consumer issues
Questions and answers on computing issues
By JAMES DERK
Scripps Howard News Service
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Summer brings the e-mailed questions by the droves as more people are kicking the tires of Windows Vista and their new Macs.
Don't forget mosquito repellant
By ANNA WALLNER and KRISTINA MATISIC
Fine Living Network
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Tent? Check. Sleeping bag? Check. Hiking boots? Check. Heading outdoors this season? Your list of items to bring along won't be complete without some mosquito repellant.
'Spider-Man 3' travels in style, but lacks substance
By CHRIS CAMPBELL
Scripps Howard News Service
Thursday, May 24, 2007
"Spider-Man 3."
Platforms: Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 3, PC, PS2, PSP, DS
Genre: Action/Adventure
Publisher: Activision
ESRB Rating: T, for Teen
Grade: 2.5 stars out of 5
The strength of the previous Spidey games was in being able to sling your way around the city of New York.
Antique shopping
By ANNA WALLNER and KRISTINA MATISIC
Fine Living Network
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
With summertime just around the corner it's garage sale shopping time for millions of Americans. And garage sales and flea markets are great scouring grounds for antiques.
Give Benadryl a break
By HELEN MALANI
shopzilla.com
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Allergies are gross. The red eyes, the stuffy heads, and that nagging vision of the commercial where a man turns into a running nose.
Show how you contributed to success
By MAX MESSMER
Scripps Howard News Service
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
"SKILLS: Efficient and efficient."
A skill so nice you said it twice.
Job applicants can make strong cases for themselves by providing prospective employers with details about the specific skills they can bring to the table.
Take a look at these tech tidbits
By JAMES DERK
Scripps Howard News Service
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Some tech tidbits have filled the notebook today. Let's unload the good stuff.
---If you have not run Windows Update lately, now is the time.
'Bash.' is for die-hard 'Bust-A-Move' fans only
By CHRIS CAMPBELL
Scripps Howard News Service
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
"Bust-A-Move Bash!"
Platform: Wii
Genre: Puzzle
Publisher: Majesco
ESRB Rating: E, for Everyone
Grade: 1 star out of 5
"Bust-A-Move Bash!" suffers from the same problems as the recent "Tetris Evolution": If you offer a full-priced game with only one puzzle game and very little in terms of depth and variety, is it really worth it?
The answer depends on how much you love, in this case, popping all those bubbles.
It is a tragedy that "Bash!" is so bland. When Majesco released a "Bust-A-Move" game on the DS not long ago, it felt right, and the game had a tight consistency that fit well with that platform. But here, the game is overblown and lacks the style and substance to push it past anything more than a passing fancy.
This game tries horribly to use the Wii Remote and its motion controls to add a bit of spice. But even this is handled poorly. The controls never work properly and you end up shooting bubbles all over place, never gaining any control. There are several different control schemes, but somehow none of them seems to be the right one.
You need to have a deep love of "Bust-A-Move" to find happiness in "Bash!" Otherwise, this is another game that would have been better to download online to play than pay the retail price.
"Pokemon Diamond & Pokemon Pearl"
Platform: DS
Genre: Role-playing
Publisher: Nintendo
ESRB Rating: E, for Everyone
Grade: 3.5 stars
It's remarkable how long the Pokemon craze has lasted. As kids turn to teens and teens to adults, you'd think the momentum of this franchise would fade. Instead, it thrives as it ages, and gamers who enjoyed it years and years ago still have fun with it.
"Pokemon Diamond & Pokemon Pearl" are technically two different games, with several Pokemon characters unique to each cartridge. Once you dive in, the two games are 98 percent identical in game play. If you have time, and enjoy the RPG style Pokemon delivers, you will not be disappointed here.
The main thrust is collecting Pokemon and engaging in tons of turn-based battles to level characters up, and then trading your Pokemon with other players for new ones, giving you the ability to have a constantly rotating arsenal. There's a lot of online accessibility with "Diamond & Pearl," giving the games much more depth than previous ones in the franchise.
Visually, the game is far above its GBA predecessors -- the only thing missing is perhaps Prince's fitting "Diamonds and Pearls" song as intro music.
"Pocket Pool"
Platform: PSP
Genre: Sports
Publisher: Eidos Interactive
ESRB Rating: M, for Mature
Grade: One-half star
If you don't know the first thing about pool, don't play this game. If you don't know what "pocket pool" means in popular culture, ask the nearest teenager. If you are a self-respecting male, don't play this game. If you are a self-respecting member of the human race, don't play this game.
