August 2005 ~ Strange New Products

If they had cell phones 100 years ago, a lot of poker players would have lived longer lives. That's because they'd be playing Mobile Poker, from PokerRoom.com.

With Mobile Poker, you can play live poker, with live people, on your cell phone. So you don't have to worry about some 300-pound side of beef named "Mongo" pointing a gun at you from under the table.

Right now, only Texas Hold'em is available, either for play, or for real dough.

Bubblewrap Candy

1:09 PM | by Steve Johnson |

21 Comments

The old idea of "less is more" is exactly what "Bubblewrap Candy" is all about. It's a chocolate bar filled with air bubbles. The idea is to enjoy the sensation of feeling bubbles collapse in your mouth.

First Aid Candy Company, the maker of Bubblewrap Candy, is launching this product based on the success of Nestle's "Aero" chocolate bar, which is sold exclusively in Britain.

They also have plans to launch an array of other varieties based on the bubble theme...

Bubble O's - bite sized Bubblewrap Chocolate

Hippity Poppities - Bubblewrap Chocolate easter eggs

Bubblewrap Candy Pops - a hard candy lollipop with Bubblewrap Chocolate inside

The First Aid Candy Company appears to have some really cool candy ideas. Among them is "Toilet Roll Candy". Its basically tape candy, rolled up onto a toilet roll dispenser, that you can actually mount to the wall, and replenish with refills.

12:31 PM | by Steve Johnson |

Hair Fashion Popping Candy - what a great way to sell hair accessories to kids, throw in a bag of pop rocks.

Pop Rocks Laboratory - It comes in a test tube, with strawberry-flavored Pop Rocks and two "secret ingredients". When the ingredients are mixed togehter, the candy changes color and turns into a foamy concoction that you scoop into your mouth, or whatever.

Strange Linkroll

12:24 PM | by Steve Johnson |

Wanna waste some time browsing strange, funny, cool, and ingenious websites? Checkout our "Strange Linkroll", featured at the bottom of our side-column.

As we journey across the web each day (or so), we find some websites worth blogging about. But, SNP is not really about websites, though websites isn't totally out of its realm. Nonetheless, we'll provide some links for you to peruse.

If you find anything that inspires you to blog, cool. Tell your readers you got the link from us.

If you want to subscribe to our linkroll, and have it delivered to your newsreader. we have an RSS file here.

Thanks to del.icio.us for making it work.

6:16 AM | by Steve Johnson |

4 Comments

neXfit Technologies Inc. introduced their "new breed" of home fitness bike, called "ExerGame Fitness Bike". It connects to Playstations, Xboxes, and the Internet, as a more fitness-oriented game controller.

According to Geofrrey White, VP of Sales and Marketing at neXfit...

"Now virtually anyone can get fit while they race cars, combat evil forces or check out the latest deals on eBay. neXfit ExerGame fitness bikes take the 'work' out of 'workout' and make exercising fun and dynamic. They're the future of fitness."

Not quite "virually anyone" being the cost is $2,495.00.

The ExerGame feature has swiveling handlebars with built-in joysticks and health monitors, as well as "force feedback technology" that simulates video game crashes through the handlebars and seat, so that you really feel like you're getting killed.

Hey, no fair if you're having to play against Lance Armstrong! Believe it or not, neXfit is actually setting up an 8-week road show to be featured on Discovery Health Channel, which invite show attendees to compete against the seven-time Tour de France winner himself.

Anti-Gravity Cup

11:09 PM | by Steve Johnson |

14 Comments

Looking to waste another $10.00? Try the new "Anti-Gravity Cup".

Ok, I'm sure this is not really real anti-gravity. It's more than likely a study in static electricity. Considering the floating object in the cup is a very light piece of styrofoam, it's probably not that hard to make it float.

So, if they made a huge-giant cup, like the size of the Empire State Building, and built a giant elevator made out of styrofoam, could you actually move folks up and down with any other power? Heck if I know. I'm someone who passed high-school physics with a "D" grade.

In any case, for $10.00, they'll sell you the cup, some styrofoam pieces, and instructions. If you can't afford that steep price, they'll sell you just the instructions for $5.00.

1:35 PM | by Steve Johnson |

You women married to Mafia hitmen all know how difficult it is buy gifts for the toughguy in your family. Well, we have got something for you!

