How did it happen?

 The fence separating Norfolk Southern's property from River Park has been damaged.

Mangled pretty badly

(It's less than a year old.)

Here's a utility pole listing a bit. 

Could it be related to the bent fence?

 The cables connected to the pole were cut.

 Other pieces of cable were cut and thrown onto this pile beside some discarded utility poles.

New poles were installed, but what happened in between that caused the fence to be damaged?

Couldn't someone have done a better job than this?

PA legislators collect per-diems of nearly $4 million

Now we know where to cut spending:

http://www.cw15.com/news/local/story/Legislators-collect-per-diems-of-nearly-4-million/3UvWAkF8mUyZ8tIsfl2EsA.cspx

Emergency fix for Java software over security fears - Homeland Security still warns

http://m.guardiannews.com/technology/2013/jan/14/oracle-issues-emergency-fix-java

Java fix released after “do not use” warning

Go HERE.

What I Saw - 1/13/13 - No Sun, No Railings, No Market House, But Lotsa Lips

As of yesterday morning, WGAL was promising us sun and temps approaching 60 today.  What we got instead was fog well into the afternoon (this pic was taken at about 2:30 p.m.) and temps in the 40s (46 to be exact, when this was snapped).

Damn you, Joe Calhoun!

Don't you know false hope is worse than no hope?

 By the way, where are the railings at the River Park steps?

 No, really - they're gone.

 I'm hoping someone put them away for the winter and that they weren't stolen and sold for scrap.

But if the railings were there for safety, why would they be removed and stored?  Just wonderin'.

 Market House open today!

(Sunday?)

 Guess not.

Oh well, at least someone found Mick Jagger's lips.

Just heard on the scanner (about 3:50 p.m.): A woman called Columbia Police to report six vultures tearing up her trash on Park Avenue.

Really?

Yes, really.

Homeland Security warns to disable Java on your computer

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, your computer is vulnerable to hacking due to a long-standing flaw in Java software.
Follow the instructions in the linked article to batten down yours until the flaw is fixed:

http://www.zdnet.com/homeland-security-warns-to-disable-java-amid-zero-day-flaw-7000009713/

Raw sewage leaked into Susquehanna after Harrisburg sinkholes formed | WPMT FOX43

Now I see the wisdom of having those NO SWIMMING signs at Columbia River Park.

Don't go in the water!

Go here:

http://fox43.com/2013/01/11/raw-seawge-leaked-into-susquehanna-after-harrisburg-sinkholes-formed/