#NoMoreWetDogs

This invention builds upon two ideas in weird things here at Thingology: 

1) Inventions for animals (see cat window perches, to-go fish tanks)

2) Umbrellas (see the full-body umbrella)

To add on to the human umbrella, and to feature something for another type of animal (what to feature next?), I bring to you the dog umbrella.

taken from the Amazon page

There are some pluviophile dogs out there, I'm sure, but this umbrella isn't for them. This is for the dog who just wants to see some sun for once. This is for the dog who just got a perm and can't get their fur wet. This is for the dog who wastes too much money dry-cleaning their leash. This is for the dog who has to wear a light coat for the sake of fashion. This is for those dogs out there who just need to stay dry, you know? This is for those dogs.

Simply harness up your dog (is that even grammatically correct?) and walk them. Then their tail and feet will be wet, and probably the rest of their body, but it'll be much less wet than a non-umbrella'd dog.

The model pictured is clear, so it wouldn't work as a parasol. But there are other dog umbrellas out there that could shade your dog. This model, as linked above, can be bought at the Amazon page. And, as always, a quick Google search will likely bring you plenty of results.

That's all for today, thingologists! See you tomorrow!

#NoMoreWetButts

I like benches. They provide comfort, if temporary, to anyone hiking up a hill or waiting for a bus after a long work day.

But as I have mentioned previously, I love rain, much more than benches. Rain just sets me in a good mood. But benches and rain don't mix. The water soaks the bench and it just keeps pouring on and then you try to sit down and BAM, soaked butt and clothing.

Also, it's inconvenient at best to dry the bench. Once the rain really starts, any bench is good as gone... except for this bench.

image from www.viralnova.com

As you can see from the photo, this bench is made of wood and what looks like metal. On the side is a little handle. Turn it, and the wood moves, exposing the dry underside of the bench.

The designer of this bench, from South Korea, is Sung Woo. He has invented several things, including an mp3 player designed for deaf people.

I'm not sure if these benches are in use anywhere, and if they are, where in the world they are used. But they are a simple solution to a common problem, which is all that something needs to be to qualify for a Thingology post. Well, it could be a ridiculously high-tech solution for something that could be simply solved. Or a lot of other things. It just has to fit my standards.

Anyway, these benches are all over the web. Like I frequently say, a quick Google search will likely find results.

That's all for today, thingologists! Have a good day and I'll see you tomorrow!

Calvin Klein for your hands

I'll admit something. For a very, very long time, I thought Ab-Hancers were real. And though they seem quite easy to make if you're into DIY, I was – though I have no interest in having abs for just a few minutes – disappointed that they were not a mass-produced thing.

So when I did learn about their true status, I came to wondering: what else have I assumed is real but isn't real? As well as pondering that, whenever I learned about a weird thing, I would double-check to make sure it was real and not another hoax.

I was sure that Handerpants were just another person's wild imagination, but no, you can really buy them. $11.95 plus shipping and handling.

They have a fully-stocked website to match the infomercial. See www.HanderPants.com.

Basically, the point of Handerpants is to line your hands. You can wear them straight-up for light protection. Or, you can wear them under gloves like you would wear underpants under pants. Either way, they are for people "from all walks of life", like the infomercial says – including night bloggers such as me.

Anyway, there's not much more to be said. Basically, if you really need more protection for your hands, invest in a pair of handerpants.

Thanks for listening, thingologists! Have a great day!

The Spen Part IV: The Cork

Despite what you might assume from the title, this post is not about the little stoppers found in wine bottles and similar things. Think... futter.

image courtesy of www.kitchencontraptions.com, as well as 'cork' and/or 'futter'.

I prefer eating pizza with my hands. Some people don't. Some people use a damn knife and fork. That's two more utensils than is necessary.

So some geniuses put it into one.

Simply, it's a fork with an extra long handle to accomadate for the razor attached to it. That way, you can comfortably fork pizza into your mouth as well as cutting it into fork-size pieces.

There is more than one place to get it. One is a website that claims to have the "Original NyFork" (NyFork being their official product name). They don't list the price, actually, which is off-putting to me. What if it's some absurd price for a fork and pizza roller? Anyway, if you're up for a dare, check out the website.

This isn't the only super-pizza-utensil. Check out several others here.

That's all for now, thingologists! See you tomorrow!

The Ab-Hancer

Hello! Sorry I haven't posted, I was on a vacation. Anyway, today we have a... well, unique invention. It is unique in the way that its importance is unique to those who want a temporary six-pack, but have a temporary – or perhaps permanent – potbelly.

image from www.boredpanda.com

As you can see, the Ab-Hancer is very simple. It's a little cage you strap around your abdomen. It leaves an impression that will give the impression that you've been working out. Sorry, I couldn't help it. To be clear: The Ab-Hancer, in no way, actually gives you muscles. It just shoves your fat into a six-pack.

Oh, one more thing: it's not real. You can just stand in front of a square wire fence, though.

See you tomorrow, thingologists! Thanks for listening!

Watermelon Strollers

Guess what, loyal readers? I've become a mom!

Yes, it's true. I recently adopted a baby. Here's a picture of the young one:

As you can see, he loves to nap, especially on the go. He doesn't know how to even crawl yet, of course, so I had to get him a stroller that was comfortable enough to sleep in. There are plenty of soft, flannel strollers available, but as it's summer, the poor watermelon overheats. I even fretted about taking him to the ER on one particularly warm day on the way to the grocery store. But I found a solution.

This stroller is made for watermelon parents and caretakers. Simply, it's a stroller to protect your watermelon from the elements. It even has a long handle for easy walking! But even better than that, it chills your watermelon to keep it cold and healthy. It also has a warming option for cold winter days.

It's made by Joybond, a Japanese company. They call the Tama-Chan.

All jokes aside, this thing costs 19,950¥, which rounds out to about $225. Quite frankly, that's too much for a glorified cooler.

Anyway, have a good day, thingologists! And *gasp* – I posted this before midnight, woohoo! See you tomorrow!

Pictures (except the baby/watermelon duo) from InventorSpot.com.

3D Pens

As a little kid, I thought it would be so cool to be able to draw in the air. I imagined a crayon that just left marks on air, that you could scribble with to make a costume or something.

The real deal has come. It doesn't exactly write on air, but it basically does. Here's a diagram of the controls from the newest 3Doodler Pen model:

And yes, there are multiple models of the 3D Pen.

And yes, there are tons of super amazing videos of pens in action.

For example, this person made a pair of scissors that really cuts using a 3D pen.

There are also tons of tutorials online if you have a 3D pen.

If you don't, you can get one here for $99 (shipping not included).

Here's a video of that pen at work:

If you have $99 to spend on a pen, then I highly recommend you get this pen. You can also purchase different tips (nozzles) and holders for the pen at the same link above.

Anyway, have a good day, thingologists! See you tomorrow!