Okay......just had my own comment vaporize on me, and the pain meds preclude trying to redo my attempt at responding. Yes, without question Marvin was an angel, a gentleman and a PRUDE. Good guy though. Used to run into him at the Gulf Station on Beechnut and the Loop where we both lived nearby. Dolcefino, while a tenacious and worthy investigative reporter, who has exposed several really serious situations that needed to be brought to light, is in my book a self serving pr**** who feeds on the limelight. Marvin Zindler, while flamboyant, was a humble, giving human being who enjoyed poking fun at himself as much or more than he did exposing misdeeds, and also was a forgiving person who was quick to point out when the subject of one of his stories had capitulated and made good on their wrongs. There is a place for investigative reporting - particularly here in the city. There is a right and a wrong way to go about it. We have good examples of both, currently working the streets daily here. Easy to figure out who they are if you watch them. Even easier if you encounter them at the ballpark or at the filling station. BTW, I do agree with you on the black and white legal aspect of office e-mails and I am well versed in the retention and content policies in place where I work. I think that given the current business climate here in town right at the moment, and the shortage of well qualified "Bubba" talent to get the work out, that those companies who can see the shades of grey, beyond the black and white rules, and manage their people, are the successful ones. Whole 'nother ballgame though when it comes to elected Harris County officials and the folks they choose to hire.....I'll give you that!

Afterthought--can't believe that was filtered. Now I know what George Carlin meant when he said it's okay to pr1ck your finger on TV, but don't try to finger your pr1ck .......

And as for Dolcefino, a story that comes to mind is from when Claudette hit in 2003. While Dolcefino was grandstanding in Port O'Connor, hanging on to a pole to keep from having his lardass "blown away" by the storm for the camera, I was 18 miles away in Seadrift, filming the storm from my pickup while the locals were riding their Harleys around in bare feet checking out the storm. Of course, we didn't have a producer and a film editor with us in .....adrift............

Rustybucket

Wayne is like most reporters who go for the recognition and awards --narcisists and egotistic. Have seen him out in public --he expects the common crowd to part way for him and can be rather rude.  But, he has unveiled some issues in the fair city of Houston that needed to be told.  I may not agree with his in the face, arogance, and rudeness -- but many times he can tred where we can't and reveal things about our tax dollars you did not know.

So if you don't live in Houston, you may not appreciate some of his work.  This is one of those where the messenger stinks, but the information can be of value.

And by the way, by the time Marvin died --he had contributed so much personal money to help the poor and disabled.  He flew to countries with doctors --all who volunteered to help unfortunate people.  In his latter years he moved from a consumer reporter to the angel of good. There were so many who lack from him being gone.  Yes when he was young he had gumption and gile.  He was the only one to report on the Texas City ship blowup.  He took a taxi to the site.

He worked the crime beat and spent his time earning his rights.  Closing the chicken ranch may have been a bad folly.  I know of at least one Victoria area, father that took his son there for his initial education before being married.  Is that good or bad.  Guess we would have to interview his wife.  Don't know if he ever told her.

Marvin had class. Wayne doesn't have as much class but turns over a lot of rocks and finds the slime in our county.  As tax payers and citizens many of us appreciate it while being entertained and yes sometimes irritated.

Pilot,

You must not be aware that Harris County has written records and information management policies. Requirements for such policies have been around for years.  The problem is that employees fail to understand that the computers, email system, and other assets are property of the employer. An employer can be sued for the contents that are in the email system.

As a certified records manager, we train employers and employees to protect the assets and not transmit emails that are not business related.  Why?  All information in an employer's email system is subject to a warrant and search under the laws of the United States.  Now there may be those that do not like this, but if you don't, quit your job and start you own sole proprietorship with just yourself.

I worked for a global fortune 50 corporation, we worked to create email systems that obliterated emails coming in with specific content.  Do you know most banks are required to do so now -- at least the larger ones.  I worked on a project for that also. The purpose was to stop incoming traffic before it reached the desk.  We also created a tracking program for one company that tagged emails of employees that were sending specific content. Yes there were content police.  But do you know why?  Just one law suit can be millions of dollars.  Google some of the information.  I have the information I can research.  Just because of one employee, you can almost loose your company if you know they are doing it and you do not stop it.

If you have personal beliefs or preferences and want to share them with friends --do it at home.  It is not a bubba mentality.  It is a respect for your coworkers and your employer's assets.  Sending the offcolor jokes and etc. is like pissing on your job.  I have seen people fired and fired them for such acts because they broke company policy regarding protecting and managing the records and information of the company.

Companies may be required to maintain those records any where from one year to 75 years depending on what they do.  Try managing the emails related to each department.  The Harris County Sheriffs department screwed up big time. The kicker was that the the whistle blower did it because they thought they could win the primary election. Her husband had sent the sheriff some of the bad emails.  People were not stupid, she did not win.  But the revelations have created a firestorm in a good ole boy system.  I know some of the people, they will be retiring.  They became too comfortable and ignored state and county policies.

So for those of you that are employees -- when you receive jokes, off-colored letters, etc. delete them immediately.  Never never forward them to anyone else.  You do NOT want that on your record.  Inform all friends to send to your home email address.  Keep your personal life separate from the company information. I realize that today this is difficult --but it is necessary.  Read the laws on Corporate Sentencing, read the state regs and policies on records management.

If your company does not have a records and information policy it should have. That I can help with.  Only make the records necessary to do business. And destroy them according to a retention schedule. Have written policies and procedures and follow them.  That was the fault of Harris County.