"Sometimes, an item the factory produces resembles nothing I've ever seen," Chen said. "One time, we made something that looked like a ladle, but it had holes in its cup and a handle that bent down 90 degrees. The foreman told us that it was a soda-can holder for an automobile. If you are lucky enough to own a car, sit back and enjoy the journey. Save the soda beverage for later."

Chen added: "A cup holder is not a necessary thing to own."

Chen expressed similar confusion over the tens of thousands of pineapple corers, plastic eyeshades, toothpick dispensers, and dog pull-toys that he has helped manufacture.

"Why the demand for so many kitchen gadgets?" Chen said. "I can understand having a good wok, a rice cooker, a tea kettle, a hot plate, some utensils, good china, a teapot with a strainer, and maybe a thermos. But all these extra things—where do the Americans put them? How many times will you use a taco-shell holder? 'Oh, I really need this silverware-drawer sorter or I wi

they sent a shit load of shit to australia as well !!!

LoL@ article and zadoz comment

Damn Onion, this is too good to be true but it is true.

The Onion is cutting edge

I always wonder what the factory workers think of some of the really strange stuff like certain Happy Meal toys.

We 'Murrikans are nuts for anything plastic. I remember my first acid trip long ago when it became clear to me that I had ingested a lot of plastic in my life, molecularly speaking, and got pukey tryin' to get it outta my body...I left the city and spent the day in the Berkeley hills with the eucalyptus tress trying to heal body and mind. I love eucalyptus trees. Hug 'em even.

I would like to know when we will be able to make our own $h!% again! Everything is made in China these days. Yikes, I go away for 13+ years and you know who has given our productivity away right from under our noses.

Why are we unemployed? can't afford our mortgages? Look for the "made in..." label in everything you buy from now on. And I mean everything.

The quickest way to cut consumerism in your own back yard? Stop buying ANYTHING made in China.

See how fast you save money and cut down on the crap in your life.

ps. the onion always has an uncanny way of blurring fiction with fact ... or is that fact with fiction?

This is one of those stories from The Onion that I could readily believe. I've sometimes wondered how it feels for the people who work in the factories that make sex toys.