At a time of great reflection, I'm reminded that it's often the simple things in life that bring true happiness. Case in point: the Pulltap's corkscrew from Pulltex. If you've ever worked in a fine restaurant (or dined at one), you'll notice that the servers aren't sheathing 3 lb. mechanical corkscrews that look like they could Transform and Auto-bot all over your Pinot Grigio. Do us a favor: if you own one of those monsters, throw it away.

The Pulltap's Corkscrew is a gold standard in design and function. A practiced user can open a bottle in seconds without butchering the bottle's cork or wrapper. The key is in the patented hinged double lever which helps you pull the cork without cracking/breaking it. A Teflon coated worm makes for easy insertion/removal, and the attached serrated knife lets you slice a quick ring around the foil top for a professional presentation.

We've had our current Pulltap's for about 5 years. I expect it to last another 25. That is unless someone steals it. They have a way of disappearing at parties...  (We're currently on our third.)

Fortunately, you can get yours from Target or Amazon for under $10, or wherever the finest of bar tools are sold. Pick one up today and you won't look back. Best of all, you won't look like a rookie using the wrong tool for the job.

[See the Pulltap's in action after the jump]

As a vegetarian, or pseudo-vegetarian as I like to call myself (I eat fish, eggs and cheese), I've run across few foods that are as wonderfully complete and as wonderfully yummy as quinoa.  Quinoa seeds look suspiciously like a grain, but the crop is a closer relative to leafy green vegetables.  I prefer to think of it like a yummier, better-for-you version of rice or couscous.

Quinoa is rich in protein (complete protein, I might add) and relatively low in fat.  It has balanced essential aminos, is high in fiber, phosphorous, magnesium and iron.  And, bumbumbum... it's gluten FREE!

My favorite quinoa recipe and a few additional resources can be found after the jump:

You can buy quinoa at your local Coop or most places that sell bulk organic foods. You can also order Bob's Red Mill Organic Quinoa Online.

Did Santa give you a iPhone this year? If so, here are our picks for the Top 5 Applications to put on your iPhone right away:

(*All are FREE unless otherwise noted)


Twitteriffic - A slick Twitter interface that lets you tweet, reply, upload photos, check user info, save favorites, and find nearby users on your iPhone's map.  By: Iconfactory



Google Reader - This is an essential App on any screen. The iPhone specific interface doesn't disappoint. Use it to stay up on sites like, mmm, Terifik. 
By: Google



Movies - An incredible resource for movie buffs. You can watch previews, see what's upcoming at the box-office and on DVD, and locate the nearest theater and showtimes using the iPhone's built-in GPS. 
By: Flixster


CraigSearch - A great little App for deal finders. Use it to run quick, intuitive searches on your local Craigslist. Search posts by keyword, narrowing with category/subcategory and a host of other options. When you've struck gold, reply to the original post with a quick tap. 
By: Pheedyou


Nightstand - The fun doesn't have to end when you're sleeping. Nightstand turns your iPhone into a bedroom worthy clock. You can use it in conjunction with your iPhone's alarm settings to replace that old clunker from college.
By: SpoonJuice   [Checkout Lifehacker for a great post on converting your iPhone packaging into a clock stand.]

It's a jungle out there. ~ 4,000 iPhone Apps available for download (and growing). We'll periodically update you with our favorites and new finds.

If Santa rocked this look, I would've been up all night with milk and cookies in hand.
Merry Xmas everyone!
 
For more amazing Beards (and flat-out facial hair magic): attend the biannual World Beard and Mustache Championship in Alaska, May 2009. While you're up there, try the reindeer sausage, and keep an eye on those Russians for us.

[thx Oddee - more great pics on their site]

Celebrating on the town tonight? Limit your eggnog consumption to a responsible level, and keep both hands on the wheel, unless you want to end up like this guy:

Hmmm...

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday from everyone at Terifik.

To all the people in the 505: say "Super Blitz!"



While you're out, pick up this great shirt from Urban Outfitters, There's always time for last trip to the mall.  $28

With less than 48 shopping hours to go, you're running out of options if you plan to shop online and have your gift under the tree. Compound that problem with your typical "impossible to buy for" scenario, mix in some long lines at the mall, and you may be left feeling as defeated as I am right now.

