Totally MAD: 60 Years of Humor, Satire, Stupidity and Stupidity…

Tags

geek buys, Humour, mad magazine, Stephen Colbert

The Cracked Magazine website has become one of my favourite digital places to frequent this year; their science page is especially awesome. When it comes to printed magazine stand wackiness, Mad Magazine still takes the cake (in fact, I didn’t realize that Cracked has been out of print since 2007).

Treat yourself or someone you love (or me) to Totally MAD: 60 Years of Humor, Satire, Stupidity and Stupidity. Only $20.00 from Amazon:

Book Description
Publication Date: October 30, 2012
For the past six decades (that’s 60 years-we did the math so you don’t have to) MAD Magazine has keenly observed the American landscape and promptly made fun of everything in sight. Unwavering in their commitment to high quality stupidity, MAD’s legendary artists and writers, long known as “The Usual Gang of Idiots,” have brilliantly satirized politics, celebrities, sports, media, cultural trends, and more.

Totally MAD (originally titled The New American Cookbook until cooler heads prevailed) is the ultimate collection of MAD’s most idiotic material, including such classics as Spy vs. Spy, The MAD Fold-in, A MAD Look At…, The Lighter Side of, Horrifying Clichés and The Shadow Knows, plus modern MAD classics including The MAD Strip Club and The Fundalini Pages.

Whether you grew up with MAD in the 50s, 60s, or 70s, reading it with a flashlight under the covers so your parents wouldn’t catch you, or in the 80s, 90s and beyond, reading it while watching the MADtv sketch comedy show or the more recent animated series on the Cartoon Network, this book will bring back fond memories and also provide a great introduction to MAD for new readers. Then again, maybe not.

SPECIAL BONUS!
Includes “The Soul of MAD,” 12 classic cover prints, ten featuring Alfred E. Neuman, MAD’s gap-toothed grinning idiot mascot. These beautiful reproductions are suitable for framing or wrapping fish.

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The ipico Handheld Projector: Share your Favourite iOS Discoveries With Anyone Standing Near a Wall… Or door… Or really any flat surface

Tags

apple, gadgets, iOS accessories, ipad, iPhone, ipico

I suppose now would be a good time to remind everyone that this is not an Apple fan-boy or iOS lover blog, despite the last handful of posts. I just seem to be stumbling upon a ton of iOS wickedness. I’ll try and tone it down a bit moving forward.

But first, here’s a brilliant little gadget that I’ve seen before, but never in retail! Definitely worth sharing. The ipico hand-held projector turns your iOS device into a digital projector and at a fairly reasonable price. Here’s a quick breakdown from the ipico site:

Take the ipico™ projector anywhere you go! Nothing’s more social than a party or group get together and sharing what’s new. No more crowding around a small phone screen to see your newest photos, videos and adventures. Share them with everyone in the room and you’re sure to be the life of the party.

Highlights of the gadget’s many features include:
– Weighs roughly less than 4 ounces
– Closely similar to iPhone’s dimension (legacy phone)
– Portability
– Features pop-up docking port
– Beam the iPhone’s display at a nearby wall
– Images/videos can be shown from 5′ up to 50′ screen size
– 960 x 540 pixel for output beam
– Play stored videos on your smartphone, as well as Facebook, YouTube and etc.

The unit is about $130 and can be purchased from ipico directly here.

More Geeky Gift Ideas…

Tags

Christmas, gadgets, geek gifts, nerd gifts, Technology, toys

Done your Christmas shopping?… Started your Christmas shopping?… To hell with Christmas shopping, you want to buy yourself some awesome shit and get your friends and family gifts under $10 at the drug store?… Whatever your reason for spending money you don’t really have in the most expensive month of the year, here are a few good thingies to start with:

Golden Limited Edition Star Trek Pizza Cutter

Goldly go where no pizza has gone before
– 24-carat gold plated pizza cutter, limited edition
– NCC-1701 Enterprise ship from Star Trek the original series
– Officially licensed Star Trek collectible
Yours for only $99.00 at ThinkGeek.com

iCade 8-Bitty – Retro Wireless Game Controller for iPhone/iPad/Android

Pocketable D-Pad Style Gaming Comes to your iPad, iPhone, and Android Devices
– Classic retro-styled game controller fits in your pocket and works with iPhone, iPad, and Android
– 8 button control including 4 face buttons, select, start, and two shoulder buttons… plus the D-Pad for movement
– Wireless connection with auto power save mode
Only $29.99 from ThinkGeek

Giant Bird’s Nest Bed

Keep your young ones safe and cozy with hawk-like protectiveness with the giant bird’s nest bed. Spanning nearly fifteen feet in diameter, this bird’s nest bed can fit up to sixteen of your offspring as both a playground and a napping space.
If you have $15,000 kicking around you should probably head to O*GE Group and buy a nest.

