November 2nd-31st 2013 Writings

Images and Text From Amazon, Yelp, and NPR Burke & Hare

DVD ~ Simon Pegg

 Doing The Right Thing Or Easy Financial Survival?, November 2, 2013

This review is from: Burke & Hare (DVD)

I was gently convinced to watch "Burke & Hare" after my husband raved about Simon Pegg's and Andy Serkis's performance as the duo of Burke and Hare in the aptly named film. I also wanted to check it out as a way to further understand what my husband likes and I unexpectedly liked the movie more than I originally felt I would. The movie centers around two men who resort to desperate measures for their financial survival and is partially influenced by true life events from the 1800's. There have been times that I have been tempted to resort to crazy and legal means to improve my quality of life for my husband and I (while being harm-free to other people). This is only due to being subjected to certain life tests even after doing the "right things" for myself and for the greater good of others in life and witnessing the charmed lives of others who have little concern for doing what is "right". It is mainly my conscience that has stopped me from acting on such dark temptations. Naturally, these life experiences helped me understand the motivations of the characters and plot of the movie. For instance, the characters of Burke & Hare are shown figuring out the best way to flesh out a decent living for themselves after Lucky (Hare's wife) expresses concern on how to meet their basic expenses. My husband greatly admired the comedy that Pegg and Serkis provided through their wacky portrayals of Burke and Hare conducting "business" for a doctor in one of Scotland's top medical schools. However, he let me know that Jessica Hynes portrayal of Lucky was among one of his favorite performances in the movie. This was due to Lucky being portrayed as a shrewd encourager of her husband's enterprise and her aggressive nature as the brain-trust in their marriage. In contrast, I enjoyed the love story brewing between Simon Pegg's William Burke and Isla Fisher's Ginny Hawkins. It was both fun and comedic watching the character of Ginny Hawkins convincing Burke to fund her thespian dreams using her natural beauty, wit, and feminine wiles. Burke & Hare is good for those who are fine with watching British movies with a bit of tragic comedy.

Northern Virginia Magazine

 Northern Virginia Lifestyle Magazine, November 2, 2013

This review is from: Northern Virginia Magazine (Magazine)

Northern Virginia features different themes pertaining to the Washington D.C. area of Virginia. For instance, this month’s issue of Northern Virginia (November 2013) features coverage on 50 top restaurants. Food images from Trummer’s On Main, The Ashby Inn & Restaurant, and The Restaurant at Pawtowmack Farm feature on the front cover of the magazine. They also have article features on some of the listed top dentists of 2013 and ideas for planning a strong retirement. Northern Virginia magazine is great for those who are interested in magazines pertaining to the Washington D.C. area and/or have also subscribed to these other following publications: Washington Post,Washingtonian, Homes & Design, Bethesda, and Washington Life.

Yelp Reviews

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7150 Baltimore Ave
College Park, MD 20740
(301) 779-7070

Plato's Diner  

Categories: Diners, Greek, American (Traditional) 

 11/2/2013

My husband's mother treated us to dinner at this restaurant just last week. They were both happy with the food and service. My mother in law had the Greek omelet while my husband had barbecue sliders. I ate the French terp meal that had French toast, eggs, bacon, potatoes, and sausage.

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2306 University Blvd
Hyattsville, MD 20783
(301) 422-0220

McDonald's  

Category: Fast Food 

 11/2/2013 First to Review

I truthfully confess that I have already been by the new and improved building of this location during breakfast for their tasty sausage egg mcmuffin sandwiches. My husband and I have also been by here for dinner before, but I admit that I enjoy the food from their breakfast the most.  The cashiers are friendly and gave the food within a fair amount of time.

NPR Story on Amazon Vine Reviewers

I felt guided to share this NPR (National Public Radio) link with the public titled Top Reviewers Get Tons Of Free Stuff by Lisa Chow due to my own observation as a woman who reviews as a hobby: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/10/29/241372607/top-reviewers-on-amazon-get-tons-of-free-stuff  This link has many vine reviewers defending their membership into the Vine program. Please know that I personally do not see anything wrong with a person who enjoys being part of the Vine program.  However, I do believe that some vine reviewers are unafraid to voice how they feel about products while others may be hesitant and hold back due to receiving free items for their reviews.  I am also aware that there are men and women who buy and/or use services based on how they feel and/or if someone they know uses them and not necessarily on how they are reviewed. Others may prefer paid reviewers and/or vine reviewers while other men and women may prefer to consider the viewpoints of those who have had to purchase items out of their own pocket. I have been an Amazon customer since 2002 and plan to continue to do so for years to come. I can only speak for myself, but I feel safe to say how I feel in my reviews due to the fact that I am an amateur reviewer.  The only reason why more of my reviews are positive versus negative is due to the fact that I do this more as a hobby in my free time and frequently more often find the time to do reviews of products I am passionate about (especially due to my passion for various types of music, media, and food). This is also because I work full-time during the night and must carefully balance my sleep time with my hobby and other essential responsibilities.

