February 2008
Ken Libbrecht's Field Guide to Snowflakes
A gorgeous key to the surprising variety of snowflakes. There's more diversity than you think. The taxonomy of snow is categorized succinctly here. You can also find the same information on the author's densely packed website. He offers a companion book of a gallery snowflake photos, and prints, "wallpaper," and US postage stamps! However this small book is the handiest form for all this goodness.
-- KK
Ken Libbrecht's Field Guide to Snowflakes
2006, 112 pages
$11
Available from Amazon
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Stellar plates often show distinctive ridges that point to the corners between adjacent prism facets. When these ridges are especially prominent, the crystals are called sectored plates.The simplest sectored plates are hexagonal crystals that are divided into six equal pieces, like the slices of a hexagonal pie. More complex specimens show prominent ridges on broad, flat branches.
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Favorite (15)Levenger Circa Notebook
Recently we posted a Source Wanted request from a Cool Tools reader searching for a notebook with alternating blank and lined pages. Thanks to everyone who wrote in. Interestingly, an overwhelming majority of you recommended the Levenger Circa... -- sl
I've been using Levenger's products for about 10 years, most notably their Circa notebooks. The ring-based binding allows not only quick removal and replacement of pages, but also a nice mix and match format for a variety of sheets, including ruled, blank, grid, address book, calendar, and more. I have a couple leather covers that I change around a bit to reduce wear on the notebooks. I tend to walk around with a normal junior size Circa notebook (about 5"x8") with pages of several types inside, including little contact information cards, 3x5s, etc. Sometimes I'll take a page out and offset it by one ring so it sticks out above the others to denote a new section (though I believe they have all kinds of dividers and such now). The rings themselves, though plastic, are sturdy and heavy -- notably better than the Rollabind notebook. The paper is a fairly heavy stock with good absorption and a great feel when writing on it with either rollerballs or fountain pens. The line printing is subtle but clear and it comes in a variety of layouts, though I tend to stick with the Columbia note taking system layout (with a column down the left-hand side), which used to be their only offering. They also sell paper in larger packs of 300, so I tend to keep a couple reams on hand. The hole puncher from Levenger is also a well-machined thing.
I can't really go back to normal notebooks. Hard-bound notebooks don't lay flat. Even with a spiral notebook with double-ring wiring I rarely find one with a high enough paper quality to suit my tastes. Nevertheless, there are a couple downsides (I'm not a complete sycophant). If you "work" a page too much in the binding (and it really has to be quite a lot) the little tabs will wear a bit and without the strength of being sandwiched between other pages, it can be a bit less secure in the bindings. A small price, but I've had pages that I repeatedly go back to fall out. Also, the diameter of the rings restricts the width of the notebook to something close to 5/8 of an inch while the rings stick out a bit. However, you can buy bigger rings. The Circa was the first and only disc-based removable/replaceable page binding I'd ever seen. Though there are a couple competitors now (like the Rollabind), I really find Levenger's product line second to none. I do flinch at the price when I click "checkout," but I'm always vindicated when I open the box.
-- Mike Wilson
I've been using various Circa products since their inception. The real value of the Circa notebooks is that I don't have to buy many of the notebooks any more. I have enough binders and pieces that now I typically purchase only the refills and create my own notebooks designed for specific uses, mixing the different formats (lined, grid, blank). I have a couple 5-subject letter-sized notebooks, the junior and letter-size single-subject notebooks, and I also carry a Circa PDA in my coat pocket for noting things I find while I'm out. I can use the lined pages for normal notetaking and writing, insert a grid page for a table or a blank page for a mind map. I generally start with about ten lined pages and five blank and grid pages in a notebook and then arrange them as needed. Being a minimalist, I like to start with the least number of sheets to do the job and then add as needed to the capacity of the rings. There have been only two problems I had with them over time: 1) the paper is twice as thick as normal note paper, so the 5-subject notebook simply weighed too much, and 2) I tended to wear out the paper connections in one section before reaching other sections. However, since switching from the 5-subject to the junior and letter single-subject notebooks, I don't have the weight or wear problems.
