Happy 18th . . .

. . . gulp....18th to Hayden Panettiere.

WBAP Commercial

Just heard Mark Davis on WBAP do a commercial for Christian Brothers Automotive. From its web site: Christian Brothers Automotive Corporation (“CBAC”)is a national automotive service franchisor headquartered in Houston, TX.CBAC was founded in 1982 by current CEO/President Mark Carr on the basic principle that honesty and integrity should be the driving force behind the business.

I don't know why that strikes me as odd. Trying to make a buck by appealing to those of similar faith?

Voir Dire

One of the Ticket's morning show hosts, Junior Miller, had jury service yesterday. The show spent a segment today on a question he was asked during jury selection. Could you convict a defendant for sexual assault of a child if the only person to testify was the child but you believed that's child's testimony beyond a reasonable doubt. Of course, everyone wants more information before you answer the question, but that's all you get. It was fascinating to listen to them struggle with the answer.

I Guess You Go Float Around Somewhere Else

I've actually got a friend that left on a cruise ship out of Galveston yesterday and was supposed to arrive on the back side of Yucatan Peninsula today - then on to Cancun in two days. I'm not sure what happens in this situation.

Take A Break Driver 8

As much as I try, I can't get into NASCAR (although I always like Jeff Gordon to win since he's the anti-redneck.)

But I did hear that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will not have the #8 on his car next year. I'm not sure about the details - and I didn't really care enough to google the issue. But if I'm him, I'd grab the #5 and paint my car like the Mach 5.

But, I wonder what this sweet and clean girl will do now that she has #8 forever inked above her arse?

12 More Days Until . . .

. . . Baylor's quest for a national championship goes crashing and burning in Fort Worth against TCU.

This is BU's starting quarterback, Blake Szymanski. How is he supposed to strike fear in the hearts of Aggies and Red Raiders by posing with a hot cheerleader and a freakin' puppy?! (And is that dog wearing a dress? Sheesh.) The Evil Empire's Colt McCoy wouldn't do that. Chris Simms might have, but not Colt.

Edit: A new investigative picture reveals Blake was wearing Crocs at the moment of the picture. We're doomed.

And Baylor's third string quarterback is a guy named John David Weed. I support him for the simple reason I'd like to see "Weed" on the back of a Baylor jersey. Oh, the irony.

Michael Vick To Plead Guilty

If you care about the story, you probably already knew. But I really wanted an excuse to post this pic.

But the speed of this case's disposition gives you a little insight into the federal criminal process. The trial date was not set for "next year", it was scheduled for November and it would have happened. And no crazy plea bargains, the federal sentencing guidelines limit discretion.

On another note, I was reminded today of how wheels off Vick's lawyers sounded just one month ago when Vick turned himself in on the charges. In a brief press conference, the lead defense lawyer said (twice!) that he looked forward to "proving Mr. Vick's innocence in court." That may not seem like a big deal but, for those of us that work in criminal justice, uttering such a phrase is simply mind boggling.

Baby, Where Have You Been?

My most-likely-to-be-stalked-by-me starlett, Christina Aguilera, hasn't been in the public eye for months. She's with child. But not my child. I think.

But someone got a pic of her from over the weekend.

Live from Jacksboro

I'm sitting here waiting to enter three guilty pleas for three different court appointed clients. Charges are dope, felony DWI, and UUMV. Fellow attorney Mark Howell keeps making me laugh.

And I've got to go to Fort Worth this afternoon. Ugh.

KKK

Your Texas Rangers were struck out 17 times today by Minnesota's Johan Santana. That's a lot of strikeouts.

Of course, the "K" represents a strike out. But this screen shot from SportsCenter taken from the stadium in Minnesota got my attention. They turn the third "K" around in an attempt to avoid an uncomfortable three strike out moment.

Edit: I'm wrong on this based upon the comments. Learn something every day.

Poll To The Right

I have no idea why it is not working. Blame Google.

The Top 40 Magazine Covers Of All Time

Link. I do love me some lists.

Afternoon Gem

I had ESPN on in the background when something got my attention a second ago.

The Little League World Series was on and Mexico was leading the Netherlands 10-1. I learned there was a "10 Run Rule" which meant if Mexico scored one more run, the game was over. The coach of the Netherlands, in the middle of the inning, went to the pitcher's mound. The entire team gathered around him.

In broken English, in a soft tone, and in a truly inquisitive manner, he said this:

"If they score one more point, then it is over. What do you want to do? Do you want to give them the run or do you want to play for the honor?"

Long pause.

Then one little kid said, "The honor."

That moment beats anything in professional sports I'll see all year.

Seems Wrong

The Morning News today has a story about how a mobil DWI Command Center is getting little use. I really wasn't interested in the story. But I felt incredibly sorry for this random girl who gets arrested for DWI and had her picture plastered in the paper for everyone to see.

Edit: Just picked up a copy of the News at the convenience store. Before I had just seen the online edition. But this girl's pic is above the fold. Belo should be ashamed.

Edward Norton Is 38 Today

The "curb scene" in American History X is one of the only scenes in any movie that I refuse to watch again.

My Lawn Work MP3 Music

Batta Batta Batta

The Little League World Series is going on over at ESPN, and I basically stay confused by it. There's a ton of teams from a ton of countries, and I'm not exactly sure how a team gets there to start with. I suppose there's more to it than paying a $100 entry fee and loading up a bunch of kids in a minivan.

Anyway, this kid made a home run stealing catch for the last out of the game to secure Walpole, Mass's first win. Walpole? But the sad thing about it is that this kid is 12. If that happened to me at 12, that would have been the high point of my life. It all would have gone downhill from there.

"16 Acres"

The Star-Telegram has a story today about one of the survivors from the 2123 wreck a couple of weeks ago that claimed three lives.