Power to the People! : Russian Strength Training Secrets for Every American
by Pavel Tsatsouline
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 December, 1999)
list price: $34.95 -- our price: $23.07
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Reviews (97)

This is the real deal- ignore the negatives!
I am a veteran of the US Army and have been exposed to practically every training theory there is... (hey, it get's boring out there).Every single thing this man says is 100% accurate.Every principle is backed by detailed references that any fool can check.I have been training with weights for over 15 years and I am stonger and more ripped at 39 than ever- thanks to PAVEL.(Just ask my muscle head friends.)His formula is simple:hi tension = dense (ie STRONGER) muscle.Simple.I am the ultimate sceptic- you want me to beleive something?Prove it.Pavel did and the only reason I am writing this is because I have read some ridiculous, and totally incorrect, negative reviews here.

Trust me now- thank me later.

Very good book.
This book is a very good book that brings you back to the basics. If you are training to become a bodybuilder than this book is not for you.It is a book on how to develop strength (no size).It goes over very good training methods like cycling your training so that you do not burn out your cns system (talks about 6 week power cycles and wave loading). Wave loading is something many top powerlifters use.Also he talks about keeping the body as tight as possible. Someone early mentioned this is dangerous but that is not true. There is no science saying that this would be dangerous. There is actually science that would support this. By keeping everything tight and lifting the way Pavel describes you will not only be able to lift a bit more but it will be safer. As for looking up when you dead lift i have never heard of injuries occuring from this.Looking up about 8 feet ahead actually helps with lifting. For many people it helps them keep there back straight.

This is not the only way to lift.I would suggest reading this as well as books by charles staley, Dinasaur Training by Brooks D. Kubik (probably one of the best books i've ever read on strength training http://brookskubik.com/), articles on t-nation and bodybuilding.com about westside barbell training, and the e-book on combatgrappler.com (it's based on training strength to make you a better grappler but it will make anybody who follows it very strong.

Pure Power
Reading this book blew me away! I have "weight trained" for over 15 years. The information in this book was a slap in the face wake up call. Pavel is the man, period. Instant strength gains beyond my wildest dreams. Anything by Pavel is like money in the bank! As long as you apply the info you can't go wrong. I regularly toss around a 72lbs. kettlebell like a rag-doll thanks to Pavel. If you want fitness with horsepower, you know who to ask.....Pavel Tsatsouline! ... Read more

Isbn: 0938045199
Sales Rank: 5938
Subjects:  1. Bodybuilding & Weight Training    2. Diet / Health / Fitness    3. Exercise    4. Health & Fitness    5. Health & Fitness / Exercise    6. Health/Fitness    7. Muscle strength    8. Physical education and trainin    9. Physical fitness   

Magick Without Tears
by Aleister Crowley
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 April, 1991)
list price: $19.95 -- our price: $19.95
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Reviews (24)

No tears but plenty of wit and snark
Magick without Tears is a compendium of Aleister Crowley's thoughts on magic, both practical and theoretical.Written fairly late in his life, the book is composed in the form of short letters on various topics, laid out in a more or less logical, cumulative way.However, it is the sort of books that lends itself well to dipping in at will.

Crowley is engaging, lucid, funny, sensible in writing on all sorts of aspects of magical practice, especially as pertaining to his own magical philosophy of Thelema and the organization which has propagated it, the O.T.O. (www.oto-usa.org) He has a large vocabulary and a large fund of Scriptural references, thanks to his very strict Protestant sectarian upbringing. He is at times deliberately shocking and often infuriating, but perhaps less so here than in other works. If you are interested in the history or practice of magic and occultism, especially in the last century, you cannot afford to skip over Crowley, and Magick without Tears is one of his most accessible books.

Underappreciated collection of Crowley's correspondence.
First things first: "Cara Soror" means "Dear Sister"; "Cara" is referred to in other reviews as a single individual student but this is a misinterpretation of the text.

Magick Without Tears is filled with gems of wisdom and philosophy, arranged very topically and with a useful index. Crowley uses plain language in the letters although the book does require concentration and more than one reading to absorb much of the content; this is not fluff reading for the beach! His writing style is informal, charming and humorous in some areas and vitriolic in others, especially when confronting lazy or muddled thinking in his students. Pomposity is kept to a minimum and the conversational tone makes The Great Beast seem almost approachable.

Crowley covers a host of topics, from vampires to overcoming one's fears of astral travel to geomancy, womanhood, false "teachers" and other subjects.

It's assumed that readers will have more than a passing familiarity with the points he discusses and occultism in general, and part of the book's appeal is that it answers questions that serious students will already have arrived at on their own. Crowley's insights are certainly illuminating since they spring from a lifetime of experience. To his credit, he advocates critical thinking and skepticism in his students and leaves some blanks for readers to fill in; practical information is freely given to a point, after which it's up to you! Much can be inferred from his silence on certain points also, which is why this book needs careful reading if you want to get the most out of it. Don't let the conversational tone fool you; this book is a serious work with plenty of information there for the taking.

Crowley Without Tears
Perhaps the most difficult aspect of Crowley's writings until the early 1930s is that he -- in a word -- can be pompous as hell.Pompousity looks great in major works of philosophy but it's impossible to read.By the time he got to writing this work and The Book of Thoth he had mellowed tremendously.This gives both volumes a much more readable style than magni opi such as Liber 418.

Magick Without Tears contains a number of gems to augment the student's study of more serious works.You won't learn everything you need to know about how to practice Thelemic magick from this book.What you will learn is explanations on issues from the difference between white, black and grey magick; what the formula "0=2" means and how we get there; and how in the world one is supposed to study magick and hold down a job at the same time.

This is a suppliment for the student, not a primary text.Take this approach and you'll be rewarded.
... Read more

Isbn: 1561840181
Sales Rank: 112484
Subjects:  1. Magic    2. Magick Studies    3. New Age / Parapsychology    4. Occultism    5. Philosophy    6. Spiritualism   

Requiem for a Dream
by Hubert Selby Jr.
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (15 August, 2000)
list price: $14.95 -- our price: $10.17
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Reviews (70)

Loving the Unlovable
There are books you will read in life that forever change you. Requiem was one such book. In the forward, Richard Price says that this book will make you love the unlovable. He was correct. The four characters are people who will carry with you forever. They are loveable, despite their addictive nature. True this book is about the danger of addiction, but it is also about theb danger of the American Dream. I have never read a book that has conveyed this idea so brillantly. It is a cautionary tale, as the author says in the preface, "I do not think there will ever be a requiem for the dream, simply because it will destroy us before we have a chance to morn its passing." The American Dream has no doubt claimed many lives, but the only other character I can ever remember being taken by the dream is Jay Gatsby. Requiem changed that, this is a book that will make you cry. It will destroy all hope you may have had for the character. But there is a tiny, green light. It is the humanity within us, as Darren Affronsky wrote. This book will show you the dark side of the American Dream, the lengths people will go to to have the white pickett fence. This book is not only unfogettable, it is necessary. It is necessary because it does not portray drug addicts and junkies, or women forced onto diet pills or into prostitution. It portrays people.

