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[19 Mar 2007|01:27pm] |
My day is now complete.
The car wouldn't start this morning, so I ran for the train.
I go to M&S for a smoothie and get an overly apologetic member of staff
The creep in HMV decided my buying Type O is reason for a naff pick up line
My book purchase in Waterstones ensured the girl behind the till to recommend horror themed smut to me - which wasn't something I was aware my book choice contained.
I WANT A REFUND ON MY WEEK.
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[06 Mar 2007|08:33am] |
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Still half asleep but happy enough. Didn't want to get out of bed - probably as I have an interview later... joy
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| Some complete bastard stole my car |
[16 Feb 2007|12:34pm] |
RIP Bob, having spoken the the police I think they are crap so do not expect to see you again - or my Rammstein and COB CDs for that matter.
Who on earth steals a red 1993 metro?
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| Rock your socks - A fashionable misappropriation of footwear |
[15 Feb 2007|01:06pm] |
Rock your socks - A fashionable misappropriation of footwear - http://subvulture.com/archive/145.html
Posted by Vicki on 08.11.03
Before it was fashionable to be 'alternative' and fishnet tops were sold everywhere the easiest way to get one was to get a pair of fishnet tights, rip a hole in the crotch and stick it over your head, with your arms going where the legs should go. While I was never desperate enough for a new top to ruin a good pair of tights the ease and effectiveness of this trick did appeal.
While wearing tights as a top is a fun and clever idea, I'm less convinced about the trend for wearing stripy socks on arms, a fad which only shows hesitant signs of disappearing.
This freaky misappropriation of footwear was first noticeable in about 1994, somehow it was seen to be a grunge thing - I suppose the whole not washing does follow on naturally. Following the decline of grunge as a hip fashion statement the outcasts that were Jack off Jill and Rachel Stamp fans latched on to it for a couple of years. As these tended to be barely legal females with a tendency towards pink and multiple layers of clothing the socks blended almost unnoticeable to the blissfully ignorant mainstream population.
Just as these kids had grown out of wearing stripy socks on their arms and the practise was fading back into obscurity along came Avril and her clones. Avril adopted wearing stripy socks as arm decor because it showed her true punk status. Even ignoring the fact that Avril is less punk than cottage cheese, there is the baffling question of how being unable to wear socks correctly makes you punk.
My curiosity led me to ask this question to the sock clad faux-punk guy standing outside of Starbucks in Camden, he looked puzzled for a minute then realised that he might be failing to look truly hardcore so yelled "it's like anarchy dude!! It shows we rock!!" I asked for clarification on how failing to wear socks on feet would change established political institutions and ease restraints on personal liberty and he looked blank before stomping off to pay over the odds for a badly bootlegged Rancid t-shirt.
The next band off the corporate conveyer belt following Avril was Evanescence, who also adopted the stripy socks on arms trick. This time it was to show they were truly gothic. In the case of Evanescence it is possible that the fact that stripes are slimming could have played a part it their role as arm warmers. Regardless of the reasons the fact that two stupidly high profile bands had adopted stripy arm socks as their only distinguishing mark ensured that a veritable sock army followed in their wake, with even high street fashion shops aimed at underage whores stoking a wide variety of stripy socks all designed to be worn on arms.
These capitalist socks came in a garish array of green and black, pink and black, yellow and black, red and black, and the more traditional white and black for truly hardcore kids to demonstrate tier affinity to something or another. To be entirely fair The Birthday Massacre have been known to sport stripy socks on arms and even though they make pretty music they do look daft although significantly better and decidedly more gothic than Evanescence.
At the present time you can walk down any high street in the UK and it will be positively mundane to see at least six people of indiscernible gender (due to their hair being greased over their faces in an attempt to emulate the new hip band) with a sock on either arm, for it is now so common place to wear socks on arms that wearing a sock on only one arm shows that you mean 'it.'
The nature of 'it' is not important; all that is required is that you know you have 'it' and everyone can see you have 'it' by the stripy sock(s) adorning your arm(s). Stripy socks have replaced backwards red baseball caps are the new badge of the cool kids; all of a sudden Fred Durst does not seem quite so bad.
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| Jack off Jill - doll parts. |
[15 Feb 2007|01:06pm] |
Posted by Vicki on 27.01.03
In an era where the media declares almost every female singer an idol for females it is refreshing to find a group of entirly unsuitable, and proud of it, females. Debatably an offshoot of the riot grrl movement and started in 1992 by an ex-groupie of Marilyn Manson, Jack off Jill quickly aquired a fanbase of scary little goth girls.
Hailing from South Florida Jack off Jill can be summarised as a children's puppet show with Exorcist overtones. Jessicka is the obvious focal point as she does her best riot girl impression and Jessicka's barely controlled tantrums, the rest of the band stands in the background reminaing almost entirely unnoticed. Manson produced Jack off Jill's EP cassette 'Children 5 and Up' and shown clearly by the 'clean panties' and 'dirty panties' remixes. In more recent years Manson appears to have ditched Jessicka and company. Rumour has it Jessicka was less than impressed that her only meantion in Manson's autobiography was that she slept with Freddy the wheel.
There is some dispute as to whether Jack off Jill are still together. It was widely reported in Novemeber 2000 that they had split, "differences" between Robin Moulder and Jessicka Fodera being widely cited. However, recently they have been getting a lot of media attention (all things considered) and Jessicka has apparently stated that both Scarling and Jack off Jill co-exist. This could be because Scarling has hardly been the success that she was hoping for.
1997's 'Sexless Demons and Scars' seems to have aquired them the most fans (albeit retrospectively) as proven by the over use of the word 'Lollirot' on a variety of online journals. This was their first full-release album, and also the first time their odd lyrical images, dress sense and cover art had any success as more than indivdual concepts.
Though I like the noises Jack off Jill make, the lyrics manage to beboth non-sensical and pretty disturbing. The first verse of 'Chocolate Chicken' reads, "Chicken and chocolate dancing / Milkman got the blues / They suck him off on dairy cock / And who the hell are you / The chicken knows, yeah / Just how it goes, yeah."
