Konica Minolta AF100-400 f4.5-5.6 Telephoto Zoom Lens for Maxxum Normally —- – Only Price Too Low To Display! At Amazon!
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Konica Minolta AF100-400 f4.5-5.6 Telephoto Zoom Lens for Maxxum Normally —- – Only Price Too Low To Display! At Amazon!
List Price: —- Amazon Price: Price Too Low To Display! Click Here To Purchase At Amazon! Normally shipped in 24 Hours Free Shipping Always Available |
Konica Minolta AF100-400 f4.5-5.6 Telephoto Zoom Lens for Maxxum Details:
2/8/200615-19-33…
- Brand: Konica-Minolta
- Model: D-100/400
Features
- Filter Size: 72mm
- Minimum Focus Distance: 6.6′
- Magnification: 1:4, Length: 5-7/8
- Zoom/Focus Control: Two-Touch
- Max. Diameter: 3-1/8″
Happy Customers Say:
Click Here To Get Yours At Amazon!
setembro 19, 2010
Tags: B00005QIZ5, Camera And Photo, Konica Minolta AF100-400 f4.5-5.6 Telephoto Zoom Lens for Maxxum, Konica Minolta AF100-400 f4.5-5.6 Telephoto Zoom Lens for Maxxum Normally ---- - Only Price Too Low To Display! At Amazon! Posted in: Camera And Photo 
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Buy Your Go Mama Go Designs Snug and Tug Swaddling Blanket, Large, Blue From Amazon!
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Buy Your Go Mama Go Designs Snug and Tug Swaddling Blanket, Large, Blue From Amazon!
List Price: $19.99 Amazon Price: $15.73 Click Here To Purchase At Amazon! Most Items ship within 24 Hours |
Go Mama Go Designs Snug and Tug Swaddling Blanket, Large, Blue Described:
- Amazon Sales Rank: #11296 in Baby Product
- Size: Large
- Color: Blue
- Brand: Go Mama Go Designs
- Model: 718122138456
- Released on: 2009-11-27
Features
- Size large: fits 3-6 months
- 14-28 pounds
- Upto 28″
What Customers are Saying:
Too Complicated
It’s too hard to get this swaddle on and off your baby, a simple swaddle is much better.
From the Manufacturer
Snug and tug swaddling blanket: full body: open pouch; small opening, which allows for double wrap; adjustable, strategically placed velcro; 100% super soft cotton; blue solid.
Click Here To Buy Now At Amazon!
setembro 19, 2010
Tags: B002UHKMYA, Baby, Blue, Blue From Amazon!, Buy Your Go Mama Go Designs Snug and Tug Swaddling Blanket, Go Mama Go Designs Snug and Tug Swaddling Blanket, Large Posted in: Baby No Comments
We Have The Story Factor 2nd Revised Edition Sale-Price Too Low To Display!!
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We Have The Story Factor 2nd Revised Edition Sale-Price Too Low To Display!!
Compare & Purchase The Story Factor 2nd Revised Edition at Amazon by clicking here! List Price: —- Amazon Price: Price Too Low To Display! Click Here To Purchase At Amazon! Most Items ship within 24 Hours |
The Story Factor 2nd Revised Edition Described:
A modern classic, revised and expanded: How the age-old art of storytelling can transform the way we communicate—and the way we do business. The new material for this revised edition offers an expanded case study of storytelling in action that focuses on one of Simmons’s success stories. Over one hundred stories drawn from the front lines of business and government, as well as myths, fables, and parables from around the world, illustrate how story can be used to persuade, motivate, and inspire in ways that cold facts, bullet points, and directives can’t. These stories, combined with practical storytelling techniques show anyone how to become a more effective communicator. From “who I am” to “I-know-what-you’re thinking,” Simmons identifies the six stories you need to know how to tell and demonstrates how they can be applied. This revised edition offers a guide to using storytelling in specific business circumstances, including corporate reorganizations, layoffs, and diversity issues.
- Amazon Sales Rank: #23138 in eBooks
- Published on: 2000-12-27
- Released on: 2000-12-27
- Format: Kindle Book
- Number of items: 1
What Customers are Saying:
Well written book – Bravo
Although I read about three books a week (over 120 per year) it is only once a year on average that I find one against which to lodge the following complaint. This book throws my reading schedule completely off track. When you find one that is so well written and so full of useful information you tend to slow down your reading speed to make sure that you don’t miss anything important. What should have been a couple of hours to read ended up taking over a week as I read one part, digested it, then went back to read another one.
The text covers the most important story types to tell in order to exercise influence over others, gain credibility, etc. It also defines a story and how it can influence in ways that bare facts cannot, provides information on the psychology of how a story influences, and the important “dos and don’ts” of a storyteller. Annette Simmons provides multiple examples throughout the text so the reader understands how to apply the principles right away.
If you are studying storytelling, how to inspire others, how to influence others, how to change corporate culture, or any other aspect of change on a personal or organizational level then your education will be lacking if it does not include the information in this book. “The Story Factor” receives the highest recommendation that I can give.
