I was reading the BTW section in BusinessWeek about the fact that JC Penney’s “American Made” t-shirts are actually made in Mexico, and this is causing a bit of a stir.
I think we all know that the American flags, cups and t-shirts we’re buying at Wal-Mart and the corner store are often being made in China and elsewhere, so on one level, should we be surprised?
I was however, taken aback by a couple of things the JC Penny spokesperson had to say:
1) “[The line is] intended to evoke our American lifestyle and pride in being American.”
But apparently not in our pride in American workmanship.
2) “‘American Made’ refers to “the actual person wearing the shirt, not to the manufacturing of the merchandise.”
No word on whether JC Penny would seek legal action if they found any Mexicans wearing the shirt, or God forbid, Canadians.
So I’m watching this mother seagull on the rooftop across from my window, as I’ve been doing day in and day out since she built her nest. In the past two weeks it’s be rainging almost every day but I never see her get off that nest. It’s amazing, but I guess the kind of things mothers do all the time.
I was thinking that what happens when she has to stretch her legs or relieve herself? Does the father seagull (I see him hanging around sometimes, reading the sports page and such), take her place? Is that embarassing for the male seagull? Is it like the seagull equivalent of my wife asking me to hold her purse?
New Type Drawing Application for the iPhone from Hansol Huh lets you draw with letters on your iPhone! Type a sentence or word, choose a font, choose a background, and draw.
I have been listening to some great food ideas on NPR during my homeward commute this week. They are running a spot all week where the challenge is to feed a family of four for $10.00 or less. In these fiscally responsible times it’s a great idea, plus it’s nice to get away from spaghetti and meatballs for a while.
Monday night was a Spanish dish, Spinach with Chick Peas. As these are two ingredients we are seldom without and it’s a vegetarian dish I figured I’d give it a shot. It’s served with a fried egg and even the kids ate it!
I’m looking forward to tonight’s recipe, hopefully it will be as good as the first two.
Just wanted to add a note about Quorn. It’s great, we first ate it back in the UK. The range of products seems a little more diverse over there. It’s actually fermented myco protein, more like beer that soy.
W.S. Merwin is an American poet who was recently awarded his second Pulitzer Prize for poetry for The Shadow Of Sirius. Merwin has published over 20 books of poetry and won his first Pulitzer Prize in 1971 for The Carrier Of Ladders.
It is March
It is March and black dust falls out of the books
Soon I will be gone
The tall spirit who lodged here has
Left already
On the avenues the colorless thread lies under
Old prices
When you look back there is always the past
Even when it has vanished
But when you look forward
With your dirty knuckles and the wingless
Bird on your shoulder
What can you write
The bitterness is still rising in the old mines
The fist is coming out of the egg
The thermometers out of the mouths of the corpses
At a certain height
The tails of the kites for a moment are
Covered with footsteps
A few months ago I fell for a fantastic rendering of the Periodic Table of Elements by Theo Gray for my kids to get them interested in science/chemistry.
Well it looks like Theo has a new book called “Theo Gray’s Mad Science“Which sounds like it’s a whole load of fun. I’m off to buy some Titanium sheet I can anodize with a battery and a can of soda.
Take the time to read a piece of spam today. If not this one, find one in your inbox. Variations on the Nigerian scam are my favorite, but go with what speaks to you.
Dear Trusted Friend,
Compliment of season,I know that this mail may be strange to you.But if you do not remember me,you might have receive an email from me in the past regarding fund transaction business proposal which we never concluded.Iam using this opportunity to inform you that the transaction has been concluded with the assistance of another partner from Canada who financed the transaction to a logical conclusion.
I apreciate your great effort to assist me despite that we stoped on the way due to one reason or the other best known to you.Due to your sincere,courage and trustworthy You showed me during the course of the transaction,I want to show my apreciation to you with the sum of $800.000.00.which I kept in the custody of my secretary on your behalf for onward delivery immediately you contact him.
Therefore,Contact My secretary MR. ROY MOOR for the collection of the Bank Draft. his Email;(roymoor29@aim.com)
I am very busy at the moment,due to investment projects,which I and the new partner are having at hand.
Meanwhile, you have to contact him immediately you receive this mail for more information because he is the only person instruct on how to deliver the fund to you,moreover,Do not forget to send your full contact address to him to avoid any misplacement on delivery such as.
Your full names…………………..
Acopy of your picture
Your direct phone number…………………
your fax……………………
Your home address…..
Also make sure you keep me inform immediately you receive the Draft for celebration.
Dear Random Company on Facebook Who Is Trying to Friend Me,
Call me a humanist, but I make it a habit of friending only people. (You’re actually not supposed to create a profile of a business or organization, but your secret’s safe with me.)
If any of your employees are on FB I’d be happy to be friends with them, and if you create a fan page you can count me among your fans.
W.S. Merwin is an American poet who was recently awarded his second Pulitzer Prize for poetry for 
