Until now, the solution had always been, of course, to strip off the gloves, do what you need to do until your hands begin to go numb from cold, and then put the gloves back on. Always repeating as necessary.

Now you can keep your gear on and perform feats of manual dexterity with Freehands gloves. The gloves themselves are very warm and cozy, but the pointer and thumb tips fold back to allow you a little fingertip freedom. Like the name implies, your fingertips are free to do the things you do without gloves, but while wearing them. And the caps are magnetically secured, so you don’t have to worry about them popping open when you don’t want them to. The glove backs are wind- and waterproof, and the palms have a palm patch for extra grip.

If you’re ready to hit the slopes (or even somewhere more pedestrian) and would like to sport a pair of these warm and useful gloves – you’re in luck. We have two pairs to give away to our lucky readers, you choose the Men’s or Women’s size. These Freehands, along with other cute and functional gloves, can be found at the company’s website (check out the red cashmere for Valentine’s Day!).

CLICK HERE TO ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A PAIR OF FREEHANDS GLOVES

Imagine, you’ll never lose your email or your photos, they’ll always be accessible via your most recent back up. How cool is that?

In the past, Backupify charged a nominal fee to back up your most precious files and images. Now, until January 31st, you can register for Backupify and get it FREE for life. That means from this day forward, you’ll be able to back up all your online accounts, without any limitations on space and completely free of charge FOREVER!

Currently the Gmail back ups aren’t permitted, but the gang at Backupify are working on fixing it as I write this, so it should be up and running shortly.

And let’s face it, nothing beats free! Better still when it’s a useful and great service, you know, something you can actually use for free. So quick, get there NOW and sign up for your free Backupify account before this great offer runs out.

Source: Lifehacker

We’ve all heard the stories about someone we know innocently opened an email download, clicked on a link in a friend’s Facebook profile, or who knows what and basically lost all use of their computer.  Not only is this annoying as all get out, but it’s also expensive and time consuming to fix.  In this day and age of crazy computer viruses and malware programs you can’t be too safe.

Enter Double Anti-Spy Professional a new groundbreaking security software from Avanquest featuring two leading anti-spyware engines to keep the family’s computer secure. Double Anti-Spy Professional uses both traditional anti-spyware and cutting-edge anti-malware technologies that enable it to respond more effectively to mutating and aggressive spyware, eliminating the need to run multiple security programs on a computer. The new software is a comprehensive solution to protect PCs from the evolving malware environment without a significant impact on computer usage or performance.

Double Anti-Spy Professional combines award-winning anti-malware technologies with 24/7 protection.  It quickly runs short hourly definition updates to address continuous threats on social media sites.  It’s easy to use for both families and small businesses.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN AVANQUEST DOUBLE ANTI-SPY PROFESSIONAL SOFTWARE

BillMyParents might just be a combination of both.  It’s a great idea, a way to allow your teens the freedom to shop, without actually giving them your credit card.

Basically, it’s a pretty simple process.  Your child or teen sees something online that they want to purchase.  At the check out, they use BillMyParents. You the parent then get an email notifying you that your child is trying to purchase something online.  You can then approve or decline the transaction. If you decide to approve it, you then enter your credit card information.

The great thing about this service, your child never gets access to your credit card information.  Your information remains confidential and you approve all online purchasing transactions.  There isn’t a membership or monthly fee involved, but you do pay $.50 per transaction.

I also think that BillMyParents might be a little ahead of its time. I searched all over its site but was only able to find one merchant listed by name: Facebook.  I have a feeling other online merchants will get on board once word gets out.  Either way, there’s a lot of potential there and I’m quite interested to see where it goes.

Last week, before things started to get too book launch crazy for Mignon Fogarty (aka Grammar Girl), we were able to sit down for a brief chat about grammar, podcasting and so much more.  We’re also giving away five copies of her new book Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing, so be sure to leave a comment below with your biggest grammar conundrum.

I’m really nervous here.  It’s one thing to have a teacher or professor to look over your work, it’s yet another to send it off to a grammar specialist.  What was your goal and how did you become involved in Grammar Girl?

