So why not make a swear jar that looks like something some comic book character would say when he or she is cussing? By comic book character, I mean those of old-school fifties and sixties superhero comics. I’m pretty certain comic characters can pretty much say anything they want, as long as their book didn’t fall under the Comic Code authority.

So if you have a sailor living in your home, and you want to make a little extra money on the side, this Ceramic Swear Bank is the way to go. Fortunately, it has a rubber stopper so you can access the excess funds whenever you wish. It’s not like those older piggy banks that you had to completely shatter if you wanted to access your savings.

You can get the Ceramic Swear Bank on the Perpetual Kid site for about $12.99. While you’re there, pick yourself up a Fridge Locker.

Boredom is a dreadful thing, so you should always find ways to get rid of it.  Thankfully, Think Geek is always around to rescue geeks from being sucked into a bland dark place in their mind.  Now you can spend your days strumming on a fake guitar on your shirt.  It has all the major chords and plays them out loud for all the world to hear.  Whether they like it or not.

The major chords that you have will allow for you to play a great deal of classic rock songs.  That or you could just randomly hit buttons and make everyone around you completely annoyed.  There is a mini amp that comes with the shirt.  It has a tone nob that allows for you to turn the volume of the guitar up and down.  The amp can be clipped to your belt.  You can purchase the shirt and amp set for $29.99 from ThinkGeek.

Source: TecheBlog

Instead of getting a skull that lights up and requires you to plug it in or toss in batteries, go for this slightly more convenient design.  It features a built-in solar panel to make it so that you can sit this out during the Halloween season and not need to worry about it till Halloween has passed.  Since it will be all over with as of Saturday, perhaps you should consider this for next Halloween instead though.

When someone happens to pass by this solar-powered skull, those bright yellow lights will glare at them as they go about their business.  It has a natural bone-like finish and is made out of a resin that makes it durable in all different types of weather.  That makes it even better to just sit it out and not have to worry about it for a while.  It comes with a Ni-Cad battery that the solar panel will charge.  You can purchase the Solar Light Up Skull for $20.69 from UXSight.

Source: TechChee

Perfect for scaring the local kids and giving elderly relatives a heart attack, the range of disgusting acts you can perform with this set is delightfully wide. All in all, you can take pleasure in making your audience (or just the cat if you can’t rustle one up) feel quite sick with these clever little tricks. You can snap bones in your neck, discover a disembodied hand, even tear someone else’s arm off – all with the help of the included instructional DVD. Of course, the Magic Circle might not approve of these secrets being divulged, but that won’t matter a jot when you’re merrily terrifying anyone watching you yank a blood-drenched and still-moving arm out of a box. Of course, the tricks are surprisingly simple and just require a little bit of acting (not method-acting) and rehearsal to make a convincing show. Included are all the props you could need for these illusions, such as a box (with one panel missing), a fake ear, a fake arm (with gore detail), a bone-click simulator, a fake hand and various other bits and pieces to create the impression that you’re doing yourself some irresponsible harm.

The Freaky Body Illusions will retail for £24.99 and ought to make for a really wacky gift set.

happiness hat from Lauren McCarthy on Vimeo.

They say that frowning uses less muscles than a smile, and frowning too much might just result in an undesired, sad look on your face permanently if done once too often. Enter the Happiness Hat that ought to change all that, leaving you with a perpetual smile without having to carve one out for you. How is this possible? No, it doesn’t use some sort of laughing gas or anything of the sort, but rely on a traditional Pavlovian-style approach by driving a metal spike into its wearer’s head should he or she make the mistake of frowning. This is made possible by an embedded bend sensor which is attached to the cheek and measures smile size, while a servo motor helps moves a metal spike into the head inversely proportional to the degree of smile. That ought to leave you with a perpetual smile, that’s for sure.

Source: Gearlog

If you have a co-worker that really just needs paid back for their charming personality, here’s the way to do it.  It’ll allow for you to sneakily drive them crazy, but not do any actual harm to their computer.  This USB drive can be jammed into the back of the computer where they’re highly unlikely to find it, unless they should inspect the back.  However, by that time you’ll have gotten at least a little enjoyment out of their frustration.

The USB drive has a time delay, so it gives you plenty of time to get away from their computer before it starts causing trouble.  Once it does start working it’ll turn the caps lock on and off, type out random text and phrases as well as make the mouse make random movements.  I’d be careful who you play this trick on though, if they find out it was you they’ll be itching for revenge.  Right now there’s not any pricing information, but you can expect to see more on the Thumbs Up website at the end of the month.

