It's ba-ack! A (sleeper-free) "Lean-n-Mean VIII"
Oct 24 '09 (Updated Nov 22 '09)
The Bottom Line Let's show ...tom... what a good time he's missing out on. The mission: strong reviews at 666 words or less.
Epinions' own sleeper54 (aka ...tom...) is synonymous with several things on this site: a fondness for ellipses (...), his smiliemoments, his ubiquitous presence on the message boards, and many more. Perhaps what he is best/most fondly known for is his annual Lean-n-Mean Write Offs, in which he challenges members to write Very Helpful reviews (although Helpful is also good) in 666 words or less. This year, Tom is going to have his hands full offline during the time he typically holds the Write Off, so he has asked jenniferkateab and myself to guest host Lean-n-Mean VIII for him.
You can read about previous Lean-n-Mean entries on Tom's profile page. In short, the rules are:
* Entries will be accepted from now through November 30, 2009
* Write a review on any product your heart desires
* Keep that review to 666 words or less (we're not going to count those for you, so you're on the honor system)
* Only enter reviews with an overall 'Helpful' or 'Very Helpful' rating
* No 'Lean-n-Mean' in the title
* Link back to this post in your review
* Drop a comment here, or send an email to Jennifer or I to include your entry
* Write as many entries as you'd like
* Write in as many categories as you'd like
* Invite others to join (i.e., you're reading someone else's review, the review looks lean-n-mean, so you comment that they should join in the fun)
* Double-dipping in other Write Offs is strongly encouraged (currently, there are a Breast Cancer Awareness Write-Off, a Bunnylicious Wicked Hallows Write-Off, a Texas+Sweden Write-Off, a Twelve Ornaments of Christmas Write-Off, a Get Those Holiday Reviews Out Write-Off, and the Second Annual All Things Disney Write-Off).
* HAVE FUN!
At the very least, we will keep in the sleeper tradition of tracking participants and categories here. Depending on how much insomnia I endure this month, I may or may not link to the actual reviews. UPDATE: I have decided to link the reviews, but catching up from the weekend's entries is taking some time, and it may take a day or two for your reviews to appear here.
Thanks in advance to all who support the concept of Lean-n-Mean (and its guest hosts) this year. We look forward to your participation.
Thanks so much to all who have contributed in the first few weeks here. Thanks in part to Stephen_Murray's recruiting efforts in the category, 'Movies' is dominating over all other categories, with 'Books' in second, 'Kids' and 'Music' duking it out for third and 'Beauty' 'Restaurants' getting close to entering the 20's.
I'm still catching up from a busy week off-line, but we've already beat last year's total of 277 reviews. The entries, as of 11/21/09, 11:55 p.m. PST are:
365 reviews in 15 categories:
Books (80 reviews, by 26 contributors)
dolphinboy ~ Squiggle ~
ladyconsumer (x5) ~ Silent Treatment ~ Paying the Piper ~ Exclusive ~ Mending Fences ~ Dancing in the Dark ~
elvisdo (x4) ~ Pooh Blocks ~ Color Carnival ~ Gifts in a Bag: Dips ~ Gifts in a Bag: Hot Drinks ~
sleeper54 (x3) ~ Semantic Antics ~ Route 66 Backroads ~ 100 Words Almost Everyone Misuses & Confuses ~
dustinnikki (x2) ~ High School Musical 3 Senior Year, Making Memories ~ A Prom to Remember ~
