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Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated Fitbit Versa in Tech
Aug 10, 2018
Color Screen (3 more)
Waterproof
Sleep Tracker
Fitness Tracker
Battery Life (1 more)
Not integrated with apple health
So far so good
I had a first generation Apple Watch and after 3 years it broke on me. When I started my journey into smart watches I kept thinking of all of the things I wanted my Apple Watch to do and everything that I used in functionality. Ultimately, I decided to try the Fitbit Versa.
One of the things that I love about the Fitbit Versa is that it is a sleep tracker along with a fitness tracker. That was the one thing I always felt was missing with my Apple Watch. I also love the fitbit app more than the apple health app. It gives you great insight and it seems a little more thorough information on your health, steps, floors, and what not.
One thing that I wish is that the battery life really was the 4 days that it promised. I tend to find that my Versa will need charging on that 3rd day. The other thing that I wish was offered was integration with the apple heath app. I don't use it often but I like when things actually work together.
All in all, this has a better battery life than the Apple Watch & some pretty cool screens.
One of the things that I love about the Fitbit Versa is that it is a sleep tracker along with a fitness tracker. That was the one thing I always felt was missing with my Apple Watch. I also love the fitbit app more than the apple health app. It gives you great insight and it seems a little more thorough information on your health, steps, floors, and what not.
One thing that I wish is that the battery life really was the 4 days that it promised. I tend to find that my Versa will need charging on that 3rd day. The other thing that I wish was offered was integration with the apple heath app. I don't use it often but I like when things actually work together.
All in all, this has a better battery life than the Apple Watch & some pretty cool screens.
Cori June (3033 KP) rated The Wolf and the Rain in Books
Dec 3, 2018
Voluntary honest review after receiving a free ARC.
An excellent book and fun read, if a bit of a bumpy beginning. It takes a little time to get into it.
After a collapse of civilization due to climate change. The North and South of a country has split into opposites. Divided by a heavily militarized border. The North is chaos and almost anarchy where the only authority are the elite compounds or the gangs there are many ways to die in the harsh living conditions. The people are ruled by superstition and fear. Most of the citizens are illiterate and disease is rampant, even if you go to a "stitcher" it is just as risky or riskier as doing nothing. In the South there is order and an almost totalitarian society where the government uses science and logic asking for complete obedience in return. And that you fill out a form for almost everything, even when choosing a sexual partner.
Samarra (Sam) is the main character. She has made a new home in the North after escaping from the South. She has a job as a carrier to one of the compounds that inhabit the North. Felling guilty about taking the place of a former teammate and daughter of a friend. She becomes obsessed with trying to find out what happened to the missing (possibly dead) girl.
An excellent book and fun read, if a bit of a bumpy beginning. It takes a little time to get into it.
After a collapse of civilization due to climate change. The North and South of a country has split into opposites. Divided by a heavily militarized border. The North is chaos and almost anarchy where the only authority are the elite compounds or the gangs there are many ways to die in the harsh living conditions. The people are ruled by superstition and fear. Most of the citizens are illiterate and disease is rampant, even if you go to a "stitcher" it is just as risky or riskier as doing nothing. In the South there is order and an almost totalitarian society where the government uses science and logic asking for complete obedience in return. And that you fill out a form for almost everything, even when choosing a sexual partner.
Samarra (Sam) is the main character. She has made a new home in the North after escaping from the South. She has a job as a carrier to one of the compounds that inhabit the North. Felling guilty about taking the place of a former teammate and daughter of a friend. She becomes obsessed with trying to find out what happened to the missing (possibly dead) girl.
Meagans life ended 2 years ago when her husband walked out the door and died in the war. She had to keep it together for her children and make a life for them to grow and thrive in. She never thought her broken heart would heal until one day the missing piece came back.
Edward left his family to go off to war, thinking he was making the right choice, he knows now it was for selfish reasons not legitimate ones. He was left for dead on the battlefield and now has a second chance at this family. He just has to believe he is worth the second chance.
