harmony

A good vase is hard to find, so getting two is even better. Celebrating good floral displays and the "dualistic nature...in our universe," the Ying Yang Vases are definitely unusual as far as vases go. Each is handmade, with a sculpted, curving cavity in black or white that has bee sunk into a frame of clear glass. Each can be use separately, but the pair fit neatly together. When viewed from the front, the outlines of the color areas for an elongated oval "adding harmony to any room." Price: $320.

The original "universal" remotes were meant to be able to control multiple brands of television sets and gradually expanded to be able to control several different units, working the TV, the cable and the DVD player with from one controller. Their abilities were limited and what they offered was far from universal control. The Logitech Harmony 1000 Advanced Universal Remote gets much closer. With support from an online database that has over 5,000 brands and 175,000 devices listed, the remote can control up to 15 different electronic devices - all from a 3.5" color touch screen. Since it can be programmed via the computer, there are no annoying button sequences to enter in an attempt to get the remote to work properly in the first place. It uses infrared and radio frequency commands and is powered by a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, which comes with a charging base that the remote can rest in when not in use. Price: $500.

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