Cherryflava

Playmobil's airport security set - rubber 'full body cavity search' gloves not included

Apparently, in countries like the US [surprise surprise] there have been one or two complaints about Playmobil's latest 'Airport security checkpoint' set featuring an x-ray machine and a wand-bearing female officer.

Playmobil, who are a small German company based in a dark wooded forest right next to Santa Claus' toy factory, are dumbfounded.

According to their marketing spin-doctor: “The whole premise behind Playmobil toys is to familiarize the child with the realities of life through play,” Ms. Winfrey said. “If you’re taking a child for a first flight to Florida from New Jersey to visit grandparents, you say, ‘This is what the terminal looks like, and when we get here we have to take our shoes off and walk though security.”

What's the problem here - the ol' [Somalian] pirate boat and Indian village [complete with invading cowboys] seemed to be just fine, but throw in a little security for a plane trip and now the sky is falling on our heads?

More:

Playmobil's checkpoint Strikes some as too real - NYTimes
Playmobil security checkoint customer review - Amazon

Roadkill Toys: For the child with anger management issues

We're loving the old 'Scort in this ad for Roadkill toys. Squashing furry bunnies with an old Ford is the prefect ingredient for a successful viral campaign.

 

Top ten toys for 2007

With all the Chinese poisoning that's been going on this year, we're a little surprised that there are still children left who play with toys.

That's maybe why the list of 'hot-right-now' toys for boys and girls in 2007, looks very similar to the top ten list from 1983.
Apart from the Nintendo Wii, which cracks the nod at number 3 for boys and 7 for girls, the same old favourites like Lego and Barbie are still in the mix.
We're wondering if the people these toys were bought for were actually children, or adults who have just never grown up.

Here's the list Santa's sick of seeing:

Following are this year's top 10 holiday wish-lists:

GIRLS:

1. Barbie

2. Bratz

3. Dolls (generic)

4. Dora the Explorer

5. Disney Princess

6. Disney Hannah Montana

7. Nintendo Wii

8. Webkinz

9. Elmo

10. American Girl

BOYS

1. Transformers

2. Video Games

3. Nintendo Wii

4. Cars (generic)

5. Spider-Man

6. LEGOs

7. Thomas the Tank Engine

8. Xbox 360

9. Elmo

10. Remote Controlled Vehicles

Our 'toy to watch' in 2008 - is Webkinz (the fluffy animal with an online social networking profile). it caused loads of noise this year in the US and could be making its way to SA soon.

More: Barbie rules girls' wish-lists but boys go high-tech - Reuters

More toys made in China tainted - this time with a 'date rape' drug

That's it - we've just sent another letter to the North Pole canceling our original Christmas wishlist.

All that 'funny putty' and those replica Springbok rugby balls we wanted so badly, just isn't worth the risk now that everything produced in China these days seems to be laced with something that will end up causing people to projectile vomit for 46 hours straight.

The latest craze doing the rounds by laughing West-hating factories in China -  toys containing a chemical that converts into a powerful date rape drug when ingested.

In the United States, the toy goes by the name Aqua Dots, a highly popular holiday toy distributed by Toronto-based Spin Master Toys. They are called Bindeez in Australia, where they were named toy of the year at an industry function earlier this year.

Solution: Get your kids a roll of wire and they can make their own toys.

And even more reason why globalisation is being questioned and people are turning once again to making their own gifts or buying local.

More: Millions of toys recalled; contain 'date rape' drug - CNN
Related: 3 Hot trends right now - Cherryflava

In London they gave away free TVs with a PS3

Obviously fearing light sales - Sony launched their PS3 console in London last night by throwing in a free HDTV for the first 100 customers and a free taxi ride back home.

We can't seem to find any news on last night South African launch this morning.
Hopefully it wasn't such a non-event that nobody bothered to head out and drop over six grand on a super computer that needs a firmware upgrade just to play your old games.

