Police identify woman’s body found in ditch

By Calvin Palmer

A woman’s body found yesterday in a ditch in northwest Harris County has been identified as Sabrina Tolentino Pina by Harris County Sheriff’s Office investigators.

Pina, 27, of Spring, Texas, was last seen on Saturday at a Kohl’s department store near her home.  Her body was found on Jack Road near Warren Ranch.

She is the second woman to disappear from a Houston suburb in recent weeks. Police are still searching for 37-year-old Susana De Jesus, who was kidnapped three weeks ago in the parking lot of a Pearland women’s clothing store where she worked.

Pina was running errands Saturday afternoon when she last spoke to her husband. She called him from Home Depot around noon to ask what kind of garbage disposal to buy.

Her family began to worry when Pina didn’t show up for a family function a few hours later, said one of her best friends Jeffrey Armenta.

The Houston native graduated from Klein High School and the University of Texas. She worked in marketing at TXU Energy and was active in her Catholic church.

Her parents went searching in the shopping center she had visited. They found her truck, along with a receipt that showed she had eaten at the Sonic across the street at 1:30 p.m. Although her shopping bags were still in the truck, her purse and cell phone were not.

Her husband, Edward Pina, knew something was terribly wrong when he saw the abandoned truck, Armenta said.

His worst fears were confirmed by authorities today.

[Based on a report by the Houston Chronicle.]

Trimble’s intellectual blitzkrieg makes varsity quiz opposition tremble

By Calvin Palmer

Gail Trimble has been dubbed the greatest ever contestant on University Challenge. Tonight she lived up to her billing by captaining  her team, Corpus Christi College, Oxford, to a 275-190 victory in the final against my alma mater, Manchester University.

Before tonight, Trimble had scored two-thirds of her team’s 1,200 points in the competition.

Gail Trimble with two of her Corpus Christi College teammates Sam Kay (left) and James Marsden. Picture courtesy of The Guardian.

The 26-year-old from of Waltham-on-Thames, Surrey, has been described online as someone who has a “breadth of knowledge that has crushed all opposition like a panzer squadron racing across the countryside”.

In the quarter-finals of the contest, her team defeated Exeter University 350 -15.  A win that quiz host Jeremy Paxman likened to a “cull” rather than a general knowledge quiz.

Other wins saw Corpus Christi College beat Durham University 330-95 in the first round; Edinburgh University 295-85 in the second round and St John’s College, Cambridge 260–150 in the semi-final, with Trimble scoring 185 points.

At least in tonight’s final, Manchester made it the closest of the Oxford team’s five victories.

Trimble’s phenomenal knowledge and speed of thought generates polarized views.  Some see her as a machine-like intellectual blitzkrieg a kind of cerebral shock and awe, while others think she is smug and cocky.  She has also been hailed as a sex symbol, something she finds surprising.

Trimble’s knowledge of the male psyche is clearly not as extensive as her general knowledge.

The ‘Gail Trimble Appreciation Club’ has recently appeared on Facebook.

“I’m glad that people are being nice about me rather than nasty, but … I very much think this would not be happening if I was a man,” she told BBC Radio. “People would not feel it necessary to comment on my looks so much.”

Trimble said much of her knowledge stemmed from what she learned as a child, in a stimulating household filled with books, and from her scientist ­parents, whom she described as “amazingly supportive”.

She was educated at Lady Eleanor Holles in Hampton, Middlesex, and won a place at Oxford in 2000 after achieving 11 GCSEs and four A-levels in Latin, Greek, English literature and Mathematics — all at grade A.

In her spare time she gives lunchtime recitals as a soprano singer and lectures on Ovid and Hellenistic poetry. She does admit to some weak spots in her armor however — biology and sport.

She enjoys an occasional gin and tonic as well as being part of the college choir and drama group, recently producing a play at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. When she graduates next year she is hoping to become an academic at Oxford or Cambridge.

The other members of the victorious Corpus Christi team were Lauren Schwartzman, Sam Kay and James Marsden.

[Based on reports by The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph.]

Bail denied for man charged with killing Knicks player’s ex-girlfriend and child

By Calvin Palmer

A judge in Chicago has denied bail for an attorney accused of killing New York Knicks’ player Eddy Curry’s ex-girlfriend and her infant daughter.

