Make tarp weights out of old PET bottles.

There seems to be no end to the uses people can think of for our everyday used PET bottle. Here is one we have not seen before. For those occasions when you cannot use a rope to tie down a tarp, fill used PET bottles with water or sand, screw on the special cap, and attach the clamp to the tarp. USD 2:40 at Lee Valley.

Simple carrying device for largish PET bottles.

Large PET bottles can be a pain to carry around. This simple carrier handle addition to larger bottles (like 1.5 and 3 liters) makes them easier to carry. We have never seen it before now, but it is no doubt available in lots of places. we found these in Hanoi, and they were put in place after purchase on the bigger bottles. Unfortunately the handles are not removable once they have been pushed in place. Re-use would of course have been preferable…brbr

Eye-glass frames with its own carrying strap.

Anybody who watches television with any kind of frequency may recognize the glasses. You can for example see actor Robert Joy wear them as a forensic doctor in CSI New York. If the producers of the series thought these frames enhanced his geekiness, or if it is a simple product placement, we do not know. The frames, however, seems to have become quite popular lately, with the smart magnet on the bridge to make them easy to put on and take off. More info on Clic’s own web site.brbr

Crank powered rechargeable battery.

This small spare generator and battery could be perfect for anybody who has to be busy with their hands. Two minutes of turning gives six minutes of yada-yada time. Fully charged it provides 2-5 hours of play time on a MP3 player, five hours of talk time or up to two days of stand-by time on the phone. It is about USD 40:- and is promised to suit most MP3 players (like the iPod), portable games, cell phones, PDAs, and USB powered accessories.brbr

Corner power extension box.

Why have we not seen this before? It should not be that hard to come up with. Not that we have thought of it ourselves, but just the same. It sports five outlets, generously spaced to give room for a few bulky adapters It is USD 12:- a piece if you buy a couple of them at once.brbr

Gorilla Gripper helps you carry drywall sheets.

A sheet of drywall is not exactly easy to handle. Not extremely heavy perhaps, but hard to get a grip on. The Gorilla Gripper is meant to make it easier. You put the grip in the center of the board, and when you lift, the grip squeezes the board and holds it tight. The heavier the board, the tighter the grip. The Gorilla Gripper is USD 50:- on Amazon.brbr

Two chairs in one.

Want a rocking chair on an ordinary one? Want both, but do not have the room for them? Now you can have both chairs all in one. Portuguese designer Luís Porém has designed the doubly functional Inverso chair. All you have to do is tun it over as you preferences change. It would look great on the balcony.brbr

Hands free level device.

With its u-shape, this spring loaded level tool can straddle standard stock up to 2. It also works perfectly on standing girders with the v-shaped notch. In those cases you fasten the level with the elastic strap. USD 10:50 at Lee Valley.brbr

Bluetooth headset with telescoping microphone.

The Joby company is reported to present this Bluetooth headset at CES in Las Vegas. It is called Zivo, and it has one feature that we would appreciate a lot. The telescoping mike. We do not like all the headsets where the mike sits somewhere in the vicinity of your neck. With this solution you can have a choice, and it promises to be perfect in noisy places. No price yet, though.brbr

Ten ways to live longer – and enjoy every day.

It does not all have to be about no-fat lattes and treadmills. There are apparently ways of achieving longevity that are quite definitely enjoyable. Like the following list compiled by behavior expert Mark Stibich. Among other activities, he recommends drinking red wine, eating dark chocolate, smiling more (even if you don’t feel like it), getting enough sleep, and having more sex. The whole list after the jump.