Shooting the hand that helps you

Sometimes it just doesn't pay to be the good guy.

San Antonio police Sgt. Daniel Gonzales said the suspect, 19, apparently had an accident along southbound Interstate 37 near the Commerce exit. His vehicle landed upside down in a grassy area past a guardrail just off the highway's main lanes.

The driver of an armored truck pulled over to help the man, who pulled out a handgun and shot at the good Samaritan but did not hurt him.

The suspect then reportedly ran away from the scene of the crash, leaving behind a passenger in his vehicle who received non life-threatening injuries in the rollover.

(from the Express-News)

Surprisingly, the suspect may have been under the influence at the time. Even so, his actions in response to receiving a little assistance seem a bit extreme.

Of course, the Express-News was concerned that this happened downtown, and that San Antonio's vital tourism trade might have been affected by the weird shooting. The newspaper was so worried their reporter went to the trouble to seek out -- and then actually publish -- this anecdote:

Tourists Nancy and Leonard Marak, 61 and 66, respectively, were at the Days Inn hotel when the suspect's vehicle landed in the grassy area just next to the building. They said they heard sirens but did not know what the commotion was about.

“It didn't affect us one bit,” Nancy Marak said.

Stay frosty and alert.

Making do with what you've got

CLKe OSEP EDout

This means you!

Waiting for a train

Three guesses as to what this guy was doing "already up" at 3:00 a.m. (skip to 1:05)



(from KENS-5)

Cauliflower!

So many heads. Lost!

A 18 wheeler with a load of vegetables on board flipped on a busy highway exchange Sunday morning.

...

The rig driver wasn't hurt in the accident.

He'd been hauling a load of cauliflower when the truck flipped.

(from KSAT-12)

The only thing that would have made that better is if a truck full of ranch dressing had crashed right on top of it.

Mardi Gras is coming

Get dressed for it!



(from the KENS-5 slideshow)

Taking risks with life

If you are thinking about taking up a life of petty crime, ask yourself this: Is a potted plant worth your very life?

A suspected burglar was shot by a homeowner Wednesday morning while attempting to steal a potted plant, police said.

The man had just dropped his children off at school when he went to a home in the 700 block of Shadwell and tried to swipe the plan[t], police said.

Moments later, the homeowner shot the man with a handgun, police said. The bullet grazed the man on the head.

(from KSAT-12)

Remember, this is Texas, and criminals are likely to get shot if they are caught stealing, breaking and entering, or engaging in any other crimes against their neighbors.

It's a good thing to consider before you swipe something.

Not getting how dates work

What's wrong with this news story, which was published today, Tuesday, February 14, 2012?

A 13-year-old boy who had been reported missing Tuesday afternoon has been found safe and sound.

Bradley Meinz was found late Wednesday afternoon at the central library downtown.

San Antonio had been searching for him after his family reported him missing.

He had not come home from school Monday, as expected.

(from KSAT-12)

Today is Tuesday, February 14, 2012.

Making it easy for the police

Sometimes I just wonder how they decided that a life of crime was good for them.

Officers are searching Monday morning for an armed robbery suspect who they say left behind a big piece of evidence: his wallet.

Investigators said the man walked into the Planet K Texas in the 5600 block of Evers Street just before midnight on Sunday and threatened the clerk with a gun. The clerk handed over some cash, although the suspect didn't stuff it in his wallet.

Instead, police said the suspect hastily took off on foot, accidentally dropped his wallet in the adult novelty store.

(from KENS-5)

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for criminals making it easier for the authorities to apprehend them. But I wonder if guys like this get any pointers at all before going down this life path.

P.S.: "Adult novelty store"? Is a news story above calling a head shop a "head shop"?

Modern day snake oil

Look here, someone has solved our drinking water problem! But guess what -- it's not cheap. And its probably not necessary, at least the way this guy envisions it.

Hill Country inventor Terry LeBleu has invented a machine that turns thin air into clean, pure drinking water.

Terry says all the parts to his invention are readily available stock items and he is willing to show you exactly how you can build one yourself.

The heart of his invention is Sears Kenmore 70-pint dehumidifier.

Condensed water is further purified and sterilized with filters and ultraviolet light.

It takes about three days to make 40 gallons of ultra-pure water that are stored in a food-grade plastic barrel.

The parts to the machine cost around $700 but he can sell you his pre-made Big Dipper for $800.

(from KSAT-12)

I will admit, right out of the gate, that I am no scientist. And I'm certainly not a hydrologist. But -- now, correct me if I'm wrong -- I seem to remember that distilled water is pure water, and distillation relies on condensation. So, wouldn't anything that is condensed out of the air already be pure water? Why the need for the filters and the ultraviolet light to further purify and sterilize, unless merely to add cost? (Remember! The fully assembled Big Dipper only costs $800!) Seems to me like a plain ole Sears Kenmore 70-pint dehumidifier is all you really need, right?

Well, that and some humid air.

And what the hell does "ultra-pure" mean anyway?

Smuggling razors

How bad must it be -- or appear to be -- in your new jail cell to make you do this to stay in your current one?

According to an arrest warrant, 21-year-old Francisco Rodriguez was being transferred to another [Bexar County jail] annex but told jailers he refused to go because he had too many many [sic] enemy's [sic] in that part of the jail.

He then allegedly asked a jailer if he would be transferred back to the main jail if he were caught with weapons, prompting jailers to handcuff and question the inmate.

According to records, Rodriguez admitted to having weapons on him. Jailers searched Rodriguez and found in the waistband of his boxer shorts two razor blades wrapped in paper.

(from KENS-5)

Killing a cultural tradition

The St. Patrick's Day parade is now dead, apparently due to unevenly applied city regulations.

The Harp and Shamrock Society of Texas has hosted the annual parade for more than four decades in downtown San Antonio. This year, however, they said the parade has been canceled due to high costs.

“We are the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the state,” said society president Terence Peak.

The costs are just too high, Peak said. Especially those imposed by the city.

“The cost that the city fees involve in barricades and police officers plus other fees is over $12,000,” Peak said. “We can’t afford this type of expense and we don’t seem to have any support from the city.”

Peak said the lack of city support stems from an ordinance he claims waives certain fees for parades with cultural significance. Peak said the society has been denied certain waivers in the past, so this year they’ve canceled the parade.

(from KENS-5)

So, people who like to style themselves "occupiers" can camp illegally in a city park without permits and without reimbursing the City of San Antonio for the cost of a police presence, but people with Irish heritage cannot have a parade for one day because the City charges too much and the organizers cannot secure waivers because the event is not culturally significant enough.

Do I have that about right?

Thanks, city leaders.