Remember

Memorial Day 2009
Fort Sam Houston

Seymour Perkins -- still not settled

Remember Seymour Perkins, who died in February 2009? Apparently he can't be gotten rid of so easily.

The Fourth Court of Appeals District of Texas has reversed an order granting the city of San Antonio permission to demolish the home of Seymour Perkins. ...

Perkins died in February, but his family and lawyers continue to fight for the house which displays some of his artwork. He was a folk artist and his family hopes to renovate the building and turn it into a museum displaying pieces of his work.

(from KENS-5)

Wait a minute. Didn't his home burn down last October?

Strange. Very strange.

When journalism and politics mix

The objectiveness fades.

From the Express-News, which is losing one of its own to the mayor of San Antonio.

San Antonio Express-News metro columnist Jaime Castillo has taken a job in the administration of Mayor Julián Castro as director of communications and senior policy analyst.

Castillo will join a team led by Robbie Greenblum, a local attorney who has agreed to serve as the new mayor's chief of staff. Jed Maebius, an aide to outgoing Mayor Phil Hardberger, will stay on as a liaison to the City Council.

Hardberger's chief of staff, Larry Zinn, has agreed to work with Castro as an unpaid adviser on policy issues, including a major decision facing the city on whether to expand its use of nuclear energy, but will not stay on in a full-time capacity.

Castro said he asked Castillo to be part of the team because of his knowledge of city issues and his solid reputation in the community.

Interesting. It wasn't so long ago that Castillo wrote this of the mayor's race (which Julian Castro won, by the way):

She was followed on the air by opponent Diane Cibrian, who criticized perceived front-runner Julián Castro for accepting “undisclosed, unreported, secret money from the unions.” [emphasis added]

"Perceived" by whom? The press?

And then there's this:

By every measure, Julián Castro has to be considered the pole sitter. He's been more disciplined and polished than four years ago, more dogged in winning business support and more successful at raising campaign cash.

Arguably, this is a good characterization of Castro. But it sticks out a little when the journalist who wrote it accepts a job offer from the same politician less than a month later.

And then there's this, posted just 11 days ago:

In the end, what some called an uninspiring campaign by Castro turned out to be the smart campaign.

In 2005, he brandished a youthful aggressiveness by trying to be the candidate to do everything first.

This time, he painstakingly courted and won members of the business community who opposed him in wholesale fashion four years before.

And, despite carrying the most campaign cash, Castro's team even rationed its TV ads until very late in the campaign season.

“I think it speaks to his four-year organizing effort — lots of shoe leather and schmoozing,” Miller said.

It also speaks to a young man who learned that patience can be a good thing. [emphases added]

Politics. Journalism.

Mixed.

Bumbling crook

Heh heh heh. This is just too good.



That's a crook -- who has just ripped the cash register off the counter of a Mexican restaurant -- doing a face plant into a table after stumbling and falling. Go to WOAI's link, read the story, and be sure to watch the video.

Good stuff, Maynard.

Not strange in San Antonio

Actually this is pretty cool.

After ten months away, Sgt. David Velasquez was nervous.

He said, "It's always scary coming back to the kids because they might not understand that it is my job that I have to out there."

Tuesday Sgt. Velasquez returned from his tour in Iraq, and his first stop was W.W. White Elementary School where the Army sergeant surprised his twin 6-year old sons, Damion and David Jr.

The last time they saw their father was July.

When Sgt. Velasquez entered his sons’ classroom and made eye contact with his sons, the two seemingly froze for a brief moment before running to and hugging their father.

(from KENS-5)

That's heartwarming.

Crazy ants are coming

And they're on the march from Houston.

A destructive menace is heading west on I.H. 10 with San Antonio in its sites. It's the crazy Raspberry ant that was first spotted in Houston in 2002. No one knows where it came from or how to control it but it reproduces faster than any insect experts have ever seen.

"This is an alien species," says Sam Houston State University Entomologist Dr. Jerry Cook. "This is in higher densities than any other insects I've ever seen. They number in the billions and cover everything around them.

"Where you'll have 200,000 ants in a big fire ant mound, you'll have billion of crazy ants in one area, in that one group. They form a carpet of ant over acres that is several inches thick.

"It's a potential ecological disaster, displacing everything in front of it, other insects. Some people think getting rid of insects is good but it's not good for the environment. Insects play a vital role. When you destroy insects you destroy the food for birds and other animals that depend on these insect populations. It could affect our food supply, reducing the crop yield by 30 - 40 percent."

(from KENS-5)

Let's hope this isn't as bad as portrayed in the article. Despite scary visions of attacking, swarming, stinging ants, we've pretty much learned to live with fire ants. And remember all the warnings that preceded the approach of the killer bees from South America? Well, they're here, but somehow we weren't hit with the hellish, buzzing, doomsday scenarios painted by the b-movies. The bees are dangerous, they just didn't take over our towns like people thought they would.

Maybe the crazy ant won't be as bad, either. Granted, I don't like the idea of a "carpet" of ants spreading through my yard, but I'm not going to freak out just yet. Let's see how it plays out when they get here.

Thrashin' for the Lord

Skate punks around? Preach the word. Who knows, they might even listen.

On Sunday afternoons the gym at University United Methodist Church is transformed.

The skate church came about because kids would use the church parking lot to skate. University United Methodist decided instead of asking them to leave, they would invite them in.

...

After two hours of catching some air with a good board, they hear from the good book. While it may not look like it, it is a church service.

After 15 minutes of sharing the Word and prayer, the boys hit the ramps for another hour with this message:

"You don't have to get all clean, look right an[d] say the right things. Just be here and know that He loves you," said [the Reverend] Kit [Tomlinson].

(from KENS-5)

And, please, no tagging the Lord's house.

Oh, and don't forget, it's still sweeps month:

http:// www.kens5.com/ latestnews/stories/KENS20090516-SWEEPS-skatechurch.d9a8b87.html

Bringing pot to court

I don't know about you, but if I needed an attorney to represent me at the courthouse, I would want that person to be sharp, focused, and prepared for the day.

Attorney Regina Criswell was arrested at the Bexar County Courthouse after deputies say they discovered two ounces of marijuana and a chrome-colored marijuana pipe in her bag.

Deputies say Criswell was heading into the Courthouse to go to work. As is standard, security guards went through everyone's bags including Criswell's. That's when they say they found the baggie and pipe. Deputies were called over, and [they] questioned Criswell. The 50 year old woman admitted she knew the drugs were in her bag, but said they belonged to a client.

