The Consumer Category
We bring you the chic and unique, the best and most bizarre shopping offers both online and offline. We offer you tips on where to buy, and some of the less mainstream and crazy, individual and offbeat items on the internet. Anything that can be bought and sold can be featured here. And we love showcasing the best and worst art and design.
The Chinese eat powdered baby flesh – and other Matzah Balls
DID you about those godless Chinese grinding up the bones and flesh of dead babies and turning the desiccated human cement into mouth-sized capsules to be taken after meals? South Korean customs officials say they impounded thousands of capsules filled with the powdered meat of human babies. The drugs were said to be produced in northeastern China (yeah, not far from the border with South Korea’s dread enemy North Korea).
The South Koreans say that the 17,450 capsules were being used as stamina boosters and cures for a range of diseases. But, oddly, no-one has been arrested for what sound like a heinous product. And the customs officials who found the horrible stuff want to remain anonymous.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: 9th, May 2012 | In: Key Posts, The Consumer | Comment
Anja Rubik cuts a *ash at the Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum, New York (photos)
TO the Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum – New York, in the company of Anja Rubik, doyenne of the Rubik’s Lube, showing us the pelvic bone Angelina Jolie shaves her leg on…
Spotter: Stylebrity
Posted: 8th, May 2012 | In: Fashion | Comments (5)
Thorpe Park and the chocolate boffins: when PR is presented as science fact
SCIENCE you can’t argue with: news is that taking rides on rollercoaster – such as the new Swarm ride at Thorpe Park in Surrey!!! – produces “astonishing” health benefits. Wow!
The Press Association reports that neuropsychologist Dr David Lewis has made an amazing discovery. He tells us:
“While the immediate euphoric buzz generated by the flood of feelgood chemicals released into the rider’s brain and body seem likely to fade fairly rapidly, more subtle effects may well exert their influence for far longer.”
You might feel thrilled for longer. You can’t argue with the doctor. It’s just facts!
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: 7th, May 2012 | In: Key Posts, The Consumer | Comment (1)
Awkward glamour photos – making love to a limp camera
YOU want to make love to the camera but the camera has made other plans. Take care, glamour models, with bad lighting and a misplaced pot plant, this could be you in our gallery of Awkward Glamour Photos:
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: 5th, May 2012 | In: Key Posts, The Consumer | Comment
The Chin Reducer AND Beautifier
FOR “CURVES Of YOITUH” you need to pull the cords on Prof. Mack’s Chin Reducer and Beautifier. Be the envy of all your pals with an effaced chin and reduced glands*.
* Only available in 1890.
Posted: 5th, May 2012 | In: Flashback, The Consumer | Comment
What is going in in these photos?
CAN you work out what is going on? Answer on page 2…
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: 30th, April 2012 | In: The Consumer | Comments (2)
The call to ban airbrushing is a stupid attack on free speech and dumb kids
TODAY, Rachael Johnston, an anorexic once given just 48-hours to live, has launched a petition to ban the use of airbrushing to make woman look flawless and thin in magazines and other organs. She tells the Mail (a paper that is no fan of woman’s natural looks):
“It wasn’t until later that I realised what an effect these images can have and how they affected the things I did or felt.”
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: 30th, April 2012 | In: The Consumer | Comments (3)
Man sues BMW for giving him permanent erection
LITIGANT of the Day is the Henry Wolf, of San Francisco, who is suing BMW of North America and Corbin-Pacific, makers of bike seats. Mr Wolf claims that following a four-hour ride on a 1993 BMW motorcycle sporting a Corbin-Pacific seat, he developed “a severe case of priapism”. Though carrying a permanently erect member, Mr Wolf says he is “unable to engage in sexual activity”.“Plaintiff was riding his 1993 BMW motorcycle equipped with a Corbin-Pacific seat. The ride lasted approximately two hours each way to plaintiff’s destination, after which plaintiff developed a severe case of priapism (a persistent, lasting erection). Plaintiff alleges that this condition was caused by the ridge-like seat on his motorcycle, negligently designed, manufactured and/or installed by defendants. Plaintiff now suffers from priapism (a long lasting erection), and has been experiencing continuing problems since his motorcycle ride. He is now unable to engage in sexual activity, which is causing him substantial emotional and mental anguish.“Plaintiff is distraught and distressed because of this. Defendants, and each of them, are liable to plaintiff due [to] their negligent design, manufacture and/or installation of the seat on plaintiff’s motorcycle.”