The worst feature of Jack off Jill is that they have the unfortunate habit of thinking that screaming randomly instead of singing enhances their sound. It does not. On some editions of 'Clear Hearts and Grey Flowers' is a hidden track of a cover of The Cure's 'Love song' which is ruined by Jessicka's random wailing. I am pained to say that despite this, it is by no means the worst cover of 'Love Song'. The Tori Amos cover is one of the best and, looking at the progressive devience from Robert Smith's intention, appears to have been what Jack off Jill were covering (JoJ's version having considerably more in common with this than the original). The still more recent Snake River Conspiracy cover is so odd it has to be a cover of Jack off Jill's cover. The Snake River Conspiracy cover of 'Love Song' is like a synthpop version, and appears to utilise a streched sound sample. It contrasts dramatically with every aspect of the original Cure version, and I am not at all sure who thought this was a good idea.
While none of the aforemeantioned females would make a sane role model, being either clinically nuts or of dubious moral standing or a host of other reasons, they are infinately better than those the media would assign you. Rock Sound promotes the arguement that as a "self-proclaimed independent woman, it certainly can't do any harm to have people like Kelly Osbourne pushed forward as potential female role models." These people would sell you Kelly Osbourne as the "next generation Courtney Love" and not see the irony or the insult. If I chose to have a role model if will not be someone who puts herself forward for the role or who the media deem it fit that I should emulate.
Riot Grrl is only dead if you take this lying down.
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| Tupperware saved my life. |
[15 Feb 2007|01:05pm] |
Posted by Vicki on 24.01.03
23.01.03 The Times reported " American group Tupperware is to cut nearly 1,700 jobs as it closes its UK party sales business. The Orlando-based business is to concentrate on selling directly to shops or through alliance agreements with other businesses in the UK, rather than through parties in people's homes, the BBC reported. The move means 1,500 Tupperware demonstrators, 160 managers and 20 distributors will lose their jobs."
This reminded me that as a child my mother had dragged me a number of Tupperware parties and I wondered why the product has ever been sold in such an odd manner. I soon was engulfed in more junk facts about Tupperware than I ever wanted to know. For example Earl Tupper invented it and in 1946 his first consumer plastic products the 'Wonderlier Bowl' and 'Bell Tumbler'. I love those 1940s names.
According to www.tupperware.com: tupperware brand products marked the "start of a revolutionary post-war period in history. For 50 years, Tupperware brand products have closely followed rollercoaster trends from the suburban movement to the 60's feminist revolution to '90s "cocooning" continually adding a unique organizational touch to the lives and kitchens across the nation." Oh, ok, as long as plastic food storage containers played a huge part in social history.
"Despite their breakthrough nature, Tupper's products didn't sell well in retail outlets, primarily because consumers needed demonstrations in order to understand how they worked." At this point you start dispairing for humanity. I would have thought that putting the food in the box, thus dispensing with "unsightly open packages", then closing the lid was pretty basic.
In response to people finding this apparently simple task too taxing the first Tupperware Home Party was held in 1948 and by 1951 the "Tupperware Home Demonstration system" was working so well that all Tupperware products were taken off store shelves to be distributed in this manner. "The direct sales demonstration was a welcome diversion for women, whose involvement in the community mostly revolved around their family."
Selling Tupperware products via the party sales method was an appealing career for these women." No, it was one of the only careers available after the war ended. It sounds a depressing existence selling Tupperware, especially when your sales pack reads: "backyard barbecues became a favorite way for families and neighbors to spend leisure time. The new Tupperware products answered needs created by this popular pastime. The Party Bowl kept macaroni and egg salads fresh and cold outdoors, while The Pie Taker provided easy transportation for homemade desserts. The Dip 'N Serve Serving Tray functioned much the same way, making it simple to get chips and dip to and from the backyard or the picnic site." I am concerned that they have to spell out the uses for their products, and who comes up with these names? The Pie Taker sounds like a corny tabloid nickname for someone who steals from bakeries.
"The '60s were times of social upheaval with the family undergoing social changes... women actively pursued career opportunities and Tupperware filled the ensuing product niche with...the Traveling Desk, Drawer Organizers, and the Plastic Carrying Case." I am intreged, how does the Travelling Desk travel? Does it commute on a train or have little wheels?
Tupperware then branched out in kid's toys, so now you could fob your kid off with a lump of plastic made of the same stuff he was going to eat his TV dinner off of. Apparently the "Shape-O toy" - I kid you not - was"a fun-yet-educational design which challenged each stage of a child's development from functioning as a rattle for infants to promoting eye-hand coordination in toddlers.
Tupperware also kept pace with changing palates by offering storage products like the 'Mix 'N Stor Container' and the Tortilla Keeper for serving "ethnic dishes." Very PC.
"A career in Tupperware offered these new entrants to the workforce a flexible way to earn money and spend time with their children." For anyone who believed this statement and inflicted Tupperware parties upon their kids - I hate you.
In keeping with the "fast-paced '80s" the 'TupperWave Stack Cooker' was designed to make a "three-course meal for four in the microwave in 30 minutes allowing a busy population to have traditional family dinners." At least my mum did not buy one of those at the numerous Tupperware parties she went to. Honestly I don't know exactly what she bought as all plastic retangular boxy things look the same despite the fancy names.
The 1990's trends "reflected a renewed emphasis on the home and traditional comforts such as home-cooked meals" so Tupperware give us more stupidly named products all "made with Tupperware's signature quality and ingenuity." So we get the 'Peeler Plus', the 'Coffee House Set' and the Double Colander which combined "traditional kitchenware with a '90s sophisticated savvy." This is like the Cherokee Hair Tampons on South Park, all hype, completely useless, overpriced and if you think about it for a second really really gross.
By 1992 "nearly half of all Tupperware consultants held full-time jobs in addition to selling Tupperware products." I do not see this as being a good thing, it means they are so despirate for money they still have to sell plastic boxes as well as working 9 till 5!
The company introduced "Value for Time" classes and "Custom Kitchen Planning" demonstrations, "where customers learned about microwave cooking and food preparation, as well as ways to save money on their grocery bills, valuable cabinet space and time." My only response to this is that people are stupid.
Tupperware now reaches nearly 100 markets around the world, offering culturally distinct items such as the Kimchi Keeper, the Kimono Keeper and the Japanese Bento Box very PC. Additionally the Tupperware Corporation is a $1.1 billion multinational company which also sells "premium beauty, skin care, and nutritional supplement products" via it's 'Beauticontrol' (sic) franchise.
A more recent attempt to convince you to buy Tupperware is the current article on their site entitled "Heat up Your Valentine's Day with a Romantic Meal at Home. Valentine's Day is about love and romance. But often people become so preoccupied with everyday life that they find themselves scrambling at the last minute to cook the perfect meal and buy the perfect gift. Chef Tom Colicchio of New York City's Gramercy Tavern presents easy and practical plan-ahead strategies for your romantic Valentine's Day meal" which involves Tupperware!
