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Thursday, December 20, 2007
Time for another Christmas lights show
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There are a lot of Christmas lights shows on the web. This one, synchronized to “ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH” ranks among the better ones.
Enjoy.
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Christmas crunch time!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s crunch time folks!
Time to fish or cut bait. In other words, you don’ have much longer to shop.
Are you a last minute shopper or just behind in your game this year? What’s your strategy?
Consider this a Christmas gift free for all. Looking for a special item? Ask other ajc.com readers here. Need gift suggestions for the girl or guy who has everything? Maybe someone can help.
I’ll start off. I’m looking for Duende perfume (the original scent) for my sister-in-law. Anyone seen it?
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Parents cautious about made-in China toys
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dorinda Legg wrapped up her Christmas shopping Wednesday at the Toys”R” Us in Duluth.
“My son wants Pokemon,” said Legg, who teaches dance at The Studio in Lilburn. “I think it’s made in Japan.”
We chatted in the store parking lot. I wasn’t allowed to talk to shoppers inside the big-box retailer. So I approached customers as they left the store to get some sense of the concern about toys made in China.
This Asian giant, which manufactures about 80 percent of the toys sold in the United States, has had a series of safety scares. In mid-August, Mattel recalled nearly 1 million Chinese-made toys that were coated with toxic paint.
Of course, not all toxic toys come from China. And there’s bilateral blame to share. China doesn’t design toys. U.S. toy makers do. Most recalls in the last 20 years were due to design problems, according to an article in USA Today.
No matter how hard you try to focus on the reason for the season, most kids equate Christmas to gifts. Toys. And when it comes to toys, buying American is tough. Only about 10 percent are actually made in America.
What’s a parent to do”
Well, Akila Nasarajan of Lawrenceville opted for educational presents. Board games, paint sets and such for Nina, 5, and Natasha, 12. Nothing with small parts.
“A lot of parents don’t know what’s going on because they don’t ever read the newspapers,” she told me. “Clark Howard has a section on his Web site devoted to [recalled toys]. They still sell them on eBay. People buy them because they are cheaper.”
Connie Garman of Alpharetta came to Duluth in search of a board game - “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?”
“I got the last one!” beamed Garman, who bought it for Merisa, her 12-year-old daughter.
This Alpharetta mom thinks parents are especially concerned about Chinese-made toys if they have small kids.
“They put things in their mouths,” she said.
Wal-Mart wouldn’t let the Badie Tour set up in any of its local stores, but a company spokeswoman told me about the “Toy Safety Net Program.” It requires toy suppliers to provide testing documentation for toys on shelves and en route to stores. Wal-Mart also hires independent laboratories to conduct an additional 200 tests a day, focusing on toys for kids up to age 3. Results are shared with the industry.
“It’s just more help for China,” said Jami Lamontagne.
Legg, the dance instructor, said many of the parents of the 100 or so kids she teaches have talked about an “anti-China Christmas.”
“Especially those with little ones,” she said.
She bought the Pokemon toy for Andrew, her 9-year-old son.
Before I left Toys “R” Us, I went inside to check out the Pokemon selection. All the items I saw carried the same label:
“Made in China.”
Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail: rbadie@ajc.com. �
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