ForeverGeek » Dept. of Awesomeness

Superheroes in a Drop of Water

Noemi Twigg — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:00:41 +0000

Earlier this month, I discovered a photographer whose work stopped me in my tracks. Even the most jaded of people might even agree with me in saying that German photographer Marcus Reugels stands above the rest with his photographs.

The work that caught my attention features drops of water refracting the earth, or at least part of it.

World in a Drop of Water

One look at that, and you have to admit that this guy is absolutely brilliant! He has other photos along similar lines, but I think you might appreciate two of his recent pieces even more.

How about a couple of superheroes in a drop of water? Well, technically, it is not the superhero that can be seen, but the emblem. It is still one heck of a viewing experience, though. Here’s the first of the two superheroes in a drop of water: Batman.

Batman in a Drop of Water

If you thought that this is all about black and white, forget about it. See all those striated shades?

I’ve never been a huge Spiderman fan, but this drop of water is something else.

Spiderman in a Drop of Water

The artist’s other pieces are mainly of planets – Jupiter and Mars, for example. They are no less beautiful than the others, but I am hoping that he will come up with more photos of superheroes in a drop of water.

Oh, and if you want prints of his work, you can purchase them. Even better, you can get in touch with him if you have a particular subject that you want him to take photos of. Here’s more of Marcus Reugels.

Amazing Geeky Papercraft

Noemi Twigg — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:00:59 +0000

Got nimble fingers that can fold, cut, and shape a simple sheet of paper into something that will make people go “Wow!”? I sure don’t, but that does not mean I cannot appreciate the art of papercraft, which I seem to be seeing a lot these days. Just very recently, I shared what is being dubbed as the future of food: papercraft hamburger.

Today, I found something even more fascinating: a collection of geeky papercraft. These works of folded paper can be credited to ~homestah of DeviantArt, who seems to have a propensity for fiddling with paper to create gifts for friends. I wish I were his friend!

First up, we have a giraffe. Okay, it might not really be considered geeky papercraft by some, but it is still pretty impressive, isn’t it?

Giraffe Papercraft

This is the piece that actually caught my attention.

Dragonite Papercraft

It’s a cute little dragon – a little too cute for my personal preferences, actually, but I still like it! Unfortunately, the friend who got this geeky papercraft piece doesn’t have it anymore as his dog tore it to pieces. :S

Another dragon, which comes from that wonderful animated movie I can watch over and over and over again!

Nightfury Papercraft

This is from Howl’s Moving Castle, a Japanese animation movie which I have not seen, but of all the geeky papercraft pieces in this post, I think this one is the most striking.

Howl's Moving Castle Papercraft

Agree or not?

Anime enthusiasts will also love this geeky papercraft rendition of Inuyasha. Again, ~homestah made this one for a friend’s birthday. What a lucky girl!

Inuyasha Papercraft

I saved the best (for me) for last.

BSG Viper Papercraft

Miss BSG? Get the Battlestar Galactica Series Bible for some reading material.

Amazing Packing Tape Art

Noemi Twigg — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:00:57 +0000

MacGyver may know his way around duct tape, but artist Max Zorn does his own stunning thing with packing tape. Duct tape has a lot of practical uses, but with packing tape, Max Zorn has done something astoundingly beautiful. How about portraits made with nothing but tape?

Forget paint. Forget watercolor. Forget pencils. Just get some packing tape – the brown translucent kind – and flexible Plexi-glass, and a cutter, and you might just be able to replicate the packing tape art of Max Zorn. According to the artist, he got inspiration for his work from a friend who was working as a car designer. If you have experience in this area, you probably know that car designers use slim tape as a start to creating their sketches. The artist says that he was amazed at how quickly the designers were able to come up with beautiful sketches using the slim tape. The rest, as they say, is history. Packing tape art was born.

Take a look at some of his work, and I bet that you will agree just how awesome this guy’s work is.

Can you believe that is all just packing tape? I have to be honest and say that I have never given packing tape a second thought – unless I am moving and making sure all the boxes are sealed properly. The fact that this guy was able to take something that we all take for granted and turn it into wonderful works of art is simply admirable. I wouldn’t have thought that one could create the myriad shades and shapes you can find in the portraits using only packing tape. Can you imagine just how painstaking the work is?

If still portraits are not enough to impress you, check out this time lapse video of Max Zorn at work.

For more about packing tape art, visit Max Zorn’s web site where you can see even more of these impressive artwork.

via My Modern Met

Scientists Invent Time Cloaking Device

Noemi Twigg — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:00:27 +0000

Time Cloaking Device

Move over, Harry Potter! Your invisibility cloak is awesome. There is no denying that, but it only works to hide people or things that it covers. In our world, scientists have gone one step further and invented a time cloaking device! How mind-blowing is that?

Physicists from Cornell University have made another step towards turning science fiction into reality when they successfully implemented a time masker, which works by altering the flow of light. This feat is based on a basic principle: humans see things happening around us via the light that reaches our eyes. By speeding up one part of the light and slowing down another part, the physicists were able to make it appear as if an event didn’t happen!

