Thursday, June 28, 2007

"Couple Accused of Using Date Line to Rob Callers"

Be careful if you are setting up dates for yourself over the telephone.

From WOAI-TV:

Mark Guy, also known as Robert Cooper, was charged with aggravated robbery. Police said he and his accomplice, Diana Brown, used a phone line to set up a sex date with a man.

Once inside their apartment on Vance Jackson, the victim said Brown took him to a bedroom. The victim said Guy then walked in with a knife and forced him to give up his keys and his wallet. According to court documents, the couple stole nearly $400 from the victim.

Perhaps it's best to meet in public.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

"Man might have been wounded by his own knife"

I suppose that if you're going to pull a knife on somebody, you'd better keep a tight grip on it.

From KENS-TV:

A man badly injured in a knife fight early Wednesday morning might have been the one who initially pulled the weapon, police say.

...

The argument turned violent when a Hispanic male in his late 20's pulled a knife and started swinging. But his intended victim grabbed the knife, investigators said.

The Hispanic male was stabbed multiple times. Officers said the wounds exposed the man's internal organs.

According to police, the man with the knife left the scene. ...

After paramedics stabilized the victim, the man was taken to University Hospital in critical condition.

Police believe the man who left the scene may have been injured as well. They are monitoring local hospitals for a cutting victim described as a white male.

The case is being investigated as an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. But police don't know which man could face that charge.


Odd.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Slamming San Antonio, getting slammed back

I don't want to get into an Austin/San Antonio flame war. I just want to point out the reactions to a newbie Austinite who decided to insult San Antonio ("This guy is an idiot", from Roy Bragg's blog at mysa.com).

A sampling:
Discounting the headline that's a cliché and an arrogance that comes from being young and uninformed, he's just not a very good writer. I wish him well in his career selling jeans at the mall.

There's much more in the comments. Watch out when you slam the Alamo City. A lot of people like this place.

Monday, June 25, 2007

"Suspect Wanted In Molotov Cocktail Attack"

To me, this doesn't look like the typical thrower of Molotov cocktails (from KSAT-TV).















Somehow, I picture one looking more like this.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

The Dada Picnic

Coming this Sunday, June 24 in San Pedro Springs Park, it's the Dada Picnic.

Here's the event description from the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau (I couldn't do a direct link; just go to the site and search the Calendar of Events for things going on June 24, 2007):
Picnickers will have a brown-bag ’’absurd sandwich’’ exchange. Sandwiches include; Open-faced pickles and sauerkraut on rye, peanuts, grape nuts and Nutella on tortillas and a Cookie Fluffinutter. They will then delve into meaningful readings from the San Antonio Yellow Pages. Audience members may be asked to participate at any time. Water will be served to anyone who brings a vessel. For information call 210/882-8094.

Sounds like fun.

"Woman talks about Satan, attacks woman with samurai sword"

If you are homeless, beware women brandishing swords.

From KENS-TV:

According to investigators, [Tracy] Foreman broke into a residence in the 400 block of Hartline Drive just before midnight.

A man who lives in the home was awoken when he heard noise inside.

Foreman stole a samurai sword with a bone handle and a crystal skull with red eyes, according to a police report.

"She was talking gibberish about the devil," the man told police.

...

According to investigators, Foreman was still making Satan references when she attacked a homeless woman sitting with her boyfriend at a Valero Cornerstore in the 2500 block of Austin Highway.


In between utterances about the dark one, she also went through the man's refrigerator. She was eventually caught by police, and the woman she attacked suffered a treatable gash only.

Foreman needs help, and she's dangerous. I hope she gets the treatment she needs.

Preferably in a place where all the swords are locked up.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

San Antonio is 5th in the nation!

In the sweat department, that is.

I know, it's all just a publicity piece from the "Sweat Experts at Old Spice", but what I find strange about this ranking is that Dallas is listed as number 3 on Old Spice's list (two spaces above San Antonio) and that Houston is number 12. Being really sweaty is not something to be proud of by itself, but the reality of South Texas is that it gets HOT when spring and summer roll around. And we have high humidity.

That means sweat. Dallas may get muggy for awhile during the summer, but my experience has been that San Antonio and Houston have many more days of sweltering temperatures than our North Texas cousins. So, I wouldn't have blinked an eye if San Antonio or Houston were either 3 or 5 and Dallas was 12. But, I am a bit surprised that Dallas ranks the highest out of the Texas cities.

Perhaps the "sweat experts" need to work on their methodology. Texans are depending on them.

Friday, June 15, 2007

"City forces residents out of 'unsafe' apartments on North Side"

Have you ever lived in a crappy apartment?

Have you ever lived in one so bad the city cuts off all services to you to force you out? That's what happened to some residents on the North Side.

From the Express-News:

The city of San Antonio cut off the power Thursday to dozens of residents in a North Side apartment complex.

