2.17.2017

It's Friday. Let's Get Out Of Here.


 Mrs. LL had a motorcycle once. I'm investigating this footage. 
 Leaving this one alone. 
 If this guy is a Teen In The House and my kid, I'd be talking to CPS right now.
I blame her more than the good puppy dog. 

Speaking of Legal Nerd Stuff: The Fort Worth Court Of Appeals Just Told the Tarrant County DA's Office They Lied To The Court

The opinion was just released. It is long and no one will read it. But never before in my thirty year career have I seen a Court take out sections of a State's brief and, in essence, say "That's not what happened at all."

Let me paraphrase Simon and Garfunkel as I describe the current state of the Tarrant DA's office: "Where have you gone Tim Curry? Our county turns our lonely eyes to you."




Random Friday Morning Thoughts




  • Trump's press conference yesterday was insane. No person with a brain who watched all one hour and fifteen minutes of it would disagree. He actually said that if he blew up a Russian ship "everyone" would love him. 
  • Even Fox News thought he was crazy:
  • So who does the President use this morning to tell us all it wasn't crazy: 
  • Since we are headed to Idiocracy, we might all want to go back and watch War Games which was nothing more than a fun little movie in the 1980s. Now think about the General in charge of Norad when he thinks a Russian nuclear attack is underway and says, "Get me the President on the horn." 
  • By the way, that guy is the most underrated greatest character actor of our time. From Urban Cowboy to No Country for Old Men
  • Wise County just approved $46,000 for a company to study its "Internet infrastructure." I've been preaching it for years: Be a private company and contract with government if you want to get rich. (And "infrastructure"? What does that even mean? Call ATT for a deal because you're the government and have clout, and then buy decent routers for WIFI and connect every desktop by WIFI via USB. Problem solved.) 
  • Mark Cuban got sassy when someone challenged him on his political views:
  • Trump's attack on all the media will be his downfall. When I was a young DA, I started to pick a fight with the Messenger about coverage that I thought was unflattering. My dad took me aside and told me, "You don't pick a fight with people who buy paper by the ton and ink by the barrel." 
  • If you watch any news channel you will see an ad to confirm the nominated Supreme Court justice paid for by a SuperPAC. That's just weird. 
  • Vince Young is trying to get back in the NFL? Not a chance. (I still believe he was the greatest college player ever.) 
  • Solar panels on houses? Is the financial benefit worth it to start with and what about the aesthetic value? 
  • This will only appeal to legal nerds: Watch an unprepared prosecutor get crushed in oral arguments in Georgia. 
  • "Imagine this: If the NFL tries to come down on the state of Texas, I might just pass a bill in the state of Texas mandating that all NFL players have to stand and put their hand on their heart when the National Anthem is played." -- Texas Governor Greg Abbott on the NFL expressing concern about the Bathroom Bill.  What should scare all of you is that he is a former Texas Supreme Court justice and knows what he said is 100% unconstitutional but he said it anyway to pander to masses.

2.16.2017

Trump!


I got out of an hour and a half meeting and learned that Trump spared with the press during that same time period. Everyone was contacting me with,  "You have to see this!" It sounds like a train wreck from what I've been able to piece together so far. The above is just a sliver of the beating he received.

Heck, even Fox News is beginning to realize he's crazy:




Get Me This Rescued Dog!

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts




  • "Michael Flynn is a wonderful man. I think he's been treated very, very unfairly by the media…as I call it the fake media.” -- Donald Trump yesterday on the guy he fired for illegally talking to the Russians
  • Is there a betting line in Vegas on whether the Russians actually have a seedy video of Trump? 
  • Indicted Texas AG Ken Paxton was the first to file a voluntary brief in the case challenging Trump's Muslim Ban. 
  • The Eighth Grader in the House and I had a discussion about the concept of light years. She was pretty good. Then I told her, "The stars you see in the sky are nothing more that a snapshot of what space used to look like." It took a second, but she understood. 
  • I watch a ton of DWI cop videos in Wise County, and I've noticed a pattern when the cop is kind enough to let the guy being arrested call his wife: They always seem to be kind and sad and loving and apologetic. And the wife is always not pleased. (Note to people being arrested: If you are in police car, you are being recorded.) 
  • I think we are still at DEFCON 2 or watching a sequel to Top Gun in real life.
  • Great question yesterday: Who is the most famous person you have came within 10 feet of? The best I could think of is when George W. came through the Wise County courthouse posing for pictures left and right before his presidential run. 
  • Let's check on Trump's mental health this morning. Yep, he is still scared of the free press.
  • Decatur's basketball team won a coin flip to determine post season playoff seeding. That's right out Friday Night Lights.
  • I just saw that one of my favorite teachers of all time from Bridgeport has died: Joyce Witty. She was an English teacher, and she would torch me for my grammar. But she was fascinated with my writing style and with the content of any fiction essay assignment I submitted to her. And, more importantly, she encouraged me to no end.

2.15.2017

I've Never Needed More Information In The History Of Ever




What happened here?