Yelp Reviews

3100 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20010
(202) 939-0500

IHOP  

Categories: American (Traditional), Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Columbia Heights

 11/9/2013

My Husband and I stopped at IHop in Columbia Heights to eat before catching the most recent Thor film.  The food was delicious and had the right temperature. My husband and I shared a combo appetizer of onion rings, chicken fingers, and mozeralla sticks.  I had the pumpkin pancake combo while he had an omelette meal combo in the culinary style of a chicken fajita.  Additionally, the waitress assigned to our table was very friendly and made us feel welcome as customers.

November 9, 2013 Online Reviews

Street Fighter (Extreme Edition)

DVD ~ Jean-Claude Van Damme  Comedy Parody?, November 9, 2013 This review is from: Street Fighter (Extreme Edition) (DVD) Streetfighter caught my attention as a film due to my familiarity with the Streetfighter 2 game and hearing about the movie from my husband. Yes, I have played Streetfighter 2 on my cellphone many times after first buying it as an app in the summer of 2010. I decided to give this movie a chance and watched it throughout its entirety. Some of the pros: Jean- Claude Van Damme, Kylie Minogue, and Raul Julia are some of the celebrities who star in "Streetfighter". Additionally, the a variety of the following game characters were included in this movie: Ryu, E. Honda, Blanka, Guile, Ken, Chun Li, Zangief (this character also referenced in the 2012 "Wreck It Ralph film), Dhalsin, Vega, Balrog,Sagat, T. Hawk, Dee Jay, Cammy, and M. Bison. It is also clear that Jean Claude Van Damme and Raul Julia did their best to keep the plot afloat with their character of roles of Guile and M. Bison. The cons: The film could have been made stronger by including some of the game characters being included to help Guile carry out his work. It was as if Guile was made the leader to do most of the fighting with occasional help from Chun Li, Ken, Ryu, and E. Honda. Including more frequent support combats scenes from T. Hawk, Cammy, E. Honda , Ken, and Ryu could have made the film stronger because of Guile realistically being given the help he needs to implement his mission. Please know that I do admire the music of Kylie Minogue (thanks to my husband introducing her music to me) and look forward to more creative works from her. However, I was not use to seeing her as Cammy and feel that her artistic talents could be better utilized in a science fiction project (such as when she appeared in Dr. Who back in 2007) and/or a fantasy, animation, and/or action/romance type film. However, my husband felt that Raul Julia's performance as M. Bison was one of the best parts of the Streetfighter film. Naturally, I would guess that diehard other fans of Jean Claude Van Damme, Kylie Minogue, and/or Kylie Minogue may enjoy this film. I would recommend watching "Streetfighter" for free first (if possible)before purchasing the dvd. Avril Lavigne  Lavigne's Emotional Kaledeiscope, November 9, 2013 Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Avril Lavigne (Audio CD) "Avril Lavigne" by Avril Lavigne contains songs of the heart that touch on the many emotional spectrums of being in love and navigating through the test of life. The music tunes are sprinkled with pop and rock, which complement her voice pretty well. Give What You Like, Sippin On Sunshine, and You Ain't Seen Nothin Yet are among some of my favorite songs from "Avril Lavigne" due to the cheerful messages in the songs. However, "Avril Lavigne" by Avril Lavigne also contains other types of songs that would appeal to other sides, such as the rebellious via such tunes as "Bad Girl" and "Fallin Fast." Thor: The Dark World DVD ~ Chris Hemsworth  Thor And Loki's Life Unfolding, November 9, 2013 This review is from: Thor: The Dark World (DVD) Intrigue and revenge are two of the multiple themes that are displayed in Thor: The Dark World. Both Thor and his father Odin are faced with a powerful but evil leader named Malekeith bent on inflicting suffering. This leader's taste for violent chaos comes from personal tragedy in his own life. I enjoyed the love story that played out between the characters of Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Jane Foster (Natalie Portman). This is because both characters seamlessly picked up where they last left off from the first film with their relationship. Additionally, Thor's character is shown bravely taking Jane Foster to his world despite how his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) may act. Realistically, true emotion was also shown when Thor and his brother Loki are greatly affected by an event that would change many people (involving a family member). Idris Elba is given an even bigger influential role in the plot of the film as Heimdall. Heimdall's character portrays a sense of perceptiveness in a scene that involves him foreseeing what can happen on one of the main bridges in Asgard. Just a gentle suggestion: maybe Heimdall could be including with Thor in future films as some type of advisor to both Thor and/or his father Odin regarding protection plans for Asgard and/or other strategic mission ideas. My husband's favorite character portrayals were that of Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Malekith (Christopher Eccleston). This is because Loki's character is portayed as a strong spirit who wisely knows how to appeal to Thor's heart-centered side while also shrewdly concealing his private and tricky plans. Eccleston's Malekith also appealed to my husband due to the character depth portrayal of what motivated Malekith's actions. Thor: The Dark World is great for those who enjoyed the first film or those who like fantasy films with the inclusion of these other actors/actresses: Stellan Skarsgard, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Chris O' Dowd,Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano, Jaimie Alexander, and Rene Russo. Heaven (Lime Remix)  Jes’s Musical Version Of A Spiritual Paradise, November 9, 2013 This review is from: Heaven (Lime Remix) (MP3 Music) “Heaven” (Lime Remix) by Jes is a perfect mix for those who like listening to a song where the singer expresses what brings them unbridled bless. Heaven (Lime Remix) by Jes is also great for those who like electronic/Euro-dance influence music mashups. This is because Heaven (Lime Remix) is a music variation of the Myon Remix of Heaven from Jes’s Into The Dawn (The Hits Disconnected) collection. Moments in Love  Romantic Moments, November 9, 2013 This review is from: Moments in Love (MP3 Music) "Moments In Love" by Art of Noise is a very beautiful song with gorgeous lyrics. I have also first seen the music video to this song over two and a half years ago (January 2011). The title of the song displays the hidden meaning and is suitable for those who like music mashups of synth pop with hints of electronica and chillout melodies. Tuesday November 12, 2013 Reviews (Images and Text From Amazon.com) Sofn'free n'pretty Olive & Sunflower Oil Root Touch-up No-Lye Relaxer  Does The Job With Moisturizing Effects, November 11, 2013 This review is from: Sofn'free n'pretty Olive & Sunflower Oil Root Touch-up No-Lye Relaxer (Health and Beauty) Fortunately, I mainly had the courage to relax my own hair with this relaxer kit due to the memory of my late adoptive mother. During my teen years, she would use grocery store bought relaxer kits for my younger sisters and I. Circumstances were perfect for me to draw upon this memory to use the relaxer two days ago with successful results of changing my type 3B (curly coily hair) to 2B (wavy curvy) (one of the charts available on determining your curly hair type is on naturallycurlydotcom). Instructions are available in this kit for how long to use this relaxer (depending on hair type). I left mine in for around 15 minutes, but required two relaxer kits (due to the length and thickness of my hair). The same company that makes this product sells a two applicator kit that has a picture of a young girl with a white spaghetti strap type shirt. The only caveat was that I still had to use my own shampoo and conditioner to rinse out the relaxer on top of what came with this kit, due to the fact that the amount of shampoo and conditioner available in this product may not be enough for some using this relaxer. Both my husband and some of my fellow coworkers gave positive compliments for how my hair. This relaxer is customized the most for women with type 3 or type 4 hair (long or short hair), but may be too harsh for women with type 2 (wavy) hair. Part of my own hair's texture comes from my late paternal Grandmother's side (she was a Black American woman from Alabama). However, many men and women from various racial demographics and with type 3 and type 4 hair would most likely benefit from the regular version of this Sof'n'freen'pretty Olive & Sunflower Oil No-Lye Relaxer. ARTPOP  Gaga's Recent Artistic Effort, November 11, 2013 Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: ARTPOP (Audio CD) With conviction, I actually wanted to enjoy and rate "Artpop" much higher. My husband gifted me with tickets to a Lady Gaga concert on the Christmas Eve of 2010 and I liked both her Fame Monster and Born This Way cds. Additionally, I can sense that she tried her musical best with song creations such as "Venus", "Do What U Want" (feat. R. Kelly), and Dope. She even bravely pours out her sensual side with such tunes as G.U.Y. and Sexx Dreams. The only reason why I reluctantly give it three stars is because I was hoping for the similar musical energy that birthed "Edge of Glory" and "You & I". However, many diehard fans of Lady Gaga a.k.a as her little monsters may enjoy "Artpop". Saturday November 26 2013 Reviews (Images and Text From Amazon, Yelp, and New York Daily) Sweeter Than Fiction (From "One Chance" Soundtrack)  Blissful Romance, November 16, 2013 This review is from: Sweeter Than Fiction (From "One Chance" Soundtrack) (MP3 Music) I wish that I could make out the full meaning of this song. However, I would have to guess that “Sweeter Than Fiction” by Taylor Swift appears to be a tune about someone who is in love with a person who is a dream come true. “Sweeter Than Fiction” is best for those who like upbeat pop tunes. Perfume  Potential Love Triangle Dilemma?, November 16, 2013 This review is from: Perfume (MP3 Music) "Perfume" by Britney Spears is more of a romantic ballad that appears to be about a woman trying to see where she stands with a love