(from KENS-5)

Well, if you believe Ms. Criswell that the pot was indeed for her client, then what kind of lawyer would she be? What attorney condones the smoking of pot by their clients in a courthouse, and then agrees to transport the drugs herself? Seems to me to be a lack of good judgment, at the very least.

Chupacabras?

Or coyotes?

You decide.

SAN ANTONIO -- People who live in a neighborhood along Salado Creek say coyotes are killing their animals. Although families in Castle Hills Forest say they're excited about a new walking trail, they have real concerns about what may be lurking in the area.

Most anytime of the day, you can find people enjoying the wildlife or walking their dogs along the Salado Creek green-way. But when the sun goes down, something else comes out. Connie Priest has been talking with her neighbors. They all agree coyotes are becoming a big problem in their community.

Priest told News 4 WOAI the animals are getting a little too brave, "There's been other sightings in the neighborhood by people who have seen them walking in the street here."

(from WOAI-TV)

Get used to coyotes being around. They adapt well to urban environments.

"Burglars Use Doggy Door For Entry"

And Fido and Rex just let them do it.

From the backyard, the video shows the two burglars walk along the side of the home into the backyard, then the two suspects get on their hands and knees and enter the home through the small doggy door.

"After seeing the video, it's amazing how they fit through the doggy door," said the homeowner.

The video clearly shows the two burglars squeezing through the small opening, both slithering sideways to enter the home. The family's two dogs were shown wagging their tails and licking one of the suspect's faces as if it were a game. But once the burglars were inside the home, the game was over.

(from KSAT-12)

I like dogs, but sometimes they can be so dumb.

Jesus?

Or smudge?

You decide.



From the WOAI story:

The man told News 4 WOAI he recently cleaned his pool for the summer using a product called "Shock". During the cleaning, he said got some of the product on the side of the pool, and it left a stain. Despite efforts to remove it, the stain would not come out.

The man was working outside again last Saturday and stopped to take a break. When he glanced over at the pool where the stain was, he saw it resembled a man's face. After taking a closer look, he said he realized the face looked like that of Jesus Christ.

To try confirm he wasn't just seeing things, the man asked his wife to take a look at the stain after she arrived home from work. Without telling her his opinion, he asked what she could see. He told News 4 WOAI his wife's eyes opened wide and she said "It's Jesus!"

I don't know, maybe she said, "Oh, Jesus," because she was tired of him leaving stains on the side of the pool, and he just heard what he wanted to hear. After all, he certainly seems to be seeing what he wants to see.

Cactus tree

Have you ever seen prickly pear grow to the size of a tree? Dave's wife has, and she took pictures to prove it.

Oh, and don't forget to take a gander at this guy, who, of course, is typical of how Texans beef up their rides.

"Man stabbed at motel after ex-girlfriend's family shows up"

Man, family can be rough.

Police say that a man was at the hotel with his new girlfriend when his old girlfriend showed up. An argument started, and then the ex-girlfriend's family showed up.

Police say the man was stabbed under the arm and leg by one of the ex-girlfriend's family members. Police are still searching for the suspect.

(from KENS-5)

I don't guess that guy will be changing his mind about leaving that girl anytime soon.

Naughty, nasty fish

Dave at Silver Creek 78250 reports on a new restaurant coming to his neck of the woods. The title of his blog post is simply great.

Duking it out in Helotes

Ah, small-town politics. They always make for a good read.

Two distinct political parties have emerged in the small town: the reds and the greens.

The reds, who usually align themselves with Mayor Tom Schoolcraft, generally lean toward more and better development in the area, leading to more tax income for the city.

The greens, many of whom have said Myfe Moore is their de facto leader, on the whole dislike large amounts of development and speak on the platform of working for the environment.

The two groups have had a heated and well-publicized relationship in Helotes. Several incidents between the reds and greens have been documented in police reports.

Former City Secretary Judy Reichardt said her mailbox was painted green. Though the city was unable to produce a police report, Police Chief Morton Ault said he remembered the incident.

...

Though no police report could be found about dead animals, two reports were found regarding trash being thrown in citizens' yards. The complainants were kept anonymous.

The reds are not the only ones complaining. Police reports exist from members of the green party, as well, including the time the police were called to City Hall to witness the posting of a new agenda that former City Councilmembers Alina Eckhardt and Guillerma Contreras said Schoolcraft tried to block.

In other police reports, a box of dog feces were reportedly sent to City Hall with Alan's name on it, though the police were able to track that shipment and said they believe it came from a former co-worker of Alan's, not a Helotes enemy.

(from the Northwest Weekly)

But the important thing is this: Will they allow bikini waitresses into their city?

Practicing magic

If you have lived in San Antonio for some time, then you have probably already heard of curanderas, the "good" witches of Mexican culture, so this story may not be so strange to you. But, if you are an occasional visitor from elsewhere, then welcome to this profile of a local witch.

They are rejected by modern medicine for not having evidence to support their supernatural claims.

But there are many curanderas, healers, and even present-day witches, who still practice their healing craft and employ what they say are magical powers.

One woman on the south side has been doing this since the 1970s. She goes only by the name Bertie and prefers not to use her last name. She is disabled now, and doesn't get around much on her own, but she doesn't have to because believers come to her.

"You can create your own miracles," Bertie said. Her world is one of rituals, prayers and incantations.

"That's how it works....In the Bible, it tells you there are herbs for prosperity, health and for money," she added.

People have been coming to Bertie for decades to cure their stomach ailments and manage their arthritis and post-surgery pain without drugs.

But they also come to her to get their cards read and to remove hexes.

(KENS-5 story)

P.S.: It must be sweeps month again -- already! Why do I say that? Take a look at the URL for the above story, pasted here with the relevant portion highlighted.

www. kens5.com /news/specials/stories/KENS20090505-SWEEPS_Curandero.21f6ef50.html

The thin veneer of serious journalism flakes away.

Making it hard on yourself

Coins?

Is it ever worth it to steal coins?

Apparently one guy thought so.

SAN ANTONIO -- A man robbed the Palladium IMAX at the Rim Shopping Center of thousands of dollars in coins Monday.

Police said the man parked in the front of the theater at Loop 1604 and Interstate 10 and used a side entrance to enter the building.

The man took an elevator to the second floor, where he confronted the manager and forced him at gunpoint to open a safe and load trash bags with coins and bills, police said.

