A Head's Up....

...for those that care. "The Blog" may be a little slow this weekend. (Fun will interfere with it a bit). And a second note about the "Comments". So far I've left it as a public forum where people can post anonymously. So far. So good. Some of the comments make me a little uncomfortable (not about me - I've got a thick skin after all these years) but nothing objectionable has been posted so far. (OK, one person did drop an "S Bomb" that I deleted). Bottom line: Play fair. Have fun. - Barry P.S. I promise to post a very funny story that happened to me last weekend - it involves waking up to strangers inside my house. Good stuff.

Let's Rethink That Strategy

The first lawsuit over the pain killer Vioxx came to an end this afternoon in the Plaintiff friendly confines of South Texas. A jury awarded the family of Robert Keene (not that Robert Earl Keene) over $250 million in finding that the drug caused his death by a heart attack. There are over 4,000 of such lawsuits pending. Up until now, Merck & Co., the maker of the drug, claimed it would fight every claim "one by one" all the way to a jury.

"Nothing Comes Between Me And My Calvins" Was A Long Time Ago

"A photo provided by Nike Inc. show's an ad featuring a woman's buttocks. It's no longer just rail-thin models who are showing up in fashion magazines and on billboards. Large women, or what are being called 'real people,' are now gracing ads of companies selling everything from tuna to cellulite cream. Nike Inc., the world's largest maker of athletic shoes, has jumped onto the bandwagon with a campaign featuring close-ups of 'Big Butts' and 'Thunder Thighs.' (AP Photo/HO) " The text of the ad, as well as other ads in this series, can be read here.

Now Someone Is Thinking Outside Of The Box

I have finally determined how my post death ceremony should be properly conducted.

More Methamphetamine News

Anyone remember Damon Chapman? He was the guy that was convicted last year be a Wise County Jury and sentenced to 40 years in prison. He also made news shortly thereafter when he allegedly tried to escape from the Wise County Jail and was captured in a nearby residential subdivision. Well, the Fort Worth Court of Appeals has reversed his conviction. (The opinion is here butI suspect you'll get bored with it very quickly).

Worth A Giggle

While waiting to see a young lady wrongly incarcerated at the Jack County Jail this morning, I had a chance to study a very informative poster about drugs. You know, the name of the drug, it's common slang name, effects, dangers, etc. For example, the slang for methamphetamine was listed as "speed, ice, crank, crystal meth." I was kind of surprised to see the "alcohol" was listed under the depressant section. But then I learned the slang terms for alcohol: "Broosky, Hooch, Mad Dog, Booze, Juice".

Priorities

It looks like there is big news from the Domestic Violence Task Force (see Update). Of course the big question is: How does the effect Casino Night?

It Was A Yawner But I Did Learn Something

Oakland Raider wide receiver/bad boy Randy Moss admitted to Bryant Gumbel, for the upcoming episode of HBO's Real Sports, that he still uses marijuana "every blue moon or every once in a while I might.'' Yawn. Moss' agent, Dante DiTrapano said, "In an attempt to promote their dying network, they have maliciously couched his remarks in a manner that is confusing and leaves room for negative interpretation.''

Tired Head

There seems to be a growing hysteria in the national media regarding the use of methamphetamine. But haven't we seen it all before? I'm sure (but I have no proof) that the cover of Newsweek was dedicated to LSD in the 70s, Ecstasy in the 80s, and Cocaine in the 90s. Heck, marijuana was probably on the cover in the 60s. And the story is always the same. The current drug of fear will destroy us, we need more prisons to stop it, but some how, some way, mankind survives into the next decade when some new drug will grace the cover of the weekly magazines.

Makes You Go "Hmmmm"

The Dallas Morning News ran a series of articles over the last couple of weeks on the spending excess of the residents of Collin County (Plano, Rockwall, McKinney). It basically wrote of residents that make a ton of money (over $150,000) but are up to their arse in debt because they can't resist buying their teenage son a BMW, joining country clubs, and buying houses ("McMansions") they can't afford. But then came this Letter to the Editor today which ended with: "The excess you describe occurs everywhere . . . . If you wrote a series that stereotyped South Dallas as a neighborhood where everyone steals cars. takes drugs and has illegitimate children, you'd have John Wiley Price . . . calling you unfair and racist. Why is it OK to stereotype any other place?"

Officer Lance Armstrong Would Be Different

Channel 8 news tonights had a piece on the Carrollton PD using bicycles. I have never understood that. It would be hot. An officer could not respond to an emergency call very quickly. And they couldn't possibly make a traffic stop. Hey, wasnt' Decatur PD using bikes a couple of years ago? I haven't seen one lately.

Last Man Standing

Only one NFL rookie remains unsigned and continues to hold out: Cedric Benson of the University of Texas.

Hey, That's Close To What I Did In The NBA Last Year

The Mavericks are close to signing 7-foot DeSagana Diop, 23, who was the eighth overall pick in the 2001 draft and played four seasons in Cleveland. Diop's best season came in 2003-04, when he averaged 2.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and .91 blocks a game.

You Would Hope Your Tax Dollar Would Have Covered This

"PARADISE FOOTBALL — The Paradise High School football team will host a towel/soap scrimmage today. All fans should bring a towel and a bar of soap as admission to the scrimmage that will be donated to the athletic department."

The Daily Show Is Very Funny

"Justice Sunday" was last weekend - I'm not exactly sure what it's all about, but I think it is the Christian Right's attempt to lobby for conservative judges in the American courts. Speaking at the rally was Phyliss Schlafly who said, "The biggest threat facing America today is our out of control judges". As Jon Stewart said tonight on The Daily Show (after a very long smirk and a very long pause): "Especially Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Osama Bin Laden".

Sans Originality

There are a ton of TV commercials these days for some very lame looking movie called "The 40 Year Old Virgin". The film clip advertising the movie normally shows this hairy guy getting some type of body wax that involves the following formula: (1) see hairy guy (2) see tape placed over hair (3) see guy look scared (4) see tape rip away hair, and (5) see guy scream. That bit might not be funny because it been used a hundred times before in other sitcoms and movies.

Stephen King's Mind Isn't This Nutty

My vote for the craziest man ever.

Just When I Was Having A Good Week

State Representative Phil King of Weatherford says he will seek re-election to another term in the Texas Legislature. King made the announcement Tuesday. The 3 term lawmaker says he feels he is making a difference in Austin and wants to ask the voters of Parker and Wise Counties for another opportunity to serve.