Walking Dead Season 8 Episode 13 Review

The Walking Dead has been on uneven footing for quite some time. One big problem is that the producers don't seem to be able to decide whether they want to bring the group back together and return to the original appeal of the show, or if they want to "Shake things up" and go in a bold new direction. The result has been disappointment from viewers ranging from boredom feeling as though the series has become stale to mourning what the show once was and hating the changes.



Episode 13 was clearly an attempt to win back those who have complained about the show being to slow with not enough action. It was reminiscent of Carol's Rambo-esqe Wolf killing episode a few seasons back. This episode seemed to be all about action. Much of the episode was like watching a war movie, which of course was the point. This episode was designed to really sell the war between Rick and the Saviors. As the battle raged on, we were shown the huge body count and the severity of this battle. The problem here was that the idea did not play out as well due to some directorial choices which left viewers to scratch their head. On several occasions groups on one side or the other would fire fully automatic weapons into a crowd of their enemies. It appeared, however, that those firing had attended the stormtrooper academy and could not actually hit very many people right in front of them with a machine gun. For the action scenes to really work, you had to turn your brain off a little bit.

USAopoly Amc the Walking Dead Monopoly Board Game

What really stood out more than the action was the subtle but important character development. Carol started to open up just in time for tragedy to strike yet again. Morgan is trying to keep it together, and Henry is becoming the sociopath that everyone expected Carl to be after the prison. Amid all the violence and chaos, there was actual emotion in the storytelling which made it feel more important. Furthermore, The part comic readers had been awaiting played out excellently on the small screen. When the Saviors launched their secret weapon, it turned into an unnerving and gory tribute to zombie films of the past. Overall, this episode showed us that The Walking Dead could still make us feel, and make us jump. This is The series at the best it has been for quite some time, not close to reviling its own hay day, but a far step up from its lowest points. Let's hope The show keeps moving in the right direction.

1UP Bodyweight Ultimate Hanging Resistance Sling Trainer Review

Body weight training is one of the best ways to increase strength, build muscle, burn fat and strengthen your core. Push ups, pull ups, planks all use body weight resistance. Suspension body weight trainers offer more versatility in your workouts. With a variety of workout options, suspension training devices are one of the best options for a home gym that will provide all around workouts to meet your fitness goals.

How do BodyWeight Sling Trainers Work"

These devices basically consist of straps that can be connected to an X-Mount on a wall or ceiling or over a closed door. At the other end, the straps feature handle bars or foot loops, often interchangeable, to allow an assortment of exercises like chest flys, suspension pushups, etc.


Benefits of Bodyweight sling trainers?

These types of trainers are great because they are versatile, lightweight, easy to set up and take up little space. They are like a home gym that you can take anywhere. They are low cost and do not require a lot of extra parts and additional purchases. Bodyweight training is among the best types of exercise for overall fitness and health and sling trainers make it easy to perform an array of these exercises in your own home or on the go.

Is the 1UP Bodyweight Ultimate Hanging Resistance Sling Trainer Worth Buying?

This particular trainer is good but not necesarily great. At the time of writing, this product is listed on Amazon for $49.95 which is not bad, but it feels a bit like you should get more for your 50 bucks. The design is good. It seems strong and functional. The hand grips are wide and comfortable. It does what it is supposed to do. It comes with a carry bag, a downloadable workout guide, and a one-year warranty.

The biggest issue is that this item is more limited than other similar devices. It does not have the attachments and adjustability that similar items have, so you can do less with it. If you are primarily looking to do upper body work (pushups, flys) this is a great tool to increase strength, but if you want more flexibility in your workout, you can find better--although it will likely cost you more. Also, taking a look at the handfull of Amazon reviews, it seems some of the glowing reviews are kind of suspect. If a company employs fake reviewers, it calls the product quality itself into question. Overall this is a good product if you are not expecting too much.

Alternatives

If the 1UP Bodyweight Ultimate Hanging Resistance Sling Trainer isn't the one for you but you want to try out body weight training, their are a lot of alternatives out there.

The TRX Training - Suspension Trainer Basic Kit costs significantly more than the 1up but gives you a lot more options, a full workout plan, and a better value for those who take their training seriously.

The Bodyweight Fitness Resistance Trainer kit from Intent Sports is actually cheaper than the 1up and features a 12 week workout plan and a design for "full body exercise" instead of just upper body.

The Ultimate Body Press Bodyweight Resistance Trainer is about the same price as the 1up, but offers more customization for your workout and ultimately a better value.


Other reviews you might like:

Power Press Push UP Review


Bowflex Uppercut Review

JIA LE Muscle Toner Abdominal Toning Belt Review

Many of us are looking to get flat and toned abs but it is not easy. Many products offer innovative alternatives to traditional ab workouts. Some work better than others. One of these products is the JAI Muscle Toner Abdominal Toning Belt. Not all ab devices are equal and some work better than others. How does the JIA Muscle Toner stack up? Let's review.

First let's cover what this product is.

