)\ day • December 12, 1997
The Battalion
|:tion figures, Tickle Me Elmo define true meaning of Christmas
Travis
Irby
columnist
I o, ho, ho. No,
It isn’t an ad-
.yertisment
street corner in
d part of town.
: is that holly jol
mefof year,
istmas, and
e is one word
Dnymous with
['. most cherished
ilidays — toys.
sf are what
Tias is all
ut— not giving, not the big J.C.’s b-
not being with family and friends,
aybe it all started when it was an an-
it pagan holiday focused on obtaining
i-to find beanie babies and special
ion Tamagotchis.
daki no mistake about it. Christmas is
bout the acquisition of as many toys
lossible, whether young or old.
Most people started with the simple
f: blocks, dolls, soldiers, etc. As they
v up, more expensive and complicated
| [5 like cars, stereos and computers be-
te the norm.
/Veil, it is time to regress and take a
k at some of the toys aimed at the kid
in all of us.
They did it last year with Tickle Me
Elmo, a laughing piece of carpet. Now
the puppet masters of Sesame Street
have pulled the strings of America’s
youth, with their newest creation, Sleep
and Snore Ernie.
Part of one of the most sexually am
biguous duos aimed at children since Bat
man and Robin, Ernie sings “Twinkle,
Twinkle Little Star.”
Next year Sesame Street is considering
licensing a Bert doll that sings show tunes
and wears floral prints.
Speaking of Batman and Robin, the dy
namic duo is looking to recoup some of the
money lost on the last Batman movie by en
gaging in a lascivious use of licsensing.
There are dolls, action figures and just
about any other toy with the Batman like
ness imaginable.
The action figure line has some trou
bling aspects. There are a zillion variations
of the Dark Knight, including the Paisley
Knight, the Reflective-at-Night Knight and
the Prozac Knight.
The last Batman figure seems rather
appropriate considering the character is
based on Bruce Wayne’s dementia.
He isn’t the only super hero suffering
from a plasticized personality disorder.
Spiderman, Superman and even Wolver
ine go through as many costume
changes and mood swings as a bunch of
supermodels on a diet of barbiturate-
laced coffee.
Even the grand dame of the plastic pro
letariat, Barbie is going through some
changes. After decades of the same bulim
ia-induced look, the public will soon see a
more realistic Barbie.
The changes will be more than a differ
ent outfit and hair color — Barbie will
sport a smaller bustline, a wider waist and
generally look more like a live female.
If this is a success, expect future addi
tions like Wide Load Barbie, Bitter-Manic
Depressive Barbie and Receding Hairline-
Expanding waistline Ken. After all, the
whole line is trying to be realistic.
Toy connoisseurs who want to step into
the squared circle, might try the new
wrestling figures from the WWF and WCW
The WCW figures are eight-inch
pieces of heavily-muscled plastic with a
special motor that vibrates the toy.
Instead of a toy for kids, this product
seems more appropriate as a tool for
couples with intimacy problems.
Probably the most shrewdly marketed
toy this season is the Talking Little Penny
Doll. The lovable little puppet from those
Nike commercials comes at shoppers with
his favorite phrases. Unfortunately, “Take
your top off, Tyra,” isn’t one of them.
Besides the conventional toys, like the
ones mentioned above, there are video
game like Tomb Raider 2.
This figures to be one of the more pop
ular video games this season, as it features
an unbelievably proportioned heroine
named Lara Croft.
If there ever was a video game aimed
at those saddled with hormones rather
than dates, this is it. Maybe Lara should
talk to Barbie.
Well, not all toys are high-tech or tied in
with a multimillion-dollar property.
There are still Lincoln Logs and Legos
for those who yearn for the simpler plea
sures. Of course now they cost an arm and
a leg.
Travis Irby is a senior journalism major.
Irazos Valley Museum of Natural History serves young and old
By Rhonda Reinhart
Staff writer
I he Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History is
a hidden wonder in the Bryan-College Station
_ community.
fucked away in a building extension of the Brazos
iter on Briarcrest Drive, the museum offers a wide
I iety of programs to children and adults.
| Richard Huey, curator of education for the museum,
i the museum provides a good way for people to ex-
id their cultural and historical knowledge.
r'We are a great unknown in this community,” he
said. “People don’t know we’re here, and we’ve got so
much to offer to the general public.”
ill!
“Most of our activities are geared toward
children, but we are moving toward families
and adults.”
TOM LYNCH
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BRAZOS VALLEY NATURAL
HISTORY MUSEUM
The Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History
opened in the Spring of 1962. It was located on the third
floor of the county courthouse and was originally called
the Junior Museum because its programs were estab
lished for children. But Tom Lynch, executive director
of the museum, said the museum’s programs have ex
panded to include all ages.
“Most of our activities are geared toward chil
dren,” Lynch said, “but we are moving toward fami
lies and adults.”
For the children, the museum provides everything
from science and natural history classes to birthday
parties with educational themes.
One group the museum works with is Los Her-
manos, a group of school-age boys in Bryan who are
having family, school or social problems. The museum
provides the students with activities that are not avail
able to them at school.
Recently, the museum did a program on backyard
astronomy for the group. The students came to the mu
seum and were able to get hands-on experience.
Huey said the programs the museum provides for
the students offer visual aids average school teachers
do not have access to.
“It’s a broadening experience,” he said. “It is a very def
inite expansion on what the teacher can provide. It helps
fill out what the teachers have been talking about.”
Please see Museum on Page 4.
• ••
Store Hours:
Mon. - Thurs.: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Fri.: 8 a.m. - 5 p-m.
Sat.: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sell us your hooks for cosh and
free stuff! While supplies last,
we have some great free gifts from
friends at JanSport } Arizona,
Sprint, Benetton Fragrances
and,., well, check it out!
/
C E p
Memorial Student Center
845-8681
* Amarillo College
w-rtJCA Dec. 19,1997 - Jan. 8,1998
9a.m.to12:15p.m.
Monday through Friday
(Classes do not meet Dec. 24-28 and Jan. 1)
m ^ CIS 3023 (COSC1306) Computer Concepts
CRR 4603 Dictation and Transcription Skills
Review IV
ENGL 3053 (ENGL 1302) Freshman Composition II
GOVT 4343 (GOVT 2306) Government of Texas and the U. S.
m HIST 3383 (HIST 1302) History of the U. S. II
# MATH 0033 Basic Algebra I
MATH 3113 (MATH 1332) College Mathematics
NURS 3031 Current Assessment Techniques for
the Nurse
NURS 4121 Basic Cardiac Dysrhythmia
Recognition
PHYED3191 Skiing I
PHYED 3201 Skiing II
SPCOM 3103 (SPCH 1318) .. Interpersonal Communication
SPCOM 3203 (SPCH 1315) .. Public Speaking
SPCOM 3303 (SPCH 1312) .. Business and Professional Speaking
Register Nov. 10 through Dec. 18.
For more information,
call the Amarillo College Registrar’s Office at 371-5030.
Amarillo College is an equal opportunity community college.
MSC TOWNHALL PRESENTS
CCITEEHCUSE
Friday. Dec. 12
FEATURING:
8:00 p.m.
LIUE MUSIC
Copen mic 7:00J
2 POETS. UP SVNC,
: Rumours Deli
W°Oa° V
BARBERSHOP SEXTET
DATE:
TIME:
WHY: FREE CHEESE!”
FREE FOOD &
DRINKS
(b-
Persons with disabilities please call 845-1515 to inform us of your special needs. We request notification three (3)
working days prior to the event to enable us to assist you to the best of our abilities.