We pick interesting products and trends for you!
The 80s were a time of newness…a time of happiness…and a time of “geekiness!”
But, what a great time it was! If you were like me, you waited outside a theater or drive-in waiting for the next coming-of-age flick that would set your heart aflutter and your mind at ease…because, after all, we were all geeks. And, somehow, we were all in love with SOMEONE!
Sixteen Candles (1984)
Teaching your kids at home can be very difficult with all the various distractions of everyday life. Artist/designer Mike Yamada has made it a little easier to teach your children the alphabets with his Zoom Zoo flashcard set. These alphabet flashcards are designed with cartoony animals, retro-style cars, and colorful alphabets.
Do you remember as a kid while playing your NES and you said to yourself – “Man, these graphics are so much better than Atari 2600!” Google Maps is also using 8-bit technology too.
Not only is Jon Hamm handsome and talented, he’s capable of growing a full and manly beard. Also, he’s apparently a decent bowler. He might possibly be the most perfect male specimen alive.
2012 is the summer for superhero movies. Malaysia-based artist Marcus has created a set of 11×17 silhouette style superhero posters for Batman, Spiderman & Captain America. The set retails for $40.00USD and shipping costs. The poster is a digital print on 250g Off-White cardstock and comes with no frame.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a hardcore or a causal gamer while growing up as a kid but somehow and someway we’ve bought many video game systems over our lifetimes. I have probably spent over a couple thousand dollars buying and collecting video games for the Sega Saturn alone. I had everything for the Sega Saturn – I had the US console and also the Japanese “white” edition. I had the official Sega light guns for Virtua Cop, the 4MB RAM cart for those classic Capcom, and even SNK 2D fighters and shooters. Plus, I had this crazy cool fighting game – Groove on Fight. And I had the 3D analog controller for Nights and Burning Rangers. As you can tell by now I was a Sega fanboy.
I was going through my attic and found that I still had several gaming systems, like the Atari 7800, Sega CDX and Sega Dreamcast. I still have the sticker price on the Atari 7800 box. Guess how much Kaybee Toys was selling this system? $79.00 USD! Now, after I removed all the cob webs and dusted off the systems, I wanted to get the games I couldn’t get as a kid. Yes, you can go to eBay or Craigslist to find some old games, but where’s a site that’s more accessible and secure to buy old games now? Just recently, about 2 weeks ago, Amazon.com opened a brand new store front called the “Retro Gaming Store.” So now you can buy old video games and gaming systems, and yes, I know Panzer Dragoon RPG for the Saturn is still an expensive game to buy on here, but you can find some other games and systems at reasonable prices. It’s all about shopping around. I am glad that Amazon wants to open a Retro Gaming Store, because I don’t really care to shop at Gamestop.
Do you need a gift for your man? Do you need a gift for your woman? How about a cool geeky USB device?
It does everything!
For Him: Victorinox Flash 64GB, MSRP $400.00USD
How is your man not going to like this? The Superman of tools and even a nerdy dude like me has a Swiss Army knife. This Victorinox Flash has not only a 64GB USB flash unit but also a biometric fingerprint scanner so only you can access your billionaire plans to rule the world. And there is Bluetooth and a laser pointer if you have to do a presentation on why the American youth need to take statistics classes. If you are bored in your cubicle, it also has a nail filer to tame your nails.
Yves Rossy flies into Swiss airspace with a portable jet pack. If you are not familiar with Mr Rossy, well, he flew the English channel back in 2008. Now he’s done it again with this carbon fiber wing pack that has 2 turbine engines.
The Jetman.
I have to say this is a really cute and nerdy-cool commercial from Target.
My own guided tour!
The Nintendo 3DS and the famous Paris museum, the Louvre, teamed up on a really cool project. Now you have can have your own guided audio/visual tour of the Louvre on the 3DS. If you haven’t been to Paris I suggest if you had time to check this magical city out. I spent around 2 weeks in Paris and let me tell you, it was not enough time (also a really good INXS song). I also spent like 3 days in the Louvre which is truly not much time. The Louvre is so big and has so much art and history. It can be overwhelming.
To celebrate Disney’s upcoming TRON: Uprising animation series, here’s a TRON themed dance routine. The Japanese dance crew is Wrecking Crew Orchestra. Thanks goes out to gmixalot for letting us know about this!
Do you still have an old NES collecting dust in your closet? Sure you can take it out of the closet anytime and brush the dust off and play those classic Nintendo games. How about a Coffee Table-sized one? It’s a real working joystick that’s a coffee table and controller.
This ain’t for cosplayers but for the street & urban wear cool people.
Bandai recently announced it’s opening Strict G stores around Japan which sells men’s apparel inspired by the Gundam world. Basically Bandai is getting into the wacky and tough streetwear business. At least they will be getting it right by first doing some collabs with top urban wear companies like Alpha and Swans.
