30 Great Gift Ideas for Coworkers and Your Boss

by TwitterFools on November 29, 2010

The holidays are here and that means the holiday party season is upon us. If you are like me, you struggle when it comes time to buy holiday gifts for your coworkers and boss. The challenge is to find something that fits the coworker’s individual personality and is unique while not busting my budget. Afterall, I work with a good number of people, most of whom I hold in high esteem, and I spend almost as much time with my coworkers as I do with my own family. So I want to make sure I pick out something fun but not too serious. UPDATE: Since we have such positive feedback, we’ve updated this post to include 10 New Gift Ideas for Coworkers and Boss Under $25!

Or maybe you do gift exchanges at your holiday parties and need ideas for secret Santa gifts, white elephant gift exchange (also known as a Chinese auction or Yankee gift exchange) or maybe it’s just a straight up gift swap. Or even a birthday or retirement! But in the end the goal is always that same, I like to find gifts that help break the tension when deadlines, and everyone nerves, are short. Gifts that encourage creativity or a distraction from everyday stress. And every now and again, a gift my coworker or boss will just love!

ThinkGeek is my “go to” source for unique and fun gifts, and you can also find quite a few nice items on Amazon. Here are 30 40 great gifts for coworkers and boss in 4 different categories (Gifts for Coworkers and Boss Under $25, Gift Ideas for IT/Tech Support Team, Gift Ideas for the Boss, and Gift Ideas for Your Cubicle Coworkers) let me know if you find this list helpful!

10 Gifts for Coworkers and Boss Under $25

We all live on a budget, especially in recent years; but, that doesn’t stop birthdays, holidays and other gift giving occasions from landing on our calendar. Since there has been such an awesome response on our original list, we’ve expanded it with 10 new gift ideas for coworkers and your boss for under $25! We hope you find something you and the recipient will like! Let us know.

Bike Parts Business Card Holder

If your coworker is a bike enthusiast he or she might appreciate this business card holder made of bicycle parts. Sturdy construction for years of flawless service.

Monitor Rear View Mirror - Green

It's the high quality rear view mirror for your computer monitor. Mount it on the top corner of your monitor with the included velcro and, Voila! you have eyes in the back of your head. Nobody can sneak up and scare you. The boss has a harder time catching you playing solitaire. What are you waiting for? You know your coworker NEEDS this!

Office Monkeys Play Set

Each set includes seven 2-2 1/2-inch tall, hard vinyl monkeys in business attire along with a desk, a cushy boss chair, a computer with keyboard and a filing cabinet. Hours of office diversions in one little box! Lighten the air with a little monkey fun.

Retirement Fun(d) Cash Box - Funny Retirement Gag Gift

Fill the Retirement Fun(d) sm Cash Box with gift cards, event tickets, etc. for the newly retired person. Add some coins or collect spare change at the party to make it a funny retirement gift. The red metal box reads: Enjoy Retirement Fun(d) on top and Contributions Gladly Accepted. The cash box is a unique and useful retirement gift for the boss, a co-worker, relatives or friends.

JLab USB Laptop Speakers - Portable, Compact, Travel Notebook Speaker for PC and Mac - B-Flex Hi-Fi Stereo USB Laptop Speaker - Black

The B-Flex is an ultra compact and stylish USB speaker on a flex cable that WIRED magazine says "Puts laptop speakers to shame." The B-Flex generates amazing sound quality using only the power from your USB port, without batteries or wires. Engineered for portability and performance, this handy speaker utilizes 2 digital amplifiers and 2 full range high output micro drivers to achieve crystal clear sound and surprisingly powerful volume. It's easy to use... just plug it in to your USB, flex it to your desired position, and enjoy incredible sound!

Mark Feldstein & Associates SMG10B Solar Mosaic Jar Globe Blue

Solar Power Blue Mosaic Jar Solar Mosaic Jar provides soothing mood lighting both indoors and outdoors. Features exquisite Hand Blown Glass Jar with Amber Mosaic pattern that is beautiful in daylight as it charges with its energy-saving solar panel. At night, Flameless LED turns on automatically and radiates a spectacular warm glow. Turns on automatically Indoor/Outdoor Solar panel lid charges during the day Up to seven hours of light from an average day's charge

There's No I in Office: 4293 Meaningless Phrases to Keep Your Coworkers Smiling While Avoiding Actual Conversation

“Completely and totally unwittingly, Paul Koehorst and Jacob Lentz have written perhaps the most important new business book since Who Moved My Cheese?” —Jim Cramer, Mad Money with Jim Cramer. Like ’em, hate ’em or simply too busy to deal with ’em, you’re going to end up face to face with ’em in the elevator, at the water cooler and around every cubicle: friendly, talkative coworkers. Ignore them and they’ll think you’re conceited and make your job miserable. Talk to them and you’ll waste valuable time or even worse—end up in a burdensome friendship.

