Just What Your First Grader Needs… A Padded Bra

Get your barf bags ready, people. The braintrust that brought the world Bratz dollz are at it again…

Bratz Twin Babyz Lingerie Dollz

Phoebe “Sugar” is described as “sweet and mild” and dressed in a fluffy pink jacket with pink and black underwear, while Roxxi “Spice” is described at ‘wild and spicy” and has an open fake leather jacket and skimpy red and black lingerie. Both dolls have baby milk bottles hanging off chains strapped to their legs.

Click to enlarge

I’m not sure if these things are being sold in the US or not but in Australia, sales are expected to reach one million this year. WTF???

But WAIT! Grab another barf bag. It gets worse…

Target stores in Australia are also selling Bratz and Barbie padded bras for little girls starting at size 6 and if you look at it in the photo below, the first two sets on the left and in the middle are very mature looking. In fact, it’s not unlike lingerie that I own. But it’s for little kids which is just gross.

LITTLE GIRLS SIZE 6, people!

Click the image to enlarge

Let My Kid be a Kid, Dammit!

While I’m pretty easygoing about a lot of things, anyone who has read my blog for a while knows I have a few, uh, issues that consistently raise my hackles. One of them is how the world has no regard for the fact that I am raising a CHILD. A child that I want to REMAIN a child for a little longer. I mean she’s barely six, for chrissakes. I’m not ready for her to to be assimilated into the hypermature world of slutty celebrities, hoochie skank clothing at Limited, Too (which, incidentally, is owned by Victoria’s Secret) and oral sex in the back of the school bus. I want her to have a childhood. Is that SO MUCH to ask???

I’m not 100% sure if I’m premenstrual or what but feeling like a raw nerve on a windy day has made today a little difficult. Things are really…pissing me off. More than they should. But I think I was well within my rights to get angry today and the store manager on duty at my local Publix grocery store agreed.

It all started in the hated snacks aisle. I mean the snacks are fine. It’s the magazine rack across from the snacks that always bothers me. Maybe it’s just me, but strolling down the aisle having my daughter at eye level with FHM, Lowrider, Maxim and other publications of that ilk really pisses me off. This is a grocery store, not Barnes & Noble or Borders. This is a place where people and their children shop day in and day out. I just feel like I shouldn’t have to worry about crap like that. I reiterate…she’s not quite six years old. Does she really need to be exposed to what basically amounts to softcore porn at the GROCERY STORE???? It just seems like there was a time when people cared that something might be inappropriate for children but seriously, nobody gives a shit anymore and if you’re raising kids, girls in particular, and you’re not in a coma, you know it’s true.

Not only are girls conditioned to believe that being a human toothpick will make them better, more desirable people (eating disorder anyone?), but they’re also being conditioned to believe that their worth is in their body and sexuality and this saddens me in addition to really chafing my ass because it’s the absolute antithesis of everything I want for her. And today was the day I (and my PMS) decided I’d had enough.

While walking down the snack aisle and trying, as usual, to get my daughter to focus on the junk food instead of the sleazy magazines, I took note of this (it wasn’t this exact cover but one similar) and I just lost it. I grabbed a copy, rolled it up, stuck it down in the cart where TQ couldn’t see it and stormed up to the service desk. I asked for a manager and tried to remain calm while I waited. A woman manager emerged from the office and a torrent of words came rushing out of my mouth as I held up the magazine for her to see.

I basically said that I was sick and tired of dealing with this and how am I supposed to explain this kind of stuff to my 5 yr old and why should I have to when all I want to do is grocery shop and who generates more revenue in this store? Families with children or the random guys who stand around and read magazines?

