Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• Hey, don't yell, they are all Olympic athletes.
• It's the first day of school - a day when mothers cry uncontrollably.
• I was glad to get junior high and high school over with, and I've never had a desire to to back in time to those periods of my life. No desire at all.
• Each political party gets $17 million from federal government for their respective conventions. It's from that "Check here if you, or your spouse if filing jointly, want $3 to go to this fund (see page 12)" on your income tax form. I've never checked that box
• Someone suggested this to me as a Random Thought that wasn't my own: Whatever happened to trash compactors?
• Bill Maher was on Larry King last night and a caller asked if he was the guy that had the lead role in the film "Body Double." The answer, of course, is no but it dawned on me they looked exactly alike.
• It's a good Olympic moment when you've watched something great and you know it will be part of the highlight reel.
• Before political conventions became made for TV productions, George McGovern gave his acceptance speech in 1972 at 2:30 a.m. (That's what NPR told me this morning.)
• Holy cow: A Fox News reporter jumps in the middle of a protest rally yesterday in Denver and things get a little ugly. (Youtube clip here. Language warning.)
• Why is that only Democrats care enough to protest?
• I had forgotten about Biden's "clean" comment about Obama. But it's good to know Obama didn't care.
• There's a story today in the Star Telegram about the capital murder trial that begins this week based upon an incident that occurred at Putt-Putt Golf & Games in Hurst. Is that the one on Loop 820 just down the road from Northeast Mall? I went there last year.
• Putt Putt sounds like a beating but it's really pretty fun.
• Former Dallas Cowboy Frank Cornish was found dead late last week in his Southlake home. He played for the Cowboys in the early 1990s, but I really don't remember him.
• I need to remember to followup on this story about a PI lawyer in Houston who has pled guilty to settling cases and, uh, not giving any of the money to his clients. Sentencing will come later. Maybe he thought his contingency fee was 100%.
• The Rangers have lost 14 of 17. Yep, they are still playing.
• Earliest Monday Morning Pick Me Up Ever: Russia Cheerleaders v. U.S. Cheerleaders.
• Madonna, who seems to always need a bath, had a hot sports opinion during her concert this weekend as images of Hitler, Zimbabwean strongman Robert Mugabe, and John McCain were flashed in the background in succession. I think we all know the reaction of the crowd: Who is Robert Mugabe?
• I don't know if I'd rather be a "strongman" or a "kingpin".
• Someone in the comments last week told me to "quit posting pictures of girls in bikinis." I'm just glad he didn't bring it up during his Sunday sermon.
• The most shocking moment from the Olympics that you probably missed along with a very funny line from Jim Lampley.

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

- Two more Fort Worth motorcycle deaths
- I don't know why conservatives freak out over the concept of nationalized health care. Everyone I know thinks it's reasonable for their HMO to pay more on their behalf than they pay in each year. And to a great extent that happens. With employer's passing along the high insurance premiums, that's closer to socialized medicine than insurance.
- I've begun reading H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man. Edit: As a commenter pointed out, I should read Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. Sadly, that is what I intended to download from iTunes. I'm an idiot. Who would have thought two famous novels would have the same name?
- I probably agree with the Libertarians more than anyone else. But yesterday they announced that Bob Barr would be the party's presidential nominee. That is completely stunning. He's been a conservative nut job all his life.
- Why was Tony Romo throwing out the first pitch at a Cubs game? There's something just not right about that guy.
- A client reminded me of the Rock Island Railroad company the other day. Hadn't thought of that since I saw the cars rolling through Bridgeport when I was in my baby diaper.
- There was an unassisted triple play in the Major League last night. Every time I see one (assisted or unassisted) it takes me a while to figure out what happened.
- Apple says all the iPhones are gone fueling rumors of a next generation device. Sheesh. I got mine a couple of months ago, my law partner got his two weeks ago, and I've heard the Wise and Jack County probation officers got a fleet of them two weeks ago.
- Someone commented under the "prom dress" post below that everyone just needs to "conform to society." Puhhhleeeeze.
- Pretty amazing photos coming out of China after the earthquake, but I'm surprised they have "counties" over there.
- The potential Decatur restaurant smoking ban is insane. I hate smoking as much as the next guy, but it's incredible that government can tell a local business owner how to run his business. If he/she wants to allow smoking, let the market determine whether that's a good idea.
- After a brief Supreme Court interruption, Texas is back in the Death Business. Eight inmates are scheduled to be killed by the government by the end of August.
- Speaking of death, a dog on a Formula One racetrack is not-a-good.
- Edit: Violent New York newscast F-Bomb.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

