Cowboy Up Part 2

As a followup to my Gay Cowboy Movie Post a couple of months ago, I note that Brokeback Mountian opens this weekend and that it just received seven Golden Globe nominations. I just wish I could watch the expression on the face of an average Wise County guy who walks into the Fossil Creek Theater with his wife, looks at the movie poster for the first time, and says, "Hmmm, a western. Let's see that one." Giddy up.

Artistic Decatur Courthouse

I've Found A New . . .

. . . dance that I'm going to break out at this year's office party. (Video).

I've Gone Weird Picture Crazy

Boyd Church Fire

The lead story tonight on Fox 4 News was the burning of the church of the 30 member Church of God in Boyd. Welders were doing construction on the church as a new roof was being added. The source of the fire, however, is still under investigation. Pastor Steven Bernard spoke on the news as did Fire Chief Kent Spencer.

They Changed The System But Not Soon Enough

As a young insurance defense attorney in the mid-1980s, one of my first jobs involved taking the depositions of 60 to 70 year old men who were suing asbestos manufacturers. Trust me, these guys weren't the hard core victims of asbestosis of the 1960s and 1970s, these were guys whose only complaints were "I suffer shortness of breath." I would ask "When?" and they would often reply "After climbing a flight of stairs." So, as I had been taught, I would ask, "Do you smoke?" "Yes, about a pack a day," I would often hear. And my skepticism was born. So why do I bring this up? Because I had to travel to the Dallas law offices of Baron & Budd to take the depositions. That firm had an incredible array of asbestos clients. And those lawyers got rich off of the asbestos industry. So, again, why do I bring this up? Because I just read this in the Dallas Morning News about Fred Baron of the above referenced Baron & Budd law firm. "So for Friday's Christmas party at Fred's Preston Hollow mega-estate, the couple [he and his wife] flew in the horn heavy band Chicago." Merry Christmas, indeed.

I Love Odd Pictures

Tookie Is Toast

It looks like former gang leader Stanley Tookie will be executed tonight in California. And it looks like officials are a little nervous about potential rioting.

Elton John

You know, as I watched a bit of his NBC special tonight from Las Vegas, it dawned on me that this guy has been around forever. And I still stop down for "Rocket Man" every time.

Random Baby

What A Stunner

"FORT WORTH — The wife of a slain Fort Worth police officer spoke directly to news reporters for the first time on Monday, saying her husband was a wonderful father who had a passion for police work. In an hour-long interview, Teresa Nava, wife of officer Henry “Hank” Nava, said she believes the man who shot her husband deserves the death penalty." I'm not sure that's newsworthy. Edit: Sheesh, people. I was just saying that it comes as no surprise that the wife would want the guy killed.

Just 47 years in 1900?

I'm Just Surprised He Didn't Sell Tickets

Country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood said "I do" on Saturday in a private ceremony at their Oklahoma home.

First Down

I spent the day officiating at the The Spirit of Christmas flag football tournament sponsored by the Bridgeport Police Department. I saw two fights, two ejections (one occurring at 8:35 a.m.), one horrific looking dislocated shoulder, Phillip Daugherty, a terrific catch by Joey Christian, a limping Joey Christian, some confused officials (me included), a black guy running fifty yards for a touchdown with his shorts falling off to his knees - and still no one could catch him, a disgruntled DPS team that didn't make the playoffs, a very elusive Andrew Rottner catching a million passes (but I was curious why the Messenger wasn't there to take his picture) and a bunch of money raised for a good cause. And I learned it's kinda fun to blow a whistle.

Kinda Cool #2

Kinda Cool

Justice Denied

That plea bargain between the prosecution and the hottest teacher in the world has been rejected by the judge. A trial now looms. Maybe the judge just wanted to spend more time with her.

Business Talk

This business blurb was buried in the Dallas Morning News: "Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Inc. said Thursday it has sold Aster, a media and communications company in Poland, to Mid Europa Partners, a buyout firm . . . . The deal, worth $490 million, gives Hicks Muse a return of 4.8 times its invested capital, said a spokesperson for the Dallas-based buyout firm. Hicks Muse made its initial investment in Aster in March 2003." Think about that. The Hicks, Muse group bought some Poland business for just under $100 million and sold it less than two years later for almost $500 million. Gordon Geeko lives. (The "Hicks", of course, is Tom Hicks - owner of the Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars. )