I have always been amazed by stories of people that are extremely deep sleepers. I’m not referring to your average joe sheep counter who hits the snooze button every once in a while. I am talking about the people that could sleep through a rock concert as if it were a lullaby. In a way, I have to admit, I am somewhat jealous! I can only imagine what it feels like to have a full night of uninterrupted sleep! A young inventor has come to the aid of these deep sleepers, and even those people that just want to spice up their morning wake up routine. Enter Clocky, the world’s first most annoying alarm clock. Picture this: you’re laying peacefully in bed, plotting your next move for world domination, when you suddenly hear your alarm clock making these strange, loud beeping noises, something like R2D2. Just as you’re about to hit that snooze button, he’s off! Clocky rolls off the night stand, forcing you to play an early morning game of cat and mouse. Perhaps this video clip sums up the experience:
Now, I don’t know about you, but to me it seems that this would be nearly impossible to sleep through. Just look at this thing — it’s almost as though Clocky has a personality of its own! If you’ve ever wanted to get a pet, but decided against it, this is definitely your next best alternative. I just can’t help but wonder, can Clocky fetch the morning paper too? »Get Yours
If you’re like me, you’ve probably accumulated quite a collection of remote controls over the years. What the hell am I supposed to do with all these remotes? Stack them on top of each other until they topple over and send some harmless child to the hospital? My favorite remote was the one that came with my after market car CD player. Yes, you heard me right, a car CD player. Honestly, if you can’t move your hand 5 inches from the stick shift to the CD player to change the song, then you need to reevaluate your ambitions in life. Anyways, I digress. It seems that these remotes are not going away any time soon, so we must embrace the solutions that are available. Of course there are standard universal remotes, but those are annoying too. Oh, you have a Toshiba DVD player? Just cycle through these 59 Toshiba 5 digit codes until you figure out which one works. 45 minutes later with zero luck, you’re desperately considering taking up reading as a hobby. No thanks. Luckily, Logitech has been perfecting their solution to this daunting problem. The Logitech Harmony 890 is designed to be the only remote you’ll need. I know I know, you’ve heard that one before. But here’s what sets it apart from the others: theres absolutely no complicated programming involved. Simply hook it up to the web based wizard, enter the model numbers of your devices, and they’ll be programmed for you. That was easy on the thumbs, right? Also, you can use “activity buttons” that allow you to perform multiple functions with the press of a button. For example the “watch tv” button could simultaneously turn on the sound system, television, and cable box, thus saving tons of time and aggravation. You can even program the remote to control other parts of your house, like lighting. To me, it is clear that this is the first remote control, might be more fun to use than the devices that it actually controls. »Get Yours
I love using my digital camera, but lately I have been falling into a bad habit. I find myself taking lots of pictures, but instead of archiving them or making prints, I’ve simply been leaving them to sit on the memory card and rot. Shameful, I know, but I have a feeling that I’m not the only one that has fallen into this crisis of digital apathy. I know I have to make a drastic change, but how? Cold turkey? The Philips Digital Picture Frame is the answer — here’s how it works. Instead of taking your memory card to have prints made, simply pop it into this special picture frame, built conveniently with a 6.5 inch LCD screen. Seconds later you’ve got animated slide shows of all your favorite pics for your viewing pleasure. This neat little gadget even comes with three additional frame designs, depending on the decor of the room. The coolest part is that you can display your frame anywhere you would a normal picture frame. Just expect it to get a lot more attention than one. »Get Yours
“If you booze, you lose.” Whoever came up with that was an idiot. What does it even mean? Lose what? Money? Pride? A tooth? Anyways, I am a firm believer that drinkers are indeed winners, and have very nice dental records for the most part. A couple of weeks ago, I was shopping at my local cheapo depot when I saw something that caught my eye. It was a neon Corona beer sign, just like the ones found at my favorite watering holes around town. This was odd to me, because I assumed that they were only sold to bar owners, and similar aristocrats. Intrigued, I went home and fired up my internets to discover that eBay carries a surprisingly large selection of these neon signs. Heck, they even had signs featuring the emblem’s of various pro sports teams. I think it is pretty clear that this serves as a simple reminder that drinking beer will ultimately make you a better athlete. I thought it would be neat to have one for the apartment somewhere — You know, to spice things the place up a little bit. I went for it, and chose the Corona bottle sign. Amazingly it arrived in one piece, and it is now hanging beautifully wickedly on my wall as we speak. So in conclusion, neon beer signs are available to commoners like you and me, boozers do not in fact lose (and if we do, we will never admit it), and if drinking beer means I will make it to the pro’s one day, then let the training begin. It’s go time! »Get Yours
