Published: December 08, 2007 06:15 pm      

Who’s toying with who?

To date, according to reports, 89 million Made in China toys have been recalled because of dangerous designs or leaded paint. At this rate of recall, Old Santa may not have enough toys for all the “good little boys and girls.” How did all these toys that are dangerous to our children’s safety end up on our stores’ shelves? Because our port inspection agency does not have the budget to hire enough workers to inspect the daily heavy load of imports coming into our harbors.

The Chinese are aware of this and continue to ?ood our ports with toys, knowing most will slip through. This problem is true of many other products including food. Remember to play it safe. If it says Made in China, just step on by and let it lie.

The sad thing about these recalls is that most of these products are being made by American-owned companies who moved to China for cheaper labor cost.

I like to buy American-made, but about the only American-made left for sale is our congress, senate and the president’s of?ce.

Slot machines are popping up in convenience stores all over Little Dixie. This raises the question. Are slot machines legal in Oklahoma? From the best information we can gather, individual district attorneys are to decide the legality of these machines in their district. We want to salute Wilburton Police Chief Todd Cooper for shutting these machines down in Wilburton.

One of the Baby Boomers’ heroes, daredevil Evel Kneivel, has gone on to his rewards at age 69. Remember the Evel who would jump over Greyhound buses and the Snake River on a motorcycle? Several Boomers trying to play Evel ended up with broken bones, or worse yet, in the morgue. I remember a few years back a gentleman trying to play Evel jumped a bicycle off the end of a ramp at the Eufaula Cove Marina and had to be ?shed out.

Sorry, no, I don’t appraise old books. Go to the computer. The only books I collect are old grammar books. These old books are interesting, but too dull for most folks. Anyway, give a book for Christmas.

Remember, when you get bored for nothing to do, sit down and think about it.

Stoney Hardcastle is a novelist, humorist and retired creative writing instructor who lives in Wilburton.