[X] My Assistant

[Wakshaani]

I came across an article in Bloomburg Weekly (Because I'm corporate scum that gets BBW.)I had to share concerning this topic I brought up earlier:

Its about a town that's now 1/4 illegal Chinese workers that work in sweatshops to put that "Made in Italy" stamp on clothing and leather goods. Tax evasion, human trafficking and black market goods. What more could you want?

For more on a similar front, the US has some territories in the Pacific that do similar. As they are territories, you can stamp products made there as being "Made in the USA", but, they're immune to US labor laws, so you have sweatshop wages, forced prostitution (and forced abortion), 12-16 hour workdays, no vacation time, prison-style walled enclosures and (shock of shocks) a high suicide rate. Women are brought in from SE Asian countries that have a poor economy, promised high wages and a good life, then get locked in and have to work to pay off their signing fee. It's LIKE the old Company Store, but different.

[ShadowJackal]

For more on a similar front, the US has some territories in the Pacific that do similar. As they are territories, you can stamp products made there as being "Made in the USA", but, they're immune to US labor laws, so you have sweatshop wages, forced prostitution (and forced abortion), 12-16 hour workdays, no vacation time, prison-style walled enclosures and (shock of shocks) a high suicide rate. Women are brought in from SE Asian countries that have a poor economy, promised high wages and a good life, then get locked in and have to work to pay off their signing fee. It's LIKE the old Company Store, but different.

Any linkage? Color me curious. Not surprised in the least.

I did want to mention that I noticed one of the more prolific Italian houses, Prada, has had some significant price droppage. I was on Saks website last week and was shocked by how "affordable" the line has become. Not surprisingly, they are one of the houses that are employing these Chinese workers. Sad because Miu Miu is one of my favorite lines (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

[CanRay]

"No longer do you need to go to knock-offs for slave labor made clothing! Now you can do it with high-end name brand items! And not just US High-End Name Brands, but Brands from AROUND THE WORLD!!! Why? Because we like money."

[EKBT81]

Any linkage? Color me curious. Not surprised in the least.

I did want to mention that I noticed one of the more prolific Italian houses, Prada, has had some significant price droppage. I was on Saks website last week and was shocked by how "affordable" the line has become. Not surprisingly, they are one of the houses that are employing these Chinese workers. Sad because Miu Miu is one of my favorite lines (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

From Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saipan#Controversy

[Wakshaani]

There ya go.

Ties in with Jack Abramoff, which ties in with native American casinos and the territorial spats between gambling institutions that don't want to allow gambling within driving range of their personal gambling area.

Buuuut, that starts getting close to political talk, which isn't okay for the forums.

[CanRay]

Back to cute orks, quick! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Jizmack]

Japan may have cute orc chicks, but the real hot ones are still in Seattle: http://kuragiman.deviantart.com/art/Blaze-...-2072-194655138

[Brazilian_Shinob...]

I think that's an Elf, a "fat" Elf, but an Elf nonetheless.

[ShadowJackal]

Japan may have cute orc chicks, but the real hot ones are still in Seattle: http://kuragiman.deviantart.com/art/Blaze-...-2072-194655138

On one hand I'm all like "YEAH! Nice looking lady!" On the other I'm like "Really? Could we get more cheesecake?" I mean. Put her in *SOMETHING*. Not surprised when I saw who it was though.

On second look I like that she's fleshy. Her body is really nice. Her feet though? Liefeldian.

[Wakshaani]

On one hand I'm all like "YEAH! Nice looking lady!" On the other I'm like "Really? Could we get more cheesecake?" I mean. Put her in *SOMETHING*. Not surprised when I saw who it was though.

On second look I like that she's fleshy. Her body is really nice. Her feet though? Liefeldian.

I can't say too terribly much, since the only Shadowrun art I ever put together that I cared for was this one:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/Wak...agleShaman2.jpg

I love the *style* of the attire, but, the cutoff shirt isn't the best. It should really go lower on the torso, to the waist, rather than be quite so crop-topish.

Jeans need more wrinkles, by far.

But, you know ... not an artist, so I live with it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[CanRay]

On one hand I'm all like "YEAH! Nice looking lady!" On the other I'm like "Really? Could we get more cheesecake?"

To be fair, there's a lot of beefcake to go around as well, so...

[Tech_Rat]

I'm surprised, CanRay, that you haven't posted this one.

