The 12-in. Everyday Pan is an all-purpose pan. Use it for searing, browning and sauteing vegetables and meats. It also works well for making paella, jambalaya and all-in-one meals that you can bring right to the table to serve. The 2 loop handles make for easier lifting.Backed by a lifetime warranty, Calphalon's Commercial Hard-Anodized Cookware is made to professional standards, offering the home chef unsurpassed cooking performance, superior construction and lasting durability. Each piece in the Commercial Hard-Anodized line is made of a heavy-gauge aluminum, all-metal construction with the advanced technology of the Cool V stainless handles. The aluminum construction provides superior cooking performance by distributing the heat evenly so there are no hot spots as you cook. And because it's made entirely of metal, each pan can be used in the oven and under the broiler. The hard-anodizing seals the cooking surface, making it stick-resistant and non-reactive to the foods being cooked. The Cool V handles are designed to stay cool on the stovetop, and are balanced with such precision that the pans feel lighter when you pick them up.

Amazon.com Review 

This 12-inch everyday pan will end up being the hardest working pan in your kitchen. It is ideal for everything from simmering stovetop succotash and braising brisket to browning Dutch pancakes or cooking fruit tarts. Part of Calphalon's Commercial Hard-Anodized line of cookware, this pan is made of heavy-gauge aluminum that's uniformly thick across the bottom and sides, allowing for quick and even heat distribution. Its durable hard-anodized finish is stick- and scratch-resistant and won't react with acidic foods. The patented cast stainless-steel handles are comfortable to grip, plus they minimize heat transfer so handles stay cool on the stovetop. Handles are held in place by three sturdy stainless-steel rivets. The included hard-anodized lid is dome-shaped, making it ideal for moist-heat cooking. The cookware and lid are oven-safe up to 450 degrees F so you can transfer a frittata to the oven for browning without having to switch pans. All cookware in this line is covered by a lifetime warranty. --Cristina Vaamonde

The 2008 Holiday Barbie shimmers in a silvery creation designed to resemble a snowflake. Her chandelier earrings add the perfect elegant yet festive touch to the 20th anniversary Holiday Barbie. Barbie collectors and girls ages 6 and up alike will appreciate the beauty of this doll, with her thick lashes, painted red lips, extravagantly curled blonde hair, and a stand so she can be displayed and admired by all.

Holiday Barbie wears a silvery snowflake gown. View larger.

Chandelier earrings complement Barbie's glittering eyes.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Elegant, shimmery, snowflake-themed gown is both festive and stylish The Bad: Shoes not as elegant as the dress In a Nutshell: Fans and collectors of Holiday Barbies will be proud to add this Barbie to their collection At a Glance Ages: 6 and up

Barbie Shines for the Holiday Season
This is essentially the same, sturdy Barbie we all know and love, but she's beautifully decked out for the holidays. The only assembly required is putting her stand together. Though Barbie's gown looks delicate, with it's gauzy, snowflake-embroidered bodice and silver skirt, the material is tough and durable. Her long, dangly earrings, however, could see some damage during over-enthusiastic play with small hands. But they're removable, so you can take them out if you think your girl might lose or break them.

Living in a Winter Wonderland
The holiday Barbies are all about wintry elegance and style, and the 2008 doll is no exception. Barbie's sophisticated holiday hairdo cascades down her back in a mass of curls tied slightly to the side. The sheer bodice of her gown--the same one she wears in the "Barbie in a Christmas Carol" DVD-- is embroidered with shimmery snowflakes that match the silver of the tiered, pleated skirt.

A gauzy sash wraps around her waist and floats down the front of the gown. White slingback heels complete Holiday Barbie's breathtaking ensemble. For those who like to keep Barbie in her packaging, the 2008 design doesn't disappoint: a red foil background is decorated with ornaments and 3-D snowflakes suspended in midair.

Little Touches Make Barbie Fabulous
We love the little touches on this Holiday Barbie, like the painted red nails that match her lipstick, the ultra-thick lashes, and the drop earrings that dangle down past her shoulders. We also like the snowflakes that shimmer lightly on her dress as if they've just fallen from the sky. Her right arm is cocked permanently at the elbow so it looks like she's waving. You can also turn this arm so her hand is on her hip.