Fredrick Goings, 36, is charged with first-degree murder in the January shooting deaths of 24-year-old Nova Henry and her 10-month-old daughter, Ava.

In court on Monday, prosecutors called the baby Ava Curry Henry and later said they believe she was Curry’s daughter.

Henry and her daughter, with the former Chicago Bulls player, were found shot to death in their South Loop apartment on January 24. 

Authorities say Goings and Nova Henry were romantically involved and that Goings represented Henry in a paternity case with Curry.

Prosecutors allege Henry tried unsuccessfully to end a romantic relationship with Goings and was disputing a $23,500 legal fee Goings had charged her.

[Based on reports by the Chicago Tribune and Associated Press.]

Legal first as judge orders restitution for victim of child porn

By Calvin Palmer

A federal judge in Connecticut broke new legal ground today when he ordered a British citizen convicted of possessing child pornography to pay a teenager nearly $200,000 for being photographed as a child while she was sexually abused.

Senior U.S. District Judge Warren W. Eginton ordered that Alan Hesketh, of Stonington, Connecticut, a former Pfizer vice president for worldwide patents, pay the unidentified 19-year-old woman $150,000 for her medical and psychological expenses and another $45,500 in legal fees and expert witness costs.

The ruling comes as a restitution order from Hesketh’s criminal case. The award is the first of its kind in the country in which someone convicted of possessing illegal images — but not creating them — is required to pay restitution.

Hesketh, who was terminated by Pfizer, is serving a six and a half year sentence in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release after admitted he possessed and distributed nearly 2,000 photographs of child pornography.

The teenager was the only one of 24 identified victims to come forward.

Jonathan Einhorn, Hesketh’s lawyer, said he intends to appeal the ruling.

“It’s not a reasonable award when you consider the injures this victim suffered related to what Dr. Hesketh may have caused,” said Einhorn. “An award like this will probably open the floodgates.”

Authorities said that from June 2006 to May 2007, Hesketh used the Internet to exchange hundreds of images of child pornography and to engage in online “chats” about the sexual molestation of children. Prosecutors said many of the images showed minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct with adults and with other minors.

Hesketh was arrested in March 2008 and was fired from his job in New London as a Pfizer executive.

Prosecutors said the woman was 8 or 9 when she was subjected to sexual abuse by a relative for the purpose of producing child pornography that was requested by a pedophile in another state, according to court papers.

[Based on reports by the Connecticut Post and Associated Press.]

Lawmakers seek to ban chimpanzees being kept as pets

By Calvin Palmer

Lawmakers are expected to vote today on federal legislation that would prevent private ownership of primates as pets.

The vote by the U.S. House of Representatives comes a week after a pet chimpanzee attacked a 55-year-old woman in Stamford, Connecticut, leaving her with horrific injuries.

The Captive Primate Safety Act would not have an impact on zoos or research. Twenty states and the District of Columbia already have laws banning primates as pets.

On February 16, Charla Nash was attacked by a 200-pound chimpanzee, Travis, owned by her friend Sandra Herold.

Nash underwent seven hours of surgery at Stamford Hospital before being transferred to the Cleveland Clinic where the first face transplant in the United States was performed two months ago.

Nash’s twin brother, Michael, who lives in Virginia, plans to go to court this week to seek guardianship of his sister and her daughter.

He needs the legal designation to make decisions on behalf of Charla and her 17-year-old daughter, Briana, who is staying with family friends in Connecticut, said younger brother Steve Nash who is with his sister at the Cleveland Clinic.

“That’s the way my sister would want it,” he said.

Speaking about his sister’s condition, he said: “She’s stabilized and the evaluation process is going to take a long time. It’s a slow process.”

He is hopeful the physicians will speak publicly about his sister’s condition later this week. Doctors have not yet decided if she will be a candidate for a face transplant.

“It will take some time before her reconstructive needs unfold to determine the next steps of her care,” said Dr. Daniel Alam, a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon.

[Based on reports by the Hartford Courant and Associated Press.]

