3.07.2009

And Another (The Other Kind)

What? Two teachers? Two separate "victims"? Uh, no = Oh, my. (Thanks to Michael and Kevin who for some crazy reason thought I'd be interested in this.)

The Britney Spears Watch Is Back

She's started a concert tour which makes me very happy. Me loves me some Britney. Wait..........What?

And Another

But this time it does sound like he was acting like an idiot. Edit: Wow, another one in Dallas.

3.06.2009

I Keep Raving . . .

. . . about NPR's This American Life and its programs on the financial crisis. Lifehacker.com, one of the greatest sites on the Internets, plugs the program today as well. It's a long weekend, give it a shot.

One Of The Many Single Women Who Want To Marry Me . .

. . . just uploaded this pic of her modeling 5 carat, $178,000 Diamond which will be auctioned by the U.S. Marshal's office in Arlington. (Another case of the government seizing property.)

Remember kids . . .

. . . you can gamble all your money in that 401K or mutual fund, but don't you dare try to fun with it. Story (which also notes that your government seized $24,000 that didn't otherwise belong to it.)

Delayed and Tired Thoughts

  • I'm driving down 287 this morning and I see something on the shoulder in front of me. It's moving and getting close, and I finally make out that it's a tire (rim included) that is moving incredibly fast in my direction. As it moves from the shoulder into the right lane, the same lane that I'm in, I wisely decide to move to my left. I avoid it, look in my rearview mirror, and notice that it is crossing the median and heading across the opposite lane causing traffic to come to a stop. I glance to my left and see an SUV in the opposite lane at a complete standstill and missing a tire.
  • And I was half asleep.
  • Rare opinion issued today from the Fort Worth Court of Appeal upholding our own Judge Cude's ruling that a local trooper did not have a a basis to arrest a person for DWI.
  • I'm not particularly pleased with the pic above, either.
  • Watched a little of Lost last night. Quantum physics would be easier to understand.
  • My wheels are off today.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

  • I never oversleep
  • Except for today
  • I'm late to be in Jacksboro
  • I promise I'll update this around noon
  • The Wise County Singles Club will meet at the vacant K-Bob's at 2:00 a.m. on Saturday.

3.05.2009

Cancel Those Vacation Plans

Look like we had a small fire at the Eighter From Decatur Apartment Complex.

Thursday Afternoon Pick Me Up

Yep, this is the "pink bikini girl" some have been asking about. Oh, my. Credit: Wayland

Jim Cramer's Mad Money = Fail

Saw this over at BagOfNothing.com and, I agree, it really picks up at about the 3 minute mark. I think it's great.

I've Got A Bad Feeling About This

It may bounce back, but CitiGroup just fell below a dollar a share.

The Man Is At Decatur High School

Got a report that there are an unusual number of Decatur Police Officers "roaming the halls" at Decatur High School. What does it mean? I have no idea.

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

  • A web site that should be great but is horrible: Fort Worth Weekly.
  • I find Bill Maher to be hateful and not particularly funny.
  • Some comments have asked me why I haven't posted the "pink bikini girl pic" that was sent to me. Uh, what pink bikini girl?
  • The white blooms on trees that I thought wouldn't happen this year will probably occur after all. I predict Saturday will be the peak day to see them.
  • This American Life has done it again: Want to understand how Citigroup or Bank of America's financial statement got out of whack in a simple and understandable way? This week's podcast explains. (I love that stuff.)
  • If the major banks do fail (and they are far from out of the woods), the government will take them over on a Friday afternoon so that they can have the weekend to get organized.
  • I truly don't know if people are basically good or basically bad.
  • After representing hundreds of "alleged criminals" over the years, it's the habitual thief that has the worst personality. Those charged with drugs can be very secretive and reserved. And DWI folks are the most normal.
  • Worst imaginable Texas legislature party invitees: Jane Nelson, Florence Shapiro, and Phil King.
  • Heard a lawyer two days ago refer to representing people going through a divorce as having to "deal with two people when they are at their worst."
  • Double Fake Financial Expert Jim Cramer became the subject of the daily presidential press briefing on Tuesday. How is that possible?
  • Do people really "hang around the water cooler?"
  • I'm still miffed about the guy that told me I couldn't take pictures at the Gun Show. And I've yet to have anyone verify that is a rule.
  • Craziest KXAS website headline yesterday: "Texas: Happy Birthday. Now Die."
  • T.O. is gone,and we now will rely upon former Evil Empire receiver Roy Williams. Anybody comfortable with that?
  • One of my favorite movie moments was over 10 years ago when I went to see "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate" in a theater where there was a predominately African American crowd. I had never seen a movie crowd respond so vocally to what they saw on the screen. It was great.
  • I attended it with a girlfriend whom I loved and hated.
  • The best cops are those that understand they aren't there to change the world.
  • Just heard about a two separate motorcycle accidents on the WBAP traffic report.

