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Midwest Book Review
Sep 30, 2011, 8:03:13 PM9/30/11
to
The Library DVD Shelf
The Flaw
Directed by David Sington
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
1594588708 $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
The Flaw is a sobering documentary about the roots of the recent
economic crisis that has wracked America, and through a ripple effect,
the world. The bursting of the housing bubble - which popped when
subprime mortgage-backed securities collapsed - is of course
scrutinized in fine detail. But an underlying and less-considered root
of the problem is: what happens when the rich get richer, while the
middle class and the poor stagnate? Since the 1970's American wages
have, on average, barely kept pace with inflation, leading to an ever-
increasing concentration of wealth among the very top percentile. But
wealthy individuals don't fuel economic demand by buying goods - they
only need to spend a small percentage of their income on food,
shelter, and similar items (even if the goods they buy for this
purpose are luxurious). The bulk of the income of the wealthiest
members of society is spent on assets - items intended for resale such
as real estate, stocks, or precious metals. Assets are resistant to
the standard laws of supply and demand; unlike ordinary consumable
items such as food or video games, when the price of an asset goes up,
demand for it sharply increases (everyone wants to get in on the "hot"
property and make money), and when the price of an asset goes down,
demand for it sharply decreases (everyone wants to get out of the
market immediately when there's blood in the water). Thus, increased
concentration of wealth among a very few leads to greater volatility
in asset-driven markets, while supply and demand-driven consumer
markets enter a recession because the people who buy ordinary goods
have less money to spend on them. No special economic background is
needed to fully absorb the stark picture painted by The Flaw, a
thoughtful and absolutely invaluable documentary worthy of the highest
recommendation, that deserves to be on the DVD shelves of every public
and college library in the nation. 82 minutes, SDH captions.
Truck Farm
Ian Cheney
Wicked Delicate Films
c/o Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
159458821X $250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Truck Farm is an eye-opening documentary about modern-day urban
farmers. With green roof technology and heirloom seeds, filmmaker Ian
Cheney plants a vegetable garden in the back of his grandfather's old
pickup truck! Riding the most unusual vehicle across New York, Cheney
introduces viewers to some of the most unique and original urban
farms, on a quest to learn whether New York might have the potential
to feed itself. An amazing tour of positive efforts toward
sustainability, Truck Farm is as fun to watch as it is educational and
highly recommended. 48 min., SDH captions.
When China Met Africa
A film by Marc Francis and Nick Francis
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
1594588236 $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Licensed for public performance, When China Met Africa is an
extraordinary, educational documentary about how modern globalization
changing the future of the world's most populous nation and an entire
continent. Following Mr. Liu and Mr. Li, two of thousands of Chinese
entrepreneurs who have settled across Africa to create prosperous
business enterprises, as well as the efforts of Zambia's trade
minister to secure millions of dollars in Chinese investments, When
China Met Africa is an extraordinary picture of how commerce and trade
has the potential to positively influence people's lives. Highly
recommended. 75 min. and 60 min. versions are present on one DVD, with
SDH captions.
Lost Empires
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598285338 $49.99 www.acornonline.com
Based on J.B. Priestley's novel, Lost Empires is a British series on
DVD starring Oscar winning actor Colin Firth (known for his work in
"The King's Speech") in the role of Richard Herncastle. In order to
see the world, Herncastle becomes part of a traveling stage act run by
his uncle Nick. Enthralled by the female performers, Herncastle
becomes absorbed in one love affair after another as the group
performs across Britain. Nominated for six BAFTA awards, Lost Empires
is a passionate and emotionally moving human drama set against the
ominous threat of conflict about to tear apart Europe, highly
recommended. 7 episodes on 3 DVDs, 410 min., SDH subtitles.
Changing Hearts
Questar, Inc.