The manager and an assistance manager were forced to carry the bags, some [of] which tore due to the weight of the coins, to the man's car, police said.

(from KSAT-12)

Be on the lookout for anyone approaching a Coinstar with a wheelbarrow.

Car crashes into house

This time some people were hurt, but not seriously, though.

SAN ANTONIO -- A 7-year-old girl and her father were taken to the hospital after a car crashed through their home, San Antonio police said.

The girl had a cut to her forehead and her father had a rib injury, but neither injury was serious, police said. The crash happened about 8:30 p.m., at a home at the intersection of Summit Pass and Cambray Drive.

The driver of the car said she turned a corner and accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake.

(from KSAT-12)



No word on the fate of any fences.

Fighting bikinis

Before she leaves office, mayoral candidate and current District 8 Councilwoman Diane Cibrian wants to save us from scantily-clad women just one more time.

SAN ANTONIO -- A group of church and school parents have raised concerns over the scheduled opening of a sports bar with waitresses donning bikinis.

Parents of the San Antonio Preparatory Academy, located at 8308 Fredericksburg Road, are concerned over the creation of a new Bikinis Sports Bar & Grill a stone's throw away at 8224 Fredericksburg Road.

"These are children," said SA Prep Academy Principal Rose Evola. "They've got curious minds and they are curious."

The worry is that students may be curious about what's replacing the former Applebee's restaurant, and some parents said they're concerned about what kind of clientele the business may attract since its waitresses wear unorthodox uniforms.

"You have clientele that might ... [What? --ed.] look, there's children, I don't want that," said parent Kathy Jones. "Scary? Absolutely." [Bikinis are scary? Don't go near the beach; there are bikinis everywhere down there. --ed.]

Located less than a half-mile away at 8527 Wurzbach Road is a Hooters restaurant. District 8 City Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Diane Cibrian said she's already looking into the Bikinis situation.

"We want to make sure that our neighborhood is safe and we're providing the adequate security that's needed," she said.

(from KSAT-12)

Hm. The presence of Hooters -- which has been there for a long time -- does complicate things. What's a councilwoman to do?

Attracting reactionary types

Surprise, surprise. The wackos at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are trying to capitalize on the swine flu stories to promote their radical brand of veganism.

A new PETA billboard cites swine flu and other animal-borne illnesses as a reason to "go vegetarian" because "Meat Kills," according to a news release from the organization.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals also mentions mad cow disease, MRSA and e.coli in the billboard that soon will appear in San Antonio.

(from KENS-5)

I used to wonder why PETA seemed to be made up of unreasonable reactionaries. Now I think I know why. Their recruitment methods attract just the type of person that will respond to their wacky stunts: someone who reacts unreasonably to unfamiliar situations.

Here's my reasoning:

Swine flu cases have been popping up around San Antonio, but the virus is a strain of influenza, something we are all familiar with, albeit in a seasonal form. The flu is spread through the air and through contact; it can't be contracted by eating pork because cooking the meat kills any harmful organisms, including the flu virus. Yet PETA discounts this and plays on raw emotions to make people think a bacon sandwich is going to give you swine flu. Most reasonable people won't be swayed by this tactic, but some others -- who might let their emotions get the better of their reason -- could react to the ploy by believing it and swearing off meat. Which, of course, is PETA's goal.

So, PETA reacts to a disease outbreak by putting out more of their scary nonsense, hoping to get some other people to react and change their meat-eating ways. But people with reactionary personalities are the only ones likely to be swayed by such arguments, and when they join PETA then the organization just has more of the same people with the same mindset.

And they do it all over again, waiting for another crisis to hang their anti-meat hat on.

It's all well and good for someone to become a vegetarian, but I advise making that choice based on thoughtful reflection, not a PETA billboard.

Spreading the disease

In case you haven't heard, there's swine flu going around. Wash your hands often.



Oh, and save money on cheap drinks, too.

"Man Killed While Playing Russian Roulette"

Here's another one.

SAN ANTONIO -- An 18-year-old man died early Friday when he shot himself during a game of Russian roulette, police said.

Police said Albert Delgado and some friends were playing with a gun on the front porch of a home in the 2000 block of North Trinity Street at 3 a.m. when the victim shot himself in the head. He died at the scene.

Delgado's friends told police that he didn't think the gun was loaded but his mother doesn't believe the story.

"There's something suspicious about it," said Rebecca Garza, Delgado's mother. "My son did not shoot himself."

(from KSAT-12)

As I've said before, there is nothing cool about Russian Roulette. I've never understood the fascination with this game.

A city manager in drag

Here's a disturbing mind picture.

SAN ANTONIO -- It's quite a combination -- political satire and drag.

You could find both at the annual Fiesta event called Cornyation, and San Antonians love it.

The show's motto: the raunchiest and cheapest event of Fiesta.

This year, San Antonio City Manager Sheryl Sculley took center stage as the "teflon madame" at the show held Wednesday night at the Empire Theater.

Scully [sic] rocked the stage in a skin-tight costume, a blue cape and knee-high boots, presiding over the event as "king."

(from KSAT-12)

And here's an actual picture.

Going berserk during Fiesta

Point to remember: Fiesta is for fun, not fighting. And certainly not shooting.

SAN ANTONIO -- A fight led to a shooting and then a stand-off just outside a Fiesta event Sunday night. The shooting happened in Brackenridge Park and was the first violent crime this Fiesta season. Fiesta organizers hope it's the last.

Police say 19-year-old Mark Outing fired a gun near the zoo as thousands of people were peacefully leaving the "Taste of New Orleans" event.

The shooting was triggered by a fight on the street.

News 4 WOAI's Demond Fernandez was there and witnessed the fight. He said he saw a group of women beating each other up in the middle of the streets. He then heard several gunshots and saw dozens of people running for cover.

Police say Outing jumped a man he spotted taking pictures, grabbed his camera, and then broke into the zoo to hide out. S.W.A.T. officers caught up with Outing and arrested him.

(from WOAI-TV)

Keep calm, people. We sure don't want a repeat of this.

"Passenger sitting on ledge of car door dies after driver loses control and crashes"

This is a strange and deadly practice. Don't do it.

On Interstate 35, San Antonio Police say 43-year-old Richard Hayes hit several vehicles before exiting at San Marcos Street.

His passenger was sitting on the door ledge when Hayes lost control and crashed.

The passenger was treated at Brooke Army Medical Center, but later died.

(from KENS-5)

But the first line of the news story is a bit strange, too.