interest. She sings about "making her mark" on him with perfume. In real-life, this would be too much of a soap opera-ish way of handling a romantic rival. However, in all fairness, the artistic quality of this pop love ballad is there. Supperclub: Seduction  Meal Group Music Gathering?, November 16, 2013 This review is from: Supperclub: Seduction (Audio CD) “Supperclub Seduction” is a two disc set that contains twenty six tracks by different artists that combine jazz with slight hints of lounge-like melodies. This compilation has a quiet vibe to it and is more for those who listen to this music set in a quiet space of their living space. The best way to describe “Supperclub Seduction” is more as a various world jazz compilation due to the inclusion of various artists such as Toby Tobias with Macascu (Motor City Drum Ensemble Loft) and Blue Cinema by Taron Trekka. Now 48: That's What I Call Music  2013 Winter Party Anthems?, November 16, 2013 Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Now 48: That's What I Call Music (Audio CD) Now 48: That’s What I Call Music includes twenty songs by various artists ranging from Paramore,Avicii, Lady Gaga, Maroon 5, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Robin Thicke, Bruno Mars, AWOLNation, Lana Del Rey, and multiple others. Most of the artists represent the electronic, dance, pop music genres, and at least one representing the country genre (Luke Bryan). I admit that “Slow Down” by Selena Gomez , “Brave” by Sara Baraeilles, Treasure by Bruno Mars, Still Into You by Paramore, and Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke are some of my favorite songs on Now 48. There is something for the many who listen to top 40 music on Now 48: That’s What I Call Music. Now That's What I Call a Country Party  Country Music Mini-Sampler, November 16, 2013 Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Now That's What I Call a Country Party (Audio CD) Now That’s What I Call A Country Party is a various artist cd that contains 18 songs from various country artists from the 2000’s. My husband mentioned that he liked “Red Solo Cup” by Toby Keith because it brilliantly tells a story of someone (via a drunken stupor) describing drinking with their friends at a party in a natural sort of way. This collection is perfect for someone who prefers to have most of the top country hits in a various artist collection without having to always amass single artist cds. My only caveat is that more artists could have been included such as: Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Kenney Chesney etc. However,Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, Gretchen Wilson are some of the multiple artists available on Now That’s What I Call A Country Party. Yelp Reviews Filter by:  Location    Category 624 E St NW Washington, DC 20004 Taylor Gourmet   Category: Sandwiches Neighborhood: Penn Quarter  11/16/2013 I successfully convinced my husband to try Taylor Gourmet. My husband has the Bensalem sandwich while I had a Packer Avenue sandwich. Both of us found our meals delicious while also enjoying and sharing scrumptious sides of risotto balls with marinara and a zesty sausage soup with parmesan and what looked like kale.  I saved some of my remaining packer avenue sandwich for my husband and ordered a Cherry street sandwich to go (eat for later). Edit Remove Send To A Friend Link to This Review 1632 Crystal Square Arc Arlington, VA 22202 (800) 275-8777 US Post Office   Category: Post Offices Neighborhood: Pentagon City  11/16/2013 This Arlington Virginia post office has good customer service and takes care of your concern efficiently.  I recently went there with a post office box query and the worker handling my question cared enough to make me feel welcome to come back in the future. Edit Remove Send To A Friend Link to This Review 7370 Baltimore Ave College Park, MD 20740 Bank of America   Category: Banks & Credit Unions   11/16/2013 First to Review My husband and I went to this College Park, Maryland Bank of America this past Friday evening and had a money request handled very quickly. What I liked the most was that the representative handling our personal request cared enough to see what questions she would could take care of right away, while minimizing wait time. New York Daily News Story Titled Senate likely to postpone bill on how military investigates sexual assault. The link to this story is important for greater public awareness due to the fact that the bill would help open the pathway for more unbiased investigation into sexual assault cases.  Additionally, I have also included a website link (sent to me via e-mail) on those who may be interested in viewing further information and signing a petition involving making the military environment safer for rape survivors to report incidents and get much needed justice through authorities who would be impartial to the accused: http://act.credoaction.com/go/2737?t=5&akid=9469.5837902.gsnpuI Senate likely to postpone bill on how military investigates sexual assault Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/senate-delay-bill-military-sexual-assault-investigations-article-1.1519006#ixzz2kox7lUYa Saturday November 23, 2013 Reviews Images And Reviews From Amazon.com Money Magazine - March 2013 - Single Issue Magazine - Retire the Way You Want!  