So there's YET ANOTHER toy recall out there.

This time, it'd for something called "Aquadots." I know what those are solely because I watch cartoons and they are advertised during the cartoons - they are these little dots that you lay out in a pattern, and then you spray them with water to activate some kind of adhesive that makes them stick together.

(When I was a kid, there was something similar - little plastic beads that you then IRONED. I'm sure that was unsafe, too. Probably lots of fumes. My mother never let my brother or me have them)

Anyway, the Aquadots are recalled because apparently if a kid puts the beads in their mouth, the adhesive breaks down to a chemical very similar to GHB.

yes, THAT GHB. The date-rape drug.



I'm sorry but - Did the chemists in charge of this not realize that? Did they not know that children put every-dang-thing in their mouths? (And not even just children - I have a student I have to constantly be after because he's always asking "is this plant edible?" and wanting to taste things in the field)

I don't know. This just reinforces my cynicism about those "direct sale" television ads - where it's "Send $19.99 plus shipping and handling (and they don't tell you what that is, it's probably another 20 bucks) to this address and we'll send you the product."

If I had a kid in my life? Depending on their interests, they'd be getting one of those knitted monsters off of Heather Rupe's pattern for Christmas. Or a book. Or a bunch of yarn and a coupon for knitting lessons. Or some kind of wood toy that I know is only finished with natural, non-toxic oils.

I mean, yeah - I probably had some fairly dangerous toys as a kid, but I don't remember any of them being recalled because they contained poison.