Monday, August 04, 2008
"I've got cats that kill animals. When they kill something, they eat it. You don't even eat it. You're not even an animal. You're the worst thing I've ever seen." -Randy Ertman - Jennifer's dad
"He will be treated to appropriate Texas justice." - Gov. Rick Perry
"I'm not sure that your future parole officer has even been BORN yet and I'm not sure that you deserve for him to have even been born yet." -Judge Pat Shelton when he ordered the transfer of Venancio Medellin from juvenile detention to adult prison.
Elizabeth Pena made it to 16.
Jennifer Ertman made it to 14.
Jose Medellin has lived longer in prison, fighting his death sentence, more years than Jennifer Ertman lived in her whole life.
Raped. Beaten. Kicked. Sodomized. Terrorized. Shared amongst six soon-to-be murderers. Again. Raped. Sodomized. Again. Ribs broken. Begging. Begging. Begging. Teeth knocked out. Still. Genitals torn and bloodied. Brutally strangled. First with a belt that was pulled so tightly around Jennifer's neck that the belt broke. Again. For more than an hour. Sodomized. Raped. Beaten. Dragged through the trees. Forced to kneel. Their shoe laces slicing into their throats. Dead. Kicked some more, just to make sure. Their throats stomped on. Left to rot in the woods of a park. Rotting for four days. Decaying. In the heat, with the bugs.
"The world court has no standing in Texas and Texas is not bound by a ruling or edict from a foreign court," -Gov. Rick Perry's spokesman Robert Black
"The world court don't mean diddly. This business belongs in the state of Texas. The people of the state of Texas support the execution. We thank them. The rest of them can go to hell." -Randy Ertman
"I believe we've been through all the red tape we can go through. It's time to rock and roll." -Adolfo Pena - Elizabeth's dad
I was 29 in 2003 when these girls were destroyed by six sub-human men. One of them is now dead. Another will die tomorrow night in a small room about 60 miles north of me. The wait has been too long. There is another one that will die, but we don't know when yet. There are others - they were juveniles when they violated and desecrated the bodies, hearts, minds and ultimately annihilate the lives of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena - who will only be in prison for decades.
I was 29 in 2003. I lived only a few miles from the park on T.C. Jester where the lives of these two girls were stolen. I remember the news coverage of the search for them after they disappeared. I will never, never forget the abject horror of Jennifer's father when her body, along with Elizabeth's, was found down in those woods by the bayou. I will always remember his face as he stumbled around on the grass, on the edge of sanity, as the police wrapped him in their arms, holding him back from running into the woods where he knew his daughter's body had been discarded.
He wants a friend.
Jose Ernesto Medellin
Sean Derrick O'Brien
"It is the worst mistake that I ever made in my whole life." - O'Brien's final statement from death row.
Raul Omar Villarreal
Efrain Perez
Peter Anthony Cantu
He's looking for a friend!!
He's working on a college degree, likes painting and country music, and has "denied" himself the chance to make friends.
Venancio Medellin
In my gut I believe that the death penalty is right. In my head I believe Texas should put a moratorium - an open ended moratorium - on executions because the justice system in Texas is so screwed up.
But sometimes.... sometimes.... the sentiment expressed on the radio today by a woman who was asked what she thought cuts to the heart of the matter:
"They should have been shot on sight."
Indeed. Let's rock and roll.
"He will be treated to appropriate Texas justice." - Gov. Rick Perry
"I'm not sure that your future parole officer has even been BORN yet and I'm not sure that you deserve for him to have even been born yet." -Judge Pat Shelton when he ordered the transfer of Venancio Medellin from juvenile detention to adult prison.
Elizabeth Pena made it to 16.
Jennifer Ertman made it to 14.
Jose Medellin has lived longer in prison, fighting his death sentence, more years than Jennifer Ertman lived in her whole life.
Raped. Beaten. Kicked. Sodomized. Terrorized. Shared amongst six soon-to-be murderers. Again. Raped. Sodomized. Again. Ribs broken. Begging. Begging. Begging. Teeth knocked out. Still. Genitals torn and bloodied. Brutally strangled. First with a belt that was pulled so tightly around Jennifer's neck that the belt broke. Again. For more than an hour. Sodomized. Raped. Beaten. Dragged through the trees. Forced to kneel. Their shoe laces slicing into their throats. Dead. Kicked some more, just to make sure. Their throats stomped on. Left to rot in the woods of a park. Rotting for four days. Decaying. In the heat, with the bugs.
"The world court has no standing in Texas and Texas is not bound by a ruling or edict from a foreign court," -Gov. Rick Perry's spokesman Robert Black
"The world court don't mean diddly. This business belongs in the state of Texas. The people of the state of Texas support the execution. We thank them. The rest of them can go to hell." -Randy Ertman
"I believe we've been through all the red tape we can go through. It's time to rock and roll." -Adolfo Pena - Elizabeth's dad
I was 29 in 2003 when these girls were destroyed by six sub-human men. One of them is now dead. Another will die tomorrow night in a small room about 60 miles north of me. The wait has been too long. There is another one that will die, but we don't know when yet. There are others - they were juveniles when they violated and desecrated the bodies, hearts, minds and ultimately annihilate the lives of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena - who will only be in prison for decades.
