Remember Those Dark Days . . .

. . . of Texas when a black man was dragged to death behind a truck in Jasper, Texas? It's good to know that it can't happen again . . . oh, my!

Edit: I didn't know this would be the lead story on Fox 4. They've got the soft talking Jeff Crilley on the case. (Must be big news.)

Most White Kids Shouldn't Box

And if you throw a punch like Rocky, you will end up on the canvas like Rocky should have. (Warning: One S-Bomb.)

Sleepers

The Morning News has been printing various stories of sexual abuse by guards at TYC (The "Texas Youth Commission" which equals "Juvenile Prison").

I couldn't help but think of the move Sleepers today when I saw the story. (And, yep, I heard the boys on The Ticket make the same observation after I thought about it. It probably jumps out at anybody that has seen the movie.)

That Wacky Star Telegram

While reading a story about how some priest was sentenced for allegedly sexually assaulting some kid almost 20 years ago (20 years ago?), the ad to the right of the story for "intimate dating" seemed a bit . . . uh . . . misplaced.

Traffic report

Hwy 287 is shut down in both directions at Rhome due to a downed powerline. Edit: Of course, that doesn't mean it'll be shut down forever.

Eternal Flame

The flame that sometimes fires off out at the Devon plant along 380 between Bridgeport and Runaway Bay was in full force this morning. I'm sure it has something to do with burning off excess something, I just don't know what.

But it reminded me of when my brother convinced his girlfriend in high school that it was a memorial of an "eternal flame" for JFK, "just like the one they have at his grave."

Comedic Genius.

Not Earthshaking . . . But Interesting

A buddy of mine from Abilene sent this series of pics from me. He said they were taken in Mason, TX last January during a snowstorm.

Edit: Kudos to a Commentor for discovering these pics are from Wyoming and not Texas. My friend in Abilene is a big fat liar. Or, in this case, as gullible as me.

If you want ...

... some Bugles they got em in the Jack County vending machine.

Wednesday Encouragement

You Probably Had To See It . . .

. . . but Tim Russert made one of his many appearances today on The Today Show in connection with the Scooter Libby verdict (a verdict that the public really doesn't care too much about because it gives everyone Tired Head).

Man, that guy is so full of himself.

I Didn't Know . . .

. . . that Texas was part of the mega-millions lotto. I think the news just told me that the jackpot is like $35 Krillion tonight or something like that.

I actually was thinking about buying a ticket but, I talked to a buddy this afternoon that started talking about "mega-pliers" or something like that. I decided I couldn't handle the pressure at the convenience store counter so I passed on the purchase.

Edit: One winner in New Jersey. One winner in Georgia.

Edit 2: I was reminded of the meanest prank in the history of ever (warning: extreme - and I mean extreme - language warning.)

Gas Prices

I really don't believe this concept that the gas prices were lowered last November due to a mass conspiracy of corporate oil companies to keep the Republican party in power.

What is it now? $2.35 a gallon? Hmmmmm.

How About The Death Penalty For Hot Checks?

This legislature (currently in session) is obsessed with raising the penalty range for almost every crime. Note to elected officials: That doesn't make you tough on crime - it makes you a pandering-to-the-masses fool.

Take for instance a proposed bill (that looks like it will pass) that will raise the penalty for the offense of Intoxication Manslaughter from 2 to 20 years to 5 to 99 years if the person killed was a public official. Hey, I like most of the cops I deal with, but is their life worth more than the guy who works for Devon?

I Feel Sorry For The Support Staff That Had To Engage In "Fake Cheer"

I've written a couple of times about the ongoing demise of mega-law firm Jenkins and Gilchrist. This video was apparently a "recruiting video" to entice new lawyers to come to work at the firm. I question the firm's professional judgment in putting this together. And it would definitely make a segment of The Ticket's "Gay or Not Gay?"

Foreign Car Crash

If you want to see a car plow into a bunch of people (no one dies, amazingly) click here. For a different angle of the same incident, click here. And the crazy part is that the car keeps going. I only speak 'merican so I don't really know what they are saying. (Source.)

Kirsten Dunst At The Beach This Weekend

She looks like a drowned rat. If she's a celebrity, why can't I be a celebrity?

I Love The Internet

I really don't know who Dallas real estate attorney John Reoch is, but he's rich enough to be featured in the Dallas Morning News about his art collection. He's also famous enough to be recognized getting very handsy at the Ghostbar in the W hotel. (Source.)

I Understand Most Of This

If you had a stationary camera which was pointed it at the western sky and you took a picture every twelve days at 5:30 p.m., this is what the sun would look like in each of the photos. (This frequency and time is actually my best guess from looking at the photo, but I know the photo was taken at the exact time of day on several days throughout one year.) I knew the sun would be higher in the sky in summer and lower in the sky in winter but that figure eight kinda surprises me. (Source as found here.)