The Weekender | Remote-Controlled Tissues and the Greatest Robe Ever | National

11/05/09

The weekend is the week's off-season.

CHILL PILL

Instant Wine Chiller

Your local wine shop has a nasty habit of not chilling the bottles of white and bubbly you want. And sometimes, you just like your red wine a little cold (yes, you live life on the edge). Ice is out of the question, but so is not downing a beverage immediately. Drop this spoon-sized, stainless steel wine chiller inside a glass, and it'll chill your sauce in a couple minutes.

411:: Put things on ice here

THE GREATEST

Muhammad Ali's Robe

You've been known to float like a butterfly, you've occasionally stung like a bee, but you couldn't really dress the part until now. These robes—patterned exactly after Ali's famous one—should help with that. Just don't go around punching people while wearing one.

411:: Preorder here

FLAT BREAD

Bodum Toaster

If you've ever heated bread, you've probably fumbled with crumbs, tried to stuff an oversize bagel into a toaster's slot and basically had one of the most unpleasant experiences a human can have. Okay, it's a minor pain at worst, but now there's a better way—the flat toaster. It can heat bread, pizza or anything else that doesn't fit inside a conventional toaster or toaster oven—not that that's ever held you back before.

411:: Heat things up here

STICKUP

Real-Life Bank Robberies

In the movies, writing a bank note seems pretty simple—"Give me all your money" usually does the trick. In real life, not so much. This site posts real-life notes alongside security cam shots and stats on whether the robbery succeeded. (Not often, it turns out.) Of course, you'll want to troll it for voyeuristic reasons—like spotting smiling middle-aged pipe bombers, unusually polite thieves and (naturally) curiously attractive criminals.

411:: Revisit the scenes of the crimes here

FLU SEASON

Remote Controlled Tissue Box

We don't want to alarm you, but flu season is upon us. (You might want to get some shots.) And if it hits, you'll be glad you have this—a remote-controlled gizmo that will bring your tissues to you. Consider it energy conservation (or a friend for your Roomba).