Topic: Toys

John C. Dvorak provides a "Tip of the Day" recommending Microsoft Power Toys, a suite of free utilities for Windows users that includes image resizers and keyboard remappers. Adam Curry counters by stating he has completely removed Windows from his life in favor of GNU Linux, leading to a humorous exchange about the merits of open-source operating systems.

The Tamagotchi brand has seen a resurgence, with a dedicated community of collectors holding meetups and sharing photos of rare models on Instagram. New "smart" versions of the toys are being marketed as pets that grow and evolve using AI technology.

UK border officials seized $4 million worth of counterfeit "Le Boo Boo" dolls, which were found to contain banned chemicals and choking hazards. Research by the Intellectual Property Office found that 75% of fake toys failed safety tests, yet cost remains the primary driver for consumers. The dolls are compared to past fads like Garbage Pail Kids and Furbies that were quickly cloned by overseas manufacturers.

A new California law went into effect on January 1, 2024, requiring major retailers with over 500 employees to maintain gender-neutral toy aisles. Stores failing to comply with the legislation, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2021, face monetary fines.

The "3x3" morning show review covers Good Morning America’s use of QR codes to sell products under the guise of "giving back." On NBC, a segment featured University of Central Florida football players conducting a toy drive for 400 children. The hosts announce that this long-running segment will be retired in the near future.

Producer Eric Blazinski, a listener since 2008, achieved knighthood. He discusses his elevator inspection software company, Upvate, and promotes his dog's TikTok fame and his business, Petey's Toybox, offering a discount code for listeners.

Spanish toy manufacturer Famosa released a "Belly" doll that comes with a coronavirus testing kit and a quarantine fence. The toy produces a specific sound for a positive test result and encourages children to "cure" the doll through tickling. The company also produced dolls wearing masks to normalize the practice of face coverings for children during the pandemic.

Sir Destro of Helena, Arkansas, donated $333.33 after selling a portion of his vintage toy collection. He proposed a new way to measure the show's seasons based on four-year presidential cycles. He also gave a shout-out to Sir Rocketman, Baron of the Bay, noting his periodic returns to the community.

Mattel has launched "Creatable World," a line of gender-neutral dolls designed to allow children to customize their toys without traditional gender labels. The company claims the product was developed in response to parents' concerns about "genderizing" toys for "Generation Alpha." The dolls come with various hair lengths and clothing options that can be mixed to create masculine, feminine, or neutral looks.

The teaser for Toy Story 4 featuring "Forky" sparks a discussion on the CBC about identity and labels. Pundits suggest the character's struggle with being a "toy" vs. a "spork" may be a metaphor for transgenderism or modern social identity politics.

The "Fingerlings" monkey toy has become the high-demand item of the 2017 holiday season, leading to a surge in counterfeit products sold through third-party vendors on Walmart.com. The manufacturer is suing over 150 companies for trademark infringement. Safety experts warn that these knockoffs bypass federal inspections and may contain toxic materials or posing choking hazards.

A formal invitation on parchment paper is delivered from the "Michigan Local 1" producer group, requesting a visit from the hosts. The discussion covers potential sightseeing locations in Detroit, such as the abandoned Packard plant and the old train station, while suggesting Ann Arbor as a better location for a formal meetup.

The hosts thank various producers for their financial support, including Brandon Toy and Sami Minkinen. A special shout-out is given to Finland (Suomi) for its 100th anniversary of independence on December 6th. The segment concludes with a reminder for listeners to check their PayPal subscriptions and a note on the numerology of episode 987.

Migrant vendors in Florence, particularly near the Ponte Vecchio, primarily sell selfie sticks, USB chargers, and novelty "blob" toys that splat on the ground. These products are identified as typical mass-produced items from China. The lack of presence among tourists, who are seen as more interested in group photos than the historical significance of their surroundings, is noted as a disturbing trend in modern travel.

A new product called "Hello Hijab" has been launched as a Barbie-compatible headscarf to promote diversity in children's play. The creator claims it will help children become familiar with different cultures. The hosts point out the irony of seeking "realism" in Barbie dolls, which possess anatomically impossible proportions.

Ben of the Apex is knighted after surpassing the donation threshold, and he promotes his motorsports publication, "The Apex," which covers IndyCar racing. Other donors, including Brandon Toy and Tim Kiernan, are recognized for their contributions. The hosts perform "de-douching" rituals for new supporters.

The price of eggs has dropped significantly, reaching as low as 99 cents a dozen in some areas according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This economic shift coincides with a cultural trend of putting eggs on various food items. A listener suggested the trend might be influenced by a popular talking toy oven that features a song about eggs tasting amazing on top of anything.

The hosts criticize a warehouse redesign at Toys R Us that made it difficult for parents to find their children. This leads to a story about British Prime Minister David Cameron accidentally leaving his eight-year-old daughter, Nancy, at a pub for 15 minutes. They mock the failure of his security detail and the irony of the government launching a "responsible parenting" program.

Observations of King's Day in Amsterdam suggest a subdued atmosphere compared to previous years, potentially due to poor weather and a "waiting room depression" state in the country. The traditional flea market featured a shift from vintage goods like radios and vinyl to cheap plastic toys, alongside an increase in offered services like massages and shoe shines.

A segment from the show "Gay USA" is used to highlight Ted Cruz's past defense of a Texas law banning the sale of sex toys during his time as Solicitor General. The hosts discuss the irony of the law given the prevalence of large "sex toy warehouses" along Texas highways. They mock Cruz's legal position that there is "no right to personal sexual gratification."