Here's the scenario: First, my wife and I last week discovered that we'd been victims of identity theft, with someone in New York draining our bank account from afar. The bank is going through its appeals process, and at the moment there's no telling when or if we might get repaid.
Then over the weekend, some idiot smashed my car window at Eeyore's Birthday Party and tried to steal my stereo - they failed, but destroyed the dashboard and stereo in the effort.
Finally proving these things come in threes, the following day my daughter's car was stolen for a joy ride; we got it back it, but it was damaged and needed repairs she couldn't afford.
That's why I'm making this "bleg" for reader donations. I'm hoping the identity theft issue will eventually resolve itself, though we've been given no assurances. But in the meantime the missus and I face an empty bank account, a stack of bills, and major vehicle expenses resulting from these crimes. We're about $2K short of making ends meet in the near term.
If you're a regular reader of this blog I'm asking you to consider making a donation (via PayPal) to help us get over this hump. Indeed, if you work in the criminal justice arena and have ever found Grits professionally useful, I hope you'll consider making a more substantial donation.
Please help out to the extent you're able. Every little bit helps. And thanks, Grits readers, for your continued support.
UPDATE: A reader who "doesn't do PayPal" asked where he could send a check. Make it payable to Scott Henson, and send it to
Scott Henson
603 W. 13th Street, Ste. 1.A-253
Austin, TX 78701-1477
603 W. 13th Street, Ste. 1.A-253
Austin, TX 78701-1477
Thanks, folks - I really appreciate it.
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37 comments:
Grits,
That PayPal link in the post does not go to a complete page any can use to donate, mainly it does not identify who would get any funds.
The links in the sidebar to the right appear to work fine.
You may want to redo the link so any wishing to help out, later when the other links are not so handy next to the post, can do so without difficulty.
Thanks for the easier to read Word Verifications!
:)
Karma is a fickle thing at times......
I guess you really do reap what you sow.......
Whitmire is having some fun....
I would donate to you grits, but I am from McFadden so my money is good, but my posts on your blog are not, right?
we all need money grits.get a job.I seen it all.
Joe
God, what nerve!
Sorry to hear you are a crime victim times 2 Scott. From the above posts it would seem you have at least one person who does not care for your views or the way you operate your blog. It amazes me how anyone could be happy over the fact someone else has become a victim of criminal activity. They have told all of us what type of person they really are from their own mouth. I think many people believe posting on your blog is a “Right” when in fact it is a privilege. From my point of view, if your come to my house and don’t behave then you have to go home.
FTM
Joe and anonymous critics, blogs aren't free to operate, though they're free to read and comment on, and they run on donations and ads. For the most part I don't ask for such support, except in cases of particularized need. If it offends, you, go somewhere else. You're visiting here of your own accord.
I notice most of these criticisms came soon after the DA Association linked to this post on their user forum, so it's a decent bet most of you anonymous cowards are prosecutors, which makes the comments about karma, reap what you sow, etc. even more disgraceful: You're right. Clearly crime victims are targeted because they deserve it. Thanks for pointing that out.
To the McFadden writer, your posts are just fine, as long as they're on topic.
Thanks KBP, FTM, and other readers who've offered their support via email and donations. It's gratifying to know that some people appreciate the work that goes into this blog.
I wonder if some of those saying "get a job" are prosecutors.
Who could only get a job as a prosecutor after getting out of law school with the lowest passing grades in their class. Probably from schools like S. Texas or Weslyan.
Get a job indeed.
Keep it up Grtis. What you do does more f a service to the state than any POS prosecutor.
I'm calling on my fellow criminal defense attorneys to make a significant donation to Grits in light of these prosecutors' expressions of schadenfreude.
The reasons they're angry at Grits are the same reasons we should all be supporting him. Keep it up, Grits, you have many readers who appreciate what you do.
Wow, what nastiness. You must be doing something right- you seem to be annoying the right sort of people.
I am sorry, Grit. What a frustrating series of events for you and your family.
Grits, I saw your presentation at the Jail Overcrowding Symposium in SA and you were, by far, the best of the bunch, articulate, knowledgable, and on-topic. I hardly think of you as a slacker (so far from it). If those negative comments are truly from disgruntled prosecutors, shame on them. I grew up around lawyers (dad, uncle, and their cronies) and was bascially unimpressed with most of them at a young age. I still work in a field that keeps me in regular contact with attorneys and am NOT impressed with the profession as a whole, just some of the individuals it attracts. You know what they say about a couple of bad apples... So guys (and gals), get over it and get over yourself. This ain't LA Law. Grits, my donation is on the way.
I proudly do the monthly "subscription" & have sent a bit extra to help. I use you as a source on a daily basis & have no problem offering assistance when you are in need. It is very little for all you do.
