When you first take him out of his box, T.M.X. Elmo from Fisher-Price doesn’t seem all that grand. He looks after all, well, like Elmo. Covered in the soft red fur that one would expect from everyone’s favorite Sesame Street character, T.M.X. Elmo stands an unimposing 14 inches tall. Even worse, he feels all hard and plasticy under his fur. But this Elmo is not meant for cuddles or hand holding or swaddling.

Sit T.M.X. Elmo down and hit one of his three “tickle” spots. There’s one under his chin, one on his belly, and one on top of his foot. Yes, this Elmo wiggles just like he did 10 years ago, but that’s just the start. Elmo slaps his belly, falls forward with his butt sticking out, stands back up again only to topple backwards, kicks his legs over his belly, and then stands right back up, all while laughing hysterically.

Elmo gets more outrageous when you “tickle” him a second time, and the fun really starts with the third “tickle” session. Elmo’s fancy moves include falling over on his side, shimmying on his back, and what seems to be everyone’s favorite: lying flat on his belly slapping the floor next to him as if he can’t stop laughing. This Elmo has a serious case of the giggles. His trademark voice builds into a fit of histrionics, endless snickers that drown out everything but an unintelligible cackle until even Elmo admits he has had too much.

T.M.X Elmo requires 6 AA batteries, which are included, although these wore down quickly in our review copy. Elmo also has an on/off switch, so the tickles can be brought to an end when more than just Elmo has had too much. He moves a lot and needs a little open space for the full performance, although he does use his arm to determine his orientation periodically and stand back up if nothing is in the way. He gets a little stuck on uneven surfaces but for the most part performs amazingly well on carpet. On hardwood floors, Elmo works, but he occasionally slams his eyes on the floor in a way that seems it should halt the show.

You can buy TMX Elmo Toy for about $90 USD.

- If you are interested in purchasing the laughing Elmo toy…

Fun Toys | No Comments »

Hip-Pop Pets are fun, animated animals that love to move and groove to music (very similar to Sega’s iDog). Each has its own expressions, dance style and movements that respond to music. Hip-Pop Pets come with high-quality speakers and two play modes: Speaker Mode plays music from your MP3 player; Interactive Mode lets you play around with the built-in sound and music through a CDS sensor. You can even mix special sound effects with your favorite song, or play your MP3, DVD, or any other music device (cable included) through the Pet’s built-in speakers. Requires 3 “AA” batteries (not included). Measures 6.75″L x 6″W x 7″H.

The Hip-Pop Pet Dog is avaialbe for $19.99

- If you are interested in buying a Hip-Pop Pet Dog…

Cool Gadgets | No Comments »

Office warfare has always existed. Sometimes it’s full out regicide, but normally it just begins by pestering your coworkers. Office warfare is, however, very addictive. It starts when you shoot your first rubber band at an unsuspecting person standing near the water cooler. It then progresses to spit balls and flinging small objects with rulers. Eventually, like most addictions, you begin to use the harder stuff: siege engines.

Clink???‚?¦clink???‚?¦clink. That’s the sound of this all-metal (except, of course, for the mini rope) desk catapult ratcheting back into its loading position. Once it is poised, load in your projectile du jour (we’ve found caffeinated mints make excellent ammo) and let it fly. This catapult is perfect for displaying on the corner of your desk. It looks so fancy, everyone will think it’s just decoration. And that’s when you nail them. Defend your desk in style.

The price of the Metal Desk Catapult is $34.99

- If you want to own one of these “decorative” catapults…

Weird Things | 2 Comments »

Each Breezy Singer bird features a motion-activated photo sensor, which brings it to life with realistic tail, neck, and beak movements and genuine bird songs every time you walk by. These little birds look and sound like the real thing!

Each bird’s motion-and-light sensor is located below its head on its front torso. When light changes in front of the bird, such as a moving shadow or a person walking, the bird chirps its lovely little song. Sounds and looks of birds are based on research provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Each bird requires 3 LR44 batteries (included). On/off switch is located on the bottom of the birds’ torsos.

Available birds include: Northern Saw Whet Owl, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Cardinal, Common Yellowthroat, American Goldfinch, American Robin, Blue Jay, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Cardinal, Yellow Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Common Yellowthroat, Blue Parakeet, Green Parakeet, Common Kingfisher, Japanese Great Tit and Japanese White-Eye.

Takara Breezy Singers Birds can be purchased for about $14 to $19 USD.

- If you are interested in purchasing a Takara Breezy Singer Bird…

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