The War Lust

So it has admittedly been a while.  But the Opinion Company is back!  Let's review some stuff....

Book: The War Lovers: Roosevelt, Lodge, Hearst, and the Rush to Empire, 1898
Published: 1 edition (April 27, 2010)      480 pages
Rating: 3 of 5

Evan Thomas has authored a new and intriguing read on the events and players that lead America into war with Spain. I always enjoy historical information so I was excitied to read this one. After reading though, I have very mixed feelings.
On one hand Mr. Thomas does a great job in following the events (some even very minute) which lead to the conflict. He is unflinching when he points out the obvious war lust and blatant racism that drove the nation into a war that could've been avoided. I am more of a Civil War buff so it was nice to learn about this war in depth. I didn't honestly know a lot about it before picking up this book.
Another positive aspect is how in depth the author gets into the main characters. It was easily understandable and paints a very interesting picture of men like William Randolph Hearst and Thomas Reed. One can't help but wonder what would've happened if he had been elected president?

With all of the good points of the book though, I was also a little put off by a couple things. First and foremost there is a little too much conjecture in the book for me. I'm not saying that Mr. Thomas doesn't has some valid points. But some of it is a little confusing. I'm not really sure why William James is mentioned so thoroughly in the book. I'm assuming it is because he is an example of one of the deep thinkers in the USA at that time. So we get an insight into the mind of the intellectuals? Still doesn't really add to the book that much in my opinion.
And with a couple other reviewers I have to agree, I was wondering where was the comparison with the Bush administration. The book alludes to the idea that the Gulf War (the second one) corresponds with the push for war with Spain. But I really don't think it adds to the book. I'm not a Democrat or a Republican, but I don't think the author does a good job of proving his point either way. He should have chosen to put the idea to the fore and made backing points or he should've just dropped the idea completely.

PROS: Very insightful and in depth. Well researched. Lots of nice photographs give you a nice historical snapshot.
CONS: Seems to be a lot of conjecture in the book. Author alludes to a lot of background theories but doesn't really clearly state them.
BOTTOM LINE: Definitely a good addition to any readers bookshelf who is a history buff or enjoys following historical politics

Ex-Illis. High Hopes. Lots of Woes.

Game:  Miniature/ Wargaming

So what shall we talk about today?  I figure it's about time I start reviewing games to help you decide whether they are cool enough to play.  So first up I was thinking maybe we could discuss a game that used to be dear to my heart.....Ex-illis.  It was an exciting  miniature game.  But lets rate it's features to see how it stacks up.

Cost:
The game isn't very cheap.  A starter set (regular version) will run you about 80 bucks.  The deluxe is even more but you get a really nice board to play on.  One nice advantage is in the game, you buy army packs for what you need so there is no random booster crap.  You get what you pay for.  The miniatures aren't painted, or even glued together though.  So that's your job.  It's not my thing, that's for sure.  But if you aren't an avid mini collector then it does create a lot of start up cost.  You will need glue, paints, tweezers, etc.  Still it is cheaper than games like Warhammer.

Rules:
The rules actually make the game unique.  The fine folks at Ex-illis were trying to take miniature war games to the next level.  Remember Warhammer?  If you play it, you love it.  And if you don't play it, why is that?  It's all the  rules isn't it?!?  A game with 17 big books and a tape measure sounds slow and time consuming.  So what have the Ex-illis creators done?  They have created a game where you log in online to play.  So it keeps track of all the rules for you!  And also records wins and losses. Pretty nice huh?  Except till the servers go down.  Then you just got a bunch of crappy plastic minis.

Theme:
The theme is great.  The setting is medieval Europe and a group of heretics has raised a fog which killed a vast amount of people.  Also evil demons and creatures of darkness have poured into the world.  Now the world has been thrown into chaos.  It's a violent time for the world, and only the strong will survive.  It's super easy to get into the right mindset while playing this game.
To take it to the maximum level of geekiness, at the hobby store I used to play at we even had a map of countries that we will fight over trying to gain control of the whole world.

