12.28.2007
happy holidays
Happy Holidays to all my readers. I hope the season brings you warmth and joy. I'll be back next week to talk about New Year's Resolutions.
12.18.2007
the season of magic
One of the best things about the holidays is the magical feel in the air. Since all your friends and relatives are gathered in one place, why not take the opportunity to practice your magic act? We have some cool tricks to try out this year. From sleight of hand to illusion, there's something for every aspiring magician in our trunk full of tricks.
It's probably best to start with something easy, like the Pen Through Dollar trick or the Cigarette Through Coin trick. In the first, you get a dollar from someone in your audience and then jam your magic pen right through it, but when you return the dollar, it's unharmed! In the coin trick, you push a cigarette (or a pencil if you prefer) right through a normal looking quarter. Both are very easy to learn but very hard for your audience to figure out. The Rigid Rope trick is pretty simple, but if you need help it comes with instructions and a couple of funny routines. I like doing the Linking Rings trick. Eight seemingly solid rings come apart and link together in dozens of ways. It takes a bit of time to master this one, but with a little practice, you can do a hundred tricks with them.
Ask for a female volunteer to help you with the Baffling Bra trick. Two handkerchiefs seem to pass right through her body, snagging her lacy bra on the way. This one makes everyone laugh, including your victim. But you might want to save it for after the little ones are in bed.
I like the D'Lite trick because it's easy and you can work it into lots of other tricks. You can pluck a light out of thin air, pass it between your hands, throw it to someone across the room or even make your ears light up. It's a very, very clever trick. I've been doing it for years and no one has ever figured out how it works. This year, I've been studying the DVD, watching master magicians work with the trick and practicing some more advanced techniques. I can't wait to try out my new “act.”
My nephew is into card tricks, so I got him the Card Trick Encyclopedia for Christmas. It's a staggering collection of 600 card tricks that have been invented and improved upon by magicians for over 40 years. The writing style is clear and the instructions are really easy to follow. I think he'll even be able to quickly learn a few tricks for the “show” this year. I also bought him the Learn To Levitate DVD. It's very simple to make money, cards, knives, balls and other objects levitate. Believe it or not, it's just as easy to levitate yourself. You don't even need any special gimmicks or rigging. All you need is about a half hour to watch the DVD and you'll be levitating household objects.
With a bag full of tricks and a room full of friends and relatives trapped inside because of the cold, you've got yourself a holiday magic show. Which reminds me, I'd better get going—I still need to practice a couple of those D'Lite tricks.
It's probably best to start with something easy, like the Pen Through Dollar trick or the Cigarette Through Coin trick. In the first, you get a dollar from someone in your audience and then jam your magic pen right through it, but when you return the dollar, it's unharmed! In the coin trick, you push a cigarette (or a pencil if you prefer) right through a normal looking quarter. Both are very easy to learn but very hard for your audience to figure out. The Rigid Rope trick is pretty simple, but if you need help it comes with instructions and a couple of funny routines. I like doing the Linking Rings trick. Eight seemingly solid rings come apart and link together in dozens of ways. It takes a bit of time to master this one, but with a little practice, you can do a hundred tricks with them.
Ask for a female volunteer to help you with the Baffling Bra trick. Two handkerchiefs seem to pass right through her body, snagging her lacy bra on the way. This one makes everyone laugh, including your victim. But you might want to save it for after the little ones are in bed.
I like the D'Lite trick because it's easy and you can work it into lots of other tricks. You can pluck a light out of thin air, pass it between your hands, throw it to someone across the room or even make your ears light up. It's a very, very clever trick. I've been doing it for years and no one has ever figured out how it works. This year, I've been studying the DVD, watching master magicians work with the trick and practicing some more advanced techniques. I can't wait to try out my new “act.”
