Lifeline Power wheel II Review

The Lifeline Power wheel II is an exercise device for strengthening the core and toning abdominal muscles. The newer Power Wheel design is a variation on the classic ab wheel featuring some additions and changes and a higher price tag. Is the quality of the power wheel worthy of the extra cost or is this just a ploy to over-charge people for an ab Wheel? Here’s a rundown of what you get:

What is the Power Wheel II?

If you’re not familiar with ab wheels (you should be; they’re great core tools) they consist of a wheel or often two with handles on the sides. You push the wheel across the floor away from you forcing you to support yourself on an unstable object using your core strength. If you understand that description, good. If you don’t, it’s one of these:

These devices are one of the best ways to work the core. What the power wheel II does is it uses a design with a much taller and thinner wheel that causes the user to support themselves higher off of the ground on a less stable surface. This means that you have to work harder to stabilize yourself, thus getting a harder workout. The most notable addition to the Power Wheel II is that along with the tradition handles there are foot holds so that you can strap your feet in to the wheel to do motions using more of your lower abs like pikes and other exercises from a plank position or even from a laying down position. This was the main selling point for me because of the variety, however, the foot strap method is also the one I've used the least with the Power Wheel II.  

The Good and the Bad

As you can see in the above picture, the Power Wheel II looks a lot different from traditional ab wheels. the price is a lot different too. wheels like the one in the first picture can be found for as little as $10 while the Power wheel II runs about $50. If you're just starting out getting an ab wheel, it might be best to get a basic cheaper one. a simple wheel will give you a great exercise. If you don't mind spending the extra, however, the Power Wheel is a very solid product. The foot straps are a great innovation, but they're annoying to put on and use, so many people probably won't utilize them much. The handles are very comfortable and a definite improvement on the cheap plastic handles of some wheels. It should also be noted that the Power Wheel earns points for having a sturdy design. When using something that is meant to support your body weight, it's important that it is durable and not going to fall apart. Also, the smoothness with which it rolls is rather impressive and makes for a good experience with your workout. 

Overall / Final Rating

The $50 price tag may seem a little steep for an ab wheel, but Lifeline's Power Wheel is not the only one in this price range and it is a really solid product. The hand grips are great, the foot straps could probably be designed better, the functionality is superb. Overall I have to give the Power Wheel II a 9 out of 10.

   

See Also: Abdominator review

Muscle Pharm Combat Powder review

Muscle Pharm Combat Powder is a protein supplement that claims to “feed muscle up to 8 hours” but is it worth buying? To properly review Combat Powder we first have to understand what it is. This supplement is a protein blend rather than a simple whey protein powder. These types of supplements are not intended for a post-workout shake, but rather they slowly release protein over time to continually feed muscle over a period of hours.

Combat powder uses a combination of whey proteins and casein protein to continuously feed muscle. Casein is a very slow digesting protein that slowly releases over a period of about eight hours. Whey is a fast absorbing protein that is commonly used after workouts. Combat Powder contains whey protein isolate (which is a highly concentrated form of whey) as well as partially hydrogenated whey protein, and whey protein concentrate. This whey complex along with caseins and egg albumen sound like an excellent combination for good protein absorption, unfortunately the ingredients are hidden within a “proprietary blend” so there’s no way to tell how much of the specific ingredients you’re actually getting. 

Quality/effectiveness

The protein blend is great for anti-catabolic purposes and features 24g of protein in one scoop. Using one scoop, combat powder provides approximately 52 servings which is significantly better than many protein powders.

Mixability

Combat powder mixes surprisingly well. Using a blender bottle the powder mixed very well in a short amount of time. The powder does not mix perfectly; there are small clumps that remain during mixing, but this is commonplace with protein powders in general. Combat powder mixes better than most, but not equal to the best out there. It is important to note, however, that while there may be some clumping, there is not the heavy grainy residue left by the cheap powders indicating that Combat Powder is light on filler.   

