A fellow name Kevin Kelly created this lovely little website called
CoolTools ( http://www.kk.org/cooltools/index.php ). I have been
reading it for a while and I went back to look for something that I
needed. While searching I started to compile a 'Best Of' type list
of what I saw. Here are the items I liked, grouped as best as I can
by usage. Anything in all caps just above a title is my input.
There is a great deal more on his site, but I included only the items
I liked.
(for those who have no time to look through a LONG post but want to
see the items in a 'short' list should see the short version of this
post)
Peaceful Valley
Best source for gardening tech
Organic gardeners, both backyard and commercial, know this mail-order
outfit as the premier source for organic farming supplies. They've
got everything: Natural pest controls, insect traps, cover crop seeds
in bulk, sticky tape in all varieties. I mean where else can you buy
a gallon of milky spore disease (for Japanese beetles), or white fly
parasites in quantities of a thousand, or red worm *eggs*, with a
side order of bat guano? Not only do they carry mulching film in
standard black, but they also have it in innovative silver, green or
red colors as well -- each spectrum producing different effects for
different plants.
But this catalog is also useful in other ways. Non-gardeners and
green householders will find hard-to-find products such as poison-
free cockroach traps which use cockroach pheromones.
Best of all, Peaceful Valley collects the best gear for growers of
any type. Here is your source for plastic deer fencing, the world's
best walk-behind Italian tillers, superlative hand tools, the best
selection of drip irrigation supplies, and -- my favorite -- reusable
foam seedling trays. You'll find this source absolutely essential if
you grow anything.
This catalog is a throwback to the mail order catalogs of old. 1)
They tend to only sell the best stuff, not just the best-selling or
most profitable , and 2) they still print it on paper. You can spend
several evenings reading it with great profit. You get a short course
in state of the art practices for small time farmer and serious
gardening.
They have a pretty good website, too (but not as informative as the
paper catalog). And they are easy to work with.
-- KK

Speedling Tray 128 Cells (1-1/2" sq x 2-1/2" deep), $6
Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply Catalog
http://tinyurl.com/ggx8v
AgriSeek
Online agriculture marketplace

Buy from the producer, sell your own. Just about anything
'agricultural'; llamas, cotton, flower seeds, bean seeds, farms, farm
trucks (or trucks in general), bulk wine, employment ops, whew. I
found this site while looking for a cacao plant to buy. Some fellow
is selling his here. There's sort of an online list that's updated
when anyone puts something on the list.
-- Melissa Keyes
AgriSeek

http://tinyurl.com/7e7qn
Rooter Pot
Easy, rapid plant cloning

This is a new plant propagation method/tool that allows you to
produce large, rooted plantlets from woody plants (with stems up to
25 mm diameter) within one growing season (~ 2-3 months). Since I got
them 2 months ago, I very easily rooted a large, marketable
Schefflera in about 45 days and a 12" - 14" tall Ficus in ~60 days. I
talked to an associate in Australia who has rooted almond. The
concept is exciting because you should be able to produce a usable
plant in 1/3 the time (one growing season vs three). I do expect
that, with grower experience, almost any woody species that can be
grafted can be propagated faster / less expensively using the Rooter
Pot.

I bought them specifically to (try to) clone American chestnut
selections for preservation without grafting. I expect to
successfully clone mature conifers which are usually grafted for seed
production. Rooter Pots are reusable. A larger-sized pot is now
available for stems up to 1 inch in diameter.
-- Carl L. Haag
Rooter Pots
Available from:
Manhattan Bonsai
Small Pots (Stems 1/4" - 1/2" Diameter)
Set of 5 for $8.95.
Large Pots (Stems 1/2" - 1" Diameter)
Manhattan Bonsai
Set of 5 for $17.50
Manufactured by Rooterpot
http://tinyurl.com/zhxt7
Clamptite
Dirt cheap clamps

This little-known tool has a cult following. It transforms any old
wire into the tightest clamp you can imagine. Unlike a hose clamp
there is no limit to the diameter you can tie together. You can
bundle bamboo into scaffolding, or twigs into fencing, make brooms
from twigs, repair handles, and tie stuff down incredibly secure.
Works great as temporary clamping for odd-sided things. Ranchers and
farmers rely on cheap baling wire to band anything that doesn't want
to move. Fishermen and sailors substitute stainless steel wire to
make clamps for pumps and sumps. Also perfect for drip irrigation
projects. I've found it takes a bit of skill to tie a clamp neatly,
but it ends up far tighter than a hose clamp.
-- KK
ClamTite Clamp Maker
$24
Available from
Gempler's

Stainless steel versions (good for boaters)
$40-$70
Available from Clamptool
Clamptool.com
(This site also has the best step-by-step instructions on making the
clamps.)
http://tinyurl.com/lsl5b
Velcro Grip Ties
Instant cable wraps
I'm a part-time musician and have to deal with suitcases of coiled
cables every time we set ourselves up. I needed a re-useable, quick
release kind of strap to keep this kind of gear in order, and wasn't
sold on the limits and expense of the plastic zip ties, or beaded
ties that I had found.
A roll of Velcro Plant Ties is perfect. Rather than the usual two
part Velcro, one side of this stuff is fuzzy, the other side has
hooks, so it sticks to itself. I can snip off exactly the length I
need, and then with one wrap, the cables are secured. I am finding
other uses....behind the stereo and computer desk, the cables are now
neatly routed and secured ... why stop there? Anywhere you need a
light-duty, non-marring reusable, quick release wrap. These strips
will virtually last forever, and if you lose them, no big deal. Find
the roll and snip another length off.
-- Eric Litman

