1/9/2003: Weapon chic

This is a new line of handbags being introduced in Rotterdam as one response to growing Euro crime and fear. There isn't an actual gun or knife in these bags, just an *outline* of one, get it?

They also have a third model which outlines a large crucifix. The line is called "Guardian Angel" and the terribly-designed website that sells them says "Guardian Angel: Armed with a gun, a knife or faith, nobody will harm you..."

My skepticism cannot be contained. What you're really saying when you use a bag like this is "I'm frightened of crime so I'm going to wear a bag that suggests I'm both frightened and unwilling to carry an actual firearm. Please threaten me with deadly force and I will fold immediately like a cheap house of cards."

People buying this will stand out as if they were highlighted with an orange pen. Given the false sense of security that they are somehow protected AND the complete lack of knowledge about what to do if actually threatened, my guess is that it can only lead to worse trouble. If I'm going to carry, I'm not going to let you know, and I'm especially not going to let you know which bag it's in and where it is in the bag. I mean, come on.

I have seen some stupid fashion accessories in my life (legwarmers, plastic jelly bracelets, and underwear as outwear) but this has to take the cake.

I suppose some eurotrash designer thought it spoke strongly of the american culture of fashion and violence or somesuch ...

Oh well ... only an idiot takes a fake knife to a gunfight. Might clear out the shallow end of the gene pool a little bit.

There's a very simple concept involved when carrying a concealed weapon ... and that's that it should be, ummmmm, CONCEALED, dammit.

I've heard a lot of discussion about "printing" (that means the weapon shows through your clothing) and whether or not that violates a particular state's CCW laws (in PA it does not, but does defeat the purpose of carrying concealed).

I wonder whether upsetting the populace with the outline of a gun on a handbag would be a chargeable offense in some states/cities (probably would be in New York, where toy guns are now banned, if I recall properly). The Fashionistas will be in a tizzy over this one ...

Now, more importantly, please tell me that those are NOT the colors for this year. Oh my GODS how awful!!!!!

I'll cast a few times...

I'd like to point out that America doesn't celebrate a culture of violence. It makes for dramatic story telling, and this is not lost on the news and the entertainment industry. News and entertainment are somethimes the same thing, indeed, many entertainment octopi -- I mean corporations -- own major news outlets.

I highly suspect that life in America is much like life elsewhere in the world, but in this infotainment climate, we'll never really know. I was listenting to NPR this morning, and they were talking about the Spanish American War. Remington gets to Cuba and says "It's pretty quiet here". Hurst exclaims, "You get me the pictures and I'll get you a war!"

These bags are ridiculous. Poorly designed delivering a questionable statement.

Awhile back, I recall having seen handbags, briefcases and other daily carry items that were constructed in such a manner as to accomodate a real gun. The purses were made so that a woman could walk with her hand discreetly inside, finger on the trigger, and all she had to do was point her purse at point blank range (ther business end, of course) at an attacker and, zowie, no more mugging!

Much more sensible design than the atrocities in the picture. I can't wait until some bozo (excuse me, bozette) tries to get on an airliner with one of these. Talk about confusion...

Is that a pistol in your pocketbook or are you just happy to see me?

Essential accessories for the "Fashion Police"

Must be a European thing...perhaps the designer had a bit too much hash at the hash bars.

My first thought was that maybe the woman from slang's "big racK" topic would want one of these, then I saw that they're fakes.

I wonder what the chances are that one of these purses would be snatched by somebody looking to snag a knife or a gun?

Re: 1/9/2003: Weapon chic

Anyone remember this Nissan Altima commercial a few years back? Guitar riff starts; aha! The Smiths "How Soon is Now" starts playing. Car is shown from every angle, blurbs pop up describing the features: 200 Hp ... 5 speed ... 240 square feet of leather...

I did a spit take and fell off the couch completely, utterly ROTFLMAO.

Big ol' hint: Guess what album that song is from

"Meat is Murder", 1985 by The Smiths. I'm not a fan, just know how to find my way around allmusic.com., and love to try to answer trivia.

I'm not really a fan either, the guitar riff is kind of cool. The Nissan commercial was a really good example of style over substance, or rather style over "Did-you-even-bother-to-check".

Hey, look, never mind the album name or the sensibilities of the artist. What is really offensive is the re-making of the ((finest poem/anthem to burning loneliness of all time)) into a pitch for a car.

I am the son
And the heir
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Of nothing in particular

It doesn't bring the Altima to mind.

"How Soon Is Now?" was roughly the anthem for Gen-X until "Smells Like Teen Spirit" came along. Used by Nissan, and nobody gave a crap. I remember when "Revolution" was used by Nike, the first time a Beatles song was used commercially, and the big fuss made over the whole thing. Ooh, Microsoft got a Stones song for Win95, another big fuss.

At least "Rock n Roll" makes sense in the context of what Cadillac is trying to push.

Hmmm...in looking at my Singles CD by the Smiths, it looks like Johnny and Morrissey gave control of their songs to AOL Time Warner (or rather, their music publishing arm, Warner-Tamerlane). They probably have no real say over how the song is used, but I'm sure they're getting handsome royalty checks.

I am partial to Kid Loco's "Alone again, so" when I'm playing the cold-chillin' angster.

Let's see:
"Heathaze", Genesis, Duke
"First Man on the Moog", Visit Venus, [some album]
"Plum Island", The Orb, Cydonia

Some of ther songs on my 'Introspective' mp3 list.

All the discussion about "How Soon is Now" is making me want to go find it.

Those handbags are still oogly!

"No, Jane VPL does not stand for .. 'Visible Pistol Line'.... "