Houston Blog

So, what are you so called "jounalists" at the Press or Chronicle going to get some names of prominent johns for us to read about? This is "dog bites man", just another "I'm shocked, shocked to discover whores in Baghdad on the Bayou!" story.

Shame on you, Mr. Malisow.

Stop picking on these people and get a life.

I realize that your own personal career is based on the stories you write and report...but frankly I hope that you have a good career because there is a point when people draw the line and you just did...they have kids and obviously she is a good recruiter and there is nothing illegal about what she is doing now...so back off dude and find something else to write for the sake of their kids your kids the future kids people make mistakes but always deserve second chances...isn't that what America is about?

Let's look past the obvious for a moment - the fact that you're denigrating a mother who is trying to provide for her children, poking fun @ someone whose employment opportunities are already limited due to the media's coverage of the charges against the Turbivilles - and examine how poorly written your article is. Can anyone obtain a journalism degree and a job in the industry now, regardless of their verbal skills? If you're going to tear someone down, @ least attempt to use proper structure and maybe, I don't know, actually say something clever instead of making poorly phrased, on-the-nose jokes at which my 3 year old would roll her eyes.

Really? People, you are giving a reporter a hard time for writing about something that is so obviously ironic and so blatantly out in the public? Come on! What did you expect, that it wouldn't make an editorial blip that someone accused of being a madam would make the 'logical' jump to nanny recruiter. Stop being so ready to yell at a reporter and get a life. And don't you realize reporters love it when you argue, you really showed him! Do you want a moral pat on the back, or should we send you to take a couple of classes in journalism? She's such a nice lady/mommy, too bad she decided to run hookers in Houston. Other than that I'm sure she makes the best casserole on the block for the PTA bake off. You are the same people that freak out about sex ed in school, but this is totally okay.

I find it strange that so many people feel so much sympathy for a woman who chose to support herself and her family by illegal means for several years. I am not necessarily morally opposed to what they were doing. But did the Turbivilles never think about the possibility they would get caught? Were they never concerned about what this might mean for their children? To me that is the crime here. Putting innocent children at risk of having both of their parents in prison, just for a quick buck. And now they want to make decisions on behalf of other parents?

Here's an idea. Let adults do whatever they want with each other, as long as both are consenting parties. That's the way it works in most western countries and they haven't cracked off and fallen into the sea from it. Americans think this is a crime because there are puritan roots to the entire culture and they learn from birth to death that sex is basically bad. Fun yes, necessary yes, ordained by God, if you believe that sort of thing, but basically bad. It would be great if these people would grow up and worry about protecting our planet or feeding the millions of starving people rather than about who is having sex with who.

OK, I don't really want to get too deep into this, but: In response to Razzie's comment, I suggest that by posting her ad on the online classifieds section of an investigative paper that has covered this case in the past, Turbiville was unwisely, though perhaps unintentionally, inviting scrutiny.

I believe the reason this story is newsworthy is because, as another commenter noted, it involves the safety and well-being of children. And if an agency or individual in charge of recruiting nannies is involved in any past or pending legal action -- whether it be civil or criminl -- would be information that any responsible parent would likely want to know. It's a matter of having all the information at one's disposal in order to make a competent choice.

Here are a few examples of things that would not be newsworthy: Turbiville gets a job flipping burgers; Turbiville gets a job as a secretary; Turbiville gets a job managing a grocery store. None of these hypotheticals involve her being in a pipeline that leads to a stranger entering a home and taking responsibility for a child. It is also unlikely that any of those things would have popped up on a reporter's radar. And if I were awaiting trial for allegedly running prostitutes, I would do my best to avoid situations that would have any potential of getting my name and my photograph in the spotlight once again.

Fair enough, Hawkeye. Generally, "Hair Balls" features a more irreverent style than our features. It definitely is a different tone, and I understand that there are instances where some people may not find it amusing or appropriate.

Don't just skip over the stuff from the other news stories. This new business is a general business for connecting professionals with folks that might hire them. Nanny was one of the positions, but so was forklift driver and construction worker. Apparently she didn't set out to work exclusively with nannies, but some of the responses to her ads were nannies looking for work...

THESE PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY!! And ...Shannon...I'm sorry if you are one of those people who feel women are not equal to men. I mean that must be what you think since you think that prostitution is exploitation of women. As if hookers are just some poor, poor creature that can't think for themselves. They have a mind and are capable of deciding what they feel is right or wrong!!! No one is forcing anyone to do anything...thats the way they choose to make their money, so get off your high horse Mother Teressa

Ummm...if I had a choice between a dry cleaners that had a reputation as a whore dealer or one that was not a whore dealer...I would choose the former. Now, if a former "madam" wanted to watch my kids..... I think I'd choose a route that had less prostitution involved.

BTW drunken manslaughter is a "mistake", establishing and running a whore house is not...although I wsh I had been invited to the "inner circle"!

Nobody ever said " OOps! I created a prostitution ring!"