[Electrical stores sell black versions of this wrap as Velcro One-
Wrap Tape, but in smaller rolls at higher prices. Or in very
expensive pre-cut strips. Velcro Plant Ties rolls are a fantastic
bargain if you can live with green. They also work great in the
garden (bundling hoses, tieing up vines, etc) and you can get it in
rolls as long as 70 feet. -- KK]
Velcro Plant Ties
2 pk of 1/2 inch by 30 ft. rolls
$6
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Velcro
http://tinyurl.com/epxlb
Dual Lock Fastener Tape
Heavy duty velcro

To me, as a commuter, one of the most impressive parts of the EZ Pass
toll-paying system is the hardcore industrial "velcro" tape they give
you to attach your transponder to your windshield. It's not really
velcro, though -- instead of hooks and loops, both surfaces have
these tiny hard plastic mushroom-shaped things that grab each other
by the hundreds and don't let go. Both sides are the same, so there
is only one tape (called self-mating). And unlike the loosy-fabricky
velcro connection, the Dual Lock surfaces don't join until you've
positioned them exactly, and then pressed them together with a
satisfying "chunk." They're primarily used in industrial applications
as a replacement for mechanical fasteners, but I use mine to attach
my iPod to my dashboard, and tools to the wall in my workshop.
-- S.S. Flanders
3M Dual Lock Reclosable Fastener Tape
$11.50/ 10 feet
Available from
Business Supply
Also from Amazon
Manufactured by 3M
http://tinyurl.com/zy8a2
Speed Laces
Quick-tie shoelaces

It was while training for a triathlon that I first heard about quick-
tie shoelaces. When transitioning from biking to running you want to
get your Nikes on fast. So I went to the running store and bought a
pair of elastic laces with a spring-loaded plastic thingy like you
find on a cinch sack. It worked well enough for my first race. But
then a funny thing happened. I kept using the shoes for my regular
runs and found I lost nothing in support and gained a few welcome
moments each time I put on, or took off, my shoes. Why would I ever
want to go back to regular laces?
Later I googled and found Speed Laces. They've taken the idea up a
notch with low-friction eyelets you can screw into your shoe's
eyelets, plus neater cinch mechanisms. I bought half a dozen and
began retrofitting my family's running shoes.

"I don't want those things on my shoes!" said my wife. But she
relented once I promised to put her old laces back if she wasn't won
over. Now, she admits I was right. (I was careful to match the color
of Speed Laces to her shoes.)
The company makes claims for better comfort and support, which may be
true, but I find the time savings alone worth the $8.95. Plus I'm
wearing running shoes more often around the house because they are
nearly as easy to slip on as loafers.
-- Steve Leveen
Speed Laces
$9
Available from
Speed Laces
http://tinyurl.com/93r6w
Shoe Goo
Super Rubber Cement

Originally marketed to repair old tennis shoes (which it does very
well), this industrial strength rubber cement has many, many purposes.
I had a problem with the trim falling off of my second Mazda Rx-7, so
I went around the car and pulled off all the trim and re-glued it
with Shoe Goo. I never had the problem again. Through all kinds of
weather and at very irresponsible speeds, the trim was still on the
car after the vehicle was used up, wrung out, stripped of parts for
my third Rx-7 and sold to a salvage yard for scrap metal.
Goop makes several other varieties that are supposedly specialized
for different applications, but after trying them I keep going back
to the original.
-- Justin Belshe
[Note: Apparently "Shoe Goo" is not a trademark. Several products
from differing manufacturers use the same name, in very similar
packaging. The link below is to the source which Justin Belshe used.
Beware of imitations!]
Shoe Goo
$7
George's Shoes
http://tinyurl.com/k9esw
X-treme Tape
Outdoor, waterproof wrap


Electrical tape simply does not work in a marine environment. Even
duct tape won't stick to something wet. Try getting any tape to stick
to a rope or line on a boat. Or try to get a waterproof seal on a
hose leak. X-treme tape can do all these chores with flying colors
because it is a non-adhesive, self-bonding wrap. It's not really tape
since it's not sticky. This stuff is sort of magical. You stretch it
on and it self-fuses tight under tension. It works in cold and wet,
and won't melt on hot surfaces, so you can use it on engines. It is
easy to apply even when it is below freezing. The tape doesn't stick
on itself until you want it to. Once tightened this silicone based
wrap forms a reliable bond even in water. I use it as an insulator
around wires, like electrical tape. I wrap the end of ropes with it.
X-treme tape bears up for many seasons under constant UV and sunlight
and the extreme cold, heat, and wet of harsh weather. It's so good I
use for any outdoor tape application.
-- David Siesel
X-treme Tape
1 inch x 10 feet
$6
Available from McFeely's
Manufactured by Vypar
http://tinyurl.com/hmys3
Velstrap
Instant long arms