307 North Michigan Ave., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60601
9781594646621 $19.95 www.questarentertainment.com
Based on the award-winning play "Colored Eggs" by Daniel Wright, is
Changing Hearts is a movie starring Lauren Holly and Academy Award
winner Faye Dunaway as two unlikely friends who support one another in
the fight against cancer. Aiding each other with conundrums ranging
from daily illness to disentangling their love lives, they share the
priceless value of friendship despite having strikingly different
personalities - one is an upbeat optimist, while the other is a
glowering curmudgeon. Changing Hearts is an uplifting film and highly
recommended especially for public library DVD collections. 96 min.
The Wisdom of Faith with Huston Smith
Bill Moyers
Athena
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598285970 $49.99 www.acornonline.com
As originally broadcast on PBS, The Wisdom of Faith with Huston Smith
is a two-DVD, five-episode documentary examining evidence for
Professor of Comparative Religion Huston Smith's claim that all
religions are the same at their innermost core. Examining the
connections between Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity,
Judaism, and Islam, The Wisdom of Faith is a fresh revisiting of
Huston Smith's classic treatise "The World's Religions" (first
published in 1958), offers an extraordinary level of insight. Award-
winning broadcast journalist Bill Moyers hosts this uplifting,
insightful, and educational documentary enhanced with a twelve-page
viewer's guide. Highly recommended, especially for public library DVD
documentary collections. 2 DVDs, 276 min., full screen, SDH subtitles.
Terry Pratchett's Going Postal
Jon Jones, director
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598286403 $39.99 DVD or Blu-ray www.acornonline.com
Available in both DVD and Blu-ray format, Terry Pratchett's Going
Postal is the faithful, fabulous, live-action movie adaptation of a
witty novel set in Terry Pratchett's wildly popular Discworld fantasy
universe. Richard Coyle (known for his performance in "Lorna Doone")
plays the Moist von Lipwig, a hustler's hustler who has (almost?)
perfected the art of the con - until he is caught. The Machiavellian
Patrician of Ankh-Morpork offers him a choice: turn around the city's
dysfunctional post office, or die in a most messy or painful manner.
Von Lipwig not only has to cope with the gaggle of misfits (at best)
under his new employ, but also sort through mountains of undelivered
letters, and devise a more efficient way for the postal system pay for
itself - could tiny squares drawn by the amazing hand of a withdrawn
master artist be of any help? Worse still, Von Lipwig has earned the
ire of the ruthless "businessman" who has taken over the post office's
primary competition (the "clacks", a burgeoning telegraph industry).
It will take every last drop of guile, charm, and smooth-talking skill
in Von Lipwig's body to not only resurrect the post office, but also
defeat the "clacks" in a grand competition, and win the love of the
frigid Adora Dearheart - a shrewd woman who shows more compassion to
golems than to greedy, selfish, and stupid human beings (perhaps
rightfully so). An extensive wealth of bonus features enhance this
absolute "must-have" for fans of Pratchett's work, and will prove an
immensely popular lend in public library DVD shelves! Highly
recommended. 2 DVDs (or 1 Blu-ray disc), 185 min. plus 62 min. bonus,
widescreen, SDH subtitles.
Down & Out
Mark Hatmaker
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Circle
Boulder, CO 80301
$29.95 www.paladin-press.com
Mixed Martial Arts expert Mark Hatmaker presents Down & Out: MMA
Grappling, Clinching, and Takedown Techniques from the Gym to the
Cage, a DVD packed with invaluable information on how to successfully
blend assorted elements of MMA into a personally customized training
program. Demonstrating a 17-link drill set, with the option to insert
alternative drills at any point, Hatmaker offers the foundation of a
solid, practical training routine. An excellent supplement to martial
arts DVD libraries, Down & Out is highly recommended. 56 min.
