Shut Up and Take My Money: Batman Arkham City Nightwing Arsenal

The money in our bank account is limited, so how unfair is it that there are endless gadgets, collectibles and toys out there that demand to be purchased? Let us help you sift through the crap, so you don’t can save that hard-earned cash for the things that deserve it. In other words, we give you the power to go to the counter and say, “Shut Up and Take My Money!”

Item: Batman Arkham City Nightwing Arsenal

What it is: If you ever wanted to have an amazing replica of Nightwings sticks to help you fight crime with, then look no further. The replica creators at Triforce have managed to meticulously create the arsenal that Nightwing uses in the Arkham City game. It comes complete with a full-scale replica of Nightwings escrima sticks that actually light up to simulate the electricity running through them. The collection also comes with a collection of darts, posters and gimmicks and a really nice stand to display everything. The sticks and darts are hand- finished and hand painted out of polystone that has a solid feel and weight to it. Polystone is a very high quality material that allows for the sculptor to be very detailed in the design of replicas. This replica spares no expense to be the most accurate replica on the market.

How Much it Costs: This item is only for the serious collectors and will set you back around a thousand dollars. On the plus side however, the shipping is free so you have that to look forward to. There isn’t anywhere that seems to be offering any discounts, but it wouldn’t hurt to keep an eye for possible price drops if you are seriously considering purchasing.

Is It Worth It?: With a price tag over a thousand dollars, this is really only going to be considered worth it to people who are serious Nightwing fans or collectors with some money burning a hole in their pockets. There is no doubt that this is an amazing replica and for the money, you can’t get something of higher quality. With high-end materials and the meticulous hand crafted nature of this replica, you really can’t go wrong if you did decide to spend the money.

Bottom Line: This is definitely not for your average collector. Big money and an affinity for Nightwing are prerequisites for purchase here. If both of those requirements are met though, I would have to highly recommend getting this. It is almost too awesome to pass up.

Written by Robert Michael

Shut Up and Take My Money: The Walking Dead Survival Kit

The money in our bank account is limited, so how unfair is it that there are endless gadgets, collectibles and toys out there that demand to be purchased? Let us help you sift through the crap, so you don’t can save that hard-earned cash for the things that deserve it. In other words, we give you the power to go to the counter and say, “Shut Up and Take My Money!”

Item: Walking Dead Survival Kit

What it is: It’s that time of year again: The Walking Dead is back! Every time this show comes back on, it makes us want to prepare ourselves for the zombie apocalypse. Thankfully, that will be easier than ever, as this fully-loaded kit (minus the weapons, but it will do) embroidered with TWD branded items. This isn’t your average novelty set; this kit has some hardcore do-dads, as well as some rewards for the die-hard fans. The supplies listed below are designed for two people to last three days (sorry, all you third-wheels):

• Exclusive AMC The Walking Dead – We’re Survivors Patch to the first 10,000 orders
• High end military style messenger bag with brass fittings and custom The Walking Dead Logo
• 2 – Datrex 2400 Calorie Emergency Food Ration. Stays fresh for up to 5 years
• 12 – Datrex 4.22 oz packs of Emergency Water. Stays fresh for up to 5 years
• 1 – Premium Lifeline First Aid kit, 85 Pieces
• 1 – Lifegear Glow LED Flashlight. Lasts up to 400 hours
• 2 – Emergency Mylar Space Blankets
• 2 – Emergency Ponchos for Severe Weather
• 1 – Leather Palm Work Gloves for moving debris
• 1 – Waterproof match booklet (where permitted)
• 4 – Procedural Face Masks

How Much it Costs: The survival kit is listed at $130, available as a pre-order through First My Family LLC and will be released in March-April. This is a company that actually sells emergency response supplies, from radios to first-aid kits to kits just like this. The only question I have, other than “What took AMC so long to capitalize on something like this?” is whether or not they will be released by the time the world ends.

Is It Worth It?: Honestly, not really. I know it’s harsh, and I know this is a pretty cool item, but why would you spend $130 for a bunch of crap you can probably get at Wal-Mart or the Army Surplus store for half the price? If you’re spending that much for a gaudy satchel with a logo and some generic first-aid and survival supplies, you’re probably not going to make it that long in the apocalypse anyway. That being said, though, it’s a really clever idea that will surely make them some money, and it’s really not that much more expensive than the other packs that First My Family LLC offers.

Bottom Line: This is a really cool idea marketed to The Walking Dead fans and zombie apocalypse enthusiasts everywhere. However, It’s just too steep of a price for things that you can gather on your own for a much cheaper price. The fact that it’s adorned with The Walking Dead name won’t help you any in an emergency situation, so why not spend that extra money on a machete, or a hammer, eh Tyreese?

Written by Sherif Elkhatib

Shut Up and Take My Money: Gunnar Advanced Computer Eyewear

The money in our bank account is limited, so how unfair is it that there are endless gadgets, collectibles and toys out there that demand to be purchased? Let us help you sift through the crap, so you don’t can save that hard-earned cash for the things that deserve it. In other words, we give you the power to go to the counter and say, “Shut Up and Take My Money!”

