Nintendo and GameStop are offering consumers the popular Wii gaming system, just in time Christmas ... if an almost empty box with a piece of paper is your ideal Christmas gift.

Nintendo says shoppers who pay full price of about $249 for an out-of-stock Wii on Dec. 20 and 21 at GameStop will receive a certificate promising a Wii. The catch is the Wii will come "sometime in January."

Nintendo also said other retailers, including Best Buy, Wal-Mart and Sears would have Wiis available this weekend and in coming weeks.

Those ordering the hard-to-find Wii at GameStop must pick it up by Jan. 29.

We suppose that then you can hide it for a couple of weeks -- because a video-gaming console sure is a swell Valentine's Day gift.

(additional reporting by Franklin Paul)

(Photo: Reuters)

Seems like Wal-Mart attracts controversy all over the place — even on social networking web sites.
 
Last week, the world’s largest retailer set up the “Roommate Style Match” group on Facebook, a social networking site that has millions of college age users.
 
Wal-Mart hoped the group would help it attract a larger chunk of back-to-school shopping dollars.  (Click here for a Reuters story. For a take by a Forrester blogger, click here.)

But the group has also attracted a share of Wal-Mart detractors.  (The names of the posters are the ones they use on Facebook and the excerpts were copied directly from Facebook.)
 
“Small business was hurting our economy for too long!” wrote Daniel Waddington. “I only wish I could super-size the trade deficit along with my fries! No Job? De-valued dollar can’t cover my rising interest rates? At least I saved a nickel on a picture frame!!”
 
A post by Dave Haack said, “Unionize Wal Mart Give wal mart workers a Union and save america. Then every one can shop there and people who work there can earn enough to live !”

Wal-Mart did have some defenders on the site. For example,  Connie Bensen lauded Wal-Mart for its charitable contributions. 
“Wal-Mart just opened a store last week in my community. They donated $33,000 to community organizations. $5,000 of that came to my library for literacy! We welcome the new store & the shopping opportunities!”
 
A Wal-Mart spokeswoman said the company was happy so many of its customers were visiting the Facebook site. 
 
“We recognize that we are facilitating a live conversation, and we know that in any conversation, especially one happening online, there will be both supporters and detractors,” spokeswoman Jami Arms said in an email message to Reuters.

– Reuters photo from Wal-Mart 2007 annual shareholder meeting

R.J. Reynolds has agreed to restrictions on marketing flavored cigarettes — which opponents argue attract underage smokers — under an agreement with 38 states that stops the company from using fruit, candy and alcoholic beverage names and images on packages or in advertising materials.

The agreement is a legal document and as such is, well, very specific. Can the company use the name “Cosmopolitan,” for example? It depends.

“…a cigarette named ‘Cosmopolitan’ with an image of the New York skyline depicted on the packaging would not be prohibited by this Agreement. By contrast, a cigarette named ‘Cosmopolitan’ with an image of a glass depicted on the packaging would be prohibited,” the settlement said.

Oh, and about those names.

Reynolds will no longer be able to sell cigarettes called the following: Mandarin Mint, Dark Mint, Crema, Izmir Stinger, Twist, Cinnzabar, Mandalay Lime, Aegean Spice, Bayou Blast, Beach Breezer, Margarita Mixer, Midnight Madness, Back Alley Blend, Kauai Kolada, Twista Lime, Winter MochaMint, Warm Winter Toffee, Blackjack Gin, Screwdriver Slots, and SnakeEyes Scotch.

The agreement is silent on the name “Wacky Tobacky.”