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It's-a Mario World: Sweating the Small Stuff
The holidays are a time for cheer and gift-giving, but it isn't quite the holidays yet. Instead of subscribing to that whole positive spirit thing, we're going to continue venting our frustrations from last week, only this time with an finger pointed at the tiny enemies that sneak under our skin. "But wait," you ask, "aren't you just channeling unrelated rage at the simple challenges of a video game?" Probably. But try saying that with a group of Micro-Goombas crawling all over you.Check out this new gallery spotlighting a few of Mario's smaller (but no less menacing) foes. It's-a Mario World is a weekly feature in which the ubiquity of Nintendo's flagship character is celebrated. Check back every Friday to find out what strange and wonderful thing has got us tipping our caps. * * * Links of the week: Literal Mario paint! | Predictably rehashed boxart! | Club Nintendo Mario swag! | Wintry new Mario Kart tournament!
Have Mario send your mail (via stamps from Japan)
Sure, old Mario has been known to paint, play professional sports, and even do some actual plumbing work on occasion, but he'll soon be able to power your mail through the postal service in the Far East.10-stamp sheets of 80 Yen stamps are now available for pre-order in Japan, where gaming otakus will soon be able to adorn their snail mail with the likes of goombas, magic mushrooms, and mustachioed men. The set will be out next month.Has the government of a country like the US ever done anything this official to honor one of the icons of gaming? Perhaps when we have avid gaming advocates in Congress -- or even, dare we say, in the White House -- things will look a little different with game legislation proposals and the postage of unwanted junk mail.[Via GameBrink]See also: French stamps to feature video game icons (Super) Mario Bros. question mark and POW block speakers