Bethenny's Skinnygirl Workout
Bethenny Frankel and Mike McArdle
Acacia
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 650
Silver Spring, MD 20910
9781598286885 $16.99 www.acacialifestyle.com
Reality TV star Bethenny Frankel and professional yoga instructor Mike
McArdle present Bethenny's Skinnygirl Workout, a fitness DVD featuring
three easy-to-follow yoga workouts, each roughly fifteen minutes in
length, that can be done independently or all at once. No expensive
equipment other than a basic floor mat is required for these
refreshing and toning yoga routines, suitable for practitioners of all
skill, experience, and fitness levels. A 12-minute bonus stretching
segment and a recipe booklet from "The Skinnygirl Dish" round out this
user-friendly DVD that superbly complements any exercise library. 50
min. plus bonus, widescreen.
Train 2 Cheer
Instructors Stacey DelPreore, Allison Guarneiri, and Ryan Jackson
Train2beFit
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.99 www.train2cheer.com www.411videoinfo.com
Train 2 Cheer: Strength and Conditioning is a fitness DVD program
developed especially for cheerleaders and dancers. The primary focus
is on improving cardio and muscular endurance, enabling more energetic
cheerleading and dance performances. Exciting, upbeat music enhances
this high-energy workout designed to get one's heart rate up as well
as targeting muscles in the body. An excellent, high-intensity
workout, Train 2 Cheer lives up to its title. The tracks are "Warmup:
Battlefield", "Low Impact Cardio: True Believer", "High Intensity
Cardio: I Believe", "Mixed Interval: Apologize", "Upper Body: Stay",
"Extreme Cardio: Alone", "Explosive Reflex: Look At Me Now", "Jump
Cardio: Everywhere", "Core: Champion", "Stretch & Flexibility: The
Climb", and bonus track "Lower Body: Gotta Feeling". 60 min.
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200
Troy, MI 48084-3304
www.anchorbayentertainment.com
Two excellent fitness kits from the "Element" series published by
Anchor Bay each come with an instructional DVD and a useful piece of
basic fitness equipment. "Hatha & Flow Yoga for Beginners" (67 min.,
$21.98) lives up to its title with two solid yoga workouts; one based
on Hatha to promote flexibility and stress relief, one on Flow to
improve strength and stamina. Experienced yoga teacher Tamal Dodge
guides viewers through easy-to-follow poses, as well as the proper use
of the included cotton yoga strap. "Total Body Pilates with Mini
Ball" (54 min., $21.98) features a DVD of two Pilates workouts that
employ the included lightweight mini-ball (it's an appropriate size to
be held firmly between one's ankles, and easily inflated with the
provided inflation straw). Certified Pilates instructor Lisa Hubbard
guides the viewer through their choice of a time-efficient 20-minute
workout and a more intense, muscle-toning 30-minute workout; both
routines are excellent for improving core strength, flexibility,
promoting overall health and fitness. Both fitness kits are
inexpensive, user-friendly additions to any fitness library an
excellent choice for anyone seeking to squeeze a solid workout into
their busy schedule.
Dare to Cook Chocolate
"Chocolate Man" Bill Fredericks
Bennet Watt HD Productions, Inc.
13021 - 244 Avenue SE
Issaquah, WA 98027
$24.95 each www.Bennett-Watt.com
"Chocolate Man" Bill Fredericks hosts Dare to Cook Chocolate, a two-
DVD set that explores the remarkable joy crafting chocolate candies by
hand. "Basic Truffles" (9781604900637) walks viewers through
techniques for dipping, molding, and creating ganaches for delicious,
professional-quality truffles, and "Molding
Techniques" (9781604900644) lives up to its title with a step-by-step
walkthrough of molding and sealing gourmet-quality truffles. Dare to
Cook Chocolate features hands-on demonstrations that viewers of all
skill and experience levels can follow step by step, and deserves the
highest recommendation as a supplement to prospective dessert chefs of
all walks of life, from ordinary chocolate lovers to gourmet chefs.
Dare to Cook: Food Carving Artistry series
Chef Ray Duey, CEC
Bennet Watt HD Productions, Inc.