How “truth well-told” can inspire, influence, and persuade
As Simmons explains in her Introduction, “This book [shares] what I have learned over the last eight years about story and about the power of story to persuade and influence. My personal story is to learn, share everything I have learned, and earn the right to learn more. You will find here [in The Story Factor] everything I know about using story to influence others.”
How many books on the subject of leadership does Amazon now offer? I just checked. The current total is 16,159. Who were history’s greatest leaders? (My own list includes Alexander, Jesus, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Mohandas Gandhi.) What do all of them share in common? Each was a great storyteller. Each used one or more of the six types of stories which Simmons brilliantly explains in her book:
Who I Am
Why I Am Here
The Vision
Teaching
Values-in-Action
I Know What You Are Thinking
To these six I presume to add I Know What You Care About. Point is, great leaders have a clear identity as well as a clear purpose and a compelling vision, use relevant information effectively to educate others and use a narrative effectively to anchor a necessary course of action within a human context because they thoroughly understand the given audience. As Simmons correctly asserts, persuasion must begin with trust and immediately fails without it. Hence the importance of credibility. Persuasion then requires that the “message” resonate with what is of greatest importance to the given audience. Hence the imperative need for relevance as when Roosevelt (during his “fireside chats”) and Churchill (during his speeches in Parliament) told their listeners what they must understand, not necessarily what they wanted to hear.
Throughout her brilliant book, Simmons rigorously examines the basic components of effective storytelling. She explains what a story is and what it can do that facts alone cannot. She suggests how to tell “a good story,” in process explaining the psychology of an effective story’s influence. She offers excellent advice on how to influence the unwilling, the unconcerned, and the unmotivated. Simmons also devotes an entire chapter to “Storylistening as a Tool of Influence,” then in the next chapter identifies a number of storyteller Dos and Don’ts. She concludes her book with insights which have their greatest value only if considered within the context created by the previous chapters.
For whom will this book be of greatest value? Certainly to those who must regularly communicate with others and currently lack the skills to do so effectively. Also to those who are required to make a major presentation of some kind such as when attempting to persuade a supervisor to approve a significant course of action or persuading a customer to make a major purchase. In fact, there are countless other situations in which the skills which Simmons explains and the tools which she provides can also give those who master them a decisive advantage.
Keep in mind, however, that “story” is but one of several factors in communication. Long ago, John Wiley Hill (founder of Hill & Knowlton) defined public relations worthy of the name as “truth well-told.” Simmons leaves absolutely no doubt whatsoever about the importance of a truthful “message” communicated by a trusted “messenger.” Credibility is absolutely essential and can only be earned by a combination of trust and expertise. What I also appreciate about Simmons’ approach throughout this book is the conversational tone she establishes and then sustains. There is a refreshing absence of preaching. She is convinced (and I totally agree) that each person has her or his own “story” to tell. It remains for each person to select the most appropriate style was well as the most effective tools to tell that story well. Who are you? Why are you here? What do you REALLY care about? It remains for each reader to answer questions such as these and, obviously, the answers will vary significantly. Whatever the answers may be at any given time, Simmons urges that they be celebrated…and cherished.
Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check others such as Doug Lipman’s Improving Your Storytelling (he wrote the Foreword to The Story Factor), Stephen Denning’s The Leader’s Guide to Storytelling, and Storytelling in Organizations co-authored by John Seely Brown, Denning, Katarina Groh, and Laurence Prusak.
Essential Book for Leaders and Writers
Having loved stories as a youngster (especially the Greek myths as related by my mother), I lost sight of the power of stories until I became a management consultant. I realized that the sales and education process both relied on simple, powerful stories rather than rational evidence. I again forgot about stories until I heard Howard Gardner talking about their primary significance for leaders. I then made a point to write all of my books by using as many complex, nuanced and persuasive stories as possible. Many people have praised me as a natural story teller, so I thought was done with the subject. Then, just last month, I heard Steve Denning talk about his experience in using stories to launch knowledge management at the World Bank. Oops! Here were new story ideas for me.
I ordered Denning’s excellent book, The Leader’s Guide to Storytelling . . . and decided to check out Amazon.com to see who else had written highly rated books on the subject. Annette Simmons’ The Story Factor jumped out at me. When I examined both books, I realized that The Story Factor should be read first. It provides the overview that we all need on this subject as speakers and writers.
Ms. Simmons begins by describing six archetypal stories that we need to know how to tell: Who I Am; Why I Am Here; Vision; Teaching; Values-in-Action; and I Know What You’re Thinking.
I was impressed to see these categories in print. As a consultant, I have been coaching leaders for over 30 years on how to fill in their repertoire of stories from categories that they usually ignore (especially, I Know What You’re Thinking).
Having laid out that agenda, the rest of the chapters focus on “what” and “how to” elements:
What Is Story?
What Story Can Do that Facts Can’t
How to Tell a Good Story
The Psychology of Story’s Influence
Sound Bite or Epic?
