Mail Box Beware.

The City Policy concerning responsibility for mailboxes that are damaged by City crews operating snow plows was officially noted at last week’s regular Council meeting. The Council approved the following language in the Policy. It was a policy change and not an ordinance so it was not subject to a second reading. It was approved by a 10-0 vote.

"Mailboxes are considered a structure on the right of way. A sound post and securely attached box will not be knocked over by snow coming off the plow. All Street crew drivers are instructed to drive as slow as realistically possible during wet snows in order to minimize the problems with mailboxes. Mailboxes that are damaged by actual physical contact with City equipment will be repaired at the City’s expense, but only if they were properly located and installed. The mail box owner is responsible for repair or replacement of the mailbox if the mailbox was damaged by the pressure of the plowed snow and there was no physical contact with the plow equipment."

Republicans Send Out a

‘Census’ Form—That’s Really a Fundraiser

by Ryan Knutson, ProPublica

An editor here at ProPublica received this "Census" form in the mail last week. In big, bold letters at the top it announces, "2010 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CENSUS." The form even has a "Census Tracking Code." But it’s not from the Census Bureau.

It’s actually a survey from the Republican National Committee. The mailer includes questions such as: "How much does it concern you that the Democrats have total control of the federal government?" "Do you think the record trillion dollar federal deficit the Democrats are creating with their out-of-control spending is going to have disastrous consequences of our nation?" And, "Do you believe the Obama Administration is right in dramatically scaling back our nation’s military?" At the end, it asks for a donation to the Republican Party.

Other people -- including the Democratic governor of Montana and a Democratic representative in Georgia -- have gotten the survey too.

The faux Census form doesn’t appear to be illegal. The United States Postal Inspection Service’s general counsel reviewed the survey in January and determined that it did not violate the Deceptive Mailings Prevention Act of 1990. The act prohibits any mail from flat-out impersonation of a federal organization. In this case, using the word Census, even with a capital "C," does not equate to impersonation of the U.S. Census Bureau, said Pete Rendina, an Inspection Service spokesman.

The survey also doesn’t appear to violate any Federal Election Commission fundraising rules, said Judith Ingram, FEC spokeswoman, because it includes disclaimers about who is allowed to donate.

But why would the RNC send something under the guise of the Census?

We called Mark Weiner, the founder of Winning Mark, a progressive-leaning direct-mail campaign consultant, and he said using the term "Census" could earn the document a second glance, thus increasing the response rate and maybe even influencing an independent voter with its slanted questions.

"You’re trying to leverage the most valuable commodity -- other people’s money," he said. "This is obviously piggybacked on a lot of advertising around responding to the real Census."

The RNC didn’t respond to our questions about why it chose to have its survey mimic a Census form. But spokesman LeRoy Coleman issued this written response: "The document clearly indicates that it is an RNC mailer. The purpose of this document is to gather Republican opinion from across the country and raise a little money."

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., filed a bill (the "Prevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act" that would require more prominent disclosures on any mailing that uses the word "census," although it wouldn’t outlaw the practice altogether. Maloney’s office says the congresswoman had filed a complaint about the mailer with the Inspection Service, and she filed her legislation after learning the Inspection Service won’t be issuing penalties.

Got into a situation once. I ended up boardin’ a horse that was bein’ fought over by a couple gettin’ a divorce. Kept it an’ fed it and exercised it for nearly a year without any financial consideration. Got a little attached to the pony I suppose. When the split was legal, I offered to buy the horse, but only ended up with some expenses bein’ covered.

The horse had some spirit, so when I saw the owner comin’ with a trailer on that muggy summer day, I knew there would be trouble. I was prob’ly hopin’ after fightin’ ta load the owner might decide reconsider my offer. I sat on the porch and watched the horse get shoved and pulled, nearly choked with a rope. I finally had ta go down and calm the animal and walk it into the trailer.

I don’t know that I did the horse a favor, seein’ as how it would prob’ly be treated. But at the time, there wasn’t much option.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Viral Infection Can Cause Dizziness

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I got a sudden attack of dizziness that landed me in bed. I couldn’t stand. Finally, with the help of my husband, I got to the doctor, who said I had a viral infection called vestibular neuritis. I am taking medicine and am somewhat better, but the dizziness isn’t completely gone. Will it go? When? -- L.T.

ANSWER: I have to warn readers that the causes of dizziness are diverse, and vestibular neuritis, while common, is only one of many causes. The vestibule of the inner ear has three fluid-filled canals that work like a carpenter’s balance, that gadget whose center contains a fluid-containing tube with a bubble in it. The balance tells the carpenter if a piece of wood is aligned. The inner ear canals tell people if they are aligned. They send signals to the brain that keep us balanced. A viral infection of those canals or of the nerve that sends signals to the brain makes people feel like they’ve been put in the spin cycle of a washer.

Not only are affected people dizzy, they become nauseated and often throw up.

Symptoms of vestibular neuritis lessen in two to three days, but full recovery can take up to six or more weeks.

A cortisone drug taken within the first three days of illness can ease symptoms. And medicines like promethazine relieve dizziness and nausea, but they make some people so drowsy that they prefer the dizziness.