Ann Summers' spokesman Kevin Barnes said he was keen to sign up any redundant Tupperware ladies. "Anyone who used to work for Tupperware is welcome to join Ann Summers. Our parties are very popular indeed and a unique experience." It would cetainly be a change of scene.
http://subvulture.com/archive/049.html
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| Children of the night (strike) Nike |
[15 Feb 2007|01:04pm] |
Posted by Vicki on 22.01.03
On Monday, January 20, 2003 it was reported that a Malawi court had dismissed charges against a radio reporter arrested for interviewing a man who said he had been attacked by vampires. "For months the government has been trying to end a rash of stories about vampires attacking villagers at night and using syringes to remove their blood. President Bakili Muluzi has issued a decree ordering police to arrest anyone spreading them. Community radio journalist Maganizo Mazeze on Saturday interviewed a man from the southern tea-growing district of Thyolo who claimed to have been attacked by vampires. Mazeze was arrested Sunday and charged with broadcasting false news likely to cause public alarm. Magistrate Silvester Kalembera dismissed the charges Monday, saying police did not have an arrest warrant."
Earlier on Monday, Magistrate Diana Mangwana granted bail to 19 suspects charged with conduct likely to breach the peace in connection with an attack on a ruling party official who was believed to be harboring vampires. "Since the rumors began, frightened villagers have beaten to death two men suspected of being vampires, attacked and nearly lynched three visiting priests, and destroyed an aid group's encampment they feared was the vampires' headquarters."
Vampires have long been associated with power and great evil so it is no surprise that the ruling elite are suspecting of harbouring vampires.
1047 marked the first appearance of the word "upir" in a document referring to a Russian prince as "Upir Lichy", or wicked vampire, with 1484 seeing the publication of 'The Malleus Maleficarium', known as the witch hunter's bible, is written by Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger. The topic of how to hunt and destroy a vampire is discussed. Not until 1734 did the word "vampyre" enter the English language.
Vampires suck the life blood out of their victim, a process with can transform their prey into similar beings. By 2000, the music industry and press act in much the same way.
It is that time of year when everyone wants to predict what the next music craze is going to be abd what sucked about the last one. The most overplayed genre according to Metalindex was pop/punk with "MTVcore" a close second. I have no idea what "MTVcore" is, I presume it is MTV friendly bands, probably manufactored.
On a linked note, the new Linkin Park album is going to be called 'Meteora', and it is said to feature a "heavier" musical direction than the one found on the group's previous effort without sacrificing the band's "trademark melodic edge." It could hardly get much lighter than 'Hybrid Theory'. My brother and far too many other people I know bought it, though Beavis was the only one who hated it.
Another poll on Metalindex was for the 'Most anticipated album of 2003' and I was surprised by the results, in decending order: Ministry, Deftones, Cradle Of Filth, Linkin Park, Spineshank, Guns N Roses, Nothingface, Limp Bizkit, Posion The Well, Shai Hulud, Thursday, Darkest Hour, Depswa and Unloco.
I think someone rigged the poll. I have met so few people who have even heard of Ministry that I can believe that more people are waiting for that than the new Deftones album.
'Entertainment Weekly' has joined in the looking back at last year parade and concluded that in terms of music sales 2002 was dire. With country being herelded as "music's salvation". A scary thought and a trend I hope reverses itself as I can not live in a world full of country music.
"For all the media hype about 2002 marking the 'Return of Rock', consumers don't seem to be buying it. Among the 25 top-selling albums of the year, according to Soundscan's annual report, the highest rock finisher is... Elvis? That's right - and the King only finished at No. 15. Among rockers who DON'T appear on a postage stamp, the top seller was Creed at No. 16. Of course, Avril Lavigne finished at No. 3, but she's about as rock 'n' roll as Sid Vicious is polka."
For those lucky majority who are unaware, polka is a lively dance of Bohemian origin in duple time, current bands of this genre are Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones, Jerry Darlak And The Touch, LynnMarie, Walter Ostanek & His Band and Jimmy Sturr.
Meanwhile, back in Malawi: "As police we are saying there is no evidence that we have blood suckers in this country," said police investigator Paul Chifisi. "No one has come forward with evidence, be it medical, physical or otherwise."
If he raided the record executives offices or the magazine district in London he would have a glut of evidence.
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| Mind, body, soulless - yours to collect in 80 parts. |
[15 Feb 2007|01:04pm] |
Posted by Vicki on 18.01.03
Recently I have had Hole's 'Reasons to be Beautiful' floating around my head. I think this could be linked to the post-Christmas barrage of detox, diet and general self-help junk that everyone wants to sell me.
All the shop windows are full of celebrity fitness guides - I presume that the real reason they lost all that weight, eating disorders, does not have a chapter in any book or video you care to browse. Even my bottle of water boasts about it's detox properties.
Surrounded by this I decided that I too could improve my stamina, get a new look for the new year and whatever else these products promise. I bought a copy of 'Perfect Hair' magazine, "your unmissable guide to all the must have looks", in order to discover which one of the "509 style trends for you" was for me."
I was not overly surprised to see the same recycled pictures as are in every other magazine. But having already booked an appointment with my hairdresser, I had anticipated that one of these wonderful new styles would hit me like an epiphany, I was forced to invent my own hairstyle upon the hairdresser asking me what I wanted.
My new look being less than conventional I decided to see how I could improve my karma and thus my life. On my karma rejuvinating shopping list was the new magazine 'Mind, body, spirit'. This sounded perfect for healing my body and soul especially considering the first issue had an introductory price of 99p. It is described as (maintaining the existing capitalisation) "Enhancing Your Mind Body Spirit brings together the popular subject areas of Natural Healing, Friendship and Love, Fortelling the future, Spells & Magic and Spirits & Ghosts in one unique collection." The first issue even came with a free healing crystal.
Unfortunatly everyone else had the same idea and it sold out before I could buy a copy, and I am not paying £5 for the second issue, depsite the six free tarot cards. However, if I suscribe to all 100 issues I get a free ceramic oil burner.
The same publisher also prints 'The Catherine Cookson collection', 'Starwars Fact Files' and I Love Horses & Horse Riding.
The 'Catherine Cookson collection' is apparently "The brilliant new fortnightly series featuring the world's best loved writer and her greatest books. With every issue of The Catherine Cookson Collection you can enjoy an exclusive hardback collector's edition of one of her undisputed masterpieces. Collect the series to build your own library of Cookson classics." Sounds like hell on earth.
