B5 Network - Tech, Gadgets and Weird Things

For today’s post, I was searching for something birthday related (I’ll give you three guesses why and a clue that I was born in July). Well, that was not particularly successful, as you might have understood from the picture. Still, I wouldn’t really mind getting such a present.

Now, these cards will probably not help you with your game, like certain others, but they will really increase the amount of fun you will be receiving. The cards are fairly normal – usual symbols, standard sizes. Only difference – they are etched out of stainless steel. Meaning they look cool, they don’t get rusty, and what’s more, stainless steel doesn’t bend much – and when it does, it doesn’t stay bent (Don’t try to test this – while stainless steel doesn’t bend, it does break – into sharp pieces that you really don’t want lodged in your skin).

Of course, while being more than suitable for a game of poker (or a simpler game if you prefer), they have different uses. In the past, throwing cards was considered to be an awe-inspiring part of a magician’s performance. Usually it is done with paper cards, but just think of what steel cards would be capable of doing.

The only downside is their price (£94.99). Found at IWantOneOfThose.

I assume we all know what’s a cuckoo clock is, right? Cartoons that we saw as children (Tom&Jerry for me) taught us at least that much (It also taught me that whoever is at fault, you have a far better chance of getting away with it if you’re the weak little oppressed-looking mouse).

Well, it appears as though someone decided that hearing the same bird over and over again could be annoying (I wholeheartedly agree). And that someone was able to turn his/her idea into reality. Introducing the Bird Song Clock! For each of the twelve hours you get a song of a different bird. Starting from the hour 12 clockwise the birds are the Tawny Owl, Chaffinch, Cuckoo, Great Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Barn Owl, Wren, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Nightingale and Robin. An inbuilt light sensor makes sure that the songs do not wake you up in the middle of the night (Imagine the old times when the clocks had loud chimes to announce a new hour and did not have a light sensor that would shut them up when you wanted to sleep).

The clock comes in a matt green frame and is 20cm (8”) in diameter. Adding the realistic bird drawings and the minimalistic design, this clock is designed so it would look good anywhere. Personally, I think it would look good in a room full of bookshelves full of not-so-light literature, or on a wall in your workspace. Of course such a clock would make a wonderful gift.

The Bird Song Clock is £19.95 including VAT (EU) or £16.98 excluding VAT (Outside EU). Fount at eDirectory.

Back in the days when the concept of a modern times gadget was laughable (not necessarily referring to the middle ages) people had to face a task of finding something to amuse themselves with each and every day. That is, of course, excluding those that had to work from daybreak till dawn to be able to live (depending on the time period, that could be the majority of the world).

Well, those that could afford some fun used to take part in a wide variety of activities. Those considered artistic would draw or attempt to write works of literature. Others, less talented would attempt to sing or dance (in this aspect, the world didn’t change much – that still happens far too frequently). And those who regarded themselves as intellectuals would pit their minds against opponents in an old Indian game called ‘chess’.

However, time goes by, and times change. And today’s product is a great proof of it. I’m rather certain that if you attempted to use this chess set in , oh, the middle ages or so, you would be roasted in a huge bonfire (not a particularly pleasant way to leave this world). Nowadays, though, you’ll get only some strange looks at worst (depends on who you are – no one would think it’s weird for me to own such a set).

On a 12 inch (~30cm) square board (which reminds me of a dungeon) that has 4 skulls in place of legs), you and your opponent pit your skeletal head armies against each other (there are black and white skulls).

This set could actually solve one problem that quite a few chess fanatics have – lack of willing opponents. Most people don’t particularly like chess, or they lack patience for it. But really, who could resist playing with something like this?

The Skulls Chess Set costs £29.95 (could be cheaper, but souvenir glass chess sets tend to be even more costly). Found at Gobaz.

By now, you’ve probably noticed my obsession with things that glow. Yes, I love LED lightening. And if a gadget looks good, it’s worth the money, despite the fact that it has only as much functionality as it’s equivalent in everyone’s home.

The above paragraph was meant to help me justify why I need something like this. The Aurora Rocket Retro LED Alarm Clock is probably the coolest alarm clock I’ve ever seen (well, I’m torn a bit - The Sonic Boom Alarm Clock is best when it comes to alarm part). It looks just like a childish model of a rocket. But guess what? - it glows (that’s it, I already think it’s cool :)). And even more - the color changes as the hour passes.

What’s even cooler, instead of having the colors change instantly, you can set them to change gradually. Beautiful - just beautiful.

What’s more, it’s great for keeping it at your bedside. The digits are bright red, so you won’t have trouble seeing them in the dark. If the lights are disturbing you and keep you from falling asleep, you can turn them off - and, if you need some light in the middle of the night, all you have to do is tap it gently, and it will start glowing for about 30 seconds.

Found at gadgets.co.uk. If you decide to purchase it from them, it costs £24.99 (50$).