Panasonic DVD Player
(Model No: DVD-S32)
RRP $139 AUD

I got this DVD Player for $128.00 at Dick Smith Electronics. It’s pretty lightweight so I decided to carry it disguised in a large plastic bag for a nervous peak-hour journey on the train.

Here are my thoughts on the features:

Multi Format Playback: DVD +R?RW,-R?RW, CD-R?RW, MP3,WMA & JPEG
It does have its limitations – it won’t play DVD-Rs recorded on a computer, just DVDCamcorder recordings


Easy to Operate
I can attest to this. It was amazing. This DVD player works the way all electronic appliances should work. You plug it in, turn it on, and it works!!

Honestly, in the past I have needed some kind of post-graduate degree in advanced electronics to tune in the video player, or get the dang thing to record! @$#^%#$%!


108MHz?12-bit Video DAC & PAL Progressive
Ok, I don’t know what this means, but I know progressive scan is good.


High quality picture
The picture is crystal clear!


Increased functionality through revised remote control
It’s great. I like the way you can switch from letterbox format, zoom in. It’s pretty cool.


Dimensions (WxHxD): 430mm x 43mm x 248mm
Yep, it’s thin and unobtrusive. I was worried about how it would look because it was competing for space with a video recorder and a PlayStation 2. Don’t know why I worried because you can hardly tell it’s there.


Colour: Silver
Hi-yo Silver away!!

...sorry about that last one.

I took the Canon Digital IXUS 55 for a test drive at the Melbourne Zoo.



The camera retails for around $300-400 AUD

I am not going to go into specs here - all I wanted to know was...

1. Does it take good pictures?
2. Can you make videos on it?
3. How long does the battery last?
4. Is it easy to use?

The answers, thankfully, were easy.

1. Yes, here is an example of one:



2. Yes, here is a cute one I filmed featuring Fairy Penguins and a cameo by a Gannet:



3. The battery is not the longest lasting in the world, but it lasts for enough time, just remember to turn it off when you're not using it. If you recharge it the morning you are going to use it, you should have no problems.

The screen is clear and easy to use. The size of the screen is a big plus.


My verdict - SUCCESS!!

This would be my choice for a digital camera - easy to use, good photos and with a big enough memory card, good videos as well.

My favourite shampoo used to be Pantene.

I have been using it since it came in the pink, purple and yellow packaging (circa 1980s)

But then they did the unthinkable. They changed the formula. Now it sucks.


Now when I wash my hair with Pantene, it tends to look like this:

As the saying goes, I can't do a thing with it!!

I got a free sample of Sunsilk Super Shine in the mail and decided to use it because
I'd run out of shampoo.


To my amazement my hair came out looking something like this:



It costs $4.99 in the supermarket, compared with the $9-$15 price range of Pantene. And it works.

I tried walking with hand weights last week and have been doing it ever since. Just me, some running shoes, 2 x 1kg hand weights and off I go.

The 1kg soft hand weights were approximately $30.00, which is at the upper end of the scale.



However, you can find various hand weights at your local sports store for approximately $2.49 - $7.99ea, (0.5kg - 2.0kg) and these will do just as well.



I personally wouldn't recommend walking with 3kg or heavier hand weights but that's me. Some people probably use 5kg! I use it to get my heart rate up, not to get clanging biceps!

I have found that this is the best exercise I have ever done - better than aerobics!!

I used to think that people walking with hand weights looked like dorks. But...after I got over my fear of dorkness, I've never looked back.

Happy Walking!!

Technorati Tags: hand weights walking sports exercise fitness weight loss shopping shop

Uuhuh uuhn huh!!

Ah....Lorraine. Lorraine Swanson. My favourite character on MADtv.



I found MADtv DVDs from $7.48US ($9.73AUS) at Amazon.com

I am having Mad TV withdrawal symptoms. Thank you, half-arsed Australian television!!! You really know how to program.

Take Mad TV off the air, put on "CSI ...(insert town here)"

Take away Supernatural, put on "20-1 Most Inane Moments in some field nobody cares about"

And sadly, take away the X-Files, put on "The Simpsons 100th episode for the 10,00000th $%@^?&^%@ing time!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I mean what is going on? Is it a conspiracy?

Are we handed crap TV on free-to-air (sheesh! It used to be called just plain old "Television" - I am so sick of weasel words) so we are forced to....

"JOIN US!!!!!" (sinister voice hissing)

...sign up to Foxtel or whatever and pay shitloads of money every month?

I don't know.

To give you an idea why I love MADtv so much, here is one of my favourite Lorraine moments:

Lorraine Buys a Bed

Buy the DVD, watch it on YouTube, however you do it, Lorraine Rocks!!!

Uuuuhh uuuh uhhh uhhh

huh

Technorati Tags: lorraine mad+tv madtv lorraine+swanson funny lorraine+buys+a+bed