The Smorgasbord

This heated vest is just right for winter outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing and more! My wife and I have been using an electric blanket for the last few years in our bed – and I don’t know how we ever did without it! I’ve been snowmobiling plenty of times where I was just chilled to the damn bone! These heated vests run on lithium ion batteries no bigger than a pack of cigarettes and can keep you warm 4-12 hours! This is a great time of year to pick something like this up too – because you always get better deals at the end of the season! It might be a litle low-tech actually, but I love it!

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I’m always surfing eBay for weird gadgets and I came across these USB HD Receiver / Tuners that seem pretty cool. Most of them are under $50, and I knew that you could get TV tuners on a USB stick, but I hadn’t seen Hi Def ones before. I think to be able to watch, and in some cases record in HD quality from a USB key shows just how compact and small technology has become. They even come with little portable antennas (awww, how cute!). This would make a great gift for somebody that travels a lot for sure, it might make waiting in the airpot much more bearable!

Check out some of the ones I found:

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The new version of the Amazon Kindle 2 is out, so I thought I would give it a review. This time around they’re really taken the time to refine the device and create something very functional, elegant, lightweight, and cool. This first thing you’ll notice is how darn thin it is. It’s only as think as most magazines. Also it doesn’t weigh much more than a standard paperback (10 ounces). The screen is more legible and battery life has been extended by 25%. It has 2GB of internal memory, and uses Sprints 3G network for connectivity (no cost for this beyond the device). One of the really cool things about the Kindle 2 is that is has PDF document conversion – you can email documents to the device and they will be converted to PDF for you to read. You can even listen to music and podcasts on the eReader. Kindle 2 only weighs a little over a pound and a half.

Here’s a video review of the Kindle 2:

There are all kinds of deals for Kindle in auctions ending now – check some of these out:

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You can also check out the price of a New Kindle 2 on Amazon now:

A couple times a year Amazon has a big Blu-Ray and DVD sale and they clear out all kinds of titles at rock bottom prices. Last time I posted this I picked up quite a few things, and I wanted to pass the savings on to you (they tend to sell out pretty quick each time they have this sale)!

The sale goes on until March 22, and there are 300 blu-ray discs as low as $13.99. You can get titles like Transformers, Iron Man, and Wall-E. There’s also a huge DVD sale as well, with prices as low as $6.49. I love these kinds of sales because I can get some great deals on good movies I was looking for – and I don’t even have to leave the house….kudo’s Amazon!

After yesterdays post about power outlet wireless adapters, I got to thinking about extending wireless router range. You can buy a multitude of devices to help extend the range of your home of business wireless (and wired) network – but there are ways to do it on the cheap you know.

I mean, you could build a cantenna. It costs less than $5, what do you have to lose? You can make one out of an old soup can – and it’s probably better than one you could buy from the store anyway.

You could also get a second router and use it as a switch or access point. What?! You didn’t know that? Of course you can. You can setup a second router anywhere in your house, and the first one will be the gateway and the second just an access point. You might even have a second router lying around you can use already.

Did you know you could change your router’s channel? Sure you can, and you probably just left it on the same channel it was defaulted to (like all your neighbors). If you’re all on channel 5 don’t you think there will be some interference? Log into your router admin screen and change it to something different, all you can do is IMPROVE the performance!

You could even make your own antenna extender for about 5 cents. I came across this video that shows you how to do it in about 10 minutes (awesome!):

If none of that works, or your just not the homebrew type – you can just buy a long range wifi antenna….here’s a bunch for sale right now:

