Mena Suvari Pumps Her Own Gas

Justice De-Something

Just got word that the County Attorney's office won a DWI case today with a blood test of .05 (the legal limit is .08). Read that sentence again - yep, you read it right. But I heard that the videotape was great for the State which explains the verdict somewhat. They've tried four cases in two weeks (three this week) and went 3 - 1. I am way too humble to reveal who the defense verdict belongs to. (Once again, no comments. You people go crazy on courthouse posts).

Guaranteed Tired Head

This is kinda long and complicated, but if you want to hear how Dallas Can Academy ended up suing Channel 8's Dale Hansen, here it is. (It involves a golf tournament, a rich oil guy, Hansen's son, Fossil Creek golf course, and Dennis Miller rejecting a private jet. Like I said, it's complicated)

Luv Serving Luv

In the hottest tennis match in the history of ever, these two girls (Maria Sharapova and Ashley Harkleroad) played each other today at Wimbledon. Sharapova won.

Tempting Click Of The Day

I wonder if there is a pic that involves: PETA, London, Pamela Anderson, a "I'd Rather Bare Skin Than Wear Skin" campaign, and half nudity. Yep, here (mild PG-13 rating).

Maybe Civil Law Is More Interesting Than Criminal Law

Many of you probably saw this in the Star Telegram: Two girls, both 17, are on vacation at the beach. They see the Girls Gone Wild video crew, flash their ta-ta's (that's a legal term), tell the video guys that they are of legal age, and then sign a consent. Girls Gone Wild then produces a DVD where the 17 year olds' ta-ta's (I think the term has a Latin origin) are shown. So what happens? The girls sue. Even in conservative Denton County (where the mere utterance ot the word ta-ta's will get you arrested), a jury decided the girls didn't deserve a dime. Go Denton! Go Girls Gone Wild! Go ta........uh, nevermind.

Me Getting Ready For The Weekend

A Couple Of Weeks Ago . . .

. . . I gave a birthday shout out to Juliett Lewis. Now I see this picture. I'm torn between retracting the happy birthday wish or issuing a double happy birthday wish.

Now I'm Awake

The baby drowing Andrea Yates is on trial again (her first conviction was reversed after a government witness made up some crazy story about how Yates was pretty much following a plot she learned on Law and Order.). I can think of three women who have recently been successful using the insanity defense. Being too lazy at this moment to research their names, there was (1) the kill my kids in the rock garden lady in East Texas, (2) the cut off my baby's arms lady in Collin County, and (3) I'm pretty sure there was a young hispanic lady, also in Collin County, that killed her three year with a knife. Yates (before the conviction was reveresed), was the only high profile defendant I can think of to have that defense rejected. Her lawyer was George Parnham the first time. She's using him again. Let me begin a George Parnham rant . . . I think he is one odd (and full of himself) guy. Check out his web site - it has this touchy feely music in the background and when you first enter, up pops a quote from Abraham Lincoln, then one from the Magna Carta, and then one from . . . omg . . . George Parnham! Lincoln, the Magna Carta and Parnham? And then a second quote pops up from Parnham: "If we do our jobs correctly, an innocent person may be spared punishment he doesn't deserve." What the hell? You might be able to get an innocent person off? That's your selling point? And then click on his list of "clients". His first one is Andrea Yates (that's not going too well) and then the second one is Clara Harris! You might remember that Harris ran over her sorry husband with a vehicle in a hotel parking lot after she caught him having an affair. She got 20 years in prison! (Ok, I'm done. I think something took over my body for a second.)

Sleepy Thought

An Update item: "VOICE FOR CHOICE — Bridgeport residents will have a chance to sign the alcohol petition tomorrow and Friday at Bridgeport City Park from 6 to 8 p.m. The petition drive is being held to seek an election which would determine if alcoholic beverages should be sold in the city. For more information, call (940) 393-6392." Isn't that more like an ad than a news item?

Random Thoughts Not Worthy Of Individual Posts

- The country should have a one week holiday declared every year. We would all be on vacation at the same time without guilt. (Except hotel, food and entertainment employees would have to work.) - I started watching the Godfather for the first time ever. I had to put the subtitles on. But so far, so good. - I haven't been in the Decatur Lowe's yet - The headline in the Messenger today that read "Silence of the Stands" was very clever (it was about the fireworks ban) - Every morning I eat one low fat eggroll with skim milk - Jeff Crilley of Fox 4 News has the most dramatic silent voice in the history of ever - I have no idea who the girls in this photo to right are - I don't believe you can ever learn anything meaningful if you eat lunch with more than three people at one time - Tazers are a great idea. In a person to person stand off, no one has to die - At every Dallas City Council meeting, there is a sign interpreter for the deaf. I bet 99% of the time there is not a deaf person in the audience - The Supreme Court opinion today about Texas redistricting was over 100 pages long. - My favorite moment of the day is when I crawl into bed - I watch HBO's Entourage but that's about it (as far as regular entertainment programs are concerned) - I don't understand anyone who eats alone that doesn't have a magazine or newspaper to read - I know of three Dallas Morning News newstands in Decatur. (And the one across from the Messenger is oftentimes empty by noon). - I read the sports page first, the editorial/op-ed page next, then the metro section, and then the business section. (And I generally skim all of it in the matter of 15 minutes) - There should be a standardized concept to the "home menu" of every DVD. - I receive Newsweek and People at my home. - I never buy the USA Today but it is by far the best newspaper in America - The first time I saw the Internet was in 1996. A buddy of mine showed me a weather satellite photo that had been taken 15 minutes earlier. I couldn't believe that could be delivered on demand into your home. I rambled on and on about the Internet for the next couple of months and people looked at me like I was crazy. - I had a jonesin' for Elaine in the first three years of Seinfeld. After that, didn't care for her too much. - One of these days I'm just going to walk away from it all

I Never Watch "The View" But This Is Fairly Interesting

Star Jones tells the audience of "The View" yesterday that she won't be coming back in the fall. Behind the scenes, everyone knew it because the network had decided it didn't want Star on the show anymore. But Star surprised all her co-workers by announcing her upcoming departure to the world yesterday - something that she wasn't suppossed to do. Result: She is immediately thrown off the show and Barbara Walters lets the world know it. Never double-cross Barbara.

You Wanted A Picture Of The Sheriff . . .

. . . we got a picture of the Sheriff. (From this week's front page of the Messenger on a story regarding the banning of the use of fireworks.)

Tell Me She Didn't

Another one is here and here. (Rumor has it that she will not appear on the cover after the Dateline appearance didn't go as well as planned.)

"Our Little Girl's All Growns Up"

LeAnn Rimes has released a pop album in England that you can't hardly find in the U.S. For those interested, you can check out a video from the album at youtube.com. (Sounds pretty good, and she looks really hot).

Supreme Court Rules: Republicans Are God

The Supreme Court just ruled that the redrawn Congressional districts in Texas that were redrawn in 2003 are (mostly) constitutional. In other news, former Rep. Charles Stenholm just fell down.

What About Kissing Girls That Smoke?

The Surgeon General issued a report on second hand smoke yesterday that was over the top. Yeah, being locked in a room of smoke for a week might cause a problem, but the extremes to which the report went were silly: "There is no safe level of secondhand smoke, and even brief exposure can cause harm," the report concluded. He made it sound as if walking by someone who is smoking may make you fall dead of cancer within the next 10 steps. Somebody's got an agenda to ban smoking from every building, public or private, in the nation. Heaven forbid for the market place to decide where smoking is allowed.

Jessica Simpson Pops Into My Mind On Thursdays