Reviews

Books. Movies. Gadgets.

Friday, August 18, 2006

 

Failure to Launch with Sarah Jessica Parker


Overview


Failure to Launch with Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew McConaughey is a story of a man who seems content living at home. Consequently, his parents hired a woman to motivate him to move out. Of course, the relationship turns into a little more than that, which causes the movie to get interesting.

The Good
The Bad
Final Opinion

Failure to Launch is a decent comedy. However, I can't say it's one of the best that I've seen. Failure to Launch is pretty average in my opinion.

Sunday, August 13, 2006

 

United 93 (Directed by Paul Greengrass)


Overview


United 93, which starred Christian Clemenson and Trish Gates and was directed by Paul Greengrass, is an account of one of the hijacked planes on 9/11. It depicts the heroic actions of the plane's passengers to ultimately block to terrorists from flying the plane to its planned destination.

The Good
The Bad
Final Opinion

While the film leaves you almost feeling sick, it does so because it was so well done. United 93 really illustrated to me how remarkable the passengers on that plane really were.

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The Office: Season Two


Overview


The Office: Season Two is a comedy about a group of office workers. It is a remake of a BBC hit television series. Steve Carell plays the role of a the somewhat goofy manager who attempts to keep his employees on his side while maintaining his inflated ego.

The Good
The Bad
Final Opinion

If you enjoy office parodies, then The Office: Season Two is worth watching. I wasn't crazy about the first season, but I thought the second was a great effort.

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Tuesday, August 08, 2006

 

Palm Treo 700p Smartphone


Overview


The Palm Treo 700p Smartphone followed the release of the 700w--Palm's first Windows product. By most accounts, the Treo 700p is superior. It has a QWERTY keyboard, a 1.3 megapixel camera, additional memory, a digital music player, and Bluetooth technology. The Treo is really a compact all-in-one unit.
The Good
The Bad
Final Opinion

If you're looking for a feature-rich unit, the Palm Treo 700p may be the answer. It's a great solution for someone who is always on the go.

Monday, August 07, 2006

 

Competitive Strategy by Michael Porter

Overview

Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors by Michael Porter is often considered to be the gold standard when it comes to business strategy. It's a bit of a toolkit that can be used when determining strategy. While not terribly exciting, it's interesting, and covers the foundation of business strategy.

The Good


The Bad

Final Opinion

If you're involved in creating and implementing strategy, Competitive Strategy is a must. It may not be invigorating throughout, but it's a great toolkit.

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Kodak EasyShare LS753 Camera

Overview

The Kodak EasyShare LS753 camera was one of Kodak's first small cameras. Kodak's digital cameras have always had good picture quality, but this seemed to be the first model where they kept the size very reasonable.

The Good
The Bad
Final Opinion

This camera is a good value. For the average user, the Kodak EasyShare LS753 is a great camera at a reasonable price.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

 

Good to Great by Jim Collins


Overview


Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins is an examination of what allows some companies to become great, and what blocks others from ever doing so. He picked eleven cases to examine, including Walgreens and Wells Fargo. Ulimately, he is able to isolate the common characteristics of "great" companies and present them in the book.

The Good
The Bad
Final Opinion

It's a good read for anyone in business. It's not necessarily something I'd read over and over. However, Good to Great may give you some ideas to implement in your business.

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Friday, August 04, 2006

 

Office Space with Ron Livingston & Jennifer Aniston


Overview


Office Space with Ron Livingston and Jennifer Aniston has become a bit of a cult classic. The main character, Peter, becomes frustrated with the pressures and mindless work in his office. He later gets stuck in a hypnotic state and stops caring about his job. Yet, despite this, the consultants like him and lay off his harder working friends. Given Peter's state, he's happy to formulate a revenge plot and urge his friends to follow along.

The Good
The Bad
Final Opinion

If you have office experience, this movie is a must see. While it's not perfect, Office Space is funny from beginning to end.

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

 

The Wal-Mart Effect by Charles Fishman


Overview


The Wal-Mart Effect: How the World's Most Powerful Company Really Works--and How It's Transforming the American Economy
by Charles Fishman is an examination of Wal-Mart's impact on society. It looks at the positives that include lower prices for consumers, along with the negatives that come with those prices. For example, salmon is only $4.84 at Wal-Mart, but there is a reason that they can pull off such a low price.

The Good
The Bad
Final Opinion

It's the best book I've come across on the topic. If you're interested in Wal-Mart's impact on society, The Wal-Mart Effect is a worthwhile read.

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