“Standardized mobile phone charger coming to EU—iPhone, too”
via Ars Technica

Energi To Go Brings Portable Power to Gadgets
Energizer is diversifying by adding portable power solutions. Currently available is a portable power pack for cell phones, but new products are coming soon.

“Energizer Offers Portable Power Solutions”
via Coolest Gadgets

Social Networks: Are You Using Them, or Are They Using You?
How much time do you spend on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter? If your answer is: “too much,” find out how you can manage your social network addiction.

“Managing Your Social Network Addiction”
via Stepcase Lifehack

How-to Get the Most Cash for Your Yard Sale Items
From when to hold the yard sale, to what items sell well, and other tips, The Yard Sale Queen has your guide to getting the most out of your old stuff.

“The Yard Sale Queen’s Guide to Getting Cash for Your Clutter”
via Bottom Line Secrets

New Law Allows Colorado Residents to Collect Rainwater
Good news for Colorado residents looking for green solutions through rainwater harvesting. A new law now allows people on private wells to collect rainwater, which is a popular way to water gardens in the arid west.

“It’s Now Legal to Catch a Raindrop in Colorado”
via New York Times

Netbook
Netbooks are an ultra light and small version of the laptop. They are used primarily for internet browsing, email, and other web-based applications that don’t require loads of hard drive space. They are often significantly cheaper than traditional laptops, so if your work can be done online using web-based applications, they might just be the portable computer for you.

What type of web-based office applications exist? Plenty! From online fax services to photo editors, spreadsheets, word processors, and more, many offices can function without software at all. Check out these posts for specific online applications.

“Five Free Office Applications to Aid Computer Users”

“Web-based Computing Tools for Your Mobile Lifestyle”

Smart Phone
Cell phones aren’t merely cell phones these days. Now they are smart phones. Smart phones, such as Apple’s iPhone and the Blackberry Storm, offer advanced computer-like capabilities including keyboards, large screens, internet access, and plenty of software applications. Many people use them as their PDA, or Personal Digital Assistant.

For an example of some applications offered on the iPhone, read “Mobile Office Tools for iPhone and iPod Touch Devices.”

Portable Printers
If you find local business center print services a hassle, or internet-based printer options aren’t your thing, a portable printer might be the way to go. Though expensive, portable printers will allow you to print maps and directions, contracts, spreadsheets, documents, and other important business papers anywhere you go. They connect to your computer wirelessly via Bluetooth or WiFi, so no linking cord is necessary. Portable printers are great options for business people who frequently travel via car (such as a real estate agent), as they are not yet small enough to be great flight companions.

Portable Projector
Do you travel to give presentations? If so, you’ll undoubtedly find a portable projector handy. Most portable projectors weigh less than 5 pounds and offer numerous easy-to-use options, so you don’t have to fiddle with the projector at your destination. Or find out the place you’re presenting doesn’t have a projector at all…

For more information on Portable Projectors, read “Top 5 Portable Projectors Under 5 Lbs.”

USB Flash Drive
Offering compact, removable and rewriteable storage space up to 128 GB, USB flash drives come in numerous designs and styles and slip easily into a computer’s USB port. USB flash drive makers offer something for everyone—literally. You can buy a USB drive shaped like a guitar, a shoe, your favorite video game character, a severed thumb, or a Lego Block. Most USB drives weigh less than an ounce, making them ultra portable and suited to the mobile office worker.

You may also be interested in the USB Battery Charger from Useful Things, which allows you to charge two AA batteries.

USB Power Inverter
USB Power Inverters, such as The Smart AC 120, plug into your vehicle’s outlet and allow you to charge laptops, cell phones, game consoles, small power towels, and other AC devices. They also come equipped with a USB port for charging USB devices. Power Inverters are also available without the USB drive option.

Bluetooth
As more and more states ban cell phones while driving, Bluetooth capable hands-free devices are becoming a necessity. Put simply, Bluetooth technology is a small computer chip that allows a user to connect devices wirelessly using a radio frequency. Bluetooth technology allows cell phone users to wear an ear piece that’s not connected to their cell phone, yet still make and receive calls from their cell phone. That’s not all Bluetooth can do, however. Use Bluetooth to network between computers, wirelessly connect between your computer and external device, such as a mouse or printer, connect to the internet, sync your mp3 player with your car radio, and more.

Mobile Broadband and WiFi Access Cards
When you’re traveling, it can be hard to find secure and reliable internet access. To solve this problem, purchase a mobile broadband device for your laptop and subscribe to a plan (through Verizon, for example). If you don’t want to pay for a plan, try a WiFi access adapter card to help you locate free WiFi hot spots. Some WiFi adapters allow you to pick up signal within 1,000 feet of a hot spot, so you can work in your vehicle or other space while still taking advantage of the wireless connection.

“Kiplinger Recovery Index”
via Kiplinger

How-to Synchronize Your Body’s Clock for Better Sleep
Adequate sleep is important for a healthy mind and body. Here are five ways to synchronize your body to get better rest.

“5 Ways to Synchronize Your Body’s Clock”
via Reader’s Digest

Protect Your Skin with Non-Toxic Bug Spray
Most bug sprays contain harsh chemicals. Check out these non-toxic alternatives.

