Here's a story destined for the crapper.

Santa Clara University's student newspaper, The Santa Clara, reported recently that a months-long sewer blockage under a dorm was caused by a pink iPod mini which had accidentally been flushed down a toilet. The iPod, which took a week and $1000 to remove was described as "indestructable" by Eugene Bowers, the lead mechanic for maintenance and facilities who oversaw the operation. (Nonetheless, the iPod was in fact destroyed in the process of removing it.)

Perhaps the now iPodless student could have used one of these.  

Macworld UK reports that the Mail on Sunday has run a story that, intentional or not, seems to make Apple look pretty bad. The article describes conditions within a Chinese iPod factory (link to Macworld; original article not available online).

Among the Mail's assertions:

1. Workers may not have visitors to their dormitories.
2. Workers endure 15-hour work days.
3. They earn about US$100 per month, about half of which is paid back to the company for room and board.
4. Only women are hired because they are claimed to be more honest than male workers.

Where to start?

First, compensation. This must be considered in light of the local economy. Personally, I wish I could pay my room and board for $50 a month. Where I live, I'd guess that costs an average of about $1200, which would make my equivalent to their salary US$2400 per month. For mindless repetitive work that does not require diversely skilled labor, that sounds about right.

Second, working conditions. Yeah, things suck in China. Is that news? The factories in question are not owned by Apple, but rather a contractor. Nonetheless, if Apple's use of cheap Chinese labor is getting you worked up, you might as well just stop buying manufactured goods right now because they're all made by Chinese workers enduring the same lifestyle. Is that bad? Maybe, but if you're going to get hacked off about it, get hacked off at the Chinese government. They are the real problem.

Third, sexist hiring practices. This is a non-issue. Everyone knows that, while sexism against females is abhorrent, sexism against males is a wonderful thing that should be encouraged the world over.