Just for Fun

[neoplacebo]

... there's no perpetual motion device....

Obviously, that dog has swallowed at least one magnet. And notice the tail of the toy rubbing on the carpet; this generates an electrical charge that is discharged each time the dog's tail contacts the "rear area" of the toy. Fascinating.....

[Mr.B]

.....nevermind.

[JTA]

Okay

[Mr.B]

City in Ohio named Oregon to temporarily change name for title game

Oregon, Ohio, will have a different name on Monday, Jan. 12.

Ohio State plays Oregon in the national title game that day, and in support of the Buckeyes, the city will temporarily change its name.

The name-change movement for the Toledo suburb was started via a petition, naturally, on Change.org. And it gained enough steam that, according to the Toledo Free Press, the city will announce what the new name will be on Monday, Jan. 5.

“We’ve heard about [the petition]. We’ve gotten calls. We’re going to do something with it,” Oregon City Administrator Michael Beazley told the paper.

From the petition entry started by Oregon (Ohio) native Matt Squbb, which currently has more than 600 signatures:
"I grew up in Oregon, Ohio and love the city, but for the day of the "Big Game" I am asking the city council to make a proclamation to change the name of the city
for one day. Call it Buckeye Town, Ohio City, Brutusville, whatever, you get the point."

Let's not leave anything to chance here! Change the name and support the Buckeyes!

Oregon Clay High School is also being asked to temporarily change its school colors. Because, of course, they are green and gold.

Neither Squibb nor Mark Rabbitt, who he started the petition with, are Ohio State fans. But they are going for state and conference solidarity.

“We’re just two guys going on a website and sparking something that most people would think is probably a really stupid thing, but to have so many people supporting it and then hopefully rooting for Ohio State to win it all is pretty great,” Rabbitt told the Free-Press. “The Big Ten has been seen as a conference that can’t compete with the SEC or Pac-12. Now Ohio State has beaten the No. 1 team in the SEC and are facing the No. 1 team in the Pac-12 and we have this opportunity for Ohio State to win the national championship. I think it’s pretty good to see a community come together and support them.”

.....

[JTA]

[Mr.B]

Why do they spend thousands on commercials for toilet paper??

Who doesn't buy toilet paper?

[rstrong]

Traveling to other countries I was struck by how many fewer brands of the same exact thing are in the stores, and how it doesn't matter a bit. Think of how much time, energy and money our society wastes on completely unproductive marketing and inefficient duplication that could be put to better use.

Often, after companies buy each other, many "competing" brands have the same owners.

Many brands are little more than a name. Other companies competing to purchase the rights to sell their product for a few years under the brand name. They know that a John Deere mower will get far better reviews by consumer review publications than an MTD mower, even when the Deere is an MTD with different stickers.

Chinese companies have been buying up brand names from western companies, because consumers "know" those brands are long-established local companies.

[Mr.B]

"Chinese companies have been buying up brand names from western companies, because consumers "know" those brands are long-established local companies."

In most cases, they're not "buying" the brand names, rather they are being licensed to use the names. For instance, North American Phillips Corp. still owns the trade names 'Phillips' and 'Magnavox'; however TV's manufactured under those names are made by Funai in Japan, S.Korea, or China.

You can find small kitchen appliances in Kmart and other stores branded as 'White-Westinghouse'. That brand is owned by Electrolux of Sweden, formerly Frigidaire.

These are just a few examples. Overseas companies are grabbing these names and licensing them because most American consumers are very familiar with these long-established names, and many, to the delight of the Chinese et al, are duped into believing they are 'Made in the USA'.

[neoplacebo]

"Chinese companies have been buying up brand names from western companies, because consumers "know" those brands are long-established local companies."

In most cases, they're not "buying" the brand names, rather they are being licensed to use the names. For instance, North American Phillips Corp. still owns the trade names 'Phillips' and 'Magnavox'; however TV's manufactured under those names are made by Funai in Japan, S.Korea, or China.

You can find small kitchen appliances in Kmart and other stores branded as 'White-Westinghouse'. That brand is owned by Electrolux of Sweden, formerly Frigidaire.

These are just a few examples. Overseas companies are grabbing these names and licensing them because most American consumers are very familiar with these long-established names, and many, to the delight of the Chinese et al, are duped into believing they are 'Made in the USA'.

