Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• The Mayor of Coppell was found shot to death in her home along with her 19 year old daughter last night. (Fox 4 said "murder/suicide" had not been ruled out and kept saying "police are not looking for any suspects".)
• Right out of law school, I had a once-a-month gig as the night court city prosecutor for Cockrell Hill. I had no idea what I was doing.
• There was a small plane crash in Hood County last night killing three.
• There was another small plane crash outside of Krum last night killing none.
• I don't believe in unexplained "sudden acceleration" in vehicles.
• As a kid, I remember the grocery store cashier having to pick up the can, read the printed price of of it, and then key it in to the cash register manually. And the best of them could work as fast as lightening.
• The iPhone 4's antenna/reception problem (which prompted Consumer Reports to issue a "don't buy" conclusion), is the first major blunder for Apple in recent memory. And the company is so arrogant that it refuses to even address the issue.
• Eight American soldiers killed in last two days in Afghanistan. And all we've done is push the Taliban into the mountains of Pakistan where we aren't allowed to go.
• Bristol Palin is marrying that Levi guy after all?
• The George Steinbrenner coverage was a little over the top yesterday.
• My right eye is watering like it's the Pink Eye, but I'm guessing it'll go away quickly.
• Spent a little time in a piano bar on vacation and was shocked to have a new appreciation for Billy Joel.
• I refuse to eat at Margaritaville because of my disdain for Jimmy Buffett.
• I've started some inside house painting projects. This will be a scene.
• Penelope Cruz and the bad guy from No Country For Old Men got married.

Shaun Rabb ... Fox 4 ...........News

Yep, one and the same. Southwest Texas State, 1981.

Minor News Unless You Are The One Injured

Intoxication Manslaughter Trial In Wise County?

Haven't heard anything about this other than the defendant's name is Billy Allred. Jury selection ongoing. Looks like Greg Lowery and Tim Cole for the State. Lee Ann Breading out of Denton for the defense. I'll get on it. Edit: Sounds like a one car accident where passenger died. Edit: Little bit of a crazy moment when the name of the 11th juror was called and she immediately began a litany of excuses why she couldn't serve -- none of which she had voiced during jury selection. She was sitting in the jury box last time I checked. Edit: Found the Messenger's story on the accident from July, 2009 here.

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• I woke up refreshed this morning because I intentionally missed the All Star Home Run Derby and, more importantly, ESPN's Chris Berman saying, "Back! Back! Back!" a million times.
• The Dallas DA's calendar (as well as other public officials) are subject to an Open Records request? Sure. Been the law for years.
• BP put a new container cap on the oil spill last night and for a second there it looked like it had shut the thing off completely. But an immediate fix wasn't intended. They have to slowly tighten valves which is a process beginning right now. We'll have the results within six to eight hours.
• Jogging in this heat and humidity is a beating.
• Viral video I missed last week: "Double Rainbow Man."
• While you were sleeping: Man with knife confronts deputy with gun on country road in Ellis County in Bristol, Texas. Deputy won.
• While sleeping #2: Yankees owner rushed to hospital. In bad shape.
• I really don't care if Mel Gibson is a nutcase.
• That CoCo chick is everywhere and I can't look away.
• Michelle Obama visits the NAACP and tells them they need to "increase intensity." And the story is what?
• My second bathroom which was hardly ever used but is now being used extensively has developed a plumbing problem I thought I had solved. Double beating.

Best Seat Belt Commercial Ever?

Almost 10 million views on youtube. Link.

That Relationship Is Doomed

He proposes while in his Broccoli Mascot outfit (whatever in the heck that is), and she doesn't put down her drink when she accepts. Over/Under is 22 months.

Carls Jr. Haz New Cheezeburgerz

After that, you can go back to KFC's Double Down. Folks, we're headed downhill fast. But, uh, are there any Carl Jrs in Texas?

Jesse Jackson Says Labron James Treated Like Runaway Slave

“His feelings of betrayal personify a slave master mentality,” Jackson said in a statement released Sunday. “[His former team's owner] sees LeBron as a runaway slave.”

