ThinkGeek :: Tengu.

I’m not much of a chess player, but I would probably start playing a whole lot more if I had one of these:

Looks like Bowser and Mario play the part of the Queen…which I guess makes sense, but Birdo as a knight? Interesting choice…

-yycofee

Now that Thanksgiving is past, I don’t feel bad about putting up some Christmas stuff (It is the 1st of December after all). Now, if you work a desk job like me, your cube (or what have you…I don’t actually sit in a cube) can always use a little sprucing up. The problem is, the second you start plugging things in, the safety people are all over you. But if you work at a computer, you have a convenient source of power just sitting there. As always, we turn to the leader in USB powered devices, ThinkGeek, for all our festive desk decorations.

First up, a USB-powered Fiber optic christmas tree.

ThinkGeek always goes above and beyond. In this case, they not only provide us with a nice product, but even a festive song to go with it:

O USB! O USB! A wonder of technology;
O USB! O USB! A wonder of technology;
Our favorite toys are plug and play,
Just stick it in and we’re on our way.
O USB! O USB! A wonder of technology!

If you’d rather go with something a little more low key, more traditional, you can just stick with the USB-powered Christmas Lights:

This pan is fantastic!

I purchased the “All Edges Lasagna Pan” at ThinkGeek.

The lasagna noodles fit perfectly and everything cooks evenly because it’s all edges.  Yeah!

Doesn’t that look yummy?  It was.  It’s gone.

I just might have to make lasagna a weekly tradition.

And I’m going to try brownies in that pan.  No sense wasting money on a separate “All Edges Brownie Pan“.

I came across this while surfing the web:

This is currently the world’s smallest mp3 player and it is only available in Japan as of now, (unless you want to order it here).

Product Features

• Super tiny MP3 player is the size of two sugar cubes
• Stores 4GB of Music
• Charges with USB
• Built in rechargeable Li battery
• Easily transfer music via USB
• Stereo sound
• No drivers required, works with any OS
• Imported from Japan

Find more details and pricing at thinkgeek.com or check out the original site here

This is insanely small, it looks smaller than the bluetooth attached to the back of my cellphone. It is convenient how the mp3 player is part of the earphone itself, so there is really no hassle with the headphone wires.

Sounds cool huh? Would anyone want to get one?

x_X; why are most (if not all) of the cool inventions in japan?

For $10 you too can have a pet that you don’t have walk, or clean up after, or feed, or.. in fact you don’t have to do a thing. The USB Pet Rock is a perfect paper weight. You can hook it up to your computer and watch it sit there! How great is that?

You can gets yours at thinkgeek.com for $10.

Gizmodo

Right, last week I decided it was time to create my first shopping list for ThinkGeek. They sell freaky gadgets, t-shirts, remote controlled zombies, .. I could go on.

One item in particular that I ordered was an Atari t-shirt. I ordered size L for a friend and size S for me. American sizes can be somewhat big for us Europeans. Belgium is where I ordered from.

I noticed right away the L and S were different. Here’s how:

On top, the L version. Sewn in Atari logo and cardboard Atari circle. Below, the size S. As you can clearly see, a generic t-shirt.
I also noticed the print was of lesser quality and the blue was not 100% the same. Well not a very big deal, I can live with that as long as the t-shirt is awesome. This was the case UNTIL I washed the t-shirt according to instructions on the “Pro Weight” label.

The print after the wash

What happened next

I started an RMA procedure on the ThinkGeek website. You can choose “refund, shop credit, replacement” as options. So I opted for a replacement. In comment I added some polite notes of what exactely happened. They shipped me a replacement almost instantly. I received a new t-shirt, with higher quality fabric and sewn in logo. As it should be. You can start an RMA up to 30 days after delivery.

Note: I have not washed the t-shirt yet, so expect an update if anything goes horribly wrong.

