The Goblin King of Labyrinth is alive and well...

...and working as a press secretary for the Chinese government. (I'd add a link here, but CBS's webpage is a lag-ridden PoS, I couldn't even find if this bit was online yet.)

When confronted by a CBS reporter about China's promise to allow freedom of the press during its Olympic bid, and how it's still censorship as usual in China, the reply was (going from memory here), "You have freedom of the press as long as you follow our rules." Rules about what can and cannot be covered by the press.

"Do everything I tell you, and I'll be your slave!"

Toy Karma

In less controversial news, I stopped off at a local "toys for tots" sort of deal in town that takes opened toys. I was there to drop off a Power Rangers toy I'd opened, messed with, become disappointed in, and put back in the box. While there, I saw they had a couple of "mY LifE is PAiN" mistransformed TFs, so I pitched in and helped them evaluate 'em. Transmetal Megatron was missing his tail, but otherwise okay in robot mode, plenty of play value left in it. Ultra BMac Cyclonus, however, was a total combat loss. No legs, thrashed gears and springs...the light-up feature still worked, miraculously, but it otherwise looked like it had been used to thresh wheat. There was more chrome damage than chrome. I wouldn't even want it for kitbashing materials, so I advised 'em to pitch it. And I gave them my "geek card" and said to drop me an email if they came across any other borderline TFs they weren't sure were fit to give anyone.

I'm glad these people run this program. While I usually have a few unopened toys I bought on clearance and decided not to open, for putting in regular Toys for Tots bins, I have a LOT of stuff I get but don't really want anymore after I open it. And I take good care of things that I don't intentionally destroy, so I'd like to see things go to kids more or less intact, which means the local Salvation Army is right out (they toss everything in a bin, it's like a toy blender in there). So when November rolls around, I start bagging up non-Transformers toys I don't really want anymore, and drop 'em off. Sure, I'm giving of my plenty, not of my want (to make a Biblical reference), but I don't think the kids care too much about that. :)