I was 29 in 2003. I lived only a few miles from the park on T.C. Jester where the lives of these two girls were stolen. I remember the news coverage of the search for them after they disappeared. I will never, never forget the abject horror of Jennifer's father when her body, along with Elizabeth's, was found down in those woods by the bayou. I will always remember his face as he stumbled around on the grass, on the edge of sanity, as the police wrapped him in their arms, holding him back from running into the woods where he knew his daughter's body had been discarded.
He wants a friend.
Jose Ernesto Medellin
Sean Derrick O'Brien
"It is the worst mistake that I ever made in my whole life." - O'Brien's final statement from death row.
Raul Omar Villarreal
Efrain Perez
Peter Anthony Cantu
He's looking for a friend!!
He's working on a college degree, likes painting and country music, and has "denied" himself the chance to make friends.
Venancio Medellin
In my gut I believe that the death penalty is right. In my head I believe Texas should put a moratorium - an open ended moratorium - on executions because the justice system in Texas is so screwed up.
But sometimes.... sometimes.... the sentiment expressed on the radio today by a woman who was asked what she thought cuts to the heart of the matter:
"They should have been shot on sight."
Indeed. Let's rock and roll.
Friday, December 21, 2007
The most delightful thing happened to me the other day. I was driving into town on Memorial. I had just gone under the railroad tracks in the park and was about to merge with the Woodway traffic. There was a bicyclist on my left so I pulled to my right a little bit, into the middle lane, to pass the rider and allow him to you know, live.
Before I pulled to my right a little I had looked in my rear view and there was no one coming down Woodway. However, by the time I got over there was a big, pissed off Mercedes coming up my ass and it wasn't at all happy that my little zoomzoom was burning the same fossil fuels that it was. Not happy at all. It damned near took my rear right bumper off as it burned around me, and it roared off, up the hill and through the green light at the turn off to the jogging trail.
So. There I am, chugging through the park at my old lady 40s mile an hour (hmmm that IS the speed limit) zoomzoom, thinking, "Now why does he have to do that? What makes him think it's OK to tear through the park at 50 or 60 mph?" And he's so far gone - By the time I get to the first big curve, he's already out of sight.
So. I go around the curve and I see a glimpse of the light at the turn off for the softball fields. It's red. So I start thinking, "Man, I bet he didn't make the light." And sure enough when I got out of the curve and started to come up to the light, there he was, slamming on his breaks. I'm thinking, "What an idiot. That sure did him a lot of good. Joggers, bikers, animals, kids, all here in the park, he could have killed anyone just so he could hurry up here to the light. And here I am going to be right next to him. What an idiot."
So. I'm a little smug. I'm a little self-satisfied.
Then. THEN. FUCKING THEN!!!!
Out of the woods on the side of the road by the softball fields - I shit you not - comes an HPD officer on a magnificent tawny horse. The horse was gorgeous! Shining in the sun, his gait proud, the office sitting tall, doing a job he worked hard for the honor of having. Being a member of the Houston Police Department's Mounted Patrol is a real honor, and you could tell that this officer and this horse were really together that day. And oh, my goodness, I just cracked up laughing so hard - because this officer and this horse trotted right out of the woods and into the road and stopped broadside RIGHT IN FRONT of that big, pissed off Mercedes.
HAHAHAHA I couldn't stand it. I just laughed myself silly. The officer leaned down in his saddle to look right at the driver of the car and with one arm he did a sort of wind up and toss motion, making it clear (as if the two ton tawny pile of rippling horse flesh blocking the view wasn't enough) that Mr. Pissed Off Merc was going to be busy for a little while. It was priceless.
The Mercedes was in the middle lane. The driver in the right lane literally backed up a little so the Merc could pass in front - and the Mercedes crept over off the road in front of that horse - I swear it looked like a kid going to get a spanking. What a hoot. And that horse was flicking its tail, kicking a front hoof up here and there, tossing its mane, having a good time.
You know, we all complain that there's never a cop when we need one. This would have been really great if an HPD cruiser had shown up and popped its lights at this Mercedes. Or even if a motorcycle cop had buzzed out from behind a corner and motioned the Merc off the road. But for that huge, graceful horse and that skilled horseman to trot out of the woods and plant themselves sideways across the road RIGHT IN FRONT of that car, and then shoo it to the side like a bad puppy, that was magnificent. It made my day. Thanks, HPD!
Before I pulled to my right a little I had looked in my rear view and there was no one coming down Woodway. However, by the time I got over there was a big, pissed off Mercedes coming up my ass and it wasn't at all happy that my little zoomzoom was burning the same fossil fuels that it was. Not happy at all. It damned near took my rear right bumper off as it burned around me, and it roared off, up the hill and through the green light at the turn off to the jogging trail.
So. There I am, chugging through the park at my old lady 40s mile an hour (hmmm that IS the speed limit) zoomzoom, thinking, "Now why does he have to do that? What makes him think it's OK to tear through the park at 50 or 60 mph?" And he's so far gone - By the time I get to the first big curve, he's already out of sight.
