The Devil Was On "The View" This Morning

If you're interested in Ann Coulter, it's worth sticking around for all of it. If you're not interested in what she has to say, I completely understand. And the cute Republican on The View didn't really feel like taking up for her.

From The Update

You know, I'm not really sure how I feel about cops making it a full scale raid of something like this. It happens all the time - doesn't make it right - but it's odd how some parties get the attention of law enforcement while others do not. And DPS doesn't need to be involved at all.

Manhood Questioned

I don't know why I think this is so funny, but I do. There was just a few seconds left in a lacrosse game and Guy A is chasing Guy B with one of those big old sticks. Then, Baby C, upends Guy A sending Guy A flying. But then it gets good. Guy A decides to track down Baby C and beat the living crap out of him but Baby C runs away like a little school girl.

Alvord Kid!

Story (Thanks emailer. I missed this one.)

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• I thought about The Judds the other day.
• The Travel Channel should be called Guys Eating Fatty Food All Over The World Channel.
• I slept too much this weekend. Post-Christmas depression? Oh, yeah.
• Why I don't bet on sports: Arizona beat Carolina.
• One of the most fascinating things I've read and which I'm planning on doing: The Master Cleanser program. It's 10 days of nothing but drinking a combination of lemon juice and maple syrup with, and get this, a nightly "cleansing drink" of sea salt water. The Dallas Observer's Richie Whitt (the best writer in the metroplex) is doing it and giving a daily update here. The program's web site is here.
• Finally finished In Bruges (after about a three month break). It's great.
• I've always thought the Golden Globes was a better program than the Academy Awards, but I totally forgot about it last night.
• The term "Information Super Highway" first appeared on the cover of Time Magazine in 1993?
• North Texas' football program is in shambles after its QB announces he is leaving. "When you spend the amount of time with someone like we did with Giovanni, it’s disheartening," coach Todd Dodge said. "We will be fine, but it’s confusing, to say the least." Should have stayed at Southlake.
• Clint Eastwood is overrated.
• The Rangers want to move Michael Young from shortstop to third baseman. He says, "no way" and asks to be traded. That's a fine team player.
• WBAP's Hal Jay asked whether the Texas/OU basketball game tonight is as big as the October football game. Really. He did.

The Accidental Artist

One of my decorative candles was apparently too close to the fireplace yesterday. Now I've got a keepsake that I call "Tongue and Teeth."

I Love Weird Commercials

If I had Liberally Lean T-shirts, I'd give one to any person who can identify all the folks in the video in order. I tried the Inkernets but it didn't provide quick and reliable answers. I wonder if the guys with their fists raised are the same guys from that famous deviant Olympic pic. And I get chills at seeing Ali. Edit #1: If you don't get chills over Ali, you are under (ugggh) 35. Edit #2: The greatest Half-Asian blogger in the history of ever (Keith over at bagofnothing.com) sent the answer in an email: Narrator: Lil Wayne 1: Serena Williams 2: Tommie Smith ('68 olympics) 3: John Carlos ('68 olympics) 4/5: Kerri Walsh/Misty May-Treanor 6: Candace Parker 7: Dwayne Wade 8: Jessica Mendoza; softball player 9: Derek Jeter 10: Bill Russell 11: Muhammad Ali 12: Chaz Ortiz (young skateboarding dude) 13: JabbaWockeeZ (dance contest competitor)

He Was Obviously Competent To Stand Trial

Story (and his background is just as crazy.) I'm reminded of a line from Midnight Express which was something to the effect of, "All humans are machines. But sometimes the machines are defective." But, in this enlightened age, we just kill those machines.

$1.00

That's the new daily price of the Dallas Morning News. I may be the only one who cares since no one else I know reads the newspaper, but enjoy it while you can. I don't know when it will happen, but there will soon come a day when there is no paper edition of the DMN.

And Another

Story. Well, she did rank high on the Commitment Factor.

Baby, I'm Still Sad Too

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• That's Florida's Tim Tebow's girlfriend above. I think. Even if I'm wrong, she's worthy of a "Hey, now."
• On one my football excursions three years ago, I was at the University of Florida for the very first time Tebow took the field as a freshman. The stadium exploded and had no idea why.
• It's been ten years since The Sixth Sense and The Blair Witch Project were released.
• I cannot take a "quick" shower. Once I'm in there, I don't want to leave. Maybe because it's so comfortable to be in the fetal position.
• I love Pappadeaux's, but I can't remember the last time I ate there.
• I've not had a speeding ticket since 1990 - the last time I was even stopped for speeding.
• I'm wrong about a lot of things but I was dead on yesterday when I predicted our "probation guy on the run" story would go national.
• I had a Star Telegram writer and a Fox 4 reporter contact me about the story.
• The plea bargain he turned down: 2 years in the pen. Trust me, when all is said and done, he'll wish he had taken that.
• I normally agree with the doom and gloom predictions of Pat Buchanan.
• There's a boat show going on this weekend in Fort Worth. The bang to hype ration of a boat is completely out of whack.
• One high brow movie that I want to see is Slumdog Millionaire.
• Final AP and Coaches Poll here. TCU ends up #7 in both. Oddly, Mack Brown proclaimed on National TV that he would vote the Evil Empire #1 in the final poll. He didn't.
• I still feel fat.
• The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 7.2% this morning. Get ready. (But I also saw yesterday where Gamestop's profit rose 10% in the last quarter -- I guess people are buying video games so they don't have to go out for entertainment. Or they are unemployed and have nothing to do.)
• I get excited when I hear the phrase, "We need to talk."
• I'm still surprised Israel has continued the bombing of the Gaza Strip. Normally its m.o. is to strike hard for a short period of time simply to send the message, "Don't screw with us."
• I'll admit to be stupid: Does the average Jewish person lean Republican or Democrat?
• I've not cut my hair since July. And my goatee is back.
• Another guy and I walked across a parking lot towards each other yesterday near the courthouse square. There was no one else around and barely any cars in the lot at all. As we got within 10 feet of each other, he looks down to avoid eye contact. I can't tell you how often that happens.
• I'm beginning to get addicted to The Travel Channel and crack. I mean just The Travel Channel.

