Random Friday Morning Thoughts

Let me tell you, this 2016 ad was pretty creative. 

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• Oh, my. 
  

  

  
  
  
  
• She's running for the Texas house seat but filled out the federal application form to be on the ballot. The Tarrant County Republican chair rejected it. 
  
  
  
• If I understand the story, it looks like he filled out a community service sheet for someone on probation and gave them extra hours, and also didn't report someone getting the "fat drug" within the sheriff's department without a prescription. 
  
  
  
• Updates on the ICE agent shooting and killing of Renee Good. 
• Least surprising news ever. 
  
  
  
• Huh? 

• So?
  
  
  
• This is bad.  Throw in falsehoods on social media (and gullible people unable to discern even the simplest of truths) and AI (which makes it impossible for the least gullible people to discern fact from fiction), and we are entering an error where no one will know what it is real. 

• Trump:
• Then the globe is in trouble. 
  

• Big Oil is coming to the White House today (none of which would be willing to take any risks in Venezuela), and Trump decides not to bomb the country again. 

• We have a massive federal debt and people can't afford healthcare but, yeah, let's do this: 
  
  
  
• They finally found a use for the Trump Kennedy Center since everyone refuses to perform there now. 

• Legal stuff:  In browsing through new appellate opinions yesterday, the opening of facts of this one made me (and will make you) do a double-take. 

• Lauren Whitener Clock: 6 years and 190 days.

Random Thursday Morning Shots

I don't remember it being that low at all. 

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• Quick reaction which could change once we know everything: Yes, you stop when an officer tells you to stop, but there's not a single Wise County cop who would have pulled the trigger and killed her.  But when you offer someone a $50,000 bonus to sign up for ICE and give them little, if any training, this is what you are going to get when you unleash them on the streets of the United States. 
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
• DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who was cosplaying in Texas yesterday, immediately went in front of the the cameras and outright lied calling the dead woman a domestic terrorist. She then just made up some facts: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• She doubled down later. So the dead woman is some kind of trained assassin?:
  
  
  
• The mayor of Minneapolis had some very hot opinions. He probably should have taken a deep breath before getting in front of the cameras as well. 
  

  
  
  
• Trump, as usual, had trouble with the facts.
  
  
  
• The ICE agent who it's "hard to believe is alive" was clearly walking around unscathed after the incident. The video which showed the shooting actually continues on for another four minutes and shows the aftermath.
  
  
  
• Odd things that are getting little notice. 
• The soon to be dead woman tried to wave the ICE agents through  before they got out of their vehicles and approached her.
  
  
  
• It's not critically important, but the shooter walked around the back of her car, holding something, before he goes around and walks in front of the vehicles. It looked like he was filming with a handheld device.
  
  
  
• Lest we forget already:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Seems important. 
  
  
  
• A couple of flashbacks:
  

  
  
  
• Messenger - Above the Fold

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

The case was dismissed the following year when the trooper agreed "to give up his police license and never seek another job in law enforcement."

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• Happening right now.  The U.S. has been following this ship for a couple of weeks, and is  believed to be near Iceland right now. It put up a Russian flag a few days in. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• “The video is believed to have originated outside of the U.S. with the sole purpose of inciting fear,” police said. Other screenshots here.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The conservative PAC "Texans for Lawsuit Reform" has endorsed Lisa McEntire over Andy Hopper for the Wise County state house seat.  
  

  

  
  
  
  
• Teachers fight back arguing the First Amendment. .
  
  
  
• It's official.  George Orwell's 1984 is no longer just a novel.  The government is now telling you their version of events until they’re accepted as truth. “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”  It's over. 
  
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
• This isn't going to happen  - nor should it. But why is he acting like a mob boss extorting a weak shop owner?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The country has lost its mind.
  

  

  
  
  
  
• "New CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil has sparked a fresh wave of ridicule after a cringeworthy segment in which he started crying on air." The segment here. 
  
  
  
• A real picture from yesterday. Video.
  
  
  
• College football is broken. 
  
  
  
• The number of people killed in the "arrest" of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro is now up to 75.