Statement from Guidant regarding the possible failure of its pacemakers:
"Guidant recommends that physicians consider replacing devices for pacemaker-dependent patients," the company said in a statement. "In addition, Guidant advises patients to seek medical attention immediately if they notice shortness of breath, dizziness, lightheartedness or a prolonged fast heart rate." - nytimes.com
I wonder if they meant lightheadedness, or if they really mean you might die of euphoria.
"Doctor! I feel happy!"
"Quick! Hospital for you. Here, have some anti-anti-depressants."
Grates On Me
Why is it, that in the following descriptive paragraph, each person is given a descriptor, but only one person is identified by race? "A small woman" would be just as useful in demonstrating the juxtaposition, surely?
The witty, 30-second spots attempt to give identity theft a voice. One called "Outfit," for instance, shows Jake B., a beer-bellied fraud victim, impersonating the Valley Girl who used his credit card to buy this, like, totally cool $1,500 leather bustier. It goes on to highlight Citigroup's free identity theft protection services, which include fraud detection warnings on every bank and credit card account. A similar magazine display juxtaposes a small Asian woman with a monster truck and shows an elderly woman receiving a tattoo. - nytimes.com
Cycle Lanes Are Good, But Parking Spaces Are Better
One of the things I really like about Christchurch is the amazingly huge wide straight roads, that usually include a parking lane and a cycle lane. In other parts of the city, however, part of the footpath is used as a cycle lane instead. It's clearly marked and wide enough for the cyclists to go reasonably quickly and for pedestrians to be safe. I wonder if Takapuna should go with the split footpath option, because:
A plan to criss-cross the North Shore with cycleways has struck stiff resistance from some residents who refuse to give up parking spaces outside their homes to cyclists.
[...]
About 84 parking spaces out of 125 would be lost along the Milford-Takapuna arterial roads but people in a dozen side roads would also be affected. - nzherald.co.nz
I can see why there is opposition. That's a hell of a lot of carparks to lose to a cycle lane. Part of the problem is that according to the Land Transport Act, the cycle lane operates at all times, is permanent and cannot be used for parking at any time.
Unless Takapuna has mounds of cyclists (a 'crash' of cyclists?) it's going to be very frustrating to look out your window at the empty cycle lane and have to walk 5 minutes to your car.