-- Gary Scott
Levenger Circa Notebook
$20+
(leather cover, varying sizes)
Available from Levenger
Circa Refills
$8+
(varying sizes/styles)
Also from Levenger
Circa Starter Kit Notebook
$10-14
Also from Levenger
[Levenger has a pretty no-nonsense video demonstrating the Circa's ins and outs; Also of note: a reader named Judy pointed me to the DIY notebook groups on Flickr, where I discovered a splendid shot of a fully-stocked "Circa Bar" assembly station in Boston, MA; what a great concept! --sl]
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Laptop Lunchbox
Since I started using this bento-style lunchbox to take my meals to work, I have found it's made me much more particular about what I eat. I've never been one to spend much time in the kitchen, and I recently realized I was eating way too much junk/restaurant food as a result. I decided if I were to present my meals in an appealing way, I might pay more attention and start eating better. I also have the Mr. Bento Lunch Jar, which definitely has good presentation capabilities, but I found when I was taking it to work regularly it was difficult for me to fill up in such a way I did not have way too much food or a lot of unused space. The Laptop Lunchbox is the perfect size for me. I carry a little under 600 calories in it in general, just enough to get through a work day. Unlike the Mr. Bento, this lunchbox doesn't keep things hot, but the containers are advertised as microwave-safe. I generally bring foods that are ok at room temperature or cool: sandwich, nuts, apples/applesauce, carrots, hummus.
The box is 9" x 7" x 2" and holds four main containers, two that are 4.5" x 3" x 1.75" (volume each: ~1 cup) and two that are 2" x 3" x 1.75" (volume each: ~1/2 cup). There's also a small dip container that is 1.5"x1"x1.5", which goes into one of the other containers. Only the dip container and one of the larger containers has a lid, so you have to use mostly non-liquid foods. The lid of the outer box rests nearly flush with the tops of the inner containers, so small items don't fly around even if you hold the lunchbox sideways. I usually leave out one large container and put a sandwich there instead (cut in thirds, it fits better and looks quite nice on display). It’s somewhat marketed for kids. I've seen reviews from users who send one with their 2-year-olds to daycare -- a bit surprising considering how much it holds -- but the site sells more adult-appropriate bags and additional containers. They also offer an insulated Bento Sleeve with Ice Pack, which I would consider if I didn't have a fridge in my office.
Having been pushed into the prepare-my-own-food mindset, I'm actually starting to cook more for other meals (I even bought a rice cooker and immersion blender). It's been somewhat life-changing, which may seem a little odd. Of course, there's a Flickr pool for Laptop Lunches, so I know I'm not the only one.
-- Maria Blees
Laptop Lunchbox
$23
(no sleeve*)
Available from the manufacturer, Obentec, Inc.
*includes copy of The Laptop Lunch User's Guide
$34
(w/sleeve, no book)
Also from ReusableBags
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Lights Out Sleep Mask
This mask has indispensable for daytime naps or when sleeping in barracks or tents with other people who like to stay up late. I was stationed for a couple months in Qatar and am currently stationed in Kuwait (that's as much as I am able to tell you without breaking OPSEC). The mask is more effective and comfortable than the other ones I've worn. You can open your eyes no matter the time of day and think it's the darkest time of night. It blocks the light most effectively due to the contour over the nose. With normal masks you get gaps on the sides of your nose, no matter how you try to position it or if it has a nose cut-out. When I got back from basic training five years ago I discovered I liked to take mid-afternoon naps. I found a silly sleep mask, pink with fake daisies on it. I was able to sleep, but I would wake up with my eyes all dried out. I eventually lost it and went through a basic satin sleep mask and also a silk eye mask that had little pillows attached to the bottom edge so it wouldn't smash your eyes. Once again, though, both of them dried my eyes out something fierce. Since this mask does not press against your eyes, it allows for moisture to draw out out along your eyelashes.
I have been using the mask almost non-stop for the last nine months. I don't use it nightly anymore, mainly because lately my roommate goes to sleep before me. I use it during the day when I have to work an overnight shift. I have a tendency to lose things so when it's something affordable I buy two. When I had a different roommate, we worked different shifts. She would borrow one of my masks, and we were able to each leave a light on for the other person so we wouldn't walk into a pitch black room. On one occasion, there was a horrific downpour that flooded our tent. Unfortunately one mask was drenched and when it dried out it the fabric started to come away from the foam. I continued to use it and the second mask I brought with me. The second mask's foam started to separate from the fabric when I had to fold it up to stick in my pocket and take it out and fold it back several times on my journey from Qatar to Kuwait. Even though the fabric is coming away on both masks, they are still comfortable and wonderful to wear.
In a few months I am going home because my deployment will be over. Even though I'll be back to being a "citizen/soldier" in the National Guard, I plan to keep sleeping with this mask. I don't have to adjust it five times to fall asleep or use eye drops after I wake up. And I love the sensory deprivation aspect. I have traveled a lot. On a plane I use the mask in conjunction with my iPod and an inflatable neck pillow. I love thinking that when I open my eyes it might be in a different place than when I closed them. With this mask I can pretend, until I take it off, that I am going to wake up at home in my own bed.