A wreckless driver faces intoxication manslaughter charges.

A simple dictionary search will show that reckless is the word that means a complete disregard for the consequences of one's actions, and it is undoubtedly the word the writer of this story meant to use. The only proper response to the first sentence as written is to say, "Not any more."

Protesting chickens?

I suppose you've heard by now, but there was a tea party here in San Antonio. I didn't go to it, but I was checking out some pictures of the event at the KENS-5 slideshow.

For the most part, it seems that it was a sane, respectable type of protest, and I guess no one got too crazy. There were a lot of American and Texas flags, and most of the signs were pretty much on topic with tax-related gripes of some kind or another.

But, of course, there was a bit of strangeness.



Can you tell me what he's protesting? I honestly don't know. That man had some cages with some chickens in them, and I guess he's upset because some city code is preventing him from keeping the yardbirds. I wouldn't know what it is; I think you can keep at least a couple of chickens in San Antonio yards. But apparently the man is quite upset. And that boy looks hungry.

Other than that, the strangest thing I saw in this set of pictures was this:



Tea anyone?

"Man Jumps To Death Off Freeway"

I guess those high, flyover ramps on the IH-10/Loop 410 interchange are just too tempting for some folks.

SAN ANTONIO -- A man was killed Thursday morning after jumping off a freeway ramp at the Loop 410 and Interstate 10 interchange on the city's northwest side, police said.

The person jumped from the Interstate 10 ramp onto Loop 410 near Fredericksburg Road, police said, and at least one vehicle hit the victim. The jump was an apparent suicide, police said.

(from KSAT-12)

This has happened before. I fear this will become a trend.

The 2010 race for governor

Kinky's back. And this time he's serious.

Kinky Friedman announced Tuesday the formation of “Texans for Kinky,” a ‘specific purpose’ committee that will enable him to explore and raise money for a possible run as the Democratic candidate for governor in 2010, according to a news release.

“I am a humorist, but I know these are not humorous times,” Friedman said in a letter to supporters. “There is a pathetic lack of leadership at the state level. The last governor who was truly on the side of the people was Ann Richards. She was a very funny lady — she was also a great governor.”

(from KENS-5)

Of course there's a San Antonio connection.

San Antonio attorney and Friedman advisor Abel Dominguez will serve as treasurer of “Texans for Kinky.” Dominguez helped orchestrate Victor Morales’ victory in the 1996 Democratic U.S. Senate primary.

Here's a hint, Kinky: If you want people to consider you to be a serious candidate, stop saying you'll appoint Willie Nelson to head up state energy policy.

(Kinky's website.)

Mayoral candidates for 2009 III

When the mayor's race is on in San Antonio, often a handful of colorful characters will inject themselves into the news covering the more serious candidates. This is more the case when there is no incumbent for the office, as with this year's race.

Phil Hardberger is term-limited, so he's not running again, though he is a popular mayor. The favorite for the 2009 race is Julian Castro, a former city councilman and one of Hardberger's opponents a few years ago. Serious contenders are Trish DeBerry-Mejia (a public relations person who will probably give Castro the most competition for votes), Diane Cibrian (a current councilwoman who you might remember from her days of fighting Boobie Rock), and Sheila McNeil (another city councilwoman).

And then there are the usual cluster of contenders that no one pretends will ever have a chance at being mayor, yet they still run for the office, some time and time again, and they provide a lot of entertainment. One of those other candidates is Napoleon Madrid. With a name like that, what's not to like?

A lot, if you dislike plagiarism.

The Express-News found some supsicous stuff on Madrid's Web site:

Napoleon Madrid said he jumped into the mayor's race because he didn't think they were talking about the right issues. But it turns out his distaste for their ideas wasn't so strong.

Madrid's “Issues and Concerns” page on his Web site was nearly identical to the platform on Trish DeBerry-Mejia's campaign site, including the order in which each issue was presented. The text was copied word for word in its entirety.

Madrid pulled the page down from his site Friday, shortly after a San Antonio Express-News reporter asked him how the two pages could be identical.

“No way,” he responded initially. “All I can tell you is the interns that were working on mine, I know that they went to everybody else's to check it out. I can't tell you on that, sir, to be honest with you.

“I would have never done that,” he said. “I don't plagiarize nothing.”

Madrid, who has said he believes theft is wrong, denied that he'd stolen from DeBerry-Mejia and placed the blame on an intern: “He was a student from, um, St. Philip's (College).”

"Yeah, and my wife is, uh, Morgan Fairchild. Yeah, that's the ticket."

(For more analysis of all the candidates, check out the Express-News's coverage.)

Car crashes into house

The crashing may be picking up as the cars renew their carnage.

SAN ANTONIO - An unlikely series of events made for a wild night for several people on the west side after a purse snatching triggered a car chase, and then a crash into a home. News 4 WOAI's Ryan O'Donnell investigated how witnesses helped police catch two teenagers.
...

The car that damaged [Julio Mendoza's] home was actually forced off the road after getting hit by [a] vehicle fleeing from a crime scene. Brittney Medellin, 17, and Albert Delgado, 18, were speeding through the west side neighborhood.

“They turned off their lights and started running stop signs,” explained Officer Joe Rios from the San Antonio Police Department.

Officer Rios said the teenagers were speeding away after robbing a young lady at the H-E-B just around the corner. They were also being chased by a couple of guys who saw the robbery and wanted them to stop.

(from WOAI-TV)

The fence -- which looks relatively new -- is a goner, too.

Car crashes into house

A car crashes into a house again, but this time it takes out a gas main along the way, causing a fire that burns the house and the car.

The car went out of control at the intersection of Kendalia and Ascott, hitting a gas main and a house and prompting some evacuations.

(video from KSAT-12)


It seems no one was hurt, but the house and the car are total losses.

Packing and stacking

While out shopping at your favorite grocery store, have you ever run out of room in your cart? If you have a large family (or come from one), you'll know that a trip to the store can often require two carts and at least another competent adult or older child to help you steer those brimming vehicles to the checkout lines.

And then, after seeing the following photograph, you will realize you are an amateur.




I can see a suitcase, a milk crate, a fishing pole, hose sections, what looks like part of a bed headboard, many bags of various shapes and sizes, and perhaps Waldo. And that's just what I can see on this side!

Next time, see if you can get out of the store with just one full cart!

Celebrating welding

Did you know that April was National Welding Month? I didn't, until I saw this over Main Street:



From the looks of that banner, it seems National Welding Month used to fall at a different time of year. I wonder what changed.