Think about it as a gap or “hole in time where an event takes place”. That is how Alexander Gaeta, a co-author of the study, explained the time cloaking device. I don’t know about you, but if you read Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time, it kind of reminds me of balefire, a forbidden weave because it erases the existence of a person, thing, or event. While that is rather different, the gap or hole in time brings balefire to mind.

In any case, what the Cornell physicists have done is groundbreaking. This is the first time that humans have been able to hide an event in time. The possibilities are endless. I hate to say it, but the first thing that comes to mind is someone being able to steal an artifact from a museum without being seen or detected. Then again, the researchers have only been able to make the time cloaking device work for a fraction of a second. I doubt that even the fastest thieves would be able to pull something off in that time! And being able to extend the effects of the time cloaking device is not that easy. Even the scientists behind the project admit to that. Still, this is proof that it can be done.

Who knows where we will be a few years from now?

Ginormous LEGO Einstein Head

Noemi Twigg — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:00:13 +0000

Whether you love or hate physics, you cannot deny the appeal of Albert Einstein. Who cannot help but love that shock of wild white hair that belies the brilliant mind underneath? Or perhaps his crowning glory is actually a testament to his brilliance. Whichever way you see it, Albert Einstein IS the guy who led the way to physics as we know it today. And what better tribute to the ultimate physics geek than to create a LEGO Einstein head?

That’s exactly what the guys at Legoland Florida did. This amusement facility has only recently opened, and while entertainment may be its focal point, Legoland Florida stays true to the idea of bringing out the creativity in kids of all ages. The giant LEGO Einstein head is positioned strategically at the entrance to the Imagination Zone, which “emphasizes exploring and creation, while showcasing seven of the most visually exciting LEGO models in the world”. Indeed, what better to see before you enter than the bust of Einstein?

LEGO Einstein Head

Just to give you a better idea of how ginormous this LEGO Einstein head is, take a look at this other photo.

Little girl looks at LEGO Einstein Head

Inside the Imagination Zone, you can see the following rides and attractions:

Hero Factory – immersive interactive play area based on LEGO’s popular Hero Factory line.
Build & Test – Build a LEGO car and test it against the competition on the digitally timed track.
LEGO MINDSTORMS™ – Build and program cutting-edge, computerized LEGO MINDSTORMS™ robots.
Kid Power Towers – Kids and parents alike hoist themselves up to the top of a tower to get a great view of the entire park and lovely Lake Eloise, and then enjoy a fun “free-fall” to the bottom. (Minimum rider height of 40″, riders less than 48″ must be accompanied by a responsible rider of at least 48″ in height.)

You guys based in the US don’t know how lucky you are!

Via Bit Rebels

The Dark Side of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Noemi Twigg — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:00:23 +0000

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mean many things to different people, but I do know that while I was growing up, most of my classmates were always talking about “people” like Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael. Growing up in a household where TV was a no-no, I simply thought that they were talking about the great artists. Well, until they started talking about Splinter and mentioned turtles.

One thing I know for sure – those turtles are worlds apart from these renditions I have just seen. And while kids back then thought that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles of their day kicked butt, I am pretty sure that no one will contest that Dave Rapoza’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will trump the good old turtles.

Dave Rapoza showcases his work at DeviantArt, and it blows my mind. I do have this propensity for dark things – although my tolerance for things of the dark is way below other people’s – and Dave’s depiction of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is dark as dark can be. Oh, and not only are they dark, they are so realistic as well! Check them out below, although you may not immediately recognize them except for the colors of their bandannas.

Donatello

Dark Donatello

Raphael

Dark Raphael

I think that this is my pick. Sure, I have always like the fact that Raphael was the one who kept the red bandanna, but this drawing is just fierce. I can’t think of any other word to describe it, can you?

Michelangelo

Dark Michelangelo

Leonardo

Dark Leonardo

Splinter

Dark Splinter

Dave did not limit himself to the turtles. Of course, Splinter had to be included in the mix. And I have to say this: his eyes are just disconcertingly captivating.

Dave does have a whole lot of drawings of other characters, which you can see on his DeviantArt page.

Now it’s not too hard to imagine a movie with the characters being depicted as such, is it?

Bansky Does London Again

Noemi Twigg — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:00:24 +0000

It was only recently that I discovered Bansky, but one look at his works of red and black was enough to get me. I am sure that hardcore Banksy fans will have more to say about the artist and his work, and especially about his recent presence in London.

We still know nil about Banksy, but his art speaks for itself. Here are some of the most recent art that have cropped up.

So you are yearning for a certain lifestyle? Sucks to be you. Banksy says that the lifestyle you want is out of stock. Better buck up, and learn to enjoy what you have!

Banksy Lifestyle

How do you feel about surveillance cams all over the place? I guess that even if it’s only picking your nose or adjusting your bra that you wouldn’t want others to see, too many surveillance cameras still gets to you. Now what if they were disguised as ostrich heads?

Banksy Ostrich

In some parts of the world, planning and permission do not mean a thing, but even if you live in a first world country where you have to get permits for everything, you probably can get away with building castles in the sky. How to get to those castles – now that’s a totally different thing. I don’t know why, but I find this piece of work rather uplifting.

Banksy Planning Permission

So you think the rat race is all you’ve got, and you’re not letting anything stop you? I feel for this rat.

