Gadgets

Energy Efficient Lamp is Powered by a Telephone Jack Only

Lights are becoming so efficient that now you can buy a lamp that is powered solely by the minute trickle of electricity from your telephone socket (RJ11 jacks). I can’t vouch for the legality of using the jack for something other than a landline telephone but we’re talking about free electricity here people. Free electricity.

This gooseneck lamp has 8 white LED lights in it’s top. There’s no other way to plug it in other than your telephone jack, which you’re likely not using anyway. Even if you are a dedicated landline user, there’s usually jacks that you don’t use scattered about your house. No wattage is listed in the product description but I wouldn’t be expecting too much from this low powered lamp, especially at the .69 price point. Anyone out there know how many watts you can get from an RJ11 telephone jack?

RJ11 socket lamp

Big Button Cell Phone

Designed for old people and those who have difficulty seeing this giant button cell phone is absolutely dominated by it’s large buttons. It reminds me of a calculator almost- the proportion of screen to button is completely reversed from the typical phone of today. Even Homer Simpson, in that episode where he gains all that weight to go on disability and then wears a moo-moo and his fingers are too fat to dial the phone so he has to mash all the buttons at once (King Size Homer episode from The Simpsons 7th Season), could use this phone. That’s BY FAR the best season of The Simpsons by the way since you asked.

This unbranded generic phone also has a few interesting features like the SOS button on the back. The button can call any preset number to get you the help you need, so you can set it to your favorite help source whether it’s the police, fire department, Geek Squad, your Mom, or Oprah. If Homer had that button he could have saved Springfield from nuclear disaster (spoiler alert: which he did anyway). If you happen to reside anyplace outside the US or Canada and use the GSM 900/1800 bands, you can use this big button phone. Otherwise, tough luck.

6380 phone via technabob

Unique Range Hoods for your Stove

Appliancist has put together a collection of some of the more interesting range hoods ever produced. From the clock hood above to the gigantic K below, these are a stylish alternative to the usual rectangular range hoods. I’m certain that if you’re looking for a cheap range hood, these are not among your best options.

Bread Shoes are Actually Made of Bread

Actual product alert! Bread shoes are made from different types of loaves of bread. Each pair is unique. buys you a pricey loaf of bread for your feet. I’m not sure how comfortable these would be, but you would definitely need to avoid areas where there’s a lot of pigeons. One thing is for certain, these are better looking than Crocs. And tastier.

bread shoes via like cool

Thundercats XBox 360 Mod…Thundercats Ho!

There are two things that define the 80’s- airbrushing and Thundercats. Now those two great things have been combined with something from the 00’s- the XBox 360. The colors are fantastic on this mod compared with the drab standard colors that Microsoft offers with the gaming system. True to the name, this is a true 360 paint job with airbrushing on all sides. Nice work and Thundercats, Thundercats, Thundercats Hoooooooooo!

via xbox freedom

Grass Mouse is the Greenest Computer Peripheral Ever

How green is your mouse? Not as green as this one! It’s covered in grass. Made by a Japanese artist Hanaoka (JP) who specializes in covering things with grass. From big things like cars to little things like a computer mouse. I don’t have much more information on this other than it’s a grass mouse. I’m inventing the world’s smallest lawnmower to keep this mouse in check.

big thanks to tobako for the tip/photo

Monster Monster Laptop Stand Will Scare the Keys Right off Your Keyboard

Roaar!!! That’s right folks, three exclamation points. That’s how scary the Monster Monster Laptop Stand is. It just scared the keys right off this Macbook. Just hit cmd-z and the keys will return, no worries. Seriously, this is an actual laptop stand you can buy made of 3 acrylic legs that interlock below and lift up your laptop. Probably not worth but cool either way. Get it now before they get sued by Monster Cables.

via gizmodo

City Bike is So Minimal It Doesn’t Need a Chain

Design firm JRuiter + Studio has designed this super minimalist “City Bike” that takes the complicated bicycle down to just it’s essential core components. The designers had a complete rethinking of what was needed on the frame of the bike, eliminating parts that were not absolutely necessary. While practical on some levels, with it’s lack of complexity, riding it can be tedious and slightly impractical. But for short flat distances it would work fine.

jruiter via like cool

Special Keyboard Just for Pirates

Pirates live the simple life, sailing the high seas, plundering booty, hunting for treasures. So it’s no surprise that their dedicated ergonomic keyboard would also keep it simple with just the basic essential pirate keys. Arrrrrr. Avast, ye matey! Avast! Shift Avast!

via walyou

CritBuns Saves Your Buns (From Pain)

Sitting for long hours on a hard floor, wooden bench or stadium seat can really hurt your ass after a while. Especially if you have a bony bottom with less cushion for the pushing, if you know what I mean. So one Rhode Island design student decided he had enough of the pain from his long hours spent at design school sitting on the floor critiquing the other students and he did something about it- he created CritBuns. CritBuns is a portable seat cushion.

More portable than a floor pillow (someone should make a pillow with a handle!), CritBuns is designed to be taken from one spot to another. Put your cheeks on it’s cheeks and feel the relief. It’s made of a weather resistant foam that’s easy to clean. Great for fishing, gardening, poolside, kneeling, concerts, waiting outside for your American Idol audition, and more. Available for .99 at CritBuns or various museum and design shops (MoMA, SFMoMA, Pratt Store, etc).