Little Black Babies

A new email forward is going around asking the public to call Costco's corporate offices and demand that all stores across the country remove the "Cuddle With Me" line of baby dolls from the shelves. One of the dolls, the little black baby, is causing quite a stir. The doll is boxed with several little monkeys. The stitching on the hat on the doll's head reads "Lil Monkey." The little white doll has pandas and the cap reads "Pretty Panda."
Why are black people being relegated to monkey status again? I can only assume this doll was made in another country because no dollmaker in the U.S. could be so culturally insensitive. I hope Costco (and other big box stores) are finally seeing the folly of their ways in outsourcing everything to China. They may have saved a lot om manufacturing on the front end, but unsold merchandise doesn't bode well for store profits.
Finally, I'm truly disappointed that not a single Costco employee spoke out about this, or if they did, management ignored their complaints.
I just received this note today, but a Google search reveals this story broke in August. So far, news reports are saying that Costco has pulled all of the dolls and management has offered an apology. But many stores, is not all stores. Kudos to everyone who has called or emailed so far.

Glutton or Good Citizen?

On Sunday, I bought a foot long stick of pepperoni from BJ's. Today is Tuesday and that foot long stick of pepperoni has been reduced to about six inches. I'm struggling with the fact that every time I walk past the pepperoni on the table or open the fridge and see it sitting there on the shelf beckoning me to have a sliver or three, I answer.
Over the weekend I thought it was OK to have a little extra pepperoni with the my soup since I was having cheese and crackers and I don't eat much dairy cheese. (I love it, but I'm lactose intolerant and have to take it easy in that department.) When I walked in the door tonight after work, the pepperoni was on the table and I sliced myself a little piece (or two, I can't remember) before going upstairs to talk to the neighbors. Then as I was preparing dinner, I sliced some more.
So am I glutton or a good citizen for not letting food go to waste? I'll mull that over an other slice, I guess.

The Great Pumpkin Stimulus

A newscaster the other morning reported that this very rainy Spring we had has contributed to an awful growing season for our favorite fall veggie classics like gourds and squash, and most notably this time of year--pumpkins. Apparently, the rain has left us with incredibly lush tomatoes, but very mushy pumpkins.
The farmers in and around the Phillly area, according to the newscaster, are so afraid of running out of saleable pumpkins before Halloween, that the idea of importing pumpkins is being tossed around.
What? Importing pumpkins? Have these newscasters driven downstate Delaware via Route 1lately? Pumpkins! Lots of them!
So with the newscasters spreading fear and panic about the great pumpkin shortage of 2009, will we see a run on markets and farm stands for that uber-coveted pumpkin? Big storm a comin'? Stock up on pumpkins? (I'm going for soymilk and bread, personally.)
On the other side of this tight rope that we're walking --import or not--I must acknowledge that right now I'm childless, so maybe I don't understand the importance of a pumpkin in a child's first few years of Halloween and trick or treating. Hence the need to ensure an adequate supply of pumpkins.
But from my little view of the world, I think we'll get through this crisis. Otherwise, there's always a stimulus package for pumpkin growers.