This black nylon strap is used to carry hefty and unwieldy loads. It
has a handle, a d-ring, and a lot of velcro on it, allowing you to
cinch a load together and comfortably carry it. It's rated for 50
pounds, but I've used it for maybe 10 pounds more than that. I use it
to carry stuff all in one trip which I'd never been able to managed
without the strap. It's six feet long and 2 inches wide, and most of
it is velcro, so I've not yet run out of strap or had so much extra I
couldn't use it. It's great for things that are in bunches or are
otherwise unwieldy. (It also allows you to say "unwieldy" a lot.) I
actually got a load of packages at work today, and wished I'd had
mine with me; I might go grab another one.
-- Jeremy Gllissen
Velstrap
2" x 6 feet
$7
Available from Ace Hardware
Also from Amazon
http://tinyurl.com/hr7kw
Forearm Forklift
Lifting Straps

I helped some friends move once and they had a set of these. Made
moving mattresses and furniture too awkward/fragile for the hand
truck much simpler. I've seen the same basic idea used by appliance
delivery men (one or two long, wide webbing strap looped under
something and lifted by someone on each side) but this is nicely
finished and padded, for a lot less than I suspect it would cost to
obtain similar materials.
-- Paul Hubbard
Forearm Forklift Lifting Straps
$20
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Forearm Forklift
http://tinyurl.com/zzpjn
Seacatch
Heavy duty release mechanism

For heavy-duty release applications, a Seacatch is THE thing to use.
I've never found a better way of releasing a heavy line under
tension. It's a better solution than a pelican hook (not strong
enough, tough to get a smooth release), or a sacrificial line
(inelegant, and can foul up launch). Personally I use a Seacatch
model TR7LM for homemade trebuchets and ballista releases. Ballista
-- as in a giant crossbow, suitable for launching bowling balls,
pumpkins, etc. (It's one of the more bizarre hobbies that has arisen
in the last 25 years.) But I've also seen Seacatches used by tractor-
pull people, construction, you name it. Comes in a wide variety of
sizes as well. Beautifully engineered, bombproof, cool.

The action of a Seacatch is smooth, the construction is top-quality.
I've never heard of one failing. Their electrically/pneumatically/
hydraulically actuated models are commonly used in the Hollywood
special effects industry for dropping things at precise moments. They
were originally designed for shipboard use (tugboats, fishing boats,
etc.) but they've found niches elsewhere.
This is an expensive specialty item for sure, but if you need what it
does, it is absolutely worth its price. Before I learned they
existed, I spent at least that much on materials and machining yet
without being able to create a better release mechanism.
-- Olai Skjaervoy
Seacatch
TR3 (capacity .65 tons) $283
TR7 (capacity 3.52 tons) $595
Available from Seacatch
http://tinyurl.com/z4tlv
Kugihiki Flush-Cutting Saw
Japanese Hand Saws
The Japanese Kugihiki flush cutting saw saves me time, makes a
cleaner cut, and needs no setup time. Since the teeth have no set,
you can slide the saw against a surface without marring it.
These and other Japanese hand saws such as Dozuki and Ryoba have
caused me to abandon power tools for many jobs. The cut almost never
needs cleaning up and is good for many materials. The Ryoba looks
intimidating but can replace a cheap circular saw any day for a lot
less money.
-- Alan


Kugihiki Flush-Cutting Saw
$23
Wood Craft

Takumi Ryoba 8-1/4" Super Fine Cut Double Blade Saw
$45
Amazon

Shark Corp 10-2610 Takumi Dozuki 9" Super Fine Cut Saw
$37
Amazon
http://tinyurl.com/ccgzt
Nail Puller
Superior nail puller
A nail puller like the ones reviewed in Cool Tools earlier (here and
here) is not the best. It will gouge a quite horrible crater in your
material unless the nail is at the surface, or just the right size.
With this one, on the other hand, I can extract a headless nail from
more than a centimeter inside a beam. The wood was not unscratched of
course, but since it was compressed rather than splintered, a bit of
water can make it swell back up somewhat.
-- Gaute Amundsen
This design is not new. You can find antique nail pullers like this
hundreds of years old. The sharp teeth of this tool are perfect for
slicing into the wood, yanking out deep air-hammered nails, or
finishing nails from a surface you care about. There are several
different makes; none are cheap, but these last a lifetime.
-- KK

Cooper Group 56 Nail Puller
$53
Available from Amazon

Bahco Nail Puller
$70
Available from Builder Depot
http://tinyurl.com/f88w8
(ALSO AT SEARS:BELOW)
Wiha Microbits
Hardened Tool Steel Bits In a Small 4mm Drive Configuration