Friday Morning Pick Me Up

And It Begins

The Star Telegram is first. And I know for a fact that Fox 4 vixen Lari Barager is on the case as well. Edit:

• It was a full segment on The Ticket this evening
• Uh, oh. The AP has picked it up - first appearing in the Houston Chronicle.
• Now the Dallas Morning News which means crazy comments underneath it.
• And published in El Paso.
• Washington Post!
• WGN in Chicago.
• In the UK, the defendant asked to go to the "toilet."
• And the commenters at Fark get a hold of the story.
• And he's now turned into an "Arkansas man."

Edit: And the funniest graphic art goes to . . .

Video Alert: Super Broker Shuffle

I warn you, this tune will burn your brain. But you've got to watch it and stick with it as each salesman does his own individual "rap." I'm still dancing. And after you watch it, only one phrase comes to mind: "Yeah, white people!!!!!"

Wise County "Pay It Forward" At Starbucks?

I've never heard of it, but a sweet reader who is also a girl describes it to me this way this morning: The person in front of you buys your coffee. What do you do? Well I feel guilty and I buy the person's order behind me. It then turns into a chain. The longest chain has been 33 cars (last time I asked). I stopped buying for the car behind me for a little bit, but I felt too guilty. I feel really bad for the person in front of me because most of the time I have 3 drinks. The person behind me was only $4 so I saved $5 this morning . . . . When did this start?

That'll Get You 180

The Defendant who made a run for it was sentenced this morning. As he had to, the judge ordered 6 years in the pen but probated the sentence. He made the probationary period as long as he could (10 years) and also assessed 180 days in jail as a condition of probation. The Defendant just earned the first "Bum Steer" award of 2009 by Texas Monthly. And on the probation. The guy had no criminal history despite being in his 40 and the evidence connecting him to the dope wasn't that strong. The jury deliberated on his guilt for over three hours.

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• I'm excited about OU/Florida tonight but sad that the next college football game after that will be in August.
• Speaking of, OU will play BYU in the new Cowboys' stadium this Labor Day. I'm there -- if for nothing else than to see the stadium.
• WBAP's Hal Jay (who I continue to believe is senile) made reference to Brake-O today. The man is stuck in 1972.
• The guy that shot and killed the Dallas Police Officer was wanted for Aggravated Assault. Someone needs to get a hold of the probable cause affidavit (it's public record) that gave rise to that warrant. Sometimes, Aggravated Assault is nothing more than a threat while holding some weapon.
• Kidd Kraddick got divorced?
• Yep, all the living presidents got together yesterday. When I saw the photo, the first thing I thought about was, "Is this the best we've had to offer?"
• I watched a little of the People's Choice Awards last night -- it was one of those awards shows that you could predict who would win by who was in the audience. If they were there, they won something.
• Had a buddy call me about a decade ago and ask, "Can you go to Rio de Janeiro in two weeks. We've got a place for you." I could. But I said no. Never again.
• I kind of want to go to Costa Rico. Edit: I mention the country and look what happens a few hours later.
• There's a chance out "guy who got probation but bolted from the courtroom before his sentence" story could become metroplex news and maybe even national news (in a Paul Harvey sort of way.)
• The federal deficit this year will reach $1 trillion (that means the federal government, in one year, will spend $1 trillion more than it takes in). Last night, I saw a graph of the deficit over the years and it was absolutely shocking how 2009 looked. And didn't we have a surplus during the Clinton years?
• I can't resist marshmallow peanuts.
• One of the lawyers in the dope case yesterday began the closing argument with, "You are on this jury because someone had faith and trust in you or . . . (pause) . . . or less faith and trust in other people than you." Translation: You're on this jury not because I necessarily trust you, but because I didn't trust those other nut cases I struck off the panel. That was just bizarre.
• Have you truly lived if you've never been threatened with a restraining order?
• Going through the exact same "get ready for work" routine makes me feel like a robot. Which, in a way, I guess I am.