I think back to my childhood and one thing has always stood out: sitting with my cousin and friends on rainy days in front of a Nintendo game system – at the time, the coolest bit of technology ever created – and playing whatever game we had gotten for Christmas, our birthdays, or rented from the video store. But one game we all had and loved was some incarnation of the infamous Mario Brothers games.

From the early Mario Bros to the more celebrated Super Nintendo versions, the character and his friends were a staple of the gaming industry. That hasn’t changed. With every new version of the console brand, new games have come along to utilize the expansive changes of the graphics and game play of the newer generations.

If you want proof of the continuing popularity, check out these ten fantastic products that have been created to celebrate the Mario world. Some of them are must-haves for any classic console geek.

1. Super Mario Wall Decals

Want something cool for your kid’s room, or even a game or entertainment room? You can get some awesome decals for the wall, in either classic or modern styles. They come with Mario, goombas, turtles, blocks and pipes. Some also come with a few of Mario’s friends, such as the Princess, Luigi and Yoshi.

2. Super Mario Messenger Bag

Etsy is home of some of the coolest homemade products on the web, with thousands of talented sellers in every genre imaginable. Mario is a commonly seen feature there, and this messenger bag is a great example of one of the better-made products. Created by 16BIT, it is only one of dozens of cool products they have sold.

They are currently sold out, but you can contact the seller for details about restocking.

3. Super Mario Energy Drink

Need something to pep you up when you hit that 2 AM slump at your next LAN party (yes, I am that big of a geek)? Then check out this Mario energy drink. Made in blue raspberry flavor, it is a little can of caffeine heaven fit for anyone who enjoys slamming down Red Bulls and playing a few manic rounds of Call of Duty. Just don’t drink too many, or you’ll be wired for days.

4. Question Mark Pillow

We all know the question mark blocks that are in the games. We can find coins there, mushrooms, stars, fireflowers, feathers….little items that can make the next move in the game a little easier. But in the case of this pillow, the only power will be making your furniture look a little more stylish.

But if the pillow isn’t enough, why not try…

5. Question Mark Block Ottoman

The colors aren’t great (unless you like gold and brown), but the look is still pretty cool. It is only 15x15x15, so small enough to keep from taking up too much space. It is made of memory foam, so not good to fit on. But great to put your feet up on, or even lean back against.

6. Super Mario Rubik’s Cube

Do you like puzzles? Do you like Mario? Do you like Rubik’s cubes? Would you like a Rubik’s cube puzzle that comes in the form of Mario’s world? Then you are in luck. This is probably one of the geekiest things I have ever seen in my life, and I want one!

7. Question Block Tissue Box

It is probably getting obvious that you can by a lot by way of question blocks. But with how many are in a game, that is a good thing…you can make your room look like a real world level. If not, you can always pop this onto your desk at work or home for a cool little place to put tissues. It will certainly give you a smile to go with that sneeze.

8. Super Mario Shelves

Without a doubt, this is my favorite product on the market. These shelves are made in the form of cubby blocks, the ones with question marks are covered and open up by pulling the flap up from the top. They are studier than they look, and can hold anything from books to trophies to toys.

9. Super Mario Brothers Paperclips and Push Pins

Maybe not the most amazing or effective of products, but these mushroom and goomba pins and paper clips are still pretty cool. If you reuse such items in the office, it couldn’t hurt to have a couple handy. You know, to impress the clients or just amuse yourself.

10. Super Mario Fridge Magnets

You can create an entire magnetic world on your fridge, playing out levels or just creating a nice little scene to make you chuckle when you stumble to the kitchen for a glass of water in the middle of the night. Just think of how much more pleasant those hangovers will be if you wake up to Mario jumping over a pipe on your freezer.

I was looking through my cell phone games the other day for the first time while in the dentist’s waiting room. Nothing really interested me much until I came upon a welcome sight. My mobile had Tetris, which is quite possibly the most long-lasting, entertaining old school console games every created.

Tetris has remained wildly popular, though not in a chic kind of way. It more has to do with the staying power of the game itself, and the comfortable familiarity that puts it on the highest ‘classic’ tier. This has been reflected in the wide number of products inspired by the game that have hit the market in recent years.