13021 - 244 Avenue SE
Issaquah, WA 98027
$24.95 each www.Bennett-Watt.com
The Dare to Cook: Food Carving Artistry DVD series is a hands-on, how-
to guide to adding an exceptional level of visual beauty to one's
culinary creations. Chef Ray Duey hosts all three of these informative
volumes packed with tips, tricks, and techniques that food artists of
all backgrounds will find invaluable, whether creating a simple,
symmetrical layout or an elaborate carving. All three DVDs are simply
beautiful to watch, and highly recommended for the enjoyment of
gourmets and connoisseurs as well as amateur and professional food
stylists. The series consists of "The Basics" (9781604900675),
covering standard tools and how to handle them as well as vegetable
and fruit creations like Banana Dolphin or Pear Porcupine; "Advanced
Techniques" (9781604900682), with more in-depth instructions and
sample creations such as Potato Roses and Japanese Watermelon Lantern;
and "Ultimate Creations" (9781604900699) packed with nimble-fingered
expertise in crafting beautiful items such as Papya Vase, Layered
Turnip, and Reversed Watermelon. All three DVDs of this exceptional
series are also available in Blu-Ray and a downloaded version!
Tandem Surfing: The Love Story
Directed and produced by Albert & Jayne Cloutier
World Class Productionz
$15.95 www.amazon.com
Tandem Surfing: The Love Story is an amazing documentary about the
beautiful and demanding sport of tandem surfing featuring male-female
couples. Professional tandem surfers demonstrate their extraordinary
skills amid the waves, and vintage footage from California tandem surf
legends Steve & Barrie Boehne round out this exceptional presentation.
A treat for armchair travelers and sports fans, Tandem Surfing: The
Love Story lives up to its title and is highly recommended. 46 min. 39
sec.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to
promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We
accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given
to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites,
newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational
newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest
Book Review a credit line when doing so.
The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines
"California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch",
"MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch".
All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www
(dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com
Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them
to:
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to
Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title,
author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number,
13-digit ISBN number, and list price).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
The Flaw
Directed by David Sington
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
1594588708 $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
The Flaw is a sobering documentary about the roots of the recent
economic crisis that has wracked America, and through a ripple effect,
the world. The bursting of the housing bubble - which popped when
subprime mortgage-backed securities collapsed - is of course
scrutinized in fine detail. But an underlying and less-considered root
of the problem is: what happens when the rich get richer, while the
middle class and the poor stagnate? Since the 1970's American wages
have, on average, barely kept pace with inflation, leading to an ever-
increasing concentration of wealth among the very top percentile. But
wealthy individuals don't fuel economic demand by buying goods - they
only need to spend a small percentage of their income on food,
shelter, and similar items (even if the goods they buy for this
purpose are luxurious). The bulk of the income of the wealthiest
members of society is spent on assets - items intended for resale such
as real estate, stocks, or precious metals. Assets are resistant to
the standard laws of supply and demand; unlike ordinary consumable
items such as food or video games, when the price of an asset goes up,
demand for it sharply increases (everyone wants to get in on the "hot"
property and make money), and when the price of an asset goes down,
demand for it sharply decreases (everyone wants to get out of the
market immediately when there's blood in the water). Thus, increased
concentration of wealth among a very few leads to greater volatility
in asset-driven markets, while supply and demand-driven consumer
markets enter a recession because the people who buy ordinary goods
have less money to spend on them. No special economic background is
needed to fully absorb the stark picture painted by The Flaw, a
thoughtful and absolutely invaluable documentary worthy of the highest
recommendation, that deserves to be on the DVD shelves of every public
and college library in the nation. 82 minutes, SDH captions.
