power play
Great games. Great toys. Great gadgets. Reviews by Sandy McMurray
ICEDOZER ICE SCRAPER www.innovationfactory.com If you just spent another winter making do with a wimpy two-dollar windshield ice scraper, pay attention. You’re losing the war with ice. You need reinforcements. You need an IceDozer. The IceDozer has three attack surfaces to scrape away different types of ice buildup. The FrostPeeler(TM) Blade quickly peels away annoying morning frost. The forwardfacing IceBreaker(TM) Teeth provide a cracking force (like the prow of a ship) to plow through thicker ice. Last, but not least, the Tenderizer(TM) Teeth safely break up really thick ice then rip apart the broken debris. Tenderizing is not just for tough meat. The ergonomic PowerGrip(TM) design, modeled after a carpenter’s wood plane, uses the natural strength and motion of the upper body (instead of the wrists) to attack the ice. This two-fisted approach amplifies the natural strength and motion of the upper body, so you can clear your windshield and get inside the car sooner. Now if only you had a better heater in your car. Also available is the IceDozer Plus, which features a small, detachable scraper and brush multi-tool for clearing ice from mirrors and windshield wipers.
GO FLY A KITE www.canadiankitecompany.com When the snow and ice are finally gone, how will you celebrate? In most of Canada, March and April provide the perfect windy weather
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for kite flying. A kite in the sky is a joyful sight and a sure sign of spring. Kites have come a long way since the cheap plastic and wooden dowel versions most people flew as kids. New stunt and sport kites give the flyer enough control to perform entertaining tricks and dives. Larger team kites use multiple lines so groups of people can fly one kite together. The Great Canadian Kite Company is one of many online retailers that offer a large selection of kites. Choose from kids’ kites, stunt and sport kites, trick kites and even traction kites big enough to pull a sled or skate board. You can pay as little as $20 for a simple starter kite or pay hundreds of dollars for a traction kite and board. Now all you need is a sunny day and a good stiff breeze.
PORTABLE DEEP FRYER www.colemancanada.ca Have you ever hiked five or 10 miles into the woods and then been overcome by a hankering for french fries? (Yes, who hasn’t?) The Coleman FryWell portable deep fryer is the perfect solution. The FryWell is built to handle up to two pounds of chicken wings (or other food—use your imagination). The adjustable cooking control provides up to 6,000 BTU, but a safety shutoff prevents overheating. The vented cooking lid has a viewing window so you can see your Snickers bars bubbling in the oil. Cool-touch carry handles are integrated into fryer base for easy transport. The FryWell portable deep fryer is probably more practical for patio or picnic use than for hiking, but you could use it to turn fresh lake trout into English style fish and chips. And that’s kind of the point.
WORLD OF GOO www.worldofgoo.com Grab a mouse or Wii controller and enter the World of Goo—a charming video game world filled with fun and challenging puzzles. The object of each level is deceptively simple: transport a group of “goo balls” to the level exit. The catch is that the goo balls themselves are used to build the structure needed to exit the level, and there are many traps and obstacles in the way. Each level has hints and tips left by the mysterious Sign Painter, who helps you find your way to the end of the game. World of Goo is fun for the whole family. Very small children can play the simplest levels, and older kids, teens and adults will be drawn in by the puzzles. World of Goo is almost as fun to watch as it is to play. Download a free demo version of the game for Mac or PC from worldofgoo.com. If you like the game (you will!) you can buy the full version for just $20. Nintendo Wii owners can get World of Goo for just $15 through the Wii-ware online store.
POGO INSTANT CAMERA AND PRINTER www.thenewinstant.com Back before digital, Polaroid instant cameras provided a handy way to Get That Photo Now. Polaroid pictures were quick, convenient and fun. Unfortunately, when digital cameras arrived, Polaroid was left in the dust by smaller, lighter cameras that provided instant gratification without any film. Now the best-known name in instant cameras is back with a slick new device that combines digital