The Mr. Suicide Bathtub Plug conjures up images of rival gangsters with concrete blocks tied to their feet. When your hitman hubby relaxes in the tubby, he'll feel right at home watching Mr. Suicide trying to hold his breath for as long as possible!

1:12 PM | by Steve Johnson |

The latest in goth-school gear is a backpack with huge plushy spikes sticking out. If you can just imagine the goth geekette with the white pancake-base, burgundy lips, the Catholic School girl outfit and the spikes sticking out of her backpack.

Demonia, a huge brandname in the world of gothic fashions, offers backpacks in different colors, black patent leather, blood red, and purple.

12:19 AM | by Steve Johnson |

Gary Ibsen, who goes by the name of "Tomato Man", and is perhaps the most prolific tomato-geek of our time, has named a new variety of tomato "Clint Eastwood Rowdy Red", after the Rowdy Yates character the actor himself once portrayed.

According to Ibsen...

"This is one of those big, bold tasting tomatoes that is not for sissies. Although it has some of the highest sugar levels I've ever seen from a tomato, the sweetness is in the background and its fruity flavors are balanced beautifully with plenty of acidity, earthy nuances and complexity. It's a perfect tomato for eating fresh or canning."

We asked Ibsen for photos of the new pistol-packing tomato but he hasn't responded. His website says he'll be unveiling it to the public at the 14th Annual Carmel TomatoFest on September 11.

The tomato was actually developed by a man named Archie Millett, now 81 years old and living in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. Archie claims to have been enjoying this Nightshade variety for years, and only now decided to bless the rest of the world with the finest of salsa and marinara makings.

Ibsen named the new tomato after Clint Eastwood to pay tribute to the actor's contributions to the Carmel-Monterey region of California. It's probably the best way he knows how.

Snoop Dogg Launches Skateboard Company

11:28 PM | by Steve Johnson |

7 Comments

All you muthas get ready to pimp ya skateboards, cuz the Snoop Dogg is comin' to a half-pipe in ya hood!

Snoop Dogg Skate Boards

The new company, named "Snoop Dogg Board Company" is the idea of Snoop Dogg's brother, Bing Worthington, Jr. It will offer a complete line of skateboarding products, including long and short skateboards, accessories, and backpacks. The company is actually the property of Pacific Sports Group Inc., which owns several other lines of skateboarding brands through its Pentagon Distribution subsidiary.

You can select from a variety of board designs that include the Dogg's mug. You can also choose from a variety of "pimp wheels" that also feature the Dogg.

No word yet if they'll offer wheels with spinning hubcaps.

10:16 PM | by Steve Johnson |

28 Comments

All you guys out there waiting for the day when you can strike a conversation with a hot gal standing next to you at the urinal, your wait just got shorter!

P-Mate is a device allowing women to pee while standing up.

See demonstration photos.

Apparently, it's been around in Europe for awhile, and is expected to begin sales by the end of this month in Colorado, a known hot-bed for female vertical-urination.

Karen Diamond, the President of Go Your Way, the first US distributor of the P-Mate, says...

"This is a revolutionary product that has taken Europe by storm. It allows women to pee standing up, just like the boys, giving a whole new slant on equal rights for women."

For the rest of us guys still using the old "We can pee while standing up" as a way to justify our gender-superiority, it looks like we'll have to find another outlet for ego-satisfaction.

9:59 PM | by Steve Johnson |

Stylin Designs LLC announced the release of their new software, "CoupleBox", marketing it as a way to hide all adult media on your computer, and protecting it with 256-bit encryption and password access.

In addition, they give you a special media-viewer where you can customize it with one of several "skins".

According to the company's CEO...

"Couples are making greater use of digital erotica. In addition to downloading online material, they are increasingly having fun with digital cameras by taking sexy shots to capture those special moments. We saw a growing need to keep things private while making viewing more fun than dealing with folders and boring blue-and-gray media players."

I didn't know that it was "couples" that were making greater use of digital erotica. But then again, I wouldn't know about digital erotica.

9:28 PM | by Steve Johnson |

The americanization of exotica continued on in full steam today as Smoothie King announced new flavors for their frosty-concoctions, proving once again that the tried-and-true nutrients like Vitamin A, C, E are so "yesterday".

