Interoffice battle weaponry just got a new twist from some old battle gadgetry.  The ballista was a favorite artillery weapon of the Roman empire.  It was basically a giant crossbow that was powered by large bundles of twisted horse hair.  The bolts that the Romans used to fire would quickly take out buildings and enemies.

This mini ballista kit is laser cut from hardwood to be accurate and long lasting.  You get all of the interlocking parts, high strength cordage, wooden projectiles, and a cool trigger system.  Let the office battle begin.

I am not one to normally review kitchen knives… but then again I never thought I would get past my Wusthof or Henckel knives.  I just always assumed they were the “best”… at least in my price range.  My new favorite 8-inch chef’s knife is the Victorinox 40520.  It is a great all-around chef’s knife perfect for most mincing, chopping, slicing, and dicing.  The blade has a light contour perfect for rocking – great for prep work.  The high-carbon stainless steel blade is ground to a conical shape both crosswise and lengthwise which helps retain sharpness while providing little resistance when cutting through tough items.  

The knife is well balanced and the grip is textured and comfortable for long jobs… I always find myself reaching for this knife over more expensive ones already in my arsenal.  I have had the knife for over a year now and the blade is still razor sharp.  Oh yeah, you even get a lifetime warranty backed by a serious brand – Victorinox.

Don’t believe me?  Read the, almost, 700 end-user reviews here.

• 8-inch multipurpose chef’s knife designed for chopping, mincing, slicing, and dicing
• High-carbon stainless steel blade provides maximum sharpness and edge retention
• Blade is conical ground lengthwise and crosswise for minimal resistance while cutting; laser tested to ensure optimum cutting power
• Patented 2-inch Fibrox handle is textured, slip resistant, and ergonomically designed for balance and comfort
• Hand washing recommended; lifetime warranty; expertly made in Switzerland

I am not sure why restaurants are allowed to post such amazing false pictures of their products… you know the ones I am talking about.  The one that gets you to salivate, pull out your money, wait in line, and end up royally disappointed.  Yep those ads.  The pictures do this more justice than my words… but danm it really should be illegal.  Shame on you Burger King, McDonalds, Taco Bell, Jack In The Box, and many more.  Pictures after the break.

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I have no idea if Steve Jobs was a beer drinker, but if he was he would have had the Opena iPhone 4 case with a sliding bottle opener.  It has everything a design freak would like: good aesthetics, useful design, and it’s very durable.  The Protective PC/ABS hard case feels tough and has a smooth finish that doesn’t get caught on your pockets, and the slide out bottle opener is made of stainless steel that’s a millimeter thick.  Most importantly it does what an iPhone case is supposed to do… it protects your expensive iPhone!

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As alternative fuel vehicles become more commonplace it often takes the fueling stations a while to catch up to the trend.  So it becomes important if you own one of these alternative fuel vehicles to know where you can refuel when out and about.  Whether you have an electric car and need a charge or a homemade biodiesel car and need a fresh source of fuel… how do you find fueling stations?

The folks at Iconosys think they have the answer with their latest batch of alternative fuel apps.

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At first glance the house looks pretty normal, in fact a bit better than normal.  The building standards used for this house are anything but normal.  A husband and wife team, Karl Wanaselja and Cate Leger of Leger Wanaselja Architecture, built this house with some extremely green tricks.

The upper outside walls of the house are made of over 100 salvaged car roofs.  Starting at a junkyard

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It has been a while since I have been excited by a piece of luggage, and while this is still in prototype phase, I still want one.  This gadget charging luggage, designed by Jung Inyoung, has a built-in battery which charges while the bag is rolled about.  This internal battery can then be used to charge your electronic gadgets.  There is even an LED indicator on top of the luggage which shows you how much power you have stored.

No more hunting for power outlets at the airport.  Not sure how the TSA dorks will react when this goes through the x-ray machine though.

[Via]

If you don’t know who Barney Stinson is… you need to start watching How I Met Your Mother.  Needless to say these Armani Suitjamas are… wait for it… wait for it… legendary.

Manufactured from 80% pure Silk with a 20% Cotton blend for improved comfort & breathability. Seriously folks, this is premium stuff.

Yep… you no longer will feel guilty answering the door at noon still wearing your pajamas.

I think I just fell in love.  Partner this up with a mini-fridge and I will never have to leave my bedroom again.  The Nostalgia Electrics Retro Series 3-in-1 Breakfast Station is pure genius.  You can make a proper breakfast with the toaster, griddle, and coffee maker… all in one gadget.

· 6-liter mini toaster oven
· 4 cup coffee maker
· Removable non-stick hot plate
· Cooking selector and 15 minute timer

The only bummer is that I can’t find this retro version for sale online.  The good news is there are two other more modern options… one by Sunpentown and one by Maxi-Matic.

While the bulletproof polo shirt isn’t exactly new (we first wrote about it in 2008) the price is new.  The price has dropped from around $12,000 to about $3,500… still not cheap… but heading the right way.  Sure you could wear a bulletproof vest under your existing wardrobe but the bulletproof polo shirt is a tad sneakier.  You have four color choices (blue, white, black, and red) and three levels of protection;

OPTION IIA: 9mm / 40 Smith and Wesson FMJ
OPTION II: 9mm / .357 Magnum / 38 Super / Mini Uzi submachine gun
OPTION IIIA: Uzi machine gun / MP5,MP9 submachine gun / 44 Magnum SJHP / Stab-proof