MEGATech Showcase: Geek Up Your Christmas With Geeky Gifts! Beth Snyder December 6, 2013 Features Now that we are actually in December, I can showcase some of the neat stuff I’ve been seeing for the last couple of weeks that has a holiday theme. Of course, anybody can manage to decorate with Santas and reindeer and bells and snow and angels, but I’m going to go ahead and assume that most of you are like me, and are looking for something maybe a little more unique than decorations you can find anywhere. Maybe even decorations with a geek-type theme to them. Ask, and the internet provides. First up is the obligatory snow globe. But not just any snow globe…this one has a Tardis inside. It was designed by Kurt Adler, measures 6.4? high x 4.7? diameter, and weighs a whopping 3.7 pounds. As an added bonus, it also lights up (requires three AAA batteries, not included). Pick up this officially licensed beauty for your favourite Whovian for $40.00 to $50.00 US, depending on where you shop. Source: Geek Alerts Speaking of officially licensed snow globes, who wouldn’t want to hang C3PO’s disembodied head on their tree? This one creeps me out a little, and I’m not quite sure why. Anyway, it measures 1 1/3 inches, and can be yours in a price range of about $8.00 to $13.00 US, again depending on where you shop. And of course you don’t have to save it just for Christmas…this would look lovely hanging from your rearview mirror, or as a suncatcher in your breakfast nook. Source: Geek Alerts If you or someone you know is into gaming, why not grab a set of video game controller ornaments? The joystick measures 4.3 x 4.3 x 5.4cm, the black controller measures 8 x 3.8 x 0.7cm, the black and gray controller measures 8 x 3.4 x 0.7cm, and the gray controller measures 7 x 4 x 2cm. All are made of resin, and the set of four costs $19.99 US. The copy says they’re not saying the controller names because you’ll recognize them, but I have to admit I’m pretty clueless. But then, I’m not a gamer. Source: Gizmodiva Domo ornaments! Add Domo to your tree in three different costumes (Astronaut, Bobsled – with Usagi- or Snowboarding), and become the envy of your friends. Astronaut is 3 1/2? tall x 4? wide x 1? deep, Bobsled is 3? tall x 3? long x 2? wide, and Snowboarding is 3 1/2? tall x 3? wide x 2? deep. The full set of three is just $14.99 US. I’m going to need these immediately. Source: Geek Alerts Do Walkers celebrate Christmas? Not sure about that one, but if they do you know they’d have at least one set of these ornaments on their trees. These are made of resin, and hand-painted, so no two will be exactly alike. The stocking has a dismembered leg inside, or you can choose just a toe. The gingerbread man it’s hard for me to tell if it’s a zombie or a victim, being that it’s missing a leg (perhaps the one in the stocking?) as well as having a bite taken out of its head. These run $12.00 to $15.00 US each. Source: Gizmodiva Everybody loves candy canes, don’t they? Well, if you’re the type who likes to play practical jokes, these are the candy canes for you! Instead of traditional peppermint, these are Sriracha flavoured. If you’re unfamiliar, Sriracha is a pretty decent tasting hot pepper sauce. Which is great on a burrito, less so if you’re expecting a sweet treat. I, however, really want some of these…I think they’d be pretty tasty, as long as I knew what was coming. Each one is about six inches long, and they come in green, red and white: just like Christmas. Or, you know, the Sriracha bottle. Each box of 12 canes is just $7.99 US. Source: UniqueDaily It wouldn’t be Christmas without a chocolate Santa as far as I’m concerned. Of course, this isn’t your typical chocolate Santa…it’s a zombie Santa! But you don’t have to worry about getting bitten; turn the tables on him and chew into his brains instead! He’s made of solid dark chocolate, and measures 2 3/4? wide x 5 1/2? tall x 1? deep while weighing 4 ounces (just under three servings, for those of you counting calories). If you’d like one in your stocking, you’ll have to shell out $12.99 US. Source: Geek Alerts Well, look at this! LEGO! Being the LEGO fanatic that I am, these are yet another thing I need to own. These are, as they should be, kits so you can build your own ornaments. They come with ribbons to match, and you choose from red, green, blue, black or white. They aren’t officially licensed LEGO products, which kind of gives me pause, but they are incredibly neat. Each one will cost you £9.99/$16.13 US. Source: Geek Alerts Assuming you like some variety on your tree, how about throwing in a few LEGO question block ornaments as well? These were designed by Chris McVeigh (aka PowerPig), and he is selling kits for $17.50 US or you can get a free PDF of the instructions (you’ll have to provide your own bricks). It doesn’t say, but I assume you can choose different colours in the kit, and obviously if you use your own bricks you can make it whatever colour(s) you want. Source: Technabob I really thought I’d be tired of Grumpy Cat by now, but I’m not. And I need this mug. As you all know by now, I am decidedly not a morning person. This time of year, the normally insane level of cheeriness of those who are gets ratcheted up to a level bordering on psychosis. Maybe that’s just me. Anyway, I suspect if I were to be drinking my morning coffee out of this mug, it might give them