Overall:
I had such high hopes for this game.  But unfortunately it misses more than it hits.  Now the game is pretty much dead.  And I spent a bunch on minis.  My adivice is to avoid this one!

Probiotic For A Good Value

Product:  4X Pro-B Digestive Care Natural Probiotic
Pill Count: 28 (One Month Supply)
Method: Gradual Release
MSRP: 19.99
Rating: B-

First and foremost let's just point out that probiotics are not cheap at all. Align is a typical example of a pricey one. What is a probiotic? Simply put, it is a aid for your whole digestion system.  It contains millions of bacteria for your system.

I can't really comment on how effective the product is. I have a lot of stomach problems. But after trying multiple probiotics I have found that they just don't help me unfortunately. But I can review everything else about it.
The price is great as I just mentioned. Almost half what other probiotics charge you.
The pills aren't too big. They are easy to swallow. And you could even break them in half easier. Or even soften them up with your saliva. They don't have a nasty aftertaste either.
The blister pack does suck as usual. It's kinda tough to get a pill out without breaking it.

So overall I'd recommend this product. Just make sure you actually need a probiotic.

As Heavy As Air

Product:  Belkin MultiTasker  Case for iPad Air.  Leather.

Price:  59.99

Released:  Oct 2013

Rating:  D+

Can't recommend this one. It's not to say that it isn't a pretty product. It's very nice. The leather is classy looking and the case seems pretty durable. It does well locking in your iPad air in the plastic. But as another reviewer mentioned, unless you leave it in there all the time, you will start scratching it.

Also, maybe it's just me, but it starts making my hand sweat a lot after a while of holding it. Of course that could just be me.

The biggest sin of the case is that it's pretty darn heavy. No it's not like holding a ton of bricks. But one of the points of the Air is that it's light weight. And this completely nullifies that. Add in the price and I say save your money.

I'd Rather Be Alone In The Dark Without This Game

Video Game:  Alone In The Dark
Console:  Xbox 360
Rating: Mature
Rating: 0.4 of 5

This game has a couple of things that are good about it. The story is interesting. And....well, I guess that's it. The rest of the game is God awful. But for the sake of saving you money we'll break it down 1 by 1.

THE CONTROLS: 1 Star. Using one stick to move sucks. And having to use the other stick to swing, well you guessed it, that sucks too. Makes fighting really annoying. Makes, well everything really annoying.
THE CAMERA ANGLE: 1 Star. This is possibly more annoying than the controls. You'll be walking on the ledge at the edge of a building. It's all going good, and suddenly, bam! Screen changes and you walk off the ledge. This happens a lot. I also can't stand not being able to see what I'm fighting. That makes the game great too.
THE STORY: 4 Stars. The only thing even remotely redeeming about the game is the story. End of the world? Evil monsters? Scary creatures? Crazy holes that suck you into oblivion? Check! That's enjoyable at least.
HIT DETECTION: 1 Star. Horrible. Not only is it annoying how you have to use 1 stick to swing, it makes it a million times worse when you can't hit anything at all. You can be standing on top of an enemy and miss. At the same time though, you can be far away and hit.


BOTTOM LINE: Stay far, far, far away from this pile of dookie. Decent graphics and an interesting story can't even begin to make up for all of this stinker of a title. Two thumbs way down....

A Sobering Examination of WWI For Younger Readers

Book:  The War to End All Wars
Author:  Russell Freedman
Rating: 4.8 of 5.0

Russell Freedman has created in this book a chilling and straightforward pictorial on WWI. The book is aimed at 12 years old and up, but that doesn't mean that everyone won't appreciate the book. There is much to be intrigued by. The photos are especially haunting. None of them are gory or too shocking for a younger reader, but they still get their point across very well. Pictures of the trenches, early tanks, ships sinking, and a picture of the village of Wytschaete near Ypres all bring home the horrors of war.

Also to be appreciated about the book would be how the author keeps the synopsis of the war to such a straightforward narrative. So much happened in the 1914-1918 period politically and on the battlefront. But Mr. Freedman does an excellent job of getting the point across without bogging down in the plethora of facts.


