Cold weather can't derail the Recommends brainstorming in the editorial office. This week, we are all about the Gorillapod (pictured), a cool Muppet, an interesting blog, free stuff (who doesn't love that?) and clean hands and the ability to play "Chopsticks" in perfect tune. Tune in to see a few of our favorite things this week. Use the Talkback feature to suggest your own.
The Gorillapod -- More often than not lately, I've found myself wishing I had a tripod on hand. In low-light situations or on vacation, having something to stabilize my point-and-shoot -- or even to rest it upon for timer shots -- would be key. Obviously, carrying around a tripod isn't realistic, but the Gorillapod is just about as good. It's a mini-tripod, but its three legs are totally bendy. That means you can wrap it onto a tree, perch it on a precarious rock, or rest it on just about any surface, flat or otherwise. It costs a mere $22 on thinkgeek.com (more for an SLR model) and has a quick release button so you can get it on and off your camera in a flash (pun intended). It's a little too big to jam into your pocket, but it fits fine in a jacket. Since I got my Gorillapod last month, I've been using it in more situations than I ever expected. --Andy Tarnoff
"Dancing for Dollars" -- This is my favorite song from The Iguanas' disc "If You Should Ever Fall On Hard Times." There is nothing like some funky gumbo-flavored boogie to make you forget life's minor problems and the big ones, like hurricanes, too. --Drew Olson
Performance Piano -- Last week, Daniel Schneider of Performance Piano tuned and fixed a few chipped keys on my Howard piano. He meticulously tuned and repaired the piano and charged me less than two other piano tuners quoted. Plus, he informed me my piano was built in 1965, something I did not know and was interested to find out. After hearing my husband play it a few times, I am really pleased with the sound and appearance of my piano. Now, if I could just learn a song other than "Heart & Soul." Performance Piano, (414) 372-5999. --Molly Snyder Edler
Pepe the King Prawn -- Pepe (full name Pepino Rodrigo Serrano Gonzales) is one cool Muppet. He shined in the latest Muppet creation, "A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa," and made this writer laugh out loud several times. Puppeteer Bill Barretta created the character that is all attitude and fun. I haven't read his book, "It's Hard Out Here for a Shrimp," but it's on my list. Get to know Pepe by watching "A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa." Christmas is over, I know, but it's well worth it if only for Pepe's antics. --Jeff Sherman
totallyfreecrap.com -- It might come back to bite me in the form of uncontrollable spam and other headaches, but I added this feature to my iGoogle homepage and have been filling out the forms required to obtain free samples of all kinds of products. Set up a dummy e-mail account and check it out for yourself. --D.O.
Charlie V's blog at NBA.com -- Too many player blogs come off as fake and / or league PR stunts. Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva's blog on nba.com is an insightful exception. Sure, it may be ghost-written, but it's well done, lengthy and provides a good look into a player that is quickly maturing and coming into his own. Recent trade rumors aside (I hope the Bucks keep him), Charlie V seems like a good guy and his blog deserves your attention. Plus, check out this paragraph:
"I'm expecting great things to come out of the 09. Can you say PLAYOFFS!!! That's right, I've said it before and I'll say it again. WE WILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR. That's one of my New Year's resolutions. So get familiar with it!!!"
Personally, I'm ready for playoff hoops in Milwaukee and glad to see that the players are, too. --J.S.
Hand sanitizer with aloe -- It's the cold and flu season. The stuff is cheap. If I use it a couple times a day, I figure I'm doing my part to keep Milwaukee (and me) healthy. --D.O.