My nephew is into card tricks, so I got him the Card Trick Encyclopedia for Christmas. It's a staggering collection of 600 card tricks that have been invented and improved upon by magicians for over 40 years. The writing style is clear and the instructions are really easy to follow. I think he'll even be able to quickly learn a few tricks for the “show” this year. I also bought him the Learn To Levitate DVD. It's very simple to make money, cards, knives, balls and other objects levitate. Believe it or not, it's just as easy to levitate yourself. You don't even need any special gimmicks or rigging. All you need is about a half hour to watch the DVD and you'll be levitating household objects.
With a bag full of tricks and a room full of friends and relatives trapped inside because of the cold, you've got yourself a holiday magic show. Which reminds me, I'd better get going—I still need to practice a couple of those D'Lite tricks.
12.12.2007
games for giving & playing
It probably won't surprise you that I love to play games. Video games, board games, puzzles—it doesn't matter, I'll play. This time of year is perfect for recruiting players because the house is usually full of guests and it's cold outside. Last night we were playing a hilarious new board game: The Redneck Game. It's based on the blue collar comedy of Jeff Foxworthy. The object of the game is to fill in the blanks to questions like: “You might be a Redneck if you've ever picked your teeth with a: Menu? Fork? Pen at the Bank?" and “You might be a Redneck if you get your daily amount of fiber from: Pork rinds? Toothpicks? Chewin' tobacco?” If you pick the one that's the official Foxworthy answer, you get all kinds of neat stuff to fill your trailer. The game is so funny I didn't even care that I wasn't the first to fill my trailer.
“A Christmas Story” is a board game from the classic movie that brings back memories of scenes like the Schoolyard, The Alley, the Department Store Santa, and "Double Dog Dares!" You win points by answering trivia questions from the movie to win the ultimate prize: the coveted B.B. gun. And in Pirates Of The Caribbean Trilogy Monopoly you play the role of your favorite pirate and battle for control of the high seas. Buy, sell and trade the most popular locations from all three movies, Port Royal Jail, Cannibal Village, Shipwreck City, Singapore Bath House and more are on the block. The thing I like about this version is it has a 60-minute speed-play option, which keeps everyone on their toes.
Everything goes better with pop culture and chess is no exception. This South Park Chess Set is right up my alley. The makers matched the characters to chess pieces perfectly: Chef is King, Big Gay Al is Queen, Kyle is Bishop, Cartman is Knight, and Kenny is (what else?) Pawn. I play this one with a friend who can impersonate almost every character in the show. Chess was never so funny. If you like a more traditional chess game but with an electronic twist, try out the Touch Screen Chess game. It's a tough computer to beat, but with 56 levels, a threat indicator, and a hint key you stand a fighting chance even against the computer.
Finally, this Major League Baseball Rookie Card Puzzle is my newest brain teaser. You'd think a puzzle of baseball cards would be simple, but it's not as easy as it seems. It's a collage of rookie cards for Hall-of-Famers, but the cards aren't lined up in neat little rows and the thing is just full of color. The cool thing about this puzzle is that you get to check out the rookie cards for some of baseball's greatest players like Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, and Mickey Mantle.
I'm still trying to solve this Fifteen Puzzle I told you about a couple of weeks ago. We've sold it for years and I've never been able to solve it. It drives me nuts. I give up on it. Try again. Give up on it. Try again. I'll solve it. You just wait and see...
“A Christmas Story” is a board game from the classic movie that brings back memories of scenes like the Schoolyard, The Alley, the Department Store Santa, and "Double Dog Dares!" You win points by answering trivia questions from the movie to win the ultimate prize: the coveted B.B. gun. And in Pirates Of The Caribbean Trilogy Monopoly you play the role of your favorite pirate and battle for control of the high seas. Buy, sell and trade the most popular locations from all three movies, Port Royal Jail, Cannibal Village, Shipwreck City, Singapore Bath House and more are on the block. The thing I like about this version is it has a 60-minute speed-play option, which keeps everyone on their toes.
