these flip-flop’s ultra comfy foot bed that will mold to the unique shape of your foot. After a month or so of breakin’ in these bad boys you’ll see the shape of your foot becoming permanently imprinted in the cushioning. These flip-flops are nice and lightweight, which I think lends them to indoor use. In the past I’ve tried more outdoor inspired flip-flops and they tend to seem a lot heavier, due to their more rugged soles. So either the thong straps would dig in to my feet or I’d have to be careful how I walked else one of them could become a projectile .

If I were to to have one gripe I guess it would be the sole. Only so far as to I wish the feel of it would inspire a little more robustness so that I wouldn’t be afraid of shredding it up walking down a gravel road or that accidentally stepping on broken glass wouldn’t necessarily mean a trip to the doctor’s office. But all in all I’m fine with confining these foot treasures to the safety of the indoors because they are oh so good to me.

Conclusion: Thumbs Up

Ryobi Corded Drill/Driver

Muahahahaha power tools!

Back in May when we were going through the home buying process I had visions of all the projects I’d have to do around the house. Having to install this, hang that, and assemble such-n-such. “What a perfect excuse to get a new drill!” I thought. Besides, the rechargeable batteries for my cordless screwdriver had gone out on me; very sad. The idea of rechargeable batteries and power tools never really sat well with me in the first place. Call me old school. Gimme old fashioned electricity and a 100 foot extension cord please. I don’t want to run out of juice halfway through a project. Plus forget about the cost of replacing the batteries once they go bad. Unfortunately most drills that can do dual duty as a screwdriver are of the cordless type.

…I said most. What you see here is the Ryobi Corded Variable Speed Clutch Drill/Driver. Whew, quite a long name. Well that’s only because it’s got lots of features for traditional corded unit. At the time that I purchased mine it was billed as the only unit of its kind. I won’t go too in depth on it…it’s not like it’s rocket science. If your favorite cordless drill/driver and favorite corded drill had a kid, this is what’d it’d look like. The variable clutch (torque) is what allows this corded drill to do dual duty as a screwdriver, allowing you to dial down the torque so you don’t snap the heads off your screws. At a regular retail price of $40 this thing is a steal (Home Depot) considering the feautres. Even better I got mine on sale for $30. It comes in it’s own storage case and two driver bits. Sure, it may not have the burly image of a DeWalt or the fancy/schmancy image of a BOSCH power tool, but with its more than reasonable price tag and only another $4.99 for the 2 year extended warranty through Home Depot who cares? For the average DIY-er this Ryobi is plenty of unit for most of your home project needs. With the money you save on initial purchase and on going costs (no replacing/extra batteries) you can go buy yourself that nice 100ft extension cord.

Conclusion: Highly Thumbed Up

Rustoleum’s American Accents Paint

I came upon Rustoleum’s American Accents paint while at Lowe’s a few weeks ago. My Dad graciously gave Sherine and I his old solid oak, four drawer, vertical file cabinet. It was in terrific shape, the only problem was it was “oak” colored (imagine that). No problem, sand, prime, and paint it. What color? Why…like Mick Jagger said; “Paint it black,” of course. It’d blend in with the rest of our decor perfectly.

Well, I’ll tell ya right now. Avoid this stuff. When I was talking to the woman at the paint counter I asked if they had cans of premixed black paint; figured it be basic enough. At first she said no, but that she could mix up some of their Valspar brand for me no problem. After some chit chat about basic techniques to refinishing furniture she remembered they did have this Rustoleum product down by they spray paint. Now, I’ve used Valspar paint before for the accent wall in my computer/den/music room; seemed like descent stuff. But I thought I’d check out this premixed stuff. The price for a quart of the premixed Rustoleum and a quart of a custom mixed Valspar were about the same. I decided to opt for the convenience and grabbed a can of premixed stuff.