Money Magazine: 2013 Retirement Edition, November 23, 2013 This review is from: Money Magazine - March 2013 - Single Issue Magazine - Retire the Way You Want! Special Retirement Issue of Money Magazine: Retire The Way You Want caught my attention due to my own stronger awareness that I am now at a life stage that the actions I take this year are pivotal for how the mid 2020’s to later are going to be for my husband and I. Practical articles included in this issue are such titles as “Get More Out Of Your Closet Space”, Dream Big, Act Now: Six Secrets of Retirement, and Quittin Time (features of three couples who are taking steps on their retirement planning). Yes, I am aware that my actions related to personal finance today are also going to define and shape what type of retirement that is created. My only caveat is that a feature on ideas to consider when planning an eventual move to a lower cost area as an indirect move towards retirement planning would also make for a great inclusion in Money Magazine’s retirement edition. I admit that I say this because both my husband and I enjoy living in the Washington D.C. area, but are now planning a move to a lower cost area for the long-term. We are both doing this with both eyes open because we use to live in this particular area and know what to expect. I am a prior military veteran with a bachelor’s degree and I’m fortunate to be a generously paid Walmart employee (neither my husband or I receive any government assistance). I must refrain from disclosing the area that my husband and I are planning to move to for now, especially because I would prefer to only publicly mention it after I’ve already moved there. It is also because I want to be considerate to my employer due to the fact that I was told with my orientation group that we were the top applicants out of the approximate eleven thousand people that applied for Walmart employment (only around 2.5% of applicants were initially accepted). What this has to do with the retirement issue is that I appreciate my generous Walmart pay and calculated that my pay would go much farther in the region that my husband and I would move to for our long term retirement goals. Aside from the moving to a lower cost area for retirement planning caveat, this special retirement issue of Money Magazine (March 2013) is a high quality read especially for those in the beginning stages of retirement planning. Lights On In Heaven by (Biographer) Richard Haines  A Medium’s Spiritual Light, November 23, 2013 This review is from: Lights On In Heaven (Paperback) Yes, I know that I was supposed to postpone reviewing further books until 2016, but I changed my mind due to an intuitive and logical feeling that my life path is indirectly related to sharing and being exposed to a wide range of books from various book genres. I feel this way very strongly even if some of the men and women I know, respect, and admire judge me for doing so. Lights On In Heaven: A Biography of The Spiritualist Medium Cerris Hulse by Richard Haines caught my attention due to the emphasis on how her life purpose was shaped. I was both shocked and relieved for her when she recounted how her first husband treated her before she left him and went on to meet her second husband who treats her much better some time later. Fortunately, my own husband is good to me (through both great and challenging times)and sees the brilliance in me. Hulse bravely shares how her past lifetimes shaped her current personality and interactions with her own guide. Her journey towards becoming a spiritualist medium is also peppered with some of her own spiritual beliefs. She makes some persuasive points on the spirit realm and bravely shares how finding what she was meant to do indirectly strengthen her self-confidence. However, one of the few areas I respectfully disagree with her on is the spiritual evolution of men and women who commit suicide. She basically implies that most suicides have to reincarnate back on earth and are not allowed to progress in the higher planes of the spiritual realms. She may or may not be right about this, but I believe that there is a chance that some souls of who committed suicide can still progress into higher worlds even without reincarnating back on earth in accordance with the intent behind the suicide and the soul’s spiritual advancement. In other words, it is not another human beings place to judge those who do commit suicide and only the suicide’s higher self in conjunction with other advanced beings of light (in the non-physical realms) can make that call on the next step in such a serious situation (not another human being regardless of how psychic or highly intelligent they may be). Please know that I personally do not condone suicide and I know that I am going to always have the strength to live out the rest of my life due to a feeling that I am on this earth (during this current lifetime) for a reason. However, I also have compassion for the psychological and spiritual causes of what could drive other people to successfully carry out such a controversial act. Aside from this caveat, Lights On In Heaven: A Biography of The Spiritualist Medium Cerris Hulse by Richard Haines is a meaningful read. The Best Of