Unconventionally Great
Ever since I first read The Demon I have been hooked on Hubert Selby Jr. His style and unique ability to tap into the dark side of humanity is unbelievable. He has this strange talent at making you care for every single character, whether or not they are criminals, murderers, or just trapped souls. Hubert Selby Jr. will no doubt go down as one of the greatest American writers ever.

This story revolves around the lives of four people, all of which become entangled in addiction. Harry, Marion and Tyrone are three druggie friends living the dream of the 70's who come across a way to get lots of cash through drug dealing. They plan on copping and cutting heroine then selling at high price to prime buyers in order to start up a coffee shop.

Sara Goldfarb, Harry's mother, receives a call from a man who says she has been picked to be on television. Her whole life mainly revolves around the TV so she is more than just excited. But, the dress she wants to wear doesn't fit her any more. So, she gets prescribed diet pills and becomes addicted for she is unaware that they are actually speed pills.

Selby's characterization is probably the best you'll ever see. He makes each character somehow familiar to you after only a chapter. Each one of the four main characters has a unique personality, different dialect, and a different dream. Sara Goldfarb, for instance, is one of the most colorful and interesting characters I've ever come across. She is somewhat estranged, not knowing exactly what is going on all of the time and also having strange conversations with her arch nemesis: the refrigerator. But, she is also charming, as each person she encounters comes to enjoy her company, as does the reader.

The fact of the matter is, Selby makes you care about the people in this book. You feel the strangest empathy for them and share their feelings and anguish. But, just when the book is at a high point, it becomes cold and bitter. The characters start to decay inside and so do you. Everything you'd want to happen to these people does, but at a very high price. It was so devastating at the end that I nearly broke down and cried. For there was no end in these people's lives. The brutal truth is that there would be no end for them. They would have to continue on their downward spiral in the current situation. This bitter and original twist makes this book all the more enjoyable to read.

Although most people won't be able to stand Selby's graphically descriptive style, most will tolerate it. And, Selby has this different style of writing that might get confusing for some. He doesn't punctuate correctly, not using quotes for the speaking parts which gets confusing as to who is currently talking. Most will think him lazy. But I simply think of him as brilliant, as will most. Because he doesn't need to use the proper writing format to get his point across. So, though most will be somewhat disgusted by the outcome of the book, it is a very unique reading experience indeed. In the end, would I recommend that people buy this book? If you're the type of unconventional reader I am, I would say yes, pick up a copy. In addition to this book, let me recommend another great new title I picked up off Amazon called "The Losers' Club: Complete Restored Edition" by Richard Perez, a very special book, both funny and sad - one I can't stop thinking about.

Great Movie, Outstanding book
When I first saw Requiem For A Dream I absolutely loved it. Only later did I learn it was based on a book, and I had to read it. I found myself in a conundrum. I could not put the book down because it was so excellent yet I attempted to read slower because I didn't want it to end. Selby had a refreshingly different style, omitting quotation marks and letting descriptions go on and on for ages. Requiem For a Dream will grab you, hold you close, shake the hell out of you unforgivingly and then let go without warning. Beautiful and haunting. ... Read more

Isbn: 1560252480
Sales Rank: 43894
Subjects:  1. Coney Island (New York, N.Y.)    2. Drug abuse    3. Drug addicts    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - General    6. General    7. Literary    8. Mothers and sons    9. Selby, Hubert - Prose & Criticism    10. Fiction/Literature   

The Russian Kettlebell Challenge
by Pavel Tsatsouline
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 June, 2001)
list price: $34.95 -- our price: $23.07
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Reviews (43)

Well written, clear instructions that are easy to follow
Pro:Good illustrations; background on the nature of kettlebell sports; inclusion of light-duty and heavy-duty regimens depending on what you want to get out of effort; inclusion of routines by his friends and by professional kettlebell lifters.

Con:Sometimes the pictures/instructions included are more detailed than needed but then some other times they fall a little short, making it difficult to tell how exactly it should look or feel.

I would think that the dvd along with the book would be the perfect combination.The book gives all the background and detail and I would like to think that the dvd with him doing exercises would be ideal for the proper demonstration and perhaps, maybe even a timed workout that you could do with him.I don't have the dvd because I think it is overpriced and so I am not sure how close my assumptions are to reality.

Excellent.
Most of the positive reviews are right on the mark. In fact, only one reallllllly misses the point, and that is the review by Mohamed F. El-Hewie, which is so inconherent and asnine that it's laughable. Anyway, read this book if you are interested in strength endurance and gaining strength without "bulking up". Perfect for military personnel.

Pavel's not for ballerinas or idiots
There have been some very negative reviews written about this book, and they simply amaze me. Not only is the kettlebell a very effective strength and endurance tool, it's also a great way to develope incredible coordination and grip power. It's something to be respected, and so is the man who has brought the knowledge of a so-called "obsolete" sport to the American fitness forefront. (Kettlebelling is not obsolete... it's still very popular in Russia... American ignorance rocks!)

Don't be kidded- the kettlebell is hardcore, and the ability to use one effectively is an art that requires a lot of dedication, practice, pain tollerance, and a mind wired to your body's natural movement patterns and muscular abilities. If you're not 100% aware of your body in relation to an accelerating kettlebell, you will be hurt- either muscularly or kinetically- by taking a jaw or skull shot. I only got cocky with my snatch form once... and taking a 16kg fist to the dome humbled me greatly.

The fact is this is a GREAT book, very informative, and amusing. The best thing about Mr. Tsatsouline is that he takes the edge off of fitness rhetoric, explains the history, focuses on the mechanics, and gives amazing advice and instruction on a seemingly simple idea: pick up heavy weight, lower heavy weight, repeat until you puke. Again: this is hardcore and barbaric. But I have never seen a fat or weak barbarian. But I have met many "bodybuilders" with permanent ligament, tendon, and overuse injuries do to over-hypertrophic mania- and most of those injuries come from single-axis machines. You know, the Nautilus crap that 24 hour Fitness and Curves tries to sell their customers on.