Posted: 30th, April 2012 | In: The Consumer | Comments (3)
Californian mum wins $3m payout for Nutella’s deceptive advertising
HOW dangerous is Nutella? The Consumerist reports on goings on in California, where Athena Hohenberg, a litigious San Diego mother of a four-year-old child, took out a class-action lawsuit against Ferrero U.S.A. Inc., makers of the nutty brown gunk. Back in February 2011, mum was “shocked to learn” “that Nutella was in fact not a ‘healthy,’ ‘nutritious’ food”. Nutella was “the next best thing to a candy bar”.
The adverts tell consumers that Nutella can be part of a “tasty yet balanced breakfast”.
The caring mum claims Nutella “contains dangerous levels of saturated fat,” and “over 55% processed sugar.” She says such things”significantly contribute to America’s alarming increase in childhood obesity” and “serious health problems”.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: 29th, April 2012 | In: The Consumer | Comment (1)
The 4th Body-painting competition – pigeon chests and fishy nails (photos)
FACES of The Day: The 4th Body-painting competition at the BEAUTY FORUM and trade fair in Leipzig, eastern Germany, Saturday. Watch out for pigeon chests. (Photos NSFW.)
13407701
EDS NOTE NUDITY - The model of 1st placed artist Einat Dan of Israel, left, and the model of 2nd placed artist Alfren Fabris of Brazil, 2nd of left, are reflect in a mirror during the 4th Body-painting competition at the BEAUTY FORUM and trade fair in Leipzig, eastern Germany, Saturday, April 28, 2012. BEAUTY FORUM 2012 is one of the most important cosmetic trade fairs in Germany. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
Posted: 28th, April 2012 | In: The Consumer | Comment
Which nation has the most plastic surgery? Revealed
WHICH nation has the most appreciation of cosmetic surgery? And does it alter depending on where Simon Cowell is staying? The answers are revealed in a report from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. In 2010, America was No.1, with 3.3m procedures. But if the figures allow for population numbers, South Korea is the top of the pile…
Posted: 27th, April 2012 | In: The Consumer | Comment (1)
Victoria’s Secret models of 1979 – comfort before sex and excited dogs
It’s 1979, and Victoria’s Secret is flogging underwear. The guiding principles are, in order: warmth; coverage; clothing should not arouse pets, specifically dogs; three-for-one deals are available on request; the go-ahead set have phones in the bedroom; women are not made of plastic resin; tans can be natural; tans are not obligatory; women do not shine in the dark…
Posted: 27th, April 2012 | In: Flashback, The Consumer | Comment
Stonehenge is bouncy castle – now for the Kaaba Snow Globe
STONEHENGE has been turned into a bouncy castle entitled Sacrilege by British artist Jeremy Deller. Says she:
“It’s something for people to interact with, it’s a big public sculpture. It is also a way of interacting with history and archaeology and culture in a wider sense.”
You can see it on Glasgow Green for the Glasgow International Festival of Visual Arts. It looks great. And as part of the Sacrilege movement we look forward to the artist turning their attention away from Paganism towards other religions. Look out for a bouncy Vatican, a teddy bear Buddha and a Snow Globe Kaaba. Only fair that all belief systems get the same treatment, right..?
Posted: 26th, April 2012 | In: The Consumer | Comment
Book of The Day – How To Pick Up Women, by Eric Weber
ERIC Weber’s 1970 tome How to Pick Up Women has over 3,000,000 copies in print – if you believe the marketing. “So effective it should be declared illegal!” – so some say. Team it with Weber’s The Complete Guide to America’s Best Pick up Spots!: 910 Fantastic Places to Pick up Girls! One Hundred Best Opening Lines and you men cannot fail to pull. See also Eric Weber’s Winning With Women and The Shy Person’s Guide to Love and Loving.
Weber self-published his book He took out an advert in Penthouse magazine and waited. And then the orders started to come in.
Read the rest of this entry »
The Mystery Science Theater 3000 headboard is a thing of wonder
MYSTERY Science Theatre was one of the great TV shows. Doorman has fashioned a headboard featuring the heads of Mystery Science Theater 3000. If they’re looking at the wall, he might be ok because if they’re looking at his bed antics… Well, not one like a critic all the time…
Spotter: idontknowart
Posted: 25th, April 2012 | In: The Consumer | Comment
Bad business names – Poo-Ping Palace and The Glory Hole prayer shop
BAD business names is gallery of, well, bad business names. Would you eat at Virgin Tandoori, Poo-Ping Palace or Fouk Yue? Would you buy your threads at titty or the Raper shop? Do you get your drinks at STD? Fo you pray at The Glory Hole?…
Posted: 25th, April 2012 | In: Key Posts, The Consumer | Comment
So. She got her beauty spots made into a dot-to-dot tattoo
COLLEEN AF Venable wanted to work on her beauty spots. As she says: “Ever since I was little I joked about getting my birthmarks numbered – that I was one big connect-the-dots tattoo that made a “me”. This tattoo is part of ‘The Stalking and Murdering of a Childhood Giraffe Project’.” So, what do you call a baby giraffe?
