Category Archives: Reviews

Group Therapy

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Last weekend I was shopping at Borders to use up my remaining balance in gift cards before their stores close down completely. I really didn’t know what to get. I’m not a huge book person — and usually when I am shopping for a book I know which exact one I want and I always shop around for the best price. I was just wrapping up my meander around the store when I saw it sitting abandoned on a CD rack — Group Therapy by Above & Beyond. I instantly knew this was my purchase. I checked iTunes and also calculated the final Borders price after the liquidation discount. I would be paying about $1 more at Borders to have this physical CD. I was sold.

I have been a pretty loyal listener of Above & Beyond’s music. I know the artist voices and know immediately when I hear just a fraction of a song playing. It has been a while, however, since I have invested in more of Above & Beyond’s discography, so I figured I would give Group Therapy a go. The last purchase I made from them was, in fact, my all-time favorite album — Sirens of the Sea by spin-off artist OceanLab. I knew Above & Beyond had released Group Therapy as I have received the updates on Facebook, but for some reason I never really pursued the album.

I am so glad I made this purchase. Not only does it feel fantastic to have a physical CD and tri-fold case, but I really love these new tracks. It’s been a little less than a week and I’ve only had a couple days to listen to the songs but they are already implanted in my mind. I have great favorites — but in general it is a solid vocal trance album worth purchasing.

Nerd Happiness… Check!

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If you refer back to a few postings ago you read about my frustration with finding a high-end consumer router. I had the Netgear WNDR37AV which, although has a lot of potential, had poor performance and reliability. I reluctantly returned it. I felt lost in finding a truly quality product. I decided to bite the bullet and purchase the Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station. What can I say? Easy and awesome! Solid setup experience. My wireless setup is now complete again — this time finally for good. I’m so satisfied with the AEBS. I’ve got all nine seasons of The X-Files back on the now-formatted HFS+ external hard drive connected to the router as well as all the seasons of Trailer Park Boys. This process of wireless network upgrading is finally complete. Nerd happiness… Check!

Networking Nuisance

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I am desperately looking for the BEST consumer router out there on the market. I have done an extreme amount of research, but I always run into some type of dead end. I will tell you a story…

I had my eye on the Netgear WNDR3700. It is a simultaneous dual-band wireless N router with almost all the bells and whistles. I use most of these advanced settings. I was very determined to purchase this router until I began investigating people’s product reviews. They were very mixed between one and five stars. I assume this range is due to individual consumer’s technical knowledge and awareness. The more elaborate reviews led cue to this issue that the WNDR3700 has a problem with connections lagging out. I knew I could not go with this router until I either found another product or that there would be a firmware fix on the way. It was then that I discovered a product variation of the WNDR3700. I found the Netgear WNDR37AV — a product seemingly more honed towards the home entertainment system market. I began my research on this item.

I read various articles saying that the WNDR37AV had an updated motherboard and newer firmware. While I pitied those who had the WNDR3700 and received no updates from Netgear, I figured the WNDR37AV had fixed any of the lag issues with the updated hardware and firmware. Other forum postings vaguely signaled that the WNDR37AV, indeed, fixed these issues the WNDR3700 was cursed with. So, I made my purchase through Amazon.

My product was actually delivered the next day. Props to Amazon on that. I set up the WNDR37AV with no flaws. I set up both band frequencies, guest accounts, and even a network hard drive. With zero issues, I had already forgotten the many complaints people had about the WNDR3700. Everything seemed to be perfect.

But, slowly I began realizing an issue I had subconsciously been experiencing. When I would attempt to open a new tab in Google Chrome, about 10% to 20% of the time the page would not load. As these links were usually to Facebook or Twitter, I knew these sites have heavy traffic and often lag out for me anyway. But then I really began exploring the predicament, and I came to the revelation that all sites I tried to visit were often met with the same fate. And a dead giveaway was bugging out on Google searches. That never happens. I always found, though, that it was better to just open a link in the same tab rather than to open the site in a new one. I can’t explain this but I do wonder why it happens.

Anyway, where am I now? I’ve got my return shipping label printed and I’m getting a box and packing supplies ready. I’m pretty sad to have to pack it back up. It’s really a slick-looking router. I will have to set up my aged Draft-N Netgear router until I find a new replacement for the WNDR37AV.

So, now I’m back to researching… And I can’t find a newly-released router that is at the top of the charts. Other sites recommend the Linksys E3000 or the Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station. The Linksys has its own slew of issues when it comes to trying to use advanced features — and it does not support being stood on its side like I need it to be for my setup. The AirPort Extreme has no support for Wireless Protected Setup, is not designed to stand on its side, and just has a network health LED indicator. Like other Apple products, its extremely strong in the designated product category, yet it’s stripped of some fundamentals. I just don’t feel any of these options I’d be satisfied with.

I know there are some others out there… I feel like I’ve seen and considered them already. Also, many of these products have been on the market for a while. It is rumored that Netgear is even phasing out the WNDR3700/WNDR37AV. After CES 2010, I’m sure more products will be released mid-year — like Netgear set to release the WNDR4000 and WNDR3800 — an update to the WNDR3700 series. But, I am skill skeptical — even skeptical of Netgear entirely.

I know I can flash the firmware of the WNDR37AV and load DD-WRT onto it… But I feel like a product should be almost perfect right out of the box. You wouldn’t purchase a car knowing that it has a problem. Why purchase a faulty router? The WNDR3800 isn’t set to be available until June. That’s a long ways away. I don’t know what to do until then, but I suppose I will just survive as I have thus far.

