These Xmas Declaration ornaments are perfect for sending a bold political statement with your holiday tree this year. Each shiny plastic ornament is modeled after a hand grenade, and is guaranteed to not actually blow up your tree – unless you decide to fill yours with black powder.  The ornament hanger that looks like a grenade’s safety pin is a nice touch.

They come in sets of six over at Suck UK for £20 (appx. $32 USD) , and a portion of each purchase will result in a donation to Ctrl.Alt.Shift’s fight against global injustice.

But seriously the tops of canned drinks can be really dirty; one commenter on Boing Boing Gadgets agrees with me and gives the thumbs down to the Bottle Tops as well. But the others say that it’s perfect for beer for a couple of reasons – one, because it keeps the carbon dioxide from escaping, so you don’t have to worry about not being able to empty huge cans of booze, and two, because if you cover the can itself the bottle top makes it look like you’re drinking an energy drink. In other words, it keeps the fizz in and keeps the fuzz out.

But the dagger ended up to be the product’s quality: several commenters claimed that the edge of the bottle tops wore off after a while and couldn’t snap on cans anymore. It’s cheap though: $10 (USD) at Taylor Gifts for a pack of 12.

TV Armor is a simple, yet ingenious invention that keeps your LCD or Plasma TV from getting cracked, scratched, dirty or otherwise slimy by covering the screen with a thin, but durable acrylic shield. A 1/4″ thick layer of optical-grade plastic is thick enough to keep your screen from getting damaged, but won’t interfere with picture quality. Just slide the TV Armor over the top of your TV, fasten the Velcro straps, and you won’t have to worry about flying Wii-motes smashing your precious investment.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

They’re available in a variety of sizes to fit whatever screen you have, and prices range from $69 to $289 (USD), depending on screen size. You can order yours over at the TV Armor website.

Remember, your kids’ wounds will heal, plasmas and LCDs won’t.

Now you can slice and dice cakes and other tender foods with the Table Saw, a serrated kitchen knife that looks just like a hand saw. Designed by Winnif Pang for Fred & Friends, you can pre-order one over at Amazon for $7.99 (USD).

Or you could just head down to your neighborhood Home Depot, and grab a real saw.

Designed by renowned architect Will Alsop + Federico Grazzini, the Daytimer watch features a high-contrast blue OLED digital display, framed by a bold geometric polyurethane case.

Instead of just laying there like any old watch, the Daytimer features a 3-dimensional polygonal case structure that’s just slightly askew. As time passes, the display cycles through nine graphics (of what, I don’t know) on its OLED screen when you press the button to recall the time.

The Daytimer comes in four colors: red, green, purple and black, and is available from Emmo Home for $120 (USD).

[photo via Flickr]

The ZIPIt does one thing and one thing only. It shears through those awful clamshell packages like butta. Just slap 3 AA batteries into the ZIPIt, snap off the protective cover, and slide your package into the end of the cutter. In seconds, your package will be open, and your plastic entombed purchase will once again be free to breathe in the air.

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Sure, devices like this one are complete overkill, IMHO, but isn’t that what disposable income is for? You can grab the ZIPIt clamshell package opener over on Amazon for about $25 (USD). Best of all, it does NOT come packaged inside a clamshell itself.

The building block calculator will be available starting August at Pylones. You can pre-order it now for $27 (USD).

I’ve been wondering: can’t LEGO sue Homade for this? They also make other LEGO-like products, like iPod docks and speakers. Hmmm. Well if LEGO won’t make awesome stuff like this, someone’s got to do it right?

[via Gadget Venue]

Aside from the significant water savings, the revolutionary cleaning system also uses 30% less energy; the efficiency of the nylon beads also translates to less detergent used. Clothes that are washed in this manner will dry faster because of the small amount of water used in cleaning them. It gets even better: the first Xeros washing machines are set to be on sale next year. They’ll be sold to commercial establishments at first, but hopefully us residential peeps will be able to own one soon after.

Check out Xeros’ website for more details, including a video demonstration.

[via GreenBang via Inventor Spot]

With these fun Super Mario Bros. refrigerator magnets, you can turn your ice box into yet another video game system. Just arrange the blocks to match your favorite level, and start moving Mario from platform to platform while you grab a can of beer.

Etsy crafter MagnetGames makes these kits out of perler beads – one of geek craftdoms’ main weapons of choice thanks to their pixel-like structure when melded together. The large kit ($25 USD) comes with 22 magnets in total, including a couple of different Marios, power-up and 1up ’shrooms, an assortment of bricks and blocks, a piranha plant, some coins, and of course, green pipes. There’s also a smaller set available with just 11 pieces for $15 bucks.

You can grab a complete set over at MagnetGames’ Etsy shop. Add on sets of extra coins and parts to build out bigger levels are also available.

These USB hubs from Systown bear more than a passing resemblance to LEGO blocks.

Perfect for connecting your LEGO flash drive and LEGO MP3 player to your LEGO Mac Mini, these hubs add 3 extra ports anywhere you need ‘em. That is, of course if that anywhere happens to be in Korea, which is currently the only place I can find these for sale. Available from DCX for 15,920 KRW (appx. $12 USD).

BrionVega’s RR227 is a modern-day update of Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper’s classic RR127 radio, which they created over 44 years ago. The updated model comes with AM and FM radio tuners, and the ability to play MP3 or WMA digital audio files. Just drop an SD card into the slot and connect your computer via USB to load it up with your tunes. There’s also an AUX jack for connecting your iPod or other media player too.

The RR227 features a unique design that lets you place it either horizontally or vertically and still make sense out of the tuning dial. The radio comes in white, black or red ABS plastic, making it both lightweight and sturdy. Sound is provided by a 3-watt amp, and there’s a headphone jack for listening to the radio in seclusion. While the radio comes with an AC power pack that probably won’t work in the U.S. without an adapter, you’ll be happy to know it runs on batteries too.