carstairs38 (x7) ~ A Date You Can't Refuse ~ Dial H for Hitchcock ~ Through the Looking Glass ~ The Crack in the Lens ~ Peter and the Starcatchers ~ Mama Does Time ~ The Treacherous Teddy ~
texas-swede (x3) ~ The Sun Egg ~ A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects ~ Untamed ~
kamel622 (x2) ~ Old Bear ~ Room on the Broom ~
befus ~ Horse in the House ~
jeavinl ~ The Haunted Ghoul Bus ~
pestyside (x3) ~ Walter the Farting Dog: Banned from the Beach ~ The Amazing Christmas Extravaganza ~ The Lemonade Club ~
dramastef ~ In Our Mothers' House ~
jurgrace (x3) ~ Treat Her Like a Princess: How to Help Your Girlfriend with Breast Cancer ~ Miss Bindergarten Stays Home From Kindergarten ~ Junie B. Jones Is Not A Crook ~
wir55 ~ A Touch of Dead ~
pambo (x5) ~ Clean Home, Green Home ~ The Craft of Baking: Cakes, Cookies and Other Sweets with Ideas for Inventing Your Own ~ Wedding Photography from the Heart: Creative Techniques to Capture the Moments that Matter ~ Christmas Love ~ Wallpaper: A History of Styles and Trends ~
talyseon (x8) ~ Scandalous Seiryo University: Class Reunion ~ Conan: Born on the Battlefield ~ Conan: The Frost Giant's Daughter ~ Conan: The God in the Bowl ~ Conan: The Tower of the Elephant ~ Conan: The Hall of the Dead ~ Conan: Rogues in the House ~ Conan: Hand of Nergal ~
msiduri ~ An Excellent Mystery: The 11th Chronicle of Brother Cadfael ~
fishifishi ~ Impulse & Initiative: What if Mr. Darcy Didn't Take No for an Answer? ~
popsrocks (x2) ~ The Weight Of the Mass ~ The Amazing Spiderman ~
ssjakira1 (x4) ~ Cirque Du Freak: A Living Nightmare ~ The Vampire's Assistant ~ Tunnels of Blood ~ Trials of Death ~
bilbopooh (x16) ~ Who Would Like a Christmas Tree? ~ Christmas in the Big Woods ~ Nate the Great and the Crunchy Christmas ~ Crispin: The Pig Who Had It All ~ The Nutquacker ~ Welcome Comfort ~ Dream Snow ~ The Longest Christmas List Ever ~ A Wish for Wings That Work ~ On the First Night of Chanukah ~ Reindeer Christmas ~ Wonder Pets - Save the Reindeer ~ Elmo's Delicious Christmas ~ A Merry Mermaid Christmas ~ Santa Paws ~ The Gift of the Magi ~
serc ~ Ricochet ~
artemis8 (x2) ~ My Pet Sid the Stegosaurus ~ Halloween ~
driftless ~ Dismantling the Hills ~
George_Chabot ~ The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible ~
wlswarts ~ The Onion Presents Our Front Pages ~
jankp (x2) ~ The Hakawati ~ Barack and Michelle: Portrait of an American Marriage ~
cr01 ~ Dissolution ~
Movies (102 reviews, 24 contributors)
talyseon (x16) ~ Dexter-The Complete First Season ~ H.P. Lovecraft Collection Volume 4 ~ Sensitive Pornograph ~ Hocus Pocus ~ Blood: The Last Vampire ~ Dracula ~ Dexter-The Complete Second Season ~ The Fourth Kind ~ Reign of Fire ~ Beautiful Boxer ~ Apocalypto ~ Dante's Cove Season One ~ The Wolf Man ~ Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman ~ Tremors ~ Precious ~
xxxxer (x3) ~ Initiation ~ Return of the Aliens: The Deadly Spawn ~ Kill Your Idols ~
bilbopooh (x9) ~ You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown ~ Underdog ~ Frost/Nixon ~ Nothing Like the Holidays ~ The Day the Earth Stood Still ~ VeggieTales: Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah's Umbrella ~ The Man Without a Face ~ The Fourth Wise Man ~ Star Trek: The Next Generation - Genesis ~
