[Superman]

True, Tim. I can accept that some NPR stories are satisfying to my liberal mind, but that the China story was largely just objective. I've not listened to much NPr lately, and am enjoying getting reaquainted.

I may be more like your parents. I recall when "transistor radios" came out, many of which were made in Japan. They were junk indeed, though small, inexpensive and convenient. And yes, I expect the quality of Chinese products to rise over time.

In fact, I thought the story this morning was amusing simply because we're going to get our head bit off if we try to muscle China around. I do not share NPR's fear of upsetting world markets near as much as I fear upsetting the Chinese strategists themselves. I am in the construction industry, and frankly it looks like they already have the power to upset the construction industry in my country with their materials-buying clout. The prices of steel and concrete have been going through the roof since way before Katrina. Because of China's infrastructure build-up.

We're about to get a good old fashioned economic ass-kickin'.