Sheriff Caught Sitting Next To Phil King!

Oh, wait. That's not the correct headline. The cops are talking about you folks that do the dirty jobs that Americans won't do. And, look out, there's a Minuteman in the group! They're getting serious! Story (but not much to it.)

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• Best line yesterday from a friend: "Sheesh, doesn't anyone know to practice discretion anymore? When did that stop?"
• You can do things with a girl while ice dancing at the Olympics that you can't do after five dates in the real world.
• I've noticed that the ice dancing couples do a lot of "over bowing" at the end of the routine once the applause comes.
• OK, I wrote the last two points while watching ice dancing. I'm switching to ESPN right now.
• New credit card regulations went into effect yesterday in order to "protect consumers." When I was 18, I got my first credit card. My dad simply said, "Don't do anything stupid. You have to pay for what you charge." Those were all the regulations that I ever needed to hear.
• This should be its own post: A buddy of mine pointed out how foot loose and fancy free the rules are if you fly a private plane by visual flight rules instead of by instrument. You can take off and fly to a different airstrip and never tell anyone that your doing it.
• The term that sticks in my head coined by John Mayer after his Playboy interview from last week: Sexual Napalm. That guy is crazy.
• Still my favorite John Mayer song: Comfortable.
• The Fox 4 weather guy this morning was already talking about "black ice" for tomorrow since he really didn't have anything to talk about when it wasn't snowing.
• It's amazing how every ad for a guy/gal running for judge in Texas is the same: A "true conservative." Won't legislate from the bench. Will interpret the law instead of make law. Tough but fair.
• Late Tiger apology thought: The best apology had to be that of Jimmy Swaggart - full out weeping and crying. Now that's the way it's done. And, while channel surfing this weekend, I ran across a Jimmy Swaggart Ministries' show with a preacher that has to be his son. Looked just like him.
• The two alleged church arsonists in East Texas don't look like a couple of rocket scientists, do they?
• There's talk of a criminal investigation into Toyota? Sheesh. We've got too many cops, investigators, and prosecutors in this world if they are looking for things to do.
• The San Diego Chargers let LaDainian Tomlinson go yesterday after nine years. Yep, he's done. How long did the Cowboys keep Emmitt Smith before allowing him to leave? Thirteen years.

Breaking: Jackie Murphree Verdict

$24 million in total damages Percentages of fault:

• Drunk Driver: 70%
• Austin Bridge: 0%
• Site Concrete: 15%
• TxDot: 15%

It is my understanding (but for reason I don't readily understand) there will be no recovery from TxDot. The final outcome, unofficially, is that Site Concrete is responsible for its 15% (assuming the verdict holds up on appeal.) The intoxicated driver certainly isn't a factor in the verdict. If she had insurance, it probably wasn't much. The only folks with money were Site Concrete and Austin Bridge. That's really what the trial was about. Edit: Channel 8 coverage of verdict

A Lot Of Wise County Folks Have Been Following This Tragedy Which Just Became More Tragic

Latest Blizzard Projection From People Who Act Like They Know Weather

Although they might be confusing Decatur with Denton. Link.

Montague County: Travel Destination Fail

Bud Kennedy had a column this weekend about some Greensheet type paper in Saint Jo having an "official notice" that a certain type of engineering would heretofore be called "Obama-rigging." I had a buddy tell me about that last week, and he's trying to get me the paper. In the meantime, enjoy the above gem from 1906 in the St. Louis paper called The Dispatch (middle of fourth page here.)

The Iraq War Explained

Credit: bagofnothing.com

Jackie Murphree Verdict Today?