And this column by Fox Sports' Jason Whitlock in response to Jackson is getting lots of buzz today.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• Jerry Jones was on Entourage last night and was fantastic. Edit: Jerry's scenes are now on youtube.
• That Lebron James hoopla last week might have been the silliest fluff I've ever seen. That guy's popularity had to plummet because of his demonstration of arrogance.
• Being disconnected for a week was refreshing.
• Caught about 1/2 of Pineapple Express last week. Funny. Very funny.
• As much as I tried to get into the World Cup, that final yesterday was boring.
• On the way home Saturday, I sat by a burn victim on the plane. It had to have been a horrifying experience because one of his ears was completely gone. I so wanted to talk to him about what happened and offer him encouragement, but there's just no way to bring the subject up. At least I couldn't think of one.
• Those crazy protesters from Westboro Baptist Church were in Fort Worth yesterday but were met with counter protesters that brought some funny/crazy signs. Example. (Edit: And the second pic on this page is fantastic.)
• iTunes lets you rent a movie but once you start it, you have 24 hours to finish it. That policy failed me on the trip down to Jamaica as I got to see ten minutes of Rear Window and couldn't get back to it in time.
• WBAP's Hal Jay to the sports guys this morning: "You've got to stop calling it the Big 12." Uh, it is currently the Big 12.
• That Oncor power line that may go across the southern end of the county sounds like it'll be incredibly ugly. They put one in along the northwestern part of the county a few years back and a scenic drive along 1810 became not-so-scenic.
• News this morning: "Switzerland will not send Oscar-winning filmmaker Roman Polanski to the United States to face child sex charges, the Ministry of Justice announced Monday." And they have released him from custody.
• I mentioned the Master Cleanse last week and now Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher are doing it. Coincidence?

I Need A Vacation After Vacation

• Can a man walk 100 yards in Jamaica without being offered weed? Sheesh. I would go on a rant that they need to make it illegal there but it is illegal.
• After Mrs. LL and I tried to relax on the beach, and after being interrupted every five minutes with people trying to sell us crap, she fired off a very loud, "Are you selling some peace and quiet? Because I'D BUY SOME OF THAT!!!"
• I immediately renewed my two week old vows to her on the spot.
• And I go away for one week and some guy does a swan dive off the second tier of The Ballpark? Could he have at least waited a few days so I could be all over it? (Video as it happened from broadcasts but I don't anyone has a clip of the actual fall. Which might not be a bad thing.)
• And when I left Texas was looking as brown at the desert. When I come back it looks like the Garden of Eden. Did it rain here or sumptin'?
• I learned Mrs. LL can dive. (I mean, absolutely no splash whatsoever.) And I learned she'll jump off of a 40 foot cliff. (See above picture -- the cove to the right -- that's where it happened. Some place called Rick's Cafe.)
• Girl ain't right.
• I like all-inclusive resorts but they might want to trick up their food every now and then.
• I went deep sea fishing for four hours and despite have eight hooks in the water, we got nothing. But I did see dolphins and one whale, so not a bad bit.
• Funniest unsolicited line from a guy on the fishing cruise: "I spent six years as a Dive Master in the Florida Keys. You think it'd be great? I'll tell you: I was sick of the weather. I was sick of the job. I was sick of my wife. I had to get the heck out of there."
• I spend a ton of the time at the pool on vacation. And I always bring along a college football preview edition and read almost all of it.
• Traveling out of the country is a beating. If I told you how many times at the airport I had some security person look at my passport, then at me, and then at the passport, you'd be amazed. And I'm pretty sure the 9/11 terrorists used their real identities, didn't they?
• My favorite line to drop when I'm getting beat down waiting in a security line is, "Thanks, a lot Bin Laden."
• I stubbed my toe on the concrete while walking in sandals and almost bled to death. (Slight exaggeration, but not by much. )
• More later. Still recovering.