If you are ever in East LA and you have a craving for playing classic arcade games – you might want to head over to Caine’s Arcade. This 9 year old – Caine Monroy – built a bunch of arcade games from cardboard at his dad’s shop. At first no customers would show up, but through social media the word got out and now little Caine is running a business.
I want to be in Kaneda’s biker gang!
Akira is one of the most iconic anime films and has inspired many cosplayers and fans building Shotaro Kaneda’s motorcycle. But this new bike has Akira’s creator Katshuhiro Otomo’s blessings. From his hometown of Fukuoka, Japan – Mr. Tejima built Kaneda’s famous futuristic super bike.
Quick stats: The bike took Mr. Tejima 7 years to build and cost him around $121,000USD.
Main Menu for Draw Something
Draw Something is my current distraction on the iPhone. If you haven’t heard about OMGPop’s Draw Something yet, you’ve been living under a rock!
It’s best described as a cross between Pictionary and Scrabble. The gameplay is pretty simple. At the start of the game, you choose one of three words to draw, draw the image, and then sends the image to your friend. Your buddy then guesses the word from the image and sends an image to back to guess. Moves are done in a play-by-mail method. Since this is a casual pace, there’s no urgency for the players. Whenever time permits, a move can be made.
Digital artist Giorgio Cantù wanted to see what Angry Birds would look like in the 1980s video game world. This looks pretty cool. Check out his personal site @ Girogio Cantù.
Angry Birds 1980s by Giorgio Cantu.
This graphic novel called “Knite” tells the story of how China’s corrupt government and environmental ignorance have devastated its people and land. The industrial revolution of China continue to churn and feed the world’s growing greed. Those of us that have been to China can smell and breathe in the severe pollution in the air. The nights are pitch brown, not a single star in sight, garbage is thrown everywhere, and you can see the shocking things that are dumped into the sewers. Knite is written and drawn by Yan Wenqing and follows the journey of several kids, naming themselves Knites, who dream of one day seeing the skies of China unpolluted and the stars shining bright. They begin by using kites and flying them up into the night sky and trailing behind it are little light bulbs attached to the string. Their mission is to hang the stars back up in the night sky of China. Some say their ideas are foolish and naive but this is their way of fighting and hopefully people can see beyond the churning factories and pollution, and into the real stars.
— Contributed by Karen Jang
Can I get a Happy Meal?
If you’re a fan of DC Comics’ Green Lantern you might want to grab these nifty toys from McDonalds. Collect all 8 items from this set. More info on the McD’s Happy Meals: Green Lantern toys.
Japan just hosted the 2012 sport cup stacking competition for Asia. From kids to seniors – these guys are super fast. The World Championships of Sport Stacking will take place in Butzbach (40 minutes from Frankfurt), Germany from April 14-15th, 2012. This invite-only tournament will bring over 250 contestants from 20-plus countries.
For more info, go to: World Sport Stacking Asscociation (WSSA).
Since the advent of YouTube, everybody and their mom cuts and splices their own fan/tribute music videos to their favorite anime or cult TV show. Here’s a good one using Frou Frou’s single “Must Be Dreaming.”
Sexy Marvel tees – because it’s Uniqlo!
A friend of mine was recently in Hong Kong for vacation and stopped over @ the Uniqlo store and got me this fresh collab tee by Uniqlo and Marvel Comics. The tee is of course %100 cotton and reprints classic comic covers from Marvel comics. Remember when comics were .40 cents! In my day it was .75 cents and I’m really dating myself here. But if you are in Asia – make sure you stop by the Uniqlo stores for these cool collab tees.
Check it out: Uniqlo Jpn or Uniqlo USA
The Reaping from District 12 Lego-style.
It’s Hunger Games Mania this week! Here’s a cool custom Lego build of a scene from the “Hunger Games.” Check out Brian (Atin)’s Flickr site for more info, photos and how he built the District 12 set: Grim Reapings.
Custom Hikari Gunship by Mark Stafford.
This custom Lego Hikari Gunship looks really cool. Check out custom toy builder Mark Stafford’s Flickr site @ Lego Nabii.
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Major Kusanagi & her Tachikoma tank by Cole Blaq.
Okay, this is really cool. If you are into anime and a fan of “Ghost in the Shell” – check out these custom built Lego toys – Major Kusanagi and her Tachikoma tank. These custom Lego builds are by Cole Blaq. Check out more pics, other custom builds, and details @ Cole Blaq’s Flickr and his blog @ Cole Blaq.
For a limited time only. These fluffy Superheroes are included with each Kids’ Meals and some locations offer them for $1 a piece. There are 10 in total.
— Contributed by FrankC
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