Here's the perfect solution: Gifts.com gift cards. With literally HUNDREDS of participating retailers, this is the mother of all gift cards.
It couldn't be any easier: Buy it online, print the card you receive in your email (or send it to the recipient), and your loved one is free to shop both in-store and online with enough choice to satisfy even the most persnickety consumer.

With hundreds of restaurants, retailers, theaters, hotels, etc. it's a choose-you-own adventure Christmas gift. Here are few of my favorites from the list:

• Banana Republic / Gap / Old Navy
• Barnes and Noble
• iTunes
• Crutchfield
• Overstock
• Sephora
• Ticketmaster

For the full list, and to purchase your last, best gift (with FREE Shipping) visit Gifts.com
~from $25

I recently became a subscriber to Time Magazine, among a few other choice periodicals.  My subscription proved quickly justified by a story in their December 22nd issue on Vertical Farming. 

According to the article, vertical farming allows us to grow around 15 times more produce per acre than good 'ole conventional medieval farming.  They used lettuce as an example, and I'm guessing quantities may vary depending on the type of produce. But here's another stunner from the article: Time's reporter claims that vertical farming uses just 5% of the water that conventional farming does.  5%! 

In a world fraught with perilous premonitions about the predicaments of people (particularly the pending water problem), this idea is... well... almost too good to be true.  This is an idea that warrants development.  Let's all get on the bus and start building Wall Street high rises for growing lettuce, instead of bad debt and golden parachutes.

Computer-age gurus that you are, I hardly need to explain that further information can be found by entering "vertical farming" into your Google engine; or if you're looking for easy, by clicking here and here.

[thx to Time and Chris Jacobs for the pics]

You can see more in this photo essay from Time.

At Terifik, we're always on the hunt, bookmarking TONS of stuff.

Until recently, syncing bookmarks between devices was a bit more difficult than it should have been. Having tried online bookmarks, and various desktop-to-mobile sync solutions, none compare to the intuitive, feature-rich, simplicity that is Foxmarks.


Foxmarks, designed for FireFox and now in Beta for IE (Safari coming soon), has a wealth of useful features:

• Sync your bookmarks between computers (as few as 2, or your whole staff)
• Share your bookmarks on a webpage, or as an RSS feed
• Creates a secure, automatic backup of all your bookmarks on the Foxmarks server
• Access your bookmarks even when you are not on your computer
• Create multiple profiles allowing you to customize bookmarks across various machines
• Sync your Passwords, too! (optional and secure)
  

If you routinely use multiple computers and would like to sync and combine your bookmarks across the lot, this is THE solution.

Perhaps best of all, Foxmarks is FREE. You can download Foxmarks for FireFox today for $0

More photos after the jump. [thx to Dieline and happy 1000th post]

Call them what you will: pousenger bags, man-purses, hipster packs. The messenger bag is one of the hot items to have if you're a commuter these days. Whether your ride to work or school is a few blocks or an hour, the shoulder-slung design of messenger bags is meant to afford both comfort and style. I sling a lot of electronics on my commute, so for me, the protection of my gear comes first. Crumpler bags have the competition beat for armor. They may be almost over-padded- -but then again good gear isn't easy to replace.
 

A comfortable task chair is worth it's weight in gold. For many of us, it's our most frequently used piece of furniture. If you can't free yourself enough to stay comfortable, your next best move is to find a chair that works with your body instead of against it.

Meet the Mirra chair from Herman Miller. My seat of choice for the past 2 years, I regularly log 10 + ache-free hours a day in one. Sitting in my Mirra is like slipping on my favorite pair of jeans, and it's been like that since day one.

Designers at Studio 7.5, used the results from an extensive 3-D Body Anthropometry study in order to build a chair that's passively adjustable. Say what? Basically, they used data from scans of thousands of actual body types to design a chair that fits just about anyone - with minimal adjustment.

The resulting Mirra is packed with features that allow it to instantly adjust to your body, continuously correcting its support. With it's TriFlex back, AireWeave seat, and Harmonic tilt, Mirra does just what Herman Miller worked to achieve: sit on it, and it fits. Want to fine tune? You can adjust the arms, lumbar support, height, forward tilt, and seat shape until you feel like a cosmonaut adrift in space.