Now, its stuff like "Goji Berries", "Acai", "Ginseng", and "Mangosteen" that's cool. Moreover, if it doesn't come from exotic places like Indonesia, the Himalayas, and the Amazon then you're not achieving your maximum health potential.

To this end, Smoothie King has created a new line of smoothies packed with these chic ingredients and are delivering them to farmers in Kansas, auto-workers in Kentucky, railroad engineers in Texas, and whereever Americans are demanding the health secrets of Rain Forest Pygmies and Balinese Islanders.

Expect to find new flavors, "Acai Adventure", "Green Tea Tango", "Passion Passport", "Go Goji", and "Mangosteen Madness", at Smoothie Kings everywhere.

8:53 PM | by Steve Johnson |

CoasterCD is the name of this new brand-advertising give-away gimmick. It has a 3" CD/DVD attached to the bottom which contains stuff from the advertiser, like promotional videos, songs, screen-savers, whatever.

CoasterCD, Inc. claims they developed these in response to some high demand from beverage companies who wanted some kind of "take-home freebie" that could be easily distributed to bars and restaurants.

But it's clear these can be used for anything. Don't be surprised to find these laying around the sidewalks of Vegas with pr0n on them.

Volvo's Multi-lock System Prevents Drunk Driving

10:55 PM | by Steve Johnson |

15 Comments

With Saab already developing an in-car breathalyzer, Volvo released details for its own version.

With Volvo's experimental multi-lock system, in order to start the engine, the driver must first blow into the built-in breathalyzer lock. If the breathalyzer records a negative reading, AND if the seatbelt is fastened, the car will start.

In addition, Volvo developed a special programmable key that can be used to set a maximum speed limit to restrain lead-footed teens.

Source: KYW 1060

5:11 PM | by Steve Johnson |

79 Comments

One of things I remember when my little brother was born, was me holding him in my arms for the first time, and accidentially dropping him on the floor, head-first, THUD! And mom still has pictures of him with the big goose-egg over his left-eye.

Too bad they didn't have ThudGuards back then.

ThudGuard is the creation of Kelly Forsyth-Gibson, a Scottish mother of three, who came up with the idea after her one-year old daughter fell and bumped her head. She's marketing it as a way to protect a baby's head while it learns to walk.

The new headgear has a "stretchy circumference band" that allows for growth, and is made out of ultra-lightweight foam material to minimize pressure on developing neck muscles. There are also ventilation holes that allow heat to escape.

4:38 PM | by Steve Johnson |

Here's an idea that's so simple, it'll make you kick yourself in the head.

The label attached to the back of the necktie has a button-hole on it that can be used to secure itself to a button on your shirt. The result is that your tie stays straight and doesn't flop into your food when you're eating.

No need for tie tacks, pins, or "looped tape".

The guy who came up with the idea of "ConformaTies" has a patent on the label-design, and is sure to become a millionaire.

3:35 PM | by Steve Johnson |

6 Comments

If you're looking for something unusual to store your belongings in, but you also want to be environmentally friendly, then no look no further than the Passchal line of handbags.

Each bag is made from used tire innertubes, and then accented with colorful leather trim. Each bag is outfitted with the company's "Smartlyle" system, which activates an internal light when the bag is opened, making it easier to find stuff.

And, they have a variety of styles to choose from, even a "man bag".

With the Passchal line of used tire handbags, not only can you be different, but folks will be impressed with your sensitivity to the environment. Impressed, why? Because each bag costs between $125.00 to $160.00, that's why.

2:50 PM | by Steve Johnson |

Sheesh! The things you don't know about because you're a guy!

I guess women with vision problems have difficulty applying eyeliner and mascara because they can't get the applicator behind their glasses. If they remove their glasses, they can't see.

That's where the "See Eye-to-Eye" product comes in. It's a "cosmetic frame" with a single lens that swings over from one eye to the other, allowing you to see out of one eye, to apply make-up on the other.

2:40 PM | by Steve Johnson |

4 Comments

Here's a new type of eyewear that might really take off, Sunblades.

They're not really sunglasses, in that they don't block out light. Rather, they create a band of shade around your eyes to block out glare, allowing you to see more clearly.

You can get all kinds of shapes and sizes to enhance that "look" you're trying to create. They even have batman style Sunblades.

