Forget the carry-on, you can have a “wear-on”!

Thursday, July 1^st, 2010 Netcast 1124

The SCOTTEVEST Pack Windbreaker holds all your gear and stuff in its seventeen – yes 17! - pockets and compartments! They’re designed specifically for your portable electronics (iPod, cell phone, PDA), etc. You can also stow sunglasses, documents and maps without having to carry a bulky day bag. Interior channels accommodate headphone cords, keeping them tangle free. The Weight Management System evenly distributes the weight of your gear so you never feel bogged down. But wait, there’s more! There's even a hidden water-repellent hood in the event of a downpour. Exterior is 100% nylon; interior lining is polyester with mesh. Elastic cuffs and adjustable cinch at bottom hem block out wind and cold. Packed in it’s own bag, which is actually the back packet of the jacket, this is small enough to be used as a pillow, provided you take out all your stuff first! Information cards in the pockets and mini sewn-in tags indicate a possible use for each pocket. There’s even a pocket large enough for the iPad! (Scottevest sent me a Windbreaker to see how much put stuff it could hold, but they didn’t send an iPad. Darn!) It’s available in many colors and retails for $75. It’s in the Magellans Catalog for $64.50.   

 SCOTTEVEST website: www.scottevest.com

 Magellans: http://tinyurl.com/23ql4kw

 Hear or Watch this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1124

An emergency radio small enough for a backpack.

Wednesday, June 30^th, 2010 Netcast 1123

Reminder, June 30^th is the last chance to play the What The Heck Is It? Game. (Click the What The Heck Is It  link on the right under popular content.)

It’s the Microlink FR 160 from Eton. (Some models are branded “Red Cross”.) This emergency radio can be powered by the built-in rechargeable battery pack, solar power (also built in) or an AC adapter/charger, which is not included. And of course, you can charge the battery pack with the built in cranking handle. Turn the crank for about 90 seconds will result in 30 to 40 minutes of low volume play. Outdoors, place the unit directly in sunlight and the solar panel on the top of the unit charges the internal battery automatically. About 8-10 hours in the sun will allow about 3-5 hours of radio play. A green LED glows to indicate when the internal battery is being charged. But wait, there's more!  You can also use this gizmo to charge your cell phone. (There's a the built in USB plug!) Because cell phone batteries vary in their current ratings, Eton cannot specify charging rates or usage time. But they say 10 to 15 minutes of cranking may result in 1 or more minutes of talk-time. Not the best ratio, but in an emergency, it's better than no calls. You could give your kids this radio & take away their cell phone AC charger. Having them have to "crank to call" will give them great exercise and cut down on the  minutes they use a lot!  In addition to AM and FM, there’s 7 weather band channels.  There’s also a 3 LED flashlight for emergencies at night. About $30. The Red Cross version tends to sell for more.

Eton website: http://www.etoncorp.com/product_card/?p_ProductDbId=914953

I haven’t shopped here, but they sell it for  under $29 http://tinyurl.com/2dqd9gt 

Hear or SEE this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1123

Leo takes gas! A gas grill, that is!

Turn The Table Tuesday, Tuesday, June 29^th, 2010 Netcast 1122

Leo likes his new Weber Q100 liquid propane portable gas grill.  It’s a convenient size, with a 189 square inch cooking area. (That comes to approximately 23.5" high, 27" wide and 15.9" deep - with the lid open.) It has an 8,500 BTU-per-hour input stainless steel burner. To aid in cleanup, there’s a removable catch pan underneath the grill. The cooking grate is porcelain-enameled cast-iron. You don’t need charcoal or even matches because this gizmo has push button ignition. It uses disposable 14.1- or 16.4 oz. LP cylinders, which are not included. With an optional adapter, you can use those larger 20-pound cylinders. While BBQ’s can cost hundreds of dollars – some are over $1,000 – this one is under $200. If you do a web search you can fit it below $150. I saw it at Home Depot for $139.00. Meat for the grill is optional too!

 http://weber.com/explore/Grill_details.aspx?glid=5&mid=33  

Here’s the Home Depot Link: http://tinyurl.com/2a7p67j  

Hear or See this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1122

As Frank Sinatra never sang: "Come Fly With This!"

Monday, June 28^th, 2010,  --- Netcast 1121

When I get on a plane I try to pack all the things I want with me for the flight at the top of my carry-on so I can quickly dump into the seat and seat pocket before I put my bag away. Well this neat travel bag from the Magellan’s catalog makes doing that a breeze. It called the In-Flight Organizer Panel. There's no more struggling to reach all your in-flight essentials because they’re all there right in from you. This cleverly designed organizer attaches to your tray table with either a hook or Velcro straps. It has a roomy pocket for a newspaper, magazine or documents. Then there are padded pockets for your cell phone, eyeglasses, MP3 player or digital camera. But wait, there’s more! There’s even a pen slot and a key fob. When not in use, it zips closed so it can be packed in your carry-on bag. Two exterior zippered pockets are just the right size for boarding passes, passports, or itineraries. It has webbed carry handles and measures 12-1/2 x 7-1/2 x 2". Made of Microfiber, it’s available in black or red. The only thing that won’t work for some travelers is the clear pocket designed to hold your video phone so you can watch your own movies in flight, For most of the new iPhones & Droid phones, the pocket is too small. Under $35.00

http://tinyurl.com/2dlahmn

Audio & Video version of this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1121

Mmm-doesn’t this sound tasty? North America's first "texturally enhanced" alternative beverage.

Back to Dick’s Gadget Warehouse, Friday, June 25^th, 2010, Netcast 1120 

Back in 1997 Clearly Canadian launched Orbitz (No, not the travel site!) but Orbitz a unique fruit-flavored, non-carbonated beverage with colorful gel spheres. Yep, as you can see in the picture, those weird little balls remain suspended in the liquid. It’s 13 years later & they’re STILL suspended there in the bottle I kept in the warehouse! From a press release back then: “The carbohydrate-based gel spheres have a delicate texture and deliver flavours that complement the flavour of the beverage. Orbitz is available in four fun flavours: Raspberry Citrus; Blueberry Melon Strawberry; Pineapple Banana Cherry Coconut; and Vanilla Orange. Consumers can purchase Orbitz beginning May 1, 1997 at accounts such as 7-Eleven, Shoppers Drug Mart and Famous Players Cinemas as well as many other convenience and grocery stores.” They may have started buying Orbitz back then, but it seems they stopped soon after! The name was retired long ago enough that their URL is now the famous travel website. I was sent two bottles by a PR agency when it was first introduced. I opened one & drank some. I offered others at MAD a taste and only got “one taker”. The flavor of the drink was okay, but those gel balls felt a touch slimy going down. The other unopened bottle went to Dick’s Gadget Warehouse. Although I did keep it on my desk at MAD Magazine for a few months just to see people’s reaction when they saw the bottle! The reaction was mostly:  “You don’t drink that, do you?”

Hear or SEE this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1120 

Now you can choose high or low video version (or audio) at that link!