Meagan has to work hard to get Edward to see that his life was spared for a reason. A reason to fight for his family this time and not fight for the country. He has some limitations with his injuries but she knows in her heart that her Edward is strong as ever. No matter how much Edward objects to her observations.
Edward must work past his own limitations to find his strength within. Seeing his children in a new light reaches deep in his soul and gives him the will to survive and thrive. Together they mend his broken spirit and remind each other of their love and strengths.
Edward left his family to go off to war, thinking he was making the right choice, he knows now it was for selfish reasons not legitimate ones. He was left for dead on the battlefield and now has a second chance at this family. He just has to believe he is worth the second chance.
Meagan has to work hard to get Edward to see that his life was spared for a reason. A reason to fight for his family this time and not fight for the country. He has some limitations with his injuries but she knows in her heart that her Edward is strong as ever. No matter how much Edward objects to her observations.
Edward must work past his own limitations to find his strength within. Seeing his children in a new light reaches deep in his soul and gives him the will to survive and thrive. Together they mend his broken spirit and remind each other of their love and strengths.
Michael Packner (32 KP) rated The Shining (1980) in Movies
Jun 19, 2019
The atmosphere is perfect. (1 more)
Jack Nicholson gives the performance of a lifetime.
Some of the film is confusing and/or hard to follow (2 more)
Shelly Duvall is underwhelming.
The movie is a tad too slow at times, drawing unwanted attention to how long it is.
Ok, this is the second time I've seen this film. The first time I hated it, even though I really wanted to like it. I found it boring and just pointless, minus Nicholson's truly amazing performance. I decided to give it a second chance because it is considered the greatest horror film of all time, and the current polar vortex just felt like the perfect opportunity to get in the mood. I definitely enjoyed it more this time around. It kept my interest throughout this time around, and there actually is quite a bit to love, but alas, I still find this film highly overrated. There are still so many parts that either don't do it for me or just simply don't make any fucking sense. Maybe I'm just missing something obvious. If that's the case, fair enough, but I don't quite entirely get it. Nicholson is still a god in this film and the film is fantastic at building true tension, but the greatest of all time this film simply is not. Sorry.
Lindsay (1771 KP) rated Storm Taken in Books
Jan 4, 2019
Storm Taken is one action packed but also as some different elements to it. It was enjoyable and really a good way to look at a storm and the way we prescriptive them. Ever wonder what it like to look at thunderstorm and wonder it something of it own.
There a storm that taking be surprised by all. Things start to go missing? Is there someone taking things with out anyone knowing. To the locals on Naples they do not know that the storm is feeding on something until they are trapped on the island and can not get off or anyone can get on the island.
Can a storm feed of fear and make people to turn on one another or will they unite? I wonder about this if a storm really can feed off our fear? Is it some weather weaponize from the government? Is is a freak storm? To know for sure it hard to say. But the story behind it is good. There seems to be few plots and is there a mad man running around?
The author does a really good job with it. There seems to be a bit mystery. We learn that we may need to learn survive and get along with neighbors. Will the families work together or will they start turning on each other?
There a storm that taking be surprised by all. Things start to go missing? Is there someone taking things with out anyone knowing. To the locals on Naples they do not know that the storm is feeding on something until they are trapped on the island and can not get off or anyone can get on the island.
Can a storm feed of fear and make people to turn on one another or will they unite? I wonder about this if a storm really can feed off our fear? Is it some weather weaponize from the government? Is is a freak storm? To know for sure it hard to say. But the story behind it is good. There seems to be few plots and is there a mad man running around?
The author does a really good job with it. There seems to be a bit mystery. We learn that we may need to learn survive and get along with neighbors. Will the families work together or will they start turning on each other?
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018) in Movies
Jan 4, 2019
Not as good as the first
I need to admit straight off that I was never a huge fan of the first Pacific Rim film. It was good, but never lived up to my admittedly high expectations. And I'm sad to say this sequel isn't even as good as the first.
