Stranger Things Dishwasher Magnet Sends Dirty Dishes to the Upside Down

Posted on 07/06/2022 by hite

I just finished watching the latest season of Stranger Things (at least the part released so far), and let me tell you: It is INTENSE. And because Stranger Thing merchandise is hotter than the devil’s bathwater right now, this is a Stranger Things dishwasher magnet available from AlwaysFits.

The magnet has “CLEAN” on one side, but you flip it over TO THE UPSIDE DOWN when the dishwasher is dirty. I’m not sure what you’re supposed to do when the dishwasher is empty and there’s just a pile of filthy dishes in the sink, but my plan is to wait for my roommate to do them.

I’ll be honest, the Upside Down does NOT look like a place I’d want to visit. I don’t care if my best friend is trapped in there, I can always find a new best friend, but I can’t bring myself back to life. I’m just being realistic here.

Sci-Fi Inspired Computer Terminal With Round Monitor Is Space Ready

Posted on 12/05/2022 by hite

The Mainboard Terminal is the brainchild of computer modder Penk Chen, who drew inspiration from old sci-movies, which imagined a future a lot cooler than it actually is. The all-in-one computer uses a Framework Mainboard (which, unlike a Rasberry Pi, is capable of running x86 operating systems) running a version of Ubuntu 22.04 LT that’s been slightly modified to account for the round display. Commander, an enemy ship just appeared on our radar! God, I love playing space rangers.

The Mainboard, which replaces a traditional motherboard and most other hardware (it’s basically an Intel-powered, single-board computer), sits inside a custom 3D-printed case, which also houses a OLKB Preonic mechanical keyboard, perfect for complementing the computer’s retrofuturistic style. I love retrofuturistic style. Maybe that’s why I spend so much time playing Fallout. Plus, you know, it’s a great escape from real life.

Now Penk just needs to make it run off an onboard battery instead of AC power so it’s portable, and I’ve got myself a new mobile workstation! Are people going to stare at me on the subway? Of course, but is it the computer they’re staring at or my space suit? Who knows!

[via TechEBlog]

5-Foot Tall Glow-in-the-Dark Alien Garden Statue: They Are Among Us

Posted on 04/05/2022 by hite

Because no garden is complete without a life-size alien visitor creeping amongst the rose bushes, King’s Bay produces and sells this 5-foot tall Area 51 Glow In The Dark Alien Garden Statue (affiliate link). The out-of-this-world visitor is made from cast aluminum and painted with glow-in-the-dark paint to really stand out after the sun goes down. And, just like an alien once told me, “The nighttime is the right time.” That’s when I hit it in the back of the head with a shovel!

With its stand, the alien measures approximately 64″ tall, 22″ wide, and 15″ deep and is sure to have my neighbors calling the local news channel to report an alien sighting. They aren’t the brightest lights in the neighborhood, but they do love a good conspiracy theory.

Don’t have the $1500 to spend on this particular alien statue? No worries, just make your own papier-mâché version as I did and cover it with a can of glow-in-the-dark spray paint. Sure it pretty much melted after the first rain, but now I have an alien ZOMBIE garden statue, and can you really put a price on that? Because my homeowner’s association thought it was worthy of an $85 fine.

[via DudeIWantThat]

Borg Cube and Picard Plushies Must Be Assimilated

Posted on 21/04/2022 by hite

Because Kidrobot refuses to stop taking my money, the toy company is releasing a $50 combo plushie pack featuring an LED-lit Borg Cube and Locutus of Borg (the Borg designation for Captain Jean-Luc Picard after his assimilation in 2366). Obviously, these will be perfect for cuddling during a weekend-long Star Trek: The Next Generation marathon.

The Borg Cube features LED lights that glow green when turned on to “create the perfect ambiance for assimilation.” I didn’t know there was a perfect ambiance for assimilation, but you learn something new every day. The top also opens to reveal a hidden compartment inside, large enough for storing Borg Picard. Like a genie in a bottle, except a Picard in a cube.

I’m surprised I even have to go through the motions of buying stuff like this; you’d think Kidrobot would just automatically deduct the cost from my bank account and ship them when they’re available. I guess they’re probably just unsure how many of a particular product I want. Which, in this case, is all of them.

Star Wars Death Star Trench Run Cake: I’m Going In!

Posted on 06/04/2022 by hite

Because there’s no birthday like a Star Wars birthday, Redditor jiggleyourpuffs96 (real mature!) went and crafted this very impressive Death Star trench run-inspired birthday cake. The whole thing is edible, too, except for the little plastic ships and their stands, which I wish I would have known before biting into one and losing a filling.

A lot of the pieces were textured by pressing modeling icing against the tops and bottoms of LEGO bricks to achieve that newly built space station look. If they’re anything like me, though, hopefully, those bricks were sanitized first because mine spend most of their time strewn across the living room floor, and I can’t even remember the last time I vacuumed. I’m pretty sure The Phantom Menace was still in theaters.