It was a packed house for closing arguments this morning and the jury is deliberating. I think (didn't watch much of this) the jury will be asked if the drunk driver, Site Concrete, and/or Austin Bridge were negligent and, if so, what is the percentage of fault between them. One big issue I need an answer to is to what extent, if any, those with less responsibility have to pay the other's share of the judgment if they cannot. For example, it's a given that the drunk driver will be found negligent with a tremendous amount of fault being placed on her. If any of the other defendants are found liable, will they have to pay her share? This is civil tort law and not my area, but I know where I can find about 10 guys that will give me the answer.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• Because I'm a good guy, I sat through Carolina this weekend (an eight year old movie I'd never heard of.) Funny line from it: "I'm not asking you to be a normal child . . . . I'm just asking you to be a little smarter about your crazy side, okay?"
• And I finally watched Seven Pounds starring Will Smith. The more I think about it, the more I don't like it.
• The daughter of the Austin/IRS/Crash pilot called him a "hero" over the weekend. I'll give her a break since she's the daughter.
• Since seperating my shoulder over the Snow Day, I'm back to my jogging schedule. Even I'm amazed the pain has subsided.
• Ate at El Fenix off Woodall Rogers this weekend. Is that the original location?
• And this dawned on me the other day. You get your dining bill, you give them your credit card, they come back, you add a tip. Do they then go back and rerun the card to add the tip to it? I guess they have to. (But wouldn't it be smarter just to get the tip amount before running it the first time?)
• And I finally saw the inside of the Meyerson Symphony Center. Meh. (Kidding. It's fantastic.)
• Even Olympic hockey bores me. But I saw lots of people griping last night that the US/Canada game wasn't on HD -- I had it on HD, once I found it on MSNBC.
• For news junkies only: Did you see the news footage about Israeli spies possibly/probably being behind the killing of a Hamas' leader (it made the news because of the security cams capturing their moves)? That was right out of the movie Munich.
• I actually watched the first 13 "chapters" of R. Kelly's "Trapped In A Closet" this weekend. That was crazy. (I had always heard about it but had never seen it.)
• Even though the constant Tiger Wood's apology analysis beat me down over the weekend, bringing in a "body language" expert almost caused me to destroy my television invention.
• Some of the Olympic bobsledders had a bit of belly bulging out in those spandex suits.
• I posted a crummy cell phone pic this week on twit pic which prompted Messenger photographer Joe Duty to reply "Very nice." Kinda made my day.
• I like waking up in the middle of the night on the weekend and realizing I can go back to bed and sleep as long as I want. (Even though I'm still normally up before 8:00 a.m. anyway)
• Probably interesting for lawyers only: Former Tarrant County judge Bob Gill has been accused in federal testimony by attorney Bill Ray of engaging in "plea negotiations" in connection with Motions to Revoke probation. (The best I can tell, attorneys would go up to the judge and ask "what are you thinking about giving my client if we contest the revocation?" That'd be good information to know).

These Times They Are A Changing

You've got to love a break from the "let's lock 'em all up" mentality in judicial races. Then again, this is a judge in Dallas County looking for votes from Dallas Observer readers.

We Hear Rumors -- You Decide

High Speed Pursuit

I'm 30 minutes late on this and got nothing so far. Developing... Seems like it started westbound on 380, went by Decatur, and ended in the Slidell area. And by "end" I mean in a pasture. Edit: Started near Old Denton Road east of Decatur. It sounds like every law enforcement officer in the Wise County was after this guy.

My Small Town Baptist Upbringing . . .

. . . required me to go to look up "minaret." Edit: Thanks to the comments, I've learned that the Clash's Rock The Casbah contained the line "Drop your bombs between the minarets." Heard that a thousand times, but never knew what it meant.

Friday Afternoon Pick Me Up: Ruskie Edition

Sorry comrades, but I'm turning on the good ol' US of A in the sport of Women's Curling. The lure of Moscow is just too much, and those accents alone are enough to melt a patriot's heart. And I bet they could work a mean mop on a kitchen floor. Warning: Don't get to 1:43 on the tape because coach Olga Andrianova makes an unwelcomed appearance.