Banksy Rat

This is my pick of the lot. I love how the woman seems to be floating and how her shopping cart seems to be dragging her down, even though it is practically empty. It’s supposed to be a reference to shop till you drop, I think, and it is executed perfectly.

Bansky Shopping

Via Unurth

Moneygami: Not Your Usual Origami

Noemi Twigg — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:00:37 +0000

Every kid had a phase when he (or she) was obsessed with the art of paper folding, or origami, as we all call it. Who wouldn’t be? After watching masters – or even those with decent skills – create magic out of mere pieces of paper, anyone would want to be able to do the same thing. Many of us probably have outgrown the origami fascination, but I just discovered a variation that just might awaken that once again: moneygami.

It’s a no brainer, what moneygami is all about. Instead of using just any piece of paper (although there is special paper used for origami), moneygami makes use of real paper money. There is no secret that money of any denomination is highly valued these days, especially with the economic situation all over the world, but I suppose that if you had a bill or so to spare, engaging in moneygami is a worthwhile endeavor. After all, your creations may even fetch more than the bill that was used!

Take a look at this koi that was created out of a one dollar bill, and tell me that isn’t fascinating.

One Dollar Koi

Don’t like fish? How about a spider made from a two dollar bill?

Two Dollar Spider

I can only imagine just how much work this little spider took! Now if you are not into animals, this battle tank made out of a two dollar bill might be your thing.

Two Dollar Battle Tank

Not to say that those moneygami pieces are not impressive, but these two are the ones that really got my attention.

Queen Elizabeth 10 Pound Bill

Lincoln One Dollar Bill

So what can you say? Do these moneygami make you want to pick up folding paper again? If you think that you need a little more convincing, check out this coverage of moneygami, and gather some inspiration for folding bills of your own currency.

You Wouldn’t Believe These Are Ball Point Pen Paintings

Noemi Twigg — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:00:38 +0000

We all have our favorite pens with which we write with better. I have no doubt, though, that a large majority of us would agree on the fact that in general, ball point pens can be irritating. This is especially true if we talk about the cheap ones you can get at any store. While they do the job, writing is less of a pleasure when those cheap ball point pens are used.

But as they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

If you think cheap ball point pens are akin to trash (or at least close), then artist Shane McAdams will tell you he has found a treasure in these taken for granted items. The Brooklyn-based artist has created something that you can actually call art simply by using a ball point pen or two.

McAdams’s ball point pen paintings are nothing but cheap-looking. Sure, they are abstract, and some might not get them, but even I can appreciate the results of the artist’s work. And yes, you wouldn’t believe that these are ball point pen paintings.

Pen Blow 69

These ball point pen paintings are dubbed “Pen Blow” due to the literal blowing that McAdams does when working on his art. He basically takes the tips off the ball point pens and blows the ink out of them onto panels.

Pen Blow 73

The work does not stop there. After blowing out the ink onto the panels and mixing them in the process, the artist uses UV resin and UV light to create even more astounding patterns, forms, and color effects.

Pen Blow 74

Pen Blow 75

If those few ball point paintings are not enough to awe you, then I don’t know what will. There are more of these paintings on Shane McAdams’s web site.

Bring This To Your Next Snowball Fight

Robin Parrish — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:39:22 +0000

Snowball Launching Crossbow

Winter’s here, which means snowball fights are coming your way. But if you’re ready to fling snowballs like a boss, then it’s time to separate the men from the boys with the Snowball Launching Crossbow.

Kids throw snowballs with their twig-like arms. Adults use their superior intellects to make technology that does the work for them. The technology in this case is the stretchy-banded crossbow you see above. And this bad boy will straight-up flatten that whiny kid across the street.

ThinkGeek is selling the Snowball Launching Crossbow for $29.99 plus shipping, and if anyone who’s ever been in a snowball ambush knows that you can’t put a price tag on revenge. At the time of this writing, the crossbow is out of stock at ThinkGeek, but they expect to have more before Christmas.

If you want to really mix things up, you might also want to try the TracBall Snowball Launcher, a jai alai style device that not only makes it easy to send those snowballs flying far, but comes with a handy little compress attachment to form the perfect snowball shape for you. The Launcher sells for just $9.99.

Darth Vader Finds a Best Friend

Noemi Twigg — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:00:22 +0000

Because even the forces of the dark need a best friend. I guess that’s what was going on in the head of artist Sacha Goldberg The name might ring a bell, because it was not that long ago when we featured his work.

Remember the grandma who was depressed? Thanks to her grandson, she was able to cope with her situation by dressing up as a granny superhero and having photo shoots. Now if that can only work for all of us!

Anyhow, we featured Mamika and her partner not long ago, and I really had fun putting that entry together. It’s not your usual superhero post, and the age of the subjects just made it more interesting.

Sacha Goldberg is back, this time with a grandpa superhero named Dark Papouka. He has a new series called “The Darks, Part II”, and he’s thrown in a bit of a treat for Star Wars fans as well: Darth Vader.

Who would have thought that Darth Vader and an aging “real-life” superhero would hit it off? If Sacha’s photos are to be believed, though, they really are good friends, going through life as a pair.