'I Love Horses & Horse Riding' is very, very pink. With each issue you get random tacky plastic bits which somehow form " guide on where to store and how to use all the amazingly life-like parts of Lucky’s stable. You get all the equipment you need for your loosebox, your tack room and the groom’s corner."
It also has a dire theme tune, which consistes of "I love horses, best of all the animals, I love horses, they're my friend" sung in a painfully high-pitched voice. If you can somehow overlook this and subscribe now you will receive "6 Fantastic FREE gifts: FREE Horse Pendant, FREE Issue, FREE Binder, FREE Backpack, FREE Cosmetic Bag - with mirror and brush and FREE Exclusive Wrist Watch." All these FREE items are PINK and TACKY.
I have achieved my new look, got dieting tips from anorexics and trusted the enhancement of my mind and sprit to some fool who can not even commision a decent jingle, and so can you.
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| Got terror? - My part in Sept. 11. |
[15 Feb 2007|01:03pm] |
Posted by Vicki on 16.01.03
SUVs are currently suffering a lot of bad press. Initally this was displayed in the vandalism carried out by the Earth Liberation Front, members of whom are claiming responsibility for a fire at a Pennsylvania auto dealership which especially targeted SUVs in a fight "to remove the profit motive from the killing of the natural environment."
Now this is from a new advertising campaign, claiming that the millions of people in the United States who own a sports utility vehicle (SUV) are helping terrorists intent on attacking their country. Those who drive and support SUVs are sometimes portrayed as thoughtless gung-ho Americans, and those opposed to them are painted as being unpatriotic limp-wristed liberals. But overall the success of the vehicle has been phenomenal in the US, where they now account for 21% of the market: 16 million were sold last year.
What interested me most about the adverts was that the company who came up with them also made the 'Got Milk' campaign. This campaign, unknown to most people outside of America, was basically was a bunch of celebrities (most of whom I do not know) with a milk moustache and a blurb telling you why they drank milk. For example Buffy the Vampire Slayer's blurb reads, "Revealing outfits and the un-dead. What else can't most young guys get enough of? Calcium. But there is a mouth-watering solution. Milk. It can help provide the calcium growing bones need to stay strong. A real must. Especially if you plan on sticking your neck out."
'Got Milk' was a very successful campaing, despite the potential bad press that the unauthorized ad that apparently depicted Bill Clinton and Bob Dole wearing white moustaches during the 1996 presidential election.
The anti-SUV television commercial by a new lobby group was broadcast accross America and parodies the Government campaign which suggested that the profits generated by drug abusers may go to terrorist groups. A man is shown filling up his vehicle while a child's voice says, "This is George. This is the gas that George bought for his SUV." A map of the Middle East showing Iraq and Saudi Arabia appears and the voice-over continues, "These are the countries where the executives bought the oil that made the gas." For the sake of the advert, please temporarily overlook the other oil-producing nations.
Over a shot of a terrorist training camp it says, "And these are the terrorists who get money from those countries every time George fills up his SUV." I am sure that some of the money pays the executives bonuses and bribes various politicans, or is that about as helpful as shouting Enron on Wall Street?
Another commercial in the series shows Americans admitting, "I gave money to a terrorist training camp in a foreign country." It closes with the question: "What is your SUV doing to our national economy?" This sounds about as sane as saying that cheap toys that are made in China supported and encouraged Communism.
The commercials were produced by the Detroit Project and cost about $200,000. As is visible from the quality most of this money was spent on buying airtime. Incidentally, this was all funded by donations from supporters, including the producers Steve Bing, Norman Lear, and the creator of Seinfeld, Larry David.
This made me wonder about the viability of using a charity as a front to launder money. Al Qiada is accused for using charities as a front so could the ad agency be a patsy in this scheme?
All you need are to trick a few high profile donations and then use that money to make adverts to draw in more donations. You have then got rid of 'dirty' money by passing it to the ad company responsible for 'Got Milk' and possibly made a profit after all the suckers have sent in donations to your pretense of a cause. You are managing to undermine US national confidence, markets and stability while making it appear like a democratric protest
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| Urban hard decay candy - proudly the only clothed Dixie Chicks promotion. |
[15 Feb 2007|01:03pm] |
Posted by Vicki on 12.01.03
While listlessly brousing the internet for fun makeup to match my new hair colour, I found Hard Candy's thought for the week (found on 7/01/03)
"We must carry the beautiful with us or we will never find it in the world. Stick a Super Shine Gloss in your pocket and you'll always carry beauty with you." Buddist sounding jargon product placement, a pretty good advertising technique, though personally I consider Urban Decay's initial tag line "Does Pink Make You Puke?" more apt.
This inspired to me to examine those things they would probably rather were forgotten, I wish I could forget them everytime I wake up screaming at 4am.
Urban Decay has some very nice names for products but I wonder if I read too much into them, for example I like the name of POLYESTER BRIDE eyeshadow ( apparently "a sheer, white twinkler" of a colour) because to me that sums up the future of many of Urban Decay's clientel.
Similarly, I feel that Acid Rain ("shimmery yellow green") and Smog ("deep coppery bronze") are no doubt byproducts of all the hair spray models for Urban Decay use. Spare Change ("shiny, rich, dark silver") is not something you will have after shopping for Urban Decay.
I am sure that Urban Decay would like to Chain ("gold with a deeper gold base") people into brand loyalty with them but Hard Candy are better at the devient advertising... Counting Crows have an ad on the Hard Candy site, wihch made me wonder if there was a financial arrangement between the two parties concerning the name of the band's latest album. The fact that the link is reprocated, ie a link on Counting Crows to Hard Candy, strengthens my dark little thought.
Here you can find a list of all their "looks" that can be achieved with their products. If any evidence was needed to backup my 'polyester bride' slur then it is here. Urban Decay's website entices you to "Enter your e-mail for divine deals!" I think I may have to reist, my inbox is traumatic enough without the afforementioned bad makeup tips.
I am assured by a large number of very freaky and obsessive fan-sites that Mary-Kate and Ashley are ardent fans of Hard Candy. Apparently Pearl Jam are one of Mary-Kate's favourate artists, the other being Jewel, this should possibly warn me not to believe anything you read on an obsessive fan site made badly on geo-cities by an overweight American housewife.
