Cool Stuff

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I firmly believe that it is the little luxuries in life that help make it sweet. With that in mind, this is my list of some of the little things I enjoy. Some are practical, some are indulgent, some can be considered both. Some just make me smile.

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No More Heartburn!

Unfortunately, heartburn has become very common. Stress causes it. Other than that, I don't know what's causing the rampant rise in the number of people who suffer with it. Everyone knows at least one person who battles it - if they, themselves, do not.

I was fighting with it everyday and was very concerned, because recurring heartburn can damage the esophagus and lead to esophageal cancer (!!!!!). Stevemark122000 published an excellent piece on ridding yourself of heartburn forever, but it requires a juicer, which I currently do not possess. I needed something NOW ... that WORKED. I found it ...

Add 2-3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar - it's very cheap (don't substitute with the clear stuff, it's artificial vinegar and won't work) to a glass of hot water (tap-hot is fine) and add honey to taste. Mix and drink. That's it!

I discovered this, via Internet research, about a month ago (as of March 2009) and have been using it ever since. It works.  But be careful when purchasing apple cider vinegar, some manufacturing processes destroy much or all of apple cider vinegar's benefits

The best type of apple cider vinegar to use is one made from cold pressed, organically grown whole apples, in which no chemicals or preservatives have been added, which contains the "mother of vinegar", and is not pasteurized. The "mother of vinegar" is a natural gelatinous substance formed during the last fermentation step.
This type of wholesome apple cider vinegar can be readily found in most health food stores and even in some general grocery stores.

Birds Eye Steamfresh

Finally! Someone got a microwave meal right. Up until now, the only use I've had for a microwave is heating up pizza (on low, by the way, or defrost), but I just tried this Steamfresh meal (easily enough for two) by Birds Eye and it was delicious! I will definitely be getting more of this. Do you like fresh, crunchy steamed green beans, carrots, tomatoes and yellow peppers that actually taste like beans and carrots and tomatoes and peppers? How about perfectly cooked penne pasta? Tender grilled chicken and a light, well seasoned garlic sauce seasoned with herbs and spices instead of salt & pepper? Would I lie to you...

Best of all, it steams right in the bag. Good stuff!

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Dark Chocolate Covered Pomegranate Bits

Every time I go down a candy aisle I look for something new. Something I've never had. I found this in the Wal-Mart candy aisle. How can you possibly go wrong? Two things that are good for you: Dark chocolate and pomegranate! Tangy, sweet and delicious... seriously.

Warning: They are highly addictive and the bag isn't big enough.

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HULU.com

Did you miss your favorite show last night? Sitcom, drama, documentary, old or new, chances are very good that it's on HULU.com. Do you want to show someone younger how cool and hilarious The Addams Family was? It's on there... ALL of them! And they have hundreds of movies, too! And networks, genres, the works. I love this website. It's especially useful when two of my favorite shows are on at the same time.

...Hey, not all of us have Tivo.

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RetailMeNot.com

RetailMeNot is an easy way to find online coupon codes. Enter these codes at the checkout page of participating merchants for instant discounts.

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"Press here to lock end"

Did you know there's a little tab on both ends of your aluminum foil box which you can press in to keep the roll from popping out? Neither did I!

Now, you're going to go check the aluminum foil box. ...Just like I did.

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Schick Quattro Titanium Razor/Trimmer

This is the smartest grooming tool I've ever owned. If you've got any facial hair you'll like this. It's shower safe (in fact, works best when rinsed while turned on!) and easy to clean, has a 3-setting trimmer on the butt end and a single edging blade on the back of the razor - which is perfect for getting in close around the nose, and keeping those goatee lines expertly clean. The trimmer uses one triple-A battery. The one that comes with it is a cheapie brand and won't last very long so get a package of good batteries. I've had mine several months and the first one I put in is still going strong. The replacement blades will probably be pretty spendy - as they all are, but these are titanium and claim to last an extra long time. I'm inclined to believe this as mine have yet to show any signs of dulling... and, as we all know, there are signs.

And finally; I'd always scoffed at four-bladed razors as a stupid marketing ploy and total overkill, but the truth is, the shave I get with this razor really does last longer than what I was getting with my previous razor, which had only three blades.

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Jim Parsons - Big Bang Theory

"Big Bang Theory" is a smart and funny sitcom with a cast including Johnny Galecki (of "Roseanne" fame) and new-comer Jim Parsons. If you miss the dry wit and intelligent sarcasm of "Frasier," then you'll love this show.

Parsons plays a theoretical physicist and is the kind of actor who can say much without speaking a word, and convey volumes of emotions through subtle expression and action. His past resume includes bit parts in TV and movies, and I'm hoping this roll will lead to the recognition he deserves.

Watch full episodes of "The Big Bang Theory"

V8-Fusion

This is something every human being should drink at least every other day.

Fruits and vegies are an essential part of the human diet. We all know this. I also know I just don't eat enough of either. That's why V8 and V8 Fusion are so cool. These I can drink with breakfast, so I'm getting the nutrients I know my body needs to keep me energetic and feeling good. And, yes. It works.

Another awesome juice is POMwonderful. Check out their website at POMWonderful.com

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Wizard & Dragon Tart Warmer

I love the smell of a good scented candle, and Yankee Candle has some of the best scented candles made, but they're expensive - although worth it - and not always readily available. I've always thought the tart-burner was a cool idea but never liked the design choices I'd seen - until I came across the Wizard & Dragon Tart Burner. This is incredible looking and I certainly don't mind having it setting out on a table.