Online bailout video game punishes fat cat CEOs

By Calvin Palmer

The Obama administration’s stimulus package to save the nation’s economy from meltdown has already stimulated the minds of computer game developers.

An online video game called Trillion Dollar Bailout has been created by AddictingGames.com.

The game allows players to “slap” or reward CEOs and hand out bags of money to deserving homeowners.  Players are given one trillion play dollars to “rescue the US economy before total economic meltdown strikes.”

Homeowners and corporate CEOs pop out of an on-screen New York City skyline requesting taxpayer-funded handouts — such as the $8 billion requested by “Crysalot Motors.”

Players can either hand out money by clicking on a money bag icon or give the person requesting a bailout a slap by clicking on an icon which looks like a hand.

The player’s actions are charted on a graph and determine whether the economy is “saved” or “tanks.”

The game’s creators urge players to “punish greedy fat cats and save honest people” and “put the hurt on dudes in suits!”

They could even add another automaker to the mix – “General Moaners”.  I reserve the copyright but would willingly negotiate its release for some financial remuneration.

[Based on a report by the AFP news agency.]

Judge facing trial pleads guilty and retires from bench

By Calvin Palmer

U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice today and retired from the bench, avoiding a trial on that charge and five others accusing him of sexually abusing two female employees.

The guilty plea on the obstruction charge comes at the expense of the sexual abuse charges being dropped, according to the Associated Press.

A jury was due to be selected this morning for his trial in Houston on all six felony counts.

“Judge Kent believes that this settlement is in the best interest of all involved,” his attorney, Dick DeGuerin, said after this morning’s hearing.

“A trial would have been long, embarrassing and difficult for all involved,” DeGuerin added.

Senior U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson has imposed a gag order on those involved in the case, but allowed DeGuerin to make his statement to the news media.

Kent, who normally speaks in loud, clear tones, all but whispered his guilty plea at the bench.

Kent, 59, was appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990 and was the sole district federal judge in Galveston in most of the ensuing years.

The obstruction charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, although people close to the case expect the government to ask Vinson to sentence Kent to three years in prison.

Sentencing is expected in May.

The obstruction charge accuses Kent of lying to a 5th Circuit Judicial Council panel that was investigating an accusation that he abused one of his female employees.

The federal probation department will conduct an investigation into Kent’s background. After that is completed, Vinson, of Pensacola, Fla., will take the department’s report into consideration before deciding on Kent’s sentence.

Kent was appointed for life and can be removed only by congressional impeachment.

The judicial council reprimanded Kent in September 2007. After the obstruction charge was added to the indictment in January, the council said it would reopen its judicial misconduct investigation.

I just wonder if Frank the electrician would have been accorded such a deal had he been facing similar charges.

As it is the world over, there is apparently one law for the great and the good and another for ordinary folk.
Perhaps the women alleging the sexual abuse could take their case to the civil courts or does the dropping of the criminal charges close off that avenue of recourse?

[Based on a report by the Houston Chronicle.]

Iggy Pop promotes car insurance that excludes musicians

By Calvin Palmer

A car insurer has admitted it refuses to cover musicians — despite featuring Iggy Pop in its adverts.

The veteran rocker is the star of Swiftcover’s £25 million ($36.4 million) “Get a life. Get Swiftcovered” advertising campaign.

Swiftcover, part of the Axa insurance group, claimed it chose the long-haired American singer — whose hits include Lust for Life and The Passenger — to be the face of the company as an actor who “loves life” rather than as a musician.

But the online insurance firm came under attack for turning down people who work in the music and entertainment industry for car insurance, citing higher levels of risk and potential claims costs as its reasons.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said it has launched an investigation after receiving 12 complaints from those deemed ineligible because of their jobs.

Tim Soong, who plays bass guitar in Roguetune, revealed that he had been excluded from getting insurance from Swiftcover.

“The customer services operator told me that they don’t insure musicians,” he said. “When I mentioned Iggy Pop, she said his case was different because he is American.

“I’m reporting Swiftcover to the Advertising Standards Authority.”

Another disgruntled customer is part-time music producer Felix Wright, who said he was also turned down by the company for cover.

“When I asked what Iggy Pop did for a living if I was being rejected as a musician, they said they did not know his personal life and he was not one of their policyholders,” Wright told The Evening Standard.