I had been playing around with podcasting, and Grammar Girl was just my hobby. I came up with the idea when I was editing technical documents at a coffee shop on the beach. I realized I was seeing the same writing errors over and over again, and thought it would be fun to put out a short podcast that helped people brush up on their grammar and usage.

You were podcasting almost from the beginning, before many people even knew what podcasts were. You made the top ten list within your first year.  With that world having been so new, what made you decide to go that route?  How did your audience find you?

I have always been interested in technology. I worked at Internet start-ups during the dotcom craze, and although after that I was working as a technical writer, I kept up with all the new developments, so I heard about podcasting very early on. In fact, by the time I started my first podcast in 2006 I felt as if I had already missed the boat. It’s laughable when I look back on it.

Word-of-mouth seemed to be the way people found Grammar Girl. The show was featured at iTunes one week, and then it took off and never stopped. I could tell from the e-mails I got and blog posts I saw that people were really excited about the show and telling all their friends or co-workers about it.

A few months later the Wall Street Journal chose Grammar Girl as their Web pick of the day and I was invited to be on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and after that the business side of the podcast started coming together.

Where do you get most of your topics?  Do viewers send them in because they’re stuck between affect and effect, lay or lie, or some similar challenge?  Or do you see something during the week that might influence your topic?

Usually my topics come from listener questions. I have an e-mail address where people can send in questions (feedback@quickanddirtytips.com) and a voicemail line where they can leave questions (206-338-4475). Sometimes I play those voicemails to start the show, so if someone leaves a question, they might hear it played on the podcast.

Occasionally, something in the news will catch my eye and I’ll use that as an introduction to a topic. For example, when Nancy Pelosi was elected Speaker of the House, I did a show about the words “woman” versus “female” because people were referring to her as both the first female Speaker of the House and the first woman Speaker of the House. When Saddam Hussein was executed, I did a show about “hanged” versus “hung,” and on New Year’s Day I did a show about how to write dates.

I read in an article that you once said that you wish, “people would be less judgmental about poor grammar and rather that blatantly pointing out errors, give them the skills to correct themselves. My job isn’t to make people feel bad about having the courage to ask questions.”  Do you find that your listeners are often apprehensive about contacting you for fear of grammatical errors?  Does the same sort of thing happen when people meet you in person?

People regularly say they are nervous when they write to me, which makes me a little sad. The whole reason I do the Grammar Girl show and wrote the book is to help people who struggle with writing, so the last thing I’m going to do is criticize someone who took the time to write a question or a thank you note. People seem less nervous when they talk to me in person. Once people meet me they quickly realize I’m not the kind of person who relishes correcting people in public.

Is Grammar Girl something that you do full time?  Do you work out of your house or do you have to go into a studio to record your sessions?

Grammar Girl and Quick and Dirty Tips are a full-time job for me. I’ve been working on the Grammar Girl book for almost a year, and in July I’ll be increasing the production schedule for the podcast to two shows per week. I’m also working on a handbook for first-year college students, and a writing book for teens, and occasionally do speaking engagements.

Besides working as Grammar Girl, I’m also the managing director of the entire Quick and Dirty Tips podcasting network. The network has nine shows that release a weekly podcast, and I work with all the news hosts and personally edit about half of the scripts. We have a pretty aggressive schedule for launching new podcasts this year, so it’s keeping me very busy.

You have a book coming out this week (today as a matter of fact), what made you decide to take the podcasts and turn them into a book?

Listeners were regularly asking for a book, and writing one seemed like a logical next step. I’m particularly excited about the cartoons in the book. I have a lot of fun memory tricks that use the characters Squiggly and Aardvark, and it’s been a blast to see them turned into cartoons.

What’s next for Grammar Girl?  Daily grammar tips?  A movie with Grammar Girl as the unlikely super hero? A clothing line?

Besides writing the other books (which won’t be out for at least a year or two), I already send out a newsletter with a weekly grammar tip, and I hope to make that daily within the next few months.

