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I have no idea what the environmentalist group Greenpeace was doing with this banner today at Mt. Rushmore (pic from Christian Science Monitor), but it has a Wise County connection.
Blog fan Teela Watson of Decatur ISD was there on vacation and sent me this pic of the banner as it was being taken down.
I didn't watch much of the sexual assault of a child trial that went on in Decatur over the last two days, so I can't tell if today's late afternoon guilty verdict seemed right or wrong. But it was part of the very odd "split verdict" where the jury found the defendant guilty of one sex act in Count I but not guilty of a different act in Count II.
But these cases make me nervous because there seems to be so much doubt. No scientific evidence, just the word of the girl, a family incest allegation, delayed outcry, and a very short trial. (Although there was evidence that the defendant admitted to the offense to family members - but I'm not sure as to the context of this admission.)
The unusual part for the Decatur courthouse was that the defendant was of Middle Eastern descent. Most of the witnesses were from Pakistan or Bangladesh who testified with thick accents in front of typical looking Wise County jury. I hope the evidence that those involved were practicing Muslims played no role in the verdict. I have faith that it did not.
The punishment phase of the trial is tomorrow. The possible range of punishment is as low as 5 years of probation to the maximum of life in prison. Texas is unusual about allowing jury sentencing and giving them wide discretion as to what to do.
But in the meantime, it was just announced that Paul McCartney will perform in the new Cowboys Stadium on August 19th.
Just when I thought it would be a circus, Mariah Carey comes out and sings, "I'll Be There." Even made a cynical old man like me stop down.
I'm trying to track down the video, but you've got to see Mike Snyder's goodbye on Channel 5's 10:00 o'clock news last night. (He's been demoted to 5 and 6 p.m.). As a tearful Jane McGarry bids him farewell, they turn and exchange to each other a very passionate "I love you".
There were five search warrants for blood over the three day No Refusal Weekend in Wise County
I like fireworks, but there seems to have been no improvements in them in the last 30 years. You think we could have tricked them up a little bit by now.
And I'm pretty sure that's the Messenger's Joe Duty in the bottom pic on the Sheriff's version of the Bat Boat.
Shot to death.
It reminded of me when I was in an airport in September of 1994 and saw this cover of Sports Illustrated in a book store. I remember thinking "Who?" especially since the college football season had just begun. If memory serves me correctly, he didn't win the Heisman. Not that it matters now.
Recruiter asks her, "Have you ever used, possessed, sold, or transported any illegal drugs, including marijuana, even if upon an experimental basis?"
Note to military: You can't be that picky.
Not like in dead. Like in resigned.
What a nut case.
Her (what looks like) hastily called press conference, was a little bizarre. She seemed out of breath and went on a right-wing-agenda rant. But if she wants to run for president, she makes this announcement on a Friday afternoon of a holiday weekend? The absolute worst time to get your message out.
Edit: The national media wasn't even there to broadcast the resignation speech. They had to rebroadcast the footage from a local Alaskan station. So odd.
A couple of folks under the post below asked whether, and I paraphrase, "The Man can jack with you by stopping your boat on Lake Bridgeport even if you are not doing anything wrong?"
Shockingly and amazingly, our "free" country allows law enforcement to stop a boat without probable cause or reasonable suspicion that any crime has occurred. Translated: They can jack with you at their discretion.
Game wardens with unfettered power. That's all we need.