Influencing the Unwilling, Unconcerned, or Unmotivated
Storylistening as a Tool of Influence
Storyteller Dos and Don’ts
The Life of a Storyteller
The book also contains a valuable bibliography that is worth the price of this volume.
Having read this book, I think I’ve finally gotten the point that I need to work on my stories . . . and not just every 15 years or so.
Give this book to those you love . . . and keep a copy for yourself!
Amazon.com Review
Nearly everyone responds to a good yarn, and that’s precisely the point behind The Story Factor by Annette Simmons. A “collaborative behavior” consultant to public and private organizations, Simmons argues that storytelling may just be the best management tool available to modern business leaders because it exerts influence in ways that other techniques cannot. And she doesn’t suggest that stories be exclusively reserved for formal presentations, either; on the contrary, Simmons shows how they can be used effectively in small group settings and even one-on-one situations. She begins by describing six basic types that can be adapted to any circumstance (Who I Am, Why I Am Here, The Vision, Teaching, Values-In-Action, and I Know What You Are Thinking). She then offers pointers for finding them and advises that ideas be jotted down whenever they appear, built upon consistently, and practiced in private until the telling comes naturally. To that end, she includes helpful tips on presentation, noting that the words are only part of a package that includes body language, clothing, tone, and other components. Follow her lead and you’ll likely never relate to any individual or group in the same way again. –Howard Rothman
From Library Journal
In this highly readable book, business communications consultant and author Simmons (Territorial Games) pitches storytelling as the modus operandi for business success. Identifying six stories one must learn how to tell “Who Am I,” “Why I Am Here,” “The Vision,” “Teaching,” “Values in Action,” and “I Know What You Are Thinking” Simmons illustrates how they can be applied under any circumstance. A successor to Dale Carnegie’s classic How To Win Friends and Influence People, this work follows the format of a traditional textbook, mirroring a PowerPoint presentation with minimal text and maximum graphics, bullet-pointing, etc. Potentially useful as a communications text, this is a viable selection for public libraries looking to strengthen their business communications collection. Robert Moore, Itworld.com, Southboro, MA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
About the Author
Annette Simmons is founder of Group Process Consulting, specializing in helping organizations build more collaborative behaviors for bottom-line results. A popular speaker, community activist, and author of Territorial Games and A Safe Place for Dangerous Truths, she lives in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Click Here To Buy Now At Amazon!
setembro 19, 2010
Tags: B001JAHCLK, Books, The Story Factor 2nd Revised Edition, We Have The Story Factor 2nd Revised Edition Sale-Price Too Low To Display!! Posted in: Books No Comments
Buy Your Dachshund Lamp From Amazon!
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Buy Your Dachshund Lamp From Amazon!
Compare & Purchase Dachshund Lamp at Amazon by clicking here! List Price: —- Amazon Price: $69.00 Click Here To Purchase At Amazon! Normally shipped in 24 Hours Free Shipping Always Available |
Dachshund Lamp Details:
The playful MyPetLamp-Dachshund from Offi is made of non-toxic, odorless plastic with a low voltage (12v) replaceable bulb that bathes a room in soft light. Available in six colors: Soft White, Mellow Yellow, Sky Blue, Sunset Orange, Hot Pink and Misty Green.
SPECIFICATIONS: Rotationally molded plastic is non-toxic and odorless. Replaceable bulb is 12 volts, and available at hardware and general merchandise stores. Cord and adapter are UL approved for use in US households (110V, 50-60Hz power). Length: 20.5″ x Width: 6″ x Height: 13.5
- Amazon Sales Rank: #384690 in Kitchen & Housewares
- Brand: Offi
Features
- Perfect for any dog lover
- Non-toxic, odorless plastic that bathes a room in soft light
- Low voltage bulb that is easy to change
- Featured in InStyle magazine’s gift guide
Happy Customers Say:
Very cute
I got one for myself, and one for the child of a friend who took care of my beagle/dachshund when I was on vacation. The lamp itself is really cute, and the light is pleasant, a little brighter than a nightlight. The bulb needs to be installed in its belly, which is a bit of a pain.
My only real issue is that one of the lamps was a bit dirty out of the box.
Click Here To Get Yours At Amazon!
setembro 19, 2010
Tags: B00190ELAU, Baby, Buy Your Dachshund Lamp From Amazon!, Dachshund Lamp Posted in: Baby No Comments
Save On American Experience: New York Underground Now At Amazon!
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Save On American Experience: New York Underground Now At Amazon!
