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Style Editor
Bill Volk
Bill graduated from West Point with a degree in Mechanical Engineering; additionally, he has earned an MBA. He was, for some 14 years, the owner of a landscape design and construction firm. Bill is happily retired as a writer, SCUBA diver, and backpacker.
Posts by this Editor
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Water Sports
Backpack Beach Chairs
(May 21st 2012 10:59AM) When you take a trip to the beach this Summer, along with your charcoal grill and your cooler, you'll likely take along one of three ways to sit yourself, and your family, on the sand -- towel, blanket, or beach chair. Me, I prefer a beach chair, although lugging one of them in hand, along with the other stuff I ...
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Patio, Lawn & Garden
Dream Patio Sets: Your Best Deals for Quality Furniture
(May 17th 2012 8:00PM) Summer is just around the corner and your outdoor patio and back yard furniture is about to get a workout; if you've not taken a look at your patio furniture to see if it will stand up to the rigors of parties and play, now's the time. Some of the best deals and steals of the season are about to hit the market; ...
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Luggage & Travel
Hanging Travel Toiletry Bags
(May 16th 2012 10:06AM) I've been traveling a fair amount lately -- more than is usual for me -- and I've really come to appreciate my hanging travel toilet articles bag; it holds all my stuff and then folds nicely to fit in my backpack. No matter how much I put in it, it seems to take it all in stride without any issues. I have a ...
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Home Appliances
Portable Fans for On-the-spot Cooling
(May 15th 2012 10:37AM) Do you have a place in your home or office that just doesn't have sufficient cooling air flow to keep you comfortable? Perhaps a cubicle that is blocked from an air conditioning vent, or a room that is at the end of an air duct that offers little ventilation? That's my particular problem -- the duct is well ...
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Luggage & Travel
Spinner Luggage -- Minimizing Your Airport Exercise
(May 14th 2012 9:25AM) I took a long weekend trip to New York City, to visit family, and while in the airports I had the opportunity to do some people-watching. I took particular note of what flyers use for carry-on luggage in order to see if I need to upgrade the rucksack I have used for some years. Although I don't need to change ...
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Patio, Lawn & Garden
Night Lighting for Your Garden
(May 11th 2012 9:41AM) With the advent of increasingly longer daylight hours, and the opportunity to spend more time outdoors in the evening, it's possible to stretch those pleasant hours in your garden if you have sufficient night lighting. With both conventional, and solar lighting, your back yard can be made more secure and easier ...
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Vacuums, Cleaning & Storage
The iRobot Vacuum Cleaner -- Automatically Doing the Dirty Work
(May 10th 2012 10:40AM) Vacuuming is well down on the list of tasks I like to do; I know it's necessary, but I don't enjoy it. For those who feel the same, there is an option -- an autonomous vacuum cleaner, the Roomba 560 Vacuum Cleaning Robot ($249). From iRobot, this latest generation of automatic vacuums is bagless, with a ...
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Patio, Lawn & Garden
Garden Benches -- Take a Seat, Please
(May 9th 2012 11:23AM) If you're fortunate to have a back yard garden that is a place of respite after a long day, it's likely that your garden has a number of focal points -- perhaps a bubbling fountain, waterfall, or pond -- and you need a way to pause and enjoy the peace. Enter the garden bench, a place to sit and decompress after a ...
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Home & Garden
Beverage Tubs for Your Cold Outdoor Party Drinks
(May 8th 2012 10:57AM) Sometimes an insulated cooler is just not the right accessory for a patio party -- you need the large capacity and the easy access, but you want something a little fancier than a foam container. Enter the beverage tub -- a classy way to keep your drinks cold and right at hand. Consider this goodly sized Smooth ...
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