So. I go around the curve and I see a glimpse of the light at the turn off for the softball fields. It's red. So I start thinking, "Man, I bet he didn't make the light." And sure enough when I got out of the curve and started to come up to the light, there he was, slamming on his breaks. I'm thinking, "What an idiot. That sure did him a lot of good. Joggers, bikers, animals, kids, all here in the park, he could have killed anyone just so he could hurry up here to the light. And here I am going to be right next to him. What an idiot."
So. I'm a little smug. I'm a little self-satisfied.
Then. THEN. FUCKING THEN!!!!
Out of the woods on the side of the road by the softball fields - I shit you not - comes an HPD officer on a magnificent tawny horse. The horse was gorgeous! Shining in the sun, his gait proud, the office sitting tall, doing a job he worked hard for the honor of having. Being a member of the Houston Police Department's Mounted Patrol is a real honor, and you could tell that this officer and this horse were really together that day. And oh, my goodness, I just cracked up laughing so hard - because this officer and this horse trotted right out of the woods and into the road and stopped broadside RIGHT IN FRONT of that big, pissed off Mercedes.
HAHAHAHA I couldn't stand it. I just laughed myself silly. The officer leaned down in his saddle to look right at the driver of the car and with one arm he did a sort of wind up and toss motion, making it clear (as if the two ton tawny pile of rippling horse flesh blocking the view wasn't enough) that Mr. Pissed Off Merc was going to be busy for a little while. It was priceless.
The Mercedes was in the middle lane. The driver in the right lane literally backed up a little so the Merc could pass in front - and the Mercedes crept over off the road in front of that horse - I swear it looked like a kid going to get a spanking. What a hoot. And that horse was flicking its tail, kicking a front hoof up here and there, tossing its mane, having a good time.
You know, we all complain that there's never a cop when we need one. This would have been really great if an HPD cruiser had shown up and popped its lights at this Mercedes. Or even if a motorcycle cop had buzzed out from behind a corner and motioned the Merc off the road. But for that huge, graceful horse and that skilled horseman to trot out of the woods and plant themselves sideways across the road RIGHT IN FRONT of that car, and then shoo it to the side like a bad puppy, that was magnificent. It made my day. Thanks, HPD!
Labels: law, personal urban drama
Sunday, May 06, 2007
In a world where so many families are torn apart by divorce and selfishness, where the children are left by the wayside, I want to share a story with you about a family that is full of love and warmth. I know the people who make up this family. They are kind, funny, honest, and devoted, beyond all else, to their wonderful daughter. Let me tell you, this is one of the most delightful little girls I've ever met.
This is Pete's blog. While he is gregarious and has many friends, he is also a private man. In this story he has taken the very brave step of sharing with the world the story of his daughter, and his family's heartbreaking challenge of being confronted with being told their precious child has PDD-NOS. This is clinical shorthand for Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified. This is part of the autism spectrum of diagnoses.
Pete and his wife are working every day to make the best choices they can to help this beautiful child find her way in the world. They are luckier than many families in that they have good jobs, a fantastic support system of friends and family, and the drive to understand and work through the byzantine world of professionals that quite often offer opposing advice and contradictory services.
This post talks about the state of Texas and the irrational decisions that are made by politicians who control the insurance policies that govern this state. Please go take a read and, if you feel compelled to act, do so. This family has resources and love not available to all families. They all need the support of sane people, and of course, we all know those people are rarely the ones who make the laws.
This is Pete's blog. While he is gregarious and has many friends, he is also a private man. In this story he has taken the very brave step of sharing with the world the story of his daughter, and his family's heartbreaking challenge of being confronted with being told their precious child has PDD-NOS. This is clinical shorthand for Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified. This is part of the autism spectrum of diagnoses.
Pete and his wife are working every day to make the best choices they can to help this beautiful child find her way in the world. They are luckier than many families in that they have good jobs, a fantastic support system of friends and family, and the drive to understand and work through the byzantine world of professionals that quite often offer opposing advice and contradictory services.
This post talks about the state of Texas and the irrational decisions that are made by politicians who control the insurance policies that govern this state. Please go take a read and, if you feel compelled to act, do so. This family has resources and love not available to all families. They all need the support of sane people, and of course, we all know those people are rarely the ones who make the laws.
Labels: bloggers, law, medicine, personal urban drama, texas
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Saturday, December 30, 2006
I know we all hear about wacko law suits but this one is straight the the lawyer's mouth. This by the way happens to be one of the few lawyers (like, three, period) who I know to be an honorable person.
This evening we had a Cult meeting at our Cult leader's house. A little after Christmas cult get together. One of the member's husbands, Honorable Lawyer, joined us which is a treat because he doesn't come out often and he is a wildly funny guy. He decided to tell us a story about a case his firm is working on right now.
You may know (but probably don't) that Texas has developed a problem over the last few years in the form of wild hogs. Note, I'm not talking about javalinas, which are a whole nother story and let me tell you a javalina is a sight to behold as long as you're in a sturdy car that is big enough so that a javalina can't tip it over if it gets pissed off at you. By the way, all you have to do to piss off a javalina is exist within its sight. Also, javalinas are decidedly ugly creatures. And they smell. Bad. But I digress.
