Uh, Don't Shoot At Cops

DPS Troopers shot and killed a man in Denton this morning after he allegedley shot at them first. (Story here - registration may be required) Real life is not the same as the movies. You don't get to shoot your way out of bad situations.

Sorry, I Had A Flashback

There's a news story out today questioning the value of the third and final year of law school. "At many top law schools, the third year is famously relaxed, a halcyon interlude between rigorous introductory courses and the long hours that await graduates at law firm jobs. There is research and volunteer work, but also a lot of bar-hopping and little studying: 15 hours per week, according to one survey at 11 law schools, compared to 33 hours for first-year students." I promise you that every lawyer that went to Baylor pulls his hair out over that statement. At Baylor, the third year involves the "practice court" class, which may have have been the most difficult academic year of my life. Just a rant this morning.

Behind The Scenes

In the Star Telegram tomorrow, there will be a story of one alleged drug dealer found "not guilty" of killing another alleged drug dealer. No one will care. There is an unwritten defense in criminal law that has a shocking motto: "Some people just deserve killing". I heard it in law school. I heard it as a prosecutor. I still hear it as a defense lawyer. You'll never see it in the newspaper. We value some lives more than others. That says a lot about us.

How Many Things Do We Have To Worry About?

"KINGSTON, Tenn. - An inmate considered to be "extremely violent" escaped Tuesday after his wife gunned down and killed a guard who was escorting the shackled prisoner outside a courthouse, authorities said. "

Random Thought

There are too many soft drink choices in this world. But, then again, there are probably too many choices for everything.

Talk About The Criminal Justice System Being Screwed Up

Kenny Rogers was reinstated Tuesday when an arbitrator ruled that commissioner Bud Selig went too far by suspending the Texas pitcher for 20 games and fining him $50,000 for shoving two cameramen. Rogers has already sat out 12 games. He will return to the Rangers for Wednesday night's game at Boston, and his fine will be converted to a charitable contribution.

But My First Set Wasn't Bad, Either

Last night I'm watching Miss Teen USA (don't ask) and it came time for the winner of the 2004 ceremony to take her farewell walk down the runway. There she went, waving away, as her "voice over" played in the background informing us of what a wonderful year she had had. But I stopped in my tracks when she said "And thanks to the best parents I have ever had . . . . " It was worth a few TIVO replays.

Maybe 22 Flavors Would Do The Trick

I noticed today at lunch that Wings 21 was locked up tighter than a drum with a nasty note on the door referring to being locked out due to back rent. Not-a-good.

I'm (Luckily Still) Walking In Memphis

"A Grammy-winning musician was treated at a hospital and released Monday after being shot in the head during an attempted carjacking following a performance. Marc Cohn, who had a hit with the song 'Walking in Memphis' and won the Grammy for best new artist in 1992, was struck in the temple Sunday night when a man fired into his band's van in a parking garage. A suspect was being sought." Get this: He is married to ABC news reporter Elizabeth Vargas

Relax

(Click to enlarge).

Let That Be A Lesson To You

Former Dallas Cowboy QB Chad Hutchinson was playing tonight for Chicago on Monday Night Football. (John Madden still drives me crazy). Right after Hutchinson was named the starter for Dallas around Christmas time three years ago, I actually saw him in Las Colinas. He was, in fact, walking into the Cheesecake Factory. It was all downhill after that.

Revoke His Invitation to Neverland

News reports today show that two of the Michael Jackson jurors now regret their decision to acquit the pop icon. One of them was the foreman, Raymond Hultman (pictured). He comes across as a nut. On the painful-to-watch Nancy Grace show on CNN, he told the host, on the night that the verdict was reached, that it didn't matter what he "believed" after the trial was over.

There's Nothing Like Experience

The recent resignation of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor will leave eight members on the Supreme Court. Of them, how many: Have ever defended or prosecuted a criminal case? (One - Justice Souter) Have ever presided over a civil or criminal trial? (One - Justice Souter) And John Roberts would not change those numbers. From Stuart Taylor in The Atlantic.

Fill Er Up with Dom Perignon

Oil prices jumped to a new high near $64 a barrel on Monday. Most gas prices are now over $2.30 a gallon and are expected to increase. It's painful now, but not as painful as when I was a teenager back in 1978 and paying about $1.20 a gallon. But that somehow doesn't make it any better.

Rule # 1: Don't Overestimate Your Jumping Ability

Spring Back

President Bush is expected to sign an energy bill which will change daylight saving time beginning next year. We normally jack with our clocks on the first Sunday of April and the last Sunday in October. Under the new schedule, we will push clocks forward one hour on the second Sunday in March and will turn back time on the first Sunday in November. And we'll all get confused when Windows automatically updates the time on our computers based upon the old schedule.

Wow

Check out the story in the Update about the vehicle which allegedly ran out of gas on 51. The vehicle was then "left" in the southbound lane, with no lights, before being hit in the rear by an 18 wheeler. There were three children in the vehicle.

Peter Jennings Is Dead

It was only on April 5th that he announced he had lung cancer. Of all the "Big Three" evening news shows, his was always the best.