Inside Look at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Since 1924, Macy's kicked-off the holidays with its renowned Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Giant balloons of iconic pop culture characters, floats and falloons (aka floats with a balloon character) take over midtown Manhattan, New York City, on Thanksgiving Day as 3 million people line the pavement to watch, while another 44 million catch the TV broadcast.

If you've ever wondered how the balloons and floats were made, Macy's put together these videos for a behind-the-scenes look.

The Making of Parade Balloons for the 2008 Parade:

The Making of Parade Floats for the 2008 Parade:

Pop Holiday Stress Away
The holidays can be a stressful time for many people trying to prepare for family gatherings, travel or beat out other holiday shoppers. Luckily, Bubble Wrap® — which has developed a second use as a stress reliever — can be found aplenty during the holidays. Whether it's the sound of popping air bubbles or simple occupation of fingers, popping bubbles has been seen to have a cathartic effect on people.

To help soothe the nerves without having to hunt down rolls of bubble wrap, Japanese scientists invented the electronic equivalent of Bubble Wrap in keychain form. Called Eternal Poppety Pop, this keyring-sized toy has a small pad of 10 "bubbles" that emit a popping sound when squeezed.

"Persistent poppers are rewarded with other sounds — including a klaxon or simulated flatulence — once every 100 pops," the Telegraph reports.

More than 2 million of these toys have been sold since the gadget was released a year ago. For a lifetime of pops (or until the battery runs out and needs replacing), the keychain can be yours for ¥819 ($8.62).

If you'd rather not carry around an Eternal Poppety Pop, you can get your pop on HERE.

Thanksgiving Liability and Indemnification Agreement
Before serving up a bountiful Thanksgiving meal, protect yourself from potential legal action by first having dinner guests sign a Thanksgiving Liability and Indemnification Agreement. The document states that your guests have chosen to eat their dinners despite the host's failure to provide nutritional information, to warn about the potential dangers of overeating and to offer alternative venues serving healthier meals.

The Center for Consumer Freedom, a "nonprofit organization devoted to promoting personal responsibility and protecting consumer choices," created the agreement form to criticize food cops "who are constantly trying to tell Americans what they should eat and how they should live." (Source: Chicago Tribune)

Stay Dry Despite the Rain, Snow and Slush
Protect yourself from winter elements as you walk from shop to shop by wearing nanotech clothing fabric developed by Swiss chemists from the University of Zurich. If you were to soak this new waterproof material underwater for two months, it would come out as dry as when it went in, New Scientist says. (Image credit: University of Zurich/Wiley Vch, via New Scientist)

Made from polyester fibers coated with millions of tiny silicone filaments, this water-repellent material allows water drops to stay as spherical balls on top of the fabric and have them roll off like marbles. "A jet of water bounces of the fabric without leaving a trace."

Cat Cleans Up
Too tired to clean up after all the turkey, cranberry sauce and festivities? Why not hire this cat and his Roomba vacuum cleaner?

IMT readers, please note that IMT will be shuttered for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and will be back on Monday. In between turkey nibbles and servings of pudding, we'll be working on the upcoming packaging issue. We hope you have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving and check back with us on Monday.