China: Death on the trains

If putting fake drugs into the market is not enough, now China are (allegedly) killing our kids. No safety standards in Chinese manufacturing!

You can bet the local street markets here will soon be flooded with el cheapo thomas the tank toys.

M

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than 1 million of the popular "Thomas & Friends" wooden railway toys made in China are being voluntarily recalled because some may contain lead paint, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Wednesday.

About 1.5 million wooden vehicles, buildings and other train-set parts for young children are being recalled, the CPSC said in a statement. The toys were sold in the United States from January 2005 through June 2007, the statement said.

Lead is toxic and can pose a serious health risk to young children who often put objects in their mouths. Children under 6 are most at risk.

The recall of toys made in China follows a series of health scandals in the United States involving food, drugs and other products imported from China, from poisoned cough syrup to tainted toothpaste and pet food.

HK: LIGHTNING!!

Last Sunday was Blitzkreig!

6735 cloud to groud strikes
3537 cloud to cloud strikes

Most of these occured in a 2-hour period!

M

Hong Kong: Red Tide Alert

YUK

Looks like pollution, but it's a natural phenomenon!

Hong Kong is on 'Red Tide Alert'. Happens c.30 times a year apparently, but we've not seen it before. On the seawater in the Bay in front of our apartment, there's a massive foamy dirty-looking slick. No one on the beach at all (but weather's bad). The foam is, in fact, an algae bloom -- non-toxic. Looks horrid.

From the official HK red tide website (there is one!!):

What is red tide?

Red tides are natural phenomena in which the rapid multiplication of microscopic, unicellular algae discolour the water by the pigments contained in the algal cells. Depending on the pigments, the massive growth of algal cells may turn the water into pink, red, brown, reddish-brown, deep green or other colours. Most species of algae do not cause threats to the environment and human, rather, they serve as the energy producers at the base of the food web.

The term "red tide" has been used widely to describe the phenomena in which the water is discoloured by high algal biomass. However, most red tides are harmless. On the other hand, a few algal species may cause adverse impacts such as fish kill, seafood contamination or harmful effect on humans even at low cell densities and the blooms are so-called harmful algal blooms (HABs).

Although red tides occur quite frequently in Hong Kong, the blooms associated with harmful effects are not common and seldom caused large scale impact.

M

California: yummmm fish & acrylamide

This is my first trip to California in 6+ years ... I was last here with Joss when she was 4+ months pregnant with Billy ... I'd forgotten just how mad they are with caveats!

Joss was 'showing' when we were here ... none-the-less she still zipped down the Squaw Valley ski slopes and relaxed with a glass of cold Chardonnay afterwards. Both activities resulted in much eyebrow raising from the mineral-water-consuming local Fornians (mini bar price ... 3 pounds for a small battle of water BTW!).

So no surprise then to read this caveat on top of my in-room dining menu ... enough to force you to a diet of water!

WARNING: Chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm are present in food and beverages served here.

Foods such as French Fries and potato chips cooked in oil at high temperatures can produce Proposition 65-listed chemicals such as acrylamide, which is known by the State to cause cancer. Broiling, grilling and barbecuing fish and meats can also cause Proposition 65-listed chemicals such as benzo-a-pyrene, which is known by the State to cause cancer. Nearly all fish and seafood contain some amount of mercury and related compounds, which are known by the State to cause cancer. Certain fish contain higher levels than others. Pregnant and nursing women, women who may become preganant and young children should NOT eat swordfish, shark, mackerel or other tilefish. They also should limit their consumption of other fish including tuna. Additionally, leaded crystal in which beverages are served contains lead, which is known by the State to cause cancer.

Finally, recently-boiled water in the kettle is hot and is known by the state to cause blisters.

M

San Francisco: W Hotel

Exhausted. It's 14:00 Tuesday in Hong Kong and I'm in San Francisco - where it's still Monday evening. Flew thru the Hong Kong evening and night to arrive in California before I'd left Hong Kong (if you know what I mean). Jetlagged to hell. Accidentally slept for a few hours this afternoon in the SF hotel. Busting the International DateLine from West to East is a killer.

Cold and drizzly -- was not expecting that weather at all and have come wholly unequipped!

Nice boutique hotel though -- small but clean design. W click here.

M x