Truck Farm
Ian Cheney
Wicked Delicate Films
c/o Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
159458821X $250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Truck Farm is an eye-opening documentary about modern-day urban
farmers. With green roof technology and heirloom seeds, filmmaker Ian
Cheney plants a vegetable garden in the back of his grandfather's old
pickup truck! Riding the most unusual vehicle across New York, Cheney
introduces viewers to some of the most unique and original urban
farms, on a quest to learn whether New York might have the potential
to feed itself. An amazing tour of positive efforts toward
sustainability, Truck Farm is as fun to watch as it is educational and
highly recommended. 48 min., SDH captions.
When China Met Africa
A film by Marc Francis and Nick Francis
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
1594588236 $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Licensed for public performance, When China Met Africa is an
extraordinary, educational documentary about how modern globalization
changing the future of the world's most populous nation and an entire
continent. Following Mr. Liu and Mr. Li, two of thousands of Chinese
entrepreneurs who have settled across Africa to create prosperous
business enterprises, as well as the efforts of Zambia's trade
minister to secure millions of dollars in Chinese investments, When
China Met Africa is an extraordinary picture of how commerce and trade
has the potential to positively influence people's lives. Highly
recommended. 75 min. and 60 min. versions are present on one DVD, with
SDH captions.
Lost Empires
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598285338 $49.99 www.acornonline.com
Based on J.B. Priestley's novel, Lost Empires is a British series on
DVD starring Oscar winning actor Colin Firth (known for his work in
"The King's Speech") in the role of Richard Herncastle. In order to
see the world, Herncastle becomes part of a traveling stage act run by
his uncle Nick. Enthralled by the female performers, Herncastle
becomes absorbed in one love affair after another as the group
performs across Britain. Nominated for six BAFTA awards, Lost Empires
is a passionate and emotionally moving human drama set against the
ominous threat of conflict about to tear apart Europe, highly
recommended. 7 episodes on 3 DVDs, 410 min., SDH subtitles.
Changing Hearts
Questar, Inc.
307 North Michigan Ave., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60601
9781594646621 $19.95 www.questarentertainment.com
Based on the award-winning play "Colored Eggs" by Daniel Wright, is
Changing Hearts is a movie starring Lauren Holly and Academy Award
winner Faye Dunaway as two unlikely friends who support one another in
the fight against cancer. Aiding each other with conundrums ranging
from daily illness to disentangling their love lives, they share the
priceless value of friendship despite having strikingly different
personalities - one is an upbeat optimist, while the other is a
glowering curmudgeon. Changing Hearts is an uplifting film and highly
recommended especially for public library DVD collections. 96 min.
The Wisdom of Faith with Huston Smith
Bill Moyers
Athena
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598285970 $49.99 www.acornonline.com
As originally broadcast on PBS, The Wisdom of Faith with Huston Smith
is a two-DVD, five-episode documentary examining evidence for
Professor of Comparative Religion Huston Smith's claim that all
religions are the same at their innermost core. Examining the
connections between Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity,
Judaism, and Islam, The Wisdom of Faith is a fresh revisiting of
Huston Smith's classic treatise "The World's Religions" (first
published in 1958), offers an extraordinary level of insight. Award-
winning broadcast journalist Bill Moyers hosts this uplifting,
insightful, and educational documentary enhanced with a twelve-page
viewer's guide. Highly recommended, especially for public library DVD
documentary collections. 2 DVDs, 276 min., full screen, SDH subtitles.
Terry Pratchett's Going Postal
Jon Jones, director
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598286403 $39.99 DVD or Blu-ray www.acornonline.com
Available in both DVD and Blu-ray format, Terry Pratchett's Going
Postal is the faithful, fabulous, live-action movie adaptation of a
witty novel set in Terry Pratchett's wildly popular Discworld fantasy
universe. Richard Coyle (known for his performance in "Lorna Doone")
plays the Moist von Lipwig, a hustler's hustler who has (almost?)
perfected the art of the con - until he is caught. The Machiavellian
Patrician of Ankh-Morpork offers him a choice: turn around the city's
dysfunctional post office, or die in a most messy or painful manner.
