Learning about alternative energy can be entertaining, if you know how to do it.
In short:
Mini Solar Car – yes.
Solar Climbing Orangutan – no.
It’s not a bad idea in itself… but that monkey is ugly. Seeing a piece of solar-powered plastic “climb” a rope would be fun for a couple of minutes, or even more for educational value, but they really could’ve made it better looking…
How much under $29.99?
Some: $14.99 on ThinkGeek.com.
Via Gizmodo
Coffee connoiseurs aren’t satisfied with the regular stuff (and let’s not even mention instant anything). But do you need to be passionate or crazy to try out some Weasel Puke Coffee?
No joke here. There’s a sort of weasel that lives in Vietnam and likes to eat the fruit of the coffee beans. But evolution hasn’t taught it that they’re bad for digestion, so it just keeps throwing them up. Disgusting, but it looks like the acid in the weasel’s stomach wears away the bitter taste and makes the coffee even better.
You just have to wonder one thing: who the hell came up with the idea to make coffee out of something an animal threw up?!
How much under $29.99?
A little: $24.99 on ThinkGeek.com.
I’m a sucker for anything with a lot of compartments or pockets. I swear, it’s the lack of proper storage facilities that keeps me from being the really tidy person I am deep down inside.
A Lighted Bedside Organizer might take up some space, but with a larger nightstand it can be really helpful. It’s motion activated, so one wave of the hand will get you 30 seconds of light to find the phone, the glass of water or the remote.
Having your nightstand taken over by a large object might not be the best, but this is better than a simple flat surface: it comes with 2 top compartments, a drawer, a 4-section pill box, a ring holder and a coaster.
How much under $29.99?
Exactly $29.99 on WhateverWorks.com.
Via Coolest Gadgets
The year just started, so what does everyone need? That’s right, calendars. Even if you use the Windows version all the time, it still makes a nice desk decoration.
In the case of the Plantable Seed Calendar, it can also make for a nice garden. Weird statment? Not really: each of the pages comes with embedded seeds, so once put into the ground and watered it will sprout wildflowers (Bird’s Eye, Clarkia, Coreopsis, Poppy, Catchfly and Snap Dragon).
The tin it comes in is perfectly reusable too, thus making it a very eco calendar and the perfect beginning-of-year present for those aware of the environment.
How much under $29.99?
A little: $24.95 on OliveBarn.com.
Via GearDiary
Can a really manly man eat out of ordinary utensils? Uh, yes, of course. But if you want to eat in style (rugged style, that is), Wrenchware is here.
The set features a box-end wrench fork, open-end wrench spoon and pliers knife made from 18/10 polished “drop forged” stainless steel and it even comes with a heavy duty ABS plastic box (you know, in case you need to eat in rough conditions).
$24 for a meal sounds a bit steep, though. Won’t regular utensils work too?
How much under $29.99?
A little: $24 on WrenchwareInc.com.
Via CoolMaterial
Mr. Robot Head is for ages 3 to 7, but damn, it looks fun. Testing hand-eye coordination can be entertaining at any age, right?
The purpose of the toy is simple: pass the wand from one end of the coiled wire to the other without touching it. But since the robot’s eye flash and it makes lots of noise when the two wires touch, many children will probably do it on purpose to get the cool effect.
And there’s something extra too: although it uses electricity, the toy is human-powered: wind-up the handle in the back and it works just like that – a good excuse to teach older kids some physics?
How much under $29.99?
A little: $28.99 on ThinkGeek.com.
Via Coolest Gadgets
We know convergence items aren’t the best, let’s say. Ok, some of them plainly suck.
But the idea of an old-fashioned tool like a notebook and a modern gadget like an iPod coming together is strangely appealing… The iPod Notepad is basically a simple item: a cover binding a 70-pages notebook and a padded iPod holder, but it’s so retro-cool it makes me want one.
The case comes in nine colors and is only compatible with the 3rd generation iPod Nano for now, but a version for Gen4 is in the works.
How much under $29.99?
A little: €18 on Scripta.dk.
Via BoingBoing
The Moonbag is an interesting idea, even though if it has a fairly limited use.
This bag/changing mat can be a real life-saver if you’re discarding wet clothes, because you can just step on it to keep your feet clean, then just draw the strings and carry the wet laudry. It’s waterproof, naturally, otherwise it would defeat the point.
As far as regular bags go, you can get better for the same money. If you’re not a frequent swimmer or diver, don’t bother; however, if you usually find yourself with a lot of wet clothes on your back, this could make your life easier.
How much under $29.99?
A little: $22.50 on GoFrostFire.com.
If you’re bored of the same old bookshelves, maybe it’s time for something new. The Selfshelf won’t hold many books, but its presence won’t go unnoticed. Books apparently floating up in the air are always impressive.
The shelves come in two colors, white or black, and look just like books. Each can hold up to 4 kilograms, is 15 cm in width and naturally comes with a bracket for wall-mounting.
There can never be enough shelves in a bookworm’s house, and it doesn’t get any better than this.
How much under $29.99?
A little: £16 on DutchByDesign.com.
Engraved phones are cool and unique… at least until you get bored with the image and start wondering why the hell you did it. But having a something that proclaims it’s yours and yours alone would still be awesome…
This is where Coveroo comes in. It’s a custom engraving company… and yet it’s not. What Coveroo does is engrave an extra back cover which you switch for the regular one. This way, you get to keep the original in pristine condition and simply put it back once you get bored with the engraving.
For now, the service is available for BlackBerry Bold, BlackBerry Curve, BlackBerry Pearl, iPod Touch 8GB, LG CU515, Motorola SLVR, Samsung U340 and Samsung U410. The range of images is limited, but very diverse, with designs from Marylin Monroe and Al Bundy to Stargate and sports, so check it out, you just might find something interesting.
How much under $29.99?
A little: $19.95-$29.95 depending on the phone on Coveroo.com.
Via ChipChick