Yoda Christmas Tree Topper

Christmas tree decorating, you are. Star Wars super-fan, you have been. Cat ate last year’s Han Solo topper, he did. Yoda Christmas tree topper will bring great honor and Jedi power to your white pine, it will. Shut up and take my money, you must. About $50.00 from Amazon

Bluetooth Phone Handset Gloves.

Just like Inspector Gadget had!
$50 from Hi-Fun.

Tetris Heat Changing Mugs

Give your morning cup of coffee a geeky twist with this Tetris heat changing cup. This officially licensed twelve ounce cup will transform in seconds to a colorful game of Tetris when you add any hot beverage to it, making it a great gift idea for old school gamers.
$15.00 from Vat19.

Animal Cracker Soap

. Made with moisturizing ingredients, Animal Cracker Soaps look just like the real thing. And with their amazing cookie scent, they smell just as delicious. Perfect for hand washing and even bath time, Animal Cracker Soaps make for a great gift, party favor, or even something special for yourself. Each set of 12 is made by hand in the USA.
This one’s a steal at only $5.00 from Vat19

Geeky Stuff from Stuff to Stuff Under the Festivus Pole…

Tags

Crap 2 Buy, gadgets, holiday gifts, Nerd Buys, stuff magazine

I don’t want to make a promise that I may very well be lacking the attention span to fulfill, but I have the whole weekend off and intend to load Beta Nerd with some seriously fresh and flavourful content… This includes some serious science which Beta has been seriously lacking.

But first, while fingering through the December issue of The UK Stuff magazine, I found myself captivated by their always captivating holiday gift guide… Interested? Here are a few of my personal favourite picks that any geek would love to find in his or her boot come Christmas morning:

1) For the Lomographer or lover of medium-format photography in your life, there is the Belair X 6-12; an entirely new 6×12 film camera that combines all the stunning features of a panoramic medium format camera without the excessive size. The aptly named Globe-trotter, Jetsetter and Cityslicker models boast never-before-seen sharpness, depth of field and ultra-wides. The Jetsetter will set you back $300, but can be preordered from Lomography.com for $254.

2) If you’re a nerd lacking the coordination to ski or snowboard, but long for the feeling of the winter mountain air blasting across your face, add the Stealth-X by Snolo Sleds to your Hanukkah list. Apparently, “the carbon fiber snow ride lets you sit like you’re driving an F1 race car and lean into turns like you’re on the back of a motorcycle. Also, when you’re done with your runs, it folds up into a backpack so it’s not awkward to carry around with you.” I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone complain about how awkward it is to carry around a preteen boy’s snow sled, but with a $3000 price tag, it’s good to know that wont be a concern.

3) The Oakley Airwave is probably the closest you’re going to get to having a FPS style HUD in real life. To get technical this is a true vision augmenting wearable computer, something that many of us have been anticipating for years… Who would have thought that the commercial debut would look like this?… Hopefully you’re competent enough at a winter sport that necessitates goggles, because I really can’t see this being as cool during your weekly walk to the comic shop. For a comprehensive snip of what these bad boys are capable of, check out Oakley’s promo vid below. As for cost, you’re looking at about $600.
4) The Philips Hue bulb starter set is about $200 which is a small price to pay for technology that marries your iOS devices to your lighting moods. If you’re a bit skeptical of how functional a third party app designed for light bulbs could possibly be, rest assured; the tech has Apple’s seal of approval… You can even purchase the Philips bulbs from the Apple Store online. Get it here:

5) The Attacknid from Combat Creatures is a violent plastic-hurling robotic toy that, for me anyway, is reminiscent of the toys I had an abundance of in the 80’s and 90’s; All of which had hard, easy to swallow, violent projectiles… Something lacking in toys today. Better still, the beast is robot with features that include:

360° ROTATING HEAD FOR ULTRA MANEUVERABILITY, FIRES UP TO 30 FEET, DISSECTOR DISCS (INCLUDED) SNYPER DART & DESTROYER SPHERES, CONTROLS: EASY TO USE WIRELESS R/C HANDSET, 2.4GHZ CHIP ALLOWS FOR OVER 40 ROBOTS TO BATTLE AT ONCE

The Attacknid will put a hole in your wallet about $90 deep. Find it here:

That’s all for now; more to come, I’m sure!