Nickelback Volume 1  Nickelback’s Greatest Hits Sampler, November 23, 2013 Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: The Best Of Nickelback Volume 1 (Audio CD) The Best of Nickelback Volume 1 features a strong range of this band’s rock hits across the span of their career. There are a range of popular and fantastic songs on this compilation such as “Photograph”, “Rockstar”, “Savin Me”, “If Today Was Your Last Day”, “Far Away”, “Lullaby”,“If Everyone Cared”, and “This Afternoon.” My first Nickelback collection was “All The Right Reasons” and was purchased by my husband as a birthday gift for me around what I believe was Autumn 2007. However, many newcomers to the music of Nickelback would also like many of the songs on this collection. Sunday November 24, 2013 I understand that I already discussed it a few days ago, but I felt compelled to bring up another e-mail I received from those concerned about a petition designed to bring justice to survivors of sexual assault (while serving in the military) spearheaded by Teresa Youngs: Hi! I just signed the petition "Justice for Military Sexual Trauma Victims: Pass the Military Justice Improvement Act S.967 #MJIA " on Change.org. It's important. Will you sign it too? Here's the link: http://www.change.org/petitions/justice-for-military-sexual-trauma-victims-pass-the-military-justice-improvement-act-s-967-mjia?share_id=GKjEnDotJB&utm_campaign=signature_receipt&utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_petition Friday November 29, 2013 Reviews Images and Text From Yelp and Amazon Filter by:  Location    Category 3500 East West Hwy Hyattsville, MD 20782 (301) 559-8844 Sarku Japan   Categories: Food Court, Japanese   11/29/2013 I decided to eat some quick food  at Sarku Japan at the food court before catching a movie. The pros: delicious samples were given by one of the cooks. Both the cooks and cashier were cheerful to me.  I also found their chicken dumplings with Siriacha sauce to be tasty.  The food was affordable and at a low cost for what I got. The cons: I had also ordered the soba with chicken teriyaki pieces. I ended up only eating a few bites of the chicken and soba noodles because the Teriyaki chicken pieces had much less sauce than the samples and were not cooked enough to my personal liking. This made me also not want to eat the noodles due to the fact that I had the chicken put on them.  In their defense, I am a picky and finicky eater, which is why there are some that would like this place more than I did.  However, I do wish them much success and prosperity. It was just that I had to be honest on how the food tasted to me. How To Retire Early: Your Guide to Getting Rich Slowly and Retiring on Less by Robert Charlton Edition: Paperback  Retirement Goals, November 29, 2013 Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: How To Retire Early: Your Guide to Getting Rich Slowly and Retiring on Less (Paperback) How To Retire Early by Robert & Robin Charlton contains information on what the couple did to make their dreams of early retirement come true within 15 years. They admit that being a child-free couple helped them to succeed with their 15 year retirement goal. However, they also emphasize how their ideas could also work for those who have children. They also mention the pros and cons of renting versus owning a home. There is also discussion around healthcare, but this edition is before the recent laws that have been passed. They also discuss the pros and cons of living in one area versus moving around. This was important to me because my husband and I intend to retire and stay in the United States of America. I’m thankful to have been born in America and both my husband and I are proud to be American citizens. This book is packed with much more vital information around the retirement goal for those who would like to achieve this objective within 25 years or less. Sam Walton: Made In America by Sam Walton Edition: Mass Market Paperback  Inside The Mind of Walmart’s Founder, November 29, 2013 This review is from: Sam Walton: Made In America (Mass Market Paperback) I felt compelled to check out “Made In America” by Sam Walton out of curiosity and pride with being a Walmart employee. I was exposed to some of Walton’s philosophy during my orientation and felt curious to check out more. The following are some of the tidbits included in “Made In America” by Sam Walton: Pages 1-3: He mentions how his life changed after interviewing with Forbes magazine in October 1985 (after he was named the “richest man in America). A harrowing experience is also recalled when he talks about being “ambushed by The Lifestyles Of The Rich and Famous Guy” at a tennis tournament. Page 70: Jim Walton recalled how some writers thought that his father (Sam Walton) was a “grand strategist who psychically carried out plans and actualized them with precision”. However, he mentions that the reality was that his father actually “thrived on change” when it came to many decisions. Pages 80-81: Sam Walton listed some of his family pictures such as those of this parents and grandparents, as well as his wife, children, and a Ben Franklin franchise in Newport, Arkansas. Page 95: Sam Walton created and wrote down a five year plan of the business ideas that he intended to