Quote Of The Day

"People say that you're going the wrong way when it's simply a way of your own."

-Angelina Jolie

Does This Ad Sexualise Children?

This ad is the print campaign for Marc Jacobs perfume Oh Lola!, starring 17-year-old actress Dakota Fanning and it has just been banned in the UK for being in breach of the UK's code of ethics.

The Herald Sun reported on Saturday that the ad which has been running for months in magazines, may also be banned here in Australia.

Australian watchdog has received complaints about the content of the ad and Australian Advertising Standards Bureau spokeswoman Sari Mattila told the Herald Sun "Complaints about the ad focused on the age of the girl in the ad and the sexual overtones of the image."

Child advocate Melinda Tankard Reist told the Herald Sun the ad should be banned. "Lola is the nickname given by the paedophile Humbert Humbert for Lolita in the novel Lolita. The perfume bottle acts as a phallic symbol, suggesting possible penetration."

I'll be honest, when I first saw the ad I questioned where the bottle was placed but nothing more. Fanning is in a pretty, granted, short dress with hardly any make-up on. She's not made up to look years older then she is, but shone in her natural, beautiful state.

I hope the name has nothing to do with Vladimir Nabokov title character because then the choice of representative and ad takes on a very dark undertone. Is Fanning been taken advantage of here? Does this ad sexualise children? Do you find this ad offensive?

Which is more offensive: Fannings ad, or this UK Vogue shoot: the "model" is 10. Do you even take offense to it?

How about this little beauty for your baby (and yes, this is a baby sized t-shirt)

Should Fanning's ad be cancelled in Australia? Do you find the t-shirt above amusing? Is it all just Australia becoming so PC that we've all lost perspective? Or should t-shirts and photoshoots like the ones above be left on the scrap of paper they were created on?

Stepping off the box and handing the megaphone to you.

Cheers! And Handcuffs

The following is a true story and could fall under the headline of Odd Spot, but I thought the efforts of the Derbyshire Police in England deserved a post all of their own.

A British undercover operation has nabbed almost twenty suspected criminals after enticing them to call up for free beer. The Derbyshire Police apprehended the suspects after sending out letters to them urging them to claim a free crate of beer from a marketing company. The recipients of the letters had evaded arrest for crimes ranging from breaking and entering to sexual assault for several months so the police got clever.

The phone number on the letters put them straight through to police at Chesterfield police station where the police then named a time and place for pick up of the free beer. Instead of beer, the suspects received a one way ticket in the back of a divvy van.

Chief Inspector Graham McLaughlin stated: "These suspects are people who have managed to evade arrest for some time so we have used different tactics to find them."

Aussie crims beware, I believe this would work very well here too!

Quote Of The Day

"I think your whole life shows in your face and you should be proud of that."

-Lauren Bacall

Odd Spot - The Age

German police called to a weekend traffic incident found Jedi master Yoda from Star Wars at the wheel, much the worse for wear after Halloween celebrations. The green-costumed driver had his license confiscated. "In this case, the force was not with him," police said.

*As published on the front page of The Age newspaper  02/11/11