Forgetting Outsourcing, Fans Vote Computer Engineer As Barbie's Next Career

It may seem strange for a buxom, blue-eyed blonde to take up the career of computer engineer, but that's apparently her next and 125th career, according to a Mattel press release. Her 126th career has been chosen as well: news anchor.

Girls selected news anchor, while the overall popular vote was for computer engineer. More than a half million votes were cast. Computer Engineer Barbie will debut this winter, featuring a binary code patterned T-shirt and all of the latest gadgets including a smart phone, Bluetooth headset and laptop travel bag. News Anchor Barbie will be released this fall.

The company's press release says they are both available for pre-order, but a search of the company's online store (http://www.mattelshop.com) turned up nothing.

You might ask, why is it to be considered strange that Barbie is choosing the computer field? Well, it's not simply because she's blonde, but in this case, Mattel should have selected a Chinese or Indian version of Barbie. After all, companies are outsourcing like crazy.

Based on experience, however, you get what you pay for. Thing is, companies feel that with prices so low, particularly in China, they can afford to accept the lack of initiative and poor results they sometimes see in order to get 4 (or more) times as many bodies.