It's Your Time Coffee Mug Gift Package -Retirement Gift for Co-worker

It's Your Time Coffee Mug Gift Set is a thoughtful gift for those retiring to an active lifestyle. It reads: "Retirement...it's your time to enjoy what you've been working so hard for." It comes wrapped in cellophane with a bow - ready to give. The gourmet coffee mug gift set includes the mug and two packages of gourmet coffee - 1 Breakfast Blend and 1 French Vanilla. Each pack makes 10-12 cups of delicious coffee.

WTF?! Stamp - The Original ?! Version... say it like you mean it!

This is the ORIGINAL ?! version... accept no immitations! When you say WTF, say it with meaning! Features the high quality Trodat 4911 Self-Inking stamper. The stamp comes preloaded with a brand new RED ink cartridge for maximum effect. Stamp pads are easily replaced from the side of the stamper.

Women's Shoe Hammer - Hammer Gift

Got a picture to hang? Got a nail to bang? What's a princess to do when she's only got a shoe? Her Hammer to the rescue. It works and looks good too. A shoe that's strong and sensible. A tool that's indispensable!

10 Gifts Ideas for IT/Tech Support Team

PC Diagnostic Dice

IT-support personnel have a difficult job. Constant phone calls and emails from people barely smart enough to operate their computers can grate on you after a while. Before too long, every support phone call sounds the same. “Hello, IT… yes… have you tried turning it off and on again?” As you get older, you realize that people don’t necessarily want to know exactly what the problem is. What they really want is assurance that someone is there, listening, and is ready to come to their aid. The chances that you can actually walk them through fixing their problem is minuscule – you’re going to have to take a visit anyway, so why bother putting in the effort now? With the new PC Dice diagnostic system, give your users the reassurance they need while maintaining your sanity. Just a quick toss of the dice, and all the information you need is right there. Three dice describe the problem, the culprit, and the solution. Now, your conversation is simplified: “Hello, IT… [rolls dice] Hmm, sounds like you’ve got some spyware. It’s no big deal, it’s a Windows problem, but we can just install some anti-spyware and take care of it. Okay? Great… You’re welcome… I love you, too…”

TK-421 iPhone Case with Flip-Out Keyboard

We taunt our monkeys Brett & Julie for sticking with Blackberry, but we have to agree, the physical keyboard is pretty handy to have. Even though our iPhone enthusiasts are used to typing on glass with no tactile feedback, nothing beats having real old skool style buttons to mash your thumbs on. Now you can have the best of both worlds with the TK-421 iPhone case with flip-out keyboard. This case has a handy built in keyboard that rotates out when needed. Use it for e-mails, texting, apps. It’s almost like your iPhone gained an extra super power! There are two models of the TK-421 case, one for the iPhone 3GS and the other for iPhone 4. Yes. We know that the iPhone 3G is the same form factor as the 3GS but unfortunately Apple decided that the 3G was just too slow to add Bluetooth™ keyboard support into the OS… go figure. Product Features Give your iPhone a real flip-out tactile keyboard Keyboard flips out for use, then flips back in when done Magnet based clasp keeps keyboard in position whether flipped in or out Increased typing accuracy and speed Precise hard clicky keys… not mushy rubber keys. Works with any app such as e-mail, web browsing, notes, and calendar Completely wireless Bluetooth™ connection does not use dock connector Keyboard powered by built in rechargeable battery, recharges via included USB cable Invented and designed here at ThinkGeek Models available to fit iPhone 3Gs and iPhone 4 (Please note that the iPhone 3G will NOT work with this case. The OS does not support Bluetooth™ keyboards.) iPhone is a Registered Trademark of Apple, Inc. This product is not an officially licensed product from Apple, Inc.

Bigtrak Jr Programmable Rover

Set the Delorean to 1979. If you were alive and old enough to comprehend your surroundings you might remember that the movie Alien was just released with the notable Empire Strikes Back on the horizon. Our minds were already blown by the talking Speak-and-Spell and then along came BigTrak. This programmable tank was like no toy before it. You would enter in a sequence of commands for movement and firing, then hit the “GO” button and watch as the autonomous tank dutifully carried out your commands. If you were one of the really cool kids you had the wagon which allowed BigTrak to carry and dump a payload on command. BigTrak provided hours of fun in a long ago age when any kind of programmable toy was a real novelty. Now you can re-experience the wonder of BigTrak in a scaled down desktop version. Bigtrak Jr is an improved and miniaturised ‘desktop’ version of the famous 1970 BigTrak. Bigtrak Jr boasts all the functions and features of the original Bigtrak. Program Bigtrak Jr just like the original, via its on-board keyboard to ‘go forwards’, ‘turn’ and fire its ‘photon canon’, plotting a course to navigate around obstacles and travel up to 20m. Bigtrak Jr also has new features including a memory save function, active accessory port for exciting new accessories (coming soon) and moon-crater accessories to make your own lunar obstacle course for your Bigtrak Jr to navigate.