Seriously, how bad is it that a billiards game can't even get the billiards right? It's pool! This is not exactly "Halo 3" or anything. Take a cue stick, hit it into ball, ball goes into pocket.
Who knew this could be so difficult to make into a video game? But here the ball never goes where it should, and the controls are not fluid enough for you to consistently gauge how hard to hit the cue ball.
And while we're here, we also have to address the sad state of affairs that is "Pocket Pool's" visuals. They consist mainly of you playing games, and unlocking horrendous videos of half-naked women posing or "dancing" to your supposed delight. That these "women" are not even Hustler material is neither here nor there; "Pocket Pool" is not something they should put on their modeling resume.
Owning this game is like bringing your own cue to the local bar to play against your friends. Not cool.
(Contact Chris Campbell at game_on_games(at)mac.com.)
How to choose a juicer
By ANNA WALLNER and KRISTINA MATISIC
Fine Living Network
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
As the weather gets warmer and beach season looms, our thoughts turn to getting fit and healthy. Good thing then, that it's also the time of year when so much fruit and vegetables are in season. If you're considering investing in a juicer to help you meet those goals and enjoy the earth's bounty, you'll need to know a few juicing basics (note: when buying fruit and vegetables always buy local and in season for the best flavor and nutrition!)
_ There are two main types of electric juicers _ centrifugal and masticating. Masticating juicers use pressure to squeeze out the juice. They work best with soft produce, like kale and bananas. They're generally more expensive than centrifugal machines and take longer to produce juice, but some models can double as food processors.
_ Centrifugal juicers thrust produce against a rotating blade and then strain the juice from the pulp. This system produces more juice and is best used for hard produce, like carrots and apples.
_ We like juicers with pulp ejectors. The pulp is expelled into a separate container, making cleanup easier. This feature is more common in centrifugal models.
_ Wattage is important. Look for brands with as much horsepower as you can afford. If you can experiment with the juicer in store, see if the engine warms up while it's juicing. If it heats up too much, you may lose enzymes in the process, a deal breaker for some juice purists.
_ Choose a model with a large feed tube, and you'll have less chopping before juicing.
_ Look for stainless-steel parts. They're durable and do a good job of retaining enzyme count.
(Anna Wallner and Kristina Matisic host The Shopping Bags on Fine Living TV Network. Contact them at www.fineliving.com. For more columns visit www.scrippsnews.com)
Mom is Wow upside down. Gift accordingly
By HELE MALANI
shopzilla.com
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Flowers, breakfast in bed, brunch at a crowded, overpriced restaurant. Has your mother pretended to love these things on Mother's Day every single year of your life? Of course she has, because she's your mom. Enough already. Try this novel idea: put a little thought into your gift! (No reason she has to know that these are my thoughts and not yours.)
I have walked the online world so you wouldn't have to, and here are my hand-picked best-in-class Mother's Day gifts sure to delight all kinds of moms 'til Christmas.
FUNNY MOM: Most mothers I know (including my own) have a little something to get off their chest. Message tees with an attitude will put something back on her chest. Mom-centric messages include "Nanny Deprived", "PTA Reject", "Secretary of Transportation", "Mother Superior", and my favorite, "Whine? No. Wine? Yes." planetmomtshirts.com
FUN WITH KNIVES MOM: Boring old butcher blocks have nothing on this knife set in the shape of a man's body. Any mom with a wicked sense of humor will enjoy putting her shiny stainless steels through this guy. Spice up her kitchen and make the point that Mom is not to be messed with. perpetualkid.com
FAMISHED MOM: What says "I love you, Mom" better than live crustaceans delivered to her door? If you can't be there to take her to a delicious lobster dinner, send the lobster to her. These guys are some of Oprah's Favorite Things, and they're perfect for procrastinating gift-givers since they must be shipped no sooner than 24 hours in advance. livelob.com
FAST MOM, FANCY MOM: Mom not the bootie-knitting type? Put her behind the wheel of a Nextel stock car, or splurge on a shopping spree at Saks Fifth Avenue with her own personal shopper. To really show the love, have a professional songwriter compose a custom song especially for her. Yes, these gifts cost a pretty penny, but think of the "aaaawwww!" factor. xperiencedays.com
Imagine Mom thanking you this year: no acting required.
Helen Malani is the chief shopping expert for Shopzilla.com, an E.W. Scripps company, and the largest comparison shopping search engine on the Web. For more columns visit www.scrippsnews.com
