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SATURDAY December 6, 2003 - Subscribe - Contact Us Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels November 24, 2003 The lesson: Take care for safety By Lorie Anderson Ashland I take issue with the Nov. 14 Tidings article "Home for the Healing," announcing a healing touch practice located in Ashland that can diagnose and cure even serious illness, like diabetes and kidney failure - conveying extensive scientific validation for the practice! Applied Kinesiology (AK) uses dubious "muscle testing" to diagnose "energy imbalance," which purportedly causes allergies, illness, etc. The typical AK arm muscle test entails the patient tasting a substance while the therapist attempts to push the patient's outstretched arm down, against the patient's attempt to resist. AK asserts that if the arm drops, the muscles had weakened from negative energy created by the mere presence of the substance. Demonstrate the unreliable nature of AK muscle testing for yourself: Ask someone to extend their arm and to fully resist your effort to push it down. Then, suddenly but subtly allow the person's arm to rise slightly before continuing the downward pressure. The arm easily succumbs. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence," Carl Sagan advised. Yet, an analysis of twenty favorable AK studies conducted from 1981-1987 found all were faulty - not one valid conclusion! Although scientific-sounding, AK and its off-shoots, Specialized Kinesiology and Applied Neurogenics, are not associated with the scientific fields of kinesiology or neurogenics; rather, AK and its numerous off-shoots have more in concert with New Age or Eastern philosophies. We speak of alternative medicine, but there is no alternative science. Tidings reporters should employ skepticism and investigate claims rather than report unsubstantiated curative powers. Or label such articles as advertisements. Further information at: www.quackwatch.com . Police should follow through with duties By Tia Patterson Ashland On Wednesday, I received information of two assaults that occurred in the vicinity of the Ashland Daily Tidings on Siskiyou Boulevard. Evidently in one of the incidences, a woman was grabbed by a male adult, thrown down and fondled. Luckily, she got away and suffered only minor injuries. I am afraid of what could have happened, not that what happened wasn't bad enough. At a separate time, but near the same location, a man was grabbed by two men and assaulted. The man who was assaulted thought the perpetrators mistook him for a woman because of the length of his hair. I am concerned for the safety of the campus community and those who get around on foot and by bike. Last night I found myself walking up Normal Street through the darkness, concerned, and wondering if it was a good idea for me to be walking around in such circumstances. As I continued up towards my friend's house, a man on a bike veered towards me. I hopped up on the curb as he whizzed by me saying something under his breath while he followed me with his eyes till he could no longer look over his shoulder. Weird. I quickened my pace and decided that when it was time for me to walk home I would take advantage of the services offered by the local police department. I had a vision of calling dispatch, explaining the circumstances, requesting a ride and being picked up with a smile. I expected kindness and understanding. I had a feeling of safety knowing that support was just a call away. As I was preparing to leave I called the Ashland Police Department phone number to request a ride. Dispatch answered. It was a woman on the line. I explained to her my fears, my location and destination. I asked for an escort home. The woman on the line sounded surprised by my request, even a bit annoyed. I was caught off guard by her tone of voice and her following statements. She explained that it is not the job of the police department to "drive all the way across town just to bring someone back across town again." She suggested I call a cab. I was lost for words. I took a deep breath in my disbelief and explained further that I had no money to pay for a taxi and that I felt unsafe and needed a ride. She apologized smugly and was no longer helpful for my situation. I was left to fend for myself. I hung up the phone, put on my coat and cautiously ventured home. The next morning I followed up the situation from the night before with a phone call to APD. The officer explained that it is customary for the police department to dispatch an officer, if available, to the location of the request and either patrol the area while the individual asking for an escort walks from one location to the other, or to physically give the individual a ride home. The dispatcher had made a mistake last night by telling me to take a cab. She made it her choice to jeopardize my safety. Be safe while walking the streets of Ashland. Go in pairs, call a cab or call the Ashland Police Department for a ride. It's their job. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Road Cams