carstairs38 (x4) ~ The Nightmare Before Christmas ~ Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald Vol. 4 ~ Disney's A Christmas Carol ~ Clue ~
jsommersby (x10) ~ Labor Pains ~ Surburbia ~ Jagged Edge ~ Sacrifice ~ Body Bags ~ Nighthawks ~ Wanted: Dead or Alive ~ Eyes of Laura Mars ~ End of Days ~ Amityville 4: The Evil Escapes ~
ladyconsumer (x4) ~ Hancock ~ Take ~ Seven Pounds ~ Immortals ~
alexdg1 (x2) ~ Alien Resurrection ~ Piranha ~
Stephen_Murray (x18) ~ Man Walking on Snow ~ Ryan and Sean's Not So Excellent Adventure ~ Unmistaken Child ~ Rembrandt ~ Fashion Victims ~ The Passion of Ayn Rand ~ The Road to Love ~ Wayward Cloud ~ Cherry Blossoms ~ Hidden Agenda ~ Bashing ~ Mad Detective/Sun taam ~ Time to Leave ~ Fritz Lang's Indian Epic ~ Under the Same Moon ~ Outsourced ~ Without the King ~ American Violet ~
glvicran (x2) ~ Trick ~ The Covenant ~
susidee34 (x5) ~ Splinter ~ Our Sons ~ 10.5: Apocalypse ~ Bottom Feeder ~ The Jacket ~
brendan2 (x2) ~ Mutilator ~ Rest Stop - Don't Look Back ~
ssjakira1 (x2) ~ Lars and the Real Girl ~ Beauty and the Beast ~
wlswarts ~ A Christmas Carol ~
jankp (x4) ~ Naked Boys Singing ~ Librarian 3: Curse of the Judas Chalice ~ Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken ~ Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines ~
pmills1210 (x5) ~ The Spirit of Notre Dame ~ Where the Wild Things Are ~ Couples Retreat ~ Zombieland ~ Whip It ~
msiduri (x3) ~ Contamination ~ Alien Species ~ Piranha, Piranha ~
coldsteel7 ~ A Serious Man ~
George_Chabot (x5) ~ Family Business ~ The Departed ~ Vicki ~ Fury ~ The Bucket List ~
ChrisJarmick ~ Processed People ~
artemis8 ~ The Men Who Stare At Goats ~
millinocket ~ Shrink ~
chelledun ~ Letters to Santa - A Muppet Christmas ~
gaelkm ~ Miss Marple ~
Ricardo_Ramos ~ Boys Life 6 ~
Kids & Family (43 reviews, 13 contributors)
jurgrace (x3) ~ Just Like Home Straw Broom and Dust Pan ~ Hallmark Our First Christmas Together Acrylic Ornament ~ Looney Tunes Mini Ornaments ~
carstairs38 (x10) ~ Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Joe Cool ~ Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Snoopy Flying Ace ~ Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Snoopy Detective ~ Spotlight on Snoopy: Beagle Scout ~ Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments: Literary Ace ~ Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Joe Cool 2 ~ Spotlight on Snoopy: Winning Ticket ~ Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Snoopy the Magnificent ~ Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Snoopy Legal Beagle ~ Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Spaceman Snoopy ~
popsrocks (x8) ~ Chicco Atmosphere Polly High Chair ~ Century Novelty Chinese Yo Yo ~ Highlight Color Sticks ~ 5 Dart Balloons ~ Blues Brothers Fedora Hat ~ Etch a Sketch Key Chain ~ Oriental 12 Ducks ~ Elmer's School Glue ~
dustinnikki (x3) ~ Winnie the Pooh Pacifier Attacher ~ Care Bears 5 piece Mini Ornament Set ~ Hannah Montana Star Shaped Ornament ~
elzora ~ Pixos Character Kit 3D ~
befus ~ Round Like a Ball ~
elvisdo (x9) ~ Thomas and Friends Wooden Lights and Sounds James ~ Justice League Unlimited: Cosmic Boy ~ Justice League Unlimited: Saturn Girl ~ Justice League Unlimited: Lightning Lad ~ Justice League Unlimited: Brainiac ~ Justice League Unlimited: Black Adam ~ Justice League Unlimited: Mary Batson ~ Justice League Unlimited: The Wizard ~ Justice League Unlimited: Sinestro ~
