"Bald Barbie"

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2012-01-11/Young-cancer-survivors-lobby-Mattel-for-bald-Barbie/52503118/1

A group started by cancer survivors is petitioning Mattel to make a Barbie doll who is bald.  As anyone who’s ever removed her clothes knows, in a way, she already is.

If Barbie underwent chemotherapy for cancer, at least it would finally explain how she’s so skinny.

“Toy Man”

http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/story/2011-11-21/Mattel-ceo-to-retire/51333694/1

Toy giant Mattel reported that their CEO, Robert Eckert, will retire at the end of the year.  The company made the announcement using their inside voice.

Eckert has headed the company for 11 years.  And now he’s winding down.

During the time he has lead the company, he has also learned a lot about sharing and waiting your turn.

Allegedly, Eckert got really tired of everyone at the company playing games with him.

The CEO will be replaced by an electronic version of Eckert.

Eckert says that once he retires from the toy business, he’s looking forward to more play time.

Luckily for Eckert, his predecessor, CEO Barbie, left really tiny shoes to fill.

As exiting CEO, Eckert has an attractive retirement package, but of course, batteries are not included.

“Bratz Worst”

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/04/jury-rejects-mattels-copyright-claim-to-ratz-doll/1

A federal jury has rejected the Mattel toy company’s claim to ownership of the Bratz dolls.  Instead of siding with Mattel or rival MGA Entertainment, the jury decided that the Bratz look so slutty that everyone should get a piece.

The Brats dolls are famous for their bold make-up and short skirts, raising questions of whether their style is appropriate for young girls.  The lawsuit isn’t helping, teaching girls that its glamorous and exciting to be bought and sold for money, fought over, seen as an object, and as plastic as possible.

Toy maker Mattel issued an apology today to China, for damaging its reputation amid recent toy recalls. Unfortunately, the apology was coated with lead-based paint.

Mattel’s executives discussed the necessity to gather together with Chinese government officials in a memo, which quoted the old adage: Some assembly required.

China felt pretty beaten up by the media over the recalls, but they did not complain about that to Mattel. Among the tot-related topics they discussed, battery was not included.