I spent a considerable amount of time just looking at the photos again and again, and I am amazed by the details that have gone into the photos. I guess the artist got really inspired by his success with Mamika, and that has overflowed into this next set of photos. Below, you can find the gallery of some of the coolest times that Dark Papouka and Darth Vader have spent together. From changing a flat tire – Darth Vader does the job, by the way – to playing video games to simply reading magazines, enjoying a moment of silence to Darth Vader in the toilet…ooops!

Isn’t that pretty cool work? For more photos, visit Design Taxi.

The book is probably going to be available by March of 2012, and if you liked the Mamika photo series, you will be pleased to know that a movie is coming out soon. Now that should be really interesting.

The Star Trek Quiet Book

Noemi Twigg — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:53:19 +0000

Children are lovely, but when they start fussing, they can get on one’s nerves rather easily. Especially if they are not your children. There are some parents who are fortunate enough to have really well behaved kids, but it is always a good idea to have something that will keep them busy on certain occasions. When kids have something interesting to do and are not bored, the chances are that they will behave very well.

Growing up, you probably had your own favorite quiet book. You probably thought it pretty cool. I bet, though, that your favorite quiet book will not measure up to this awesome find of a quiet book: the Star Trek quiet book!

This Star Trek quiet book is the brilliant creation of blogger juliebell, who is getting ready for her own baby. Naturally, a quiet book is in her list of things to do for her child, but she didn’t want just any kind of quiet book. She wanted to try her hand at making a quiet book that is sci-fi themed. And, according to her (and to the hordes of Trekkies out there), what can be more fun than Star Trek in the sci-fi world? And so the Star Trek quiet book was born.

Star Trek Quiet Book Cover

How cool is that? And that is just the cover! I can already see myself quieting down the moment the book is placed in my hands! If the cover is not enough to impress you, take a look at the second page.

Star Trek Quiet Book Page 2

More than keeping the kids quiet and behaved while waiting for the doctor to see them, this quiet book is rather educational. The kids get to learn about what may very well be the greatest in science fiction. They can meet the characters – or some of them, at least.

Star Trek Quiet Book Meet the Crew

Without a doubt, this page is my favorite.

Star Trek Quiet Book Vulcan Salute

The really cool this is that this page actually has that glove that little kids can put on. Nothing like teaching them how to do the Vulcan Salute early on!

There are so many more awesome pages in this quiet book that can help calm down kids and help develop their skills as well. See the entire Star Trek quiet book on juliebell’s blog.

Awesome Halloween Get Ups

Noemi Twigg — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:00:20 +0000

So Halloween is over and done with, and I have read/heard a handful of people breathe a sigh of relief because of this. For those of you who cannot get enough of Halloween, though, here is one last post for this year. I don’t know about you, but I get a kick out of seeing photos of awesome Halloween costumes/makeup. The creativity and patience of these people deserve to be hailed and documented, don’t you think?

Game of Thrones Costumes

With Game of Thrones being the most popular fantasy series these days, it was inevitable that people would go as one of the many characters in the story. Over at the Game of Thrones Facebook page, you can see some of the user submitted photos. I have chosen the three that I like most.

First up is Samwell Tarly. How can you not love that costume?

Samwell Tarly

As I expected, the most common costume from the series was Khal Drogo. Throw in the Khaleesi Daenerys Targaryen, and you have got a winner.

Drogo and Daenerys

I like how the bloody detail was added. I think, though, that even riding solo, this guy got Drogo quite well – except that he is smiling in a way I cannot imagine Drogo would do.

Drogo

Carolina Ghostbusters

I don’t know about you, but the Ghostbusters may be old, but they will always be a hit Halloween costume for me. The way this couple made their ensemble deserves kudos! More photos with details here.

Bender

As the guy who posted this on Reddit said, this is his Bender costume, and he “riveted” it! I don’t see any rivets on the costume, but you can’t deny that’s a cool costume – beer in hand included.

Kids With Cool Parents

Reddit Alien Baby

This baby is so adorable in its Reddit Alien Costume, complete with the upvote sign. I am pretty sure he will not resent his parents for this photo.

This one is anything but cute, though, but I think that the parents might very well be the coolest on earth!

Zombie Kid

This kid is “dressed up” very nicely and will fit in very nicely on the set of the Walking Dead! Check out the rest of the zombie kid’s photos and be amazed!

This costume I am particularly proud of because a childhood friend of mine made it for her son. So did someone order dinner for Halloween? It is served.

Halloween Dinner

Now who wants some cheese and…a head? I made a mental squeal when I saw this photo!

Halloween Dinner Head

Needless to say this cute little kid got the most candy last night. Attaboy!

Heidi Klum’s Anatomy

Heidi Klum Anatomy Costume

Beat it, all other costumes. I would say that Heidi Klum’s costume takes the cake except that she probably has had a lot of help and resources coming up with this, so all the others in this list may have a slight disadvantage already. Still, this is jaw dropping, eye popping, breath catching – and all the -ings you can think of!

Awesome Dia de los Muertos Makeup

Dia de los Muertos

I think this DIY Halloween look gives Heidi Klum a run for her money. Okay, I am biased as these gorgeous Day of the Dead girl is my friend Roni. You can’t deny that this look is totally freaky, can you?

