A Collection of Daily Wisdom by Dennis Sylvester Hurd since September 2003.

Three short months ago, I blogged a product review about a can of shaving cream. I've still not bothered to buy an electric razor. I am, however, using something new on my face. I received a Schick Quartto as a gift.

To me, this is clearly demonstrates of the excesses of the free-enterprise system. To compete the market, companies need to continue to improve even the simplest of products.

If one works then two is better. If two are fine then, obviously, doubling the number will vastly increase the performance, right? Let's be honest. Four blades are a bit of an overkill. Steering this implement around my face is a little like driving an SUV through a tiny, back alley. I think the replacement blades cost a fortune too.

In the end though, I do have to admit, when using four blades, my face does feel as soft as a baby's bottom.

Labels: opinions, review

I bought my first digital camera at the beginning of 2002 and used it for almost four years. It was an Olympus D-40 Zoom which sported 4 megapixels although, at the time, the average camera was only 2. At the end of 2005, I upgraded to an Olympus SP-350. While the prevailing resolution at the time was about 5, I jumped up to 8 MP. Now, I figure that I've gleaned enough value from my second camera too. It has captured least one picture every single day and often many more.

Today, while many best-selling cameras are still in the 7 to 8 MP range, some deals can be had at higher resolutions. In a flyer, I saw the Kodak Z1275 selling at Walmart for $218 although it's probably a few bucks cheaper in the US. The camera has been out since the fall but there weren't too many Internet reviews on the EasyShare camera.

Some reviewers suggested there's no need of having a 12 megapixel CCD. This may be true for those who only print 4x6 family photos from memory cards at the drug store. Yet the more information that can be captured from a scene, the more detail there is. This can be important when cropping the edges of an image. Believe me, there's no picture that cannot be improved through a little tweaking with image-editing software.

Others complained that the Z1275 is too big for a modern point and shoot, but it's smaller than my trusty Olympus. It lacks a traditional viewfinder; however, I seldom found myself holding a camera up to my face anymore. The camera is also larger than other models as the Z1275 uses two AA batteries. The ability to use standard batteries was an important criteria for me. I've already got a charger with plenty of Nickel-Metal Hydrides and in a crunch off-the-shelf AA's can be purchased anywhere. The 5X optical zoom probably takes up a bit more room than the, more normal, 3X. I also considered going bigger with a real SLR but I knew that I wouldn't want to carry something bulky with me all the time. A camera is of no value if it's sitting at home. Lastly, I feel an artist would be able to get great pics out of a 1970's Instamatic with a Magicube flash.

A few Net commenters also thought the camera's body was of flimsy plastic and it didn't feel well-made. My only reply would be that most every non-food purchase I made in 2007 has come from China, so I'm getting pretty used to shoddy manufacturing.

I was a little hesitant to switch brands as one becomes familiar with the on-board software of modern digital cameras. I know the Olympus well. After playing with the Kodak a bit in the store, I knew I could make it through the initial confusion of figuring out something different. Many online reviewers don't allow their new devices enough time to grow on 'em. It can take a while to warm up to something new. For example, getting used to a new computer can be a major headache. When we are forced to do something a little different, we initially rebel. People really are creatures of habit.

Anyway, I let the salesperson swipe my card yesterday afternoon. I haven't had much time to get out and really see if I made a good switch. After I put in the batteries I took a quick photo from the balcony in the evening. Choose a size.

500x368

1024x753

3857x2837

Labels: balcony, camera, review

I know, I know. The title is so uninspired and predictable.

We've been in this apartment for, coming up on, a decade and have never really had the carpets cleaned. They are original to the construction of the building which makes them close to twenty years old in total. To add insult to injury, they're beige. At least, we never wear shoes around the house.

Having professionals come in to clean would be a major pain as I'm not sure where all the furniture could be put while they were working. Also, it has always seemed like too much bother to rent one of those steam vacs which can be found at the grocery store. So, the only maintenance the nap fibers have seen is a few of those cans of aerosol carpet cleaner. Those were mostly for when I knocked over a glass of red wine or tracked dust in from the balcony.

Furthermore, buying an upright unit didn't make a lot of sense. Spending $250 seems a bit excessive when the whole apartment is less than 750 sq ft and the actual carpeting is just two thirds of that.