Compare & Purchase American Experience: New York Underground at Amazon by clicking here! List Price: $19.95 Amazon Price: $17.99 Click Here To Purchase At Amazon! Normally shipped in 24 Hours Free Shipping Always Available |
American Experience: New York Underground Details:
When the New York Underground opened in 1904 it was the “most awesome engineering achievement of the century” according to the dazzled civic leaders responsible for it. This segment of PBS’s long-running “The American Experience” series follows the subway from its genesis after a blizzard in 1888 through planning and politicking and the four years of busted-up city streets that preceded its debut.System Requirements:Runtime: 60 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. Rating: NR UPC: 783421401693 Manufacturer No: WG40169
- Amazon Sales Rank: #41271 in DVD
- Brand: WGBH HOME VIDEO
- Released on: 2006-12-12
- Rating: NR (Not Rated)
- Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
- Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
- Original language: English
- Number of discs: 1
- Dimensions: .20 pounds
- Running time: 56 minutes
Features
- When the New York Underground opened in 1904, it was the “most awesome engineering achievement of the century,” according to the dazzled civic leaders responsible for it. This segment of PBS’s long-running “The American Experience” series follows the subway from its genesis after a blizzard in 1888 through planning and politicking and the four years of busted-up city streets that preceded its
Happy Customers Say:
This Is Just As Advertised
I don’t know what these other two reviewers were expecting but this is exactly what it says it is, the story of the building of the New York Subway. No it’s not Ric Burns New York Documentary…why you thought it was is beyond me…this is an excellent documentary of the early years of the Subway system.
fantastic history
I saw this on PBS several years ago. It is the incredible story of how the subway system was built in just a few years. It shows how our society has drifted backwards from the “can do” attitude of the early part of this century.
Today this would take 20 years of BS, followed by 20 years of building. FIVE STARS
An hour of fascinating history
This hour-long episode of “American Experience” documents the planning and building of New York City’s first subway route. With wonderful film clips, photographs, and illustrations from the era, along with commentary from authors and historians, it tells the story, first, of the original two-block-long experimental pneumatic tube railway, and then of the massive, four-year construction project that became the IRT, one of the world’s earliest–and certainly the longest–electric subways. Including profiles of the men who made it happen and providing wonderful period details, this documentary offers a glimpse into a different time at a pleasant, bite-sized length for armchair historians. Recommended.
Click Here To Get Yours At Amazon!
setembro 19, 2010
Tags: American Experience: New York Underground, B000A0GYMS, DVD, Save On American Experience: New York Underground Now At Amazon! Posted in: DVD No Comments
LOOK: DwellStudio Weekender Bag, Sparrow RRP: $230.00! On Sale Now: $222.70!
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LOOK: DwellStudio Weekender Bag, Sparrow RRP: $230.00! On Sale Now: $222.70!
Compare & Purchase DwellStudio Weekender Bag, Sparrow at Amazon by clicking here! List Price: $230.00 Amazon Price: $222.70 Click Here To Purchase At Amazon! Normally shipped in 24 Hours Free Shipping Always Available |
DwellStudio Weekender Bag, Sparrow Details:
- Amazon Sales Rank: #53774 in Baby Product
- Color: Sparrow
- Brand: Dwell Studio
- Model: BB110-57-40
- Released on: 2009-11-18
Features
- Sparrow overnight travel bag
- Coated canvas
- Includes coordinating luggage tag
- Detachable shoulder strap
- Combine with dwellstudio’s hooded towel for a great shower gift
Happy Customers Say:
From the Manufacturer
Even the smallest travelers deserve a well-packed bag. Dwellstudio’s paper dolls weekender bag is a duffel style bag made from 100% coated cotton canvas with a nylon lining and is the perfect size for any trip. Weekender comes with detachable shoulder strap, coordinating luggage tag and measures 20″ width x 11″ height x 9″ depth.
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setembro 19, 2010
Tags: B002XIS77A, Baby, DwellStudio Weekender Bag, LOOK: DwellStudio Weekender Bag, Sparrow, Sparrow RRP: $230.00! On Sale Now: $222.70! Posted in: Baby No Comments
Why Pay $58.00 – Devoted Creations Trinity Intense Sizzle Triple Bronzer Tanning Lotion Only $26.44 At Amazon!
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Devoted Creations Trinity Intense Sizzle Triple Bronzer Tanning Lotion
Product: Why Pay $58.00 – Devoted Creations Trinity Intense Sizzle Triple Bronzer Tanning Lotion Only $26.44 At Amazon! List Price: $58.00 Amazon Price: $26.44 Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available |
Compare Prices on Devoted Creations Trinity Intense Sizzle Triple Bronzer Tanning Lotion
Trinity Our first silicone emulsion intense sizzle triple bronzer. Dare to go beyond your tanning limit? This Triple Threat dark tanning lotion will take you where you’ve never been before, Extreme Golden Dark Bronze! Feel the Scintillating sensation and look slimmer by using this Thermal Active Blend. StrivitanTM, an Anti-Aging breakthrough, that reverses the signs of aging.Level 3Product Action: Tan Enhancer, Bronzer, TingleProduct Specs: 12.25 oz. bottle,.7 oz packet
- Amazon Sales Rank: #3881 in Beauty
- Size: 12.25 fl oz
- Brand: Devoted Creations
- Number of items: 1
Features
- Intense Sizzle Triple Bronzer Dare to go beyond your tanning limit? This Triple Bronzer with DHA, Walnut Oil, and Erythrulose will take you where you’ve never been before, Extreme Golden Dark Bronze!
