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inflatable

Inflatable RC robot for less than $10 per foot

The words "inflatable" and "robot" rarely appear next to one another in a sentence, but there's a first time for everything.

The sub-$40 Mega Mech Airmagination radio-controlled robot may be full of air, but as the photo that accompanies this story shows, it's also full of enough awesomeness to cause amazed facial expressions from mulleted youngsters.

The robot has a built-in voice chip that spits out pre-loaded phrases, as well as wheels in its feet that let you drive it around RC-style.

Like most cutting-edge robots, the Mega Mech Airmagination is available at Walmart. … Read more

Motorized bumper boats are in need of water guns, shields, overall pimpability

I sometimes have a penchant for posting about odd little vehicles on Crave, like motorized bathtubs and pirate ship pool toys. Some of the time, they tragically aren't big enough to fit grown-ups (no matter how youthful our attitudes may be). This $99.99 Bumper Boat is no exception. It's basically an inflatable pool chair that happens to have a motor and steering equipment attached so that you can chase people around and smack into your friends--but it's kid-sized. Most of us would probably sink it, unfortunately.

It's also not very functional, aside from the motor. … Read more

A drive-in movie for the backyard

As much as we love bleeding-edge media technologies, Crave occasionally still pines for certain forms of entertainment from yesteryear. And few things make us more nostalgic than the drive-in movie.

Now you can do your part to revive this nearly extinct phenomenon in the privacy of your own backyard with a 24-foot inflatable screen for sale on eBay. This monster system from VXP, which includes a projector, speakers, DVD player and other various equipment, has a "Buy It Now" price of $14,995 on the auction, which ends Saturday. (Don't worry, the listing indicates that two are … Read more

Please don't pop the light-up inflatable bar

The idea of a "light-up inflatable bar" might evoke corny 1970s kitsch, but this one is going for the swank factor. Made by a company called Bubble Miami, these bars are designed to set up easily and quickly, support a considerable amount of weight, and then deflate and when it's time to make everybody go home. Plus, they light up. How cool is that?

Unfortunately, you really have to be careful with anything inflatable at any kind of occasion that involves alcohol. There are all kinds of serious threats lurking around--you know, stiletto heels, or broken glass, … Read more

Inflation: Why you're not getting a raise this year

If you're like most Americans, don't count on a raise this year. The Los Angeles Times reported on Monday: "For the first time in 14 years, the American workforce has in effect gotten an across-the-board pay cut."

In other words, inflation is back. The cost of living, measured by the federal government's consumer price index, rose 2.7 percent in 2004 and the first two months of this year. Wages rose an average of only 2.5 percent, according to the Los Angeles Times. A Wall Street Journal article, also on Monday, gave a slightly … Read more