U2 3D

Movie Review: Outstanding.

Secret Video Of My Saturday Night

He's Got To Be Smarter Than That

From a new book by Texas Gov. Rick Perry:...

"Whether it is protecting the rights of pornographers, molesters, perverts, terrorists, garden-variety thugs, or those merely hostile to a belief in God, the ACLU is there to provide aid and comfort, in additional to a well-funded legal arsenal," Perry writes.

It's A Slow Day

But I jogged outside for a long time -- absolutely beautiful -- and the Cowtown 1/2 Marathon is two weeks away.

I plan on seeing U2-3D later today. I've heard it's great.

And, uh, Phil King has fifteen people using his law office address on the voter registration rolls?

Hanging Out In The Cafeteria Crisis

The above is from today's Decatur High School "Announcement" Email that was circulated.

Greetings From Dallas

I'm in this seminar today but since (1) these things are notoriously boring and (2) I'm in the most high tech conference room in the history of ever (wi-fi, big screen, readily available outlets, CNN showing before the program starts), I'll probably give an update or two.

Random Thoughts:
- The George Bush toll road is the greatest invention in the history of travel.
- I am soooooo on my guard today because of this. (And if you don't want to click on the link, realize the story has this gem: " One man lost his money while dancing in a hotel elevator. Another lost his wallet while inside a car with his pants around his ankles.")
- This place has a breakfast spread like nobody's business.
- Looking over the registration list, I see some guy is hear listed as "Matthew McConahay" from Weatherford. I also see that former DA's Tim Cole and Bruce Issacks are here. Dear lord, James Stainton of Decatur is here.
- In general, these things are insufferable. Everywhere I hear strangers talking about their "war stories" which, I'm certain, are normally a fraction of the truth.
- Out in the hall, I just heard an over-talking old lawyer on the phone getting all grumpy with a divorce client. Discretion there, hoss. Discretion.
- Just heard that every speaker at the seminar has won a breath test case > .08 within the last 12 months.
- And the first speaker was almost a Call To Arms to try more cases. Ya know, I was motivated by that.
- I just noticed that lunch is "catered by Campisi's." Think anything low fat is on the menu?
- Power Down Moment.....Speaker: "You're not going to win a high breath test if your client looks drunk on video. Anybody done that?" [Hand goes up.] Speaker: "How'd that work out for you?" Voice from audience: "I kept them [the jury] out a while." Sheesh. Big freakin' deal.
- This is why I hate seminars. The current speaker just mentioned that there USED TO BE an error in the Breath Test Operator's manual. He then spent five minutes explaining WHY it was an error. But, sheesh, it is no longer in the manual so the error doesn't matter anymore. Move on, hoss, move on!
- There are one or two lawyers that throw down the "I'm A Texas Old School Lawyer" - which means they wear a cowboy hat, boots and bolo tie. Kill me. Good lord, one is speaking right now.
- This gal is speaking later. That's more like it.
- I'm drinking apple juice. Yep, free apple juice.
- In general, people that practice criminal defense law are a motley crew.
- After a speaker ends, I have a huge urge to start the "slow clap" going.
- Lunch was good. They also had salad. Kinda like the Olive Garden salad.
- A lady beside just offered me peanuts.
- I sooooo want post a Friday afternoon pick me up but too darn many people can see my screen. Can't exactly search the Internet for hot gals in this environment. That makes it a bad environment. I feel my rights are being infringed upon.
- A speaker just played this video for no reason other than to entertain us.
- The last speaker was a beating - he couldn't run his powerpoint presentation to save his arse. But now I'm watching Denton lawyer Rick Hagen do a mock voir dire. (Top pick). I like Rick. And he's a great lawyer.
- I love Google Docs. I use it all the time and that's what I've taken notes on today. Easily accessible in the future.
- Funny: One of the speakers, once finished, walked out to the hallway with his mic still on and live! Thought we were going to have a Naked Gun moment for a second.
- Just heard attorney Fort Worth Mark Daniel speak. I think he's great and he had five or six great points.
- OK, we've got a wise guy out there! I just got an email with a photo making reference to Lake Bridgeport. Boat accident? Fire? Some other incident? So I opened the photo amongst this crowd and up pops a very scantily clad model that has nothing to do with Lake Bridgeport - as I then scrambled to block the screen and close it.
- And we had one more wise guy email. Got one that said, "Pic of the back of your head." I was smart enough to dim my screen to "almost impossible to see mode" before I opened it. What was it? A very gay cowboy. Even I laughed at that one.
- I'm done. Good times.

Another Pile Up

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Or at least a multi-car collision in front of the Jack In The Box at lunch (as one faithful reader reported and sent alone this pic.)

This will impact your afternoon commute by about 30 seconds. And now we'll check on Jack County traffic . . . .

The Seminar Brochures I Receive . . .

. . . aren't exactly early morning pick-me-ups.

And do I really need to receive three of them?

Tips For Home Sellers

I've often said, I'm more inclined to buy a house if the owner is a fisherman . . . what?

Real Almost News

Just got a report that "Seven Hills Elementary is locked down and police are everywhere." Developing . . . Edit: Now getting reports that all is clear. Something about a "suspicious guy." Edit: Sheesh. Now getting reports it might have included Chisholm Trail Middle School as well. But, once again, everything is back to normal. Edit: I have learned that this brief incident occurred due to a man seen taking a whiz in a nearby bar ditch.

Romney Out

You guys voting for Mitt Romney in the highly scientific Liberally Lean poll, uh, might want to rethink that.

And that little bit of fun cost him $30 million of his own money.

Two Star Telegram Points of Interest

First an editorial about the appeal of a Jack County case prosecuted by our Wise County DA and heard by our Wise County district judge. (Honestly, not that interesting.)



And a 24 part series? 24? I've never heard of such a thing. Is this the wave of the future where newspapers become serial books?

Looking Good

The lawyer that got punched by his client (see video below) was on The Today Show this morning.

King Took 2004 Super Bowl Tickets From Energy Company

Watched game from commpany's luxury suite. Company routinely had business before King's House committee. King claims he didn't discuss business during game.

King not smart enough to realize this "looks bad."

Throw him out.

Star Telegram story.

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?