Wild hogs. They're hell and gone all over the place here in Texas. So according to Honorable Lawyer, one night a month or so ago a man was driving his truck down a lonely road when lo and behold he approaches on the road a dead wild hog. Chances are the hog was hit by another vehicle and died. So the truck guy swerves to avoid hitting the dead hog. But he does it badly, goes off the road, hits a fence, bounces off the fence, and rebounds across the shoulder past a guy wire holding a big tower of some sort. Not so bad, eh? The bad part is that when the truck rebounded off the fence and headed for the guy wire, the truck guy's head somehow got pushed out the open window of the truck and well, lets just say a human neck hanging out a truck that has just rebounded off a fence is no match for a guy wire. Think Marie Antoinette. And not the cake part.
Honorable lawyer then says the truck guy's family is suing. Everyones first thought is, they're suing the company that owns the guy wire because they should have anticipated that one day a truck guy might have to dodge a dead hog in the road, rebound off the nearby fence, and get his head chopped off by the wire. But nooooooo. Second thought is the family is suing the farmer who owns the fence because it wasn't a break away fence and he should have known that one day a truck guy would crash into it while avoiding a dead hog on the road and the fence should have been space age designed to break away upon impact. But noooooo.
The family is suing the unknown guy who hit the hog and killed it in the first place. YES, ladies and gentlemen, THIS IS TEXAS. So the first thing the law firm is charged with is finding the person who hit the hog. Can you imagine that this is what these attorney people were shooting for when they were studying torts? I mean seriously.
I suggested that the law firm do a forensic psychoanalysis of the hog. Maybe the hog was just really sad and committed suicide by motorist. If that's the case then the hog killer is an innocent hog killer and they can sue the guy with the fence instead. Or maybe, they can sue the lawyer that first took the case. But can a law firm sue itself?
This evening we had a Cult meeting at our Cult leader's house. A little after Christmas cult get together. One of the member's husbands, Honorable Lawyer, joined us which is a treat because he doesn't come out often and he is a wildly funny guy. He decided to tell us a story about a case his firm is working on right now.
You may know (but probably don't) that Texas has developed a problem over the last few years in the form of wild hogs. Note, I'm not talking about javalinas, which are a whole nother story and let me tell you a javalina is a sight to behold as long as you're in a sturdy car that is big enough so that a javalina can't tip it over if it gets pissed off at you. By the way, all you have to do to piss off a javalina is exist within its sight. Also, javalinas are decidedly ugly creatures. And they smell. Bad. But I digress.
Wild hogs. They're hell and gone all over the place here in Texas. So according to Honorable Lawyer, one night a month or so ago a man was driving his truck down a lonely road when lo and behold he approaches on the road a dead wild hog. Chances are the hog was hit by another vehicle and died. So the truck guy swerves to avoid hitting the dead hog. But he does it badly, goes off the road, hits a fence, bounces off the fence, and rebounds across the shoulder past a guy wire holding a big tower of some sort. Not so bad, eh? The bad part is that when the truck rebounded off the fence and headed for the guy wire, the truck guy's head somehow got pushed out the open window of the truck and well, lets just say a human neck hanging out a truck that has just rebounded off a fence is no match for a guy wire. Think Marie Antoinette. And not the cake part.
Honorable lawyer then says the truck guy's family is suing. Everyones first thought is, they're suing the company that owns the guy wire because they should have anticipated that one day a truck guy might have to dodge a dead hog in the road, rebound off the nearby fence, and get his head chopped off by the wire. But nooooooo. Second thought is the family is suing the farmer who owns the fence because it wasn't a break away fence and he should have known that one day a truck guy would crash into it while avoiding a dead hog on the road and the fence should have been space age designed to break away upon impact. But noooooo.
The family is suing the unknown guy who hit the hog and killed it in the first place. YES, ladies and gentlemen, THIS IS TEXAS. So the first thing the law firm is charged with is finding the person who hit the hog. Can you imagine that this is what these attorney people were shooting for when they were studying torts? I mean seriously.
I suggested that the law firm do a forensic psychoanalysis of the hog. Maybe the hog was just really sad and committed suicide by motorist. If that's the case then the hog killer is an innocent hog killer and they can sue the guy with the fence instead. Or maybe, they can sue the lawyer that first took the case. But can a law firm sue itself?
Thursday, December 28, 2006
With all the horror stories the news delivers ever day about criminals using guns to kill other criminals (Hello, Gang Wars!) it's Horror and Mayhem all over the place. When a homeowner uses a gun to lawfully protect his/her home and hearth, its is seldom heard of and never a lead on the nightly news. The headline inequity helps create The Sky Is Falling panic and screams of "Take away guns from people!". I still say if you take the guns away from lawful people, the only people who will have guns are the criminals, since you know, they don't get them lawfully anyway. Score one for the good guys! I think I'll go give my Ruger an extra coat of oil tonight just 'cause I can.
Apparent Robbery Goes Fatally Wrong
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
Two men were fatally wounded and two others taken into custody early Wednesday after homeowners in east Harris County opened fire on them during an attempted robbery, the sheriff's office said.
