Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• Odd baseball thought: Was there ever a time when the umpire, after a foul ball, would throw a new ball out to the pitcher instead of handing it to the catcher?
• If you could have bad memories erased from your 'noggin, would you?
• Over the weekend I watched the new documentary on HBO called "Thrilla In Manila" about the final Ali/Frazier fight. If you can remember those times in boxing, you'll absolutely love it.
• And remember how hard it was to get information back then? After a championship fight, you were lucky if the local sports would tell you the result. Photos or, heaven forbid, video was out of the question
• One more thought: The day after the fight, my down-the-street-neighbor, Bud Vinson, and I were playing football in the street. When the evening edition of the Star-Telegram was thrown, we ran over to it to read about the fight. I remember a pic of a battered Joe Frazier and felt awful for him.
• I'm OK now.
• Funny exchange at the courthouse yesterday: Person A: "They are getting crazier and are almost impossible to deal with." Person B: "Who? The inmates or the DA's office?"
• Funny exchange #2 in discussing a secure place to keep a firearm: Person A: "Do you have a gun case?" Person B: "No, it was dismissed." Person A: "Huh?"
• The Rangers have changed the Dot Race from showing it on a video screen to three guys in Dot outfits running around the field. That's funny. Edit: Fox 4 did a bit on it last week.
• I'll occasionally stumble upon the Dr. Phil show. It sucks the life force out of me like nobody's business.
• The Shooting Of The Pirates (I'm going to trademark that phrase) was absolutely amazing based upon the ABC News graphic re-creation. (But I don't buy for a second that they shot because they feared the captain was in imminent danger at that very second. They shot because there was an open shot. But I really don't have a problem with that.)
• I can only think that baseball attendance will continue to fall. With more and more people able to sit comfortably in their homes watching in HD (if they care to watch at all), the whipping of driving to the game seems less and less appealing.
• Attendance at last night's Ranger game: 12,184. Eek. That's the "smallest crowd for a scheduled game in Rangers Ballpark in Arlington history."
• Trifecta death yesterday: Harry Kalas (who I considered the new voice of NFL films), ex-Tigers phenom Mark Fidrych (he talked to the baseball on the mound) and Marilyn Chambers (the greatest actress of her generation.)
• Guy gets handsy at The Masters last weekend. You can't do that!
• Hot girl. A krillion pics. Same pose. Every time. Here. (I don't know why, but I feel the need to warn that that the "B" word appears in the first few seconds.) But it can't be real. Can it?

Glenn Beck Almost Bored A Man To Death Today On Live TV

Uppity Dallas Folks Be Hatin' On Boyd

From D Magazine's blog, comes these comments about the presidential dog being from Boyd.

And Another......Wait.........What?

Link. Edit: But we did have a more traditional wreck later.

Post Easter Pick Me Up

Wreck?

Got a report of a big accident on 287 outside of Decatur. All I know is that there are emergency sirens firing off all over the place. Anybody know anything? Edit: A fire at the Dairy Queen?

It's Just Like The Titanic, Except With Bears

Story here. Video of them trying to get her ample body out of the bear pit here.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• The new presidential dog, Bo, is from Wise County? Yep. Edit: Boyd to be exact.
• It's almost impossible to watch a golf tournament on TV because I get beaten down with some spare guy yelling, "Get in the hole!"
• Master's thought: I felt sorry for the Kenny Perry blowing the lead, and I liked the crazy look of Japanese golfer Shingo Katayama.
• Question in Parade magazine: Who takes care of OJ Simpson's kids while he is in prison? No one. They are now 23 and 20.
• You can't blame a reporter for referring to Montague County as "mont-a-gyou" since that's probably the way it should be pronounced.
• The shooting of the pirates sounds more exciting than most action movies. Edit: I just heard the surviving pirate is 16 years old. Really?
• The "feel good" video of the day yesterday came from a British show involving Simon Cowell.
• One of the best things about Easter is seeing little kids all dressed up.
• Ann Curry's twitter page makes her even more annoying. And I didn't think that was possible.
• Step Brothers didn't do much for me. There were a couple of funny moments, but that's about it.
• Yesterday my mom gave me an incredible scrap book of newspaper clippings from my years as DA in the 1990s. It's amazing. I had no idea she kept all that stuff.
• Kurt Cobain has a son (or so a TV show casually mentioned yesterday)?
• The new Hannah Montana movie was #1 at the box office over the weekend. That kid just prints money.
• I saw someone's foundation being repaired over the weekend. I don't think I've ever seen that before, and it looked like a total beating.
• The most confusing Google Street View shot ever. (Thanks, Keith.)

