Retro

This is one of the greatest technological anachronisms I've ever seen. The Victorian aesthetically-driven boys at the Steampunk Workshop have put together a telegraph clacker that sounds out RSS feeds. For those of you who were born after the death of the handlebar mustache, telegraphs were ways to electronically communicate information long before things like "computers" and "modems" were invented. Decades before even the telephone was invented, telegraphs were tapping out important information to important people in Morse code.

The Steampunk Workshop's RSS telegraph sounder brings the technology around full-circle. It converts the text … Read more

As the poker craze has turned suburban enclaves into dens of gambling iniquity, other traditional games of chance have suffered--namely, the slot machine. But Girard-Perragaux isn't so easily swayed by the latest trends (particularly American ones), and the Swiss watchmaker has proven that point with its "Vintage 1945 Jackpot Tourbillon," which pays homage to the one-armed bandit.

In addition to the usual crown, the right side of the case has a small handle that can be pulled to set the reels in motion, Luxist says. (Three bells in a row denotes a jackpot, FYI.) The unique 18k … Read more

When I was a kid, one of my friends had a doormat at her house that simply said "GO AWAY." Of course, it was a joke, and we all thought it was hilarious. But that was the 20th century, and nowadays a simple threatening message just won't do. This is the digital age, folks.

Apparently, now you have to scare your unwanted visitors away with an LED animation of the classic arcade game "Space Invaders." The Back Off Doormat, which retails for $110, is designed to do just that. It's powered by two AA … Read more

It would be perfectly understandable for Nintendo purists to be appalled by some of the abominations of recent years, but a current auction offers some hope for true loyalists. An old (and rare) Nintendo Entertainment System is up for sale on eBay, a 1980s-vintage in-store kiosk that its owner claims was never available for consumer purchase.

The console comes with 12 cartridge slots and five controller ports, but Technabob notes that the retro monitor is not included in the auction (bummer). And interested aficionados should be prepared for sticker shock: Even without the tube, it was still going for more than $500 … Read more

Make magazine--purveyor of awesome and amusing DIY projects and kits--has added a new product to its online store -- the Cellular Automata video synthesizer kit. It may look like a hippie guitar pedal, but actually it creates endearingly retro (but mostly annoying) audio and video akin to an Atari 2600 meltdown. The kit offers RCA audio and video outputs, costs $50, and is mostly preassembled. You will have to find your own enclosure (the rainbow-colored wooden box is only a suggestion) and solder on the knobs and a reset button.

The video synthesizer works off a mathematical idea called … Read more

I read recently on Technabob that the latest watch from TokyoFlash's edgy PIMP line, also known for the Pleasure Seeker, was called the "Jive Turkey." What? I had never heard this term in my life before, and was wondering if some folks at TokyoFlash had been dabbling in illicit substances. Clearly, I'm just not up to date on my vintage pop culture.

According to Urban Dictionary, however, "jive turkey" is an old '70s term for someone who isn't particularly good at BSing but does it anyway. So, maybe this watch just pretends to … Read more

If you have $3000 burning a hole in your pocket and are looking for a hot new lawn decoration that won't need to be replaced with seasonal changes (unless you're that weirdo who keeps the inflatable Santa up all year round), man, you are going to love hearing this. Someone is making these 5-foot-tall Super Mario figures, previously only sold to retailers, available to the average consumer. (Well, the average consumer with an extra $3000 on hand.) Now, you can have a Mario of your very own.

Imagine the possibilities! They could upstage your wacky neighbor's lawn … Read more

In this episode of "Art imitates life," tiles imitate pixels.

Artist Arno Coenen created this video-game-inspired mosaic for an Amsterdam elementary school. The work, titled Virtual Fairytale, lines the tunnels to the entrance of the school. Not a bad way to head to class.

Imagine an archaeologist in the distant future uncovering these murals. They'd think today's world was inhabited by necktie-wearing apes, invaded by pixellated aliens, and haunted by multicolored ghosts.

Like most successful video games, there's even a sequel. The absolutely huge Virtual Fairytale 2 includes scenes from Track & Field and Pole … Read more

No evil villain would be complete without their own a badass raygun, right? Or in this case, a Goliathon 83 Infinity Beam Projector. No, it doesn't actually do anything. Yes, it costs $621. But the looks you would get bringing one of these to an NRA rally... priceless.

The Goliathon is produced by Weta Workshop designer Greg Broadmore (prop designer for LOTR and Hellboy) and looks like an amazingly crafted artifact caught between the universes of Barbarella and Brazil. It comes with its own velvet-lined case (which it will probably spend a lot of time in, seeing as the … Read more