Quiz: Spot The Guy Happy To See The President

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• "Winds estimated at 60 to 70 mph overturned several recreational vehicles at the Smith RV Center on U.S. 287 in Decatur and uprooted trees, according to the Wise County Sheriff's Department. The night before, strong winds blew down signs at Braum's and Taco Bell in Decatur." Source.
• "Wise County Fire Marshal Marc Dodd said lightning struck and ignited an oil tank battery, but it was quickly extinguished. He said reported winds as high as 70 mph toppled four recreational vehicles in a Decatur lot, blew two mobile homes from their foundations and smashed some lightly built sheds and barns. No injuries were reported." Source.
• "BRIDGEPORT: Water lightly stained; 67-74 degrees; 5.15' low; Black bass are good on Jackall Bling 55 crankbaits and Texas rigged Jackall Sasuteki Craws. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows." Source. 
• Come on. Throwing in the last one was funny. (And I was thinking yesterday that a Jackall Sasuteki Craw would do the trick.)
• And another guy smashes into a police car. (This time a bit closer to us in Westlake.)  What is that? The fifth time?
• The Family Cat has now decided that running from one end of the house at a speed which might possibly break the sound barrier is a good way to spend the day.
• The Star-Telegram laid off even more employees yesterday. This time the number is 45. 
• Funny tweet I saw yesterday: "Obama's got 99 problems but Common ain't one."
• The Granbury murder trial went to the jury yesterday. No verdict, but they come back this morning. Man, that evidence seems weak. (And what's the connection? One of the victims is the sister of a Wise County officer?) I had heard that some local officers had been sitting in on some of the trial. 
• There will be another DNA exoneration announced in Dallas today. No biggee. He just spent 27 years in prison!  I'll say it again: If you ever serve on a criminal jury, don't be afraid to tell the prosecution that they failed to prove their case to your satisfaction.
• Going to Waco for a college graduation this weekend. Time seems to be moving at rocket speed. 
• Newt Gingrich has announced he will run for president. Good luck with all that. He stands about as much chance as Herman Cain (who America has never heard of despite the claims of Obama haters.)
• My entire front flower bed is being uprooted today and a complete make over begins. Something about how a "clean" look is "in" per Mrs. LL.  (Need to get those home improvement channels removed from the programming package.)

Chico Storm Damage

Decatur Storm Damage Makes Fox 4

About That Package . . .

This Can't Possibly Be True

Another burger post.  I would think that some of those people are in line for the drive-through at that place, but not all. Right?  I'm guessing some are in the lane waiting for a right hand turn, but I'm not sure about that. Wouldn't even those people think something is wrong, and pull out to find an alternative route?

One Final Burger Post Because We Have A Winner For The Most Irritating Girl In The World

Earlier when she had a T-shirt on ....

Woman Bursts into Joyful Tears During In-N-Out Grand Opening: MyFoxDFW.com

Drafted By The Dallas Mavericks . . .

. . . and immediatley traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Dirk Nowitzki in 1998.

(Not to minimize the man's death, but I'm still confused by that trade. The Mavs took Traylor with the #6 pick and the Bucks took Dirk with the #9. Then they swapped players.  I guess the Bucks called the Mavs and said "Take Traylor for us before teams at #7 and #8 can and we'll get Dirk for you." But that only works if Dallas is sure Dirk won't be taken at 7 or 8 otherwise you'd want to scoop him up at 6. Plus,I would think Dallas would want, you know, something for the effort. Probably should use the Google.)

Idiocracy: A Photo From In and Out Burger This Morning

It was posted around 9:45 a.m. so it was obviously taken before that.

But nothing is as goofy as a reporter "live tweeting" the event.

Edit: Wow. Look at this photo posted around 10:15 a.m. (those are my badly drawn red arrows to show the crowd in the back.)

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• There's a civil trial going on at the courthouse which involves a car wreck in front of the Devon offices on 380 near Bridgeport. The only thing noteworthy is that one of the attorneys works in the law office of former Dallas city councilman Domingo Garcia and another is the brother of Texas Supreme Court chief justice Wallace Jefferson. 
• Notable Denton County book-in photo.
• The Messenger reports (in today's newspaper with tomorrow's date on it) that the body of the deceased in the Bridgeport-Alleged-Murder-With-A-Car case landed 100 feet off of the road. Oh, my. (And there's some pretty good Joe Duty photos.)
• Boy, that case is proof positive that Facebook, Myspace, and other social networking sites can be important to both the prosecution and the defense. (But it also seems ripe for a murder mystery along the lines of Basic Instinct: "Do you think I'd be stupid enough to wish someone dead on Facebook and then go kill them?" <-- Purely hypothetical. The Bridgeport girl didn't post anything like that.)
• Channel 8 news has been running a clip of a school fight (more of an assault) in a Seagoville ISD classroom as the teacher stands back and watches. To my surprise, the callers to conservative talk shows have given lots of support to the teacher -- mostly along the lines of "They don't get paid enough to break up fights." 
• You know you're old and have been living here a long time when you hear someone refer to "Channel 11" and for a second you've completely forgotten that CBS now occupies the channel.
• In turning on my alarm last night, I stopped and thought, "I've been doing this routine for a long, long time." 
• And this morning, when four people pulled out of their driveway in my neighborhood to go to work at the exact same time, I thought of the novel Babbitt that I read in college.
• But I guess it's better living a life that includes camping outside in front of a new In and Out Burger in Frisco last night. Really people?
• I have no idea what's the real deal about the Bridgeport High School Controversy of 2011, but it sounds like complete chaos. Last night, the school board reversed its decision made two weeks ago regarding the number who can be on the squad. 
• It's easy to forget about Westover Hills, a town within the city of Fort Worth: Under 700 residents, 96.7% white, with an average mortgage payment of $4,001 (for those who have mortgages.)
• Governor Perry, who tweets infrequently, sent one out two days ago wishing Israel a happy birthday. Think that one is political at all?
• What does this mean?: "The kickoff time for Texas' game at UCLA on Sept. 17 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena , Calif., has been set for 2:30 p.m. Central and will be televised by ABC with a reverse mirror on ESPN." Reverse mirror?
• Watching a group of middle age white folks on Fox News criticize Michelle Obama for inviting hip hop artist Common to the White House makes me cringe. 