Everything goes better with pop culture and chess is no exception. This South Park Chess Set is right up my alley. The makers matched the characters to chess pieces perfectly: Chef is King, Big Gay Al is Queen, Kyle is Bishop, Cartman is Knight, and Kenny is (what else?) Pawn. I play this one with a friend who can impersonate almost every character in the show. Chess was never so funny. If you like a more traditional chess game but with an electronic twist, try out the Touch Screen Chess game. It's a tough computer to beat, but with 56 levels, a threat indicator, and a hint key you stand a fighting chance even against the computer.
Finally, this Major League Baseball Rookie Card Puzzle is my newest brain teaser. You'd think a puzzle of baseball cards would be simple, but it's not as easy as it seems. It's a collage of rookie cards for Hall-of-Famers, but the cards aren't lined up in neat little rows and the thing is just full of color. The cool thing about this puzzle is that you get to check out the rookie cards for some of baseball's greatest players like Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, and Mickey Mantle.
I'm still trying to solve this Fifteen Puzzle I told you about a couple of weeks ago. We've sold it for years and I've never been able to solve it. It drives me nuts. I give up on it. Try again. Give up on it. Try again. I'll solve it. You just wait and see...
12.05.2007
gag gift stocking stuffers, under a buck!
There are two ways to get at the goodies in your Christmas stocking: digging and dumping. I'm a digger. I love digging down to the bottom of the stocking and pulling out the little items “Santa” had left for me. My sister is a dumper. She simply up-ends the stocking and shakes it until everything comes out on the floor. Either way, the stocking is one of the coolest Christmas traditions because you get a lot of little Things at once. Now that I'm a grown-up (sort of), I always contribute some Thing from our 99-cent collection to the kids' stockings.
My first choice is always some Thing fart- or poop-related. Since I grew up in this business, I really can't help myself. Fart candy and fart powder are two of my personal favorites, but since both have a gassy effect on unsuspecting victims, I'd advise you to have plenty of scented candles on hand. For less smelly Things, you could try the classic whoopee cushion, which “gives forth noises better imagined than described.” The same could be said for the fart whistle. Fake poop is always a festive choice. The dog mess looks like a real pile of doggy doo. It's very effective when placed in cooking or eating areas. And this “oops” looks like a real human oops. Place it on a toilet seat to hear a chorus of “yuks” and “ewwwwws.”
Of course, not everyone is into poop and fart jokes (though I can't see why not), so we have some other under-a-buck stocking stuffer classics. For the car, we have fake bullet hole decals that look very real when applied to windows or even paint. And our phony parking tickets that look official but say things like “May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your armpits” are great for handing out in those busy day-after-Christmas parking lots.
For other great fake-out Things, try the phony brick. It looks real, especially when someone is hurling it in your direction, but it's made of harmless foam rubber. To burn non-smokers, pull out one of these fake cigarettes in a clean air zone. Just blow on it to release a harmless white powder that resembles smoke and wait for the howling to begin.
But we can't let smokers off the hook, can we? Sneak one of these stink loads into a cigarette and watch the stench clear the room. My aunt started chewing gum years ago when she quit smoking and she's never without it. Knowing me as well as she does she won't take a piece of gum from me, but I can leave a pack of pepper gum lying around and she'll fall for it every time. And candy is everywhere at this time of year, so the bloody-mouth candy always catches a few victims.So fill those stockings to the brim with fun and inexpensive Things this year and have a merry, merry time watching people play their practical jokes on each other. And stay tuned, we'll have some more great Things to talk about next week...
My first choice is always some Thing fart- or poop-related. Since I grew up in this business, I really can't help myself. Fart candy and fart powder are two of my personal favorites, but since both have a gassy effect on unsuspecting victims, I'd advise you to have plenty of scented candles on hand. For less smelly Things, you could try the classic whoopee cushion, which “gives forth noises better imagined than described.” The same could be said for the fart whistle. Fake poop is always a festive choice. The dog mess looks like a real pile of doggy doo. It's very effective when placed in cooking or eating areas. And this “oops” looks like a real human oops. Place it on a toilet seat to hear a chorus of “yuks” and “ewwwwws.”