This is a device for passive abdominal toning--meaning it does the work for you. The best results you can get will come from hard work, crunches, cardio, planks and all the other things we don't want to do. Obviously the idea of strapping something on that tones your abs while you watch TV is very appealing. This of course is what makes these products a big seller. The question is whether you can get the results you want without putting in the work.

Electronic Abdominal Muscles Stimulator Vibration Pad & Belt System

How does it work?

This is an EMS device which means Electrical muscle stimulation. Basically it attaches to your abs with gel pads and it sends a pulse to stimulate your muscles simulating a workout without the workout. The product claims to provide the equivalent of 60 minutes of sit-ups in 20 minutes of use. If the claim is true then this is absolutely a great purchase. If you can wear the ab toner for 20 minutes while, doing your normal daily activities instead of setting aside an hour to exercise you are saving time and getting results.

Thermogenic Fat Burner

How Well Does it Work?

This depends on what you are hoping to get out of it. The thing about this ab toner is it will work great to tone but it is not the best fat burner. It tones your abs by stimulating them, but does little for burning fat. Furthermore, for a person with a significant amount of belly fat the device will not be as effective. If your goal is to lose a lot of belly fat, then a solid cardio program is your best option. But if yo are looking to tone up a little for the summer or you plan to use the toner along with a good workout program, this will give you good results.

Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro Roller for Core Workouts

pros

Easy to use

Effective Toning

Time saver

Cons

Not the best fat burner

requires purchase of replacement pads

Some report issues with the gel pads sticking

Is the EMS Toning belt for you? I hope this review helped answer that question for you. Check out some other reviews you may be interested in:

Abdominator Review: Revolutionary Core Workout or Over-hyped Ab-Wheel


RAD Arm Blaster Review


Power Press Push Up Review

Iso 7X Review

Bytech Phone Charger Review

I'm going to cut to the chase on this Bytech Phone Charger Review. Don't buy it. Picked this car charger up at Five Below and not only is it of poor quality but it is actually hazardous. You might not expect too much from a $5 charger but this one lasted less than an hour.

In the above picture it looks like the mini USB connector is bent right? well this is what it looked like when we pulled it out of the phone. It had not been damaged; it was sitting comfortably on the passenger seat charging. Nobody bent the connector. The micro USB was very hot to the touch and soon began to smoke. The reason the connector looks like that is that it actually melted through part of the rubber around it. This Cell Phone charger actually tried to catch fire within an hour of purchasing it. Do not buy.




Other Reviews You might be interested in:

1UP Bodyweight Trainer Review

GloFX Color Therapy glasses review and sample pictures

Updated 03-27-18 to include Red and Indigo. See Photos at the bottom.

GloFX Color Therapy glasses are available in a Range of colors and designed to impact different aspects of mood. Color therapy has been around for decades and there are several companies offering products that utilize this strategy. Many people may have become aware of color therapy glasses from Facebook ads for Rainbow Optx glasses. Rainbow Optx glasses are a bit pricey though leading many to look for cheaper options. GloFX glasses are about half the price of Rainbow Optx and offer a similar product. I ordered a pair of the orange glasses as I could use a mood boost and wanted to see how well they work.

Colour Healing Manual: The Complete Colour Therapy Programme $24.95

I did not have high expectations for the quality of these $15 glasses that I got for $10 on sale but I did have high hopes. The first thing that struck me when I opened the package was the thickness and strength of the plastic in the construction. I expected a cheap low quality product but the design is actually very high quality and durable.

The next test of course for these GloFX glasses was the view with them on. I love glasses that brighten the world rather than darken it. If you suffer from depression as, I do, then dark sunglasses are counterproductive to your mood. I hoped that these glasses would make the world a bright and beautiful place, but I feared that they would just make it orange. I was actually shocked at how bright the view was from under my GloFX glasses. They seem to increase contrast. Darks are darker and brights are brighter. A gloomy day with sunlight filtered through grey clouds becomes a bright shining day. GloFX is the perfect name for these glasses because they actually make bright environments and objects look like they are glowing. Overall These Orange GloFX Color Therapy Glasses are pretty great. I included some pictures below trying to capture what life looks like through the lenses. They do not do them justice but they may give some idea of what you can expect.

Color Medicine: The Secrets of Color Vibrational Healing $11.95

UPDATE: After writing this review, I picked up two more pairs, Red and Indigo.

Both of these colors are great as well. The red glasses make everything look like some alien landscape while the indigo glasses create a surreal appearance that truly makes you feel like you are stepping out of your reality into something magical. All the colors around you are drastically changed and often enhanced. When you first put the Red GloFX glasses on everything looks like a dark red, but after your eyes adjust, the view mellows into a deep orange. The indigo glasses are the real star, however, because they shift the color spectrum in amazing ways. Some light looks blue, other light looks purple, Yellow becomes hot pink and the world becomes some kind of surreal dreamscape. It is most likely clear to you that I like all three of the GloFX glasses I have tried and that Indigo is my favorite. I highly recommend them. I hope to acquire more variations in the future and will definitely update my review and provide more sample pictures. In the meantime, check out the pics below. Thanks for reading.