Conclusion

• Extremely fast delivery from USA to Europe (1 day). fact: In Belgium where I live, it takes 2 days to receive a letter posted to yourself in a mailbox 100 meters from your house.
• If the customs check your package, prepare to pay heavily (60 euros on a 150 euros package is what I paid).
• High-quality, fast after-sales service.
• Double check goods for any faults when they arrive.
• Expensive transport (45 euros on a 150 euro package)

So yes, it’s expensive. But if you want something few people have, it’s worth spending an extra penny.

]]> http://blogs.howstuffworks.com/2009/11/18/techstuff-holiday-gift-wish-list/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:04:50 +0000 Jonathan Strickland http://blogs.howstuffworks.com/2009/11/18/techstuff-holiday-gift-wish-list/

A nook filled with The Dresden Files series would be a great present for TechStuff writers! (Courtesy Spencer Platt, AP Images)

It’s that time of the year again! Lazy radio stations are already playing Christmas music even though there should be a federal law prohibiting such behavior until after Thanksgiving. Web sites are releasing details of crazy Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals designed to get your butt in the store (online or otherwise) to buy your loved ones some happiness. And each and every one of you out there are faced with the daunting question: What sort of gifts should I buy the awesome guys at TechStuff?

Hold on a second, my editor wishes to speak with me.

Rats! As it turns out, we can’t beg for suggest gifts for ourselves — apparently it goes against our code of ethics. But I’m happy to list some geeky presents you can pick up for that special nerd in your life. If that nerd happens to co-host a popular technology podcast, so be it.

The Barnes and Noble Nook is a device I have my eye on. At $259, it’s a bit expensive for a casual gift. But with its cool touch screen and separate e-ink display, it presents an intriguing digital reading experience.

At E3, I got a chance to check out Tony Hawk: Ride. It’s not just another skateboard video game — it uses a cutting-edge controller that behaves in many ways like a skateboard. Finally I can attempt an Ollie without killing myself (though I’m sure I’ll still be the object of amusement for anyone in the room). G4TV created a pretty cool video package focusing on the ride and controller:

If you really want to go crazy, you can splurge on an Alienware gaming laptop computer:

For a stocking stuffer, how about a Rubik’s Cube that can solve itself?

Finally, we have the Electronic Rock Guitar Shirt from ThinkGeek:

That gives a nice start for the holiday season. If you’re really stumped, you can always just send money (Editor’s note: Do not send money).

Learn more about gifts and gadgets at HowStuffWorks.com:

How Laptops Work
How Electronic Ink Works
How Skateboarding Works

Usted le gusta el ROOOOCK! y se pasada le gusta anda a la moda, y si además le gusta la onda Guitar Hero o Rock Band, no se preocupe, tenemos algo para usted, se trata de la nueva Polera Guitarra Rockera Electrica.

Esta polera, traida a ustedes por ThinkGeek pretende ser la nueva revolución entre música y moda, donde usted se podrá convertir en un guitarrista virtuoso profesional con solo tocar la guitarra que posee esta polera, y tan solo por $29.99 Dólares, unos $15.000 pesos chilenos, nada mal.

He aquí un video.

Caractericticas:

• Toque sus canciones rockeras favoritas en esta polera basada en guitarra electrica real
• Un genial sonido rockero real
• Toque todos los acordes mayores
• Mini amplificador de guitarra se adhiere a su cinturon
• Los componentes electronicos se retiran con facilidad, para poder lavar la polera

y mucho más.

You know you want to cozy up in a tauntaun sleeping bag too...

Originally an April Fools joke from ThinkGeek, there was so much demand for the real thing that they actually made it. I doubt it was hard to get permission from George Lucas’s people considering they’ll make just about anything it seems.