What really let's this film down was the plot. It was ridiculously weak and silly, even for a film about giant machines and monsters. It was uninteresting and definitely made for a younger audience. Which was only too evident from the cast of mostly irritating teenagers. There also seemed to be a lot of minor characters thrown in for no real purpose whatsoever. The effects were good though and the fighting scenes were at least predictably impressive. These, along with a brilliant turn from John Boyega (who's sure to go even further than he has already), at least made this film bearable for its overly long run time. It's shame the rest of the cast were forgettable, although Charlie Dag wasn't half as irritating as he was in the original.
I'm afraid to say you can really tell that Guillermo Del Toro hasn't hand much of a hand in this. It's definitely missing some darkness,some seriousness and a little bit of heart. But like Transformers and other similar films, if you don't expect much then it's at least watchable.
What really let's this film down was the plot. It was ridiculously weak and silly, even for a film about giant machines and monsters. It was uninteresting and definitely made for a younger audience. Which was only too evident from the cast of mostly irritating teenagers. There also seemed to be a lot of minor characters thrown in for no real purpose whatsoever. The effects were good though and the fighting scenes were at least predictably impressive. These, along with a brilliant turn from John Boyega (who's sure to go even further than he has already), at least made this film bearable for its overly long run time. It's shame the rest of the cast were forgettable, although Charlie Dag wasn't half as irritating as he was in the original.
I'm afraid to say you can really tell that Guillermo Del Toro hasn't hand much of a hand in this. It's definitely missing some darkness,some seriousness and a little bit of heart. But like Transformers and other similar films, if you don't expect much then it's at least watchable.
Lee (2222 KP) rated Mary Poppins Returns (2018) in Movies
Dec 22, 2018
Good but not as memorable as the original
To be honest, I'm kind of struggling to know what to say about this. The main thing is, I enjoyed it, and the rest of my family loved it too. It just wasn't enough to leave any big lasting impression on me. The songs are all good, usually accompanied by some wonderful visuals and fun choreography, but none of the songs are particularly memorable. There's nothing that I can imagine being as repeatable, or as catchy as 'A spoonful of sugar' for example. Emily Blunt is wonderful as always and the movie does a fantastic job of paying homage to the original Mary Poppins and keeping to the style and tone of the movie, there's just something missing that I can't quite put my finger on. I can remember leaving the cinema after seeing The Greatest Showman a year ago, having the songs stuck in my head, downloading the soundtrack and wanting to see the movie again. I didn't really feel like that at all with Mary Poppins Returns.
That being said, this is still a good fun family movie and if you enjoyed the original you should find enjoyment in this. With all the doom and gloom in the world right now, the world definitely needs something like this for all the family to enjoy at Christmas time.
That being said, this is still a good fun family movie and if you enjoyed the original you should find enjoyment in this. With all the doom and gloom in the world right now, the world definitely needs something like this for all the family to enjoy at Christmas time.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Remnants of Ash (Reign of Fae #1) in Books
Dec 4, 2019
Mere mortal. Fae hunter. Oh, and the apocalypse? Yeah, that happened!
She’s an unstoppable human. He’s an immovable beast. But the Fae have scorched the earth, thrusting it into unending darkness, and humans are next...
Through her research, University of Washington student Chloe Etain stumbled into an ancient war between the Light and Dark Fae that has culminated in her world being thrown into pre-industrial chaos. Dark Fae scum now roam free, feeding on unsuspecting humans. Chloe knows the truth though and, possibly, how to stop it. But as a mere mortal, what can she do?
That’s when the fates step in. Bram Tice, a fae hunting his own kind, vows to help Chloe. But he won’t say which Court demands his allegiance. Together, they set out to right the imbalance plaguing her world and save humanity before they turn into nothing more than remnants of ash.
This has been in my tbr pile for a while so I was looking forward to getting stuck in.
I can't really say I enjoyed it it wasn't a bad read but something was missing for me.
The storyline seemed to have a few holes and it was quite jumpy in parts (not the scary jumpy either 🤣 )
I will continue with book 2 as I don't like to give up on any series.
⭐⭐⭐
She’s an unstoppable human. He’s an immovable beast. But the Fae have scorched the earth, thrusting it into unending darkness, and humans are next...