My publisher, Henry Holt & Company, just created a wonderful free Grammar Girl quiz widget that people can put on their Facebook page, MySpace page, or blog (see above). It has a quiz now, and once people put it on their pages, I can push out new quiz questions so there will always be new challenges.

We’ll also be putting the Squiggly and Aardvark cartoons on T-shirt and other products, and I’m working on a grammar song. Surprisingly, people seem excited about the Grammar Girl temporary tattoos we’re giving away on the book tour (which starts July 14; the whole schedule is here), so we may do more little things like that.

I have a lot of other plans for next year, but I like your movie idea. If anyone wants to make a Grammar Girl cartoon (or video game), drop me a line!

Any suggestions or helpful tips for our readers?

The best advice I can give you is to admit when you don’t know something and then look it up.

If someone wanted to send you in a question for your show, what’s the best way that they could reach you?

Questions should go to feedback@quickanddirtytips.com. If people want to know what I’m up to, they can follow me at Twitter or Facebook.

How to Enter:

1. Leave a comment with comment with your grammar stumper, one that gets you every time. No purchase is necessary. One comment per person, please.
2. You must supply us with a valid email address.
3. The contest starts now and entries must be date stamped by our server no later than Sunday, July 14th, 2008 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time to be eligible.
4. The winner will be selected during a random drawing using random.org and will be notified via e-mail to receive the prize.
5. No prize substitutions.
6. You must be 18 years old or older to enter and a resident of the USA.
7. No purchase necessary.
8. Void where prohibited.

Outside of being a supportive community of both DIY beginners and seasoned professionals, BeJane.com “also offers an ever expanding range of home improvement articles, tips and tricks, videos, tutorials and how-to guides. We’re here as a resource for you to turn to whether you’re in the planning stage or knee-deep in plaster and having an “Oh my gosh, what have I done?!” moment (and trust us, we’ve been there). ”

Heidi Baker and Eden Jarrin, the gals behind BeJane.com feel that home improvement from a woman’s perspective is what makes them different.  They’re able to show you ways that can get “gets the project done in a way that’s relatable and easy to follow, but we also focus on how that project will enhance your life.”

So before you start up on that next major (or minor) fix-it in your home, stop by BeJane.com and see how they’d suggest you handle things.  As the ladies behind BeJane.com say, “Do-It-Yourself doesn’t mean you have to do it alone.”

While you’re still thinking about your New Year’s Resolutions, why not include a few simple goals that can help change the world in which we live. If we all aspire to make some simple changes to our habits in the coming year, we can have an enormous impact on the environment and the global warming crisis. Here are five easy ways in which you can do the right thing in 2008:

1. Change Your Light Bulbs
It couldn’t be simpler. Just replace your standard, energy inefficient bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFL bulbs last 10 times longer than standard bulbs (thus saving you money), use two-thirds less energy, and give off 70 percent less heat. If every U.S. family replaced just one regular light bulb with a CFL, it would eliminate 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gases. That’s the equivalent of taking 7.5 million cars off the road. Put this at the top of your must-do list in 2008.

2. The Three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
In this day and age, everyone should be recycling. Sort and recycle your household trash each week. If your community or apartment building doesn’t offer a recycling service, find out how it might be made available to you. Can you ask the city to reconsider their policy? Is there a nearby recycling center where you can take your glass and paper? In addition, think about how much trash you generate in an average week. Can you cut down on that amount by purchasing products with less packaging? Do you really need to buy all those new things or can you reasonably reduce the amount of stuff in your life?

3. Reusable Bags
Ditch those wasteful, polluting plastic bags. There is no better time to start using canvas bags and reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills, lakes and oceans. Canvas bags are cheap and easy to obtain. They hold more than plastic bags and are easier and more comfortable to carry. Keep a few in your car and you’ll always have them on hand when you need to pop into Target or the grocery store. This is just a small, easy change to make and it has a huge impact.

