Gregg Ellman, Twitter.com/greggellman 12:48 p.m. EDT October 24, 2014

With the Rachio Iro system, users can control their sprinklers from any smartphone, tablet or computer anywhere in the world. (Photo: MCT )

I was emailed an offer to try out the Rachio Iro sprinkler system, described as easy to set up and use. "As for the sprinkler, you plug it in where your old controller was and then it helps create a customized watering schedule with you home Wi-Fi network. You then can change or update it from your phone anywhere you have a signal."

Sure enough, it was pretty much that easy.

This isn't one of those plug-n-play devices, there are instructions for the setup including step-by-step instructions and video tutorials on the website, which are a great help.

Since it did involve electrical work (connecting wires) I had a friend over who has much more electrical knowledge then I, although after watching him connect it, there's nothing to it. Rachio gave a recommendation to take a photo of the wiring before you do anything, which is a great idea.

With the Rachio Iro system, you need a constant Wi-Fi signal hitting the box. That allows control of the system from any smartphone, tablet or computer anywhere in the world.

Before you begin the physical setup, you may need to relocate your Wi-Fi router or extend your existing Wi-Fi signal to reach the Rachio box.

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The smart thermostat and smoke detector company adds a smartwatch, a voice-recognition device, and a connected sprinkler system to its Works with Nest roster of partner products.

Lindsey Turrentine/CNET

Nest Labs made its first big partner announcement back in June when it kicked off its Works with Nest developer program with the likes of Mercedes Benz, Whirlpool, and Logitech. Today brings Nest's next round of partnerships. The names aren't as high-profile this time around--the Pebble smartwatch is the most well known--but the expanding roster of partners solidifies Nest's position as a smart home platform, rather than just a maker of pretty Internet-connected widgets.

Along with Pebble, Nest announced Ivee, Life360, SNUPI, and Rachio as the new Works with Nest partner companies. Like the original round of partnerships, these new ones offer products with a diverse set of functions, voice-recognition in the case of Ivee to outdoor sprinkler system control from Rachio.

You can now control your Nest Learning Thermostat via Pebble smart watch. Sarah Tew/CNET

Also similar to the first set of partner products, the interactions between devices are designed to be hands-off and very controlled. For Pebble, Nest says you will be able to use the Leaf Pebble app to monitor and adjust the temperature of your Nest Learning Thermostat and set home and away modes. That's it. It offers no Pebble-integrated scheduling, nor ties to any other Pebble functions.

Nest has said previously that the idea behind that limited interaction is to keep things safe and easy to use. Given Nest's ties to critical pieces of home infrastructure, the company can't give its partners free reign lest they somehow interfere with safety and comfort of your home. By carefully matching features between Nest's products and partner devices, the hope is the device interactions will be targeted and useful enough that you won't want to change anything.

SNUPI Technologies WallyHome leak, temperature, and humidity sensor is a good example. Normally, Nest will read the temperature of its immediate surroundings and adjust accordingly. If you'd rather the Nest respond to the temperature in another room, you can now use WallyHome as the sensor that gives the Nest that remote reading.

Ivee, can you hear me? Colin West McDonald/CNET

This is all great provided everything works, of course. My colleague Megan Wollerton wasn't impressed with Ivee's Sleek voice-recognition system when she reviewed it a few months ago. Nest is promising that Sleek will let you adjust the temperature via voice, but few things make technology feel more awkward than a one-sided conversation with a piece of hardware.

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More smart device makers sign up to work with Nest

Leland #39;s Quality Texas Sheds - Competitive Prices - Customer Service
Buy quality backyard Barn Sheds, Carports, Gazebos, Playhouses Playsets direct. Cheap payments. For sale online and locally.

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Report sheds light on Greater Lafayette economy
TIPPECANOE CO., Ind. (WLFI) - Capital investments for the Greater Lafayette Area reached more than $1 billion last year, and a new report economic report shows the area could be on its way...

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Door County - Property stolen in Door County has been recovered in Green Bay, but two suspects in the crimes remain at-large, the Door County Sheriff's Department says.

The sheriff's department and Sturgeon Bay Police Department had "numerous" reports of break-ins to rental storage sheds. They would break into the sheds and replace the locks with their own. Similar crimes were discovered in Brown County over the summer. Sometimes items in the storage unit were rearranged, apparently so they would be easier to remove when the thieves returned later.

The thieves mostly took tools, camping gear and athletic equipment. Authorities didn't say exactly what was recovered or what led them to get search warrants in Green Bay.

The suspects are identified as Ricky Smithey and William Collman. The sheriff's department thinks they've left the Door County area. They're originally from Kentucky.

Smithey turns 26 on November 5. He's white, has brown hair and brown eyes, 5'5" tall and 140 pounds.

Collman is 45, white, with brown hair and a gray beard, brown eyes, 5'8" and 180 pounds.

Authorities don't know what they might be driving.

People are asked to check their rental storage lockers or sheds on private property, and ask anyone reporting a theft to be as detailed as possible when describing their stolen items.

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Stolen Door County property found in Green Bay

3711 Military Rd Arlington VA / MRIS# AR8487871
Karen Close of Century 21 NM presents 93711MilitaryRd.com) -- Unbeatable price for an oh-so convenient location! Totally remodeled kitchen~huge family room addition~lower level cozy office...

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Family Room Addition Bloopers
Because we can #39;t always get it right the first time! Enjoy these funny takes on site of the family room addition!

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Family Room Addition Bloopers - Video

Hotels are expected to collect a record $2.25 billion in fees this year, according to a report by the New York University School of Professional Studies. To some degree, that amount reflects a slight increase in the number of rooms that have been occupied. But for the most part, its a result of hotels levying more fees and charging higher amounts.

