It includes:

• AC Power
• Car Charger
• USB Charger
• Built-in Lithium Battery that can be charged with solar power
• And supports multi-voltage output so it can charge most phones

The price wasn’t bad at all either, for only $32.

I like the fact that this can be used for multiple phones, so if I ever need to use it as well, I can.  I like that it can use various resources to charge with, so I don’t have 3 separate chargers (meaning less plastic waste) and he and I can share this one.

For instance, did you know this? I certainly didn’t…

“Standby Power Consumption is what ENERGY STAR uses to rate TVs today. This is the energy your TV uses while it is just sitting there during the day. It is the lowest power consumption mode that cannot be switched OFF by a homeowner. To qualify for ENERGY STAR a television must not exceed 1 watt of power consumption in Standby Mode. The Department of Energy says, that Standby power consumption of an ENERGY STAR compliant TV uses about 30% less energy than standard sets.

As of today, there is NOT an ENERGY STAR rating for On Mode Power Consumption. On Mode is the one we are probably most aware of…you know, this is the mode our kids like to use when they leave their rooms and run outside. In September 2008, ENERGY STAR will produce ratings for television On Mode power consumption (this is really great). Right now it looks like a 37″ LCD like the ones we present below, would be allowed to consume no more than 190W of On Mode power – estimate.

Today, don’t let an ENERGY STAR logo fool you. This is only a logo for Standby Mode. How misleading can this be? Well, the most efficient television on the ENERGY STAR list is from Hewlett-Packard (HP) with a Standby Mode consumption of 0.3W, but in On Mode this TV consumes 220W – the highest consumption device on the list! Not good.”

Find out how they ranked…

#1 USBCell AA Batteries
Taking rechargeable batteries to a whole new level. Simply flip back the cap and plug these into any powered USB port to recharge them. A great alternative to disposable alkaline batteries. Works just like any standard AA battery and fully charges in 5 hours. List price for a two-pack $16.95.

#2 Bamboo Computer Accessories
I’ve spent quite a bit of time researching wooden PC cases, how to make them, what to use, etc… but this has seriously peaked my interest. Computer peripherals composed not of wood, but grass… bamboo to be exact. Bamboo is considered to be a very sustainable resource, and thus a very eco-friendly substitution for deadly PVC. Monitors start at around $350, and range in size, and make sure to pick up a matching keyboard and mouse while you are at it!

#3 Plextor PlexEraser
Data security is increasingly becoming one of the biggest security risks out there, and sometimes the best way to protect that data is to eliminate it. As a result, CD and DVD shredders have become increasingly popular. However, when destroyed in this manner, some discs release toxic particles into the air. Plextor has introduced the PlexEraser to combat this issue. Data is destroyed by placing the disc into the unit and letting it run for approximately 6 minutes, allowing you to recycle the disc whole. List Price $235.99

#4 Citizen Eco-Drive Watch
A good watch is hard to find, and quite honestly I can’t seem to find one that fits or that I can keep from losing. However, this definitely peaked my interest. Citizen Eco-Drive watches use a solar conversion panel and energy cell to power themselves. It has the ability to use light from any source to generate a limitless and free source of power. It is claimed to work up to four years in the dark. Prices start at around $100.

#5 Wattson
Wattson is a energy monitoring device that can tell you exactly how much power your home is using, and thus when you turn off appliances, lights, computers, etc, you can determine how much energy said device is using. It works by placing a unit near the home’s origin of power, which then transmits the data to the wireless handheld display. The Wattson can also give you the overall cost per year that a device, or your entire home will be. Current Prices are around $500.

#6 Solar SeV Jacket
What could possibly scream eco-geek more than having a solar panel strapped to your back? That’s right, not a thing. The Solar SeV Jacket’s “Personal Area Network” gives you over 30 concealed pockets to store all of your gizmo’s, complete with channels to keep them wired up and charged. A middleman battery charges most USB-chargeable devices such as cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras, etc. Direct sunlight will give a full charge in just a few hours. Prices start at a little over $400 USD.

Available Soon! HYmini Wind-Powered Gadget Charger

This little gadget should be available by the end of the month. It is a handheld all in one powerhouse of sorts. Here’s what the manufacturer has to say about it.

