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A “TAIL” OF TWO SPECIES

The Contradiction of Tail-End Fashion Emulation
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[:4622:]Curtis / SYNAPSE-SHOTS 2009-25

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SYNAPSE-SHOTS 2009-25

A “TAIL’ OF TWO SPECIES

The Contradiction of Tail-End Fashion Emulation

We are aware of the contretemps created when two women show up at an affair wearing the same dress. It must be just the nearness of the duplication that poses a problem. Several years ago, the haute couture industry discovered a profitably new marketing niche which provides considerably less costly knock-offs of its runway models to the mass-distribution stores.

Since the advent of Michelle Obama, a new twist is being put upon that end of female fashion emulation. In some cases, Michelle chooses an outfit that already is in the public domain. When such occasions are publicized, that particular dress tends to fly off the rack. Thus it was with at least one of the frocks she modeled in London Town.

So, what’s the deal with duplicates—“Just wear / Don’t clash”?

Don’t Touch a Tiger’s Tail or its Habitat

In Sumatra, in a little village at the edge of the forest, the people must be inside and close their doors before 6 p.m. They are condemned to spend the hours of darkness in terror of the fury of the marauding tigers. It is with good cause that the natives should be so cautious.

Some time ago, I saw a PBS documentary about the Sumantran tiger. From that show, I got the impression that those tigers probably are the most pissed-off animals on the face of the earth. Generally, animals show their ferocity when hunting or defending their territory. These creatures seem to resent outside existence. I believe there was a project on at the time wherein they were attempting to tag the tigers for some reason or other. I was impressed when one of the tigers climbed a tree and attempted to engage with one of the approaching helicopters. I said to myself, “Damn, what a demonstration of savage confidence!”

Any how, lumber interests had been at work in this particular Sumatran forest, depleting more of the dwindling habitat available to the tigers. In the process, several of the tigers had been killed. In a seemingly intentional mode of reprisal, the tigers, in turn, dispatched a comparable number of Homo sapiens. Ergo, their early-evening retreat from the village commons.

We are aware of the contretemps created when two women show up at an affair wearing the same dress. It must be just the nearness of the duplication that poses a problem. Several years ago, the haute couture industry discovered a profitably new marketing niche which provides considerably less costly knock-offs of its runway models to the mass-distribution stores.

Since the advent of Michelle Obama, a new twist is being put upon that end of female fashion emulation. In some cases, Michelle chooses an outfit that already is in the public domain. When such occasions are publicized, that particular dress tends to fly off the rack. Thus it was with at least one of the frocks she modeled in London Town.

So, what’s the deal with duplicates—“Be brash / Don’t clash”?

Don’t Touch a Tiger’s Tail or its Habitat

In Sumatra, in a little village at the edge of the forest, the people must be inside and close their doors before 6 p.m. They are condemned to spend the hours of darkness in terror of the fury of the marauding tigers. It is with good cause that the natives should be so cautious.

Some time ago, I saw a PBS documentary about the Sumantran tiger. From that show, I got the impression that those tigers probably are the most pissed-off animals on the face of the earth. Generally, animals show their ferocity when hunting or defending their territory. These creatures seem to resent outside existence. I believe there was a project on at the time wherein they were attempting to tag the tigers for some reason or other. I was impressed when one of the tigers climbed a tree and attempted to engage with one of the approaching helicopters. I said to myself, “Damn, what a demonstration of savage confidence!”

Any how, lumber interests had been at work in this particular Sumatran forest, depleting more of the dwindling habitat available to the tigers. In the process, several of the tigers had been killed. In a seemingly intentional mode of reprisal, the tigers, in turn, dispatched a comparable number of Homo sapiens. Ergo, their early-evening retreat from the village commons.