This Is The Guy The Rangers Just Paid* $50 Million For The Right To Negotiate With?

Yep. It's like an Asian C.J. Wilson.  (Source.)

And he's got a smokin' hot wife. Sheesh. Let's sign him. This has potential.

_______
*If the Rangers don't sign him, they don't have to pay the $50 million,

I'm Probably Wrong

Yesterday around 6:00, after the storm had blown through, I could have sworn I saw a couple of those little "waves" in the west around Bridgeport.  With the sun setting, it almost look more like two huge smoke flumes.  For a second I wondered what was on fire.  Maybe it was the same thing that happened last Friday in Alabama.

This Has Been Bugging Me Since Yesterday

I heard someone mention that this version of the song was the "greatest ever" and almost all of the reviews on youtube say the same thing.  I had never even heard this one before, and the first minute had me a little underwhelmed.  Then it kind of sucked me in.

Thought I'd do something different and throw it out to the masses since it's Christmas season.

(Admission: I had no idea Al Hirt ever sang -- just thought he was a trumpeter.)

Edit: Other versions . . .
Jessica Simpson and Nich Lachey
Norah Jones and Willie Nelson
Lady Antebellum
Britney Spears & Barry Green
Bing Crosby and Doris Day
Dean Martin

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• What a weird deal at the Denton Airport this morning: A man if found wandering on the grounds, dazed and confused he tells of a plane crash maybe a mile away, and hours later the Cessna is found. Inside, one is dead and one is alive. No names yet.
• I can't say I've been to Northside in many, many years, but in looking over a slideshow of the Pat Green concert at Billy Bob's, I had this question: Are the days of the cowboy hat gone? 
• We had a very belated Family Photo Session last night. No one died despite the Family Unit's insistence that the Family Cat be in some of the photos. 
• Man, was that an overrated storm prediction for yesterday afternoon? How long did that line of storms last? Five minutes?
• The Messenger continues to blast the jury for the probation verdict in the case last week where the guy allegedly touched the teenager for only a second or two. That's really surprising considering the authors have seen enough trials to know exactly why that punishment was handed down.
• The Rangers have won the bidding war (over $50 million) for simply the right to try and sign some pitcher from Japan. They say it could take at least another $50 million to get him under contract. So why didn't they just sign Cliff Lee last year (who went to the Phillies for $120 million)?
• Not a single Democrat filed for office in Wise County by the end of yesterday's deadline. I think the same thing happened two years ago, so that that means that now every office in the County has defaulted to Republican without a fight.  Considering President Obama won't have a Democratic opponent, how lonely will our Democratic voting precincts be during the April primary? 
• Ticket fans only: I'm a huge Gordon Keith fan but the way he has kicked around special co-host Mike Doocy the last two mornings just isn't funny.
• Bob Vela Vila must read this blog based upon how I was blasted for calling a breaker box a fuse box yesterday. (Uh, and it tripped again last night when the electric garage door was opened. I switched up the cords after that.)
• To see the lights go out at Candlestick Park (or whatever) in San Francisco last night during the 49ers/Steelers game was bizarre. And I many have missed it, but the announcers had to have made a "When the lights go down in the city" reference.  Edit: Here's the blimp video of the transformer blowing. Cool. 
• On Sunday night in his annual "Thank God For Kids Address", Channel 8's Dale Hansen revealed he was the victim of attempted sexual abuse at age 10. I wonder how many people watch his show because no one really talked about it until this morning.
• And I like Hansen, but he sure does some dramatic things in those Christmas "sign the screen" monologues. He's talked about his failed marriage, his estranged relationship with his kids, and now this. 
• The girl from the Crazy Couple, Courtney Stodden, has released some Christmas photos that Santa will not be pleased with. (You're on your own.)
• My nemesis and former Channel 5 reporter Kim Fischer fell for the "Jon Bon Jovi" is dead rumor yesterday  (which seems to pop up every month.)  By the way, she's working for an ABC affiliate in Utah now.  
• You've guys have me torn on Interlochen. 