Atari Arcade Pint 4-Pack

Close your eyes and think about the local arcade you frequented as a kid. If it was anything like ours, the downstairs was full of kiddie games, the ball pit, the ski ball lanes, and that unlucky guy in the fursuit who you kicked on your way to the concession stand. (If you were the guy in the fursuit, we’re sorry. But you gotta admit, you were asking for it.) Upstairs, far away from the eyes and ears of the wee kiddies, that was where the real action was. That’s where the real games were. It was dark and dank and smelled like a bouquet of Coca-Cola, popcorn, and preteen B.O. Your feet stuck to the floor and your pockets jingled with a dozen quarters. Those were the days! Relive the best days of your life, the days when pure joy was just a high score away and you could save the world for a mere twenty-five cents. This set of four pint glasses features artwork from four classic Atari games: Asteroids, Centipede, Tempest, and Missile Command. Drink your orange juice at breakfast with Asteroids, enjoy a cold refreshing soda at lunch with Centipede, and then throw back a couple brews with your Player 2 in the evening with Tempest and Missile Command. It may not be the old days, but life is still pretty damn good.

Android Plush Robot

You know what this copywriter monkey doesn’t grok? The whole iPhone thing. Sure, they’re cool, there are thousands of apps. They have a shiny apple on the back. You pay a lot of money for them (and then for their larger cousin). But are they really THAT special? ThinkGeek is divided down the lines of the iPhone and the Droid folks. Oh, then there’s Brett and Julie who insist on keeping their Blackberries. Weirdos. Since there’s been so much love on ThinkGeek for iPhones, what with all the cases and accessories, we figured it was time to throw some love toward our other favorite smartphone. If you’re semi-permanently attached to your Droid by day, you know how hard it is to plug it in and leave it all alone on your nightstand at night. Why not snuggle this adorable green Android Plush Robot every night? He’ll bring you sweet dreams… maybe even of electric sheep. Product Features WARNING: Choking hazard. Small parts. Not for children under 3. Plush Green Android Robot Posable articulated head and arms For folks who are attached to their smartphone Also, for folks who don’t grok why everyone else Snuggle your phone by day, this plush by night As with all ThinkGeek robots, guaranteed to be three laws safe

Luxeed U5 Dynamic Pixel LED Keyboard

Sure we’ve seen illuminated keyboards before, but then we saw the Luxeed Dynamic Pixel LED Keyboard and stopped looking. With 430 LEDs the Luxeed is capable of individually lighting each key in your choice of color. What’s more it can do some amazing tricks like an animated rainbow across all the keys, or make each key light when you press it. You get four “preset” buttons above the arrow keys you can use to instantly choose between different customizable lit skin presets. Set-up a glowing skin for your favorite game with different colors to indicate each key action… or create illuminated patterns and designs. Hey, the Luxeed doesn’t have a tiny screen on each key like the legendary Optimus Maximus, but it’s a hell of a lot cheaper. Pick your Luxeed flavor of black or white. The keys of the white Luxeed have a semi-transparent look and light up more brightly than the black. However the black Luxeed has a stylish treatment with only the letters being illuminated. Both keyboards look the best in dim lighting of course. The new U5 model of the Luxeed requires no driver software and works with any OS. All the controls for setting the color of keys, modes and storing key presets is built into the hardware.

USB to SATA/IDE Combo Kit

Let’s face it – computer geeks collect files. Many of them large, some of them illicit, and perhaps even one or two illegal. Hey, we’re not here to judge – we’re here to help! Those files often live on hard-drives that occasionally get upgraded. The old drive gets ripped out in favor of the new in the never-ending effort to increase storage capacity. That doesn’t mean, however, that those old drives have outlived their usefulness. You can dock just about any of those old drives into this simple device. Stick a USB transfer cable into one end along with the power-cable, and in one of the other ends, you can connect a 3.5″ IDE hard drive, or a laptop 2.5″ IDE drive, or even a miniscule 1.8″ IDE hard drive! But, why stop there? You can connect a SATA drive, too! How about an optical disk drive? We’ve got it covered. Blu-Ray, DVD, CD, writeable, rewriteable… it doesn’t matter! We’re drive agnostic with our USB to SATA/IDE Combo Kit. Now your old drives have a brand new life. Or, if you’re the handy type, you can keep this one device handy to recover data from a drive in a dead computer. You won’t have to haul several different devices – just this one! Features Connect USB 2.0 ports to any IDE or SATA drive: 3.5″ IDE 2.5″ laptop IDE 1.8″ micro IDE 3.5″ SATA 2.5″ SATA Optical drive that supports standard IDE or SATA connectors* AC Input: 100-240v/50-60hz DC output: 5v/12v Supports Windows (98se and up) or Mac OS (8.6 and up) Includes power supply, molex y-splitter, USB cable and drive dock * Some “slim-line” optical drives use a modified SATA connector that won’t fit. Your mileage may vary.