I use small/micro screwdrivers all the time to work on cameras,
computers, micro electronics etc. I've had the same set of Wiha
microbits for going on 10 years now. I bought the following special
bit set and have never needed another screwdriver set or bit. They
make many other kinds of drivers and bits as well.
ESD SAFE MicroBit Set #75992
Slotted, Phillips, TORX, Inch HEX
Precision ESD System 4 MicroBit Set
27 Pieces In Molded Indexed Box
4-Slotted Bits: 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0,
4-Phillips Bits: #000, #00, #0, #1
9-TORX: T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T15
8-Hex: .050, 1/16, 5/64, 3/32, 7/64, 1/8, 9/64, 5/32
1-Extension: 100mm Long
1-Handle: ESD Safe Anti-Static
They are made in Germany of course.
--Vin Capone
Wiha Microbit Set, 27pc
$50
Available from
Amazon
Manufactured by Wiha Tools
http://tinyurl.com/hbfyr
Pinch Dogs
Corner Mitering Fastener
 
I earn my living installing wood trim on doors and windows as well as
crown moldings and molded wall panels and the like. When two pieces
of trim come together at a corner they are cut, or mitered and
fastened. The tighter the miter the better the carpenter. My boss is
fond of saying if your paycheck can fit between the miters, you can't
keep it.
Pinch dogs are simple u-shaped pieces of steel that are driven into
the wood across the joint. They draw the joint together until the
glue dries. They are also useful for clamping boards together edge to
edge if you don't have bar clamps long enough to reach the outside edge.
I have gotten used ones on EBay at substantial savings.
-- Paul Francy
Pinch Dogs
$2 to $5 depending on size, quantity, and source
Available from Hardwicks
Also available from Japan Woodworker
Also available from Woodcraft
Manufactured by CS Osborne
http://tinyurl.com/h9229
Third Hand
Crafting assistant

The "Third Hand" is a low cost helper that has been an indispensable
assistant for many of my projects in electronics. It holds circuit
boards in place as you put in components, or if you need to solder
delicate parts which require a steady hand (sometimes, more than two)
it gives you a few more. It's also pretty tough to find someone to
help you at 3am when most of the important work seems to happen. Two
adjustable metal clips hold in your circuit boards (or whatever else)
and a magnifying glass gives you a little zoom in action for the
really tricky constructions. Perhaps I anthropomorphize useful
things, but on an otherwise cold work bench, the Third Hand looks
like a little robot pal with claws raised, always eager to help.
-- Phillip Torrone
Third Hand
$6
Jameco Part#: 26690
Available from Jameco Electronics
You can also find these at most dollar / discount type stores too for
$3 or $4.
http://tinyurl.com/l34xb
Tibet Almond Stick
Furniture Scratch Retouching Tool

As a remodeling contractor, I benefit greatly from a well-designed
tool. One tool I especially like is the Tibet Almond Stick. I always
have one in my toolbox. It is a remarkable quick fix for minor
scratches in wood finishes. One swipe and the scratches disappear (or
are greatly diminished!) Great for touching up wood floors,
furniture, wood countertops, trim, etc. I have no idea how it works.
-- Rock Heindel
Tibet Almond Stick
$5
Available from
Amazon
Manufactured by Zenith Chemical Works
http://tinyurl.com/dyqkb
Toggler Wall Anchor
Easy, secure hollow wall mounts

Over the years I have tried every type of wall anchor and toggle
bolts on the market. The best product I have come across is the
Toggler Hollow Wall Anchor. They are quick and easy to install and
very strong. They work equally well in both drywall and plaster
walls. These anchors are also translucent (many other anchors are
color coded to designate size) which is nice if your object is small
and doesn't cover the anchor completely, such as a coat hook. You can
get a sample kit from their website.
-- Scott Darley

Picture hook variety
Toggler Wall Anchors
20 for $5
5 for $2
Available from
Home Depot
Manufactured by
Toggler
http://tinyurl.com/evsak
Veto Pro Pac Tool Bag
Heavy-duty tool portability

This is by far the best tool bag I have ever owned. I am an Espresso
machine field service technician and I use this bag every day. I
purchased the LC version about a year ago and it doesn't show a
single sign of wear yet. In the previous 6 years I had completely
worn out 2 different other tool cases.
The Veto just feels right in your hand or over your shoulder. The
quality of construction is simply amazing. A molded polypropylene
tray forms the bottom, the sides are 1800 denier nylon which is
doubled up in many places and secured with double stitching. The
bottom and handle are attached with rows of rivets, and the the
zippers are massive. The large handle is attached directly to the
center divider so that all the weight is carried by the center
divider and end panels. There is no weight carried by the side panels
and zippers. The bag comes with a wide padded shoulder strap attached
with rugged metal swivels. The Veto bag is divided into two identical
half's. I keep my tools in one side and my electrical meters and
plumbing hookup parts in the other. I like that this bag completely
zippers closed. I don't like the new trend for bags that are covered
with external pockets, I want to know my tools are safe and secure.
Veto make two other sizes, an overall larger bag and a low-riding
long one to hold carpenters tools.
-- Paul Flynn
Veto Pro Pac
Model LC
$100
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by
Veto Pro Pac
http://tinyurl.com/z4asb
Hold-It

I've used many different types of spray lubricants over the years,
some good, some not so. One problem with all of them is I always lose
the little straw that comes with them. Rubber bands always seem to
dry out. Hold-it's hold the straw to the can. I haven't lost one yet.
Fairly inexpensive as well- $4.99 for twelve. I've given some to
friends, they love them as well.
-- Mark Phillips
Hold-It
$5/ 12
Hold-It
http://tinyurl.com/l6e2s
Nozzle Socks
Tube sealer