Well I guess it is acceptable for you to be thrilled over unfortunate things that happen to others who just happen to be on the opposite side of your liberal rants. So if these people voice their opinion's about you begging for handouts they are being nasty. What a hypocrite if this had happened to a group you were targeting with your left wing ideology you would be giddy with delight and tooting your own horn about bringing them down. As far as you being a crime victim pleaseeeeee........ give me a break. I bet the police will do a bang up job trying to solve these crimes.
Uh ... when, exactly, have I been "thrilled" that someone was a crime victim? Please provide me a link; I don't think that's ever happened.
Also, are you implying that prosecutors are "tooting [their] own horn about bringing [me] down?" I personally don't believe prosecutors are responsible for these crimes, but if you say so I guess I'll consider the possibility
Sounds like the DAs are a bunch of "playa haters," Grits, this is quite a string of rants against you!
I agree the cops probably won't investigate worth a damn, but it's not because of your blog, just general incompetence.
This is a "liberal" blog? Color me surprised! Admittedly I've only been reading this blog since the FLDS raid, and I really only read the posts that pertain to that. But out here in Utah, support for the rights of the FLDS is not a "conservative" or "liberal" issue; people on both sides of the political spectrum take Grits' position on the issue. My impression of the blog's tone is that it's more like "I wonder if these people would like it if things were reversed", but that's hardly schadenfreude (which would be more like "I hope things get reversed so that these people will suffer in their turn").
Keep up the good work, Grits. I hope they catch the people who perpetrated these crimes and give them what's coming to them under the law.
Thanks Wacky - "liberal" is just what TX prosecutors call anyone who criticizes them.
Regarding FLDS, FWIW, I actually think liberal ideology motivates what the state is doing right now much more than any brand of conservatism, particularly the "small government" variety. best,
whats the difference between this and a guy outside a store asking for change?? It is what it is.
With the economy is the terrible state it is today, we all should make blogs to beg from!
The main difference is that I provide readers a service for free that some people consider valuable. Otherwise, not much.
OTOH, if you feel that way, what does it say about you that you're spending your time reading and commenting here? Do you similarly spend spare time chatting up beggars on the side of the highway?
Don't like it? Don't donate. Simple as that.
I was told I work for TYC. Now I am a prosecutor. Your a BUM it's that simple.All you do is some other story from another paper and paste it her.And you act like you did all the research.Tell you what I well make you sign that says well work for money.My lawn needs mowing and my truck needs to be washed. $75.00 sound okay to you.
JOE
Joe, you're a special case. I know full well you're not a prosecutor and don't work for TYC. You're just a troll.
And I'm curious, Joe. If I'm such a bum, why are you hanging around? You've been commenting here a while now. Why waste your time?
It's a big blogosphere, folks. If you don't like what you find here, there are many options out there.
The comment said nothing about Prosecutor's bringing you down and being responsible for the crimes. That is asinine. The comment stated that if something unfortunate happened to a group you were targeting YOU would personally take credit and proclaim to the world that you had singlehandedly rooted out those corrupt individuals.
If you say so. I really don't know what you're talking about. Chuck Rosenthal, maybe? He caused his own problems.
Why are you here again?
So your not welling to work for the $75.00.Not the troll again I'm not going to bite you.
Joe
Are you going to pay the money back to the people that gave when your bank refunds you.And do I send the 1099 to that addy also.Also do you know if this is tax brake for my donation.
No tax breaks, I'm not a nonprofit, but that is the correct address for a 1099. And I'm asking for support for the blog, not a loan. Sorry if that wasn't clear.
Wow, this string is really, really sad. I'm amazed this many people would take joy in someone's misfortune. Really sick.
Joe, Grits won't say this but you're a mean, ignorant a-hole. Scott's been unemployed because he's had health problems that would curl your toes, not because he's a slacker. Wash your own stupid car. And to 3:29, I can tell you from personal experience Scott's more likely to give credit to others for things he's done than take credit for their work.
Grits, my donation is on its way, and I'm giving an extra $75 on Joe's behalf.
Support for the blog? What about your car and other thing you said on your post.You was a crime victim and want people to donate money to support your blog.
See grits i'm working for you,my lawn cutting job just went up to $100.00
Joe
Many blogs periodically fundraise from their readers, 5:04, and this is no different. Honestly, I just thought it would be funny to describe the donation request as a "crime victim compensation fund," given this recent string of events. Clearly others didn't all see the humor.
Joe, thanks for the fundraising assistance. An unemployed bum can use all the help he can get. ;)
Anon 5:04 you have a point.
Oh, and thanks SO much 4:51. I'm as surprised as you are how many people seem to delight in my recent run of bad luck.
support for the blog or support for your bad luck.
The blog ain't nothing but me writing and readers commenting, 5:37, what's the difference?
You're clearly not a likely donor, so what do you care?
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