Officials said the One Eleven Dot Apartments, in the 100 block of Dot Drive, are unsafe and unlivable, but many residents said this is the first time they've heard of it.

Residents said if it wasn't the bugs, it was the rats, and if not the rats, it's the city saying the building was a death trap.

...

The apartments received 75 code violations in June alone. Many of the violations dealt with the condition of the homes themselves, including life-threatening gas leaks, carbon monoxide leaks and exposed wires.

Sounds like the landlord has a lot to answer for.

Friday, June 08, 2007

"Man Shot in Rear End at Apartment Complex"

Ouch. This guy won't be sitting down for a while.

From WOAI-TV:

Witnesses at the apartment complex on the 7200 block of Marbach say two men were standing on a balcony. They say they heard gunshots, then saw one of the men run off.

Witnesses say the other man had been shot in the rear.


I wonder what they were arguing about.

Unstrange in San Antonio

This is not strange. In fact, it's pretty cool. I'm talking about the Texas Folklife Festival, which is going on this weekend.

If you are interested in learning about the many cultures that make up Texas, then stop by the Institute of Texan Cultures. Dress cool, and wear comfortable shoes.

Thursday, June 07, 2007

"Man Carjacked After Picking Up Woman for Date"

Before going out on a date, it might be a good idea to get to know the girl a little bit.

From WOAI-TV:

A man goes out with a woman, but winds up in the hospital after getting carjacked.

Investigators say the victim was most likely set up by that woman, who he picked up on the east side off New Braunfels Ave late Wednesday night.

The couple started fighting in his SUV, and when he pulled over she yelled for another man who ran up and started beating up the victim and stole his automobile.

They caught the carjacker, and the man who was jumped will probably be fine. But, I bet he screens his dates a little better from now on.

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

"Former Frio official arrested on embezzlement charge"

When you pay your taxes, you would expect the tax collector to actually turn over the proceeds to the governing authorities, wouldn't you?

Wouldn't you?

From Jeorge Zarazua of the Express-News:

A former Frio County tax assessor collector is free on bond this morning after being arrested Monday on a felony theft charge, alleging he pocketed more than $250,000 in taxpayer money for personal use.

Hector Michael Cantu, 40, was arrested after a grand jury returned an indictment against him on the theft charge, said Frio County Sheriff Lionel Treviño.

...

Authorities said Cantu used his authority while in office to steal the funds and then manipulate the records so that others wouldn’t become aware of the missing money.


And, the part that should keep taxpayers on their toes:
Cantu now works with the City of Pearsall in its finance department.

Watch out, Pearsall.

"Man says homebuilder responsible for fallen tree"

Here's something from the damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don't department.

From KENS-TV:

Sunday night's big windstorm smashed a few trees — and raised a few legal questions.

...

"Just a thud, really, was all it was," Lorenzo Carmona said.

Carmona and his family didn't think the noise was much last night, until they came out and saw their cars crushed.

The homes in this neighborhood were built in the last few years around tall, 80-year-old cedar elms, and Carmona is convinced that building the homes essentially killed the trees and made them vulnerable.

He said he asked the homebuilder, Pulte Homes, to tear this tree down two months ago. Pulte refused and said it was Carmona's problem, but Carmona said other neighbors did get Pulte to tear down their vulnerable trees.

Usually homebuilders are chastised when they raze trees to make room for homes. In this case, the builder is being criticized for leaving trees in place. It's important to note that high winds were reported in the area the night before, high enough to topple trees.

Monday, June 04, 2007

Dumpster diving as a diversion

Hm. This is odd (source: Express-News).

San Marcos police have ruled out foul play in a case in which a man's body was found Saturday afternoon in an apartment complex trash bin.

"He apparently had a history of crawling into the Dumpster to search for things," said Sgt. Penny Dunn.

What a strange hobby.

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Car crashes into house

Beware the flying, house-destroying cars.

From WOAI-TV:

According to neighbors, the Ford Mustang was speeding down the street when it suddenly jumped a curb. It came between some trees, flipped over and went straight into the house.

"I went outside and opened up the door," Lopez told News 4 WOAI. "I said, what is that? I said, oh man. There's a car in my backyard."

Lopez says no one inside the house was hurt, but they have a huge mess to clean up.

The car's occupants were injured and taken to the hospital. Perhaps now they will slow down in the neighborhoods.

Saturday, June 02, 2007

"Man Arrested for Urinating on Major Road"

I guess, for some people, if you've got to go then police be damned!

From WOAI-TV:

[Police] had to use pepper spray to arrest a man who was urinating along Military Drive. The unidentified man was on the median of Southeast Military when they tried to get him to stop.

But police say he pulled a knife out and started swinging it at the officers.

On the median. Not on the side or in the ditch. And that's a very busy road, too.

I wonder if he had been drinking.