In case you are not horrified yet Urban Decay provides a list of other 'celebrity' users "The Dixie Chicks, Sandra Bullock, Drew Barrymore, Madonna, Neve Campbell, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Shalom Harlow, Amber Valletta, Kate Moss, Gwen Stefani, Cher, Cameron Diaz, Mary J. Blige, Kate Winslet, The Spice Girls, Dennis Rodman, and more many more." I am amused that Courtney Love does not get a mention, although you would not want the world to know that you were responsible for her appearence. Maybe Urban Decay could put a new photo in the 'looks' section, the bag lady look.
In their favour though is the statement that Urban Decay do not test on animals: "We believe in good karma! That's why all our products bring good karma to us and to you. Although we eat our fair share of tofu in the office, we are not a vegan company. But you can be sure that no animals were killed or harmed in the process of making our products." No matter how dire the celebrities that take it upon themselves to endorese Urban Decay, the tofu joke salvages some face.
However, the fact that one can buy egift certificates in denominations of $25, $50, $75, and $100 dollars is a scary concept. Given the stereotype of Urban Decay users I am surprised that the FAQ does not have the query, "can I put a egift certificate on a Hot Topic wish list?"
Urban Decay's 'brand statement' is well thought out and appears to be written by someone who actually believes in it: "It's pretty. Maybe a little twisted. But never prissy." I applaud the sentiment but advise the writer not to look at online journals or they may have a nasty surprise about those people who have adopted the brand and its statement as their mantra.
"It's always beautfiul (sic) but sometimes unusual." Makeup can only be as pretty as the person it is on and frequently when applied badly can look even worse. A paperbag would work wonders for many of the 'celebrities' who look such a state in Urban Decay or Hard Candy's products.
"It's makeup for individuals, not for those who want to blend in. Have fun, experiment...Be who you want to be today, just don't be average." This statement was true from Urban Decay's inception in 1996 to late 1999. By then everyone nice had found the brand, subsequently the less desirable aspects of society were told about the brand by magazines and jumped on the bandwagon. I like aspects of both brands, just not the majority of people who use them and the results they achieve with them.
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| Death sells - Conspiracy theories for corporate profit. |
[15 Feb 2007|01:02pm] |
Posted by Vicki on 05.01.03
When a band splits there is usually little impact, a couple of magazines print 2 lines and that is about it. But when a band member dies then the publicity machine goes into overdrive, with endless pages and even entire issues of magaines being devoted to the band and member in question.
A prime example is of Iron Monkey. An overrated band who recieved almost no meantion when they split - despite an amusing letter informing the world of the split - when the lead singer died there was a hysteriacal reaction. Magazines which had never even considered meantioning the band in any way were suddenly claiming to have loved them all along. This months Rock Sound has deemed the post-death cashin live album to be the album of the month. Then try to sum it up by claiming that "There is only one Monkey. This album needs no mark out of ten. You need to own this. It's your only option." I am one of few people who had heard of Iron Monkey before they split, let alone before Johnney died, and I still think they suck.
Sony and Roadrunner both benefited by the extra publicity after Layne Stanley's death. Roadrunner got free publicity for Jerry Cantrell's new album, the first one had made little impact while the second one made quasi-serious money, a fact not reflected by his subsequent tour dates. Sony simply used the outpouring of grief - both real and fake - to ensure extra sales of the reissued albums.
It is broadly agreeded that Nirvana as a commodity benifited hugely form Kurt's death. He made the band a martyr and brand label for every mildly disenfranchised youth. Courtney certainly benefited, the reissues, the 'discovery' of the 'rare' song and subsequent best of album. Nirvana must have made more money after their demise than they could have ever have dreamed.
It is twistedly amusing to hear Pennywise publically morn their dead former member. To hear the people who abandoned someone, cut him off from the one thing that kept him alive, then having practically held the gun to his stomach make money out of his death! The Manic Street Preachers' denial of Richie's death is positively sweet (although dumb) compared to many others in similar situations. Equally 28 Days and Feeder do not appear to have cashed in on the deaths of members as much as some other bands, but it is interesting to note that Rachel Stamp seemed more upset at the passing of their former drummer than the remaining members of Feeder did.
Drowning Pool will inevitably sell far more copies of the forthcoming DVD than they would have otherwise done. The collaberation tribute album with Rob Zombie will no doubt be financhially lucrative. Many of the bands who appeared on the Snot tribute album were no doubt moved by some genuine emotion, I just happen to think that this emotion was the joy at extra sales of their back catalogues inevitably brought on by their appearance on the tribute album.
Following Joe Strummer's recent demise there will almost inevitably be a tribute album, no doubt similar to the forthcoming Ramone's tribute and more than likely involving Rob Zombie in some capacity. Perhaps Rob Zombie is trying to rejuvinate his career by killing off fellow rockstars then being involved in the inevitable tribute album?
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| Eels - food, apparantly. |
[15 Feb 2007|01:02pm] |
Posted by Vicki on 05.01.03
It is 7am on Christmas Eve and I have just started work. I am happily and sleepily scanning items through my till. As I reach for the next item I notice it is in a salad bar / deli packet and because the lids do not shut properly it is leaking stuff. Clear stuff, like some sort of jelly and it has a head in it! An eel head with sharp teeth and it is looking at me! I shriek. It is a tub of jellied eels and it is looking at me as if it wants to bite me, it appears to be mostly heads with a couple of pieces of torso, AND IT IS LOOKING AT ME! The customer notices my very obvious horror and explains that this is the starter for her Christmas dinner. She seems surprised that this does not reassure me!
The next customer in line has witnessed this exchange and after the jellied eel woman has left starts chatting to me about how jellied eels are gross but roast eel is lovely. I have not yet been at work for 5 minutes and already I am severely freaked out. It is worse that the time that a 4 foot salmon fell out of the packet and landed on a customer's toddler, or when I looked down at my till and there was this fish apparently alive and flapping around on it (it was dead and had just fallen out of the packet), which led to me shrieking somemore.
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| Image is power - survey says: shoulderpads are... in |
[15 Feb 2007|01:01pm] |
Posted by Vicki on 05.01.03
It shows that a man declared that power is knowledge and knowledge is power, because this statement, while short and concise, misses out one key aspect of their relationship: image.
In a world where the media shapes your lifestyles, how you look controls your fate. If you are ugly you are shunned, if plain you are assumed to be reliable if dull, being too pretty means you will never be taken seriously. You have to be pretty enough to be noticed but not to turn heads less you become labled with an undesirable perception.
