Wednesday Afternoon Pick Me Up

Obscure Legal Move You'll Probably Never Use

Today Texas' highest criminal court ruled (in general) that if you have one trial involving multiple criminal cases and a fine is assessed in each case, then the fines must run "concurrently" meaning that the largest fine, when paid, wipes out all the others. Example: You get a ticket for speeding, no insurance, no seat belt, and expired registration. A trial is held on all cases at the same time. A judge or jury finds you guilty on all four offenses and assesses a fine of $200, $175, $150, and $190. Bottom line: Once you pay the $200, the other three fines are wiped out. (The bad news: You probably still owe court costs on four different cases.) Opinion here. Funny dissent here. The prosecutors across the State are angry here.

National Signing Day Part 2

I don't know who this kid is other than he is a huge recruit who made his selection today live on ESPNU. The pomp and circumstance drives me crazy. But the most over the top one I ever saw was when a Dallas Carter kid made his announcement from a hot tub. I remember seeing it on Channel 8 in the late 1980s. Not sure who it was though. And if you like college football, check out the Top 55 Texas High School Recruits from 1988 to 1998 here. Edit: Thanks to Keith over at bagofnothing.com who sent me this article. . . "My view of the process has been a tad jaundiced since that day in 1989 when Dallas Carter High School's Jessie Armstead announced that he was going to Miami. At the same time, seated in a hot tub, teammate Derric Evans was all bling-blinged out, with a wine glass in one hand and a ballpoint pen in the other, signing his national letter of intent with Tennessee. "Evans, however, never quite made it to the kickoff. That summer, he and another Carter teammate, Gary Edwards, who signed with Houston, were arrested for a spree of armed robberies of video stores and fast-food joints. The judge handed Evans a 20-year sentence, seven of which he served in prison, and Edwards got 16."

Hey Republicans

Look what you get to vote upon in next month's primary. I wonder if that will get a majority vote? Hmmm? I wonder.

And isn't it a little ironic that the initiative is also printed in Spanish?

Saw This On The News This Morning

The audio and video don't synch up in the first few seconds, but the slow motion is worth the watch. The story is that the defendant wanted a different public defender to represent him. That request was denied, until the haymaker. And, as a side note, all most all the defendants in Wise County have their hands cuffed to a waist belt when the y come to court.

Abilene High Cheerleader

Post Baby In Belly

It's now a good day. Me loves me some Christina.

Not Only Can He Not Sing . . .

. . . but he's also gone freakin' crazy. Story.

National Signing Day Mystery

This kid from Nevada called a news conference last week to announce he had chosen to play football with California instead of Oregon. The problem? Neither school had ever heard of him or recruited him.

So what's the story? No one knows. Either the kid lied and it got way out of hand. Or he was the victim of an incredible practical joke.

Edit: A little bit of an update today.

Edit: As a commenter pointed out, the news is now that the kid made the whole thing up.

And Another

Story.

If she hadn't had the cute librarian glasses, this might have caused a good hour of deliberations. But I hardly had elected myself as jury foreman before the jury composed of me voted for probation. Probably a short probation.

Next case.

KXAS Gold

This false email has been circulating since 1999:

Ogling over women's breasts is good for a man's health and can add years to his life, medical experts have discovered. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, "Just 10 minutes of staring at the charms of a well-endowed female is roughly equivalent to a 30-minute aerobics work-out" declared gerontologist Dr. Karen Weatherby.

But amazingly on Saturday night KXAS news (Channel 5) reported the story as true only to issue a retraction at the end of the broadcast. They played the retraction on The Ticket this morning - I'm looking for it.

I'm Pretty Sure . . .

. . . this is my kid from one of many prior marriages. (Pay no attention to that guy in the video who claims to be the "father".)

When All Else Fails, Talk Weather

Super Tuesday

Not that I study politics for a living, but I have never seen such an orchestrated attack on any person as the Far Right is doing to probable GOP nominee John McCain.

If you listen to WBAP, it has been two weeks of verbal scud missiles launched right at him. From Mark Davis to Rush Limbaugh to Sean Hannity to that annoying Levine guy at night, they absolutely hate McCain. And they are doing everything in their power to see Romney get the nomination. Good times.

Edit: And, uh, Texas didn't hold its primary today.

Tuesday Afternoon Pick Me Up

This is (stay with me here) Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend, Israeli Supermodel, Bar Refaeli.

Yet another reason to fight Hezbollah.

Baby Dropped From Fire In Germany.

Survives.

Very Random Media Thought

I think Joe Buck and Troy Aikman do a pretty good job as Fox's #1 team (although Troy never really says anything interesting.)

That being said, I watched a replay of the last moment of the Super Bowl from yesterday and saw/heard something fairly interesting. From the moment that Plaxico Burress caught the game winning touchdown (with Buck saying, "Manning lobs it. Burress alone. Touchdown New York!") up until the extra point was kicked, neither Buck or Aikman said a word. It was just pictures and crowd noise.

That, my friends, is good announcing.

Or, Perhaps, "Trivial"

I would like to apologize to Jeff Crilley in advance although I couldn't help myself once I heard this tonight.