Day 5: Pepper Spray

Started a mini-vacation today to see my sister and brother-in-law in Newport, RI.  Airports/planes are pretty much the only place that I ever buy magazines, so on a tip from my ACS bud, Molly, I picked up SELF.  It was almost hard to pick out because it seems like every magazine cover this month has pink on it, breast cancer related or not...guess everyone has to compete.

Anyway, if you read Linda's blog entry yesterday, you know that SELF claims to be the founder of the pink ribbon.

They have taken that distinction this month and turned it in to PAGE upon PAGE of product features, advertising for every breast cancer event you can think of, full page ads for Ford, the "Pink Pony Club" (which sounds like a strip club but is actually the Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation that aims to "reduce disparity in medically underserved communities").

The "shop pink" section shows literally pages of items that support the cause including, literally, a bra, boxing gloves, Vera Bradley bag, huh, more playing cards, nail polish, an orchid, scarves, watches...the list goes on.  If you'd like to see for yourself, they are featuring 56 Stylish Ways to Fight Breast Cancer on their website.

So, I will give SELF kudos for featuring some informative articles about preventing cancer in general s well as some inspirational stories from survivors and all that good jazz.  So, other than being completely overwhelmed by the inundation of pink EVERYTHING in this magazine, at least there was a good message.  Hmmm, what of ALL these products was I going to feature today...

Ahhh, page 160, that's where the good stuff is.  Thanks, SELF, for this.

I'm not sure which fear mongering I detest more, the fear of breast cancer or the fear of getting jumped in  mall parking lot.  Either way, seriously, pink ribbon pepper spray?  I do have to appreciate the marketing mind that came up with "Live Confidently" to play on multiple fears in one very pink ad.

Sabre says it has donated $260,000 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.  I'll give them a ringy ding in the morning to see if that amount was over 20 years, or last year, or what.

In the meantime, the next time you are in a Bass Pro Shop or Gander Mountain, make sure to check out the pinkest pepper spray out there.