Oddities on Display at Dunedin Fringe Festival

"I Feel Like Irrigation Tonight," an invention by Holly Aitchison to facilitate watering of plants, was one of many semi-practical gadgets and gizmos on display at the 2010 Dunedin Fringe Festival.  (Nicholas Bailey & Alysha Bloxham)

David Cohen's invention, a gizmo that helps lessen fears of speaking in public the easiest way possible -- completely disguising the fact that you're speaking in public. (Nicholas Bailey & Alysha Bloxham)

David Cohen's demonstrates his invention, eyeglasses and ear plugs that lessen fears of speaking in public. (Nicholas Bailey & Alysha Bloxham)

Drus Dryden's submissions: gloves that make it hard to hold a cigarette -- and therefore prevent you from smoking. The ultimate cessation creation! (Nicholas Bailey & Alysha Bloxham)

Mark Johnson's invention for the Dunedin Fringe Festival: handy plugs. You'll never lose your ear plugs again, or find yourself up against dangerously loud noises and without options, as long as you've got your plugs handily dangling from your ears. (Nicholas Bailey & Alysha Bloxham)

A Grate Act and Sprinklehorn, two submissions by Jane Venis, combine musical instruments with other activities, notably grating vegetables and watering the lawn. (Nicholas Bailey & Alysha Bloxham)

Jane Venis demonstrates the grater ukulele, which makes beautiful music and helps you get dinner ready.  (Nicholas Bailey & Alysha Bloxham)

Exact-A-Stride by Mark Johnson let's you measure your paces out perfectly -- running can be hazardous to your health, after all.  (Nicholas Bailey & Alysha Bloxham)

Get a good grip when you go to lift the seat with the Double-Handled Toilet-Seat-O-Manual, by Aaron McConchie, one of many wacky inventions on display at the 2010 Dunedin Fringe Festival. (Nicholas Bailey & Alysha Bloxham)

Bubbly Buddy by Zara Finnie & Jess Dore, a super convenient way to keep the precipitation off of your shoulders.  (Nicholas Bailey & Alysha Bloxham)

Eli Kerin's invention makes peeling a banana as simple as hunting down this gadget from that drawer in your kitchen -- never mind the fact that bananas come with a convenient extraction means built in. (Nicholas Bailey & Alysha Bloxham)

Eli Kerin's invention makes peeling a banana as simple as hunting down this gadget from that drawer in your kitchen -- never mind the fact that bananas come with a convenient extraction means built in. (Nicholas Bailey & Alysha Bloxham)

Joseph Worley demonstrates the wind-powered coffee grinder at the 2010 Dunedin Fringe Festival. (Paul Smith)

Wide Angle Spectacles by Eli Kerin make it easy for you to take in all the action.  (Nicholas Bailey & Alysha Bloxham)

Combining two of your favorite activities is fun and easy with Mike O'Kane's weigh and swing scale.  (Nicholas Bailey & Alysha Bloxham)

Shandals, by Gavin O'Brien -- your guess is as good as ours.  (Nicholas Bailey & Alysha Bloxham)

The Chewing Gum Holder by Gabriela Vinte Marinescu gives you a convenient place to store your gum, so you can chew it again later. The gum holder was one of many inventions on display at the 2009 Dunedin Fringe Festival. (Paul Smith)

'Blasterboard' by Jane Venis, a warning device on a skateboard for approaching traffic, was one of many wild inventions on display at the 2009 Dunedin Fringe Festival. (Paul Smith)

Ruby Parker and Billie Osbourne's invention, Rolling Pin Skirt Tucker, stops nasty creases the old fashioned and quite complex way -- from the 2009 Dunedin Fringe Festival. (Paul Smith)

Never have someone else walk off with your shopping again, thanks to Metal Shopping Basket by Corrin Kum, which is guaranteed to stop people stealing your shopping. From the 2009 Dunedin Fringe Festival. (Paul Smith)

"Head Set" by Mike O'Kane changes your mood by tapping your head, a convenient though odd invention from the 2009 Dunedin Fringe Festival. (Paul Smith)

In Don't Fly off the Handle by Taranaki Smith, a device washes your hands when you open the door. Created for the 2009 Dunedin Fringe Festival. (Nicholas Bailey & Alysha Bloxham)

Gamers Workstation by Doug Hall lets you can keep gaming all night long, one of many wacky inventions from the 2009 Dunedin Fringe Festival. (Paul Smith)