Christmas Lights

I found this in west Houston. They put some effort in this.

Elizabeth Shelton still showing poor decision making abilities

Remember Elizabeth Shelton? The daughter of the Harris County judge who was drunk, rear ended a box truck and ended up killing her boyfriend who was her passenger? I can't remember her ever showing remorse that her boyfriend was killed. She, and her father blamed the truck driver for the accident trying to distract the jury from the fact that she was 20 (too young to be legally drinking alcohol) and three times the legal limit. In other words, the girl was drunk!!!! She was given basically a slap on the wrist which is status quo in Harris County. Well, logic would dictate Elizabeth would keep a low profile. Yet, again she amazes us all with her poor sense of judgment! Peep this! She is suing the box truck driver she hit while she was drunk!

"Shelton, her family and the family of the boyfriend who was killed are suing for $20,000 for the destruction of the Lexus SUV she was driving and an undetermined amount for mental anguish, pain and suffering."

So, she is actually arguing that while she was driving drunk, she rear ended a box truck, killed her boyfriend, and she's suffering mental anguish! What is wrong with this girl? Is she still in denial about what she did? Or is she still trying to convince the public that it was the other driver's fault and we should ignore the fact she was underage, and drunk? I didn't want to lump her in with her father's position as a judge. Even public servants can have bad apples. Yet, according to the article, her family, and the family of the dead man are also suing the box truck driver. I guess that entire bunch share the same lapse in reasoning Elizabeth does. Good lord what is wrong with these people?

Why Do People Hate Insurance Companies??

Remember the 2007 Houston office fire that killed three people? It was set by a woman trying to cover up the fact that she didn't do what she was supposed to do. She got 25 years in prison. Well, the property owner of the building is being sued for wrongful death. Now, since the fire was set by the crazy woman and she's responsible for the deaths of those people I would imagine the insurance company, Great American, would argue that point. Instead, they are using the argument that the smoke that killed the people was "pollution" and therefore the insurance company doesn't have to pay. That's like saying a stabbing victim didn't die from the knife wound, but from loss of blood through a hole in the skin. This leaves the judge in a quandary. To any lay person, the insurance company ought to fight on the argument that Misty Ann Weaver is responsible for the deaths, not the property owners. Be interesting from a legal standpoint to see how this turns out.

Harris County District Attorney's Office Changing, and Losing a Blogger

KPRC has this story today of DA elect Pat Lykos already making changes in the DA's office. Of course it just says that 5 employees (4 investigators and 1 prosecutor) have not had their contracts renewed, not a traditional firing after doing something wrong, or bad. It's the process where you are told you're simply not coming back. So, for more information I turned to a Harris County Prosecutor and sure enough, he was on it. Anyone who received an email was going to be let go. That's got to be hell. Checking your email and if you see 'Jim Leitner' in the 'from' box you knew you weren't going to be employed next year. Sadly, AHCL received an email and will not be with the DA's office next year. Of course he will be back as a defense lawyer which is good for him. He also took off the costume and the mask. I had always had a feeling who he was. I was wrong. He wasn't who I thought he was and sad to say, I'd never heard of him. Anyhow, good luck Murray and I'm sure we'll see you around.

I Figured It Would Happen

I've been keeping tabs on the nutty county prosecutor Juan Guerra who got an indictment against Dick Cheney and Alberto Gonzalez. Guerra also got an indictment against a state senator, and a district judge as well as others who have been involved in past investigations against him. Well, the judge dismissed all the indictments.

"Five of the indictments - against two district judges, two special prosecutors and the district clerk - were dismissed because Guerra was the alleged victim, witness and prosecutor. The indictments accused the five of abusing their power by being involved in a previous investigation of Guerra."

I thought that a prosecutorial no-no. So, the way I understand it, Guerra abused his power to get indictments against others accusing them of abusing their powers to investigate him.

Well, this is no surprise to me. From the start I couldn't see this getting past a judge, somewhere. Guerra has demonstrated his mental instability over and over again.

