Know what doesn’t break out nearly randomly enough? Hockey games.
Not many droll, drab tux-and-tails affairs couldn’t be improved vastly by 12 gentlemen and ladies spontaneously fashioning a crude puck of a canapé or tuna can, sticks from a few brooms (or, would one be so inclined, actual hockey sticks), and a net from a pet kennel or fireplace. And here you go, folks: now, you needn’t even want for skates.
The friction-resistant plastic base and foam foot grip of Simtec’s Carpet Skates fit over any athletic shoe (up to an adult size 15) with an adjustable hook and loop closure. Find a big carpeted room with some wide open space, like a hotel conference or banquet room, and imagine that any place is center ice at Madison Square Garden. For you showier sorts, check out the DVD that comes included with your carpet skates with bonus performance tips and artsy tricks.
Or … just glue it together with about six or seven other DVDs, and you’ve got another puck. Watch the DVD. Hit the DVD. To each, their own.
If Clerks should’ve taught us anything, it’s that there isn’t a bad place on God’s green Earth for a good pick-up game. Whoopity-doo, so Mom told you never to play ball in the house? Don’t use a ball. Use a puck. GAME ON!
When we wrote about Star Wars nursery themed items, the response was awesome – and though we here at Geek Gems are collection of (presently?) childless gamers n’ nerds, we still have a soft spot for gems that appeal especially to the youngins and their awesomely geek-savvy parents. That’s why there was some seriously “d’awww” action going down when I spied these Super Mario quilts for kids:
The one-of-a-kind, handmade baby quilts by GeekUnique are something any parent with a soft spot for classic gaming would be proud to tuck around their toddler. While I especially love the nod to Super Mario Brothers with the Mario and Princess Peach quilts, other gaming favorites are also given their kid quilt dues, including Donkey Kong, Frogger and Legend of Zelda. The crib-sized quilts are sized at 36×36″, and while you could certainly mount them on the wall as geeky nursery accessories, these keepsakes are clearly meant to be cuddled. Game on!
Something about the Donkey Kong legacy has always rubbed me just a little bit the wrong way. Remember, Mario started out a do-gooder playing defense, making a beeline to Princess Pauline and avoiding Kong’s barrels but never so much spoiling for a fight. Then came Donkey Kong Jr. That chunky plumber went on the offensive and kidnapped the Simian Superman, leaving a young ape all alone facing the world. Come on, that’s making things personal. That’s involving family. Don’t be that guy, fat man. Don’t be that guy.
That’s why I’m not really sure I could abide by the unique, alternative rules of Jenga: Donkey Kong Edition.
It’s a pretty standard Jenga game overall that most people have played at least once. Pull the blocks, replace the blocks, don’t send the tower tumbling. Ah, but scope out the original Donkey Kong tower of girders along the one side in glorious 8-painted-bit glory! The ball’s now in your court: play by Jenga’s traditional rules, or spin the spinner and advance the “Mario” piece up the tower and once more into a smack-down with a certain tradesman who just never knew when to back off.
At the very least, Donkey Kong Jenga is a nice little collectible showpiece. But I just can’t help but wish someone had fashioned some alternate rules wherein one player keeps advancing Mario upward, and another player is tasked with removing strategic pieces one by one, until imaginary ton after ton of rubble and girders hurdle downward onto the douche’s melon. Maybe it’s just me. ;)
Geeks aren’t “born” – people are. Geeks are molded. So start your brood off right with nerdy baby clothes!
From the people who gave the world the snarky, ode-to-bookworms library comic Unshelved, comes awesome infant attire that will sew some fertile cerebral seeds early. When discussing my childhood, I like telling people that “Sesame Street taught me to read. Reading Rainbow taught me why I should read.” Well this sweet little Helvetica-print “Read To Me” onesie just makes things nice and direct.
Speaking of nostalgia for things I watched growing up in the 80′s, any nerd worth their salt can’t help but instinctively play along when “you remind me of the babe” is muttered within earshot. So treat your tot to a dose of the legendary Labyrinth with the “Babe With The Power” onesie. But don’t hold us responsible if a well-endowed Goblin King absconds with your little one!
Since there seems to be a small Star Wars kick going on around Geek Gems, I figured I should find a neat little Star Wars item to throw into the mix!
My days, weeks, and months of searching were finally put to an end when I was lead to this amazing chibi-esque Darth Vader alarm clock lamp! It even has chubby little body that makes up the base of the lamp and makes Darth look super-huggable and both kid and adult friendly. The dark lamp shade could also provide some appropriate evil lighting, since it appears to be tinted and all.
A plain Darth Vadar lamp would have been cool enough, but don’t have to worry about finding an alarm clock to set next to this little guy. This lamp has a digital alarm clock right on its torso! It’s also able to play music from your MP3 player through its speakers, meaning you could have him blast out the Imperial March every time somebody enters the room he inhabits, or humiliate him by playing Ke$ha through his speakers, or even JarJar quotes. Now … somebody find an MP3 of Darth saying “I am your father”. That’s my kind of wake-up call!
Simtec Fun Slides Skates ($15)
