drogoff's Reviews

Kindle 2: Useful, Fun and a Positive Influence

I have been using the Kindle 2 for a couple of months now. I didn't plan on buying it; it was a birthday present. If asked prior to receiving it, I would have said that I didn't want one. Not because I don't read, but because I look at a screen all day long and there is something special and unique about holding a book while reading. Nevertheless,...more

Started Great last night and Looking forward to a Weekend of Football!

The season got underway last night with an overtime game between Pittsburgh and Tennessee. It was a great start to a season that felt like it took forever to arrive. I suppose that it felt like the off season lasted forever because of all the craziness that happened. I was blown away by the sheer volume of wacky things this off season when found...more

Why Did Slot Machines Stop Accepting Coins?

Some people really like to play the slots. When visiting a casino, I am always struck by the solitary gamblers sitting in front of these machines looking slightly mesmerized. I myself have never been a fan. I did enjoy the noises and lights that contributed to the background ambiance in a casino, but actually playing them has little appeal. I like...more

Why are Voicemail Recordings so Terrible?

I just called a friend of mine. He did not pick up and I needed to get some info to him so I left a message. As I was waiting to leave the message I was stuck by the sheer terribleness of his Voicemail Recording. It really got me thinking: why are so many of these things so bad? Everyone has at least one of these, some people have two and I know...more

Tin Roof Bistro; a Welcome Addition to Manhattan Beach

I ate at the Tin Roof Bistro last night and came away impressed. This is the second new restaurant in the area by the same family. The other, Simmzy's is always packed and is a great concept so I had high hopes for this one. Tin Roof is in the Manhattan Village Mall and I think that puts it at a disadvantage since many diners, including myself, would...more

Pizza Port: Great Pizza and Delicious Beer.

Bank of Manhattan: A Great Community Bank

Terroni: Great Italian at Reasonable Prices

Last night I ate at Terroni, a southern Italian restaurant on Beverly Blvd in Los Angeles and I was really impressed. The restaurant had a number of things going for it. Location. The restaurant is on Beverly which is kind of a busy street. Nevertheless, it has outdoor seating which is really enjoyable. We sat outside while the sun was setting...more

The Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament is the Most Exciting Event in Sports

Like Woot for Wine: Great for Value Conscious Wine Drinkers

If you are wondering what the current economy is doing to wine sales, one indicator is the rise of online wine liquidators. I just heard about Wines 'Til Sold Out and it is a great concept. They advertise "Wines Every Day at 30% to 70% Off". They only sell one wine at a time (between 1 and 3 per day) and the wines usually sell out in a few...more

The Best Falafel Sandwich in the U.S.

In my opinion, a great falafel sandwich is one of those perfect foods. The sandwich I am describing contains falafel (ground fried chickpeas), lettuce, tomato, hot sauce and tahini sauce served in a warm pita. It has so many things to admire being both very complex and utterly simple. It is a self contained meal fitting neatly (or not so neatly depending...more

Will John and Kate please go away!

I have never seen this show...but I know way too much about John and Kate.  When I go to the market and am checking out, I can't help but notice that John and Kate are on the cover of every magazine. They are also all over the internet (I am not talking about tmz or gossip sites...but MSN and Yahoo) and television (again, I don't watch Extra...but...more

He is "The Sports Guy"

Bill Simmons is my favorite columnist and his columns provide critical analysis and deep humor. He writes for ESPN.com and ESPN the Magazine and you can find his writings at the Sport's Guy's World. Prior to being hired by ESPN, he ran his own site called The Boston Sports Guy. Part of what makes him so great is that his success highlights the meritocracy...more

Delicious and A Tremendous Value! Warren Buffett Approved

See's Candy is awesome. I frequently buy it as a gift and when we have parties, I will buy some and display it for guests to eat at their leisure (similar to mixed nuts or wasabi peas) I admire and enjoy so many things about their operation, including: Deliciousness.  Their candy tastes great. I much prefer their chocolate to other supposedly...more

Bill: An Unforgettable Character!

2009 Lakers...I Am Cautiously Optimistic

The NBA Finals start tonight and I am cautiously optimistic. They have had quite a run through the playoffs, losing games when they should have won and there are several external issues that have added to the drama surrounding this postseason. I was extremely nervous during both the Houston (7 games) and Denver (6 games) series as it seemed like both...more

A Doll who has Embraced Social Media

Bebe Mochachino is a true visionary of debauchery and self promotion. While I believe there have been other famous dolls constructed out of pantyhose, none of them can claim her success in promoting her debased lifestyle through the use of social media utilities. Claiming 33 friends on Facebook and 9 followers on Twitter, Bebe has used these tools...more

Pioneer of Online Video

Great for Kids and Adults!

