From the "Where Are They Now?" Files

I see them nearly every day on my commute. The Los Angeles Traffic Cop-in-Training.

They stand at the middle of an incredibly busy intersection with their hands by their sides, watching cars go by. I'm not quite sure how this translates to training, but they stand there just the same.

Some days I point them out to my kids and indicate how helpful they are.

Last night winds gusted up to 83 miles per hour through Los Angeles, flattening trees, leaving thousands without power, and knocking out lights across the city.

Now, wouldn't you think, as I see a Traffic Cop-in-Training almost every day of the week at one of the city's busiest intersections, that I would see him/her on the day when that light is out?

You would. But I didn't.

Fact is, I never see one there when that light is out (which is every time there is a wind storm or precipitation of any kind).

I guess I could call someone at the Dept. of Transportation ask why, but I'm afraid they would tell me that the answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind.