| The world as we know it is really messed up. Mattel | | | | persona. She has appeared as a teacher, on |
| and Fisher Price, the very people who brought us | | | | horseback, as a gymnast, a ballet dancer as well as |
| Tickle-Me-Elmo as the toy of the season last | | | | modeling her annual Christmas outfit. You can buy her |
| Christmas, have allowed some of America's babies to | | | | dressed in costumes representing countries around |
| play with and put in their little mouths, toys painted | | | | the world. Barbie loves Tickle-Me-Elmo as much as |
| with lead paint. I do accept the explanation that their | | | | the kids do. She comes packaged with a little copy |
| executives set guidelines for the factory owners in | | | | of him. She wears a picture of him on her shirt and |
| China. Part of the directive was don't use lead paint, | | | | carries a purse with him peeking from the front of it |
| however someone should have followed up on that. | | | | and his face is on her belt buckle. He giggles when |
| This is not a case of putting the wrong labels on | | | | you press his tummy just as the big acrobatic one |
| clothing and not having it fit the American baby. This | | | | does. The only warning on the box says "WARNING |
| is an extreme danger to the little toddlers. How ironic | | | | May Cause Uncontrollable Laughter." I hope that |
| that parents are buying educational toys - that may | | | | indicates we don't have to worry about lead paint on |
| cause brain damage if - change that to when - they | | | | this toy. |
| put them in their mouths. It will be some time before | | | | Let's create a fictitious little girl about six years old. |
| the company regains the trust of the American public. | | | | For fun we'll name her Ruby Doo. She loves her |
| On the positive side, Fisher Price/Mattel has brought | | | | Elmos (and I say Elmos since there is the first Elmo |
| us that amazing Tickle-Me-Elmo. He can laugh, kick his | | | | from ten years ago, the Chicken Dance Elmo, the |
| feet in the air after falling on his back. He can then | | | | Hokey Pokey Elmo who sits next to the Elmo who |
| roll over and stand up all by himself. He even does a | | | | simply is stuffed and soft and looks cute. He must be |
| somersault. All this with one arm attached to his | | | | named old-fashioned Elmo. She lines them up and |
| body. Did I mention that he can talk. I cannot praise | | | | plays with one every now and then. |
| him enough for his comedic value. | | | | This week though it is her Barbie doll house and little |
| Back to the negative. That Barbie is still a sexy little | | | | sister Chrissy who keep her busy. I'm not sure which |
| thing for the three to seven year old set. Sure her | | | | companies make all the craft toys but they are |
| hair is beautiful and I believe she dumped Ken last | | | | wonderful and she loves making things with them. |
| year, but she still has her feet permanently ready to | | | | But the latest advance that has mothers sighing with |
| slip in to high heels. She has definitely raised her | | | | relief is the finger painting book which sells with paint |
| aspirations from wanting to settle down in her | | | | that won't show up except on the paper it was |
| townhouse with Ken and drive around in her | | | | intended to show up on. I think it is made by Crayola. |
| convertible with her hair flowing behind her. Barbie | | | | I don't know how she or he did it but the employee |
| has evolved into a modern girl. You will find her on | | | | who invented this deserves a big raise. From the |
| the shelf at your favorite store wearing her white lab | | | | mothers of America, we don't know what your |
| coat as she cares for animals in her Veterinarian | | | | name is but thank you - thank you - thank you.. |