"of America" but not really "of America"

Label on "Furniture of America" box

 The box says "Furniture of America", but the furniture is "Made in Vietnam". Apart from being a registered trademark, I wonder how much "America" is contained in this particular product.

The firm's website states, "FOA is a premier source for US-made upholstery, allowing us to maintain a competitive edge while supporting our country’s job market."

And while the website does show 414 products that are made in the USA,  (https://www.foagroup.com/made-in-usa.html), the website shows many more products that are are made outside the USA, likely utilizing the firm's facilities in China and Vietnam. 

FOA Facility Locations
(Source: https://www.foagroup.com/about-us/)

You can always copy someone else 's logo.

 

Spacex Logo

Here we have the Spacex logo. (Spacex is Elon Musk's rocket firm.) This is the firm that describes their rockets blowing up as "Rapid Unplanned Disassembly".  An original turn of phrase.

But I noticed a similarity between parts of the Spacex logo and parts of the Reebok logo.

Spacex logo (Detail)

The "X" of the logo looks rather similar to the graphic flourish that you find below the word "Reebok" in the Reebok logo.  

Reebok logo (Detail)

Reebok logo

Will most people notice these similarities? Probably not, but that does not mean that what seems to be copying is acceptable.

And what will happen when the shoe is on the other foot?

 

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3vwg73xndeo

This was reported on the BBC website today.

Bad news for models and photographers. And this will only happen, "if given permission by models". How much bargaining power do these model have? Close to zero I'd say.

And I wonder how H&M would react is models used a digital clones of H&M clothing in their portfolio photographs? Or if competitors used AI to create patterns for digital clones of H&M clothing?   

Be very careful what you wish for. 

It's only a reduction of 6.993%, but it's better than nothing

Lingonberry Fruit Spread display at IKEA

Ligonberry Spread "New lower price" sign

Lingonberry Fruit Spread jar

Price reduction on the shelf tag

Sunday afternoon I was at IKEA. (More wooden hangers for my kid's closet.) I saw this sign in the Swedish Marketplace section.

A price reduction, not a huge one, but a price reduction nevertheless. Given the recent new about inflation, any price reduction is worth shouting about. And in addition to the price reduction, the product had a pretty prime spot and there was lots of stock on the floor.

But the price reduction didn't change my buying behaviour. (Already had a full jar at home. Didn't need another one just yet.)

 

Does "Good stuff" mean "Good for you"?

Coca-Cola brand insulated neoprene can sleeve

According to the Coca-Cola website, Coca-Cola is made with "CARBONATED WATER, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CARAMEL COLOR, PHOSPHORIC ACID, NATURAL FLAVORS, CAFFEINE". (Source: https://www.coca-cola.com/us/en/brands/coca-cola/products/original#accordion-c55f229edc-item-93131ee8b3) 

I'm not 100% sure that everyone would agree that the ingredients listed above are all "good stuff".

While everything listed on the label has been approved for human consumption, many people feel that an ingredient like high fructose corn syrup is an inferior sweetener to cane sugar. 

Most consumers would be surprised that 90% of the phosphoric acid production ends up in fertilizers, and yet it is still an ingredient in products deemed safe for human consumption. 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes caffeine as "generally recognized as safe".  Hardly an overwhelming endorsement.

As American poet John Godfrey Saxe said in 1869, "Laws, like sausages, cease to inspire respect in proportion as we know how they are made".   (The quote is most often attributed to Otto von Bismark and reported as, "Laws are like sausages. It is best not to see them being made". But there is no evidence that Bismark ever said it.) 

I'm sure if we looked hard enough at many things we consume, we'd change our eating habits.

Where is this really made?

Buderim Ginger Beer can 

Manufacturing Information on Buderim Ginger Beer can

"Crafted in Australia" on Buderim Ginger Beer can

Okay, I'm confused. Buderim is an Australian brand. The can says it is, "Made With Fresh Australian Ginger Juice". The can is printed with "CRAFTED IN AUSTRALIA". Sounds like it is an Australian product. 

But the adhesive label stuck on the can says that it is "Manufactured in Airdrie, Alberta". That would seem to mean that empty cans are shipped from Australia, filled in Canada, and the big adhesive label is attached. How does that make any sense at all? 

Ocean shipping is generally charged by volume, not by weight. Is it that much cheaper to brew this ginger beer in Canada, using ingredients imported from Australia?

I think this product is manufactured in Canada, but the packaging is very confusing. (And surely that is against the law.)

Are DVDs dead?

DVD on sale at 50% off at London Drugs

 

The DVD section at London Drugs

There is something to be said for owning a physical product and being able to touch it, read the credits etc. (Perhaps one of the reasons that vinyl has made such a comeback.) 

But these days most films are available via one of the many streaming services. And that seems to have led to a decline in the demand for DVDs. But I find this odd. 

As anyone who uses a streaming service will have observed, it is not uncommon for films to drift in and out of availability. Old films are suddenly available, and viewers are also faced with the "Leaving Soon" warning for more recent releases.

If you want to be able to watch a film, you really need to own it in a physical format. So, if you want to flesh out your film library, and be able to watch those titles in the future, this clearance sale at London Drugs may be worth a visit.