This Haunted Dollhouse Will Complete Your Halloween

Noemi Twigg — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:00:48 +0000

Haunted Dollhouse

I have never been one to play with dollhouses or dolls. I think that the last set of dolls I got when I was a kid didn’t survive for very long. There is, however, this certain dollhouse that I certainly would not mind having around. In a separate room that is always well lit.

I don’t know if you have heard of The Bloggess, who is known as Jenny Lawson in real life. She has been working on a dollhouse for the past 11 years. So what is special about that (aside from the fact that 11 years is a very long time for a dollhouse)?

Well, this is no ordinary dollhouse. Forget sugar and spice and everything nice. Forget pretty in pink. This is a haunted dollhouse, down to every single detail. More than being haunted, the dollhouse draws inspiration from various fantasy and horror books. If I didn’t get drawn in from the photo of the dollhouse from the outside, this little detail totally suckered me in, hook, line, and sinker.

Dragon Hutch

A haunted dollhouse would certainly not be complete without dragons, would it?

Then there is the attic, which draws inspiration from Harry Potter, among many other things. You recognize Hedwig, of course, and whatever that thing in the mirror is, it sure is freaky.

Dollhouse Attic

There is even a witch cum herbologist, complete with a potion book.

Witch

And what haunted house would be complete without at least one hidden passage? It is amazing how The Bloggess incorporates these details!

Hidden Passage

It seems that The Bloggess likes her Edgar Allan Poe. Can you spot the references in the two photos that follow?

Cask of Amontillado

The Raven

So are you impressed or what? If these photos are not enough to get you interested, then I don’t know what will. For more awe inspiring photos, visit Kirtsy.

The Cult of LEGO: Coffee Table Book Every AFOL Must Have

Noemi Twigg — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:44:15 +0000

Minifig Turns 30

Is there a correlation between AFOLs and the love for reading? There must be at least one study out there that we just do not know about, but it does not matter. If you are an AFOL, whether or not you love to read, you will want this coffee table for Christmas. Or even for an early Christmas present.

The book is titled The Cult of LEGO, and that is pretty much self-explanatory. Written by John Baichtal and Joe Meno, The Cult of LEGO will be released in November of this year and is 304 pages worth of LEGO goodness. Just in case those names do not exactly ring a bell, Baichtal is of Wired’s GeekDad renown while Meno is the founder of BrickJournal. That ought to tell you that this book should be worth more than something.

So what can you see in the illustrated book? People just like you who consider LEGO to be an integral part of their life. From the publisher’s page:

People like professional LEGO artist Nathan Sawaya; enigmatic Dutch painter Ego Leonard (who maintains that he is, in fact, a LEGO minifig); Angus MacLane, a Pixar animator who builds CubeDudes, instantly recognizable likenesses of fictional characters; Brick Testament creator Brendan Powell Smith, who uses LEGO to illustrate biblical stories; and Henry Lim, whose work includes a series of models recreating M.C. Escher lithographs and a full-scale, functioning LEGO harpsichord.

If that is not enough to get you all worked up, how about the following?

A life-sized Stegosaurus and an 80,000-brick T. Rex skeleton
Detailed microscale versions of landmarks like the Acropolis and Yankee Stadium
A 22-foot long, 350-pound re-creation of the World War II battleship Yamato
A robotic, giant chess set that can replay historical matches or take on an opponent
A three-level, remote-controlled Jawa Sandcrawler, complete with moving conveyor belt

The mere thought of these should be more than enough to get any AFOL excited! And even if you are not a hardcore LEGO fan, this book is a great Christmas gift idea for those who are and for kids. After all, it is never too early to get kids into LEGO, don’t you think?

Reserve your copy now at No Starch Press for $39.95 for the print book plus a free ebook in PDF. If you want the PDF only, it will cost you $31.95. That’s a no brainer!

How to Get Married the Super Mario Way

Noemi Twigg — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:00:17 +0000

Super Mario Wedding Invite

Talk about a cool couple getting together to produce even cooler offspring. (We hope!)

Even a blind person can see that that is a Super Mario wedding invitation! Now don’t get overexcited – although I would totally understand if you do get all worked up. After all, with all the boring and sickeningly sappy wedding invitations that you see today, this Super Mario wedding invitation is a sight for sore eyes.

The invitation was designed by Larry Quach, for his friends Esther and Ryan. If you were a friend of the couple, this is what you would get in the mail.

Super Mario Wedding Invitation Envelope

The actual invite – a game cartridge – is encased in a jacket, which is placed inside the envelope. I bet the couple’s friends had never been as happy to open up a wedding invitation! Opening up the actual cartridge is even better.

Super Mario Wedding Invitation - Open

I suggest that you take a closer look at that image. You will then see the details that Quach has included. The bride’s last name, as well as the groom’s in place of the official logos. The work that went into these wedding invitations is awesome! Take a look at the back of the cartridge.

Super Mario Wedding Invitation - Back

I love the last warning, which reads “Do have and hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, till game over do us part.”
The invites also have cards included which hold various info needed by the guests. Here’s a sample.

Super Mario Wedding Invitation - Cards

More than creating the invites, Quach also made wedding favors for the guests. I think he really outdid himself with these. Here’s the box.

