Cowboys Practice Facility Collapses With Players Inside

I cannot tell you the number of emails and texts I got about this. I've got no pictures. Turn on the TV as of 4:00 p.m. Channel 11 appears to have the best coverage because they were "lucky" enough to have Sportscaster Steve Dennis out there with the camera crew. Edit: Channel 8 has video of of the bubble collapsing. Pretty amazing. Edit: I love Fox 4 but they keep speculating that the facility went down because of "rain buildup." No way. (They also have a video of the bubble collapsing but I'll give the nod to Channel 8 for the best footage for now.) Edit: Amazingly, KDAF Channel 33 had the best video footage. Channel 5 showed it at 10:00 p.m. More amazing is that no one was killed. Edit: Should have titled this "When The Walls . . . Come Tumbling Down"

Update From China

Channel 5 did a story last night on Jackie Murphree who is in China undergoing treatment. You can watch it here. So tragic but so hopeful.

Sacked: Channel 11's Kristine Kahanek

Sheesh. What a brutal business.

Aporkalypse News

- Lewisville ISD goes down - Ponder ISD as well (in above link) - Cisco Junior College cancels graduation - will mail diplomas - Decatur and Bridgeport ISDs proclaim they "won't be bullied by the Politics of Fear." One of those was made up. Edit: I spoke to soon. Alvord ISD goes down!!! Edit #2: A comment worthy of posting (click to enlarge)

From the Jack County bathroom

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• The scandal ridden ex-Montague County Sheriff died yesterday. (Thanks emailer, I had missed this completely.)
• The more religious you are, the more you approve of torture. I'm so confused.
• Watched a little of a Boating While Intoxicated case being tried in the Wise County Court at Law yesterday. I can assure you that's the first BWI case ever tried here.
• The video in the case, which showed the Field Sobriety Tests, contained more F Bombs than any other video ever shown in a Wise County court.
• The jury is made up of 5 men and 1 women. And the men did not look like "bubbas" at all.
• Get this, the boater blew a .06 (the legal limit is .08), but the test was a couple of hours after he was seen driving without lights out of Blocker's Camp on Lake Bridgeport.
• I think they might convict him for dropping a bunch of F Bombs.
• Jumping out of his boat while being towed by the Game Warden to Wise County Park doesn't help.
• That's a pretty fun case.
• Oh, by the way, Chrysler announced it will declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy yesterday. A story which 10 years ago would have dominated the news for weeks is, in 2009, an afterthought.
• I really like watching Track and Field. Well, at least the "Track" part. And I'm not sure why it's not more popular than it is.
• The Bar Exam results (given twice a year) were just released. Baylor had the highest rating again.
• Flashback: Before I took the Bar Exam (a 2 1/2 day test), we were required to give a fingerprint so, as the proctor told us, "you don't have a real lawyer sneak in here and take the test for you." Note to clueless proctor: There is no lawyer, after one year removed from law school, that could pass the Bar Exam.
• I haven't used the word "proctor" in 20 years.
• Justice Souter is retiring fromthe Supreme Court. Uh, President Obama, let's just say there's a little country lawyer in Decatur that would be a tad bit interested in that gig. (And I promise I'd use spell check more often.)
• Notice how this has been Swine Flu Free? Can't let that happen. I still believe this "panic" is the silliest thing I've ever seen. In a nation of 300,000,000 people we have 114 confirmed cases. And all indications are those 114 will get sick and then get better.

The Wrath Of The Pig: Wise County!!!

Chico Elementary is now the first one to close. Slidell ISD has shut down completely. Source. (Thanks to commentors for pointing this out almost immediately.)

Collision Alert

We are so cautious as Americans that we will shut down the whole southwest proper just because somebody gets "flu like symptoms". But we are also the kind of people that will come up with a promotion where two kids race to home plate, in opposite directions, and without helmets. There's a collision. Wait for it.

Decatur ISD's Position On Pigdemic

April 30, 2009

Parents:

The Decatur Independent School District considers the health and safety of our students as our top priority. With the recent announcement of some confirmed cases of swine flu in North Texas school districts, DISD has been particularly watchful on all of our campuses.

No confirmed swine flu cases have been reported in Decatur ISD, however we have two suspected cases of Type A influenza in the district. We are communicating with local health authorities as well as the regional health department, and we are confident that we will be notified immediately if this case is confirmed as swine flu.