I’d eat it. Of course, there are very few things I wouldn’t eat, and, much to my wife’s dismay, items in the trash aren’t excluded. I always jokingly say I was raised by raccoons, but I can see the scorn in her eyes, especially when we have company over and somebody just threw away a pizza crust.

[via Neatorama]

HAL 9000 Garage Door Button Upgrade: I’m Sorry, Dave, I’m Afraid I Can’t Do That

Posted on 04/04/2022 by hite

Because garage door buttons are boring and demand a futuristic improvement, Instructable user danthemakerman went and created detailed DIY instructions for taking your garage door button to the next level with a 2001: A Space Odyssey-inspired HAL 9000 upgrade. “I am completely operational, and my circuits are functioning perfectly.” Are they, though, HAL, are they?

Dan’s original plan was to have the garage door be voice-activated, so he could say, “HAL open the pod bay doors,” and it would respond with the classic, “I’m sorry, Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that.” Unfortunately, after some research, he realized that it was going to be more difficult than he anticipated without getting Amazon Alexa or Google Home Assist involved (which he was trying to avoid), so he settled for a HAL 9000 push-button garage door opener instead. Settling during projects – I know all about it.

The final result is quite impressive, and it’s almost a shame HAL 9000 has to sit in the cold garage all day and night. I’d rather have it somewhere in the home where it’s on display all the time – like in the kitchen, where I spend most of my time. You know they say most accidents at home happen in the bathroom, but clearly, whoever said that has never seen me in the kitchen.

[via Instructables]

LEGO Luke Skywalker and Yoda Dagobah Training Playset: Do or Do Not Buy

Posted on 24/03/2022 by hite

Master Yoda training Luke on Dagobah: it’s an iconic movie scene. And what better way to immortalize Luke’s struggle to gain control over the Force than with an official LEGO set? I can’t think of any. Come on, Luke, lift that X-Wing out of the swamp – you can do it! No? Dammit, Luke, Darth Vader is your father!

The exactly 1,000-piece set will retail for $79.99, and you can pre-order it on the LEGO site now. It includes Yoda’s modest hut, a large Gnarltree, Luke’s X-Wing peeking one of its wings out of the swamp, as well as Luke, Yoda, and R2-D2 minifigs. Remember when Yoda made Luke carry him around like a backpack? That was my favorite part. My cousins make me do the same thing for them.

There’s no question this will make a lovely addition to all the other Star Wars LEGO sets I already own, which is all of them. Yep, all 700+ of them. Can you believe there are so many Star Wars LEGO sets? My wife sure can, especially when she’s trying to navigate absolutely anywhere in the house without stepping on any.

[via The Brick Fan]

Alien Butler Pedestal Table: Roswell, Another Drink Please

Posted on 23/03/2022 by hite

Because who hasn’t dreamed of employing an alien butler, manufacturer of over-the-top home and garden decor Design Toscano has created the Roswell the Alien Butler Pedestal Table. It’s a small $109 pedestal table in the shape of an alien, perfect for holding your out-of-this-world cocktail while reading a book on alien conspiracy theories. They are among us.

The table measures 10.5″ wide, 6″ deep, and 26″ tall, and weighs a modest 7-pounds, making it easy to pick up and carry around the house with you, so you always have a table at your disposal. Of course, you should probably have your actual butler do the carrying for you. I mean you do have a butler, don’t you? I know my wife does (SPOILER: it’s me!).

This table is perfect for the person who feels their home has been missing that certain… how do I put it… naked bony alien butt. You know they say if you make it, somebody will buy it, and I just bought one for every room in the house. It’s an alien butler invasion!

[via DudeIWantThat]

Star Trek Klingon Bat’leth Multi-Tool: Pocket Space, The Final Frontier

Posted on 04/03/2022 by hite

Because Star Trek is just as determined as Star Wars to have every product made available with their own theme, here is an officially licensed Klingon Bat’leth 6-in-1 multi-tool. The tool, available on Amazon (affiliate link), features a bottle opener, three different hex wrenches, a flat head screwdriver, a Phillips head screwdriver, a cord cutter, and a butterfly wrench. Unfortunately, an award-winning forehead is not included.

Will I be replacing my everyday-carry multi-tool with this one? I’m not sure; my current multi-tool is a 10-in-1, so that’s four more tools I wouldn’t be carrying. Plus, that one has pliers, and pliers are one of the tools I use most often. That and the tweezers. I get a lot of splinters because I don’t believe in shoes.

I do love the form factor. You know, I actually tried building my own full-scale bat’leth weapon last summer but abandoned the project when I realized there was slim to little chance it would end without me losing fingers. At least I’m realistic.