Super Mario Wedding Favors - Box

So each guest gets one box, and when they open it up, they see this.

Super Mario Wedding Favors - Open

It gets better! Under the card, you get what everyone who has ever played Super Mario wants.

Super Mario Wedding Favors Coins

That is so cool that it’s almost enough to make one want to get married. Almost.

See more photos in Larry Quach’s blog.

Punctuation Mark Lamps for the Grammar Geek

Noemi Twigg — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:00:12 +0000

Punctuation Mark Lamps

This discovery has got me all excited that I just had a difficult time writing this post. I am not passionate about interior decoration, but I do have my quirks and when I see something really cool for the house, I get all enthusiastic about it. And what can be cooler than these lamps which are shaped like punctuation marks?

If you think about it, these punctuation mark lamps can go both ways. On one hand, just like me, you might go gaga over them simply because you work with punctuation every day. You’re a stickler for their proper use. On the other hand, you might stay clear of the punctuation mark lamps because you abhor punctuation, or you can’t use them properly.

If you belong to the second group, then I think you have even more reason to get these awesome punctuation mark lamps. They’ll serve as an ever present reminder to use punctuation marks the right way! ;)

Here are the lamps on their own. First up, quotation marks. Here are a couple of tips on using quotation marks. One, use quotation marks when writing statements (verbatim) that were originally said by someone else. Two, use quotation marks when writing titles (books, stories, etc.). For more tips on how to use quotation marks, check out this post on Freelance Writing Gigs.

Quotation Marks Lamps

Here’s my favorite punctuation mark at the moment: the exclamation mark.

Exclamation Mark Lamp

Pro tip: one exclamation mark is often enough to make your point. Of course, if you’re really passionate about what you are saying, no one can stop you from using three (or more) of these beautiful punctuation marks!!!

This one’s not really a punctuation mark, but I am sure it will get your attention as well.

At Sign Lamp

I dare you tell me that these lamps will not look good in any living room, office, or bedroom! Oh, and there is more from the collection, and the lamps also come in other colors.

More Lamps

Get these punctuation mark lamps from TABISSO. No idea how much they cost, but seeing that they are made to order and are made in France, they probably will cost quite a lot.

So here’s a question for you typophiles: what font is used for these lamps?

I Want This Fountain In My House

Robin Parrish — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:03:44 +0000

Jaw. On. The. Floor.

This is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. I mean, it doesn’t blow my mind that something like this is possible, but seeing the incredible precision of dozens of tiny water nozzles squirting out water droplets to form shapes, letters, and numbers… It massages that spot in the brain where my inner geek lives.

This fountain is a fixture at the enormous Osaka Station, one of Japan’s busiest train and bus hubs for travelers and freight. I never knew water could do anything quite this mesmerizing. The video at the top is over four minutes long, but I don’t think I blinked once while watching it. I love when the two kids walk up to the fountain near the end and start clapping and cheering. Totally sums up how I feel, too.

I showed the video to my wife the first time I saw it, and at first she was convinced it was a continuous stream of water and there were lights behind it or under it creating the effect. Then I turned the sound up louder so she could hear the water as it hit the basin at the bottom of the fountain.

A second video showing a different perspective of the fountain is embedded below.

That’s Not Your Mommy Anymore: The Zombie Book for Children

Noemi Twigg — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:07:22 +0000

I spent the entire weekend with my two nephews, aged 6 and 7 months. It was sheer bliss and utter tiredness at the same time. I guess it’s like that when you have kids. One thing I know – I want to get them this book that I have just discovered.

That’s Not Your Mommy Anymore is not your usual children’s book, but it is perfect for parents (or aunts, uncles, whatever) who just can’t get enough of zombies. While I do have a very low threshold for anything zombie-related, I appreciate a good zombie story. And from what I have seen of the preview, this zombie book for children hits the spot. The front cover alone is enough reason to consider getting the book!

That's Not Your Mommy Anymore Cover

That’s Not Your Mommy Anymore is not that new (it was published in May of this year), but just in case you have not heard of it, you might want to check it out. It is written by Matt Mogk and illustrated by Aja Wells. The zombie book for children starts out just like many other children’s books – showing how wonderful it is to have a mom.

That's Not Your Mommy Anymore - Normal Mommy

It does give children good tips on how to realize it if mommy has turned into one of the undead.

That's Not Your Mommy Anymore - Zombie Mommy

You have to admit that this children’s book is going to be very very useful when the zombiecalypse finally happens. As a parent, you want to make sure that you equip your child with the right skills and knowledge that he (or she) will need in the future. What better way to ensure that your child knows all about the dangers of the zombiecalypse than to get this book and read the story at night? You can’t consider yourself a responsible parent if you do not get this book at some point, I think. Of course, you also have to make sure to point out that it’s not only mommy who could turn into a zombie…

Get the paperback or Kindle copy at Amazon for less than $10.

Amazing 3D Drawings by Fredo

Noemi Twigg — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 11:00:52 +0000

Every now and then, you come across artwork that takes your breath away. I am no art expert, but I can appreciate good work. Sometimes, even those pieces of art that I don’t understand, I can feel good about. This new set of drawings that I came across, though, I totally get. I don’t know how the guy does it, but these 3D drawings are so amazing you just can’t stop looking at them.