Of course, not everyone is into poop and fart jokes (though I can't see why not), so we have some other under-a-buck stocking stuffer classics. For the car, we have fake bullet hole decals that look very real when applied to windows or even paint. And our phony parking tickets that look official but say things like “May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your armpits” are great for handing out in those busy day-after-Christmas parking lots.
For other great fake-out Things, try the phony brick. It looks real, especially when someone is hurling it in your direction, but it's made of harmless foam rubber. To burn non-smokers, pull out one of these fake cigarettes in a clean air zone. Just blow on it to release a harmless white powder that resembles smoke and wait for the howling to begin.
But we can't let smokers off the hook, can we? Sneak one of these stink loads into a cigarette and watch the stench clear the room. My aunt started chewing gum years ago when she quit smoking and she's never without it. Knowing me as well as she does she won't take a piece of gum from me, but I can leave a pack of pepper gum lying around and she'll fall for it every time. And candy is everywhere at this time of year, so the bloody-mouth candy always catches a few victims.So fill those stockings to the brim with fun and inexpensive Things this year and have a merry, merry time watching people play their practical jokes on each other. And stay tuned, we'll have some more great Things to talk about next week...
11.29.2007
simply shocking gifts
Gag gifts are some of my favorites. From old standards like the hand-held joy buzzer to MP3 players, we have some shocking gag gifts to stuff stockings and scare the stuffing out of the people on your list this year.
The joy buzzer is an old favorite that never goes out of style. The beauty of this little Thing is that it can be concealed in your palm until an unsuspecting victim dares to shake your hand. Then: BZZZZT!
Another favorite shocker is the perfectly innocent-looking pack of gum. When a moocher asks you for a piece, you simply extend the pack and wait for the zap! One of my favorites is the shocking stack of quarters. You just put them in a conspicuous place and watch the sparks fly when a greedy hand goes to grab them.
Useful Things can be shocking, too. For example, this flashlight really works—if you know the secret, but it delivers quite a jolt to people who don't. This pen looks like an expensive, high-quality ballpoint pen, but it comes with an electrifying extra feature. My sister, being the notorious pen pincher that she is, always goes for it. I bet I've gotten her with this one at least a dozen times. Her reaction is almost always the same—first she's surprised, then she's mad at me for getting her again, then she's mad at herself for not remembering that I'm always getting her with the very same gag. Sisters are so entertaining sometimes.
You can get the smokers in your life with this shocking lighter. Maybe you could give it to someone who's trying to quit and suggests a little bit of “behavior modification therapy.” Every time they try to light up, they'll get zapped.
The shocking candy jar could work the same way for someone who's trying to cut back on the sweets. But my favorite is the shocking MP3 player because it looks so real. While shocking gum and pens and joy buzzers have been around for a long time, no one suspects the MP3 player. It works on everyone, including the people who know me well, who know my penchant for playing practical jokes and even people who have fallen victim to my shocking sense of humor before. It has never failed me. Not once.
I hope this gives you a few electrifying ideas for gag gifts or even gifts for yourself. Next week, I'll show you some great stocking stuffers you can get for under a buck.
The joy buzzer is an old favorite that never goes out of style. The beauty of this little Thing is that it can be concealed in your palm until an unsuspecting victim dares to shake your hand. Then: BZZZZT!
Another favorite shocker is the perfectly innocent-looking pack of gum. When a moocher asks you for a piece, you simply extend the pack and wait for the zap! One of my favorites is the shocking stack of quarters. You just put them in a conspicuous place and watch the sparks fly when a greedy hand goes to grab them.
Useful Things can be shocking, too. For example, this flashlight really works—if you know the secret, but it delivers quite a jolt to people who don't. This pen looks like an expensive, high-quality ballpoint pen, but it comes with an electrifying extra feature. My sister, being the notorious pen pincher that she is, always goes for it. I bet I've gotten her with this one at least a dozen times. Her reaction is almost always the same—first she's surprised, then she's mad at me for getting her again, then she's mad at herself for not remembering that I'm always getting her with the very same gag. Sisters are so entertaining sometimes.