It feels like I’m always 5 minutes behind schedule for wherever I need to be — and the mornings are no exception. Needless to say, conjuring up my morning caffeine fix usually puts me even further behind schedule. Oh yeah, and I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but it’s sort of hard to look “cool” with one of those Martha Stewart Java Mammas sitting on your counter top. The good people Keurig has set out to change all that, with their latest line of caffiene pushers, coffee makers! Most notably, the B60 is getting a good deal of attention because of its versatility and looks. All you do is pop in a “K-Cup” which stores the ground coffee, and select one of the three cup sizes. (Might I suggest large if you’ll be attending one of those lively 8AM work meetings?) One minute later, you’ve got hot coffee, ready to spill on your lap. Oh, and did we mention the sleek and modern design? For once, here’s an appliance you won’t have to hide when poker night with the guys rolls around. The B60 comes with a 20 K-Cup variety pack, so what have you got to lose? Besides, your next meeting isn’t getting out any sooner! »Get Yours
Lets be honest here, taking the time to look good pays off. In your case, we’ll worry about the *NSync haircut, hammer pants, and tie dye shirt later. For now, lets just talk about getting you some arm candy. No, I’m not recommending that you import a Russian mail order bride, I’m talking about getting some bling for your wrist! Movado is one of my favorites in the watch business, mainly for their classic style and high quality craftsmanship. The Men’s Luno Watch brings the same heat, and pushes the limits of style in every way. The minimalistic design features unique semi-circles around the band. While the band is certainly eye catching, the real draw is the watch face. Subtle, yet elegant is simply an understatement. This is the perfect watch for a day at the office, and whatever mischief you might find yourself in later that night. The Movado Men’s Luno Watch is a stunning timepiece that will be sure to turn some heads. »Get Yours
After a long day of pushing papers and filing TPS Reports, what is the only thing that can raise your broken spirits? If you said, kicking back and basking in the misery of your favorite TV desk jockeys, give yourself a pat on the back! In NBC’s The Office, the only difference between their 9-5 and yours, is that their misery only lasts for 23 minutes, strategically centered around satirical jokes and quirky situations.
The Office’s popularity is undeniable, but what is it about the series that gives it such a mass appeal? The atmosphere is a place that we are all familiar with — coffee maker down the hall, water cooler to the right. But in all actuality, the success of The Office can be attributed to two main factors:
First Time Watchability - Honestly, if you miss the first episode of someshows, you’re absolutely screwed and you’re better off waiting until the summer reruns if you ever plan on having any idea of what the hell is going on. On the other hand, The Office is extremely easy for absolutely anybody to start watching, in any season, whether or not they have ever seen a single episode. The quirky situations that the Steve Carell and the other characters find themselves in require no background knowledge whatsoever. Each episode, individually, has the ability to be watched and enjoyed with zero dependence of the rest of the shows in the season.
Intricate Character Development - Here’s where The Office really shines. If you did start watching from season 1, you will receive a special treat over periodic Office watchers. This treat is that you will begin to notice intricate - yet subtle - character development that evolves from one episode to the next. This character development brings an element of drama to the series that leaves you craving more. For example, in the earlier seasons, we are given very very subtle hints throughout a couple episodes that one of the secondary characters might be gay. These were hints that the periodic watcher would most likely miss entirely, but still enjoy the comedy of the show. By contrast, the regular viewer is able to put the puzzle pieces together and understand the character even better. Even though I’ve seen all the episodes multiple times, I still catch new things in the DVD box sets that I failed to pick up on the first time around.