Source: Newlaunches

I am assuming that this is the target audience for the Spy Gear Evidence Kit. This All-in-One Inspection Set is designed for future detectives, as it highlights all the nifty aspects of it. For example, it has a 7 piece fingerprint kit that allows your kids to use lifting tape, glow in the dark powder, and an LED flashlight with UV Blacklight. This kit also has tiny ink case and a 2-sided fingerprint card for more fingerprint fun.

The Evidence Kit also has an interesting 30X microscope that you can see standing on end in the photo. It can definitely introduce youngsters to the concept of the microscopic world. It also comes with 2 collection bags in case your kids are playing very realistic cops and robbers for “tag it and bag it” fun.

The Evidence Kit is just neat enough to make any kid want to be an ace detective. For those who are looking for a stocking stuffer for their kids ages six and up might consider this one. It is available at the Shop Wild Planet website for about $22.95 (Sale Price).

SnowShorts put Rosebud on a kid's bum.

When something is designed that is so obvious, you have to wonder why it took so long for someone to come up with the idea. This is the case with SNOWSHORTS, which takes the idea of a cardboard box and marries it to skipants. HUH?

As a kid, we used to take cardboard and climb up to the top of a snow covered hill to barrel down it at breakneck speed. But with Orvis Pull SnowShorts, the designers have taken a hard plastic shell and attached it to the hind end of those ski pants, thereby marrying the toboggan to the tobaganner. Well, shorts anyway. Kids can pull the hard shell behind shorts over their cold weather clothes andhead off to fly down a snow covered hill. No need for cardboard, no crying “rosebud” at the end of your days. But a good bike helmet may be a good idea to avoid contact with a nearby tree.

Snow Shorts let kids fly down snow covered hills without the need for anything else but their butt.

Cost is about $35 at Amazon. Granted, it costs more than a cardboard box, but it’s a steal considering the cost of a tobaggan or a snow disc that kids will be using anyway.

And with Winter coming quickly and some cities already getting snow, isn’t this just a great idea?

Hat Tip – Gadget Grid

This fiendishly small device features six creepy sound choices perfect for frightening your “friends” and co-workers. Simply choose your favorite sound (or use the random mode), place it in a dark hiding spot and watch the madness begin. Perfectly suitable for dorm, office and home use. Or try putting it in someone’s car – that gets them every time.

Among the sounds available include some unsettling creaking, unidentifiable scratching sounds, gasping last breaths, a sinister child laughing and an eerie whisper of “Hey, can you hear me?” – turn on the Random Mode if you’re going to have some real fun. Retailing for $9.99 each, it will be able to last for slightly more than a month of continuous use.

Turn your burger into a hot dog, or even stuff it with the Dam Dogger

If you’ve ever stopped off at a 7-11 and had a hankerin’ for a hot dog, you’ve probably seen not only those extremely bad for you “Big Bites” rotating on the warmer, but also those hot dog shaped masses of “mystery meat” which sport all kinds of flavors from breakfast sausage to philly cheese steak – and all packaged in a hot dog like tube that you can slather all kinds of chili and cheese like sauce on top of. Man, if that doesn’t spell triple coronary bypass, I don’t know what does. Well, aren’t we lucky that we can create our own mystery meat dogs right in the comfort of our own kitchen with the Ham Dogger!

Though for the life of me I don’t know why one would want a tubed shaped burger, the Ham Dogger forms a hot dog shaped quarter pounder for weekend warriors to place on their BBQ grills. But it does have one cool feature, you can use the Ham Dogger to stuff the middle of your mystery meat a plethora of fillings from cheese to … well cheese! Or maybe even veggies for those finicky kiddies.
Okay, maybe the Ham Dogger isn’t so bad after all.

About $8.00 from Taylor Gifts.

Hat Tip – Gear Fuse

Yes, they may not look like what Nissan usually rolls off the assembly line, but the EPORO robot cars are an advancement for the day when cars drive themselves like Knight Rider.

You see, these EPORO robot cars are able to move in groups, and have software built in that keeps them from crashing into each other. Just think of them as bumper cars without the humans and without the bumps.

I suppose a better comparison would be to schools of fish, who are able to travel without bumping into each other and fluidly avoid other obstacles.

It sort of reminds me of the software used in Pixar’s classic Finding Nemo. Remember how the schools of fish traveled in schools, just like real fish? It would appear that Nissan took that tech a step higher, and plans to put six of the EPORO robots on display at CEATAC Japan next week.

I like where EPORO technology is going. I suppose automated cars could easily be programmed to follow traffic signals, but Nissan has finally figured out how to keep automated vehicles from hitting each other.