I Questioned Why They Called It A Murder!!!

More.  (My initial questioning was here.)

Edit: This is kind of weird. The Dallas Morning News seems to be soft peddling this story. The paper says the Medical Examiner's report has  been made public but when they contacted the cops today, they said, "This remains an on-going investigation by the Police Department. There is no further information at this time." But back at the first part of November, Fox 4 had a story which said Lightfoot's "official cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning caused by the fire, according to the medical examiner." (But the cops believed the fire had been intentionally set.) So the ME report now says "accidental?" Did it say that last month when the police had access to it? What has changed?

And I'll continue my rant against the "cause of death" being listed by a Medical Examiners in general. Figuring how she died is certainly in the area of expertise. Saying whether this case was an "accident" or a "homicide" is something they cannot possibly know. What about her body would show that the car was intentionally set on fire vs. accidentally catching on fire?

Edit: Now the DMN reports (in the same link above) that the dead girl had a blood alcohol concentration almost three times the legal limit. That still doesn't conclusively establish an accidental fire instead of an intentional fire. (Although that was always my guess.)

That van looks . . .

more suspicious than the one the guy used in "Silence of the Lambs".

Monday Afternoon Pick Me Up

You celebrate Christmas week in Wise County in a (predicted) thunderstorm, while Venezuelan models spend it at South Beach. Try to get Santa fix that.

Edit: And in a completely unrelated (but ironic) story, a former Miss Venezuela has died of breast cancer at the age of 28.

Random Stolen Sports Thought

How certain Dallas Cowboy quarterbacks have fared in their first 75 starts.

(Despite those numbers, Aikman had already won two Super Bowls by that point.)

NWS Sent Another One Of Those Fancy Powerpoint Presentations To Sheriff's Office

And we all know what happened on December 29, 2006. (Hint: I have no idea.)

Want To Know What Wise County Would Look Like If I Ever Shut Down This Blog?

Here's a sneak preview.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

Edit: I was accused of the Random Girl being a repeat.  Just in case . . .

• Kim Jong Il is dead and all I can think about is Team America: World Police.
• The Fantasy Football league up at the courthouse (which includes the DA, CA, and others) is about to be won by the only team managed by females. 
• I keeping adding lights to my yard - so much so that I tripped a fuse this weekend.  Looking at a fuse box is never a good thing. 
• I'm thinking of doing something I've never done: Seeing the lights at Interlochen in Arlington. Worth it or a beating? 
• How did the Russians not scream like school girls in this video?
• Girl in bikini at Denver/New England game yesterday. Hey, now. 
• If you haven't already, you'll get an email of a photo of guy and an elk and something scary in the background.  It's fake. 
• There was a big fire in Runaway Bay over the weekend. (Doesn't it seem like there's a huge structure fire out there about once a year?) 
• And it was just a tiny blurb on the news, but a nice house in Keller was destroyed by fire over the weekend as well. Someone actually sent me a picture they took of it.  It's a little blurry, but that's one nice house being destroyed.  
• The boys on WBAP were discussing the Bob Seger concert at the AAC on Saturday. The man-whose-name-I-won't-mention said that he would have absolutely wanted to hear "Old Time Rock and Roll."  Is there more of a Power Down than the opening chords of that song?
• Did you hear the Texas Panhandle was supposed to a foot of snow tonight with blizzard conditions? I wouldn't mind that at all. 
• Deion Sanders asked Tony Romo a very odd question on Saturday night. It's already a Ticket drop. It was only outdone by a St. Louis lineman saying something you cannot say in an open mic.
• I guess it's about time for the Wise County Messenger's "top stories of the year." I'm guessing the Paradise murder will be #1. 