Random Cheers and Jeers

I love Cheers and Jeers in the Star-Telegram. Today's random samplings: You would have to pay me to share a table with a stranger at Denny's. I'm not sure I've ever seen a cat on a leash nor a cat being a problem for a lawn. I was with you for a little bit there, baby. Mrs. Ex-Green #8? Nancy. Nancy. Nancy.

Must Be A Big Wise County Connection

A teenager from North Richland Hills was killed in a traffic accident yesterday in Jack County, but I noticed the services will be held in Bridgeport with burial in Boyd.

Flashback

In honor(?) of the Wichita Falls tornado 30 years ago, here are a couple of pics from the Decatur tornado of 2001.

Not A Pick Me Up

On Tuesday, there was a blood bath at the Dallas Morning News as many, many people were fired. It's all about the paper trying to cut costs only to speed up its impending demise quicker than you can say CueCat. Former employees gathered at a website to post condolences and announcements. One name I recognized was Dan X. McGraw who seemed to write most of the local stories. You can't help but feel sorry for the guy as he wrote on the website: I didn't want to comment on here yesterday for obvious reason. This has been the worst week of my life, and I haven't quite been able to understand it. I don't understand the decision that were made. I wrote more than 450 stories and produced 70+ videos in 37 weeks, but it didn't save me from getting RIFed. My less than 40K salary didn't help me either. Ironically, months before I was laid off, I was told that I was doing exactly what they wanted my position to do. I never heard any negative comments about my work. I just don't understand. I was hoping to make a year at the DMN, but I feel two months shy. I'll miss you all. I wish you all the best. Sincerely, Dan X. McGraw danxmcgraw(at)gmail.com

How To Handle An Investigative Reporter 101

I Can't Find A Picture Of Him

Former WFAA-TV reporter Matt Quinn and his wife Cathy perished Thursday when fire swept through their property in rural Montague County, according to a family member. Cathy's son, Chris, suffered burns and was being treated Friday at the Parkland Memorial Hospital burn unit in Dallas. Hospital officials said he is in fair condition. Matt Quinn began his duties at WFAA in 1980 after working for ABC News. He presented a regular feature segment called "Matt Quinn's Chronicles." Former Dallas Morning News TV critic Ed Bark called him a "thoughtful reporter of mood pieces" in a 1988 article.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• Did you see the video of the Duncanville city council member being escorted out of the room by police only to have a back injury? Drama. Queen.
• It's the 30 year anniversary of the Wichita Falls killer tornado. It's the 30 year anniversary of me being awakened at night so I could seek shelter in my neighbor's storm cellar (in my underwear with a sheet wrapped around me.)
• Fort Worth motorcycle death.
• Garland motorcycle death.
• Man, I like Fiona Gorostiza of Fox 4. They just don't have her on enough.
• Chia Obama?
• A Mexican restaurant in Paradise?
• Mexican restaurants are the only type of restaurant that Wise County does very well.
• I got got corrected on something yesterday that I can't believe I didn't know: It's silicon valley but silicone breast implants.
• I refuse to get too excited about the Rangers.
• I used to be a movie watching foolbut that stopped for some reason. But I've got Batman: The Dark Knight, Iron Man, and Step Brothers sitting on my DVD player. (I've already seen Batman but I want to watch it with subtitles, because I didn't understand a dang thing they were saying in theaters.)
• I watched a guy get mad because a case got dismissed this week. He had received a 20 year sentence out of Wichita County but had a hot check misdemeanor pending in Wise County. Even though he was being offered time served, he demanded a jury trial so he could spend more time in the Wise County Jail and not get transferred to Huntsville. So the State simply dismissed the case. He was not happy.

Dark Days

Along FM 101 between Bridgeport and Chico. (Thanks emailer.)

Fire! Fire! Fire!

Sheesh. I'm out of pocket for four hours and the whole county is burning down. Looking for updates. You boys got any? (Some photos stolen for Lari Barager's Facebook page.) Breaking news: They are trying to kill WILDLIFE!

A Whole Slew Of Future Mrs. Greens

Link.