»

[stormshadow]

I was wondering if there was anyone out their with a really off the wall story. They can be something you seen on the news or read in a magazine/paper. Maybe you have seen something in your life that was shocking. Have you ever been in a crisis situation that you would like to tell everyone about. let's hear all about it.

I myself have never been in a life threatning situation but I have heard a good fill of stories. One of the wackiest stories to date is how the roller skating Barbie became a banned toy. A little boy was playing with the doll and caught himself on fire. The reason why was because his shirt somehow was covered in a flammable liquid and the sparks from the skates ignited the shirt. It sounds unbelievable but I read it in a magazine. Has anyone ever heard about that one before?

[Rei]

From crazy news

Mattel recently introduced the "Harry Potter Broomstick". It's a battery-powered toy that resembles the flying Nimbus 2000 brooms from the Harry Potter movies. For added effect, the broom makes "flying noises" and vibrates.

After a while on the market, concerned parents noticed that mostly young girls seemed to enjoy the toy - especially the vibrating part...

Here are some of the customer reviews from the Toys R Us website:

Reviewer: A toy enthusiast from NJ
This toy was #1 on my daughter's Christmas list. So what the heck, although it has no educational value I figured it would be good for imaginative play. It wasn't until after she opened her gift and started playing with it that I realized that the toy may offer a more than sensational experience. The broomstick has cute sound effects and ***VIBRATES*** when they put it between their legs to fly. Come on---what were the creators of this toy thinking? She'll keep playing with the Nimbus 2000, but with the batteries removed.


Reviewer: Ashley from TX
My 12 year old daughter is a big Harry Potter fan, and loved the part with the Nimbus 2000, so I decided to buy her this toy. I was afraid she would think it was too babyish, but she LOVES this toy. Even my daughter's friends enjoy playing with this fun toy. I was surprised at how long they can just sit in her room and play with this magic broomstick! A great buy for any Harry Potter fan!


Reviewer: A toy enthusiast from Maine, USA
I recently bought this for my son, Vantro. He's a HUGE Harry Potter fan. Seen the movie 32 times (in the theaters) and made the paper. This toy gives him the ability to fly around the house zapping things. My only problem I see with the toy is the batteries drain too fast and his sister fights him over it, so now I need to buy her one.


Reviewer: poola13 from Ohio
When my 12 year old daughter asked for this for her birthday, I kind of wondered if she was too old for it, but she seems to LOVE it. Her friends love it too! They play for hours in her bedroom with this great toy. They really seem to like the special effects it offers (the sound effects and vibrating). My oldest daughter (17) really likes it too! I recommend this for all children.

[Preventer Wind]

Now is that really a dangerous toy? It seems more like a good deal then a life threatening toy. The thing I wonder about is if these parents...know. One did...but the three others seemed to have no clue. I wonder if any of the parents have tried it out

[Rei]

Originally posted by Preventer Wind
Now is that really a dangerous toy?

More than strictly dangerous, I'd say it is an addictive toy

BTW, here's another one:

From Associated Press

Japanese toymaker plans to produce cat translator.

https://www.ananova.com/images/web/62593.jpg

Called the MEOWLINGUAL, the cat-shaped machine set to go on sale in Japan in November translates meows and purrs into human phrases such as “I can’t stand it,” although exact wording hasn’t been decided yet, Tokyo-based Takara Co. said Wednesday.
The translation device will likely sell for $74, slightly cheaper than the $125 Bowlingual, which has been a big hit in Japan.
Both gadgets use scientific data on animal sounds from a Tokyo laboratory that also analyzes human voices, helps solve crime and takes part in designing software for mobile phones.
Takara plans to start selling Bowlingual in the United States in August. Overseas sales plans for Meowlingual are still undecided.
“Cats are smaller and more finicky than dogs so we had to change the design a little,” Takara spokeswoman Maiko Hasumi said.
The feline version won’t strap on the collar as does the Bowlingual, and a person must hold the microphone in the machine up to the cat’s mouth and hope it says something, she said.
In case your cat’s not in the mood, the machine will have “playful features,” such as a horoscope reading for cat lovers and other surprises in the works, she said.

Takara is planning to sell 300,000 Meowlingual machines by March 2004.

[Hylas]

Lol @ Rei's story about Harry Potter's brooms!
The little nerd magician always knows what to do to satisfy his fans!

[Dersu]

If you think last Christmas was bad....

It could have been way worse - as these stats from the United Kingdom prove...

3 people die each year testing if a 9v battery works on their tongue.

142 people were injured in 1998 by not removing all pins from new shirts.

58 people are injured each year by using sharp knives instead of screwdrivers.

31 people have died since 1996 by watering their Christmas tree while the fairy lights were plugged in.

19 people have died in the last 3 years believing that Christmas decorations were chocolate.

Hospitals reported 4 broken arms last year after cracker pulling accidents.

101 people since 1997 have had to have broken parts of plastic toys pulled out of the soles of their feet.

18 people had serious burns in 1998 trying on a new jumper with a lit cigarette in their mouth.

A massive 543 people were admitted to A&E in the last two years after opening bottles of beer with their teeth.

5 people were injured last year in accidents involving out of control Scalectrix cars.

And finally, 8 people cracked their skull in 1997 after falling asleep while throwing up into the toilet.


Ok, it's not exactly tales, but you got the point...