Buy this CD, for nothing more than the fact this kid has a voice that can't help but stand the test of time! He has a smoothness that hasn't been seen in a new artist in decades!

Clay's stage presence might be a little too 'broadway' for some, but the way his voice just glides through a speaker is just like silk! He has a depth and richness to his voice that is so unique and makes it just easy to listen to. And, for someone so young, he puts a passionate edge to his voice that has just the right amount of restraint.

Trust me, Long after we've seen Kelly Clarkson as a trivia question, Clay Aiken will be laughing all over his platinum albums.

Again with the bugs!

Sims Superstar Expansion pack has some amazing new tweaks, and the added challenge of making your sim a superstar really adds an interesting dimension to the level of gameplay. I will credit maxis with coming up with some of the most interesting add-ons you could ever dream of.

However, as has become a typical hallmark of a Sim expansion pack release...this one has some annoying bugs, and EA should be coming out with a patch to fix it. But it would be nice for one EA release to be put to the public without the typical litany of small problems that hinder the enjoyment of an otherwise great game.

This is actually a fairly interesting look into what makes a trend catch on and what makes other's fail.

Gladwell uses some great examples to support his theories, and, while some of them he uses probably too much, they still serve to support his points extremely well.

If you like wondering what makes a society of individuals funtion as 'one' towards the rise and fall of a trend, this is a terrific book. It will also help you realize just how much of our own ideas aren't as much our own as we might want to think they are.

Overall, you can't really go wrong with this book if mass communication or sociological topics interest you.

This book is a WONDERFUL reference tool for those new to the home-buying process. It gives a very detailed, yet highly comprehensible account of how your house works, things to think about when entering into your new relationship with a home...it really does an excellent job of covering alot of bases. It can seem overwhelming, but really, this book is broken down so at least you feel like you have a good understanding of all the issues home ownership brings to the table.

Probably the most useful portion I found a little too late was the chapter on home inspection. I really wish I had this book when I was going through the inspection process. It gave a lot of insight as to the processes, questions to ask, etc. I realize I got very lucky with my inspection, but next time, I'm telling you I will have that portion memorized!

The only part I found not useful were the sections meant more for rural housing. Being on a city sewer, electricity, etc., she gave a lot of detail into septic systems, oil heating, etc., that had no application for me with this house. But again, if I look at buying a property not accessed by many modern or city services, I will have a good foundation for knowledge.

Really, you just can't go wrong in purchasing this book.

Reese Witherspoon proves she's a box office Champ with this funny little comic gem. If there were any doubts about this woman's ability to carry a movie on her shoulder's, Legally Blonde blows those doubts out of the water.

While certainly not shakespeare, the film wisely doesn't take itself too seriously. Whitherspoon absolutely shines as Elle Woods, the sorority girl whose journey to Harvard proves never to doubt the ability to rise above expectations. It's a warm-hearted little film that manages to eek out a few laughs.

And the extras on this make this DVD a steal!

I was shocked that I found this movie to be as sweet and sensitive and I did. And you have to love a movie that gave us the word 'cankles.'

Hal is a pathologically shallow person, as is his best friend (ironically, they are so out of their league with the women they pursue it's truly comical). In a chance meeting with Tony Robbins in a stuck elevator, Hal is given the gift of seeing beauty in those he would normally not find so beautiful. Our hypnotized hero falls for RoseMary, a strikingly good woman who also happens to weigh about 300 lbs. But Hal's hypnosis blinds him to her girth and he only sees the beauty in her. And so goes typical romantic comedy...boy meets girl, boy loses girl....

Jack Black gives a very nice performance as a 'lounge lizard' who learns the error of his ways and what true love really means. Even Gweneth Paltrow manages to portray the mannerisms of a fat person as a skinny person. (her thin Rosemary is embodied with all the self-concious ticks, and they are displayed very low key.)

I did feel the DVD extras left a lot to be desired, but this was a film I didn't expect to like, and it's now a favorite.

Red Dragon is actually a remake of the 80's Michael Mann version of this story. So I had the characters already set as to my expectations, and Manhunter did a beautiful job with the story to begin with. I'm sure that is what hurt this film for me. It certainly wasn't the casting or the story. This version was a little more 'splashy' than the gritty nature of Manhunter, and the grit I think helped the original movie more than this did.

Fiennes was a surprising Dollarhyde. He is truly one of the most gifted screen actors we have. Hopkins is too identified with Lector to not like him, even though his part is scant. Even Norton, who can't seem to fail at a part, gives Will Graham a vulnerability much different than William Peterson's original.

I think the casting gives you most of an expecation for a 'bigger' film, which this story can't be. I just felt that the casting and manner the story was told in Manhunter 'fit' better than this one.

FINALLY someone has correctly researched the issue of the 'lliberal media' that the conservative talkers would have you believe is out to crucify him. Alterman's WELL-RESEARCHED and succinct book will shed much needed light on this issue. It's almost like the 'Ann-Ti coulter' book. Alterman doesn't reduce himself to the snide attacks and name calling found in some of the more recent books on thus subject, and it's a breath of fresh air. He also doesn't bring the flaming liberalism that Michael Moore can bring, which can often cause Moore to be dismissed based on his extreme views.

Alterman has done a masterful job at dissecting this very complex issue and allows the facts to speak for themselves. This book shouldn't be missed, because it's thought provoking, topical, and very well-written.

This tale of murder, family dysfunction, and addiction was inexplicably ignored during Oscar time. When I first saw this film, I thought Kathy Bates had walked away with the Oscar for 1995 before she even set foot on the stage. Her Delores is such a beautifully, touchingly, crustily complex character that she just pops off the screen at you. And the writing has some of the best dialogue in years which still holds up.

The entire casting for this film was done beautifully. Leigh is typically intense, but does a nice turn as the victim of abuse (no shrinking violet here). And the character of Vera is just magic in her diabolical sweetness.

King crafts one of his finest works with this film, and the cinematography is breathtaking, not losing it's beauty on the small screen which is very difficult with this transition.

This is a film that multiple screenings enhance your understanding of it, and the extras make this too good a flick to pass up.

Muriel's Wedding is a movie I fell in love with when I first saw it years ago. The tale of Muriel is one EVERYONE can relate to on some level, being the outsider looking in. Muriel's life is surrounded by people who take advantage of her nature and belittle her for their own dissatisfaction. Muriel convinces herself that marriage will change her, make her accepted, and thus give her the acceptance she craves. Her realization that changing her world starts with changing herself is real, raw, and thoroughly enjoyable. It resonantes with individuality.

Toni Collete is absolutely charming as Muriel. I can't BELIEVE she is the same woman who was in sixth sense...her talent is unbelievable! Collete embodies Muriel with many humanistic quirks that make her a real character and bring the film it's endearing nature.

The DVD quality leaves a lot to be desired. I would KILL to have this released with commentary or outtakes. But, as it is, it's completely worth owning just because it can and should be watched whenever you need a feel good flick to pick up your spirits.