And the negative views on the amount of advertising... I'm an NSCA Certified Personal Trainer with 5 years of hard experience, certified massage therapist, registered dietician, and an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. I'm not saying this to be a braggart, I'm stating this as an expression of my familiarity with kinesiology. Look it up. I own every book and piece of equipment Mr. Tsatsouline has given to the public- and I stand by every single bit of advice the man has ever given to the public. I say "given," because at $30, his books are a gift. Some people pay upwards of $2,000 a session for the amount of wisdom Mr. Tsatsouline conveys in each and every one of his books. My clients pay upwards of $75 an hour for theories based not on any textbook, but on the instinctual wisdom I inherited from Mr. Tsatsouline. I have never had a client injury. NEVER. His philosophies are essentially the Bible of strength training. Safely.

There are negative comments about the girth of this manual, not to mention the font size... give me a break. Pavel is not a moron- this is the land of BIGGER is better. How could you expect to take a 30 page book seriously? Afterall, Arnold's book of bodybuilding is nearly 600ish... no offense to Arnold, but if you need that much of an explaination of exercises- hire a trainer... and then there's a comment posted taking into literal account of Pavel's joke on Soviet Russian society. It's about pickle juice, vodka, and kettlebells. It's a joke to convey the seriousness of the kettlebell sport in his home culture: no matter what, if you're a strong and powerful man- you lift- no matter WHAT. No excuses.

If you need your hand held, get a membership to Curves. If you're a bed-wetter, wear a bicycle helmet during your snatches. If you're a ballerina, put on your tu-tu and check your makeup in the mirror. If you're an idiot, write a negative review.

If you're strong, dedicated, focused, tired of spending time next to the same sweaty ape clone giving the same stupid advice about Nautilus machines, and desiring the best possible puke-inducing efficient workout- buy this book. And buy a kettlebell.

You'll never be stronger or more ripped. And another thing: when choosing a personal trainer, ask for their credentials. ... Read more

Isbn: 0938045326
Sales Rank: 52749
Subjects:  1. Bodybuilding & Weight Training    2. Diet / Health / Fitness    3. Exercise    4. Health & Fitness    5. Health & Fitness / Exercise    6. Health/Fitness    7. Muscle strength    8. Physical education and training    9. Physical fitness   

Vertigo (Collector's Edition)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Average Customer Review:
DVD (02 September, 2003)
list price: $19.98 -- our price: $14.99
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Editorial Review

Although it wasn't a box-office success when originally released in 1958, Vertigo has since taken its deserved place as Alfred Hitchcock's greatest, most spellbinding, most deeply personal achievement. In fact, it consistently ranks among the top 10 movies ever made in the once-a-decade Sight & Sound international critics poll, placing at number 4 in the most recent survey. (Universal Pictures' spectacularly gorgeous 1996 restoration and rerelease of this 1958 Paramount production was a tremendous success with the public, too.) James Stewart plays a retired police detective who is hired by an old friend to follow his wife (a superb Kim Novak, in what becomes a double role), whom he suspects of being possessed by the spirit of a dead madwoman. The detective and the disturbed woman fall ("fall" is indeed the operative word) in love and...well, to give away any more of the story would be criminal. Shot around San Francisco (the Golden Gate Bridge and the Palace of the Legion of Honor are significant locations) and elsewhere in Northern California (the redwoods, Mission San Juan Batista) in rapturous Technicolor, Vertigo is as lovely as it is haunting. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Widescreen
• Dolby

Reviews (266)

Rating for dvd not movie
I actually just saw this for the first time, and I enjoyed the film very much.It gets a 4.5 from me.The disc on the other hand is a different matter.I only watched it on a mono TV so I can't really comment on the sound.It did sound very clear to me though, and the score was fantastic.However, I couldn't help but notice that the "superbly restored picture" was extremely murky, or flat even, at certain parts of the film. If this was an all out restoration than why was there still artifacting and film grain present?I'm sorry, but the video quality, although good, could certainly be improved on.This film needs a new release with better picture, and more special features.It would be great if a company like Criterion could get a hold of it.

Hypontic, Spellbinding, Great!
In Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo, James Stewart plays an ex-detective who is hired by an old friend to follow his wife.His friend feels that a force, possibly supernatural, is affecting his spouse's behavior.So Stewart's character, "Scotty" Ferguson, agrees to follow her and find out what she's up to.In doing so, he falls in love with her, but she eventually committs suicide, or does she?That's where the story gets really interesting, as Hitchcock leads the audience through another story of mystery and romance.This time, the setting is San Francisco, and it has never looked more stunning than it does in this picture.Stewart gives another fine, balanced performance, and Kim Novak does just as well with her dual role as Madeline Elster/Judy Barton.Most of the dialogue in the story is between Stewart and Novak, but even so, the story has plenty of twists and turns, accompanied by a very moving musical score by Bernard Hermann.His work here, in my opinion, represents his best effort to influence the mood of a film.Of course, the way that Hitchcock melds it all together (the story, the acting, the music, etc.) is a wonder to behold.In the end, Vertigo can easily be considered one of Hitchcock's greatest films (my personal opinion, of course).

Time For This EditionTo Go Back To The Mission Tower
My apologies - and enormous credit - to the restoration team,
but....her hair's still not right!!!

Now, after ten additional years of technological advance,
Madellyn, Judy and Scottie still cry out for a digital makeover.

Even without the obsessive frame-by-frame scrutiny fanatics
such as myself are wont to lavish, the many weird little transfer artifacts,
contrast and gamma shifts, dust motes
and scratches still remain to cumulatively annoy. A full-bore
digital treatment should clean these up completely: smooth out
the all important contrasts and colors, while sharpening - and
softening, when appropriate - those lovely details even better.
Quite simply, there remain far too many inconsistencies for
this wonderful movie to suffer from.

Same goes for the sound.
There are tracks that drop off entirely, background sounds
that are not quite clear enough, inconsistent application of stereo separation.

I humbly suggest that it would not be any violation, but rather
entirely appropriate and an IMMENSE improvement, to edit the last
shot by freezing it a few beats, then fade to black for a few
moments longer before that annoying Paramount logo pops in.
Think that's over the top?Replay the ending a few times and
consider what an impact these tiny changes would have.
Betcha Hitch would agree!

Finally, those "extras".Come on, folks!A more detailed documentary is called for -
wouldn't hurt to actually include
some discussion of the story's symbolism and meaning.And what
about that commentary?Instead of much of the well intentioned
background babblings we get, wouldn't it be swell to have someone
actually address the esthetics and technique of the images and
sounds being presented?