Above The Fold


Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts


  • If I hear an ad that says, "Deals too low to advertise", I will never buy anything from you. 
  • Prediction: Trump's Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, will quit within three months. He has the worst job in the world. 
    "I've made a huge mistake."
  • And I'm not sure Kellyanne Conway won't leave as well.  (And I'll say again she looks like she is on meth.)
  • Mrs. LL learned about the "County Law! County Law" video yesterday. It is still one of my favorites. 
  • The Ticket spent a segment mocking Fox 4's "Viewer Feedback" yesterday. And I loved that it started out with the host saying,  "I'm always scared Steve Eagar will turn on me when we do one of these." 
  • The Westminster Dog Show has just concluded which always makes me think about the great movie, Best In Show.
  • You know what jumps out me about Abbott's quote below. His arrogance and elitism of referring to a human being as "low level" employee:
  • Let's check in on the President's mental health this morning.  He doesn't care about the truthfulness of the information. He cares about being exposed as he attacks our coveted government agencies: 
  • But wait! There's more!:
  • Trump won in Wise County with 86% of the vote.
  • Mrs. LL works in the front office of a school and during her first Valentine's Day there she was responsible for delivering every set of flowers sent to every teacher. I didn't send her anything to the school. Man, did I pay for it. And I learned my lesson. 
  • Hot opinion by the Dallas Morning News:

2.14.2017

This Is The Guy Who Trump Just Fired For Conspiring With The Russians


I feel sad for Saturday Night Live and Southpark and other shows. Real life is now hard to believe.

"If a did a tenth of what she did I would be in jail."

(And I say he was fired. Press Secretary Sean Spencer said he resigned despite all the evidence to the contrary.)

Good Lord


Story.

As one of the craziest news days I've ever seen is unfolding with the news about Russia, conspiracy, and blackmail, we get this story. (Not to mention an Armed Service Committee member just mentioned the word "Treason" in regards to Trump on CNN. That's a bold statement.)

And I cannot remember a day I've heard "What did the President know and when did he know it?" more than today.  Fox News is even asking it.

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts



  • So we wake up to learn that the National Security Adviser has resigned because he contacted the Russians about removing sanctions before he took office? The destruction of the Trump Administration begins. (Kellyanne Conway said yesterday that Trump had "full confidence" in him.) He has been in office less than 30 days. What a cluster.
  • Mrs. LL this morning: "You want to know the big news? There will be a black Bachorlette!" (I told her she just made a bullet point. She laughed out loud.)
  • And you know why the NSA guy had to resign? The press. This time being the Washington Post doing its job. Or as Trump calls it, "FAKE NEWS!!"
  • Go to Fox News when a scandal like that breaks and it takes them forever to report it. 
  • What a gloomy Valentine's Day. 
  • Fox 4's Steve Eagar. blocked me on Twitter. I have no idea why, and he's only the second guy to ever do so. What is he thinking? His job depends on exposure from viewers and people talking about Fox 4. How does someone in the media not understand that? (And the feedback I got over that guy's arrogance once I announced I was blocked by him was shocking.) 
  • Gola Mae Fleming, 103, of Bridgeport had a segment on Fox 4 being a Dallas Mav's fan.  
  • Man, the "cash it outside" girl from Dr. Phil is getting famous. Idiocracy. And it's on all of us. 
  • The Canadian Prime Minister met Trump yesterday.
  • And Trump is already golfing more than the retired folks out at Runaway Bay.
  • As I continue to watch more Continuing Legal Education videos, I loved one lady from Carrollton who said time and time again, "Know your county. Know your judge."  She was talking about knowing nuances, the judge's staff, and most importantly the judge's view of disputed issues of the law. That's why I've never understood the out of town lawyer who stops me in the courthouse hallway and asks, "How's this docket thing work?" 
  • Never before in the history of America do every single one of us, no matter in what aspect of our lives, need to ask ourselves, "Are we being conned?" 



2.13.2017

Look What A Guy Just Did To Me After Today's Random Thoughts


I'm No Music Guy . . .




. . . but even I think this is pretty good.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts



  • For some reason I watched re-watched The Cable Guy (which is beyond fantastic once you realize all the now famous actors who show up in it) and laughed out loud. I then watched This Is Us and the movie The Descendants -- both which are great. I think I'm at the point in my life where I'll stick with The Cable Guy -- it's easier to take.
  • While trying to get a picture of either a police raid or an eviction in my neighborhood on Friday the Family Pup ate my Sonic burger with not one bit of remorse. Edit: And I'm getting killed before 9:00 a.m. for the wording of this sentence. Deservedly so, but still. 
  • Alvord wants a $13.6 million bond package. If you don't think government runs the economy, you're wrong. 
  • The special prosecutors of AG Ken Paxton want a change of venue out of Collin County. Translation: We can't get a conviction in Collin County.
  • I been watching Continuing Legal Education videos because my mandatory deadline is due. It is so easy to spot from the start those who actually know what they are doing. 
  • The Trump Administration trotted out some 31 year old guy named Stephen Miller for all the Sunday morning talks shows and he was destroyed every time. (He would have been more believable if he would have broken out into Take The Money And Run.)
  • The President of the United States decided to attack Mark Cuban yesterday. Incredible. 
  • What a crazy story about the pilot who was set to fly from Austin to San Francisco.
  • We've entered Idiocracy even further as the U.S. Department of Education proves it is not that smart.  (Uh, that's supposed to be W.E.B. Du Bois.)
  • And then they followed it was this:
  • That Bridgeport shooting that leads the Update sounds very complicated.