SkyMall Monday: Tex The Armadillo Can Holder

The NFL playoffs are heating up and soon people will be gathering for Super Bowl parties all across the world. The problem with Super Bowl parties – and all winter parties for that matter – is that cold weather requires you to entertain your guests indoors. That means that your home could sullied by muddy shoes, clumsy drunks and, perhaps worst of all, inconsiderate people who don’t use coasters. There may be nothing worse after a party than discovering that your coffee table has a brand new ring-shaped stain thanks to someone leaving their glass directly on the wood. Here at the SkyMall Monday headquarters, my girlfriend monitors coaster usage like Secret Service watches the president (not counting that unsightly Kennedy assassination). The problem with coasters, however, is that they are either woefully boring or horribly kitschy. It’s challenging to find something that will protect your surfaces from drinks while also spotlighting your interior decorating skills, impeccable taste and sophisticated character. That is, until now. Thanks to SkyMall, your drinks can now have a safe and attractive home that will make all of your party guests green with envy. Feast your eyes on Tex the Armadillo Can Holder.Coasters can only do so much. While they protect tables and countertops, they don’t prevent glasses from being knocked over. That’s where Tex comes in. Armadillos, unlike humans, hold beer cans using not only their hands, but also their tails. That third support point is what separates them from their human overlords. You see, tail support is key for balancing your brew and keeping its thick rich head from ever staining your table.

Think that an Armadillo-shaped beer can holder is tacky? Believe that there is nothing wrong with plain old coasters? Well, while you polish all of your hardwood for the third time today, the rest of us will be reading the product description:

Protect your beverage of choice until you’re ready to uncap and unwind! Our rough-n-ready armadillo, Tex, is a sure-fire conversation piece from his textured armor to his whiplash tail.

Coasters are only conversation pieces until drinks have been set down upon them. After that, they are concealed and forgotten. Meanwhile, Tex is always on display and ready to entertain your guests once you’ve gotten too drunk to be interesting.

No matter what the reason for your party, you’ll want to keep your home immaculate. So, whether it’s for the Super Bowl, the Oscars or your brother-in-law’s overdue circumcision, keep your tables clean with Tex the Armadillo Can Holder.

Check out all of the previous SkyMall Monday posts HERE.

GadlingTV’s Travel Talk – Virgin America’s first international flight – Toronto!

GadlingTV’s Travel Talk, episode 29 – Click above to watch video after the jump

Join us on Virgin America’s first ever international flight! We hop on a plane with Sir Richard Branson, Drake and a gaggle of entrepreneurs and fly on the airline’s inaugural flight to Toronto, Ontario to explore the (arguably) most diverse city in the world.

In this episode’s couch talk, we’ll discuss just why Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world & what other cities contend for the title of most diverse, based on foreign-born population.

If you have any questions or comments about Travel Talk, you can email us at talk AT gadling DOT com.

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Links
Ready to book your own trip to Canada eh? Browse Virgin America’s great fares to Toronto.
Sleep in style overlooking Toronto’s iconic skyline. Check out the brand-new Thompson Hotel Toronto.

All images used under a Creative Commons license. All music used courtesy of Nonstop Music.

Photo of the Day (8.1.10)

There’s nightlife, and then there’s Thailand nightlife. In addition to its rich cultural legacy, astounding culinary traditions and stunning scenery, the buzzing nightlife of places like Thailand’s islands continues to be a major draw for young (and young at heart) travelers. Flickr user myeyesareclosed does a great job of capturing the essence of a fun night out on the Thai island of Samui. I particularly love the energy of the photo – the blurs of movement and overexposed light suggest exactly the kind of gauzy dream-like state of a night powered by one-too-many cocktails. It’s all punctuated by menacing bolts of lightning in the upper left. Hedonists, beware.

Taken any great photos during your travels? Why not add them to Gadling’s group on Flickr? We might just pick one of yours as our Photo of the Day.

Next clubbing hotspot–the West Bank?

One thing that travel teaches you is that wherever you go, people want to have fun. You just don’t expect that people are able to have fun in some places.

The West Bank is commonly perceived to be one of those places. The Israeli blockade, factional power struggles, terrorism, and poverty should be enough to kill all the fun in the region. Yet some Palestinians are determined to buck the vibe by opening nightclubs to give locals the chance to relax in what has to be one of the most stressful places in the world.

One popular club is al-SnowBar in Ramallah, 10 km (6 miles) north of Jerusalem. Their Facebook page, which has more than 550 fans, explains that the club offers day and night activities. By day, “families can relax and enjoy both good food and swimming. Al-SnowBar offers a full restaurant with its own personal chef, full bar service, and argyleh (hooka) service. Al-SnowBar is soon to be offering a basketball court.”

How many Ibiza clubs offer a basketball court?

At night it becomes more like what you’d expect from a club with “Jazz nights, weddings, exclusive parties, and DJ nights.” There’s also a bonfire that clubbers like to dance around.

Sounds pretty cool, and it’s only one club among many, but as a BBC report points out, only a small percentage of Palestinians can afford to go to such places. The clubs are doing well, however, and draw in people from other towns. A Palestinian woman from Jerusalem explained that she comes to Ramallah to party because she doesn’t feel welcome in Jewish-owned clubs. So while Palestine isn’t about to join places like Goa in the international clubbing circuit, it’s nice to know that even in the toughest conditions, people can still have a good time. If you want to join them, check out this handy guide to traveling safely in the West Bank.

Photo of Ramallah courtesy Soman via Wikimedia Commons.

Pack for a theme party – Cruise tip

If you really want to get into the spirit of a cruise, you’ll want to participate in any theme parties or special events on board.

Before departing, contact the cruise line to find out what will be offered on your cruise. Toga parties require a gown made of bed sheets, of course, while shamrocks and green hats are appropriate for a St. Patrick’s celebration. Beads, feathers and masks are in order for a Mardi Gras parade, and pirate garb would be appropriate for any pirate-themed celebration.

You can sometimes buy the items aboard ship to make your costume, but why spend the money? Pack your own outfit and save your cash for a Hurricane cocktail.

Related: Choose a themed cruise – Cruise tip