The Celestron FirstScope is the best pick for an absolute beginner level telescope. Most entry-level scopes are crap, and most useable scopes start at $300. Since the FirstScope costs only… Read the rest of the article: Best beginner telescope: Celestron FirstScope

When I was editor of Craft magazine, I always looked forward to Wendy Jehanara Tremayne’s next “Re-Fitted” column, which profiled a waste-conscious maker and included a how-to project by that… Read the rest of the article: The Good Life Lab: A modern manual for living off-the-grid

Because most psychedelic drugs are illegal, reliable consumer information about them is rare. For many years I have been looking for a comparative survey of available “head drugs” that would… Read the rest of the article: Consumer guide to drugs: Tripology

After nearly a lifetime of getting Costanza’ed in the bottom by my wallet, I began to use this 35¢ tool and have never looked back, so to speak. It firmly… Read the rest of the article: 35-Cent Money Clip

OXO has a serious presence in my kitchen, but the one- and two-cup adjustable measuring cups I added four months ago might be the last items I would sell. They… Read the rest of the article: OXO adjustable measuring cup

Earlier this year I purchased a Parker Jotter stainless steel pen based purely on its cool factor as being the pen that James Bond used in the 1995 film Goldeneye,… Read the rest of the article: Parker Jotter Pen: Lightweight, smooth-writing pen

I use well-seasoned cast iron and carbon steel pans for the better part of my cooking. To clean them, I’ve used the same bamboo wok brush than I bought at… Read the rest of the article: Bamboo wok brush: easy, no-soap wok and pan cleaning tool

It’s always fun to cruise through Fantagraphics’s store in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle. You never know what you might stumble across amid the new comics releases, independent zines and… Read the rest of the article: Sign Game: tricks of the trade from a professional sign painter

I’ve owned a Casio Pathfinder Solar Atomic series watch for about 5 years. The best things about it: 1) it’s solar powered (I don’t like replacing batteries) and 2) it’s… Read the rest of the article: Casio Pathfinder Solar Atomic Watch

The Mirado Black Warrior pencil is made in the USA from high quality materials, available practically everywhere, and, very importantly, cheap (hey, it’s a pencil, after all). The Black Warrior’s… Read the rest of the article: Inexpensive smooth writing pencil: Mirado Black Warrior

While opening my Mac Mini to add RAM and replace the hard drive I dropped two screws. They rolled under the couch to be lost in the dust bunnies. The… Read the rest of the article: Magnetic pick-up tool

I didn’t know I had knots in my calves, but I did. I spend a lot of time at the computer, and I play some video games, which means that… Read the rest of the article: High density foam rollers for post workout massage

Living in Southern California, we have an abundance of citrus nearly year round — lemons, limes, kumquats, grapefruits, and more. I also have a household of beverage enthusiasts, from my… Read the rest of the article: Ra Chand Citrus Press squeezes every last drop of juice from fruit

This cheese grater has become essential in my kitchen. It won’t take up extra space and grates better than any others I’ve owned. Cheeses ranging in hardness from Parmesan to… Read the rest of the article: Microplane professional extra coarse grater

The Manager Swiss Army Knife has been in my pocket for nearly 2 years. This compact tool has all the useful stuff you expect from the line of Swiss Army… Read the rest of the article: Victorinox Swiss Army Manager Pocket Knife

I bought six of these two weeks ago just because the technology — a totally self-contained heating element that gives you a hot meal via steam heat in 10 minutes… Read the rest of the article: Chef 5 Minute Meals: Self-cooking meal-in-a-box

We plan activities around weather forecasts. However, the information is often from sensors far from our location. I want data from my backyard with the convenience of not having to… Read the rest of the article: Indoor/Outdoor Humidex Thermometer

I’m no neat freak, but nothing looks more disgusting than a stove caked with splattered grease, melted cheese and old marinara sauce. And while I don’t think I’m exactly sloppy,… Read the rest of the article: Cerama Bryte Cooktop Cleaner

Several years ago I needed about half a dozen tools for a series of workshops I was hosting. I needed a hand tool that could safely and easily shape plastic… Read the rest of the article: Trauma shears: Inexpensive plastic and sheet metal cutter

I’ve been using this stylus like crazy and I am in love! It’s a touch sensitive stylus for drawing and painting on the iPad which works incredibly well. Because of… Read the rest of the article: Best iPad stylus: Pogo Connect