In other words, fans, it's time to take Madellyn back to the mission tower.
You know it's the right thing to do. ... Read more

Asin: 0783226055
Subjects:  1. Feature Film-drama   

Player's Handbook: Core Rulebook I (Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition)
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 August, 2000)
list price: $29.95
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Editorial Review

The Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition Player's Handbook contains allthe rules you need to create characters and begin adventuring with the world'smost popular role-playing game. Newcomers to the game will appreciate thisbook's clear explanations, effective examples, pleasing layout, elegant rules,and brilliant art. It's never been easier to create and role-play a heroic humanranger, cunning elf wizard, or any other fantasy character from the game's 7races and 11 classes.

Old-school players will likewise be pleased, as the outdated AD&D rules systemhas been given a thorough overhaul. Gone are almost all the old restrictions onrace and alignment. Halfling sorcerers, half-orc paladins, dwarf barbarians, andgnome monks are now possible. THACO, negative armor class, funky saving throws,inflated ability scores, heat-based infravision, and just about every otherneedlessly complex rule has been reworked into a faster, more consistent, andmore fun system. Players can choose unique special abilities for theircharacters as they gain levels, which means that even two fighters of the samerace and class can have very different abilities. The end result of all thesechanges is a dynamic game with more customized characters.

Almost every page has some form of new artwork, and the art almost always servesto explain a concept or illustrate a point. The book is filled with examplemontages that help to show the difference between human, half-elf, and elf, orrelative size differences between creatures, or what the various levels of coverand concealment look like. These illustrations make the rules much more clear.The style of the artwork is consistent throughout the book and is a definitedeparture from older editions of AD&D. Instead of the classic medieval artworkof Larry Elmore, the new book has the spiky, leathery, Mad Max-meets-Renaissancelook of the Magic: The Gathering card game.

We would have preferred less radical artistic changes, but we love everythingelse that Wizards of the Coast has done with Dungeons & Dragons. The rules arefast and clear, and the characters--including the new sorcerer class and thereturn of the monk, barbarian, and half-orc--are fabulous. If you're new to theD&D game, then this rule book is the perfect introduction. And if you're anold-school gamer who played D&D back in the day, then welcome to the new era ofD&D. You won't want to go back. --Mike Fehlauer ... Read more

Reviews (389)

3.0 is STILL better than 3.5
I wouldn't listen to anyone that claims the "new and improved" 3.5 is any bit "new and improved".

3.0 is truly the right blend of D&D tradition and sound game mechanics. 3.5 is a pile of garbage house-rules for actual D&D crafted by a new batch of "limited" designer minds.

This book is D&D 3rd edition, no other.

3.5 edition has arived
Woc has done it again. They have released another editon, and it is supearior.Edition 3.5 is very like third (Hence the .5), but realy cleans up the classes and makes things more balanced.This book is good, but the new Players Handbook 3.5 Edition just blows it out of the water.They tweaked all that needed tweeking, and left the good stuff there. Toss your third Edition and go buy 3.5!

The book that starts and runs the game
This book for most people is the only book you will ever need for Dungeons & Dragons. While there are many more accesories expanding the game, This is the ancor, and the only book needed for a player. It includes all of the Races, Classes, Spells, Feats, and Items you need to make and run a Charactor.
The best art of this book is that not only does it list all the things you need to know, it explains in full detail how all things are related to each other. If read like a book, (front to back not just paging for specifics) It spells out what you need, need to do, and how to. You start with the abilities, go into races, classes, and then skills, and items. Finsihing with spells, and feats.
Over all, i would rae this 5, because of what it offers, and its necesity to the game it serves. i recomend you buy it, even if you dont buy it here. ... Read more

Isbn: 0786915501
Subjects:  1. Games    2. Games / Gamebooks / Crosswords    3. Games/Puzzles    4. Role Playing & Fantasy - Dungeons & Dragons    5. Role Playing & Fantasy - General   

Celestron Nexstar 80GT 80mm Go-To Refractor Telescope
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $349.99
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Editorial Review

Celestron’s little NexStar 80GT is a popular scope at an attractive price. It features a short 80mm f/5 optical tube assembly, mated to a single-sided swing arm assembly, tripod, and the motorized computer system. The scope also comes with 25 mm (16X) and 10 mm (40X) eyepieces, a red dot finder, star diagonal for easier viewing, and a basic version of The Sky on CD ROM.

The NexStar handset is your user-friendly guide to more than 4,000 celestial objects.

If you think you’ve seen the optical tube before, you have -- it’s the same Chinese-sourced tube sold by other retailers.The optics are decent at low powers, but as you climb in magnification, the fast f/5 focal ratio optics start showing some aberrations -- there’s false color (purple halos) around brighter objects, and as you get near 100X, image quality starts to break down.The moral: Take it easy on the magnification, and you’ll be OK.Even without pushing it, you can still easily see the rings of Saturn, four moons of Jupiter, and a lot of lunar detail. And aberrrations aside, the little NexStar 80 is a fun low-power rich field telescope.You’re going to have a lot of fun looking at the Pleiades, the Double Cluster in Perseus, the Andromeda galaxy, the Orion Nebula, and dozens of other objects.

The telescope’s Goto system will be instantly familiar to anyone who’s initialized a NexStar (or Meade’s similar Autostar system.)If you haven’t done this before, the scope needs to be told some basic information: the current time, date, location on the planet, etc.Then you center two known stars to the best of your ability.The scope takes over from there, automatically slewing to the desired object, and keeping it in the field of view as the earth rotates.Mostly it works well, but there are a few minor glitches here and there.The battery pack has a loose connector, which is prone to falling off, forcing you to reinitialize (hint: try attaching the pack to the fork arm itself using velcro.)The computer sometimes takes the "long" way around, strangling itself with its own cord.And the unit’s light weight -- only 11 pounds -- won’t break your back, but it’s so light that any accidental bump (easy to do in the dark) will knock the scope out of alignment, forcing another reinitialization.

The hand held controller contains a wealth of information.The 4,000 object database is probably optimistic for such a small scope (you won't be able to actually see all those objects), but it’s a nice touch, and besides, silicon’s cheap, right?In fact, one of the fun things you can do with a scope like this on a rainy day is to do a "fake" initialization indoors (yes, even in the daytime.)Then, just start pushing buttons on the controller and read all about the objects in the sky.

