Stuff That Owns You

I knew Webkinz was going to be big a year ago when I first heard Em and her friends talking about it. What's a Webkinz? Well, basically, it's a Beanie Baby with a web site, a stuffed animal with a version of the Sims.

Em fell for it, big time. She talked of 'invaluable prizes' you could get for 'adopting' (read buying) ten and twenty of these things.

Today she had $10 burning a hole in her pocket, and they have 'Lilkinz' for $9.29 plus tax, a slightly cheaper, slightly smaller Webkinz.



And Em explained to me, too, that the whole deal where you go online and add your virtual pet to a virtual world, is only good for a year. So in March, her first Webkinz will go offline if she doesn't give them more money. And her second in April. She knows the exact dates.

Webkinz are Borg. We will be assimilated. Resistance is futile...