Nozzle caps, or nozzle socks, are great for tubes of caulking and
glue bottles. They have a humorous look, but they do work better than
the traditional nail or wooden plug. I've used them to store latex
caulk, silicone caulk, and a marine adhesive called Sikaflex. For
capping silicone caulk, Lee Valley suggests to leave a small gap at
the tip, which fills with a little of the caulk to form a plug. This
doesn't stick to the nozzle caps. So far they have kept everything
fresh.
-- Kevin Hart
Nozzle condoms also go over anything else with precious fluids you
like to keep wet: markers and color pens, for instance.
-- KK

Nozzle Caps
$5/35 caps
Available from
Amazon
Manufactured by
Little Red Cap
http://tinyurl.com/fcwnl
PowerSquid
Better than a Power Strip

Lets you connect multiple devices, even with big power converters, to
a single outlet.
-- Zimran Ahmed
PowerSquid
$10
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by PowerSquid
http://tinyurl.com/jnhgs
Super White LED Lamp Product
Ultra-Efficient Light Emitters

While we wait for LED table lamps to emerge from the development
phase and arrive at our local Wal-Marts, Hong Kong manufacturers have
started selling ultra-high-output white LEDs direct to the consumer
via eBay. These are the raw components, plus resistors for wiring
them to a 12-volt car system, which is a popular application to
create "undercar phantom glow" and other effects which will be
familiar to those who have seen episodes of "Pimp My Ride" on cable.
The singularly named Light of Victory Led Store will send you, via
airmail, 100 large size LEDs (1 cm diameter, 130,000 millicandles)
for thirty-five bucks, including series resistors and air-mail
postage. What a deal!
Of course you will have to do a little work at your end, drilling
holes to mount the LEDs in a panel, and hooking them up to a power
supply. The series resistors are not necessary if you buy a 3.5 AC
adapter for house voltage, available for less than $10--check
Froogle. Just remember to hook the shorter wire of each LED to your
negative source, and the longer wire to your positive source. Each
diode draws just 20 milliwatts, making them, I think, the most
efficient known form of artificial light, already finding widespread
use in flashlights, tail lights, and turn signals. Soon to be used
for ambient indoor lighting in an RV near you?
I expect to be writing a build-your-own-LED-reading-lamp crafts
project for Make magazine later this year. Meanwhile you can have fun
playing with this almost magical device.
-- Charles Platt
Super White LED Lamp Product
$35 including air mail from Hong Kong
Sold by Light of Victory Led-Store
http://tinyurl.com/pd4td
Write-on Poly Sheets
Instant whiteboards

Polysheet instant whiteboards are thick, static-laden sheets of
plastic, like ultra-heavy garbage bags. Just unroll one, slap it on
the wall, and instant whiteboard! Best of all, in the corporate
world, at the end of the meeting, you can roll them up, take them
back to your desk, and process them. After capturing the contents in
your computer, wipe them off for next time!
-- S.A.
These cling to walls, to each other and most dry surfaces by static
electricity. They come in very handy since you can pretty much place
them anywhere you want. Put many of them against the wall and you
have an instant whiteboard of any size. Dry erase markers wipe off
fairly easily. Their 27 x 34 inch pad fits standard flip chart easels
or conference cabinets. Rolls up for travel and storage. Perforated
sheets tear off cleanly.
-- Philip Papadopoulos
[For more ways to do whiteboards, see the previously reviewed Marker
Board Walls and Quartet Easel. KK]
Write-on Poly Static Cling Sheets
$26 for 35 sheets
Available from Instawares
Insta Wares
Also from Amazon
http://tinyurl.com/hw84a
MouthSounds
Special effects by mouth

Not everyone appreciates the thrill of making weird, silly or rude
sounds with your mouth. All the better, then, if you know how to
throw up a fake a cell phone ring, or present a first-rate chicken
cluck. This great book teaches you how to create those and 200 other
special sound effects with your mouth only. It comes with a CD, which
you really do need to get these sounds correct. Your master guru is
Fred Newman, the guy on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion
show, who produces an entire symphony of sounds live in front of a
mike. Besides being a how-to manual for audio gags, this book is also
a very funny, and most importantly, one of the best classes I know of
for opening up, training and exploring your voice, even if you don't
want to make amazing noises.
-- KK
MouthSounds: How to Whistle, Pop, Boing, and Honk for All
Occasions...and Then Some
Fred Newman
2004, 245 pages
$10
Available from
Amazon
http://tinyurl.com/eqcpq
Pro Digital Photographer's Handbook
Best guide to new photography