Robert Deleon Jones and Jonathan Garcia were fatally wounded in the 3900 block of Crosby Barbers Hill about 2 a.m. Garcia died at San Jacinto Methodist Hospital, and the other man died at Memorial Hermann Hospital.
Investigators said they were told that Jones, Garcia and two other men had been attempting to rob the residents.
The unidentified homeowners apparently were within their rights protecting their property and will not be charged in the shootings at this time, sheriff's Sgt. N. Araguz said, but the surviving men — Charles Duran and Rodney Jones — face charges of aggravated robbery.
Apparent Robbery Goes Fatally Wrong
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
Two men were fatally wounded and two others taken into custody early Wednesday after homeowners in east Harris County opened fire on them during an attempted robbery, the sheriff's office said.
Robert Deleon Jones and Jonathan Garcia were fatally wounded in the 3900 block of Crosby Barbers Hill about 2 a.m. Garcia died at San Jacinto Methodist Hospital, and the other man died at Memorial Hermann Hospital.
Investigators said they were told that Jones, Garcia and two other men had been attempting to rob the residents.
The unidentified homeowners apparently were within their rights protecting their property and will not be charged in the shootings at this time, sheriff's Sgt. N. Araguz said, but the surviving men — Charles Duran and Rodney Jones — face charges of aggravated robbery.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Houston is a ravenous city. As it has grown, it has swallowed up countless other small cities through annexation. There are a few towns that resisted this carnivorous activity and still maintain their independence. They are like little islands in the huge ocean that is Houston. They maintain their own local governments and their own law enforcement agencies. It is a well known truth that in Houston one can drive 20 miles over the speed limit and no one will look at you twice (except for the people who get run off the road by the speeders). And it is a well known fact that unless you want to get a ticket, you do not speed through Bellaire, South Side, The Villages, Jersey Village, or Spring Valley. Mostly I think this is true because the Houston Police Department is so under staffed, over worked, and under funded that the few officers who are on the streets barely have time to respond to the "Shots Fired" calls, much less stop the speeders.
This morning around 10:30am I was traveling south on Bingle. Just before I crossed the creek into Spring Valley, a medium size red car came speeding up behind me. As is often the case with people who think speed limits and red lights are optional suggestions, this person seemed to be offended by my 30 mph behavior. The car zoomed around me and blew through the intersection at Westview. I thought "Oh man, where is a cop when you need one?". Not five seconds later, a Spring Valley officer who was traveling north on Bingle hit his lights, made a sharp u-turn, and pulled over Mr. I'm In A Hurry.
I can't tell you how it made my day! As a person who two years ago ended up on a Life Flight helicopter because of a driver who was speeding and who ran a red light, I was thrilled to see this one speeder get some special attention. I actually laughed out loud and whooped with glee as I continued along in my Miata at 30 mph down to I-10. It is such a rare thing to see in Houston, where I always feel as if I'm putting my life in danger by NOT speeding. Score one for the good guys! I just sent an email to the Spring Valley Police Department and asked them to let the officer who did his duty this morning know what a big smile he put on my face.
This morning around 10:30am I was traveling south on Bingle. Just before I crossed the creek into Spring Valley, a medium size red car came speeding up behind me. As is often the case with people who think speed limits and red lights are optional suggestions, this person seemed to be offended by my 30 mph behavior. The car zoomed around me and blew through the intersection at Westview. I thought "Oh man, where is a cop when you need one?". Not five seconds later, a Spring Valley officer who was traveling north on Bingle hit his lights, made a sharp u-turn, and pulled over Mr. I'm In A Hurry.
I can't tell you how it made my day! As a person who two years ago ended up on a Life Flight helicopter because of a driver who was speeding and who ran a red light, I was thrilled to see this one speeder get some special attention. I actually laughed out loud and whooped with glee as I continued along in my Miata at 30 mph down to I-10. It is such a rare thing to see in Houston, where I always feel as if I'm putting my life in danger by NOT speeding. Score one for the good guys! I just sent an email to the Spring Valley Police Department and asked them to let the officer who did his duty this morning know what a big smile he put on my face.
Labels: law, personal urban drama
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Outrage and horror and cries of racism. All that led to the Houston Police Department going down the road toward Tazers. Various groups of people were screaming and shouting that HPD was shooting too many black people. So they got Tazers. This was to help protect the members of the force, the general public, and the scumbags who rob, rape, kill, and generally disregard other people's right to their own property, person, and life.
HPD shootings went down dramatically.
Flash to today. Outrage and horror and cries of racism. Now the SAME various groups are screaming and shouting that HPD is Tazering too many black people. Hey! I have a suggestion! Don't rob people! Don't rape people! Don't kill people! That way you won't get Tazered OR shot. Amazing concept.
Oh, and to the various groups of people shouting "racism", instead of making up your own statistics, listen to the statistics HPD puts out (hey, they're the ones that have the data) showing that there is no per capita difference in the races of people who are Tazered but the truth has never been high on the priority of people screaming racism.
I actually heard one idiot on the radio today saying that the only people who should be able to "police" black people are other black people in the community. This person said that all police officers are crooked, racist, prejudiced, and violent. I wonder if that includes all the black officers?