Recently, the maker of Sunblades came out with a line of products called, "Sunblade Shades" which attaches a set of removable sunglass lenses to the Sunblades. Apparently, the producers of Master Blasters, a sci-fi television show, thought Sunblade Shades were so cool, they had their characters wear them.

12:38 PM | by Steve Johnson |

If kids wanted to grow bacteria, all they'd have to do is stop brushing their teeth!

But I suppose moms wouldn't approve of that.

So, that's why they sell Bacteria Farms. It's the coolest way to experiment with bacteria. The kit includes a booklet that teaches kids the differences between good and bad bacteria, and everything they need to start growing some hazardous biologicals. Your child will become a germ genius in no time.

The kit comes with Petri dishes, swabs, and gelatin to get things growing!

11:02 AM | by Steve Johnson |

7 Comments

Steven Seagal's Lighting Bolt Energy Drink

Energy drinks are becoming a "dime-a-dozen" these days, so in order to grab any attention, you have to make them more exotic, more powerful, and glamorous. And who better to encapsulate those qualities than Steven Seagal!

Seagal's new "Lightning Bolt Energy Drink", claims to have pioneered the way for nutritional, all natural energy drinks, and includes a couple of ingredients not found in other such drinks, Asian Cordyceps, and Tibetan Goji Berries.

Seagal says that he came up with the idea of Lightning Bolt after his travels in Asia in search of botanicals believed to keep locals disease-free for their entire lives.

"I have traveled the world creating this drink; there is none better that I know. I have included in this drink everything I could to strengthen the body."

Among the two new ingredients is "Asian Cordyceps", described as one of the most rare and treasured botanicals used in Chinese and Tibetan medicine, promoting energy, vitality and longevity. The other is the "Tibetan Goji Berry", an anti-oxidant that contains naturally occurring "policosanols", said to lower cholesterol.

Other nutrients include Ginkgo Biloba, Ginseng, Guarana, Yerba Mate, Green Tea, and vitamins B3, B6, B12 and B5.

So, if you drink this new Lightning Bolt Energy Drink, will you be able to kick, punch, and fight like Steven Seagal? You sure will! (You'll just have to practice a lot.)

Lightning Bolt starts shipping out to distributors on September 8.

10:00 AM | by Steve Johnson |

While not technically a tangible product, but still new and cool, smugMaps offers a way to share photos online using Google Maps. A user uploads their photos to SmugMug.com, and then associates each photo to a geographic location, either by address or GPS coordinates.

So, if you want to see what photos are being posted in your hometown, you can scroll across the map, and drill down to your neighborhood. Maybe you can see if neighbor has posted pictures of his Jacuzzi-sex-party, or not!

Source: CoolWebsiteIdeas

Hot Lips Talking Radio

10:27 PM | by Steve Johnson |

With this cute little radio, you won't listen to "talk radio" the same way again. A little motor inside the radio syncs the lips to whatever comes out of the speaker.

They ought to make a radio that looks like Sean Hannity's face, with moving lips. They could sell millions.

9:52 PM | by Steve Johnson |

This nifty idea, called the Thumb-Rest Cup, puts two handles on a coffee-cup with thumb rests angled at 60 degrees, allowing a person with limited hand-movement to lift it up to their mouth without any finger or wrist motion.

The cup itself is double-walled to protect fingers from scalding.

9:36 PM | by Steve Johnson |

I ought to get these for all of my in-laws! With Fancy Bibs, you can wear a bib without anyone knowing that you're wearing a bib.

The Fancy Bib looks like a shirt, with buttons, pocket, and collar, but it's actually a bib. It fastens at the back of the neck with velcro. If you put a jacket over it, no one will ever know it's a bib.

Joy Murphy, who came up with the design, originally created them for her mom who had suffered a stroke that left her paralyzed on her left side and had trouble keeping food in her mouth.

Of course, they also work well for slobs.

Belcher Soda

11:22 PM | by Steve Johnson |

When we were kids, we used to have "burp-talking" contests, where one would burp and try to talk at the same time. We used to say the foulest things. You couldn't accomplish any of this without some cans of soda.