- "State Sen. Florence Shapiro of Dallas is considering setting up an exploratory committee to run for the U.S. Senate in anticipation of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison running for governor." That nutcase has done so much damage in the Texas Legislature that I'd like to see her in Congress. At least she'd be neutralized there.
- I still think the evidence was ridiculously insufficient to convict Scott Peterson.
- "Facebook on Thursday reached a user safety agreement with the attorneys general of 49 states and the District of Columbia." Who was the State not to sign on because the measures weren't "tough enough"? Texas. The real reason: The Texas Attorney General, who shall remain nameless, wanted his name publicized.
- 91% off the price of Microsoft Office Ultimate if you can snag an .edu email address.
- The Gin Blossoms performed at Mayfest in Fort Worth last week. I used to love the Gin Blossoms (but I get tired of every group eventually.)
- Doing anything on October 5, 2013? Notre Dame will play football at the new Cowboy stadium on that date. (They were supposed to play Baylor there but some screwy contract rule caused the game to be moved, oddly, to New Orleans.)
- John McCain's wife is smoking hot. (And she's older than 25!!!)
- Every time I catch a little of the "Reno 911" movie on cable, I laugh.
- The "fake rape" lady made bond pending appeal yesterday. All the news stations say she is eligible for parole after 1/2 of her 5 year sentence. I think that's wrong. I think it's 1/4 time including good time.
- Jessica Alba "Hey, Now" before she messed up and decided to bring a sweet baby into the world.
- Worth a giggle: This three and half minute interview with some Desperate Housewife gal by a WFAA reporter. The lug nuts go flying at the 1:27 mark.
- Honor Society Students?: Three kids near Houston remove a skull from a grave and use it for a bong. Obviously we need to toughen those skull bong laws. Edit: We got pictures.
- Terry Bradshaw has a hot daughter?
- Ex-UT running back Cedric Benson on the lake before his BWI arrest last weekend. He's very Wise County: He likes beer and white women. (Source)

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

- "NEW YORK (AFP) - A businessman who sold Viagra-laced chocolate as a food supplement called'Boom' was indicted Wednesday for mail fraud by a federal judge, and faces 20 years in jail if found guilty." There goes my afternoon snack.
- Texas is getting 29 new federal prosecutors. That federal government just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
- The NFL draft is tomorrow. There was a time that I used to stop down for the NFL draft. No more.
- Rhome has certainly replaced New Fairview as the most wheels off community in Wise County.
- And today the great Bud Kennedy of the Star-Telegram gives us a little background on how the now famous agenda came to be.
- The above pic is Denise Richards at the beach last weekend. It's enough to make me want watch "Wild Things" for the 1,000th time just to bring back old memories.
- I'm giving the movie "Once" another shot. I might have dissed it too hastily.
- I'll say for the 100th time: Jim Cramer of of "Mad Money" is a hack and reckless.
- It widespread news by now, but have you seen the video of the homeless man robbing an ROTC cadet who was having a seizure in Dallas? It made The Today Show this morning.
- Watched a documentary the other day called "And The Bible Tells Me So." It was basically about how main stream religion treats gays - and pointed out that a few verses before the Bible calls homosexual conduct an "abomination" that it also said the same thing about eating fish. That Old Testament sure be confusing.
- The Rangers have lost 7 straight and are 7 games out of first place. And it's still April.
- I addition to "at the end of the day", the phrase "why don't you tell me what you really think about it" (after you just have) drives me nuts.
- Edit: Case of the week I just saw: Statue of Baby Jesus qualified as "deadly weapon."

