Mining the Store

FDOT says such concerns are exaggerated and contends the chances of the pipe breaking are minimal. "All buried utility lines which are [under] pressure have the chance for a blowout," a turnpike representative wrote in an unsigned e-mail forwarded to Riptide by spokesperson Sonyha Rodriguez-Miller. "In the case of the 96-inch line, the risk is relatively low for any impact to the facility."

But even some transportation employees have voiced worries. "The threat of a blowout is real," concluded turnpike utility administrator Lawrence Hayduk in a May 25 e-mail.

On September 12, county commissioners placed care of the site under FDOT's control, further undermining WASD objections.

Has it all been done too quickly? "Due to the aggressive schedule to deliver the new access point and express toll plaza to the citizens of Miami-Dade, the plans moved quickly into the final stages," the unnamed turnpike representative wrote to Riptide.

The water main's projected life span is 50 years, half of which has passed. In 25 years the new interchange might have to be torn up anyway. — Emily Witt

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Waiter, There's a Roach in My Eye
Filed under: Heck's Kitchen

My husband and I had a long-overdue couples' night with two of our best friends, Jeff and Jessica, one recent Sunday at Origin Asian Bistro, a South Miami restaurant that was Miami New Times's 2006 choice for Best Restaurant in South Miami-Dade. We love the place: The Malaysian roti is to die for, the red curry duck is incredible, and the papaya salad is off the chain. We were seated at the end of a long, lime green hallway, in a quiet and romantic nook.

The food was as excellent as the company, and we enjoyed ourselves tremendously — until a kamikaze cockroach came zooming down from the ceiling, right into Jessica's eye. Yes, into her eye. The roach bounced off her eyeball and landed on the table. Jessica and I screamed so loudly the restaurant went silent. Shortly thereafter, three members of the waitstaff came to see what was wrong. By that time, my husband had smashed the offensive insect and it was still fluttering, half-crushed on the table. A waiter scooped it up with a white cloth napkin and then delivered the check without apology. On our way out, the staff smiled sweetly at us, waved, and said, "Come again."

We were perplexed. "I just felt that they should have been more sympathetic, at least apologetic," says Jessica. "I didn't expect to be comped, because we had already eaten. I'm angry at how the waiters handled it. I was really traumatized! I can't tell you how many times I had to wash my eye."

When I contacted manager Lena Sumonthee about the encounter, she was shocked. "Ay!" she exclaimed. "Usually, if something like that happens, we will compliment the check." Sumonthee promised to inquire about the incident. "I will find out. I want to find out what went wrong, and how come I wasn't told."

We plan on returning to Origin, but I'm having a difficult time convincing our friends to join us. Even if she wears goggles to her next meal, Jessica isn't likely to forget the incident anytime soon. — Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursik

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BFD
Everyone knows that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is a wacko. Everyone knows that he hates George W. Bush. Everyone knows that he has Castro’s back. But when he says something so utterly predictable [as calling Bush “the devil”], the chest-thumping begins. In other words, ignore the idiot. Don’t give him any air time. Don’t give him any attention.
Taken from: stuckonthepalmetto.blogspot.com

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I-95 Doesn’t Always Suck
Just most of the time. This week: The Interstate turns 50. Does anyone give a crap? Got a complaint? A tip? A profound observation to share? Read and post here at I-95 Sucks!