What didn’t I like about the Rustoleum American Accents paint? It’s thin…thin, thin, thin. I know I was covering white primer but still. Even after 2 coats I was contemplating a 3rd. It was almost like black water….like if non-fat milk were black…that’s what this paint is like.

As thin as this paint is it’s durability is slim to none. While putting the drawers back in the cabinet I lightly struck the bottom of one of the drawers on the frame, so lightly I didn’t feel it, but I must have because low and behold a chip in the paint appeared. Ridiculous.

To tell you the truth I was pretty disappointed with this product. With a brand name like Rustoleum I expected more. American Accents comes in a handful of other colors than black, but learn from my experience and steer clear. Good things to those who wait…and have a custom can mixed for them.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a paint chip to go fix.

Conclusion: Not Recommended

Quickrete Wet Look High Gloss Sealer

With 360 sq/ft of unspoiled garage floor I was eager to seal it from water and DIY oil change stains. It would be my first time sealing a garage floor. A little research and you quickly discover the plethora of options for protecting your garage floor. In my case I wasn’t looking for any fancy or decorative floor protection. Time and money would play key factors in what solution I would choose.

After what seemed like sufficient due diligence I opted to give Quickrete Wet Look High Gloss Sealer a go. What attracted me to this product was that it was the only one that did not specifically state in its instructions that I had to clean my garage floor with a special concrete cleaner and/or etch prior to applying it. Translated; less time and less money. All it asked is that the surface be clean; free of loose dirt, etc. I accomplished this with a garden hose and stiff bristled shop broom.

Once the floor was dry, I used a paint roller and specific concrete roller pad to apply it. Out of the jug the sealer looks like non-fat milk and goes on with ease. It dries clear and dry time is short. With a warm enough morning you could start early and be able to park on your newly sealed garage floor by the same night.

Coverage per gallon will vary based on the porousness of your surface. Most garage floors are finished (smooth) and I was able to get two coats on my 360 sq/ft two car garage from a single gallon jug of sealant.

As for long term durability of the sealant we’ll have to wait and see. Inside of a garage, protected from the elements, I have a feeling it will last many, many years. I probably could have gotten away with just a single coat and been fine, but since I had enough left in my jug after the first coat I decided to go for another. Why not double it up? Maybe it’ll last longer? My garage floor now looks like the floors in Lowes, Home Depot, and Costco; but perhaps with a little more shine.

This Quickrete sealer met my requirements for cost, of both time and money, and the results have so far exceeded my expectations. If you’re looking for an inexpensive and easy way to keep stains off of your concrete I’d definitely recommend this product to you.

Conclusion: Highly Thumbed Up

Canon PowerShot Digital Cameras

This review is a little different because it’s not about a single product, but a whole product line; the Canon PowerShot line of digital cameras. As a photographer I get solicited for my advice quite often by friends and co-workers on what kind of digital camera to buy. Typically, they’re looking for a smaller “point & shoot” style cameras for vacations and whatnot; with budgets around $400 and less. I own such a camera, a Canon PowerShot A620.

In the past I’d usually ask what you intend to use the camera for primarily, and then find a handful of models from Canon, Nikon, and Fuji that I thought would best fit your needs. Then I’d leave it up to you to make your final decision on which to buy. Now, I’ll make it easier on you. If you were to ask me what kind of P&S digital camera you should get I’m going to recommend to you that you look at the cameras in the Canon PowerShot line. Is it because I’m Canon loyal? No, in fact my D-SLR is a Nikon. Just through my own experience with smaller digital cameras, and the feedback I’ve gotten from other’s I’ve recommended Canon PowerShots to, as well as other family members and friends who own them, Canon PowerShots are just that good. I personally have owned a Canon PowerShot A400, but have since sold it and upgraded to an A620. The combination of price, features, ease of use, and consistent quality is just unbeatable.

There are a number of different models to choose from in the Canon PowerShot series. It could be a little overwhelming just starting out. I’ll give you a quick rundown of the product line differences to help you narrow your search a bit further.