Wow! What a fantastic book. The digital revolution has completely
overhauled nearly every aspect of photographic method. It isn't just
the cameras that are different. The whole process from conception to
final output is all new. Now we have sensors instead of film, raw
capture instead of negatives, Photoshop instead of the darkroom, lab
color space instead of the zone system, ink jet printing instead of
silver halide paper, and the web instead of galleries. Till now there
hasn't been a front-to-end guide to this new photography good enough
to recommend. Most digital photography guides (there are hundreds!)
deal with photoshopping and cameras, and leave everything else to
art. I've been looking for a guru that will take me to the "why"at
the bottom of things like"color profiling," give me the tools of
control in a scientific way, and stitch them together in a way that
allows me to consistently produce the image I had in my mind. This
masterpiece by Michael Freeman does all that. It is by far the best
one-volume operating manual for serious digital photography I've
seen. In fact, now that it is all digital, this is simply the best
introduction to the craft of photography there is. I can't praise it
too much. Forget the Pro in the title; it's for anyone intent on
mastering this technology. Even someone who is new to cameras. The
Handbook is extremely visual, with tons of diagrams, examples in
color, great insights and practical tips, and a very systematic
approach to the new path. Like the best guides, it strikes the
perfect balance between simplistic overview and too much nerdy
detail; every page has useful information new to me, and I've been
photographing analog and digital a long time. Freeman is is also
incredibly up-to-date. I can't think of much important that he
misses. There are some other great guides for specific tasks, like
Raw capture, or digital printmaking, which I will review later, but
for all around mastery of today's photography (more than cell-phone
shots), this is the best (re)education I know of.
-- KK
Pro Digital Photographer's Handbook
Michael Freeman
2005, 256 pages
$16
Available from Amazon
http://tinyurl.com/gyjr8
Home Staging
Optimizing the selling price of your home

A couple of times in your life you may need to sell a house. If you
do, try to remember the advice in this book. It could be worth
several thousands of dollars for a few hours of your time. The
message is simple: when it comes time to sell your home, strip it of
all the things that make it a personalized home, and turn it into a
bland product that can be personalized by someone else. This book,
the best of about half a dozen on the same theme, provides simple
ideas on how to reduce your home to a house. The same philosophy also
applies to rental property.
-- KK
Home Staging: The Winning Way to Sell Your House For More Money
Barb Schwarz
2006, 212 pages
$14
Available from Amazon
http://tinyurl.com/f5abt
BookCrossing
Book Tracking System
Read a good book. Register it at BookCrossing. Label the book with
its BookCrossing registration number and a short note about
BookCrossing. Release it for someone else to read (give it to a
friend, leave it on
a park bench, donate it to charity, "forget" it in a coffee shop,
etc.) and be notified by email each time someone records a journal
entry for that book on BookCrossing.
The very first book I released was picked up the next day and is now
heading for Alaska.
-- Barbara Young

[The BookCrossing web site takes pains to reassure publishers and
authors that this system will not discourage people from buying new
books. Some BookCrossing enthusiasts, they claim, actually buy two
copies of every book, so that they can set one free and keep the
other. BookCrossing claims almost 3 million members and half-a-
million books registered. --CP]
BookCrossing
Free
http://tinyurl.com/er4j7
Russell Executive Mesh Chair
Aeron knock-off

The Russell Executive Mesh Chair is the Aeron for people on a budget.
I've had to sit in many, many different kinds of chairs in my
inglorious temping career, and this one is by far the best. Both the
seat and the back are mesh, so the chair breathes. The ergonomic
control, while not nearly as complete as the Aeron's, is still
definitely superior to any chair I've found in the sub-$300 range. As
with the Aeron (which goes for twice that amount, or about $600-650
new), the arms are attached to the back, not the seat - and they're
easily removed. It's light but sturdy (steel frame) and pretty easy
on the eyes (a little bit biomorphic). I've been using mine since
late last year and it's vastly improved my relationship with my desk.
Best of all, it's only $230 new at discounters.
-- Finn Brunton
Russell Executive Mesh Chair
$300
Available from, among others, Office Depot
Office Depot
http://tinyurl.com/7q28y
Mesh Manager's Chair
Cheap seat

I haven't tried the Russell Executive reviewed earlier, but I found a
similar mesh chair for even cheaper.
The arms are attached to the base and screwed on, but I personally
have no need to ever remove them, and the height adjustments are
easy. It has tilt lock, adjustable tilt firmness, height adjustment,
and an up/down adjustment on the lumbar support.
I managed to pick one up on sale, but even at the standard $180 with
free shipping, I think this is a pretty good deal. I can't speak for
its longevity, having just purchased it recently, but it does come
with a 15 year warranty. I'm happy so far.
-- Adam Fields
Situations Mesh Manager's Chair
$180
Staples
http://tinyurl.com/gp2l7
Where There's a Will There's an A
How to study smart

I used this video by Professor Claude Olney of Arizona State
University when I was in school. The video is rich with specific
hints on getting better grades without working harder. For instance:
show up for class, sit in the front row, use your highlighter on
items you didn't know instead of the important items, etc. It was a
great help to me as an undergrad at MIT (one B and the rest A's). I'm
reminded of it now because I'm watching it again with my daughter as
she gets started on 9th grade. (We are using the college version
although Olney offers versions for high school and grade school.)
Bottom line: this video is a fantastic tool for getting better
grades, presented with a nice bit of humor.
-- Keith S. Jackson
This an extremely practical set of lessons, with a lot of wisdom and
smartness. Although presented in very boring format -- a teacher at a
lectern podium -- my high school kids benefited from watching the
college version too.
-- KK
http://tinyurl.com/jnl8w
MY SONE (19 mos old) WANTS ONE OF THESE:
Hoky Carpet Sweeper
Quicker than a vacuum

