gtonr - I'm sure there's a missing gag about studs in there, too.
Adam Stanhope - I'm not American, so it's hard for me to tell, but it doesn't come across that way here. What is noticeable is that many Europeans that I talk to like Americans but don't like America. Something the US government of whatever colour might like to address at some point.
Novelty's the word though, isn't it? We teach kids to always want something new, but then it turns out not to be very satisfying. Do we let them draw the natural conclusion from this? No, we go and spend loads of money on something else new.
Oh, and yes, the people behind it will get done for ading and abetting, incititement, child neglect and half a dozen other things up to and including not having a TV license.
Oh, don't worry, just 'cos he can't be prosecuted doesn't mean he'll just walk away when he's caught. If it's his parentes behind it (and it's hard to see how it wouldn't be, at least tacitly) then he'll either end up in care or there will be some heavy duty intervention.
Of course - stories of it all going wrong and being mishandled abound, but in reality for the most part it works, which is probably all any society can claim.
Just how long will it get played with once the kid works out that it just stands there waggling a bit? I give it a week, perhaps two if the neighbours' kids get involved. Then it'll just take up space.
The Hubo chair and for that matter Asimo tend to look like they've got diarrhoea 'cos of their bent-kneed stance. I'd be tempted if only for cosmetic reasons to fiddle with the casings to make them /look/ as if they're standing upright.
Thirteen isn't old for a cat - ours is 20 and apart from getting a bit stiff in cold weather and only leaving the house under hydraulic pressure she seems as contented as ever.
HOWEVER - if anything beyond trivial occurs she's for the chop.
Adam Stanhope - I'm not American, so it's hard for me to tell, but it doesn't come across that way here. What is noticeable is that many Europeans that I talk to like Americans but don't like America. Something the US government of whatever colour might like to address at some point.
Of course - stories of it all going wrong and being mishandled abound, but in reality for the most part it works, which is probably all any society can claim.
Spend the money on Lego instead.
Mmmmm, chicken. What was the question again?
HOWEVER - if anything beyond trivial occurs she's for the chop.