10 Gift Ideas for your Boss

Isis Impossible Titanium Puzzle

Can you solve the Rubiks cube in under 10 minutes? Are you an active member of Mensa? Have you purchased and solved all the level 6 editions of our Fiendish Japanese Pocket Puzzles? Well then we have just the frustrating puzzle conundrum to confound your expertly tuned logical senses. The Isis Impossible Titanium Puzzle is half art, half impossibly difficult riddle. Each Isis is hand machined and features a unique ID number inside when solved… if you can ever get it open that is. Use the clues on Isisadventure.com and you could win thousands of dollars in prizes. Invented by a magician and manufactured entirely in the UK each Isis is individually assembled by hand and made of the highest grade aluminium. As the Isis puzzles are supposedly “The hardest puzzles in the world” the manufacturer gives you some clues, encrypted of course available on their website. The Isis is a high quality puzzle, similar to a combination lock. The object of the puzzle is to solve the combination and obtain the secret number inside. Each Isis is unique, and you will need to obtain the key number inside and enter the numbers onto the Isis Adventure website in order to access the “Pyramid Map”. Many hidden pyramids will be found on the map, and fantastic monetary awards are available to those that can solve the location and the pyramid passwords. Pick Your Poison In addition to the Isis, we are now offering the even more difficult Ramisis Pyramid Puzzle. Made to the same exacting tolerances as the Isis and featuring similar all metal construction, the Ramisis will challenge your skill and determination as you tilt and rotate the sections to try and liberate the internal key.

AirVolt Wireless Phone Charger

A ThinkGeek Exclusive! In the future all electronic devices will be wirelessly powered. Forget pesky power strips and wall outlets… high frequency microwave beams will permeate our homes providing power wherever it’s needed. Of course by then we’ll have cured cancer and hacked our own DNA and won’t have to worry about any ill effects of EMF radiation. But until then we can use nifty induction technology to charge our electric toothbrushes, and now our iPhones! Look Ma, no wires! Tesla would be proud. The AirVolt is a ThinkGeek Exclusive: you won’t find it anywhere else! Simply slide your phone into the included receiver case, place it on the power tray, and watch in amazement as your phone charges wirelessly via induction. It works just as quickly as a standard charger and automatically powers off once your phone is completely charged. And the best part? It’s half the price of those other wireless phone chargers so you’ll be able to afford pizza for D&D night.

iPad Bluetooth Keyboard Case

After falling in love with the iPad, you chucked your laptop out the window and swore that your life had changed forever. But it wasn’t long before your laptop started following you around, was it? Little by little you began to leave your iPad behind. You wished that you were using it more. You wished that it was just as magical as you hoped it would be. The truth is that you really needed a keyboard. Not all the time, mind you, but enough so that your hastily composed emails signed with “- Sent from my iPad” wouldn’t be read like “- Sent from my divan, where servants are hand-feeding me grapes as I lounge and browse the Interwebs.” It’s ok. You’re not the only one. The good news is that your love affair with the iPad doesn’t have to end! The iPad Bluetooth Keyboard Case will make you fall in love with your iPad all over again. In use, the iPad rests on a built in stand in a horizontal orientation which makes the whole package look and work almost like a netbook. The keyboard itself has a silicone cover that will resist the occasional caffeinated spillage of your choice and provides noticeable tactile feedback. In other words, you’ll feel like you are typing again instead of tapping. The case is made of soft synthetic leather and closes with a magnetic clasp. It feels good when you’re carrying it around, but it isn’t so hefty that you notice it. In fact, loaded up with an iPad the whole weighs just 2.75lbs, which is less than the new 13″ MacBook Air. The keyboard comes with all the function keys you’d expect with an iPad: Home, Volume, Search, and iPod Controls. Tap the Home button once and you’re looking at your apps. Tap the Home button twice and you bring up a mini iPod control. Without leaving the current app, you can fire up songs on the active playlist with a touch of the Play button. You can also Pause or skip forward/backward through the active playlist. The Search button puts everything on your iPad at your fingertips. Bullet Headline Charges over USB. Cable INCLUDED Attractive black synthetic leather iPad case with magnetic flap in includes fully integrated Bluetooth keyboard Fast and easy 3 step setup iPad and case together weigh 2.75lbs, that less than the new 13″ MacBook Air! (2.9lbs) iPad function keys include: Home, Volume, iPod Controls, and Search Fully charged lithium ion battery lasts for 90 hours of continuous use Bluetooth V2.0 compatible with iOS 3.2 and up. (iPads run 3.2 till sometime this fall)

12 Surface IQ Pentagon

Here at ThinkGeek, we know our customers are smarter than the average owlbear. So while a Rubik’s Cube is a challenge for some, it’s a quaint and adorable toy from yesteryear for most of you. We’ve found the solution to this problem, a product that will result in the indescribable hurrrrrrrrrrrr of nerd joy. Introducing the 12 Sided IQ Pentagon, or as we like to call it, Brain Death in a 10x10x10cm Package. We dare you to conquer it. No, we double-DOG-dare ya. The only thing more serious than a double-dog-dare is a triple-dare or a triple-dog-dare. We’re not quite THAT serious, but we want to communicate that this is one fierce piece of geometry. Twelve sides and twelve colors to challenge your mind and keep your hands busy. Perfect for standing in line at the DMV, sitting in the waiting room at the dentist’s office, killing time while your professor re-explains the concept for the legacy kids, or biding your time while the server is down.

