Monday, July 23, 2012

Mystery Object, Please Identify Me

Inspired by Michael Leddy's mysterious crocodile, I wanted to share a photo and ask you to identify -- or if you prefer, make up possible uses for -- this object.


If you click to enlarge it, you'll clearly see a symbol on top that appears to be a power switch symbol, the kind used on electronic devices. It's about 6 inches tall, and maybe 2.5 inches wide at the base.

What could it be? I had no idea when I first saw it.

Once I found out, though, I was sure it was a sign of the coming apocalypse. But then I read Frank Rich's amazing essay, Mayberry R.I.P., and realized I was experiencing a moment of declinist panic. Now I just think this object and its purpose are utterly silly.

Update: Commenter Cassidy correctly identified the mystery object as a battery-powered stirrer.

Its trademarked name is RoboStir, as seen on TV. The black cylinder holds a D battery, and when you push the power button, it walks around on its little rubber feet. So if you put it in a pot of gravy, say, you don't have to watch the pot every second while you carve the turkey.

Clearly, your kitchen is unusable without one.

6 comments:

Michael Leddy said...

It looks like an object designed to be used in a blog post. Other than that, the holes in the top make me think that it might have something to do with incense or an air freshener. I look forward to the right answer.

Sonja said...

Ceramic filter for purifying water?

Ms Sparrow said...

An earthquake detector?

Cassidy Napoli said...

Battery Powered Stirrer.

Daughter Number Three said...

Cassidy wins the hand-painted commode (as my mother would say)!

Marsha Qualey said...

Battery power stirrers, but still no ray guns. Sigh.