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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Non-Impeachment Open Thread: Who Doesn’t Love Mascots?

Non-Impeachment Open Thread: Who Doesn’t Love Mascots?

by Major Major Major Major|  February 12, 20212:14 pm| 48 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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The Washington Post had a silly little article yesterday about COVID (prevention) mascots around the world. Some of them are, uhh, well.

Oh dear. The Brazilian vaccine mascot needs a re-think. pic.twitter.com/oh2U5h5I1u

— NoTimorousBeastie (@NotTimorous) October 14, 2020

But others are real winners!

Covid-kun is a new coronavirus mascot from Thailand who teaches kids to wash their hands and social distance. pic.twitter.com/pxZDOUNjj7

— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) March 26, 2020

This one’s my favorite, though.

Non-Impeachment Open Thread: Who Doesn't Love Mascots?
Koronon, a Japanese anti-coronavirus cat mascot waves at pedestrians in Tokyo on Sept. 30. (SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images)

The little sign says “ko-ro-NO-n”, which I assume is a pun. (Kinda wish I were in Japan or Thailand right now, apropos of nothing.)

What are some cool mascots or campaigns happening in your neck of the woods? The ones in NYC are kinda meh. Open thread!

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Previous Post: « Impeachment Trial Day 4 Open Thread
Next Post: Gina Carano Wasn’t Fucking Cancelled, She Self-Immolated »

Reader Interactions

48Comments

  1. 1.

    scav

    February 12, 2021 at 2:17 pm

    Klan-per, the Friendly Ghost!

  2. 2.

    BruceFromOhio

    February 12, 2021 at 2:21 pm

    Fear the ‘Roo!

  3. 3.

    Major Major Major Major

    February 12, 2021 at 2:23 pm

    @BruceFromOhio: The closest my alma mater gets to a mascot is the Tree, and say what you will about it, it’s certainly… a suit that somebody wears.

  4. 4.

    meander

    February 12, 2021 at 2:24 pm

    Mondo Mascots is one of my favorites on Twitter!

    The excellent podcast 99% Invisible had a piece called the Return of The Yokai that looks at mascots in modern-day Japan and their origin in spiritual beliefs.

    IIRC NHK World’s “Japanology Plus” series once had an episode about anthropomorphism in Japan, e.g., which is connected to the mascots for everything approach.

  5. 5.

    BruceFromOhio

    February 12, 2021 at 2:29 pm

    @Major Major Major Major:  It .. certainly is. I wonder if The Tree was made fun of at Mascot School.

  6. 6.

    Alison Rose

    February 12, 2021 at 2:29 pm

    God bless Japan for the joy they bring to my cat-lady heart.

  7. 7.

    Major Major Major Major

    February 12, 2021 at 2:31 pm

    @BruceFromOhio: That reminds me of this cute article about Japan’s mascot school.

  8. 8.

    Bill K

    February 12, 2021 at 2:31 pm

    The Japanese have mascots for everything! I was about to take a boat tour of an abandoned coal-mining island (it had been in a James Bond film) and a mascot shows up in the shape of the island. It was a very awkward costume since it was wider than it was tall . I have no idea what the purpose was except for – it’s Japan.

  9. 9.

    Alison Rose

    February 12, 2021 at 2:35 pm

    Also, I guess this is slightly impeachment-related, but it’s also just a terrific chuckle: MELANIA HAS A SAD!!!!

    According to a report from CNN, former first lady Melania Trump has put politics behind her as she enjoys life living at the family’s luxurious Mar-a-Lago spa in Florida, but has expressed bitterness at the positive reception that new first lady Jill Biden has received …

    the former first lady reportedly was “bitter and chilly” about how the couple left the White House as her husband argued the election was stolen from him, feeling the controversy he created hurt her reputation even further. Add to that, she has expressed dismay at the favorable treatment given to Jill — including multiple interviews with popular magazines.

    “The attention Biden has been getting has not gone unnoticed by Trump, say those who know her. Though she is lamenting the media focus on her successor, Trump turned down several similar offers from national publications throughout her time as first lady, according to two people who worked closely with her. When presented with offers and asked for participation, it was Trump who would not want to do them. In four years, she never did an interview with a national publication.”

    Cry more, babe.

  10. 10.

    Major Major Major Major

    February 12, 2021 at 2:41 pm

    Damn, this post got stomped on by both of the usual suspects at once!

  11. 11.

    germy

    February 12, 2021 at 2:41 pm

    @Alison Rose:

    So all this time she was just a hothouse flower.