Here are a few personal favorites, some of which are available for purchase.

1. Tetris Table

Who doesn’t love a good meal? Now here is a better question: who doesn’t love a good meal on a set of Tetris blocks? This interesting table was designed and created by Jared Kohn. While it isn’t the most attractive piece of furniture you could own, it is pretty cool. I would recommend it for the ultimate geek-room accessory, wherever you keep models, console or collectables.

2. Tetris (Flower) Pots

If you talk to your plants, coo to them as you mist them, or spend more time with them than you do most friends, you are probably a garden lover. If you want some interesting planters for indoors or out, why not get some that grow your plants in the shape of the well known Tetris blocks? They were created by students at the Estonian Academy of Arts, and they are fantastic. However, they wouldn’t be great for most plants, given the narrow shape.

3. Tetris Mirror

Probably the most creative idea I have seen using the Tetris model, these gorgeous mirrors have both nerd appeal and modern art appeal. They are attractive acrylic mirrors made up of thirteen panels that have been formed in Tetris bricks. The bottom is solid, showing where the levels were complete. They stick to the wall using double sided sticky pads.

4. Tetris Ice Cube Trays

Is there anything better than a drink at the end of a hard day at work? Whether it is a scotch on the rocks or a glass of lemonade, you can spice up that beverage with these Tetris ice trays. They are provided by the ever thoughtful Think Geek, and they are made of silicone. This makes the tray flexible, which is easier to get the ice from. The unusual shape would make it ore likely to snap the tray in half if it were plastic.

5. Tetris Shelves

These modular shelves are as functional as they are interesting. The plywood boxes are each made in block shapes, which can then be constructed together and hung, like in the game. You can actually stack a lot of them, making something closer to a standing bookshelf, or else hung more casually for whatever it is you might need them for, without the clutter.

You can find more Tetris related furniture, such as an awesome desk setup, by artists Diego Silverio and Helder Filipov here.

6. Tetris Couch

Stefano Grasselli created this cool, multilayer couch that can be mixed and matched to fit your preferences. There are different shapes and sizes, with the cushions matching each block found in the game. This will definitely cause some conversation.

7. Tetris Level 9 Soaps

For the bathroom, you can bring your gamer sensibilities right in with you. This fifteen piece soap set is for sale and ships worldwide from Etsy seller Digitalsoaps. The list of ingredients are:

• Coconut Oil
• Palm Oil
• Castor Oil
• Safflower Oil
• Glycerin (kosher, of vegetable origin)
• Purified Water
• Sodium Hydroxide (saponifying agent)
• Sorbitol (moisturizer)
• Sorbitan Oleate (emulsifier)
• Soy Bean Protein (conditioner)
• Titanium Dioxide (mineral whitener used in opaque soaps)
• Color and fragrance

8. Tetris Cusions

Turn a boring couch to a fab affair with these cushions! They are a little weirdly colored to me, but the fabric used is gorgeous. It is a natural, soft cotton, and the cushions themselves are very comfortable. They are also easy to organize on any sized sofa or chair.

9. Tetris Tiles

If you are looking for some home décor ideas, this might be just the thing for you. These tiles are well made, interesting, come in multiple colors and are easy to install. You can create a pattern in the mosaic, or else create an entire game screen to enjoy. They are high quality, so no fear of shipping or scratching.

10. Tetris Tie

Take your geekiness to work! This Tetris tie is actually one of many classic game inspired pieces. There is one with a joystick, Asteroids, Pong and Space Invaders. Each one costs between $18.95 and $20.00, and they are available on Amazon.

Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

I don’t know if I’m quite ready to say the BP oil spill drama is “winding down,” but I definitely don’t hear as much about that man-made disaster as I’d expect to — and I mean from friends, family, and other everyday folks rather than the news media. Other than retweeting the occasional smart-alecky remark, joke, or video I don’t hear much about it in everyday life. And that makes me wonder. Why?

When gas prices went through the roof people here boycotted the gas stations. They took fewer road trips. They bought more eco-friendly cars. I’m not sure if it’s just a local thing or what, but I haven’t seen the same kind of outrage over the oil spill. Where are the BP boycotts? Better yet, where are the boycotts in general?