Best Of Random Thoughts: Vacation Day 5

• Funny Dallas Morning News page.
• I keep linking to this, but I'm fascinated with the 1993 AT&T "You Will" ads.
• Bridgeport Country Grammar.
• Future Mrs. Green Fail.
• My half marathon post of 2009 where I got absolutely no credit for a very funny Curt-Schilling-Bloody-Sock joke.
• My Pro-Socialism post.
• I'm still stunned about the demographic make up of Texas schools.
• My greatest effort at memory recall ever.
• Bridgeport prank.
• My 10 Days of The Master Cleanse that I will never do again.

I'll be home tomorrow unless I've been killed by a Jamaican drug lord. Or become one.

Best of Random Thoughts: Vacation Day 4

• The Jackie Murphree civil trial wrapped up this year, but I had forgotten how mangled her car was because of the accident.
• Since I'm not around to entertain the world this week, do yourself a favor and read the award winning article called Still Life from Texas Monthly. If you don't cry, you're not human.
• The "Eat In Tax" controversy at the local McDonald's.
• Pics of the only Tea Party rally in Wise County (I think).
• Loved this one: Trooper stuck in median.
• "Gone": Man faints on Glenn Beck show.
• Decatur Walmart gang killing hoax.
• Grandma dancing at Spring Break.
• Bridgeport fallen Officer Randy White's funeral. And my thoughts the day after his death.
• If I chase a man and cut the distance I'm behind him by 1/2 every 10 seconds, will I ever catch him? My struggle with Zeno's Paradoxes.

Best of Random Thoughts: Vacation Day 3

• Ever seen a Wise County rock quarry from the air?
• A pleasant flashback only for Texas Tech football fans.
• Craziest things I keep in my car.
• I had forgotten Frank Kent Cadillac ran this promotion. And now those shares are worthless.
• Wise County conviction that has since been affirmed on appeal.
• The first version of that massive bank bailout bill was shocking.
• Messenger graduation error.
• Our sheriff's wedding.
• Speaking of hurricane season, this "waves pounding the shore" video cracked me up.
• Chico family wiped out. No one indicted.
• Cute Wise County baby.

Best of Random Thoughts: Vacation Day 2

• Matt Damon impersonates Matt McConaughey (still funny).
• Crazy picture I found when I googled "Decatur Texas" images.
• I had forgotten about the James Wood "Shoe Thrower" ad.
• There used to be a guy who would photoshop pictures relevant to The Blog (i.e. this one with the "Decatur Begger"). I wonder what ever happened to him?
• Fox 4's Fiona dancing at her previous job.
• Can't believe this was taken in front of Stevens St. Grill in Bridgeport. (Scan down.)
• Wise County cat with head stuck in a can.
• Back when Jarhead used to hang around, he posted a pic of his house from the air. It's like Venice on the Texas prairie.
• Bridgeport and Decatur kids listed in a 30 year old Dave Campbell's Texas Football.
• Pretty amazing: Over 40,000 gravestone pics from Wise County.

Best Of Random Thoughts: Vacation Day 1

• Still the funniest photoshopped of Tony Romo after he screwed up the field goal snap in the playoff game.
• I had a poll once on the worst thing about the Decatur Walmart.
• When the iPhone was announced, I seemed very technologically challenged.
• When I'm wrong, I'm wrong: I thought the "surge" in Iraq was a bad idea.
• Another poll: Most of you would still marry your spouse.
• A Jessica Alba "Hey, now."
• Anybody remember the Alvord Hot Skillet murder? The suspect would later be found dead.
• Art that hangs in my office.
• I used to post just crazy and bizarre pictures. I should do that more often.
• When Todd Dodge took the North Texas football job, my first bullet point was prophetic.

I'm Off This Week

But, never fear, each day you'll receive an award winning blog post from the "Best Of" series. Ten links every day for five days. I think I'll have Internet access where I'm going, but if you think I'm waking up at the crack of dawn to fire off some Random Thoughts, you be crazy.

America! Yeah!