Excuse Me, LLC., celebrates this heritage of American adolesence with their line of "Belcher Soda". With flavors like "Very Cherry", "Obnoxious Orange", "Rudy Berry" and "Loogie Lime", kids are sure to please their palates while bloating their bellies with burping gas.

To get folks off and burping, they've launched a page called "Belch-Line" where you can hear audio files of various burps. Check out "Molly's Extend-o-Belch".

10:53 PM | by Steve Johnson |

Aren't these cool? They're cigarette holders, where a fresh cigarette comes out of the elephant's or donkey's butt.

12:19 AM | by Steve Johnson |

GoLite Portable Handheld Light Therapy Device

Feeling sad? Can't get enough sleep? Out of energy? Well blast yourself with some blue light.

The GoLite P1 can travel with you, always ready to beam some energy into you. The company that makes this new pick-me-upper says the secret is in its patented BLUEWAVE™ technology. While other products utilize 10,000 lux light, or white light, The GoLite P1 focuses on the blue band of light, which delivers 100% effective bandwidth of therapeutic luminance.

In fact, the company says it's so cool, that astronauts use it to regulate their sleep patterns. Hey, if it's good enough spacemen, it's gotta be good enough for you!

Opus Luxury Football Table

12:19 PM | by Steve Johnson |

For the discriminating foosball (football for you Brits) player, you want to wrap your fingers around no table that cannot appeal to your taste nor your artistic eye. That's why the Eleven Forty Company brings you the Opus Football Table.

Using a computer-aided design technology, each table is hand-crafted in etched glass, stainless steel, and a choice of woods, oak, mahogany, ash or walnut.

With no two tables alike, they utilize their "doppleganger technology" to produce micro-cast 3-D player heads from photographs to produce life-like reproductions of your friends and family in hand-painted detail. (If you've ever wanted to run your in-laws on a skewer, here's your chance!)

The playing table itself, made of glass, has colored lights underneath that shift from one color to another.

Mannequin Phone

11:29 PM | by Steve Johnson |

Vonage, the VOIP company, is sponsoring a "Pimp that Phone" contest. They've narrowed the field down to four contestants. The winner is voted by visitors to the contest's website. The top prize is $2,000.00 plus free service from Vonage for a year.

My favorite?

The mannequin phone. I'd be cool to poke the "belly buttons" of this hot stiff. You pull her hand out, put it up to your ear, and start talking. It's also got a caller ID screen.

Napoleon Dynamite Talking Pen

11:07 PM | by Steve Johnson |

I'm sure Napoleon Dynamite gear is getting old. First we blogged you the Napoleon Dynamite Talking Doll. And now, here's the pen.

It says seven different lines from the movie, and it has non-replaceable batteries that provide up to 5,500 playbacks.

10:30 PM | by Steve Johnson |

Ah! Music soothes the savage beast.

I suppose that's the philosophy behind this new piece of dog tech. Your dogs will no longer bark, because now they can enjoy sweet music.

The K9 Kalmer plays ultrasonic musical compositions that dogs can hear, but are inaudible to humans. The company that makes it, Variety International Inc., says the music is proprietary, but is designed to soothe your poodle's inner-mongrel. In fact, you might call these melodies the "Top Ten Doggie Hits".

To use the K9 Kalmer, you just turn it on, and let 'er go. By reducing a dog's stress, the music will stop them from barking. The company says that excessive barking should be reduced or eliminate within 3 days.

You can buy one from their website.

4:17 PM | by Steve Johnson |

4 Comments

The Welfare Board Game is back! Banned by the government back in the '80s, the game entitled, "Public Assistance" is shipping once again. It goes something like this...

Start out by collecting your $500.00 welfare check. Now, roll the dice to see where you land.

Yes! You just picked up an out-of-wedlock child. This means the working folks are required to pay you an extra $200.00 a month!

Now, decide if you want to play that $200.00 on the horse races, or the daily lottery. Ok, you chose to bet $200.00 on the ponies.

Oh no you lost! Don't worry though. You can earn that money back on the Saturday Night criminal activity track.

You roll the dice, getting new instructions. Ooooo! Busted by the cops!

That means you lose a turn, go back to the first of the month, and collect another $500.00!

You can either download PDF files to create your own Public Assitance game, or buy the actual game online.

Alien Device from Another Dimension

3:40 PM | by Steve Johnson |

Found on eBay: "Alien Device from Another Dimension".

