Category: Lifestyle

Spike, Check, Dunk and Dodge in “Mario Sports Mix” for Wii

from Nintendo of Canada:

With Mario and his Mushroom Kingdom pals on your side, why take up just one sport when you can play four? Launching today exclusively for the Wii system, the Mario Sports Mix game invites players to enjoy the outrageous, fast-paced fun of four different sports — volleyball, basketball, hockey and dodgeball — each packed with imaginative twists and challenges. All four sports are available on a single game disc at a suggested retail price of $49.95, offering inclusive, irresistible game play at an unbeatable value. Best of all, players can share the spotlight with Mario and his friends by playing each sport as their own customized Mii characters.

Mario Sports Mix enhances the basic elements of all four included sports with a flurry of eye-catching power-ups, obstacles and unexpected twists. Players might fling banana peels and green shells to thwart an opponent, or an entire court might move from side to side under players’ feet. Each character also has a powerful special move, such as Mario’s ability to swirl in the air and dunk a basketball from anywhere on the court. Throughout the game, players can also boost their scores by collecting coins to earn bonuses. Whichever sport they choose, newcomers and experienced players alike can count on a memorable mix of athletics and imagination.

“With Mario Sports Mix, players get four full sports games packed onto one disc, which is a great value,” said Ron Bertram, Nintendo of Canada’s vice-president and general manager. “In addition, the ability to jump into games as your own Mii character and play with Mario and other Mushroom Kingdom characters makes Mario Sports Mix a unique sports experience that can’t be found anywhere else.”

Mario Sports Mix offers multiplayer options that allow friends and family to hit the court together. Up to four players can play together in the same room using additional Wii Remote controllers (sold separately). Up to four players with broadband Internet access can also connect online via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and play cooperatively or competitively in two-on-two or three-on-three matches.

To help commemorate the game’s launch, Mario himself will conduct a press conference on February 7 to answer some of the most pressing questions of his illustrious career in sports. The conference will begin at 5 p.m. Pacific time and can be viewed by fans and media alike via the Web at mariosportsmix.com.

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit wii.com.

For more information about Mario Sports Mix, visit mariosportsmix.com.

Sue, Per Hero – Know Your Comics Law

from GeekChicDaily:

Marvel Comics made a name for themselves featuring heroes with “real-life” problems, but we’re sometimes skeptical. Oh, sure: Peter Parker has dating woes, and Iron Man’s a souse. But are these really the biggest issues such characters would face? Where are all the lawsuits over property destruction? The civil rights acts that protect mutants? Does Superman qualify as an illegal alien, and if so, how would you deport him?

Thankfully, we have the work of James Daily and Ryan Davidson to help us out. Both are actual lawyers, and yes, they spend their free time thinking about issues like these at their blog, Law and the Multiverse.

Watchmen and The Incredibles envisioned scenarios wherein superheroes were simply banned, but it’s hard to imagine those heroes wouldn’t take advantage of all the law has to offer and countersue in the face of such discrimination. Either way, it’s going to be a tough court battle if the defendants can utilize telepathy, shape-shifting, and all that good stuff. In the end, we gotta think these cases would probably come down on the heroes’ side. President Obama has been seen palling around with the likes of Spider-Man and Youngblood. When the chips are down, we imagine he might step in with an executive order or two.

For now, Law and the Multiverse is for entertainment purposes only… but if you’re ever bitten by a radioactive spider due to lab-tech negligence, you might want to drop Misters Daily and Davidson a line.

ThinkGeek finally joins the Dark Side

from ThinkGeek:

We’re holly dazed (save ends).

Someone pass us a d20 — we gotta roll to save before we get run over by a reindeer (5d8+12 trampling damage). It seems just yesterday we were donning our costumes for Halloween, and now we’re a dozen days from Christmas. Timmy has some big plans for Monkey Day tomorrow (frankly, we’re a bit worried) and we’re all excited about TRON opening on Friday.

Somewhere in between all that fun, we’ll remember someone we left off our shopping list. Oops. Good thing for gift certificates and express delivery!

Star Wars Vader’s Dark Side Roast Coffee
Sample the Dark Lord’s Brew. Get a taste of the Dark Side with this rich hand-roasted coffee. Three diverse coffees and two different roasts create a full-bodied, sharp cup with spicy undertones and smoky, dark-roasted complexity. Vader’s Dark Roast Coffee is commonly enjoyed by Dark Lords of the Sith while planning new Death Star construction, but give into your anger — sample a steaming cup and you will be rewarded with power beyond your imagination.