I mean, c'mon. Does anyone REALLY believe that a cop is going to shoot or Tazer a guy running at them with a knife if the guy is black, but offer to share a cup of hot chocolate with them if they're white? Holy crap.
HPD shootings went down dramatically.
Flash to today. Outrage and horror and cries of racism. Now the SAME various groups are screaming and shouting that HPD is Tazering too many black people. Hey! I have a suggestion! Don't rob people! Don't rape people! Don't kill people! That way you won't get Tazered OR shot. Amazing concept.
Oh, and to the various groups of people shouting "racism", instead of making up your own statistics, listen to the statistics HPD puts out (hey, they're the ones that have the data) showing that there is no per capita difference in the races of people who are Tazered but the truth has never been high on the priority of people screaming racism.
I actually heard one idiot on the radio today saying that the only people who should be able to "police" black people are other black people in the community. This person said that all police officers are crooked, racist, prejudiced, and violent. I wonder if that includes all the black officers?
I mean, c'mon. Does anyone REALLY believe that a cop is going to shoot or Tazer a guy running at them with a knife if the guy is black, but offer to share a cup of hot chocolate with them if they're white? Holy crap.
Friday, November 17, 2006
I was talking recently with a counselor when two subjects came up. First, we talked a little about the job I recently left. We talked about the sadness I feel over leaving this job that I really cared about and was a big success at. We talked about the harassment and hostile work environment that had been created by an inexperienced, incompetent person who was promoted to a job that gave her a lot of power over all the employees there. The counselor asked me if I planned to sue the organization.
We also talked about the long ordeal I went through trying to convince two different orthopedic surgeons that there was a problem with the bolts that had been implanted in my leg to hold my tibia together following a horrific car accident. I knew that one of the bolts had been implanted with a little too much enthusiasm, and that it was sticking out from the inside of my bone. I knew it because a year and half later, one spot on the side of my knee was still swollen, discolored, extremely painful, and hot to the touch. Not to mention that I could actually feel a hard lump that wasn't on my other knee, and hadn't been there before the repair. I finally convinced a surgeon to do an MRI and on reading the results was told "You're absolutely right". He removed the bolts and six months later I have had great results. The counselor asked me if I planned to sue the surgeon who installed the bolts.
I was shocked by both questions. In the first instance, my employment, I have good documentation and witnesses to the abuse. I could probably win a lawsuit and walk away with a tidy sum in my pocket. I even know an attorney who wouldn't rob me blind in the process. But the real losers would be the kids. I've working in the non-profit field for about ten years, most recently at a school. It isn't a rich school and if I sued, the school would suffer a tremendous burden. The kids would suffer and these aren't kids who can just choose to go to another school. Although I miss my job, the talented people I worked with, and the fantastic kids and their families, I am myself talented at what I do and, when I'm ready, will have no trouble finding another rewarding place to help people. Why would I damage the great people and kids there in order to punish the two people who deserve it?
In the second instance, I could probably sue. I've read the "standard of care" guidelines for the type of repair done to my leg and the guidelines provided by the company that manufactures the bolts used in my leg. They both warn about the dangers of implanting these bolts too far into the bone, and specifically address the problem I had. But to sue?? The surgeon who put this hardware in my knee saved my leg. It is because of his many years of dedicated training and his experience and skill that I am able to walk today, that I have little or no pain in the horribly damaged joint. I am so grateful for his work. Yes I had a problem because the bolts were implanted too far. But the problem was identified and fixed. I am so lucky! Why would I damage this dedicated professional who did everything possible to create the best possible outcome for my injury?
I told the counselor both of these stories. I told her - "Hey, if I went in to have a boil removed from my butt and came out having had my kidney removed hell yes I would sue". But I was not permanently damaged by either of these problems. I will continue in my career of choice. I will walk. For me to sue would be punitive, it would be mean spirited. It would be morally wrong.
I don't know if anyone has a solution for the lawsuit craze in this country. I have a fantasy whereby, if a suit is brought and found to be frivolous, the attorney who agreed to take the case would be fined in a robust manner. And that his fine would be paid to the folks who were injured by the case, not to the court or to some nebulous fund that would be eaten away at by administrative fees. Just my fantasy.
We also talked about the long ordeal I went through trying to convince two different orthopedic surgeons that there was a problem with the bolts that had been implanted in my leg to hold my tibia together following a horrific car accident. I knew that one of the bolts had been implanted with a little too much enthusiasm, and that it was sticking out from the inside of my bone. I knew it because a year and half later, one spot on the side of my knee was still swollen, discolored, extremely painful, and hot to the touch. Not to mention that I could actually feel a hard lump that wasn't on my other knee, and hadn't been there before the repair. I finally convinced a surgeon to do an MRI and on reading the results was told "You're absolutely right". He removed the bolts and six months later I have had great results. The counselor asked me if I planned to sue the surgeon who installed the bolts.
