... and these other Thursday topics

Okay, I think I am officially finished with "jail inmate claims to have been abused by deputies" stories.

Consider this from this morning's news account:

The Hillsborough Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that deputies moved to subdue Rayburn after he tried to stab a deputy with a glass crack pipe on Oct. 3, 2006. He then threw the pipe, which shattered and sent fragments flying at a deputy's head, according to a sheriff's report....

Rayburn has been arrested 17 times in Florida since 1993, state records show.

* * *

Meanwhile, I do not know whether it even warrants a comment, but did you see this story about two teens who believe they were discriminated against by Southwest Airlines because they are, you know, young and pretty? I suppose that lying across rows of seats, getting into a shouting match with other passengers and generally acting like brats had nothing to do with it. "They were discriminating against us because we were young, decent looking girls," one of them says. Of course, that must be it!

* * *

On a more serous topic, here is my colleague Asjylyn Loder's story this morning about the aftermath of the big power outage. One angle that caught my eye was the bit about "aging equipment." Considering the favorable regulatory environment in Florida and the profits that energy companies make, I would think they would be keeping things perfectly up to date... if they have been hauling away the cash all these years without doing that, something needs to change.

Comments

[Bland]

Howard,

A different perspective regarding the substation fire causing the grid failure. In the old days a very good heat insulator, an oil of PCB's, was used to dissipate heat in transformers at power substations. The EPA required that these transformers be replaced over time with units using innate mineral oil which does not dissipate the heat as efficiently. It is the best the industry can find, and yes there are now more incidents of substation transformer failures (i.e. fires and explosions).

Therefore, indirectly the entire power grid in this country is exposed to failure due to environmental concerns of using a more efficient solution which contains a hazardous waste, PCB. We all pay a price and risk for trying to be greener.

[John Gibson]

Since there is now a precedent for billing for infrastructure in advance, look for the power companies to start adding maintenance to the list.

[justme]

The Southwest incident. Honestly that really cracked me up. "To pretty" Give me a break.
I have only flown a few times in the past few years. With cutbacks, gas prices etc the airlines have cut their staff back to. I have noticed a slight reduction of flight crew on the flights. They do the best they can with the number of people on the plane. Everyone wants something and they all want it now. The flight crew is human too and they might not remember everyones "wants".
I am not pretty.. just the average Jane and yes, a few times I have had ask a few times for something but I didn't mind because it was not like they were just sitting down someplace doing nothing. These girls are just spoiled brats who expect everyone to bow to their wishes. Maybe the next time they fly they should fly first class so they can have special service to meet their every wants & needs. If they get lucky maybe the flight attendant will even give them a foot massage. LMAO!

[John Gibson]

OK, Howard...

you have to do away with the Centrex homes ad. its a deal breaker.

Agreed on the centrex ad. Dump it.

[A.H.]

I'm sick and tired of hearing about spoiled little rich kids not getting their way. Heaven forbid that they ever have to work for anything in their rotten miserable lives.

Make them do the flight attendants job for a week, and see how the "other half" lives. It sickens me to see "Hiltonites" act like this. Ignore them. They thrive on just such attention.

[guy]

Howard, Please, take one more comment on the inmate being abused.
How can anyone that cares at all about our communities let a lowlife like this guy Rayburn on the streets ever again.
This is a problem that really needs attention by our lawmakers.
So don't be too quick to put down the pen on this one.~~~ g

How can we allow those who think it is ok to dump disabled people on the floor to walk the streets?

Take the badge out of that equation and it's a no-brainer.

[guy]

Mr. Unknown,
Look up Rayburns arrest record.
He should have been in jail for life ten years ago.

[Southwest Airlines Air Marshall]

these girls got VERY loud when told that they would not be getting any more peanuts ... they looked like "pretty" elephants but I certainly never expected them to act like them as well!

[Sarah]

Howard, Florida Power has aging equipment that caused the Big Power Glitch ? What about aging staff ? Is the state of Florida always going to wait until something major happens before any significant changes are made ? I can not wait to get the hell out of this state. It is a sad state of affairs.

[guy]

Sarah ~~ "The grass is always greener" and "Florida is a sad state of affairs."
It sounds like you lost your power for a while, but remember how cold it is everywhere's else.

[Agnus]

The two borderline girls acting out on a flight goes under the Britney and Lindsey news. This reminds me of Stewart on Saturday Night Live. '"Look at me mom I can do that ! " Take my picture please ." Don't hate us because we are beautiful plus size girls with cheap clothes hot off the rack from Lane Bryant-young and chubby shop. Maybe they want to be the next Jenny Craig girls and are just trying to land a contract.

guy, perhaps he should have, but that has nothing to do with the mentality of those who think it is acceptable to dump and potentially injure a disabled person from their wheelchair onto the floor. It has nothing to do with the mentality of those who think it is acceptable to humiliate the disabled in such ways. One has nothing to do with the other. One is an example of the ineffectiveness of the justice/correctional system. The other is about those who work within it and are abusing their power. If anything, it brings them down to his level. That will do nothing for recidivism rates.

[Howard Troxler]

Howard here. Thanks for the comment. I am wondering, when I look at this "too pretty" story and get all grumpy, am I just engaging in the same cross-generational grumpiness that has existed for all of human history?

Naaaaaaah.

[RB]

Police officers have always had a license to battery. You're right, no badge, civil liability and criminal battery. Just because a guy has a terrible record doesn't mean there should not be a standard of care lived up to by the police. Bottom line is a certain type of person applies for that job. But if you say that in public, your strung up for not supporting "our heroes."

[RB]

That would be you're strung up. Terrible grammar on my part.