Electronics Review: Cheap Name Brand HDMI Cables- 2/07/08

So I decided to go hi-definition on our cable a few weeks ago to be able to watch sports better. Ended up trucking around town for HDMI cables and the lowest I could find were $35.00 Panasonic HDMI cables at Walmart.

After reviews after the fact I learned that no-name HDMI cables selling for $5.00 on eBay should work the same. For those still wanting name brand HDMI cables on the cheap, I picked up HDMI cables by General Electric (GE) for $3.00 at Goodwill, also spotted Sony HDMI for $8.00 and Belkin HDMI for $4.00.

Mind you the boxes are cut open since these were returns from the Target store which were then donated to Goodwill. After inspecting them, they all looked to be in good shape. Save a few bucks and check out your local Goodwill.

Book Review: Hot Mama by Jennifer Estep- 1/28/08

Comments: A sequel to her “super hero/romance” novel Karma Girl set in the fictional New York-type city of Big Time. Interesting work still where there’s a combination of comic book adventures with a femal-lite version of romance and a bit of hot lovin’.

I didn’t feel it was as fun as Karma Girl (3 out of 5) since the heroine here wasn’t as intriguing, but a nice quick read overall.

Score: 2.75 out of 5

Book Review: Soon I Will Be Invincible: A Novel- 1/12/08

Comments: A novel regarding the formation of a updated super group through the eyes of a rookie cyborg girl as well as following the exploits of an evil genius looking to conquer the world once more over the super group. Interesting, fun, with a homeage to 70s and early 80’s super teams such as the Justice League and other early non-grim super groups.

These heroes are right in our time frame, but they do not kill or destroy their adversaries. While I was taken aback by this, you only need to look at old X-Men or team books before the grim & gritty days and see where this book gets its inspiration from. Good book and looking forward to a sequel.

Score: 4 out of 5

Toy Review: Big Toy and Sport Sale at Target! Get your clearance items now- 1/7/08

Target is going through their new year restocking switch and a lot of their items are going for at least 30% off. If you’re in So. California check out some of these items I was able to get.

G.I. Joe 25th Anniv. 6-pack of the Wave 1 Joes for $12.48 ($25 regular) and the Justice League Unlimited 6-pack with the Doomsday figure for $9.98 ($20 retail).

I was also able to get a replacement set of Scorpion golf shoe spikes for $7.45 ($10.75 retail). There are some golf accessories as well as toy items (Pirates, Spiderman, etc.) on sale so get them before they’re gone.

Also, check out cheapassgamer.com for the current $8.98 video game sale at Circuit City, I was able to pick up a PS2 Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams game as well.

Golf Review: Top-Flite HCT Tour Men’s Golf Set- 12/15/07

Mr. Monster’s Current Golf Set- Top Flite HCT Tour Men’s 17-piece golf set

After selling my previous Cougar Power Cat golf set, I decided to try the following golf set that I currently play with.

The Top Flite HCT set is what we came up with. The 17-piece set includes excellent 1, 3 and 5 woods, the much-desired 4 and 5 hybrid irons for more distance and accuracy, a 6-PW iron set, and a decent putter. The set also comes with a nice self-standing style bag for the weirdos who walk the course.

Top Flite HCT Tour Golf Set

• The total package all in one set, right-handed men’s set
• 460cc oversized driver, 2 fairway woods and 2 easy-to-hit hybrid clubs
• 6 perimeter-weighted stainless steel irons and 1 putter
• Includes golf bag 3 head covers and 1 rain hood
• 17 pieces in all


I ended up upgrading from the Cougar Power Cat set to this set since it was a “name brand” owned by Callaway Golf so I thought it would have better quality. I also chose this set since it was on sale at Target for half the retail price since at the time the store was downsizing it’s golf section selections. I did give thought to this set having a full set of irons from 5 to sand wedge since my previous set only had up to a pitching wedge.

The HCT Tour’s woods was fairly decent though I do wish the putter included was a mallet style instead of a blade. With a driver, two fairway woods and a 4 & 5 hybrid club selection Top-Flite sure gives the beginning golf a good amount to work with. The golf bag held up for a season then the zippers started to unlatch and the teeth did not want to grip anymore.