  12. 12.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    February 12, 2021 at 2:47 pm

    @Major Major Major Major: I think it’s the McClintock effect.

  13. 13.

    BruceFromOhio

    February 12, 2021 at 2:48 pm

    @Alison Rose: Set sympathy to zero – the former first couple’s exit from the Whitehouse is all anyone really needs to know to understand how fucking relieved the world is these people are gone, gone gone.

     

    Also, Dr. Biden is an authentic quality human being. Most folks respond well to such folks.

  14. 14.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 12, 2021 at 2:51 pm

    @Major Major Major Major: Cole has always acted as if he owns the place, frankly

    (I can post that cause I know he never reads the comments– if I wanted to piss him off, I’d have to join twitter)

  15. 15.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 12, 2021 at 2:53 pm

    @Alison Rose:

    dd to that, she has expressed dismay at the favorable treatment given to Jill — including multiple interviews with popular magazines.

    my understanding is she turned down almost all requests for interviews, even from her favorite: fashion magazines.

    Also, she’s birther trash.

  16. 16.

    Major Major Major Major

    February 12, 2021 at 2:53 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I don’t think he even sees my reply tweets lol

    @Just Some Fuckhead: Oh I’m unfamiliar with this, which I assume is tongue in cheek…

  17. 17.

    BruceFromOhio

    February 12, 2021 at 2:57 pm

    I’m grateful for something like this thread that is something other than 24-7 impeachment. Yes, it’s important, and no, my comment is not intended to downplay it. I just ran out of effective combinations of swear words and throwable objects, which is far too reminiscent of when the dumpster fire was also burning 24-7.

    “Airhorn” flashbacks, if you will (h/t Betty Cracker)

  18. 18.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    February 12, 2021 at 3:00 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: In fairness to John, this place can be a bit much or not enough, not sure which. A week ago, an actual honest-to-jesus Obama fight broke out. WHY? What the fuck is wrong with people?

  19. 19.

    BruceFromOhio

    February 12, 2021 at 3:03 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead: I beg to differ. As Baud eloquently pointed out, a stealth troll urinated on an early Saturday thread. Once uncloaked, pies were baked and peace once more ruled the planets and love again steered the stars.

    If Balloon Juice had mascots other than Balloon Guy, it would be a pie shoving around a troll.

  20. 20.

    mrmoshpotato

    February 12, 2021 at 3:04 pm

    @Alison Rose:

    hurt her reputation even further 

    BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!  Cry harder, Melonia!

  21. 21.

    Elizabelle

    February 12, 2021 at 3:07 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:   It was noticeable how few covers had Trump or Melania on them.  Because they’re unpopular.  The magazines do not sell.

    WRT cover count:  am excluding the TIME and New Yorker covers raking Trump over the coals.

    Through the whole horrible 4 years, I always saw plenty of Obama covers and special publications.  Because they are beloved.  And there is apparently a market for reading about Barack and Michelle.  Perhaps as balm for having to live through the trumpworld shitshow.

  22. 22.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    February 12, 2021 at 3:09 pm

    @BruceFromOhio: No, Momsense actually started it. You need to go back and do your own reading and stop relying on Baud to think for you.

  23. 23.

    Alison Rose

    February 12, 2021 at 3:11 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Yup, the article mentions that. She didn’t do a single national magazine interview the whole four years.

  24. 24.

    BruceFromOhio

    February 12, 2021 at 3:14 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead: NO SHE DIDN’T AND I CAN THINK FOR MYSELF THANK YEW VER MUCH

    j/k her comment(s) may have set the stage, but boy howdy, did the troll jump in to troll and I ain’t speaking it’s name because the damned thing will come back.

  25. 25.

    VOR

    February 12, 2021 at 3:15 pm

    @Alison Rose:  Yes, the article clearly says Melania turned down magazine interviews, photo spreads, and other offers all the time. But now she apparently is blaming her staff for doing so, feeling she was ill-served by her staff doing what she told them to do. My theory: she’s simply jealous of the attention Jill Biden is getting. And Donnie is probably ranting at her daily about it.

  26. 26.

    BruceFromOhio

    February 12, 2021 at 3:17 pm

    On a completely un-Mascot topic, a modest flock of robins showed up in the yard yesterday, and today they are doing robin interpretive dance and performance art while they strip the berries off the bushes.

    None shall harsh on this moment, it is unharshable.