Darth Vader Bread Imprinting Toaster!
Enjoy your toast on the Dark Side. If there’s something every Sith Lord knows how to do, it’s how to make a balanced breakfast! While the Jedi have to live off of Jawa juice and fried nerfsteak, the Dark Lord of the Sith prefers to have a reminder of his fiery Mustafar defeat at his breakfast table. Every morning he burns that moment into a slice of bread with the Darth Vader Toaster. This black, ominous kitchen appliance easily leaves the mark of Vader’s helmet in every yummy piece of toast. Slather some Bantha butter on top, or make two pieces for an extra-Sithy BLT. Force power not required to operate toaster!

Free shipping on $40+ orders — 12 days until Christmas!
You’ve got twelve Plush Microbes, eleven sets of Chop Sabers, ten cans of unicorn, nine Monkey Slingshots, eight Whiskey Stones, seven Sun Jars, six Kitty Coin Banks, FIVE GOLDEN POOS, four Guitar Shirts, three Titanium Sporks, and two FX Lightsabers. Now you just need a partridge in a USB Christmas Tree! Use code SHIP2010 for free economy shipping on $40+ orders until 11:59pm ET tonight, 12/13/2010.

Shipping Deadlines Coming Up — Unless you’re a time traveler
Got a TARDIS or a DeLorean? Then skip over this paragraph. If you’re stuck in this timeline and need Christmas gifts to arrive in time, here’s what you need to know. For international deliveries (everywhere but Canada), order by 12/13 11:59pm ET; for Canada (eh?) ground shipping, order by 12/15 11:59pm ET; for West Coast ground shipping, order by 12/17 11:59pm ET. For more shipping deadlines, gift ideas, and downloadable PDF greeting cards, hit up our Holiday Gift Center.

Find more What’s New items at ThinkGeek!

J!NX: Our “World of Warcraft” Holiday 2010 Line is Here!

from J!NX:

The World of Warcraft Holiday 2010 Line is Here!
Just in time for the holidays, here’s a whole new set of awesome World of Warcraft apparel for you! While you’re recovering from your turkey-and-stuffing gorge-fest, load up your shopping cart with a hefty helping of new tees (including two new Legendary tees to complete your set), but remember to save room for our eagerly anticipated polos and hoodies, as well! The new Murloc hoodies will be on the top of many a wishlist this season, so order yours before they sell out!

Something for the Ladies: DIY Shirt-Dress Tutorial from Leeloo!
Ladies, listen up! Have you been lamenting that your favorite J!NX tee isn’t offered in a women’s size? Well, lament no more! Our amazing fashion designer, Leeloo, has put together a DIY tutorial to show you how to turn an over-large t-shirt into a fabulous shirt-dress! It’s easy enough for even the greenest of sewing n00bz to follow. Check it out here!

The More You Buy, the More You Save!
The Holiday season can be an expensive time, so to keep your wallet as stuffed as your stockings, we’re running a very special promotion, where the more you buy, the more you save. Orders over $50 will get 5% off, orders over $75 will get 10% off, and orders over $100 will save 15% when you enter the code SPARECHANGE. Happy Shopping!

5% off $50+ order
10% off $75+ order
15% off $100+ order
Use Promotion Code: SPARECHANGE

This offer expires Friday, December 17, 2010 at 11:59PM PDT, so don’t wait!
*can’t be used in combination with any other offer or discounts

The Real Life Super Hero Project

Real Life Superheroes

For those of us watching Smallville this season, one of the ongoing story lines is public and government reaction to masked vigilantes. As young people growing up and into their abilities, we’ve witnessed every day people like Clark Kent, Oliver Queen and Arthur Curry take on the mantle of justice fighters, defending people in the name of Truth and Justice. In previous seasons, we saw the Justice Society of America and the scandal that put them out of the superhero business and now, as a new Justice League is forming, we see similar rumblings both pro- and anti-vigilante.

In a case of life imitating art here in my home state, a group of citizens has banded together to create their own team of superheroes patrolling the streets of Seattle. The Rain City Superhero Movement is a collection of masked vigilantes with military, martial arts and other special abilities. Seattle isn’t the only place you’ll find these Real Life Super Heroes, and it’s not a new movement. Heroes from all over the world are taking an active part in trying to improve the life of citizens in their communities, not only by fighting crime but hunger, disease, poverty and every other blight on humanity. Sometimes these heroes are praised for their efforts, and other times they are criticized or even mocked.

