Present Professor » Geeks and Gadgets

There Will Be Blood

carli — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:51:54 +0000

Do it yourself blood-typing test kit.

Just add blood.

Yes, really.

$8.99 at Think Geek.

Eight Days of Light Emitting Diodes

carli — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:37:57 +0000

Recycled LED Motherboard Menorah, $19.99 at Perpetual Kid

Suck It Up

carli — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:10:49 +0000

USB keyboard vacuum, $4.95 at The Container Store.

Because, let’s face it, people. Most of us are slobs. Muffin-loving slobs. Muffin-loving, Internet-surfing slobs. Now, give your muffin-loving slobby friend a USB keyboard vac. You plug it directly into your laptop, making it portable, practical, and perfect for stuffing into stockings. And also, for removing stuffing from in between the keys on your keyboard.

It’s the Wheel Thing

carli — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:33:11 +0000

Mario Kart for Wii follows the tradition of addictive racing fun fans have come to expect from the zippy little plumber Mario and his gang. But the game only comes with one racing wheel–not a controller in itself, but a wheel you can slip a regular Wii controller into for more authentic game play. (Because, you know, nothing says authentic like cars that slip on magic bananas and shoot guided turtle shells at their opponents.)

A spare wheel is a great gift for someone who’s already got the game–and I love this soft wheel by Nerf. Not only is it easy on the hands, it doubles as a stress reliever–perfect for giving a squeeze should you find yourself in last place behind Yoshi the dinosaur-lizardy thing.

$14.99 at Toys R Us. Also available with the game for $64.98.

Here’s Lookin’ at You, Kid. . . Robot

carli — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:03:00 +0000

The brainchild of designer Paul Budnitz, Kid Robot is at the forefront of the growing art toy movement.
Aimed towards older teens and adults, the items sold by the Kid–many designed by enormously popular artists in coveted limited editions–prefer the mantelpiece to the toy box

Perfect for geeks, hipsters, wannabes, nerds, graphic designers, surly teenagers, funky teenagers, funky-smelling teenagers, and anyone who’d rather stare at a Boba Fett action figure than a still life of fruit.

Many of the series, including Dunny (shown here, $6.95 each), are sold in blind assortments–there are a series of designs available, but you don’t know which one you have until you open the box. This can, of course, lead to copious purchasing of little vinyl designer art toys in an attempt to “catch ‘em all.” But the beauty of the pieces is that they stand alone just as well as they stand side by side or lined up in rows as if they’re a little action figure army.

Use The Red Tinsel, Luke! The Red Tinsel!

carli — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:21:15 +0000

Star Wars Galactic Heroes Stocking Stuffers, $7.99 + shipping at HasbroToyShop.com Also available at ToysRUs.com ($9.99 + shipping) and in stores.

A Jolt of Ralph Kramden

carli — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:00:41 +0000

It’s 1 a.m. and I’m not the least bit tired. Weird, since no one gifted me with this Caffeine Candy Sampler 8.0, which includes enough gum, mints, and candy to carry you through a serious all-nighter. I guess my zeal for the channel 11 “Honeymooners Viewers Choice” hour is reason enough for me to be awake.

$19.99 + shipping at ThinkGeek.

iDrink

carli — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:18:14 +0000

Ten Reasons Why The iPhone Coasters Are Better Than the Real Thing

1. You can spill a drink on a coaster. An iPhone, not so much, unless you plan on turning it into a coaster.

2. Coasters: $60. iPhone: $199 + AT&T phone plan + $.99 to buy Neil Diamond’s “Heartlight” on iTunes.

3. You don’t have to wait in line overnight at the Paramus Park Mall to buy the coasters.

4. The coasters won’t be obsolete five minutes after you get them home.

5. Coasters won’t report catastrophic market losses via wireless Internet.

6. Creepy/needy guy/girl can’t perpetually text message you on coasters–though they’ll try.

7. You can’t hear Neil Diamond’s “Heartlight” blaring from some guy on the subway’s coaster.

8. It isn’t likely that anyone will steal your coasters to sell on eBay.

9. If you find yourself trapped in an apocalyptic science fiction movie where some natural disaster renders all electrical doo-dads useless, your coasters will still work. iPhone? Not so much.

10. Coasters are awesome, yo. They keep your table clean and stuff.

iPhone-inspired coasters. $60 + shipping at Meninos