Yankee Candle has some of the best scented tart choices. Citrus & Sage is a good one, but the one I'm using now (don't remember the name) is left over from the holidays and smells like a cross between a cigar store and a ski lodge. Everyone -men and women alike- goes "Wow, your place smells incredible!"

Mulching Blades

I really enjoy mowing and watering a lawn. It's kind of a therapeutic thing. And, for me, this product makes it all the better. It just makes sense... ya know?

If you don't have a mulching mower and, surprisingly, not too many people seem to be aware of the benefits, then this is something you definitely want to get for your mower. Mulching your lawn as you mow chops the clippings into tiny strands and distributes them down under the grass where they naturally weed and feed your lawn. The benefits are numerous:

• You can remove that heavy bag for good. No more stopping to empty after every couple of passes.
• Without the bag your mower will be lighter, allowing your gas to go a little further. And your lighter mower will be easier to maneuver.
• You'll never have to rake fall leaves again! Mulched into your lawn, leaves and falling tree flower pedals are nutrient-rich and make excellent food for your lawn.
• You'll save on the money, labor and time you expend if you've been using a weed & feed product.
• Mulching protects the soil from erosion and reduces compaction from heavy rains.
• It conserves moisture, reducing the need for frequent watering, and maintains an even soil temperature and reduces weed growth.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see the logic of attaching one of these babies to your lawn mower.

Mulching blades can be found at hardware stores and online (see amazon link below), and can be fitted to most mowers. They range in price from $10 to $40.

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An Easy Way to Lower Your Energy Bill

I heard about this tip through SUB (Springfield Utility Board). I turned off my computer (and speakers and screen) and my entertainment system. Both systems are plugged into power strips - one for each. Then I went and checked the little wheel on my power box. It was moving, but fairly slowly. This is good, I thought. Then I went back inside, turned off both power strips and went back out to check the wheel again. It had almost stopped! This meant, while those power strips were on - even though both systems were off - it was still drawing electricity and costing me money. Now, when I leave for work, and while I'm in bed, I turn my power strips off (except for my VCR which is plugged into the wall. It needs re-setting every time it's unplugged). This simple thing is lowering my utility bill AND saving energy. A very good thing!

Coffee Press

My first taste of coffee that hadn't come from a can was when I was eighteen years old and visiting a belly dancer friend in North Hollywood, CA. While watching her show at The Bengal Tiger, I was brought a turkish coffee. It was thick and black and grainy and came in a tiny little cup. I remember adding a lot of sugar.

Skip ahead about ten years. I'm on the road (Northwest circuit) with a top-40 hard rock band. The guitarist, a caffeine junkie, introduces me to espresso, double espresso, chocolate covered espresso beans and the Melitta "pour-over" drip system.

From that I graduated to the espresso maker, making my strong, black coffee one cup at a time. Soon afterward, I discovered spices that can be sprinkled over the grounds before brewing: cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice. Did I miss any? I experimented with different blends of beans, and have now settled on a blend I like - for the moment: a mix of several dark beans, such as double french, espresso, and midnight (or any other black bean which happens to be available at the time), with just a sprinkling of flavored beans such as hazelnut. Mix well in the bag before grinding. Although I have a grinder, I grind them at the store because it's more convenient.

Over the holiday season, one of my cousins and his wife (the family Wiccan) turned me on the the coffee press and the electric tea pot. The press is a pour-over system which delivers coffe shop-quality java... as strong or weak as you like it. "The idea is to get the oils, as well," says my cousin. And the electric tea pot boils water in just a few short minutes then shuts off automatically.

This is the system I now use. I picked up a small press (pictured) at Bi-Mart for about $5. I still brew it one cup at a time, with one of the spices mentioned above, a heaping teaspoon of brown sugar, a little half & half and a bit of flavored creamer. It's a delicious, indulgent way to start the day. I highly recommend it.

Bake Chewy Cookies Every Time

When I make chocolate chip cookies I add half a mashed up banana to the mix, before adding the flour. It gives the cookies a unique flavor - chocolate and banana taste great together! - and they never get hard.

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Velveeta Cheese

I love the flavor of Velveeta cheese, and nothing melts as well. But it's always been a guilty pleasure because of Velveeta's bad image. But the truth is, Velveeta is made using the same process as aged cheeses but, where the whey (which is high in protein) is typically removed and left out, it is put back in when making Velveeta. This is what gives it its smooth consistency. I learned this watching "How It's Made" on the History Channel.

So go ahead, enjoy your Velveeta. Not only is it real cheese, but it's higher in protein than any of the others.

Looney Tunes: Golden Collection

I don't think there are proper words to justly describe the writing, artistic and comedic genius of the original Looney Tunes cartoons, so I won't even try. But, If you're a Looney Tunes fan like me, this is the only way you're going to get your Looneys fix, because the Cartoon Network doesn't air them (is that a travesty, or what?!) and no, Looney Babies doesn't count.

Thankfully, there's the Golden Collection volumes 1 through 5 - possibly more in the future. Each boxed set comes with four discs, and each disc has fifteen cartoons on it. That's hours and hours of silly jocularity! I only have volumes 1 and 2 and have yet to be able to sit through them both (eight discs of 15!) consecutively. That's just too much hilarity for one man! Typically, one or two discs, and I'm good for a while.

And Looney Tunes as occasional babysitter? You could certainly do worse: My love of wry, sarcastic, intelligent humor is a direct result of growing with Looney Tunes - I learned the above word 'jocularity' from Daffy Duck, and my appreciation of classical music comes from watching, you guessed it, Looney Tunes.