The artist: FredoART from DeviantART. He goes by the name Fredo, although his real name is Wladimir Inostroza. This guy is only 20 years old, and he is from Santiago, Chile. He loves rock music and loves playing with reality with his art. All these details kind of fade into the background though, when faced with the artist’s talent.

Basically, he draws 3D images on paper, making the end result look anything like drawings. To add to the realistic effect, he also incorporates real objects in his work. Just take a look at some of his 3D drawings to see what I mean.

I suppose anyone can draw a bottle. Heck, even I can draw the outlines of a bottle. But how many people do you know can make a drawing of a bottle look like a real bottle placed atop a sketchpad?

Bottle by FredoART

Isn’t that a pretty amazing sight?

It gets better, though. A bottle is simple, but how about an animal?

Owl by FredoART

I am not particularly fond of birds with huge eyes that can startle the heck out of you, but this is WOW!

Fredo is not content with small animals. You know that proverbial elephant in the room? You can literally have one if you have this drawing.

Utero by FredoART

It looks to me that the elephant is trying to fight its way out of the sketchpad, and I love how the trunk curls up so that the end looks as if it were actually not drawn on the paper.

Lana by FredoART

I don’t know what this is supposed to be, but I think it is the piece that has the most effect on me. I don’t know why, but I am mesmerized.

For more of Fredo’s awesome 3D drawings, visit his DeviantART page.

Tomorrow Is International Bacon Day

Noemi Twigg — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:00:21 +0000

Bacon Explosion

Yes! I said bacon! B-A-C-O-N. That “sinful” thing that we all love to munch on any time of the day. I don’t know how exactly bacon became as big as it is now, but the whole ForeverGeek crew is united in loving everything bacon. We’ve brought you everything from a Bacon Lorem Ispum Generator to Bacon Tattoos to even Kevin Bacon in Bacon, and now, why don’t you join us in celebrating International Bacon Day?

It is a real holiday, albeit unofficial. International Bacon Day was created by a group of students from CU Boulder (Colorado) in 2004, and it is celebrated yearly on the Saturday before Labor Day in the United States. Obviously, these guys are hardcore bacon lovers. It is worth noting, though, that this love for bacon is also celebrated in other parts of the world. In the UK, Manchester to be exact, some students celebrate Bacon Day on January 14. This is a way of getting some comic relief before they take they exams. (I wish I had known about this when I was a student!)

So anyway, what can you do to celebrate International Bacon Day? It’s really a no brainer: eat as much bacon as you can! Now you have an excuse to indulge.

Just in case you are a vegetarian, and you will not touch bacon to save your life, you can still join in on the fun. International Bacon Day was meant to be enjoyed by everyone, so the founders of the holiday have made up rules that make it open for everyone. There is fake-con – soy bacon, for example. For those who eat meat but not pork, there is turkey bacon. Whatever floats your boat, as they say.

So as early as now, I suggest calling up your friends – or messaging them on Facebook or Google Plus or Twitter or whatever – and letting them know that you are throwing a bacon party tomorrow. I bet you’ll have the entire neighborhood wanting to join you!

If you want to be creative as to how you use bacon all day tomorrow, you might want to check out bacon recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert at the Recipe Finder blog.

And if you are not totally convinced that you should indulge in bacon for health reasons, let me help you get over that hurdle. Here’s an infographic telling us about the “top secret, shocking, finger-licking, kitten-tickling, potentially life-saving health benefits of bacon”!

Bacon Benefits

Photo via mazoren
Infographic via Medical Billing School

Fallout Monopoly

Noemi Twigg — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Monopoly. Who has not spent hours and hours manipulating his way around this classic board game? I know my sister and I have had one serious spat too many while playing the game as children and young adults. There is just something about the entire experience that brings out the competitive edge in people I guess. Yesterday, I came across what is perhaps the coolest Monopoly edition ever – Klingon Monopoly. Then again, if you are not into Star Trek (befuddling a concept it may be, I guess it’s totally possible), Klingon Monopoly probably doesn’t excite you. If, however, you are a gamer, here’s another Monopoly board that will certainly impress you: Fallout Monopoly.

Unlike the Klingon version, Fallout Monopoly is not an official product. In fact, it was created by a private individual who goes by the name PinkAxolotl on deviantART. She created the entire thing for one lucky guy: her boyfriend, who I presume is a Fallout fan. One look at this image below, and I am pretty sure the boyfriend will be ecstatic.

Fallout Monopoly

PinkAxolotl really put a lot of work into her Fallout Monopoly creation – something that any observer will not fail to notice. Take a look at the entire board.

Fallout Monopoly Board

The material used for the board is a PVC plate, 50 x 50 cm in area. As you may already have deduced, the streets/locations in the board are from Fallout. The GO and Free Parking spots have also been changed with Fallout references – G.O.A.T. and the Please Standby screen.

Fallout Monopoly doesn’t stop with the board, though. The cards used for the game were custom-made as well. Each card has a Fallout New Vegas or Fallout 3 perk printed on it. Here’s the set of red cards.

