Absurdity, Allegory and China

The Kingdom from another angle.

Absurdity, Allegory and China header image 4

China Tainted Drywall Story Getting Some Wider Notice

March 24th, 2009 · 1 Comment

I’ve been trying to get someone from the foreign media to finally start looking into the tainted drywall story I’ve been hammering on since early January, and it looks as if someone is finally seeing it as a potential problem, though obviously no thanks to me. Time’s China Blog just posted the following: Tracking a [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: drywall · Tianjin

Drywall update: Knauf Tianjin no insurance?

February 28th, 2009 · 15 Comments

Just when it seems as if things cannot get any worse regarding the Chinese drywall problem in Florida, the next chapter opens up to more bad news, though this news seems more incredulous than just plain “worse.” Seems that the Tianjin, China drywall company at the center of the storm, the Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: drywall

Drywall Update: US Companies Coming Up Rotten, Too

February 26th, 2009 · No Comments

The Chinese drywall problem in Florida (USA) not only refuses to go away (and I suspect that it won’t any time soon, since it continues to generate lawsuits), but it has just gotten a bit more convoluted. The latest twist has two US drywall manufacturers being included in upcoming suits. The National Law Journal (NLJ) [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: drywall

Tianjin: Out the Window

February 24th, 2009 · No Comments

Here are a few photos this morning in Tianjin, which woke to a light dusting of snow. The Olympic Center was the site of a dozen football (soccer) matches during the 2008 Olympics, but there has been little-to-no activity there since then. I would know, since this is my front yard. These are taken from [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: Flickr · photo · stadium · Tianjin

Drywall Update: EPA asked to investigate

February 19th, 2009 · No Comments

The Chinese drywall problem in Florida has gotten a lot bigger all of a sudden, according to a story in the Sarasota Herald Tribune: Scope widens in Chinese drywall case Drywall produced by Knauf Tianjin Plasterboard Co. Ltd. — one of the problematic manufacturers identified so far — made it to the inland town of [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: Tianjin

And the Stink Rolls On: FL drywall update

February 8th, 2009 · 4 Comments

The Chinese drywall problems in Florida (USA), continues to gain steam, lawsuits are flying, and at least one class action lawsuit has already been filed. One large homebuilder is temporarily relocating people so they can tear out the defective drywall and replace electrical wiring. Finger pointing, unaccountability and corporate fear in these times of economic [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: drywall · reporting · Tianjin

Inauguaration, Tianjin

January 20th, 2009 · No Comments

As I watch the crowds on the Mall from my computer in China it is difficult not to recall this past March 31st when I tried to walk to Tiananmen Square to get a glimpse of the much-hyped Olympic Torch as it arrived in Beijing. It was a very private, invitation-only affair with guests and [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: Obama

Tainted Drywall Update: 1/16/2009

January 16th, 2009 · No Comments

A media statement released by Knauf on January 9, 2009 concludes The company is conducting a thorough investigation and cooperating with builders that have contacted it. Studies and testing by nationally recognized experts are ongoing.  The testing has confirmed that copper has blackened and may be caused by low levels of naturally occurring sulfur gases. [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: drywall · Tianjin

Just Follow the Links

January 15th, 2009 · 6 Comments

In the last four days I have posted twice about the toxic drywall problems in southwest Florida, which have been traced back to Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd. And yes, that’s Tianjin, China, Beichen District to be specific. (See here and here or just scroll down the page.) If you’d like to see how this [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: drywall · reporting · Tianjin

More on the Florida/Tianjin Suspect Drywall

January 14th, 2009 · No Comments

The drywall problem in southwest Florida that has been traced back to Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd. of China continues to grow. A January 14, 2009 story by Mary Wozniak in the Fort Myers, FL News-Press raises the possibility that the suspect wallboard may have been used in the construction of three charter schools in [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: drywall · reporting · Tianjin