The careers advisor at university said that women must always wear makeup to interviews and to work, to me this is reminicent of the saying that men must never see their wifes without makeup. But while women must wear makeup to an interview / work it must be descrete or she will be labeled a slut and deemed undesirable as an employee.
Everything you wear must be of the current season's fashion, cut to hide so-called flaws and create illusions. If you can not dress as society deems 'appropriate' then you must be given help, inevitably by two stupid women, one who resembles the Goodyear blimp and the other a very dead horse.
Even hair colour is not immune to this scrutany, according to the November/December issue of Superdrug's 'Spirit' magazine, "Your hair colour is one of the first things people notice." They then declare that dying it "baby pink" will "ensure you make the right impression." I think that baby pink would possibly not be advisable for Superdrug's target audience, who appear to be women aged from about 27 to 55. The fact that in the next paragraph they advocate a specific brand because it "covers 20-50 percent of grey hair" suggests that an even older audience is being courted. My hair is currently blood scarlett. Apparently this is not suitable for job interviews, but I do not want my appearence to be controlled by what other people think. I took out my piercings because I did not want them anymore. I dress how I feel comfortable and occasionally even how is practical. Changing my hair colour is fun and yet they would deny me that simple pleasure.
Page 9 of the frankly terrifying 'Spirit' magazine enlightens me on how Sophie Pritchard from 'Big Brother' - I have no idea who, why or indeed WHAT she is - is the new face of an anti-dandruff shampoo and as such is a style icon. No one ever consulted me as to whether I wanted a style icon. I do not want to aspire to a fake pampered souless entity, my life is just begining and I would fight to preserve the little integrety that they would also deny me.
All the internet quizs and cliches are currently concentrating on catagorising people. 'which subculture are you?', 'are you punk?' What happens if I do not want to conform to your preformulated ideas and ideals? Labels sem like an awful lot of effort, especially when many people could not correctly define or even recognise goth if their pitiful life depended upon it. The actual definition of goth means uncultured or stupid person, just a thought.
Punk is a very meaningless label. Punk is like anarchy, an ideal to aspire to but not reach. True anarchy can not exist as some form of government or hierarchy will always exist. Equally the punk 'ethos' is unattainable. It is definitly more than bad tatoos, temporary hairdye and dodgy piercings though. Kids in Japan have more idea what punk consists of than the morons who currently hang around Camden trying to look impressive and as though they do not really care. You can not claim to be punk and simulaniously check your appearence in any semi-reflective surface that you pass.
I find myself in a paradox, I seek to reject concepts of image and peoples perception and yet know that these impressions will control my life and that there is nothing that I can do about it. People market products with an audience in mind and if I buy just one of these products I find myself typecast. Buying just one top from The Last Chance Saloon, no matter how pretty and sarcasticly anti-materialist it is, will tie me to those people who aspire to be the "dark twisted deviants and voodoo rockers" that the attire claims to be aimed at. Sometimes you just have to let go of all perceptions and go with what you want, I may hate the fans but I like the music and that should be all that counts.
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| Your brain on (enter consumer item here) |
[15 Feb 2007|01:00pm] |
Posted by Vicki on 01.01.03
This was going to be about how my parents are trying their damndest to kill me: they gave me food poisoning with seafood takeout then reheated it and tried to feed it me again the next day! But this is too easy, given it is the festive season and it is only natural that I want them to get runover by a streamroller.
It is Christmas eve and I have discovered that my ISP is incompatable with my webhost/FTP so I can not update this site as long as I remain in this house - as if I needed an incentive to leave this place! I went to work today, as I am at Uni I only work during the holidays. Normally there are lots of hours going begging, this year Walmart have made cutbacks so instead of my normal 35 hours a week, I have a pitiful 16 hours over 3 weeks. I can not pay my rent on that, let alone food. I can not even get another job as all the stores are cutting back as no one is really spending and the economy looks pretty shaky, US foreign policy is not helping. But it is ok as this will give me more time to revise, it will also mean I am more likely to kill my mother but that is not necessarily a downside.
It is odd how at Christmas the shops shut for 2 days at most and yet everyone shops as if it is the end of the world. People spend £250 on junk food without pausing for thought.
This town sucks. I grew up here and I hate it more every time I come back. It is a mixture of people on welfare benefits and stuckup middle class nobodies. All the people my age are either stuck in a deadend job or unemployed and unemployable. I am one of few people to finish college with anything and this is depressing as hell. I can not relate to the people around me. I don't want to stay in this town, I want to make something of my life and it appears that no one else for a 200 mile radius can see this.
Camden has gone to the dogs, it was never great, but it was better than it is now. Kiddieboarders and wannabes have invaded and accordingly the shops have changed their target audience. Slipknot merchandise is readily available as are strippy tights and the other junk that 14-17 year olds in this area seem to think are 'punk' and 'alternative'. I feel like Alice in Wonderland, where everything is completely messed up and makes no sense, where I do not belong and do not want to be, yet am unable to leave.
Everything I once belived in has warped and mutated into a consumer friendly trinket, with a high price and captive audience. Helplessness pervades my thoughts when I see the armies of kids with their hoodies stetched over their spraypainted heads, clutching the lastest copy of Kerrang! and drawing their views unquestioningly from MTV.
Everything is image over substance. Looking pretty is nice but it is not the be all and end all of existence. We have no christmas tree but it can still be christmas... right?
If I am expected to spend £30 on a top it could be handmade and thought through, not simply some mass produced mixed fabric piece of shaped sack cloth. Yet in this town I alone think that, everyone else buys what the magazines tell them, aspire to have the currently fashionable side ponytail, the tight white pants and tasteless pink jacket. Apparently next seasons hotest makeup look is "sweated off eyelined", that is eyeliner that you smear halfway accross your face, and then combine this with a crucifix. Fashion magazines worldwide are spreading the word that this is how you MUST look and a thousand million clones will all follow this as if it were written in stone handed down from god.
Alice was lucky, compared to these people Tweedle Dum and the Doormouse make perfect sense and clarity. Compared to these people the Mad Hatter makes a good fashion icon, maybe if we fed them all mercury the world would be a better place. It certainly can not make it much worse.
Vicki will return soon.
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| Lollipop Lust Kill - redneck darkwave. |
[15 Feb 2007|12:59pm] |
Posted by Vicki on 17.12.02
Lollipop Lust Kill are a band that I like but have no idea exactly why, they are a bunch of rednecks who are trying to be darkwave.