We could imagine however, that little girls might wish to bend the elbow into a normal position from time to time. And while Barbie's holiday gown manages to be both stunning and durable, her shoes are functional white plastic that don't really live up to the rest of the outfit (plus they're hard to put on). Fortunately, the shoes are hidden by the long dress. Overall, we think Barbie collectors and little girls alike will be thrilled to add this cooly fabulous 2008 Holiday Barbie to their collection.

What's in the Box
2008 Holiday Barbie with gown, earrings, shoes, and display stand.

Product Description 

As the snowflakes fall, this 2008 Holiday Barbie doll sparkles in a shimmering white and silvery gown. Celebrating 20 years of holiday-themed Barbie dolls, she wears a glitter-detailed gown with tiered pleated skirt and chandelier earrings. Measures approximately 12" tall.

Mickeys Surprise Clubhouse has every fun feature of the show!

It comes with two characters and hastons of surprises! Open up the front gate and then magically the walkway to the Clubhouse will appear! Place any of the figures on the Clubhouse pedestals to hear them say Role Call.

They alsosay silly phrases depending on where they are placed. Turn the crazy crank on the back to watch them move up and down and sing the Hot Dog song. As they move Toodles and the Mouse Ka Doer will light up and flash. This crank also moves the hot air balloon back and forth. Flip open the Clubhouse top to reveal the lookout telescope or place a character on top of the Clubhouse and pull a lever to eject them down the silly slide! Press the umbrella to launch out the red car out of the Garage or Pull the lever to pop up the picnic table. Every part of this clubhouse has a fun activity in store!

Amazon.com Review 

Young fans of Mickey Mouse will enjoy playing with him and his friends in Mickey's Surprise Clubhouse. This Disney toy, designed for children ages 2 and up and based on the popular "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" animated TV series, lets kids imagine a variety of adventures for their favorite characters.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Toy encourages discovery and imaginative play in toddlers The Bad: Toy's components sometimes separate during play In a Nutshell: Toddlers can play with Mickey Mouse and friends in his fun, imaginative clubhouse At a Glance Ages: 2 years and up Requires: 3 AA batteries, Phillips screwdriver to open battery compartment

The clubhouse is full of fun surprises. View larger.

Mickey and Minnie are ready to play. View Larger.

Find Adventure and Surprise with Mickey Mouse and Friends
The Clubhouse has plenty of fun activities and surprises for children to discover with the included characters. The Clubhouse comes with three compatible figures: Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, who both have movable arms and heads; and Pluto. (Although Donald Duck and Goofy are pictured on the box, they are sold separately.)

This Clubhouse toy is inspired by the setting of the TV series, complete with a "magical" front gate which, when opened, reveals a "surprise" path that leads to the Mouse-ear-topped stage. The stage has a designated pedestal for each character. When you place a character on his or her pedestal, you'll hear a variety of fun phrases, which you're likely to recognize if you're familiar with the TV show. For example, Mickey Mouse may say, "Meeska Mooska Mickey Mouse," which is the magical phrase used to make the clubhouse appear in the television show. Pull the stage's red lever to hear the popular TV series song "Hot Dog Song."

The "lawn" in front of the stage has two levers. Pull one and a table pops up already set with a fun picnic for the figures to enjoy. Pull the other lever, and Pluto's doghouse pops up. Characters can go for a ride in the hot-air balloon or the little red car.

Entertaining Introduction to Imaginary Play
With its variety of activities, the Clubhouse gives kids the opportunity to imagine many adventures for Mickey Mouse and his friends, making it a perfect toy for children who have reached the stage of imaginary play in their development. The toy definitely got our 2-year-old tester's imagination going: she enjoyed not only playing with the Clubhouse and discovering its "surprises," but she also enjoyed making the figures interact with each other. And she went wild for the Hot Dog Song -- though she needed a bit of help with pushing the lever to listen to it over and over (and over!) again.