So, in the end, what we have here is a nice telescope that offers good value for the price. No scope in this price range is perfect, of course, but there are few other options in this price range.Meade’s ETX70ATis similar to the NexStar 80GT.If you‘re looking for more light gathering ability, go with an Orion XT6or XT8.If you like the NexStar system but want a more serious telescope, consider saving up for Celestron’s NexStar 5i.--Ed Ting

Pros:

• Light, compact, versatile, and inexpensive
• On-board computer makes finding objects a snap
• Good at low power

Cons:

• Optics only so-so at higher powers
• Cords tend to tangle
• Relatively small aperture (80 mm)

... Read more

Features

• Common sense menu descriptions
• 400mm focal length, with a 3.25-degree wide field of view
• 2 eyepieces (16x and 40x)
• Observe immediately with the computerized auto align feature
• Automatic slewing to over 4,000 celestial objects

Reviews (13)

Very nice telescope
Having shopped around, a lot, and keeping it below $$$, this is a great telescope. The red diode star finder makes zero-ing in on objects a snap! Really! What a neet invention. This telescope is too easy to set up. And the computer control works great too. For the $$$, this IS a very nice product. My ONLY suggestion is to also order a stronger eyepiece than what comes with it. The two that come with this scope dont do it justice. Mars looks great, and with a stronger eyepiece, you can see the dark bloches/spots on Mars. It wont be like the big close-ups from the hubble, but you'll enjoy what you see. And the moon is so clear and close up, you will feel like you can take a walk on it. The tripod is ok, a little flimsy but does its job. A happy purchase...

Wow!Too much telescope for beginners
Bought this as a gift for hubby.We live with 360 degree view from Sierras to Sacto/Mt. Diablo, etc. but found this too much to figure out.Spent hours with little books that glow to find constellations...much easier than waiting for Celestron 80 to "skew" and then haven't a clue where it is or what it's doing. Mom bought it so will spend precious hours doing a techno. but feels overwhelmed.Suggestions?Classes at JC?

Sharp images, poor magnification
I'm a novice as far as telescopes goes. Actually this is my first one. Getting it to work won't take more than 5 minutes (including the unpacking) Assembling it is very straightforward.

For terrestial objects I am very happy with it. I was able to see crisp images of objects more than 20 miles away.

The hand control is also easy to use. It is a battery eater. And be careful, if you leave the battery pack connected, the next day you will realize they are gone.

As far as magnification, I feel a little bit dissapointed. I was able to see Jupiter and 4 of it's moons, also Saturn is visible along it's rings. However the image is so small you'll get a headache after a couple of minutes due to the strain on your eyes. The moon looks great. I was also able to see what I presume was a satellite. It was like a very small lighted dot blinking and moving very fast on the sky for 1 or 2 minutes.

Overall it is a good telescope, but if you are a first timer, don't expect to see the planets as big balloons with all kinds of patterns. ... Read more

Asin: B00004ZD37
Subjects:  1. Telescope (Telescopes)    2. Astronomy    3. Star Gazing (Gaze)    4. Refractor (Refractors)   

The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook
by Martha Stewart Living Magazine
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (10 October, 2000)
list price: $35.00 -- our price: $22.05
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Editorial Review

Avowed Martha Stewart fans--and the rest of us, too--have cause to applaud. The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook, which marks the 10th anniversary of the magazine from which the book takes its name and 1,200 recipes, is a winner. A wide-ranging trove, it tackles with equal aplomb the basics--from fried chicken to apple pie--and "newer" dishes such as Roasted Eggplant and Red Pepper Soup, Veal Stew with Shallots and Wild Mushrooms, and Pistachio Gelato. Both daily cookbook and stylish culinary guide, Living should prove useful to cooks facing the what-should-we-have-for-dinner dilemma and those seeking delicious dishes for entertaining.

The book's 19 chapters cover every dish type. Ranging from hors d'oeuvres to desserts (there are three chapters on sweets, plus candy-making formulas), and including sections devoted to vegetarian main courses, salsas, sauces, and dips, Living's world-spanning dishes are imaginatively conceived and meticulously presented. A few standouts among many include Pappardelle with Osso Buco Sauce, Chunky Vegetable Potpie, and Ginger Pecan Cake. Also at hand are comprehensive ingredient and equipment glossaries; cooking tips and techniques; "101" recipes (basic formulas such as Omelet 101); extensive lists of food and equipment sources; and 32 pages of color photos. Like its parent publication, the book strikes just the right chord for those who want to cook along with Martha. --Arthur Boehm ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Mixed Results from Recipes
I have had mixed results from this cookbook.

For desserts: The white cake is a disaster-much to dry.The apple pie is okay.The chocolate desserts come out better.

For entrees: The cookbook has greater success when the recipes are basic.The risotto is wonderful, very creamy and cheesy.The meatballs came out okay.

I wouldn't recommend purchasing this cookbook for a novice cook.There are often difficult-to-find ingredients or unusual preparations.

Fruitcake Lovers Unite!
I love fruitcake and I have sampled so many recipes that my friends call me Dr. Fruitcake! Martha Stewart's recipe is the greatest! It's more than just fruit and nuts loaded with rum. It has body, and character. No holiday table should be without this recipe and several others featured in this fine book.

James H. McGavran

This Is Not Very Good Cookbook- Too Hard
I prefer the How to Be a Domestic Goddess: Baking and the Art of Comfort Cooking, Betty Crocker's Picture Cookbook, The Low-Carb Comfort Food Cookbook. ... Read more

Isbn: 0609607502
Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Entertaining - General    5. General    6. Reference    7. Tablesetting    8. Cooking / General   

Electric Ladyland
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (22 April, 1997)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $9.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Bursting with ideas and energy, Jimi Hendrix's second album release of 1968 (following Axis: Bold as Love) was a double-LP set that showcased virtually everything the guitar genius had to offer: blistering blues ("Voodoo Chile"), galaxy-patrolling space jams ("1983... A Merman I Should Turn to Be"), psychedelic soul ("Crosstown Traffic"), and skyscraping rock ("Voodoo Child (Slight Return)"). In the midst of all this was even a hit song--Hendrix's remarkable reading of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower," featuring a series of baton-passing guitar solos, all distinct and brilliant. Seemingly diffuse when first released; in hindsight, kaleidoscopically eclectic. --Billy Altman ... Read more

Reviews (199)

This is the masterpiece of masterpieces
Hendrix had few (if any) equals.This was his third official album, and it is quite simply one of the greatest works of art of the last 40 years.If you have little exposure to Hendrix and want to start with material that will dazzle you, move you, thrill you, etc. this is the place to start.

The most noteworthy tracks are in my opinion - Voodoo Chile, Rainy Day Dream Away, 1983 (A merman I should turn to be), Moon turn the tides ...gently gently away, All Along the Watchtower, Burning of the Midnight Lamp, Voodoo Child (slight return), and the title cut Electric Ladyland.

