Beaten Down

So I'm in Northeast Mall today and decide to go into Hollister's to get a gift certificate. As I make my way back through the darkness to the cash register, I am stunned to see a line. Not just a small line. A big line. I counted 22 people holding overpriced merchandise waiting to give the clerks their money.

I left.

What is going on?

"The Holiday"

I wasn't particularly in a rush to rent this movie, but I finally watched it this week. Verdict: A heck of a lot better than I expected. Yeah, it's sappy. Yeah, it's sweet. But it's also pretty darn good. I won't put it in my top ten, but if you want a "feel good" movie for a weekend night, check it out.

Say What? Where Do I Sign Up!?

"Bubba, Look Where You're . . . . . Oh, No."

I suppose there's a story behind this item on the Wise County Commissioners' agenda.

Football Sorriness

Mildy Musing

An A&M video "montage."

Face Plant

The drunk girl taking a nose dive has a special place in my warped heart. But she has potential has wife #8. And the woman in the boat in the background (who gets a brief close up after the fall) is throwing down the attitude of, "I may be drunk in a party cove with hardly any clothes on but you, maam, are soooo classless."

Sex Offender Registration

I posted a couple of times of the recent trial involving Racehorse Haynes who represented the 40 something lady charged with having consensual sex with a 16 year old boy. Saw this today:

The Austin woman who was sentenced last week to 23 years in prison for having sex with an underage neighbor turned down a plea deal before the trial that could have spared her decades of prison time.

Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley said Phill Raije Rian, 41, did not want the plea agreement of 7 years of deferred adjudication.

Richard Haynes, her attorney, said after the three-week trial that Rian did not want to register as a sex offender for the rest of her life, so she chose a jury trial.

She was sentenced to 23 years in prison and then must serve 10 years of probation.

The sex offender registration requirement can really screw up plea negotiations. It can't be waived by the judge or the prosecutor. And to a regular Joe, having to register is the equivalent of a death sentency. But I suspect that Ms. Rian would take the deal now.

Jury Selection Begins In Fort Worth Police Officer Murder Case

Star-Telegram has the story.

This caught my attention: Mark Daniel and Tim Moore, Heard's defense attorneys, said they are looking forward to the case going to trial.

Trust me, they're not.

West Exchange

There is some six-in-one club has opened in the Stock Yards. Haven't seen it yet. May never see it.

One of the bars is like Coyote Ugly (I stole the pics from it, not the Fort Worth club.)

Link. Anybody been? Certainly Wise County's love of Northside has led to a couple of visitors.

Edit: A faithful reader, after blurring out "the innocent", sends in this pic from the club taken last weekend.

Wise County Wakes Up With Amy Winehouse

Background.

Non Story

Stories in the paper and on the news today are kind of misleading. Starting on September 1, the cops (in some cases) will be allowed to write a citation for misdemeanor possession of marijuana (and some other small crimes). All that means is that you won't have to go to jail, be booked in, and then bond out. But you still will have to appear in court and face the same punishment that you always have.

Anchorwoman

I didn't see this Fox program about a hot girl becoming a news anchor in Tyler, Texas, but I saw advertisements for it everywhere. (Fox 4 News even did segments on the show - either because they were paid or forced to do so.)

It premiered last night.

Today it was cancelled.

Harsh.

Hey, There Ms. New . . . . Well, You Know

I don't know if I'm jazzed or if I want to tell her to keep away from the Quarter Pounders with cheese. I hate it when I'm conflicted.

Let's Get Rid Of That Before Court, Shall We?

I had a prospective client who had been charged with assault come and visit with me a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't help but do a double take when he walked into my office with a T-Shirt that read "UFC." Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Oh, My

Weatherman David Finfrock has a bad cough. DMN columnist Steve Blow has this update:

"[The doctor] also gave me an inhaler that was supposed to help. Unfortunately, it had a side effect, and I now have a yeast infection in my throat," David sighed. "That's what caused all the problem last week."

The remedy for that has been a little shocking. "I got this medicine, and it came with instructions on how to cure a vaginal yeast infection. I can just see them doing a 'What's Wrong With David Finfrock?' story now," he laughed.

NFL Quarterback Love

New England quarterback Tom Brady impregnated this lady. I'm happy to announce the baby came out of her belly last night. But I'm not exactly sure how all that works.

Tom Brady is now dating this lady. I wish I could throw a spiral. And I bet Brady just looks in the mirror all the time and says, "That's what I'm talkin' about!"

It's Getting Hot In Here

Received a report that the electricity went off last night in a portion of Decatur for a while. I don't know for how long. That's all the hard hitting details that I've got.