-- PFC Erica H Sandberg
Lights Out Sleep Mask
$10
(blue)
Available from Amazon
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Mono Filio Teapot
I've used numerous tea pots, ranging from traditional to modern, built with materials from clay to plastic. The stainless steel and glass Mono Filio is the best one for regular tea drinking. I've been using this teapot daily for about a year and a half, drinking mainly green, oolong and white tea. I'm not sure the suspended design has any benefit besides looks, but it will prevent condensation and heat from reaching wood counters or tables. The real design innovation is the very large strainer basket. Aside from having a metal handle that makes removal easy, the basket is almost the full size of the pot itself, allowing a lot of space for the leaves to float freely. When tea leaves can float freely they release flavors more evenly, making for better-tasting tea. The tea bag is a modern convenience. What you typically get inside is crushed dust rather than intact leaves (this is why it often tastes bitter, especially in the case of black tea). When you put a tablespoon of oolong leaves in this pot, after two infusions the leaves expand to fill perhaps a cup in size. Like the smaller plastic InegnuiTEA, the transparency of the glass provides something interesting to watch while the tea brews. While the IngenuiTEA looks to be more of a travel device or something you use at work, the Mono is something you want to use in your house on a daily basis. The 20 oz. size creates the perfect amount of tea for two people and cleans up nicely. $110 is incredibly expensive. The matching cups, which I bought, are like $70 -- ridiculous. With this one, you have to already know you really like tea. But unlike a lot of modern revisions of traditional objects where radical originality in looks creates some level of annoyance in use, Mono Tabletop's teapot is exactly the opposite. It's much different from the traditional clay pot, yet, for me, easier to use and a better experience. After some 4,000 years of tea culture, that achievement is worth $110.
-- Wayne Bremser
Mono Filio Teapot
$110
Available from In Pursuit of Tea
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Peltor Digital WorkTunes Radio Earmuff
iPods are great except for those of us who are required to have hearing protection at work. I'm a Highway Safety Consultant and still do construction. This is the only radio earmuff I have found that has hearing protection and digital tuning. Unlike standard noise-reducing headphones, these provide actual hearing protection from loud noises (the noise reduction rating is advertised as 26 dB). I have owned other radio earmuff models but when you "bump" the channel selector you lose your station. Since this one's digital, I can program the presets. Now I tune in, save my favorite channels, and flip between them. So far I've been using mine at work with a patch cord for the iPod, however, I am going to buy an FM modulator for the iPod so I can go wireless.
-- Scott Newton
Peltor Digital WorkTunes Radio Earmuff
$50
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Aearo Company
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Groom Mate Nose & Ear Hair Trimmer
I've tried a number of battery-operated nose hair trimmers hoping one of them would last, be easy to clean, and remain sharp. Every one of them failed. This stainless steel trimmer is simplicity itself! No whirring motors, wimpy foil blades, batteries or delicate electronics. It costs a little more than some electric models but works elegantly and reliably. I also like the fact it is so compact I can sanitize the entire unit in the occasional alcohol bath. I always thought trimmers had to work at high speed to deliver a comfortable and painless cut. With this device, you simply stick the unit an 1/8-inch up your nose and rotate the shaft back and forth. The first time I used it I realized I had more control. Because it works so well, isn't a hassle to use and is so easy to clean, I've adopted an early strike policy. After more than six months of regular use, I haven't noticed any dulling. Regardless, the manufacturer guarantees it for life.
-- Ray Grabowski
Groom Mate Nose & Ear Hair Trimmer
(Platinum XL model)
$20
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Groom Mate
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Rocky Side-Zip Paraboots
I basically own three pairs of shoes. One is a pair of flip-flops that I wear around the house like sandals. Another is a fancy pair of dress shoes that I dust off for weddings, bar-mitzvahs, funerals, and schwanky dress-up events. But for everyday wear in professional office environments, during travel, and for general romping about, I keep a pair of 10" Rocky side-zip leather boots on my feet seven days a week.
The handy side-zip means that getting in and out of these boots is loafer-fast -- an essential feature for daily wear or moving quickly through airport security lines. The lacing enables me to customize the fit for my feet, but once that's done, I go months without retying the laces. These boots are designed for use by police officers and other law enforcement and EMS-types, so they're versatile, rugged, and incredibly comfortable (once they're broken in). The black, all-leather uppers have clean and simple lines, so they look good in any casual office environment. The boot styling provides ample ankle support, which is nice for hiking, long walks, or keeping my feet dry in wet, snowy, sandy, or muddy environments.