In a few years, everything that is made will be "Acme" like all the stuff in the Roadrunner cartoons. I think it stands for "Americans Can't Make Everything."

[rstrong]

In a few years, everything that is made will be "Acme" like all the stuff in the Roadrunner cartoons. I think it stands for "Americans Can't Make Everything."

Back in the 2008 election people were making this claim when talking about NAFTA. But even then:

But the number that best displays the nonsensical nature of the debate is 66% - the increase in the manufacturing output of American industry since 1993. [when NAFTA was signed]
[...]
Put another way, the main job killer of the past 14 years has not been the "giant sucking sound" of jobs going to Mexico, as enunciated by Ross Perot. Rather it has been that giant humming sound of machines replacing humans.

The US has the largest manufacturing base of any country, and it's only increasing.

The US EXPORTS far more manufactured goods to Canada than it imports. That trade surplus accounts for nearly 600,000 high-paying manufacturing jobs in America, but is hurting Canada. Which is why Canadian manufacturers are very happy to see the Canadian dollar finally drop in relation to the US dollar.

[Mr.B]

I heard one of the talk show hosts on the radio; can't remember which, saying that a US war with China would spell doom for the US; not in any particular form of military might, but in the devastation to the economy of the US.

He went on to say that the world's majority of electronics, shoes, and clothing, to name a few, were made in China. Why we wouldn't even be able to wave the U.S. flag....practically all of them are made in China too!

I ordered something from Amazon that was supposed to be shipped from Texas in less than a week. I got an email stating that the supplier was out of stock and that it would be shipped from China, and to expect delivery by Feb. 20th........

I know this is the "Just For Fun" thread, but that just ain't funny!

[rstrong]

I heard one of the talk show hosts on the radio; can't remember which, saying that a US war with China would spell doom for the US; not in any particular form of military might, but in the devastation to the economy of the US.

It would also thoroughly destroy the Chinese economy.

It's Mutual Assured Destruction. But unlike with the Soviets, it's done with economics rather than with thermonukes. I think that's a great improvement.

And even then, cut off Chinese manufacturing, and suddenly there's a lot more demand for domestic manufacturing.

[Mr.B]

"And even then, cut off Chinese manufacturing, and suddenly there's a lot more demand for domestic manufacturing."

With prices going through the roof.

[rstrong]

BTW, it's not hard to find US flags made in the US.

[rstrong]

"And even then, cut off Chinese manufacturing, and suddenly there's a lot more demand for domestic manufacturing."

With prices going through the roof.

So the price of an iPad or TV goes up. At the same time as demand for American workers and manufacturing goes up, which would lead to a rise in wages.

[neoplacebo]

The US EXPORTS far more manufactured goods to Canada than it imports. That trade surplus accounts for nearly 600,000 high-paying manufacturing jobs in America, but is hurting Canada. Which is why Canadian manufacturers are very happy to see the Canadian dollar finally drop in relation to the US dollar.

Well, not sure if this will make you feel any better, but all of the minivans that Chrysler (includes Plymouth) made when they first became popular back in the 80's were made in Canada, and millions of them were sold. Actually, my 99 Camaro was made in Canada, too. And if I'm not mistaken, all those workers that made those vehicles are UAW members, so at least Canada was exporting a lot of US branded cars for a while. I don't know how this shakes out as far as bean counting goes.....whether US imports from a US owned company count as imports or not.

[Mr.B]

"So the price of an iPad or TV goes up."

Well...there's always Walmart.

[Mr.B]

Is Canada proud of Miss Canada, or what?


(The 11-most wtf costumes from the Miss Universe Pageant)

[rstrong]

Is Canada proud of Miss Canada, or what?

We're damn proud of ANYONE who brings their scoreboard and net, let alone the other hockey gear and enough sticks for everyone.

The US's "National Costume" entry theme was a glitter bomb in slow motion:



And here's the previous year's entry:

[Mr.B]

Not that it's saying much but Miss Canada definitely has the better costume than those USA nightmares.

No....doubt! <ugh> Those weren't shown in the 11 worst though, so I missed them.

The gal from the US does have two legs though; the Transformer in the first photo has some more skinny stilts, I mean legs.

Miss Canada is prettier.