Guess What: More Lead-Based Recalls

Okay, I've been making all kinds of vitriolic comments on Goodyblog. I'm pretty peeved about American discounters forcing manufacturing to countries that produce stuff cheaply at the cost of safety standards and general labor/human rights.

Please read this article on the whole Wal-Mart/big box discounter connection with unsafe products for the sake of low, low prices. There are more extended explanations of this connection in books like Shopportunity by Kate Newlin (skip right to the Wal-Mart chapters- they are important reading for any American concerned about their kids' future).

Anyway, our stupid cheapskate desires for bargains have bit us in the proverbial rump yet again. These are the new recalls (through noon CST):

• Sponge Bob address books and journals- leaded books. What's next, toilet paper? Nope, that's made in America.
  
• Thomas and Friends, Curious George, and other spinning tops & tin pails- surprise kid, play with these makes your IQ plummet!
• More leaded jewelry- I'm seriously smacking parents upside the head the next time I see a kid toting play jewelry that's not macaroni. Might as well just put some mercury in their breakfast cereal.
• Magnetic Toy Train Set with valued-added lead paint- With all the recent magnet recalls, it was probably a close call as to whether this should be a choking hazard, a lead hazard, or both.

It been a mere week since the last round of recalls. How can a parent keep up? RSS feeds are the only way. (If you're asking what's an RSS feed- see Zrec's great tutorial and learn about the wonders of feed readers like Google Reader.)

Here are the links to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's RSS Feeds and weekly podcasts. Sign up for almost instantaneous bad news.

(Thanks for the RSS tip, Parent Hacks!)