Fancy Books You Might Have Missed in 2012…

Tags

Books, Learning Tools, science

2012 was slow book reading year for me; I blame the exponentially exploding world of digital media and a mid-year obsession with audio books. I almost certainly missed some awesome pieces of geek literature which is kind of sad. The print industry is a juggernaut and if you missed this year, you’ll probably not hear about it again.

Lucky for me, Discover went ahead and created a list of the best of the year! Here are a few that touch on distant times, far-off places, and exotic modes of life:

Dinosaur Art edited by Steve White
Ten paleoartists revive the prehistoric past in these lushly imaginative—and, as far as paleontologists can verify, scientifically accurate—illustrations. Dinosaurs butt heads, thrash their tails, and spread their stunning plumage, while ancient mammals and marine organisms make colorful cameos.

Planetfall by Michael Benson
Spacecraft, rovers, and astronauts have sent back amazing raw images of our solar system. Here those snapshots are lovingly processed into intimately ?detailed views of the swirling atmosphere of Jupiter, billowing dunes on Mars, and craggy lunar craters.

A World in One Cubic Foot by David Liittschwager
You don’t have to travel to outer space or back in time to find exotic worlds. These photographs feature the varied denizens of one cubic foot of soil, water, or air from six different locations on Earth. One good look at a pincushion sea star or a longhorn beetle grub and you will wonder if you aren’t on another planet after all.

Winter Essential: Severed Wampa Arm Ice-Scraper…

Tags

geek gifts, star wars, Star Wars merchandise

Wow, I just noticed that between the snowflake cut-outs and Princess Leia with Buscemeyes, it’s a bit of a Star Wars appreciation weekend… Then again, isn’t every weekend? Might as well keep the ball a-rollin’.

If you’re still in need of an Xmas gift for that special Rebel Alliance geek in your nerdtourage (nerd entourage), the Severed Wampa Arm Ice-Scraper is it. This beast comes to us from ThinkGeek and is by far the most amazing and randomly useful Galactic gift since the Tuantuan Sleeping Bag. It’s a bit more cost effective as well, setting you back only $24.99 as opposed to $149.99 for the Tauntuan sleeper. Get yours now!

Brand New Who at Think Geek…

Tags

Crap 2 Buy, doctor who, gadgets, geek buys, postaday, think geek, toys

If you’ve got a hankering for some geek shopping and are jonesing  for some Who, Think Geek has got you covered with a whole to-do about some brand new Who, just for you. That was a Dr. Suess-y way of saying that they got new Doctor Who crap to buy. Take a look at what’s new or head to Think Geek for the whole shabang!

$29.99

Doctor Who TARDIS 4 Port USB Hub

$69.99

Doctor Who Bathrobes

$15.99

Doctor Who TARDIS Book Light

$44.99

Doctor Who Talking Plush

$25.99

Doctor Who TARDIS Talking Cookie Jar

$19.99

Keep Calm and Don’t Blink

$19.99

Doctor Who Diecast Master’s Pocket Watch

$11.99

Doctor Who 16oz Travel Mug

$12.99

Doctor Who Keychains

$19.99

Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver of the 10th D…

$19.99

$19.99

Officially licensed Doctor Who beach towel looks like the front door of the TARDIS!

Beta Nerd Geek Buys on Pinterest…

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fun, gadgets, geek buys, pinterest, postaday, tools, toys

Beta Nerd Geek Buys

Therapik Bug Bite Relieving Gadget… Hear the Buzzzzzzz

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bug bites, gadgets, geek buys, postaday, therapik

Ouch! I’m being eaten alive this summer for some reason… by mosquitoes, not zombies or guilt or anything. Anyway, I’ve been doing the stupid cross-press method which does nothing and only feels nominally good because it resembles a scratch (the cross-press is when you press a cross onto the bite with your nail which apparently spreads out what ever makes it itchy, but it doesn’t at all).

Lo and behold Gizmodo throws the Therapik Bug Bite Reliever in my general direction. I haven’t ordered one yet, but the review looks extremely promising… unless the maniacal corporate bosses of Therapik secretly own Gizmodo and are using their Gizmo Blog for evil publicity purposes… though that seems unlikely.

Anywho, get ‘er done and check it out!

Therapik Bug Bite Relieving Gadget

What Is It?

It’s a small handheld wand you use to zap bites to make them stop itching.

Who’s It For?

People who encounter mosquitoes, bees, wasps, hornets, black flies, ants, fleas, ticks,
chiggers and even jellyfish and stinging nettle. Not for use with snake or spider bites, sadly.