According to the seller:

Was in a box near the dimensional travel machine. It's glowing blue light attracted me and seemed to almost call to me. I am not sure but I think this device is not from our world. It could be or part of a communicator, the dimensional travel machine, an weapon?

Who knows! But it's interesting the seller thinks this came from another planet, but yet is willing to part with it, for $20.35 even. Yeah.

12:55 PM | by Steve Johnson |

Today, Boost Mobile announced it has introduced the first GPS-enabled Java™ cell phone games United States. The two games, "Swordfish™" and "Torpedo Bay™", were developed by Blister Entertainment.

The games use the GPS capabilities of most cell phones to determine where your geographic location. Then it creates a virtual playing field across your location.

Swordfish GPS Game

In Swordfish, the object of the game is to catch fish with your rod and reel. The game randomly places fish all over the "map". Using GPS data, a player's position is determined via a fish-finder so they can see where the nearest school of virtual fish is located in relation to their current position. As the player walks around, they can move closer to a school of fish, the faster they walk or run, the faster they get to the fish.

Torpedo Bay GPS Game

In Torpedo Bay, it gets really cool. It uses a technology called "Location Application Platform" (LAP™), creating a multi-player environment. It allows users from multiple carriers and multiple networks to interact within the same gaming environment. Its immerses the players inside a virtual world while protecting their physical locations with PseudoPositioning algorithms.

The object of Torpedo Bay is to pilot your submarine and torpedo enemy ships, and search for more health and ammo. When a player logs into a game, the game determines their GPS position, and then displays a top-down view of a map, using real Navteq mapping data. Your submarine is overlayed on top of a street map, along with enemy ships, ammo deposits and health.

11:44 AM | by Steve Johnson |

"Yo' momma's so fat, she gotta take two trips to haul ass!"

"You so dumb, you think Taco Bell's a Mexican phone company!"

"Yo' momma's got so many crabs, she walks sideways!"

"Playing the Dozens" is an old competition between two people who engage in verbal sparring, or "ranking on each other", until one person can no longer retailiate. Each person comes up with a "snap", a humorous insult, trying to out do the other. Sometimes it escalates into physical violence, though it's mostly a verbal test of strength, having its roots in African American history.

Topps, Inc., the maker of sports collectible cards, released a new set of cards based on "Playing the Dozens". The set of 100 cards featuring snaps written by the Wayans Brothers, Marlon, Shawn and Keenan Ivory, with illustrations.

11:01 AM | by Steve Johnson |

Checksite Medical, Inc., today, launched their new "CheckSite Medical System" today, designed to prevent surgeons from removing your left breast, when they were supposed to remove the right.

The system consists of a bracelet with a implanted RFID chip, a marker pen, and a series of sensors built into the walls and floors of operating rooms.

Under normal conditions, doctors are supposed to use a marker pen to mark on your body the place where surgery should occur. However in many cases, doctors fail to do this, resulting in 4,000 wrong-site surgeries each year.

The CheckSite System replaces the traditional wristband ID used on patients, with a special wristband ID containing an RFID chip. The walls and floors of a surgery room are embedded with sensors that detect this chip. When the patient is wheeled into the operating room, an alarm sounds.

The way to prevent this alarm from sounding, is to deactivate the chip by placing a special sticker on the wristband. This sticker comes from a one-time use marker pen. The doctor pulls the sticker off the pen, and fixes to the wristband, deactivating the chip. And with the pen in hand, it encourages the doctor to mark the area of surgery.

3:00 AM | by Steve Johnson |

The fact that another co-branded line of apple sauces has come out is not "strange". What's strange are the flavor names and colors. They're named after a few Sesame Street characters, but did someone not watch Sesame Street when they were a kid?

"Big Bird Green Apple" - Why is Big Bird associated with green? He's yellow. Maybe he/she (whatever it is) ought to be "lemon apple", or "banana apple", or even "Pineapple Apple".

"Cookie Monster Grape" - Hello? Cookie Monster ate cookies, not grapes! Otherwise he'd be the Grape Monster. It would have been cooler to have chocolate-chip cookie dough apple sauce.

"Elmo Cherry" - Ok, I can understand that one. Elmo is red, cherries are red. But then again, Elmo's a wuss. It would have been more appropriate to have "milk toast apple sauce".

