Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

Republicans don’t trust women.

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires

Republicans do not pay their debts.

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

I’m pretty sure there’s only one Jack Smith.

Spilling the end game before they can coat it in frankl luntz-approved dogwhistles.

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

The willow is too close to the house.

If you are still in the GOP, you are an extremist.

The revolution will be supervised.

Second rate reporter says what?

When do the post office & the dmv weigh in on the wuhan virus?

The republican caucus is already covering themselves with something, and it’s not glory.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

No one could have predicted…

“And when the Committee says to “report your income,” that could mean anything!

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

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

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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.

But others are real winners!

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!

Reader Interactions

48Comments

  4. 4.

    meander

    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.

  8. 8.

    Bill K

    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

    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.

  13. 13.

    BruceFromOhio

    @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.

  15. 15.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @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.

  17. 17.

    BruceFromOhio

    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

    @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

    @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.

  21. 21.

    Elizabelle

    @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.

  25. 25.

    VOR

    @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

    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.

  29. 29.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @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

  31. 31.

    BruceFromOhio

    @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

  36. 36.

    Ascap_scab

    @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.

  38. 38.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @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.

  41. 41.

    David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch

    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)

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