'Big Black' Java Monster

Yeah, the name is freaky, but it tastes good. That's what matters, right? I've really fallen in love with ready to drink coffee drinks, and long time readers know about my infatuation with energy drinks. Monster combines the best of both worlds; in three different varieties no less. Today, I review 'Big Black.' Stop laughing.

'Half the caffeine of regular coffee. Twice the buzz!' That's the tag line. The regular, patented Monster energy blend supplies the 'twice the buzz' part; if there are any differences in the formula between this and other Monster's, I didn't see it. Or feel it. Java Monster will wake you up, fo' sho.'

Strangely enough, it tastes a lot like coffee. Who'd of thunk it? Sweeter and 'creamier' than I generally take mine, but I understand the need to please the masses, and I think it will. Java Monster certainly isn't too sweet.

Nutritionally, you're not doing yourself too much harm by grabbing one of these 'Big Blacks.' Just under 200 calories per can (100 per serving), you'll get (per can) 40% calcium, 100% vitamin C, 200% riboflavin, niacin, B6, and B12. Sounds like a decent breakfast supplement to me, for those of us that do not prefer solid food in the morning.

You get 15 ounces for $1.99, wherever other Monster Energy products are sold. Assuming you like cold coffee products, I have no trouble recommending this. Bottoms up!


Official Site


--Jeremy Hobbs


Related Articles:
Jeremy's Consumer's Corner: Java Monster Mean Bean
Jeremy's Consumer's Corner: Arizona Double Roasted Cappuccino Shake
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Jeremy's Consumer's Corner: Arizona Kahlua Cappuccino Shake





monster, java monster, energy drinks, coffee, big black, supplements, hansons

Kid Rock - Rock N Roll Jesus

I was a big Kid Rock fan back in the day, when him and Limp Bizkit were the stuff. Too bad for Limp that the whole rock/rap thing didn't stay afloat, but Kid had some other musical talents to fall back on; i.e. he can sing.

In 'Rock N Roll Jesus,' Kid's southern rock/alternative-country sound really shines, and are the brightest spots on the disc. Rap is still in the mix, it's just been relegated to a very minor ingredient in the 'soup.' And to be honest, it seemed really out of place. If he's going to do the 'new south' sound, he needs to do it all the way and shed his old images.

The good tracks are really good; 'Blue Jeans And A Rosary' it's just awesome, and will get air time on country, pop, and rock radio stations. If I were to make a mix CD of the best songs I've heard this year, 'Blue Jeans' would be on the short list of my selections.

'Amen' brings up some very relevant social issues that don't get mentioned in music a lot. Abuse in the Church, reverse racism, and overtly spiritual messages from a (very) secular artist. Really nice track, gives some depth and purpose to the album, and should be listened to carefully.

'All Summer Long' has the classic guitar riff from 'Sweet Home Alabama.' That gets it an automatic thumbs up from me, but it's still a great classic styled rock track. Lyrically, the song reminds me a lot of Bob Seager's 'Night Moves.' Comment and let me know if you got that vibe as well.

'Roll On' is a nice ballad, nothing earth shaking, but is a track that will get you thinking about stuff. Life is hard, and this track adds perspective to that fact; you should enjoy every moment to it's fullest. Great saxophone work in the back as well.

'New Orleans' is definitely interesting, and 'When You Love Someone' is quite catchy. Just good music, nothing too complicated.

Okay, those were my favorites. Tracks I'd avoid; 'So Hott,' and 'Sugar.' 'Sugar' is the 'rap' track, and it's not his best work. As I said earlier, when compared to the rest of the disc, it just seemed way out of place. 'So Hott' just sucked. Sorry.

Rest of the album is kind of in 'ehh' territory. 'Rock N Roll Jesus' gets a timid recommendation from me; I know it wont be for everyone, but a lot of folks will love it. I've certainly enjoyed it. Find an edited version if you're buying for a kid, there are a few 'f-bombs' and 'G.D.'s' sprinkled throughout. Enjoy!