“Roundup: Non-Toxic Natural Bug Sprays”
via re-nest

Find the Best Place for Your Wireless Router
Different areas of your house will provide better, or worse, signal for your wireless router. Use this heat mapping software to find the best place for yours.

“Wireless Signal Strength Heat Mapping Software”
via HacknMod

Crafty Ideas for Your Old Analog TV
With the recent switch to digital, there’s no longer any use for old analog TVs. Or is there? Check out these crafty ideas.

“How to Repurpose Your Analog TV”
via Unplgged

Kayaking
Kayaking is an adventure and good exercise in any type of water, whether it be a calm bay or whitewater. Because you sit upright with your legs outstretched, it’s important to have loose hamstrings and strong abdominal muscles. Regular kayaking will work both of these muscles groups, in addition to the muscles in the arms, shoulders, neck, and back. In particular, kayaking will exercise the Rotator Cuff in the shoulder, the biceps, triceps, trapezius, latissimus dorsi, rhomboids, and the obliques.

According to Best River Adventures an hour of moderate kayaking will burn roughly 300 calories for a roughly 130 pound person; 350 calories for a 155 pound person; and 430 calories for a 190 pound person. More strenuous kayaking will burn more calories.

*Canoeing is an easier, less strenuous option.

Snorkeling
Snorkeling is a fun, recreational activity that allows you to see amazing underwater life. Though often thought of as more of a leisure sport, snorkeling nonetheless burns between 295 and 430 calories per hour depending on body size. That puts snorkeling right up there with kayaking, downhill skiing, skateboarding, and low-impact aerobics! Snorkeling uses several muscle groups, including the abdominal muscles, the glutes, arms, legs, and hips.

*Once you learn to snorkel, consider scuba diving, which burns between 400 and 600 calories per hour depending on body size.

Rock Climbing
Rock climbing has been touted as one of the best all-around workouts because it works nearly every muscle group, and it is a dynamic muscle exercise, which means your muscles are flexed and stretched for long periods of time. This causes your heart to work harder, and your respiration rate to increase. Rock climbing, therefore, is truly an aerobic activity. According to Nutri Strategy Calorie Counter, rock climbing burns an awesome 649-949 calories per hour when ascending, and between 472 and 690 calories per hour when rapelling.

Rock climbing not only increases strength and endurance, it exercises the mind. In order to successfully climb a rock, you must choose a path and navigate tricky terrain. This develops the decision-making, visualization, and concentration areas of the brain.

Mountain Biking
If exploring rugged and awe-inspiring terrain is your thing, try hopping on a mountain bike to do so. Mountain biking requires balance, endurance, concentration, and confidence, and will likewise help you develop these attributes. Though mountain biking primarily works your leg muscles, your arms, shoulders, abdominals, and glutes, are also used. Depending on terrain, mountain biking can burn 600 calories or more per hour for a 150 pound person.

* If navigating the back woods isn’t for you, try a bicycle tour. Bicycle tours are now offered all over the United States and abroad.

Backpacking
Take the day hike to a new level, and make it an overnight trip. Backpacking provides many opportunities to see spectacular scenery that’s not accessible any other way. It’s not only fun and adventurous, it’s a great workout, too. On average, backpacking burns around 500 calories for a 150 pound person, so if your trip takes 5 hours, you’ve burned 2,500 calories! The primary muscles used in backpacking are the legs, hips, and glutes. You will also need strong back and stomach muscles to carry the weight of your pack.

Backpacking will require outdoor survivor skills. If you lack basic first aid, navigational, plant identification, and other survivor knowledge, be sure to hire a guide, or take a survival course.

Dude Ranch
For the ultimate adventure, head to Dude Ranch for a vacation filled with genuine rancher experiences. Enjoy pack trips, cattle drives and round-ups, roping, horseback riding, fly fishing, and much more. Working and guest dude ranches exist all over the United States and Canada, so pick a location you’re interested in and have fun and get fit while learning what it takes to be a “cowboy.”

“Google Voice– Not Yet Public, Already Poised for Greatness”
via Gear Diary

Is Windows 7 More Eco-Friendly?
Will Windows 7 really save more energy? For corporate clients, the answer may be yes.

“How Windows 7 is Better for the Earth”
via Eco Geek

Tips for Hosting a Successful Dinner Party
From how many people to invite, to what to serve, to how to behave, these tips will surely make for a successful dinner party.

“Tips for Hosting a Dinner Party”
via Five Cent Nickel

Online Tools to Help you Save Fuel
Using less fuel in your vehicle not only helps the environment, it reduces the amount of money flowing out of your pocketbook. Check out these 7 websites that will help you save on fuel.

“7 Excellent Web Apps to Track and Save on Gas”
via Dumb Little Man

Unclutter Cables with Cordotz Cable Organizers
If your computer, stereo, television, and other cables are a cluttered mess, these cable organizers from Cordotz could be the solution.

“Cordotz Clear Cable Confusion”
via Unclutterer

Should You be Making Your Own Dog Food?
There are plenty of nutritional reasons to make your own dog food. Find out if it could be the right move for you.

“Make Your Own Dog Food”
via Bargaineering