The toy comes with several components that slide easily together. They don't lock into place, which unfortunately makes the toy come apart somewhat easily during play. But on the plus side, it also makes for much easier set up and clean up. The Clubhouse requires three AA batteries, which are included. You'll need a Phillips screwdriver to replace them.

What's in the Box
Mickey Mouse Surprise Clubhouse with stage, base, hot-air balloon and support arm, car, and garage; Mickey Mouse figure, Minnie Mouse figure, and Pluto figure; 3 AA batteries included.

To gauge the magnitude of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's popularity in his native Hawaii, consider this: following his death in 1997 (at age 38, attributed to his profound obesity), Kamakawiwo'ole's body lay in state in the state capitol, only the second person to receive such an honor. Kamakawiwo'ole's appeal lies in his love for prestatehood, precondominium Hawaii and the expressiveness of his gently passionate voice, which can float through higher registers with an ease that brings Johnny Mathis to mind. Several selections ("Ka Pua U'i," "White Sandy Beach of Hawai'i," the sun-kissed "La 'Elima") feature Kamakawiwo'ole in a traditional mood, using only his ukulele to adorn the charm of his native lyricism. Others, such as the Jimmy Buffett-like "Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man" add playful contemporary touches that suit Kamakawiwo'ole's style. Most touching are the string-backed laments that open and close the album, "Hawai'i '78 Introduction" and "Hawai'i '78," initially a reflection on his father's death, later on the passing of Hawaii's native culture. Best known is his medley "Somewhere over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World," which played over the closing credits of the film Meet Joe Black. --Terry Wood

Album Description 

There's a smart balance of traditional Hawaiiana and contemporary tunes on this CD. There's heart-tugging warmth along with unexpected chuckles. The end result is a candid, honest reinforcement of his vocal breadth.

The beauty of this entry in the Baby Einstein catalog is its integration of puppets, toys, and live farm footage to help babies and toddlers make the connection between their plastic play sets and stuffed animals with images of a real farm. As always, the spoken language is minimal, omitting the pesky verbs and adjectives that would confuse the very young. The 30-minute main program is divided into sections: barns and equipment, animals, planting crops, and harvesting. Background music ranges from "Old MacDonald" to Schumann, and DVD extras include a 6-minute puppet show and visual "discovery cards" identifying animals and farm paraphernalia with a single word. (Ages 6 months to 3 years) --Kimberly Heinrichs

Product Description 

A fun-filled introduction to the sights and sounds of a farm!
-- Presents little ones with the sights and sounds of a farm
-- Shows babies where some of their favorite foods come from

As little ones' curiosity about the world blossoms, you can help sow the seeds of discovery with Baby MacDonald: A Day on the Farm. Featuring live-action images, nursery rhymes and fun-filled puppet shows, this playful, interactive program introduces little ones to the exciting sights and sounds of a real working farm. Get ready to meet the animals, plant the crops, ride on a tractor, celebrate the harvest and much more!
DVD Features
-- Repeat play
-- Language tracks (Spanish, French and English)
-- Discovery cards
-- "Old MacDonald" sing along
-- Puppet shows
-- Show time with Baby MacDonald on the farm

The 10th anniversary edition of the landmark film repackages most of the extras found in the original Ultimate Toy Box set plus a few more. Two keen retrospectives are new, one with an assortment of talents including Roy Disney and Peter Jackson chiming in on the film's impact. The other is a roundtable with Lasseter and three of the creators simply talking about the experiences without--thankfully--any cutaways to noisy film clips. There's a load of other extras since the Ultimate Toy Box was one of the first and best DVD sets. Missing (besides the second film, which will be released separately) is the effects- and music-only tracks. Added is a whopping DTS soundtrack along with a remixed Dolby 5.1 track. The DVD has a higher transfer bit rate for a better picture, but only high-end enthusiasts will notice it. Since the film is a digital-to-digital transfer, both versions are eye-popping. A must-have set unless you have the Ultimate Toy Box.

