Verdict

Edit: Star-Telegram's story today which includes this:

"Wise County Sheriff David Walker, who is [victim] Richter's brother-in-law, said the trial was difficult on his wife and other members of the family, but they never lost faith.

"I deal with this in my law enforcement career and it bothers you, but there is nothing worse than sitting next to your wife and looking at crime scene photos in a trial," he said.

"The family said prayers two or three different times, and I think it was the good Lord's help that helped the jury decide. It's been a long time coming, and it gives the family some closure and will let them start moving again.

Wise County Lawyer Paul Belew . . .

. . .  sends along this pic of a vehicle he saw outside the Tarrant County Justice Center this morning.

Hey, I've Got That Tattoo!

So the paparazzi tracks down Hannah Montana at the beach. Meh. But check out her friend's back.

Random Friday Morning (Barely) Thoughts

• I have no idea why this site was down for almost a day. Google acknowledged they were “working on the problem”, but didn’t really say what it was. I want a refund on this free service! (Yeah, yeah: Try wordpress. Try wordpress.)
• And Google posted this message: “To get Blogger back to normal, all posts since 7:37am PDT on Weds, 5/11 have been temporarily removed. We expect everything to be back to normal soon. Sorry for the delay.”
• There probably won’t be another guy-rams-police-car story for the rest of the year. What you say? There was ANOTHER one last night in Dallas? (No link yet. Saw it on Fox 4 this morning.)
• Man, Mrs. LL has gone “start from scratch” on the flowerbeds. I think I uttered, “I hope you know what you’re doing” yesterday.  And the look on my face must have concerned her because she asked if I had some “sentimental” issues with the bushes that were gone.
• Saw my first interview with Tony Romo’s fiancee yesterday. She’s hot but, man, I bet she’s annoying. Anyway, here’s a pic of her ring.
• More craziness from the Fox affiliate in L.A.where Megan Henderson went: Pole dancing in studio with a crash.
• For a guy who thought Fox News’ treatment of the President for having Common at the White House was silly, Jon Stewart’s segment on the issue was a piece of gold. (Referenced President Bush inviting Johnny Cash to the White House even though he had lyrics of shooting a woman while high on cocaine, and Sean Hannity embracing Ted Nugent even after he told President Obama to “suck on my machine gun.”)
• Enjoy the 70s this weekend (the temps, not the decade), you won’t see them again until October.
• I previously wrote about some Western Hills baseball players sacrificing a chicken on the field. Last night, the team visited Crowley and were met with the “Chicken Dance” song being played over the speakers.
• Man denies he took purse on Judge Judy. He also might be the dumbest man in the world.
• The Granbury double murder trial saw the jury go home for a second night without reaching a verdict. Hung jury? Edit: Looks like there might be one holdout.
• Small south Texas town’s police chief found shot to death in his cruiser.
• The Star-Telegram is laying off people left and right but is also the second fastest growing newspaper in the U.S.? They need to put a reporter on that story.
• Ron Springs, former Cowboy great, died yesterday after four years in a coma. Note to all of you: If I’m in a coma for over six months, grab my pillow and make sure it’s not six months and one day.
• And I was going to mention a great play Springs made in a fantastic Cowboy game in 1979. Then it dawned on me that it would be the equivalent of someone in 1979 telling me about a game in 1947. Wow. Just wow.
• Completely random Cowboy highlight taking you into the weekend: Million pound lineman Larry Allen running down a Saints linebacker who had picked off Aikman. Still amazing.
• San Diego Charger cheerleader tryouts almost caused my “Hey, Now” radar to explode.

As I Was Saying

The deleted posts should return shortly (or so they say.)

And just when you thought about quitting me, you found out how painful it would be to go on without me. Let that be a lesson to you. It's an addiction.

Delkus Is Probably Issuing A 'Imminent Death' Warning

ESPN Writer Needs Some Sensitivity Training

Alabama lineman found dead today. Let's contemplate how it impacts the depth chart.

Source.

LOL: Taliban On Twitter. Wait. What?

Story.

This got me thinking. If they are on Twitter (here), then you can search for and read public messages sent to them.

With Americans being Americans, there's some comedy gold in some of those messages.

(I'm not sure if you have to have a Twitter account to see those links).