Posted: 24th, April 2012 | In: The Consumer | Comment (1)
What drugs will you take?
WHAT drugs are you into? Ones the doctor gives you and make you feel better? Maybe. But what illegal drugs are you into and lean towards?
People who use illicit drugs often have been shown to have higher rates of both extroversion and susceptibility to boredom, which may drive them into more situations where drugs appear, or simply make them more likely to crave new subjective experiences. And those who are particularly susceptible to boredom have been shown to use opiates more often. But this is where the studies break down.
Can you crave drugs without being an addict?
Posted: 23rd, April 2012 | In: The Consumer | Comment (1)
Indian’s National Fisheries Development Board building is a massive fish
TO India, to gaze upon the new National Fisheries Development Board building, designed to resemble a fish, in Hyderabad. It’s a terrific idea, and it should catch on on the UK. No longer will tourist have to asks “Where Mousetrap” as London’s St Martin’s Theatre is turned into a giant sprung spike hovering above a piece of cheese; the Houses of Parliament would resemble a trough; Clarence House becomes animatronic singing begonia; Lord Sugar’s House is a pointy finger; and Corby Town Hall is the world’s biggest functioning trouser press…
Posted: 20th, April 2012 | In: The Consumer | Comment (1)
Man eats 1050 bacon rashers in one Burger King
YOU can get lots and lots and lots of bacon in a Burger King bun. How many? 1050!
“I ate a hamburger at Burger King. Was added to 1,050 pieces of bacon.”
D’lish!
Posted: 20th, April 2012 | In: The Consumer | Comment
Record Store Day – making the past stay alive (photos)
IN honour of Record Store Day, a celebration of independently owned record stores we want you to name the record shops you used to visit – or still do. (Loppy Luggs, anyone?) Vinyl has not gone away in Europe. Martin Belam recalls his time working in Reckless Records. As he says: “Everything I know about second-hand record retail I learnt by being rude to customers at Reckless Records.” I remember picking records and having my selection challenged by the shop owner, who as cultural historian and librarian was keen to help. I still ended up with something by the Thompson Twins…
Read: Old Rare New: The Independent Record Shop, by Emma Pettit. Photo Spotters: here, Twittering Madness, Concierge,here, Shorpy…
Posted: 20th, April 2012 | In: The Consumer | Comments (11)
Acura seeks ‘nice looking, friendly, not too dark’ black man to sell Jerry Seinfeld a car
ACURA (owned by Honda) is sorry “you were offended” for requesting African Americans “not too dark” to appear in their Super Bowl ad. The car dealer should be “nice looking, friendly, not too dark“. Acura says:
“We apologize to anyone offended by the language on the casting sheet used in the selection of actors for one of our commercials.”
To those of you not offended, as you were.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: 19th, April 2012 | In: The Consumer | Comment
Some people have strange ideas about free speech – ban advertising in Bristol?
FREE Speech? Compass wants to ban outdoor advertising in Bristol:
In an increasingly commercialised world people should have the freedom to choose when they are exposed to advertising. In public spaces we should be free from private and commercial interest but instead we are bombarded with messages that encourage us to run ever faster on the treadmill of modern consumer life with damaging consequences.
Well, OK, not sure I agree with you but it’s a point of view that can be discussed certainly.
Then we get what is really meant:
Any remaining empty spaces can be filled with art, poetry and inspiring social campaigns (e.g. volunteering, encouraging recycling).
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: 19th, April 2012 | In: The Consumer | Comment
Why you are wheat intolerant
ARE you wheat intolerant? Are you illiberal about your wheat? Why are more of us allergic to bread? Well, the wheat we eat is pretty new:
[M]odern wheat remained essentially the same until the mid-twentieth century, when the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (IMWIC) and other wheat research centers set out to combat world hunger. Over the following decades, thousands of new varieties were created to dramatically increase yields. …
[William Davis, author of Wheat Belly] writes, “The oversight in the flurry of breeding activity, such as that conducted at IMWIC, was that, despite dramatic changes in the genetic makeup of wheat and other crops, no animal or human safety testing was conducted on the new genetic strains that were created. So intent were the efforts to increase yield, so confident were plant geneticists that hybridization yielded safe products for human consumption, so urgent was the cause of world hunger, that these products of agricultural research were released into the food supply without human safety concerns being part of the equation.”
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: 17th, April 2012 | In: The Consumer | Comments (4)