The custodial staff at all campuses are diligently cleaning and disinfecting, as is done every day, to make sure our schools are safe. As we remind our students and staff to take precautionary measures, we encourage parents to reinforce the same measures at home such as:

• Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after they cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.

• Cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when they cough or sneeze.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread that way.

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

At this time, all DISD campuses are open. Should we receive any information of a confirmed case of Swine Flu, we will consult with the appropriate officials to determine what needs to be done to protect our students.

Thursday Afternoon Pick Me Up

The Pig Attacks Dallas ISD

Get ready (and you heard it here first): A student at Dallas ISD's Daniel Webster Elementary School has a confirmed case of the swine flu. As a result that school is closing until at least May 11th. So will the entire Dallas ISD shut down? Edit: Fox 4 first to report it. Edit: More silliness --- Fort Worth's Mayfest has been canceled. And shockingly: "The Tarrant County Health Department, in the interest of public health and safety, has declared that all outdoor public gatherings must be cancelled." Richard Zavala, Director of Parks and Community Department

Golden

A couple of people have pointed this out from the Update this morning. Somebody call Leno.

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts - Special Pig Flu Edition

• The Swine Flu scare is one of the silliest things I've ever seen in my life. Absolutely one of the silliest.
• When Fort Worth ISD shut down "due to" the flu last night, some people consider it an official sanctioning of their need to panic. And many feel the situation must be much worse than we are being told. I don't believe that for a second. (Kind of fun to watch reactions here.)
• ABC News' Dr. Timothy Johnson greatly criticized the World Health Organization's statement of "All of humanity under threat." Preach on, bruther.
• I was more worried when I walked out of the old Outbreak movie a few years ago. (Hey females: Want to see a quick clip of Patrick Dempsey in the movie?)
• And the "Health Department" of the City of Fort Worth might consider hiring a spokesperson. That lady, pictured above, looks like she's ready to throw off the white jacket and head off to happy hour in that blouse.
• And she instilled no confidence whatsoever.
• And when she was asked if parents should keep their kids away from places "like Chuck E. Cheese" by a Fox 4 reporter, she said "absolutely." I could see Chuck E. Cheese officials across the metroplex spitting out their drinks at that moment.
• "Pigdemic" is a funny name.
• The Dallas Morning News web site has a "Swine Flu Survival Guide" link.
• If the Swine Flu could kill you in days like in the movie Outbreak, I'd be scared. But every "confirmed" case in the U.S. is just someone getting sick. Then better. (The death yesterday in Houston was some kid that had just came in from Mexico.)
• Is this true? The World Health Organization confirms only seven deaths in Mexico and not the 150+ their government is claiming?
• It's driving me crazy. Crazy, I tell ya!!!
• Sports Illustrated has come out with it's Top 25 for college football this fall. That's assuming we don't cancel the season this week.
• Edit: Stolen from the comments . . . "It's the Aporkalypse!"
• Ok, I wouldn't cheat you out of a Random Girl:

Pigdemic Update: Have We Lost Our Minds?

Doors won't open back up until May 11th. (Edit: Some are saying the 8th, which is a Friday.) And that's without a single confirmed case of the pig flu. (Edit: Channel 8 says "one case" was confirmed. But, sheesh, it's the flu! I've seen interviews with kids who have been previous "confirmed cases" and they describe the symptoms as, well, like the flu.)

Wednesday Afternoon Pick Me Up

"Still Life"

About a year ago I wrote this post with the above obituary attached to it. It had caught my attention for obvious reasons. Well, this month's Texas Monthly has an article about the woman and her son written by the great Skip Hollandsworth. I read it over lunch but wish I had saved it for later -- I'm not used to crying during lunch. It begins: Thirty-five years ago Dallas—and the country—was gripped by the tragic story of John McClamrock, a high school football player paralyzed during a violent tackle. But after the newspapers moved on, another story was quietly unfolding, one of courage, perseverance, and a mother’s fierce love . . . .

You've Got To Be Kidding

www.uil.utexas.edu Thanks emailer. Edit: I've tracked down the source!!!!

This Blog Runs Itself

Nothing says "guaranteed to get posted" like a hot girl busting it like nobody's business. And, baby, you hit the ground hard. P.S. Cute outfit.