Gadget Love: Rubber ducks for geeks

Nothing says 'love' like a rubber duck. Who could forget Ernie from Sesame Street and his immortal rendition of the touching ballad known only as the Rubber Ducky Song:

'Rubber Ducky, you're the one
You make bathtime so much fun
Rubber Ducky, I'm awfully fond of you

Woo woo be doo'

This year, celebrate Valentine's Day by singing along with the karaoke version on the NIEHS Web site, or watching the vintage Sesame Street version on YouTube. Better yet, pass up the predictable flowers (they die) and chocolates (they vanish) and give your lover a duck -- but not just any duck. Choose high-tech geek ducks for even more bathtime fun.

1) I Rub my Duckie comes in Original (yellow) or Paris (pink) and looks completely innocent until you press its back, whereupon it vibrates -- either alarmingly or seductively, depending on where you are and who you're with. You probably shouldn't take it to the paddling pool at your local park, but in the privacy of your own home, it's a 'personal massager' cum bathtime companion. Visit Big Teaze Toys for further euphemisms, or order one from Firebox for £9.95.

2) The Funky Ducks at Gizoo have coloured LEDs in their heads, so they glow red, pink, blue, cyan, green and yellow. They cycle gently through their colours as they float around your bath, so all you need is some hippy-trippy music for total bathtime bliss. They're £9.95 each, but they'd be happier as a £17.95 pair.

3) Locomocean's Glow in the Duck also contains colour-changing LEDs. It's water-activated and completely sealed, so you don't have to worry about leaks -- but you can't change the battery, which is good for about 45 hours. Glow in the Duck comes in a bunch of colours, including a white iDuck and a pink Lover Duck that's speckled with hearts, and costs £7.

If you can't quite bring yourself to mix an electric duck with water, other ducks we like include the Luvee Duck (£5.99) from Totally Funky and the Big Daddy Rubber Duck (£17) from Bathroom Heaven. You can't go wrong with a duck. -ML