Talking Music

A really cool new song is "Gold Digger" by Kanye West and Jamie Foxx (yep, that Jamie Foxx). It's a the oddest combination of Cajun and Hip Hop but it's cool. A link to the clip of it should be here: http://www.musicremedy.com/audio/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowAudioPlayer&AudioId=3441&Quality=4

On Second Thought . . .

Maybe I was too tough on the Dukes of Hazzard movie. (Time Waste warning)

They Might Want To Put In A Provision Regarding The Right To Bear Arms

It's difficult to follow the drafting of the Iraqi Constitution (the deadline is midnight) but it looks like there are arguments over women's rights and whether Islam will be the official religon (we fought the war for that?). But this looks like a troublesome road: The proposed draft need only be approved by a majority of their National Assembly before it can go to the voters. Simple enough. However, it would then go to the voters on a referendum by October 15. If any three of Iraq's 18 provinces reject the referendum by two-thirds or more, the constitution will be rejected.

Sports Quick Hits

The AP initial high school football poll was released this weekend, and Bridgeport came in at #10. And the Texas Rangers just ended a 13 game road trip. They lost 12 of them. During the free agency period in the NFL, there were "only" six players that received signing bounuses of over $8 million. And the Cowboys signed three of them (Anthony Henry, Jason Ferguson, Marco Rivera). From the Morning News: "Frisco Centennial running back Aaron Jones has been eluding defenders all over the practice field. Jones is only 5-4 and 135 pounds but he runs the 40 yard dash in 4.45 seconds."

Well, That Weekend Wasn't That Much Fun...

but.... I noticed that an NFL player from Fort Worth died after an NFL preseason game. I didn't think about tort reform on the big Vioxx verdict (Hey, I'm a criminal defense lawyer): The verdict will likely be reduced from $253 million to $26 million because of a state limit on punitive damages. The Dallas Morning News had a huge story on how prosecutors routinely strike minorities from jury panels. (But also pointed out how defense lawyers tend to strike whites). I would tell you whether this happens in Wise County but who knows: almost every Wise County jury panel I've seen is 99% white (which is very odd in itself).

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.