3.04.2009

It's Over?

The number of drilling rigs working in the big North Texas natural gas field has fallen by more than half, from a peak of 214 in October to 97 as of Friday. And XTO executives suggest that could fall to as low as 90 in coming months.

That means fewer wells, and nowhere is that more true than at Devon Energy, which announced that it expects exploration and production spending in 2009 to be less than half what it spent in 2008. Devon had resisted cutting back its Barnett Shale activity, but it now says it will drill something over 200 wells this year, or only about a third of the more than 600 it drilled in 2008.

Story.

Any news from the front lines out there?

More Country Grammar

ai Thanks emailer Bobby. ("It's been up at least two weeks and no one has noticed.")

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

  • "Is anyone out there who really believes they are going to get one of them stimulus checks." - Gov. Rick Perry acting country (as heard on NPR this morning.)
  • I'm halfway through 1776. I went into it with a little hesitation but it's absolutely great. I'm currently up to August of that year and, although I don't want to sound pessimistic, it looks like the British are going to win that war.
  • When I was growing up, it seemed schools were more interested in teaching Texas history than American history.
  • Funny exchange yesterday:
Prosecutor: "Those better not be the facts [of this criminal case] --- that would really offend me." Defense lawyer beside me (laughing): "We certainly couldn't have that happen." Me (smiling): "Yeah, we sure couldn't." Prosecutor: "Watch it, Green." Me: "Hey, he said it first. Why are you jumping on me?"
  • I'm not sure what happened on The Bachelor since I never watch it, but it's got everybody riled up.
  • It's "spring forward" weekend. Ugh.
  • You never hear anyone refer to the joys of raising a teenager or referring to a teenage as "a blessing."
  • I had a bull rider's wife once tell me that I she thought I could have been a bull rider. (Not making that up.)
  • Fox 4 had a story of six TWU students being arrested for hazing. The allegations were "some slapping" and releasing an odor that "made some of the girls sick." We are arresting people for that?
  • You would think Time and Newsweek would survive. There's just so much information out there that it's nice to have it wrapped up nicely in a weekly package.
  • I've got a pimple that won't go away. I'm this close to taking a needle to it. Developing . . . .
  • They've been stringing an ugly electrical line across 287 just south of Decatur for days.
  • Half Marathon thought: Every lady watching the race from her high tone home was also holding a little dog wrapped in a blanket.
  • Jon Stewart on The Daily Show a couple of nights ago: "Just over three years ago, the Republicans controlled the Presidency and both houses of Congress. Today....they control 1/4 of The View."
  • Fascinating new Supreme Court case heard yesterday: A jury rules against a guy to the tune of $50 million. He then spends $3 million on the campaign of a guy running for judge on the only appellate court. New judge wins. The court hears the appeal of the $50 million case and votes to overturn it 3-2 with new judge in the majority. You can read about it in the aptly named article, Cash Bar.