You can get the smokers in your life with this shocking lighter. Maybe you could give it to someone who's trying to quit and suggests a little bit of “behavior modification therapy.” Every time they try to light up, they'll get zapped.
The shocking candy jar could work the same way for someone who's trying to cut back on the sweets. But my favorite is the shocking MP3 player because it looks so real. While shocking gum and pens and joy buzzers have been around for a long time, no one suspects the MP3 player. It works on everyone, including the people who know me well, who know my penchant for playing practical jokes and even people who have fallen victim to my shocking sense of humor before. It has never failed me. Not once.
I hope this gives you a few electrifying ideas for gag gifts or even gifts for yourself. Next week, I'll show you some great stocking stuffers you can get for under a buck.
11.20.2007
classic gift ideas
Tired of racking your brain to come up with a unique gift that people will actually like? Something they might really use? Something they won't throw in the closet? Or even worse, re-gift to someone who doesn't really want it either? Me, too. Thankfully, we have some classic gifts that everyone can use.
Our reproduction of the well-known Fifteen Puzzle™ is one of the most popular games we have, which is amazing when you consider it's over 100 years old. I think it still appeals to people because it's a really tough puzzle to solve. It's also a great piece of collectible nostalgia. The Mystery Top is another Thing we've carried for years that never seems to lose its popularity. It spins at 2500 RPM with no apparent energy source for days on end and it's small enough to fit in your pocket. It absolutely baffles almost everyone who sees it.
Puzzles and toys aren't for everyone though. For a classic carnival experience, our table top version of the Duck Shoot Gallery is a great gift. I bought this one already. (Um...yes, for myself.) You shoot at the duckies with a wireless infrared pistol and watch them topple as your successful hit registers on and LCD display. It even has a Midway barker's voice to guide you through the game and unlike most electronic games, it comes with batteries.
Our Steam Engine is a true classic. It's a powerful precision-made horizontal engine with grooved pulley & balanced flywheel for driving objects. The brass boiler is nickel plated and it even has a steam whistle. The cool thing about this Thing is that it requires no electricity. It runs on inexpensive dry fuel tablets instead.
For people who like to ring in the holidays with a bang, we have Big Bertha, our largest and loudest Carbide Cannon. This type of cannon has been in use for over 50 years and operates on the same principle as a car engine—all it needs is gas, fresh air, and a spark. Believe me when I tell you the Thing produces a big flash and boom. They're great for celebrations all year-round. You probably won't be surprised to learn that I have two of them. I like to shoot them in tandem to keep the party booming.
Well, I think I'll head for the warehouse and see what else I can dig up. Stay tuned for more gift ideas next week. I might just come up with something that will shock you.
Our reproduction of the well-known Fifteen Puzzle™ is one of the most popular games we have, which is amazing when you consider it's over 100 years old. I think it still appeals to people because it's a really tough puzzle to solve. It's also a great piece of collectible nostalgia. The Mystery Top is another Thing we've carried for years that never seems to lose its popularity. It spins at 2500 RPM with no apparent energy source for days on end and it's small enough to fit in your pocket. It absolutely baffles almost everyone who sees it.
Puzzles and toys aren't for everyone though. For a classic carnival experience, our table top version of the Duck Shoot Gallery is a great gift. I bought this one already. (Um...yes, for myself.) You shoot at the duckies with a wireless infrared pistol and watch them topple as your successful hit registers on and LCD display. It even has a Midway barker's voice to guide you through the game and unlike most electronic games, it comes with batteries.
Our Steam Engine is a true classic. It's a powerful precision-made horizontal engine with grooved pulley & balanced flywheel for driving objects. The brass boiler is nickel plated and it even has a steam whistle. The cool thing about this Thing is that it requires no electricity. It runs on inexpensive dry fuel tablets instead.