Official Tiger Woods "Press Conference" Betting Line

Edit: I listened to it at 10:00 a.m. and it was pretty good. Really good, in fact. Took all the blame. Said he was "selfish" and "irresponsible." He said he was sorry A LOT. One detail: He said his wife in no way injured him on the night of his car wreck or at any other time. "I brought this shame on myself. I hurt my wife, my kids, my mother . . . . " He also said he has been in rehab (didn't say "sex rehab") for 45 days with "a long way to go." He denied performance enhancing drugs (a rumor) and sounded mad about that. He also chastised the media for pursing his wife and kids to try and obtain photos. A small wow: He said he was raised a Buddhist and practiced it until he drifted it away from it several years ago --- "many may not realize that." "I plan to return to golf one day I just don't know when." Odds (really) the following will be said: 7/2 I regret the hurt I’ve caused 5/1 Thank my family 5/1 I’m sorry 6/1 Time to reflect 10/1 Return to golf 12/1 Appeal for privacy 12/1 Getting back on the course 12/1 Thank God 14/1 Thanks to my sponsors who have stuck by me 14/1 The Masters 16/1 Doing what I do best 16/1 Look to my family and God for forgiveness 20/1 Thank IMG for all their support 20/1 I am now just looking to the future 20/1 Time for change 25/1 We all need to move on 25/1 We’ve all made mistakes 33/1 I love Elin very much 66/1 Sex addiction 80/1 I just want to get back out on the course and concentrate on scoring birdies 80/1 Hate the sin, love the sinner 80/1 OK I admit it looks bad, but… 100/1 Jack Nicklaus 100/1 I’ve lost count how many 100/1 Get in the hole 100/1 I got a few too many birdies 100/1 Gentlemen do prefer blondes 100/1 They tried to make me go rehab 200/1 Thank God for John Terry 200/1 I’m not as bad as Ashley 200/1 I am retiring from professional golf 250/1 My tiger is back in it’s cage 250/1 My tiger has been tamed 250/1 At least I didn’t pay 500/1 I did not have sexual relations with that woman How many times will Tiger say “sorry”? 16/1 None 5/2 One 9/4 Two 7/2 Three 9/2 Four 5/1 Five 7/2 Six or more

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• I really like the Old Spice commercial with the black guy saying, "Ladies, look at your man. Now look at me. Now back to him. Now back at me." And it ends with "I'm on a horse." Funny.
• I wonder what it is like for an Olympian to spend years training for an event that is decided in five minutes, three minutes, or even less?
• Has there ever been a male figure skater who was not effeminate? But the brother/sister combos can be uncomfortable.
• I'll grow tiresome of doing the Random Thoughts one day.
• One reason America is insane: In civil cases (where someone is after money), the lawyers of either side have the right to force a witness to sit down prior to trial and testify before a court reporter (that's a deposition). In criminal cases, where someone's freedom is at stake, you don't have that right. Priorities = Fail. Edit: To commenter Jason -- I'm not sure where you practice, but I've seen only two Motions to Take Depositions granted in a criminal case in 17 years of practice hear in Wise County.
• Bob Costas at the Olympics every night: "That's a look at the medal count, presented by McDonald's." Ugh.
• Drug War Fail: It took 16 cops to execute an arrest warrant last night in Fort Worth with two of the cops getting shot. (They are fine.)
• I'm not sure who she is or what the newsy-looking website is about, but this gal keeps writing articles about Wise County. (The most recent one about the City of Bridgeport.)
• The Kay Bailey commercial that starts out, "Maybe you like us both" always makes me want to reply, "Why would you think that?"
• Heard there was a one day DWI trial in the Wise County Court at Law yesterday that ended with a guilty verdict. The only thing I know about it is that it started with the defendant running a red light in Decatur -- never a good start.
• Sports Note: There is a crazy amount of talk of the Big Ten or Pac 10 taking two or three teams from the Big 12. And it sounds serious.
• I bet the guy that flew the plane into the IRS building will become a martyr in some circles.
• A crazy T.O. on-the-runway pic from Fashion Week.
• There a few documentary fans out there, but I'm one of them. And the voice of Peter Coyote can be heard on so many of them these days.
• Wanna know what the girl behind the voice of the Geico pothole looks like?

Fire

Not That Kind Of Donut

The Messenger's Update says that there is/was a fire late this afternoon at Daily Donuts on Turkey Creek Trail in Bridgeport. Anybody from the mean streets of B-Town know anything about it?

Media Working Terrorism Angle?

Edit: Woah! Edit: Double Woah! The guy left an online manifesto explaining why he did it.

Austin American Statesman story link.