Go ahead—have soup, or stew, or anything gooey, without worrying about a spillage tragedy. This red plastic soup system measures 5” dia x 4-1/2” tall tapering to 3-1/2” at the bottom. Looks like a giant coffee cup, but with a gasketed screw cap that has a stubby fork and spoon cleverly hidden inside. Freezer- and microwave-safe, and BPA-free. Safe up to 200 degrees, but hand-wash only. Has a small tray and a divider inside, both of which you can ignore if you don't have a 2- or 3-part lunch. Try the beef barley, it’s excellent.

Yes, unless you break this cork-rubber ring, and it's a pretty tough puppy. It's also the perfect example of surplus—a punch-out from a gasket manufacturer. You’ll get the leftover ring, which measures 10-7/8” OD x 8-5/8” ID x 3/16” thick, and we'd list the myriad cool things you could do with it but we’d hate to deprive you of the chance to exercise your imagination and creativity, because really, how much exercise are you getting these days? You’re welcome.

Get this pack of (15) 8-1/2” x 5-1/2” sheet protectors for half-size daily planners. They’re seven-hole-punched for Wilson Jones® calendars, but will also fit most binders, including three-ring versions if you throw caution to the wind and skip some holes.

You say your ex locked your bike to a fence just to be cruel? We’ve been there. Worry no more. From Tolsen Tools, this 8" long bolt cutter with 2-1/2" teeth is compact and ready to slice through steel. Has a CRV steel blade and a steel-plated handle with a soft grip. Tolsen makes good stuff. After you free your bike, go find something else to cut.

You’ve had a mood ring and now it’s time to graduate to a full-blown mood light in the shape of a fantasy (or, depending on your outlook, actual historical) creature such as a Mermaid or Unicorn. Both are white plastic with a soothing (7)-color changing LED inside. You pick: the Mermaid, approx. 6” x 4”, or the Unicorn, approx. 6” x 3-1/2”. You supply the (3) AAA batteries, and the dreams.

Plunk your phone down on this 5” x 3” x 1-1/2” “Blasting Brick” rechargeable induction speaker, and it will be induced to amplify your tunes. Might be science, might be magic, but it puts out mighty good vibrations. In a rubber case that looks like a stereo tuner circa 1968. Includes a USB charging cable, and a headphone cable. We'll pick one for you in creamsicle orange or indigo. Gives you something to look forward to.

This sturdy messenger bag from Wanderer Tech is made of durable black 1680 denier ballistic nylon with royal blue piping. Measures approx 15" x 12" x 3" when empty, but is eminently stuffable. Has an adjustable padded shoulder strap, front flap with hookenlooper closures, zipper compartment on the flap, (2) side mesh pockets, pen slots and a pocket inside, along with a 15” a 10-1/2” removable, padded laptop sleeve.

This battery-operated, hand-held hobby drill, carver and engraver spins at 13,000 rpm and runs on (4) “AA” batteries that you add. Includes a 3/32” chuck with an engraving bit, (2) grinding wheels, and a sharpener; an extra 1/16” chuck with (1) drill bit; and a 1/8” chuck for added tools. Handle and battery case are in a floral pattern, and the unenlightened manufacturer has labeled the package “Her Embosser,” so it serves them right that it ended up discounted at your friendly surplus supplier.

…is a very, very, very fine house. But it’s also complicated. Best get MyHome, a Snap Circuits® educational kit from Elenco®. Construct a house or tower with working 3D circuits to demonstrate how electricity travels and powers your home. Includes (7) colored base grids. Also features circuits, security systems, dimmer switches, automatic lights, alarms, motion sensors, fan speeds, appliance motors, generators and more. Includes an illustrated color manual with more than (30) projects and (60) parts. Ages 8 up to whatever.

Plastic insects, lizards and arachnids might not scare you, but they have the potential to scare the bejeebers out of your mother if you put a couple in the sugar jar. You pick: the Creepy Crawleys Collection with (15) 1-1/2” long creepies, including a centipede, scorpion, beetles, roach, ant, grasshopper caterpillar and giant fly, along with tiny palm trees we don't understand; the Insect Collection with a dozen 1” to 2” critters including a dragonfly, grasshopper, fly, beetles, mantis, scorpion, ant, cockroach and a lizard, which isn't an insect but go tell it to the manufacturer; or the Spider Collection with a dozen very colorful arachnids, any of which will stand out nicely in a sugar canister.