Taste

Based on the “Triple Berry” flavor I would say that this is not the best tasting protein powder, but it is far from the worst. Some protein shakes are very difficult to swallow like some unpleasant medicine while others are actually quite delicious. Combat Powder Triple Berry is okay tasting but gets old pretty fast.  The flavor is not Combat Powder’s strongest selling point, but for the quality of ingredients, it’s hard to complain.

Overall

There is no denying that Muscle Pharm has a solid product in Combat Powder considering the positives of: 1) a great blend of multiple protein sources 2) a good amount of protein per serving and 3) a large number of servings per container. On the negative side, there are products out there that mix better, and taste better. Many of the other products in this category, however, cost significantly more, and many of the powders out there that cost less than Combat Powder don’t have near the quality. Overall, if money isn’t an issue, you can probably find a better powder, but for a high quality protein at a more affordable price, Muscle Pharm provides a good value with Combat Powder.

Pantech Impact Review

The Pantech Impact is a pretty unique offering in the cell phone department. The impact is a feature phone with an emphasis on texting. This phone is designed for those who do a lot of texting and those who want a . . .Full

Taco Bell's Cantina Taco Review

The Taco Bell Cantina Taco review could be the shortest product review I've written. I could sum up the Cantina Taco experience with one short sentence: "They Suck." I will however attempt to give a somewhat more insightful review. Recently Taco bell unleashed these bad ideas in three different varieties: chicken, beef, and pig parts that weren't good enough to become hot dogs.

What makes these "Cantina Tacos" different from regular tacos, aside from the fact that they are awful, is that they are made with "fresh grilled" soft corn tortillas. These kind of tortillas are tricky in cooking as they tend to break and fall apart when you don't want them to. Apparently the fine folks at Taco Bell were not up to the challenge of preparing this food. The inside of the Cantina Taco is actually pretty good, the outside, however, reminds me quite a bit of undercooked potato disks in hamburger helper. The shells will not remain intact and you're left with a taco you need to eat with a spork. The shell is not hard, or really soft, but it is relatively disgusting. I can't help but feel that Taco Bell should throw out the "Cantina" taco tortillas and transfer the seasoned meat into a good dish. To sum up the review, the Taco Bell Cantina Taco did not impress me. I do not recommend this one.

God on Trial Film Review

One of the most beautifully complex and shocking films to come out in recent history is a movie from the BBC that was filmed on a low budget simplistic set, but showed a depth and sophistication beyond any extravagant Hollywood attempt. God on Trial is a film that delves deep into the more difficult aspects of religion, morality, and humanity. It poses the questions that many fear to ask. The makers of the film had the courage to look honestly at the most divisive issues, and present an open discussion that forces the audience out of their comfort zone and into a realm of new reflection.

Auschwitz is the setting for this dark drama, but it is not a war movie; it is not a holocaust film; it is an examination of faith and humanity. Powerful and believable performances from the cast draw you in and hold your attention, bringing your mind and heart into the story. The film is based on an old purportedly true story from WWII. The story goes that a group of men held at Auschwitz awaiting their inevitable murder at the hands of the Nazis, held a trial to determine the guilt of god himself. The question was whether an all powerful and just god could allow this holocaust. The movie centers on the group which is made up of lawyers, thieves, rich, poor, god fearing and godless all arguing for or against god.

The central focus is on the question of whether or not god broke the covenant with the Jewish people, however, religion is not the only issue addressed. Culture, family, and honor are all concepts explored in the story. One of the most notable examples is the relationship between a strongly religious father and the son he’s disappointed in, who are strikingly different in their lives and their views, and yet they are together in this most dark of days. As the trial goes on, we see the division between father and son which stands strong but ultimately breaks down in a heart wrenching display of love that defies division.

