<p>This 2 by 4 is a piece of dimensional lumber used in construction in North America. The nominal size is 2 by 4 inches but the actual size is 1.5 by 3.5 in (38 by 89 mm)
</p><p>In American folklore it is often used as a club to get someone's attention. During the anti-trust case, United States versus Microsoft, Judge Penfield Jackson gave this analogy to reporters for the New York Times.
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<blockquote><p>
He had a trained mule who could do all kinds of wonderful tricks. One day somebody asked him: "How do you do it? How do you train the mule to do all these amazing things?" "Well," he answered, "I'll show you."He took a 2-by-4 and whopped him upside the head.The mule was reeling and fell to his knees, and the trainer said: "You just have to get his attention." </p></blockquote>
<p>U.S. v Microsoft, United States Court of Appeals District of Columbia,  June 28, 2001 <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.ll.georgetown.edu/federal/judicial/dc/opinions/00opinions/00-5212a.pdf">[1]</a>
</p><p>The photo by Michael Holley, June 2008.
</p>
Taken with a Canon PowerShot A630 (1/60 second and f/2.8) with on camera flash. The image was touched up with Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0.
<a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Swtpc6800" title="User:Swtpc6800">Swtpc6800</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Swtpc6800" class="extiw" title="en:User:Swtpc6800">en:User:Swtpc6800</a> Michael Holley
<span class="int-own-work" lang="en">Own work</span>