Quote of the day

 “Our findings …  suggest that harming outgroup members is a relatively rewarding experience.”

https://neurosciencenews.com/outgroup-aggression-reward-20847/

Napa DA charges Paul Pelosi with DUI causing injury

 

The other shoe just dropped following the DUI arrest of Speaker Pelosi’s husband 5 miles from their wine country estate.

As noted in the article, Pelosi’s late model 911 collided with a Jeep causing its driver injury. Pelosi’s blood test, however, put him just a teeny bit over the legal limit, namely a .082, making the trial a cakewalk for defense attorney John Keker. Especially since nobody died.

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-12-vw-442-story.html.  

From the Napa Register:

The two charges include: driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, and driving with a .08% blood alcohol level or higher and causing injury, according to a Napa DA press release.  

The California Highway Patrol reported at the time that Pelosi was driving a 2021 Porsche east on Walnut lane across Highway 29 when his vehicle collided with a 2014 Jeep on Oakville Cross Road at 10:17 p.m. A blood sample taken from Pelosi at 12:32 a.m. found that Pelosi’s blood sample had a .082% blood alcohol content according to a California Department of Justice test, the DA's press release says.  test, the DA's press release says. 

Not to kick Avenatti while he’s down, but …

 

'He's a Liar': Orange County Jury Blames Michael Avenatti for $5.4M Attorney Fee Dispute

Jurors said afterward that they felt as though Avenatti was on trial, and they convicted him of everything they could. A few discussed their verdict with the attorneys in the hallway outside the courtroom, saying they feel bad for Stoll and believe he’s owed money, also while calling Avenatti a liar and a sociopath who victimized his own clients by dragging them into a lawsuit that’s dragged on for 11 years. https://twitter.com/meghanncuniff/status/1540113073662738433

Then click on no-paywall link to law.com story by Meghan Cuniff

Quote of the day

 

“The crying, the facial expressions that she had, the staring at the jury. All of us were very uncomfortable,” the juror said. “She would answer one question and she would be crying, and two seconds later she would turn ice cold. Some of us used the expression ‘crocodile tears.'” a juror on the Depp-Heard trial said of the Aquaman actress.

https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1537460604440543233

Avenatti to unilaterally plead guilty in CA fraud case, asks for setencing

 The only thing that occurs to me is that Avenatti thinks he can get a better result by simply pleading guilty and accepting what the court gives him by way of a sentence than accepting a plea deal acceptable to the government. But (an anticlimactic) wow!

https://twitter.com/meghanncuniff/status/1536089933902843904 

UPDATE: From CNN:

"Mr. Avenatti wishes to plea in order to be accountable; accept responsibility; avoid his former clients being further burdened; save the court and the government significant resources; and save his family from further embarrassment," the court filing said.

This week’s losers - in pictures

 

Do I even have to add commentary?

Poor actors should stay off the witness stand.

Relegated to the cheap seats at the Jubilee. 

Consecutive, not concurrent. Darn, and such a nice guy …

SPOILER ALERT: the suspect who “pooped” in a beauty store isle NOT Amber Heard

 Is this a thing now?

Police in Wichita, Kansas, are on the hunt for a suspect they dubbed the “poopetrator” who defecated in the middle of a beauty store last week.

Authorities did not release the woman’s name, but said Tuesday they have confirmed the identity of the “public enemy number 2” who was caught on surveillance camera going to the bathroom in an aisle of the Mid-K Beauty Supply store on East 21st Street on May 10.

Elie Thanks ATL Commenters for His Book Sales

 At least that's how I interpret the following tweet:

And who is this Pia Owens suck-up who claims to be "fascinated" by Elie's "ascent?" 

And "vicious commenters?"  Whoever does she mean?

Happy Cinco De Mayo

I don't know about the rest of you who live in socialist utopia states, but Cinco De Mayo is a pretty big deal in Texas.  We love a good excuse to eat Tex-Mex and drink margaritas.  Today is a bonus for me since I'm a smart-ass know-it-all and I can spend the day correcting people who think today is Mexican Independence Day.  

Although my tastes in music lie primarily with 70's progressive rock, I'm also a huge fan of mariachi music.  Here's what I'm listening to dotay.

First is The Mariachi Ghost, by far the best mariachi band in Manitoba, Canada.  They sound like I imagine Pink Floyd would have sounded if they were a mariachi band.

LOFT SESSIONS The Mariachi Ghost | Susana - YouTube

Next is Mariachi El Bronx.  The Bronx is a hardcore punk band out of LA.  Back in 2008 they released an album of mariachi songs as Mariachi El Bronx.  I figured it was just a gimmick, but they take their mariachi alter-ego very seriously.  

Mariachi El Bronx - Cell Mates - YouTube

Happy Cinco everyone.  Don't drink too much tequila.

I'm Putting My Crypto On a Sotomayor Clerk

 Though some (seemingly) sane people think the leaker could be a Roberts clerk! I am open to all possibilities but could we please NAME some NAMES?

Dont let the lame FBI get all the credit!

 

I'm sure Lat is in a state of apoplexy right now; he likely has the inside scoop but not the spine to reveal the perp.

And now a calm and soothing word from Elie:

 

"White wing forces blaming Sotomayor for the leak when BREYER is right there with one foot out the door is so very on brand for them. I bet certain Georgetown law professors tried to figure out how to blame Ketanji Brown Jackson but couldn't make it work."