Official Site


--Jeremy Hobbs



kid rock, rock n roll jesus, rock, music, southern rock, alternative country

Taking A Little Break

Hi dear Readers.

Just letting you know I'm taking a few days off. My Grandmother is in the very final stages of her Hospice treatment. Real rough time for me, and I'm not feeling very creative. Your thoughts and prayers for my family will be very much appreciated.

Here's hoping you have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

PayPal Secure Card

Today's article is just a bit short, simply because it doesn't require many words to get the point across. PayPal, a service we all know and love, is teaming up with MasterCard to provide you with a new service; PayPal Secure Card.

What is PayPal Secure Card? It's going to be a little button you install into your web browser that is linked to your PayPal account. When shopping anywhere on the web, even at shops that have no PayPal support, you can click this button and it will generate a one time use only MasterCard number that will allow you to complete your transaction with your PayPal funds.

I use PayPal a lot, almost all the money I make goes into that system, and I had grown quite tired of only buying stuff off of eBay. This is the perfect remedy, and I commend them for implementing it into their service. Look for the service to become available on the Nov 20th, just in time for Christmas shopping.


Official Site


--Jeremy Hobbs



paypal, credit cards, shopping, mastercard

AirDrives

My second review of earphones, and my very first review of a 'higher end' product. Wont be doing too many of these, I plan on keeping this a value centered blog, but it's fun to mix it up every now and then.

The intention of these is to protect your ears, and allow you to have the ability to hear things that are happening around you. Some people might think that is a bad thing; but it has it's place. Outdoor exercisers need to be able to hear cars, sirens, mad barking dogs, along with other important things. Should your employer allow you to listen to music at work, AirDrives will still allow you to hear things like your phone ringing, or a fire alarm. See where I'm going with this? Noise canceling/isolating earphones completely block your hearing, making you miss many sounds that might possibly help you avoid danger. They also make it hard to hear the gossip taking place in the cubical next to yours.

Those features are all for not if the audio quality isn't any good. So how do AirDrives sound? Music that consists mostly of mids and highs will sound excellent; as good or better than anything I've heard. The AirDrives sit outside your ear, and the music just flows into your canals, crisp and clear.

Base? Considering they make no seal whatsoever (they sit on your outer cartilage), they do a very good job. In fact, this is the area with which I am most impressed; I didn't think they'd be able to produce base at all. Doesn't quite compare to noise canceling earphones, but what they achieved was astonishing. Only hardcore thump heads will offer any complaints.

As far as comfort and fit go, AirDrives are amazing. Completely customizable, they slip over your ear, feel as light as air, yet remain in place and feel very secure. Again, amazing is the only way to describe the way they feel.

Gold plated jack (formed at a convenient 70 degrees), in-line volume control (so you wont have to constantly adjust on your player), sweat resistant material, far safer for your ears over the long term, AirDrives has it all. Wonderful technology; that something can produce this much quality sound, and be separated from my ear canal by a wall of cartilage. Wow!

I could keep going on about the positive features, but I'm pretty sure you get the idea that I'm very impressed. I wish the price was a bit lower, $69-$99 is a nice chunk of change, but you're paying for a product of very high quality. Recommended without hesitation if you can come up with the coin.


Official Site


--Jeremy Hobbs




airdrives, air drives, headphones, earphones, music

The Mist

The Mist by Stephen King was, I think, the very first writing of King's that I ever read. I was young, going through two or three 'young adult' novels a day, and my Mom decided that habit was a bit expensive. So one day at a garage sale, she bought me a huge bag of paper back novels. Included in this bag was Stephen King's 'Skeleton Crew.' Anyone familiar with this book knows that 'The Mist' was the first story in this collection of short stories.

I read it, it scared me stupid, and the book went back into the bag. That's when I discovered the work of Michael Crichton, but that's beside the point. Back on subject, the story was quite frightening, some of King's best work in my opinion. It was the type of story that will never leave you; you'll think of it every time you see a dense fog start to role in. I always thought it'd make an excellent film, and apparently someone agrees with me.