SD Series: These are the most “pocketable” of the PowerShot line. If size matters (smaller = good) then this is where you want to look. These are great for carrying in your purse or pocket for a night out with friends, or the quick shot in front of that one fountain, in that one park, in that one city. Zoom ranges for the SD cameras is usually 3x. With the lack of bulk, you’ll be giving up some manual controls on the camera. The cameras in the SD line are truly your “point and shoot” type cameras. If you’re looking for a camera you can eventually learn some photographic technique with, cameras in the SD line are probably not right for you.

A Series: The PowerShot “A” cameras are larger than the SD cameras, but could still be operated with one hand. Where with the SD cameras you’re paying for their convenient size, the A series you’re paying for availability of features. You’ll find the availability of a lot more manual controls on models in this line. Zoom ranges in the A series range from 3x to 6x. Some A series cameras still sport a viewfinder if you want to save batteries by not using the LCD. Speaking of LCDs, some A series are equipped with neat “Vari-Angle” LCDs. With such equipped models the LCD can be turned, twisted, and flipped for viewing at awkward angles or for protection when you’re not using the camera. I found this feature extremely handy while in Europe. My vantage point at Buckingham Palace during the Changing of the Guard was not that great, but with the Vari-Angle LCD I could reach out and see around the gate pillar that blocked my view and still capture some of the ceremony. I wouldn’t call most of the cameras in the A series “pocketable”. You’ll probably want a small camera bag to carry one around in. Some cameras in this line also allow for the addition of accessories like the use of filters, or wide and telephoto lenses. If you want a camera that you will allow you to explore with a little more creative control I highly recommend you check out the PowerShot A series.

G Series: Cameras in the G series are like….souped up A series cameras. The G models sport even more manual controls allowing you to learn and explore with more creative control. Unlike the SD or A lines….there’s only one G model. At the time I’m writing this the current G is the G7. Yes, I do remember the G1. These little guys are awe inspiring with their slough of controls and capabilities. One unique feature of the G cameras is that it can accept a hotshoe flash.

S Series: If you want D-SLR-ish capability without the bulk of carrying multiple lenses around with you the S series is it. Like the G series, there is only one S model at a time. The S models are equipped with higher mega pixel sensors than its brethren, and pack with them an impressive optical zoom range; presently 12x! Of course as we progress through these models, and add features like 12x optical zoom, the cameras are increasing in size. So the S is gonna be the bulkiest PowerShot, but still quite a bit smaller than packing a D-SLR around, and you’re getting a lot more features than the SD cameras.

TX Series: This is Canon’s newest PowerShot line. Currently there’s only one model, the TX1. It’s a model that brings digital photography and high definition digital video in to one device. I’ve never used one, and don’t know anyone who has. However with Canon’s reputation for compact digital cameras I’m sure it’s one sweet little device. If a unit with both photo and high quality video capabilities sounds like something that fits your needs I’d suggest checking it out.

Conclusion: Highly Thumbed Up

Black Box Wine: 2005 California Pinot Grigio

Years ago boxed wine in the United States was held in the same regard as asbestos. I specify “in the United States” because I once had an Australian exchange student in one of my business classes at Oregon State and the professor made crack about boxed wine and the Australian student was like “…well…in Australia box wine is quite good.” Just goes to show how relatively young American wine culture is. Nowadays wine consumers are getting more savvy with what today’s technology can bring to the old world craft of wine making; especially on the consumer’s end. The technological wonder that is the box solves two huge issues for keeping wine; cork taint, and light.

