More stuff we don’t need

When I was travelling recently, I decided to browse the Sky Mall catalogue in the plane. Man, is that chock full of stuff we don’t need, far more seriously so (and at much higher prices) than the catalogues I’d found junk in the last time.

Let’s look at some of the silliest, complete with scans from the catalogue. Click on each small image for a larger, readable one.

The Canine Genealogy Kit

For $60 you can get your dog a DNA test. I really don’t know how much I can say about this, other than to note that they think a photo of a cute dog can sell pretty much anything. Well, and that it’s hard to think of a sillier way to waste $60.

The Water Squirting Remote Controlled Car

I’ll first note that this is labelled for ages 6 and up. Now, imagine buying your 6-year-old a $100 toy that drives around the house at up to 11 miles an hour in agile pursuit of targets, and that squirts water up to 15 feet. You hope it’s water in there, anyway.

Trust me: when I was six, you would not have wanted me to get my hands on one of these. Really.

The All Terrain Polaris Ride On

While we’re on too-expensive toys for six-year-olds, let’s have a look at this electric buggy, complete with radio. In and of itself, there’s nothing to complain about here — a nice little ride-on toy for the kiddies. For ages 5 to 10. Cool. But then we look at the price: $1,115, including the shipping. OK, I think a thousand dollars is a bit steep for a toy for a six-year old, don’t you?

The Authentic Southern Sweet Tea Brewer

When I was a lad — and now that I’m not, as well, come to think of it — I made iced tea by putting tea bags in a pitcher and pouring in hot water. That seemed easy enough, and it never occurred to me that one might need a gadget for it.

It occurred to the Hammacher Schlemmer people, though, and this is the result: for $50, you get get a thing that mixes the hot water and the tea and the sugar for you. And, in case you had any doubt, it can also make unsweetened tea.

You don’t need it.

The SpyEar

This doo-dad looks like a pen holder, but is really a surveillance device (wink-wink). Specifically, it’s a cell phone that will silently receive calls and let you listen to whatever it can hear. Isn’t modern technology wonderful?

But the part that I like is this: Best of all, the SpyEar features a working digital face with a clock, calendar, and thermostat. I presume they mean thermometer, but, really, it’s a clandestine surveillance device, but best of all it’s also a digital clock. Ooookay, fine.

Home decor options

Finally, we have these things, for folks that have all their taste in their mouths. A friend and I can’t figure out which is more hideous. I say it’s The Grand Ruler Life-Size Anubis Statue, for $1300 including shipping. My friend goes for the Basho the Sumo Wrestler Glass-Topped Table, only $260. Just from a price perspective, it’s hard to beat the Anubis monstrosity. But, hey: would you have either one in your living room?

Which has your vote for the worse of the two?