Got Milk? File an Environmental Impact Statement!

So last night, I was on Skype with friend, fellow blogger, humorist and co-conspirator in many things shoemaking, China Charlie, and the subject of the melamine  milk scandal here in China came up.  Now China Charlie is currently semi-retired and sunning his buns in the Philippines, so he was asking what the impact here in China was.  Any my reply, recalling the time during my childhood when dinnerware made from melamine was all the range (anyone remember "Melmac" dinnerware)  replied that I was probably going to be passing a cup and saucer set soon.

In the last couple of weeks, I've eaten several bowls of cereal and milk, Snicker's bars (also probably made with melamine apparently) and Oreo Cookies (yep, melamine in the cookies and filling). I suspect there could be a sizable buildup of the substance coming on. 

Then we discussed the other nasty stuff we've probably put in our bodies.  Water in China?  We've both pretty much become accustomed to the local tap water, I don't even bother to boil it much anymore,  So, how about some heavy metal, mercury, cadmium, lead, etc?  Soup cooked in crockery bowls?  Not sure of the heavy metal content in that.  Tomato sauce in aluminum pans?  Sure,  I'm particularly fond of fish and clams, so lets add a bit more mercury to the mix please. 

Also, in my case I had a run in with cancer a few years ago, so add in a bit of what ever they fed me during chemotherapy, plus a healty dose of radioactive stuff.

We both decided, when ever we went to the "great beyond" that in all reality, we probably couldn't be brought back to the U.S. for burial, as the mortuary/cemetery would have to file an E.P.A. Environmental Impact Statement, and the cemetery would be at risk of later becoming a superfund site.

And we both wonder why we set off the metal detectors at the airport, even though we've removed keys, wallets, belts, cellphones,  etc.  I always try to pick the line with the prettiest female security person, if I'm going to be felt up, it might as well be by a female.  Last time through Shenzhen airport I was patted down by a guy who I think enjoyed his job a bit too thoroughly.  Lets just say  I almost suggested we just go to the local hotel.....

Ok, enough of this writing stuff, time to get back to my coffee (wonder what's in that?) and off to my job in a shoe factory, 

Ahh, the sweet smell of non organic solvents.

Gee, Not in Dongguan Anymore

Well, if you're wondering what's been going on about the lack of posts. seems life made a turn for the more interesting, and ChinaFubar is now for the most part steadily employed...

This could be interesting on several levels.  First, ChinaFubar's not working on the customer/trading company side of the business, he's working for a Chinese-owned factory.  Yes, I've gone over to the "dark side" and gone to work for a supplier.  I'm not naming names...This could wind up being "tales from the Dark Side" and filled with stories of what happens on this side of the business.

Second, I'm not in Dongguan anymore.  Well, at least full time anyway. This company has a registered office in Hong Kong (where my business cards show the company is)  an office in Dongguan, 3 factories in Fuzhou and one in Jiangxi province.  I'll split my time between Dongguan and the 3 Fuzhou factories, but for now I'm in Fuzhou.  That's another adventure.

For now, it's been real busy with finding out what's what, who's who and where's the westerner's bathroom!  And, weekends off??? Forgeddaboudit!!!  No more 5 or 5 and a half day work weeks, now it's 7 day work weeks.   And a short day is only 8 hours....What China labor law???  And "official" Chinese Holidays?  Uh, I don't think so....Seems days off are more governed by China Power and Light than calendar days, we get days off when there's no electricity at the factory. 

So stay tuned sports fans, for the further adventures of China Fubar and the Tale of the Lost Shoe Factory.