Gadget

One of the new laws that went into effect at the start of the new year has to do with wine in the state of Illinois. This year restaurant-goers in the state of Illinois will no longer have to down that bottle of wine before leaving. This makes them one in 40 states to do so.

The new law allows a patron to remove one unsealed and partially consumed bottle of wine for off-premise consumption, provided that the patron purchased a meal and consumed a portion of the bottle of wine with the meal on the restaurant premises. In addition, the partially consumed bottle of wine must be securely sealed by a restaurant employee or owner prior to removal from the premises and placed in a transparent, one-time-use, tamper-proof bag, and restaurant staff must provide a dated receipt for the bottle of wine to the patron.

See that part about the tamper-proof bag? That's where the folks over at Wine Doggy Bag come in. They make tamper-proof, transparent, one-time use bags that will meet the requirements of the law. With an easy to carry handle, it's the perfect way to get that merlot to go.

Find out whether or not your state lets you take home your wine.

Source: The Telegraph

Sometimes I wonder how inventions like this one keep getting made.

This particular device is called the Twirling Spaghetti Fork and well ladies and gentlemen, it does just that. It's a motorized fork that twirls spaghetti. I just keep thinking about what if you put it in your mouth and somehow it kept twirling? Talk about unpleasant. However, I'm sure if you had a friend, or a kid (although you'd probably want to supervise them), that is really into spaghetti, it would probably make a nice gag gift. It'll set you back $8.99, plus the cost of two AAA batteries.

Twelve years ago Lorraine Lee of Ottawa, Canada changed the world of grating forever. Tired of dealing with her old grater, she picked up her husband’s fancy new woodworking tool and voila! history was made.

And thank you Lorraine! The microplane grater is by far my favorite kitchen gadget. With its super fine teeth, it upgrades grating from a chore to a fun task and cuts through tough blocks of Parmesan cheese like a hot knife through butter. If you’ve ever wondered why grating has to be so frustrating, then look no further.

Now at the risk of being pummeled by your old box graters, I have to say, get your own Microplane Grater ($12.95) and you’ll be “grate”ful - sorry! I couldn't resist!

Two American MBA students are working on the creation of the "Stridekick," a small disposable device that attaches to a shoelace and determines the total amount of miles that have been logged on that particular pair of shoes.

The device also alerts the runner once certain mileage levels are passed, "allowing the individual to make a more informed and healthier decision about replacing the shoes," according to a press release.

Considering both the creators are male, I have a simple suggestion for the grantees: if you're worried if your tennis shoes are too old, ask a girl.

Apparently, podiatrists and running experts agree that running shoes should be replaced every 350-500 miles. This is typically long before external signs of wear are evident to the runner. For more about the StrideKick, just read more

You know that recipe you've been avoiding because it calls for three egg yolks and you just can't seem to get the hang of egg separation? Well dig it back out because this extendable egg separator is going to be your saving grace. Simply place it over any bowl (it can fit bowls 5 to 9 inches) and crack your egg over it. The whites will pass through while the yolk remains in the center. Then move the yolk to another container and start all over again. You'll have three perfect egg yolks in no time.

Note: It's best to start with cold eggs. However if your eggs need to be room temperature for your recipe, cover yolks with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming.

Tired of waking up to that annoying cell phone or alarm clock? Get up on the right side of the bed with the iHome iH5 Dual-Alarm Clock Radio for iPod, which offers iPod, AM or FM radio, and buzzer alarm options. It's compatible with all iPod models, including the shuffle, and will charge your beloved gadget while you sleep. The sure alarm battery backup maintains clock setting and ensures alarm wake time in case your power goes off during the night. Just don't set it to play your disco mix. No one wants to hear that at 6 a.m.
Get one here for $89.99.