There's just a lot of apprehension about China's successes, probably due to their sheer size and emerging economic power. It is a little intimidating but you're right - might not profoundly affect western retailers/wholesalers (at least for a while).

Long term, I wonder how the price competition will play out. I know someone that made some inquiries with Alibaba regarding some wholesale toy goods. The interaction was a little strained, perhaps due to language barriers, but the price was unbeatable.

Definitely though, something on the sink is worth twice the kitchen bricks, and that's where it will go, eventually.

My opinion is that when people are tempted to call other people shills, astroturfers, etc. on a discussion forum, they should just shut up, frankly. The risks of implying someone is a shill when they're not one far outweigh the benefits we get from the "shill police".

In the past, I also dared to disagree with the hive mind on a discussion forum regarding Microsoft, and was called an astroturfer. Of course I didn't take it lying down, and it was in fact a spirited debate. The point is, though, it was frustrating and distracted from the topic at hand unnecessarily. It was a waste of time.

How should one "distinguish" themselves from a shill in their posts? Should we put a special tagline in the signature: "I am not a shill, nor do I play one on TV."

Simply closing the door on a foot doesn't mean it's Tuesday, either - keep that in mind.

Zinger, that. If you can't throw spit off the truck, then what's the upside?

These little buggers will just evolve into a new dietary choice for the Martians, who will then thank us profusely. I mean, right now, they can eat rust, and ... uh... rust. Limited menu. They'll love us. Might even stop them from shooting back at our rover when it does the laser science thing.

I say, launch 'em!