Lasseter's story is universal and magical: what do toys do when they're not played with? Cowboy Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), Andy's favorite bedroom toy, tries to calm the other toys (some original, some classic) during a wrenching time of year--the birthday party, when newer toys may replace them. Sure enough, Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) is the new toy that takes over the throne. Buzz has a crucial flaw, though--he believes he's the real Buzz Lightyear, not a toy. Lasseter further scores with perfect voice casting, including Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head and Wallace Shawn as a meek dinosaur. The director-animator won a special Oscar for "the development and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first feature-length computer-animated film." In other words, the movie is great. --Doug Thomas

The Pixar Feature Films

Toy Story, 1995 A Bug's Life, 1998 Toy Story 2, 1999

Monsters, Inc., 2001 Finding Nemo, 2003 The Incredibles, 2004

John Lasseter and his gang of high-tech creators at Pixar create another entertainment for the ages. Like the few great movie sequels, Toy Story 2 comments on why the first one was so wonderful while finding a fresh angle worthy of a new film. The craze of toy collecting becomes the focus here, as we find out Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) is not only a beloved toy to Andy but also a rare doll from a popular '60s children's show. When a greedy collector takes Woody, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) launches a rescue mission with Andy's other toys. To say more would be a crime because this is one of the most creative and smile-inducing films since, well, the first Toy Story.

Although the toys look the same as in the 1994 feature, Pixar shows how much technology has advanced: the human characters look more human, backgrounds are superior, and two action sequences that book-end the film are dazzling. And it's a hoot for kids and adults. The film is packed with spoofs, easily accessible in-jokes, and inspired voice casting (with newcomer Joan Cusack especially a delight as Cowgirl Jessie). But as the Pixar canon of films illustrates, the filmmakers are storytellers first. Woody's heart-tugging predicament can easily be translated into the eternal debate of living a good life versus living forever. Toy Story 2 also achieved something in the U.S. two other outstanding 1999 animated features (The Iron Giant, Princess Mononoke) could not: it became a huge box-office hit. --Doug Thomas

Description 

A landmark in filmmaking with cutting-edge animation and the voice talents of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, TOY STORY introduced Woody the Cowboy and Buzz Lightyear, a space age action figure. Along with a supporting cast of funny friends, TOY STORY will entertain the entire family with action, adventure, and sidesplitting laughs. Joining the original voice cast in TOY STORY 2 is a roundup of unforgettable new characters including Jessie the Cowgirl and Stinky Pete the prospector! Winner of the Golden Globe(R) award for Best Picture, this box office smash is full of laugh-out-loud humor, wonderful music, and eye-popping animation!

The folks at Pixar can do no wrong with Monsters, Inc., the studio's fourth feature film, which stretches the computer animation format in terms of both technical complexity and emotional impact. The giant, blue-furred James P. "Sulley" Sullivan (wonderfully voiced by John Goodman) is a scare-monster extraordinaire in the hidden world of Monstropolis, where the scaring of kids is an imperative in order to keep the entire city running. Beyond the competition to be the best at the business, Sullivan and his assistant, the one-eyed Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal), discover what happens when the real world interacts with theirs in the form of a 2-year-old baby girl dubbed "Boo," who accidentally sneaks into the monster world with Sulley one night. Director Pete Doctor and codirectors David Silverman and Lee Unkrich follow the Pixar (Toy Story) blueprint with an imaginative scenario, fun characters, and ace comic timing. By the last heart-tugging shot, kids may never look at monsters the same, nor artists at what computer animation can do in the hands of magicians. --Doug Thomas

Product Description 

Monsters generate their city's power by scaring children, but they are terribly afraid themselves of being contaminated by children, so when one enters Monstropolis, top scarer Sulley find his world disrupted. Plot Synopsis: James P. Sullivan (AKA "Sulley") and Mike Wazowski pick up their paychecks at Monsters Inc., the utility company that generates energy from the goose bumps of children. Sulley, the No. 1 scream-generator at the plant accidentally lets in a little girl into the monster world. Since monsters are actually terrified of children it's a major cause for alarm and a major headache for Sulley and Mike.