During a typical week, I'll wear these boots to work from Monday to Friday, then keep them on my feet during the weekend as I wander through the deep snows of Lake Tahoe, or explore abandoned buildings, or stroll along sandy beaches of the Pacific Coast. Yet even after all that abuse, 20 seconds' worth of buffing is all it takes to clean the boots up in time to walk to work on Monday. When new, there's an initial break-in period that lasts for three or four days (during which I carry band-aids to prevent blisters). But the leather softens up quickly, and thereafter they feel perfectly natural on my feet. An occasional dose of shoe polish is all that's needed to keep them looking great. I'm on my third pair now, and with regular shines to condition the leather, I easily get 3 years of daily wear out of 'em before all the cumulative abuse makes them sub-optimal for office wear. I buy mine from Galls. Check out all the testimonials -- kind of hilarious.
-- Todd Lappin
Rocky Side-Zip Paraboots
$120
Available from Galls
Manufactured by Rocky Boots
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Salubrion Enso Clock
The Salubrion Enso Clock is a digital clock/timer specially built for those who meditate or do yoga. While I know nothing about yoga, I use the clock to time my meditations twice a day in my home office. Conventional stopwatches and alarms just don't cut it. They let out a loud beeping noise that startles me out of my meditative state (or I end up worrying about when they'll beep). On the contrary, the Enso uses soothing chimes that sound like actual Japanese and Tibetan rice bowls. Instead of startling you out from a meditative state, these gently bring your awareness back to the world around you.
My favorite function of this clock is how it displays time elapsed or remaining by drawing a ring along the display, instead of counting down the numerical indication of minutes left. Previously I meditated with a wall clock, opening my eyes to glance at the clock when the time felt "right." I've found the Enso's ring to be a great help in my meditation -- when I occasionally open my eyes to glance at the clock, I find myself undistracted. Other nifty features I use include the setting of intervals.
When I'm not meditating the Enso is elegant enough to be used as a desk clock on my table. The size is very suitable for travel --- The clock face is slightly larger than the top of a tea cup, and there is a travel pouch included with the clock. I've seen other meditation clocks -- haven't tired them; they look a little bulkier. Also, with this clock, there are no moving parts to be concerned with as it's 100% digital. In all, it's perfect if you are a fairly serious meditator...
-- Yeo Feng
$99
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Salubrion
NOTE:
If you own a Palm handheld, the freeware program PocketDoan does exactly the same task, can use any sound you want for start/stop/change, can be programmed with many different phases of meditation or yoga, and like the Enso uses a visual (in the case a progressive pie chart) to indicate time remaining in any given phase. My current PocketDoan install has timer sessions configured for "Cleaning Kitchen," "Tidying House," "Meditation," "Hacking Run," "Workout," and "Boggle." The last is for the word game and lasts three minutes; my youngest daughter lost the timer a while ago.
-- Elf M. Sternberg
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Radio David Byrne
When it came to music, I was an old fogie. I had a shelf full of Bob Dylan, Allman Brothers, Brian Eno, and more Bob Dylan. You know, old guy's music. I actually liked a lot of the new popular music I overheard, I was just not up on it. Didn't know what was what. Recently I've found two tools to keep me current with great contemporary music that wasn't just top 40. My iPod is now full of some pretty hip music, which I thoroughly enjoy.
Here's what works for me. At my birthday or Christmas, I request as my only present that my kids, nieces and nephews burn me a disc of their favorite music in the last year, or so. It is an easy gift for them to make, and a great learning experience for me. The few tracks I can't stand, I just delete. The stuff I love I seek out on iTunes to purchase more of. From this I get the fashionable tunes.
This trick actually works even better with kids not your own. When I am traveling overseas I ask students who befriend me to burn me a CD of their favorite local tunes, and boy does this beckon forth some great unknown stuff. I landed some lovely Polish rock this way. I've learned to not be bashful asking because everyone loves to share their favorites. The main thing is to not ask your friends; they think too much like you. Instead you want the "other-ness" from fans in other lands and other generations. In my experience this method works better than following random play lists on iTunes, or random recommendations on Amazon. The winnowing process to burn to a CD is more selective, and perhaps because it is being made for a specific person -- me -- it is, well, more personalized.