iPad Executive Jacket – Synthetic Leather

The problem we’ve found with iPad cases is that each case is generally awesome at one or two things, and horrible at the others. Want adequate padding? You got it, but at the expense of cable management. Want to easily hold it open with one hand while using the touchscreen with the other? Sure, if you like being chafed by burlap. (Pinky, are you pondering what I’m pondering?) Anyhoo, you’ve probably felt our pain. Don’t touch our chafing, please. The iPad Executive Jacket is here to solve all your problems with your current iPad holder. Whether you’re using it at the office, out at a business meeting, in class, or out at your local comic-con, it will provide refined and stylish protection for your treasured tablet. The iPad Executive Jacket is made of quality black synthetic leather (vegetarian-friendly!) and features a four-point mounting system to snugly hold your iPad in place. The closure strap doubles as a bookstand to hold your iPad in landscape orientation. Not only that, the ergonomic handle is lined so you can wrap it around your hand to hold your iPad securely while you’re reading it bed or playing Blockhouse during boring meetings. The jacket allows easy access to all ports and buttons and the elastic tabs along the interior spine make cable management a breeze. It’s the ultimate case for the iPad user and our favorite one in our catalog. Monkey-approved! Product Specifications Top of the line protection for your iPad Luxurious, rich synthetic leather in deep black (Vegetarian-safe!) Four-point mounting system holds iPad securely Closure strap doubles as a bookstand to use iPad in landscape orientation Ergonomic handle is lined for comfort while holding the device Solid front & back construction with plush grey interior for maximum protection Jacket allows access to all ports and buttons Elastic tabs along the interior spine allow for ear bud cable management Dimensions: 8 in x 9.8 in x 1.1 in

Revomaze Extreme Puzzle

If you’re searching for a conundrum wrapped in a riddle of obfuscation then we have a fine enigma of a puzzle for you. The Revomaze Extreme Puzzle is one of the finest crafted, most entertaining puzzles that we have had the pleasure of delightfully torturing ourselves with… and here at ThinkGeek we really know a great puzzle when we see one. Individually milled from a solid block of metal, the Revomaze features an internal labyrinth full of dead ends, traps, and one way paths you need to navigate to remove the metal core and solve the puzzle. What makes the Revomaze truly great is its challenge to both your mental and physical aptitude. You need dexterity to manipulate the Revomaze as well as brain power to ferret out the correct path in the labyrinth. One wrong move and you’re forced to start from the beginning. However the Revomaze is very fair minded… you screw up, you get punished, but you’re always aware of whether you are making progress towards the solution. How Hard do You Want it? The Revomaze is available in three levels of difficulty. Very very hard, super duper hard, and crazy frustratingly hard. The easiest is the blue color, followed by green, with bronze being the hardest. All are solvable given enough time and tenacity. Yep, You Can Also Win Cash The UK company that makes the Revomaze also offers a competition and cash prizes. Buy a Revomaze and solve it, then register your win online using the code you find inside. You can then have the chance to enter a live competition in the USA or UK and compete in a timed opening contest to win thousands of dollars in prizes. Check out the leader-board of winners here and notice how few people in the USA have even solved the Revomaze. We warned you that it was hard.

Green Laser Pointer II

Okay, just about everyone has a red laser pointer. Heck, we even sell a fine one here at ThinkGeek. But, we’re pretty sure you want to be a superior geek – and doing it with a green laser is the way to go. This pointer is significantly brighter (about 50 times) than a red laser pointer and because of its unusual color it is much more noticeable. I mean come on, a 532 nm green laser wavelength is obviously superior to a laughable 650 nm red laser wavelength. And unlike a red laser, the green beam itself can be seen in mid-air in dark conditions, not just the laser beam dot. This allows the green laser pointer to be used for pointing to star constellations (skypointing) and also just generally look cool as hell. The green laser beam dot can be seen at much greater distances than with a red laser pointer. Since green direct injection laser diodes aren’t readily available, this pointer is based on the use of Diode Pumped Solid State Frequency Doubled (DPSSFD) laser technology. A high power IR laser diode at 808 nm pumps a tiny block of Nd:YVO4 generating light at 1,064 nm which feeds a KTP intracavity frequency doubler crystal to produce the green beam at 532 nm. Features of this unit include: Very bright green laser at 532 nm wavelength Output power of Range of approximately 9,000 ft (2600 m) in darkness 1.1 mm beam diameter at source Momentary push button switch Solid, heavy duty construction Constant wave output (as opposed to pulse output) Takes 2 “AAA” batteries Can be used for skypointing, projection on low clouds, signaling, highlighting potential explosives Dimensions: 5.6″ x .5″ dia 90-day warranty Available in Black or Silver color Interested in quantity discounts or custom logo imprinting? More info here. Warning: Green lasers are very powerful. Pointing at aircraft may land you in jail. Without a Monopoly card to get you back out. Use it wisely.

