Gridlock News

Rolling Stones' guitarist, Keith Richards, fell out of a coconut tree in Fiji and suffered a concussion. There were no reports that he needed a blood transfusion nor suffered serious injury. Richards is 62 years old. It is unknown why he was climbing a coconut tree. Stones star takes a fall [Picture is not Keith Richard's nor is it a model portraying Keith Richard's attempt to hang out in a coconut tree]

In a scene straight out of a J.K. Rolling's novel, a self-proclaimed, reformed witch testified against the Harry Potter Book series in Gwinnett County Schools. Twenty students, a dozen or more parents, a dozen or more educators, reporters from the four major networks, along with newspaper columnists and yours truly turned out to hear the testimony presented to the Gwinnett County Board of Education, in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Each side was provided fifteen minutes to make their case for or against the Harry Potter book series. The side opposing the Harry Potter book series lead by Laura Mallory, mother of four children and missionary, kicked off the testimony. The opposition included three mothers, one practicing Gwinnett County counselor and a teenage daughter of one of the mothers. The opposition first surprised the group as the counselor graphically described a child scratching herself while sleeping and awaking in a pool of blood after being exposed to the Harry Potter series. The counselor was followed by a mother that described how her family had been ruined in reputation, community standing, suffered health problems, and gained weight when her daughter turned to the Wiccan religion. This set the stage for the daughter, now a teenager enrolled in high school in Gwinnett County to describe her history of reading Harry Potter and turning to witch craft. She described how she along with class mates started to use Tarot Cards at school during recess. She also stated that some of her friends more experienced in witchcraft had on more than one occasion successfully recreated spells out of the Harry Potter series. The side established to defend the book series, included three teachers, one of whom was also a parent, and one additional parent. They described and provided examples citing the success they had experienced in teaching students to not only read but love to read directly because of the Harry Potter books. One parent that has been fighting Laura Mallory since the initial claims were made, requested that the board amend its rules, such that no future bans might be considered unless the book in question had been read by the petitioner. Members of the community later received an opportunity to speak for two minutes each. One resident cited the dangers of allowing the Harry Potter books to remain in the school system. This was echoed by a second resident that described how pictures of Harry Potter in her son's classroom were possessed by demons, which had ruined her sons grades for several months until he was transplanted to a new class with a Christian teacher. He later became a star pupil. A fifth grade student eloquently spoke about her ability to discern the difference between reality and fiction or fantasy. She stated that Harry Potter was fantasy as she sat next to the reformed teenage witch. A mother urged the board to consider the steps towards anarchy that the county would be following if the ban were to be allowed. Her thirteen year old daughter then described the personal benefits of reading the Harry Potter series. She even described reading one of the seven hundred page books, while she was in third grade and unable to lift the same book physically. The entire affair was very civil and orderly. No bursts of outrage nor applause. A more complete version of this story will be published at a later time along with audio transcripts.

India has decided to refuse to sign the comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. India will continue to leave open its options to to perform nuclear test explosions, even though they have instituted a nationwide moratorium. President Bush had heavily encouraged them to deal in exchange for a lift on the current embargo that would allow an exchange of nuclear fuel and technology. According to News 24.com: "New Delhi has promised to separate its military and civil facilities, opening most of the latter to international inspections. The deal must be ratified by the US congress and the 45-member nuclear suppliers group. " The US Congress will now find itself deciding on a course between a rock and a hard place. The US will seek to support India, however it does not provide the US much neogiating room with Pakistan. The Asian area has moved from a triad of nuclear powers (India, China & Pakistan) to a potential foursome as Iran attempts to enter the melee. Meanwhile, North Korea continues to lurk in the background. India has agreed to open up non-military facillities for testing and inspections.

Fedex will be raising its rates on April 24, 2006 by almost 6%. Gas price increases were not sited as a reason. Instead Fedex indicated according to the Memphis Business Journal, "The rate increase is related to service offerings and innovations such as its no-fee, money-back guarantee, said Dennie Carey, senior vice president of marketing for FedEx Freight, in a statement. Those services involve fast-cycle logistics and require continuous investment. Other factors contributing to the rate increase include increasing highway tolls and access fees and the investment in more expensive, environmentally-responsible equipment, the company said. " Dennie Carey goes on to state in a Fedex Press Release, “Our ability to help companies take inventory out of the supply chain has enormous value to our customers employing fast-cycle logistics, and requires continuous investment in safe, fuel-efficient equipment, our network of more than 330 service centers and an educated and engaged workforce.” Fedex returned to its normal Surcharge practice on November 1, 2005 after fuel price fluctuation stabilized following Hurricane Katrina. There was no indication that recent spikes in oil and fuel would have an impact on Surcharges.

A local mother of 3 children (per AJC) or 4 children (per Ledger-Enquirer's AP report) or 3 & 4 children (per Access North GA and WTVM Channel 9) has appealed her local schools decision to keep Harry Potter on the shelves. The appeal will now go to the Gwinnett County School Board on Thursday, April 20, 2006. The School board will hear from Laura Mallory, a missionary resident of Gwinnett County for 2 years. In addition, the School Board will hear letters from thousands of parents and teachers with various views on the subject. The AJC reports that this is the first appeal to reach the board since 1997 at which time a Judy Blume book and a RL Stine book. In fact, an appeal made by a Gwinett County Kindergarten teacher was sent to the same school board during the school years of 2003/04. That appeal requested the removal of a book the teacher found to be offensive titled "Walter the Farting Dog" by William Kotzwinkle, Glenn Murray & Audrey Colman. Both the 1997 and 2003/4 appeals failed and the board allowed the books to remain on the shelves. Editorial from Gridlock on Rye 4-17-06 update Notice of hearing from School Board - includes fax number to Submit concerns Superintendent's Office, Gwinnett County Public Schools 678-301-6030