Say hello to the sneakiest and perhaps most useful “toy” a parent could want for her child:

What could it possibly do that’s so exciting to me? It teaches kids to use the Force! Well, kinda. What it actually does is shows kids how to access their alpha brainwave state. That’s what we experience when we get “in the zone” doing something interesting, or when we enter a very peaceful meditative state. We slow down from our usual (beta) brainwave speed and experience clarity and inner calm. The Force Trainer basically teaches kids to meditate! Studies abound on how meditation – or just slowing down and “being present” – can drastically improve our health, happiness, and lives. And calmer kids equal calmer parents

Star Wars certainly doesn’t explain the product this way, but look at the kid’s face in the commercial. That’s one chill padawan.

In case you’re wondering more about the technical details, here’s how it works:

“The wireless headset reads your brainwaves through dry sensor technology and can determine the differences between alpha, beta, gamma and delta waves. This allows a chip inside the Force Trainer to use an algorithm to interpret the data and translate it to physical action, which in this case moves the Training Sphere into different sections of the cylinder.”

$89 (was $119.99)

If you haven’t already noticed it’s the 30th anniversary of Star Wars (1977-2007); so we all have a reason to celebrate the entire year. Well, at least Star Wars fans, like myself, have a reason to. What’s the universal sign of celebration? Cake! Everyone loves cake, and most people love Star Wars, and I just want to bring those two things together.

If one were so inclined they could adorn their Star Wars costume and fly hundreds of miles to the official Celebration IV to be surrounded by Force sensitive people and the creators of Star Wars. Or perhaps you can join me and others with bad motivators and just buy a Star Wars cake pan off eBay and celebrate at home with friends and family.

I can envision multiple weekends being filled with Star Wars movies and cartoons coupled with delicious cake shaped and frosted like Darth Vader, R2-D2, C-3PO, Boba Fett, and more.

Does your sweet tooth require more than just cake? Check out the Star Wars cookbook or the Star Wars Party Book and supplement your celebration with Wookie cookies and other Galactic specialties.

Want to learn how to use the Force? Need to lift your X-Wing from the swamp? You want to be a Jedi.
Now you can learn from the best, just like Luke, every time you wear this Yoda plush backpack.

Warning: wearing this backpack may result in large muscles, rock balancing abilities, and freaky visions in a cave. Well I saw it in a movie once, OK more like a hundred, but every time I watched it the same thing happened, so it must be true.

$37.99 at ThinkGeek

Related: Most Jedi build their own, but they probably didn’t have the Internet, so get your very own lightsaber replica to complete the look.

“Going somewhere, Solo?” Those are Greedo’s first words to his last conversation. I’m generally not a bookends kind of guy, but when they are Star Wars themed, clever, and well made with good detail then I get interested. This is definitely a gift for the Star Wars fan or collector in your life. Use them to prominatly display your massive Star Wars book collection, or just all the various DVD versions you’ve purchased over the years (first release, special edition, limited edition, box set with extra features, and I’m sure there is more to come).

WickedCoolStuff’s product descriptions says it best; These bookends dipict one of the most famous, and controversial (Han Shot First! or option 2) scenes from all of the Star Wars films: the infamous Han Solo and Greedo Showdown at the Mos Eisley Cantina! These bookends stand 6″ tall by 10″ wide when together, and are made of hand painted polyresin. These also come with a certificate of authenticity since it is an officially lincensed Star Wars collectible.

This product isn’t available until November 2006, but you can pre-order yours from WickedCoolStuff or Entertainment Earth.