Perplexus

Have puzzles gone passé? With the advent and subsequent mainstreaming of videogames caused physical toys to go by the wayside? What do you get when you multiply six by nine? The answer to the first two questions is “No,” and the last, “42.” The proof that physical puzzles and toys haven’t gone the way of the dodo is here. This little sphere contains a really cool three-dimensional maze with a ball bearing inside. Your job is to get the little ball from one end of the maze to the other. You’ve got to rotate the sphere through all three physical dimensions, and get our old friend gravity to pull the ball through loops, whorls, around corners, up walls, around pits, and across precipices to get from end to end. Don’t worry, for training, there are places in the maze where you can pick up where you failed – call them “save-points” if you must. We tested the sphere ourselves, and found that even the most technically savvy and hardened gamer out there were significantly distracted by this little ball of fun. So, who said puzzles were passé?

Whiskey Stones

Okay, water is awesome. We can’t deny that. And perhaps its best feature is that it can freeze (You know that “ice” stuff? That’s made of water!). And not to mention that when frozen, it’s practically perfect for warm beverages. But wait, there’s a catch! If the temperature doesn’t stay below freezing, then the hard water starts to melt and your drink becomes all watery and doesn’t taste good anymore. It’s all very scientific stuff. You wouldn’t understand. Luckily, a few great soapstone workers in Perkinsville, Vermont have created Whiskey Stones. These little ice-imitators are specially designed to put a slight chill in your Whiskey. All you do is put them in the freezer for a few hours and then pop a couple into a glass of single malt. Once you’re done, rinse, dry and do it all over again! And no need to worry about a watery drink, because these stones don’t dilute (that’s the best part). Dylan Thomas would’ve loved these things. We hope you will too.

IngenuiTEA 16oz Teapot

Caffeine comes in many forms to tickle the taste-buds and please the palate. While some prefer their caffeine to be a simple tasteless pill form, most like to enjoy and savor the flavor. Sodas and coffee are the most popular, but the caffeine delivery system that gets the least amount of attention is tea. Ah, tea – that most ancient and honored brew! A simple infusion of herbs. Sometimes dried, often oxidized, tea is a natural source of caffeine as well as theobromides, anti-oxidants, polyphenols and amino acids. All that chemistry may sound intimidating, but it all translates to yummy goodness. The problem with tea, though, is it can be a little fiddly to make the perfect cuppa. Anybody who knows anything about tea knows that the best is made from loose tea leaves. Get that teabag crap outta here! You know as well as we do that you’d be made fun of if you brought out your nice shiny porcelain teapot. “Ooh!” you can hear your coworkers saying, “Do you have doilies? Is it time for finger sandwiches?” Grr. We’ve got the coolest way possible to make a perfect cup of tea with no mess. The IngenuiTEA holds up to 16 ounces of brew and tea leaves. After the specified amount of brewing time, just rest the pot over your mug, and the spring-loaded valve empties the tea into your mug, leaving the spent leaves behind. Dump and rinse, and you’re done. Easy! So whether yours is a nice toasty genmaicha, or a spicy rooibos, an earthy oolong, or a lovely bergamot Earl-Grey, there’s no finer way to get your tea fix!

10 11 Gift Ideas for Your Cubicle Coworkers

The Cubicle Doorbell

So, how does someone “knock” on your cubicle? Well, one way would be to use The Cubicle Doorbell – a small device that provides a more civilized way for visitors to announce their arrival at your cubicle entrance. Just in case you had a few questions… Q: Why would anyone possibly want a doorbell on their cubicle? Typically, visitors knock loudly on the cubicle partion, shuffle/stamp their feet, or clear their throat repeatedly to get your attention. The Cubicle Doorbell provides a fun way for visitors to announce their arrival. Q: How loud is The Cubicle Doorbell, won’t it be annoying to other people in the office? The unique 3-position volume selector lets you set the loudness for your particular environment. Normal (for environments with average background noises); Soft (for less active environments); Personal (extra soft for very quiet environments). Q: What kind of sound does the doorbell make? The Cubicle Doorbell has 12 different sound choices. Chirping birds, Old car horn, “Ding-Dong” doorbell, Sprong, Fading laser, Knocking on door, Fog horn, Big band, “Quack-Quack”, Ring tone, Cat meowing and Chimes. Q: How does The Cubicle Doorbell attach to my cubicle? It comes with double-sided self-adhesive velcro. Simply peel off the protective plastic to expose the adhesive and attach it to any convenient surface on your cubicle entrance. The velcro allows you to easily remove the doorbell so you can take it around the office to show it off Q: What if I don’t want to see the person who is ringing The Cubicle Doorbell? Well, you could try to pretend that you don’t hear them, but that might not work. We think it’s better to shoot at them with the USB Rocket Launcher or Airzooka. Maybe flash them your STFU Beer Stein to give them a hint! Takes 2 AAA batteries, included. Dimensions are 2.75″ x 2.75″ x 0.75″

App Magnets

The term “App” has really come into very popular use lately, and we’re not sure exactly why. Something about an eye-phone or something. Seems these eye-phones have all sorts of little squares on them that do things. And anytime you ask if it can do something else, someone says they have an app for it. Well, now there’s an app for sticking things to your fridge – App Magnets, to be precise. App Magnets are really cool square magnets that are very similar to the apps in your iDevice. You can build a pretend phone on your fridge. Or you can get really clever and use the app on the magnet to indicate what you are securing under it. An example: using the Map App Magnet to hold directions to the party you’re attending next weekend. Get it? Best thing about App Magnets is there is no way magnetism can change the fees for your data (holding) plan. Zing!

