So, as much as I like China, there are certain aspects of the country (just as there are in any country) that could use revision. One such example is the quality of everyday useful goods.
I'll give you an example:
Yesterday I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth, putting in my contacts, etc., when I decided that it was time that I clipped my toenails. (Yeah I know that's gross, but I'm gonna write about it anyway).
So there I was, my right foot on the ground, left foot up on the counter, doing a crazy quasi-Olympic-gyminst maneuver to find the best position in which to clip my nails.
Once in position, I picked up my toenail clipper and placed the clipping side over the edge of the toenail on my big toe (I don't know about you, but I always start with the big toe and work down the line). Having found the best clipping angle, I applied pressure to the lever on the clipper, lightly at first, but steadily increasing until I heard a loud SNAP! from down near my toe.
Expecting to have to search the surrounding area for the missing piece of toenail shrapnel, I removed the clipper from my toe and placed it down on the counter.
Much to my surprise, upon placing the clipper on the counter, the entire lever on the topside fell off, having snapped clean off at the base.
"Damn!" I thought to myself. "That's my only clipper.......where is this thing from anyway?"
I turned it over, and written in all capital letters was the word: "CHINA".
Not "Made in China", but just "China".
I couldn't help but laugh out loud as I held the broken clipper in my hand.
Yeah, that's the way it went down alright.
*This is just one example of many such incidents. Unless I just happen to have extremely strong toenails, it seems to me that the production of many of China's basic products could use an improved system of quality control.
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5 comments:
u must bought that clipper from the Chinese market, i think they do quality control on export... or it's just simply toenail... haha
"Doing a crazy quasi-Olympic-gyminst maneuver to find the best position... in which to clip my nails." I'm sure that kind of flexibility comes in useful for other endeavors... the kind they don't usually award medals for! Naughty. Not allowing this comment to further degenerate into rated-R territory, however, I simply wish to address your opening statement about aspects of China that could use - as you so eloquently state - "revision". Given that you quipped China, I guess the larger point of this draconian toenail affair is not localized to Beijing, but rather - the entire country. Revision reminds of improvement, and it doesn't take a drooling Olympic commentator marveling at the transformation of China (oh and haven't they) to recognize the remarkable progression that has occurred. Outside the bathroom, at least. This might seem like a stupid example, but it's the first thing that comes to mind: a backward 80's glance at Tiananmen Square reveals tons of bicycles buzzing about. No more. But despite the great technological and economic change, Modern China appears to at times neglect the seemingly unremarkable - but nevertheless important - likes of the nail clipper. But it's totally a valid point! As your blog entry beautifully illustrates. It's dangerous to forget the little things, the foundational sands of the sandcastle empire. That is such a beach inspired analogy, but whatever. Anyhow, even though Beijing is supposed to be "Westernized" I do think it remains distinctly Chinese: Tiananmen Square may be full of tourists, but the guards will raise Communist flags at sunrise. And were you to buy the American-manufactured Walmart store brand nail clippers here in the grand USA, they might just fall apart before you finish opening the packaging.
god. even your toenails hulk-smash!
You now have a Google ad for nail fungus on your blog. Congratulations. That, combined with the creepy Joker pics, makes me glad that I have your blog on my Google reader so that I can consume it in a non digust-inducing environment.
Let's not talk about the pair of scissors I had that snapped, or the pencils that kept breaking their lead, or a whole story of my leaky tea bei-zi. I feel your pain, but admittedly, the big toe nail is always the hardest nail to defeat.
--Derek
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