A good book for anyone just starting to learn about WWI whether young or old. Worth picking up. Thumbs up.

What's The Point In Having a Phone You Can't Use?

Product:  OtterBox Armor Series Waterproof Case for Samsung Galaxy S III
Retail:  99.95
Category: Cell phone case
Waterproof: Yes
Rating: F

Horrible. That's the first and foremost thought I have about this case. The idea is solid. And it probably is waterproof. And it is definitely sturdy. But how much use is it when you can't use it?
First issue is the fact you just can't hear it. If you don't have a bluetooth you are out of luck there. You won't be able to hear through the speaker with the case on. Second issue is with the screen turning off. This feature is to save battery. It goes crazy with this case. I found myself almost unable to miss with it at all during a call.
The third problem I had was the buttons are almost completely unresponsive. Now I know how the Thing from the Fantastic Four feels when he tries to make a phone call.

So when you factor in the price plus all the things wrong with this case, I say save your money! This is the second OtterBox I have gotten for my Samsung Galaxy, and both of them were terrible. Avoid at all costs!

Growing Your Mixology Library

Book:  Wine Cocktails: 50 Stylish Sippers That Show Off Your Reds, Whites, and Roses (50 Series)
Author:  A. J. Rathbun
Rating: 4.0 of 5

First off, I have to say that I am a mid level wine enthusiast. I enjoy a full bodied red wine. I'm also a beer enthusiast as well (all craft beers). So on one level I wasn't interested in this book at all. I mean come on, the whole point of wine is to enjoy and savor it for it's own unique flavors. Not to dilute it where it tastes nothing like the grape at all.

So why did I review this book then? Well it is a great book if you appreciate it for what it actually is. It's not a 'wine lovers' guide or something as deep as that. I personally consider this book to be a great way to try out some new drinks. Most of us have our own little bar area. We add books on mixing drinks and making cocktails. Well, why not have this book as well?

Many of it's recipes are excellent for cool drinks during the summer. Can't you picture yourself right now floating in a pool enjoying a tall class of Sangria? Great book to add to your collection. Many of the recipes will be enjoyed by someone at your party. So I'm giving it thumbs up. Nice addition to your collection.

Get Moving!

Artist: Crash Kings
Album: Crash Kings
Rating: 4.5 of 5

Linda Perry is a pretty smart lady. Say what you will, the woman has an eye for talent. This is proved by this cd and many others. Sure we have all heard the #1 single Mountain Man, but how is the rest of the album?

Pretty darn good actually. The cd keeps the music upbeat and lively. Each song flows nicly into the next and keeps your foot tapping. It is piano driven and a little like The Fray, but has more rock injection in my opinion. How do the songs break down? Let's do the 1 to 5 scale (5 is the best).

Mountain Man - 4.8
Song speaks for itself. It's upbeat and will get you up and moving every time.

1985 - 4.2
Another upbeat song. This one could be a single as well.

It's only Wednesday - 4.4
This song is pretty cool for 2 reasons. One it shows off Tony Beliveau's vocal range nicely. And second, Ben Folds Five are back together! That's who they remind me of on this track.

Come Away - 4.0
You know, I am not a Crash Kings fanboy or anything. This album is just solid. Songs like this one are in the upper range because they are just that darn good!

Non Believer - 3.2
The third single from the cd. Good but nothing special in my opinion.

14 Arms - 4.8
Possibly the most rocking song on the whole cd. Listen to this and try not start bobbing to this one! I found this one of the most exciting songs on the whole cd.

Raincoat - 3.4
Another song that could have easily been a single.

You Got Me - 4.3
The second single. By this point in the record I decided I wanted to see them live. The energy is amazing.

Saving Grace - 3.6
It strikes me on this song how they are not just good songwriters, but also good musicians as well. Kudos!

My Love - 4.8
You might think the last song on the album would be filler, but it's honestly one of the best songs on the whole cd.


Total 41.5 / 50.0. Not too shabby! This cd is completely worth your hard earned money. No need to just buy single songs off amazon.com. Just fork the cash over for this great record.