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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Anonymous commenters have (some) rights, too

Trolls are the bane of online commentary. Trolls? They’re the anonymous cads who specialize in nasty posts that drive all but the boldest from cyber forums, including those offered by newspapers. Some papers have dumped or limited such features. The Montana Standard of Butte is taking a different path. After Christmas, the Standard will require online commenters to post under their real names. Also, the paper plans to reveal the real names of commenters on all past posts – unless the individuals ask that all those comments be deleted. Those who fail to do so will be “outed.” I consider that policy change to be a breaking of faith for those who trusted the newspaper to protect their identities. Meanwhile, my Huckleberries Online blog (www.spokesman.com/blogs/hbo) will continue to welcome commenters who use their real names and those who don’t. I’m paid to keep the site interesting and monitored. Trolls don’t last long.

Firemen have heroes, too

Bayview blogger Herb Huseland has a new appreciation for electricity and the linemen who keep it flowing in bad weather. Herb made two trips into Coeur d’Alene from his Lake Pend Oreille hideaway during Windstorm 2015 Tuesday. First, he headed into town for a book and some coffee. Why not? he figured. The power was out. Then, he made an emergency trip into town to transport a neighbor for medical treatment. On his second return trip to Bayview, Herb stopped behind a pickup that had a sign that fit the moment. It read: “Firemen have heroes, too.” The sign included an illustration of a lineman climbing a power pole.

Huckleberries

Poet’s Corner: “The wind it blowed/so awful hard,/rolled up the sod/in our front yard;/and old skinny/Uncle Harry/came back down in/Bonner’s Ferry” – The Bard of Sherman Avenue. (“Windy Day”)We criticize the weathermeisters when they whiff on a prognostication. So let’s review the pre-Windstorm 2015 forecast by the National Weather Service in Spokane: “High wind warning for Tuesday afternoon through midnight and sustained winds from 35 to 45 mph with gusts as high as 70 to 80 mph.” Bingo … A headline on HucksOnline Thursday asked: “Who is still out of power?” That prompted a commenter to snark: “Idaho Democrats” …Quotable Quote: “Although the weather is nasty, it is perfect for our operators as leaves tend to be sticky and not fly around like popcorn” – Coeur d’Alene streets superintendent Tim Martin, explaining how his crews were a half day ahead of schedule for picking up leaves Tuesday afternoon, despite Windstorm 2015 huffing and puffing … Roadkill: Shortly before 3 p.m. Friday, a driver hit and killed a deer at Cougar Gulch, south of Coeur d’Alene. A half-hour later, an Idaho State Police officer reported that someone had stolen the deer carcass. Only in Idaho.

Parting shot

Tongue firmly cheeked, a resident in the Coeur d’Alene Public Golf Course area who was entering his fourth day without power Friday commented: “One by one my rechargeable appliances are falling silent. I am afraid that my electric toothbrush will be next. Anyone know how to operate a manual one? I can’t remember, and, of course, have no access to YouTube.”