Long Range Wireless WiFi Flat Panel Antenna 18dBi RPSMA
	USD 47.45 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-12 20:06:15
1800mW High Power Long Range High Sensitivity Antenna 802.11bg USB Wireless WiFi
	USD 32.00 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-08 15:23:54
1800mW High Power Long Range High Sensitivity Antenna 802.11bg USB Wireless WiFi
	USD 32.00 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-08 15:24:09
RTL8187L Long Range 16DBI Antenna Wifi USB Adapter Card
	USD 29.99 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-08 03:19:50
Long Range Omni Antenna +800mW WIFI Network USB Adapter For RV Trailer Sailer
	USD 98.10 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-09 04:14:00
USB 37dBm WIRELESS WIFI Long Range Extender Antenna
	USD 133.00 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-11 04:23:14
43dBm 802.11b/g 54Mpbs 2.4 GHz Long Range WIFI USB Antenna RTL8187L Backtrack
	USD 89.10 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-09 22:48:13
ALFA AWUS036H LONG RANGE USB WIFI 24DB IN/OUTDOOR ANTENNA AIRCRACK BT5 USASELLER
	USD 69.99 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-08 22:00:34
NEW 1000mW Long Range Wireless 11N 802.11b/g/n USB2.0 Wifi Adapter 6dbi Antenna
	USD 18.00 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-11 07:33:41
Mars_A2414N Long Range 44dBm Outdoor USB adapter antenna for WIFI 802.11b/g/n
	USD 1.64 (2 Bids) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-08 22:41:13

The other day we had to get an alarm clock for the oldest who’s know in college (who happens to have a problem getting out of bed everyday!).  I was looking for different kinds of alarm clocks online (loud and annoying ones) and I came across these different and unusual ones that seem kind of fitting being back to school time and all! Some of these could make great gifts for college students, friends, and family! Buy one now and you have one less thing to buy at Christmas time.

Puzzle Alarm Clocks that require manual intervention to turn off

The Puzzle Alarm Clock may look childish but try saying that when you have to put it all back together in your morning haze. When you set the alarm, the puzzle pieces pop up and the alarm will not stop till you put the pieces back in their correct spot. By that time, you’re awake and the Puzzle Alarm Clock ‘s job is complete! Puzzle Alarm Clock Features: – Large and easy to Read Backlit Display – Easy to Set – Remote batteries included.- No Snooze Button. – Clock Requires 3 AA Batteries (Not included) – Color pieces may vary.

Scooby Doo Mystery Machine Alarm Clock by Westclox
	USD / 14.99 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-13 02:30:54

Extra Loud Alarm Clocks

iHOME has a great loud alarm clock that works well and is a very reasonable cheap price:

If a Sonic Boom alarm clock can’t wake you up, you’re probably asleep for good! In addition to extra-loud beepers, their startling bed-quaking vibrators will rattle you out of any slumber. Your alarm clock will get your attention every time if it’s the Sonic Boom bedside clock with a detachable bed shaker. Variable tone and volume controls let you set the most effective alarm. Position the bed vibrator under the mattress or a pillow and it will pound the bed when it’s time to wake up! Includes AC adapter.

Sonic Boom Bomb Turbo Charged Loud Vibrating Alarm Clock Bed Shaker SA-SBB500SS
	USD 55.55 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-11 16:45:59
Sonic Boom Loud Vibrating Alarm Clock w/ Bed Shaker, No Reserve!
	USD 9.99 (1 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-09 01:10:03
Sonic Boom SBB500ss Sonic Bomb Loud Plus Vibrating Alarm Clock NEW!
	USD 35.48 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-09 09:37:54
Sonic Boom Alarm Clock SUPER LOUD ALARM NEW NIB
	USD 34.95 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-13 02:48:10
SONIC ALERT BOOM SBB500SS SONIC BOMB LOUD ALARM CLOCK W/BED SHAKER-THE LOUDEST!!
	USD 36.90 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-07 17:20:32
Sonic Alert SBP100 Loud Boom Alarm Clock & Bed Shaker
	USD / 30.95 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-07 17:43:05
Sonic Boom Sharper Image Alarm Clock
	USD 35.00 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-10 23:11:02
Sonic Boom SBB500ss Bomb Plus Vibrating Alarm Clock NEW
	USD 38.95 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-08 02:25:27
Sonic Boom "Skull" Alarm Clock w/ Bed Shaker for Deaf
	USD 59.95 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-08 03:18:24
SONIC BOOM BOMB ALARM CLOCK SBB500SS BED SHAKER
	USD / 35.07 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-07 13:06:15

Now you will never sleep through the alarm again. This specially designed Timex extra loud alarm clock emits a loud alarm that you won’t be able to ignore – even if you are a sound sleeper or hearing impaired. It features an accurate quartz movement, a sweep second hand, an easy-to-read dial and luminous hands that glow in the dark. 41/2″ x 3 1/4″. Uses 1 C Battery (not included).

