I watched “The Jetsons” as a kid, but I never actually liked it. In fact, I was always bothered with the credits: George offers Jane a bill to go shopping, and she instead takes his entire wallet. I must’ve been six or seven and already thinking, “God, what a bitch.” It’s bad enough to reinforce the patriarchal stereotype that a woman needs her breadwinner’s money to spend the day shopping; it’s even worse when she revels in taking his money instead of working for it.
Uhhh… or at least that’s what I would say if I had taken a women’s studies course in college.
Anyway, this College Humor video takes this in a nice schadenfreude-y direction: George has an ex-wife, a robot mistress, bastard children, alimony, and it all culminates in drug abuse and a ruined life. Now that would have been a more accurate depiction of the future.
And now for today’s dose of Internet whimsy: an Australian street performer playing the theme to “Inspector Gadget” on his little percussion set fashioned from glass bottles. It’s cute, completely useless, and just as memorable as it is forgettable, which makes it perfect for Internet consumption.
I’d like to hate street performers more than I do, but I can’t help but respect that they’re at least plying a trade. They’re the reason I want to push panhandlers in front of oncoming trains. Panhandlers, man. Don’t get me started. It’s like, No, I’m not going to give you money, you lazy waste of flesh. Look at that dirty hippie with a guitar over there. I’m gonna give him a dollar just because he’s actually TRYING. I don’t even like “Dust in the Wind”! Oh you’re a veteran? Me too, so I guess I don’t owe you anything. Dance for your quarter. DANCE!
[Buzzfeed]
In the geekiest-yet-coolest thing I’ve seen since Conan O’Brien’s Super Mario “Tonight Show” set yesterday, a website called Springfield Punx takes popular characters from the worlds of comic books, television, video games, and nerds’ wet dreams and turns them into “Simpsons”-style cartoon characters. Writes Dean Fraser of his side project:
The idea of doing fan art parodying some of my favorite characters and stars in such a fun and simple style got me hooked immediately. Some of these guys and gals have appeared on the Simpsons and I could just work from that, but most I had to do from scratch.
Dean just finished a week of recreating characters from “Lost,” including Benjamin Linus before and after getting beaten to a pulp. Frankly, I’m grateful he didn’t make Kate any sexier. I’ve got kind of an unhealthy thing for cartoons. I blame Cheetara from “Thundercats.” And of course Japan.
(huge gallery at Gunaxin)
I watched a lot of “Tiny Toon Adventures” when I was a kid, but I never saw this episode, “One Beer.” In it, Buster Bunny, Plucky Duck, and Hamton steal a beer. And over the course of the entire day and night that it takes them to share one beer, they transform into unshaven drifters in tramps’ clothes who end up stealing a cop car. Which I think we can all agree is slightly unrealistic. I mean, it takes more than just a beer to get farm animals drunk. Or, uh, so I’ve heard. Shut up! Why don’t YOU try putting the moves on a sober sow!
[I Heart Chaos via GM]
Researchers at Iowa State have determined that cartoon violence makes children more aggressive. And it’s probably only a matter of time until liberal douchebag parents make this the next crusade (once they finish getting rid of scoring in sports and grades in school, because competing makes the weak children sad).
“There is ample evidence that animated, sanitised and fantasy violence has an effect on children,” the study’s authors were quoted as saying in the Daily Mail.
“Research on the effects of violent video games, which are all animated, indicates that they have the same effects on children’s aggressive thoughts, feelings and behaviours that violent TV shows have demonstrated.
“In fact, even cartoonish children’s games increase aggression. Labelling certain types of media violence as ‘fantasy’ violence is misleading and may actually serve to increase children’s access to harmful violent content by reducing parental concern.”
What a load of BS. I watched Tom and Jerry and Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner beat the tar out of each other on loop for years, and it didn’t make me any more aggressive. I mean, sure, I joined the Marines and requested a combat arms specialty and thrived in a combat zone, but… ummm… Hm. Maybe I’m not the right example to use.