There was a period in my life (1991) where I basically listened to nothing but this album for about 6 months.I still go back to it often and experience the same sense of awe that I had when I first heard it.Despite the fact that I can anticipate every subtlety, I still gape at the beauty every time.May it be so for you as well...Jimi we miss you.

Highly Recommended Hendrix!
"Electric Ladyland", the last Jimi Hendrix Experience album, is usually regarded as the trio's definite masterpiece; and the record do contain some of the greatest and most influental music to come out of the late 1960's. I can't help feeling that Hendrix'use of harmony vocals must have influenced artists like T.Rex, David Bowie and Mott the Hoople. Hendrix' guitar-playing is innovative, and at the same time catchy and melodic. There are many highlights on the album; the best known track on the album is probably their terrific cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" - the ultimate version of that song, which also made it to the top 20 singles-charts. Songs like "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" and "Voodoo Chile" were also single-hits. The intro of "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" is simply great.

Released in 1968 as a double album, the record contains some tracks with extensive playing time. Some of these may appear somewhat too long-drawn-out.

For me the long version of "Voodoo Chile" and "1983" are examples of this.

On the original vinyl version I never really got into "Side C"; so here on the CD version it's nice to be able to hear the tracks in new playing orders. I can recommend to trythe shuffle/random feature. This made recognize the qualities of the more experimental tracks like "Rainy Day" and "1983".

Conclusion: This album is highly recommended for anyone interested in the history of rock music.
 
 

Flawed but great anyway: Hendrix's "Sgt. Pepper"
Much of this album was made on (the then-new technology) 8 track, 12 track and even 16 track machines for the first time..giving Jimi the space to do more with his artistic vision. He's able to layer phased echo effects over the music, overdub replacements for Noel Redding's bass parts when he didn't think they had enough fire, and make mini-"choirs" of his own vocals. It's the first time he acts as his own producer and it becomes at once an advantage (he'll keep going until he gets the sound he wants) and a liability (artists seldom have the discipline to realize when a "jam" runs too long..resulting in the 15 minute "Voodoo Chile". The song should ALWAYS come first, rather than "look at what I can do!" guitar pyrotechnics, economy is always better...put only the parts there that NEED to be there.)

This also was a double album and, as with most of them, there's plenty of filler material. Coming as it did in the wake of the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper", it's easy to view this as Hendrix's artistic reaction to that landmark album.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Kazoo and guitar propel the classic "Crosstown Traffic", a fluid funky bass riff keeps "Gypsy Eyes" on track, the "guitar as harpsichord" tone Hendrix gets on "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" makes it seem like something that slipped through a hole in time. "House Burning Down" is either Jimi's generic reaction to riots..or perhaps inspired by the ones that happened in Newark, NJ in July of 1967. ("Well someone stepped from the crowd/He was 19 miles high/He shouts 'We're tired and disgusted, so we paint red through the sky'/I say 'The truth is straight ahead, so don't burn yourself! Instead, try to learn instead of burn'")"All Along the Watchtower" is absolutely amazing and clearly one of the best rock songs ever performed. It travels from strength to strength culminating in the ecstasy of its bridge at 2:00 that incorporates doubletracking, wah-wah effects, panning, and finally some propulsive rhythm work to take it back to the verse. It's not difficult to see why Dylan began to model his own song on Hendrix's version in live performances after this rendition was unleashed upon the world. The shorter "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" distills its mythos into just over 5 minutes and is all the stronger for it.

LOWS:
"Voodoo Chile" continues on long past the point at which it's still interesting. While the seagull and boat bell effects of "1983..(A Merman I Should Turn to Be)" are startling, Hendrix seems bent on making this track merely to show how many effects he can create and use within the track and it sinks it. The repetitive echoed and slowing down vocal is cool once, but after about 5 usages it loses something.

BOTTOM LINE:
There's too many weak spots for me to consider this "5 star" material ["Are you Experienced?" gets that nod...clearly a better collection of songs..] but it's nonetheless a high water mark in rock music and as such should be owned by anyone with an interest in rock music and certainly any Hendrix fan. To get more out of the album, I'd suggest you read a companion book from John Perry along with it (ASIN 0826415717) to get a better gauge of where Jimi's head was at while this was being recorded. I will gripe a bit about noise on the CD..there's a TON of hiss on opener "....And the Gods made love" (probably from the extensive overdubbing that was done) but it's not as noticeable on most other tracks. ... Read more

Asin: B000002P5U
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Monterey 6 Spd Swing
Average Customer Review:
Baby Product

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Editorial Review

Parents looking for a high-quality baby swing that is safe and easy to use should consider this Gentle Choice open-top swing from Graco. Loaded with convenience features and accessories, the swing begins with a sturdy frame and a well-padded seat that reclines to one of four different angles for baby's comfort. A detachable infant insert has been included and the seat's five-point harness and plastic T-bar underneath the play tray keep baby securely in the seat when the swing is in operation. Parents can choose from among six different swing speeds and four timer settings, and the included music box will play up to 15 different melodies to help soothe baby as she swings. The swing is also equipped with removable toys on the play tray, and the overhead mobile can be easily pushed aside when you want to load or unload baby from the swing's seat. The swing requires four D batteries (not included) for operation. --Chris Burns ... Read more

Reviews (15)

great swing!
I just purchased the swing yesterday.My daughter is 20 weeks old. She used to go in an infant rocker.Now she's too big.I needed something else to put her in.I recommend having your child try the swing first.As soon as I put her in this swing she loved it.She played with all of the toys.You can take off the toys very easily if your child becomes over stimulated like she did today.I do think there should be a shoulder harness to hold them in better but none of the swings had them.

Great for a fussy baby but there are pro's and con's
This swing has helped so much when our son is fussy and we can't figure out what's wrong or when I have to cook and clean up. He is totally mesmerized and smiles for the longest time with his elephant mobile. I love the music and that it has different speeds. and the noise of the motor I think is soothing to my son so it doesn's seem to bother him that is coincides with the music. I too wish that the mobile moved on its own because that's his favorite part, when I turn the mobile. He hasn't learned to play with the toys yet so I don't know how he will like them. Also, this swing is wonderful in putting my son to sleep but the tray doesn't come out and is so noisy with all the toys when I lift it that he wakes up and I wind up having to rock back to sleep a frightened little boy. When my husband and I first put him in it at 2 months old his head kept falling side ways because the headrest isn't thick enough and he even fell forward once and hit his forehead on the tray. so now we keep the seat as far back as it will go but then he can't reach the toys very well. Thank God he didn't get hurt or cry but I really think that Graco should consider putting straps for the shoulders and not only around the waist. Most likely this will happen less as he gets older and he can hold his head a lot better. However, at only four months old my son seems to be a bit snug in the seat already which is a shame because he really enjoys his swing.