My second method is a more automatic version of "what's on your iPod?", yet brings me a wider range of songs. For one or two days a month I queue up David Byrne's Radio Station on the web and listen to his two-hour loop of new, wonderful, delicious tunes. Rock-star Byrne is a professional musical pioneer, admirably eclectic in his taste, yet astutely discriminating at the same time. Over years of listening to all kinds of music -- experimental, indie, international, fringe, classical, pop -- he's heard enough to make some great recommendations. Given his reputation he is constantly asked what he is listening to. In answer he has generously turned his play list into a streaming audio station. When you tune in, you are hearing the music he plays in his office.
Each Radio David Byrne playlist runs a few hours long before it repeats; it keeps cycling the whole month. It's kind of like listening to a 2-hour album over and over again.This gives you a chance to "master" the new music you are hearing. Past playlists have focused on "Icelandic Pop," "Movie sound tracks," "Opera highlights," or, my favorite, "Eclectic Stuff." This month (Feb 08) the theme is "African Fusion Pop" -- Byrne's favorites from two decades of exploring modern African hits.
I listen to each list for a few days as I work, slowly accumulating my favorites. There is a handy Amazon link near the tunes available for download, which makes adding a new song to your own collection a no-brainer. Or you can copy the metadata and hunt for it on iTunes or E-Music, etc. Byrne earns a few cents for each download, which keeps his bandwidth going. Over several years of listening a few hours per month I've gotten a great education in contemporary music. I know Dylan has a satellite radio show, but really, more legends should do this -- stream what you love.
Besides the fact that Byrne's Radio station has introduced me to fantastic artists (sometimes preempting my kids!), I also like the fact that it is demonstrating a workable, legal (at the moment) model for music exploration: Expert + Sharing + Purchase.
-- KK
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Source Wanted
Having a reputation as a note-taker, I was given by a co-worker two notebooks made by a Canadian company, Think In Ink, Inc. The 100 substantial pages are 3.5" x 5.5", and alternate between blank and lined (genius!). It's bound with a doubled plastic spiral that allows you to remove pages without ripping, and fits a standard ballpoint pen. There's also a plastic sleeve at the back to store loose bits and papers, and a laminated/plasticky cover that can withstand years of sweaty palmed abuse, or being carried in a back pocket. I brought the second notebook with me to Europe this year, and carried it everywhere. I started to get worried as it filled up. Despite Europe's plentiful stationery offerings, there didn't seem to be a replacement that had all -- or even some -- of the Think In Ink's admirable features.
Efforts to contact the company since I've returned have been fruitless -- the website (pocketthinkinink.com) has expired, and the only phone listing I can find for them goes unanswered. Since the business seems to be shuttered, I'm wondering if Cool Tools' readers could recommend a replacement?
-- Erin
[Follow-up entry here]
BDU Pocket Field Organizer/Wallet
I had seen these small pouches before, but didn't pay close attention until I saw photo of a fully-loaded one on Flickr. When I don't want to carry my whole gear bag, these are great for the bare essentials. Even when I do need my gear bag, the BDU is compact enough I just slide it right in, as is. It really helps keep my stuff organized. I fit five pens, including the previously-reviewed 0.18 mm pen, a Moleskine planner, Sony Clie PDA, ID and credit card, pocket knife and a small flashlight. You open up the wallet and it has slots for pens/pencils with a pouch behind that section that fits a pocket Moleskine perfectly. On the inside right, there's a flap with a clear plastic pocket for ID stashing. It can also fit a small portable music player.
Behind that is another pocket where I store my small LED flashlight and pocket knife (removed easily for air travel, of course). On the back are attachment straps that can be used as a belt mount - if you prefer a larger version of the Handyman Belt Organizer -- or to mount the wallet to another bag or gear. I am in the process of putting together a bug out bag with a small first aid/survival kit. I'll likely buy another BDU wallet just for that. After I started searching, I found there are various manufacturers (BlackHawk and Spec-Ops) and styles to choose from (some don't have the flap that can cost $18 to $30. I ended up getting mine for less from a surplus store on eBay.
