‘Anti-Barbie’ doll goes on sale on US

WASHINGTON–She’s short, brunette, has an average body shape and can even be given cellulite and acne: the ‘anti-Barbie’ doll is ready to go on sale in the United States.

The brainchild of 26-year-old graphic designer Nickolay Lamm, the “Lammily” doll will begin shipping next week with the sales pitch that “average is beautiful.”

Lamm told AFP he came up with the idea after searching for a doll to buy as a gift and discovering that “all the dolls looked like supermodels.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being a supermodel but I just had the impression that the wall of supermodels suggests that something is wrong with you if you don’t look like one,” Lamm explained.

“I created an alternative to suggest that it’s okay to not look like a supermodel, it’s okay to look like a normal person.”

Lamm based the physique of his doll from statistics provided by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), calculating that the “average” 19-year-old was five feet, four inches (163.3 centimeters) tall, weighed 150 pounds (68 kilograms) and measured 33.5 inches (85 centimeters) around the chest.

He contrasted those vital statistics to a Barbie, which is skinnier, taller and more blonde.

Lamm raised money for mass production of his doll by crowdfunding. So far, he has received some $225,000 worth of advance orders for the doll, which will sell at $25.

Starting in January, a clothing line will be available as well as stickers depicting acne or cellulite

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Steve Jobs doll canceled after 'immense pressure'

The maker of a controversial Steve Jobs doll is ceasing production and sales of the 12-inch figure in response to "immense pressure" from Apple and Jobs' family.

"Though we still believe that we have not overstepped any legal boundaries, we have decided to completely stop the offer, production and sale of the Steve Jobs figurine out of our heartfelt sensitivity to the feelings of the Jobs family," Tandy Cheung, head of the Hong Kong-based In Icons, said in a statement yesterday announcing the decision. "Regardless of the pressure, I am still Steve's fan, I fully respect Steve, and his family, and it is definitely not my wish or intention that they be upset."

Cheung attracted a lot of attention earlier this month when his company announced it would produce a doll that closely resembled Jobs, complete with his well-known wardrobe of a black turtleneck and jeans and frameless glasses. Among the other things included in the kit that went on pre-sale this month were a holdable apple and a chair that could be used to pose the figure, as well as a backdrop sporting the familiar "one more thing" catchphrase synonymous with Apple product launches.

Apple reportedly sent In Icons a cease-and-desist note, claiming the company is breaking the law by creating a product that "resembles the technology company's logo, person's name, appearance, or likeness of its products."

After defiantly telling ABC News that "Apple can do anything they like. I will not stop, we already started production," Cheung ultimately relented.

In Icons' effort met the same fate as a previous Jobs action figure, which was briefly sold by China's MIC Gadget in 2010 until legal actions forced the company to stop selling the doll. MIC Gadget later followed up with a rejiggered version that had Jobs dressed up as a ninja. Apple also took offense with that iteration.

source:http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57359806-37/steve-jobs-doll-canceled-after-immense-pressure/?tag=mncol