I think that's an accurate assessment. I have German and Japanese cameras and lenses. Both countries excel in their manufacture as they do their automobiles and other scientific products. These are not third world countries at all and their employees make a decent salary and have better benefits than we do, actually. I make no excuses for buying Italian pasta products, olive oils, Indian tea, Columbian coffee, or Mexican cocoas and vanillas. I get my stashes of curries from a British importer as well. I don't have a problem at all with imports from a society whose people expect to consume safe and quality products themselves. But Japanese cars and some German cars, one really couldn't call imports. They move their "export" operations to our country and employ our people and pay them a salary as good as, or usually better than they'd have with an American Company. A kink in our world trade at this point with China is that they do not allow "inspection" from outside purchasers. We are supposed to take their word for it that the products are what they are supposed to be and safe. The track records for safety are pretty evident as plastic has found its way into food supplies and lead into toys. There is also a pretty complicated (too long to go into explanations here) issue with currency rates between China and the rest of the world. IOW the playing fields are not level. You will also find that some of our natural resources are at risk now from policies of poor (or self, or no) inspection before crossing borders. One of the newer plagues arriving from Asia in their produced materials is the Emerald Ash borer. It very well may decimate our Eastern forests, affecting our timber and wood product industries to the tune of billions. There is a very large difference between trade isolationism and setting standards for equitable and safe trade. You can take it to the bank other countries have safeguards intact to protect their own working economies and farmers, but when we even think about doing it, the world calls a foul. I hope eventually this giant country evolves into the kind of trade partner who can benefit the world and its own people. But, I still think given it's social and political background of the last half century we should not expect an instant conversion to capitalism to be an overnight success, and let down our guards entirely. Didn't they execture one of their trade ministers for a putting their name in scandal not too long ago? Doesn't that bother anybody? The secrecy issue bothers me the most. As a business person, my files are an open book to many agencies and I am subject to inspections to insure to my government I operate in a safe manner and things are what I say they are. The kind of policies we have with this country puts them over every American producer who have to play by the rules. Expensive rules, btw.

I've got one, and enjoy it periodically. You can take store-bought yogurt and make it into frozen yogurt...I like taking the Yoplait Light's in various flavors and making frozen yogurt from them. The Black Forest Cake Yoplait and Raspberry Cheesecake yogurts are both delicious frozen! Also, if you want to make ice cream from scratch, try one of the recipes that comes in the little booklet. I changed one to fat-free half-n-half and it was delicious! Donna

Your reindeer is very nice, paintchips! I don't think you'll regret having him in your household. He's elegant, really...an elegant, regal, classic, timeless reindeer that will grace your winter wonderland with style. He will look marvelous. He's so much more tasteful than so much of what is on display at holiday time, & it's ONE reindeer, not Santa's sleigh led by Rudolph (which my neigbor displays every year along with several snowmen, "decorative" flags, & numerous other chotkes, all illuminated by thousands of lights.) I wish you were my neighbor! I would enjoy seeing this little guy everyday & would so appreciate the restraint you practice. You really have not gone overboard, though I truly value your efforts to live simply & monitor your purchases carefully. I try to do the same. I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the comfort of the throw. I bet it's really cozy & warm...good buy!

Shawn..So I'll bet you can never go to Lowe's or Home Depot without visiting the plant section, right? That's me..In fact, I am always frequenting the outdoor plants section too..I must spend a fortune on that stuff, but as for the houseplants, I am always leary like you...Good choice at leaving it there since you heart was telling you not to get it...I don't like plants that harbor mealy bugs either, especially the palms do, although if that was not the case I would have hundreds of then surrounding me in every room) Have you ever tried Jades or Fragrant plants?