-- Ivan Romero
BDU Pocket Field Organizer/Wallet
$8
Available from Arvada Surplus
or $10 from County Comm
[Photos on County Comm show how a medic transformed his pocket organizer into an impressive I.V. starter kit --sl]
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Taylor Analog Instant-Read Dial Thermometer
Whenever I need a temperature read from an item in the oven, I use this inexpensive, stainless steel thermometer. It's well-designed: I can read the numbers without my glasses or contacts, and a plastic sleeve protects it when not in use. Using my thermometer and the internal temperature specified (for rare, medium, etc.) in whatever recipe I'm working from, I always achieve the required degree of cooking. During the holiday season, I cook a goose, prime ribs, hams and other meats -- special meals for my family that have to be just right. I've been using this thermometer for at least 9 years and it's always accurate. When I needed a new one (the first one was dropped accidentally on a cement patio a couple years ago), I knew I wanted another Taylor since I had been so satisfied with the first one and the company has a great reputation. There are digital thermometers with timers and alarms available from Taylor, and other $20 - $90 digital incarnations like the previously-reviewed Thermapen. I'm not anti-tech by any means, but simplicity and efficiency are a very nice duo. This thermometer serves one purpose. It's easy to read, easy to use, requires no batteries and can last a long time if take care of.
-- Cheryl Hassell
Taylor Analog Instant-Read Dial Thermometer
$7
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Taylor
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Roku SoundBridge
After extensive comparisons of the surprisingly small number of inexpensive, quality options for listening to my digitized music on my hi-fi audio system, I went with Roku's very reasonably-priced SoundBridge M1001 network music player. The latest SoundBridge model uses wired Ethernet or Wi-Fi (including WEP or WPA security) to stream music from my hard drive to my stereo. While my stereo set-up is far from audiophile, it still sounds a lot better than my laptop or plug-in speakers.
Following months of ripping the thousands of CDs in my collection, I now have more gigabytes of music on my laptop than even the largest iPod can hold, so plugging an mp3 player into my stereo wasn't an option. I also find it too much trouble to tote the computer from my desk to the other room where my stereo sits to connect it with an audio cable. Plus, then I can't use the computer while it sits tethered up on the shelf next to the receiver.
As a universal jukebox, the SoundBridge gives me convenient access to all my digitized music. It also offers built in search for the countless Internet radio stations out there, which expands my music choices nearly infinitely. The device itself is small and very attractive, and installation was mostly easy. SoundBridge found my home wireless network and connected instantly as soon as I entered the password. The manual is clearly written, and I was able to learn the device's menus and functions pretty quickly. I refuse to use iTunes because it is a system hog on my Windows machine. I rely on WinAmp instead, but the Firefly Media Server (offered by Roku as a free download) works fine, as will the media server built into Windows Media Player. Both server options (and the others detailed on Roku's site) quickly read the tags on my audio files and provide a seamless browsing and searching opportunity, with support for all the playlists I have created, too. Just to be clear, the SoundBridge does NOT connect to a computer's soundcard, so it can't be used to stream the sound from a DVD being played, for example.
All of the set-up and navigation is done with a small infrared remote control that comes with the SoundBridge device. While shaped nicely for my hand, the remote is actually the least impressive element of the system. I find it a bit flimsy and the squishy buttons give little tactile (or aural) feedback, so I may eventually replace it with a universal remote. That said, I am immensely happy with the system, and I'm free to listen to music but still use my laptop wherever and whenever I want.
-- Ted Weinstein
Roku SoundBridge
$133
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Roku
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FURminator De-Shedding Tool
The FURminator is the only really functional cat-grooming tool I've ever found. The stiff steel rake grabs the undercoat while leaving the topcoat intact. It does a tremendous job of removing loose fur. Be prepared, especially the first time you brush your cat. For my cats, the big difference between the FURminator and regular brushes is that the softer bristles of standard brushes just get hair from the surface -- the topcoat, and a bit of undercoat -- whereas the stiffer teeth of the FURminator primarily snag the undercoat (and lots of it!) as well as loose hairs of the topcoat. The best part is that all that fur goes in the trash, and not on your sofa, bed, or carpet. The environment of my apartment has been improved dramatically, and I no longer need to spend a lot of time vacuuming up cat hair. While the FURminator is expensive for a grooming tool, it's solidly constructed and ergonomically designed, and best of all, it really works. My vet used it on my cats while they were in for a visit. I was shocked at how much hair came off in just a few strokes, so I bought one to take home and have been using it for several months. I then threw out the other standard, cat/slicker brushes I had acquired over the years, and bought two more FURminators to give to cat-owning friends. The one I use is 1.75" and is intended for cats, so although the FURinator comes in larger sizes for dogs, I can really only speak to its utility when it comes to cats.
-- Debbie Chachra
FURminator De-Shedding Tool
$28
Available from Amazon
(for cats)
Manufactured by FURminator, Inc.
