Tag: inflatable
Fun New Star Wars Pool Inflatable Floats and Kites
I will definitely be heading to Target very soon to pick up one of these…
From starwars.com:
Fans looking to spend some time at the pool or park this summer can look forward to a great new selection of Star Wars inflatables and kites from Jakks Pacific now hitting store shelves!
Available at Target stores in the US and at Walmart Canada are four new inflatable starships and a Death Star beach ball (why has it taken 31 years to get one of these?!):
* Millennium Falcon and Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Jedi Starfighter are over three feet long!
* X-wing and Anakin Skywalker’s Jedi Starfighter each measure over five feet long and include a direct-draw water cannon!
* The Artoo inflatable drink server won’t be available until next year, but we couldn’t resist sharing this one early!
I wasn’t totally convinced I was going to buy one of these pool floats until I read that the X-wing has a built-in water cannon. What could be more fun than blasting lizards on my pool screen enclosure with a mounted water cannon?
It’s disappointing to find out that the R2D2 drink server won’t be available until next year, but I suppose floating around on an X-wing is good enough in the meantime.
TweetTUESDAY TECH: Real Versions of Inspector Gadget’s Gadgets
I’ve been a huge fan of Inspector Gadget since I watched the cartoon back in the ’80s. It was the ultimate geek cartoon (before I knew what a geek was), combining fun characters with technology. So today I found myself wondering if I could find any of…
Inspector Gadget’s Gadgets in Real Life
The list of Inspector Gadget’s gadgets is very long, but only a few were used in nearly every episode of the show. So I wondered how many of these common gadgets have since been replicated (or close to) in real life. Here’s what I found:
Go Go Gadget Copter
The Gadget Copter is likely Inspector Gadget’s most well-known and popular gadget. Upon activation, a 3-blade helicopter emerges from Inspector Gadget’s hat along with two handles for guidance:
While I couldn’t find a working Gadget Copter in real life, I did find this similar personal helicopter that ran at least once (albeit very dangerously):
I think I’ll pass on taking a ride on that contraption.
Go Go Gadget Coat
Whenever Inspector Gadget found himself falling from somewhere very high up (which was often), he either activated his Gadget Copter or his Gadget Coat.
The Gadget Coat was inflated to several times its regular size by the simple pull of a coat button. In real life, something very similar has been invented to save lives, much in the same way that Gadget’s coat saved his many times. The real version is designed for the safety of motorcycle riders:
It doesn’t inflate to nearly as big of a size as Inspector Gadget’s coat, but the principle is the same, all the way down to the pull of a string to inflate it.
Go Go Gadget Phone
The Gadget Phone was needed for Inspector Gadget to communicate with Chief Quimby about his assignments.
It was built in to Inspector Gadget’s hand, with an antenna able to be pulled out of his thumb (where the receiver was) and the microphone embedded into his pinky finger. In reality, this could definitely be built into a glove, as shown by this do-it-yourself video:
Go Go Gadget Skates
To get around quickly on the ground, Inspector Gadget regularly called upon his Gadget Skates.
(I couldn’t find a screenshot of them in action in the original cartoon, so this image will have to do)
The rocket skates inevitably launched Gadget into an uncontrollable ride, usually ending by crashing into something or someone. Many have tried to build their own real life versions, with none of the results quite as spectacular as Gadget’s version:
[Click here for the YouTube video - The owner of the video has disabled embedding for some reason.]
Do you have a favorite of Inspector Gadget’s many gadgets? Does it have a real life counterpart? Comment!
TweetFRIDAY FLASHBACK: Little Caesar’s Pizza
Pizza Pizza! If you’re like me, that phrase, quickly uttered by a tiny humanoid dressed in a toga brings back memories of crazy bread and…
Little Caesar’s Pizza
Yes, I realize Little Caesar’s still exists today, but it’s not nearly as easy to find one as it used to be. And when you do, it’s usually in a run-down shopping plaza or remote K-Mart store. To relive the better days of pizza deals and lots and lots of crazy bread, here’s an old Little Caesar’s ad:
And now I will prove my Little Caesar’s fan-ness by showing off two collectible items that I possess:
Click the images to enlarge them.
On the left, you see a Little Caesar’s finger puppet / window hanger, standing (or hanging) at around five inches tall. I had one of these when I was in elementary school, lost it somewhere while growing up, and recently purchased one from a local antique store. I wouldn’t call him an antique but would definitely call him fun.
On the right, you see a Little Caesar’s inflatable pizza. Yes, an inflatable pizza! It’s around 3 feet in diameter and works great as a pool float. The smaller package at the bottom is a second inflatable pizza, not yet unpacked. After all, you can’t have “Pizza Pizza!” without two pizzas!
Both can often be found on eBay.
Do you still visit Little Caesar’s? Do you remember the “Pizza Pizza” character? Comment!
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