[Saint Hallow]

With plastic surgery, cosmetic bioware, & every other new health/beauty technological advance, I'm surprised there aren't more "visually acceptable" orks & trolls about. If I was the manager of a swanky AAA restaurant/mall/club/venue that needed to employ Orks & Trolls, I'd sure want to make them as "pretty" as possible for my consumers.

[CanRay]

Hey, pretty is relative. Don't forget the song, "Room for a Litter". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[ShadowJackal]

With plastic surgery, cosmetic bioware, & every other new health/beauty technological advance, I'm surprised there aren't more "visually acceptable" orks & trolls about. If I was the manager of a swanky AAA restaurant/mall/club/venue that needed to employ Orks & Trolls, I'd sure want to make them as "pretty" as possible for my consumers.

I'm playing one in my current game (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[ShadowJackal]

To be fair, there's a lot of beefcake to go around as well, so...

I would argue that many females are not attracted to the general idea of "Beefcake". At least not in my social circles.

[Wakshaani]

You'll find that most artists that companies hire are male and most are able to go from 'male gaze' to 'neuter gaze', but it's a rare fella who can do art in 'female gaze'. Lord knows I can't, but, as noted, not an artist.

Of course, dipping through Deviantart (and Elfwood and so on) will show off a bajillion female artists with teh skills to work professionally, but few do. Real shame that. Of course, there are plenty of artists regardless of gender who do art for art's sake and don't *want* to do it as a career, or who are too slow for professional deadlines, or who can produce their own work but aren't comfortable doing comission work where the vision isn't their own, etc etc etc.

In short, people are complex. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

But enough of me yammering ... image tax!

[img]http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/164/5/c/Commish___Crescent_Scar_33_by_imDRUNKonTEA.jpg[/img]

[img]http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/074/e/6/Commish___CrescentScar_25_by_imDRUNKonTEA.jpg[/img]

[img]http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/248/4/2/sketch_09_05_2011_by_imdrunkontea-d48zvo2.jpg[/img]

(Really big one next)
http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/097..._by_Dmitrys.jpg

http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/241...oth-d2xlb1b.png

[Tech_Rat]

But enough of me yammering ... image tax!

http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/164...mDRUNKonTEA.jpg

http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/074...mDRUNKonTEA.jpg

http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/248...tea-d48zvo2.jpg

(Really big one next)
http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/097..._by_Dmitrys.jpg

http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/241...oth-d2xlb1b.png

Fixed.

[stevebugge]

actually, counting ridiculous outfits in SR art is kinda fun.

If you think the weirdos in the books are fun, try to get hold of the runner cards from the short lived Shadowrun TCG. If I have free time sometime I'll scan some to put up

[CanRay]

I would argue that many females are not attracted to the general idea of "Beefcake". At least not in my social circles.

Who said anything about women? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

But at least it shows equal opportunity exploitation, that's all. For some reason, I never hear about the Fireman's Calendar being a blow against males everywhere...

[Wakshaani]

Fixed.

Ah! Thanks.

I keep forgetting that we don't use embedded images.

[ShadowJackal]

You'll find that most artists that companies hire are male and most are able to go from 'male gaze' to 'neuter gaze', but it's a rare fella who can do art in 'female gaze'. Lord knows I can't, but, as noted, not an artist.

See this is something odd to me. Being a classically trained traditional artist the thought of neuter gaze is the only one that I feel is innately inside me as an artist. I haven't once found myself idealizing a man or feminizing my work. I don't know, just odd to me. I think you start to lose integrity when you allow a perspective like that to take over your work. And Wak, you are far better than you give yourself credit for (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[ElFenrir]

With plastic surgery, cosmetic bioware, & every other new health/beauty technological advance, I'm surprised there aren't more "visually acceptable" orks & trolls about. If I was the manager of a swanky AAA restaurant/mall/club/venue that needed to employ Orks & Trolls, I'd sure want to make them as "pretty" as possible for my consumers.

If I could draw more than stick figures, I'd love to draw what my idea of how a 'prettyboy' troll may look. Like one who just ended up with the 'finer featured' end of the stick for his appearance. I mean any race can run from one end of the looks to the other(attractive, not as attractive, rugged, not as rugged, in the middle, average), and I don't see why trolls are any different; it's just that you never really see much art of a 'prettyboy' male troll.

[ggodo]

Need more pretty goblinized folks, it's just fun to see.

[CanRay]

Damn straight! Less scrawny elves, more good looking Dwarves, Orks, and Trolls!