While I first found the RR227 over at French retailer Singulier for €199 (appx. $262 USD), you can also find them over on eBay Italy for around €150 (appx. $196 USD) with a little digging.

The Pyranna chomps down on the edge of a clamshell package. All you have to do is slide it along and it slices the plastic open. When you’re not using it you can close and lock the Pyranna so that the blade won’t be exposed.

It’s good to know that our beloved electronics manufacturers are beginning to phase out clamshell packaging. But while they’re still around, the Pyranna can make opening clamshells easy & fun. What would not be fun is if the Pyranna comes in a clamshell package.

[Amazon via Wishlist]

I’ve never been very good at making decent snowballs, but with this heavy-duty mechanical Snowball Blaster, pretty much anyone can become an expert snowball marksman.

Just pack your snow into the three casting chambers, and it’ll roll three perfectly round snowballs. When you’re ready to take aim, just load one of your spherical snowballs into the muzzle, pull back the launcher mechanism, and SPLAT! Your victim is covered in snow. An elastic slingshot mechanism means that you’ll be able to fire off another snowball blast in just seconds, just in case one wasn’t enough.

The $29.95 Snowball Blaster should ship just in time for Christmas over at Hammacher Schlemmer.

[via Switched]

Created by La Tête Au Cube (the same guys who make the excellent Space Invaders door mat), these colorful aliens are perfect hung from a bookbag, keychain, zipper or anywhere you want to show that you’re a member of theInvaders’ cult.

I’m actually thinking about covering my Christmas tree with a crapload of these guys in lieu of my regular ornaments this year.

French design retailer Collette has cornered the exclusive to sell these through November 15h, then after that, you should be able to buy them direct from La Tête Au Cube for €5 (appx. $9 USD) per Invader.

Tamiya’s Robocraft boxing robots come in a kit that’s easy enough to assemble if you know your way around a screwdriver.

Each robotic boxer operates on a wired remote, which lets you control each of two gearboxes which drive the robot’s punches and movements. The same gears drive the punching action and forward/backward movement, making them a bit wobbly and unpredictable – both excellent traits for a boxer. Just as Mickey Rourke.

A simple adjustment lets you switch between two punch types: upper-cut and straight jab.

Pow, right in the kisser!

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

They’re sorta like a modern-day version of Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, no?

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Tamiya USA sells individual blue boxing ‘bots (along with a little punching bag) for $37 USD, and pairs (in colorful pink and yellow so you can tell ‘em apart) for $67 USD.

Over the years, my time on the course diminished, and eventually I ended up as a completely sub-par (er actually, way above par) golfer as an adult. So when I saw this kit that lets you set up a mini golf course just about anywhere, I got the wild idea that maybe I could get my putting game back in check.

Just mow your lawn, throw down the obstacles on the ground, and get to putting. Since each piece is completely standalone, you can constantly create new challenges for yourself. And of course, there’s nothing stopping you from setting up a virtual putting green in the middle of your office or living room.

Designed by George Pal and Hannes Weber of defacto.GmbH, the MyMiniGolf portable mini golf course comes with a variety of ramps, loops, jumps and cups. The kit includes 13 plastic obstacles in an oversize nylon carrying bag, along with a putter, a couple of balls and a score pad.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Ready to bring the course to you? Head on over to Generate, plunk down your $329, and get working on that hole-in-one.

Each day of the year lives beneath a burstable bubble layer. As the days go by, just pop the corresponding bubble. If you happen to be away for a few days, you get the extra bonus of being able to pop a whole bunch at once.

Handmade in Brooklyn, NY, the oversize calendars come in either horizontal or vertical orientations, and measure in at substantial 48″ x 18″.

The 2009 edition of the calendar is now available, in either a paper-backed version ($29.95) or a sturdy acetate-backed version ($49.95). So get popping and head on over to the Bubble Calendar website to get yours.

[via Chip Chick]

While the full-sized skeleton looks like it’s inspired by 80s greats such as R.E.M., The Knack, and The Police, this skull the artist also made appears to have fallen off from too much head-banging. (Note the Judas Priest and Mötley Crüe cassettes).

For some reason, these remind me of the famous face-melting scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

[via Clutter via ALBOTAS]

German Designers Catarina von Matérn + Lisa Lindström created theses clever floor lamps for Elmar Flötotto which store their power cord around a central axle when not in use. A 16-meter (52-foot) long red cable rolls around the middle of the lamp, letting you move it far, far away from the wall if need be.

The lamps are made of durable white transluscent Polyethylene, and measure about 18-inches in diameter. And thanks to plenty of flat surface area, I don’t see any reason you couldn’t lay the lamp on its side to serve as an illuminated side table.

You can get your fingers wrapped around on the YoYo lamp over at Questo Design for €232.80 (appx. $367 USD). If that’s too much money for you, maybe you should just stick with one of these.

That’s exactly what the guys over at Transparent House are doing with their cassettes. The designers make each lamp from dozens of individual cassette tapes, arranged into visually appealing patterns. Not only do they look cool as a sculptural piece, they cast dramatic shadows onto surrounding surfaces.

Each lamp uses a bright, cool-burning neon light source to keep the plastic cassettes from melting. Of course, they left each tape in its original transparent case so they could be together glued neatly.

And if you have a fond place in your heart for the old micro-cassette, you don’t have to feel left out. They’ve got a lamp just for you, made from 140 of the mini tapes.

Now the guys over at Transparent House don’t say if they’ll be producing these en masse, or if they’re just one-of-a-kind design pieces. Personally, I’d love a couple of these in my media room.

[via geeksugar]