I was shocked by both questions. In the first instance, my employment, I have good documentation and witnesses to the abuse. I could probably win a lawsuit and walk away with a tidy sum in my pocket. I even know an attorney who wouldn't rob me blind in the process. But the real losers would be the kids. I've working in the non-profit field for about ten years, most recently at a school. It isn't a rich school and if I sued, the school would suffer a tremendous burden. The kids would suffer and these aren't kids who can just choose to go to another school. Although I miss my job, the talented people I worked with, and the fantastic kids and their families, I am myself talented at what I do and, when I'm ready, will have no trouble finding another rewarding place to help people. Why would I damage the great people and kids there in order to punish the two people who deserve it?
In the second instance, I could probably sue. I've read the "standard of care" guidelines for the type of repair done to my leg and the guidelines provided by the company that manufactures the bolts used in my leg. They both warn about the dangers of implanting these bolts too far into the bone, and specifically address the problem I had. But to sue?? The surgeon who put this hardware in my knee saved my leg. It is because of his many years of dedicated training and his experience and skill that I am able to walk today, that I have little or no pain in the horribly damaged joint. I am so grateful for his work. Yes I had a problem because the bolts were implanted too far. But the problem was identified and fixed. I am so lucky! Why would I damage this dedicated professional who did everything possible to create the best possible outcome for my injury?
I told the counselor both of these stories. I told her - "Hey, if I went in to have a boil removed from my butt and came out having had my kidney removed hell yes I would sue". But I was not permanently damaged by either of these problems. I will continue in my career of choice. I will walk. For me to sue would be punitive, it would be mean spirited. It would be morally wrong.
I don't know if anyone has a solution for the lawsuit craze in this country. I have a fantasy whereby, if a suit is brought and found to be frivolous, the attorney who agreed to take the case would be fined in a robust manner. And that his fine would be paid to the folks who were injured by the case, not to the court or to some nebulous fund that would be eaten away at by administrative fees. Just my fantasy.
Labels: accident, law, medicine
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Kenny Boy "I wasn't there and you can't prove it and if I was I didn't know I was there" Lay and Jeff "Snake Oil" Skilling are once again proving that they're not like other mortals.
There is a tradition in Harris County courts (I don't know about elsewhere) that the flip of a coin determines which side gets which table - the one closest to the jury is believed by many to be the "best" table, and a coin flip is considered a fair way to make the decision.
Earlier this week, Lay and Skilling's lawyer actually filed a brief requesting that the judge skip this process and just give them the jury side table in the upcoming trial that will finally, after FIVE FREAKING YEARS address the question: WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED AT ENRON AND WHOSE FAULT IS IT?
In Houston, Enron is a big deal.
So, as Lay and Skilling prepare to face a jury of their "peers" - boy I bet just the thought of considering members of the general public as peers makes Skilling grind his teeth - they have taken another step to show that indeed, they SHOULD get special treatment. After all, they are the Smartest Guys In The Room, right??
There is a tradition in Harris County courts (I don't know about elsewhere) that the flip of a coin determines which side gets which table - the one closest to the jury is believed by many to be the "best" table, and a coin flip is considered a fair way to make the decision.
Earlier this week, Lay and Skilling's lawyer actually filed a brief requesting that the judge skip this process and just give them the jury side table in the upcoming trial that will finally, after FIVE FREAKING YEARS address the question: WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED AT ENRON AND WHOSE FAULT IS IT?
In Houston, Enron is a big deal.
So, as Lay and Skilling prepare to face a jury of their "peers" - boy I bet just the thought of considering members of the general public as peers makes Skilling grind his teeth - they have taken another step to show that indeed, they SHOULD get special treatment. After all, they are the Smartest Guys In The Room, right??
Friday, December 10, 2004
Well, well, well. Ladies and Germs, it's looking like Santa has indeed decided that I've been a good girl this year after all and is going to arrange for my insurance company to FINALLY yes FINALLY come through with a settlement for my car. No, not ALLSTATE (P.S. You are most definitely NOT in good hands) who has yet to accept responsibility for the idiotic red light running bastard who they insure even though three witnesses said "It's the idiot red light running bastard's fault!" and the constable who was on site at the accident ticketed the jerk wad. No, not ALLSTATE but rather MY insurance company which will just end up in a nasty subrogation battle, but hey, that's what I pay them for, right?
So I'm going to my Mr. Wonderful The Lawyer Man's office tomorrow - that's right - an attorney who wants to meet with me on Saturday - and sign the property waiver so we can settle the car and get me back in a set of wheels in the next week or so. FREAKING FINALLY! One funny point - Mr. Lawyer Man said "and bring the keys with you" and I said..."Um the keys are probably still hanging in the ignition right where they were when Idiot Drippy Testicle Guy ran the red light and murdered my precious little zoomzoom." (He loves it when I talk in technical terms.) And in truth that's probably where they are. I sure as hell didn't take them from the ignition - my wrist and arm were broken at the time and not in their best operating condition. And oh yeah, I was distracted by the big red ambulance helicopter coming from the sky to wisk me off to a Level One Trauma Center in an attempt (successful, thankfully) to save my life. (Can we hear a ya-hoo for the LifeFlight folks??) So I ain't got no keys. Mr. Lawyer Man said, "Oh. OK."