Item: Gunnar Advanced Computer Eyewear

What it is: Now that school is back in session, it’s that time again to spend hours in front of the computer studying and typing papers. If you are anything like me, not only will you be spending tons of time on the computer, the majority of your downtime will be spent in front of the television or computer screen playing video games. These glasses are a god-send for those of us that get eye-strain from those long hours in front of the screen. According to Gunnar’s website:

“GUNNAR computer eyewear is engineered to reduce digital eye strain while increasing contrast, comfort, and focus. All GUNNAR glasses include our patented lens technology with our proprietary shape to protect your eyes from drying air currents, enhanced focusing power to improve detail for clearer vision, and custom tints and coatings to filter out harsh artificial light and glare.”

How Much it Costs: With different styles coming and going along with accompanying sales going on at different websites the lowest that I have found a pair for is around $50 and they go all the way up to $150. If you have to get them with a prescription the website tops out at $350 for some of the higher end models, but lands pretty comfortably in the low $200 dollar range for most of the models. If you don’t have to get prescription, or can wear contacts like I do, I highly recommend looking for a sale on non-RXed models.

Is It Worth It?: If you sit in front of a computer for school or work or spend a considerable amount of time playing video games, then I would highly recommend buying a pair. I bought these on a whim and wasn’t sure they would be of any real value but after spending many late nights of writing code for classes I came to realize that my eyes felt much better on the nights when I wore these glasses. I also noticed that I could wear my contacts longer without getting a headache from dry eyes due to these glasses as well. These are something I would definitely recommend to have lying around the computer/gaming desk.

Robert doesn’t just own GUNNARs, he swears by them.

Bottom Line: If you spend any time in front of a screen consider buying a pair. With such a low price point for entry, even if you aren’t crazy about them you still won’t have wasted a ton of money for something that can improve your overall eye health. Otherwise I see no reason to buy these, unless you are a D-bag or middle schooler that likes to wear colored lenses for absolutely no reason.

Written by Robert Michael

Shut Up and Take My Money: Retro Duo Portable System

The money in our bank account is limited, so how unfair is it that there are endless gadgets, collectibles and toys out there that demand to be purchased? Let us help you sift through the crap, so you don’t can save that hard-earned cash for the things that deserve it. In other words, we give you the power to go to the counter and say, “Shut Up and Take My Money!”

Item: Retro Duo Portable NES/SNES/SEGA Genesis system.

What it is: Eighties babies can finally find a use for all those Nintendo and SEGA cartridges collecting dust in some random pocket of the basement that HDMI ports and Blu-Ray disc games have rendered obsolete. You know what they say; if you can’t come to the party, bring the party to you. You can do just that with this portable gaming system designed by RetroBit. With the included adapters, you can alter your Retro Duo system to play almost any old NES/SNES or Genesis game that you may have lying around. As opposed to current-gen games that net anywhere from $20-60, you can find a lot of these 16-bit classics for less than five bucks at the right place (locally-owned used game stores like Game Force in Aurora, Colorado, Amazon, eBay). There’s a definite cost benefit to buying the Retro Duo pro, and if you still consider Street Fighter II and Mega-Man X to be in your top games list, then there’s no reason not to invest in this system. Emulators have been around for years, but there’s just something weird about playing a retro game on a full keyboard (although you can buy Nintendo/SEGA-like controller USB adapters). Nothing that can replace the initial three-four button systems that SEGA and Nintendo released these games on. Retro Duo offers a controller with a built-in 3.5″ screen (comparable with most smartphones on the market now). 

How much it costs: $80 brand new (Amazon). Released in January of 2012, the Retro Duo system is still widely available in nostalgic gaming stores and online alike, so there’s no rush to buy one if you’re interested. Fortunately, if you’re not worried about the portable aspect of it, you can always opt for the more affordable Hyperkin Retron 3, a gaming system that connects via your television’s composite cables so you can watch all 16 bits of NBA Jam on the big-screen. The Hyperkin Retron 3 retails for less than $50.

If it’s worth it or not: With all the emulators out for 16-bit games being computer-based, this could be a great pick-up for somebody who is on the go. However, for just double the price, you could get a brand-new PS Vita, equipped with way more features and new games that will blow the socks off you. Personally, I do just fine with mindless games like Clumsy Ninja and Robot Unicorn Attacks II (don’t even bother with the first installment). Really though, if you would prefer retro games over modern ones, this would be a great investment for you. This could be a smart purchase for your kids, as well. 16-bit game greats like Super Mario Kart or Shaq Fu (hate all you want; Shaq had moves) can be played on the go so you don’t have to miss that episode of Community because your four year-old can’t get enough Flower in their life. Keep in mind, too, that this system is not compatible with EVERY retro game out there. You can find a list of games that won’t bring back the memories on the Retro Duo Wikipedia page.

photo courtesy of Amazon.com

The bottom line: Pretty much, this purchase should be reserved for 80’s babies and hipsters – those who would rather play Sonic the Hedgehog than Infinity Blade. There’s really no way for adults to get away with playing this at work, it could be a great time-kill for that road trip or family reunion you have coming up.

Anything you feel this article is missing? Are you wondering whether or not a certain product is worth grabbing? Let us know!

Written by Sherif Elkhatib