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Brilliant UFO abduction lamp.

Your blood puddle pillows are in.

Clean your dishwasher with Lemonade Kool-Aid.

Clever light bulb design.

Days Ago digital day counters are small gadgets that attach to your food containers via suction and magnets to keep a running count of how many days ago you put your leftovers in the fridge.

Scrabble furniture.

Handy way to skip all the intro crap on DVDs that is usually forced on you when you throw a disc in your player. Apparently the chapters on DVDs that you can't skip (FBI warnings, copyright stuff, etc.) are flagged, on the disc, as UOP, or User Operation Prohibited. This site lists some of the techniques you can try to skip the ennui.

This colour coordinated bookshelf looks cool, but you might have a hard time finding a particular title.

For chewie edge lovers or corner brownie fans - it's the Edge Brownie Pan. All edges, all the time. Via BoingBoing

Puzzle carpet.

This to That is a handy site that will tell you what adhesive to use when attempting to glue various objects together.

Super creative bathroom tiles.

Skinny house in Brazil.

Apparently there are many LED lightbulbs available already. Via TreeHugger

WiiRoomba. YouTube of a guy controlling his Roomba with a Wii remote.

Hardcore Lost fans have a party and repackage the snacks and beer as Dharma Initiative rations. Make your own with the PDFs that they've so generously shared.

Here's a nice set of home improvement videos with the energetic and snappy Eric Stromer.

Faucet Fountain turns your regular faucet into a drinking fountain.

Kids and the Home Office. Here's a list of tips for the parent that works from home.

Save the Internet.







Househacker/tags/safety

Pelican Emergency Flashlight with Photoluminescence

If you've ever had your power go out in the evening and found yourself stumbling around in the dark to find your flashlight, you may be interested in a glow-in-the-dark flashlight like this one by Pelican (that also happens to contains a 4-hour backup bulb). From the site:

...outfitted with a lens ring that emits a bright glow in the dark. The new generation photoluminescent material in the plastic absorbs the energy from any light source - fluorescent lights, the sun, or even the flashlight's own beam

As useful as charging the photoluminescent matierial on the flashlight with the beam from the flashlight itself sounds, one might be better off storing the flashlight in the garage rather than a broom closet to expose the material to some light, both natural and artificial, during the day. The description suggests the material is 'new generation' - and it would have to be, as the stuff found in toys and trinkets never lasted long enough for any practical purpose. Perhaps Pelican used something along the lines of this material that is both brighter and longer lasting.

Something to think about before the next late night power outage.

Amazon.com link: Pelican Big ED 3700PL Flashlight w/ Photo Luminescent Shroud


Home Heartbeat Awareness System

Home Heartbeat is a notification system that continuously monitors your home's electrical appliances, faucets and other household devices while conveniently sending status data to the "Home Key" keychain, via the ZigBee wireless communication protocol. The system's base station offers internet connectivity that allows for remote monitoring, and the device can also be configured to issue status updates through email or text messages to the homeowner's cell phone.

The system is built in a modular fashion, meaning the device can couple with many different types of (Home Heartbeat) sensors, as they become available. From the site:

The backbone of the Home Heartbeat system is a network of detection sensors: water sensors, open/closed sensors, power sensors, reminder and attention sensors. The sensors can alert the homeowner to a wide range of problems, including pipe leaks and flooding, opened doors and windows, and appliances that are left on. An additional feature is a water shut-off valve that can be controlled and activated by any of the sensors. Reminder and attention sensors can be set to alert homeowners about easy-to-forget tasks, such as changing batteries in smoke detectors or cleaning out the gutters.

According to Fast Company, the basic starter unit offers only one sensor as well as the base unit and keychain and will retail for $149 US.
       



Hidden Electrical Outlet Safe

Hide your valuables in this clever, locking electrical outlet safe. From the site:

Very easy installation and anyone can do it. The wall socket safe comes with a template, saw, and a key. You use the template to trace the rectangular pattern on your wall that will become the opening for the hidden safe. You then use the saw to cut through the drywall and make the opening. Slide the wall socket safe into the opening you just created and use the key to lock it. When you need to take something out or put something in, just use the key to open and close it. Looks just like the real thing and can be placed anywhere.

Thieves also wouldn't suspect:

Strange Under Bed Nightlight

This under-bed nightlight would be nicer if it pulsated and produced a low sci-fi-like hum. Actually, the device is manually dimmable, so theoretically the pulsation would be possible. Of course that might be problematic for anyone actually trying to sleep, but, you know, tough. The light comes from 14 long lasting LEDs and runs off of your homes power, so in other words, batteries are not required.

via boing boing

LED Enhanced Light Switch Wallplate

Stop bumbling around in the dark on your way to the bathroom in the wee hours of the night with the help of Lite-A-Switch LED wall plates. The lighted wallplate not only directs you to the location of the switch, but acts as a nightlight as well. The site claims the LEDs will last up to 10 years.

Protect Yourself with this Bedside Table

Designer James McAdam went to work to unclutter bedrooms, and this combination night table / stick + shield kit is the fruit of his labour. If you're ever being robbed, you would not have to scramble in a panic to find your shield as you would know exactly where it was - right beside you, doubling as a night stand! Simply disassemble and prepare for battle! The shield is very nice touch, as you really don't see a lot of shields in the area of personal self defence anymore - good work James McAdam!

Interesting Combination Smoke Alarm Emergency Light

This fire alarm has some interesting features. The smoke detector incorporates an aesthetically pleasing, daily-use, dimmable light that activates during an emergency. In case of fire, the unit communicates with other like units to illuminate an escape route through your home. The unit is powered by your home's electrical power, yet doesn't rely on it. Instead, the device employs a long life emergency back up battery that activates during an alarm. Now if it only had a wifi notification system...

Foot Powered Portable Energy Source

Freeplay has come out with a nice backup energy solution called Weza. The unit works by having the operator step repeatedly on a pedal to produce up to 40-watts of power, which charges an internal 12-volt battery. The Weza outputs to two jumper cables or, alternatively, a convenient cigarette lighter jack. An optional add-on is required for powering essential 120 volt devices, like your PVR.

The Red Cross has some other things to consider for you home emergency kit.

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