I'm sure the director Frank Darabont will do an excellent job, especially when you look at his resume; the amazing classics to be 'The Green Mile' and 'The Shawshank Redemption.'

I implore you to check out this movie the moment the projector fires up at your favorite theater. If it's even one quarter as good as the printed version, it will be well worth the price of admission. Be sure to come back and comment after you see it, I'll enjoy the discussion!


--Jeremy Hobbs

Rockstar Punched

This sure was some good stuff, but I was hating it at 1:00AM while lying awake in bed, counting energy drinks in my head. Not Rockstar's fault though, they didn't tell me to drink the entire can at 10:30.

The mistake was made because I'd had a long day, was completely drained, and needed a pick me up. This stuff picked me up and threw me around a little; I was able to complete all my tasks (mostly blogging related), plus a few extra things I had planned to put off until the next day. Due to my level of exhaustion, I was really surprised it even affected me, let alone give me the boost it did.

Rockstar didn't sacrifice any taste to give me all that power either, this was one of the best tasting energy drinks I've tried. To give you a real world example, it tasted a lot like a 'red' (cherry?) Icee. The flavor was a bit 'heavy,' but I kind of liked that quality about it. You may not. Other reviews I've read while researching the product compare it to BooKoo Energy Punch, but I can't comment on that. Never had one. Anyways, major kudos to Rockstar Punched in the flavor department; it's a winner and should appeal to everyone.

The can nets you 260 calories, 2,000 mgs of taurine, and 240 mgs of caffeine, plus a whole lot of other stuff. You are of course only supposed to drink half the can, but we all know that no one does that. Availability may be a problem, this is still being rolled out, but look for it where Coke products are sold. Bottom line, I have no problem recommending this, it's great stuff.


Official Site


--Jeremy Hobbs


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beverages, soda, energy drinks, supplements

Need To Drop A Few Pounds?

Even though this is a 'review' style blog, I know I mention calories and diets quite often in my articles, because it's something I pay very close attention to. It's something I think everyone should be conscious of. I used to be quite heavy, heavy enough that it was a danger to my health. Believe me when I tell you that a lot of work went into reducing that weight. I looked into all of the weight loss programs, diet plans and health suggestions I could find, until I found what was right for me.

Weight Loss Diet Help is just what it sounds like, a website designed to help you achieve your weight loss goals. They offer some very sound advice in their articles, and can set you up with some very good deals through programs like Nutrisystem. The combination of information and discounts should be more than enough to get you on your way to a healthier lifestyle.

Always consult you doctor or physician before starting any weight loss program. Certain people have special dietary needs that may or may not be met by some diet systems. Also, diet for the right reasons; to be healthier and more physically fit. Dieting for vanity reasons when you're already at an acceptable weight can be dangerous.

Anyways, enjoy browsing this site, I hope they're able to help you out. The articles are really good reads, I highly recommend them.


Official Site


--Jeremy Hobbs

Full Throttle Mother

A 'bad mother' indeed. Not 'good' bad. 'Absolutely terrible' bad. My apologies to Full Throttle fans, but this stuff was just nasty. Coke, I'm ashamed of you for having let this slip out of your testing labs; someone over there is asleep at the wheel.

'Full Throttle Mother' is a sad, sad attempt to create an energy drink/energy juice hybrid (40% juice). Rockstar did it, and did it well. As did Monster. The folks at Coke in charge of Full Throttle fell flat on their face.

The flavor of Full Throttle Mother, aside from being bad, is at least unique. I'm left with nothing to really compare it to; it's just strange. Maybe those of you who have tasted an acai berry will recognize the profile, but I did not.

One 8oz serving left me energized, so despite it's shortcomings in the flavor department, Full Throttle Mother at least does it's 'job' well. I'd assume the whole can, 16oz, would give me some jitters. Bottom line, in a (extremely) tight pinch, this will get the job done if you need a boost.