Through her research, University of Washington student Chloe Etain stumbled into an ancient war between the Light and Dark Fae that has culminated in her world being thrown into pre-industrial chaos. Dark Fae scum now roam free, feeding on unsuspecting humans. Chloe knows the truth though and, possibly, how to stop it. But as a mere mortal, what can she do?
That’s when the fates step in. Bram Tice, a fae hunting his own kind, vows to help Chloe. But he won’t say which Court demands his allegiance. Together, they set out to right the imbalance plaguing her world and save humanity before they turn into nothing more than remnants of ash.
This has been in my tbr pile for a while so I was looking forward to getting stuck in.
I can't really say I enjoyed it it wasn't a bad read but something was missing for me.
The storyline seemed to have a few holes and it was quite jumpy in parts (not the scary jumpy either 🤣 )
I will continue with book 2 as I don't like to give up on any series.
⭐⭐⭐
Ross (3284 KP) rated Siege and Sacrifice in Books
Dec 12, 2019
A good conclusion
Contains spoilers, click to show
The final part of this trilogy starts with what should be an almighty conflict. The (somewhat damp squib of a) second book in the series ended with the much-feared monster being summoned into the body of the presumed-dead Anon, Sandis' brother. Sadly, this opening scene is short-lived as the heroes scarper and live to fight another day (though admittedly it was always going to be that way!).
That opening anti-climax out of the way, this book is a more intelligent and thoughtful one that the previous two. Finally we have some answers and insight into the world we are in, and where the ancient mystical race went, as well as where the summoned demons come from. While I didn't feel this was missing from the first two books, it is good to have some answers and extra world-building to get stuck into.
The first third of the book rattles along quite well, the humans trying to track down the host of the demon and hence stop its daily attacks. The middle third was a bit of a slog, with much less happening, quite heavy on the exposition and endless narrative descriptions. The final was much more pacey, though I was starting to tire of the book by then and skimmed some chapters.
All in all a good conclusion to an enjoyable series.
That opening anti-climax out of the way, this book is a more intelligent and thoughtful one that the previous two. Finally we have some answers and insight into the world we are in, and where the ancient mystical race went, as well as where the summoned demons come from. While I didn't feel this was missing from the first two books, it is good to have some answers and extra world-building to get stuck into.
The first third of the book rattles along quite well, the humans trying to track down the host of the demon and hence stop its daily attacks. The middle third was a bit of a slog, with much less happening, quite heavy on the exposition and endless narrative descriptions. The final was much more pacey, though I was starting to tire of the book by then and skimmed some chapters.
All in all a good conclusion to an enjoyable series.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2379 KP) rated Murder on the Half Shell in Books
Feb 5, 2020
Life’s Not Quite a Beach
Penelope Sutherland and her catering crew are working on a period mystery filming on an island in Florida. Penelope has hired a few locals to help out, including two teen girls who work part time as servers. After a party one Friday night, the teens disappear. Suspicion falls on Emilio, one of the chefs that Penelope studied under at culinary school. Penelope doesn’t want to believe her old teacher is guilty, but there is something in his past that makes Penelope doubt her judgement. Where are the girls? Who is responsible for what is going on?
It’s been a few years since I read the first in this series, and I didn’t remember who everyone was. Sadly, this book assumes you remember the relationships, and it took me longer than it should have to figure out those connections. The characters are good, but they don’t feel fully developed to me. I was pulled into the plot, however, with the missing teens making it easy to care about the outcome. There are plenty of twists and turns, and the climax was satisfying. Being able to visit a beach location during the winter was a great treat, and I found the balance of the mystery with the slower life of the island was well done. This is a quick read, and I enjoyed it.
It’s been a few years since I read the first in this series, and I didn’t remember who everyone was. Sadly, this book assumes you remember the relationships, and it took me longer than it should have to figure out those connections. The characters are good, but they don’t feel fully developed to me. I was pulled into the plot, however, with the missing teens making it easy to care about the outcome. There are plenty of twists and turns, and the climax was satisfying. Being able to visit a beach location during the winter was a great treat, and I found the balance of the mystery with the slower life of the island was well done. This is a quick read, and I enjoyed it.