Beware of the dreaded flying bungees!

The folks at Nite Ize say that they can’t look at simple everyday tools without thinking of ways they could improve them. (The famous key chain Inka Pen is a Niteize innovaton.)  Now they’ve done a makeover on the old-fashioned bungee cord. The result is the KnotBone Adjustable Bungee. There are a lot of unique improvements. For example, with out-of-date bungee cords, the open-end hooks can easily slide off under tension and really do some damage to you, or to what you’re trying to tie down. Instead of hooks, the KnotBone uses locking carabineer clips at each end. That way they not only attach to your anchor points, but they lock there. Instead of elastic that loses its stretch over time, the KnotBone Bungee has a durable, high quality cord that threads through each end. But instead of trying to find the proper length bungee cord for the job you need done, the KnotBone is adjustable. They’re available in two sizes: a 9mm cord that adjusts from 48” – 10”, and a 5mm cord that adjusts from 28” – 6”. Price are about $7 and $10.

http://www.amazon.com/Nite-KBB9-03-01-KnotBone-Adjustable-Bungee/dp/B0037H3K3C

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1114

It's rare, but here's a 20 year old gadget you can still buy!

The Locomotive Phone is from TeleMania. They are famous for making every sort of novelty telephone imaginable. The Locomotive Phone is styled after the Crescent Train of 1925. Some 20 years ago at CES when I first saw this phone I asked someone from the company how they were able to product such a detailed model. He told me they bought the plans from a company producing model locomotives and just added the electronic components. Even though TeleMania no longer makes it, you can still buy it at many places online. (Maybe another company picked up the rights to manufacture it, but mines been in the warehouse for more than 20 years.) If it wasn’t for the phone cord coming out of the back, this could easily pass for an expensive model train sitting on your desk. (You can use it as a model by just removing the phone cord entirely as in this photo.) But when the train sound effects – steam, whistle, choo-choo sounds kick in, it means the phone is ringing. You can use a switch on the bottom to make it ring like a regular phone, but why would you want to? It has other modem features too like electronic push button dialing, redial, mute and even ringer on/off. The boiler lifts off to and becomes the handset to answer the call. The keypad is under there too. It requires 2 AA batteries. You can still buy one here for $54.95:   

 http://www.2getitnow.com/telemania_locomotive_train_phone.html

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1115

Hmmm...did I lock the door before I got in bed?

You won’t have to walk all the way to front or back door to check if you locked the door, if install the LED Night-Hawk Security Indicator from Can-do Innovations. This device has a blinking red LED light you can see from across the room in the dark. You’ll know in a second if the door is locked or not. My NYC apartment is so small I can tell from my bed if I locked the door or not using this device! It works by using a magentic screw that ships with the unit. You replace one screw with the one in the package. Then when you flip the deadbolt into the locked position, the magnetic screw activates the blinking red LED. Right now it only fits one lock which the company says is in very wide use. It’s Schlage model B360N. They are working on an updated and more universal Night-Hawk Security Indicator to be introduced next year. The unit has 2 built in batteries, which the company says should run for about two years of continuous normal household use. The Night-Hawk slides directly onto the locking lever of your current Schlage model B360N lock. Change one screw and installation is finished. I jury-rigged one to fit a much older lock, but it took some doing. If have the proper lock, you should have it installed in a couple of minutes. The Night-Hawk Deadbolt Security Indicator has a color molded plastic shell that's available in Brass, Nickel, and Dark Bronze. The interior of the device consists of a circuit board, light-emitting diode, switches, and batteries. Not bad for $8.99. (Plus S&H)

www.nighthawkled.com 

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1111

Do you know anyone who suffers from dysphagia? (Do you what that is?)

A listener, John Stewart, wrote to tell me about this gadget. He has an elderly parent who can’t swallow large pills and isn’t strong enough to grind them up by hand. So he did a web search and found the VitaCarry Handheld Power Pill Grinder. It’s for people who suffer from dysphagia. That is the medical name which describes people who have difficulty swallowing. (It’s easy to confuse with dysphasia, which very loosely defined applies to people who have difficulty speaking.) The VitaCarry Power Pill Grinder is battery operated so it easier to use and more convenient than a conventional pill crusher, an old fashioned mortar and pestle, or a hand-powered pill grinder. You just have to push a single button, so it’s easy to use for adults, children, or even pets who have trouble swallowing large pills. You can either grind the pills into a small holding container attached to the unit, or you can remove the container and grind pills straight into food or beverages. If a pill is very big, it will have to be broken in two so it fits into the grinding chamber. The grinding cartridge is easily removed for cleaning by hand or in the dishwasher. The VitaCarry electronic pill grinder is about the size of a pack of playing cards so you can take it on the go. It requires 3 AAA batteries which some places include and some don’t. Under $30. 

http://www.vitacarry.com/ 

I haven’t bought anything here, but this place sells it for under $24, cheaper if you buy two: http://www.bluffcitywholesale.com/php/products.php?prod_id=439D 

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1074

Tea for two. As in two hundred & fifty dollars!

As a turn the table a while back, Leo picked the Breville variable temperature kettle.  www.twit.tv/dgw947 It’s was state-of-the-art for a short time, but now it’s been replaced by the new Breville One-Touch Tea Maker. (BTM800XL) It has many of same features of the original. A variable temperature control heats water to the ideal temperature for your chosen tea. Yes, it seems different teas need different water temperatures. (Who knew?) But with the kettle Leo has -- after the water is the exact temperature for the tea you’re going to brew – you had the difficult task of not only adding the tea – but manually dunking while it steeped. No more! The new Breville model has a Tea Basket that auto-lowers when the correct temperature is reached! This is to bring out the tea’s optimal flavor and aroma. And yes there’s a variable steeping times control for the tea strength you want: strong, medium or mild. Then the Tea Basket auto-raises at the correct time to prevent over steeping. Pretty neat, eh? It also has timer auto start, a 60-minute keep warm, and a Time Since Brew LCD timer to monitor freshness! It a 1500 Watt Quick Boil Element so it properly should be on its own circuit. Under $250.00.  

More info & a video: http://www.brevilleusa.com/tea/one-touch-tea-maker.html 

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1076