Book Spotlight: Bright Shiny Morning

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Bright Shiny Morning

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Bright Shiny Morning | James Frey | 501 pages

Throughout our vacation to Hawaii, we had numerous down-times where we would just kick back and relax. I had slightly started a fictional novel by James Frey called Bright Shiny Morning. I actually found this autographed book at Borders on clearance — and with my coupon it came down to just under four dollars. Once I got through the rather confusing approximate first fifty pages, I realized my good purchase turned to a great purchase. But hear me out — the first fifty or so pages are a struggle. It was confusing to know what was going on in the novel because you are introduced to so many different characters — each with their own storyline. It takes a while to get a hold of all the information and just really begin to enjoy what Frey has written. Additionally, James Frey chooses to use a unique writing style, and instead of every single sentence, paragraph, and chapter being perfectly proofread and edited, I felt like I was reading out of a journal as sentences were fragmented, repeated, and sometimes required to be read again. He also, occasionally, goes against proper novel rules and, randomly, addresses the reader directly. This was surprising to read but, in end, it helped the story process. Furthermore, the entire novel is laced with supplementary sort of factoids regarding the main setting — Los Angeles, California. These details are interesting and sometimes fun — but not fundamental to the multiple storylines. Sometimes, entire chapters will be unrelated to the immediate scenarios.

However, the real novel is about several characters and their challenges developing and living in Los Angeles. Each of the characters come from different backgrounds and have diverse stories to tell. They are very unique and keep you stuck to the text to learn more and more. The stories are riveting, touching, and sometimes strange — but they are wonderful creations of James Frey that ignite a quite interesting reading experience. I couldn’t believe how resistant I was to put the book down.

Overall, Bright Shiny Morning was still an amazing book to read despite the quirky writing style. By mid-vacation I was glued to the novel — reading it in the condominium, taking it in the car on the way to the beach, and of course finishing it up on the airplane ride home. As you may know, during this last school year I have made an attempt to read more books — and that I did do. But of the books I read, Bright Shiny Morning has honestly been the best one so far. At 501 pages in length, it sounds daunting to a softer reader — but believe me, it’s so good. I actually wish it was longer. The four or five simultaneously-developed individual storylines covered in these pages could have been brought to an end a little better. I kind of found that a couple of stories concluded abruptly. This, however, did not alter my feelings about the entire work of literature.

One of the stories, however, was developed so well that I was really involved in it — mentally that is. I was so caught up in their scenario and emotions that its shocking ending moved me mentally and physically. I really hope you read it and discover the goodness I found in James Frey’s novel, Bright Shiny Morning. I plan on pursuing Frey’s preceding creation, My Friend Leonard, which has also received positive critiques from various readers.

Book Spotlight: The God Cookie

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The God Cookie | Geoffrey Wood | 286 pages

Having just finished reading The God Cookie by Geoffrey Wood, I thought I’d offer my opinions on this novel. For your knowledge, it may contain mild spoilers.

First of all, I found this to be a successful story and overall good read. I enjoyed the storyline of one man, John Parrish, who follows the quest, supposedly by God, as was presented to him unusually in a fortune cookie at a local Chinese restaurant. This initial action leads to the next, and the scenes begin deploying around the corner bus stop where he meets two ladies: Audra and Rose.

In Parrish’s first visit to the bus stop, he discovers a folded piece of paper that has fallen underneath the bench between the two women, and as he accepts this discovery as a sign from God to find the owner, he sets forth with this task in search for an answer.

Further into the novel, Parrish not only learns about himself, but about the lives of others as well – which spirals down to a surprising, yet mostly satisfying, close to the novel.

Overall, I had a great time reading The God Cookie. However, because it is geared towards those who have interest or faith in God, I found the novel to be very “safe” as there was no love or intimacy between two characters. I really expected this to be present in the story – but it wasn’t and, in end, that detracted from the overall experience.

But, in end, I am much more thrilled with the novel than any of my other complaints can deter. I suggest this to anyone for a nice, easy, and casual read.

Book Spotlight: “Baking Cakes in Kigali”

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Throughout this winter academic term, I have been slowly making my way through the fictional novel “Baking Cakes in Kigali” by Gaile Parkin, which I picked up at the Corvallis Public Library. This has truly been my first “pleasure reading” book I’ve picked up in years and have actually completed. I’ve never been much of a reader, but since finishing this 300-page novel, I now have the desire to pick up another good read.

“Baking Cakes in Kigali” follows the life of a woman, Angel, in the small rustic African town of Kigali, Rwanda where she bakes cakes, a novelty service in her area that earns her much attention and praise. The story, or stories as I should say, develop through her cake business as she meets many new people, those generally being her clients. As the reader, you are put in Angel’s place as she learns not only about the lives of the people she becomes acquaintances with, but also her own family’s troublesome past.

What I really enjoyed about Parkin’s novel is that, in all, it is a good and enjoyable read. Throughout its entirety, there is no central issue or plot that the text leads up to. The story, moreover, just spans a chronological portion of her life, creating a theme of development. In this time, we learn about Angel herself, as well as the clients and others in her life. I was annoyed when I finished reading “Baking Cakes in Kigali” because I know it will be difficult for me to find another novel that follows its same type of “development” storyline, because this is what really made me appreciate the writing style of the book aside from the well-flowing thoughts and ideas Parkin lays out.

This is Gaile Parkin’s first novel, and I hope she publishes again soon.

"Baking Cakes in Kigali" - Gaile Parkin