This 'Mother' will give you 120 calories per serving, and take $1.99 from your wallet. Should be available where Coke products are sold. Pass on by though, there are much better options.


Official Site


--Jeremy Hobbs


Related Articles:
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beverages, soda, energy drinks, supplements

Rotten Neighbor

This one was really fun to research! Thinking of moving into a brand new neighborhood? You know that the real estate agent is going to tell you all the neighbors are perfect citizens, and most sing in the Church choir. But you and I both know that's a huge load of crap. So where might you go to find the real scoop on what is lurking behind those strange looking people's walls? Rotten Neighbor dot com.

I checked my own neighborhood on Rotten Neighbor, and it had been tagged several times; quite accurately as well. I left a tag or two myself, and plan on leaving more later. Just had to start the article and let everyone know about this.

The mapping system runs off of Google maps, using satellite, map, or hybrid views. I'll assume it updates as often as Google does, but I have no way of verifying that. Anyways, if you're familiar with that service, you'll feel right at home. If you've never used Google maps, you'll catch on quick, and you'll love it. Quite addicting.

Rotten Neighbor requires (a fairly painless) registration, but the comments you leave can stay anonymous. Most definitely a good thing. I recommend going and checking this out immediately; you might be surprised what you learn!


Official Site


--Jeremy Hobbs




real estate, social network, tagging, maps

Winamp 5.5

Here is a quick update to an older review I wrote sometime back; Winamp has released a new version, numbered 5.5. It's a '10th Anniversary' edition, and they have included some really nice new features.

• Built in iPod support
• Album art support (no plugins needed)
• A new default skin
• Handy dashboard

The sound quality was a bit 'ehh' on my speaker setup, the new pretty dashboard seemed to hog a bit of my memory, and the default skin now looks an iTunes knock off. Those are your pros and your cons; if you've been fans in the past I'd say upgrade. If you're happy using whatever it is you're using now, I see no glaring reason to change over. Does anyone besides me miss Sonique?


Official Site


--Jeremy Hobbs


Related Articles:
Jeremy's Consumer's Corner: Winamp



digital music, mp3, computers, ipod, music, software

Thanks.

I've been going through a very rough time these past few months, and things are looking like they may get worse before they get better. I appreciate everyone's patience and understanding with me not posting as often as I have in the past.

If you're a long time reader, thanks for still checking in. New readers, I've built up a decent archive you may enjoy reading. Always, any ideas/requests for reviews, let me know.


--Jeremy Hobbs

JCS Reggae Country Style Kola Champagne Soda

'100% Jamaican Owned And Formulated.' That's what the bottle says, anyhow. It also says 'Reggae' style, whatever that means. As with the previous kola champagne I reviewed, it tastes exactly like a cream soda.

What's strange is JCS offers a cream soda as well. I'd be curious to find out what the difference is in flavor. Anyways, I wasn't very impressed with the offering; the flavor was almost sickeningly sweet, not refreshing at all.

Not much point in me going on and on about this one; I can't recommend it in good conscience. Calories are through the roof (190/120z), you'd have to have it imported, and there are plenty of similar, but better, products on the market. Pass.


Official Site


--Jeremy Hobbs


Related Articles:
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kola champagne, jcs, reggae, soda

It never ends...

Now my Grandmother is in the hospital. Forgive me, but I'm in no mood to write tonight...


Try BloggingZoom for some good reads. The link is a few posts down.


--Jeremy

How To Be Totally Miserable - John Bytheway

'How To Be Totally Miserable.' Catchy title, huh? This (tiny, little) book is actually a decent read if you have a spare hour or so. Generally, self help books aren't my thing; I'm of the opinion that if you're really ready to change directions in life, a simple book wont really sway you one way or the other (Bible, and other sacred texts excluded).

