• This is a test.

    Did you know that doctors will prescribe medication for something other than it’s originally intended purpose? An example is the hypertension drug minoxidil. People taking minoxidil many years ago may have noticed one of the side effects: “… may result in increased hair growth…. ” Doctors later figured out you could smear some on your head… and the rest was history.

    Everyone is familiar with the standard reasons for having children: leaving a legacy in this world, extending the species, having a family, enjoying the pitter patter of little feet, and so on. Many parents will tell you that there is another, lesser known reason for having children: namely to test the structural integrity of your home and its furnishings. Parents of the world, who among you is not familiar with the crashing sound of falling objects followed by the “apologetic chorus” (as performed by your offspring)? Refrain: “I’m so sorry, so sorry….”

    Five years ago, when we first moved into our new house, I hung my bicycle from the ceiling in our converted garage. I suspected at the time that I might have only grazed the outside of the stud in the ceiling, without hitting it dead center. It seemed solid at the time, so I didn’t think about it any further… until last night.

    CRASH!
    From the other room… “daddy, your bike fell down.”
    Running from the other side of the house “Beth, are you o.k.?”
    “I’m sorry daddy.”
    “Beth are you o.k.?”
    “I’m o.k. daddy.”
    “Beth, do you know how the bike fell?”
    Silence.
    “Beth?”
    Silence
    Suspicious… “Beth, did the bike fall all by itself or did it have some help?”
    Sheepishly… “It had some help.”

    Always remember the second law of raising children: “any household implement that can be used as gymnasium equipment, WILL be used as gymnasium equipment.”

    Bookshelves WILL be used as a step ladder.

    Hanging bicycles will be used as a flying trapeze.

    It doesn’t matter how well you raise your child, the temptation is there every waking moment spent in the house. No amount of conditioning can defeat that kind of temptation. Please plan accordingly.

    And for God’s sake, PLEASE make SURE you hit the center of the stud with your anchors!

  • Free speech, revisited.

    Here’s a hypothetical… a popular a.m. radio show DJ goes on a rant about pesky bicyclists on the road. The DJ talks about being fed up with the inconvenience of having to go around bicycles on the road, which he believes should be on the sidewalk anyway. One thing leads to another, and the DJ starts advocating violence. O.K., you caught me. I’m not talking about a hypothetical situation. Don’t take my word for it, here’s the words of others:

    The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)…
    The controversy began June 30 with broadcasters on the “Lanigan and Malone” show on WMJI-FM/105.7. “Cleveland’s Knuckleheads,” as the station promotes them, and on-air callers described ways to heckle cyclists, edge them off the road or strike them with car doors, according to listeners. Such acts could bring felony assault or other criminal charges.

    On Aug. 30, a pickup truck driver in Texas hit a line of bicyclists, killing two and injuring three. On Sept. 2, a Houston station offered bicycle-disabling advice and jokes similar to what aired in Cleveland. Then, beginning on Sept. 22, a Clear Channel station in Raleigh did the same. Both stations later apologized.

    League of American bicyclists…
    On September 22 and 23, Raleigh station G105 advocated violence against cyclists, complete with suggestions on how to run cyclists off the road, and urged listeners to call in with stories of harassing them. One listener, quoted in the Raleigh News Observer, said a DJ joked of pelting cyclists with empty Yoo-Hoo bottles and said he would, “love to be on a motorcycle and driving it down a bike lane. Because he didn’t think bikers should be allowed on the road. He said they should ride on the sidewalk.”

    Even as an avid cyclist (Cheryl would say “former avid cyclist” would be a better description), I could entertain a debate concerning wether or not bicyclists should be allowed on the road. I would argue that the should be (I would add that it is lawful for bikes to be on the road in most states), but I would agree 100% that people should be able to debate this question. My problem is the position seemingly taken by the DJ’s: that violence is a suitable solution to the issue. We’re talking about suggestions made on the air, by on air personalities, that could result in people’s deaths. Is this kind of speech a crime? If it isn’t, should it be?

    Clear Channel, which owns each of the stations in question (no big surprise, considering they own the radio universe), has stated that they do not condone violence against any group of people. They are donating air time to promote road safety. No word has been given as to wether the DJ’s will be disciplined. No word has been given as to wether the air time to promote road safety will be utilized in as effective a manner as the DJ’s time advocating violence. Let’s see… popular DJ, ranting on the air… versus… sterile public service announcement. Yeah, big of them to give up air time.

    The last I heard, the FCC will be investigating the matter. The last I heard, the current administration is not big on government agencies that regulate.

    Big people 1, little people 0.

    Sources:
    http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/

    The League of American Bicyclists

    http://apnews.excite.com/article/20031101/D7UHVDF00.html
    http://www.clearchannel.com/
    http://www.fcc.gov

  • Hope, revisited.

    In the beginning, there was a message of hope. I didn’t give any details. Instead, I kept my reasons secret. I tormented you with this secret, but you may have guessed anyway. Now we are at the end. It didn’t end the way we had hoped – again.

    I still have hope.

    I still haven’t told you what it was.