My Local BP: Are the Times A-Changin’?

Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

This question first came to mind not after watching the news for the latest oil spill updates, but after visiting my own local BP station. The fuel pump was leaking little bits of gasoline on the concrete next to me as I moved its handle to my car. All kinds of jokes came to mind, but I’m not a comedian so I’ll spare you. But then I looked around. There were maybe one or two others there. And I thought to myself, “Why the hell am I patronizing BP right now?”

At first I felt bad, thinking I must be one of the few poor schmucks still buying from them. But after driving by at rush hour I realized that, no, it was business as usual. (That BP station is located with a McDonald’s, so when Mickey D’s is busy, so often is the gas station.)

The Environment vs High Gas Prices

Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

Maybe what it really comes down to is the fact that people are selfish (myself included). When we’re hit directly in the wallet by a few extra cents a gallon, we can become infuriated. But destroy the environment (when it’s not directly where we live) and we seem to move on fairly quickly.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not calling for a BP boycott or anything of the like. I just found the whole situation to be somewhat curious. I do care about the environment. That’s one reason I drive a very fuel-efficient car and probably always will. But I also love to drive (and where I live you can’t really get anywhere without driving). I have no intention of giving it up. I’ll continue to purchase fuel, and probably wherever I find a good deal, or wherever it’s convenient if I’m out for the day.

I’m curious about what you think, and what you’ve observed. Have you boycotted BP? Have you made an effort to purchase less fuel overall due to the effects of the oil spill, to try to send a message to the oil companies? Is there even a BP station where you live? Do you even think about these larger issues in the news when you’re going through the mundane process of filling up your tank for another work week? Does price trump all? Are things in your area much different from what I observed here (in Pennsylvania)? Leave a comment and tell us how the BP oil spill has affected your life and buying decisions, if it has at all.

Minimal design is about omitting all extra (non-essential) elements that don’t really contribute to the essence of the overall composition in order to emphasize what is important. It is believed to be the easiest to implement but the hardest to brainstorm.

Minimal design is the clearest and the most compelling when it comes to conveying an idea or a concept.

This post looks at minimal design in billboard advertising: 10 (almost) blank but really impressive billboards:

1. Almost Nothing

These billboards have tiny animals on them. The copy reads, “Soon, you won’t be able to see them at all.”

2. A Sign From God

The target is unclear but the message is definitely compelling:

by Armante

3. No Size Limits

The billboard is empty but it says that all!

4. People with Wrinkles

October 1st was International Older Persons Day. So, in an effort to remind younger Scots that pensioners are people too, the Scottish government installed these posters in Glasgow, Edinburgh and other cities.

5. Use Electricity Wisely

6. Say No to No Billboards

Another blank billboard with clear message:

7. No One Cares…

8. Neglected Children are Made to be Invisible

9. Playboy Billboard

Only such a strong brand as PlayBoy can afford to create such self -explanatory billboards.

10. I Pooted

The billboards were part of a Cartoon Network ad campaign for Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends.

by Michael™

It is a widely-spread (maybe even universal) stereotype: women love shopping, men hate shopping.

This stereotype has even been tested and proved by Stanford researcher S. Christian Wheeler who found that women were nearly three times more likely to “browse” before buying anything while men just go and buy what they need:

- Women eagerly go shopping even if they actually don’t need anything in particular while men only visit stores when then need to buy something;

- Women browse until they have seen most of the things in the store while men just quickly buy what they need and leave.

In other words, men shop as hunters, women shop as gatherers. Or women shop while men buy.

Now, let’s see how this gender gap is (humorously) reflected in store signs:

Shopping with Your Husband Is Like Hunting With the Game Warden

by Wesley Fryer

Men Working…. Women Shopping

by Antony Pranata

Danger: Women Shopping

Shopping Gives My Pointless Life Meaning

by monkeydoc

Seat for Bored Husbands

Husband’s Resting Area

by Lizz Trudeau

Husband Parking Only

by vurple

You Can Bring Your Drinks, Pets … and Husband

by one/million

Licensed Husband Creche

by jbimages

We spend plenty of time online chatting with our virtual friends on Myspace or Facebook, tweeting, digging, etc.