accomplish. He mentioned that he saved these plans for a long time and found (several years later) that his target goals were exceeded by at least 15 to 20 percent. Pages 240-241: There is an inclusion of more pictures from Sam Walton’s years with Walmart such as a happy picture of him with his wife Helen. There is also a fascinating 1990 feature of HillaryClinton as Wal-Mart’s Board of Directors. There is also a postscript by Rob Walton due to the fact that Sam Walton was in the final stages of his life when writing this book. There is much more featured in “Made in America” by Sam Walton for those who are curious to know more about the founder behind Walmart and the actual company of Walmart. Meltdown - EP  Stirring Musical Experimentation, November 29, 2013 Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Meltdown - EP (MP3 Music) I have been familiar with Pitbull since the period of 2004 when I was living in California and heard his "Culo" and "Toma" songs that were played on one of the mainstream radio stations. This Meltdown EP takes a completely different music direction from his early days in an enjoyable type of way. I only purchased Meltdown as its own music purchase due to already previously purchasing and liking "Global Warming" in November 2012 (which is also fun to listen to). Timber is my favorite song from the Meltdown collection due to the light-hearted music blend of dance and folk/country music. Do It And Sun In California would probably make good club hits, especially with the dance vibe of Sun In California. However, I confess that All The Things and That High even more due to the electronic and dance vibe. Additionally, I feel that Pitbull's uninhibited music spirit comes out even more in All The Things and That High.Greatest Hits  Dido’s Heartfelt Vocals Showcase, November 29, 2013 Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Greatest Hits (Audio CD) I remember first hearing “Here With Me” by Dido in during the period of Autumn 2000. Fast forward to 2002 when I met my husband and I noticed that he also listened to Dido. Naturally, I have good memories of her music and decided to give her Greatest Hits collection a listen. She includes many of the popular and unique songs on this collection such as Thank You, White Flag, Here With Me, Hunter, and Stan (feat. Eminem). I also liked Sand In My Shoes. It is a good song, but I would have to say that Stan is among the most tragic due to the track being about a music fan taking their admiration to dangerous extremes. Aside from this, Dido’s Greatest Hits is great for those who like music with blends of pop and indie rock music. Texas - Greatest Hits  Musical Brightness, November 29, 2013 This review is from: Texas - Greatest Hits (Audio CD) Music by Texas first came into my awareness in the early 2000’s (around 2001-2002) when I first heard her song “Inner Smile” on a European music import that was purchased in Hong Kong. I then heard her music again on a different European music import collection in Japan via her “Summer Sun” song around 2002. I reluctantly confess that this song helped get me through a dramatic breakup from one of my ex-lovers before having the good fortune of eventually meeting my husband. I then knew that I had to eventually get the music by Texas after hearing the “Inner Smile” song after watching the “Bend It Like Beckham” film around the 2005-2007 timeframe. Finally, I had the chance to purchase the Texas Greatest Hits collection in January 2010 (while living in Orlando, Florida). There are 18 songs on this quality collection in addition to the two great songs I just mentioned such as “In Demand”, “Say What You Want”, “So In Love With You”, “In Our Lifetime” and others. Greatest Hits by Texas is best for those who enjoy 90’s/early 2000’s pop music with hints of indie rock and dance melodies. Magic Summertime  Dancing Sunshine, November 29, 2013 This review is from: Magic Summertime (Audio CD) Magic Summertime has a total of 60 songs spread across three cds from an eclectic range of artists. Please know that I understand that favorite songs on this collection are going to differ from each person. However, the following listing is a representation of the variety available on this collection for those with eclectic music tastes: Rock Your Body by Justin Timberlake, Walking On Sunshine by Katrina & The Waves, Whenever Wherever by Shakira, The River Of Dreams by Billy Joel, Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley, Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden, Baby I Love Your Way by Big Mountain, Love Shack by The B-52’s, Gold by Spandau Ballet, Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer, The River Of Dreams by Billy Joel,and Rhythm Is Gonna Get You by Gloria Estefan. I also admit that “You’re Still The One” by Shania Twain and Sunshine by Gabriel are also some of the songs that I greatly enjoy from Magic Summertime. This is because Sunshine by Gabriel perfectly describes how I feel about my husband. Due to this wide range of music, Magic Summertime is best for those who listen to various music genres. Armada Trance 18  Home and/or Festival Trance, November 29, 2013 Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Armada Trance 18 (Audio CD) I admit that I only heard about the Armada