You either have the desire and drive to be happy and successful, or you don't. At one time I didn't; I was unhappy, then became tired of being unhappy. One day I decided to do something about it, and this blog was born. Just a tiny amount of success gave me the desire to go do other things; it's truly amazing what a minuscule amount of confidence can do for someone.

'How To Be Totally Miserable' is written in reverse; it doesn't tell you sure fire ways to make yourself happy, instead it fills you in on ways to make absolutely sure you remain miserable. The style is really cool, and adds a bit of humor.

Half the book is full of incredible quotes that are worth 'the price of admission.' Everyone from Albert Einstein to Abraham Lincoln. Reading some of those extraordinary gems really made me think, and they will you too.

I'm going to go ahead and tell you John Bytheway is a Mormon motivational speaker, and the book does contain Biblical references. If you're nonreligious, don't let that scare you away; 'How To Be Totally Miserable' is not 'preachy' in any way. Likewise, if you're a member of one of the more conservative sects of Christianity, no denominational agendas are pushed. I'd be the first one to yell if it were so, trust me.

The recommended audience for 'How To Be Totally Miserable' is older teens, or college age kids. I think, if you give it a shot, anyone can find something of use in it. Look for it in big chain bookstores, Christian bookstores, and Mormon establishments. $5.95 is the cover price, but you'll probably find it cheaper. Recommended, and enjoy!


Official Site


--Jeremy Hobbs




how to be totally miserable, john bytheway, books, self help

Planet Terror DVD

I'm writing this not so much as a review, but more as a dire warning. That is why I will be a bit brief. 'Planet Terror' could possibly be the absolute worst movie I've ever sat through. Top 5, easy. Certainly the worst I've ever reviewed.

Ninety minute plus gore-fest. That's really all you get. Very graphic gore as well, and combined with the nudity and language, this 'film' shouldn't be viewed if there is a child in your neighborhood, let alone in the room that it is playing.

If you must see it, you should definitely give it a rent first. If you rent it and enjoy it, you're sick and I do not want you coming back to this blog anymore.

Incredibly needless to say, but I DO NOT recommend this.


Official Site


--Jeremy Hobbs




planet terror, grindhouse, dvd, movies, horror, scifi

PAYjr Launches Reloadable Target Gift Card

Have a good kid, that makes good grades, or helps out around the house, that you'd like to help learn to manage money? Or do you have a group of kids, that you keep hard at work by using something like a chore chart, and need a stress free way to pay them for their services without having to dig around for actual cash?

PAYjr allows you to do this with reloadable Target Gift Cards, an excellent alternative to the Visa Buxx card if your child is 12 or younger. You'll be able to teach your kid about budgeting, responsibility, and get him or her prepared for the future. We're living in a nearly cashless society anyway, and this is an excellent way to get junior used to that notion.

Give it a chance for a few weeks, I'm sure your kids will really love it. There's really not much you can't buy at Target, so it's not like their options will be limited! Comment back and let me know what you think!


Official Site


--Jeremy Hobbs

Ratatouille DVD

This Tuesday will mark the DVD release of Disney Pixar's previous box office offering, 'Ratatouille.' Pixar has an amazing record of making great children's movies, basically pioneering the art digitally animated cartoons. They may not have been the first to do it, but if you look at all of their previous attempts, I think you'll agree that they do it the best.

'Ratatouille' didn't seem to get as much hype as it's predecessors, but I find that a bit unfair. The animation was solid, real top notch stuff. 'Remy,' the common-rat-turned-chef was especially well created. Just the use of body language on him was wonderfully done; some of the best work I've seen in awhile. Water effects, at the beginning of the film, simply looked real. The properties of water are so hard to recreate, and Pixar pulled it off perfectly.

Voice acting was good, but do not expect to hear too many familiar voices; I didn't recognize any at all. Not that it was an issue, the people they did have working were very capable, and the animators did a great job of matching the voices to the characters. Only downside to using the (otherwise great) no-names I can see is maybe an A-lister or two would've brought more attention to the flick. Oh well.

