Solar power or hand cranked power, you can keep your radio, cell phone & flashlight powered.

Eton FRX3 $60. Going into the woods, mountains, anywhere away from people?  This a great gadget to take along; the latest from Eton. The Red Cross FRX3 (from Eton) is a solar and hand turbine powered AM, FM, weather radio with alarm clock. There is a built-in USB smart phone charger that allows a 30 second emergency phone call with one minute of cranking. To listen to personal tunes, use the AUX-input to play an external MP3 player. You’ll never be left in the dark thanks to the LED flashlight and glow-in-the-dark locater around the rim of the solar panel. In addition to the rechargeable NiMH battery pack (included) you can also power the radio with 3 AAA batteries (not included). The AM/FM radio also tunes all 7 NOAA weather channels and you can set the ‘weather alert’ for severe storm warning. Flashlight features bright white LED’s and a blinking red LED. Much more compact than earlier models from Eton. Price is the $55 to $60 range if you do a web search.

http://www.etoncorp.com/product_card/?p_ProductDbId=1837780

 

Your hound dog would like chilled water too in hot weather.

If you’ve ever added ice cubes to your pet’s water bowl, you know that dogs, like people, enjoy a cool drink of water on a hot day. FrostyBowlz, manufactured by Talega Products, was created with this in mind. The freezable FrostyCore contains a nontoxic gel, which keeps your dog’s water refreshingly cold even on the warmest summer days. You can freeze the core again and again for endless cold water. So now when you travel to the beach, ballpark, etc., your pet can have cold water for 8 to 14 hours depending on the ambient temperature. I froze the core overnight in the freezer and put in the FrostyBowlz the next day. It kept the FrostyBowlz nice and cool for about 9 hours in my apartment, and that was with the air conditioning off. The durable stainless-steel bowl is dishwasher safe and has a nonstick rubber grip to prevent sliding. About $30.

 www.frostybowlz.com

Don't stop the music -- just don't make it so loud in my ears.

V-Moda is famous for making a wide range of high-end earphones. Many models cost hundreds of dollars. But they also make another product that looks like a pair of high-end earphones, but they’re actually earplugs! The V-MODA Faders VIP Tuned Metal Earplugs are high-end earplugs designed to filter out noise, rather than blocking it completely. They reduce harmful noise levels evenly by 12 db, while letting you still enjoy music and speech. They’re for people who want to go to dance clubs, rock concerts and the like, but also want to protect their hearing. Unlike most earplugs, these guys are tuned so you’ll hear all the music, but not at sound levels that could damage your hearing. But you don’t have to go to rock concerts to appreciate the V-Moda Faders. Use them to protect your ears when you use power tools, mow the lawn, or even walk down a city street. Fire trucks, ambulances and jackhammers can all produce near ear-shattering sounds. The V-Moda Faders look like they’re well designed and built. For comfort you get four sets of hybrid silicone fittings – XS, S, M, and L.  They come with a detachable lanyard cord and a pendant case for protection. They come in gunmetal black, rouge red, and electro pink. They’re just $20 a pair. (You might find them a bit cheaper with a web search.) Val Kolton, the founder of V-MODA, is also a music producer and DJ. He’s also determined to help reduce hearing loss, especially among the young, who are exposed to loud music with the increased use of personal music players, smartphones and loud loudspeakers. This is a great step forward at an affordable price, $20. But remember, even with V-Moda Faders, be a responsible listener and do all you can to protect your hearing. 

http://v-moda.com/faders-vip/

A handy bracklet to have in case of an emergency.

When you're wearing it, this bracelet looks like a fashion statement, something cleverly knitted with heavy duty cord. But the e-Gear Para Bracelet is more than a fashion statement. This unique bracelet is made of rugged colorful paracord. If there’s emergency and you need cord, just unravel it. It's an extra little survival tool. It's made of 350 lb. test paracord that stretches to 10 feet of cord and has a secure fastening buckle. Wearable length is 8". Wt. 1 oz. It's available in eight bright colors. About $8. It’s available at the link below, although I haven’t shopped here. If you do a web search for "e-Gear Para Bracklet", a lot of buying options will come up.

http://www.campmor.com/e-gear-8-34-para-bracelet.shtml

Here are the "Hot, New Gadgets From The National Hardware Show" I talked about on Wolrd News Now.

Here's the spot from World News Now: http://abcnews.go.com/WNN/video/giz-wiz-great-gadgets-home-16447999

First Alert "Hidden In Plain Sight" Safes.

Looking for a clever way to hide money, jewelry, etc. First Alert's new “Hidden-in-plain-sight” safes discretely hide your valuables in what looks like common household products or containers. When stored alongside other household items, these safes blend in with their surroundings and divert the attention of thieves away from your precious valuables. First Alert is debuting two new models at this year’s National Hardware Show – the Quickie Brand All-Purpose Cleaner Can Safe, which mimics a common household bathroom cleaner, and a Ball Brand Fresh Preserving Jar Safe, which looks like a candle or jar of jam. These will retail for under $15.00

Also coming in August is the First Alert "Hidden In Plain Sight" White Board Safe.

The white board comes with a marker, and two magnetic clips. Use the white board to write lists or messages, and to hang up coupons, recipes, etc. Sitting on a kitchen or office shelf, it will look just like what it is, a white board message center. But remove the white board and you'll find a First Alert safe behind it! Two keys for the lock are provided. This is great for larger items like important papers, wills, etc. This is also coming to stores in August, and it will retail for under $50.