In a time when governments are failing to protect us, the interests of corporations have more weight then the needs of people, and apathy rules supreme, maybe now, more than ever, Real Life Super Heroes are needed. Maybe you can’t immobilize a thug with two fingers or take down a purse snatcher with a bola, but you can get involved and do something, however small, to improve the lives of the people in your community. From donating your time to feed the hungry at the local food shelter or helping build a home for a low income family, to raking an elderly neighbor’s lawn or participating in an AIDS or Cancer Walk, there are many things you can do to help improve someone’s life, not by spending money, which most of us don’t have much of, but time, which we spend too much of on frivolous things.

Have you thought about embracing your inner hero?

You can learn more about Real Life Super Heroes here:

The Real Life Super Hero Project
Real Life Superheroes.org
The Real Life Super Hero Project on Twitter
The Real Life Super Hero Project on Facebook
Real Life Superheroes Registry
Real Life Super Hero Manual

If you are looking for ways you can be a superhero without taking on an alter ego, check out these sites:

Rebuilding Together
Habitat for Humanity
AIDS Walk
Feeding America
Teachers Without Borders
MAP International
American Wildlife Foundation
Adopt a Highway

These are just a few of thousands of organizations, both local and international, that are doing good things that you can be a part of. Maybe you aren’t ready to save the world yet, but doing something in your own neck of the woods is a good place to start.

Slanket’s Autumn Awesomeness

from The Slanket:

Happy Fall!

Hey guys, Gary here.

Fall is here and we are super psyched. We love the fall because of those gorgeous days when we were young; beautiful leaves, crisp blue sky, and air that feels fresh on your skin. The skiing season was starting. Football and Soccer seasons kicking off. The nervous energy of starting a new school year. It all was very exciting.

Now we get psyched for all that nostalgia and the new Slanket season. We are excited this year because we finally have some sweet new patterns in our Slanket line. These are inspired by our lives, your lives, and what just felt good. Poker, polka dots, flowers, plaid, and the hamburger and hot dog Slanket called “nick’s lunch”, and more. Check em out here!

We thank you for your business and your support of a young business driven by creativity and originality.

Your happiness with our product continues to be our main concern, so please get in touch anytime.

Also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for news, discounts, etc.

In addition to The Slanket Website for all your Slanket needs, we sell on Amazon.com too. Here is The Slanket Storefront on Amazon. We’d appreciate any reviews you may have.

Have an awesome fall!

Go Slanket!

Happy MIMOWEEN Sale – Save 25%! Plus, Costume Contest & NYCC photos!

from Mimoco:

Happy MimoWeen Sale! All MIMOBOT Core Series Collection of USB flash drives, iPhone skins, apparel, and more are 25% OFF! Just add the items to your cart and the 25% savings will be applied once you check out! Sale ends 11:59PM PST, 11/2! Shop Now!

MIMOBOT Happy MimoWeen Costume Contest! Think your costume’s awesome? Post it for a chance to WIN! Contest ends 11/2! Enter to Win a MIMOBOT Prize Pack!

Featured in The New York Times: Portable Art, Data Not Included: Collectible flash drives, for storage use or just for show, have taken on lives of their own… Read the Full Article!

New York Comic Con: We’re back from New York Comic Con! Check out what a blast we had on our Flickr photo page!

FREE Shipping on orders over $75*! Click here for more info.

GIANTmicrobes Vinyl Figures

from Giantmicrobes:

Giantmicrobes is excited to announce our first release of microbe characters: Meet Sniffles, Bellie, Ahhh-lbert, and Dr. Larkin*!

Like our popular line of plush dolls, our collectible figurines are inspired by actual microscopic images of the microbes they represent — but this time, they’re full of personality and fun!

In addition to a collectible microbe figurine, each package includes an animation flip book and an action pose sticker. More characters (and more plush dolls) will be released later this fall and before Christmas.

We’re also pleased about the improvements we’ve made to our website giantmicrobes.com. Have a look — and don’t miss the GIANTmicrobes starring in their first video short!

It has been my dream to have the GIANTmicrobes bring the microscopic world to life in an entertaining way. It is a great pleasure for me to be able to share my enthusiasm about our new characters with you. I hope you’ll be as excited about them as I am.