- Experience the Scintillating sensation and slimming effects of this Thermal Active Blend. StrivitanTM, an Anti-Aging breakthrough, Firms and tightens your skin.
- Fragrance: Raspberry Pear
This product is AWESOME!
This is THE ABSOLUTE best product I have used in years! I tanned the same evening as I received it and did not have a terrible “sensation” while tanning. HOWEVER, after I tanned I went on a 3 mile run and WOW! By the time i finished up I was developing and I can say it was awesome! I had reached a plateau and have tanned for several years. This product delivered tremendous results after just one use. I am darker this morning. And best of all my skin felt smooth and silky. There is NO smell after you tan! The fragrance is very light and not offensive at all. Don’t even think about it – order this! You will be happy you did!
better than paint it black
I love this lotion! I have never used a DC lotion before, but had read some decent reviews. I noticed a difference after the first use. I have tried SB Stunning, Paint it Black, Designer Skin products, but this one tops them all. Plus it smelled great too!
good stuff!
really good nice tingle when u get out about ten mins gets u real dark wash your hands good after use.
Click Here To Buy Now At Amazon!
setembro 19, 2010
Tags: B0019CBAZW, Beauty, Devoted Creations Trinity Intense Sizzle Triple Bronzer Tanning Lotion, Why Pay $58.00 - Devoted Creations Trinity Intense Sizzle Triple Bronzer Tanning Lotion Only $26.44 At Amazon! Posted in: Beauty No Comments
LOOK: Save A Battery 2365 12-Volt Battery Charger and Maintainer RRP: $69.95! On Sale Now: $65.99!
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Save A Battery 2365 12-Volt Battery Charger and Maintainer
Product: LOOK: Save A Battery 2365 12-Volt Battery Charger and Maintainer RRP: $69.95! On Sale Now: $65.99! List Price: $69.95 Amazon Price: $65.99 Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available |
Compare Prices on Save A Battery 2365 12-Volt Battery Charger and Maintainer
Save A Battery 12 Volt Battery Charger Maintainer charges, rejuvenates and extends battery life the longer it is plugged in. This battery maintainer offers a modular design for versatile operation cables that can be changed quickly and easily. It makes it easy to connect cables with total versatility. It charges dead batteries quickly using pulsing technology. This battery maintainer is lightweight, compact and easy to transport.
- Amazon Sales Rank: #31626 in Automotive
- Brand: Save A Battery
- Model: 2365
- Dimensions: 1.70 pounds
Features
- 12-Volt, 50-Watt unit charges and maintains batteries with fast-acting pulsing technology
- Extends battery life the longer it is plugged in
- Safe to use, with over-current, over-voltage, short-circuit and reverse polarity protection
- Unique modular cable design offers a variety of connectors and lengths, and can be changed quickly and easily
- Lightweight, compact and easy to transport
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setembro 18, 2010
Tags: Automotive, B002HG8890, LOOK: Save A Battery 2365 12-Volt Battery Charger and Maintainer RRP: $69.95! On Sale Now: $65.99!, Save A Battery 2365 12-Volt Battery Charger and Maintainer Posted in: Automotive No Comments
We Have The Batman – The Complete Fourth Season DC Comics Kids Collection Sale-$15.49!
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The Batman – The Complete Fourth Season DC Comics Kids Collection
Product: We Have The Batman – The Complete Fourth Season DC Comics Kids Collection Sale-$15.49! List Price: $19.98 Amazon Price: $15.49 Add to cart to see low price@ Availability: In Stock Usually ships in 24 Hours Free Shipping Available |
Compare Prices on The Batman – The Complete Fourth Season DC Comics Kids Collection
Season 4 features a redesign of Bruce Wayne/Batman, that is more reminiscent of the DCAU (Bruce Timm) Batman. The season also introduces Dick Grayson as Robin (Evan Sabara) into the series as well as other characters such as Lucius Fox (Louis Gossett Jr.). More villains appear such as Tony Zucco (Mark Hamill), Killer Moth (Jeff Bennett), Black Mask (James Remar) & Number One (Diedrich Bader), Rumor (Ron Perlman), Everywhere Man (Brandon Routh), Harley Quinn (Hynden Walch), Francis Grey (Dave Foley), and a new Clayface (Wallace Langham). Batgirl returns this season as well, and is now officially part of Batman’s team. Swoop onto this Deluxe 2-Disc Edition with All Season 4 Adventures plus Exciting Extras. See justice done as no other hero can deliver!
