Bidets are extremely common in northern Italy, where the Milano Cortina Games are being played. One of the first bidets in Italy was installed at the Palace of Caserta for Queen Maria Carolina in the late 1700s. Bidets are now, once again, having a moment. As international athletes and journalists descend on northern Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics, certain participants have wondered about the additional piece of equipment in their bathrooms. Europeans, quite familiar with the oval basins, have found themselves similarly perplexed by their confusion.

A new smart Smart toilets showcased at CES give'porcelain throne' a new meaning. Attendees of the Las Vegas event feasted their eyes on innovative loos designed by appliance maker Kholer, which feature voice activation, touch screens and high prices. For 4,500, the Veil includes a range of services like pulsating spray options and automatic deodorizer, while Amazon's Alexa powers the top-of-the-line Numi, which costs around 10,000. The company did display a more affordable option - the 1,200 PureWash E930 bidet that connects to your home internet and features voice control. The Kohler Veil, released this year at CES, is Kohler's mid-range smart toilet.

This holiday season promises to be unlike any other. Under the constraints of social distancing protocols and coronavirus restrictions, it may be tough to access our favorite traditional in-person shopping venues -- and celebrating itself will feel quite different. That said, millions of us will still exchange gifts with the people we love, and a thoughtful gift can make an impact -- whether it's delivered in person or virtually. This year, we're focused on gifts to help people navigate 2021 in comfort, in shape and in style. So if you're looking for a great gift for your mother, grandma or another important woman in your life and don't want to fall back on scented candles or fresh flowers (not that there's anything wrong with those), we have you covered in the unique gift department.

At any given moment, there are approximately a zillion different crowdfunding campaigns happening on the web. Take a stroll through Kickstarter or Indiegogo and you'll find no shortage of weird, useless, and downright stupid projects out there -- alongside some real gems. We've cut through the fidget spinners and janky iPhone cases to round up the most unusual, ambitious, and exciting new crowdfunding projects out there this week. That said, keep in mind that any crowdfunding project -- even the best intentioned -- can fail, so do your homework before cutting a check for the gadget of your dreams. We love the idea behind everyday carry kits, but finding the right balance between compact and useful is often easier said than done.