Score: 3.25 out of 5

Golf Review: Sets of Equipment I’ve Used So Far- 12/1/07


# of Drivers used: 6
Cougar Power Cat 460cc
Pinemeadow Tour 780
Top Flite HCT Tour 460cc
Taylor Made R7 Draw
Intech Ripper
Cleveland Hi-Bore

# of Putters used: 5
Cougar Power Cat blade
Top Flite HCT Tour blade
Knight Golf EZ Roll ZR10
RAM Laser EV1
Taylor Made Monza Rosa
Never Compromise GM2 Exchange 3

# of Golf Gloves used: 5
Atheletic Works
Nike Tech Xtreme
Callaway Game Series
Taylor Made React2
Nike Dri Fit

# of Hybrids used: 4
Cougar Power Cat #3/4
Top Flite HCT Tour #5
Pinemeadow Command #3 & Excel #4
Taylor Made Mid Rescue #3 & 4

# of Golf Bags used: 4
Cougar Power Cat stand bag
Top Flite HCT Tour stand bag
Taylor Made F1 stand bag
Spalding leather cart bag

# of Wedges used: 3
Cougar Power Cat PW
Top Flite HCT Tour PW & SW
Cleveland 588 Tour Action SW & 60* lob

# of Irons used: 2
Cougar Power Cat #5-PW
Top Flite HCT Tour #6-PW

# if Fairway Woods used: 2
Cougar Power Cat #3 & 5
Top Flite HCT Tour #3 & 5

# of Golf Shoes used: 2
Dunlop brown/white saddle
Top Flite IN04-57 white sneaker

# of Golf Balls lost: Uncountable

Game Review: Call of Duty 3 for the Playstation 2- 11/27/07

Comments: After getting a hankering for a shooting game, Mr. Monster decided to pick up Call of Duty 3 for the Playstation 2. After playing the previous Medal of Honor series on the PS2 (except the new Vanguard) I wanted to try a different WWII game and the Call of Duty series had some good marks and the COD 3 game was available for only $15 used at the local Game Crazy store.

The positive aspect of COD 3 I liked compared to say Medal of Honor (Frontline, Rising Sun, European Assault) is that it actually got my adrenaline pumping with hectic non-stop action and squad members fighting with you. You’re mostly running and gunning with a few jeep driving, tank driving and some manned gunning.

Mostly you’re running through trenches, clearing out homes, or stopping German assault through the Normandy campaign. The life bar is non-existant, you sustain shots and you have to duck out of cover to regain health. Now this keeps you in the fight longer unless you get surrounded and you cannot regain health.

If you’re looking for action at a budget and still on a PS2, COD 3 is a good game to buy. I’m looking forward to getting COD 2: Big Red One now as well and for a change of pace maybe the Brotherhood in Arms games as well.

Score: 3.5 out of 5

Movie Review: Shopgirl- 11/07/07

Comments: Nice easy-paced movie. At first I thought it was going to be a romance-type comedy and it is in the first arc with the lead actress and her 20ish fling. Then once her character meets up with Steve Martin’s older courter, it moves into more of the tradition drama phase. The movie has exquisite cinematography and a wonderful orchestrated soundtrack.

Colors and shots used are very detailed and shots appear dramatically staged. There’s not a lot of history of the characters given, so you’re forced to accept the relationships and tangles they get into just from the screen. It’s a very thoughtful movie that I’d like to get for my collection, if you enjoy movies like In the Mood for Love, 2040, Big Fish, this one should be for you.

Score: 4 out fo 5

Movie Review: Superman: Doomsday- 10/23/07

Comments: Why oh why must studios always change an adaption of something established and fine? Partly produced and written by Paul Dini the man behind the great Batman: The Animated Series cartoon from the 90’s comes the animated adaption of the 1990s event “Death of Superman”. I collected the series when I was a kid due to the media speculation on Superman’s death and saw that this DVD was coming out and wanted to see how close it stayed true.

Since the comic lasted a few months and the DVD is under 2 hours, a lot of event were cut out. Unfortunately a lot of the set-up of Superman and the cast was weak as well as the alien killer Doomsday. We are suppose to see Doomsday as an unstoppable killing machine, too bad when he starts his rampage he kills one at a time and we never really see a “massacre” that should accompany a Superman-killer. Superman comes and saves the day, dies, comes back and fights an evil clone. For an event that should have focused on his initial fight with Doomsday after the DVD is titled with, the second half of the film is focused on his “clone” which is something new for the DVD and did not happen in the comics.

The animation follows the 90’s Superman cartoon, for some reason this is out of continuity from that series as well as the Justice League cartoon with tweaks to the character drawings. Lois Lane looks more asian and Superman/Clark Kent has an annoying cheek line drawings around his face that make him look 80 years old. Lex Luthor for some reason wears that same white outfit all the time.

While the DVD is PG-13 with a good amount of violence which helps with the action, the over-all story is weak and not enjoyable as the Justice League series. Along with the recent Brainiac Attacks DVD which was worse, the new Superman releases have been weak. Here’s hoping the upcoming New Frontier cartoon comes out fine.

Score: 2.75 out of 5