Dear So and So

[sundial]

Dear Greedy American Overseas Manufacturers,

Made in China doesn't cut it.

Just because you can save $ by manufacturing overseas doesn't mean the quality it there.

Why not manufacture stuff in Japan? Their stuff works. It isn't tainted. It's nearly perfected. And they have a lot more creativity.

Remember that Japan is our ally? Remember the time Prime Minister Koizumi sang karaoke at the Elivis Presely mansion? You know, Elvis--the Undisputed King Of Rock N Roll. When was the last time you shared quality time with Pres. Jintao of China?

I am considering making out my Last Will and Testament due to the probability of exposure to toxins hidden deep within my lead laden art supplies manufactured in--you guessed it--China. I will probably die a slow, long, torturous death. In the event you do not hear from me in a week or so, please contact the American Embassy in China and report my disappearance.

Sincerely,

Fan of Japan

[Velobambina]

Sundial -- Think the lead thing is scary. What really scares me is how much $$$ the US has borrowed from the Chinese Govt.

[KnottedYet]

What scares me, too, is the way local manufacturing jobs have disappeared and local plants have closed down.

I lived in a town that was truly decimated by a plant closure.

When the political and economic winds change, we won't have the infrastructure or trained workforce to produce goods for our own needs. We have made ourselves dependent on other countries for basic necessities.

[mimitabby]

It is truly a scary place when you think about each one of those underpaid, mistreated Chinese laborers has a dream to live just like you and me. Two cars, computers, airconditioning and heating in their home. and when that 1 billion chinese all have that stuff, how will the earth sustain it.

Dear So and So
when you wrote the bible why the heck did you tell a small band of itinerant Jews to bear fruit and multiply? Couldn't you have given them a limit like, okay, after there are a billion people on the planet you can slow down now?
Or specified "I only want you to bear fruit and multiply until it's NOT SENSIBLE to continue doing it?"

thanks a lot.
I'm afraid that if i ever have grandkids that there won't be tigers and polar bears who actually have a place to live.

[Trek420]

Dear scared people, Yep, when you do the math and think of millions that have

.... a dream to live just like you and me.

and they see this dream in our media; the call of the open road, the fast car, huge house.

One of the few things we can do is live simply .... and well. It will take time and scale I think that is exposure. But if sustainable living can be seen as not just the norm but an ideal/desireable; the gourmet organic local food instead of table sized slab-o-beef, bike or active tours instead of huge cruise mega-ships, solar and energy efficient homes are stylish and save money, gardening and greenscaping and of course supporting our local business and companies ....

Media here in the Bay Area is catching on and barely a news hour without an article on sustainable choices. Right this minute I'm watching the Today show and they are talking about BYOB (bring your own bag) to the store. I was amoung a group of kids who founded the recycling center in Sonoma County ... when I was in Jr. High and I'm over 50 so I've been aware of this forever.

It's tempting to think "well duh!!" but I am glad to see things catching on.

I don't make movies or write books or even a newsletter so the only thing I can do is live simply and well and hope someone notices that it's not being deprived, it's fun and healthy and it catches on.

Keep riding, TE

[Blueberry]

What scares me, too, is the way local manufacturing jobs have disappeared and local plants have closed down.

I lived in a town that was truly decimated by a plant closure.

When the political and economic winds change, we won't have the infrastructure or trained workforce to produce goods for our own needs. We have made ourselves dependent on other countries for basic necessities.

Knot-

We have another one to add to our Chaco woes. Dansko has moved all of their manufacturing to China (most products were made in Europe). The good news is Sanita (who used to manufacture for Dansko) is now importing products into the US. Made in Europe - not as good as made in CO, but better than China IMO.

CA

[bmccasland]

Dear next door neighbor's MIL/Mom,
Would you PLEASE take yourself and your yappy dog, and Go Home!. Your dog is ill behaved, I'm tired of hearing the humans yell. Yes, your son hurts after his surgery, but it's late, go away! My shoulder hurts too and I want to go to bed. We all need to go to bed. Just because my bedroom is only 10 feet from their driveway means I get to hear everything, and I'm tired of it. Don't you know it's cold outside?! Go home!!!

[Velobambina]

Mimi---hear hear! Remember "zero population growth?" At least responsible population growth. Recently, I saw a TV news report about a trend of Americans having MORE children....

[sundial]

Dear Self,

Please allow at least 2 cups of coffee before embarking on your ride. Shoes with cleats allow for better performance.

[Aggie_Ama]

Dear Neighbor,

I really like your family, you are very nice neighbors but your 3 dogs need manners like yours. Your clever little darlings start barking the moment you pull out of your driveway. Unlike you, I do not have to be up for work at 4:00 am. I would like to tell you but I don't know how to not anger you.

[mimitabby]

Mimi---hear hear! Remember "zero population growth?" At least responsible population growth. Recently, I saw a TV news report about a trend of Americans having MORE children....

yes. WHAT are they thinking????

[KnottedYet]

Do what my neighbors did: be all concerned and ask if the dogs are ok, they've been barking frantically.

(I was very embarrassed to learn my dog was a barking fiend, but worked on it and my neighbors said he wasn't barking any more.)

[IFjane]

Do what my neighbors did: be all concerned and ask if the dogs are ok, they've been barking frantically.

I don't have that option - my neighbors are HOME and let the dogs bark. In fact, at one point they let one of their little darlings come into MY YARD when I got home and bark at my ankles until I went in the house!! I didn't know how to talk to them about it without making them angry until I got angry enough and called Animal Control.....now the dogs are penned and the neighbors won't speak to me....

[Trek420]

at one point they let one of their little darlings come into MY YARD when I got home and bark at my ankles until I went in the house!! ....

I'm not a trainer, and don't play one on TV but I'd say it's as if the dog is saying "look, look, you've been away all day and look what a good job of guarding I do, I'm barking at the neighbor see?"

Your neighbors dogs are not bad, they just need another "job" long walks, puzzling complicated Kongs, stuff like that.

[Flybye]

I don't have that option - my neighbors are HOME and let the dogs bark. In fact, at one point they let one of their little darlings come into MY YARD when I got home and bark at my ankles until I went in the house!! I didn't know how to talk to them about it without making them angry until I got angry enough and called Animal Control.....now the dogs are penned and the neighbors won't speak to me....

My parents' dogs bark all of the time and they are home, too. It drives me crazy when I visit. When we go to the cabin, it REALLY bothers me. Someone finally got fed up and made an anonymous call to animal control. They paid them a visit and gave them a warning. There would be a ticket involved if they had to come back for the same reason again. My mom got two bark collars within the hour of the visit. No more barking dogs!

Another friend of mine who has extra cash actually purchased a dog collar and waited until her neighbors went to bed and for their lights to be out for a couple of hours. She then put the collar in their mailbox along with a complaint signed "from several neighbors". I can't remember the content of the letter, other than it was well written and very kind.

I am wondering how they know that you called animal control?? My parents never found out who called.