A spokesman for the ASA said: “We have received 12 complaints and we are formally investigating those complaints. They have challenged whether it is misleading to suggest Iggy Pop has insurance with Swiftcover because its Web site states that those who work in entertainment cannot take out a car insurance policy with that insurer.”

The ASA will publish its adjudication in due course, the spokesman added.

Tina Shortle, marketing director of swiftcover.com, said: “Insurance premiums are based on a number of different data, including the historic claims costs for specific occupations. This means that we do not provide cover to some professions that, according to that data, have a higher level of claims costs.”

Swiftcover’s list of uninsurable occupations also includes gambling, modeling, professional sport, bailiffs and bodyguards.

[Based on reports by the Press Association and NME.com.]

What’s so lucky about seeing a film?

By Calvin Palmer

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown offered his congratulations to British successes at last night’s Oscars award ceremony.

Slumdog Millionaire claimed eight Oscars at the Kodak Theater, Los Angeles, and in doing so joined a select band.

Only seven other films, including Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi in 1983, have won eight or more awards in the 81-year history of the Oscars.

The haul by Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire surpassed that of Shakespeare in Love, which won seven awards in 1999 and was the last British film to achieve such domination at an Oscars award ceremony.

Add Kate Winselt’s award for Best Actress and it was quite a night for the British.

Prime Minister Brown hailed the British successes. He said: “I would like to congratulate Danny Boyle and all those who worked on Slumdog Millionaire on winning an incredible eight Academy Awards. I was lucky enough to see the film myself and understand how it has captured the imagination of people all over the world. Its success is truly well-deserved.

“Slumdog Millionaire’s triumph, together with Kate Winslet winning Best Actress, is a fantastic achievement for the British film industry which is now leading the world in film.”

What is so lucky about going to see a film? Or did Brown mean he was lucky in that he got to see it for free?

Luck does not enter into going to the cinema.

With a live artistic event there can be a certain amount of luck in witnessing a captivating performance, a performance so sublime that it may never reach those heights of perfection ever again. But a film remains the exactly the same performance after performance.

The quality of viewing may change when seated next to someone with a large tub of popcorn or a bag of wrapped sweets, but that does not influence the performances on the screen, just the enjoyment of them.

When it comes to luck and Gordon Brown, given that he has all the leadership qualities of a dead sheep — thanks to Denis Healey for that analogy — he is lucky to be the British Prime Minister. 

As to the British film industry leading the world of film, what other world could it be leading, if indeed it is?

It is perhaps more accurate to say that the British film industry is capable of producing quality that, from time to time, captures the imagination of the world’s cinema audiences but the leader is, and always will be, Hollywood.

[Based on a report by The Daily Telegraph.]

Police prepare for “summer of rage”

By Calvin Palmer

Britain’s police are bracing themselves for a “summer of rage” as they fear middle-class people affected by the global economic crisis may join in angry demonstrations against the economic crisis.

Superintendent David Hartshorn — who heads Scotland Yard’s public order branch — told The Guardian that “known activists” are likely to recruit “foot soldiers” angry about the recession.

He warned there could be return to the angry scenes of the 1980s as people join a “mass protest” over rising levels of unemployment, failing financial institutions and the downturn in the economy.

The meeting of G20 leaders in April is expected to be the focus of the protests as those affected by the downturn look to vent their anger at banks and multinational corporations, who they believe are responsible for causing the recession.

“We’ve got G20 coming and I think that is being advertised on some of the sites as the highlight of what they see as a ‘summer of rage,'” he said.

Hartshorn claimed that middle -class people who would previously never have considered publicly protesting, may now resort to joining demonstrations.

Banks bailed out with public money, which continue to pay large bonuses, and the headquarters of financial institutions blamed for the financial crisis have become “viable targets”, he warned.

Hartshorn said that the established activists “would be good at motivating people, but they have not had the ‘foot soldiers’ to actually carry out protests.”

“Obviously the downturn in the economy, unemployment, repossessions, changes that. Suddenly there is the opportunity for people to mass protest,” he added.

[Based on reports by The Daily Telegraph and AFP news agency.]