[Keyblctt]

i don't know if LW talks about it, but i thought one of the more interesting 'collapse metrics' i've seen lately is about transportation traffic in China.

i don't remember if it's trucks, trains, or what.

also something about channel stuffing by Chinese manufacturers.

basically demand for Chinese-made stuff has dropped about 50% in the last year or 2, by some reports.


another off-the-cuff metric - i recently tried to buy an oscillating sprinkler to water 6 medium size garden plots each about 30 x 50 feet, twice a week.

no big deal.

i have bought & returned 5 different new sprinklers, working my way up in price.

i bought #6 this morning. it is functional but missing 2 parts - the knob to turn it from 'min' to 'max', and the bearing for one side of the sprinkler. now it is loose in a metal housing.

i didn't notice till i got home. that one cost $45. the first one cost $5.

i feel like a consumer reports of sprinklers. it's sort of ending up that i'm renting the sprinklers, because when i return them i get my money back. if the current one keeps working, i may use it another month till the rains come. when i return it, i will then be on sprinkler #7.


and they're all made in China.