Housewares

Smoking foods used to be a chore until the Orion cooker came along. The Orion Cooker smokes meats in half the time without the fuss of traditional smokers. Users will be enjoying other activities while their ribs, turkeys, roasts and salmon cook to perfection without so much as a quick peek. Read more

According to Javelin Strategy and Research, 8.9 million US adults were victims of identity theft in 2005. In addition, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center victims spend an average of nearly $1,500 in out-of-pocket expenses to fix their identity problems. One of the simplest ways to protect our identities – and potentially dad’s wallet – is to shred all sensitive information before throwing it away. Read more

Maybe they should rename that ‘friends and family’ telephone plan to ‘friends and family and secret agents’ plan. That’s thanks to the National Security Agency which is tapping into about a gabillion domestic calls in an effort to seek out terrorists. As a result, every time I answer the phone I take a breath and ask: Can EVERYONE hear me now? It has to be overwhelming for this entirely new breed of first responders. So I feel it’s my patriotic duty to give them the 4-1-1 on my digits so they can save time and cross me off their listener list. Read more

There’s no better food in summer than anything fresh off the grill. Whether you prefer hamburgers, veggie burgers, chicken, hot dogs, or steak, the grill flavor signifies summer in a way that no other does. Grilling is easy enough—when there’s a grill around, that is. Portable grills are key to making sure you take the flavor of summer with you, wherever you go, all summer long. Thermos has a new portable grill in their collection—the Grill2Go Advantage, perfect for all of your adventures. Read more

From clearing spring storm debris and pruning to removing menacing vines and bushes cluttering your yard, check out the innovative Alligator Lopper from Black and Decker. It makes outdoor chores a snap. This 4.5 amp electric powered hybrid chain saw, pruner literally chops your outdoor chores in half.

The first step toward good lawn fertilization is to have your soil tested if you suspect problems. A soil test will let you know what types of nutrients your lawn needs to develop the green, lush turf every homeowner is after. Your local garden center or county extension service Read more

Never lose track of Fido again with the GlobalPetFinder navigation system for your dog. The device incorporates GPS and two-way wireless to help people find their lost pets and easily snaps onto a pet's collar. It uses a global positioning system that identifies the exact location of the device and delivers a map or address to a personal computer, PDA or by typing in F-O-U-N-D on your cell phone.

Testing booze under the guise of research is almost criminal - but hey, someone's got to do it! So without any further ado, here are some certified BEST-tested libations.

The Glenlivet Cellar Collection 1964
Only 800 bottles of this single-malt Scotch whiskey, matured for two decades in sherry and traditional oak casts, are available in the United States. Master distiller Jim Cryle leaves the Scotch in full-cask strength, forgoing the filtering process that dilutes the whiskey. The result: a rich, spicy Scotch whiskey that lingered long after we finished our Cubans. Each bottle comes with a collectable wooden box. ($2,000; www.theglenlivet.com/society)

The latest culinary contretemps has left me in a sticky situation. To use my Teflon or not to use my Teflon? That is the question. Whether it is nobler to fry my egg in my non-stick pan and face an unknown risk of cancer or take up butter and oil and suffer the clogging of arteries and needless hours of dish pan hands. Now, after years of simmering questions, Teflon's safety has come to a boiling point. This week the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to name perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) a main ingredient used to make the substance non-stick, as a chemical non-grata.

Now consumers can enjoy the performance of dual-fuel cooking without the hassle of installing new electric lines in their homes. The industry-first GE Profile free-standing 120-volt dual-fuel range offers the best of both cooking worlds - responsiveness of gas on the cooktop with the performance and even heating of an electric oven. Consumers with a gas line in their kitchen can plug this range into any dedicated standard 120V/15amp electrical outlet.