wendy7734 ~ Ty Beanie Baby Docks the Dolphin ~
jeavinl (x4) ~ Ultimate Baby Wrap ~ Elmo ABC Step Stool ~ Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Story Book Rhymes ~ Mattel Little Mommy Girl Boy Twins ~
bizzimommi ~ Fisher Price Counting Animal Friends Musical Book ~
chilliwi ~ Big Belly Dinosaur Bank: Coinasaurus ~
kamel622 ~ Ten Apples Up on Top ~
smiles33 ~ Kidishes Glass Tumbler ~
noangels ~ Fisher Price Little People Fire Truck Ride On ~
Home & Garden (16 reviews, 10 contributors)
pestyside ~ Duncraft Superwide Pole Baffle ~
jurgrace (x2) ~ Ames True Temper Superflex Rake ~ Raid Double Control Ant Baits ~
popsrocks (x5) ~ Duraflame Wax Firelog ~ Creosote Sweeping Log for Fireplaces ~ Duraflame Firestart ~ Canon Arrow Fastener T50 Staples ~ Purdy Corp Pro Extra Brushes ~
susidee34 (x2) ~ Justin Case Travel Pro Emergency Kit ~ Dwarf Burning Bush ~
ddustyrose (x2) ~ Gina Puff Comforter Set ~ Tennessee Nylon Flag ~
pilarzmom ~ Kaboom Foam-Tastic ~
wlswarts ~ Stanley Screwdriver (6 5/8") ~
George_Chabot ~ Channellock 6" Slip Joint Plier ~
kamel622 ~ Sterilite 3 Drawer Cart ~
Wellness & Beauty (21 reviews, 12 contributors)
jeavinl (x2) ~ Band-Aid Advanced Healing Blister Cushions ~ Band Aid Water Block Plus Clear Transparent Bandages ~
popsrocks (x2) ~ Thermwell Grey Foam Tape ~ First Alert Tundra Fire Suppresser ~
dlstewart ~ Plackers Dental Flossers ~
veda815 ~ Zone Perfect Fudge Graham Bars ~
pilarzmom (x3) ~ Maybelline Lash Stiletto Length Mascara ~ The Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion ~ Avalon Organics Lavender Nourishing Shampoo ~
ssjakira1 ~ Method Hand Wash Sea Mineral ~
ddustyrose ~ Clinique Rinse Off Foam Cleanser ~
northeastgal ~ Brocato Holdon Styling Gel ~
melissamarie21 (x2) ~ Terratints Lip Balm "Bloom" ~ Cepacol Instant Relief Sore Throat Lozenges ~
jackai ~ Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Smooth Shave Gel ~
chelledun ~ Lush Fairy Tale Sugar Scrub ~
lllovemakeup (x3) ~ Booth's Breathe Easy Body Wash ~ New Skin Liquid Bandage ~ Rusk Radical Extreme Hold Finishing Hairspray ~
talyseon ~ Lifestyles Non-Latex Condoms: SKYN ~
rgathright ~ Vicks Dayquil Plus Vitamin C Capsules Flu Relief ~
Pets (9 reviews, 4 contributors)
pestyside (x2) ~ Greenies Pill Pockets ~ FURminator Super Absorbent Microfiber Drying Towel ~
melissamarie21 (x3) ~ Kong Stuff 'N Treats Liver Paste ~ Synergy Labs Groomers Fresh Puppy Shampoo ~ Hills Science Indoor Cat ~
ladyconsumer ~ Whiskas Temptations Hairball Control Treats for Cats ~
pilarzmom ~ Newman's Own Organic Dog Treats Peanut Butter ~
Restaurants & Gourmet (20 reviews, 8 contributors)
popsrocks (x4) ~ Bombay Sapphire Gin ~ Arizona Diet Green Tea with Ginseng ~ Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise ~ Kraft Miracle Whip ~
vemartin ~ Kraft Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese Dinner Four Cheese Sauce ~
melissamarie21 (x7) ~ Hiram Walker Schnapps Pink Grapefruit ~ Hiram Walker Schnapps White Peach ~ Dr. McGillicuddy's Cherry Schnapps ~ Dr. McGillicuddy's Mentholmint Schnapps ~ Dr. McGillicuddy's Vanilla Schnapps ~ Captain Morgan Parrot Bay Key Lime Rum ~ Smirnoff Passion Fruit Twist ~
jenniferkateab ~ Kuners Black Beans with Spice ~
