Techalyzer

We all know we are supposed to be composting. We’ve seen various incarnations of the “indoor” composter invented in the last few years. The units are often huge, exceptionally expensive, or made from low-quality plastic. However there is one called a Naturemill that has a motor that runs a mixing bar. heats the mixing chamber (no sunlight needed) and powers an air pump that works with a carbon air filter to help reduce smells so you can actually leave it sitting indoors on your porch or near your kitchen.
Using the NatureMill is very easy, from set-up to clean-up to soil-ready. Just add starter dirt and sawdust pellets and dump your food scraps in. NatureMill recommends that you cut organic material into four-inch bits before plopping it in this unique machine. However this type of eco-mindedness does not seem to come cheap. This costs $400.
Do you need an electric martini maker? Waring makes a beautiful stainless steel one. Smaller than a blender, the Martini Maker is at least unobtrusive on your counter: A standard 20-ounce cobbler shaker sits snugly on a cup-like base, and a telescoping lid locks it down when you’re ready to start mixing. Load ingredients normally, then choose from “shake” or “stir.” Sounds good but apparently some consumer reviews of this nifty gadget say it leaves your drinks way too warm. Still that would not prevent you from making some kind of smoothie in it.
Another neat thing is the Black & Decker TLD100 Laser Pyrometer. You could shrink your power bill by dropping $500 on a professional energy audit, or you could do it yourself with Black & Decker’s TLD100 laser pyrometer. It has a user interface that shows you exactly where that air is escaping. Power up and aim the pistol-shaped device at the wall and it will show you where you are losing heat.
Move the laser around the room, and when the temperature shifts, the light changes to red (hotter) or blue (colder). When you’re done greening up your home, the TLD100 is still handy to have around.
The other neat thing is that it can measure the temperature of anything. It can tell you how hot the temperature of your baby’s milk. It can also tell your beer is cold or if the hot tub is too hot to climb into just yet!

One of the most unusual lamps to be invented lately comes from the Dyson family. Yes the same Dysons that bring us those high powered Dyson vacuum cleaner.
Jake Dyson, son of British vacuum guru James Dyson is the designer of this light which is and upright that almost looks like a heavy flashlight. This is a lamp meant to perform and entertain you. .
With the flick of a switch, the lamp’s motorized crank moves a focusing lens above the light bulb that adjusts the shape of the beam — from a wide sweeping wash to an intense spotlight.
Can’t decide where to set the beam? No problem. Put the Motorlight on autopilot and the lens rises and falls in a continuous 25-second cycle, creating a pulsating, heaving effect that makes your walls that makes you feel like you are inside an alive breathing animal. How much for all this fun? About a thousand bucks.
For ten times less you can get yourself a toilet roll dispenser that is also an entertainment center. Atech Flash’s iCarta is pretty much the end of the line when it comes to always-on tunage. It’s an iPod dock and speakers with an integrated toilet paper holder.
This thing comes with four speakers, big sound and easy controls. The can be used with TP (arms outstretched) or without (arms collapsed). Wall mounting hardware included to mount this conversation piece. It also includes line-in jack and USB plug for MP3 players without iPod dock connectors.
Then there is that $450 dollar gadget known as an Immersion Circulator. Culinary enthusiasts around the world have been using them for years to cook proteins at low temperatures under a vacuum seal (sous vide) with no risk of overcooking or drying them out. Some home chefs call them “water ovens.”
The one made by Sous Vide Extreme it’s essentially an immersion circulator about the size of a breadbox, and consists of a 2.6-gallon tub, a heating element and a precision temperature-control device. It’s got a stainless steel exterior that would look right at home in any modern kitchen. If you want to learn what to do with one of these things then you might want to try reading a book called “Under Pressure” by Thomas Keller.

Do you want to deploy the built in parental controls that are on both PCs and Macs?
Both types of home computers have pareantal computers built into their operating systems, and each of their newest systems (Windows Vista and Mac’s Leopard) offers parents more vigilance over their kids than ever
To use your computer’s controls, first set up individual user accounts for each of your kids. Check your computer’s user guide if you’re not sure how to do this.
If you are a Mac User choose System Preferences on the Apple menu, and click on Accounts. For each child’s account, click on Parental Controls and you’ll be given a list of categories (Mail, Safari, etc.) that you can restrict or monitor.
If you’re running Leopard, you can record IM conversations and designate with whom the child can talk via e-mail or iChat, among other things. You can also limit screen time. For instance, you can set the computer to automatically log your kids out at 8 p.m.
If you are a Windows User the parental controls are accessed through the Control Panel. Look for User Accounts and Family Safety Control Panel. With Windows Vista, you’ll be given choices about web restrictions and also have the option of receiving reports on your child’s use of the computer. You can also designate certain hours off-limits and block objectionable video games and programs.
No matter which system you have, most browsers (Safari, Firefox, etc.) have an automatic history log that shows which sites have been visited. Check your user manual to learn how to check the history, if you’re not familiar with it. Make sure to check all the browsers on your computer if you have more than one. And be warned: Kids can learn how to delete the history to cover their tracks, so ask questions if you discover that the history was cleared by someone other than you.
As your kid ages he or she can be more responsible for their own online safety. Don’t let them do something because all the other kids are doing it.

Need more help? Both Apple (Macs) and Microsoft (Windows) have online tutorials and detailed info on their websites — just Google “parental controls” and “Apple” or “Microsoft” to find them. Mac users can also make an appointment at an Apple store if there’s one nearby.