TekPicks

While I rarely advocate using anything cheap, when its comes to a bit set like this I will say it is probably ok. I don’t see a scenario where I would these guys would see frequent use nor use in any high torque applications so getting 33 bits for just over 4 bucks is pretty good deal.

Included Bits:

9 Torx head security bits sizes: T8, T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, T30, T35 and T40 3 Torq head security bits sizes: 6, 8 and 10 mm 6 Hex head security bits sizes: 5/64″, 3/32″, 7/64″, 1/8″, 9/64″ and 5/32″ 6 Hex head security bits sizes: 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 mm 4 Spanner head security bits sizes: 4, 6, 8 and 10 mm 4 Tri-Wing head security bits sizes: 1, 2, 3 and 4 mm plus 1 Hex head extension.

Link: SE 33 pc. Security Bit Set

Kidde Model PI2000 Dual Sensor Smoke Alarms have been recalled to due failure to warn of fire. For full details and to determine if your Kidde is part of the recall see the CSPC site.

Still trying to convert to a paperless office? If you are going to win this battle, you must have a dedicated scanner. Multi-function devices are nice but I have not found one that can keep up once you introduce it to a heavy volume. Instead of wasting a bunch of time, drop a few bucks on the Scansnap S1500. It can scan double sided documents and handles paper of about any size all at up to 40 pages per minute. Plus is comes with Abobe Acrobat. All wrapped up in a much smaller than expected package. I think its the best document scanner out there.

Planning on a home renovation? If you are going to replace your hot water heater, you will want to take a look at the Vertex™ 100 Power Direct-Vent Gas Water Heaters by A.O. Smith. With a 96% efficiency rating and the ability to provide continuous hot water, the Vertex is one of the most efficient water heaters in the world – even more efficent than most tankless models. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.hotwater.com.

Take 2 ounces of your favorite bourbon, add in a splash of simple syrup with just a couple dashes of bitter and top of with a twist of citrus and you have the Old Fashioned, considered the first (depending on who you ask) cocktail. Hey if its good enough for Don Draper, its good enough for us. Make sure you have the right glasses though, this is NOT a martini…and oh, the misogyny is optional.

Looking for more classic cocktails?  Check out The Craft of the Cocktail by Dale Degroff, its our definitive guide to the drink.

We have lots of reviews planed for January,  here are just a few…

- Rigid MicroExploxer
- OSX on a Netbook
- Jungle Disk – I swear!
- InfraRecorder
- SumoPaint
- Finding the best restaurants

Plus our usually bevy of crazy useful product recommendations and reviews.

My area was hammered by an ice storm on Friday morning, and I just got power back a few hours ago. Needless to say it has set me back on a lot of task and with being Christmas week, plus a heavy travel schedule, posting may be a bit more sporadic than usual. Oh yeah, my full review of Jungle Disk is among the casualties, but it is coming soon I promise.

I stumbled across this Jeffrey’s site this weekend via an Engadget post about the beautiful custom cases Jeffrey has made like the Ingraham featured above. I don’t think that any of the cases are for sale, at least from what I could tell from the site, but if you are handy around saws and whatnot, there are detailed pictures so you might be able to recreate some of the projects. Either way be sure to check him out.

Chances are you saw Christian Bail this summer in The Dark Knight. Despite being perhaps the greatest movie I have even seen, it was no where near Bail’s command performance. For that you need to check out Empire of the Sun, The Machinist or this week’s pick, American Psycho. Bail plays Patrick Bateman, investment banker with a ridiculous morning routine and obsession for business cards by day and chainsaw welding mass murderer by night. As his two lives begin to intersect, the real fun begins.

Grab It: American Psycho [Blu-ray]