The Houston Chronicle has also been following this story.

Mexican Problems, Chronicle Blames US

Another interesting Houston Chronicle article caught my eye this morning. The article talks about Mexican gangsters buying weapons here in Houston that are being used in gun violence in Mexico. The article goes on to cite some examples. The tone of the article is the same, old tired line that guns are the problem, not the people.

"Gangsters have honed in on this city because of its glut of gun shops, its proximity to the border, and its long-established networks for smuggling narcotics into the United States, federal law-enforcement officials said."

So, does this mean this is our fault?

"The need for arms is increasing as Mexican drug cartels are battling one another and the government after President Felipe Calderon made restoring the rule of law his priority upon taking office two years ago."

Ahhh, so the Mexican government is to blame. I know the article didn't mean for this line to be interpreted like this be we all know how corrupt the government and system of justice is down there.

Basically it works like this. Someone goes into a gun store and either makes a legal purchase and in turns sells (or gives) the weapons to someone who shouldn't have them. Or the person uses false information/documents to make the purchase. The gun stores ARE NOT knowingly providing guns to Mexican drug cartels.

"The task may be difficult, but U.S. officials have an obligation to do more to keep guns on this side of the border, Mexican authorities say."

Typical arrogance of the Mexican government. Perhaps if corruption wasn't a way of life down there then Mexico wouldn't have half the problems it has. How about the Mexican government doing more to make its citizens want to stay there and now want to come up here? How about the Mexican government do more to keep illegal drugs out of our country? Neither will happen.

"Mexico's weapons laws are far stricter than those in the United States, making it difficult for civilians to purchase guns and ammunition. U.S. citizens crossing into Mexico have been sent to prison for having accidentally left guns or ammunition in their vehicles."

Yet criminals have no problems getting guns and right under the government's nose. Plus, U.S. citizens have wound up in Mexican jails for being found with a single bullet in their cars. Well, those citizens that couldn't bribe their way out of it. Mexican police have a practice of setting up naive Americans (i.e. having someone sell them drugs) and arresting the citizen until the citizen can cough up a nice little bribe to get out of it.

The point is that the Mexican government is the source for most of these problems. If they didn't tolerate public corruption and actually swung their economy to make people want to stay there then Mexico would be a better place for its own people. Yet, hardly anyone wants to realize that. It's easier, and preferable for Mexico and our own media to blame us for the problems.

Chronicle Just Noticing Again...

I found this article about the 'rise' of dogfighting in the Harris County area. I would beg to differ. This is nothing new. This has always been around, just not taken as seriously. I would suggest that is isn't rising, but it is being taken more seriously as a crime.

"....the crime has steadily become more prevalent among local youths, particularly in low-income areas, said Assistant District Attorney Belinda Smith."

Isn't there also drug dealing, robbery, prostitution, burglary, and other thefts occurring too often in low income areas? See the common denominator here?

"A University of Chicago report this year found dogfighters in that city were introduced to the crime as early as age 9.

The university's research suggested that dogfighting was used "to work out other street or gang conflicts, and as a means to earn money that can range from as little as $20 to as much as several hundred dollars."

Gang conflicts? I don't see the crips and bloods settling their differences over a dog fight. The hood mentality wouldn't allow these thugs to accept defeat based upon the performance of a dog. If this were so, then you'd have shootings over the results of dog fights. These guys are still shooting and killing each other. I wonder how the university conducted its research. When academia tries to research life on the streets watch out. Getting those guys out of their ivory towers and into the real world takes an act of Congress. That's why they have a lot of polls.

"Smith attributes dogfighting's rise in popularity partially to its glorification in music videos by rap and hip-hop artists."

How many other negative traits are glorified by rappers (and sometimes the media)?

While popular in 'da hood' cock fighting is popular south of the border. There are also cock fighting networks in Houston due to migration (both legal and illegal). Either way, in my humble opinion, people who engage, or watch these sports are primitive throwbacks. I would say they are no better than animals, but that would be an insult to animals.