"Police: Man playing with matches burns 7-year-old"

Very strange, if it indeed happened this way.

SAN ANTONIO -- A 7-year-old is recovering from burns on his chest after police say an adult who was playing with matches burned the child. The boy reportedly showed a family member the burn and told how it happened.

...

Investigators told News 4 WOAI the boy's stepfather offered the 7-year-old money to put out the match with his finger or his mouth. When the boy refused, police said the stepfather threw the hot match at him.

"The unlit match landed on his chest and burned him," Officer Rios told News 4 WOAI.

Police say the little boy was in pain when it happened and was told not to say anything.

(from WOAI-TV)

Operating gambling without a name

Out near Canyon Lake, apparently you don't even need a name for your business.

The Comal County Sheriff’s Office raided three businesses and arrested five people on charges of illegal gambling.

Deputies busted the Crazy Coconut, and the Lucky Dog in Canyon Lake. They also raided another business without a name just off of Highway 281 in Spring Branch. [emphasis added]

(from WOAI-TV)

They were busted for eight-liners. In case you don't know yet, these machines are illegal to use in Texas. For gambling, that is. I'm sure quite a few establishments purchase eight-liners and put them out "for entertainment purposes only," but don't be fooled by that. How many pipes bought from Planet K do you think are actually being used for tobacco only?

Car almost crashes into house

This hasn't happened in a while.

A driver loses control and crashes through a fence, stopping just inches from a home. The wreck left an emotional scene for a mother who says this isn't the first time a car has come crashing into their yard and threatened their lives.

(from KABB-29)

I guess, technically, the car didn't actually crash into the house. But it looks like fence-crashin' is back!

Putting your emotions on display

OK, I admit it, I've said a few cuss words in my time. (I'd like to think they were well-timed, but I'm sure that wasn't always the case.) In all my days, though, I don't think I ever considered putting them on my car.



Nothing says "class" more, does it?

"Man Pepper-Sprayed, Shot At"

If you ever find yourself hanging out in front of your house at 3:00 in the morning and some strangers stop and start talking to you, they most likely aren't trying to be your friend. Go inside.

SAN ANTONIO -- A 20-year-man was pepper-sprayed and shot at by three men who ambushed him outside his home early Wednesday on the city's west side.

Police said the man was smoking a cigarette outside his home in the 200 block of Segura Street at 3 a.m. when three men in an sport utility vehicle confronted him.

After one of the men asked the victim if he lived in the neighborhood, one of the men sprayed him in the face with mace or pepper spray, police said.

(from KSAT-12)

They guy's fine, apparently, but I hope he's learned to be a little more cautious late at night.

Denying tumblers a spot in the parade

Fiesta time is almost upon us. Festivities, fun, and frivolity will reign, but you can bet one group of people won't be all smiles the whole time. Especially during the Fiesta Flambeau parade.

SAN ANTONIO -- One group is upset they've been denied a spot in the Fiesta Flambeau parade and said they haven't received a firm answer as to why their request was denied.

The Texas Wolverine All-Stars, a nonprofit gym for cheerleaders, boxers and tumblers, were denied entry into the parade, but gym managers said they've been given multiple reasons about why they weren't allowed to march this year.

(from KSAT-12)

Really? A nonprofit gym for cheerleaders? Who knew such things existed? I mean, besides the Wolverines, obviously.

"Ex-Soviet leader turns green in San Antonio"

Gorby was in town. And guess what? He was scoldin' us.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev was in San Antonio, pushing for the city and the state of Texas to invest more in green energy, and get away from fossil fuels.

“Together, we must invest in the green economy. It’s the safest, best way forward.” he said through an interpreter.

...

Gorbachev is pushing solar energy, which he says is clean, renewable and available. His group says the current worldwide economic crisis needs solutions that will help the Earth, while acknowledging green energy is more expensive and lacks critical infrastructure.

(from KENS-5)

Hmm. I wonder how well Gorby's arguments to "get away from fossil fuels" fly back home.

Making it easy for the police

Picking up hookers in San Antonio is getting more difficult and costing the johns more.

SAN ANTONIO -- A bizarre chain of events led police to a home on the city's west side where at least two people had been held against their will.

Police said it all began when a man in his 50s picked up a woman he thought was a prostitute early Friday morning. According to police, she brought the man to a home at 1139 Lombrano St., where police said he was beaten, tied up, and robbed by three men.

"They robbed him of his car keys, ATM [card], got his pin number, and while he was tied up inside, went and took some money from his ATM," said Officer Joe Rios with the San Antonio Police Department.

Sometime during the night, the victim was able to free himself, run from the house and call police for help.

"The officers went to the location, found two suspects Friday morning, asleep," Rios said.

(from KSAT-12)

Sometimes the bad guys almost turn themselves in. Think about it: These thugs concoct a scheme where they kidnap a woman (revealed later in the story), force her to pose as a prostitute, and then lure at least one man back to a house where they beat and rob him. But they fail in epic proportions when, first of all, they bring the guy back to their own house! And then, while they are gone cleaning out the john's accounts, the man escapes, and when they return they do not consider, Hmm, that guy may go to the police and report what we have done. Perhaps we should go on the run. Instead they think, Hmm, that guy escaped. Oh well, we've got his money, and I'm tired. Let's go to bed.

I'm just glad the police took the john's story seriously.

Telling us what it is

In this Express-News story about the State Board of Education's wrangling over how to teach evolution, board member Ken Mercer from San Antonio argued for keeping in language that would require teaching about the "weaknesses" of Darwin's theory. That clause was eventually tossed out, but the news story included this quote from Mercer, which I have pasted here verbatim:

“There are questions about evolution…(ellipsis). There are weaknesses,” he said.

There you have it. If you have ever wondered exactly what an ellipsis is, now you know, (comma) thanks to the Express-News. (period)



(screen capture)

Banning kids from the day

I'm not so sure this is a good idea.

SAN ANTONIO -- Bexar County commissioners are considering a daytime curfew for juveniles.

A proposed curfew would affect minors under the age of 17 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The idea comes on the heels of the existing nighttime curfew, which was enacted in 1995 to deal with gang-related crimes. The curfew requires teens under 17 to be off the streets between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Monday through Friday.

But rapid growth in the county has prompted officials to consider making changes in an effort to crack down on juvenile delinquents.

