Oh! Gizmo

By Andrew Liszewski

I can understand that artificial lighting in a pumpkin is a lot safer than a burning candle, particularly if kids are involved, but the smell of scorched pumpkin lid is something that always kindles fond memories of my childhood. But if you prefer to play it safe, these remote control pumpkin lights from Williams Sonoma won’t torch your carved creations, and don’t even require you to go outside to turn them on.

Each light is powered by 3xAAA batteries which is good for about 100 hours of use, and the wireless remote allows you to turn them on and off, switch between steady and flickering light and adjust the brightness, all from a distance of about 20 feet away. A set of 2 with a remote will set you back $19.95, which isn’t too bad, even if they get destroyed when the neighborhood kids smash your pumpkin.

[ Pumpkin Lights with Remote Control ] VIA [ GadgetGrid ]

By Andrew Liszewski

While it appears to be designed for having some seasonal Hallowe’en fun, ThinkGeek’s new EvilTron actually improves upon their original Annoy-A-Tron in many ways. Firstly, it’s smaller, only about as big as a quarter, and that in conjunction with a Rare-Earth magnet embedded in the back makes it even easier to hide. And secondly, instead of making random beeping noises the EvilTron plays 5 different eery sounds including “Something unsettling creaking, Unidentifiable scratching sounds, Gasping last breath, Sinister child laughing and Eerie whispering of ‘hey, can you hear me?’”

It’s powered by an included single cell type battery which is good for over a month of use, and at just $9.99 it won’t be that upsetting when your co-workers eventually find it and smash it to pieces.

[ The ThinkGeek EvilTron ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Yes, they’re slightly more appropriate for Hallowe’en, but these glowing dismembered body parts lawn ornaments could be used for any holiday throughout the year. Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays, Bah Mitzvah… Just dress them appropriately and I’m sure the neighbors won’t complain one bit when you’ve hidden a decorated Easter egg behind that foot sticking out of your front lawn. $16.98 from IWOOT for a set of 4.

[ Light-Up Body Parts ] VIA [ Nerd Approved ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I can’t imagine anything funnier than the look on someone’s face when their home is burning to the ground and they realize that the fire extinguisher they just grabbed is actually a novelty phone! Priceless! You get that on tape and you’ve just won yourself $10,000, no question. Not too mention the fact that this phone appears to set a new benchmark for unergonomics. Are you supposed to stick the nozzle to your ear or something? $22 from Gadget4all.com.

[ Fire Extinguisher Phone ] VIA [ Pocket-lint ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Yes, we’re completely aware these Notepods are just a clever attempt to capitalize on the popularity of the iPhone and Moleskin notebooks, but we don’t care, we still want them. On one side you’ll find “52mm by 77mm of blank space floating in darkness… in a form reminiscent of a popular smart phone” (got to keep the Apple lawyers at bay I guess) and on the other, a light 6mm grid for technical sketches or tic-tac-toe. Like Field Notes, the Notepods are available in packs of 3, and even though they’re being sent from Australia, they’re just $17.95 shipped anywhere in the world.

[ Notepod ] VIA [ iSpazio ]

By Andrew Liszewski

It’s too bad Valentine’s Day is still many months away, because this Plush Beating Heart from ThinkGeek ($17.99) looks like the perfect way to creep out your significant other. With a simple shake the heart will start beating and pulsating just like the real thing, and let’s be frank, a gift is always more appreciated when it’s anatomically correct.

[ Plush Beating Heart ] VIA [ bookofjoe ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I don’t think Halloween can quite topple Christmas when it comes to being the holiday with the most themed crap filling store shelves, but it’s a close second. If it’s any consolation though, Halloween crap seems to be far more inspired and creative. Like these haunted, animated books. Stick ‘em on a bookshelf hidden amongst your other real tomes, and whenever someone walks by they’ll come to life, sliding in and out making “eery” haunted sounds. Will they actually fool or scare anyone? No. For $24.99 should you be disappointed if they don’t? Absolutely not.

[ Animated Moving Books ] VIA [ The Green Head ]

By Andrew Liszewski

If you’ve been trying to find a way to ugly-up your Mercedes Benz real good like, for just $5 you can replace its stock hood ornament with this clear plastic version that lights up thanks to a set of red, blue and green LEDs that are powered by a small chrome wind turbine. So not only does it not require batteries, but the installation is as easy as peeling and sticking it to your car’s pristine paint job. Available now from DealExtreme who couldn’t possibly squeeze another watermarked logo onto their product shots.

[ Wind Powered Sensor RGB LED Vehicle Logo - Benz ] VIA [ Nerd Approved ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Remember Banpresto’s Face Bank? The one that literally eats your coins but looked kind of freaky while doing it? Well this Hungry Pig bank is the same idea, though it’s far less nightmare-inducing to look at. Just stick a coin in Babe’s mouth and a motion sensor will activate the ‘chewing’ action until the currency is swallowed. A great gift idea for impresionable kids who might not have already had the idea to put coins in their mouths! ~$33 from BB Shopping.

[ Hungry Pig Bank ]