Finger Drums

The oldest drums discovered (so far) have been from around 6000BC. What this means is pretty clear: humans like hitting things; humans like music; and humans like hitting things to make music. We like hitting things too – and we love music. So good thing for everyone we found these Finger Drums. Stop hitting your mugs and monitor and telephone with pens and start tapping a real beat on your Finger Drums drum set. Each drum set features five touch sensitive percussive instruments. You get three smaller drums (snare and two toms), bass drum (with working pedal), and crash cymbal. All you have to do is hit them with your fingers to get a beat a-rockin’. You’ll also get a mini light show, as each drum (and cymbal) lights up on impact. And the super cool thing is the record feature. Got a good riff going? Then record it and play it back ad nausuem. This feature has many uses, but we find it’s perfect for joke telling. Record your own sting and play it back after each punch line. Drums make all jokes funnier. Even yours. Finger Drums are approx. 6.5″ X 5.5″ X 3″ and use 3 AAA batteries (included).

USB Rocket Launcher

The arms race is on. The workplace has become a dangerous place, but once upon a time, it was all a laugh. Back in the day, your workmates chased each other with squirt-guns, then disc-guns. Everybody laughed when somebody brought in the harmless Airzooka. Gleefully, somebody brought in a marshmallow blaster. Then it went kinda nuts. Sonic Grenades, catapults, lightsabers, ninjas… Suddenly, it was less about harmless fun. Suddenly, things got serious. Deadly serious. The day that the guy down the hall brought in the USB Missile Launcher was the day the gauntlet was thrown down. Today is the day it gets picked up, and slapped across the face of your office enemy. ThinkGeek’s new USB Rocket Launcher has more than twice the range of his missile launcher – yeah, I said twice the range. Now you can be the one your cube-neighbors fear, and fear leads to respect… or does fear lead to anger? I forget. Anyway, this rocket launcher connects to your Windows 2000, XP or Vista machine via USB. Install the included software, plug in the Rocket Launcher, and with 360 degree horizontal rotation and 45 degree vertical rotation, the USB Rocket Launcher can fire over six meters, giving you coverage for over 113 square meters of your workspace.

Wooden Catapult and Trebuchet Kits

In the days before gunpowder (at least in the west), folks had to find new and intriguing ways to throw death and destruction at each other. They started by throwing rocks, then progressed to hurling giant stones, and then to flinging boulders. The evolution of the machines used to accomplish this hurling is as intriguing as the things hurled. Many times trash and debris were lobbed over castle walls to rain down upon unsuspecting masses or invading armies. These kits let you bring back all the fun of flinging. Each one can assemble in just a few hours, and provides a fantastic scale model of an actual war weapon of yore. The catapult is perfect for chucking balls of paper and other small objects over cubicle walls. The trebuchet is better for long range targets (like the water cooler or networked printer). And, all you need to put them together are some strong fingers (or pliers), a cutting tool, and glue (not included). Both kits are perfect for showing your love of retro weaponry. Please Note: Though these kits are for educational purposes, they are functional. Care should be taken when constructing and using them. Don’t use anything living as a target or projectile. Because kits must be glued together, opened kits are non-returnable.

Not A Paper Cup

In July of 2007, London designer Anya Hindmarch’s “I’m Not A Plastic Bag” caused such a commotion that some retail outlets were sold out of the awareness-causing environmentally trendy shopping statement in 29 minutes. The product idea was simple – create a reusable bag and prevent cheapo plastic bags from contributing to ever-growing landfills, or that vortex of plastic in the Pacific Ocean. We’ve got the caffeinated version of that very same product. “I Am Not A Paper Cup,” the packaging says. Designed to look like you just stepped out of one of those hip and trendy coffee megachains with a triple grande one-percent two-pump hazelenut no-foam crappuchino with one of their paper-cups. In actuality, you may have made a simple pot of Folgers at home with a blue-packet of sweetener and a glug of milk. Maybe your coffee’s not “gourmet” but you can look like you’re drinking some of the expensive stuff. What’s more, you’re able to simply wash and reuse that cup indefinitely. The cup itself is ceramic and double-walled for extra thermo-goodness. Fill the inner chamber with hot water and keep the coffee warmer longer!