I think some of you are not reclining the seat all the way..
When I first got this I put my newborn in it and felt like she was going to fall forward and then I realized that the total recline position didn't have a hook but just released all the way up the back of the chair.If you look at it carefully you will see that it does recline pretty far if you do it right.My gripes with it are that the tray doesn't allow for her knees to go up and she hits them on it and the motor has gotten pretty loud.I rock my daughter (3 mo.) to sleep and try to put her in it and it wakes her up when I start it - even if I start it swinging before I turn it on.Maybe my batteries are going dead? ... Read more

Asin: B00005O621

Ghost in the Shell
Director: Mamoru Oshî
Average Customer Review:
DVD (31 March, 1998)
list price: $29.95 -- our price: $22.46
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

The skillful blending of drawn animation and computer-generated imagery excited anime fans when this science fiction mystery was released in 1995: many enthusiasts believe Ghost suggests what the future of anime will be, at least in the short term. The film is set in the not-too-distant future, when an unnamed government uses lifelike cyborgs or "enhanced" humans for undercover work. One of the key cyborgs is The Major, Motoko Kusanagi, who resembles a cross between The Terminator and a Playboy centerfold. She finds herself caught up in a tangled web of espionage and counterespionage as she searches for the mysterious superhacker known as "The Puppet Master."

Mamoru Oshii directs with a staccato rhythm, alternating sequences of rapid-fire action (car chases, gun battles, explosions) with static dialogue scenes that allow the characters to sort out the vaguely mystical and rather convoluted plot. Kusanagi's final quote from I Corinthians suggests that electronic evolution may compliment and eventually supplant organic evolution. The minor nudity, profanity, and considerable violence would earn Ghost in the Shell at least a PG rating. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Animated
• Widescreen
• Dolby

Reviews (407)

It has come out of it's shell!
First let me make one thing clear:I HATE anima! But Ghost in the shell is just so cool that I forgot how much I wanted to get my hands around the necks of the creators of shows like Pokemon, Dragenball Z, and Rave master. I inserted the DVD into my PS-2, and for the next 82 minutes, my faith in anima was restored!

The story line is uniquely intelligent but confusing. I had to watch the whole movie twice to figure out what was going on.The voice acting--both for the original Japaneese and the English translation--is superb. The animation is silky-smooth with great character designs and well-modeled 3-D backgrounds. The themesong is well writen but in Japaneese.And, most importantly, it is full of fast-paced, high-octane action.

All in all, Ghost in a Shell is a cinamatic masterwork!

Dub Taints the Experience...
Rather than offer another version of what's already been said, I'm going to focus on the one part that, in my opinion, put a big gash on an otherwise beautiful, intelligent anime.

I'm not a fan of having to read movies, so enjoyment of an anime hangs in the balance of whether or not it's dubbed well.In the case of Ghost in the Shell, there's some very good dubbing (Richard Epcar as Batou) and some efficient dubbing (Abe Lasser as the Puppet Master and William Frederick as Aramaki, to name a few).However, the movie depends mostly on the voice of the Major, and Mimi Woods was (no offense) a terrible choice.Motoko Kusanagi is practically a perfect cybernetic being, so one might think she'd have a beautiful, almost mystic voice to go with her looks and personality.Woods, however, sounds unrefined...natural, but too simple and out-of-character.If you close your eyes and try to picture the Major through Mimi Woods' voice, you don't.You can't.And everything she says loses its strength because the voice just can't deliver it with the thoughtful tone it needs...and since most of the insight revolves around her character, that leaves a big dent in the strength of the film's philosophical core.

If you hate all dubs and are strictly a "subbed" person, then enjoy; otherwise, be warned: with that dubbed voice, the Major's credibility only hangs on by its teeth.

Excellent movie
I've watched Ghost in the Shell several times and have never gotten bored with it. The heroine, the Major is an ususal character. She's a tough girl, whose body is entirely machine. Her life is all business. She solves crimes and saves Japan everyday and yet because this is a Japanese movie she's not happy. Although her brain and soul are still human there's something missing and when she's not kicking butt she goes into these marvelous long soliloquies about the nature of individuality and the state of mankind. Her huge partner, Batou who is also 90% cyborg acts as sort of a stand in for the audience. He's the one who breaks into her speeches and moodiness and he's the one who points out that being super strong with parts that can just be replaced with a quick trip to a hardware store is pretty cool. Batou is smart, just as tough as the Major and he's the character that the audience comes to care about the most.

Out of the blue comes a character named the Puppet Master who might be a hacker, or a virus or AI or something else who is extremely interested in the Major.The final scenes are beautifully done. You have action, you have sacrifice, you have suffering and beautiful, dreamy music. Another reviewer compared Ghost to Blade Runner and that's a good comparison except the future depicted in Ghost is far more dark. There's no happy ending in Ghost. Innocents get hurt, the bad guys get away with it in part and the Major is required to make a decision that changes her life forever.

It's a gorgeous film. Even if you're one of those people who would never look at anime check this one out. It's a classic. ... Read more

Asin: 6304493681

Preacher: Gone to Texas (Vertigo)
by Garth Ennis
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 March, 1996)
list price: $14.99 -- our price: $10.47
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Here's a book guaranteed to offend a bunch of people, not only because of its profuse profanity and graphic violence, but because it's the epitome of iconoclasm. Like a brutal accident, you can't watch but you can't turn away. The story follows an ex-preacher man, Jesse, who has become disgusted with God's abandoning of His responsibilities. So Jesse starts off into the wilds of Texas with his hitman girlfriend and new best friend (a vampire) to find God so that he can give Him a piece of his mind. Despite its superficial perversity, this book contains what may be the most moral character in mainstream comics. A cult hit in the making. Fans of Quentin Tarantino take note. ... Read more

Reviews (77)

Not a light reading
This TPB is only Preacher worth byuing. Preacher was published as 66 issue complete story. I read all of them, but first five issues are the best although they are just the beginning.

God leaves his duties, priest gets beaten for exposing everyone's secrets from confessions, and something out of paradise posesses him...few days after, he meetshis ex girlfriend turned hitman and gets acquainted with a strange Irish guy.

Second story arc with serial killer is , well, deja vu for horror fans.