Thank you very much for your continuing support for our products.

Drew Oliver
Founder/CEO
Giantmicrobes, Inc.
giantmicrobes.com

*Dr. Larkin was my childhood pediatrician. He served as a doctor in Vietnam, and then dedicated his life to keeping children healthy.

New Web Series: “Square One”

from KoldCast TV:

Looking to achieve balance in a technologically connected world.

A new web series about technologically dependent people who must learn to coexist in a world that is dominated by emails, status updates, and tweets. Throw personal and familial relationships into the mix, and you have a series with a refreshing take on the growing addiction to be constantly connected.

New Episodes Every Tuesday

Watch Now

“Geek and Gamer Girls” Music Video

This music video parody proves Geek and Gamer Girls really do exist. Extra geek cred for appearances by a rapping Seth Green, Battlestar Galactica’s Katee Sackhoff and Stan Lee.

Lyrics and mp3 available here.

Team Unicorn — Clare Grant, Michele Boyd, Rileah Vanderbilt, and Milynn Sarley
Directed by: David Yarvo

“Her Universe” Message Boards Launching Friday for “Star Wars”/Sci-Fi Fans Everywhere

from Her Universe:

Star Wars and Sci-Fi fans now have a unique opportunity to talk with each other, build their community and empower like-minded enthusiasts all over the world to embrace their love of everything Sci-Fi when the Her Universe message boards go live this Friday (October 1st) at heruniverse.com. The message boards are yet another way that Her Universe founder, Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, envisions giving female fans a growing voice in the Sci-Fi universe alongside their male counterparts.

Her Universe, which launched earlier this year, offers fashionable, female-focused apparel and products for fangirls via online and at conventions. However, Ashley’s endeavor is not just about selling merchandise. Rather, her interest is in acknowledging the female fan within the Sci-Fi/fantasy community and creating a place where all fans can share their passion and interest in the genre. The new Her Universe message boards are an affirmation of that and a great way to get in touch and stay in touch.

“We have been working to build a Her Universe community,” noted Ashley Eckstein. “With the addition of message boards on our website, we hope to create a safe place where fans can connect. I have heard from so many women who have said that they hide their gender on other message boards, just so their comments and opinions will be taken seriously. On the Her Universe message boards, female fans are encouraged to be themselves.”

“Since I first learned about Her Universe, I have been incredibly excited,” said Amy Ratcliffe, Her Universe message board administrator/moderator. “It is a huge step for female fans of Sci-Fi to have a whole company dedicated to making merchandise just for us! I am thrilled that I no longer have to raid the boys section of the local department store for t-shirts. Now, it’s going a step further. Her Universe is launching message boards this Friday! Register and join in the discussion. We can all contribute to building a fantastic community for fans (boys are allowed too) — plus, it will be fun. I hope to see you there!”

You can learn more about Her Universe, purchase products at the online store and join the discussion on the Her Universe message boards, by going to heruniverse.com. You can follow Eckstein on Twitter (at http://twitter.com/HerUniverse) and visit the Her Universe Facebook page (at http://www.facebook.com/HerUniverse).

ThinkGeek boldly cuts pizza where no man has cut before

from ThinkGeek:

Greetings, furry-footed friends,

It’s Tolkien Week and we’re celebrating by running around the office barefoot and drinking ale in pints. PINTS! Today it’s Bilbo and Frodo’s birthdays and we’ve got a big cake with a spread of all sorts of mushroom-related dishes. (It’s often said a hobbit is a fungi. You are what you eat!) Then there will be dancing and singing and partying until the wee hours of the night.

Good thing we have monkey robots running the warehouse because otherwise, we might forget your order. *hic*

Star Trek Enterprise Pizza Cutter
Space… the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new pizzas, to seek out new toppings and new cheeses, to boldy cut pizza where no man has cut before! Yes, this officially licensed Star Trek collectable is everything you hoped it would be. Laser etched stainless steel blade and solid metal construction make it perfect for battling Romulans in the neutral zone or precision pizza slicing.

Take $10 off $40+ orders — Bare feet optional
As the birthday boy Bilbo once said: “I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve…” If you grok, use code BILBO for $10 off a $40 or more order, good through 9/24 11:59PM ET. Even if you can’t wrap your head around that statement, the code will still work.

Find more What’s New items at ThinkGeek!