In this season of impenetrable plastic packages, a wonderful invention has just come to my attention. Called OpenX, it’s a knife like device specifically developed to open those hard cases that enshrine just about everything on my kids gift list this year. Ironically, it was invented by the guy that spent much of his adult life creating those self-same plastic packages, one Thomas Perlmutter. Opening these things is no joke – according to a recent article in Business 2.0, The US Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that attempts to open plastic packaging led to 2,943 injuries in 2004.The company Perlmutter founded to commercialize his invention, called Ranchmark is already turning a profit, and the product has gotten great buzz with features in web sites gizmodo and even TV appearances. I’m going to order one today – will keep you posted on whether it is truly life changing.