In which Mattel admits to being China's "Piss Boy"

mattel

The carefully worded apology, delivered with company lawyers present, underscores China's central role in Mattel's business. The world's largest toy maker has been in China for 25 years and about 65 percent of its products are made in China.
...
The recalls have prompted complaints from China that manufacturers were being blamed for design faults introduced by Mattel.

Excuse me, but HTF is the use of lead paint by Chinese factories Mattel's fault? Sure, maybe the small parts thing, but the lead paint? Uh-uh. This is what happens when you really on slave-labor in a third-world, communist country, that still thinks it is okay to "disappear" people.

[UPDATE]: Oh, the joys of timing. This just in.

1 million Graco, Simplicity cribs recalled in U.S.
Three babies died after becoming trapped and suffocating, officials say
...
In all three deaths, the consumer had installed the drop-rail side of the crib upside down, the CPSC said. This creates a gap in the crib that children can slide into and suffocate.

Seven other infants have been entrapped in the cribs, according to the CPSC. There have been 55 reports of the cribs' drop sides detaching or the hardware failing to hold the side to the crib.

Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa., is listed as manufacturer of all the cribs, which were made in China.

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Sorry for the crude language folks, I normally eschew it.

Submitted by Robert P. on Fri, 09/21/2007 - 4:35pm.

However, this story made me freakin' cringe.

One of the pitfalls of childhood is that one doesn't have to understand something to feel it. - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me

Not trying to make you feel guilty,

Submitted by scharrison on Fri, 09/21/2007 - 5:54pm.

and I've been chastised by more than a few people (even females) for being off-base in my opinion of this, but...

gender bias comes in many forms, and is (unfortunately) perpetuated in one form or another by nearly everybody. Blatant and overt misogyny is the harshest form, but it's also the easiest to spot and deal with, and is generally on the decline in the free world. It's the more subtle, often subconscious manifestations that seem to be much more difficult to eradicate.

To be more specific, the use of the word "bitch" to better define or label someone who has exhibited weak or submissive behavior, even (especially?) if it's directed towards a patently male target, serves to also reinforce the negative female stereotype of weakness and submission. These underlying prejudices play hell with our value judgments whether we know it or not, limiting the potential of both sexes in ways we can't recognize.

Thanks to societal conditioning, it takes a sometimes monumental effort to avoid dipping in this well for choice insults, and I daresay I have often failed miserably in this effort. But I believe it is something we can improve on, if we keep an eye on it.

Thus ends Steve's self-righteous lecture of the day. :)

I've gotta tell you

Submitted by Linda on Fri, 09/21/2007 - 11:46pm.

To be more specific, the use of the word "bitch" to better define or label someone who has exhibited weak or submissive behavior, even (especially?) if it's directed towards a patently male target, serves to also reinforce the negative female stereotype of weakness and submission. These underlying prejudices play hell with our value judgments whether we know it or not, limiting the potential of both sexes in ways we can't recognize.

I've been called a bitch more than once in my life (actually, more than once this week, as a matter of fact.) I usually figure that means I'm achieving my objective, which is, more often than not, to be the grain of sand that irritates things enough to create the pearl. I understand what you're saying - the word "bitch", especially applied to a male, can be derogatory, but I've chosen to take it back. Damn right I'm a bitch. Rather - that's Ms. Bitch to you. :-D

Just my .02 on language.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi

While context plays a more important

Submitted by scharrison on Sat, 09/22/2007 - 12:18am.

role in the way we consciously translate and process language, the symbolism inherent in the individual words is often absorbed and processed also.

I've had several arguments with other writers about whether or not certain words have "power", or if we choose to allow them to have power, meaning we can also choose to not allow them to have power.

Weird, wild stuff. As you can tell, I'm easily entertained. :)

Made me wonder when I heard this earlier

Submitted by momoaizo on Fri, 09/21/2007 - 5:08pm.

guess the old saying still holds true..."follow the money"!

No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.

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I saw that earlier

Submitted by C. Diane on Fri, 09/21/2007 - 7:15pm.

and I wanted to punch my screen.

Oh, sorry, China, we didn't *mean* to recall the unsafe products you made for us!

Presumably you saw this last month...

No, let me quote it for people.

Submitted by Robert P. on Fri, 09/21/2007 - 9:09pm.

“A lot of people like to say, uh, scaremonger about China, right? A lot of politicians, and I know you talk about that issue all the time. I think people should be careful what they wish for on China. Ya know, if China were to revalue it’s currency or China is to start making say, toys that don’t have lead in them or food that isn’t poisonous, their costs of production are going to go up and that means prices at Wal-Mart here in the United States are going to go up too. So, I would say China is our greatest friend right now, they’re keeping prices low and they’re keeping the prices for mortgages low, too.”

One of the pitfalls of childhood is that one doesn't have to understand something to feel it. - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me

At the risk of offending some sensibilities

Submitted by Linda on Fri, 09/21/2007 - 11:48pm.

That's the biggest crock of shit I've ever heard.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi

Is CNBC actually trying

Submitted by scharrison on Fri, 09/21/2007 - 11:50pm.

to outdo FOX news in the Boldly Stupid category? I guess I shouldn't be surprised, since we're importing questionable food from the other side of the world when we have the agricultural capacity to supply several times as much food as we eat.

If that's not bad enough, look at this:

http://www.kiplinger.com/businessresource/forecast/archive/New_Threat_fr...

Steel imports from China that fall apart easily are making U.S. manufacturers and constructions firms more than a little nervous. Reports of failures during initial fabrication and questions about certification documents will mean closer scrutiny. The American and Canadian institutes of steel construction have already advised member companies to be vigilant and report any problems.

The biggest concern is hollow structural sections widely used in construction of skyscrapers, bridges, pipelines, office, commercial and school buildings. This high-strength steel is also commonly used in power lifts, cranes, farm equipment, furniture and car trailer hitches.

So...now I'm only going to be comfortable driving over old bridges.

It's unlikely that existing buildings or bridges are in imminent danger of collapse. U.S. metals fabricators periodically test imported steels to assure they met specs for strength, hardness and durability. Construction firms generally do likewise. It is possible that some of the substandard Chinese high-strength steel did slip through, so expect construction companies to recheck with their suppliers to determine whether any of the steel they used was purchased from Chinese mills. If so, U.S. contractors, building owners and power plant operators will bring in structural engineers to test the steel. If any structurally deficient steel is found, companies will shore up pillars, girders and trusses or replace boiler pipes entirely.

The author of this piece apparently just graduated from a "Positive Thinking" seminar.

Imports of specialized structural pipe and tubing steel from China are soaring, up from almost nothing two years ago to 102,000 metric tons in the first six months of this year, according to American Iron and Steel Institute data. China now provides about 25% of U.S. supplies of this high-strength steel, making it the second-largest source behind Canada. U.S. steel mills supply about 16%.

Okay, now I've got Billy Joel's song Allentown stuck in my head.

Without a doubt, we are idiots.

We're only idiots if we let it continue.

Submitted by Linda on Fri, 09/21/2007 - 11:52pm.

n/t

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi

I lived in Pittsburgh for 15 years.

Submitted by Linda on Sat, 09/22/2007 - 10:15am.

When I first got there, steel was still king. The skies were hazy all the time, and it was noisy. Down by the river, you could smell the mills. It was considered a good sign, because all the dirt and smell meant that the mills were working. As Pittsburgh got cleaned up, it became a nicer place for people like me to live, but steel went away. I'm not sure it was a good trade.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi

I love this discussion

Submitted by James on Sat, 09/22/2007 - 8:08am.

Perfect.