tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811142208729284263.post1686401105872627080..comments2023-10-16T04:34:45.322-05:00Comments on CPSIA - Comments & Observations: CPSIA - Stupider and StupiderRick Woldenberg, Chairman - Learning Resources Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10399747363670184131noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811142208729284263.post-40665939469238062132009-03-24T11:48:00.000-05:002009-03-24T11:48:00.000-05:00I found this to be a very interesting fight agains...I found this to be a very interesting fight against CPSIA. Unfortunately, our lawmakers aren't using their brains; their only concern is filling their pockets with greenbacks; they wouldn't know what protect the children in the name of safety meant if it were a copperhead snake and jumped up and bit them on the ass. They are totally stupid and to think we put them in the offices. I wish more people would listen to Senator DeMint (SC) about things like CPSIA and the stimulus bill. If they were listening to reason and logic and all, our economy wouldn't be drowning and we would eventually see an upturn in the economy. Now, I will continue posting and fighting the best I can. E :) <BR/><BR/>--------------<BR/><BR/>Elysabeth Eldering<BR/>Author of the Junior Geography Detective Squad (JGDS), 50-state, mystery, trivia series<BR/><BR/>STATE OF WILDERNESS, Book 1 of 50 now available.<BR/>STATE OF QUARRIES, book 2 of 50 coming spring 2009<BR/>STATE OF RESERVATIONS, book 3 of 50 coming 2009<BR/>STATE OF HEIGHTS, book 4 of 50 coming 2009<BR/><BR/>WHERE WILL THE ADVENTURE TAKE YOU NEXT? <BR/><BR/>http://jgdsseries.blogspot.com<BR/>http://junior-geography-detective-squad.weebly.com/<BR/>http://elysabethsstories.blogspot.com/<BR/>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jgdsseries/ (series newsletter forum)elysabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07052446855668120700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811142208729284263.post-15709996399690637792009-03-16T08:35:00.000-05:002009-03-16T08:35:00.000-05:00Great post! I completely agree with all that you s...Great post! I completely agree with all that you said except: drinking milk after the sell by date!Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02503279495020520809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811142208729284263.post-53910637672262809892009-03-13T00:08:00.000-05:002009-03-13T00:08:00.000-05:00What's REALLY stupid is that my congressman passed...What's REALLY stupid is that my congressman passed this bill that forces testing on things that MAY contain pthalates, even if we know they don't. In the mean time, here in my beautiful state of Hawaii, when they burn the cane fields for harvest, they purposely burn the polyethylene drip line and PVC pipes because they are too lazy to take it up. This drip line that has KNOWN phthalates and the PVC pipes release dioxins that cause cancer when burned. All this is legal. I can teach my daughter not to eat her footed jammies, but I can't teach her not to breathe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811142208729284263.post-79083793109114675442009-03-09T18:24:00.000-05:002009-03-09T18:24:00.000-05:00I've been wondering where the reach of CPSIA will ...I've been wondering where the reach of CPSIA will end.<BR/><BR/>Joe Pereira wrote an article on CPSIA's impact on ATV's in the Wall Street Journal on 3/5. Here is part of the letter I sent him.<BR/>**********************<BR/>I saw your article on the impact CPSIA is having on retailers and manufacturers. In particular, this caught my eye:<BR/><BR/>"The vehicles have small amounts of lead in their handlebars and frames to prevent corrosion, says Paul Vitrano, general counsel to the trade group."<BR/><BR/>Hmmm. Chrome plated handlebars with a bit of lead to prevent corrosion? You know what else might have a bit of lead to prevent corrosion? Shopping carts. They sit outside in the rain and sun and get banged around as much as ATV's. And they are specifically designed to be used by children -- just look at those kiddie seats on them! Think of all the times you have seen a baby or toddler sitting in the seat of a cart, sometimes even gnawing on the handle if they are teething. Meanwhile, Sissy is asleep in the basket and Big Brother is horsing around on the rack under the cart. <BR/><BR/>If you figure mom is making 3 grocery trips a week, plus trips to buy clothing, etc, kids are spending a lot more time in shopping carts, from infancy until they get too big to push around, than the time any of them would spend on an ATV. Furthermore, the mouthy, gnawy years are spent in the carts, not the ATV. Yet I have seen nothing in CPSIA discussions about this.<BR/><BR/>I did a quick and very rough calculation today. (Store numbers from Wikipedia)<BR/><BR/>Company # stores<BR/>Lowes 1616 <BR/>Home Depot 2913 <BR/>Walmart 3800 <BR/>Target 1500 <BR/>Kroger 2477 <BR/>Supervalue 2505 <BR/>total stores 14811 <BR/><BR/><BR/>carts 7,405,500 @ 500 per store (guestimate)<BR/><BR/>cost $1,221,907,500 @ $165 per cart<BR/><BR/>Of course there are far, far more shopping carts in this country than my rough calculation. Perhaps you can look into this a little further. You could even check out who the companies are who make shopping carts. <BR/>http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/Shopping_Cart.html see middle of page<BR/>It might make for an 'interesting' followup article. <BR/><BR/>I have nothing against shopping carts or shopping cart manufacturers or companies that supply shopping carts for their customers' convenience. It's just that CPSIA makes absolutely no sense. It is going to eat the country alive, and must be repealed.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your article.