Rhubarb Report 059

Pro football's finest hour (or four) will soon be upon us. The Super Bore is this weekend. With any luck, it won't be a bore, though the majority of them have had little in terms of excitement. Past history would indicate a good chance of a blowout. Maybe this year will be different. If not, we can always just turn it off and discuss deer antler spray or Randy Moss' legacy in the meantime.

With fingers crossed for a great game this weekend, let's take first down and ten and move along to episode 059 of the Rhubarb Report.

1. It has to be one of the funniest, most bizarrely ironic news stories that I can remember. The issue of gun control has been in the middle of a media scrum for a few months now. With proposed gun control laws looming, gun owners are in a mad rush to get more guns and ammunition. But, it has created a problem: law enforcement can't get the guns or ammunition they need to do their job. Manufacturers are sold out, so that those that really need it are unable to get it.

I guess that poses a problem, doesn't it? So do you feel better knowing that police officers don't have ammo, but your 75 year-old neighbor with the semi-automatic rifle does?

Speaking of which, Texas legislators have once again proposed legislation allowing students to carry concealed guns on campus. Question: as an educator, what happened to my rights to be in a gun-free classroom? Call in the ACLU. But I digress.

I am sure there is an answer to be found somewhere between sanity and the 2nd Amendment. Bring back the musket for that well-regulated militia.

2. While we're on the topic of the Texas legislature, let's take a look at the "ridiculous bill" category. Oh, there we have it. House Bill 778, filed by Rep. Ryan Guillen, would require the University of Texas and Texas A&M University football teams to renew their rivalry and start playing each other annually again.

Much as I might like to see this happen - I am a big fan of in-state rivalries - the Texas legislature has no place in this discussion. It harkens back to the Congressional investigation into Major League baseball. Millions of dollars later, Congress did exactly what MLB should have done with its own money.

Your tax dollars at work. Pass legislation on health care, immigration reform, or any other "important" issue? Are you kidding? We have more important issues like ... football ... [insert sarcasm here].

3. Smoke detectors save lives. But I have to ask - does the "low battery" beep always have to take place in the middle of the night? I mean, seriously. I have never had a smoke detector remind me that it needs a new battery at noon. What's up with that? Sounds like Murphy's Law at work.

Worse yet, why do smoke detectors not have instructions printed on or molded directly into them? If you are waking up in the middle of the night to replace the battery, and its not a task that occurs that frequently anyways, are you really in a frame of mind (or consciousness) to sort it out?

Note: January 31 is the last day for nominations in the 2013 PT Blog Awards sponsored by Therapydia! This is the first ever award contest for PT bloggers. On February 1, 2013, the top five nominees in each category will be released. Click here to vote and be sure to fill in “Allan Besselink” as your choice for Best Overall Blog, Best PT Blog, and Best Advocacy Blog. Thanks for your support!

Photo credits: Wikipedia