There seems to be an "uncanny valley" principle at work here--like the phenomenon that the more a baby doll looks like a real baby, the more it looks like a dead baby.
Similarly, the more a baby doll looks like a real baby, the more it looks like a dead baby. (Extra points if you're supposed to EAT it!: http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2008/07/creepiness-continues.html )
The scary thing is that the undead cats sound enough like a real, miserable kitten that I feel guilty for not taking them home and petting them. This doesn't make them any less disturbing or undead. I had better avoid Toys'R'Us, lest I become a minion to zombies.
Yah, although maybe not in as many places as when I was a kid? There are a couple of them by me. And of course there's Babies R Us, which gets much of my paycheck lately.
Back when I had small children my then wife (the person my current wife refers to as 'our ex-wife') and I used to patronise a used baby clothing shop in the neighbourhood. We called it the 'used baby store'.
hee! Used babies, excellent. I'll take 'em as I can get 'em!
I'm suddenly reminded of a pizza place in our neck of the woods that shares a sign with some other businesses in a strip mall. The two lines of text that they get on the sign are used for advertising "delicious baby pizzas." So the sign has stuff like "barber" and "dry cleaner" along with "delicious baby" and "pizzas."
I believe the same strip mall has a chinese restaurant called "China Ho." I love the city.
I think those baby dolls are going to give me nightmares. But have you seen this place?
http://www.newbornnursery.com/
There was one in a mall I used to go to. The "babies" are in plastic cribs, like in a maternity ward. The employees wear scrubs. The adoptive mothers (aka "customers") are given hospital gowns.
Even weirder? I couldn't remember the name of the store, so Googled the phrase "creepiest store in the mall." It was the first hit.
That's pretty freaky. Although, given my own penchant for creepy dolls, (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marydell/2557814638/in/set-72157605488644704/) I shouldn't throw stones...
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GAH!!
Date: 2008-09-06 01:02 pm (UTC)Brrr....I feel like I just walked through a corridor full of spiderwebs. Inhabited ones.
Re: GAH!!
Date: 2008-09-06 03:23 pm (UTC)We're going to Brookfield Zoo today, mainly so I can buy a nice normal toy for the kid! One that looks like an animal, but not like a taxidermied one.
Re: GAH!!
Date: 2008-09-06 05:23 pm (UTC)Re: GAH!!
Date: 2008-09-06 05:37 pm (UTC)Re: GAH!!
Date: 2008-09-06 05:38 pm (UTC)Re: GAH!!
Date: 2008-09-07 03:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-06 04:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-07 03:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-06 06:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-07 03:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-07 03:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-07 05:06 am (UTC)I'm suddenly reminded of a pizza place in our neck of the woods that shares a sign with some other businesses in a strip mall. The two lines of text that they get on the sign are used for advertising "delicious baby pizzas." So the sign has stuff like "barber" and "dry cleaner" along with "delicious baby" and "pizzas."
I believe the same strip mall has a chinese restaurant called "China Ho." I love the city.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-07 01:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-06 09:30 pm (UTC)http://www.newbornnursery.com/
There was one in a mall I used to go to. The "babies" are in plastic cribs, like in a maternity ward. The employees wear scrubs. The adoptive mothers (aka "customers") are given hospital gowns.
Even weirder? I couldn't remember the name of the store, so Googled the phrase "creepiest store in the mall." It was the first hit.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-07 03:31 am (UTC)