Fun toy to have

Jay Honeck wrote:
They are doing exactly what Japan used to do and what we did 30 or 40
years ago. Cut corners to save money.

Um, well, yes. That's how the system is supposed to work. Money flows
toward the lowest cost of production because that's what we (consumers)
demand.

However, if a factory produces shoddy products, no one buys their junk
and they go out of business. It's a system always seeking balance, and
(best of all) it finds this balance automatically, without human oversight.

It only gets really screwed up when gummint ("for the sake of the
children", always) gets involved.

I understand that you are a free market guy and so am I. But there are
certain things that it is just more efficient for we as consumers to
outsource to either the government or some other centralized source.

Am I expected to have a lab at home to check for toxic chemicals on my
kids toys?

The model of Underwriters Laboratories works quite well or at least used
to when anyone paid attention to it.

However, if a factory produces shoddy products, no one buys their junk
and they go out of business.

Like Microsoft... :-P

On 2008-08-19 19:19:35 -0700, John Smith said:

In article 200808191636137987-christophercampbell@hotmailcom,
C J Campbell wrote:

On 2008-08-19 06:40:10 -0700, John Smith said:

Remote-Controlled Helicopter Toys Recalled by Innovage Due to Fire and
Burn Hazards

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC), Innovage LLC, of Foothill Ranch, Calif., is voluntarily
recalling about 685,000 "Sky Scrambler" and "The Sharper Image" Wireless
Indoor Helicopters. The rechargeable lithium ion battery inside the
helicopters can overheat, catch fire, and ignite nearby combustibles,
posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.

Cool. A great nerd toy. But do you know how to make an exploding floppy
disk with nail polish remover and some other ingredients?

No, but I am willing to learn!

Nail polish remover is acetone, a floppy disk is mylar with a metalic
coating. What are the other ingredients? Potassium Iodide?

I am not going to publish bomb-making techniques, even on Usenet. I am
sure the information is available for anyone who is willing to look for
it. Suffice it to say that it works on the same principle as
strike-anywhere matches, when the drive heads scrape the surface of the
disk. The nail polish remover is merely a solvent for the active
ingredient.

--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor

Am I expected to have a lab at home to check for toxic chemicals on my
kids toys?

The model of Underwriters Laboratories works quite well or at least used
to when anyone paid attention to it.

Correct. And, now that the problem has caused the loss of millions of
dollars in sales, the shoddy factories have been fixed, and the problem
rectified. They system worked.

Serious question: I never heard of any kids being hurt in this lead-paint
situation -- did you?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
Ercoupe N94856
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

However, if a factory produces shoddy products, no one buys their junk
and they go out of business.

Like Microsoft... :-P

No.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
Ercoupe N94856
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:
Am I expected to have a lab at home to check for toxic chemicals on my
kids toys?

The model of Underwriters Laboratories works quite well or at least
used to when anyone paid attention to it.

Correct. And, now that the problem has caused the loss of millions of
dollars in sales, the shoddy factories have been fixed, and the problem
rectified. They system worked.

Don't forget China also put some guy to death for it to. But the system
isn't fixed and never can be as long as the country we are buying from
isn't working under the same set of rules.


Serious question: I never heard of any kids being hurt in this
lead-paint situation -- did you?

No, but Lead poisoning doesn't show up right away.

"Gig 601Xl Builder" wrote, "... Lead poisoning doesn't show up right away."

I wondered for years if all the solder fumes I inhaled in my youth ...

Ah, what were we talking about?

In article nqWqk.306314$yE1.76131@attbi_s21,
"Jay Honeck" wrote:

However, if a factory produces shoddy products, no one buys their junk
and they go out of business.

Like Microsoft... :-P

No.

Like that old saying "No one ever got fired for buying IBM equipment", no
one gets fired for buying that microsoft junk.

--
Bob Noel
(goodness, please trim replies!!!)

In article _pWqk.251261$TT4.150351@attbi_s22,
"Jay Honeck" wrote:

Serious question: I never heard of any kids being hurt in this lead-paint
situation -- did you?

An interesting read is the consumer products safety commission website.
There are a number of recalls listed due to lead paint.

http://cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html

Like that old saying "No one ever got fired for buying IBM equipment", no
one gets fired for buying that microsoft junk.

I've switched over almost entirely to Vista (three laptops, two desktops --
still have three desktops running XP) and like it.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
Ercoupe N94856
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"