SONIC ALERT SONIC BOOM EXTRA LOUD ALARM CLOCK SB300ss NOB
	USD / 9.99 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-11 19:33:51
Timex T126r Extra Loud Digital Alarm Clock / Red
	USD 17.99 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-11 16:50:57
Black Extra Loud Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock with vibrating Bed Shaker SBB500ss
	USD 45.73 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-13 17:03:18
Extra Loud Vibrating BEDSHAKER ALARM CLOCK wakes you UP
	USD 59.90 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-07 15:55:46
Advance Time 6028AT 90 dB Extra Loud Alarm Clock LCD Quartz Movement Snooze New
	USD 9.95 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-14 05:08:43
RADIO SHACK EXTRA LOUD ALARM CLOCK – 110V 60Hz - cat 63-960
	USD 1.56 (1 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-11 21:05:02
Sonic Boom SBA475SS Extra Loud Alarm Clock w/Bed Shaker
	USD 36.95 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-08 19:00:14
New Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock Extra Loud with vibrating Bed Shaker SBB500ss
	USD 45.73 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-13 17:03:26
New Sonic Boom Analog Vibrating Extra Loud Alarm Clock
	USD 39.95 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-07 20:40:41
Timex ADVANCE ALARM CLOCK PERP BATTERY LCD EXTRA LOUD
	USD 7.19 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-10 14:09:02

Annoying Alarm Clocks

I like these annoying alarm clocks the best because you REALLY have to wake up to turn them off. The first is the “helicopter alarm clock” which shoots up in the air when it goes off, and you actually have to find it, and replace it before the alarm goes off.

Crazy Annoying Loud Flying Helicopter Alarm Clock Black
	USD 7.99 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-07 23:13:13
New Flying Helicopter Propeller Digital Alarm Clock
	USD 10.99 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-13 08:34:29
New Flying Helicopter Propeller Digital Alarm Clock
	USD 14.20 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-13 08:43:25
Digital Loud Flying Helicopter Alarm Clock LCD Display
	USD 18.99 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-12 04:21:53
Super ALARM CLOCK Loud Crazy Annoying Flying Helicopter
	USD 14.20 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-11 10:10:44
9504 Helicopter ALARM CLOCK - New & Boxed
	USD 4.66 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-12 17:32:45
NEW ALARM CLOCK Loud Crazy Annoying FLYING Helicopter
	USD 16.99 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-09 02:16:54
NEW ALARM CLOCK Loud Crazy Annoying FLYING Helicopter
	USD 16.87 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-08 16:41:44
Crazy Annoying Loud Flying Helicopter Alarm Clock Black
	USD 15.99 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-08 16:59:43
Helicopter Propeller Snooze Digital Waken Alarm Clock
	USD 16.91 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-12 02:11:39

The second I remember seeing a long, long time ago when the prototype was invented by an MIT student as a project. The “clocky” alarm clock leaps from your nightstand when it goes off and just runs around the room relentlessly going off until you find it, catch it, and turn it off (at which point you should be REALLY awake!).

Clocky Runaway Alarm Clock with Wheels the alarm Clock you have to chase!!
	USD 22.27 (3 Bids) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-07 10:23:08
NEW Clocky Alarm Clock On Wheels Orange by Nanda Home
	USD 39.99 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-11 02:57:39
Clocky Runaway Alarm Clock with Wheels the alarm Clock you have to chase!!
	USD 19.99 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-08 07:32:25
Clocky Alarm Clock on Wheels - Orange NEW IN BOX
	USD 29.99 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-09 23:32:18
Clocky Alarm Clock on Wheels
	USD 24.99 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-10 17:18:08
Clocky Alarm Clock..Free Ship!
	USD 15.50 (2 Bids) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-11 23:31:27
Clocky Alarm Clock On Wheels, Chrome
	USD 60.25 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-14 03:57:46
New almond/ white Clocky Nanda Run-a-Way Alarm Clock on wheels
	USD / 10.00 (3 Bids) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-12 01:22:31
Clocky The Robot Alarm Clock - Almond White - by Nanda Home
	USD 64.99 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-10 07:13:10
Cream coloured Clocky the run away alarm clock + instructions it runs and hides
	USD 0.16 (1 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-12 11:29:34