Oh yeah, and for anyone who doesn’t pay attention to all things awesome, a tauntaun is a native creature on Hoth. If you still don’t understand, watch The Empire Strikes Back:

[via ThinkGeek]

~Beckett Noyes

Originally an April Fools joke from ThinkGeek, there was so much demand for the real thing that they actually made it. I doubt it was hard to get permission from George Lucas’s people considering they’ll make just about anything it seems.  Oh yeah, and for anyone who doesn’t pay attention to all things awesome, a tauntaun is a native creature on Hoth.  If you still don’t understand, watch The Empire Strikes Back.  [ThinkGeek]

~Beckett Noyes

Mood: Tired
Listening to: Nebula (feat. Hatsune Miku) – Tripshots

Greetings! I thought I should maybe make an entry to prove that I’m still alive. I’m aware that I only get like 2 hits a day, but the fact that I don’t blog daily is probably what causes that. Oh well, rofl.

Been kind of busy with college. It’s not like I don’t have free time, but most of that free time goes to watching various crimeshows (like NCIS and CSI Miami) and playing video games. I picked up Zelda: Twilight Princess again the other day and I’ve been playing that. It’s finally grown on me, despite the irritation I’ve expressed with it in the past. I still like OoT and TWW better, but I think I originally may have judged Twilight Princess a little harshly for not being OoT. xD

In college-related news, philosophy class has finally grown on me, now that we’re talking about stuff that is a little more interesting (i can only take so many arguments for the existence of god – it’s a relief to be done with that unit) and I can argue with everyone without being afraid that someone might come find me after class and punch me in the face for being agnostic.
The problem is now I’ve been assigned a marathon of essays – but 1 and a half of 3 of them are done. My philosophy essay is done, now I just have to finish my english essay on Hamlet (shudder. my hamlet rant is too long, we won’t talk about it) and the do my history essay before thanksgiving. I finished enrollment for my next semester of classes, which was hellish. I like how a lot of the classes I really really want are in other branches of the campus I can’t possibly get to, or at weird times that I can’t make.

In more gaming news, the new Zelda DS game Spirit Tracks is out [Edit: ACTUALLY IT'S NOT NVM], as well as Dragon Age: Origins, which I’ve had my eye on for awhile now. I can’t decide which one I want more. It’s not like I don’t have enough money for both, but it would still be a little pricey to go out and buy both… I’ve decided to pick one around thanksgiving, so that I don’t have them around to distract me from those essays I’m supposed to write. The game I really wanted this year, Fragile: Farewell Ruins of the moon, is unfortunately not due until Februrary, and the other game I really want, Pokemon Soul Silver, isn’t due out until Q2 2010 at the moment, so I have to wait on those. But there’s a whole host of geeky shirts from Thinkgeek on my christmas list instead, like this one and this one.

Also, Star Trek 2009 is due out on Blu Ray and DVD soon, and I’m so excited I can barely contain myself. I’ve pre-ordered the Blu Ray copy and it will arrive at my house on or close to the release date and I will scream like a fangirl. End of story. Speaking of Star Trek, I sure wish I could get into the Star Trek Online closed beta. Oh well, it’s probably better that I don’t have it too to distract me from college. I’m waiting [im]patiently for the open beta.

As far as my blog goes, while I haven’t been posting a whole lot, I still do update my fanlistings page a bit more frequently, so it’s not like I’ve abandoned this thing completely.

Anyway I’m going to go maybe write a little more of my Hamlet essay before swearing at it and darting off to the TV to play Phantasy Star Online or maybe grabbing my DS and playing some Magical Starsign. <3
Wisenri out!

~Aurelia

I just ordered a couple of Tshirts for my husband and I because they made me giggle. The ThinkGeek site has some pretty hilarious stuff for the geeks, techies and gamers in your life.

Common acronym (stands for Shut the F*&# Up), with a catchy latin motto of "Subsiste Sermonem Statim" which translates to "Stop Speaking Immediately". Love it.

From the "Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock" episode of Big Bang Theory (awesome show!)

Some other fun things you can get here are below:

Hide all your cables in lovely grass and charge all your electronics in style!