I took my 4 year old daughter to see Up and we both thought it was awesome. She said it was the best movie she had ever seen which is crazy since it did not involve a princess.A couple of notes (No major spoilers but avoid if you are going to see it and don't want to know anything about the story or characters):Humanity:  I couldn't believe how...more

Delicious Wines and Super Nice

Good to Very Good

My favorite Lunch spot

Karate Kid for Millennials

Disclaimer: I only saw the middle third of this movie.While my wife was watching American Idol, I was flipping around on another TV and came across this movie. I figure I watched about a third of the movie before switching the channel. Despite the limited view, I was struck by the amount of the plot that was taken from the Karate Kid and updated for...more

2 Things I like about Simmzy's

Why Won't The Counter cut my chicken

I really enjoy the Burger in a Bowl at the Counter.  I select a chicken breast, corn and black bean salsa, hard boiled egg, pepperocinis, and olives with the ginger soy dressing. It is a tad expensive, but it makes for a delicious salad. My only gripe is that the chicken breast comes whole on top of the other ingredients. This means that before...more

Lennox Earthquake May 17, 2009 felt in Manhattan Beach

A Wonderful Project Connecting People of Faith

More of an Experience than a Meal

The Bazaar by Jose Andres is unlike any restaurant I have ever encountered; a temple of molecular gastronomy. I found my dinner to be more of an experience than a meal. It was overwhelming and thought-provoking; delicious and mildly frustrating; an assault on my senses. At the end, I was left with a sense of accomplishment and the lingering sensation...more

The Best Breakfast Burrito Period!

Often times nostalgia colors one's view of remembrances: the elementary school yard seems much smaller than I remembered, the movie I loved as a teenager sucked when I recently saw it again and the pizza at the restaurant we frequented and loved in high school is marginal at best.  So when an experience lives up to the remembered level of greatness,...more

Impossible not to root for him

Trusted South Bay Mechanic

Harry's Jaguar was recommended to me by a friend and my wife and I have taken our cars there for 8 years now. I have taken cars there for regular services (way cheaper than going to a dealer) and to fix problems. Harry is a great guy and is there every time running the show. I know very little about cars, so having someone that I trust is huge and...more

Generally expensive, but a bargain for lunch

The purpose of this review is to address the most common criticism of Whole Foods: that it is way too expensive. I agree that for everyday shopping, the prices are considerably higher than traditional supermarkets. It is difficult to compare prices for non-organic vs organic or hormone free/free range/sustainably raised vs not, but still, I concede...more

Superior to Milk Based Lattes

When it comes to espresso based hot beverages...I think that Soy Lattes are the best. I do not drink soy milk on its own and I do not have an anti-dairy bias so I consider myself to be an objective latte evaluator. My reasons for asserting the superiority of the soy latte:Taste:Most importantly,  I think that they taste better than milk lattes....more

I don't feel smarter...but I was entertained

If you have read the last few John Grisham fiction books, then you probably don't have to read this review. The Associate contains the typical Grisham elements: nefarious agents seeking to pervert the law, a sympathetic young protagonist, a somehow close yet superficial look at one particular aspect of the legal profession/justice system, and an ending...more

A Dim Sum Temple

For those that have not been to a Dim Sum restaurant, it is a fun experience unlike traditional dining. Rather than taking your order off a menu, waiters wheel carts around the restaurant and stop by your table to offer you the dishes. One benefit to this style of eating is that there is no time spent waiting for your food to be made. You are eating...more

Inexpensive and Delicious...a Winning Combination

Zankou Chicken is a Los Angeles treasure. If you are a fan of rotisserie or roasted chicken I would highly recommend it. I have introduced this place to a number of people and no one has been disappointed. Zankou offers Armenian food consisting of Kebabs, Shwarma, Falafel, Hummus, Pita, Rice, Vegetables and of course, their signature Chicken. I get...more

A Great Everyday Shoe...

While I enjoy variety in some aspects of my life, there are others where I vastly prefer consistency. Choice of shoes is one such area. I am aware that other people enjoy wearing different shoes and use footwear as an expression of fashion and style and I can appreciate that. For me though, once I make a shoe selection I will stick with that selection...more

An Apple above the Rest...Thank you Japan for the Fuji

My local supermarket carries at least seven varieties of apples in any given season. No matter what the selection, however, I find myself going back to the Fujis. After taste testing, I have concluded that they are the most delicious of the many choices out there.  Fuji Apples have a higher sugar content than some of the other varietals with none...more