I've been using one of these carpet sweepers so long I forgot to
think of it as a Cool Tool. You've probably seen them used in
restaurants and hotels. They just plain work. No electric, no plugs,
no noise & lightweight. So convenient to grab for a few second
cleanup. Just push and they clean, even small crumbs. They go
forever. Around $50. And when you flip them over to empty, you're
always amazed how much stuff they picked up.
-- Vincent Crisci
Hoky PR-2400
$43
Available, from among others
Dyna Direct
Amazon carries the PR2600 for $70.
http://tinyurl.com/eoh2e
MysticMaid
Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

My sister gave a MysticMaid cleaning cloth to me for a birthday
present. Prejudging the gift (a towel?) I feigned a thanks and a fake
smile. Then I tried it. I cleaned my glasses and then my monitor.
Wow! I'd swear I got a new prescription.
One of the best uses I found for it, was cleaning up items for online
auctions. I cleaned an older digital camera to a nearly brand new
state. Cleans CDs and DVDs, too.
Machine washable.
-- Russ Taber
MysticMaid
$10
Available from
Amazon
Manufactured by Mystic Maid
http://tinyurl.com/kovdf
Cuboro
Versatile New Toy

This is the best toy I have seen since Lego. I recently purchased a
set for my 3 year old son, and we both have been having a blast with
it ever since. The basic idea is simple: marbles and a track. The
interesting thing is that the track is built out of individual wooden
blocks with curves and channels cut into them, allowing you to create
a track of whatever shape your imagination can conceive. The marbles
are moved along strictly by gravity, falling from one level to
another and cutting back and forth through hidden tunnels.
The company is based in Switzerland, but sets are available from
several US retailers. There are several starter sets, plus add-on
kits that allow you to build more complicated structures. I started
with the Cuboro Standard, and recently added the Cugolino set.
Although Cuboro is a bit pricey for a toy, the manufacturing quality is
exceptional and you get what you pay for.
-- Kurt Thearling
Cuboro
$110 starter set
$153 standard set
Available from Oh! Toys
Manufactured by Cuboro
http://tinyurl.com/kyfjg
Wedgits
3D Tangrams

I first saw this toy construction set at a front-door exhibit in the
San Francisco-based Exploratorium. You arrange the rectangular
plastic pieces in endless formations, limited only by your
geometrical imagination. The squares interlock loosely, cleverly. A
baby can do it. Every time you come to the set, you see new
possibilities. But unlike other complicated construction sets, this
ingenious one has just four simple sizes of one shape. I think of
Wedgits as a 3D version of the ancient Tangram game. In fact you can
get a booklet with profiles of shapes which you can try to build, in
Tangram mode. Wedgits will challenge an adult, yet are easily
manipulated by the small hands of an infant.

This toy was first called the Diamant, and it was invented in 1981 by
the German designer Peer Clahsen. You can purchase an exquisite
museum-quality wooden version (and other amazing toy-art) from the
Swiss design company Naef. Here is what reader John Edmark has to say
about them: "Swiss-made Naef toys are some of the most intelligent,
well-crafted, creativity-promoting toys ever made. They are also very
expensive, but well worth it. I possess and cherish but three of them
to date: Diamant, Cella, and Ellipso. Cubicus is next on my list.
These are not just toys for kids, but for anyone with an inquisitive
mind. Nor are they puzzles to be solved, rather opportunities to
enter into a creative dialog with spatial geometry. The quality and
craftsmanship is outstanding. I've never seen better."
However, for plain fun, the cheap plastic version of the Diamant, or
Wedgits, works just as well. I'd get the Deluxe Set version with 30
pieces. A great gift for kids. If you want art, go with the Naef.
-- KK
Wedgits Deluxe Set
$30
Available from
Fat Brain Toys
Also from Amazon
http://tinyurl.com/f4yqp
Ravelco Auto Anti-Theft Device
Most secure auto theft prevention

Two years ago I caught someone trying to steal my car. They were
doing it in a way that would not set off my alarm. That prompted me
to do a bunch of research about the current state of the art of auto
security. Much to my chagrin, most of the items on the market right
now are easily defeated by car thieves. There was only one product
that everyone said worked. Called a Ravelco device, it consists of a
multi-pronged plug and socket that disables multiple electrical
systems in your car. They claim that in 29 years and in an installed
base of 3 million cars, not one of those cars has ever been stolen.
So I got it. They sent a technician to my house to do the install and
he did an excellent job. The solution is simple and elegant. It is
not an alarm but a device that makes your car undriveable. It uses a
coded dongle and the installer will pick multiple systems
(electrical, fuel) that are disabled when the dongle is removed so
even if the starter is hotwired, the car cannot run without the
dongle. The installer will also go to great pains to disguise where
wiring has been spliced. My experience with other mass-installed
alarm systems is that they use bright red wire for power and always
put the controller and the siren in the same spot.
I have used the Ravelco for several years now. It is completely
foolproof and couldn't be simpler to operate. When you pull the
dongle, the car stops and cannot be restarted, period. No false
alarms, no waking the neighbors. I feel confident parking my car
almost anywhere. They give you two dongles up front and you get a
code to order new ones from the company if you should lose one. That
being said, we have had some exciting moments when my wife
temporarily misplaced her dongle once.
Then two weeks ago I accidentally left my car door open overnight.
When I opened the car door to go to work I realized my mistake.
Someone had been in my car and had opened my fuse box to look for the
alarm shutoff. They had also opened my hood to start the car. The
Ravelco had completely foiled them. I love it!
-- Kurt Wendelken
Ravelco Auto Anti-Theft Device
About $400
Available from
Ravelco
http://tinyurl.com/fm9k5
The Garlic Twist
A Simple Garlic Masher
 
