I Bet This Guy Is Pretty Funny

Being a wiseguy on a standard questionnaire for potential jurors earned a man a night in jail this week. Asked if had ever fired a weapon, Benjamin Ratliffe wrote, "Yes. I killed someone with it, of course. Right." Any serious health problems? "I’ve got a bad jonesin’ for heroin. Really I do," he wrote. "Massive amounts of lithium are needed for me to focus. That and Coke." (Story) "I got a bad jonesin'" may become my new catch phrase.

Me Loves Me Some Keira Knightley

Worth Watching

A jury is deliberating in Dallas in a case where a SMU fraternity pledge was "pressured" into drinking a ton of water. The guy doing the pressuring - some how, some way - was convicted of aggravated assault last week. Sheesh. (The victim spent 10 days in a hospital but is fine now.) Any way, he is probation eligible but the Morning News reported this morning that he is currently on "six probations". The prosecutors are trying to send him to the pen. I don't know anything about his current probations other than they are either misdemeanors or deferred adjudication felonies - he wouldn't be eligible for probation otherwise. Despite his history, this doesn't sound like a case worth sending a guy to the pen for. Edit & Update: Probation it is.

Minor League, Major Meltdown

We Are So Slow To Respond To Societal Changes

I was listening to a recording of NPR's This American Life this weekend which involved a story about an interracial couple in the 1960s in the South and the difficulties they faced. As I was driving along, the narrator said that a state statute prevented the couple from getting married because the Supreme Court didn't declare such laws unconstitutional until 1967. 1967! You gotta be kidding me. I looked it up. It's true. Here's the text of the statute: "If any white person intermarry with a colored person, or any colored person intermarry with a white person, he shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by confinement in the penitentiary for not lass than one nor more than five years."

Any Chance Beer Was Involved?

It's Hard To Believe 10 Years Has Passed

You probably saw that Patsy Ramsey, the mother of JonBenet Ramsey, died this weekend of cancer. She was 49. A great line this morning on the news: "Her death is probably the only way she would ever find peace - both from the grief over her daughter and from the accusations that she was involved in the murder."

You Can Be Annoying

Click here and put your mouse over this guy's face.

This Won't Do It Justice . . .

But Fox 4 News just had the most moving feature on the American Child Photographers Charity Guild. The basics: It is an organization which allows for professional photographers to donate their talents for the purpose of taking photographs of terminally ill children and their families. Its web site doesn't do it justice either. The photographs that were shown on the news were so touching and tender. I'm frustrated that I can't describe it more effectively.

My Eyes!!!!

It's gay pride month across the world. I haven't seen a parade in Decatur yet, but the Village Voice in New York celebrates the event with this cover.

Choking Experience

On Saturday night I had dinner at Sam and Harry's in the Worthington Hotel. (Fancy restaurants, in general, violate my "restaurants are the worst bang for the buck" policy - but I digress). Anyway, I had the joy of seeing a lady at the table next to mine be subjected to the Heimlich Maneuver in the middle of dinner. (And that was performed by the waiter). Then, to my amazement, the lady goes right back to her steak and wine. A real trooper. We need more women like that.

Perky

It was 6:30 a.m. last Saturday morning. I, for some unexplained reason, always sleep with the TV on. I awake, groggily, and look at the screen to see Channel 8's Debbie Denmon (live) interviewing former Olympic Star Mary Lou Retton. Sweet Mary Lou was about to go to some "Race for the Cure" or something. But what's the real reason she was on TV at the break of dawn? Mary Lou is a new spokesman for a Pfizer product to assist those that constantly go to the bathroom. “I used to have to go to the bathroom constantly, sometimes more than 25 times a day,” I heard her say. I don't know why that moment was so surreal to me. But I did have to go to the bathroom at that point.

Yes, I Do Leave The House

I saw Lewis Black (contributer to Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show") at the Bass Hall last night in downtown Fort Worth. That was the first time I'd ever been to the Bass Hall. It's great. And I was stunned to see the place sold out for a left leaning comedian in the heart of Texas.

Spoof of Britney Spears Dateline Today Show Interview

This is kinda entertaining (one F bomb warning), but the production value is very impressive.

It Got Ugly

25

For Some Important News

Britney has dyed her hair.

Simpson Update

The Star-Telegram has posted an update. Odd: It said that Rebecca Simpson began testifying moments after the guilty verdict. Since the State always goes forward first in the punishment phase, did they not put on any punishment evidence? And it's good to know that she was once married to, yes, you guessed it, "a prominent Wise County attorney." The Star Telegram must remind us of that in every freakin' story. Edit & Commentary: She better start taking some responsibility or this could get ugly.

Aye Carumba

Various girls of the World Cup are here.