- Amazon Sales Rank: #14575 in DVD
- Brand: Warner Brothers
- Released on: 2007-11-20
- Rating: Unrated
- Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
- Formats: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
- Original language: English, French
- Subtitled in: English
- Number of discs: 1
- Dimensions: 1.20 pounds
- Running time: 292 minutes
Getting better…
Season 4 finds THE BATMAN at its most accessible and fan friendly. Lots of folks (and I was one of ‘em) weren’t too enthused with this younger Dark Knight version when he first came out in 2004. So, with The Batman – The Complete First Season (DC Comics Kids Collection) having left me and others in a lukewarm and sulky state, I never thought the series would last to a fourth season, let alone a 5th, which is just around the corner. But, perhaps because of the dearth of animated superhero stuff on TV – what with only the occasional animated film released by Marvel and DC, leaving us with LEGION OF SUPERHEROES (enjoyable) and FANTASTIC FOUR (kinda shady) as the other viewing options – well, I’ve started watching THE BATMAN more and more.
There’s been a decided upgrading in quality to the episodes. Also, the additions of Batgirl (debuted in Season 3 and now officially in the Bat family) and of Robin (debuts this season) provide a more consistent element of levity and color to the show, nicely offsetting ol’ Batface’s grim and dour tendencies. In fact, for me, the show’s trump card are these kid crimefighters, whose presence and bicker-and-banter act enliven things tremendously. Great sibling rivalry unfolding here. I find myself having a change of heart regarding this series. I like it now.
As the seasons progress, the show continues to serve up increased depth to the storyline and deeper character development. In addition to Robin, making their debuts to the series are Lucius Fox, the new Clayface, Black Mask, and Harley Quinn. Noteworthy episodes (for me, anyway) are the amusing “Team Penguin,” the horror-tinged “Strange New World,” “Artifacts” (which features a much older Batman ala THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS), “Seconds,” and the big one, “The Joining, Parts One and Two.” “The Breakout” is also a fun and funny episode, focusing on Batgirl and Robin’s personal and working relationship (Batgirl: “Suggest a 2102: procurement of snacks from police lobby.” Robin: “Roger that!”).
Another bid for fan friendliness is the animators’ redesign of the Batman’s look as they restructure his jawline to more closely resemble the Batman from the ’90s animated series. Works for me, although I didn’t really have a problem with how he looked before. THE BATMAN: THE COMPLETE SEASON 4, covering episodes 40 to 52 of the series, boasts vocal guest stints by Brandon Routh, Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Robert Englund, Brooke Shields, Dave Foley, and the great Ron Perlman. As for our regular voice cast, Danielle Judovits and Evan Sabara are pitch perfect as Batgirl and Robin. Rino Romano will never be Kevin Conroy. Heck, he’ll never be Adam West. But, of late, I find myself thinking “Well, he doesn’t really stink up the joint.” I guess I’m getting used to him as the Dark Knight. Kevin Michael Richardson makes for a good Joker, and would’ve had a shot at becoming THE definitive voice of the Clown Prince of Crime, if not for Mark Hamill. Mitch Pileggi (THE X-FILES’s Director Skinner) is solid as Commissioner Gordon and I wish he had more lines this season.
Okay, here are the 13 episodes:
Episode 1 – “A Matter of Family” – This one introduces and retells the origin of the young and very spirited Dick Grayson; guest-starring the voices of animation greats Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill.
Episode 2 – “Team Penguin” – This is a very funny episode. To combat Batman, Penguin decides to improve his odds by forming a supervillain group, consisting of Killer Croc, Firefly, Ragdoll, and the hapless Killer Moth. Batgirl and Robin meet for the first time, and they have issues (”So, you got a new partner. It’s because I changed the presets on the Batmobile radio, isn’t it?”).
Episode 3 – “Clayfaces” – Clayface again claims to have reformed and wants another chance. But can his friend Bruce Wayne believe him? Meanwhile, someone with Clayface’s abilities begins committing crimes.
Episode 4 – “The Everywhere Man” – Batman and Robin go up against a costumed art thief who can duplicate himself. The Everywhere Man is voiced by SUPERMAN RETURNS’s Brandon Routh.
Episode 5 – “Strange New World” – Cool episode with a horror element. Hugo Strange releases a toxin on Gotham City which turns the populace into the undead. Batman has 48 hours to administer the antidote before the zombified state becomes permanent.
Episode 6 – “The Breakout” – Somewhere in Gotham City, a bomb has been placed by the crime boss Black Mask. With Batman out of commission, it’s up to Batgirl and Robin, without adult supervision, to somehow save the day.
Episode 7 – “Artifacts” – Another nice episode, this one involves a far flung futuristic episode. In the year 3027, Dr. Freeze had managed to survive and is once more running amok. Meanwhile, archaeologists unearth the old Batcave, which just might offer up an anti-Freeze solution. Appearances by Nightwing and Oracle.
Episode 8 – “Two of a Kind” – Harley Quinn finally debuts in this series, as a psychologist with a wacky talk show. Can Mr. J be far behind?
Episode 9 – “Seconds” – A time travel story. Batman finds himself continually stumped by a common criminal.
Episode 10 – “Riddler’s Revenge” – Batman and the Riddler (Robert Englund) have a conversation on the bottom of the ocean.