The Mirra's form was not sacrificed for its function. It's a beautiful piece of furniture with a contemporary feel that's at home in any office. The finish fabrics are very durable, easily cleaned, and have required no other maintenance. Best of all, the Mirra is fully recyclable, built using the cradle-to-cradle design protocol. When I finally do retire my beloved Mirra,  it can be disassembled and reborn as a jet-pack for future commuters, or my great grandson's new hoverboard.

This is one instance where exceptional value comes at a price. Expect to invest as much in your Mirra as a modest priced laptop. But believe me, there's no better investment you can make to increase your daily comfort and productivity. And chances are, you'll be using your Mirra long after you've retired that laptop.

Buy it at Sit4Less from ~$550

Recession-shmusession; the spirit of giving looked perfectly healthy from my vantage point in the mall parking lot this weekend. Personally, I felt a tinge of guilt buying our household's 6th iPod knowing that kids all over the world are not only lacking iPods, but basics such as pens and paper. Individually, I feel like I can never do enough. That's why supporting charitable organizations with a few of those holiday dollars is every bit as critical this year as any other.

Goods for Good is an excellent charity with an interesting twist. You can make a huge impact on the lives of many, and it won't cost you a dime. They send excess goods and materials from American companies directly to impoverished children and orphans in Africa.
By focusing on the corporate sector, Goods for Goods has reclaimed and found use for literally tons of office supplies and materials that would have otherwise found their way into a dumpster. You can help by spreading the word and getting your company involved.

Did your printer screw up and misprint the annual promotional calendar? Ask your employer to send them to Africa. How about that new ream of paper that keeps jamming the office copier? Don't toss it, send it to Goods for Good.

Here's your chance to make a big impact in mere minutes: tell your boss about Goods for Good today. If She doesn't listen, send a memo to PR. It's good for you, your company, the environment, and thousands of orphans in Malawi and other villages in need.

They're looking for bulk excess clothing, school supplies, personal hygiene products, etc. And of course, you can donate much needed cash to help get the goods to their final destination. See the Goods for Good website for more ways to help.  

Here's a 4 min. video to share the message:
 

Goods for Good: From Excess to Progress from Melissa Kushner on Vimeo.

Maybe it's on account of the upcoming weekend, or perhaps I woke up feeling nostalgic, but I'm inclined to offer a recommendation for a bottle of reasonably priced Italian wine. This bottle brings back memories of a bicycle touring trip I made to Italy a few years ago. Occasionally we'd meet local cyclists in the long empty stretches of countryside. With a sharp "Andiamo Americanos" an impromptu race would begin, proving the Italians' love of sport and competition in intermittent bursts of fiercely passionate cadence.

Perhaps it was a few isolated groups of cyclists, or maybe the countryside itself is steeped in that special joi de vivé. Whatever the case, the excitement, camaraderie, and joy of those bursts of pedaling are brought back every time I open a bottle of Da Vinci Chianti.

The rich history, lush flora, and old-world charm of the Tuscan countryside is embodied in every sip. Invoking my inner Sommelier: If you like a full bodied, ruby wine with notes of cherry and blackberry, this Chianti won't disappoint.

Da Vinci is one of only 24 wines allowed to carry the DOCG certification label awarded by the Italian Government. Speaking of awards: their traditional Chianti routinely scores above an 86 from Wine Spectator. (the 2005 was an 87)

When it was released, you could pick up a bottle well bellow the $10 mark. These days, expect to find it hovering closer to still very appropriate $15. Drink it tonight; saving it too long will ruin the bottle.

For more offerings visit Da Vinci. Find it at your local adult beverage specialty store.

Every now and then I find a grooming product that lives up to its hype. Billy Jealousy's Hydroplane Super Slick Shaving Cream is one of those products. Its unique and award-winning formula uses dimethicone, a silicon based organic polymer, to keep your razor gliding freely. This is key if you're an every-couple-of-days-so-I-look-rugged shaver.

Unlike some of the competing brands, Hydroplane doesn't "set-up" and get sticky as quickly, so I can take my time and get a super-smooth shave. It washes clean too, whether you are using an electric or standard razor.

Couple Billy Jealousy Hydroplane with our favorite after shave, and you'll slay the angriest of stubble dragons like a prince. Oh, and did we mention that dimethicone is an equally key ingredient to Silly Putty? How cool is that? Add some corn starch and a little tinkering and you'll be making Billy Jealousy Flubber.