(from KSAT-12)

I hope this curfew applies to school days only. The nighttime curfew may have been successful, but I would think some well-considered exceptions need to be written into this new code to ensure everyone under 17 in the county is not locked inside their homes during the day throughout the summer months. That's sure to cause more problems than it solves.

Your former city government, getting ripped off

Poor Henry Cisneros. Bad things just seem to keep finding him.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- A long-time friend of former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros has pleaded guilty to stealing $473,000 from Cisneros' accounts.

Fred L. May III pleaded guilty to fraud in federal court on Wednesday. He was a long-time friend and former college classmate of Cisneros, who was a HUD secretary during the Clinton Administration and previously served as mayor of San Antonio.

(from WOAI-TV)

Nice friend to have.

Your city government at work

What are members of San Antonio City Council to do when the scourge of graffiti catches up to them? What would you do?

Would you get your fence painted at the taxpayers' expense?

That's what KENS-5 is saying Sheila McNeil did.

Neighbors in the Sunrise Subdivision on the Eastside say tagging sprouts like weeds in the spring. So, who cleans it up? Homeowners are supposed to make the repairs. But some are complaining city councilwoman Sheila McNeil got city crews to clean up hers.

McNeil claimed a harship, as city crews re-painted her fence Monday. But KENS-5 could find no record of chronic tagging problems at her home.

Her neighbors, on the other hand, have been cited by code compliance for their graffit[i] problems. They say it's not fair.

It's absolutely not fair. If this allegation is true, it's definitely an abuse of city resources, and McNeil should be ashamed that she did this. But, then again, I recall that McNeil was the only councilmember who had no problem with using city funds to pay for her trip to Obama's inauguration, even after she was called out on the expenses.

Last month [January 2009], Councilwoman Sheila McNeil flew to Washington, D.C., on questionable city business, attended the presidential inauguration on the taxpayers' dime and wondered why everyone made such a fuss.

And, she's running for mayor.

"Chupacabra or hairless wild pig?"

WOAI-TV has finally picked up on the furor over the chupacabra/mangy coyote that has been spotted running around the Northwest Side of San Antonio. Oddly enough, WOAI is the only source I have seen so far that doesn't consider this animal might be a canid of some sort and instead speculates that it might be a pig.

NORTHWEST SAN ANTONIO -- Jaime Garcia sent the photo of a strange-looking animal. Immediately, the image of a (mythical?) chupacabra leaps to mind.

Garcia says he took this photo about eight months ago. He and his boss have seen the animal since then as well. At the time of the photos, Garcia says it was about as large as a "medium-sized dog." In profile, the creature's head is shaped a bit like a horse's.

Garcia wrote to News 4 WOAI that “...the nose looks like a pig. Heis hairless on most of his body... except on the spine he has the hairof a wild pig (javalina).”

...

Pig or “goat sucker?” Take a look at the slideshow and you decide.

WOAI's slideshow is here.

For the record, I think it's a mangy coyote. But that doesn't mean you can't put it on a T-shirt!

Young and gay

They were that way at the Ursuline Academy many years ago. Alan found an album cover that proves it.

"Teen suspect attacks costumed tax service worker"

A bad day to be Ms. Liberty.

A man dressed like the Statue of Liberty, working for a tax service, is recovering after a group of teens ambushed him last night, with one teen body-slamming the unsuspecting man on to the concrete sidewalk.

According to police, two suspects approached the victim and began to talk to him. While they did, a third suspect, 19-year- old Justin Marshal ran up, grabbed the man and body slammed him to the ground causing the victim to begin to convulse.

While the first two suspects ran off, the third was chased by a good samaritan into the Wal-Mart off of Military Drive and Interstate 37, where he was held until police could arrive.

(from KENS-5)

Your city government at work

Our fine San Antonio city councilmembers want to get re-elected. Or do they?

SAN ANTONIO -- Lourdes Galvan's signs are up all over District 5, but it might be all for naught. Her application for city council is being questioned. News 4 WOAI obtained a copy of her application to run for city council before it was altered. In small writing it says ‘District 3’ and not ‘District 5.’

And in the revised version the number ‘3’ is crossed out and the city clerk's, Leticia Vacek, initials are next to it.

Vacek admits “that was my error. It was not the candidate's error. It was a clerical error.”

Because the lettering is so small on this portion of the application, Vacek says Galvan asked her to help out. And when the mistake was pointed out to Vacek about a week after it was filed, she called the Texas Secretary of State's office.

(from WOAI-TV)

Really, if you were running for elected office -- especially re-election! -- wouldn't you pay just a bit more attention to your paperwork? Why would you leave it up to a city employee to fill out the papers for you? Or do you think she thought it was the city manager's contract and was waiting for Justin Rodriguez to read it?

"Councilwoman, Residents Fighting West Avenue Strip Club"

Well, this sounds like a poorly run establishment anyway.

SAN ANTONIO -- A strip club most recently in the public eye for on suspicion of allowing a minor to dance topless has become the target of nearby residents as well as a city councilwoman.

Club Babylon, whose 37-year-old manager, Manuel Alvarado, was arrested and charged with allowing the sexual performance of a child last week, has been visited over and over again by San Antonio police for various calls, said District 1 City Councilwoman Mary Alice Cisneros.

San Antonio police found a 16-year-old girl dancing topless inside the club last week.

The club, located on West Avenue, has had 140 calls for service since opening in July 2007, including those for assault, theft and other misdemeanors. A taco vendor was also killed near the club in 2008.

(from KSAT-12)

H.R. Pufnstuf

He's from San Antonio.

Did you know that?

I'm a regular reader of another local blog called Blogonomicon, and the author there, Alan, is something of a vinylphile. He has many old LP albums that he has been ripping to his computer, and some of them are rare, curious, or strange. As he digitizes some of the more interesting ones, he does blog posts explaining how he got them and what the music means to him. This all makes for fun reading, but I recently learned something new about an old television show I used to watch.

The show was "H.R. Pufnstuf," a strange Saturday morning live-action puppet show featuring a dragon in cowboy boots and a boy with a magic flute. (Read more about it here, if you like.) I barely remember the show, and most of the people I mention it to do not recall it themselves, so it was refreshing to read that Alan remembered it and that I wasn't just some crazy person who made up memories about cowboy dragons. In fact, Alan has the original soundtrack of the album, and he recently ripped it to his computer and wrote a blog post about it.

I enjoyed reading about the album and the show, but imagine my surprise when I read one of the commenters on the post claiming that Pufnstuf had his origins in Hemisfair '68, the world's fair that was held in San Antonio! I was intrigued, so I consulted the vat of all human knowledge known as Wikipedia and discovered that the dragon and his flute-toting friend were indeed a product of the Alamo City!

