The Daily Bulletin's editorial board yesterday called for the resignation of disgraced Three Valleys Municipal Water District board member Xavier Alvarez of Pomona.
An Insider reader wrote in to remind us that Alvarez might have more than a little in common with the Baron Von Münchhausen, whose Wikipedia entry reads:
Karl Friedrich Hieronymus, Freiherr von Münchhausen (11 May 1720 – 22 February 1797) (sometimes spelled Munchausen), was a German baron who in his youth was sent to serve as page to Anthony Ulrich II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and later joined the Russian military. He served until 1750, in particular taking part in two campaigns against the Turks. Returning home, Münchhausen supposedly told a number of outrageous tall tales about his adventures. The Baron was born in Bodenwerder and died there as well.The Baron lent his name to Münchhausen syndrome, the psychological disorder in which sufferers pretend to be ill or sometimes induce real symptoms of illnesses in order to get attention.
According to the stories, as retold by others, the Baron's astounding feats included riding cannonballs, travelling to the Moon, and escaping from a swamp by pulling himself up by his own hair.
At least Alvarez might be able to legitimately claim an insanity defense in the criminal charge(s) against him.
Posts
