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Ford
TH!NK
www.thinkmobility.com
Resistance to the SUV movement: It’s plastic, plugs into any
220V outlet, gets 53 miles per charge, can hit 56 MPH and has a
CD player —- plus, it’s damn cute. It’s Ford’s
TH!NK City, and for you and a friend, urban motoring has never been
this easy, fun and environmentally friendly. Not only does it fit
into unimaginably tight spots, this little devil is damn near dent
resistant and comes in a fetching array of molded-in colors.
Release
www.petshopboys.co.uk
Resistance to every Creed sound-alike out there: The Pet Shop
Boys’ latest album is a true triumph, combining their signature
pop sophistication with smart, witty lyrics - something unparalleled
in today’s lackluster music scene. Release is definitely less
disco then 1999’s Nightlife, but it’s a perfect blend
of electronic precision and acoustic charm. Interlaced with guitar
licks courtesy of The Smith’s Johnny Marr, Neil Tennant’s
vocals float effortlessly on a delightful bed of Chris Lowe’s
catchy electro-rhythms. If it’s disco you crave, check out
the Blank & Jones remix of the album’s first single, Home
and Dry. If that doesn’t put a smile on your face and a hitch
in your get-along, you better check for a pulse.
Turtle
Island Foods
http://www.tofurky.com/
Resistance to America’s diet: The folks who brought us the
original Tofurky have a wide offering of quality meat substitutes
that actually taste good. Not only does Turtle Island maintain high
quality standards for taste, their products are all natural and
relatively affordable. Next time you whip up a batch of grandma’s
famous chicken enchiladas, consider substituting Turtle Island’s
tempeh for the chicken. You’ll be more than pleasantly surprised.
Bitch
Magazine
http://www.bitchmagazine.com/
Resistance to pop culture: Bitch Magazine is a well-executed, highly
under-funded magazine that manages to deliver quality, insightful
editorial, time and time again. The attitude is edgy and extremely
bold but also insightful, academic and very accessible. Male, female
or otherwise, it appeals to anyone with a critical mind. We at Anvil
tip our hats to a publication that has stayed true to itself year
after year, while maintaining a very high quality profile.
Pabst
http://www.pabst.com/
Resistance to beer chic: With a heritage going back to the 1840s,
Pabst has been churning out light, tasty American lagers for well
over a century. Pabst’s signature Blue Ribbon Beer is like
a used Toyota Corolla: cheap, relatively smooth and damn reliable.
The Pabst Company may not be as large as Anheuser Busch, but they
have plenty to be proud of, with a stable full of reliable (if not
entirely tasty) old steeds, including: Old Style, Lone Star, Colt
45, Strohs, Schlitz, Old Milwaukee, Special Export, St. Ides, Schmidt’s,
Schaefer and Rainier.
Faiyaz
Jafri
http://www.bam-b.com/
Resistance to homogeneity in art: Faiyaz has produced some of the
most compelling art we at Anvil have ever encountered. Dive into
this site and explore an amazing world of insightful, childlike
innocence combined with vivid, commercial terror, humor and the
occasional horrific tidbit -- reminding you that we’re all
human. The "Violence" installation may be a bit too extreme
for some, but it’s worth pushing yourself out of the realm
of comfort to experience it. View. Analyze. Feel. Express.
PrIdaho
http://www.pridaho.org/
Resistance to small town bigotry: With a population somewhere around
50,000 (mostly Mormons), the small town of Pocatello, Idaho, held
its very first les/bi/gay/trans pride festival in 2001. Complemented
by public outcry and a vicious debate in the local paper, the celebration
managed to jump every major hurdle, harnessing the buzz to boost
attendance. Like any self-respecting queen, the festival looks to
be even brasher for 2002. Idaho State University is the only real
vestige of liberal thinking in Pocatello and even then the school
is intertwined with the LDS church, so kudos to the locals for adding
a little sequin and lace to an otherwise closeted community.
Brewery
Blocks
http://www.breweryblocks.com/
Resistance to sprawling development: Historically preserving the
old Blitz-Weinhard Brewhouse (1864) and Armory Building (1889),
the "blocks" encompass a five-block development in the
southwest section of downtown Portland, Oregon. Once completed,
The Brewery Blocks will provide 1.7 million sq. ft. of urban
retail, creative office space and residential housing. We at Anvil
raise our glasses to a fine example of attractive, smart, usable
and hip downtown development.
Toys
in Babeland
http://www.babeland.com
Resistance to sexual ambiguity: Originally started in Seattle, Washington,
now with a store in New York City, Toys in Babeland (TIB) is a professional
retail destination catering to our personal, prurient needs in a
slick (excuse the pun), high style fashion. TIB’s site is well
designed, simple and full of fun copy. Whether you’re a boy,
girl or otherwise, TIB probably has something fun for your next
foray into Eros’ playground. One of our favorite pieces of
copy from TIB’s Website: "The Successful Butt Play Mantra
goes: ‘Communication, Relaxation, Lubrication.’"
Tell
Shell
http://www-forums.shell.com/forums/Main.cfm?CFApp=2
or http://www.euapps.shell.com/TellShell/
Resistance to a bad global reputation: Shell Oil’s forums feature
real comments from angry and not-so-angry people, worldwide. Even
better than the comments is the fact that anyone in Shell's Sustainable
Development Group can reply to any message posted in the forums.
Check out some of the Shell replies and you can even detect a faint
human voice. According to Shell, "Because people expect a quick
response on the Web, the formalities of approval are kept to a minimum."
Respondents don't have to consult a central registry of official
positions because, according to Shell, "Shell has done such
a good job of letting its people know what its policies are."
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