Abstract: The grease capturing pad of the present invention includes one or more liquid absorptive layers or regions. Each liquid absorptive layer is one selected to take in food-based grease in liquid or semi-solid form. For instance, one of the liquid absorptive layers or regions may form an accumulation region to act as a repository for grease absorbed by another liquid absorptive layer. Various layers or regions of the grease capturing pad may have odor suppression properties, and a thermally insulating layer may be provided below other layers of the pad to insulate a surface below the pad from the hot grease. Additionally, a handle may be attached with the pad for improved manipulation of the pad and to keep a user's hand at a safe distance from the hot grease.

Abstract: A progressive handwriting tool utilizes one of (a) color contrast within a writing segment, or (b) a grid of sloped lines, to properly guide a student in writing print and/or cursive letters in a proper style and form. In one aspect, a print writing tool includes a writing medium, such as a sheet of paper or an electronic input capturing device, where a plurality of writing segments comprised of first and second rectangular regions are formed thereon. The rectangular regions extend horizontally in a stacked arrangement, and have contrasting colors to clearly differentiate between upper and lower areas where uppercase and lowercase letters are to be written. In another aspect, a cursive writing tool includes a writing medium onto which is formed a set of parallel horizontal lines and a set of diagonal lines of constant slope. The horizontal and diagonal lines intersect to form an array of writing boxes, with each box configured to have one letter of a cursive word written therein.