Last week I mentioned in this space that clowns and stilt walkers freak me out, a comment I predicted might provoke some readers to label me a "hater." But instead, I heard from a couple of readers who are also afraid of stilt walkers. One wrote to say he went so far as to design a beaver costume he wears to public events so he can gnaw on the wooden legs of stilt walkers. Honestly, you can't make this stuff up.