Re the picture in #77: I think what separates New Wave Nigel from the other ones is that it's a very, very obvious Devo nod. The other dolls look pretty generic - there's a disco one, a pop one (? I can't tell what exact genre they were going for), a hip-hop one, and a punk one. The only thing about New Wave Nigel that isn't specifically Devo is the space glasses.

Say what you want about Devo having sold their songs to Swiffer and making Ronald McDonald cartoons, or even that the Energy Dome hats have become a 'pop culture icon,' but the outfit and design just screams Devo specifically and if they didn't give McD's permission to use the image then I feel like they've got a case.

This is not to say that the toy isn't adorable, though, and that I wouldn't take one were it offered to me. Love the colors.

Creeeeeeeepy...

I also quite like their catchy "Simplify. Organize. Liberate" borderline military slogan.

The real karmic retribution would have been if nobody had listened or cared. She's turned 50, which is ancient in Hollywood years...

This thread was real interesting until it degenerated into "YOU'RE THE RACIST!" "NO YOU!". Can't we have a discussion about racism in Japan - a topic complex and fascinating - without taking it personally, or am I holding my standards too high?

That performance was as racist as Divine's performance in "Hairspray" was sexist. Or Gary Coleman's in "Diff'rent Strokes" is ageist. Or Kevin Bacon's, as the voice of Balto, was speciesist. Maybe I'm taking it too far, but as was mentioned earlier, the guy playing Stevie Wonder in the video painted his face to look more like Stevie Wonder, who happens to be a black person.

Racism in Japan, as far as I've observed in the 18 years I've lived here, is a lot more deeply-ingrained but a lot less intentionally harmful. DamageMan, your experience at Yamada Denki is an awful one but not uncommon and somewhat understandable. Not justifiable, understandable. I'm half-Japanese, speak the language fluently, and even have citizenship, but now and then when I try to speak to people who don't know me well, they freeze up and give me a "sorry, no English." See, I look completely white, and they trust their eyes more than their ears. Racist, and could be unlearned, but habit and gut reaction.

I like Penn & Teller like I like my coffee: covered in bees.

The unenthused drummers were almost as much fun to watch as the enthused ones.

Brilliant!

Did the family say they paid $130 for that photograph?

2. Robots do not want to have sex with you. Are you listening, Japan?

The characteristics of a certain fetish subculture cannot be attributed to an entire nation, even if it makes for 'funnier' blog-writing. Are you listening, Internet?