Panasonic TC-L32X2 32-inch HDTV with iPod Dock

Check out this product at Amazon.

I bought this TV so that I could have a TV and stereo in one, instead of having to purchase both. Honestly, the feature I was most excited about was the iPod dock, and everything else was just gravy. After a few weeks of owning the TV, though, I can so with absolutely no reservations that this is a superb set.

The ipod dock was a very important feature to me, and the reason I chose this set over others. I have not been disappointed in it yet. It has a very easy-to-navigate menu, and the sound quality is excellent, even when played at lower volumes. The fact that it can play the videos that I have stored on the ipod is a bonus, as well. The picture isn't HD-quality when playing video from the ipod, but it's certainly passable enough to sit down and watch a movie that way. Plus, it's great to use a remote to control an ipod - very cool, in my opinion.

The picture quality itself is nothing short of fantastic. Although it is "only" 720p, I would say that it rivals/bests many pricier sets with 1080p. The image has never been anything short of amazing, and I say this with it only hooked up to an antenna! My father, who loves televisions and high definition, couldn't stop staring and exclaiming over the image quality.

My Nintendo Wii games look great on the TV - very bright, bold colors, and never a hint of striping or bleeding, as in some other TVs. The integrated SD card reader has already come in handy a few times, and the pictures look stunning when blown up. The remote, also, is a big plus - it has everything very clearly marked, and makes navigating the TV and menus even easier.

I am incredibly happy with my choice, and have already recommended this set to a number of friends. Especially for the price, this quality can't be beat!

Stunning Children's Bible!

The Action Bible, Illustrated by Sergio Cariello, 752 pages, $24.99, 978-0-7814-4499-6, published by David C Cook

**This is a review of a book provided to me by David C Cook as a review copy. The opinions expressed are my own, and I have received no monetary compensation.**

When I was reading this Bible, my 9-year old cousin came up to me and said “what are you reading?” “The Bible,” I told him. “The Bible’s boring,” he retorted. “Not this one – here, take a look.” He sat down with me, looked at it a bit, and then agreed that this Bible is definitely NOT boring.

The first thing that you notice about The Action Bible is how visually impressive it is – the colors are rich and bold, and makes the characters come alive in a very real way. A few times, I even caught myself saying “wow, I’ve never pictured it that way before!” The illustrations are beautiful, especially in stories like Noah’s Ark, the Garden of Eden, and Jesus walking on the water.

The stories are paced very well, and flow from one into the next easily. I was engrossed in the stories immediately, and they flew by quickly. They’re perfect for kids, but also have some unexpected humor in them, as well. A few times I even found myself laughing out loud, which I rarely do while reading.

I would absolutely recommend this as a great beginner’s Bible for kids, although I think that the “4-8” age range might be a little young. I would say that it’s more suited for ages 6 and up, since there are a few more intense moments (Cain killing Abel, Lot’s escape from Sodom, etc.). Other than that, very highly recommended.

Stuff Christians Like, by Jonathan Acuff

**I have not been compensated for this review, in either money or free product. This is a review of my own free will, just because I want to!**

Ok, my review in one sentence. Ready? Here you go: Funniest book ever!

The audio version of "Stuff Christians Like" was free on www.christianaudio.com during the month of April. I'd never read Acuff's blog, but I thought I'd give it a shot.

I've now listened to the book a few times, as read by the author, and I have to say: I've laughed out loud at this book more than most books. Acuff's observations are spot on, sometimes scarily so. Things like not wanting Jesus to return before your wedding night, his description of modern pastors (I'm trying not to ruin anything for you!), and more will make you giggle and then guffaw.

This book is for Christians who can laugh at themselves, similar to one of my favorites: "A Field Guide to Evangelicals and Their Habitats," by Joel Kirkpatrick (HarperOne, 2002). Pick it up and settle in - it's a fast read (or listen), and well worth it.

Happy reading!

http://www.amazon.com/Stuff-Christians-Like-Jonathan-Acuff/dp/0310319943/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275435326&sr=8-1

About Me

So I've been thinking about what all I wanted to put on this blog - all blogs must have a "theme," right? Ok, probably not, but I figure it's just easier if this one does. Like my headline says (at least right now), this blog is for all of my reviews of movies, tv, and books (and probably some music and Broadway plays thrown in, just to keep things interesting).

But really, I think I'm only going to review stuff that I liked, and kinda how I connected with it. To be honest, I'm pretty sure I've never met a movie that I didn't like, so the list could still be really long. The main reason I'm doing this (besides getting over 100,000 readers and making a million off the ads, hahaha - JOKING!) is to get back into the habit of writing, since I'll be starting grad school in the fall. Plus, I'm on this kick at the moment (probably just a passing fancy) of really wanting to write a screenplay, and I want to see why I've liked/loved all the stuff I'll choose to blog about. So that's it. Simple, huh?