Episode 11 – “Rumors” – An armored vigilante named Rumor (Ron Perlman) is kidnapping Gotham’s supervillains.
Episode 12 – “The Joining, Part One” – A police detective new to town hints that he may be privy to Batman’s secrets. Later, the Dark Knight investigates him and bumps into another superhero, who informs Bats that Gotham is about to face its most perilous threat: an alien invasion. The debut of Lucius Fox (Louis Gossett, Jr.).
Episode 13 – “The Joining, Part Two” – Thinking it too dangerous for them, Batman forbids Batgirl and Robin from getting involved as he continues to combat the mechanical aliens. But the Caped Crusader finally realizes that even he can’t do it alone. The finale to this episode suggests very good things for the future of THE BATMAN.
With season 5 projected to guest star Superman and the JLA, I’m glad to see this particular Batman’s universe continue to expand and evolve. Bats went from being initially a loner to a dynamic duo with Batgirl, and here, a trio with the addition of Robin. In episode 13, Batman utters a very promising closing statement which made me pump a fist in the air: “You’ve put together quite a League. Let’s get to work.” Hell, yeah.
But, listen, the Batwave device still sucks.
It just keeps getting better
OK, so unlike several others here, I liked THE BATMAN from the beginning. Even so, I have to say that I think it’s gotten even better over the years. As of this writing, I haven’t seen any of season 5 (I prefer to wait for the DVD’s so I can get ‘em all at once), but season 4 is by far the best season yet.
Hardcore Batfans have traditionally been slow to warm-up to the “sidekick” characters of Robin and Batgirl. And I’ll admit I was initally reluctant to embrace either of them in ANY incarnation of Batman. So imagine my surprise when, after only 3 or 4 episodes, I found that the interplay between Batgirl and the Boy Wonder is among my favorites things about this season. They’re really just kids, after all, and their good-natured sibling rivalry is handled with wit and intelligence.
There’s not really a bad episode in the bunch, but I’ll mention a few favorites: “Strange New World” calls to mind the excellent feature-length Batman vs. Dracula and is among the most exciting episodes of the entire series; “Artifacts” and the “The Joining” (easily the best episode) feed fans’ appetite for glimpses of the future with appearances by Nightwing, Oracle, and the Justice League; and “Two of a Kind” re-imagines Harley Quinn for a new generation of Batman fans. Even the recurring rogues’ gallery gets some standout stories: We get more background on the Riddler in “Riddler’s Revenge,” and Bruce Wayne’s old friend Ethan Bennett (a.k.a. Clayface) gets a chance at redemption in “Clayfaces.”
Not much in the way of extras this time around, just a brief featurette on season 4, and a preview of the upcoming direct-to-video Justice League movie.
If you still haven’t discovered this high-octane reinterpretation of the Batman mythology, season 4 is a great place to start. Highly recommended.
The Batman’s animated evolution continues..in the right direction
Like so many others who watched this show intially, I was not impressed. One reason was that I had a problem with the way some of Batman’s rogues gallery were drawn or made over(especially The Joker and Bane). The one redeeming makeover was The Penguin. I really liked how he was portrayed to be just as formidible as he was vain. But overall it was a show that I would occasionally watch. But as the second and third seasons premiered and progressed, I was pleasantly surprised. But it was Season Four, where everything shifted into fifth gear.
The make or break move for this show was how they were going to implement Robin into this show after it was announced that he
would be introduced in season four. I must say that Robin’s introduction exceeded my expectations. I thought that The Boy Wonder would have a 2 part episode that would provide his origin and drag out over 67 yrs of history. Not so. The opening episode “A Matter of Family” not only summed up everything in 30 mins or less but with Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series,Batman Beyond,Justice League and Justice League Unlimited)providing the voice of Robin’s father John Grayson, it seemed like he was passing the vocal torch of Batman to the current voice of The Dark Knight, Rino Romano, who himself has evolved vocally throughout the course of this series.
The other episodes are great and do not disappoint but the 2 part “The Joining” with the great Dorian Harewood as J’onn J’onzz, The Martian Manhunter(Harewood’s vocals would make Carl Lumbly,who provided J’onn’s vocals for Justice League, very proud)is the crown jewel for this season and lays the groundwork for Season Five with appearances by Superman,Green Arrow,The Flash and on 12/8/07 Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) which have been nothing short of outstanding.
This is a must for any Batman fan but most importantly, like its predecessors Batman: The Animated Series and Batman Beyond,it stands alone and creates a new era and interpretation for Batman that all will enjoy.
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setembro 18, 2010
Tags: B000UPMZ1M, DVD, The Batman - The Complete Fourth Season DC Comics Kids Collection, We Have The Batman - The Complete Fourth Season DC Comics Kids Collection Sale-$15.49! Posted in: DVD No Comments
We Have On the Road Sale-Price Too Low To Display!!