Von Lipwig not only has to cope with the gaggle of misfits (at best)
under his new employ, but also sort through mountains of undelivered
letters, and devise a more efficient way for the postal system pay for
itself - could tiny squares drawn by the amazing hand of a withdrawn
master artist be of any help? Worse still, Von Lipwig has earned the
ire of the ruthless "businessman" who has taken over the post office's
primary competition (the "clacks", a burgeoning telegraph industry).
It will take every last drop of guile, charm, and smooth-talking skill
in Von Lipwig's body to not only resurrect the post office, but also
defeat the "clacks" in a grand competition, and win the love of the
frigid Adora Dearheart - a shrewd woman who shows more compassion to
golems than to greedy, selfish, and stupid human beings (perhaps
rightfully so). An extensive wealth of bonus features enhance this
absolute "must-have" for fans of Pratchett's work, and will prove an
immensely popular lend in public library DVD shelves! Highly
recommended. 2 DVDs (or 1 Blu-ray disc), 185 min. plus 62 min. bonus,
widescreen, SDH subtitles.
Down & Out
Mark Hatmaker
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Circle
Boulder, CO 80301
$29.95 www.paladin-press.com
Mixed Martial Arts expert Mark Hatmaker presents Down & Out: MMA
Grappling, Clinching, and Takedown Techniques from the Gym to the
Cage, a DVD packed with invaluable information on how to successfully
blend assorted elements of MMA into a personally customized training
program. Demonstrating a 17-link drill set, with the option to insert
alternative drills at any point, Hatmaker offers the foundation of a
solid, practical training routine. An excellent supplement to martial
arts DVD libraries, Down & Out is highly recommended. 56 min.
Bethenny's Skinnygirl Workout
Bethenny Frankel and Mike McArdle
Acacia
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 650
Silver Spring, MD 20910
9781598286885 $16.99 www.acacialifestyle.com
Reality TV star Bethenny Frankel and professional yoga instructor Mike
McArdle present Bethenny's Skinnygirl Workout, a fitness DVD featuring
three easy-to-follow yoga workouts, each roughly fifteen minutes in
length, that can be done independently or all at once. No expensive
equipment other than a basic floor mat is required for these
refreshing and toning yoga routines, suitable for practitioners of all
skill, experience, and fitness levels. A 12-minute bonus stretching
segment and a recipe booklet from "The Skinnygirl Dish" round out this
user-friendly DVD that superbly complements any exercise library. 50
min. plus bonus, widescreen.
Train 2 Cheer
Instructors Stacey DelPreore, Allison Guarneiri, and Ryan Jackson
Train2beFit
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.99 www.train2cheer.com www.411videoinfo.com
Train 2 Cheer: Strength and Conditioning is a fitness DVD program
developed especially for cheerleaders and dancers. The primary focus
is on improving cardio and muscular endurance, enabling more energetic
cheerleading and dance performances. Exciting, upbeat music enhances
this high-energy workout designed to get one's heart rate up as well
as targeting muscles in the body. An excellent, high-intensity
workout, Train 2 Cheer lives up to its title. The tracks are "Warmup:
Battlefield", "Low Impact Cardio: True Believer", "High Intensity
Cardio: I Believe", "Mixed Interval: Apologize", "Upper Body: Stay",
"Extreme Cardio: Alone", "Explosive Reflex: Look At Me Now", "Jump
Cardio: Everywhere", "Core: Champion", "Stretch & Flexibility: The
Climb", and bonus track "Lower Body: Gotta Feeling". 60 min.
