I'm going through shopping withdrawals.The Christmas "Spirit" results in me buying way more than I can handle. I LOVE buying cool presents for people. I want to be seen as that one guy that you can count on for a neat present. Unfortunately, taste is very subjective.While all my other friends are trying to buy things that are a bit more sophisticated like dress shirts and wallets...my idea of a cool gift is usually associated with fun t-shirts, games, and toys. I'm now past the phase of having some agenda with my gifts (during my college years...I was CONVINCED I could find the PERFECT Comic for everybody on my gift list...bad idea...my parents were VERY confused and a little concerned that year)...but sometimes I forget that people don't quite have the exquisite tastes that I have been endowed with.So sometimes,instead of giving up an AMAZING gift to a friend or family member that can't appreciate it...I'll buy that very gift for myself. This Christmas I did this...A LOT. My credit card is not happy...but, damn it, no one appreciates a BRILLIANT gift as much as I do!Case in point? These Super Mario Bros. Sound plushes. Any video game fan can understand their genius. These are the first generation sound plushes. The second generation (which include a new Question Block, Koopa Shell, and Invincibility Star) are of far inferior quality than these. Both the Goomba and Question block are perfect embodiments of both designs and are the perfect size at around 6 inches (16cm). Banpresto did an amazing job with these. Unfortunately, I think they realized they could sell with ease even at a far lower level of quality...hence the far inferior versions that are found with the second series.GoombaQuestion Block