For people who like to ring in the holidays with a bang, we have Big Bertha, our largest and loudest Carbide Cannon. This type of cannon has been in use for over 50 years and operates on the same principle as a car engine—all it needs is gas, fresh air, and a spark. Believe me when I tell you the Thing produces a big flash and boom. They're great for celebrations all year-round. You probably won't be surprised to learn that I have two of them. I like to shoot them in tandem to keep the party booming.
Well, I think I'll head for the warehouse and see what else I can dig up. Stay tuned for more gift ideas next week. I might just come up with something that will shock you.
11.16.2007
rush, rush, rush
Everyone is in such a rush to get ready for the holidays. I went to the mall on Saturday and it was a nightmare. First, I had to park like eighteen miles from the entrance. Then, after my trek across the parking lot, for which I should have packed a snack or at least a bottle of water, the people inside were so stressed and hurried. They rushed past me like I was standing still. The whole experience was a blur of anxiety and pressure. Believe it or not, I left without buying a single thing. It's unlike me, I know, but I just couldn't stand that frenetic energy for a minute longer.
On the hike back to my car, I decided to go downtown and see what the smaller shops had to offer. After twenty minutes of wasting precious gasoline, and getting flipped off by a guy who front parked into a space I was clearly backing into, it was clear I wouldn't find a parking spot anywhere close to the shopping district. On the way home, I made up my mind: mail order shopping is the way to go. Okay, so maybe I'm more than a little bit biased, but I look at it this way: either you curl up on the sofa with a stack of freshly minted catalogs or you hang out at the computer surfing for cool new stuff. Either one beats the heck out of fighting the crowds. Plus, with gas prices the way they are, who needs to be driving from store to store or mall to mall when all it takes is a click of the mouse to visit the same stores?
The season is busy enough without adding extra aggravation. Shopping at home is relaxing. No crowds. No crying children. No salespeople talking on their cell phones and working harder at avoiding making eye contact with you than they do at actually selling products. No piped in music with canned versions of songs you used to love that somehow now seem to grate on your very last nerve. Instead, you can put on the music you want and shop in your PJs.
Of course, you have to order a bit earlier - planning is key, especially if you want to pay only standard shipping. Still, for my money, paying expedited shipping is worth not having to go to the mall or drive around downtown competing for metered spaces that the meter readers watch like hawks at this time of year. Plus, most online stores offer gift wrapping now and they'll ship everything directly to the person you're buying for. So you even save a trip to the post office – we won't go into how much I hate going there.
Between Saturday night and Sunday, I got a lot of my shopping done. And it's not even Thanksgiving yet. It's so unlike me to be prepared this early that when I told my sister, who is always way ahead of the holiday curve, her jaw dropped and she looked at me like I had three heads. I think I'm going to like my new tradition.
I'll see you next week. In the meantime, I strongly recommend relaxing with a stack of catalogs and/or pointing and clicking your way to a less stressful holiday.
On the hike back to my car, I decided to go downtown and see what the smaller shops had to offer. After twenty minutes of wasting precious gasoline, and getting flipped off by a guy who front parked into a space I was clearly backing into, it was clear I wouldn't find a parking spot anywhere close to the shopping district. On the way home, I made up my mind: mail order shopping is the way to go. Okay, so maybe I'm more than a little bit biased, but I look at it this way: either you curl up on the sofa with a stack of freshly minted catalogs or you hang out at the computer surfing for cool new stuff. Either one beats the heck out of fighting the crowds. Plus, with gas prices the way they are, who needs to be driving from store to store or mall to mall when all it takes is a click of the mouse to visit the same stores?
The season is busy enough without adding extra aggravation. Shopping at home is relaxing. No crowds. No crying children. No salespeople talking on their cell phones and working harder at avoiding making eye contact with you than they do at actually selling products. No piped in music with canned versions of songs you used to love that somehow now seem to grate on your very last nerve. Instead, you can put on the music you want and shop in your PJs.
