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From the monthly archives:

December 2004

Computer Microscope: QX5

December 31, 2004

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the QX5 digital microscope, costing only $89 and marketed to kids, is being used by scientists, doctors and researchers.
The microscope costs less than one-tenth of its professional-grade counterparts. Created by Digital Blue, the microscope comes with a powerful lens and can be used to send images over the [...]

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LED Floodlights

December 31, 2004

Enlux, a company in Arizona, has created floodlights built from LEDs. They did this by removing the diodes from their individual plastic housings and clustering them on a heat-dissipating circuit board, known as a light engine. They also created finned aluminum housing that spreads the heat across its surface. The 22-watt floodlight ($80) gives [...]

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Solar Heated Outdoor Shower

December 31, 2004

This looks interesting — it’s a solar shower that heats 5 1/2 gallons of water with a built-in solar collector.
Created in Europe, the imported shower is able to heat water to 140°F in 1-2 hours in sunny weather. The manufacturer claims that the shower is capable of capturing heat from the ambient temperature in the [...]

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Remove Chlorine From Your Bath Efficiently

December 29, 2004

We previously noted that we consider Vitamin C to be the best way to remove chlorine from your shower water. But what about baths? Surely soaking in chlorinated water is just as harmful. Indeed it is — especially for children.
If you have a shower filter, one way to avoid this is to fill your bath [...]

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Human Powered Snow Thrower

December 28, 2004

This new snow throwing tool, called a “Whovel”, uses your body weight to lift and throw snow and slush.
After suffering repeated back injuries, the company founder began working on snow removal designs that could reduce back injuries, while avoiding the many problems associated with gas-powered snow blowers.
Available from: Whovel.Com ($119 + $35 shipping)

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VoIP Internet Phone Service

December 27, 2004

VoIP (Voice Over IP) is telephone service which allows you to use your internet connection to make telephone calls.
Instead of making calls through regular telephone lines, you place calls through a phone connected to your broadband service (e.g. cable or DSL). You can read about more VoIP technology here.
Most people use VoIP save on the [...]

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Best and Worst Personal Care Products: Ratings

December 23, 2004

A while ago we published a link to a site that rates Personal Care Products. We had some requests from readers who were interested in finding the report, so here is an update.
The EWG has also published the most comprehensive study on chemical contaminants found in humans. Blood and urine from nine people was tested [...]

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Cell Phone Reviews

December 20, 2004

There is a wide range of cell phones available today. Your choice is often narrowed by the fact that particular cell phones will only work with specific carriers. For example, if you buy a Nokia phone, it will only work with Cingular as the carrier.
As far as cell phone service is concerned, Verizon is top [...]

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Panasonic Toughbook Update

December 20, 2004

The Toughbook computers by Panasonic are among the few consumer-oriented computers that are “ruggedized” to resist drops and the hazards of travel.
Toughbooks have magnesium alloy cases and dent resistant lids. A shock-mounted hard drive insulates and protects data from the bumps and knocks of the road. Toughbooks also have good battery life, Panasonic says it [...]

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100% Corn-Based Packaging Now In Use

December 17, 2004

Cargill Dow’s innovative line of 100% corn-based bioplastic “NatureWorks Packaging” is now being used by a number of food companies to package fresh produce and salads. Dow Chemicals, a partner in the Cargill Dow company, has a questionable environmental and ethical track record. However, the Natureworks product is making breakthroughs for bioplastic into the food [...]

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Top Rated Microwaves

December 16, 2004

The current top-rated microwaves are the “GE Profile Countertop Microwave JE1860″ and the “Panasonic Genius NN-T993“. They are recommended based on their size, features and power output (see the review links below).
The GE model costs around $170 and the Panasonic costs around $120. The Panasonic has slightly larger cooking space, and has a stainless steel [...]

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Pure Chocolate: Raw Cacao Nibs

December 15, 2004

You may have tried a dark chocolate bar with over 70% cacao, but have you tried raw criollo cacao nibs?
Cacao is the bean that is ground up and blended to make chocolate. “Nibs” are raw beans that have been peeled. Raw cacao nibs can be eaten by themselves or sprinkled on top of your favourite [...]

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Indestructible Touch Sensitive LEDs

December 14, 2004

These “Indium” lights use lithium-ion battery technology with high-intensity LEDs to produce a powerful light in a very small package.
The Indium is controlled by a touch sensitive switch and has no moving parts. The casing is machined from solid aluminium bar stock on computer controlled machines, and is virtually indestructible

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Free Online Books: MotherNature Bookshelf

December 14, 2004

MotherNature.Com, a natural products store, has twenty-one books about healing available for online reading. The books are all searchable and web-enabled in their entirety (through a partnership with Rodale).
We like the search feature so much we’ve reproduced it here:

 

Some of the titles include: The Doctors Book of Home Remedies, The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook and [...]

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Best No-Frills DVD Player: Panasonic S47K

December 9, 2004

Reviewers say this Panasonic is the best entry-level DVD Player, with intuitive menus, easy setup, and excellent progressive-scan picture quality.
It has a 4:3 shrink function that zooms in on letterboxed movies to fit your non-widescreen TV. It also has built-in Dolby and DTS decoders, along with support for 5.1-channel surround sound.
This is the best choice [...]

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Entry Level Digital Camera: Olympus D-540 Zoom

December 9, 2004

It can be a frustrating search for quality digital camera for under $200.
Many entry-level cameras are poorly built, have terrible image quality, or will only deliver acceptable results under perfect daylight conditions. Against that background, the Olympus D-540 Zoom really stands out, with great color, great flexibility, a 3.3 megapixel CCD coupled with a nice [...]

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Reclaimed Wood Funiture

December 7, 2004

These very attractive tables and chairs are designed by Scrapile.
They are made of reclaimed scraps of wood from local wood shops. The unique texture comes from the combination of the various types of wood that is recovered.
Scrapile is run by Brooklyn-based designers Carlos Salgado and Bart Bettencourt.

For more information contact: Carlos Salgado

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Red Juice: Eco-Intelligent Degreaser & Cleaner

December 6, 2004

Red juice is a powerful but odor-free cleaner and degreaser. It is made from seaweed, soybean extracts, palm kernels, and palm oils.
It can be used around food because it is pH neutral, non-toxic and completely biodegradable. Because of its biodegradability, it can sprayed on surfaces and wiped off without rinsing.
Available from: Clean Team ($10)

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EcoResin Furniture

December 1, 2004

3Form has just introduced a new line of furniture made with Varia Ecoresin. (See our previous post on Ecoresin.)
Varia is manufactured under strict OHSA approved standards and is free of VOC’s, solvents and emissions.
3form ecoresin and Varia are built to exceed LEED accreditation insuring at least 40% post industrial recycled content, and are free [...]

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Merino Wool Baselayer: Hypereffective

December 1, 2004

Most outdoors stores don’t even stock merino wool underwear these days, but it is the hypereffective choice. Pure Merino wool provides a combination of softness and thermal regulation.
Wool insulates even when wet and helps regulate body temperature while absorbing and evaporating moisture to eliminate bacteria and odor.
A women’s version is also available.
Available from: [...]

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