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Big Green Egg
The Big Green Egg is an awesome-looking ceramic smoker that gets to temperature in 10 minutes, allows a bag of charcoal to last for 6 months (thanks to amazing heat retention), and can cook from 150 degrees to 700 degrees F. The BGE really gets you proper smoking as well as grilling, where the flavor gets right into the meat. The top and bottom halves have a virtually airtight felt seal, and the only holes are a variable intake air vent at the bottom front and a variable exhaust. With the combination of these vents you can vary the temperature (and maintain it) to around 25 degrees of accuracy within that 150 - 700 degrees F range. This keeps all the smoke and heat in and limits the amount of fuel burned. The ceramic doesn't develop hot spots either, so the cooking is completely even -- like an oven. Food stays moist and juicy; we've had awesome pulled pork, ribs and steaks. With the right
-- Matt Field
Big Green Egg
$500 (medium)
Available from Barbecues.com*
And $220 (mini) or $893 (XL) also from Barbecues.com
Also available in various sizes from Amazon
Manufactured by Big Green Egg Company
[Modeled after the ceramic "kamado" pots used in Japan, the BGE's been around since the 70's; loyal BGE fanatics ("eggheads") host meet ups IRL and share recipes and cooking tips... -- sl]
*a reader pointed out that the Big Green Egg Company has an odd policy regarding "internet retailers": the manufacturer does NOT honor the warranty if you purchase online instead of ordering from an offline retailer. -- sl
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Lodge Hibachi Grill
ActiVest
The ActiVest is a useful vest -- well-made, lots of pockets, rain hood, warm -- that integrates the design of the Slouch!Buster travel chair (the straps fold into their own pockets when not in use). My wife got this for me last Xmas, and I have found it very useful on dozens of occasions: beach walks, hikes, meditation groups, and other situations where I need back support. When I was younger my back needed no support, but luckily this was invented just as I felt the need for it. Nice to be part of a large, inventive, geriatric generation.
-- James Tierney
ActiVest
$135
Available from and manufactured by Nada-Concepts
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Kamenstein Paper Towel Holder
I do a lot of food preparation from my wheelchair, and found that most free-rolling towel dispensers just don't work for me since I can only grip with one hand. The genius of this "Perfect Tear" paper towel dispenser is that it allows enough freedom for the roll to unwind with a steady pull, but has enough friction to prevent further unwinding when you pull to detach a sheet. It has a center post with bowed wires that contract and hold the paper roll snugly in place. It is also very stable because the base weighs about 4 pounds. No more chasing unwinding rolls of paper across the kitchen floor. Better still, it works just as well at the end of the roll as it does at the start. When the last sheet has been pulled, unscrew the decorative top cap, slide off the used cardboard tube, push on another roll and replace the cap -- all of this can be easily performed one-handed. I've had mine a couple of years now. Well worth the precious space it's claimed on my very limited counter.
-- Eric Eales
Kamenstein Paper Towel Holder
$20
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Kamenstein
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AO LED Safety Glasses
Wearing these safety glasses sure beats trying to hold a flashlight and use your hands. I own head-mounted lamps, which I use for certain activities, but wearing safety glasses and a headlamp can be a little too bulky. I got these safety glasses about 6 months ago after some of the guys I work with were using them on the job for viewing plans at dusk/night. I'm a Highway Safety Consultant, however my background is construction and I still do some work in that area, so most of my work requires approved safety glasses. I just wear these on a neck cord and put them on as I need them during the day or night. Each side has its own switch. They are great for working in any low light situation, so I also enjoy wearing them for activities that do not really require safety glasses. I use mine for wiring electrical panels since the light is usually poor in a new house that doesn't have power. Some of the older guys I work with use the bifocal version. I recently got my mother-in-law a pair of the bifocal ones for sewing detail work.
-- Scott Newton
LED Safety Glasses
$13
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Aearo Corp.
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Zipka LED Headlamp
Rules of Thumb
I'm a big fan of rules of thumb. Like: "Count the number of times a cricket chirps in 15 seconds, and add 37. That's the temperature in Fahrenheit." They are great estimating tools. At the Whole Earth Catalog we first published Tom Parker's collection of these portable estimates, soliciting others from readers. I suggested a few rules of my own, which made their way into one of Parker's later books. Since I remember -- and use -- a number of these rough recipes, I have always regretted that the books were out of print. If ever there was knowledge ideal for the web, rules of thumb are it. Tom Parker has recently digitized all the rules he has collected. He posts one old rule per day, and one new one suggested by readers. As the rules are tagged over time to make searching easier, we'll finally have the world-wide database of guesstimates that short-cut-takers like myself have always wanted.