Are we that far away from Minority Report style automatic vehicles? I hope not. I would like to take nap in my car while on the way home.

Source

Obviously, this type of marketing is designed for Halloween, and if you need realistic webbing for your spooky party on October 31st, the Electronic Webcaster Gun is for you.

The package of twenty gluesticks can cover about 350 square feet, or one 12 x 15 foot room. The webs come in three types. You can choose Clear, which glows blue under black light. Neon Yellow, which glows yellow under black light, or simply choose Glow in the Dark.

Now, I’m not certain whether you can shoot your webs like Spider-man, but why would you want to? Unless you want to swing through New York City. With a name like Electric Webcaster Gun, it ought to shoot like the webslinger.

This is just one reason why I think the Electronic Webcaster Gun is not well named. The second reason is because it sounds like a product that can make you a professional podcaster.

This Webcaster Gun with six sticks costs $50, and replacement sticks are in packs of twenty for $6.

Source

This has to be the ultimate travel blanket.  I’m always freezing on public transportation and sometimes it’s nice to take a nap when you’re stuck on a plane or train for hours.  This kit includes a blanket to keep you warm and a pillow.  Which anyone that’s used a pillow on any public transportation knows how pathetic they tend to be.  Hopefully this pillow included in the set is far more comfortable.  Not only does it have the blanket and pillow, but a pocket on the blanket specifically meant for your smaller gadgets.

The pocket will hold a cellphone or your iPod, which makes it much easier to fall asleep while listening to your music.  Especially since the pocket will keep your iPod in place, so that you won’t shift and knock it onto the floor.  The pillow is a blow up pillow, so it’ll make it simpler to pack it away.   The pocket itself features a zipper closure.  The set only comes in blue, so you won’t get to choose between colors.  You can purchase the Blue Travel Set for $28 from Pantina Stores.

Source: CraziestGadgets

Most people meditate to get away from the fast paced world and even technology.  Well for those of you that can’t stand to be without your technology and would like to have a little more fun while you’re meditating, Think Geek has you covered.  With this you’ll get to have the Woodstock experience without all of those harmful drugs.  It’s the way true geeks relax after a long hard day in front of the computer.

You just sit with your eyes gently closed and the headset as well as the glasses on.  The glasses will flash the colored LED lights, which your brain will naturally attempt to interpret.  That in turn makes you visualize all kinds of pretty patterns produced by your own mind.  The headset does emit some sounds, but they don’t really describe what kind.  For the glasses they include some stickers you can put over the LED lights if they are too bright for you.  After 14 minutes the glasses automatically shut off, leaving you to just relax and not have to worry about anything for a few minutes.  You can purchase the set for $39.99 from Think Geek.

Source: Crunchgear

A working Tricorder? Only if you want to analyze movies and music!

Okay, show of hands. If you’re a Star Trek fan, how many of you have a phaser toy sitting on your desk right now? Yeah thought so. Some of you may have gotten the Trek Communicator VOIP phone. But how many have gotten this cool Trek gadget … a Trek Tricorder Media player?! You heard me. Someone has built a Tricorder that not only looks like one, but works like one as well. Sort of.

Ameralis Grafx‘ Tricorder PMP-09 seems to have gotten all the details right in creating a replica tricorder from Star Trek the Next Generation series. Handheld, about the size of a pregnant iPod, it flips open to review power, play, rewind, forward and volume buttons and a 2.8” LCD screen which does double duty as both a menu interface and movie screen. It has 8 GB of on-board memory (no sign of an SD expansion slot, sadly), and a life of between 4 hours for video and 12 hours of music before needing recharging. The PMP-09 has working lights and sounds from the hit sci-fi series, has the standard LCARS interface (you trekkers know what that is) and plays AVI, MP3, MP4, and WAV files. It’ll even serve as a digital photo album with capability to display both JPG and BMP files.

Six different tricorder PMP models will be available ...

The PMP-09 comes in six different styles from standard Starfleet issue, to Medical, Marine, and Borg models. Borg models?! But it’s not cheap. Figuring that if you build it, they will come with their VISA cards, the PMP-09 will set Trek geeks back between $350-430 bucks. Yikes.
Check out the Tricorder in action over at YouTube here.

Hat Tip – Engadget

If you’re worried that someone might make off with some of your smaller valuables, you might need something to keep them safe.  Sure, one of those big expensive combination safes would be nice, but they’re big and they’re expensive.  Which makes them unrealistic for while you’re traveling and completely out of the question if you’re on any kind of a budget.  Well this will look just like an average run of the mill surge protector to most people, but you’ll know the truth.

