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I’ve written about my love for Monty Python before, and I usually like Python merchandise. But… there’s a limit for me, too.

The Monty Python “General Direction” boxers are very… Pythonesque. “I fart in your general direction” is one of the most famous lines in Holy Grail. It is very funny when uttered by a French soldier taunting King Arthur and his knights, but I don’t find the humor in putting it on a pair of boxers. Potty humor if not my cup of tea.

But I suppose this fits Monty Python, so fans might like them. Which is ok… as long as they don’t take the message literally.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $11.99 on WebUndies.com.

Via FashionablyGeek

There’s not much to say in terms of technology about an USB hub. You can plug many USB powered devices in it and that’s good, we all know it. So the design makes the difference.

The USB Star Hub II is very pretty to look at - if you like very colorful things, that is. It offers 4 ports in 4 different colors and it can rotate in several interesting ways, which not only looks good, but is also useful if you want to plug in weirdly-shaped or large things.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $12 on Brando.com.hk.

Via Coolest Gadgets

I think that maybe ’solar power’ is becoming the new trend in gadgets. Add solar power to something and pass it off as a great innovation! USB-somethings are so passé…

Yes, solar power is good, but on a larger scale. A Solar Keyring Torch? I’m not impressed. The idea is ok: a mini-torch attached to your keys is useful when you come home late. But if the torch is attached to your keys, which are probably in your pocket or your bag for the whole day, when will it charge? Why bother remembering to leave them in the sun when you can just get a battery-powered gadget? One tiny battery won’t kill the environment (and you can recycle it anyway).

How much under $29.99?
Some: ~$14.38 on IWantOneOfThose.com.

Via Coolest Gadgets

That orange tabby loved by millions, Garfield, will soon celebrate his 30th birthday. The popularity of the comic strip means that he’s not just a comics character - we can find Garfield-branded anything.

Today, the Garfield MP3 player. It comes with 256 MB internal memory, which is not nearly enough, but it’s also available in a package with an extra 1GB SD card. The downside is that 1GB is the maximum amount of added memory it can support, so there’s no way to increase the storage further than that.

Me… I like Garfield, but carrying around a music player shaped like his head is a bit too much. However… I have to say it’s at least cheap. While you’d have to be a hardcore Garfield fan to buy this for yourself, it might actually be a great gift for a kid. Colorful and cheap, so the child will be entertained and you’ll not feel sorry when it inevitably get broken.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $13.99 on SurplusComputers.com.

Via Chip Chick

I have a thing for t-shirts that make you think a bit. About useless knowlege of video games and pop culture, alright, not the meaning of life. But a t-shirt is less likely to get boring when you still haven’t figured out what all the stuff on it means.

The We, Robot t-shirt is a robots trivia test. How many robots can you recognize? They’re 51 in total, from film, television, books, toys and one even from a famous classic rock album. Or so the manufacturer says, I can only recognize three: Marvin, R2D2 and a Transformer. Oh, and maybe the one in the middle is supposed to be a tripod? You can see a larger version of the image here and test your robot knowledge.

How much under $29.99?
A little: $25 on ChopShopStore.com.

Via uncrate

We all know what April 1st means - we’ve been planning the pranks for months in advance, or fear being the victim, or are waiting eagerly to see what our co-workers come up with. This Top 5 April Fools’ Pranks under $30 is for everyone. Yes, even the victims. If you’re forewarned you won’t fall for it if the mouse starts moving (aparently) on its own.

5. If you’re not feeling particularly evil, you can just give someone a little scare. They’ll realize soon enough that the Fake Parking Tickets won’t get them a fine (but they’ll probably be pissed off if they read the whole insulting message…)

4. If you’re into childish pranks, the Revenge Toilet Paper is for you. Just replace the existing roll with this and snicker away when the poor victim strolls out of the bathroom and tells the tale of the mysterious paper which doesn’t tear. One of these in every company toilet stall would wreak a nice amount of havoc - at least until enough people realize there’s something wrong.

3. But my favorite type of prank involves more technology than these first two. For example, the Mouse Jiggler. You only have to plug it into an USB port and it will start to randomly move the mouse pointer. Since most of us are so dependant on our computers, seeing them apparently go crazy can be a very distressing experience. It’s up to the prankster to decide when to end the torture and reveal the trickery involved… (Of course, s/he can also become an office hero by “fixing” the “malfunctioning” computer with his/her 1337 skills.)

2. If the designated victim is a couch potato with an unhealthy interest in soap operas, Jerry Springer or football… well, they deserve it, right? The Micro Spy Remote makes it easy to play with their nerves a little, because it allows you to control the TV. Turn it off, change the channel, mute it… The sky’s the limit. Or the patience of the victim. If you’re seen barely controlling your laughter, they will know something’s wrong.
(Alternately, do this in a bar. When a game’s on. You’ll be more difficult to spot and you’ll annoy more people.)

1. Since the office is where we spend most of our time, number 1 is another gadget for computer-related madness. The Phantom Keystroker uses an USB port and makes the user’s mouse and/or keyboard go insane. Random cursor moves and gibberish text will have the poor victim feel like s/he’s the victim of a virus or an electronic ghost.

True Nintendo fans know the history of their favorite console ever since the first NES fell into the hands of the first gamer. Some of them will want to show it to the world.

The Nintendo Family Tree t-shirt shows the Nintendo family from its ancestors to its current members in stylish white-on-black. You don’t have to pass a test when you buy it, but you could impress fellow fans if you could name all the consoles and state the year they were released.

But if you can’t… It’s ok. Maybe you have some other interesting obsession.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $20 on NerdyShirts.com.

Via FashionablyGeek

This is another one of those products that are so obviously useful you wonder how come they weren’t around since always.

A 4-Port USB Car Charger, so obvious! So many of our gadgets charge through an USB port and we spend so much of our time in cars, why didn’t this exist before? Anyway, it’s here now, and I’m sure many people will be happy to hear it.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $12 on Gadget4All.com.

Via DVICE

Eco-aware or just making sure you can carry the odd groceries home, you want to carry a bag around with you. Me… I always leave it at home. Bad memory at such a young age, yeah.

Fortunately, there seems to be an easy way to carry a bag around with you at all times, with no inconvenience. MyBag is very smart: the shopping bag comes folded in a small case which can be used as a key ring. When unfolded, the case becomes a handle.

My problem with folding things: I never manage to fold them back up once I use them. There doesn’t seem to be any easy folding system for this bag either, so… keep that in mind if you’re planning to get one.

How much under $29.99?
Some: ~$11.50 on eShopMegaStore.com.

Via bookofjoe

Although this is supposedly sold as a device to prevent your computer from going to sleep and is aimed at computer forensics investigators and IT professionals, I think its best (and most entertaining) use is co-worker torture.

The name makes it obvious: the Mouse Jiggler jiggles your mouse. Well, not physically, but it makes the cursor move across the screen with no input. It comes in two versions: slow and fast. I suppose you can imagine what happens when Bill from Accounting finds his cursor keeps jumping from one place to another, although he’s not touching the mouse. The slow Jiggler is not impressive prank-wise, but on fast… he’ll be screaming in frustration in minutes. You just have to plug this baby in an USB port and watch.

(Or you can use it to prevent your screensaver from starting and forcing you to relogin. But that’s not as much fun.)

How much under $29.99?
Exactly $29.95 on Wiebetech.com.