2007 November Mama Divas

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Has Your Holiday Shopping List Changed Because of Recent Recalls?

November 9, 2007

In light of all the recent toy recalls we’ve seen in 2007 (so far!), it’s pretty safe to say that as parents, we definitely need to be aware about any and all dangers that toys can present

Just to use Aqua Dots as an example: Of course it wouldn’t be the smartest thing in the world to eat them, but did we know that it would potentially cause kids to become seriously injured or, even worse, to fall into comas? Nope, of course not! Just like we expect manufacturers to be diligent about making sure there isn’t any lead in the toys they manufacture, we also trust them to make sure that a seriously harmful chemical that turns toxic when it comes into contact with water or is ingested, it becomes a ruthie for crying out loud, doesn’t make it’s way into the products we buy.

I’m pretty sure the most parents doesn’t go researching the chemical make-up of “wow”-inciting innovations like the dots of Aqua Dots before they head off Toys ‘R’ Us or Amazon. …But if you’ve heard about the recent recalls, have you changed your mind about all the toys you were going to buy for the kiddies on your holiday shopping list? Are you instead thinking of alternatives to toys, such as books, software, clothing, etc.?

The question of the day is:

Have the recent recalls for children’s toys affected your Christmas or Hanukkah holiday shopping list?

If you’ve posted about this topic on your blog, please leave a comment with a permalink to your post, and I’ll add a link to your post here!

Your link here!

Technorati Tags: aqua dots, toys, recall, toy recalls, shopping, christmas list, holiday shopping, product recalls, lead in toys

Current Events Comment

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Aqua Dots Recalled- Turns Into ‘Date Rape’ Drug Upon Ingestion

November 8, 2007

I read about this first at Domestic Divapalooza, and it sounds crazy, but it’s true. It’s apparently one of the most popular toys of the season, but it’s also caused 2 kids from the US to slip into comas, and it’s caused other children to be hospitalized. It makes you wonder about kids who’ve been harmed by it, but whose parents did not realize that they had eaten Aqua Dots.

..And even more toys are being recalled because of high amounts of lead found in the paint and for being choking hazards to young children.

Yikes.

Technorati Tags: product, recall, toy, aqua dots

Current Events Comment

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School Shootings & Gun Violence: An American Influence?

November 7, 2007

The nation of Finland is rocked today by the tragedy of a school shooting. An 18-year-old high school student walked into his school today and went on a shooting spree, killing eight people, before shooting himself in the head. He initially survived his self-inflicted wounds, but later died.

Apparently, this boy had apparently posted up a chilling video on YouTube, even going so far as to title it: “Jokela High School Massacre – 11/7/2007″ and it basically detailed his plans and foreshadowed this grisly event. The video is no longer available on YouTube, and clicking on that link will take you to a CNN article where some still images from the video have been captured.

This is one of every parent’s nightmare, and it is the type of nightmare that is apparently that some have seen fit to blame on American influences.

“Although such crimes are becoming more common in Europe, the willingness to commit them is still often seen as a Satanic influence seeping over from the United States….”

-states a New York Times article from 2002.

Mike Nizza, a blogger for the New York Times has said this of a shooting that took place in 1997:

In the aftermath, blame fell to the United States and its influence abroad…

.. and he goes on to conclude, regarding the shooting at Jokela High School:

…Whether that will be the conclusion in today’s case remains to be seen, although the line from Jokela High to Virginia Tech and Columbine seems an easy one to draw.

If you scroll down to the comments of this particular post by Nizza, there is a clear diversity in the sides readers have taken.

I’d like to hear what you think of this whole incident, and if you think this incident and others before it can be attributed, even partially to American influences. Leave a comment, and if you have posted about this incident, please leave the permalink to that post, and I will add your link below.