Just being enlightened as to their stage names should tell you everything you need to know:
Evvy Pedder - vocals
Pill - guitars
DeadGreg - guitars
D. Human - bass
Knits - drums
Killer K -keyboards, samples
While they appear relatively unknown in the 'real' world they have a scary online following. According to the offical site "over 130,000 people have downloaded Lollipop tracks from mp3.com. LLK topped the mp3.com heavy metal charts and, at one point, had four songs in the top 20, while having four tracks on garageband.com in metal's top 10 as well." Although they do not note that Artist Direct also has featured their songs for download - then again I would not admit that either.
Apparently the new album, 'My So Called Knife', "is a thirteen song journey into the world of Lollipop Lust Kill. It's a world where the disenchanted youth of the Midwest have taken solace." That at least pinpoints their target audience. I can see 'Jesus Chrysler' appealing to people from that neck of the woods - very reminicent of 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'.
Amazon even find me a quote from the band to back that last claim up... apparently bassist D. Human observed that "If you read any history book, they romanticize war and death, it's in basic human nature. We're just saying it and not doing it. The only thing that separates us from other people is they actually do it. We just think it." I advise them to ask for Waltz's 'Man, the State and War' for Christmas, additionally a copy of 'The Prince' would not go amiss to help widen their horizons.
MP3.com describe Lollipop Lust Kill as "Crunchy guitars, pounding rhythm tracks, tormenting keyboards and samples, insane vocals, and a power and horror based lounge-like retro vibe with an industrial flare: these are the foundations of the Toledo, Ohio phenomenon known as Lollipop Lust Kill. Commonly referred to as LLK by their minions, this six piece is on a mission to bring the parents of disenchanted, gore-lovin youths to their knees." Are they actually making a conserted effort to put people off liking the band?
Marilyn Manson probably has grounds to sue over MP3.com's statement that "LLK makes murderous, mind-bashing music to kill your parents to..." but at least it is accurate, the song 'Father' is eventually going to get Lollipop Lust Kill dragged through court for inciting homicide.
They also have scary fans, for example some random freak on Amazon said "If you liked Jack Off Jill, Korn, Kittie, Coal Chamber, or Medication, you'll LOVE Lollipop Lust Kill!!!!" Multiple exclaimation marks are the sign of a deranged mind.
Amazon also informed me that, "Customers who bought titles by Lollipop Lust Kill also bought titles by these artists:" Otep, Coal Chamber, Killswitch Engage, Switched and Soulfly.
No surprises there.
The Offical site is very proud of the latest album, where they take "a wild ride on the dark side, combining pummeling modern guitars with moments of eerie tranquility." Adding that "'My So Called Knife' was produced by Sylvia Massy Shivy. She is best known for her work with bands like Tool, Powerman 5000, and Sevendust. This release holds its own against anything she's done in the past." I debate this, The Deadlights' album is better.
Not content with that description Amazon adds that "Front man Evvy Pedder alternates between Goth-like intonations and Pantera-like bellowing, and their lurid lyrics paint portraits of murder and mayhem"
Despite Lollipop Lust Kill's pride in having toured with Kid Rock, Sevendust, Disturbed, Nickelback, and Full Devil Jacket, I have about as much chance on seeing the play the UK as I have of seeing Deadsy play a sold-out London Astoria show. I would settle for Deadsy playing the UK once in a while. For while Deadsy toured with Korn in the US they did not make it over the Atlantic - although happily niether did Puddle of Mudd, instead we got Disturbed and TRUSTcompany. Amusingly enough Deadsy and Lollipop Lust Kill have played at least one show together, I never thought I would want to go to Flint, MI, I hear there are too many rednecks...
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[15 Feb 2007|12:59pm] |
Posted by Vicki on 12.12.02
Randomly my parents suggested a family trip to the cinima to see 'The Twin Towers' on Christmas Eve. This reminded me of previous family viewed films and I noticed a disturbing trend. What do 'Labyrinth', 'Willow', 'Honey, I Shrunk the kids' and 'Home Alone' have in common? They are all about kids who disappear, are kidnapped or abandoned.
'Labyrinth' came out in 1986 and my brother and I were taken to see it at the cinema. I would have been just 4 and my brother about one years old, hardly ages which would understand the full implications of the film, although I did understand the bit about the annoying baby brother being taken away...
My parents realised that it might not be entirely suitable for young children when the monsters came to steal Tobey. They dragged us out of the cinema. I did not want to go, I wanted to play with the monsters.
'Willow' was about 1988 and is about a baby who an evil queen/witch wants to kill. In an attempt to save her she is floated down the river and found by midgets who ensure the happy ending occurs. Personally I would have prefered the evil dogs to have eaten everyone. It would have been both a shorter film and far more fun.
The theme of abandoned kids is consistent with 'Willow', the mother is killed, the midwife gets ripped to pieces by the dogs and various other people die. Meanwhile the baby is shunted from person to person until she ends up on an alter about to be sent to Hell forever. And the baby has a really dumb name.
'Dark Crystal' was one that my parents rented on VHS in about 1987, and guess what happens... "Henson tells the story of a race of grotesque birdlike lizards called the Skeksis, gnomish dragons who rule their fantastic planet with an iron claw. A prophecy tells of a Gelfling (a small elfin being) who will topple their empire, so in their reign of terror they have exterminated the race, or so they think. The orphan Jen, raised in solitude by a race of peace-loving wizards called the Mystics, embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of the Dark Crystal (which gives the Skeksis their power) and restore the balance of the universe."
Amazon put it so succinctly.
What is it about kids who have lost their parents in all these films? I really think my parents were trying to give me a hint.
My parents really outdid themselves with 'The Princess Bride'. A quick summery from Amazon tells you everything you need to know: "A lowly stable boy, Westley (Cary Elwes), pledges his love to the beautiful Buttercup (Robin Wright), only to be abducted and reportedly killed by pirates while Buttercup is betrothed to the evil Prince Humperdinck. Even Buttercup herself is kidnapped by a giant."
It sucks a lot, if I had known then that I could divorce my parents them forcing me to see this film would have been the catalyst.
I am sure everyone is aware just how dire Home Alone is so shall leave it at that. 'Honey, I Shrunk the kids' is a very odd film, I am sure the title represents a not-so subliminal thought on my parent's part.
I do not think all this is a conincidence, more of a hint as to my parent's true nature. I could be wrong but at any rate it explains why I like Jim Henson's monsters: I grew up watching them steal representations of me and then sing about it.