The Slanket (R)

It seems no matter where your office building is located, the core temperature of the building will almost always be too cold. This is for two main reasons: first, it’s cheaper in winter to not crank the heat and secondly, HR doesn’t want employees getting nekkid if their offices are too hot. If you’re lucky, your manager lets you have a tiny space heater under your desk. If not, you’re wearing your scarf and some cut-off gloves at your desk just so you stay warm enough to type. With The Slanket(R) Blanket at your desk, you can stay cozy warm and have your arms free to type, talk on the phone, and eat take-out lunch! What’s that? You’re not working? Slacker! Just kidding, we know you’re probably doing something really important like studying or playing lots and lots of video games. Whether you’re in a chilly dorm room or in your basement man/grrl cave, wouldn’t it be nice to be toasty warm in The Slanket(R) Blanket while having your arms free for chaos, mayhem, disaster, or Organic Chemistry? Yeah, we thought so. Might we recommend the Pirate Skull & Crossbones print? Or maybe classic geek black is your style…

Mug Boss

Let’s get serious for a moment: mugs are essential office gear. They also seem to accumulate from every direction. You get them from co-workers, from spouses, from children, from parents, from friends, from people who want to sell you toner, from . . . you get the idea. But you don’t *really* enjoy those mugs, do you? You bought your own mug, your mug, which is your pride and joy. Your precious. What to do with those other mugs then? Do the same thing men in black do with alien remnants – cover ‘em up with Mug Boss! Slap a Mug Boss around your least favorite mug and it’s now a mega-strong receptacle for all your desk gear. Made with the same tough construction and materials as its larger contractor-grade cousin the Bucket Boss, the brawny Mug Boss is ready to be used and abused. It has twelve durable pockets which can hold almost anything (pens, screwdrivers, laser pointers, paper clips, Bawls Mints, ad infinitum). Larger items can go directly into the mug itself. To top it off, a hook and loop closure holds the whole thing secure (it fastens through the mug handle). Buy it, use it, love it – just please don’t call it an “office tool.”

Self Stirring Mug

How do you like your coffee? Cream with one sugar? Nice. Just cream? Cool. Black? Rock on. Everybody except the black coffee drinker listen up – what do you use to stir your coffee? A spoon? Swizzles? Popsicle sticks? Bah. All of those so-called stirring solutions are fraught with failure. Spoons measure your sugar fine enough, but what a waste to have to wash (or toss) another utensil! Popsicle sticks end up making your coffee taste like wood, and those stupid swizzles can’t stir anything, are you kidding? What you need is a stirring solution for your hot and tasty beverage that doesn’t add to landfill, or impart odd flavors to your drink while actually moving stuff around. If we sound like that late great TV pitchman, we’re in great company. We’re genuinely enthusiastic about the Self-Stirring Mug! Stainless steel finish with a snap-lock lid keeps your drink hot. Don’t forget – inside this mug is a spinning plastic disk that frappes your drink into a whirling blended maelstrom of deliciousness. Too much? Just pop two AAA batteries inside the base, fill the mug with your favorite hot beverage, add your sweetener or creamer – or, hey! Maybe you just like a nice hot cup of cocoa! Any way, press the button on the handle and whirr your drink into a perfect blend. No more sandy sugar in the last dregs of your drink, and no more spoons!

LED Motherboard Holiday Light Kits

Celebrate Chanuka or the Yuletide with these recycled LED motherboard kits. Some people still don’t know a lot about Judaism despite the fact that Jews invented monotheism, bagels, special relativity, and White Christmas…what, you don’t know from Irving Berlin? Oy. Anyway, since Jewish holidays are always moving around (on the Gregorian calendar), folks sometimes wonder if Chanuka is more like Thanksgiving or Christmas. As far as I’m concerned, they can call it whatever they like as long as they keep the presents coming, but you and I know it’s its a completely unique holiday with its own special shpiel. Of all the symbols of the holiday, the chanukiya, the Chanuka menorah, is central. Without it, it wouldn’t be much of a festival of lights! The glow from the menorah (and by the eighth day, its sheer BTUs) warms our hearts only slightly less than Bubbe Ruth’s latkes, so logically lots of chanukiyot would be even more Chanuka-licious. Yet as much as you’d like to keep a menorah aflame on your cube wall, on every windowsill, on top of your TV, and in bed with you, your insurance company and/or OSHA would soon be paying you a visit, if the fireman didn’t get there first. –> Motherboard Menorah Our Motherboard Menorah is lit by eight red LEDs and an LED shamas (the head, um, diode). Configure the lights for each day of Chanuka with a 9-bit DIP switch, just as the ancients set their dot-matrix printers for double-spacing. Made from two interlocking printed circuit boards that mount atop a standard 9V battery for ballast, you can set this menorah anywhere to share the chag sameach with friends, neighbors, and even people who shouldn’t be allowed to play with matches. Motherboard Christmas Tree Our Motherboard Christmas Tree is lit by 16 red LEDs which blink in a festive holiday cheery sort of way. Made from two interlocking printed circuit boards that mount atop a standard 9V battery for ballast, you can set your Motherboard Christmas Tree anywhere you want, except, apparently the Capitol Rotunda in Washington State. Rev Yaakov’s rabbinical note: Electronic menorahs (like electric menorahs) are just for fun. Make sure you also celebrate with an oil or candle chanukiyah that you can bless. –>

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