We at G@H love gadgets but not gimmicks. We think ourselves above being snookered by shiny and new. So, we approached the Burpee Ultimate Growing System with skepticism. It costs $20. Other 72 cell seed starters cost less than $5. Red flag! Barpee claims its product, unlike others, is self-watering. You fill the bottom tray with water. A mat wicks up water and delivers small but continuous amounts to your seeds/seedlings in another tray on a second tier, ensuring that your plants neither go thirsty nor drown. Guess what: it works. Almost all the seeds that we planted in the Burpee Ultimate Growing System have developed into vibrant seedlings. Only about one-third of the seeds that we planted in a conversional seed starter have spouted, and they are noticeably less robust. This test, of course, is unscientific, but the top-notch...

We fancy ourselves renaissance gentlemen. Our interests vary. They span the spectrum from gardening to gadgets, baking to basketball. But, as intellectually diverse as we may (or may not) be, we tend to obsess.  At any given time, we’re fascinated by something. Right now, it’s sound. Wireless speakers exist in a crowded market. Lots of brands. Lots of models. Lots of price points. Rarely does a unit aesthetically amaze us. That was until we stumbled upon the Wren Sound V5. We revere good design, and the V5 is exquisite. It’s clean. It’s real. It doesn’t try too hard to get noticed. Music delights us. We want it to saturate our home.  When we were young, we understood louder to be better. With maturity has come appreciation for range, depth and precision. The V5 is functionally simple yet truly powerful. It...

At his best, a gentleman defends virtue and fights wickedness. We at G@H, therefore, must intervene. If you have a landline telephone, you are getting bilked. Swindled. Duped. Hoodwinked. The time for rebellion has come. Oppressors beware. Let us present two avenues to liberty. First, you can use your cell phone exclusively. This will save you money in a world of unlimited cell minutes. But, that might be untenable. You may have poor cell reception at home or need the ability to fax. You may simply prefer the familiar heft of a cordless phone. Enter the second option: the Ooma Telo. The Telo from Ooma is an impressive little black box. Although it might not survive a plane crash, it will allow you to call across the United States for free. It operates via your internet connection and plugs into...