01 May 2007

Local news update

I know y'all love this stuff. And even if you don't, I'm pretty sure my Mom does, so learn to cope.

To kick things off, it currently reads 88 degrees on the local news site. I can confirm "hotter'n Hell" from my recently completed afternoon run (3 miles today).

In cheery news, we have: Man Found Dead In Burned Car.

Detectives say they have learned Jones was highly intoxicated from drinking all day Sunday. It appears he passed out in the car and died after a fire started in the engine compartment, police said.

Moral of the story: Do not pass out in a crappy car. Best to take a cab or just pass out in a gutter near the bar. A ticket for drunken vagrancy beats a fiery death ten times out of ten.

Next we have some national news happening locally: Iraq Conflict Converges On MacDill.

While he's here, Bush will confer the President's Volunteer Service Award on Daniel Middaugh, 16, of Riverview, an East Bay High School sophomore who has done extensive volunteer work for charitable agencies.

Bush then will participate in a briefing by officers of Central Command, which has its headquarters at the base.

After the briefing, he will speak to a gathering of military officers of the nations involved in the military coalition fighting in Iraq.

Alas, not much controversy with this. I passed a "protest" on a nearby intersection that consisted of about eight people (hey - it was hot). Only on of them even had a cranky sign - the others were all holding signs that said "PEACE" and "Support the Troops - Bring Them Home Alive." Moral of the story - there's no controversy in agreeing with that kind of sign AND the president. I want 'em all back alive, too.

More on the perils of parked cars in the Bay area...Body Found In Vehicle Identified. It was, incidentally, a "badly decomposed" body.

The car was covered with a tarp and had been inoperable for some time. Serrano-DeJesus’ family members found him after they uncovered the tarp to see why a foul odor was emanating from it.

There are no signs of trauma or foul play, authorities said. Serrano-DeJesus was reportedly addicted to crack cocaine and did not report to his job on April 13. His wife reported him missing three days later.

I'm not sure there's a moral in this one. Perhaps...if your husband has gone missing, look in the car that has a tarp on it?

Until next time, folks, watch yourselves around parked cars.