<BR/><BR/>Regards,<BR/><BR/>MeMariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16199581820061556894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811142208729284263.post-15841541874943079312009-03-09T17:46:00.000-05:002009-03-09T17:46:00.000-05:00It's more than just that, Rick-- it's a lack of lo...It's more than just that, Rick-- it's a lack of logic and a lack of understanding what science can and can't prove. I'm approaching this from the mathematics education perspective because that's where my training and experience is. Some people just do not understand that repeatedly stating that something is "for the children" or spouting off a large-looking number does not constitute a valid argument. They can't construct decent enough arguments to have a debate. And because they lack logical thinking, all they have is magical thinking.<BR/><BR/>This is due at least in part to failings in mathematics education that I've been pointing out for years, even before I began my teaching career. Better than anyone I realize that not everyone can be brought to grasp logical, sequential thinking-- but better than anyone I understand that with proper education, a lot more of them could have been. It really pisses me off. I've been "throwing starfish back into the sea" for years and I really hate being reminded that the entire goddamn beach is covered waist deep in starfish. It's times like that when I wonder why I bothered spending all that money to go back to school and get my Master's.<BR/><BR/>On the bright side, it is possible to construct a game-theoretical argument to prove to your wife that it is safe to drink milk after the sell-by date. I don't know if it'll hold much water with her though. Wives tend to be irrational like that (I am one, I should know!) :)Nom de Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05153700215201399299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811142208729284263.post-80693338605797059232009-03-09T15:58:00.000-05:002009-03-09T15:58:00.000-05:00Great post. Right after I read this, I heard Pres...Great post. Right after I read this, I heard President Obama speaking on the radio. I was really struck by his statement :<BR/><BR/>"Promoting science isn't just about providing resources, it is also about protecting free and open inquiry. It is about letting scientists like those here today do their jobs, free from manipulation or coercion, and listening to what they tell us, even when it's inconvenient - especially when it's inconvenient.<BR/><BR/>It is about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811142208729284263.post-169900905659045212009-03-09T12:29:00.000-05:002009-03-09T12:29:00.000-05:00Rick,Great post. Love the image of our handling "...Rick,<BR/><BR/>Great post. Love the image of our handling "nuclear waste" - will think of that as I'm making DOG BOWS. Hilarious.<BR/><BR/>I sent out a bunch of links on Twitter last week re: real sources of lead poisoning. As you know, anyone can google lead poisoning prevention and come up with dozens of articles that demonstrate lawmakers in America had NO BUSINESS sticking their noses in our businesses...there are plenty of other, much more qualified rocks to overturn!<BR/><BR/>I also posted *another* CPSIA feature on my blog last week - this one with links to two Obama documents - pretty clear where the passion to get the lead out of EVERYTHING, on behalf of OUR children has some powerful support... Look, I say, while passion is a great thing, in general, and children are a great cause, let's not forget that the truth, common sense and the authority of our government residing in the hands of WE the PEOPLE are all far more SUPERIOR in their importance, than passion. <BR/><BR/>Personally, I would love to see our President exercise the great new transparency being advertised by demonstrating the self-evdent THRUTHS you outline here, the practice of his own COMMON SENSE in looking at CPSIA and then his endorsement of our rightful authority over our public servants, by sending his OWN LETTER to Dingell's office stating he, too, wants the actual will of WE the People and PARENTS to be served on this one...<BR/><BR/>As I've told those I keep informed re: CPSIA concerns, I don't care about donkeys or elephants - I'm an independent - all I care about is having public servants (from the mayor to the president) that understand their job is to hear OUR will and to make laws by the same. <BR/><BR/>Small business creates more than 90% of new jobs in America - CPSIA cuts us off at the knees (and there is NOTHING in the Stimulus headed to small business, either - a whole new issue, oye!). All I know is, something's gotta give or it won't be pretty ahead...<BR/><BR/>Great Post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811142208729284263.post-4705692610202205932009-03-09T12:10:00.000-05:002009-03-09T12:10:00.000-05:00Great post! Last night on a new Simpsons episode B...Great post! Last night on a new Simpsons episode Bart was writing "I WILL NOT ENJOY EDUCATIONAL GAMES" on the chalkboard in the opening vignette. Looks like Bart and his real kid counterparts won't be enjoying much of anything if this law proceeds without substantial overhaul. I say concerned citizens and businesses form a CSLSC - Consumer Stupid Law Safety Commission. Such a group could ensure proper oversight of silly laws...and could levy huge fines to put those who propose such laws and sign them into law out of business.Technosopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09909072353894358994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811142208729284263.post-37142758781356544622009-03-09T08:47:00.000-05:002009-03-09T08:47:00.000-05:00this is a very thought-provoking post. I really ap...this is a very thought-provoking post. I really appreciate your talking about the latest CPSIA news. And, I especially liked your pointing out the comparison between two unlike objects. I'm certainly going to add my email to the ones going to Mr. Dingall.Katie Hineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03279118592523922756noreply@blogger.com