This week though, I saw the little Hoover F5505 advertised in a London Drugs flyer. It looked round, red, and sexy. The handle folds down so it can be easily stored. At $94, I thought even if it were cheap and plastic, I'd find it useful. I had to try it out in the hallway. It is a bit flimsy but seems to work better than I expected. It does a great job of sucking the cleaning solution into the side tank.

Labels: review

Thirty five years ago, when I first started, I used to shave those little whisps on my chin with an electric razor. A few years on, I think I even had a multi-voltage Norelco for overseas use. But it's pretty hard for me to determine when I changed to disposable blades. All I know is that I've been using shaving cream for years and years.

As I emptied a can yesterday, I squirted out some new Barbasol gel this morning. I seldom use this blog for a product review, but for some reason, I feel like talking about this. I most probably brought the can because I pinch a lot of pennies. Look at the can; it offers 33% more than a standard one! I also like the Barbasol brand as they have a useful nozzle. I am positive that the competitors design their cans so customers will waste a lot. With other brands, I often find myself with an extra handful of gel. I hate that it goes right down the drain unused.







My only complaint with today's
"Close Shave Formula" is that
it smells like an old man.

Labels: review

This blog is just a month shy of its fourth birthday. In that time, I really didn't know I had run on so much about movies. Although by no means exhaustive or even representative, I have typed quite about about the subject. Click the following link.

my eJournal and images: The Movie Reviews




When we first came to Canada we went to movie theatres a lot. This probably was due to the fact of having accessible venues. I would venture that except for Saudi Arabia where they're banned, the ones in Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE are probably more upscale and mainstream than during the eighties and nineties. I recall dark, dirty, old cinemas showing late, often cut, films.

Around Vancouver, there was a massive building spree at the beginning of this decade. The multiplexes do offer good seating, screens, and sound systems now. It's necessary to see blockbuster events in them. Yet, DVD's are now released surprisingly soon after the original theatrical release. We watch a lot more non-mainstream and indie films on DVD.

I only wish the format wars for high definition DVD hadn't occurred. HD-DVD seems to be cheaper than Blu-ray but who wants to commit to a format before there's a clear winner. Damn them for cutting their collective noses to spite their faces. The studios could be churning out their entire collections in HD by now if a common format had been agreed upon a few years back.

Labels: HDTV, labels, movies, review, stars, The Wizard of Oz

We're supposed to remember the beauty of the free enterprise system is that consumers vote with their cash. Over the long haul, companies that make the better products and adapt well to changing customers' needs should not only survive but thrive.

Sometimes, I wonder how this theory relates to customer loyalty. For example, when it comes to photographic equipment, I've become loyal to Olympus. The only reason, I suppose, is it was the brand of my first digital camera. I was very happy with my experience with my D40 so when I wanted to go to a higher-resolution, I chose an SP-350. At that time, a year and a half ago, I was most interested in staying with a compact choice. I haven't outgrown the 8 megapixels but I do think I will soon be ready to move to something with interchangeable lenses.

That's why it is so opportune that Olympus has just come out with two new models. It takes a few months for discounts to take effect, unfortunately. How can I not be excited about this product though?

Labels: camera, review, technology

Okay, TV has sort of replaced my interest in computers lately.

When I bought the Toshiba screen this month, I made sure that it could display in native HD resolution. It can show true 1080p. I wonder how many people, who were seeking a wide screen, have ended up with ED-TV (Extended Definition) just because it was cheaper and they didn't know what they were buying.

I was also willing to pay a third again as much for an HDMI up-converting DVD player from Toshiba just so the names would match. I figured it'd be great to have one less remote on the coffee table too. The Toshiba SD4990 was a piece of junk. I hadn't seen any bad reviews on the Internet but I got a bit nervous when unpacking. There was a huge orange paper that suggested if one encountered difficulties, not to return the unit to the place of purchase. There was a special Toshiba 800 number in a 48-point font. The unit simply wouldn't play any of my DVD+R or DVD-R discs. Within twelve hours, eight of which were night, the player was returned to Best Buy.

The cheap Prima store-brand was $50 less expensive, so I got the refund posted to my credit card. The PV935 seems to play anything I can throw at it in 1080i. The one hitch is that the Prima remote and the new television use some of the same frequencies. Simply pressing play on the DVD player will send the TV into antenna input mode. Having to get up and aim the remote just a few centimeters from the player seems to negate the usefulness of owning a remote!

Nothing's easy, is it?

Labels: complaints, review, television