“Spend an hour outside in the sun with HYmini and you’ll get enough power for 2 full hours of MP3 playtime. Ride your bike for an hour, with HYmini strapped on your arm, or mounted on the handlebars, and you’ll have enough power for over 50 digital photos or about 15 extra minutes on your cell phone. Mount HYmini on a car window, drive about 40 MPR, and you’ll generate enough power to listen to over 8 hours of music on your MP3 or chat on your cell for over 40 minutes.”

Certainly enough to peak my interest. And the estimated price is around $50.

However, for me it is absolutely critical to have an easy way to make notations and document information, otherwise short-term memory loss sets in, and the task at hand is forgotten for weeks, maybe even months. (And I’m only 27!). So what do you do to end the paper clutter yet still retain the ability to quickly keep track of your notations?

Fortunately 2008 promises to be the epitome of digitalized euphoria And for this, I am very grateful.

1. Eliminating the Datebook. Who wants to lug around a datebook all the time anyway? What happens if you forget it? Are you completely lost without it? Google Calendar is my savior when it comes to keeping track of my schedule. Not only does it eliminate the possibility of forgetting my datebook, but also having to carry it around with me everywhere. You can also set tasks and dates to email you reminders several days before so you don’t forget.

2. Eliminating the Check Registry. I’ve never used a check registry in my life. I think I tried when I was 16, and it lasted about a week before I’d forget to put purchases in there anyway. Instead, when I make a purchase I put the receipt in my wallet, and when I get home I put the transaction in MS Money. That way I always know exactly how much I am spending, I have a list of upcoming bills, I can calculate income vs expenses and view pie charts of my transactions easily.

The problem with using MS Money is you are unable to access your transactions outside of your computer. However there are other alternatives such as Wesabe, Buddhi, Clear Checkbook, and the recently popular Mint that let you keep track of your transactions online. Not to mention most banking sites also allow you to login to see you recent transactions in a pinch.

3. Optimize your Blog Reading Time. There are several blogs I read on a daily basis, but visiting all of them can be a hassle when I’m in a bind. Instead I use Google Reader to keep track of all of them in one tightly wrapped package. Not many people take advantage of RSS feeds yet, but they are invaluable for blog enthusiasts. They are like your very own “Buddy List” of blogs.

4. Eliminating the Post-It Notes. I still carry a small pad of paper in my purse for when I’m in the car or don’t have access to a computer. But I no longer keep post-it notes pasted around my monitor. Instead I use a program called Sticky Pad, which lets me create color-coded post-it notes and have them display over my documents, or remain on my taskbar for later. Having easy accessibility is crucial for me, otherwise I will forget things quickly. A few other sticky note programs include, ATnotes and Stickies.

5. Eliminate paper Todo Lists. These tend to pile up, and like post-it notes, are just unattractive. Keeping your Todo list online, like the others, allows you to access it from anywhere. Programs like Todoist and Remember the Milk are great ways to keep track of everything you wanted to do today or this week. Remember the Milk even recently developed seamless Google integration, though rumor has it that Google is creating their own todo list application.

6. Eliminate the Diet Journal. Keeping any form of paper journal is a task in itself. Being able to keep track and calculate calories on your computer is far easier. Fitday.com lets you keep track of what you eat online. Whether I’m at work or at home, I can easily put in the foods I eat on a daily basis and get a calculation of calories eaten as well as burned in my daily activity.

7. Creating Documents Online. I don’t really create many documents, everything I write up is usually posted in a blog of some kind. But I can’t ignore the usefulness of Google Docs. You can create .pdf’s of your documents by just clicking and saving, with an easy-to-use interface and the best part, online storage.

8. Eliminating Stamps and Envelopes. Obviously e-mail is a fantastic way to communicate and help eliminate the need for stamps and envelops, but ING takes it a step further. When you sign up for an ING Orange Checking account, they will mail off your bills for you for free as a part of their east-to-use Web Billpay service. (If you need an ING referral, don’t hesitate to email us!).

9. Online Subscriptions. Many magazines and catalogs are offering online subscriptions now. Don’t forget to check out your favorite magazine’s website to make sure you can eliminate even more paper clutter by reading electronically!