In fact, we spend so much time online that it is sometimes hard to believe there’s an “actual” word where these networks do not exist.

However the virtual reality is growing fast and we have less time for the “offline” life – this is even reflected in the clothes we wear.

Today’s t-shirt collection is dedicated to all social media and web 2.0 users who already can’t live without social networking:

1. “I Submitted to Digg but All I Got Was This Lousy T-shirt”

2. “I’ll Google Your Yahoo”

3. “You Look Better on MySpace”

4. “You Are So off My Buddy List”

5. Anonymous Twitter T-Shirt

Source

6. “I am Huge on Twitter”

7. “Tom is not My Friend”

Who doesn’t know Tom of MySpace (who has recently joined Facebook by the way):

8. “I Have More Friends Than You (on Myspace)”

9. The Original Search Engine

10. “I Am Your Web Mistress – You Must Submit”

Source

Same idea for men:

Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

We’re at that time of year where many homes are already decorated for the holidays. One of my favorite December activities is driving around, looking at all of the holiday displays, lights, and various Christmas decorations. But wow. There are some seriously tacky holiday homes out there!

I often drive by one particular house in the neighborhood, and I ask myself nearly every time — “What were they thinking?” It’s the epitome of tacky Christmas displays. If there’s a blow-up lawn display or holiday cut-out to be found, it’s on that lawn. And it’s a pretty big lawn at that. As much as their holiday decorating makes my eyes want to bleed I do have to give the homeowners some credit. Somehow the crazy little menagerie of reindeer, snowmen, and Santas (seriously, how many Santas does one person need on their lawn?) manages to survive every wind storm we get. One of these days I half expect to see Santa finally take off in his sleigh.

This local eyesore is pretty bad, but it’s far from alone. Tacky holiday decorations can be found pretty much anywhere. What’s the worst you’ve seen?

Here are some of my personal picks for the tackiest Christmas decorations and decorating styles:

1. Lawn Snow Globes

I really don’t know what it is that bothers me about lawn snow globes — those huge, plastic (maybe vinyl?) air-filled snow globes. I like holiday cartoons. I like color. I like most things you could consider “cute.” But these things leave me scratching my head. “Why?” I have to ask.

Maybe it’s that they look like they’re more hassle than they’re worth. Maybe I’ve just been overexposed to other gigantic air-filled lawn ornaments blowing in the wind. I don’t know. But they strike me as incredibly tacky. I don’t expect everyone to agree. In fact, I can understand how kids would be attracted to them, so one on a family lawn might not be so bad. But two? Three? Yep, I’ve seen it. Remember folks, you don’t need both size and quantity to impress the neighbors during the holidays.

Credit: Uncle Paul T Birdman (via Flickr)

2. Abnormal Nativity Scenes

Look. I’m not a religious person, but even I feel a little bit offended (or maybe a better word is “perplexed”) when I see crazy nativity scenes displayed. I’m not talking about a big plastic Mary and Joseph here either. I can overlook the somewhat cheesy. But some people seem to take it just a wee bit too far — adding an odd mix of characters, the nativity scene below is a perfect example.

Credit: zen (via Flickr)

3. Dark-Colored Christmas Lights

Okay. I’m somewhat biased here. I’ve always preferred a “classic” look around Christmas, especially opting for white lights over multi-colored ones. What I will say about colored lights is that I’m glad so many individual colors are available these days, because they do seem to contribute to more creative holiday decorating. However, there’s a particular type of colored lights that looks absolutely atrocious. The colors are so dark that they look like a better fit for a creepy Halloween display than one around the winter holidays. Take a look at the difference below between more traditional colored Christmas lights and these dark ones I’ve been seeing more of lately. I’m not sure if this is simply a new style or a particular brand of lights with the overly dark appearance. What do you think about them?

Traditional colored Christmas lights – Credit: jspad (via Flickr)

Dark colored Christmas lights – Credit: Aaron Landry (via Flickr)

4. Extremely Bright White Christmas Lights

On the other end of the spectrum, I’m seeing more of these extremely bright white lights this year too. They’re generally LED lights from what I’ve seen, that emit a stark white glow. What’s wrong with that? Well, when they’re overdone on a home, frankly they can be kind of blinding. But it’s more than that. Where’s the “warmth?” Traditional white holiday lights always had a warmer feel to them — more of a cream color than truly white. Again, I’m biased because I love those traditional white lights. But still….