Cute baby onesie with Input in the front and Output in the back

Who doesn't need a titanium spork? You can never be too prepared for stew. soup. stew. soup.

Starfleet officers in training

Your very own UV ray detector. The center changes color to let you know how high the UV rays are.

And here’s a cool new invention made by Dyson (the vacuum people) – not sure where this will be available for purchase but it sure does look awesome. I knew those Dyson people were onto something when they came out with that cool-looking ball vacuum. NO, not a vacuum for men, I mean this one:

They now make bladeless fans. You heard me. Check out the video here.

This is what it looks like:

The Electronic Rock Guitar Shirt isn’t just a t-shirt. You can actually play music on it. Use a magnetic pick over the string markings and press down on the frets with your other hand. There’s also a volume nob and an amplifier that fits on your belt.The guys over at ThinkGeek were just wishing for a fully playable guitar built into a t-shirt when along came the Pixie of ROCK… she wailed with face melting guitar solo and *POOF* there it was in our hands… The Electronic Rock Guitar Shirt.

ThinkGeek's Electronic Guitar Shirt

“The Electronic Guitar Shirt is not a toy that plays pre-canned musical riffs, it is a real musical instrument that allows you to play your favorite songs and sound great doing it. All major chords are recorded from a real electric guitar, and the included magnetic pick allows you to strum just like you would a real guitar. The included mini amp clips to your belt and gets plenty loud with great sounding amplification circuitry. The tone knob on the amp lets you adjust the sound just like a real guitar.”

–ThinkGeek

You can grab this shirt today over at ThinkGeek.com for a cheap $30! Showoff to your friends and hope that your shirt won’t short out and catch fire at the same time! Just kidding. But really, if you’re into that sort of thing, buy it!

Electronic Rock Guitar T-Shirt

Non so chi sia stato il genio che ha avuto l’idea di imbrattare una verginale ingessatura con una firma, un cuoricino, un motto spiritoso, violando la sacralità rigorosa di una bella frattura.
Tant’è non vale la pena di recriminare, ormai la frittata è fatta.

D’altra parte, a discolpa dei terroristi del pennarello, l’ingessatura di un amico o conoscente è uno dei pochi posti dove si può taggare, scrivere, disegnare senza incorrere (almeno teoricamente) nei tutori dell’ordine. Insomma, l’ingessatura come luogo di democrazia diffusa e di creatività autorizzata. Un ambito dove anche il più sfigato di noi, quello che teme la multa o i limiti delle nostre capacità si sente a proprio agio nello sviluppare il proprio centimetro quadrato di creatività.
Era quindi solo questione di tempo perché dal reale si passasse al virtuale, al digitale, al geek, all’ambient.

Da Coolhunter riprendo questa brillante idea di geek advertising: Sharpie, fabbricante di pennarelli indelebili (l’arma del crimine urbano) ha sviluppato dei poster digitali-interattivi su cui il passante può legalmente lasciare un messaggio su una ingessatura che non resta un affare di famiglia ma che tutto il mondo dei passanti può vedere, apprezzare… con livelli di geekness richiesti tendenti allo zero.

Nuova prova che un’attività ad alto impatto e molto geek non si rivolge solo ai geek e non richiede una patente cosmica di geekdom per essere implementata (senza parlare del fatto che in questo modo si riesce a far “provare” il prodotto e a evidenziarne le potenzialità in modo totalmente politically ed urbanisticamente correct).

For the drummer in all of us.

ThinkGeek :: Drumstick Pencils

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ThinkGeek :: Electronic Rock Guitar Shirt

I just LOVE the fact that it goes to eleven … Too bad you can’t just get a tiny portable amp that goes to eleven! : (

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ThinkGeek :: Marshall Mini Guitar Amp

For the Rock Goddesses and Gods on the move! Have tiny portable amp, will travel!

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Liz: I never get put on a jury. I wear my Princess Leia costume and they dismiss me immediately.

