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Boy George ‘Karma Chameleon’ telephone is the best/worst (and saddest) thing of all time
05.17.2016
09:05 am
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Culture Club and their gender-bending lead singer, Boy George, were top hitmakers in the ‘80s, selling more than 50 million records. Ten of their singles reached the Top 40 in the United States, and they dominated the early days of MTV (back when MTV still aired music videos).

Despite the fact that by the turn of the 21st Century, the ten-hit-wonder group was already practically a footnote in music history, some marketing genius in 2003 came up with this fucking thing:
 

 
This is the “Karma Chameleon” telephone, which was sold via television marketing at the “low, low price” of $69.95 (marked down from $89.95).

It’s a cheap plastic telephone in the shape of a chameleon and ladybug. When the phone “rings,” it plays the Culture Club hit “Karma Chameleon.” The animatronic lizard “sings,” while the ladybug plays the harmonica. The tacky chameleon lights up in the “red, gold, and green” from the song’s lyrics.

Boy George himself actually shows up in the commercial to hawk this item. How badly did he need the money at that point? It looks like they shot him with a VHS camcorder.

When I first saw this, it seemed so over-the-top stupid that I assumed it had to be a put-on—it’s SO “Tim & Eric”—but, no, this was a real, actual thing. Here’s a 2003 Entertainment Weekly article on it, and you can still find the phones on eBay from time to time.

I have to admit, now I kind of want one.
 

 
What it looks like in real life, after the jump…

READ ON
Posted by Christopher Bickel
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05.17.2016
09:05 am
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Man versus T-Mobile shop

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This happened in Manchester over the weekend, and reminds me of Michael Douglas in Falling Down. I would REALLY like to know what T-Mobile did to provoke this guy’s rage? Maybe it was their legendarily shitty customer service? From the Manchester Evening News:

It is not known if the man was a customer or was staging a protest.

The footage was shot by a member of the public who was one of a number of people who witnessed the rampage through the windows. The film ends with a shot which shows a large crowd of people standing motionless on Market Street, transfixed by the dramatic scenes.

The 3 min 44 second-long footage – which was uploaded on YouTube by user Niall42 [not me!] on Sunday evening – had been viewed hundreds of times by lunchtime. It is thought the incident happened on Saturday.

A spokesman for T-Mobile said the firm was aware of the video footage but was unable to comment further at this stage.

Is this guy a hero? Or deranged?
 

Posted by Niall O'Conghaile
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07.02.2012
08:21 am
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1970s Erotica Phone
02.02.2011
04:31 pm
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I can’t tell if this vintage ad is from the 70s or early-80s. Either way it is “Superbly sculptured by a European artist, it’s a masterpiece of lightweight, micro-processor technology.” I’m sold. 

Nipples and lady bits not included.

(via Uncle Sid)

Posted by Tara McGinley
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02.02.2011
04:31 pm
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