The growing acceptance of boxed wine can be seen in your grocer’s wine section. If you haven’t specifically looked for box wine in awhile I bet you’ll be surprised at the number of choices beyond Franzia. I’ve gone through a couple of boxes of Black Box 2005 California Pinot Grigio and I must say I’m very pleased. I chose Black Box because their packaging shows off that their boxed wines have won awards. So someone more educated about wine than me thought they were “good enough” and that works for me. Each box contains four normal (750ml) bottles of wine for about the cost of two descent bottles. The box contraption perseveres the wine for up to a month, and all the packaging is 100% recyclable. A box of Black Box retails for about $24 at Safeway, but if you live near a WinCo you can snag one for under $18. So for more wino for your buck-o, check out Black Box wines. Other Black Box varieties include Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Conclusion: Highly Thumbed Up

Ultrasone HFI-700 DVD Headphones

I’m a HUGE fan of German products; BMW, BOSCH, etc. When I was looking for a more “serious” pair of headphones I was delighted to discover Ultrasone. I stumbled across a great deal on a pair of Ultrasone HFI-700 headphones in a “special edition” DVD set…which basically meant they came with an extension cable that would allow you to sit further away from your (presumably large) TV and still use your headphones. The HFI-700’s are a fully closed, circumaural headphone. They isolate the listener from outside noise fairly well; the pads are covered in real leather, and it doesn’t take much volume to fill the earcups to drown out whatever other ambient noise there may be. Their sound quality is quite good and the 700’s require less power to drive than the HFI-600’s which is good if you plan to use them with portable devices like mp3 players. Here’s a heads-up though. The special edition DVD version of the HFI-700 comes with a 1/4″ (the larger) plug and a step down adapter to 1/8″ (used on most portable music devices). The Ultrasone site says the HFI-700 comes the other way around, with an adapter from 1/8″ to 1/4″. Ultrasone probably assumes that with the DVD set you’re using it to watch movies and you have a component audio system which typically sport 1/4″ headphone jacks. So if you want the HFI-700s for use primarily with portable music devices, opt for the non-DVD version.

How do they compare to to my KOSS Porta Pros? Well, it’s not an entirely fair question because the KOSS are semi-open and supra-aural, but if I had to guess what the PortaPros would sound like if they were fully closed I’d bet I’d have a hard time telling the difference…even though the HFI-700’s MSRP is nearly 5x that of the PortaPros.

One gripe I do have about the Ultrasones is a little bit of poor design in the headband. On each side, from the side of the headpad down to the folding joint of the ear cup there’s a cosmetic, plastic sleeve that covers the metal band. I found that if you’re not careful with spreading the phones to put on your head you can put too much stress on screws that hold that cosmetic shroud and it’ll start to crack. Mine ended up totally separating from the screws on both sides and I ended up just cutting them off. If I had paid full retail (heh, yeah right) I probably would have winced a lot more having to do that to such an nice set of ‘phones.

Overall, even though I had to perform minor surgery on the headband I often catch myself smiling when I have these on my ears. Soon after I got these I spent 5 hours straight with them on and barely noticed it. But I can also say the same for my PortaPros which cost a lot less. I’ve owned my Ultrasone HFI-700s for nearly two years now and looking back if I wanted to get closed, circumaural ‘phones I’d look closer at a KOSS product or possibly AKG. For me, the aural thrill wasn’t worth the bills; even at only 52% of MSRP. Which is what I paid; new

Conclusion: Thumbs Up-ish

KOSS Porta Pro Headphones

For a music lover like me, I consider having a nice pair of headphones to be one of life’s simple pleasures. I’ve owned my KOSS Porta Pro headphones for a couple years now. These are great not only because of their amazing sound but their price point makes them a great value. They are a semi-open phone so you can still hear what’s going on around you while you’re rockin’ out. This can be good or bad depending on your application. Add a limited life time warranty and what’s left to ask for? Yeah, their design may look a little dated (they did originate in the 80’s) but if you’re like me, there are somethings that you buy for their functionality and looks are secondary. I buy headphones for sound, not style. The fact that this model has been around for over 20 years indicates that KOSS created something special.

Conclusion: Highly Thumbed Up