It is in fact a hollow surge protector to store your expensive jewelry within.  It’d be great for travel, because even hotel maids wouldn’t think much of it.  Plus it’s so lightweight that it wouldn’t weigh down your luggage and could easily be stashed in your suitcase without taking up too much space.  The surge protector can be plugged in, but all it does is power a small red light behind the switch.  You can purchase the safe for $29.99 from Be Wild.

Source: NerdApproved

Gorilla Torch gives you an extra hand for dark, tight spaces.

It’s always frustrating when working in tight spaces to try and hold a flashlight while you’re turning a screw. Inevitably, what’s generally easy to do without a flashlight, is darn near impossible when you have to also hold a torch to light your workspace. Enter Gorilla Torch.

Made by Joby, the geniuses behind the Gorilla Pod, a Digital Camera holder that can mount a camera anywhere, the Gorilla Torch is the same kind of idea: a tripod with adjustable segments that enables the user to literally wrap it around anything to hold it in place. It’s LED based light is superbright and also has a built in dimmer switch to adjust to the users liking. It’s weatherproof and operates on thee AA batteries with an average battery life of 20-80 hours depending on how bright you like it.

So, whether you’re working on the pipes underneath the sink or replacing that timing chain in your car, wherever you need light, all you need to do is turn on Gorilla Torch and wrap it around anything nearby adjust the light to shine your way and you’re good to go for hands free lighting. There’s also another feature that can help while working in tight spaces. The footpads of the Gorilla Torch are magnetic, meaning that any nuts or bolts can be within easy reach just by sticking them on the pads.
Cost is around $30, which is a bargain if you’ve ever dealt with juggling tools, lights, and tight spaces!

Hat Tip – Chip Chick

The ChefStack can make hundreds of pancakes automatically.

Well, busy perhaps. Maybe if you don’t have the time to flip them yourself and there’s hundreds of hungry guests lining up for breakfast. The Chefstack Automatic Pancake Machine can make 4-inch size pancakes from no-mess batter pouches. And it only takes about 30 seconds as the flapjacks get cooked and stacked assembly style while you’re off doing something else.

The machine is about the size of microwave oven and has already been proven quite popular with coffee shops, cafeterias, convenience stores, and other small businesses in Australia and New Zealand.

But will it find a following at a Starbucks here in the States? Well, if competition from McDonalds continues to challenge their java marketshare, it just might. But come on, can a $3,500 machine really make yummy tancakes without being touched by human hands? I’m betting not. At least not in my kitchen.

Hat Tip – Uncrate

Design your own postcards with the Casio Postcard Maker

If Alton Brown was doing a show about tech, he’d call the Casio Postcard Maker a “uni-tasker,” something that only has one use and ends up spending more time taking up space than actually doing something you need. But they seem popular in Japan though, so what do we know? Let’s take a look and see what’s up.

Coming in two models, the PCP-300 and PCP-1300, the Postcard Maker comes with a full QWERTY keyboard and memory card expansion slots with which to upload photographs from the vacation you recently went on. Then, using the 7″ touchscreen display, you can then design and alter those photographs and print them out as a postcard to mail off to family and friends.

Honestly, I don’t get it. The whole idea behind a “post card” is to get them while you’re on vacation and mail them from where you are with the envious phrase “Having a wonderful time, wish you were here …” And there are some pretty well done and unique cards out there to even collect as pictures you can’t normally get.

Still, for those who fancy doing it yourself …

May be popular in Japan, but there’s no word on price or availability in the states though.

Hat Tip – Ubergizmo

Grilling during the big game? Go for extra bases with the Baseball Bat Pepper Grinder.

Baseball fans love to grill. Almost as much as football fans love to tailgate. But seasoning something on the grill with tiny pepper mills – or even average size mills – can be a bit singeing. Especially if you’re watching the game on the big screen while you’re doing it. Enter the Baseball Bat Pepper Mill.

Made to resemble a full scale real baseball bat, this natural wood pepper grider has been lathed down to the bat design with the handle being the grinder wheel and the meat of the bat being the actual grinder. Total length is two and a half feet with a standard, albeit oversized, stainless steel pepper grinding mechanism built inside.

With a bat grinder this big, cooks will really have to put some muscle into grinding their spices and seasonings. But there’s also a smaller, 19 inch version, for those who don’t want to work as hard.

Still, it’s a pretty savory gadget for cooking during the big game. Available at Amazon for $50.

Hat Tip – Craziest Gadgets