Spot The Serial Killer

Oh, My

Wow. Who would have known the Video Of The Year would make an appearance at the last minute? I love the guy who ends up in the passenger seat of the golf cart, steers it a little bit, and then bails out like nobody's business. I'm right there with ya, buddy! I'm no hero, either. Save yourself! And then there's the fat boy in a white shirt who gets tackled by the turf for no reason. Worst. Hero. Ever.   Finally, there's the guy who shows up at the end like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible XIV. After saving the day by shutting down the cart, he just stares forward in defeat. You know what he's thinking, "I'm so . . . . "

I smell Best Documentary. I could watch this more than the Zapruder film.

Edit: The black guy who is near death reminds me of Stanley from "The Office."

Edit: Woah. Who arranged those pylons like the Twin Towers at the end of the youtube clip? Coincidence?

Messenger Above The Fold

Tennis Shoes Taking You Into The Weekend

Three Posts In One

Since I'm torn as to whether they deserve their own:

• Dang it, Britney is getting married! (But what is she wearing above?)
• The fancy West 7th area in Fort Worth has two patrons robbed and a bar owner going after the crooks ala Charles Bronson and exchanges gunfire
• Worst high school pep rally prank ever (if you think kissing your parents is wrong)
• In cat humor . . . 

For You Political Types: Texas Will Have No Influence Over Republican Presidential Primary

Story.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• I've seen on TV a lot of folks who have had lower leg amputations being able to run with those high tech J-shaped foot replacements. But I have never seen one in real life despite the the ten half marathons I have run in. 
• I watched the first half of the Fox Republican Debate last night, and I actually felt the frustration experienced by the conservatives. That group will drive you insane.  (And I've never seen so many candidates simply ignore a question completely and begin with "What we really should be talking about is . . . . ")
• And for those that watched it, wasn't that the longest and most confusing question ever thrown at Rick Perry -- the one concerning something that happened when he was Agricultural Commissioner? 
• I heard that the infant abuse investigation in Boyd is going no where and that it would be surprising if charges were filed. 
• This morning I looked down at the Family Cat's water bowl and saw a Christmas ball floating in it. That feline has upped her game. It's gone to Taunting Level. 
• The Feds are after Sheriff Joe in Arizona for discrimination. I'm torn on this one. I'm certainly inclined to believe the charges are true, but I also thinks the Feds are picking on him for being a conservative outspoken redneck.
• That was a pretty genius comment that first appeared under the Boyd  car vs. train wreck blog post yesterday -- something like, "I didn't even know my momma got out of prison."  (At least it is if you get it.) 
• There's a chance this "I want to be Tony Montana" drug case against Sam Hurd implicates a bunch of NFL players as well. This could be really, really big. 
• I got a letter from DPS telling me my license is up for renewal but that I've got to renew it in person and bring my social security card.  And to think I almost got away with being an illegal alien after all of these years. 
• I would think a miscarriage would be so emotionally devastating that it could cause serious long term issues if not dealt with properly. But society doesn't even seem to give it the same level of sympathy as even a divorce.  
• An acquaintance of mine posted a "I hate the holidays" post on Facebook. I replied underneath it with some of my world renowned comedy gold. Then I got an email from a close friend of his saying, "Call me and I'll tell you what is going on between he and his wife. You'll freak."  Uh. Oh. 
• I think this is the aspiring Paradise, Texas model.
• Sports Idiot?: I love ESPN's 30 for 30 documentaries and had been seeing quick promos for the new one about Todd Marinovich. It wasn't until this morning that I learned that I had mistakenly thought the documentary was about Tony Mandarich.
• Current Events Idiot?: Seeing lots of remarks about the death of Christopher Hitchens this morning. I'm thinking, "Who?"
• The Update has been referring to former Cowboy Walt Garrison making an appearance around here and kept mentioning he was named one of "The Top 50 Dallas Cowboys Of All Time" in 2009.  I figured that was probably true, but I wondered what list they were talking about. The only one I could find was one from the Dallas Morning News. Garrison came in at #47.
• The Update also has a funeral listing for a 23 year old out of Mineral Wells. Turns out she was a shooting victim. What's the Wise County connection?