Stuff Geeks Want

Maybe 21st century is a bit extreme, since there’s nothing high-tech about ladder golf, which is also affectionately called bolo toss, redneck golf, or hillbilly golf.

Still, it’s a step up from hillbilly horseshoes, which sees the horseshoes swapped for toilet seats.

Anyway, back to ladder golf. The idea is simple (meaning it mixes well with alcohol): you toss two small balls that are connected by a string and try to get them to land on various rungs.

Sounds too basic? That’s why it’s called redneck golf. But it can be a good bit of fun (especially when mixed with alcohol).

True rednecks will buy the balls separately (less than $10 a set) and build their own ladder out of PVC piping or something similar.

Or you can buy a complete setup, with prices ranging from mid-$30 for Coleman’s version to around $70 for a fancier wooden set (pictured here).

You’ve heard of the franchise, and you’ve probably played a few of the games. Even if you haven’t, you’ve certainly heard the controversy. “Grand Theft Auto” has become synomymous with “Joe Lieberman soapbox”, and Rockstar probably loves all the publicity they get for it.

Grand Theft Auto IV represents a quantum leap in the game, almost certainly the biggest leap ever—even bigger than when the game went from its 2D top-down perspective to a 3D third-person viewpoint.

What makes Grand Theft Auto IV so radical is that it takes full advantage of the power available from modern gaming systems, the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. Yes, that’s right, you actually have a reason to buy a Playstation 3 now, and an excuse to ditch your 5-year old system.

Just be sure you have plenty of time to lose to a video game, and that you’re not taking any psycho-active drugs.

Pick it up for $59.99 for the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3, or you can show your chumpness fierce dedication by springing $89.99 for the Special Edition (Xbox 360 or Playstation 3), which includes various plastic extras you’ll wonder why you ever bought in the first place a few years down the road.

Need a next-gen system? Grab a 40GB Playstation 3 for $399.99 or pick up one of three Xbox 360 configurations:

• Xbox 360 Core Arcade $279.99 – Gives you the bare minnimum, you’ll need to bring your own HDMI or Component cable if you’re hooking it up to a high-def TV.
  
• Xbox 360 Core Arcade $349.99 – Probably the one to get, includes a component cable (but no HDMI) and a 20GB hard drive. Also packs a headset (GTA IV can be played online, so you might want this).
  
• Xbox 360 Core Arcade $449.99 – Upgrades the hard drive to 120GB and includes an HDMI cable. Also has a better looking black case instead of white.

The USBCell from Moixa Energy is the coolest rechargeable AA battery we’ve seen in a long time. Displayed during CeBIT last month, the USBCELL rechargeable battery was awarded as New Energy Entrepreneur of the Year.

It doesn’t require a charger, as you just open it up and plug it into a USB port, and let it charge.

This NiMH AA cell can be used in normal battery applications and can be recharged simply by plugging into a USB port with the built in USB interface. With over 15 billion batteries needlessly thrown away each year, this rechargeable battery solution aims to change the game.

Traditional rechargeable batteries have never been truly portable as they are dependent on chargers or adaptors, and so most consumers prefer single use alkaline cells. USBCELL aims to change this balance by enabling consumers to recharge anywhere, without needing or carrying an external charger.

Key Features:

• Charge anywhere from any accessible powered USB Port – 90% recharged in 5 hours
• No need for a separate charger or cables when travelling. Built in intelligent USB charger
• Easily charge cells in your game station and just swap over to continue play Charging for just a few minutes provides extra hours of instant use for most input devices

Available at Shop.com for $19.95 for a pack of two.