After creating costumes for characters in the live-action portion of The Banana Splits Adventure Hour, Sid and Marty Krofft were asked to develop their own Saturday morning children's series for NBC. The plot was recycled from Kaleidescope, a live puppet show the Kroffts had staged in the Coca-Cola pavilion of the HemisFair '68 world's fair in 1968, including several key characters from this show, such as Luther the dragon and a silly witch^[4].

There you go. One more strange thing from San Antonio.

"Woman 'In Pain' Arrested In Meth Seizure"

If you wish to go into the drug trade, perhaps you might want to make sure you're in good health first.

SAN ANTONIO -- A neighbor concerned about a woman who sounded as if she was in pain appears to be the key to police making an arrest and large seizure of money and methamphetamine early Thursday morning.

San Antonio police arrested a 52-year-old woman from her home at the Enclave Apartments at 1550 Jackson Keller Road after finding about $250,000 in cash, seven ounces of meth and a gun, investigators said. Some of the drugs and money were packed into small bags, they said.

The woman, apparently a diabetic, was on probation for possession of drugs with the intent to deliver and felony possession of a firearm, said SAPD Chief Bill McManus. One of the woman's neighbors called for help when she thought she heard sounds of somebody in pain, McManus said.

(from KSAT-12)

If she goes to prison, at least she will have access to health care, thanks to the taxpayers.

Chupacabra!

Same mangy coyote, but this time it was reported on by KSAT-12:

SAN ANTONIO -- A San Antonio resident claims to have seen the mysterious four-legged animal we know as the Chupacabra.

This time, it was caught on tape on the city's northwest side.

The animal was also hit by a car going 40 miles-per-hour, said an e-mailer to KSAT 12 News.

It was dazed and confused before it suddently [sic] popped up and darted away.

Video here. And I like this screen cap for the story:



How cute! Someone got that poor animal a blanket to lay on. Of course, some mange medicine would be better for him.

"Porn addiction may cause brain damage"

Thanks, WOAI. This is just the ammo our City Council prigs need to cut back on sexiness in the Alamo City.

A porn study done in San Antonio found that watching pornography is as addictive as cocaine, meth, and alcohol. It can also lead to social problems in teenagers.
Dr. Donald Hilton, Jr. with the American Board of Neurological Surgery was one of the researchers. He discovered the frontal lobe of the brain shrinks in people who are addicted to porn. Dr. Hilton says that is the same thing that happens in drug addicts and alcoholics.

But what does it do to people who study porn?

By the way, I should note that WOAI does not link to a copy of Hilton's study, so readers cannot easily find the original document to see if this is exactly what the doctor claims. I doubt this claim, and I doubt this study actually exists. I'm not even sure where WOAI got this story. The only other reference to Dr. Hilton and brain-shrinking porn that I could find is on an obscure blog. The entry here is full of odd, strange language that makes little sense, and the closing line suggests that Dr. Hilton is more of an evangelist than a scientist.

In a seminar on the impact of pornography on the brain damage, nerve surgeon's Hospital San Antonio, United States, Donald L. Hilton Jr., MD said that adiksi result in the middle of the front of the brain called the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) physical decline.

Depreciation brain networks that produce dopamine (chemical trigger happy feeling) that, according to him, cause workplace disruption neurotransmiter ie brain chemical substances that act as the sender of the message.

...

According to Hilton, brain damage due addicted pornography is the most weight, more weight of the cocaine addicted.

However, he said, there is now hope that brain damage can be restored to near normal with the various methods of healing.

Therapy that can be used to restore the addicted brain damage as a result, according to him, among others, the personal motivation to drive the spirit of people to liberate themselves from the addicted, and the creation of a safe environment for the habitue drastically reduce access to pornography.

Besides, he added, with the formation of support groups and counselors therapeutist therapy increased spirituality and its impact is also very meaningful in the recovery effort.

"Research shows religious spirituality of any kind, will speed the recovery process," he said.

Weird stuff.

Threatening a deputy

If you're planning on visiting violence upon a member of the law enforcement community, by all means, please, announce your intentions. It saves everyone a lot of trouble.

A disagreement over an impounded motorcycle has landed a man in custody Friday after witnesses said he planned to retaliate against a Bexar County Sheriff's Deputy, officials said.

Sheriff's deputies arrested Michael Johnson, 28, outside his home in the 12000 block of Netherwood Lane on Friday and charged him with retaliation, a second-degree felony, Sheriff's Department spokesman Ino Badillo said.

Deputies obtained a search warrant for Johnson's home after witnesses reported he was trying to find out the address of a sheriff's deputy involved in a case that impounded Johnson's motorcycle.

Johnson said he wanted to send a package to the deputy's house, and witnesses said Johnson had knowledge of how to make pipe bombs.

(from the Express-News)

Chupacabra!

On Tezel Road!

Chuck McCollough of the Express-News reports:

As I drove out of my Northwest Side neighborhood around 4 p.m. Thursday I saw a group of neighbors staring at something a short distance away.

They kept their distance for good reason. It appeared to be a mange-covered coyote, and it was roaming the area just as school children headed home in the Tezel Road area.

Look at the photo and see what you think it is.

Some might think it is a chupacabra! T-shirts, anyone?

Car crashes into house

This time, it wasn't too far from home.

SAN ANTONIO -- A man accidentally drove his SUV into his own home on the Southeast Side Tuesday evening.

...

The man accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake, and crashed into his house.

(from WOAI-TV)

Random photo art selection ?

Here is a strange enough story from WOAI-TV:

Bexar County commissioners, San Antonio council members and mayors in surrounding towns all got the same email threatening their lives.

The writer of the email claims to be a contract killer who is getting paid to kill the person receiving it. It says things like "My men are monitoring you..." and "Someone wants your whole family dead."

County Commissioner Kevin Wolff was one of dozens of local leaders who received the email Friday. All of them are board members of the Alamo Area Council of Governments. But Wolff says he doesn't know why they were all targeted by the email.

Bexar County Sheriff's say the email is a phishing scam out of Nigeria.

Odd enough, sure. It was even a story on WOAI last year. But what's stranger is the choice of photo art to illustrate the story. Here is a screen cap:



What? Death threat spam is being sent to local political leaders and the best WOAI could do was post a generic picture of hands on a keyboard with a totally unsuitable caption from another TV station?

