Housewares

Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- (International Builders' Show) -- Sears, Roebuck and Co. has developed a breakthrough innovation and enhancement to its popular three-door refrigerator. Unveiled today at the International Builders' Show in Orlando, the new Kenmore Elite Trio offers both ice and water through the door -- an engineering feat for a "bottom freezer."

Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers will soon be looking at their kitchen faucets in a new way, thanks to the launch of Moen Incorporated's integrated filtration system, featuring ChoiceFlo. The new system was launched today at the International Builders' Show in Orlando.

You’ll never miss a play with the Gourmet 3000 Sports Bar and Grill. This innovative Barbecue and Entertainment Island is the ultimate in tricked out grill design. Features include an audio/video system complete with three 17-inch flatscreen TV’s, a DVD/CD player with stereo/surround sound marine-grade speakers, Integrated Waterfall, a Five-burner grill with a cooking area that's 25% larger than most any other manufacturer, Heat-resistant knobs that also feature a child-safety locking system, Four (4) automated retractable awnings provide coverage to everyone around the bar, Refrigerator, Seating for six, and Stainless-Steel storage drawers with double-door storage space. The Gourmet 3000 Sports Bar and Grill is the ultimate in Home Resort Style Entertaining. $27,000 (prices start at $15,000 for similar models). www.calspas.com

December 13, 2005 – Gaggenau, the world's preeminent brand of high-performance restaurant-grade cooking technology for the modern home, has been honored in one of the most prestigious and long-running design competitions in the world, the GOOD DESIGN� competition at the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design. After the judges reviewed entries submitted from around the globe, the CM 200 coffee machine was awarded this esteemed mark of distinction.

Dec. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With the average American home size increasing 137 percent since 1950, Hoover estimates that the average American now pushes a vacuum the equivalent of more than 18 miles a year. To help cover that mileage, the company is introducing the Hoover Z Bagless Upright Vacuum, the world's first sports utility vacuum designed to seamlessly conquer any surface. The Hoover Z Bagless Upright is a first- of-its-kind cleaner that comes fully loaded for an entirely new performance in the floor-care category.

It's like product placement on steroids. Just this month two of the tiniest hamlets in America traded in their names for cash and prizes. With populations smaller than your average off-peak subway car, both voted to surrender the hometown moniker for the name of a commercial enterprise. The signs of the times? Dish, Texas and SecretSanta.com, Idaho -- once Clark, Texas and Santa, Idaho.

According to the National Safe Kids Campaign, over 40% of residential fire-related injuries among children result from panic and irrational behavior, such as hiding under the bed or in a closet. Many adults are also confused by the sudden loud noise of an alarm. Rather than a shrill alarm, the KidSmart Vocal Smoke Detector lets you record a message providing instructions in case of a fire emergency. Research has shown that children react more effectively in an emergency with a 'familiar voice' from a parent or other loved one. The KidSmart Vocal Smoke Detector provides the means of alerting your children (whether awake or in a sound sleep) and instructing them to get to safety. $69.95; www.kidsmartvsa.com

Nov. 16, 2005--With the new GE Countertop Microwave Oven with Rotisserie, consumers may never want to use their ovens again! This innovative machine has an upper and lower heating element to grill, brown or broil foods. Its large, 1.2 cu. ft. capacity offers plenty of cooking space for family-sized meals. The attractive stainless steel oven is a sleek addition to the countertop and features a stainless with black trim door.

No more spending hours hovering over the ironing board or taking your clothes to the dry cleaner every time you wear them. With a touch of a button, wrinkles and odors like smoke, food, pet odors and perfume will be removed in the time it takes to shower or eat breakfast (just about a half hour) -all from the comfort of your home. Men have no excuse for wearing wrinkled clothes off the floor.

I'm no special prosecutor, but I am getting a tad bit suspicious of the people in my neighborhood. I blame it on Valerie Plame. Fall-out from her "outing" as a CIA agent doesn't just include a couple of federal indictments for Irving Lewis "Scooter" Libby - by the way, you can tell the when someone's in a legal jam by the vast expansion of the person's name in the press. The minute we find out Karl Rove's middle name, you'll know he's toast.