Of course, you have to order a bit earlier - planning is key, especially if you want to pay only standard shipping. Still, for my money, paying expedited shipping is worth not having to go to the mall or drive around downtown competing for metered spaces that the meter readers watch like hawks at this time of year. Plus, most online stores offer gift wrapping now and they'll ship everything directly to the person you're buying for. So you even save a trip to the post office – we won't go into how much I hate going there.
Between Saturday night and Sunday, I got a lot of my shopping done. And it's not even Thanksgiving yet. It's so unlike me to be prepared this early that when I told my sister, who is always way ahead of the holiday curve, her jaw dropped and she looked at me like I had three heads. I think I'm going to like my new tradition.
I'll see you next week. In the meantime, I strongly recommend relaxing with a stack of catalogs and/or pointing and clicking your way to a less stressful holiday.
11.09.2007
toys, toys, toys!!
One of the best things about the holiday season is it gives me an excuse to buy new toys. I even buy a few for the kids. :-) This year our buyers have outdone themselves finding cool new toys as well as some blast-from-the-past Things. I can barely walk through the warehouse without finding something I want to buy!
First off, I had to get this animated T-shirt. It has a glowing equalizer display that reacts to music or any sound. There's a hidden pocket inside for the remote control that has both an on/off switch and high or low intensity options. You just flip it on when you're close to the music and watch the shirt dance. Check out the movie clip to see it in action. I already got a Light-Up Moon for my niece. She's totally into astronomy, which I think is amazing since she's only in grade school. You hang it on your wall and it matches the moon phases outside. She's going to love it. Since, like her uncle, she's a science nut, I think she'll also like this digital microscope that connects directly to your computer.
If you're into electronic Things, you'll have to check out these new radio controlled toys. The Laser Megabotz Tanks come equipped with laser cannon and shields. Once your tank gets hit, it can't move for four seconds, leaving you vulnerable to more and more hits. After ten hits, you're out. You can either play with a friend, against the computer or just let the two bots fight it out with each other. And this radio controlled Spaceman is totally cool. It comes with a jet pack and propeller and has LED lights so you can fly it around in a dark room for that total spaceman effect.
Remember Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots™? Well, we have them! They came out in the sixties and we used to play with them endlessly. I remember the thrill of watching my opponent's head pop up with the big power punch. I also remember getting my own block knocked off by, of all people, my sister. And speaking of nostalgia, we have two tabletop versions of the old classic arcade games, Frogger and Space Invaders. You play them exactly the same way, with joystick controllers, and even the sounds are just like you remember them. I'm trying to figure out an excuse for why I need both of them in my house.
Our 3-D Tic Tac Toe game is a high tech version of the old pencil and paper game. The pieces actually levitate by the magic of magnetism. And our Laser Strategy Game is the first-ever board game with built-in lasers. The object of the game is to take out your opponent's pharaoh while shielding your own pharaoh from harm. The laser beam bounces off of the other mirrored game pieces, so you have to plan each move carefully to put your pieces in position to make a perfect laser beam to the enemy pharaoh. Let me just say this: it's more challenging than even chess!The toys just keep piling up in our warehouse, so watch this space for more. As for me, I can't wait!
11.01.2007
military things
"Being a soldier, fighting for this country, is neither Republican nor Democrat."
--Max Cleland
--Max Cleland
As the holidays approach, I can't help but think of our service men and women stationed away from home—whether it be overseas or out-of-state. As my uncle says, “No matter what you think of this or any other war, the men and women who fight and die for us deserve to be honored.” I couldn't agree more. Here at Things You Never Knew Existed, we've done our best to honor the brave people who serve or have served. From organizing care packages for the relatives of our own employees to searching for items to offer that help families pay tribute to their loved ones in the military, we try. As a salute to the military, our buyers have done a great job of finding good quality Things to honor all four branches of the service.
