skimming off the top Traffic stalled on I-75 again? What you need is a hovercraft. It's an ideal play toy year-round on land, snow or water. Universal Hovercraft is the world's largest supplier of hovercraft plans, kits and parts since 1967. Consider the new UH-18SPW Hoverwing XR. Looks like an airboat with wings. Accelerate to 55 mph, pull back on the joystick, and the hovercraft rises one to four feet above the water. Throttle back and cruise at 60 mph. It can carry up to six people and "flies" much like an airplane, no pilot's license required. For the ambitious do-it-yourselfer, it's $4,680. The top model, pre-assembled, is $18,500. www.hovercraft.com.

swimming in shock Shark attacks are rare, but who wants to be that one-in-a-million surfer or diver targeted as lunch? Now a venture into the water can be safe, thanks to the Shark Shield. Shark Shield looks like a terrorist has wrapped black tape around a few sticks of explosive, but it's really a battery-powered electric-field generator. A shark gets within 10 feet and-oweee-it swims away. The manufacturer says Shark Shield puts up its electrical field around the body, so a diver doesn't receive shocks. In Australia, in 5,000 tests using bloody meat, sharks backed off every time. Next up will be lifejackets incorporating Shark Shields, and Australia is considering using the technology to protect public beaches. $498. www.aquanaut.com.au.

finding the WMD Speaking of terrorists, fear is pervasive that our enemies might attack with a "dirty" bomb, throwing up wide-spreading radioactive material. If you'd like to be first to know that you're in danger, the NukAlert comes to your rescue. Attach a NukAlert to your key chain and you'll have 24/7 nonstop radiation monitoring. It makes a soft, steady ticking sound to let you know it's working and a much different sound if radiation increases to dangerous levels. The NukAlert is a new status symbol in Washington, D.C. It costs $160 and comes with a 10-year battery. www.nukalert.com.

sticking 'em up The price of USB memory sticks, which allow computer users to carry and transfer vast amounts of data, has been dropping steadily. There are even keychain models. So what are we to make of one costing $3,500? White Lake of the Netherlands manufactures the high-style, high-cost gizmo, which is made of 14-karat gold with five polished diamonds. It was designed by Dutch goldsmith Erwin de Vroome to be the last word in memory sticks. For penny pinchers, the diamonds can be omitted, and then it's only $2,800. www.white-lake.com.