Great start that gets even better...
Loved it!The only reason I'm giving it four stars is because it gets EVEN better as the series continues. This opener though has just about everything a sci-fi chick like me could hope for --it's profane, humorous, has a simple premise with some GOOD twists, love, sex, winged demons, warrior angels, serial killers and of course... John Wayne.This isn't the deepest and darkest graphic novels have to offer-- but it is FUN, intelligent and a damn good ride.Read it!

It was the time of the Preacher... Book #1
Do you like to read? Do you like movies? Then why don't you try Graphic Novels? Comics you say? Don't say that. This stuff is art. Do you like to read? Then why not Graphic Novels? Do you like movies? Then why not Graphic Novels? Why not? Why? Because it can be... "More fun than going to the movies" - Kevin Smith, Director Clerks.

Book #1 must be checked out. It is a DC comic's publication. The title - "Preacher: Gone to Texas", is a two story book introducing us to three core characters, Jesse Custer, a minister who has been zapped with the pseudo power of god by a fallen angel that drops down on his congregation during a meeting, finds himself after in a bar with Tulip, a road bandit and also Jesse's ex-lover, along with an Irish vampire, Cassidy, who has hitched in on the ride, the trio find themselves up against Sheriff Root, the law in Texas, with a demon on their tail who has been unleashed from heaven to track down the escaped pseudo power of God. This story is quite action packed, very funny fowl language and has a sense of humour, although don't expect it to be a very deep character analysis (you will have to fill in much of the gaps for yourself) although the second half of the book about a serial killer at large does not quite capture the ferocity of the first episode, is none the less a very interesting segment that is sort of telling you that the Preacher series can, and probably will go absolutely everywhere and anywhere, and as someone who has yet to read any more in the series I must say that I would get Volume 2 just on the bases of what I have enjoyed here.

Preacher: Gone to Texas is an amazing piece of art to own. It can proudly sit along side any classic volume of literature or sit beside the Mona Lisa. Draw your attention to the cover, Glen Fabry, offers 10 other graphic plates in the book that are almost worth buying another copy for, just to tear out those pictures and put them in a frame, the guiding light for any future budding graphic novel animators, those images are sublime and worth the cost of the book alone.

Even though Fabry is replaced by the core artists, Garth Ennis and Steve Dillion do an amazing job of the layout, meaning do not turn pages in this graphic novel, as some pages are surprises designed to grab you... and they do, so at least allow yourself to be stunned by not looking ahead, okay. That is a general good rule for the Preacher graphic novel anyway... others like Johnny The Homicidal Maniac: The Director's Cut you could spend days jumping back and across through but these ARTY graphic novels tend to have less plates and more high impact artwork, sometimes covering whole pages, meaning that it is easy to spoil Preacher with just glancing through it once.

I found Preacher to be one of the most engaging Graphic Novels I have seen. It really does bring the next frame or page along at a shocking pace with many scenes leaping out at you and grabbing you buy the throat, WOW! to go along with the illustrated POW! See you at Preacher #2 for a review if you enjoyed the first episode like I did. ... Read more

Isbn: 1563892618
Subjects:  1. Comic books, strips, etc    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - Horror    4. Graphic Novels - Horror    5. Fiction / Graphic Novels   

Weber 761001 22 1/2-Inch One-Touch Platinum Charcoal Grill, Black
Average Customer Review:
Lawn & Patio
list price: $249.00
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Editorial Review

Weber's One-Touch Platinum kettle is a serious grill for serious cooks. Its sturdy, compact design makes great use of space. The cooking surface (22-1/2 inches in diameter) is big enough to accommodate six large steaks, twice as many burgers, or up to a dozen kebabs, and the grill's classic kettle shape keeps flare-ups to a minimum.

The grill's work surface, made of durable Thermoset plastic, provides a handy place to rest platters, cutting boards, and condiments; underneath, hanging hooks keep barbecue utensils right where you need 'em. Inside the grill, convenient movable baskets hold briquettes in tight clusters, allowing you to either focus or disperse the grill's heat to suit the cuisine. Weber's clever tuck-away design allows the lid to slide back out of the way when not in use, which also creates an effective wind barrier when lighting the grill. Once the grill is hot, the glass-reinforced, heat-resistant plastic handles stay cool.

To top it all off, Weber throws in a 31-page owner's guide filled with cooking tips and time-tested recipes for grilling everything from pork chops to bratwurst to Cornish hens. ... Read more

Features

• Porcelain-enameled 22-1/2-inch bowl and lid won't rust or fade
• Stainless-steel One-Touch cleaning system
• Glass-reinforced, heat-resistant handles and
• Thermoset work surface and high-capacity ash catcher
• 10-year limited warranty

Reviews (31)

Check the shipping costs before buying
While this seems to be a good price, the shipping markup seems a bit high. Amazon is charging $139 to ship this product, $40 more than if you order directly from their supplier Dynadirect. If you search you can find the grill elsewhere for as low as $185 with the more realistic shipping charge of $39.99.

excellent grill
One of the best grills I've ever used.Quality of materials & workmanship I rate excellent.Its also nice to see a product still made in the USA, hats off to management and workers for a job well done!!!!I only hope Weber continues to produce their grills here.

Works very well for indirect method of grill cooking.I use the charcoal baskets almost every time I grill.I've had this grill for about 3 months now.One thing I've noticed is my charcoals last a lot longer in this grill if you close the bottom & top vents right away after your finished grilling.The money I save in charcoal will probably pay for the grill in one year, I grill almost everyday.Charcoal didn't last as long in my cheaper grill.

One reason I picked this grill was the work table, its handy to put stuff on, its why I picked this model over their others..It was very easy to assemble, I had it unpacked and assembled in 1 hour .The one touch systemworks very well.One thing that concerned me was that its lower in height than some of the other grills,( I'm tall), but after using it the height seems just about right after all.

Overall an excellent grill. I would recommend it to everyone.Its more expensive than some but I think this will last a lot longer.

The best charcoal grill
This grill is great. It is easy to clean and has a very large cooking surface. It does however need a few improvements:

1. As a previous reviewer mentioned, the vent covers to drop the ash do not completely overlap so it leaves some ash in the bottom of the kettle.

2. You can't put it on a slope. There are some holes on the side of the grilling surface that things fall through if you are not careful. I live in an apartment and don't really have a flat surface to rest the grill on, so I have to set it on a slope (about 15 degrees). I have lost a couple of brats while trying to turn them because they rolled across the grill and fell through one of the holes. ... Read more

Asin: B00004RALA
Subjects:  1. Grilling    2. Outdoor Cooking    3. Charcoal Grills    4. Barbecue    5. (BBQ)    6. (Barbeque)