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Your topic is ima robot Trend watch EDJR000020031003dza300026 Living Jane Rinzler Buckingham The New York Times Syndicate 842 Words 03 October 2003 Edmonton Journal Final C2 English Copyright © 2003 Edmonton Journal DRIFTING Combine the squeal of tires, the smell of burning rubber and a clear view of the guard rail, and you've got the makings of a textbook car crash. Although this might sound hazardous to your health, for those who practise "drifting," a sport in which drivers manipulate a car into sideways skids, this scene is exactly where they want to be. In Japan, where drifting originated, clubs, media deals and uber-athletes have made the sport into a multimillion-dollar phenomenon: There is Options, the video series; D1, a professional drifting league; and Initial D, an anime book series. And this truly extreme sport might be the next big thing here in the States. A small but growing group of American drifters is attempting to organize a league and has already seen moderate success. Borders bookstores are selling English versions of Initial D. Four new drifting-inspired video games are also due next year, including the much-anticipated Grand Turismo 4, and D1 will soon be holding U.S. tryouts. It won't be long before drifting becomes a household word, if not a household activity. Remember, this is definitely not for amateurs. SCARY MOVIE MANIA Halloween may come only once a year, but the scary-movie craze is expanding. We don't necessarily mean psychological thrillers that turn your seat-gripping knuckles white. We're talking gory, fake-blood-drenched movies that have a retro, campy feel. Perhaps people are drawn to them for their escapist quality. After all, this breed of horror film is a far cry from the really scary stuff going on in the world. Zombie import 28 Days Later may also be partly responsible. The film continues to draw a large number of fans who don't normally go to the theatre to get spooked. This month we'll be seeing another zombie movie, The House of the Dead, as well as a remake of the classic slasher flick The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. In 2004 a movie adaptation of the video game Alone in the Dark will be released, as will a remake of Dawn of the Dead. We may soon see a cable channel devoted entirely to scary movies. If The Horror Channel can raise the $3 million necessary to launch, the network will begin airing on Halloween night 2004. The network already has more than 2,000 horror movies, both American and international, to draw from, so brace yourself for a possible round-the-clock fright fest. L.A. IS LIKE ROCKIN' With bands such as Ima Robot and The Warlocks appearing in glossies left and right, Los Angeles is beginning to rival New York in its music scene. Another band that has L.A. scenesters talking is The Like. Named after the popular California valley girl slang "like," this pop-rock trio of three hipster teenage girls considers itself part of a community of like-minded L.A. bands that includes Rooney, Rilo Kiley, Maroon 5 and Phantom Planet. We think indie rockin' teens who are too cool for Total Request Live will be into The Like. Although they don't have a record deal yet, word of mouth and a strong local following might catapult them into fame. And the fact that their fathers work in the music industry certainly won't hurt either. After all, in La La land, it, like, pays to know people. RELIGION GOES SKIN DEEP When it comes to beauty products, it seems natural ingredients aren't enough of a promise of purity. People are now looking to religious orders for their skin-care "miracles." We all know the amount of grape seed extract in a tube of over-the-counter face cream won't really reverse the aging process, so it makes sense that many are turning to God's helpers for tonics they can really believe in. Fresh, the cosmetic company known for its natural products, recently introduced Creme Ancienne, a moisturizer crafted by nuns of the Cistercian order. In-the-know beauty buffs are also seeking out Santa Maria Novella, a line of skin-care products and fragrances that originated in an Italian monastery. So get thee to a nunnery! AND BY THE WAY: Underworld is doing so well at the box office that it may become a trilogy. A sequel is already being penned, with hopes of going into production soon. The third possible film is expected to be a prequel. Additional reporting by Kristin Bennett. Jane Rinzler Buckingham is the president of Youth Intelligence, a market-research firm specializing in the 7-to-35-year-old market. Her company publishes the Cassandra Report, a comprehensive survey focused on identifying emerging trends among Generations X and Y. She is also the host of "Modern Girl's Guide to Life" on the Style Network. |