She said she was going to show the magazines to the head honcho manager and relay my complaints and I was sure to ask her to ask him for me how he would feel for his wife and kids to have to shop with that shit right in their faces. The manager agreed wholeheartedly and dispatched someone to remove all the magazines. I didn’t expect or ask her to remove the magazines. I just wanted my voice to be heard. But still, that small victory felt good and frankly, I don’t know why I waited so long. I hope they follow through and do the right thing and that this wasn’t just lip service because I don’t intend to forget about this. (And Publix should take note that Wild Oats is just as close to my house and doesn’t stock that kind of stuff)

And if my daughter ever sounds like this, I’ll probably just throw in the towel and step in front of a bus.

“But when we go out, we do everything together - drinking, dancing, going to the bathroom, even vomiting.”

WTF?

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7/17/2006 EDITED TO ADD:

I feel I should clarify for anyone who should happen along that I do not advocate censorship but with the power to create media comes a responsibility. To just send it out into the world with no regard for who is on the receiving end is socially irresponsible. Yes, you have the RIGHT to put anything out there that you want but stores and publishers need to realize that whether the law mandates it or not, they have a responsibility to society.

The law is sympathetic to the right to free speech but in practice, there are so many other considerations and though I hardly expect corporations to give a crap about those considerations, I also cannot see the harm in taking some voluntary responsibility for what is and isn’t appropriate for younger eyes when they choose what to openly display in their stores.

It’s not about denying anyone their right to non-kid friendly material. You can have it. I don’t care. But when it comes to young kids, I have to draw a line.

It may be hard to imagine but I used to not see the world this way. When I had no kids, the world, to me, was an adult place and everyone should just adapt to our adult preferences. But as a parent, I realize that an adult-centric view of the world simply doesn’t work. Adults arent the only inhabitants of the universe and thus they shouldn’t be the sole centers of it any more than children should be. We’re all in it together…

Has Anyone Seen My Ball-Gag?

Almost every day, I go out into the world and encounter rude people. And every time I think to myself “You assbite. I’m gonna blog about you” and then I forget about it and never see my plan to fruition.

Until now. Tonight, as I was brushing my teeth, which is when I do all my deep thinking lately, I replayed one of my many encounters with the rude and ill-mannered and decided I WILL blog about my pet peeves in the rudeness arena, if only to vent…

Here are my top four five, in no particular order, as I deem all of them to be equally unbearable:

1. People who cannot manage a wave of thanks when I have let them in front of me in traffic. I have endured the ire of people behind me so that I could let your ingrate ass go when you would have otherwise have been sitting there for God knows how long. How hard is it to wave in acknowledgement?

2. People who do not RSVP. Honestly….how fricken hard is it to pick up a phone and say yes or no? Next time, if you don’t RSVP by the requested date, consider yourself uninvited. Like the song.

3. People who consistently don’t say “please or “thank you.” These two phrases are the cornerstones of a civilized society. Did their mothers actually forget to teach them the importance of them? Or are they just too rude and self-involved to remember to use them?

4. People who repeatedly interrupt when others are speaking. We all do it occcasionally and I know sometimes it’s hard to contain one’s thoughts until the other person is finished talking, particularly for children, but adults who chronically interrupt others need to be friggin’ ball-gagged. Seriously.

5. People who don’t acknowledge you when you hold the door for them, as if you’re their personal doorman or something. I bet they’d have plenty to say if I let it close in their face! (I had to add this one after Mom-101 commented and reminded me of how much it pisses me off)

Is it just me? Or is politeness too much to expect from people anymore?

This is just the tip of the rudeness iceberg. Feel free to add your own!

The Truth Shall Set You Free (or at least make you snicker a little)

I have to type this fast. I’m having company today. My stepmother is coming and I’m pretty sure I won’t have time later to post anything or even tonight. My boss just emailed me some work that he needs first thing tomorrow. I’m pretty annoyed about it as it’s an assload of work with a ridiculous deadline. I’ll have to do it after my stepmom goes to sleep. I hardly ever get to see her so I don’t want to work when I could be visiting *big irritated sigh*

I’m having withdrawals… I’ve hardly read any blogs the past couple days because I’ve been cleaning my house. Stop laughing. I’m serious! Since I knew I was going to do a big major cleaning job, I foolishly let things go for several days leading up to it, thus making my job that much harder. But, after taking all afternoon to untangle the disaster known as TQ’s room and cleaning a blue streak last night, my house is fabulously tidy now. Bring on the company!

