Rick Nuanez is a jobbing construction worker and a sketch artist with a difference. The difference is an etch a sketch ? his chosen artistic medium.

Over the past 15 years, Rick has more than earned the moniker Mr Etch A Sketch. He's created hundreds of pictures using these tiny toys and the minimal horizontal and vertical controls they allow.

Visit his site to see some amazing etch-a-sketches, including the Simpsons family, numerous Star Wars characters and even the Mona Lisa. The site links to an Etch a Sketch simulator where you can try your own hand and find out just how difficult it is.

As well as creating some dazzling doodles, Rick has re-ignited the interest in etch-a-sketch as an artistic artefact. Dating back to the 60s, it has a simple sophistication and could be regarded as the word's first low-tech laptop. It never crashes and is very easy to re-boot - just pick it up and shake.

The Wake 'n Bacon

Sleeping would be so much better if it weren't for the waking up bit. As autumnal temperatures take hold, it's even harder to separate head and bed.

Previously, we've reviewed various alarm accoutrements designed to help arrest your slumber in new and novel ways. There was the Clocky, a device that rolls around the floor when activated, and the mattress rocking Shaker Waker.

But, neither come close to the Wake 'n Bacon, an alarm that 'gently wakes you up with the mouth-watering aroma of bacon'. This mouth-watering bacon isn't manufactured artificially; it's the smell of real bacon being slow cooked by two internal halogen lamps, which are heated ten minutes before your alarm goes off.

Most people love the aroma of a freshly cooked fry up, so the alarm that lets the bacon do the waking should be a success. On further consideration, it's likely to be a dismal failure.

After all, who wants to stay in a bedroom always reeking of bacon? It's only mice that will thank you for that rasher rind under the pillow. Vegetarians won't be impressed by the Wake 'n Bacon and the Wake 'n Egg or Wake 'n Tomato doesn't have the same ring to it.

So it's back to the drawing board for the alarm making people and, thankfully, back to the bed for the rest of us.

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