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On the Road
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Kerouac’s quintessential novel of America and the Beat GenerationOn the Road chronicles Jack Kerouac’s years traveling the North American continent with his friend Neal Cassady, “a sideburned hero of the snowy West.” As “Sal Paradise” and “Dean Moriarty,” the two roam the country in a quest for self-knowledge and experience. Kerouac’s love of America, his compassion for humanity, and his sense of language as jazz combine to make On the Road an inspirational work of lasting importance.Kerouac’s classic novel of freedom and longing defined what it meant to be “Beat” and has inspired every generation since its initial publication more than forty years ago.
- Amazon Sales Rank: #1064 in eBooks
- Published on: 1995-01-01
- Released on: 1995-01-01
- Format: Kindle Book
- Number of items: 1
The outlaw spirit seething underneath 1950’s conformity
Published in 1957, this autobiographical novel by Jack Kerouac captured the spirit that was seething underneath 1950s conformity. Myth has it that he typed it non-stop for three weeks, using one long continuous sheet of paper. I understand it went through several drafts after that but it still holds the immediacy of that marathon typing session, the staccato rhythm of the words creating improvised rhythm across the page with little, if any punctuation.
The narrator, Sal Paradise, is on an epic quest, one that takes him back and forth across the country with Dean Moriarity who is based on the real-life Neal Cassady. Dean, the reform school escapee who specializes in stealing cars, is Sal’s mentor. And it is the automobile that is their chariot, which keeps them constantly in motion. Dean’s madness is glorified, as is his ability to do whatever he pleases. There are a lot of drugs in the book, but liquor seems to be their drug of choice. They leave the heroin for a character loosely based on the real William Burroughs. Women drift in and out of the story, usually as one of Dean’s lovers who he treats terribly. Dean treats everyone terribly though, abandoning Sal on several occasions, once while Sal was suffering from dysentery while they were in Mexico. Sal, however, always forgives Dean, seeing him as a god-like hero, no matter what he does.
There’s more to the book than the story though. The book is a trip, in every sense of the word. With the simple force of his writing, Kerouac took me on an adventure. With him I crisscrossed America, hitchhiking, walking, taking buses. With him I sat in a car driven by Dean Moriarity, speeding for hours at 110 miles an hour and not even thinking about a seatbelt. I met the pathetic women who loved Dean and didn’t feel a bit sorry for them. I felt the quest in Dean’s heart for his hobo father who he constantly searches for. And, I experienced the jazz, felt the heat and smelled the sweat in the many small bars, felt my head reel from the whisky and the sound all around me, stayed awake all night listening to sounds and being alone with the music in a room full of people. Yes, I felt I was there with the travelers, enjoying vicariously the thrills and the chills and knowing this would be my only entry into that world. Jack Kerouac eventually became an alcoholic and died an early death, but I’m personally grateful for this book he left behind and the experience of reading it. Highly recommended.
Go thou and be little beneath my sight
To appreciate this book you have to catch it at the right time in your life. I’m not talking age(though for most it’s around eighteen), I’m talking about the limbo between responsibility and childhood. The ether-peak where you can see the world in all it’s glory but have yet to figure out how to touch it. Kerouac was quite capable of putting things down conventially, The Town and the City, but he decided to go out and “roll is bones”. For that he deserves more credit than he got. This book is great in its portrayal of The Beats’ years before the maelstrom of fame hit them. It is the perfect romantic youth handbook.
Read it before you take that summer off before college.
Read it again before you go to Europe after college.(While you’re in France read Henry Miller.)
Read it, learn it, then throw it away and forget about it and live with a razor on your tongue and roman candles on your heels.
P.S. The title and the “roll your bones” line are from a reading Kerouac did on the Tonight Show of the last page of THE book, with some improv thrown in. Much better than just ink and paper. Check it out in the box set.
Unique classic novel of 20th Century American fiction.
As a junior in college, I was hesitant to read a Kerouac novel because of the negative connentations associated with the “Beats”. While contemplating reading “On the Road”, a friend nakedly asked me, “isn’t that book about drugs?” My reply “I don’t think so”, couldn’t mask my nervousness about the content of “On the Road”. Was I about to read another dated novel about a scene whose time has passed? Well let me assure the quisical reader that this novel is the complete opposite of tired and dated. Kerouac is an amazing, inventive, and charismatic writer who entertains with every word. I assure you this novel is as entertaining as advertised. The plot revolves around the adventures of Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarity(thinly veiled altered egos of Kerouac and Neal Cassidy) as they cross the country in search of an illusive yet ever present freedom. Enjoyable scenes
1. Paradise’s first trip from the East Coast to the West Coast. The descriptions are joyously vivid and intensely enjoyable. Wow!
2. Kerouac’s descriptions of a jazz show in San Francisco. His enthusiasm for jazz is well-documented but this scene conveys the love for jazz like no other author has done before or after.
Enjoy this novel with an open mind and a love for powerful writing.
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setembro 18, 2010
Tags: B002IPZFYQ, Books, On the Road, We Have On the Road Sale-Price Too Low To Display!! Posted in: Books No Comments
Dustin Gillespie