Name That Weird Invention!

By Miss Cellania in Comics & Cartoons, Museum of Possibilities on Oct 18, 2010 at 7:05 am

Steven M. Johnson comes up with all sorts of wacky inventions in his weekly Museum of Possibilities posts, but something’s missing from his strange gadgets: names. Can you come up with a name for this one? The commenter suggesting the funniest and wittiest name win a free T-shirt from the NeatoShop.

Contest rules: one entry per comment, though you can enter as many as you’d like. Please make a selection of the T-shirt you want (may we suggest the Science T-shirt, Funny T-shirt, and Artist-designed T-shirt categories?) alongside your entry. If you don’t select a shirt, then you forfeit the prize. Good luck!

Update: Congratulations to winner NathanBBlu, who named the invention “Stalaglites,” and explained why. And also to winner lolamouse, who came up with “Light in the Loafers” (used to tell interested observers which way you go). Both win t-shirts from the NeatoShop!

What The World Needs Now (Autographed Editions)
If you like Steven M. Johnson's Museum of Possibilities, you'll love his book! What The World Needs Now is packed with 152-pages full of his wonderful, zany, and plain weird inventions: Link

Email This Post
Tweet This Post 
Share This Post on Facebook

Tags: , , ,

Neat stuff from the NeatoShop:

  1. NathanBBlu
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 8:00 am

    I’m pretty sure those are “Stalaglites.”

    When spelunkers are in the dark recesses of unfamiliar caves, it helps to not have to carry a flashlight. A headlamp really works best for low ceilings and *stalagtites,* while short stalagmites can go dangerously unnoticed. A pair of stalaglites is the perfect accessory for this daredevil hobby.

    I’d like the Bauhaus Birds shirt, in medium and black or chocolate.

  2. Sean Turvey
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 8:22 am

    Duesenblüchers

    Working The Red Shift 2XL

  3. Sean Turvey
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 8:24 am

    Tucker ’48DD

    Working The Red Shift

  4. Sean Turvey
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 8:33 am

    Tucker ’48D

    Working The Red Shift 2XL

    (sorry for the double post)

  5. WonderBred
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 8:38 am

    brogueyotes(bro-gi-yo-tees):
    For the fashion-forward human trafficker. Low-healed with hand stitched heavy leather, this technically advanced footwear catapults the everyday Mexican Coyote from novice to professional. These wingtips come pre-assembled with footlamps to light up the trails and signal flashers to denote which direct your cargo needs to run and hide. Batteries not included.

  6. Sean Turvey
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 9:06 am

    (Pardon me) Chattanooga Choo Shoes

    Working The Red Shift 2XL

  7. Sean Turvey
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 9:08 am

    Loafamotives

    Working The Red Shift 2XL

  8. obuseale
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 9:08 am

    These are obviously Traffik Treads!

    They come equipped with a blinker system to warn other traffic of your direction.

    Also, these handy treads come with lights (similar to headlights on an automobile) that allow you to see in darker areas and at times where holding a flashlight is not possible.

    To turn on the features of Traffik Treads, simply use the remote provided.

    Luckily, Traffik Treads are powered through your walking motion by the steps you take, so no batteries are needed!

    (neatorama lolcat shirt size xL)

  9. Augie
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 9:13 am

    Nightstalkers.

    Radioactive Pumpkin… Ladies XL.

  10. elhaz
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 9:29 am

    The “Cricket Collectors”: These loafers are designed for the thrifty reptile owners tired of the costly expense of crickets. These stylish shoes feature an ultra bright cricket attracting lamp in the front and powerful, whisper quite vacuum collector ports on the sides. Simply walk through any grassy area at night wearing these fancy shoes and you’ll be amazed how quickly you fill the built in storage containers. When full, simply open the heel and dispence the safely stored insects for later feeding to the reptile of your choosing. Makes a great gift, and available in wide sizes.

    I would like the carbon footprint in 2xl please.

  11. Foreigner1
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 9:34 am

    Lightfoot Nighttrackers.

