Rockstar Energy Drink : Sugar Free

Rockstar Energy Drink : Sugar Free

This Rockstar Energy Drink tastes like Smarties; the candy. That’s despite the fact that it’s Sugar Free. If that bit has to do with health, the sucralose added in its place probably isn’t much better. There are also 160 milligrams of caffeine, which, according to the can, “provides feelings of increased alertness and reduced tiredness for up to 5 hours.”

my rating : 3 of 5

audio review : Immortal ( album ) … JT Money

audio review : Immortal ( album ) ... JT Money

JT Money is Immortal in the sense of being a permanent part of “hip-hop history”, but he’s more of a footnote than he seems to realize. He’s known mostly from Poison Clan; a duo; Debonaire actually drops a surprise verse here; turned group known mostly as a protégé of Uncle Luke. Now, like too many OGs in the game, he’s more concerned with making Mount Rushmore lists than making good songs.

my rating : 2 of 5

2024

G Fuel Energy Drink : Wumpa Fruit

G Fuel Energy Drink : Wumpa Fruit

This “limited edition” G Fuel Energy Drink is based on Crash Bandicoot 4. It’s About Time goes the subtitle, but it’s mostly about promotion as the drink was apparently created for the sole purpose of advertising the game. The flavor is Wumpa Fruit, appropriately enough, which is actually a fun apple mango blend.

my rating : 3 of 5

audio review : Please Come Out Tonight ( song ) … Phil Collins

“It’s so warm inside,” Phil Collins says, but the indication doesn’t make sense on a song that has him outside of presumably an ex-girlfriend’s window begging her to Come Out. The Tonight bit, over this lush and enchanting soundscape, makes for a fitting serenade. Then again his words may just be thoughts of what he would say if he had the courage to invite her back into his life.

my rating : 4 of 5

1993

audio review : Both Sides ( album ) ... Phil Collins

video review : Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

video review : Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

This sequel, which fans of the original had to wait 36 years for, is abysmally disappointing during its first half. It isn’t until Beetlejuice; the title cleverly makes way for a future trilogy; is conjured that the plot starts to come to life. It’s still a stupid movie; a definite drop down from the aforementioned original; but there are wacky bits of fun buried about.

my rating : 2 of 5

2024

video review : Beetlejuice

video review : Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice is supposed to be funny. It occasionally is; “I’ve been feeling a little flat”, says a man who looks like he was killed by a steamroller; but the nonstop jokes, led by its title comedian slash “bio-exorcist”, are mostly corny. The two lip-synced song/dance scenes; easily the worst parts of the movie; are downright cringey. A moderately entertaining plot, about a dead married couple trying to scare a family out of their house, lies (buried) underneath.

my rating : 3 of 5

1988

video review : Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

audio review : The Force ( album ) … LL Cool J

audio review : The Force ( album ) ... LL Cool J

If the cover art reminds you of a Tribe Called Quest album, there’s a reason for that. Every song here, rather its music, is produced by frontman Q-Tip. That makes this the most sonically cohesive and thoroughly hip-hop LL Cool album since Marley’s Marl’s Mama Said Knock You Out. The rapper is still a Force to be reckoned with. Best songs include Saturday Night Special and Black Code Suite.

my rating : 3 of 5

2024

audio review : Man-Sized Wreath ( song ) … REM

This is a frustrating listen. The chorus, with its background harmonization, sounds awesome; it’s one of the band’s best; but it doesn’t happen enough. It goes once on the first break, twice on the second and three times on the third, but it should be two, two and four. The rest of the song is well below par. I hate the way Michael Stipe says “Give me some”, though it’s cool how Mills drags that bit out at the end.

my rating : 3 of 5

2008

audio review : Accelerate ( album ) ... REM

Turkey Hill Frozen Dairy Dessert : Peanut Butter Ripple

Turkey Hill Frozen Dairy Dessert : Peanut Butter Ripple

This is ice cream. The Frozen Dairy Dessert bit is a silly legal (FDA) description. There’s no Ripple in it though, so fans of Sanford And Son may be disappointed. It’s swirls of Peanut Butter that blend with the (artificial) flavor of vanilla. It’s good, yes, but not as good as stirring your own peanut butter into a bowl of (real) vanilla ice cream.

my rating : 4 of 5

Mainstays Plate [ Black ]

Mainstays Plate [ Black ]

What I like most about this (“dinner”) Plate is the two-centimeter rim, which stops food from spilling off the edge; a common problem for big eaters like myself. That remarkable attribute, along with its specky Black appearance; the specks look like stars in outer space; easily counters the flaw of being prone to visible scratch marks from spoons and forks.

my rating : 4 of 5

Lay’s Potato Chips : Classic [ Lightly Salted ]

Lay's Potato Chips : Classic [ Lightly Salted ]

This Lightly Salted version of Lay’s Classic is, for salt avoiders like myself, the quintessential Potato Chip. The original version is a little too salty and a plain (unsalted) version would be too bland, so it’s a perfect middle ground. The only other ingredient, other than Chips and salt, is cooking oil.

my rating : 4 of 5

video review : Jurassic Park 3

video review : Jurassic Park 3

Our third trip to Jurassic Park is more entertaining than it should be. Steven Spielberg steps away from the director’s chair and hands the eggs over to Joe Johnston; the director responsible for shrinking The Kids. The result is an oversized monster movie that’s formulaic and predictable; main characters being saved in the nick of time and such; but also fun and occasionally funny. “I like the first one more”, but it’s better than The Lost World.

my rating : 4 of 5

2001