Liz: I don’t think it’s fair to ask me to be on a jury because I can read thoughts.
Judge: Dismissed!

But that was in Chicago. More recently, the character was called to jury duty in New York. This ensued.
Other references abound. Here’s a few.

(Liz Lemon talks with Jenna Maroney about being asked out by the good looking guy that works for MSNBC upstairs, whom they refer to as “The Hair”)
Liz: I had to say yes. I mean, he looked at me with those crazy handsome guy eyes. It was like the Death Star tractor beam when the Falcon –
Jenna: No, Liz! Do not talk about stuff like that on your date. Guys like that do not like Star Trek.
Liz: Wars — Star Wars!

Liz: (videochatting with boyfriend Floyd) Is that how far apart my eyes are?! I look like Admiral Ackbar!

edit: The Gentleman just found me this on thinkgeek.com: a kids’ Tauntaun sleeping bag.

I will not truly rest until I have one. It even has intestines decorating the lining. (I thought they smelled bad on the etc) Siiiiiiiiiigh.

I was going to do a little twitter post about what I’d buy if I “won the lottery”, but I am greedy and spoiled and it would take WAY more than 140 characters to list it all.

Mostly, I just wanted to post a link to a pair of Demonia shoes that I covet.  If you want to take a look, they are listed under “Demonia Women’s Goth,” scroll down about 12 rows: Demonia Women’s Platform Mary-Jane with Skulls: Gothika 09.  Anyways, it turns out that even if I had unlimited funds, I would not be able to order these babies… apparently, they don’t come in my size.

This has been an ongiong issue for me.  My feet are not enormous, I know there are women out there with even bigger feet than I have, but I cannot buy shoes in a regular shoe store.  Ever.  I used to try to find shoes in my size, but it was a frustrating and ultimately fruitless process.  It involved going from shoe store to shoe store and asking if they had anything in a women’s 11.  ANYTHING?  I know people who get to walk in the store and browse through the displays and pick a shoe they like and then ask if that shoe comes in their size.  When you have feet that are either smaller or larger than the “average” which apparently is sizes 7-9, then you don’t get to buy shoes based on the style.  Sometimes, you don’t even get to buy a pair at all.  In the end, I gave up entirely.  I just go to Payless where they always have shoes in my size.

Next up on my wish list: at least a dozen of the t-shirst available for purchase from ThinkGeek.  I have a wish list there, but it is incomplete because my browser keeps crashing when I try to view all the items in a particular category.  I am able to view individual items, and then follow links to other items people who bought that item also bought.

Speaking of t-shirts, there’s also a bunch at Penny Arcade Store that I want – I was going to say need, but that’s not technically accurate.  Back in the olden days, when Penny Arcade merch was sold at ThinkGeek, I did purchase a few.  I had a CTS men’s tee in XXXL that I used as a nightie.  I also had the Gabe and Tycho babydoll tees, but I outgrew them – if you read my blog, this shouldn’t surprise you.

There are so many things on Etsy that I would buy that it would take a lifetime to post links to all of them.  [Insert long dissertation on the awesome creative talent out there and how great indie artisans are and how awesome it is to be able to shop such a huge variety of one-of-a-kind hand-made treasures from the comfort of my livingroom.]

I guess I’d also go totally crazy buying supplies for all my arts and crafts pursuits.  Fibers for knitting and crochetting.  Paper, punches, ribbons, brads, stickers, rub-ons, stamps, ink, pastels, markers, etc etc etc for card-making.  Heck, since this is MY fantasy, I’ll throw in a sewing machine AND a serger and start making my own awesome one-of-a-kind hand-made clothes.

JMar really wants a Dodge Charger.

Of course, I don’t actually play the lottery, so I guess my odds of winning are significantly reduced as a result.  The truth is that I could easily “save up” for most of the items on my list – except the shoes, since they don’t come in my size.