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Maybe Perry can learn a lesson after falling for online hoax; porch pirates, beware law.
The online world of social media is a complicated place. Who among us hasn’t accepted a friend request only to later realize that not only was it odd that Grandma was on Facebook but that she seemed so passionate about Herbalife? So, cut Rick Perry some slack. The former Texas governor fell for an online hoax this week claiming Instagram was changing its privacy policy and would make public everything the user had ever posted. If you’ve seen this hoax on Facebook, you know that people believe the only way to protect themselves is by posting some legally meaningless text. Does it matter that as head of the Department of Energy, Perry oversees America’s nuclear weapons? We’re pretty sure he wouldn’t give out any sensitive information to the first Nigerian prince that came along, right? After he was informed of the error, Perry took things in stride and posted, “I’ll be darned!! First time I’ve seen anything fake on the internet!!” We hope he learned his lesson. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we hear there are some great deals on Ray-Ban sunglasses we need to jump on.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Albert Almora Jr. broke down in tears after his line drive during a game at Minute Maid Park struck a 2-yearold girl in the head earlier this year. The child, who is still recovering, was sitting with her family on the third-base side, just beyond safety netting. Shortly after the accident, the Astros said they had no plans to make any changes during the current season, so it was a welcome surprise when the team took advantage of an extended road trip and installed more protection last week. The new netting extends 35 feet above field level and stretches more than 550 feet from foul line to foul line. Although some fans the Chronicle spoke with fret the net will cut down on interaction with players during batting practice, it’s a small price to pay for a safer time at the ballpark. Now, fans need worry only about the nacho cheese being too hot or Orbit running around with that T-shirt cannon.
People have been stealing mail since before the days of the Pony Express, but at least you can romanticize the efforts of a mounted mail rustler, risking life and limb to make a big score while the Pinkerton men are hot on his trail. But there’s a reason Louis L’Amour never wrote about porch pirates. As online shopping has become more and more prevalent, people stealing packages has become an everyday problem for far too many Texans. That’s why starting Sept. 1, stealing mail — including packages delivered by companies such as Amazon — is going from a misdemeanor offense to a state felony. The new law, pushed by state Rep. Ina Minjarez, D-San Antonio, threatens thieves with jail — up to 10 years in the most serious cases. Officials hope the stiffer state charges will make bandits think twice. If not, it may be time to round up a posse to nab these package pilferers.
They may not write a western about her, but there’s at least a country song in the search for the woman authorities have dubbed “The Wedding Crasher.” The Comal County Sheriff ’s Office is offering a $4,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the alleged thief. Posing as a guest, the woman has been crashing wedding receptions in the New Braunfels area and making off with bridal gifts, mostly envelopes with cash and gift cards, according to reports. It’s hard to stay vigilant during a party when there’s cake to be eaten and dance moves to be busted, but if you see “Aunt Sadie” in an awful hurry to leave or maybe “cousin Paula” spends a little too much time by the gift table, it’s probably a good idea to say something. As the Comal County Crime Stoppers said: “Let’s not let her ruin anyone else’s special day and bring this crasher to justice.”