So anyway, we all know that photos of models and celebrities are airbrushed to holy hell, right? Well, unless you work in photography, magazine publishing or some other related arena, you may not realize just how much. So, without further ado, I give you the proof. Never again will you look at a cover of Maxim or an ad for foundation again and wonder why you were so cruelly cheated in the flawless skin and sultry, luminous glow departments. Okay, maybe you have never had that thought but I know I have…

See for yourself. Be sure to scroll all the way down on these links and beware, this one is not completely work or kid safe.

Back? Pretty amazing, isn’t it?

But if you show that last one to your man, just know he probably won’t enjoy having his bubble burst…heheheh

And if that didn’t make you feel just a wee bit happy, then this definitely will.

Turns out they’re only human after all :)

ADDENDUM: But Wait! There’s more! Java Junkie just sent me this link and it’s a veritable cornucopia of airbrushing and re-touching. Look at Halle Berry in the red dress and see what they did to her torso. Actually, you really just need to look at all of them. They flattened their stomachs, enlarged their asses into full-fledged bootaaaays, removed any skin folds/rolls and gave them boobage where little previously existed.

Un-fricken-believable…

A Pearl of Wisdom from SatC

As I brushed my teeth this morning, I found myself thinking, of all things, about an episode of Sex in the City. You may recall the “He’s just not that into you” episode.

For the uninitiated, that expression is supposed to help decode certain male behaviors exhibited when dating. Namely, behaviors that really mean “he’s just not that into you.”

I, however, wasn’t thinking about dating but rather about how that phrase applies to blogging. And if you stop and consider it for a moment, it totally works.

I mean how many times have you found another blogger and thought they were right up your alley; a fellow bird of a feather, a blogging soul-sister (or brother) and left them a comment (or two or three if you reallllly like them!).

They make you laugh, and cry and think and smile and you both hate “Law and Order” It’s meant to be.

When they commented back you were quite pleased. It must be mutual.

You like them. They like you. It’s a done deal.

Or is it?

As you continue to visit and share the love, you start to notice they really don’t seem to be reciprocating oir visiting very much. Or maybe not at all.

You may find yourself wondering…is it something you said? Do you smell? Did they find out you secretly love “Dancing with the Stars?” What happened?

Don’t feel bad. It’s not you. Or your blog. Or your questionable taste in television entertainment.

It’s entirely possible that they’re just not that into you.

And if that’s the case, it’s nothing personal. You’re really nice. Your blog is great and they don’t even know that you spent an hour hitting speed dial over and over to vote on Dancing with the Stars.

Isn’t that a relief?

My true questionable, guilty-pleasure TV choice isn’t really “Dancing with the Stars”. I’ve never even seen it. It just thought it sounded funnier. You know, artistic license and all that…

To be honest, I love “Blow Out.”

A heterosexual diva hairdresser guy with serious delusions of grandeur…it’s good stuff.

Edited to Add: I think I may have been misunderstood by some of you. This post is about me and it was supposed to be funny and light…as if to say we’ve all been there and it’s no big deal if someone doesn’t return my admiration because it’s JUST BLOGGING. It is in no way a commentary on anyone elses blogging habits or a suggestion on how anyone should conduct themselves while blogging so please don’t take it that way.

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I know you probably don’t care or anything but this is what I did this weekend. I think it turned out rather nicely! If you have a moment, be sure to tell the lovely Mrs. Davis hello.

And I’m reminded that while I have you here, I have to say this, because I love and care about you…GET FIREFOX, dammit! I promise you WILL LOVE IT.

Don’t make me resort to saying such things as IE is evil or IE is the devil’s handmaiden. I hate playing the Satan card.

But seriously, designing for an inferior browser makes my head hurt. A lot.

Please? I’m begging :)