Motorola was a US owned company. Google bought it 2 years ago, so it was still a US based company. Now Google has sold Motorola Mobility to Lenovo, making it a Chinese company. Interestingly though, the Moto X phone is still produced here in the US. It’s a great phone too, and as it has probably the highest ties to the US, I still advocate for it. I own one and am on the US Cellular network – it rocks to say the least.
I’ve been shaving since I was 15 or 16. I’m now 28 and this Christmas I learned that there is another way to shave. You don’t have to use the “normal” disposable head type razors, or expensive electrics. The “safety razor” still exists. Until Christmas, I didn’t even know what a safety razor was, I would have guessed that’s what they use to call disposables. My brother, Isaac, gifted me a safety razor and an assortment of goodies to go with it (blades, aftershave, soap, brush, etc). Well, it’s the best shave I’ve ever had. Why these safety razors went out of style years ago, I will never know. But I do know I will probably use one for the rest of my shaving life. I’ve never had as close of a shave as I do now. It doesn’t take any longer than “regular” shaving, and I feel cleaner afterward. Plus, it’s cheaper to boot!
I’ve long thought that the bazillion-blade razors were ridiculous and that an apt cut could be had with even a single cutting edge, now I know for sure. Guys, do yourself a favor and try out a safety razor – you won’t regret it.
Single edge safety razor – wikipedia.org
Every winter I make a list of projects I need to do. I do this because winter is the “slow” time around here. I say this loosely as we are still quite busy. But, I have finally started to work on my list. The big things this year are electrical work and then cleaning/organization. Here’s how it’s coming along so far:
– Wire outlet for new chest freezer (had been on an extension cord) :: DONE
– Rewire basement lights so they are all on one switch instead of two :: DONE
– Wire outlet for sump pump (currently on extension cord)
– Clean/organize basement
– Clean/organize “corner cubby” in kitchen (tools, parts etc)
– Clean/organize my electronics work desk
– Clean/organize my side of the bedroom
I may also add to the list that I need to install a new light fixture in the downstairs bathroom, but not sure yet as it is less of a concern than the rest of the list right now.
I’m always interested in where things are manufactured and go out of my way (sometimes well out of my way) to purchase items not made in China. It isn’t because I’m “anti-China”, it is just that I don’t support the way they are running their country. There is very little in the way of environmental regulation, they pay their workers pennies to the dollar and due to these two major factors they can undercut the price of manufacturing almost any product compared to anywhere else in the world. This has made China into a manufacturing superpower. Unfortunately, this also means that we (the consumer) have to deal with the lead-laced, poor quality, “only lasts a year” electronics and other products.
Or do we?
We can vote with our wallets and support companies that make products here in the US. There are even electronics made here. Two electronics companies off the top of my head are Google (Motorola Moto X) and Linear Logic (ScanGauge). Even here in Maine we have major companies making products sold all over the world, like New Balance and Nyle. Recently I had a good story about China come across my path that I’d like to share.
http://lettersandlullabies.com/2014/01/07/the-trouble-with-made-in-china/
This is an excellent article speaking about the horrible air pollution in China and how it affected the health of a US family when they moved temporarily to China. Of note, this hits home to me because a friend of mine just came back from a week long business trip in China and had the exact same things to say. He had to get his suitcoat dry cleaned as soon as he came home because the stench of the Chinese air was so strong it had clung to the fabric with no signs of letting go. Sometimes the tops of tall buildings were barely visible from the ground due to smog and you could see the particulate in the air even inside many buildings.
We (fellow American citizens) buy stuff from China that we can’t make here because it is deemed too dangerous to make due to chemicals and/or manufacturing process…but somehow it is ok for the Chinese? I don’t think so. The only reason China will do the job is because the government lets them, and lets their people get hurt and sick. Then they make it so cheap that they can afford to ship it to the other side of the planet and still make a profit. And they do this because we ask them to. Because we as a country are more interested in saving a dollar than upholding a higher standard for our own (or others’) quality of life.
I feel bad for the citizens of China given their poorly regulated government, dirty air and water and overpopulated cities – it isn’t their fault, it is the people of power making these decisions. Making their people suffer.
Ultimately we as consumers have the choice to purchase products that are developed and produced by companies that sustain and uphold our morals rather than finding the “best deal”. This is what we do in my family. This doesn’t make me “anti-China”, it makes me “pro-the-people”.
The Franklin County Fiddlers will be playing the opening concert of the 2014 Brick Church concert series on January 11th at 7pm. Tickets are $10 at the door, children under 5 are free. All are welcome. Proceeds will be split with the Church and the Franklin County Fiddlers.
** All Brick Church concerts are performed at 21 Cape Cod Hill Road, New Sharon Congregational Church UCC in New Sharon, Maine.
