Offbeat


Something Different: Glow in the Dark Sand Art iPhone 5 Case

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you see something else that you never would have expected. An example: the Glow in the Dark Sand Art iPhone 5 case. The front of the case looks like any other; this one happens to look like white plastic on the front. But turn it over and you’ll see …


Chili’s is Now Serving Up. . . Tablets?

Like many other mid-level restaurants these days, Chili’s is attempting to redefine itself to avoid becoming almost irrelevant–just witness what has happened to Olive Garden and Red Lobster in the last year. With remodeled restaurants, plenty of fresh new menu items, aggressive couponing and promotions, and now touchscreen tabletop kiosks, Chili’s is looking to engage tech-savvy customers and enhance sales.


MyTask: The “Swiss Army” iPhone Case

Smartphones are great, and for many people they replace quite a few things, from alarm clocks and day planners to cameras and GPS. But sometimes you need something more than just your phone, and the MyTask case aims to make that easier than cramming the pockets on your cargo pants. Need a pen or spoke wrench? This case has you covered.


Homestar Runner Updated for the First Time in Four Years

Homestar Runner was one of my favorite websites in college.  The mix of crazy characters, funny voices, strange situations, and quotable lines was a hit with my friends and me.  However, over the years, the creators, The Brothers Chaps, slowly stopped updating the site.  But after four years, it was finally updated yesterday. Go check it out!



Cupcake ATM Comes to NYC, Because Who Doesn’t Need Cupcakes at 4am?

What’s the worst part of wanting a cupcake at 2am? It’s a tough call; your options are usually limited to something in a plastic wrapper from Quick Check, plus you need to actually talk to another human being and admit you’re buying cupcakes in the middle of the night … unless you’re in NYC, where a 24-hour cupcake ATM is opening!




VinGarde Valise Wine Suitcase Gets Bottles There Intact

A press release recently came across the Gear Diary email transom announcing a new wine suitcase from Wineline that they call the VinGarde Valise. This prompted a discussion among our editors about who would possibly ever need a suitcase for their beverages. As usual, I had a real-life anecdote about something I did while traveling that proved the case for the case.


911 Versus the Family Cat

A rather unusual 911 call has been making the rounds of the Internet today. Apparently, a family in Oregon had a baby, and their cat was most displeased. The cat went on a reign of terror, scratching the baby and scaring the family so badly they locked themselves in the bedroom and called 911. To catch their angry cat.



Pepsi Max Presents Test Drive 2

Remember that crazy funny video featuring Jeff Gordon pretending to take an unsuspecting used car driver on a wild ride? For a little while some people thought it was real but it turned out to be a viral ad for Pepsi Max. One journalist in particular – Travis Okulskiski of Jalopnik – was particularly doubtful that the original was genuine.  


Head Lice? Selfies Might Be to Blame!

This year at high schools and colleges there are more cases of head lice than any time in recent memory. While most years head lice are spread between younger kids, it is the increase in older teens with lice that sparked concerned. According to lice-treatment expert Nitless Noggins, there is a correlation between the rise of ‘group selfies’ and head lice.


DHL Pranks UPS and TNT in Hilarious (and Fake) Advertising Campaign

Just because everyone looks at UPS or FedEx as the big boys of shipping, doesn’t mean that DHL has to take it lying down.  To that end, DHL decided to “prank” fellow shippers UPS and TNT by printing “DHL is Faster” on temperature-sensitive paper and glued them to large boxes and had UPS and TNT deliver them to hard-to-reach addresses.


Wheelhaus is a Rather Weird House (and I Like It!)

Tow it, drop it, hook it up—that’s all it takes to add living space to almost any lot. Wheelhaus makes prefab homes designed for “living large with less.” These rolling cabins start at $76,000 for just under 350 sq ft of living space. It is a cool way to add living space. Check out the styles.


Vladimir Putin Sports Yota Advertising for Russian Mobile Provider

There was controversy back in 2012 about the official sponsors of the Olympic games forcing athletes to not display logos of their sponsor brands. The Sochi Olympic games came with their own controversies, but the branding rules stand. For the athletes anyway, as the Russian President wore a fleece with several brands displayed, including Russian mobile network provider Yota.


Project Capture Enables UFO Reporting Via iPhone

Project Capture is a social network way for UFO enthusiasts to report “something unexplainable in the sky” or an alien “crash site” via iPhone or iPad app. Get alerts when UFO’s are spotted by your crazy neighbor in your neighborhood. Submit your own UFO reports. Be advised this is only for legitimate material and false content will be flagged and removed.


Is “Not Having Kids” the Right Prescription for You?

Want to sleep through the night? Looking to keep your stress as low as possible? Looking to avoid paying $50,000 a year for college? Hoping to retire before the age of 75? Try “Not Having Kids”. It isn’t the right for everyone but it may be just the right prescription for you. Click for video. NSFW Via The Awesomer


NYC I.V. Doctor Will Make HouseCalls with Hangover Cure

  Did you party a bit too hard last night during the Super Bowl? If this morning is not treating you kindly, and if you live in the NYC area, then you might want to give the I.V. Doctor a call. “Party without worrying about a hangover” and “discover why so many celebrities and socialites turn to the I.V. Doctor.” How exactly?