Every so often, in researching this column, I come across a headline so bizarre that I know immediately that it will be my subject without even reading the story. Such was the case Tuesday when I saw the following on the BBC News website: “Nigerian motorcyclists wear pumpkins to evade helmet law.”

Apparently, there’s a new law in Nigeria requiring motorcycle drivers and passengers to wear helmets, which doesn’t sit too well with the operators of Nigeria’s thousands of motorcycle taxis. Helmets, which can cost up to $29, are a big expense in such a poor country, especially when you have to buy two of them. Continue reading »