    Vegetarian
    Ancient tribal slang for….

  12. Foreigner1
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 9:43 am

    Blücherxenons.

    Vegetarian
    Ancient tribal slang for….

  13. lolamouse
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 9:46 am

    “Light in the Loafers”
    used to tell interested observers which way you go

    Pointless Stories Are My Thing T-Shirt, Med, Chocolate

  14. StevenMJohnson
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 10:07 am

    I must confess: You guys make me laugh. Out loud even. I love the thought that goes into naming this stuff, possibly MORE than goes into creating it. Or should I not admit that?

  16. ladybuggs
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 11:23 am

    Illumin Loafers – for bowling in the dark. Aim the toe light to the arrows on the boards for the direction you want the ball to go. The blinkers start to flash when backing up doing the “please, please, please strike” shuffle.

  17. ladybuggs
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 11:24 am

    for the illumin loafers

    ORLY Ladies L Serene green

  18. ladybuggs
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 11:58 am

    Derbie D’Lites – Directional w/signals for when the left foot doesn’t know what the right foot is doing. Toe light to hopefully point you in the right direction.

    ORLY Ladies L Chocolate

  19. Frau
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 12:35 pm

    Al Bundy’s Shoe Lights dream has come true.

  20. Scott-O
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    Light On Your Toes

    I Fish Because of the Voices… XXL please

  21. Scott-O
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 1:24 pm

    Nike Light

    I Fish Because the Voices… XXL

  22. Scott-O
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 1:27 pm

    oxFORDS

    I Fish Because of the Voices… XXL please

  23. Anne Noise
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 3:00 pm

    “Shoe.”

    …

  24. Kevin George
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 4:47 pm

    Ankleturner Footlights!

    Diagonally parked in a parallel universe. M

  25. philosopher by night
    Oct 18th, 2010 at 6:36 pm

    foot traffic

    Great Vocab Didn’t Save The Thesaurus From Extinction:

    XL, ash grey

  26. John P
    Oct 19th, 2010 at 7:13 am

    Foot Traffickers, by SlipShod Productions (shoe-horn extra)

    Come to the Dark Side – We have cookies – L

  27. John P
    Oct 19th, 2010 at 7:30 am

    Rats – I just saw entry 19! Sorry about that. I’ll think of something else.

  28. ted
    Oct 19th, 2010 at 7:41 am

    Was “footlights” too obvious?

    The perfect celebrity to pitch these for you would be Gordon Lightfoot.

    I know it’s a weak one, but should I win, I would take the Thesaurus shirt – M.

  31. chikkenman
    Oct 19th, 2010 at 7:42 pm

    Automoshoe

    Mmmm…pi men’s medium

  32. chikkenman
    Oct 19th, 2010 at 7:43 pm

    Blinker Clinker

    Mmmm…pi men’s medium

  33. chikkenman
    Oct 19th, 2010 at 7:44 pm

    Auto Shoe

    Mmmm…pi men’s medium

  34. John P
    Oct 20th, 2010 at 6:22 am

    Sole-Lites, by SlipShod Productions (shoe-horn extra)

    Come to the Dark Side – We have cookies – L

  35. Colin
    Oct 20th, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    PT SHOOZER

    Dogs of War – Large

  36. ladybuggs
    Oct 20th, 2010 at 3:08 pm

    Shoe Shines – For shedding light those critters in front of you that are at ground level.

    ORLY Ladies L Chocolate

  37. Chrisstall
    Oct 21st, 2010 at 12:35 am

    Shinkers.
    Shoes + blinkers = Shinkers


Keep track of the comments with Comment RSS

Don't Miss: New Stuff | Bestsellers | The Cute Store
                   Funny T-Shirts | Zombie Shop

Need a gift? Get unforgettable gifts for:
Geeks | Pranksters | Kids | Hipsters | Shutterbugs
Lijit Search
Old school? Bookmark us! RSS Feed Twitter Facebook Page