Design

It looks like a 1960s sci-fi prop. It’s a thick remote control with a big, round button. You look at it and instantly think, “There is no way in hell this cheap piece of crap is going to work.”

Using It

You put the tip of the Therapik onto your bug bite, then you press and hold down the button. The tip uses light to heat the bite up. You hold it there for as long as you can take it, up to a minute. The burning sensation gets pretty intense after 30 seconds or so.

The Best Part

We honestly never in a million years thought we’d be saying this, but it actually works! Mosquito bites (the only thing we tested it with) stopped itching within a few seconds of taking it off, and in most cases they never itched again again. We are officially stunned.

Tragic Flaw

It looks so crappy and bad that most people will dismiss it before ever trying it.

This Is Weird…

Still completely amazed that this works. Like, seriously? Look at it!

Test Notes

• This thing is actually confirmed by the FDA to deliver bug bite relief.
• It’s powered by a single 9V battery and has lasted close to a hundred applications so far.
• It works on the principle that most insect venom is thermolabile (sensitive to heat). Therapik claims to deliver “heat in the precise temperature range necessary to deactivate the venom from over 20,000 different species of insects and sea creatures.”
• It helps to reduce the bite’s swelling, as well.
• It’s light, but it’s just a bit too bulky to be considered “pocket-sized.” It will however fit in a small backpack pocket, so it would still be great for camping.
• If one application doesn’t do it, you can reapply as often as you want.
• Therapik’s website certainly doesn’t help the “there’s no way this isn’t BS” factor.
• If your bites are under your socks, they will chafe when you walk and start itching again.

Should You Buy It?

We can’t believe we’re saying this, but yes, totally. This thing, despite being ugly and overly bulky, is great. At first we thought it was just psychosomatic, but after a few weeks of testing, we believe it to be legit. Even if you don’t believe us (and we don’t blame you, because, come on, right?) it’ll only cost you thirteen bucks to find out for yourself. [Therapik]

Therapik Specs

• Weight: 4 oz.
• Dimensions: 3cm x 3cm x 10cm
• Battery: 9V
• Price: $13
• Giz Rank: 4.0 stars

Crap 2 Buy: Musical Wine Glasses, Guitar Pick Punch, and Cookie Stowing Face Mugs

Tags

Crap 2 Buy, gifts, Nerd Buys, postaday

It’s been a while since I’ve found some really good Crap 2 Buy, so I was amped to have found Uncommongoods.com. Let’s dive right in:

PICK PUNCH: Picks on Demand

It’s a recurring nightmare: you’re backstage opening night of your first world tour, the crowd’s roaring, begging you to come back and play one more blistering guitar solo. But you’ve got no guitar pick. What to do?

Well, with the Pick Punch®, you can be sure that nightmare never becomes reality. The Pick Punch® does exactly what it sounds like it takes materials, like old credit cards or unused gym membership badges, and punches them into custom guitar picks. Keep it at home or carry it in a gig bag to be sure a new pick is never far from reach. This little gem will set you back $25.00

Set of 2 musical wine glasses: Chime and Dine

Wine and dine in perfect time! Get your next dinner party humming when you turn your sips into a symphony with these glasses turned musical instruments. The etchings on the glasses are musical notations that correspond to the level of the liquid. When the user drinks to D for example, he or she may run a finger along the rim of the glass to create its lush, sonorous note. Or, for the more percussive partier, the same note will ring out with a gentle rap of his or her utensil on the side of the glass. From rounds of “Row, row, row your boat” to more ambitious orchestrations, you’re sure to strike a chord with the guests at your next soiree with this pair that covers a full 12 note octave from A flat to G. Made in Austria from lead-free crystal. The cost of this one? $65.00

CUSTOMIZED LETTERMAN SWEATER: Go! Fight! Win!

You may not have a cheering stadium shouting your name, but you can still revel in that old-school glory when wearing this vintage-style letterman’s sweater. Manufactured by a company that’s been making varsity sweaters since the 1920s, it’s no surprise that the design is full of winning detail, from its fold-over cuffs and button-up front, to its single left-hand pocket.

Customize the look with your own strategic lineup of chenille patches: your choice of over-the-heart letter, and year and 1 symbol on a shoulder (star on the left OR chevron on the right).
Whether you wear them to cheer your favorite team or political party, as official wear for a wedding, club or family reunion, or just to celebrate your own personal victories, these sweaters are a triumph of classic styling. Made from durable, washable 100% acrylic. Made in Berlin, Wisconsin. This one is my fav, but a bit pricey at $150.00