My dog Molly Though Orange GloFX glasses.

Note that the above pictures show a kind of sepia tone (which I like to use for Photography) but the view when you wear the glasses is much brighter.The effects, both for photography and daily wear are really cool and if you are interested in color therapy then I recomend GloFX glasses.

Valentine's Day Gifts for men: Best Men's Valentines Day 2018 Gift Ideas

Finding the best Valentine's gifts for Men can be difficult. Valentine's Day is primarily associated with flowers, chocolate, jewelry and other things geared more toward women. But what do you get to show the man in your life that you care? Here are some ideas for gifts men will love.


PUMA Men's Powertech Defier SL Running Shoe: Amazon $58.99



These men's running shoes are a perfect blend of style and comfort. PUMA is a trusted brand with a large inventory of quality products. the price tag of less than $60 for this pair is less than half the price of other PUMAs without sacrificing quality.

Bacon Crate from Mancrates.com



For the bacon lover in your life, this gift will be a winner for sure. With an assortment of flavored bacon and bacon related snacks, this crate of deliciousness is a great deal. Find it here

Make Your Own Hot Sauce Kit: Uncommon Goods $34.95



If your man likes it hot, then assortments of hot sauces are great valentine's gifts for him, but what's better? A kit to make his own and add his own flare. Most men love DIY and a little spice in their lives. This kits provides both. Check it out here.

Outdoor Edge RB-20 Razor Blaze Knife with 6-Blades



For the outdoor enthusiast this 6 blade knife offers versitility and quality that can't be beat. If your man loves camping, hunting and the outdoors, this is a great valentine's gift for him. See it here.

Portable Tactical Light and Survival Kit



Tactical flashlights are very popular these days and come in different price and quality levels. This one is very low on the price scale at only $12.98 and includes a multi function survival tool that fits in your wallet. Get it here.



Kacebela BBQ Tools Set, 19-Piece Grill Tools set: Amazon $29.99



If your man is a master of the grill or at least wants to be, these tools are great Valentin's Day gifts for him. Easily portable and well put together, this set contains 19 pieces and everything your grill master needs to barbecue with confidence. Remember, summer is right around the corner. Get it here

AOMAIS Sport II Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speakers



If he loves music, this portable Bluetooth speaker is a great choice this valentine's day. The sound is excellent and it's waterproof. Perfect for road trips, camping, a day out in the pool, anywhere you want to take it and listen to your music. Get one here for only 39.99$

These are just a few great Valentine's gifts for him in 2018. Check back soon for more ideas.

Pizza Hut, Domino's Papa John's, Little Caesar's, Who Has The Best Cheese Pizza

It's not all about the toppings. At the heart of good pizza is the stringy cheese goodness that makes life complete. Okay, maybe I have an unhealthy love of pizza, but if you want good cheese pizza you can't ignore the importance of good ingredients. Let's compare some of the top competitors.

Pizza Hut

This is the big dog in the industry. I remember my love for pizza hut when I was a kid and would earn free pizza from the school book it program. Pizza Hut is where a lifelong love of pizza started for many people. Here's the problem, Pizza Hut has been the leader for decades and because of this they got lazy. The quality is not what it once was. When they do it right it's amazing, but these days that rarely happens. Many of us remember the perfection that was pizza hut pan pizza. What they call pan now is often thin and soggy with a heavy dose of disappointment. Like I said when they do well, they do really well. Pizza Hut has fantastic cheese for a delicious stringy cheese pizza but they are often too cheap with their ingredients leaving the customer with a thin crust, light cheese and a pathetic amount of sauce.

Papa Johns

The Papa stole the throne from Pizza Hut many years ago with far superior ingredients. In the early 2000's Papa Johns was my go to for cheesy goodness. The crust, the cheese, the sauce everything about them was better. These days the company has fallen a bit into the same trap as the Hut with overconfidence and declining quality. To be fair, my local Papa Johns is under poor leadership and often has poor quality. This does not reflect the company as a whole and sometimes they even get it right. Both the Hut and the Papa have a problem with consistency. But in the end, Papa Johns slightly edges out pizza hut in the Cheese pizza department.

Little Caesar's

Not the best pizza around but it's $5 and sometimes pretty tasty. Their Cheese is actually really good, but they have consistently had a problem with putting enough on their pies. The worst Cheese Pizza is one with not enough Cheese. $5 dollars is a good deal if your local store has their A team working, but Little Caesar's is always a gamble.

Dominos

Another old dog in the race, Dominos has been around forever and always brought a unique quality to their pizzas. Several years ago the chain had gon the way of Papa Johns and Pizza Hut by getting caught up in their own success and letting quality slip as they felt they didn't need to put in effort because, After all, they are Dominos. But then they did something crazy. They actually learned from their mistake and put quality of ingredients back on center stage where it belongs. Dominos changed everything from the crust to the toppings. The cheese is bountiful and full of flavor as good pizza should be. So in the end, if you want the best cheese pizza, I cast my vote for Dominos hands down.