The Color Pattern Geek Clock is the perfect geek gift. You’ve seen those crazy geek clocks and watches that display the time in hexadecimal format. Only hardcore geeks can read those. Why not have a clock that looks as “techie”, but anyone cal learn to read? This Color Pattern Geek Clock is the perfect solution! Everyone that comes over will talk about it – and everyone will be able to tell time using it! Cool and useful.

Check prices on the Color Pattern geek Clock

This would great to buy now and put up for one less Christmas present to buy later!

Amazon is having a 50% off Blu-Ray Movie sale! It’s really funny too, since just yesterday I blogged about the LG Blu-Ray player. I checked my email this morning and saw this sale, and wow – it couldn’t be more timely! I don’t know how much I’ll spend, but I think I’m going to get about 6 of these while I can. They’ve got some great titles on sale too, like No Country for Old Men, The Doors, Gangs of New York, The Bank Job, Pirates of the Caribbean, and my favorite “Crash”!

They have like 83 Blu-Ray titles on sale, but it only goes until August 29th. You can get a deal on the pre-order of Iron Man too while you’re in there.

The LG BH200 Blu-Ray HD-DVD Combo Player is now much more affordable than ever before, and even though Blu-Ray is now pretty much decided on as the standard for surpassing regular DVD’s in HD format – having the “HD-DVD” format option available is a bonus! If you’re wondering what the big deal is about a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD disc versus a traditional DVD movie – all you really have to know is that it’s displayed at nearly TWICE the resolution! If you thought a traditional or progressive scan DVD movie was a pretty good picture – if you own a flat screen LCD or Plasma television, you OWE it to yourself to upgrade your DVD player to Blu-Ray and HD-DVD!

Having said that – the LG BH200 is the one we picked because it not only plays in full 1080p output, but this player upscales the picture of traditional DVD’s to Full HD as well! It’s already setup to handle the “BD-Live” features touted ahead for Blu-Ray discs, but the LG “Super Blu Player” will also do MPEG’s, H.264 Quicktime, and DTS-HD audio as well. Oh, of course it has HDMI 1.3 out too. It also has S-Video and Component outs, but who would want to use those?

Guess what – it has USB “media host” too so you can set it up to access digital pics and MP3′s. Plugin your external hard drives, portable drives, or flash sticks for quick access and review of your multimedia files. The one thing we noticed was that this thing was practically silent when playing discs. It even has a network ethernet jack!

This would be a good treat for yourself and the old home entertainment center before you have to start saving to buy other people Christmas presents! Or, you could even put it away as an early present for that special someone.

Here are the best prices you can get on the LG BH200 Blu-Ray HD-DVD Combo Player:

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Ziotek Wireless Night Vision Kit

I came across the Ziotek Wireless Night Vision kit ZT-812C2 the other day, and it’s the first kit I’ve seen with “night vision”. I reviwed some wireless and IP cameras awhile back, but the Ziotek bundle has high quality picture and sound – and it’s weather resistant, meaning you can mount them outdoors. The range of the wireless cameras is over 350 feet, and the system can be used with a TV, VCR, or other monitors or recording devices. You can switch between the two monitors with the push of a button. If you monitor your home or business, this can be a great way – but I love the fact that these are wireless. That’s such an advent of technology – the ability install security without running camera wires all over!

With this two camera set you can literally see in the dark. These compact cameras provide excellent color video with sound and are weather resistant for use outdoors. The desktop receiver has an adjus With this two camera set you can literally see in the dark. These compact cameras provide excellent color video with sound and are weather resistant for use outdoors. The desktop receiver has an adjustable antenna for fine-tuning reception and a remote control so you can switch monitor channels at the push of a button. The cameras can be powered using 9V battery with battery clip or with 110VAC (battery, clip and AC adapter included).

Click to check prices of the Ziotek Night Vision Camera Kit