In May of 1996 the Fresno Alliance for Konsumer Edukation (FAKE) and the consumer Protection and Health Organization of New York (PHONY) merged to become USELESS.

Sima-Bush told Faux-News that the group has always stuck to their original charter which was to “Decide for those who could not decide for themselves, what is best for them.” They see the publishing the annual list of unsafe or inappropriate toys as a USELESS way to bring value to the communities they serve.
 
The following were some of the items on this year’s list:
 
Thomas the Tank Engine- Thomas the Tank Engine is a toy that is created from a children’s show of the same name. The toy is a replica of a old steam engine train with humanoid characteristics. As Sima-Bush explained to Faux-News this toy sent an environmentally unfriendly message to children. “We are trying to teach our kids to be more conscious of the environment, as such it seems to send a very inappropriate message if we are to give them as a toy a replica of a train that runs by burning fossil fuels.” Instead USELESS recommends Jules the Environmentally Hybrid Engine.
 
The Captain America Action Figure- This action figure was one of several to make this year’s list, all of the different lines of G.I. Joe action figures were also included on the list. Sima-Bush explains: “Many of the action figures on the list were included because they are giving kids a very U.S. centric view of the world, we are one world community and we should not look at ourselves as being better than anyone, and we as group had what we called a USELESS instinct that this was not a message we want to instill in our children.” The entire list of toys and all associated USELESS warnings, are available on the USELESS website at www.fark.com.

Written & Submitted by
Abe S.