Fallout Monopoly Red Cards

And here’s the set of blue cards.

Fallout Monopoly Blue Cards

Believe it or not, many of images used in the project are actually stockphotos.

Well, there’s one lucky boyfriend who is now the envy of all other boyfriends out there who are Fallout/Monopoly fans.

This Angry Birds Cake Made My Weekend

Noemi Twigg — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:41:47 +0000

Rovio’s game Angry Birds has been around for a while, and yet the interest level remains high. I am not sure if it is the most played game today (I honestly doubt it), but there is no denying that the game has branched out to more mundane (or not so mundane) things. From t-shirts to flip flops to bags to plushies, we can see the birds of from the game practically everywhere.

It just follows that an Angry Birds cake should be in the picture as well. In fact, you will see Angry Birds cakes all over the Internet. A simple search will give you tons of results – from videos to images to tutorials! No doubt that there are lots of awesome creations out there, but this simple Angry Birds cake made my weekend.

Angry Birds Cake

It was my little brother’s 11th birthday yesterday, and since he currently is into football (the kind that you play with your feet) and he loves playing Angry Birds, I thought it would be nice to mix the two themes. I was lucky enough to have seen some pictures of a friend from college on Facebook. As it turns out, she now makes specialty cakes on the side. I told her about the themes and left everything to her. The result was one cool-looking Angry Birds cake. Here’s the view from the top. I just love that slingshot!

Angry Birds Cake from the Top

I also like the fact that the pig is placed on a “wooden” structure.

Angry Pig

In case you like baking, both the wooden structure and the slingshot are made of rice crispies and coated with gum paste. The rice crispies was a brilliant idea because we transported the cake almost 70 kilometers by car and if those items were any heavier, the cake would have been ruined. (Just to be safe we removed the slingshot while on the road.)

Now these babies were the most wanted things during the party. I totally understood those kids, though.

Angry Birds on the Pitch

Oh, yeah, the birthday boy loved the cake as well. I think it was his “Wow!” that actually made my weekend, not really the Angry Birds cake. ;)

Fischertechnik Precision Pendulum Clock

Noemi Twigg — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:00:53 +0000

There is so much that one can do with LEGO that only your imagination and creativity will limit you. Of course, when it comes to creativity, LEGO is not the only thing you can play with. One word: Fischertechnik. Add pendulum clock, and you’ve got yourself an interesting project.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that making a clock that tells the time accurately is not at all a simple matter. Make that a pendulum clock, and you have an even bigger task.

Diagram

After a lot of work, they got something like this.

Gears

Based on the details in their web site, though, this isn’t even the working version. You can already see how complex it is!

They also had to work on the frame and the pendulum. It’s not called a Fischertechnik pendulum clock for nothing.

Pendulum

And of course, there is the clock face to consider. While the entire clock is supposed to look good, I believe the face has to be impressive on its own.

Clock Face

The final product? Something that I can totally see in a corner of my living room.

Fischertechnik Pendulum Clock

Here’s a video that will make you more appreciative of the Fischertechnik pendulum clock.

So do you think you can work on something like this?

When Angry Birds and Superheroes Collide

Noemi Twigg — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 10:45:31 +0000

What do you get when a superhero becomes angry? A superhero angry bird, of course! Get ready for some of the most fun mashups you’ll see today, courtesy of Dirty Splashback.

Now I understand that not everyone has jumped into the Angry Birds bandwagon, but these little buggers really do offer something in terms of entertainment – not to mention the frustration that certain levels bring. Whether or not you are an Angry Birds fan, though, I am pretty sure you’ll find at least one superhero angry bird to your liking. Or at least one will amuse you.

Captain America

Captain America Angry Bird Comic Book Version

Captain America Angry Bird Movie Version

Whether you prefer the comic book version or the movie version, there is a Captain America superhero angry bird that will suit your fancy.

The Hulk

Angry Hulk

I think that this is the ugliest superhero angry bird ever. Whether that is true or not, this superhero angry bird still kicks butt!

Gambit

Angry Gambit

This is dedicated to my friend who loves Gambit above all the other X-Men but doesn’t get all the hype about Angry Birds. Maybe this particular superhero angry bird will change her mind.

Cyclops

Angry Cyclops

Now I don’t know about you, but I have always thought that Cyclops doesn’t really look imposing at all. That is not to say that he is not cute. That being said, I think that this superhero angry bird kicks butt. I can just imagine what it will do to those frakkin’ pigs.

Spiderman

Angry Spiderman

Who thinks this angry superhero’s costume is better than the getup of the new Spiderman? Raise your hand!

Batman

Angry Batman

Bruce Wayne himself would applaud this design, don’t you think?

Thor

Angry Thor

For some reason, the thought of Thor raving mad scares the heck out of me. I guess it’s also due to all those bedtime stories about the Norse gods when I was a child. In any case, this angry Thor would probably be of more use than its avian counterpart in the game.

Superman

Angry Superman

No superhero list will be complete with Superman, so here is one angry man of steel for you. Or bird of steel.

Iron Man

Angry Iron Man

You all can have your pick of angry superheroes. I’ll take an angry Iron Man any day!

Who wants these critters on your t-shirt? *Raising and waving both hands enthusiastically!*