Boing Boing is proudly sponsored in part by Meh.
Our sponsor Meh is a cool daily deals site that doesn't over-promise, but delivers thoughtfully curated mostly cheap off-brand gadgets.
Nobody's queueing around the block on launch day for this stuff, and Meh doesn't suggest that the deals they dredge up will be hot, new, impressive, or trendy, or really any adjective that implies too much enthusiasm. Easy now, li'l buddy! Take it down a notch. So when Meh sent me a box of stuff they thought I'd enjoy just enough to use, I kept my expectations modest. I was told to be candid in my review.
So here I am being honest.
Guys. I actually like this stuff and would totally have bought it for myself, if it was as affordable as their daily deals typically are.
The unboxing was unremarkable. My dog sniffed around. He thought the box might contain bacon or something really useful. Chappie the dog's reaction was definitely "meh."
Here are the cool things they sent me.
1) The Foscam FI8910W Pan & Tilt IP/Network Camera with Two-Way Audio and Night Vision (Black).
This is a very well-reviewed home surveillance cam that allows you to stream live video and audio directly to your computer (Windows or Mac), smartphone (iOS/Android/Blackberry) or tablet (iOS/Android/Windows 8). There are lots of helpful setup videos set up by YouTubers about this popular cam, and you can listen and respond to what is going on while you watch with a built-in speaker and mic. I am going to install the hell out of this and talk to my dog when I'm away from home. It's uncanny that they sent me this, I was in the market for a home spycam, and this looks like it will do the trick and be pretty easy to install.
2) A FoodSaver vacuum sealing system for home food storage or preparation.
Totally something I would buy and use. I'm into bulk foods, home cooking, and zero kitchen waste. This is a thingie to vacuum-seal food. I tried it out and it worked. The company says it keeps food fresh up to 5 times longer and allows you to save up to $2700 per year. I don't know about the math, but I think this object brings me joy and I shall keep it.
3) The Escali digital scale.
Did I mention that one of the most fun things about getting stuff from Meh is the little comment slip they attach to each object? It's like Mystery Science Theater 3000 but for gadgets.
So, for this oddly designed little scale, the message taped to its packaging from Meh read:
"Will pigeon racing be the next big craze to sweep the urban farming underground? No. No it won't. But just in case, this digital scale is perfect for measuring out your mite-ridden flying stallion's performance diet."
It's a small scale. It weighs stuff up to 11 pounds. If you want to weigh envelopes or small packages for postage before mailing, or a bowl of food (it has a tare function) or food ingredients, this thing is cool. I do a lot of baking and cooking and fermenting, and will absolutely use this for ingredient measuring. Why is it green? Because that's why it's a deal. It's a pleasant enough midcentury modern green. I wouldn't have selected that color, but, meh. I kinda like it.
Sunbeats Puzzle Lamp
4) The Sunbeats Puzzle Lamp.
Here was the accompanying Meh-ssage, taped on to the item:
"For us, the biggest puzzle about this vaguely midcentury lampshade is whether we should sell it. Hmm. Yeah. It's kind of cool. Maybe. What do you think?"
I plan to get high Friday night and assemble this thing, using the weird YouTube videos I googled to help me along my way. It looks like biology. Like proteins or dna strands assembling themselves into life. It's a cool little retro lampshade that's kind of a fun puzzle to assemble.
The Sunbeats puzzle lamp from MEH.com
I don't know if you'll want to buy everything Meh.com sells every single day of your life. I want your expectations to be reasonable.
The electronics and amusing functional geegaws they sell are not the A-List celebrities of the techno knicknack world. But every now and then a deal comes up on Meh that I just can't resist, and I think you'll find the same.