You can find inexpensive used copies of the books, Rules of Thumb, and Rules of Thumb 2, but the web site really is a much better way to use and discover these. Parker has refined his explanation of what rules of thumb are, and why they are cool tools. He writes:
"A rule of thumb is a homemade recipe for making a guess. It is an easy-to-remember guide that falls somewhere between a mathematical formula and a shot in the dark. Rules of thumb are a kind of tool. They help you appraise a problem or situation. They make it easier to consider the subtleties of the topic at hand; they give you a feel for a subject. A rule of thumb is not a joke or a ditty. It is not a Murphy's Law. Murphy says that things will take longer than we think; a rule of thumb says how much longer. While a proverb says that a stitch in time saves nine, a rule of thumb says to allow one inch of yarn for every stitch on a knitting needle."
I've spent a lot of time reading through these over the years. I now subscribe to the Rules of Thumb RSS feed from Parker's site. My new rule of thumb: "One in 25 rules of thumb will be useful to you." YMMV, but I find that a pretty good hit rate.
-- KK
Sample excerpts:
The best way to make money in residential real estate is to buy the worst home on the best street.
The moon covers half a degree of sky.
When digging a grave by hand, haul away 17 wheelbarrow loads of dirt and pile the rest by the hole. You will have just the right amount to backfill.
For marketing purposes, elderly consumers think they are 15 years younger than they actually are.
The price of a telescope increases proportionately to the cube of the lens diameter.
Recovering an unused physical skill takes one month for each year of layoff.
If you walk into a bar where a lot of people wear baseball caps, it's a good place to sell lottery tickets.
Eclipses often come in pairs. A lunar eclipse is followed frequently by a solar eclipse two weeks later, and vice versa.
If the cats aren't sleeping on the radiators, turn down the heat.
One chemical toilet serves 15 employees per week.
It takes two minutes for the sun to drop out of sight once it touches the horizon.
If a woman can walk around during contractions, she is not fully dilated.
When you are working in the vicinity of high voltage, keep 1 foot of distance between you and the power source for each 1,000 volts. For instance, stay 13 feet away from a 13,000 volt power source.
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Eagle Creek All-Terrain Money Belt
Although you can certainly get cash in plenty of places overseas, in a good many others ATMs just do not exist. You gotta plan ahead: this nylon money belt is pretty much exactly what I've always been looking for in a money belt, because it's actually a belt. While traveling in Asia for six months, and on trips to Mexico, I've used a standard money "belt" that's really more of a pouch you tuck into your beltline. You then subsequently appear to have either a distended abdomen or a money belt tucked into your pants, which obviously contradicts the goal: fly under the radar. I can keep my documents and passport safely hidden elsewhere, thanks much. But for carrying cash through pickpockety or banditry-prone places, this belt with a slim, zippered pocket is a real winner. I happened to see it at REI just before I left for a three-week trip to Nicaragua. I did have some trouble getting people to accept my origami-style folded bills (I really loaded up the belt), which is ironic because I didn't find a single dry Cordoba in the entire country! Still, from now on, I will always travel with this belt.
-- Mathew Honan
The Eagle Creek money belt has another great feature -- the buckle is plastic, unlike many others with metal buckles, so it doesn't have to be removed during airport screening. Keeps your cash right where you want it, not on a conveyor belt disappearing into an x-ray machine and not out in the open where someone with a sharp eye might notice it.
-- Evan Marks
Eagle Creek All-Terrain Money Belt
$12
(black or brown)
Available from Campmor
Or $15 from Amazon
(black, palm or brown)
Manufactured by Eagle Creek
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The Deep
Whoa! Boggling, bizarre and beautiful, the creatures evolving in the remote depths of the world's oceans really are a trip. This book's crisp close-ups allow astounding detail to pop out from the blackness: gorgeous mugshots of translucent octopi, technicolor jelly fish, and feathery pink iceworms (also seen in the previously-reviewed Ecology of the Deep Sea Vents). I missed the book when it came out last spring; I'm thrilled it didn't pass me by any longer than it did. Seventy years ago, explorer William Beebe put it this way: "Anyone who has actually seen this universe will keep an image of it in his memory forever; for its isolation, its cosmic cold, its eternal obscurity -- and above all, for the indescribable beauty of the denizens of those regions." Amen.
-- Steven Leckart
The Deep: The Extraordinary Creatures of the Abyss
Claire Nouvian
2007, 256 pages
$30
Available from Amazon
Sample Excerpts:
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Coral Reef Guides