Let us examine a fact and see if we can find any:
1. Logic
2. Justice
3. Honesty
4. Fairness
5. Righteousness
Fact: In Texas you are required by law to pay for and keep paying for automobile liability insurance. HOWEVER, the insurance companies have no laws that say they have to actually honor a claim or even make a decision on a claim. They can screw you forever. Thanks, Rick Perry (Drippy Testicle Idiot #2 in my book).
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"The sheeping of America is nearly complete." -Ted Nugent
So I'm going to my Mr. Wonderful The Lawyer Man's office tomorrow - that's right - an attorney who wants to meet with me on Saturday - and sign the property waiver so we can settle the car and get me back in a set of wheels in the next week or so. FREAKING FINALLY! One funny point - Mr. Lawyer Man said "and bring the keys with you" and I said..."Um the keys are probably still hanging in the ignition right where they were when Idiot Drippy Testicle Guy ran the red light and murdered my precious little zoomzoom." (He loves it when I talk in technical terms.) And in truth that's probably where they are. I sure as hell didn't take them from the ignition - my wrist and arm were broken at the time and not in their best operating condition. And oh yeah, I was distracted by the big red ambulance helicopter coming from the sky to wisk me off to a Level One Trauma Center in an attempt (successful, thankfully) to save my life. (Can we hear a ya-hoo for the LifeFlight folks??) So I ain't got no keys. Mr. Lawyer Man said, "Oh. OK."
Let us examine a fact and see if we can find any:
1. Logic
2. Justice
3. Honesty
4. Fairness
5. Righteousness
Fact: In Texas you are required by law to pay for and keep paying for automobile liability insurance. HOWEVER, the insurance companies have no laws that say they have to actually honor a claim or even make a decision on a claim. They can screw you forever. Thanks, Rick Perry (Drippy Testicle Idiot #2 in my book).
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"The sheeping of America is nearly complete." -Ted Nugent
Labels: accident, law, miata, personal urban drama
Saturday, December 06, 2003
There's a story on the news today that the Legislature is once again talking about higher taxes on cigarettes. Hmmm...lets see...when I started smoking (22 years ago) a pack of Marlboro was 50 cents. When I stopped smoking (3 years ago) a pack of Marlboro was $3.25. The price difference made NO difference in my smoking life, or the smoking life of anyone I know who smokes or smoked. I know of NO ONE who has quit smoking because of the money. They don't quit - they just buy crappier cigarettes.
Why don't we just do with tobacco what we did with cocaine and morphine? Make it a controlled substance. You have to have a presciption from an M.D. to get it. In the case of tobacco of course there is no theraputic application, so no one would get it. Oh wait - silly me. The point of increasing the tax on cigs isn't to get people to quit smoking - it's to put more money into the hands of the government. I forgot. Sorry!
Why don't we just do with tobacco what we did with cocaine and morphine? Make it a controlled substance. You have to have a presciption from an M.D. to get it. In the case of tobacco of course there is no theraputic application, so no one would get it. Oh wait - silly me. The point of increasing the tax on cigs isn't to get people to quit smoking - it's to put more money into the hands of the government. I forgot. Sorry!
Wednesday, July 02, 2003
The Houston Chronicle isn't known as a bastion of liberal investigative reporting, but they do have Thom Marshall. He recently wrote a column talking about the Houston Police Department's Internal Affairs division's Citizen Review Committee. It stuck in the back of my head for a few days and I finally sent an email to Hizzhonor Brown's office.
Yesterday I got home to find a voice mail from my husband telling me I had a message from a police officer. Normally that's not a good thing!!! But it was just Lt. Collman, calling to tell me about the committee. I submitted a request to be considered for the committee today. He told me it takes 2-3 weeks to hear back about this sort of thing, so I'll just have to be patient.
The thing that really got me was that Lt. Collman said that I was the third person who had expressed interest in being involved. The greater Houston area has about 6 million people. So if we're really conservative and say 500,000 see the paper every day and even more conservative and say 100,000 read Thom Marshall, 3 is a pretty sad number of people who care about the outcome of issues relating to the conduct of our police department. Have these people never heard of Pedro Oregon? The K-Mart Raid? The DNA Lab? I mean, all the way back to Free The Moody Park Three - sheesh!
If you want to read what Mr. Marshall had to say, click here.
Yesterday I got home to find a voice mail from my husband telling me I had a message from a police officer. Normally that's not a good thing!!! But it was just Lt. Collman, calling to tell me about the committee. I submitted a request to be considered for the committee today. He told me it takes 2-3 weeks to hear back about this sort of thing, so I'll just have to be patient.
The thing that really got me was that Lt. Collman said that I was the third person who had expressed interest in being involved. The greater Houston area has about 6 million people. So if we're really conservative and say 500,000 see the paper every day and even more conservative and say 100,000 read Thom Marshall, 3 is a pretty sad number of people who care about the outcome of issues relating to the conduct of our police department. Have these people never heard of Pedro Oregon? The K-Mart Raid? The DNA Lab? I mean, all the way back to Free The Moody Park Three - sheesh!
If you want to read what Mr. Marshall had to say, click here.
Labels: headlines, law, personal urban drama
