Hi everyone,
I haven't posted in a while - so sorry!  Life's been crazy.  But I had to post this because it's important!

I got this article from here, but I'm also pasting it in case the URL becomes defunct.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22751899-23109,00.html

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Used condoms winding up in people's hairFrom correspondents in Beijing
November 13, 2007 03:14pm

USED condoms are being recycled into hair bands in southern China and selling well in local markets and beauty salons.

But they could spread the sexually transmittable diseases the condoms were originally meant to prevent, state media said today.

Rubber hair bands had been found in local markets and beauty salons in Dongguan and Guangzhou cities in southern Guangdong province, China Daily newspaper said.

"These cheap and colourful rubber bands and hair ties sell well ... threatening the health of local people," it said.

Despite being recycled, the hair bands could still contain bacteria and viruses, it said.

"People could be infected with AIDS, warts or other diseases if they hold the rubber bands or strings in their mouths while weaving their hair into plaits or buns," the paper quoted a local dermatologist as saying.

A bag of ten of the recycled bands sold much cheaper than others on the market, accounting for their popularity, the paper said.

China's manufacturing industry has been repeatedly tarnished this year by a string of scandals involving shoddy or dangerous goods made for both domestic and foreign markets.
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And here is a site that shows the hair ties:
http://www.bloganything.net/67/scary-recycled-hair-band-made-of-condom

:o  EWWWWWWW!!! WTF is going on over there?!

I second that EWWWWWWWWWW!

Khrome!!  I've been thinking about you-I hope you're well.

Thanks for the warning.  Hubby's been to two of those cities on business-thank goodness I don't let him buy me hair accessories anymore.  He bought a few metal ones for me in China once and they were all far from hair friendly.

EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW, too!

EEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!  WTF is going on over there is absolutely the right sentiment!!!

eeeewwwwwwwwwwwww. Gez, they have some *interesting* business practices there in China. Tainted pet food, drug laced toys, and now this?

But thanks for stopping by, Khrome! I've been wondering how you've been doing. Hope to see you again soon. :)

Hi Khrome, I hope your doing well.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!  That is f@#$%* up!http://www.smilieshq.com/smilies/sick0002.gif

My turn  *ahem*  EWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!

Quote:

Gez, they have some *interesting* business practices there in China. Tainted pet food, drug laced toys, and now this?

And the fish, Juri chan! We mustn't forget the fish...  :P

Thanks everyone - it's good to see you guys too!  I started off writing a small summary of what has been going on, and it turned out to be rather long.  So I'm going to post it in my journal since it's off topic here.  

But yeah, I was disgusted with these hair ties!!!  And I've pretty much sworn off of anything that says Made in China.  I went on vacation and got free mugs - they were pretty, but they went straight in the trash.  It said Made in China and probably had lead in it.  lol

Not everything chinese is bad. Just... a lot of it. they make things cheaply, to sell to stupid foreigners(or other chinese, for that matter) who don't know any better. If you're going to get stuff for 1/4 the price of the next best competitor... you're going to get sh!t goods. *shrugs* still... condom hairties... I MUST AGREE.... EEEEWWW. YICK. *GACK*  that's crossing the line.

it is a very good thing I only buy goody's brand ouchless p'tail holders... otherwise I'd be hacking at them to see what they're made of.

As an aside, about the beads that when swallowed, the coating metabolizes into ghb.. WHY ARE THEY ALLOWING THE KIDS TO EAT THE BLOODY BEADS IN THE FIRST PLACE? One of the reported cases was a 10 year old girl who freaking ate several beads. I mean, seriously? a ten year old that is still eating parts off toys... probably shouldn't be allowed anywhere NEAR small toys, much less without parental supervision.
I mean, to get the massive reaction, you have to eat dozens of the damn things. *stalks off muttering about stupid bloody kids trying to stupid themselves out of existance*

Eugh.  Nasty.  

Do you know if any of these were ever sold to the US?  I hope not... I don't use hairties much, but I do use them sometimes....

EWWWWWW.   I DON'T want to think about that....

hmm that is bizarre and gross. thanks for the heads up, khrome.