Now don’t get me wrong. I think LED lights in general are a fantastic idea. Who wouldn’t want to save money and help the environment with LED lights? (You, in the back, put your hand down!) All I’m saying is that if we can get LED Christmas lights in various colors, why not figure out how to give us our good old fashioned “white” as well?

Traditional white lights – Credit: jpstanley (via Flickr)

Traditional white lights – Credit: Sister72 (via Flickr)

Bright white lights – Credit: Daedrius (via Flickr)

Bright white lights – Credit: bigtallguy (via Flickr)

5. Net Lights

To be fair, net holiday lights can be either a hit or miss. Sadly, most that I see are complete misses. What are they? They’re basically a square or rectangular net of lights. The concept is a good one — you can use a net to ensure uniformity in your rows of lights (neatness counts, right?). The “tacky” nature comes in when people toss a single net of lights over a bush or tree without covering it. You’re not supposed to know it’s a net being used! You’re supposed to use more than one if necessary to completely cover your hedge (or whatever you’re attempting to illuminate). I don’t know. Maybe it’s just me. A lot of folks seem to disagree and be quite content with half-assed shrub coverage. More power to them.

Net lights – Credit: H-monk (via Flickr)

These are my five “favorite” holiday decorating disasters. What are yours?

What can be less ordinary than a shopping bag you take with you when going to the mall?

You know me, I love when ordinary things are turned into something creative and innovative – and shopping bags are no exception!

So today I am listing the examples of most creative and awesome shopping bags that are aimed to spread an idea and communicate the company’s message.

Part of your style:

Karl Lagerfeld mask bag is both stylish and genius:

And this one is just hilarious!

Visualizes the message

Wheaties bag is a great example of how its advertising campaign communicates the company message: eat our products and get in shape! (via epromos.com).

YKM Bag shopping bag clearly promotes the active way of life:

GreenPeace shopping bag is another great example of a well-visualized campaign message: “Give me your hand” (via scattodesign.com):

Gaia activists visualize their message on a plastic shopping bag the following way (via frederiksamuel.com):

Red cross shopping bag strikes simple design and impactful execution (via adsoftheworld.com):

Visualizes the product:

Fitness Company fitness center shopping bag shows a 20 kilo handweigt (printed on both sides). They’re given away to customers when purchasing fitness accessories or nutritional supplements (via commercial-archive.com):

“Drop your bag!“: this shopping bag was given when you bought a book by Belgium’s most famous crime-writer (via adsoftheworld.com):

Would you guess what product the following one promotes? This is a product that is meant to stop nail biting:

Panadol shopping bags that visualize the head ache:

Cool design:

Clothes in Closets shopping bag has handles like knuckles. The idea behind the design is unclear: whether the clothes are so cool that you will have to fight for them or (as suggested in the comments) it is meant for aggressive sale hunters. What’s sure is that the design is cool and catchy:

I can’t understand the idea behind the following one but it cool, isn’t it?

The following ones must be promoting some concept, but I wasn’t able to find out which one:

Post image by wili_hybrid

Consumers are easily manipulated because:

• they are bad at math;
• they shop with their heart rather than their head.

This means you might be wasting your money (that is not so easy to earn) because you are being manipulated.

Do you think this is fair? Would you like to be sure you are spending your money because you want, not because someone wants you to? Do you want to save?

Then let’s learn which tricks sellers may be using to manipulate your shopping behavior.

Shopping momentum

Shopping momentum occurs when a buyer literally “can’t stop”‘: the first purchase produces a psychological impulse that makes him / her buy more.

How this works: Shopping has two phases: deliberation and implementation. The actual buying moves us from deliberation to implementation phase: we continue buying without returning to the deliberation stage.

How not to be tricked: break the shopping momentum. A good way to do that is to pay by cash and use several envelopes / pockets where you take the money from:

• counting cash makes you think: you thus return to the deliberation stage;
• paying from different envelopes forces you to return to the deliberation stage to think if the purchase was a good idea.

