I am so tired of crazy TV ads. Over half (by my unofficial count) are for prescription drugs. Some ads are entertaining, but not these. A woman is walking through several areas with woods and shops while the announcer drones on about how this drug could cause cerebral hemorrhages and death. Really? The list goes on and on. We hear them so often that they’ve become commonplace and we make jokes about them, erectile dysfunction and the like. My conclusion is that there must be a lot of money behind these drugs … translation … the profit margins are high! I also wonder who actually does “talk to their doctor” about the latest pain medication that allows them to swim out to their ski boat? Next time I see my doctor at a checkup, I’m going to ask him if any of his patients do that. He’s a pretty straight forward guy and will tell me. If his answer can be repeated, I’ll let you what he says.
Many colleges have wound down for the summer. Our grade and high schools will be done by the time you read this. Some of the Northern schools won’t be out till June. All the same, vacation months are here and kids will be home, a lot. That means more bicycles and cars on the roads with our youngsters at the handlebars/wheels. Time for us to be extra careful, particularly in our own neighborhoods.
If you have a young driver, please enforce the notion that vehicle safety begins with a safe vehicle. And the most important item on that list is tires. Make sure they have good tread and that their pressure is what is listed on the car door jamb label. These factory recommended pressures are all over the place depending on the vehicle. Our van lists 33 psi front and rear. My car lists 36 front and 44 rear. That’s not a typo, folks. And it’s not a high speed driving pressure either. So check. I’ve had my tires improperly inflated during routine oil changes, you know when they safety check 30 items. Yep, the mechanic inflates to 32 all the way around instead of 36/44. So double check your vehicles and get it right. Underinflated tires heat up and blow out easily, especially in our summers.
Gene Canavan is a retired West Point Graduate and Paper Mill Utilities Manager and lives in Prattville, Alabama, USA.
