Tara Reid Ponders Blog's Slowness

Complaints Of Blog Slowness

Not being one to turn my back on monetary subscribers, I have heard your complaints about the slowness of the "The Blog." Your pain is my pain. But in a word, I'm confused. First, the darn thing is hosted by Google by its blogger/blogspot "get yourself a free blog" software, so I don't have any control over its speed. That being said, I've never seen a problem. I access it at work via Embarq DSL, from home by AT&T DSL,and through the courthouse by I don't know what. I've never had a problem with speed. (Internet or crank.) But I certainly believe you folks that complain. Do you guys have the same problem with that Google hosted Incidental Remarkings drivel? (Uh, I joke) That being said, I'll post the silly poll on the side to get a feel for the problem. In the meantime, I've limited the number of posts that can appear on the front page and I'll try to limit the embedded video (which surely slows it down.) And I'll check out (and am open to) other options. Good times. Edit: And for you techies out there, my wisecounty.com host just moved to a different platform that allows Wordpress hosting. I think I know what that means, but have never experimented with Wordpress.

Newark Worldwide News?

The Internets are full of a story involving a 13 year old from Newark, Texas who has been "convicted" of ordering an extra credit card on his dad's account to buy hookers. And the kid is named.

When did this happen? I'm putting my best reporters on this story. Sumtin' ain't right. Sumtin' ain't right-at-tal.


But, if it is true, I'm hanging out with the kid this weekend.

Edit: Since I just saw this in a parking lot very close by, I'll try and get some answers.



Edit #2: I have spoken to His Holiness, the Honorable Police Chief Gerald Wright who says, and I'm paraphrasing here, "This is crazy talk! It didn't happen!" Seems like the prosecutors up in the courthouse have never heard of the kid nor have any of the Newark townspeople down at Floyd's Barber Shop.

But it seems as the story filters out over the Intertubes that Newark City Hall is getting calls from all over the world. It's even made PerezHilton.com. Triple good times.

Hottest Woman In History Of Local News . . .

. . . might be jumping to Media Evil Empire. And I was disturbed she wasn't on the newscast this morning.

(Cue Green Day's Time Of Your Life.)

And Another

A former teacher at Early High School is accused of having sexual contact with an 18-year-old male student when she worked at the school, police said. Joy Blackstock, 23, is free on $15,000 bond after being arrested Thursday on a charge of improper relationship between an educator and a student, Brown County Jail records state.

(Story. Silly registration required.)

Holy, crap. She's hot. 23. The "victim" is 18. She's arrested only because she's a teacher and he's a student. Call Dateline NBC!! Call Chris Hansen!! Fire up the Sexual Registration list!!!! The streets aren't save with sweet Joy walking around!!!!!

There are worse crimes in a typical hockey game.

(Thanks emailer.)

Worst. Movie. Ever?

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

- Two more Fort Worth motorcycle deaths
- I don't know why conservatives freak out over the concept of nationalized health care. Everyone I know thinks it's reasonable for their HMO to pay more on their behalf than they pay in each year. And to a great extent that happens. With employer's passing along the high insurance premiums, that's closer to socialized medicine than insurance.
- I've begun reading H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man. Edit: As a commenter pointed out, I should read Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. Sadly, that is what I intended to download from iTunes. I'm an idiot. Who would have thought two famous novels would have the same name?
- I probably agree with the Libertarians more than anyone else. But yesterday they announced that Bob Barr would be the party's presidential nominee. That is completely stunning. He's been a conservative nut job all his life.
- Why was Tony Romo throwing out the first pitch at a Cubs game? There's something just not right about that guy.
- A client reminded me of the Rock Island Railroad company the other day. Hadn't thought of that since I saw the cars rolling through Bridgeport when I was in my baby diaper.
- There was an unassisted triple play in the Major League last night. Every time I see one (assisted or unassisted) it takes me a while to figure out what happened.
- Apple says all the iPhones are gone fueling rumors of a next generation device. Sheesh. I got mine a couple of months ago, my law partner got his two weeks ago, and I've heard the Wise and Jack County probation officers got a fleet of them two weeks ago.
- Someone commented under the "prom dress" post below that everyone just needs to "conform to society." Puhhhleeeeze.
- Pretty amazing photos coming out of China after the earthquake, but I'm surprised they have "counties" over there.
- The potential Decatur restaurant smoking ban is insane. I hate smoking as much as the next guy, but it's incredible that government can tell a local business owner how to run his business. If he/she wants to allow smoking, let the market determine whether that's a good idea.
- After a brief Supreme Court interruption, Texas is back in the Death Business. Eight inmates are scheduled to be killed by the government by the end of August.
- Speaking of death, a dog on a Formula One racetrack is not-a-good.
- Edit: Violent New York newscast F-Bomb.