It must be sweeps month.

Cleaning the hippo exhibit

Not quite something you would expect to see when looking for hippos in the zoo, but I suppose it needs doing from time to time.

Dead in a parking lot

I would say this counts as an unusual occurrence: the finding of a dead body in a grocery store parking lot.

SAN ANTONIO -- A 46-year-old man was found dead in the parking lot of an H-E-B supermarket Sunday at 721 Castroville Road on the city's west side.

...

"Apparently, there was a female who saw another female trying to revive the man. When that female called 911, the female in the truck fled the scene, and we haven't been able to locate her," said Sgt. Joseph Barcena of the San Antonio Police Department.

Barcena said he hopes the woman who left the scene will come forward and shed some light on what happened.

(from KSAT-12)

Drugs may be involved.

Crashing horses

This doesn't happen very often, does it? I'm not much into horse racing, but I don't recall seeing too many stories like this.

It was a tragic scene at Retama Park Saturday night after a few horses collided during a race.

Witnesses say that at least two horses were killed after the crash and two jockeys were injured.

(from KENS-5)

A noose in an art park

Art or insensitivity?

You decide.

SAN ANTONIO -- Is it art? Or an offensive symbol of racism? That's what some people passing a popular sculpture garden on the Northwest Side are asking about a large noose seen hanging from a tree.

That noose is hanging from a tree in the 11,300 block of Vance Jackson Rd. Some people passing by are calling it disturbing. The 30-foot-long hangman's noose is draped over a tree at Sculptors Dominion.

...

The founder of Sculptors Dominion, Gilbert Barrera declined to talk to News 4 WOAI on camera. But he says the rope's an art piece by 85-year-old Hill Country artist James Cayton. He says it's titled "The National Political Necktie."

However, Derwyn Anderson says, “I don't see anything artistic about it. I only see death of a people. Fear factor. I'm really outraged."

(from WOAI-TV)

I don't know about you, but whenever I see a noose I always think about Tuco and Blondie.

[Tuco has captured Blondie and is planning to hang him]
Tuco: Get on that stool and put the rope around your neck. I have a different system, my friend; I don't shoot the rope, I shoot the legs from under the stool.
[Sound of distant rumbling]
Tuco: Even when Judas hanged himself there was thunder.
Man With No Name: That might be cannon fire.
Tuco: Thunder or cannon fire, it's all the same to you. Adios, Blondie.

Car crashes into house

And truancy is to blame!

SAN ANTONIO -- A 14-year-old girl who police said skipped school crashed a car into the garage of a home Tuesday on the city's west side, police said.

No injuries were reported.

...

Officer Greg Hovis of the San Antonio Police Department said the girl took a friend's car for a joy ride, lost control and the car hit the structure in the 600 block of Matthews Avenue.

"She doesn't understand how she ended up there," Hovis said.

(from KSAT-12)

Hm. Could she have ended up there because of a lack of driving skills?

"Suspected burglar makes his capture super-easy"

Yes, sometimes the crooks make it easy for the cops. Too bad it's not all the time.

SAN ANTONIO -- Rafael Q. Sanchez is a burglary suspect who some might say just did not use his brain. An arrest warrant from the San Antonio Police Department said the 36-year-old broke into a downtown architectural firm, left his belongings in the building, and returned to the scene of the crime to reclaim them.

(from KENS-5)

One of the things he left behind -- a backpack with papers in it that identified him.

Digging up the dead

Some people have no respect -- for themselves or for others.

SAN ANTONIO -- Police are looking for the person or persons who desecrated a grave and tampered with a corpse over the weekend.

The grave of Daniel Machado, who died in 1985, according to his grave marker, had his coffin ransacked and clothes from inside tossed around at the Loma China cemetery, a private facility on Zarzamora Road just outside Loop 410 on the city's south side.

...

[SAPD spokesman Joe] Rios said whomever is responsible faces a charge of abuse of a corpse, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

(from KSAT-12)

Of course, I guess it could have been these guys. If so, then how would they pay the fine?

UPDATE: This case has taken an even weirder turn, as KSAT reports:

Machado was 17 years old when he was struck by a truck. Family members said they had to collect donations in order to bury him, but his site has repeatedly been desecrated since then.

"The first time it happened, he was only buried like a week, and we found four black candles on each side of his headstone," said brother Preston Machado.

Police said they are investigating the latest incident, but have no leads as of yet. Family members said they also find dead animals and a lot of litter whenever they come by to clean the grave, including animals apparently used in voodoo ceremonies. Machado said the family would be visiting more frequently until more security measures are put into place.

Strange.

Strange in 78250

There are always little odd things around San Antonio, and the ever-vigilant Dave spots them from time to time. Here are his latest pics.

Someone who definitely should have thought a little more

If you get in an argument with your girlfriend while on the road, it's not a good idea to interfere with her driving. You might end up on the losing end of the whole thing.

Joseph Tovar, 23, was not wearing a seat belt, police said.

Traffic investigators said they later learned that Tovar caused the crash. According to police, Tovar was having an argument with his girlfriend, who was driving the SUV, when Tovar allegedly reached over and pulled on the steering wheel.

Police said the car veered toward the right, and Tover's girlfriend overcorrected, causing the SUV to flip over.

"He was ejected from the vehicle and the vehicle rolled over him, killing him there at the scene," said Sgt. Joe Rios, with the San Antonio Police Department.

(from KSAT-12)

Thankfully, the others in the car are going to be OK.

"Girl Scouts robbed as they sell cookies outside store"

Oh, this is just wrong. Somebody reeeaaalllly wants other people to think he's a bad man.

Two little girls and their troop leader were robbed outside a North Side store Wednesday night. The Brownie troop leader became emotional as she told News 4 WOAI how she witnessed the thief steal from the two 3rd graders.

...

"We were finishing up our shift and we were packing up our cookies," explained the girls' troop leader.

That troop leader, who doesn't want to be identified, said a man then walked up to their table.

"I didn't even think he was looking at the money," said told News 4 WOAI. "I thought he was leaning over to look in the box, like 'What do you have in there?'"

She said then all of a sudden, the man snatched their bag of money and ran off. He got away with about $250. The troop leader chased him, but he got into a car with a woman and drove off.

(from WOAI-TV)

What a winner. I bet his woman is proud of him.

UPDATE: The police have captured two suspects.

The wiener was in town!

And Alan at Blogonomicon got a good look at it!

That's one big hot dog.