Welcome to the World of China Trade for 2007!  Do you ever wonder about the propriety of decisions to utilize Communist Chinese goods and services to the extent of $205 million through August of this year---with more to come?
*****
In January 2007, China exported to the United States c$26 million of Chinese-made goods.

From Fox News - "Wednesday, August 22, 2007  Wal-Mart Stores Inc...said it pulled two Chinese-made dog treats from its shelves nearly a month earlier, and tests now show they had traces of melamine, a chemical found in pet food that was blamed for the deaths of pets and led to a massive recall earlier this year.

The two types of dog treats — Chicken Jerky Strips manufactured by Import-Pingyang Pet Product Co. and Chicken Jerky manufactured by Shanghai Bestro Trading — were removed from its stores on July 26, Wal-Mart spokeswoman Deisha Galberth said in a statement."

After 17 sets of tests, "the latest advice from our testing laboratory shows trace levels of melamine," Galberth said."

In February 2007, China exported to the United States c$23 million of Chinese-made goods.

Fox News - "Friday , September 21, 2007...Simplicity Inc., a supplier of baby furniture to Wal-Mart Stores Inc...and other big retailers, is recalling about 1 million Chinese-made baby cribs which have been linked to at least two infant deaths, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Friday.

The drop-side can detach from the crib, which can create a dangerous gap that leads to an infant being trapped and suffocated, the safety agency said in a statement. It urged parents to check all Simplicity-made cribs to ensure the drop-side is installed correctly."

In March 2007, China exported to the United States c$23 million of Chinese-made goods.

Financial Times - "By Geoff Dyer in Shanghai...August 20 2007...The safety problems affecting Chinese goods spread from toys to textiles on Monday as New Zealand said it would investigate allegations that imported children’s clothes contained dangerous levels of formaldehyde.

The government ordered the probe after scientists hired by a consumer watchdog programme discovered formaldehyde in Chinese clothes at levels of up to 900 times regarded as safe. Manufacturers sometimes apply formaldehyde to clothes to prevent mildew. It can cause skin rashes, irritation to the eyes and throat and allergic reactions.

The Warehouse, a New Zealand retailer, issued a recall at the weekend for children’s pyjamas made in China after two children were burned when their flannelette nightclothes caught fire."

In April 2007, China exported to the United States c$24 million of Chinese-made goods.

New York Times - "August 15, 2007...Some Baby Bibs Said to Contain Levels of Lead
By Eric Lipton...Certain vinyl baby bibs sold at Toys “R” Us stores appear to be contaminated with lead, laboratory tests have shown, making the inexpensive bibs another example of a made-in-China product that may be a health hazard to children."

In May 2007, China exported to the United States c$25 million of Chinese-made goods.

My Way - "August 9, 2007...A tire importer said Thursday it would recall 255,000 Chinese-made tires it claims were defective because they lack a safety feature that prevents tread separation."

In June 2007, China exported to the United States c$27 million of Chinese-made goods.

"Sunday, September 16, 2007...Chinese authorities ordered the recall of tainted leukemia drugs blamed for leg pains and other problems, state media reported Sunday, the latest crisis to strike the country's embattled food and drug industries.

Most of the drugs involved — methotrexate and cytarabin hydrochloride — have been recovered and authorities have traced the remainder, the Xinhua News Agency said. The report did not say if any of the drugs had been exported."

In July 2007, China exported to the United States c$29 million of Chinese-made goods.

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard - September 8, 2007 "The Chinese government has begun a concerted campaign of economic threats against the United States, hinting that it may liquidate its vast holding of US treasuries if Washington imposes trade sanctions to force a yuan revaluation.

Two officials at leading Communist Party bodies have given interviews in recent days warning - for the first time - that Beijing may use its $1.33 trillion...of foreign reserves as a political weapon to counter pressure from the US Congress."

In August 2007, China exported to the United States c$28 million of Chinese-made goods.

David Barboza - October 12, 2007...Shanghai: "Despite a spate of product recalls from China this year and growing scrutiny over the quality and safety of its goods, the Chinese export boom continues to accelerate, according to trade statistics released Friday.

China said that it had exported $878 billion worth of goods through the first nine months of this year, up 27 percent from its record shipments a year ago.

Analysts say global worries about contaminated pet food, tainted seafood and toxic toys and toothpaste are hardly enough to slow down the powerful Chinese export engine, which has quickly come to dominate everything from electronics to textiles."

*****
In addition to the above, Chinese-made goods - SpongeBob SquarePants Address Books; Dora the Explorer, Big Bird and Elmo; blankets; toothpaste; seafood; and other products were recalled or investigated for dangerous properties.

Given the seriousness of the quality problems and the invasive nature of Chinese products in the marketplace---it seems everything I buy says 'Made in China'---more action needs to be taken by the President, Congress and Businesses to reduce our reliance on such imports.  Bite the bullet and provide more manufacturing and assembly here or in non-communist nations.

Fred[erick] Ferris Thompson was born in New York City in 1836.  Scion of a wealthy family, he attended Williams College from 1852-54.  In 1857, he married the New York Governor's daughter.  As a wedding celebration, Fred with his father and brother founded their first bank, 'Thompson's Bank Note and Commercial Reporter.'  In 1863, Fred hit the trifecta when the trio opened their third bank, 'First National Bank of the City of New York [now Citibank.]  In 1873, his father and brother broke off to form the 'Chase National Bank' [now J P Morgan Chase.]

Fred Thompson of banking note, was an amateur photographer and philanthropist, though not as big a one as J P Morgan.  He gave mucho money to Williams College, Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Geographical Society, and the Union League.  He also served on the board for Williams, Vassar, and Teacher's College [now Columbia University.]

This Fred Thompson inaugurated the namesake dying on April 10th, in this instance in New York City 1899.
**
Fred[eric] Thompson was born probably in the 1870s in Irontown OH.  Originally wanting to start a brokerage business, he found himself in designing and promoting rides and parks.  In 1901, he brought 'Trip to the Moon', an innovative attraction which took the audience on a journey, successfully to the Pan-American Exhibition in Buffalo NY.

Partnering with Skip Dundy, the two brought 'Trip to the Moon' to Steeplechase Park in Coney Island, but a falling out with the promoter led to their moving it to their newly rebuilt Luna Park [originally Sea Lion Park].  The park closed in 1944 because of a pair of devastating fires.

In 1905, the pair built the Hippodrome Theater in Manhattan.  The Theater lasted until 1939.  On his own, and as a relative last gasp, Thompson created 'Grand Toyland' for San Francisco's Panama-Pacific Exhibition in 1915.

He was married to Mabel Taliaferro, 'Sweetheart of the American Movies'---before Mary Pickford came along, one of her three husbands.

During his most creative period, Thompson produced numerous Broadway shows, including: A Yankee Circus on Mars [1905]; The Raiders [1905]; Dance of the Hours [1905]; A Society Circus [1905; also directed]; Brewster's Millions [1906; also directed and designed the set]; Polly of the Circus [1907; also designed the set]; Springtime [1909; also directed]; Spendthrift [1910]; etc.  He was obviously fascinated by circuses, especially since many big top events occurred at his Hippodrome.

Thompson an alcoholic, gambler, and womanizer, died of heart problems on June 6, 1919.
**
Frederick A Thompson, born January 24, 1884, London, England; died April 10, 1949, London, England.  As far as I know, the present Fred never met this Fred [the present being only six years old when the latter died.]  But, Fred A's accomplishments make a rather interesting musical interlude to the usual political comments of the day.

Fred was a prolific librettist [about 24 London Musicals] on his own before collaborating with fellow Brit, Guy Bolton.  Together they wrote the books [for musicals] for some of the great composers, including such successes as George and Ira Gershwin's 'Lady be Good' [1924], 'Tell Me More' [1925], and 'Tip-Toes' [1925.]  The two writers then scored a 'hat trick' in 1927 with triumphs in Rio Rita [Harry Tierney and Joseph McCarthy], Funny Face [George and Ira Gershwin], and the Five O'Clock Girl [Harry Ruby and Bert Kalmar].  He again wrote for the Gershwins in 1928: 'Treasure Girl.'

Alone, he wrote the book for 'Sons O' Guns' [1929; J Fred Cootes, Arthur Swanstrom and Benny Davis], after which he returned to England.  He wrote a number of little-known books, including 'Good Morning Judge' [1914; Lionel Monckton and Adrian Ross et al], 'Afgar' [1920; Charles Cuvillier and Douglas Furher],'Seeing Stars' [1935], and 'Going Places' [1936.]  In his later years, he penned 'Lady Comes Across' [1942; Vernon Duke and John La Touche, and [with Bolton], the book for 'Follow the Girls' [1944; Phil Charig, Dan Shapiro and Dan Pascal.]  

Fred A Thompson died on April 10, 1949 in London.
**
Another Frederick Thompson of note lived---though birth and death dates aren't available---in the early part of the 20th Century.  He was an actor, who performed in: The Master Builder [1905]; Romeo and Juliet [1935]; Saint Joan [1936]; Shoemaker's Holiday [1938]; Danton's Death [1938]; etc.
**
Other Fred Thompsons of recent vintage include a CPA; plastic surgeon; obstetrician; olympic athlete; police officer; and, of course, Presidential hopeful.