HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

pumpkitt.

Made In USA, Work for USA

I'm renewing my vow to seek out quality Made in USA products when I need to buy something. It's easier than you think, especially with the internet, but it also requires some thoughtfulness and energy and sometimes spending a little more money, which is why I think many people do not do this. It is much easier to go to Wal-Mart or wherever and grab something cheap and move on.

For example, it is easy to go to Target and buy $4 t-shirts made overseas. However, if you look for occasional sales, Patagonia will sometimes put their Made in USA organic t-shirts on sale for $12-15. Yes it's triple the price, but it's cheaper than buying most t-shirts full price. Note you may have to put up with a sometimes cheesy graphic on the Patagonia t's.

I guess things get more committed when we start talking about big ticket items like my favorite product, cars. Here is a link to a NY Times article with info about vehicles Made in USA and what major parts are also Made in USA. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/06/19/automobiles/20090619-auto-plants-4.html (hmm...Mustang manual transmission made in China?). If you are buying used, you can still research where your car was made. Worst case, look inside the door before you buy and there should be a plate riveted on. I hope when I need a new car I have the balls to buy something Made in USA. I want a 4runner (Japan) but maybe I can compromise to an Xterra (Tennessee, USA).

I am starting a list on the side of my blog of Made in USA items that I am familiar with. If you know of more products to add, please let me know. If you need help finding something Made in USA, please contact me through the comments and I would be glad to make a suggestion.

Even more of a commitment is Working for USA. How many of you work for an American (note I mean USA however I'd be glad to include our Canadian brothers here) company offering Made in USA products or services? I've worked for Chinese-owned companies and it is really a soul killing exercise. You know you are earning money while you help move the money overseas. I extend my vow to try to also work for and with American companies.

I don't know how much of a difference my efforts are really going to make, or if I'm going to succeed, but at least I will know I tried to do a little something for the country I live in.

Is The Popcorn Factory Racist?

While browsing through the Halloween 2010 catalog of The Popcorn Factory www.thePopcornFactory.com I saw a tin with the Popcorn Pals - cute popcorn characters dressed in various costumes or holding accessories to depict certain flavors. Very cute. Then I noticed two of the characters. One is wearing a white headband with Asian-looking characters on them. Another is holding a pair of chopsticks...And both of their eyes are depicted as little slits. WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

This looks like a racist depiction or caricature of Asians to me. What do you think? I don't think that both characters with Asian derived accessories happened to be blinking when they were drawn. Yes these are cutely drawn characters but I do not want my race to be a character! I also do not want young people to think it is acceptable. What if other races were depicted as Popcorn Pals in such a stereotypical manner? There would be an uproar? Note there is a Popcorn Pal wearing a Mexican Hat. What is next? Is there going to be a dark colored popcorn with an afro? how about one with a big nose and a yarmulke?

I emailed The Popcorn Factory customer service. my original email and the response is below.

I do not plan on ordering anything from this company until I see that these characters are discontinued. I also will encourage friends of all races to do the same.

Thank you for contacting us.

I am sorry that you were offended with the drawing of the Popcorn Pal.
This information will be forwarded to our Merchandising Department for review.


Sincerely,

Sharon Thomas
The Popcorn Factory
service@thepopcornfactory.com

Original Message Follows:
------------------------
I'm very disappointed about the racist caricature of the Ginger 
teriaki popcorn   Pal.  It is the only one with "slanted" eyes. No 
other character has eyes drawn this way.

Please redraw this character.  I've gone through enough racism in my 
life - I don't want to open my popcorn factory catalog and see more.

Thanks,

TAD Gear Amphibious Cargo Shorts - Followup Review

One month after purchasing, the TAD Gear Amphibious Cargo Shorts have become my preferred shorts. I wear my Patagonia Stand Ups mainly when I need to appear slightly less casual. As noted above, the cargo pockets function well in transporting my team mate on Long Range Recon Patrols of the yard. And let's just say thank goodness the pocket has drain holes and the fabric is quick dry!

Municipal Geographic Policy Violation

Last week, under duress one of Municipal Geographic's fundamental policies was violated. Here at MuniGeo, we have two major policies: 1) We do not travel outside the neighborhood to capture photos of wildlife. The savings are passed on to you. 2) We do not interfere with wildlife in order to bring you photos. No baiting, no capturing. The photos are of wildlife in their natural habitat, unposed.
However, last week I saw traffic ahead of me stopped. I saw a squirrel-sized kitten tentatively attempting to cross the street, notably away from the local Thai restaurant and obviously ignorant of our municipal jaywalking laws. I quickly jumped out of the vehicle to attempt to move this kitten out of traffic. The kitten was rather uncooperative, first hiding deep under a Toyota Camry, out of my grasp even when I laid prone on the street reaching under the car. It finally made a sprint into oncoming traffic. However, I was able to flag down traffic and tackle the kitten and return to my vehicle.
As they say, no good deed goes unpunished. Not only had I violated the principles of the organization I founded, I was also out 1/4 the price of a Taurus Judge for the vet visit to de-flea and de-worm the kitten.
Once a policy has been violated, you can never go back. The kitten has obviously imprinted on me and can never survive in the wild again. It is too accustomed to hourly feedings and fleece-lined bedding. From here I will continue to rehabilitate this kitten in hopes that in the future it will make a useful contribution to our organization and society.

below, first photo is of kitten immediately after capture. Second photo, four days later.