ladyconsumer (x4) ~ Idahoan Mashed Potatoes ~ Idahoan Mashed Potatoes Butter Herb ~ Hormel Compleats Chicken & Rice ~ Kraft Easy Mac Cups Alfredo ~
cr01 ~ Lindt Excellence Chilli Dark ~
gaelkm ~ U.S. Mills Uncle Sam Cereal ~
jackai ~ Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix ~
Music (46 reviews, 6 contributors)
xxxer (x7) ~ Plan 9 From Outer Space Original Soundtrack ~ The Vicious White Kids Live ~ Closer to Hogs by Nine Inch Richards ~ Supernaut/Apathy by 1000 Homo DJs ~ Aphex Twin - The ON Single ~ The LUNGS EP by Big Black ~ The Warriors Original Soundtrack ~
Stephen_Murray (x5) ~ Spartacus Soundtrack ~ Giordano: Andrea Chenier ~ Fedora ~ 1964 Turandot ~ 1984 Turandot ~
wlswarts (x3) ~ Watchmen Soundtrack Single ~ Out Of Our Heads (Rolling Stones) ~ Only Love (The Ballad Of Sleeping Beauty) - Sophie B. Hawkins ~
tjhassecrets (x29) ~ Celebration (European Single - Madonna) ~ Shawty Get Loose by Lil Mama ~ Greatest by Duran Duran ~ The Whole Story by Kate Bush ~ Like a Prayer - Madonna ~ Björk - Post ~ Björk - Homogenic ~ Björk - Selmasongs ~ Björk - Vespertine ~ Björk - Medulla ~ Billy Joel - Glass Houses ~ Spice Girls - Spice ~ Björk - Greatest Hits ~ Kate Bush - Hounds of Love (1997 Re-issue) ~ Vitamin C - More ~ Vitamin C - Me, Myself and I (CD-Single) ~ Vitamin C - Smile (CD Single) ~ Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Gold Lion (CD Single) ~ Kate Bush - Lionheart ~ Vitamin C - Vitamin C ~ Lady GaGa - Just Dance ~ Lady GaGa - The Fame (Re-write) ~ Tiffany - I'm Not Sleeping (CD-Single) ~ Janet Jackson - The Best/Number Ones ~ Lady GaGa - Lovegame (CD-Single) ~ Spice Girls - Spiceworld ~ Lady GaGa - Paparazzi (Single) ~ Bruce Springsteen - Lucky Town ~ Geri Halliwell - Ride It (Single) ~
MattBjorke ~ Ocean Eyes by Owl City ~
bilbopooh ~ Anne Murray - Christmas Wishes ~
Office Supplies (5 reviews, 4 contributors)
elzora ~ 3M Scotch Glue Stick ~
ladyconsumer ~ 3M Premoistened Wipes ~
dlstewart (x2) ~ Stanley Bostitch Standard Staples ~ Quartet Dry Erase Markers ~
popsrocks ~ Swingline 11 Sheet Desktop Adjustable Hole Punch ~
Electronics (3 reviews, 2 contributors)
wlswarts (x2) ~ Ultralast UL-BP511 Battery Pack ~ Canon CB-5L Battery Charger ~
jurgrace ~ Energizer AA4 ULTIMATE Lithium Batteries ~
Hotels & Travel (10 reviews, 7 contributors)
popsrocks (x3) ~ Wildwood Convention Center ~ Walt Whitman Birthplace ~ Wildwood New Jersey ~
texas-swede (x2) ~ Amon Carter Museum ~ Dinosaur Valley State Park ~
chelledun ~ Springhill Suites Indianapolis Fishers ~
sleeper54 ~ Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center ~
carstairs38 ~ Stitch's Great Escape ~
pilarzmom ~ Shell Falls Wayside, Bighorn National Forest ~
cr01 ~ Express By Holiday Inn City Center Birmingham ~
Magazine Subscriptions (3 reviews, 2 contributors)
wlswarts (x2) ~ Pillsbury Magazine ~ Poetry Magazine ~
dlstewart ~ Boston Magazine ~
Computer Software
texas-swede ~ Data Transfer Ameritec The Tornado Microcomputer w/PC ~
Computer Hardware (4 reviews, 3 contributors)
ssjakira1 ~ Imation Clip Flash Drive (512 MB) ~
rgathright ~ Tripp Lite Serial ATA Signal Cable ~ Monster Cable Products Monster Beat Headphones ~
bilbopooh ~ HP Pavilion dv8000 Laptop ~
Sports & Outdoors (2 reviews, 2 contributors)
dustinnikki ~ Buckeye Football Player Ornament ~
George_Chabot ~ Winchester Personal Defense 45 ACP ~
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