With so many fees, its become harder for travelers to figure out what theyll be charged for in addition to what theyre paying for their room, says Cheryl Rosner, founder and CEO of Stayful, a boutique hotel deal site. You might not even know youve been hit with fees until you get your bill at checkout.

You often can avoid extra charges, though, if you know which amenities hotels typically add a fee for using. Here are eight common ones and advice on how to keep them off your bill.

Wi-Fi fee. This fee was ranked the most-dreaded charge in a recent survey of Stayful users. Rosner says that hotels often advertise that they have free Wi-Fi, but its only accessible without a charge in the lobby. If you access in your room, youll be hit with a charge which can be $15 or more a night. One way to get around the charge is to sign up for a hotel's loyalty program, which should be free, Rosner says. Generally, you'll get privileges such as free Wi-Fi immediately. Alternatively, if you have a smart phone you can use its tethering feature to make it a mobile hotspot that can supply Internet access to your computer, says Bob Diener, president of hotel booking site Getaroom.com. IPhone users should look for "Personal Hotspot" under the Settings menu. Data charges may apply, so check with your wireless carrier to be sure this is a cost-effective option.

Parking fee. In some cities, hotels charge as much as $45 a night for guests to park in their garages or lots, Rosner says. Check for free street parking or look for nearby parking garages that charge a lower rate especially if you use a coupon. For example, Icon Parking Systems has coupons for discounted parking rates in its more than 200 garages throughout New York City. Another option is to stay just outside the city because suburban hotels are less likely to charge for parking, says Isar Meitis, president of Last Minute Travel. Plus, youll probably pay less for your room.

Resort fee. These fees vary greatly by property but typically cover amenities and services such as towels and bottled water at the pool, spa or gym. Resorts dont always disclose these fees on their Web sites until youve gotten to the final stage in the booking process. However, hotel booking sites such as Stayful and Getaroom.com disclose these fees upfront, so it makes it easier to compare the fees that resorts charge. Meitis says that you should tell the resort upfront if you dont plan to use the services covered under the resort fee. Some properties will waive the fee.

Mini-bar fee. Most travelers know that the snacks and beverages in hotel mini-bars are outrageously overpriced. But did you know you can get charged for putting your own food in your rooms refrigerator? Simply moving an item in the mini-bar can result in a charge because many hotels use sensors in to detect when mini-bar items are removed. If you see a charge for something you didn't consume, show the hotel clerk that it's still there and contest the charge. Also watch out for those complimentary-looking bottles of water or baskets of snacks -- they might not be free. Even if you don't see a price attached to them, ask the front desk whether there is a charge.

Extra person fee. Check the hotels room-occupancy policy if you have more than two people in your party because you might get hit with a fee for having additional people in the room (rates usually are based on double occupancy). This can even apply to families traveling with children. Many hotels allow kids to stay for free, but the definition of a child can vary widely by hotel, Diener says. To avoid this fee, you need to be aware of it before you book so that you can search for another hotel that doesn't charge it.

Early check-in and late check-out fee. Check-in is typically 3 p.m., and check-out is usually 11 a.m. If you need more time, check with the front desk first to make sure you are not charged extra. Diener says you may be able to avoid the fee by signing up for the hotels loyalty program, which can include late check-out as a perk.

Baggage storage fee. So you avoid the late check-out fee by getting your bags out of your room in time. But you ask to leave them in storage for a couple of hours while you do more sightseeing. Just make sure to ask whether theres a bag storage fee because many hotels are now charging $1 or $2 per bag, Rosner says. If there is, try to talk your way out of the fee, or take your bags with you.

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How to Avoid Eight Pesky Hotel Fees

Lucas Almendinger, 31, the chef at Kim Bartmann's new Loring Park restaurant the Third Bird, talked with us about the link between cooking and guitar making, his great-grandma's German dumplilngs and what he thinks about Cub's doughnuts.

The Third Bird: 1612 Harmon Place, Minneapolis; 612-767-9495; thethirdbirdmpls.com

Our first impressions of the Third Bird

When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up? I had no idea. At one point, I wanted to be a writer. But then I didn't know for a long time, and I probably was a little jealous of people who were, like, "I want to be a dentist" from the time they were 8.

What was your first job in food? My mom opened a restaurant in my hometown of Edgemont, S.D., when I was 14 or 15. That was my first job, besides helping my dad in his construction business a little bit. The restaurant didn't last long, and I started working at another restaurant as a dishwasher. Then I was offered $1 an hour more to work at Subway.

How did you wind up in the restaurant business for good? I didn't really like it. I liked cooking, but I thought the hours were not awesome. I went to school in Phoenix to learn to build guitars.

You're the second local chef we've talked to (Corner Table's Thomas Boemer being the other) who builds guitars. Strange coincidence or natural pairing?

I think there are a lot of parallels. The guitar-building community is driven by a sense of community and a sense of craft. That's where I learned what attention to detail meant. I will never forget when I made the internal parts of a guitar in school and the instructor said, "I'm telling you there is a difference between good and great in the stuff that people never see." I remade those parts.

I think there's a parallel. Like a bowl of soup -- all the details in that bowl. Starting with a properly sweated mirepoix, building those flavors from scratch, all those things people never see. You didn't just throw it in a blender.

What's your first food memory?

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Third Bird chef had W.A. Frost for a classroom

International Academy of Cardiology: Zorina Galis, Ph.D.: MOLECULAR DRIVERS OF VASCULAR REMODELING
MOLECULAR DRIVERS OF VASCULAR REMODELING (Invited Lecture) Z. Galis Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA Presented at the: International Academy of Cardiology ...

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