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On this Veteran’s Day, we stop for a minute to honor those who have served in our nation’s armed forces.  During the two wars, the day assumes greater significance.  I have written in this space about my friend, 1SGT Carlos Saenz who was killed in Iraq when I was serving there.  I know to some…

 A Stanford management expert reports that jerks and slackers can cost a company in productivity.  See ABA Bar Journal report.  Stanford professor, Robert Sutton finds that negative workers, pessimists, jerks, or angry, nasty people bring the rest of the work force down.  Negative people can reduce enthusiasm and change the mood, reports the researcher.

Workplace frustration boiled over in a westside San Antonio restaurant last month.  A waitress reacted badly when her work hours were reduced.  Maria Benavidez expressed frustration at her reduced hours.  She looked at the manager’s stepson’s paycheck – who also worked there.  Her manager told her to leave and called the police.  Ms. Benavidez then…

Your average county courthouse sees more genuine drama and pathos than any television show can ever capture.  So, perhaps it is not surprising when one courthouse becomes the scene of partying French Moroccans.  Five French citizens of Moroccan background were traveling across country in a rented RV.  After a night of drinking at Coyote Ugly…

Six years ago, I was sitting at a desk at FOB Danger, Iraq processing applications for CERP funds.  Periodically, I would go "outside the wire" to look at ongoing reconstruction projects.  I was one of some 150,000 soldiers, sailors, Marines and Airmen serving our country.  We served on a large team, my brothers and sisters…

A Georgia school teacher lost her job over Facebook photos of her holding an alcoholic drink during a European vacation.  A parent supposedly complained and she was forced out.  Now, she is suing for damages.  The district judge granted summary judgment to the employer.  See Atalanta Journal-Constitution report. 

The school teacher, Ashley Payne, claims…

LCPL Benjamin Whetstone Schmidt was killed in Afghanistan.  he apparently suffered a gunshot wound.  LCPL Schmidt was a sniper for the Marines.  He was the son of Dr. David Schmidt, team physician for the San Antonio Spurs.  He was also the son of Becky Whetstone, former advice columnist for the San Antonio Express News.  Ms. Whetstone…

 Insurgents have killed a San Antonio soldier, 1LT Andres Zermeno, in Afghanistan.  See Defense Department news release.  1LT Zemeno died from wounds suffered in an RPG attack. 1LT Zermeno graduated from St. Mary’s University where he met his wife.  He served in the ROTC program and studied psychology.  See KSAT news report.