From the world of Metal Earth® Kits, the domain of the sure-handed, comes this museum-quality 3D steel Star Wars™ model of an Imperial Shuttle. Clip the shiny steel parts from their matrix and assemble them with a tweezers—no glue, solder, or anything else but a steady hand required. Finished piece will be approx 4” tall. For ages 14+ on account of they’re toughies to assemble, but worth the effort.

When temperatures dip, we’re reminded of the only phrase we can still remember from freshman Latin class: semper ubi sub ubi. Literally, that’s: always where under where, and damn if we can remember the word for “long” because we just got a whole Roman empire’s worth of snug fitting, long-sleeve thermal tops and thermal top/bottom sets in all the popular sizes—you know, waffle shirts—to fend off the harshness of winter. They’re 65/35 cotton/poly, so expect some shrinkage and plan accordingly. Pat is a size large so he buys X-large. In white and cream/beige, like a nice warm cup of coffee or cappuccino.

You say you've always wanted a rooster, but you like to sleep in? Your mornings are safe with this 13” tall realistic rooster statue. In a medium gray, it looks and feels like concrete but is, like so much of modern life, poly-resin, so it weighs in at a rooster-like two pounds. Call it a fryer. Stands on an integrated 4” x 4-1/2” x 1” thick base. Nice as is, but it would make a dandy painting project, too. The Internets are full of dazzling chicken pics for inspiration. WFH bonus opinion: copywriter's spouse said “That is one good-lookin' chicken.”

If so, for that and many other adventures, you'll need this handheld monocular from Humvee® Adventure Gear. Measures 6" x 3" with 8X magnification, a 5.5-degree angle of view, 4.5mm exit pupil, 14.5mm eye relief, and a 3-meter near focus. Rubber-coated because adventures can get rough, and some adventurers are clumsy. From It's also a hiker-friendly ¾ pound.

From X-Acto®, the folks who make the precision arts & craft knives, the "Bulldog" is an old-school crank pencil sharpener with a translucent blue, green or red case so you can keep tabs on your shavings and watch the menacing teeth grind away. Unit is roughly 5" tall x 4" wide (including crank handle) x 3” deep. The square rubber pad on the bottom provides suction when the side lever is pulled. Works best on a flat surface, but you knew that.

Nobody will ever call you Dusty again if you're wielding this Roan Model S7250 dust-collecting circular saw. Has a self-contained chamber to collect 90% of dust and particles down to 2 microns with no hoses or vacuum attachments. Designed for PVC, fiber cement, Hardie siding, OSB, wood and other materials, it uses a 7-1/4" blade (not included), tilts up to 45 degrees, and cuts to a 90-degree depth of 2-1/4". Includes a Lydall HMWP filter designed to last the life of the saw in a chamber large enough to go 50-60 cuts before emptying. Corded to run on AC power. The saw’s new, in the box -- but it’s priced at half the original retail price, Dusty.

This never-used 100% cotton French CCE F1 Field Camo hat is perfect for a small head, size 57. Marked “Tissage Mouline Thillot 1995” inside, which makes it new old stock, in great condition. Soft, crushable and lined, with a nice short bill. Sort of reminds us of those little hats cyclists wear, like in the Tour de France.

As long as it's pretty small. These self-adhesive, removable hooks from 3M are made to hold up to 8 oz without damaging surfaces. Measure just 1-1/4” tall x 3/4” wide in white, and are just like the insanely expensive ones they sell at the biggest box stores in your neighborhood. You surely have a dozen uses for these, or you will at some point.

Polyresin death's head stash box. Comes in assorted designs and colors, and the office deadhead boogied on over and snatched one right up. Measures 3-1/2” x 4-1/2” x approx 1-3/4” deep. Has a substantial heft at just under a pound, and the rubber-gasketed seal on the lid ought to keep your gummy bears nice and fresh.

