Oh, And These Three Friday Morning Things

(1) I know we've been jumpy these past few years, but college kids blowing up plastic soda bottles in an empty lot doesn't seem quite the same level as, say, setting off a pipe bomb. Two USF students face criminal charges for putting dry ice and water into bottles and letting the carbon dioxide pressure burst them. Next up: Authorities Bust Mentos-And-Diet-Coke Conspirators. I swear, if I were growing up today and did some of the same stuff I actually did in college, today I'd be in prison.

(2) As my colleague Jeffrey Solochek reports today, Pasco County is considering whether to bar students who haven't passed the FCAT from graduation exercises. Pasco apparently is in the minority; most places let high-school kids march anyway even if they haven't qualified to graduate. The article includes quotes about the emotional damage to kids who aren't allowed to march. Depends, I guess, on whether graduation is just a social goodbye ceremony, or a ceremony of accomplishment. I lean toward the hard-line side.

(3) Here's an excerpt from a reader's e-mail about drinking in public parks (in this case, Philippe Park in Safety Harbor last Sunday) and my reply:

Many families were out in the water with their jet skies.  A group of about 15 young adults, ranging in age from about 17 to 20 took the tables next to us. They also had their jet skies.  I could not believe it when I saw one of the young men blatantly take a beer bottle out of his cooler and proceed to drink it.  I know for a fact that county parks have a no drinking policy. There is a sign when entering the park. On our way out of the park, we stopped to alert the ranger. I was surprised by his response and lack of interest.  I suggested that perhaps he should go and check their cooler, he told me that they are not allowed to open coolers.  I was very surprised by this.  I then called the Pinellas County sheriffs office to also alert them since the ranger was limited in what he could do.  I was told by someone in dispatch that the ranger was correct, he was [not] allowed to open coolers and neither were they.  ...  I am flabbergasted by this response.

Me:

I am surprised that they don't police it, especially in terms of underage drinking or operating vehicles on the water. For my personal taste, I do not mind the idea of someone having a beer while fishing or having a picnic -- it's not the mere presence that bothers me as much as the idea of putting other people at risk...

Comments

[Harold Moore]

I can't believe what I'm reading! Drinking in Philippe Park? Saint's preserve us. Next thing you know they will be drinking on college campuses!