Space Invaders are cool, period. Come on, they were invented 30 years ago and people still know what they are! That’s impressive.

Because of the 30th anniversary, Taito has been releasing all sorts of cool Invaders-themed merchandise. If you think a pillow is too much, you can now get something that doesn’t say “I’m a geek” so loud: a Space Invaders Keychain Set. Each set has three colorful pixelated aliens encased in clear acrylic cubes – to keep them from taking over your pockets?

Either way, evil invaders or cute retro aliens, the Space Invaders have a place in pop culture and in people’s hearts.
(It sounds melodramatic, but it’s true; it was one of the first games I ever played and I always remember it fondly.)

How much under $29.99?
A lot: $8.50 on NCSXShop.com.

Via Tech Digest

Starry stary night… Or not. If you live in a big city you probably don’t get to see many stars, with all the lights and the smog…

The Star Master Mini Star Projector won’t make up for real stars, but it can give you something to stare at when you’re trying to fall asleep. If counting sheep doesn’t work and you don’t have any cracks in the wall you can imagine shapes out of, a little galaxy on your wall might do the trick. And maybe improve your astronomy knowledge.

How much under $29.99?
A little: $22.00 on Gadget4All.com.

Via Coolest Gadgdets

Gumball machines are one of the best things ever. The gum is too big and the taste is dubious, but ah, the excitement of inserting a coin and wondering what color you’ll get… I gladly admit I had my last gum from a machine 2 weeks ago, and I get one everytime I visit a certain mall. There’s no such thing as “too old for it”.

And, since you’re an adult, you now have your own money and you can get your own Picture Perfect Gumball Machine! Er, get one for your children/nephews and nieces, I mean. It doesn’t take up as much space as a full-sized one because it goes right on your wall, but it dispenses candy just like the real thing.

We might as well admit we are kids at heart…

How much under $29.99?
Exactly $29.99 on ModCloth.com.

A “shemergency” is, according to the product description, “a beauty blunder, fashion faux pas, and personal care predicament that keeps women from looking and feeling their best”. I think the word and the description are kind of stupid, but oh well, the content is more important.

And the contents of the Shemergency Survival Kit are pretty impressive. The list is too long to reproduce here, but the kit includes things such as a folding hair brush with mirror, hand lotion, nail clipper, nail polish remover, mending kit, safety pin, double-sided tape, breath freshener, lip balm, dental floss, deodorant wipes, tampon and facial tissues. There’s 24 items in total and, if you like to be prepared for everything, this kit is a quick and almost complete solution.

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

Via Outblush

If you want to make your bicycle more exciting (and make sure all drivers see you at night), the Hokey Spokes seem a great idea.

What’s a Hokey Spoke? Basically, it’s a sort of blade that attaches to your bike spokes and displays computer-generated images and text when the wheels spin (see all available designs here). You can attach up to 6 spokes to each wheel (the more, the merrier, of course), they work on any mountain or road bike with a wheel diameter of 24″ or greater and you can choose from several different colors.

My only niggle: too expensive. $30 or more for one, and you need at least 3 to get the best results… Not many people love their bike so much. But if you’re willing to invest, the results are bound to be impressive.

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

Via bookofjoe

This blog needs more girly stuff, so here’s some. In hot pink even.

These Matchsticks have nothing to do with fire. They can probably burn (though I don’t know why someone would do that) and that’s about as close as it gets. The Matchsticks are clear double-stick tape strips that should be in any girl’s purse. Even if you’re usually careful about not getting your skirt caught in a fence or you avoid cats trying to scratch your pantyhose, you never know when you’ll have an emergency. A bra strap breaking, a button going missing, a hem in trouble… and, come on, who has time to sew them back, even if they have a needle and thread?

The stick tape Matchsticks come in a pink box (too pink, really) just like the fire igniting type and they are the right size to just forget in a bag until the emergency. If you’re like me and you like to be ready for anything, you’re going to love these.

How much under $29.99?
A lot: $10 on HerLook.com.

Via bookofjoe

Falling asleep at the wheel is one of the most dangerous things you can do while driving. We’ve all seen the news reports. It’s not pretty.

The Anti Sleep Driving Alarm is a great idea for anyone who has to drive for a long time or when tired. This device was developed especially for drivers and it works by letting off a piercing alarm if your head tilts forward more than 30 degrees.

Of course, its use is not restricted to drivers: those night-long gaming sessions can be very tough, and at some point energizing drinks just don’t cut it anymore. Falling asleep during a raid can potentially be more dangerous than sleeping at the wheel – that is, if your guildies realize it and come kick your ass for causing a wipe.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $14.99 on ThinkGeek.com.

Some slightly disturbing cooking ingredients for today.

From what I’ve seen, this is mostly a female problem, but I bet anyone who’s ever had to cook for him/herself had at least one moment of “I have no idea what to make today”. I’m here with a suggestion – and I’m sure most of you will greet it with a hearty “wtf”. It’s Bacon Salt – because “Everything should taste like bacon”, as the manufacturers put it. It comes in 4 flavors (flavored salt with four flavors, yes): Original, Hickory, Peppered and Natural.

A weird idea, I must say, but despite that… strangely appealing. It might just be my hunger, but bacon does taste great, and getting the taste without the fat… mmmm.

How much under $29.99?
A lot: $4.49 for one flavor on BaconSalt.com.

Via uncrate

Security is important, but there’s also too much security. How many times have you forgotten your impossible-to-crack password? I’d rather stick with something less safe, but still be able to read my mail.

The same applies for luggage locks. A thief is unlikely to guess your 4-digit combination, but are you sure you will remember it? I think no one can dispute the fact that words are much easier to remember than numbers, so the Wordlock 4 Dial TSA Luggage Lock seems like a great idea long overdue. All you have to do is set a four-letter word (of course, make it an unusual one!) and you’re set.

How much under $29.99?
A lot: $9.99 on Amazon.com.

Via TechieDiva

Basically everyone working in an office has a computer nowadays, which has more or less eliminated the need for a calculator. Personally, I think I won’t even use one again – I have my computer at work/at home and my cell phone the rest of the time. Maybe that’s why someone thought of the Chocolate Calculator?

Women and chocolate go together perfectly – or so most people seem to think -, so a calculator that looks like a chocolate bar should appeal to the female population. At least to part of it, anyway. I am not included there, unfortunately for the manufacturers, and I think the idea is kind of tacky. However, it does look like a chocolate bar, so if there’s a particular lady with a sweet tooth (preferably on a diet) that you want to torture… give her this useful gift. What? It’s just a calculator, nothing more… Not your fault that she’ll be dying for something sweet the second she gets off work.

How much under $29.99?
A lot: $8 on UrbanOutfitters.com.

Via ShinyShiny