Our used, green aluminum Czech military canteen includes a leather strap “bra” and a cloth holder/sheeth to keep it cool. Measures 9” x 5” x 2-1/2” and will probably have a plastic screw-on cap but might have a cork stopper instead. Like war, it’s unpredictable, and like your fourth-grade teacher used to say, you get what you get without throwing a fit. Now, go outside and play army.

These little LDPE plastic spray bottles are the kid brother of ones you rely on at home. Fill it with (1) oz of disinfectant or water and stay safe or moist. Measures a totable 4" tall x 1-1/8" dia with a safety cap so you don't moisturize your pocket or purse. You pick red or yellow.

The little tyke appeared in 1952, a worried two-year-old looking for a little comfort in a cold world. With Lucy as a big sister, it's hard to blame him. The math never lies--Linus turned 70 this year, and he had to trade in his blue security blanket for a blue and white Social Security Card Blanket. Looks just like the card in your wallet (which you shouldn't carry in your wallet), and measures 68" x 34" in soft, comforting poly fleece. Even has your name on it: John Q. Public. All you add is a thumb.

Snap Circuits™ has added Brics, their name for little plastic building blocks that are, luckily, compatible with those other little, inerlocking plastic building blocks you have. This award-winning 200-piece Bric Structures set has sheets and blocks plus Snap Circuits connectors, blinking and steady LEDs, a slide switch, a fiber-optic bundle, an incandescent bulb and a melody integrated circuit, along with adapter blocks to mate the Snap Circuits components with the brics. Has instructions to make (26) electrified models, including a house and a tower, on the 10” x 5” base. You add a trio of “AA” batteries. For ages 8+. Winner of Six Toy of the Year Awards!

This switching 5VDC 1 amp USB power adapter features short-circuit protection and draws just 0.13W no load if you’re the sort of person who leaves it plugged in all the time. Output is via a female USB-out and comes with a polarized 4-foot cord and (8) different plugs, among them a mini-USB, and barrel connectors at 4mm/1.7mm, 3.5mm/1mm, and 2mm/0.7mm, plus others for Sony/Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia and Samsung phones from yesteryear. AC plug folds for storage.

This braided polypropylene rope is 3/8” dia (rope size #12) and rated for a 100-lb working load. You get (50) feet of this easy-to-knot utility rope in assorted colors.

Just like the big red plastic party cups but in a 2-oz size, for when you graduate from beer to cocktails, perhaps, but they also make great condiment holders, paint pots, bead buckets for craft classes and hats for lab rats. Also useful for the really, really expert version of beer pong. In packages of (20).

From THINKIQ, these fist sized colorful wooden puzzles will let you prove it; Or not. We'll pick one of the (6) available puzzles. Take a good look before you take yours apart, because there are no instructions—it's just you and your spatial IQ. No extra charge for the extra challenge—you’re welcome. About the size of a kids fist. 

Small for a TV but perfect for keeping the bacon grease from spattering all over your kitchen, and for straining pasta over the sink. Cineastes will recall seeing Jack Lemmon using a tennis racket for just this purpose in The Apartment, but we think those holes are too big. Our proper strainer measures 13” dia in finely woven and reinforced stainless-steel mesh. Get a pair so you can always play a little post-prandial kitchen badminton.

No, O-rings. Get ’em here, because we got ’em. These black rubber (neoprene, we believe) O-rings are nominally 1-1/2” ID and 1/8” thick, and made in the USA. Use them for crafts, tiny ring toss games, in dioramas or dollhouses, as vibration pads, or in actual O-ring applications. Because, after all, they’re O-rings.

Call it a MASK unit. This faux-military “Minor Surgery” kit from Voodoo Tactical® comes in a 7" x 5" x 2-1/2" OD canvas pouch containing: 6” wound probe; 3-1/2” stitch scissors; 3-1/2” tweezers; 5-1/2” bandage scissors; 5” straight and curved forceps; a #3 scalpel handle with disposable blade; pupil flashlight with mm gauge; alcohol pads; antiseptic towelettes; some 5/0 monofilament; and a gram of antibiotic ointment. And remember: reenacting actual combat surgery without a license is still not allowed.