Things To Wear
I guess you could consider our Mascot Watches Things to wear, but since they're pocket watches, I think of them as Things carried or displayed. They showcase the official mascots of the U.S. Armed Forces. I know several people with kids in the service—I'm thinking these would be great Christmas gifts for both parents and kids. Our Insignia Flags are faithfully reproduced and since they're made out of polyester, they can take a beating outdoors.
Both of these items could fall under the “display” category, but they do more than just sit there: they bugle you out of bed with that old standard, “Reveille”. Our Jeep Alarm Clock is a faithful reproduction of the classic military jeep and even has working headlights and horn. You can choose a civilian beeping alarm instead of “Reveille” (but why?) Check out the sound clip to find out why the Drill Sergeant Alarm Clock is my favorite of the two.
If you're planning to send a Christmas gift to a friend or loved one in the military, please remember Armed Forces mail can be slower than regular mail, so it's best to shop and ship as early as possible. To all of our service people at home and abroad: We salute you.
7.30.2007
Another Thing You Never Knew Existed: Bobby's Blog!
When Dad bought this company, I started working here after school as soon as I was old enough to peel the dimes off of order forms. Back then our catalog was called simply “Johnson Smith Catalog” and our most popular item was the Whoopee Cushion. Today, we fill four catalogs with the cool stuff we find and I find myself in front of a computer - blogging.
I used to love showing off the ads Dad was running in comic books to my friends. Those ads made rubber chickens, X-ray specs and practical jokes like itching powder popular all over the country. And as Steven Thompson points out in his own blog, the personal telegraph, the adding machine and the pocket radio were way ahead of their time - even if they didn't always work as well as expected.
I remember walking through the warehouse just dying to see what incredible item was in the next bin. I played with the Ventrilo or the Speedy Mini “Steam” Boat endlessly, trying to unlock their secrets. That sense of anticipation and intrigue lives on in Things You Never Knew Existed. Can you believe we still get surprised letters from kids when they discover they can't really see through clothing with their X-ray specs? People who say this generation is bored and cynical should spend some time reading my mail.
Sure, things have changed, but not all that much. Our novelties might cost more than a dime now, but many are still under a dollar. In a world where a cup of coffee takes the form of a half-caff-skinny-mocha-latte-venti-something-or-other and costs five bucks, I think that's pretty good.
We sell a lot more Electronic Fart Machines than Whoopee Cushions these days, and even the Chicken has gone high-tech. While we still see the value of practical jokes and things that make you laugh until milk comes out of your nose, we also search the world so we can offer you the Things You Never Knew Existed at all, like the Brain Fogger and the Invisibility Book.
So check back here or subscribe to the blog to be among the first to hear Things You Never Knew about all these wild and wacky items, old and new.
I used to love showing off the ads Dad was running in comic books to my friends. Those ads made rubber chickens, X-ray specs and practical jokes like itching powder popular all over the country. And as Steven Thompson points out in his own blog, the personal telegraph, the adding machine and the pocket radio were way ahead of their time - even if they didn't always work as well as expected.
I remember walking through the warehouse just dying to see what incredible item was in the next bin. I played with the Ventrilo or the Speedy Mini “Steam” Boat endlessly, trying to unlock their secrets. That sense of anticipation and intrigue lives on in Things You Never Knew Existed. Can you believe we still get surprised letters from kids when they discover they can't really see through clothing with their X-ray specs? People who say this generation is bored and cynical should spend some time reading my mail.
Sure, things have changed, but not all that much. Our novelties might cost more than a dime now, but many are still under a dollar. In a world where a cup of coffee takes the form of a half-caff-skinny-mocha-latte-venti-something-or-other and costs five bucks, I think that's pretty good.
We sell a lot more Electronic Fart Machines than Whoopee Cushions these days, and even the Chicken has gone high-tech. While we still see the value of practical jokes and things that make you laugh until milk comes out of your nose, we also search the world so we can offer you the Things You Never Knew Existed at all, like the Brain Fogger and the Invisibility Book.
So check back here or subscribe to the blog to be among the first to hear Things You Never Knew about all these wild and wacky items, old and new.
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