Category: Just Plain Fun

I live in the city in Chicago, so I never figured I’d see a live chicken wandering around my neighborhood. But it’s something I’ve actually seen on occasion. I’m assuming some hipster is doing urban farming somewhere around here, and a chicken got out of their coop.

I think I just found my own personal bat-signal, because this awesome Batman serving tray will call me to the table every time. Forget projecting a huge bat signal in the sky. Fill my belly with snacks instead, and I’ll fight crime however you want.

Monopoly is one of the biggest board games in history – at least in terms of sales. Now it’s one of the biggest board games, literally. Check out this giant crocheted Monopoly board that Twitterer pilotviruet’s mother made for her for Christmas.

Winter vacation is almost over for kids, and when you send them into the classroom for the new year, you want them to feel confident and happy. I can think of no better way to do this than to give your kid a Jetpack Backpack. This awesome bag won’t actually send your child into space, but they’ll look awesome walking around here on planet Earth.

If you’re trying to be stealthy about your drinking, you might want to try one of those flasks that look like other things. You might be able to hide your need to imbibe. Although I’m not sure that this popsicle flask is the way to go.

Retro games are hot right now with all sorts of devices out there from Nintendo, Sony, and others. Check out this miniature version of Galaxian from My Arcade. The Handheld Galaxian arcade cabinet is about 6.75″

Swimming pool season is long since over here Chicago, but there are still places where it’s warm enough to take a dip in the pool this year. One thing you’re never supposed to do is spill ink into a swimming pool.

The best trick that a wizard can do is to be comfortable. These officially-licensed Hogwarts wearable throw blankets require no magic at all. Just money. If you’ve already consulted the sorting hat and know which house you belong to, just pick yours, and get cozy for the night. These fleece throws feature big sleeves and printed graphics of a large house crest sewn to the throw as well as a striped tie and v-neck collar.

If you like to tenderize your meat into submission before cooking it, we have the tool for you. This meat beater looks like Thor’s Mjolnir hammer, and if thy are worthy of the most tender cutlets, you can wield it. Underground Toys’ little kitchen gadget is official Marvel merchandise, and unlike Thor’s regular hammer, it has nubs on each side to pound meats of all sorts for the best tenderness and making the flattest cutlets.

From bells to radio stations to gentle chimes, there are lots of different ways to wake up in the morning. But if I had to choose, I’d prefer to be awakened by a cheerful light-up chicken.

While the Imperial AT-AT Walker was designed as a war machine on legs, it really ended up being quite a flop due to its fatal design flaws. That said, AT-ATs do make pretty cute pets, if you housebreak them.

At last, we have something appropriate to wear with our ugly Christmas sweaters. Check out the ‘Ugly Sweater’ colorway of Brooks’ Levitate 2 running shoes. Much like ugly Christmas sweaters, you are either going to love these or hate them.

Between my electronic gadgets and pens, it’s pretty rare that I use a pencil. Sure, I’ll use colored ones to fill in the occasional cool coloring book, but for the most part, the old #2 kind gets little use around here.

Too many of today’s pranks are cruel or downright mean. I prefer old school pranks, which are a bit more lighthearted, and not likely to end with you or your victim getting a punch in the face or a kick in the groin.

When it comes to piggy banks, they come in all shapes and sizes. However, there’s one thing pretty much all of them have in common – a single slot for coins. Why is this? Well, the guys at 25TOGO think it’s time for a new kind of piggy bank; one with more than two dozen coin slots. The appropriately-named “Hungry” piggy bank has 25 individual slots where you can place coins.

I’d wager most people that played with LEGO growing up made cars and trucks with the bricks and promptly crashed them. Hammacher Schlemmer is offering a set of RC toy monster trucks which takes that idea and runs with it. Crash and Rebuild Monster Trucks aren’t made from LEGO, but they do seem LEGO-like in how the bodies and drivers click into the chassis.