Gadgets, Gizmos, and Games for Geeks

Weapons and booze: as a general rule, they don’t mix well together. But did that stop Anvirtue from producing these hip flask nunchucks? No, it did not. I can already feel the welt on my leg swelling because I tried showing off my amateur nunchuck skills after emptying both flasks down my gullet.

Inspired by the design of their 2017 full-size slingshot, this is the $100 Mini Sling from knife manufacturer TOPS. The company decided to create the miniature version after customers requested a smaller, everyday carry sling for plinking on the go.

You’ve just spent a long day busting ghosts; what do you want when you get back to your firehouse base? Exactly, a nice cold drink out of a mug that reminds you of the day you just spent ghostbusting.

Fun in the sun: it’s hands down one of my favorite kinds of fun, third only to fun in the shade, and fun inside playing video games. And what better way to enjoy some fun in the sun than running around in a sprinkler?

Tacos: they’re tied with pizza for the food I’d pick if I could only choose only one kind to eat for the rest of my life on a deserted island. Let’s just hope it never comes to that though, because I love both dearly.

YouTuber Dakd Jung recently shared a montage of them making a Bluetooth speaker with a one-of-a-kind visualizer. In front of the speaker is a small glass case with a bit of ferrofluid in it. Inside the speaker is a device that converts part of the sound signal into electromagnetic signals, causing the blob to react to the sound in real-time.

Love collecting figures of superheroes? Well, this one’s practically all of ’em for the price – and space – of one. From Good Smile Company’s Pop Up Parade line comes The Traveler, the main character of one of my favorite video games of all time, Journey.

Because nothing makes me want to sing in the rain more than an umbrella to keep me dry (otherwise I’ll typically run as fast as I can through the rain), this is the $37 Stained Glass Umbrella available from the Japan Trend Shop.

If LEGO’s going to cater to Thanos, Hasbro has the Avengers’ back. Or right hand in this case. The toy giant’s Marvel Legends Series Iron Man Nano Gauntlet has a long-ass name and three neat features.

The trailer for Final Fantasy XIV’s upcoming expansion Endwalker has a refreshing rock soundtrack. It turns out the theme doesn’t end there. Square Enix teamed up with guitar experts Fender to create limited-edition Stratocasters with visual touches inspired by the hit MMORPG.

Chairs: they make a terrible noise when you pull them out from under the dining room table because they’re heavy and you’re too lazy or not strong enough to pick them up (both in my case).

The past year has put video conferencing tools in the limelight, and in my opinion, they are sorely lacking. But technology marches onward. Just check out this mind-blowing prototype that Google claims is already in use in a few of its offices.

Thanos’s Infinity Gauntlet: I wish I had it. I’d only use it for good though, I swear. Well, mostly good. But considering the power glove is entirely fictional, I may have to settle for this 590-piece LEGO set is due for release on August 1st.

If there’s one thing the pandemic taught me, it’s that webcams are a scam, right up there with printers. Even a mid-range smartphone can beat $200 webcams. All you need is a mount, like this upcoming one from the folks at Rolling Square.

Presumably inspired by the Titanic (which also had four smokestacks and sank), this is the Sinking Ship cocktail glass available from FireBox. The $19 drinking vessel has a handblown glass ship inside, so you can pretend you’re Poseidon releasing his wrath upon humanity by swirling the glass to create a whirlpool and making a mess all over the living room carpet.

The Float ‘N’ Grill is a portable propane grill that attaches to a flip-resistant buoyant plastic raft so you can grill out on the water and not set your deck or raft on fire. The unit is available in patriotic red or blue and can be found on Amazon (affiliate link).