  27. 27.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    February 12, 2021 at 3:17 pm

    @BruceFromOhio: Yeah, I saw everyone was just quietly aghast at one guy maniacally arguing with himself.

  28. 28.

    BruceFromOhio

    February 12, 2021 at 3:18 pm

    @VOR: ​
      Listen very closely, the nano-violin is playing Cry Me A River.

  29. 29.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 12, 2021 at 3:19 pm

    @Elizabelle:  @Alison Rose: the gossip is she wanted a big, glamorous photo spread with no interview, and no one would do it. I guess Murdoch either A) doesn’t have a rag of that type or B) didn’t see any money to be made so fuck her. Probably both but more B

  30. 30.

    Major Major Major Major

    February 12, 2021 at 3:22 pm

    @BruceFromOhio: Pics or it didn’t happen!

  31. 31.

    BruceFromOhio

    February 12, 2021 at 3:24 pm

    @Major Major Major Major: This is worthy lore.

    Due to the heightened visibility of the Stanford Tree, physical altercations with Cal students became common place and part of the assignment. At the annual Battle of the Bands at UC Davis, Kelly left the Tree costume on the bus after a long day in the sun, and Cal students broke into the bus and stole the costume. The following week, the band received a ransom note offering the Tree in exchange for Oski the Bear (which had been stolen from the UCB Student Union the year before). The band did not think this trade was worth it. The tradition of building a new costume was born and every year since then, the Band and their many admirers now expect the Tree to be reinvented every fall.

    It wasn’t worth it.  LOL

  32. 32.

    Leto

    February 12, 2021 at 3:32 pm

    @Alison Rose:  have you seen this? Japan’s train station run by a cat.

  33. 33.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    February 12, 2021 at 3:39 pm

    @BruceFromOhio:  Also, Ohio sucks. It’s West Virginia with a real job.

  34. 34.

    Major Major Major Major

    February 12, 2021 at 3:41 pm

    @BruceFromOhio: yeah I mean Oski is a beloved icon. The Tree is a poorly made tree that even many students aren’t fond of. Makes sense.

  35. 35.

    BruceFromOhio

    February 12, 2021 at 3:48 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead: Now you’re just being mean because you can. Fuck you.

  36. 36.

    Ascap_scab

    February 12, 2021 at 3:55 pm

    @Alison Rose: She is so broken up, she just started @OfficeofMelania

    “Mrs. Melania Trump is announcing the opening of The Office of Melania Trump. Please follow this account for news and updates.”

    The retweets are brutal.

  37. 37.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    February 12, 2021 at 4:09 pm

    @Major Major Major Major: I went to Syracuse. The mascot is basically the color orange. Or the fruit.

  38. 38.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    February 12, 2021 at 4:14 pm

    @Major Major Major Major: ​
      OMG, they actually have records of who has worn the costume since its inception?

    This is like those 1000-year-plus continuous records of the Kings and Queens of England.

    Kind of.

  39. 39.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    February 12, 2021 at 4:19 pm

    @BruceFromOhio: It’s the arm pain making me lash out.

  40. 40.

    David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch

    February 12, 2021 at 4:20 pm

    @Alison Rose: ​
     

    I’m sure she’s seething over Ella Emhoff becoming an overnight fashion icon.

  41. 41.

    David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch

    February 12, 2021 at 4:26 pm

    ESPN did a short documentary on:

    “The Anti-Mascot”, the story of the San Francisco Giants’ Crazy Crab, the most outrageous mascot of them all.

    (link)

  42. 42.

    BruceFromOhio

    February 12, 2021 at 4:50 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead: What happened to your arm?

  43. 43.

    BruceFromOhio

    February 12, 2021 at 4:51 pm

    @Ascap_scab: ​
      Holy smokes, you’re not kidding! And the sycophants are getting some of the spillover, too.

  44. 44.

    Darkrose

    February 12, 2021 at 5:05 pm

    @Major Major Major Major: How did I not remember that you were a fellow Farm alum?

  45. 45.

    Major Major Major Major

    February 12, 2021 at 6:05 pm

    @Darkrose: perhaps you never knew!

  46. 46.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    February 12, 2021 at 6:17 pm

    @BruceFromOhio:  Moderna vaccine.

  47. 47.

    Ben Cisco (onboard the Defiant)

    February 12, 2021 at 9:41 pm

    Let me just say “F*ck you you birther hoe” and DIAF.

  48. 48.

    oatler.

    February 12, 2021 at 10:57 pm

    Dancin’ Homer

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