Boy, I can't wait for them to come out with "Kermit the Frog Leg Apple Sauce", or "Snuffleupagus Peanut Apple Sauce", or "Ernie & Bert Quiche Apple Sauce".

2:34 AM | by Steve Johnson |

If they can make it into ice cream, then why not Vodka, right?

This new oddity in flavored spirits, called "Charbay Tea Time™", apparently has been enjoyed in some small circles here and there. But the company that makes this, Charbay Winery & Distillery, a family-owned business in Napa Valley, is trying to take it global.

"People can't wait to try it since it's the first Green Tea Vodka produced in the U.S. Our advantage is we have the stills, the know-how and our own bottling line to keep being creative.", says Marko Karakasevic, son of the inventor of Charbay Tea Time, Miles Karakasevic.

Miles and Marko are 12th and 13th generation master distillers.

"I wanted to highlight the delicacy, lightness and flavor of green tea, but in a martini or rocks glass," Miles says.

I guess if you think about it, it's the Russian/Japanese version of a Long Island Iced Tea.

12:52 AM | by Steve Johnson |

14 Comments

Proctor & Gamble's biggest product launch in the dish washing soap category in the past several years is "Dawn® Direct Foam™". Announced last week, this new soap claims that it will prevent oil and grease from entering your washing sponge.

The company says that the new soap uses a high performance microemulsion technology that contains special solvents to absorb significant amounts of grease. A microemulsion is a thermodynamically stable dispersion of oil in water. "Micro" droplets of oil have ultra-high surface area and are capable of absorbing significant amounts of grease, allowing Dawn Direct Foam to absorb the grease, locking it into the foam, similar to the way a vacuum absorbs dirt.

P&G goes on to say that traditional dishwashing liquids merely lift and surround grease, and will redeposit it onto other dishes. With Dawn Direct Foam, the grease actually becomes part of the foam (much like sugar dissolved in coffee) and cannot be removed. Once trapped, grease washes away cleanly with no effort, so the sponge stays clean and no greasy residue remains on the dishes.

Bottles of Dawn Direct Foam come with a foaming pump dispenser. It should be on store shelves right now.

Accentra PaperPro 1000 Stapler

10:45 PM | by Steve Johnson |

5 Comments

The selling point behind this stapler is that it can staple up to 20 sheets of paper with the push of a single finger.

It's actually a spring-loaded staple gun, in the form of a handheld desk stapler. When the handle is pressed, it interacts with the level, storing power in the springs, which in turn lifts up the strike plate to fire off a staple.

The company was just recently awarded six patents on the technology, which they dub, "Spring Energized Desktop Stapler".

9:59 PM | by Steve Johnson |

13 Comments

Next time you find yourself pushing a shopping cart through a grocery store, you may not realize you're pushing the latest in shopping cart technology. That is until, you try to push it off the parking lot.

The secret behind the GS2 Comprehensive Cart Containment System is its new-fangled wheels. These wheels are designed to automatically lock when someone tries to push it beyond the perimeter of the store parking lot.

Buried underneath the parking lot pavement is a "perimeter antenna" that carries a locking signal. When a shopping cart wheel passes over the antenna, the locking signal prevents the wheel from rolling. The signal reaches up to about 5 feet above ground-level.

Store employees are equipped with remote controlled "Cartkeys", that sends a wireless signal to the wheels causing them to unlock.

3:37 AM | by Steve Johnson |

Now here's a product that's made for late-night television commercials, the "Grab-a-Sak"!

"I carried 10 bags, a roll of towels and a watermelon all at once with the Grab-A-Sak!"

"Ooooo, those darn plastic bags made my fingers hurt! Thank you Grab-a-Sak!"

"Grab-a-Sak allows me to make something useful out of all those old plastic grocery bags!"
Actually, a great market for Grab-a-Sak are dumpster-divers. They can put a Grab-a-Sak on each shoulder, and carry 20+ bags, each for different recyclables. Five or six bags for aluminum cans, two or three bags for glass bottles, four or five for plastic bottles, a few more bags for odd junk to resell on eBay, and another bag for all those credit card receipts we forget to tear up.

"Operators are standing by!"

2:20 AM | by Steve Johnson |