I am waiting for my parents to give me 'The City of Lost Children' for Christmas... it is far too possible
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| City of Lost Children - because my parents love me. |
[15 Feb 2007|12:58pm] |
Posted by Vicki on 12.12.02
Randomly my parents suggested a family trip to the cinima to see 'The Twin Towers' on Christmas Eve. This reminded me of previous family viewed films and I noticed a disturbing trend. What do 'Labyrinth', 'Willow', 'Honey, I Shrunk the kids' and 'Home Alone' have in common? They are all about kids who disappear, are kidnapped or abandoned.
'Labyrinth' came out in 1986 and my brother and I were taken to see it at the cinema. I would have been just 4 and my brother about one years old, hardly ages which would understand the full implications of the film, although I did understand the bit about the annoying baby brother being taken away...
My parents realised that it might not be entirely suitable for young children when the monsters came to steal Tobey. They dragged us out of the cinema. I did not want to go, I wanted to play with the monsters.
'Willow' was about 1988 and is about a baby who an evil queen/witch wants to kill. In an attempt to save her she is floated down the river and found by midgets who ensure the happy ending occurs. Personally I would have prefered the evil dogs to have eaten everyone. It would have been both a shorter film and far more fun.
The theme of abandoned kids is consistent with 'Willow', the mother is killed, the midwife gets ripped to pieces by the dogs and various other people die. Meanwhile the baby is shunted from person to person until she ends up on an alter about to be sent to Hell forever. And the baby has a really dumb name.
'Dark Crystal' was one that my parents rented on VHS in about 1987, and guess what happens... "Henson tells the story of a race of grotesque birdlike lizards called the Skeksis, gnomish dragons who rule their fantastic planet with an iron claw. A prophecy tells of a Gelfling (a small elfin being) who will topple their empire, so in their reign of terror they have exterminated the race, or so they think. The orphan Jen, raised in solitude by a race of peace-loving wizards called the Mystics, embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of the Dark Crystal (which gives the Skeksis their power) and restore the balance of the universe."
Amazon put it so succinctly.
What is it about kids who have lost their parents in all these films? I really think my parents were trying to give me a hint.
My parents really outdid themselves with 'The Princess Bride'. A quick summery from Amazon tells you everything you need to know: "A lowly stable boy, Westley (Cary Elwes), pledges his love to the beautiful Buttercup (Robin Wright), only to be abducted and reportedly killed by pirates while Buttercup is betrothed to the evil Prince Humperdinck. Even Buttercup herself is kidnapped by a giant."
It sucks a lot, if I had known then that I could divorce my parents them forcing me to see this film would have been the catalyst.
I am sure everyone is aware just how dire Home Alone is so shall leave it at that. 'Honey, I Shrunk the kids' is a very odd film, I am sure the title represents a not-so subliminal thought on my parent's part.
I do not think all this is a conincidence, more of a hint as to my parent's true nature. I could be wrong but at any rate it explains why I like Jim Henson's monsters: I grew up watching them steal representations of me and then sing about it.
I am waiting for my parents to give me 'The City of Lost Children' for Christmas... it is far too possible
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| Fun with Disney - excepting 'Free Willy' 1 through 3. |
[15 Feb 2007|12:58pm] |
Posted by Vicki on 12.12.02
Along with many other things Aberystwyth lacks a Disney store. Fortunately, the imaginatively named 'Birthdays' stocks ample Disney merchandise. This year they have outdone themselves. There are more toys and even higher prices than ever.
For £10 you have the choice of a small but exceedingly deformed Bambi or an even smaller and frankly pear-shaped Baloo.
While on the subject of The Jungle Book, the doll of King Louie appears to have been made using the same model as a penguin from some random film that never made UK release. Just for the record, the penguin looks an awful lot better.
For £15 you gain two inches on the £10 toy, whilst simultaneously doubling the fur moltage. It is the same malformed lump of fluff and the smile on its face is still terrifying. Regardless of what character doll you buy they all have the same fixed grimace, guaranteed to reduce your kid to a blubbering wreak in the shortest possible time.
For £40 you get a two and a half foot high Pooh Bear that look as though something is seriously wrong, I think the free shrink-wrap service may have starved its brain of oxygen. The head is hugely disproportionate and the look on its face raises real concerns about its mental capabilities. The giant Piglet, Tigger and Eeyore toys are no less bad. A fact not helped by the shop staff having positioned Tigger behind Eeyore so it looked completely immoral and not suitable for kids. Unfortunately the toys looked as if they had been designed for this very purpose and as such look as happy and at home as they get.
Then there was an enormous teddy bear, about 5 foot high, 4 foot wide and fortunately lacking a price label. This monstrosity loomed over the store, watching everything with a baleful gaze. It was truly sinister, like in Ghostbusters when Marshmallow-man appears and starts stalking the streets. This toy is going to give me nightmares and it was a horrible shade of bright, neon PINK!
The rest of the store is filed with cheap balloons, wigs and assorted party junk which just emphasises the sheer terrifying nature of the giant teddy bear.
All my childhood favourites are making a comeback - at least merchandising wise. It would appear that Disney has realised that it has not had a commercial hit film for some years and so is cashing in on those that were a success. Lion King toys are abundant and tacky, thankfully the Little Mermaid toys vanished after a brief stint in the shop window - I think they were scaring away customers. Even non-Disney characters such as Danger mouse, Peanuts, Hong Kong Phooey and those accursed Care bears. The Clangers resurgence made a fortune and so everyone is following suit, same in the knowledge that they have a guaranteed audience, including, but not limited to, teens, kids, students and grandparents.
The original 1974 cartoons of Hong Kong Phooey are scary, then you include the upcoming film and the 2001 Cartoon Network produced updated online Flash adventure featuring a buffed up, werewolf-like Hong Kong Phooey. This updated version "begins with Penry leaping into the filling cabinet and dramatically transforming into a muscle bound hero to take on a monster villain. This tough revision of the character features Manga/ anime styled martial arts action."
It is scary that anyone could do this to an established and popular character - it is still better than the Scooby-Doo! movie.
Winnie the Pooh and friends appear to be this years biggest cash cows. Every possible line of merchandise that is vaguely appropriate has been explored - I am waiting until Disney licence Anne Summers to do an 'adult' line of goods. But hopefully that will be too sick and twisted, even for them...
I predict that Disney will produce cuddly Pinhead toys to cash-in on the film of Clive Barker's 'Abarat', a whole new way of bringing hell to the masses, even Pinhead himself will not see this coming.
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