Additionally, concepts of right and wrong, free will, nature, and humanity all serve to challenge the mind of the viewer. What really makes this film so great is that it asks many questions and provides insights from all sides, but it does not give answers. So often, writers and movie makers claim to be daring and to address the difficult issues, but really they only sell their opinion to the audience and present the notions they choose. In this age, it seems that the way to really be daring and innovative is to be honest. It’s sad commentary that truth in media is a radical concept, but it’s very striking when you see a piece of art like this that dares to be honest. God on Trial takes such an unbiased look at the difficult questions that it will make anyone question their beliefs. This film will shake the believers, and it will make the nonbelievers question themselves. It serves as a work that will force you to think and to question what you believe. This is art at its purest and most beautiful, which is art that inspires feeling and thought in people; the two things society needs most.

All American Stetson Review

The Stetson name has been big in the cologne world for decades ever since the Coty Company released it in the 1980s; hoping to breathe new life into an old company, All American Stetson debuted in 2009. The thing about Stetson is that it's not so much a classic as it is just old. Modern tastes are vastly different from where they were 20 years ago so some of the formerly popular scents like Coty's 1981 'Stetson original' are now in the category of old man scent. All American Stetson is an attempt to appeal to a younger crowd, but is it worth the purchase?

With a new floral/aquatic scent and Tom Brady as the face of their ad campaign, Coty is trying hard for a new following. All American Stetson doesn't get points for originality; it's not something that shakes the foundations of the designer fragrance world with an innovative new scent. It's similar to others out there, but at least if it's an imitation it imitates some of the best fragrances. Something about it is similar to Aqua Di Gio, but just a little more generic and linear. The scent is long lasting and pleasant. The scent of All American Stetson is an interesting blend of sweet and powdery notes that complement each other while not being overpowering.

When we compare All American, or any Stetson variety for that matter, to top sellers like Armani it doesn't hold up, but when we compare the prices it evens out a little more. Currently the price would seem to reflect that the fragrance didn't catch on. It's not unheard of to find a bottle marked down for around ten dollars. The scent and longevity are good enough to be worth a $10 investment for a nice day at the office scent, but there are better options for a good cheap cologne. The final verdict is that there are certainly good things to say about this fragrance, but no one will be raving about it, and it's not the best out there, but if you want to smell good for cheap you might want to give All American Stetson a try.

Ab Roller with Pro Assist Review

There's kind of an obsession in the US with abs. Everyone wants a small stomach and toned washboard abs. This may stem from the fact that in this country we also like greasy fast food but not its obesity effects. The biggest obstacle in the way of toned abs is simply: Crunches are hard. To be quite blunt, they suck. I'll do hundreds of push-ups, I'll run, jog, lift, I'll do anything without complaints, but throw me some crunches and I'm ready to throw in the towel. It's for this reason that companies are always churning out new devices to make ab workouts easier. One of the cheaper options is the Ab Roller with Pro assist. This one goes for about $20 - $25 and claims to make firm abs easy by isolating the abdominal muscles while eliminating back and neck strain. Additionally this comes with the "pro assist" spring, which is basically just a spring that attaches to the back of the headboard to make the movements even easier. What they don't tell you is that the Pro Assist spring is completely worthless, but more on that later. First let's look at the claims.

Easy to assemble:

It is...mostly. I set it up i about ten minutes without reading the instructions (I'm a guy.) Well, I set up everything except the stupid spring in ten minutes. It took me a lot longer to figure out the pro assist part because it's a retarded design that can't be physically attached the way they tell you to.

Isolates abs and eliminates neck and back strain:

Well, it does make it easier to perform crunches without placing too much pressure on the neck and back, so you can perform more reps with the ab roller.

Pro assist spring ads a boost to your workout, cushions the neck, and adds fun to any exercise:

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! If you call having a limp spring that frequently falls out of place under your head while you do crunches fun, then yeah. If having an unstable piece of metal wobbling under you throwing of your balance somehow helps in your workout, I don't understand how. This is probably the dumbest thing I've ever pulled out of a box.

Final Verdict: The Pro Assist part is a waste of material, but the ab roller itself has some value. This is not a miracle machine; you still have to work to see results, but if you hate regular crunches or have back problems, this may be a good $25 investment.