Seriously: do your face a favor and pick some up today. Or buy some for the guy who taught you how to shave in the first place. A lot has changed since Barbasol hit the market in 1919.

Available at Sephora for about $20, or get it from Amazon

There are some things I can't leave the house without. When I'm facing a long day, knowing I've got a few cups of my favorite hot java with me smooths out the morning.  I've let it go six hours and the four cupfuls of goodness inside were still steaming. At a half-quart, my Stanley Thermos fits easily in my bag aside the other essentials: laptop, sketchbook, pens, pencils, bike lights, and sweater.


In addition to doing an admirable job with my brew, this thermos looks pretty tough. Lacking the sensitive and subtle lines popular in many of 2008's designs, this style of this thermos can be summed up in one word: Moxie. Stanley has been making them since 1913. That's more lunch hours than I can count. And I don't think it matters much to them if my jobsite is a computer lab. A guy's gotta have his coffee.

Do you eat well? Chances are you've noticed the direct link between your diet and your energy level. It's the same for your pets. My Shepherd is 9 years old, and for the past five he's eaten the same thing day in and day out: Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul.

It serves him well. My dear old dog is far from old in health and demeanor. He's energetic, runs daily, always healthy, and most importantly happy (a sign that he's feeling pretty good as he slides into his golden years). I owe a lot of that to the good nutrition and balance of minerals and supplements in Chicken Soup's Large Breed Adult Dog Formula.

Packed with antioxidants Vitamin E and Selenium, this exceptional food isn't packed with anything you'd not eat yourself. Here's a list of the the first five ingredients from the label: Chicken, turkey, chicken meal, cracked pearled barley, and whole grain brown rice. There's also duck , salmon, and flaxseed in there. Compare that to your current brand and you may want to consider switching.

Remember the recent pet food scare? I didn't bat an eye. Chicken Soup brand foods are made in the USA, and have NEVER contained melamine or anything else harmful to your pooch.

The Large Breed Adult Dog formula has added glucosamine and chondroitin for daily doses of optimal joint health. You'll find the right formula for your best friend on the manufacturer's website.

Taking an unbelievably low 24th place on TIME magazine's Best Inventions of 2008, Bionic Contacts have totally blown me away.


 
Created by Univ. of Washington's Babak Parviz, these contact lenses are designed to project a visual display into the wearer's field of vision. Other applications include night vision, augmented/virtual reality, and high power zoom. Powered by a tiny solar cell (also in your eye), and fed via radio frequency, the possibilities for this technology are endless, and quite scary. What's next? Video capture (see eyeborg)? X-Ray vision? Bring it on Mr. Parviz, and try to price these sweet babies under $100, would you please?

{image via Univ of WA}

Check Out some Video After the jump...

Rice Chex are now Gluten Free!
Why is this Terifik? Reinventing a staple like Rice Chex without rebranding it makes for a huge gesture on the part of General Mills.

For years, I've been unable to buy these tasty morsels of main-stream goodness due to a household barley allergy. "Why barley?" I'd say to myself, as I passed them by to pick up the much more expensive gluten-free alternative.

Thanks General Mills; and extra props for going all the way and not pulling a "New Coke" on us.

More info at Chex.com, along with some helpful gluten-free Chex recipes.

Available ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE for about $3.00

Lighting a tree to celebrate the holiday season can prove to be more environmentally unfriendly than cutting one down in the first place. In our home, we do what we can to minimize our holiday carbon footprint. We decorate the existing houseplants, and last year, we decked our halls with Philips LED White Dome Lights.

Simply put, these lights shine with excellence. Not your parent's 1-inch incandescents, these puppies both outlast and outperform them. With a 25,000 hour average bulb life, and sipping a mere 4.8 watts to power 60 bulbs, Philips claims they can save as much as 88% of the energy used by a common strand. Cool to the touch, we're confident they won't harm (or burn down) our tree. And my personal favorite attribute: the color temperature of the LED bulbs has an icy blue coldness that lends a pleasant wintery feeling to our sun-filled home.

The holidays are a time to gather with loved ones to celebrate and feel good. This year you can feel a bit better about your decorations using LED based strand lights from Philips.

Pick up a set from Target for around $10.