Confused consumers

A sales technique called “disrupt-then-reframe” can trick consumers into buying.

How this works: the seller first presents a confusing sales pitch to a customer and then restates the pitch in a more familiar way. Meaning, they first utilize technical jargon, complex terminology or large product assortments and thus “attract the consumer’s attention” who becomes eager to ‘understand’ the pitch.

How not to be tricked: in this case, knowledge is your best weapons. Just remain cool-headed and realize you are being cheated.

Double discounts

Ironically, shoppers are more attracted to the double discount, even though it involves less savings. An average American is not very good at maths, which is why a sale offering “20 % off the original price plus an additional 25 % off the already-reduced sale price” is effective.

How this works: the maths behind this is both complex to explain and spot. Say, one store offers 45% discount, while another one offers 25% + 25% discount for the same product. Which one do you feel is better? The second one? Wrong! In reality, the second offer is about a ~43 percent discount, because the second discount is taken on the reduced amount after the first discount.

How not to be tricked: well, use a calculator! Counting your money is the best way to save it. So counting ho much you are actually saving will help you understand who is honest and who tries to trick you.

Post images by jpockele, Cosmic Kitty, Jesse757, artykle.com

Do you love gadgets? Well, if you are going to answer “No”, you probably just don’t know what I mean.

Gadgets are little (and huge) devices that are meant to make our lives easier. They do not necessarily mean any technological innovations, sometimes these are ordinary things with enhanced functionality.

So today I am going to show you how daily-routine things may be optimized so that you could never imagine. You have dreamed about them without even knowing this is possible!

Love singing when taking shower? Then this Shower Mic Sponge is right for you! (Via grandrivertoys.com)

Are you lazy? Then this device is right for you! Instead of having to lean down and put your mouth under the faucet just to rinse away the toothpaste. A clever internal tube takes the flowing water and redirects it as a small jet (via wired.com):

Let your dog peek outside with this awesome Pet Peek gadget (via PetPeek):

Another gadget for your yard: a ball-shaped glass bird feeder (via WhereDidYouBuyThat):

Here’s another gadget for your yard birds: solar bird house – it has has a solar panel that charges a small battery. At sunset a sensor turns on the illuminated perch, creating a whimsical glow in your garden and hopefully makes it easier for your birdies to get home (via Australia gift shop):

A perfect example of an ordinary thing getting optimized: The Drinkin’ Tray (via slightlywarped.com)

Burnt toast could soon be a thing of the past as this glass toaster lets you see your bread as it browns (via PicoCool):

More cooking gadgets: this Lap Counter gives you the mobility to peel, chop, slice fruits and vegetables almost anywhere in the house (via kickstyle.me):

The following gadget allows for the safe transport and storage of individual bananas letting you enjoy perfect banana anytime, anywhere (via wallbike.com):

Who knew there are so many devices to store and transport bananas? Here is another one: (via vat19.com):

The weight watch belt measures the waist every time you put it on & lets you know if you put on any weight (via crookedbrains.net):

These cool electrical outlets will stash electrical cords behind a Picket Fence to hide clutter (via PicoCool):

This cool stackable furniture set will save your place: it will be there only when you need it (via freakyfrugalite.com):

Have a habit to wake up late at night and don’t want to bother your family? Check out these amazing slippers (via freakyfrugalite.com):

Squishy Bowl: you can shove them in a pocket, backpack, laptop bag, belly button (if it’s big enough), and more. They pop back into shape and are ready to go (via ThinkGeek).

Another example of an optimized : ‘spill-resistant’ bowl that uses a gyroscope to prevent spills when you’re gyrating (via gizmodo.com):

The clever Post-A-Note pen comes with a built-in cartridge filled with small yellow Post-it inspired notes, so you’ll never have to worry about being without paper again (via Geek Alerts).

Sometimes you just can’t do without crutches, but why settle for regular crutches if you can have collapsible ones? (via Craziest Gadgets)

Do you ever have to work in the badly-heated office or even outside? Are cold hands slowing down your reaction time when you are playing a video game? The USB Heating Gloves may be the answer to your prayers! (via perpetualkid.com)

Post image by Aitor Escauriaza