The plot of 'Ratatouille' is about a rat that can cook. And the son of a famous French chef that can't. Far fetched, but it's a animated kid flick; what do you expect? As an adult, suspend your disbelief and enjoy an otherwise cute and funny film. There's enough to keep you interested, at least to the point of not cringing when you see your kid slip it in the DVD player.

I give 'Ratatouille' a 'fatal' thumbs up (you'll get it after watching). Solid top to bottom, and especially pretty to look at. Don't bother renting, I say pre-order! Rated G, and also available on Blu-Ray.


Official Site


--Jeremy Hobbs




ratatouille, dvd, pixar, disney, animation, movies

Sadness.

My uncle died this morning, so I'm taking the day off. Andrew Taylor Recommends is a good blog if you're really looking for something to read.


--Jeremy Hobbs

AbiWord

I like to keep things simple. Maybe you've noticed that trend by some of the products I've reviewed, or maybe you haven't, but the less clutter on my computer the better. Same is true with software; I don't need every feature geek-kind ever thought of, especially with something as seemingly simple as a word processor. I love OpenOffice, and it's awesome software for when I really need to do some complicated work, but it is a bit cumbersome for doing simple things like typing out this article.

AbiWord is just a very plain, simple, easy to use word processor. That's it. I type, it tells me when I spell something wrong, and counts my words for me. It uses very, very few system resources, creates files that can be opened and modified in another office suite should it need some extra work later on, and it can be installed on all kinds of operating systems, some I've never even heard of. Also, like most software I review, it's open source and completely free of charge.

AbiWord is an absolute no-brainer to recommend; it does what it's supposed to do, does it well, and does it for free. Think of this as a replacement for WordPad; it loads almost as fast, and has spell checking abilities. Give it a try, I think you'll like it!


Official Site


--Jeremy Hobbs




abiword, word processing, open source, freeware, software

Edmund Scientific

Edmund Scientific is one of the cooler online stores I've wandered into in some time. I've always been quite scientifically minded, and these educational/gadget stores have always piqued my interests. It's not uncommon for me to get lost in them for hours.

As of this writing, there is an awesome alarm clock featured on the front page. You ask, 'What could possibly be cool about an alarm clock?' Well, this one makes sure you actually get out of bed, or it wont turn off! No snoozing; you'll have to get up, go find the propeller, and reattach it to the base unit. Amazing gift idea for hard sleepers, especially with the holidays coming up!

Go to www.scientificsonline.com and browse around, there are some really cool things to look at, and a great place to get started on your Christmas shopping. You know you'll feel better buying the kids in your life items that will enrich their minds, rather than some doll or action figure. Enjoy your visit to Edmund's!


Official Site


--Jeremy Hobbs

BloggingZoom

This is a blog, and I'm well aware that a great number of my readers are bloggers as well; most of them authoring smaller blogs like mine. Traffic is just hard to come by until you catch a break or two. Now there is a service that's been designed to help offer that break; BloggingZoom.

At first glance, it looks like a Digg or Reddit clone. The major difference is their submission policies. Most other social bookmarking service discourage you from submitting your own content, going as far as to ban their users for doing so (try Digging this article, and you'll see what I mean). Not BloggingZoom.

BloggingZoom is built for bloggers, by bloggers, and they understand the difficulties of driving traffic to your site. With this in mind, they not only have no problem with you submitting your own content/articles, they encourage you to submit them. All of them. I'd personally recommend limiting it to your best stuff only, stuff that you'd really like to showcase. Why? The idea of social bookmarking is to build a sustainable audience. So you should put your best foot forward, not filler articles. Just my opinion though.

Another big difference between BloggingZoom and Diggesque sites is no mainstream media permitted! That really gives the 'little guys' a chance. I'm registered and ready to go, and very curious to see how successful this service is going to be. Check them out!


Official Site


--Jeremy Hobbs


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Jeremy's Consumer's Corner: BlogRush
Jeremy's Consumer's Corner: plime




social bookmarking, blogging, generating traffic