Quiz: Spot The Guy Happy To See The President

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• "Winds estimated at 60 to 70 mph overturned several recreational vehicles at the Smith RV Center on U.S. 287 in Decatur and uprooted trees, according to the Wise County Sheriff's Department. The night before, strong winds blew down signs at Braum's and Taco Bell in Decatur." Source.
• "Wise County Fire Marshal Marc Dodd said lightning struck and ignited an oil tank battery, but it was quickly extinguished. He said reported winds as high as 70 mph toppled four recreational vehicles in a Decatur lot, blew two mobile homes from their foundations and smashed some lightly built sheds and barns. No injuries were reported." Source.
• "BRIDGEPORT: Water lightly stained; 67-74 degrees; 5.15' low; Black bass are good on Jackall Bling 55 crankbaits and Texas rigged Jackall Sasuteki Craws. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows." Source. 
• Come on. Throwing in the last one was funny. (And I was thinking yesterday that a Jackall Sasuteki Craw would do the trick.)
• And another guy smashes into a police car. (This time a bit closer to us in Westlake.)  What is that? The fifth time?
• The Family Cat has now decided that running from one end of the house at a speed which might possibly break the sound barrier is a good way to spend the day.
• The Star-Telegram laid off even more employees yesterday. This time the number is 45. 
• Funny tweet I saw yesterday: "Obama's got 99 problems but Common ain't one."
• The Granbury murder trial went to the jury yesterday. No verdict, but they come back this morning. Man, that evidence seems weak. (And what's the connection? One of the victims is the sister of a Wise County officer?) I had heard that some local officers had been sitting in on some of the trial. 
• There will be another DNA exoneration announced in Dallas today. No biggee. He just spent 27 years in prison!  I'll say it again: If you ever serve on a criminal jury, don't be afraid to tell the prosecution that they failed to prove their case to your satisfaction.
• Going to Waco for a college graduation this weekend. Time seems to be moving at rocket speed. 
• Newt Gingrich has announced he will run for president. Good luck with all that. He stands about as much chance as Herman Cain (who America has never heard of despite the claims of Obama haters.)
• My entire front flower bed is being uprooted today and a complete make over begins. Something about how a "clean" look is "in" per Mrs. LL.  (Need to get those home improvement channels removed from the programming package.)

Chico Storm Damage

Decatur Storm Damage Makes Fox 4

About That Package . . .

This Can't Possibly Be True

Another burger post.  I would think that some of those people are in line for the drive-through at that place, but not all. Right?  I'm guessing some are in the lane waiting for a right hand turn, but I'm not sure about that. Wouldn't even those people think something is wrong, and pull out to find an alternative route?

One Final Burger Post Because We Have A Winner For The Most Irritating Girl In The World

Earlier when she had a T-shirt on ....

Woman Bursts into Joyful Tears During In-N-Out Grand Opening: MyFoxDFW.com

Drafted By The Dallas Mavericks . . .

. . . and immediatley traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Dirk Nowitzki in 1998.

(Not to minimize the man's death, but I'm still confused by that trade. The Mavs took Traylor with the #6 pick and the Bucks took Dirk with the #9. Then they swapped players.  I guess the Bucks called the Mavs and said "Take Traylor for us before teams at #7 and #8 can and we'll get Dirk for you." But that only works if Dallas is sure Dirk won't be taken at 7 or 8 otherwise you'd want to scoop him up at 6. Plus,I would think Dallas would want, you know, something for the effort. Probably should use the Google.)

Idiocracy: A Photo From In and Out Burger This Morning

It was posted around 9:45 a.m. so it was obviously taken before that.

But nothing is as goofy as a reporter "live tweeting" the event.

Edit: Wow. Look at this photo posted around 10:15 a.m. (those are my badly drawn red arrows to show the crowd in the back.)

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• There's a civil trial going on at the courthouse which involves a car wreck in front of the Devon offices on 380 near Bridgeport. The only thing noteworthy is that one of the attorneys works in the law office of former Dallas city councilman Domingo Garcia and another is the brother of Texas Supreme Court chief justice Wallace Jefferson. 
• Notable Denton County book-in photo.
• The Messenger reports (in today's newspaper with tomorrow's date on it) that the body of the deceased in the Bridgeport-Alleged-Murder-With-A-Car case landed 100 feet off of the road. Oh, my. (And there's some pretty good Joe Duty photos.)
• Boy, that case is proof positive that Facebook, Myspace, and other social networking sites can be important to both the prosecution and the defense. (But it also seems ripe for a murder mystery along the lines of Basic Instinct: "Do you think I'd be stupid enough to wish someone dead on Facebook and then go kill them?" <-- Purely hypothetical. The Bridgeport girl didn't post anything like that.)
• Channel 8 news has been running a clip of a school fight (more of an assault) in a Seagoville ISD classroom as the teacher stands back and watches. To my surprise, the callers to conservative talk shows have given lots of support to the teacher -- mostly along the lines of "They don't get paid enough to break up fights." 
• You know you're old and have been living here a long time when you hear someone refer to "Channel 11" and for a second you've completely forgotten that CBS now occupies the channel.
• In turning on my alarm last night, I stopped and thought, "I've been doing this routine for a long, long time." 
• And this morning, when four people pulled out of their driveway in my neighborhood to go to work at the exact same time, I thought of the novel Babbitt that I read in college.
• But I guess it's better living a life that includes camping outside in front of a new In and Out Burger in Frisco last night. Really people?
• I have no idea what's the real deal about the Bridgeport High School Controversy of 2011, but it sounds like complete chaos. Last night, the school board reversed its decision made two weeks ago regarding the number who can be on the squad. 
• It's easy to forget about Westover Hills, a town within the city of Fort Worth: Under 700 residents, 96.7% white, with an average mortgage payment of $4,001 (for those who have mortgages.)
• Governor Perry, who tweets infrequently, sent one out two days ago wishing Israel a happy birthday. Think that one is political at all?
• What does this mean?: "The kickoff time for Texas' game at UCLA on Sept. 17 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena , Calif., has been set for 2:30 p.m. Central and will be televised by ABC with a reverse mirror on ESPN." Reverse mirror?
• Watching a group of middle age white folks on Fox News criticize Michelle Obama for inviting hip hop artist Common to the White House makes me cringe.