June, 2010
30
Jun 10
The Catorialist
A lot of parody blogs and twitter accounts like the @jesus_m_christ account, who likes the wizarding world more that most… “I’m so excited for the new Harry Potter movie. I’ve got my eleven inch hardwood wand ready to go for when Hermione shows up,” To thebeerics.com. You’ve seen my taking to the Sartorialist’s photos, well the new swindler on the block, The Catorialist. Looking for stray cats to photo is one way to spend your day but not the kind of tail I’d think most would be chasing. Nonetheless a funny attempt to satire the Sartorialist. Say that 5x fast!
Thanks Russell.
20
Jun 10
I’m on of the thousands who recently came across this dude on some random design blog, so I’m going to give him another link. Beautiful execution with a strong message in the big brother state we live in.
12
Jun 10
Cab from the Past.
Maybe if we just get him to raise his hand up above his head.. wait.. and HOLD IT! That is as straight as we’re going to get that neck.
6
Jun 10
Yikes!
(Side note: I would love to come across my Yikes pencils)
Shit! Not looking good for me.
See More | GOOD Blog
2
Jun 10
Portraits of Hope.
Summer of Color is the culmination of the efforts of nearly 6,000 children in schools, hospitals, and social service programs – and more than 2,500 adult volunteers – who have participated in the initiative’s program activities, which included the painting of the panels now installed on the walls and roof tops of the towers.
1
Jun 10
Dear Apple, Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft
“Right now, you all might be digging your own holes.
The recent rash of suicides at Foxconn’s Shenzhen factory has shined a light on the fact that large companies like Apple, Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft have contracted out the manufacturing for devices like the iPad, the Wii, the PS3 and the Xbox 360 to Chinese factories. In what now seems like a daily occurrence, jumpers at the Foxconn Shenzhen factory continue and now have reached 15.
It can be argued that these factories, with their on-site dormitories and $130 in monthly pay, are modern day slave labor. It can also be argued that they offer better wages and possibly a better life for these migrant Chinese workers. I am arguing neither.
(Of course, paying workers more than $130 a month would cause the price of electronics to go up. Yet, for decades, workers in factories were paid living wages, were able to do things like buy houses, new cars and products. Too bad the U.S. doesn’t have much of that left to kick start its economy!)
Instead, these factories, along with China’s significantly undervalued currency, are propelling an economic super power. Companies like Foxconn have been contracted to make everything from complex gadgets and consumer goods to textiles and toys. Goods that used to be made in the countries that bought them no longer are.
The factories are veiled in secrecy. The public doesn’t really know what is going on in them. Do you?
Nintendo is launching an investigation into the factory suicides, which appears to indicate that the company is somewhat in the dark regarding the situation at Foxconn. Wouldn’t it be better to have factories that were managed directly by your companies in the countries in which you are headquartered?
The counterargument here of course is that it is difficult to meet the demand, hence that is why their products are outsourced. Wonder what companies used to do before outsourcing…
Modern capitalism is built upon the concept of having goods made at the cheapest price possible. Modern capitalism has made China very, very rich.
But what happens when these factories decide they no longer want to make stuff for you guys and want to make its own products? Its own electronics. Its own video game consoles. China’s no dummy. It already has manufacturing down. R&D cannot be that far off.
You are not creating a future market for your goods. These emerging companies are. Right now they might be producing knock-offs, but they won’t always be. China continues to explode, and there will be more and more companies of a Lenovo caliber. You are building up your future rivals.
All of these knock-offs, like the Vii and the iPed, might seem oddly comical, but they’re a testing ground for Chinese companies to learn the ropes and master the craft. And for customers in China who possibly cannot afford a Nintendo Wii or an iPad, they are viable consumer goods. When you can’t afford a real iPad, you buy the next best thing. The next best thing keeps getting better and better.
So feel free to continue to take manufacturing out of the countries in which you are based. Take it to China. And when China becomes too expensive, there is always Africa. And even if you think that by assembling the most sensitive and hi-tech parts in your home country is a way to avoid knock-offs, it’s not.
You may think you have a monopoly on good ideas. You don’t. The way you are conducting business shows just that.
Yours truly,
Brian Ashcraft”
Read More | Kotaku
My only beef is that I feel the problem lies with the consumer, regardless of what we think is “right,” at the end of the day we’re hardwired (specially in these times) to cheap out. I wish it were as easy for the Manufacturers just to offer quality product and have it fly off the shelves, but were knee deep in this shit called Capitalism, and as soon as the iPad gets more expensive because it is engraved “MADE IN THE GOOD OL’ USA,” all the sudden you’ll hear your best friend bragging about how much they saved on the rip-off. BRAGGING ABOUT BEING CHEAP and UNCONCERNED about how far that few bucks could have gone (a fellow americans food, education, DARE I SAY HEALTH) instead of landing in a few execs pockets who probably found away around paying taxes on top of it all. So feel free to continue to take manufacturing out of the countries in which you are based. Feel free to be an AMURICAN, and not do shit. I am not saying you need to throw out all your china goods, nor never buy anything chinese again… I UNDERSTAND THAT IS DAMN NEAR IMPOSSIBLE, but you can try. You could make a conscious effort to try and buy/shop local. You could spread the word, you could help represent the small minority that will pay a few bucks more to help manufacturers find that this market DOES exist. (instead of wasting the money in gas that you’re trying to save)