That Had To Cost A Lot In Gas To Get There

The R and R blog (who has basically made me give up posting celebrity crap since he/she gets to it before me) had this gem from a day or so ago. Is that the Decatur-Beggar-In-A-Tie hanging out in Haltom City? R and R says "yes, it is."

We've Got More Injustice!!!!

Obviously, school officials are not familiar with a little old document called the United States Constitution which, the last time I checked, guaranteed every American the right to dress provocatively (as recognized by the Supreme Court in Electric Boutique and New Orleans Nights v. Decatur, Texas I.S.D.) The ACLU and I shall march upon the administration building until this injustice is cured.

High School Steeple Chase Carnage

A very funny pair of videos (that I'll link to instead of embed), and the crowd response/commentary only adds to the joy. One. Two. Trust me. Edit: And for those who like their videos a littler darker, check out this one of a guy who almost jumped off the George W. Bush freeway this morning.

The No Spin Zone

Edit: Link Of Video Here. The embedded version was acting a little wanky. I'd seen references to this video, but I finally watched it a second ago. It's all over the place today. Warnings: (1) You have to listen to Bill O'Reilly, (2) F-Bombs, and (3) You have to listen to Bill O'Reilly. I've never really hated the guy as much as most people, but he makes Obama's pastor look like Santa Claus in this thing. Get that man a teleprompter that works. Quick. What say ye?

Kinkiness Goes Horribly Wrong

New Mexico - A woman is accused of chasing her boyfriend with a knife after thinking he was an actor in a pornographic movie they were watching together.

The victim says it all started when he and his girlfriend were inside his southwest Albuquerque home watching a pornographic move at 10:30 Wednesday morning.

Full story. I'm not making this up.

One Woman Gang

This girl's accomplishments at the State Track Meet made just a tiny blurb in the Dallas Morning News yesterday. But I expect a wave of publicity now. Story.

And, for the local tie, the Jack County District Clerk told me about this gal about a month ago.

Edit: Good lord, people. Back off the comments (that I have rejected left and right.) She's a kid.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

- 95 people have already died in tornadoes in the United States this year.
- 900 students "buried" in a China earthquake this morning.
- The death toll in Myanmar has risen to 28,000
- "Carrollton's new mayor says top priority is ridding city of illegal immigrants."
- I'm overwhelmed with "Good Will Towards Men" this morning
- I scraped my knee. It takes a lot of bandages to keep gauze on a knee.
- I didn't care much about the Jenna Bush wedding (she seems very bland), but I did find it interesting that the caterers of the rehearsal dinner didn't know who they were catering for until less than 24 hours before the event.
- The first Groom/Bride dance was to this song and the first Father/Daughter dance was to the painful Joe Cocker song of "You Are So Beautiful To Me."
- Brandon Davis, the guy in the Sergeant Carter hat who was running for mayor of Rhome, received 25 votes.

Is That The Mach 5?

A faithful reader sends in this small cell phone pic from the Bridgeport parade.

Great Sports Illustrated Photo

Notice the bat. Click to enlarge.

Edit a faithful and connected reader emails: "The baseball bat photo you posted was taken by Star-Telegram staffer Ron Jenkins and ran in the S-T last year."

"Yeah. 220 . . . 221. Whatever it takes."

Decatur suffered a power surge/short at around 2:10 p.m. From the courthouse to Walmart, the power went out for a second.

It was like a rolling blackout that wasn't really a blackout and really didn't roll.

Ranger Rumble From Last Night. Good Times.