Declarations

Faulty Cranksets

“Shimano will replace any cranks that fail the inspection process. … There is no need for further action for cranks that pass the inspection process.”

– Cycling company Shimano said in an announcement recalling some 760,000 bike cranksets in the U.S. and Canada due to a crash hazard that has resulted in several reported injuries. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said the now-recalled crank parts can separate and break, risking crashes. More than 4,500 incidents of the cranksets separating and six injuries have been reported – including bone fractures, joint displacement and lacerations.

Mopping Hot Tar

“If you’ve never mopped tar. It’s – imagine being a Thanksgiving turkey in the oven, waiting to be taken out … Because the tar is about 500 degrees.”

– Anthony Mackie, an actor best known for his role as the new Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, said as he joined members of the nonprofit Rebuilding Together New Orleans and roofing manufacturer GAF to help repair the roof at the home of 81-year-old veteran Joe Capers. Mackie said he recently re-roofed his own house damaged by Hurricane Ida and “now my neighbors are asking me to fix their roofs.”

Fraternity Hazing Lawsuit

“[W]e want to be clear that acts of hazing and misconduct do not represent the Fraternity’s values. … Members who engage in these activities will be held accountable to the fullest extent.”

– The national organization for Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity said in a statement after a student and his parents filed a lawsuit against the University of Alabama chapter of the fraternity, saying he suffered a traumatic brain injury while being hazed as a fraternity pledge. The lawsuit accuses the SAE fraternity and others associated with it of fraud, negligence, and assault and battery.

‘A Piece of Home’

“I want the freedom to just be there and absorb what happened. … Whatever I might find, even if it’s just those jars of sea glass, I’m looking forward to taking it. … It’s a piece of home.”

– Said Jes Claydon said as officials began lifting restrictions on entry to the burn zone in Lahaina, Hawaii, where on Aug. 8 a wildfire swept through the area, killing at least 97 people and destroying more than 2,000 buildings, most of them homes. Claydon’s rental home where she has lived for 13 years and raised three children was destroyed.

Pedestrian Deaths

“We don’t know exactly what’s going on with the increase in pedestrian fatalities. It certainly seems like the increase in bigger vehicles is contributing to it.”

– Commented Jessica Cicchino, vice president of research at the nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, regarding the rise in pedestrian and cyclist deaths on U.S. roadways. While the number of all car-related fatalities has trended upward over the last decade, pedestrians and cyclists have seen the sharpest rise: over 60% between 2011 and 2022. IIHS studies indicate the design of larger vehicles like SUVs and pickups can pose visibility problems.

Too Much THC?

“I have never knowingly sold any noncompliant product, and when I became aware of them I removed the products from inventory. … However, it has become clear that I have become a distraction that would stand in the way of the important work that needs to be done.”

– Erin Dupree, recently appointed director of Minnesota’s new marijuana regulatory agency, said in a statement upon resigning from the post amid reports that she sold illegal cannabis products in the state. Dupree’s business, Loonacy Cannabis Co. in Apple Valley, Minnesota, reportedly sold products exceeding state limits on THC potency, owed money to former associates and accumulated tens of thousands of dollars in tax liens.