My cool tool for the day is the Garlic Twist. It's very hard plastic
so it's easy (and satisfying) to smash the cloves with it to remove
the skin. The teeth inside do a great job of quickly mincing two
cloves at a time, and it's easy to clean. The polycarbonate from
which it is manufactured is dishwasher-safe.
I'm pretty proficient at mincing garlic with a chef's knife, but I
find this to be less trouble. It's far superior to any garlic peeler
or press I've ever used, even very expensive ones. It's a simple
thing, but it works very well.
-- Adam Fields
The Garlic Twist
$13
Available from
Amazon
http://tinyurl.com/ahnps
AeroPress
Coffee Syringe

This thing makes a really good cup of coffee fast. It's well made,
compact, and clean up is easy.
The AeroPress is 2.5 inch diameter syringe with a paper micro filter
mounted across the bottom. It sits on top of a common coffee mug for
brewing. You put in fine ground coffee measured with the included
scoop. The scoop is about 1.5 times bigger than the ones you might
get with regular a drip coffee maker. You put in hot water at the
recommended 175 degrees which is cooler than other methods. You stir
for 10 seconds and push the plunger in. Compressed air pushes the
coffee out in 10 - 20 seconds. What you have in the cup is
concentrated coffee. If you dilute it about 50/50 with hot water you
get the strength of a regular cup of good coffee. It tastes great!
I have a French press, a vacuum brewer, various kinds of drip
brewers, a good espresso machine, and I roast my own coffee. Since I
got my AeroPress two months ago I favor it for all my coffee except
espresso. It's not fair to call the AeroPress concentrate espresso as
the manufacture does but that's a minor point.
-- Frank Cox
Aeropress
$28
Available from Sweet Maria's
Manufactured by Aerobie
http://tinyurl.com/e9579
Dual-Ended Silicone Spatula
Best spatula

This is the silicone spatula that will replace all your silicone
spatulas.
If you've already made the switch to silicone spatulas, you know that
the silicone variety do a really wonderful job scraping bowls of
cookie batter, getting the last bits of sauce out of a pan, and
generally making the process of cooking cleaner and more efficient.
In addition, silicone has a much higher melting temperature than the
thermoplastic typically used--650?F v 230?F--so you can use these
spatulas in the fry pan (usually ~375?F). The soft silicone is safe
for coated pans, which is a definite plus.
This particular silicone spatula is made with the silicone cast
around a steel core. This gives the handle the rigidity of other
spatulas, without the awkward and ingredient-trapping transition from
spatula to handle. The silicone over steel makes a very comfortable
grip, and the whole thing can be cleaned in the dishwasher. This
design also allows them to make the spatula dual-ended, with a useful
narrower scraper that is great for getting the last peanut butter out
of jars.
I've been using mine for over a year, and it shows no wear. It is
easily my most used utensil in the kitchen, and has relegated many
other tools to the Goodwill bin.
-- Wendy Ju
Chef'n Switchit Dual-Ended Long Spatula
$10
Available from:
Amazon
http://tinyurl.com/gbkqu
Yaktrax Walker
Snow Chains for Shoes

Back in December we got some wet sloppy snow which mostly got walked
on before people got around to trying to shovel. As a result, there
was lots of icy, treacherous, packed snow on sidewalks. Now, I'm not
a little old lady (yet) but I don't want to fall on ice on my way to
the bus stop, either--especially not while carrying my laptop back
and forth to work! These things, which fit over shoes or boots,
really work well! I can walk almost normally over packed snow, as
long as the surface has a bit of texture--and the added confidence
has been great! (Smooth ice is still pretty challenging...)
[You can also choose the Yaktrax Pro. Both models are pictured on the
manufacturer's web site.]
-- Marie in Toledo
Yaktrax Walker
$16
Available from
Amazon
Manufactured by Yaktrax
http://tinyurl.com/zux79
The Extractor
Poison bite extractor

Several years ago I was rafting through an isolated gorge that
separates Mexico and Guatemala...at least several days away from the
nearest medical facilities. We carried The Extractor for snake bites.
A friend was bitten by a flying bug. Her arm immediately began to
swell up. She was in intense, burning pain. We attached the extractor
over the bite, with its largest cup...Several drops of foul brown
liquid were drawn from her arm. Almost immediately her pain
dissipated. I have used this tool many times since then on simple bee
stings on my children -- their pain leaves almost immediately. I have
never seen it used on a snake bite but it appears that it would work
great. It is one of the best tools I have ever used. I try to keep
one around all the time.
-- Maxwell Kennedy
The Extractor
$20
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Sawyer
http://tinyurl.com/erjkn