We'll wait until they start selling then with a Sony Vaio and ten game titles.

Read: PlayStation 3 launched in Europe - BBC

New product idea: Hot Jugz portable shower

A quick surf or paddle in the ocean before you head to the 9 - 5 hell-hole, is a kind way to spend your waking hours if you're lucky enough to live in Cape Town or Durbs.
But it's pretty uncomfortable getting into an Armani suit without the enjoyment of a hot shower.

Hot Jugz is a portable shower that doesn't need any power at all. Fill it up with hot water when you're at home, and when you're out in the wilderness and want to take a hot (okay, warm) shower, then pump it like a beer keg 15 to 20 times and it'll shower you down for a couple of minutes for each round of pumping.

Its 2 gallon capacity is enough water for a trickling shower of 10 to 15 minutes. The company says the Hot Jugz's thermal insulation will keep that water warm for up to 7 hours.

As ugly as the thing looks - its actually a damn fine idea.

Web: Hot Jugz
[via Gizmodo]

Audio terrorism

As an alternative to visual graffiti and other forms of urban art and expression - there's the Soundbomb.

The Soundbomb is a simple recording device, with two speakers, and a motion detector that triggers the device into action.  All housed in a hard plastic ball that is 6” in diameter, the owner can record any audio that their heart desires: a message, a song, a random noise, etc.  Then the idea is for the Soundbomb to be placed in a public location so that when someone walks by the audio is played and the message, in the form of an “audio tag” (like a graffiti tag), is received.

The kicker here, that makes us really want one - is that you can't just buy this thing at any online store.
The procedure is that can apply to purchase a Soundbomb by emailing the inventor with your offer and intention for use.
If he decides that what you want to do with your bomb is good enough for his high standards, the weapon is yours.

Only those who deserve a Soundbomb, get a Soundbomb! Just imagine what urban mayhem you could create with this thing.

Website: Soundbombs
[via Stylehive]

Pool iceberg

It used to be that a simple 'slip 'n slide' was the ultimate outdoor water entertainment device.

That was until we saw this giant inflatable climbing iceberg. You'll be needing a good sized pool to float your over-sized ice cube in, but the income generating opportunities from neighbourhood kids are endless.

Three of the sides of the iceberg have grips for climbing and are of various stages of difficulty, from beginner to expert.

The fourth side is a gigantic water slide to send you zipping back into the pool.

It'll cost you $8,860 [R62 020]...which isn't as cheap as a pool noodle. But at an admission fee of R10 for the day...you'll pay it off soon enough.

[via Popgadget]

USB Pole Dancer

Perhaps a perfect promotional gift for Mavericks is this USB-powered,  Anna Nicole Smith- lookalike, pole dancer.

Actually - there might be a Cape Town law firm or two that would benefit from adding Ms. Smith to their collection of branded Titleist golf balls and the  cheesy Johnnie Walker Blue crystal tumbler set.

The plastic dancing doll is actually already quite infamous; after being banned from Marks & Spencer [probably a dress code violation] just a week after going on sale there.

Tory MP Ann Widdecombe attacked it as "cheap and tawdry". She added: "I would think this type of product would be entirely counter-productive to the image of M&S. It won't suit most of the customers who go to M&S anyway, so why do it? It's not respectful towards women."

The toy is now available from a smutty, guy-focused, online store at 10 pounds above the original asking price.

See how controversy is good for business.

The £19.50 pole dancer M&S was forced to axe - DailyMail
USB Pole Dancer - Product page
See the dancer in action - YouTube
[via Gizmodo]

Cape Town's most requested Christmas toy

That's right folks - its the Easy Bake Meth Lab from Hasbro.

Because you're never too young to play Tik dealer.
Jeez - the kids are going to empty their Glocks into each other trying to get their hands on one of these. They all wanna be just like Dad.

Next thing you know, the little ones will be listening to Britney Spears.

[via]