Oh man, am I tired today! I don’t think I slept at all last night, due to some noisy neighbors who decided to do home improvements into the wee hours of the morning. I can’t fault them for trying to finish the job they started that afternoon, but when it starts to cut into my shuteye, that’s when I get a bit peeved. Not enough to actually get out of bed and tell them to stop, but still pretty miffed. Have you ever tried to sleep through an annoying sound? It gets to be all you can hear. And even if it does miraculously stop, you get paranoid and start to think you hear it even when it’s completely silent. It’s enough to mess with anyone’s head (and sleep cycle).
For the sake of your sanity, just put on your SleepPhones Headphones (ThinkGeek, $39.99) already! I mean, if you could easily drown out the annoyances of your surroundings, why wouldn’t you want to? Featuring an ultra-comfy soft headband that can double as a sleep mask, these headphones plug right into your mp3 player, iPod, radio, etc. Unlike with ear buds or standard headphones, you can sleep contentedly because you won’t even feel them through the headband.
These headphones work well for ignoring people at work too. Just don’t tell your boss I said that.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Comfortable headphones for bedtime
-Plugs into any standard media player
-Soft headband can double as a sleep mask
-Drowns out unwanted noise while you sleep
Picture this: you’re running late to meet your friends and you didn’t get a chance to grab something to eat. You’d love to stop and get something, but you just don’t have the time. No prob, you’ll hit up the drive-thru on your way there, right? Wrong, because there’s no way you’re gonna be able to navigate through traffic and stuff your face at the same time without ending up with food all over your clothes.
The Car Swivel Tray (Things You Never Knew Existed, $12.98) will keep your food close at hand without letting it end up in your lap. Using a cup holder inset, the tray is anchored in place so it’s where you need it when you need it. The jointed arm not only swivels from side to side, but can also be adjusted up or down to suit your needs. The tray’s textured surface keeps items from sliding around your gear shifter while you drive. And when you’re done eating, you can push the tray over to the passenger side so it’s out of your way.
I’m just a teensy bit worried that gadgets like this that make it easier than ever to multi-task while driving will encourage all the idiots out there to pay even less attention to the road. I mean, just because you can talk on the phone, email, shave, change radio stations, and drive all at the same time doesn’t mean that you should.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 9″ jointed arm; 9″ diameter tray; 2.5″ diameter cup holder inset
-Cup holder inset anchors tray in place
-Jointed arm can be raised or lowered
-Textured surface keep items from slipping
Every time I set the table, I always put out a full set of silverware because you never know who’s gonna need a certain utensil. I mean, I wouldn’t think about using a knife to cut my spaghetti, but I have a friend who does it every time he comes over for Spaghetti Thursdays. Likewise, I opt to use the side of my fork instead of a knife to cut my pancakes, and my friend thinks that’s a bit loony as well.
With the Knork 4-pc Set (Amazon, $24.99), neither my friend nor myself will feel odd for not using a knife at mealtime. Plus, it’s one less utensil to put on the table (and to wash later). The Knork features a finger platform in its center that allows the user to press down on it and use a rocking motion to cut food. The outer prongs of the Knork aren’t really all that sharp, but curved instead, making the Knork safe as well as easy to use. Because both outer prongs utilize this technology, the Knock is ideal for everyone regardless if they’re a righty or a lefty. If you know someone who suffers from a disability or medical condition that makes it hard for them to use both hands while eating, this is the perfect solution.
While the Knork is perfect in just about any situation, don’t think that you’re gonna be able to cut cans or your shoe with it. It’s not some silly knife from a crazy infomercial or your first job as a door-to-door knife salesman. Seriously, why did you think you’d be able to make $18.00 an hour so easily? That’s just stupid.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Set of four
-Cuts like a dinner knife and spears like a fork
-No sharp knife edge
-Use finger platform and rocking motion to cut food
-Right or left handed
-Rust, stain, and corrosion resistant
-Matte finish
-Dishwasher safe
I never used to be a huge Apple fan. I was doing just fine with rinky-dink little flip phone and my larger than life mp3 player. I wasn’t interested in anything prefaced with the letter “i” or with the word “Mac” in it. Then one day everything changed. One a whim, I purchased an iPod and then before I knew it, I was standing in line for an iPhone on release day. Now, I haven’t broken down and purchased a MacBook or an iPad, but I think it’s only a matter of time before I fully commit to brand-name solidarity. I blame Justin Long.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my pocket-sized technological wonders. So much so that I’m using them 24/7, which inevitably leads to their downfall: usage time. This applies mostly to the iPhone – ever since iSO4, I can’t get a decent charge out of the thing. It’s ok though because I’ve learned how to adapt with the help of the Pebble Portable Charger (Firebox, $59.99). This portable charger carries enough juice in one charge to fully charge your iPhone four times. Unlike other portable chargers out there on the market, this thing isn’t a one-time use and it doesn’t run on a measly AA battery. Powered by USB, it comes with five charging connectors so you can charge virtually any of your portable electronics as long as you have the corresponding connector. And with a power indicator, you’ll know exactly how much electricity you’re carrying around with you. Did I mention this device is small enough to fit in your pocket?
I’m not getting an iPad, and you can’t make me! Steve Jobs, I’m talking to you.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 3 3/4” x 2 3/4” x 3/4“
-Capacity: 5000mA
-Includes charger, USB cable, 5 charging connectors, soft pouch, and user manual
-Charging connectors: iPod/iPhone, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, and Mini & Micro USB devices
-Takes 5 hours to fully charge pebble charger
-Charges empty iPhone in just over an hour
-Charge status indicator: low/med/full
-Polymer Li-ion battery
Lately I’ve been really trying to reduce my environmental impact. It’s pretty tough though, considering that I’m more than a bit gadget obsessed and have so many electronics it could only be classified as an arsenal of But the point is, I’m making an effort. I’ve said before that it only takes a small gesture to make an impact and I’m holding strong to that. It’s just like dieting: it’s all about portion size. So instead of playing video games for three hours a night, I’ll only play for two and read for the extra hour, thus saving energy and expanding my brain power (an added bonus).
It’s always easier to do a good deed when it’s also fun, which is the ethos of the Global Warming Candle (Perpetual Kid, $10.99). Shaped like your generic 60 watt, this bulb-shaped object is actually a candle. Get it, because they both give off light? I thought it was cute. Anyways, this candle has a metal base that screws into a light socket (just like a regular light bulb), allowing it to act as the base. The candle is made of 100 grams of paraffin wax, which means that it has a burning time of approximately five hours. So it would appear that you’re creating light as usual, but in reality you’re saving energy!
I’m not saying you should use candles instead of light bulbs all the time. For one thing, this isn’t the 1800s, so let’s not pretend like we don’t electricity. Also, it’s not exactly safe to leave a burning candle unattended at all hours, but I’m hoping you already knew them. And the last glaringly obvious but necessary point here is that candles do not give off as much light as a 60 watt light bulb. Crazy, right?
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 4″ x 2″
-Screws into socket like normal light bulb
-Creates light while saving energy
-5 hour burning time
-100 g of paraffin wax technology.