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

- I can never remember what the "dew point" means.
- Crowley really got hit by the storms last night. I'm not sure where in Dallas County that city is located. [Edit: Let the dogpile begin.]
- And can any weather guy break into programming without going nuts over a "this could be a circular rotation!!!!"
- The Abercrombie & Fitch crowd love Obama.
- If you ever install the Stumble Upon toolbar, you'll waste time forever. And you'll love it. (Be sure to set it to your preferences/interests.)
- There's a rice shortage? Rice? A shortage of Crisco I could understand.
- When I wrote this about Pacman Jones over a year ago, I never dreamed he'd be a Dallas Cowboy. Which, as of this morning, he is.
- The sixth inning of the Rangers' game last night was not-a-good.
- Edit: Rant by a normally whip-my-arse-criminal-defense-lawyer that I kind of agree with.

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

- I always wonder about the morale at DPS. The fact that one trooper just won $900,000 in a discrimination suit by a trooper can't help.
- Speaking of discrimination, Avery Johnson and Ron Washington won't have a claim once they are let go.
- If an agency or company is ever involved in a scandal, all they need to say is, "We will conduct a complete and thorough investigation and, thereafter, will take the appropriate action."
- Moving those kids from the polygamist compound to foster care is simply awful. Why we just sit back and accept governmental abuse of power is beyond me. (And the best summary of the situation is here. Simply shocking.) Heck, go look at the check out line in Walmart and you'll see kids in worse situations than those kids being forced from their moms.
- Twenty years from now we will think about how close the Mavericks were to a championship in 2006.
- The Messenger publisher will have a quick letter hand delivered to me every now and then. It's always positive. Always cool.
- I used a $30 electric hedge trimmer from Home Depot for the first time yesterday. Worked like a charm. I had to contain myself from making a shrub sculpture of an elephant.
- Regarding the weather over the next four days, I don't think the weather guys have a clue.
- Me loves me some Erin Andrews.
- George Lopez is 47 today. I watched his show once and am pretty sure it was written by a fifth grader (but not those smart fifth graders on that game show.)
- Bear carnage. Just saw that a huge bear that was in Will Ferrell's movie last movie has killed its trainer.
- The cliche, "at the end of the day" drives me nuts.
- Edit: Greatest one page lawsuit against Mark Cuban ever (here - one page pdf). And I love how the author copyrights his name: Jonathan Lee Riches©

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

- The video of the alleged killer of the Best Western clerk in south Fort Worth is chilling.
- The Rangers played at 10:00 a.m. yesterday. I think I'd go to a couple of games if they started at 10:00 a.m.
- I hate the "weather tease" at the first of a newscast. Just show me the 5 day forecast.
- I like Rosa's - the Mexican restaurant that's not quite fast food and not quite dining.
- I tried to watch the John Adams mini-series on HBO but I never got into it.
- I'd hate to be a teenager and have to buy gasoline. Then again, I'd hate to be a teenager. Period.
- Family members of court appointed clients are the most demanding people I deal with.
- I was in a Lowe's in Keller this weekend. It seemed significantly larger than the one in Decatur.
- KXAS's Meredith Land is kind of hot.
- The Mavs are in New Orleans (probably the last team they'll play this year.) Bourbon Street, which I've been to, looks like it would be a beating.
- For the first time every, beer and wine will be sold throughout the course at the Byron Nelson golf tournament this week. That might ruin the atmosphere of one of the greatest people watching places ever: The Pavilion.
- But said Pavilion, also for the first time ever, will be open until 10:00 p.m. Most. Drunks. Ever.
- The trial in the County Court at Law was probably won by this defense theory: Brothers that slug each other should probably handle their problems outside of the courthouse. It's not in the Penal Code but it's good law around these parts.
- A lawsuit has been filed less than 30 days after some guys from Roanoke died in Arkansas in a scaffolding accident. I don't know if the Texas Hammer or the Strong Arm are involved.
- One lawyer in Decatur, as a joke, actually has an email address that begins "wisecountyhammer@". That's funny.
- I was in a judge's office yesterday when a list was being passed around of every war that the U.S. has been involved in with beginning and ending dates. Just when, historically speaking, will the ending date of the current "war" be? Or did it actually last about three days and now is nothing more than an "occupation."?