pause. At least enough that I could get away. Each mug sells for $10.00 US. Unfortunately, they’re out of stock right now, but you, like me, can be added to the waiting list to get an email when they are again available. Source: Oh Gizmo One holiday tradition around here is to have a bowl of mixed nuts in their shells, along with a fancy nutcracker to open them. I wonder if my mother would notice if I replaced hers with this Stormtrooper Nutcracker? It measures 5″ x 10″ x 5″ (12.7 cm x 25.4 cm x 12.7 cm), and stands on a red pedestal. It should be noted this is not a toy, and can cause injury to children. Isn’t he cute, standing there in his Santa hat, holding his candy cane, just waiting for you to want a walnut? Price ranges from $45.00 to $50.00 US, depending on where you shop. Source: Geek Alerts If you’re having a holiday party, you’re going to need ice. Why not make it fun and use this ice tray shaped like the leg lamp from A Christmas Story? If you haven’t seen it, you are no longer allowed to read my posts until you watch it. It’s not available to stream from Netflix so you’ll have to make a little bit of effort, but it’ll be worth it. Anyway, you can pick this tray up for $12.99 US. Source: Geek Alerts Speaking of ice cubes, this is fun, isn’t it? Really only works in a glass of water or clear soda, but fun nonetheless. This is Defrosty, and in each set you get three complete snowman faces for a total of six “charcoal” eyes and three “carrot” noses. They’re reusable, and will keep your drinks cold for far longer than poor Frosty survived in your house. Each set costs $9.99 US. Source: Foolish Gadgets You may be wondering why I’ve included an apparently random picture of an AT-AT. Here’s why: It’s made out of gingerbread! This was designed and created by the Magnolia Hotel & Spa’s restaurant Catalano for the Canadian National Gingerbread Showcase, and it’s amazing. They even made sure it was appropriately festive by adding antlers and a red nose! I wish I was this creative and talented. The extent of my gingerbread handiwork is to make several pans of it using my great-grandmother’s recipe every year…which means it’s shaped like either a square or a circle. Source: Geekologie Looking for just the right accessory to wear to the holiday party you really would rather skip? How about a Batman Santa hat? It’s got white fur trim, a pom pon, and an embroidered Batman logo. The ears look a little crumply to me, but you could fix those right up in no time. The hat measures 8″ x 11″, and is one size fits most. Each one costs just $19.95 US. Source: Geek Alerts If I had an extra $140.00 US right now, this would totally be in my front yard. Because it’s fabulous. It would have been fabulous in general, but that tongue sticking out just makes me giggle. Besides, who doesn’t need a giant light-up stegosaurus wearing a scarf and Santa hat in their yard? You know you want one. It’s even listed as animated, so I think its head must move (and maybe its tail as well). The cost is becoming more and more reasonable the more I look into this. Source: Nerd Approved I see absolutely no reason why this should not be standing right next to the stegosaurus. None whatsoever. Yoda is decked out in his Christmas best, and even holding a festive green light saber for the occasion. He stands 42 inches tall (so basically life-sized), and comes with an air blower, four stakes and two tethers. He can be in your yard for just $60.00 US. Source: 7 Gadgets Anybody can have plain old strings of lights, but you need something better. You need R2-D2 lights. I bet you didn’t even know you needed them, but now you see that I’m right, don’t you? There is a 30-inch lead from the plug to the first LED light, and the 10 lights are spread 12 inches apart. These may be the best lights ever, and all you have to do is shell out $32.99 US to have some. Source: Geek Alerts Maybe Boba Fett lights are more your style. I can live with that, although I love the R2s more. This string also features 10 lights spread out 12 inches apart with a 30-inch lead from the plug. MSRP is $33.50 US, but unfortunately these are out of stock right now with no word on when they might be back. Guess you’ll have to buy the R2s after all. Source: 7 Gadgets If you’ve got someone who loves to snoop, hiding their presents so they can’t peek at them can be a challenge. Sometimes even wrapping them won’t do any good, because they’ll poke and shake and otherwise manhandle each package to try to determine what is inside. One way to cure them of that annoying habit is to position a gift alarm near where you’re keeping your presents. It’s got a motion sensor that triggers a siren and flashing light if anyone gets too close. At just $13.79 US, it’d be good for a giggle even if it didn’t prevent them from trying to snoop. Source: Foolish Gadgets Finally, we have an item I really, really need. It’s a bit late for this year, but you could either open several per day to catch up or save it for next year. This is a LEGO Advent calendar. Each day in December you open a compartment to reveal a LEGO prize: exclusive minifigs, starships and accessories, all to be built by you as each day of Advent passes, for a total of 24 LEGO gifts. If you miss out on this year’s calendar, never fear. They make one every year. Each one costs $39.99 US. Source: Geek Alerts Share This With The World!
