New: Fear and Loathing shades @ Oozebeak

November 29th, 2007 at 08:42pm Ryan Darragh

“I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they’ve always worked for me.”

Every once in a while, I see something in SL that’s so crazy, beautiful, clever, or just plain right that it leaves me laughing and grinning like the World’s Biggest Goof at the magic and wonder of it all.  This week that honor goes to the “Fear” and “Loathing” glasses by Fedor McNally, inspired by the personal style of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.  Now you too can be the King of Gonzo, at least in your own little corner of the metaverse.

Perhaps best known for his contributions to Rolling Stone magazine and his seminal novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Thompson was also the inspiration for the Uncle Duke character in Garry Trudeau’s “Doonesbury.”  Thompson once told an interviewer that he would set Trudeau on fire if the two ever met, but in later years said he had made peace with his comic-strip persona.  In the weeks following Thompson’s death, Uncle Duke mourned the loss of his “inspiration” and experienced a variety of “Fear-and-Loathing”-style hallucinatory transformations.  It seemed a fitting tribute.

“Buy the ticket, take the ride.”

The “Fear” glasses have oval lenses held at opposing slants by sturdy metal frames.  The sturdy frames are touch scripted to cycle through three different finishes: Black Chrome (my personal favorite), Stainless, and Gold.  You can also click on the lenses to choose from a wide selection of lens tints (not all are shown).

“When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.”

The “Loathing” shades are classic aviator-style glasses, like the ones you see HST wearing in every other photograph.  Like the “Fear” glasses, the frames are touch scripted for three different metallic finishes, and again several different lens tints are available–at least one is bound to light your fire.

“A word to the wise is infuriating.”

Pushing this well into Too Cool For School territory, “Loathing” also comes in a version with touch-activated flip-up shades.  Simply click the lenses to flip up the smoked outer shades and reveal the inner lenses.  No color-changing lenses on this one, though–what do you want, the Moon?

All are moddable for size, and I found that sizing them for a proper fit was an easier task than this usually is for me–the stretching up and down seems to be more intuitive than I often find it to be.

These bad boys will set you back L$250 for the set.  What, you say, no individual pricing?  Screw that!  You want them all, you know you do!  There’s a L$1 demo so you can check out the awesome hardcore flipping action in advance.

Spend your hard-earned money at Oozebeak (Muir 16, 160, 59).

“Some may never live, but the crazy never die.”

Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: Yes | Friends List: No

Notes: On Ryan: "Antonio" skin by Funk Schnook (FNKY!). Gingko Fans shirt by Robin (Sojourner) Wood. Pikey Hat by Fade Dana (HaT MecHaNiCs). Cigarette in holder by LupineFox Paz (Foxy's Smoke Shop).

Entry Filed under: Casual, Eyewear, Fedor McNally, New Items, Period