The world is currently generating between twenty to fifty million metric tons of electronic waste each year. So, during your hour lunch break we managed to dispose of roughly 2300 metric tons of electronic waste. This is something that we should all be conscious of, and given that you are reading this article, means that you probably have access to some sort of electronic device that you will sooner or later dispose of.

Several of the worlds leading manufacturers of this equipment have recently stepped up to either provide services for safer disposal, or have committed to ridding their products of some of their most harmful waste. HP, Dell, LGE, Sony, Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson have already promised to remove the worst toxic chemicals from their products (BFRs and PVC) by 2009. But what about all of that equipment that is already in circulation? What about all of the computers and cell phones that hit end of life before then?

Depending on what your needs may be, here is one possible solution. Dell has recently started a program that will assist both consumers and businesses to dispose of unwanted electronic equipment in a much better way. For businesses, this process is known as Asset Recovery and basically removes all liability from the business should information from old equipment be compromised. If your business is not currently practicing some type of Asset Recovery plan, you are running a significant risk. Not only does Asset Recovery remove the liability from data loss, but it also protects against fines for illegal disposal of such equipment. For personal use, they have also implemented a donation program that takes used computers and donates them to the National Cristina Foundation to help disabled and economically disadvantaged children and adults in your community. They will even come to your door and pick it up. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

Whether it be for business or personal use, you can now include the disposal of a computer you are purchasing as you are actually purchasing it. So, if you are buying a new PC, make sure to look for this option.

Staples is also working on a computer recycling program that started in May of 2007:

Staples said its program will ship the devices for domestic recycling by Vestal, N.Y.-based Amandi Services, which Staples calls “one of the country’s most experienced and innovative electronics recyclers.” Amandi complies with federal standards for electronics recycling and will take steps to ensure personal data stored on old computers aren’t compromised, Staples says.

Green Fed II was created by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality to provide students the ability to send electronics for recycling or reuse with no charge.

The program allows private citizens to print off a pre-paid UPS sticker and send away any electronic item by dropping it off at a UPS store. So far over 1,000 tons have been recycled in one year, but the program does not offer a drop-off location so it has been met with some criticism from those who say it is too difficult.

Other E-cycling Resources

United States Environmental Protection Agency Computers & General Electronics

Computer Recycling Center

Share the Technology

Electronic Industries Alliance

Product Stewardship Institute

National Recycling Coalition

Toxic E-Trash: E-cycling Resource Map (from the PBS series Now with Bill Moyers)

All in all, we have a long way to go… but the more people who are aware, and do something about it… well, the closer we’ll be.

I ran across a site called RottenNeighbor.com today that apparently lets you place pinned notes on a replicated Google Map, giving people insight on a neighborhood. It sounds like an ideal benefit for deciding where you want to move and what type of neighbors you have. However, after browsing some locals here in Maryland, I’ve run across notations like:

“Do not mess with this neighbor – This neighbor has been know to shoot friends in the face and to have adversaries kidnapped and shipped off to gulags in Eastern Europe.“

“World Class Narcissit – Bragger, Self Absorbed, Moron, Voted Most Absent Minded in HS.” (this has no relevance, why was this even posted?)

“I have parties all the time, play my drums way too loud and let my pet python loose on the neighborhood children. LOL! You should see them run!!“

Though a lot of it seems to be trashing your own neighbors (or people you don’t like), and others seem like people just being idiots, I think it’s good to know what type of people might be living near you. People who are violent, consistent problems with neighbors, etc.

One major downfall I see is will a site like this be up long when people try to get items removed for libel content.

Mozilla recently hopped over into the instant messenger business with InstantBird. Though still slightly buggy, InstantBird is an open-source instant messaging program that allows you to incorporate most major instant messaging programs into one. This includes AIM, ICQ, Yahoo!, GTalk, Windows Live Instant Messenger, and I’m sure more to come.

It used the same code as the recently popular Pidgin system, so Pidgin users may find it somewhat familiar.

It looks like they’re already developing a spellchecking feature, and I’m anxious to see their voice and video implementation. If it’s as good as their other products, I expect this one to top all other IM programs.