4. Adjust Your Thermostat and Watch Household Energy Consumption
Turning down the thermostat and keeping temperatures moderate at all times can make a big difference for the environment. Setting your thermostat just 2 degrees lower in winter and higher in summer could reduce about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. Also, think about the daily energy consumption in your home. Do you leave the television or radio on when you’re not in the room? Are the lights on all over the house? Turn off the appliances and lights when you’re not actually using them. Teach your kids to do the same. It’s a small thing that will make a big difference.

5. Drive Smart
If you have public transportation or access to bike paths in your area, consider using those to get around rather than your car. For those of us who don’t have that option, think about the amount of driving you’re doing and what kind of vehicle you’re using. Can you carpool? Go to the market once a week instead of twice? Take the kids for a walk around the neighborhood instead of a drive to the mall? Also, if you’re driving a gas guzzler, this is the year to reconsider. Not only are gas prices through the roof, no doubt putting a dent in your family’s finances, but those giants trucks, SUVS and vans are a menace to the environment. Consider a more fuel efficient car. There are plenty of sedans that provide ample space for a family and will save you a pretty penny on gasoline costs. If you really need the extra room a SUV offers, there are many excellent hybrid varieties on the market today, many of which around the same price as your standard SUV. Look around at your options and you can really change your environmental impact.

Rosebud 

Enter the Kapoosh universal knife block. A wooden block which contains hundreds of tiny plastic rods, it accommodates any shape of knife collection. The rods also are removable for cleaning – they even go in the dishwasher. Best of all, it’s only $29.99 – an affordable gift for any cook on your list.

AmuseBouche

The iLap is a simple, light-weight, aluminum stand ergonomically designed to raise the computer up off your lap, while simultaneously cooling down your computer. It has adjustable legs and a built in wrist guard (which to be honest, in black velvet can attract quite a bit of lint). While it’s advertised mostly to the Mac crowd, it’s easily non-partisan and can accommodate any PC. Just order the size you need for the size of your laptop.

This was such a hit in our household last holiday season that it easily became the it gift for many of our friends that have either tried it or heard us rave about it. While it can be a bit pricey for a laptop stand ($35 – $70 or so) you’ll be hard pressed to find one that works as well at cooling the computer as well as keeping you cool and fitting so comfortably in your lap.

Car sharing, for those who aren’t familiar, is a program run by companies in urban areas lending affordable, readily available cars to members. Basically, it’s easy-access rental cars available by the hour or day. Cars are parked in lots all over the city, you reserve one online or over the phone, and you pick them up and drop them back off at the appointed time. Rather then having to pick up keys, cars are unlocked using an electric key card. The companies even provide special gas cards.

So what are the benefits? Well, if you are an occasional driver, it’s a huge money-saver – especially if you currently pay for parking. There’s no upkeep on the cars, no gas or insurance to pay. Along with an array of compact cars, there are also (at least, here in San Francisco) some small SUVs and pickups if you need to move some furniture or go to Ikea. Instead of being locked into owning a specific vehicle, you have a fleet to choose from depending on your needs for that particular trip.

The other major benefit? Car sharing is environmentally friendly. Most of the cars are high gas-mileage, low-emissions vehicles; some are even hybrids. Depending on the study, it’s estimated that each shared car replaces between 6 and 15 individually owned cars. As well as replacing car ownership entirely, it can be an alternative for families needing a second car. And, since you have to rent the car to take it out, it encourages members to use public transportation or walk for day to day errand running.

The main drawback is that car sharing is mostly restricted to urban areas. Currently, programs are available in most major U.S. cities (to view a fairly up-to-date list). The biggest factor in your ability to use car sharing is your accessibility to the cars. Being able to walk to a car is ideal, taking public transportation to a car may also work.

For me, car sharing has been great. Just getting around town without a car is not a problem here, but transporting furniture and going to beaches in nearby areas are harder to do. And it’s wonderful to be able to have an Element to move something one day and a Mini Cooper convertible to take on a scenic drive the next. The flexibility is something I would really miss were I to purchase a car.

Niobe