Yes, there’s a scientific explanation, but we prefer to think this magnetizing/demagnetizing tool relies on magic. Stick a screwdriver head in the bottom, it’s magnetized. Stick it in the top, it’s demagnetized. Fun for the whole family. Measures 2” square x 1-1/4” with stair-step ports for blades of different sizes. Never drop a screw again.

Which this excellent little travel/desk clock and calender does. Measures 3” tall x 3-1/4” wide with a 1-1/4” square LCD screen framed in translucent dark gray lucite. Has alarm, stop-watch, calendar, and 12/24 format modes. Takes (1) button cell battery, included, and has a locking, pop-out stand in the back.

Inflatable air loungers are all the rage, and we’ve got ’em! Ours weighs just a smidge over 2 lbs, and when it’s folded and stuffed into its bag with shoulder strap, it measures a mere 14” x 8” x 6”. No pump required! Just swing it around to fill the pockets with air (or use the wind), snap it shut and plop down. Great for the pool, beach, concert, game, picnic, campsite or living room. Hey, it’s your life. When inflated it’ll look like a 20” high x 30” wide x 70” long hot dog bun. Sit in it longways, for a hammock pose, or the other way, where it becomes a single lounge chair--or a love seat if you’re willing to share. Your choose what color but at this price they won’t sit around here for long.

And easy to store. One of the better pick-up tools we've seen. Folds to just over 16" to store, but locks open at 30" with spring steel arms on an aluminum frame. It has soft, suction-cup-shaped grabbers and big, locking pistol grip. Pretty good gripping capacity too-maybe to 10 lbs or so. Get one for Mom, because at her age she can't reach the things she used to. And then get another one for yourself, because you'll be Mom's age before you know it.

This stopwatch from Bollinger® Fitness has 3-line, large-scale back-lit displays and is water- and shock-resistant. Includes a belt clip and a lanyard, because what coach doesn’t have a lanyard? Back-lit displays include time/date, 10-hour countdown range, and 12/24-hour format. Displays fastest, slowest and average lap speed and stores up to (80) laps/split memory with 1/100th precision. Surplus factor! Comes with a dead, but replaceable CR2032 battery, which we will include a brand new one.

Sometimes an ordinary zip tie just isn’t going to do the job. When you need, for example, to tie your kangaroo down, sport, these monster black nylon ties are the answer. You’ll get a package of (25) ties, each measuring 23” long x 5/16” x 1/16” thick and rated for 176 pounds of tensile strength and temps up to 185 degrees. Will wrap around stuff just shy of 7” dia.

A great pack of (10) non-medical quality disposable masks. 3 Ply non-woven material for general use. Comfortable fitting and easy breathing. Elastic ear-loops with no pressure to the ears. All in a handy dandy,  reclosable zip seal bag. One for the purse, one for the glove compartment and one for work. Executive standard GB/T 32610-2016. 7’’ X 3.75’’

The vent window is gone forever, which is why you can’t keep your entire windshield fog-free all the time. (Ask grampa.) So we recommend this low-power auxiliary windshield heater-defroster. Draws a scant 3A and measures 5-3/4" x 3-3/4" x 2" with a visor clip, a 4-foot cord and a little built-in fan. Don’t expect it to remove ice but it does the job in a pinch. Funnest part is proving to the policeman that it’s not an illegal radar detector.

Signet rings? Class rings? What are you, applying for a job? Going to visit your grandmother? Time to release your inner public nuisance and wear something that will get you a seat on the bus. You pick: the Dinosaur collection, featuring snarling examples of a dozen different extinct but scary beasts; or the Dragon group, also snarling and most with horns of some kind. All are finely detailed, measure roughly 1-1/2” long, and stand approx 1” above your finger. Either way, nobody will mistake you for a member of the Elks Club. You'll get (3) different.

Looks like a missing part from the Starship Enterprisingly, but it’s really just a dandy little 12VDC piston-action water pump. Originally used for medical purposes. Draws 600mA, has a rate and lift on the low side but should be fine for continuous use for you fountain fans. Measures an L-shaped 5-3/8" x 4-5/8" x 3-1/2", with barbed 1/4” output and 5/32” input diameters.