This isn’t a column about lost luggage or cancelled flights, although that would be as topical today as any day. It’s about the industry as a whole - and how couldn’t those in “the biz” have seen what’s happened in advance?

For example, when I flew out to San Diego for a few weeks from Minnesota back in 1977, my airline ticket cost $320. In 2008 dollars, that price would be (maybe “should” be) $1,062. But airlines have long priced airline tickets low - incredibly low - especially after deregulation. (Even today, you can price a ticket between San Diego and Minneapolis for $448, non-stop on the same route.)

Then along came Southwest Airlines in the 1980s, who I like to fly, with their $19 one-way between San Diego and Vegas. . .or $29 to Phoenix. Again, I’m wondering how they can get away with flying a plane cheaper than it would cost to drive?

From a customer service point of view, none of these airlines has ever impressed me - and judging by the complaints I hear of, they’re all bad. Have been for years. (I’ve flown so many years and so many airlines, I’ve had my problems with all of ‘em, but the absolute worst: America West/U S Air, and that’s saying something.)

So how couldn’t anyone see what’s happened to this industry coming? Airlines were not run well long before they went into bankruptcy, and these airlines went into bankruptcy long before the price of oil hit $120 a barrel.

I have to confess it’s an industry that I’ve never understood, but if you’ve got some insight I welcome it!

Oh, and that report is from the US Weather Bureau in 1922.

The San Diego Zoo is alive at night. Check out this website for details.

courtesy of NASA
“This natural-color image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite on June 24 shows thick smoke hanging over the mountains that line the Sacramento Valley in Northern California.”

Those of you who are familiar with this show and this situation may know that during the course of the season, there were several fighters (”contestants”) who had issues with alcohol and roughhousing during the year. I do watch this show regularly, and each season it seems these guys try to tear apart the building they are housed in during the season. So it’s not like this would be something new to the producers of this show. It happens every year.

Which brings me to this point. It’s possible these guys were disciplined for destroying their house, but I didn’t see it in any of the episodes that were broadcast. And since a separate group of fighters do the same thing each year (destroy their house), how much discipline can one expect them to be getting? If you don’t draw the line, or let someone know where the line can be crossed, it seems to be somewhat unfair to say “I’m not telling you when you’ve gone too far until you’ve gone too far, and then you’re out of the show.” The producers of this show should have set some boundaries - or issued some discipline long before the second to the last week. If that had been the case, a local boy from Poway might be well on his way to a stellar career in MMA. Jesse may still earn that career, but having such a great first step (including the six-figure contract) pulled from him under these circumstances doesn’t seem very fair.