'Dumb Ways To Die' Characters Stay Alive As Plushies.

A marketing move to keep the momentum going for the award winning animated campaign, website and app for Australia's Metro Trains, has spawned a line of plush toys based on the cute characters in the twisted and lovable Dumb Ways To Die.



The public safety campaign, which went viral thanks to a catchy song for its PSA ads, online game and addictive mobile app, took home top honors at Cannes Lions and continues to collect accolades.

Metro is working with McCann Melbourne (the agency who created the characters and initial concept) on developing more content and seeking developers for the next version of its mobile game. "Obviously, if you go down the licensing road, you'll need more content to support it," said Ms. Waymark, Metro's General Manager of Corporate Relations. "We just see this as a way of keeping DWTD alive."



Licensed by California-based company Evolution Management Group and will manufactured by the Commonwealth Toy and Novelty, the plush versions of the characters range in both size (from pocket sized to over 30") and price (from $5.99 - $99).

© Metro Trains Melbourne, Dumb Ways to Die™

Related links:
URL: http://dumbwaystodie.com
Song on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/dumb-ways-to-die-single/id575962249
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/tangerinekitty/tangerine-kitty-dumb-ways-to
GIFs: http://dumbwaystodie.tumblr.com/

Inspired by Hefeweizen, Jelly Belly Introduces DRAFT Beer flavored Jelly Beans.

The following is the press release:
When candy makers at Jelly Belly Candy Company set out to create the world’s first beer flavored jelly bean, the question wasn’t how; it was what. Ale or Lager? Stout? Lambic? Pilsner? In the end, the company opted to pay homage to its German ancestry with a Hefeweizen-inspired ale flavor, and Draft Beer Jelly Belly® jelly beans took shape.



Beer has been a highly-requested flavor by consumers for decades. Jelly Belly is known as much for flavor innovation as perfection. The research and development team wanted to get it just right before announcing the new flavor to the world.



“This took about three years to perfect,” says Ambrose Lee (shown above), research and development manager for Jelly Belly Candy Company. “The recipe includes top secret ingredients, but I can tell you it contains no alcohol.”



The effervescent and crisp flavor is packed in a golden jelly bean with an iridescent finish. Beer connoisseurs will find the flavor profile to be clean with notes of wheat and a touch of sweetness. The aroma is mildly bready. While Draft Beer packs a flavor punch, it is alcohol free.


above: the new Jelly Belly flavor is slightly iridescent in color to emulate real beer.

“Usually the factory has a sweet and fruity aroma, but when we’re making this flavor it’s just like being in an ale house,” says Jeff Brown (shown below), vice president in charge of manufacturing for Jelly Belly Candy Company.



“Anyone who enjoys a good, cold beer will enjoy Draft Beer Jelly Belly beans for the simple fact that it tastes just as you’d imagine,” says Rob Swaigen, vice president of marketing for Jelly Belly Candy Company.

“I love the flavors in a good beer and Jelly Belly has managed to get that from brew to bean in an incredible way,” says Jackie Dodd, beer expert, cookbook author, and the voice behind the popular cooking with craft beer blog The Beeroness. “Jelly Belly found a way to fit 15 pints in the palm of your hand, they deserve an award.”



Draft Beer Jelly Belly beans are a wonderful gift for beer lovers for Father’s Day, birthdays, and even St. Patrick’s Day and Oktoberfest. The new flavor will be available at candy counters throughout the world in early 2014.

The Making Of:


Draft Beer is the latest in a long line of flavor innovations from Jelly Belly Candy Company. The company first created a non-alcoholic gourmet flavor in 1977 with Mai Tai. Since then, more flavors from Blackberry Brandy to Strawberry Daiquiri were developed, inspired by popular cocktails. Over the years, favorite flavors like Piña Colada (1983), Margarita (1995) and Mojito (2010) have helped carve out the Jelly Belly Cocktail Classics® collection of six cocktail flavors.

Flavor innovation doesn’t stop with the Jelly Belly bean flavor itself. Thoughtfully combining Draft Beer with other Jelly Belly bean flavors create “beer cocktail” flavors, a beverage trend among craft beer connoisseurs, including The Beeroness blog:

2 Draft Beer + 1 Peach = Beer Sangria
2 Draft Beer + 1 Red Apple = Beer cider
2 Draft Beer + 1 Lemon Lime + 1 TABASCO® = Michelada



The new flavor will debut at Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco and ISM in Cologne, Germany. The Beeroness will host a Tweet Up at 21st Amendment, 563 Second Street in San Francisco, on January 21 to introduce the new Draft Beer flavor to her beer-loving fans.

Jelly Belly beans contain four calories per bean and are fat free, peanut free, dairy free, gluten free, gelatin free, vegetarian and OU Kosher certified. For information, visit www.jellybelly.com.

Flat Shoes, Funnel Necks and Fanny Packs? A Look At Chanel's 2014 Haute Couture Collection.

It was a bold move by Karl Lagerfeld and CHANEL to put all their runway models in flat tennis shoes for their 2014 Spring Summer Haute Couture show, but it was a bad move.



Attempting to play up the 'sporty' aspect of the largely sparkly haute couture collection for Spring/Summer 2014, many of the models look like those dreadful commuter women who carry their heels in a bag while they take public transportation to work.



And, you know that if a 5'10" stick skinny model on the runway looks dumpy, any other woman who attempts to wear it will look god-awful.

To top it off, the sneakers are ugly (lace or sequin covered with gossamer shoelaces) and not unlike what you see overweight sweat-suit clad mothers wearing in Palm Springs.

Some of the sneakers on the runway:


I've never been a fan of funnel necks and fanny packs and this collection was full of them.

Funnel necks and flats:



That said, many of the pieces in the large collection are beautiful - especially the floor length gowns- and all have the expert craftmanship expected of CHANEL. Mixing textures and patterns, the collection includes everything from structured dresses and rompers to harem pants and glittering sheer suits.

Some of the beautiful gowns:




In terms of the styling, the models sported hair pieces and crystals applied under their eyes, both of which were interesting:


But I had a lot of trouble getting beyond the fanny packs, knee pads and elbow pads on some of the models (I've already bagged on the ugly shoes). I don't care if it's CHANEL, it's a friggen fanny pack, for god's sake. And unless you are going down on a Rap artist or taking part in a luxury roller derby, no one should wear embellished elbow and knee pads.

Fanny packs with matching elbow and knee pads:





And this? WTF is this?:


I like the large emphasis on the waist in many of the silhouettes and the take on their classic CHANEL jacket in this collection. But, given how much I usually admire CHANEL couture, the unflattering bubble skirts, old-lady sneakers and silly accessories ruined the collection -which does have some amazing pieces in it - for me.

Take a look and decide for yourself.

The Entire Collection:






















Close-up images of some of the prettiest and ugliest details:








A video of the entire runway show:


CHANEL