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200
Troy, MI 48084-3304
www.anchorbayentertainment.com
Two excellent fitness kits from the "Element" series published by
Anchor Bay each come with an instructional DVD and a useful piece of
basic fitness equipment. "Hatha & Flow Yoga for Beginners" (67 min.,
$21.98) lives up to its title with two solid yoga workouts; one based
on Hatha to promote flexibility and stress relief, one on Flow to
improve strength and stamina. Experienced yoga teacher Tamal Dodge
guides viewers through easy-to-follow poses, as well as the proper use
of the included cotton yoga strap. "Total Body Pilates with Mini
Ball" (54 min., $21.98) features a DVD of two Pilates workouts that
employ the included lightweight mini-ball (it's an appropriate size to
be held firmly between one's ankles, and easily inflated with the
provided inflation straw). Certified Pilates instructor Lisa Hubbard
guides the viewer through their choice of a time-efficient 20-minute
workout and a more intense, muscle-toning 30-minute workout; both
routines are excellent for improving core strength, flexibility,
promoting overall health and fitness. Both fitness kits are
inexpensive, user-friendly additions to any fitness library an
excellent choice for anyone seeking to squeeze a solid workout into
their busy schedule.
Dare to Cook Chocolate
"Chocolate Man" Bill Fredericks
Bennet Watt HD Productions, Inc.
13021 - 244 Avenue SE
Issaquah, WA 98027
$24.95 each www.Bennett-Watt.com
"Chocolate Man" Bill Fredericks hosts Dare to Cook Chocolate, a two-
DVD set that explores the remarkable joy crafting chocolate candies by
hand. "Basic Truffles" (9781604900637) walks viewers through
techniques for dipping, molding, and creating ganaches for delicious,
professional-quality truffles, and "Molding
Techniques" (9781604900644) lives up to its title with a step-by-step
walkthrough of molding and sealing gourmet-quality truffles. Dare to
Cook Chocolate features hands-on demonstrations that viewers of all
skill and experience levels can follow step by step, and deserves the
highest recommendation as a supplement to prospective dessert chefs of
all walks of life, from ordinary chocolate lovers to gourmet chefs.
Dare to Cook: Food Carving Artistry series
Chef Ray Duey, CEC
Bennet Watt HD Productions, Inc.
13021 - 244 Avenue SE
Issaquah, WA 98027
$24.95 each www.Bennett-Watt.com
The Dare to Cook: Food Carving Artistry DVD series is a hands-on, how-
to guide to adding an exceptional level of visual beauty to one's
culinary creations. Chef Ray Duey hosts all three of these informative
volumes packed with tips, tricks, and techniques that food artists of
all backgrounds will find invaluable, whether creating a simple,
symmetrical layout or an elaborate carving. All three DVDs are simply
beautiful to watch, and highly recommended for the enjoyment of
gourmets and connoisseurs as well as amateur and professional food
stylists. The series consists of "The Basics" (9781604900675),
covering standard tools and how to handle them as well as vegetable
and fruit creations like Banana Dolphin or Pear Porcupine; "Advanced
Techniques" (9781604900682), with more in-depth instructions and
sample creations such as Potato Roses and Japanese Watermelon Lantern;
and "Ultimate Creations" (9781604900699) packed with nimble-fingered
expertise in crafting beautiful items such as Papya Vase, Layered
Turnip, and Reversed Watermelon. All three DVDs of this exceptional
series are also available in Blu-Ray and a downloaded version!
Tandem Surfing: The Love Story
Directed and produced by Albert & Jayne Cloutier
World Class Productionz
$15.95 www.amazon.com
Tandem Surfing: The Love Story is an amazing documentary about the
beautiful and demanding sport of tandem surfing featuring male-female
couples. Professional tandem surfers demonstrate their extraordinary
skills amid the waves, and vintage footage from California tandem surf
legends Steve & Barrie Boehne round out this exceptional presentation.
A treat for armchair travelers and sports fans, Tandem Surfing: The
Love Story lives up to its title and is highly recommended. 46 min. 39
sec.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to
promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We
accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given
to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites,
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newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest
Book Review a credit line when doing so.
The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines
"California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch",
"MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch".
All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www
(dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com
Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them
to:
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to
Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title,
author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number,
13-digit ISBN number, and list price).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
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