The Office is an amazing show with a fantastic cast of characters. Non-regular viewers will love the comedy of the show, and the ability to immediately relate to many of the office situations that have likely happened in their own cubicle. Die hard fans will recognize this same love for comedy, but stay on board for the drama that ties all the episodes together, as well as the intricate character development that comes with it. If you’re behind on the past seasons, or if you just can’t get enough, now is a great time to catch up. Seasons 1, 2, and most recently 3 are now available on DVD in all their original glory, plus tons of bonus features. Season 4 has recently started to air, and runs on on NBC at 9PM EST. » Get Yours: Seasons 1 & 2 - Season 3
I love bringing my digital media on the road with me. Kicking back to some music or watching a funny movie can really take the pain out of those long plane rides. The iPod is great, but what if you find yourself doing a lot more movie watching than music listening? Fear not, because Creative Labs has the solution for all the videophiles out there. The Creative Zen Vision W is a portable media player with a surprisingly large screen. Just to give you an idea of how big this screen is, it is exactly the same size as Sony’s PSP gaming unit, and much larget than that of the iPod Classic. Unlike the iPod Classic, the Zen Vision W can display your movies in all their widescreen glory, boasting a generous 16:9 display format. Of course, it should go without saying that with 30GB and 60GB storage versions available, you’ll have plenty of space for all your favorite photos and music as well. The Zen Vision W is a great all-in-one media player that plays videos beautifully. If you can’t live without your Hogan’s Heroes collection, this baby is for you. »Get Yours: 30GB - 60GB
For many people, getting an iPhone just isn’t an option. Maybe they are stuck in a crappy contract with another carrier (we’ve all been there, right?), or maybe they just can’t justify the hefty price tag. Well fellow geeks, fear not, because Apple’s latest offering might be just what you’ve been looking for to satisfy that void on your pocket. Ladies and gentlemen, behold the iPod Touch. Looks like an iPhone you say? Well, it is, sort of. The Touch is essentially the iPhone, without the phone and camera. Whoah there, put that knife down! What if we told you that removing these two components allowed Apple to slim down the iPod Touch so much, that it is now even smaller than the iPhone. Naturally, this will free up immense amounts of space in your pocket for important things like that 5th USB flash drive you’ve been eying for your collection. Not to mention, the iPod touch can be had at a pretty slick price as well. According to the Unofficial Apple Weblog, you’ll be saving about $100 bucks, in addition to the absence of that pesky monthly cell service payment. The iPod Touch touts the same trendy touch-screen interface as the iPhone, and its built in Wi-Fi adapter will get you surfing your questionably ethical sites in no time. In summary, the iPod Touch is a great substitute for people that can’t or don’t want to succumb to the pressures of the iPhone. Spend less money, get a lot of the same features, and never stop adding to your USB flash drive collection. »Get Yours
Unless your internet connection has been on vacation for the past week, you are well aware of Halo 3’s recent appearance to the Xbox 360. Now, I love a good multiplayer ass whooping just as much as the next guy, but the press surrounding this game has been unreal! I wanted to see what the general consensus had to say about it before plunking down my hard earned green backs. Ok, so they’re not so hard earned but that’s beside the point. Anyways, I headed out to the interwebs on a virtual journey of information discovery. So is Halo 3 a boom or bust? Well, judging by manyonlinereports, boom is a severe understatement. Many gamers are even calling this puppy the most influential release of the year. Apparently, the third installment to this long awaited trilogy finally brings some closure to the series. Oh, and not to mention slicker graphics, polished multiplayer mode, and a load of goodies that will make any geek’s jaw drop. For instance, how would you like the ability to replay videos your favorite fight sequences, capture that perfect decapitating frame, and show it off to your e-friends? Halo 3 can do, and it’s all built right in, taking advantage of the Xbox 360’s big ol’ hard drive. We’re off to play, but also to wonder — any chance of a Halo 4? Please? »Get Yours