Are you one of those active people who just can’t sit still? Do you find yourself creating numerous intensive projects one after another? If so, you’re insane. Being lazy is an art and also, it’s pretty darn awesome. But if you’re going to insist on doing stuff yourself, then you’re gonna need the right tools. And I’m not talking about hammers and screwdrivers.
More important than the nuts and bolts of any job is your motivation level. One way to keep on track is with music, and the Mp3 Cap (Hammacher Schlemmer, $99.95) is a super easy way to rock out while you work. Sure, if you were staying in one place the whole time, you could probably just use a stereo, but what about when you’re working outside or in different rooms of the house? You might think an mp3 player and a pair of headphones would solve that problem, but what about those hanging wires getting in your way while you work? This cap has a built-in FM radio as well as an mp3 player and voice recorder, making working outside and listening to your favorite tunes a no-brainer. I mean, you’ll already be wearing a hat and you want to listen to music, so why not put the two together?
I just can’t help but think about the annoyance factor with something like this. I think it would be perfectly fine (and incredibly useful) to use within the confines of your own property, but that’s about it. Seriously, no one else wants to hear your lame music.
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Cap with built in mp3 player and speakers
-Includes black cap, FM radio, voice recorder, USB cable, and earbuds
-Eliminates the need for earbuds or headphones
-Two integral speakers
-Patented digital sound processing
-Seven channel equalizer
-2GB internal memory can be expanded via micro SD card
-Rechargeable Li ion battery
-Up to 30 hours of playing time on 3 hour charge
-Hand washable
-Fits most sizes
I was never one of those people that had trouble getting out of bed in the morning. You could say I was a morning person, but I prefer to think that I’m just really good at getting out of bed on time. Unfortunately, not everyone shares this impressive talent and there are quite a few grumpy people at work (and not just on Mondays). Maybe you slept through your alarm again or perhaps your alarm clock just can’t handle the number of times you hit snooze that morning, but something isn’t working out.
The Tocky Alarm Clock (Generate Design, $69.00) understands your plight and would like to offer a solution: get out of bed! I know, that’s the whole point of an alarm clock, so how is this one gonna be any different? Well, much like its cousin Clocky, it forces you to get up when your alarm goes off because it rolls around your floor and won’t turn off until you chase after it. Sounds similar to Clocky’s M.O., right? It is, except this clock allows you to personally record up to nine unique alarms. Using an internal microphone, you can tell your alarm that you have a dentist appointment in the morning and it’ll run around your room the next morning screaming that reminder. You can also upload mp3s or other sounds if you’re not into specific messages ripping you from your REM cycle.
I think if I had a problem getting up in the morning, I would record my alarm to taunt me incessantly. Although, I guess depending on your self-esteem level, that could backfire and lead to you not getting out of bed at all. Best to tread lightly then.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 3.25″ diameter
-Alarm clock rolls around to wake you up
-Upload mp3s or your own sounds as alarms
-9 tracks available to record
-Touch sensitive interface
-Internal microphone
-Available in kiwi, black, orange, and white
-Made of ABS plastic
Have you ever gone out to the bar thinking that it was gonna be a low-key night hanging out, only to wake up the next morning stranded on a stranger’s couch wearing a giant hot dog costume? And the worst part about it (yes, it gets worse) is that you don’t have any cash to get home because you spent it all at the bar last night. See, not bringing your debit card to the bar so you don’t spend more than you want to is a smart move until you forget that you need a way to get home. Don’t feel bad, it happens to all of us.
The Cash Stash Keychain (Vat19, $8.95) can’t help you make more responsible life choices, but it can prevent you from having to walk home from the bar the morning after. A miniature capsule that attaches to your keyring, it has just enough room to hold one dollar bill. Obviously not meant to replace your wallet, the capsule is useful for emergencies such as spending all your money the night before or getting mugged. It’s up to you how much money you want to stash away for a rainy day, but if you’re gonna set aside a $100, you might want to keep an eye on your keys. It’s also worth noting that the capsule is made of aircraft grade aluminum and features a waterproof seal, so you’ll be covered regardless of what shenanigans you get into.
Of course, this safety net only works if your drunk ass doesn’t get into the emergency stash the night before. Then you’re pretty much screwed.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 1.75″ x 0.5″
-Includes capsule, keyring, and brass clip
-Securely stashes one dollar bill for emergencies
-Brass clip helps wrap dollar bill tightly
-Waterproof seal via neoprene ‘O’ ring
-Made of aircraft grade aluminum
I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but I am a whiz kid when it comes to word games. Whether it’s Scrabble, UpWords, or crossword puzzles, I’m all over it. My favorite word game though has got to be Boggle. To me, there’s nothing quite like shaking up that little container of letters as your opponent waits to flip over the hourglass. Then it’s literally a race against the sands of time as you and your opponent square off to see who can find the most original words. Seriously, is there anything better than this?
Apparently there is, and thy name is Boggle Flash (Firebox UK, £24.99). An updated version of my beloved classic, this electronic game replaces the letter container with five large-sized LCD tiles. When the 90 second game begins, each tile will display a letter and players must put the tiles together to create words. Using recognition software in conjunction with an internal dictionary, the game is able to detect when the tiles are pushed together to form valid words and automatically records each word score. At the end of the round, the tiles will display the player’s score as well as the number of possible points. With it’s ultra portable carrying case and the option to play individually or with more players, this game truly is a modern update on a classic game.
So maybe you’ve seen commercials on TV for this game and you thought, “Hey, that looks pretty cool,” but you’re a little confused about the name. I did a little investigating and found out that Boggle Flash is readily available in the UK (and for shipment to the United States), but stateside the game is a rose by another name: Scrabble Flash (Amazon, $29.44). The two are essentially the same game (and both are members of the Hasbro family), with just a small tweak in the naming process. Talk about mind-boggling.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Find as many words as possible in 90 seconds
-Tiles automatically record word scores
-Changes letters with every turn
-Internal dictionary
-LCD screen
-Includes with travel box
-For 1 or more players
-Ages 8 and up
-Uses 5x CR2032 batteries (included)
How was your holiday weekend? Mine was pretty good, seeing as I spent basically the whole time lounging around and doing a whole lot of nothing. That, and I decided to take all of last week off to have a staycation (sometimes it’s necessary). Unfortunately, yesterday was pretty rough after taking it easy for a whole week. I think I’m just gonna decompress tonight by hanging out, drinking a few brews, and watching the tube. I might even got a little crazy and order a pizza. You know, just the usual Tuesday night deal.
In order to create the ideal sloth-like environment, I plan to enlist the help of the TV Remote and Bottle Opener (Convenient Gadgets & Gifts, $23.95). Featuring two products in one, this gadget can make it so you hardly ever have to leave the couch (depending on the size of your bladder, of course). The universal remote has a plethora of button features and is compatible with most TV, DVD, Satellite, VCR, and other electronics systems. And the bottle opener opens, well, a lot of bottles. Seriously, what more do you need to know?
Ok, so now that I’ve got the couch and drink situation covered, what am I gonna do about food? Sure I could order something, but who’s going to let the delivery guy in and pay him? Beginners be warned: this level of laziness is not for the timid.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Universal remote
-Can be used for TV, DVD, Satellite, VCR, and more
-Doubles as bottle opener
-Easy to use
-Opens many types of bottles