Trance series after discovering it one of the music merchandise stores sponsored by Armin Van Buuren. My first collection contained fun chillout music, which eventually influenced me to hear some of the electronica/trance collections. Armada Trance 18 is a continuation of an intriguing electronic/dance/trance music series that include various artists such as Chicane, Ferry Corsten, Christian Burns, Armin Van Buuren himself, Art, Orjan Nilsen, Markus Schulz, Sara Howells, BT, York, Conjure One, Leigh Nash, ATB, Dash Berlin, Paul Oakenfold, Ashley Wallbridge, and many more. There are 40 tracks combined in this music collection. This is a great trance collection for parties and/or when you crave a jolt of upbeat music energy.Tomorrowland 2013: Arising of Life  Music Sampler Of Trance/Electronic Hybrids, November 29, 2013 This review is from: Tomorrowland 2013: Arising of Life (Audio CD) Tomorrowland 2013: Arising Of Life caught my attention due to my previous enjoyment of the 2012 series. Additionally, I stumbled across the official Tomorrowland music channel that is on youtube. Their official youtube channel is a perfect place to visit if you would like to hear extended samples of the songs available on Tomorrowland 2013. Tomorrowland 2013: The Arising of Life is a two disc (double cd set) that has 26 tracks on the first cd and 15 music sets on the second cd. My personal favorite from this collection is Like Home by Nicky Romero & Nervo. However, many more gifted musicians are featured on this collection such as Zedd, Martin Garrix, Alesso, Armin Van Buuren, Trevor Guthrie, Hardwell & Diro feat. Bright Lights, Yves V and more. A complete track listing is currently available on Amazon Germany. Frozen DVD ~ Kristen Bell  Thawing A Frozen Heart, November 29, 2013 This review is from: Frozen (DVD) “Frozen” is a colorful animated film involving two sisters named Anna and Elsa gifted with unique snow magic. Elsa is aware of the talents that exist in both her and Elsa. However, Elsa has certain reasons for keeping them secret. Meanwhile, they are both part of a prestigious and royal lineage. This sets the stage for other people of noble birth who want to come and visit the sisters. Anna more than welcomes the visit, but Elsa is naturally nervous about ways to deal with this. I also liked one of the hidden positive messages to the film where it is implied that it is possible that a person can often have more power within them than they realize. “Frozen” is a lively holiday movie that is safe for all ages. Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special: The Day of the Doctor  Potential Realities, November 29, 2013 This review is from: Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special: The Day of the Doctor (DVD) The Day Of The Doctor features both Matt Smith and David Tennant who unexpectedly collide with each other in this episode/film. There is also a serious meeting with their past incarnation from their homeworld (played by John Hurt). They are important to dealing with shapeshifters who seem to want to invade the earth. All three men do an illustrious job of collaborating together in their roles as time lords who must deal with both their home world of Gallifrey and the shapeshifters. It was a good idea to have Bille Piper return. Billie Piper and Jenna Coleman also give strong performances in their roles as vital helpers to the Doctor’s personal evolution (Coleman in the companion role and Piper as a powerful interface of a superweapon). Parts of the plot involve returning to the time era of Queen Elizabeth. I must refrain from saying more out of consideration for those who have yet to see The Day Of The Doctor. However, this is a thrilling science fiction movie that plays with the idea of what can happen if one is given the chance to see their future selves materialize before them. The website of bbcamericadotcom contains further details on The Day Of The Doctor and the actors/actresses who are also part of the film. Best of Keane [2 Disc Deluxe Edition]  Keane’s Musical Emotions, November 29, 2013 Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Best of Keane [2 Disc Deluxe Edition] (Audio CD) The Best by Keane (2 Disc Deluxe Edition) is a double disc set featuring 20 songs on the first disc and 18 songs on the second disc. “Somewhere Only We Know”, “Is It Any Wonder”, “Higher Than The Sun”,“Everybody’s Changing”, and “BedShaped” are among the hits on this collection. The Best (2 Disc Deluxe Edition) by Keane is best for those while like alternative rock and/or indie rock. Somewhere Only We Know  Velvety And Superb Vocal Cover, November 29, 2013 This review is from: Somewhere Only We Know (MP3 Music) “Somewhere Only We Know” by Lily Allen caught my attention due to my previous enjoyment and familiarity with “Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane. I like both versions, but admit that Lily Allen puts her unique and passionate spin on the song. She sings extremely well on this cover and gives a believable portrayal of singing it as if it may have been the story of her life in past experiences (whether or not this happened). The cover is available to listen to on youtube and is best for those who are familiar with Keane’s rock version and/or enjoy smooth synth-pop ballads.