And You Think I Have Typographical Errors

That's it! I'm applying for a job in Fox 4's Graphics Department. Their wheels are always flying off. (They had one this morning that I almost captured but it was, uh, morning.)

Interesting Facebook Posting Of Accused Wise County Gal

(They say that's her mom's pic on her profile in honor of Mother's Day.)

Edit: And some of those Facebook quizzes can be creepy:

Fox 4 Is On It

Obviously from a prior book in photo.

Story.

Something Big On 101 One Mile North Of Bridgeport [Moved to Top for Update]

Lots of cops responding to death on 101. Call first came in as fight then revised to be car vs. pedestrian. Scanner traffic calling it a "crime scene."

Edit: Now have confirmed death. Male.

Edit: Driver was Bridgeport woman named Tammie Jo Chaffee. (Quick search reveals she had a misdemeanor marijuana case pending earlier this year in Wise County.)

Edit: The deceased had an Assault case pending where the driver was the alleged victim.

Edit: Confirmed cops obtained Murder warrant.

Barry (from iPhone)

Nobody Puts Baby In A Corner . . . Or Steals Her Spotlight?

Did they make this video specifically for Liberally Lean? It has everything: Crazy chick giving it the What For. Foreign language caption. American hip hop on the sound system.  Some guy in the background acting like he's about to fire up the Wobble Line Dance (first few seconds). A fight. And.......the star of the show........a puppy dog who comes on stage quicker than anyone else.

I couldn't have directed it better.

What Is This Thing?

It was on 380 yesterday and then traveled 51 Northbound.  There are lots of wheels on that rig not to mention the truck in the front and back. Plus there's a guy steering the back of the trailer like an old time firetruck.

Click to enlarge.

Credit: Mike Honcho.

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver split after 25 years? What gives? They've discovered they really don't like each other after all? 
• The Dalai Lama received an honorary degree from SMU yesterday. Two things: (1) There is a certain demographic of guys who can never hear his name without thinking of Caddyshack, and (2) He was only 45 when mentioned in that movie when most of us assumed he had to be 80.
• The Family Yard looks awful in places -- even after pouring a ton of water on it. Is a full overhaul with new bermuda and expensive proposition? 
• Look out folks, President Obama has set his sights on Immigration Reform. He's in Texas today to kick things off. 
• I'm apathetic about any professional sports team, but I do root against particular individuals. Maverick coach Rick Carlisle is very high on that list. (And it all goes back to a brief post game interview with Chuck Cooperstein when he mocked Cooperstein's laugh in the most condescending way. I can't find the audio.)
• Mrs. LL is tearing up the flower beds in front including the removal of massive bushes. I think she has me on record as saying, "Do whatever you want out there." 
• The Fort Worth face transplant guy is a difficult story to watch. But did you know that the military paid for his surgery? And then Obamacare will pay for his drugs under his father's health care plan until he's 25? And then Medicare will pick up most of the tab because he is disabled? Are you guys going to put up with that? 
• Ryan Seacrest's girlfriend is a "Hey, Now" who hangs out with a "Hey, Now."
• Is it appropriate to tell someone they look like someone famous if you secretly believe that famous person is not attractive? I did that the other day. 
• There's a mom in the Wise County courthouse who ended up at Hooter's for dinner on Mother's Day.
• Former Fox 4 goddess Megan Henderson has a bizarre crew around her at her new gig in Los Angeles. 
• Granbury double murder trial update (what little there is.)  That case is Dateline worthy and is getting no coverage whatsoever.
• A prosecutor told me one of my clients had a hickey on his neck in court yesterday. 
• You think eBay wants a do-over?: Skype was purchased by eBay in 2005 for $2.5 billion then gave up on the service and sold it to a private firm for $2.75 billion in 2009. Microsoft will announce today that it is acquiring the company for $8.5 billion in cash.

My Belated Mother's Day Gift To All Republican Women Out There

A 29 year old Congressman who is conservative, a Baptist, not married, and on the cover of Men's Health?  It's the G.O.P.'s secret weapon and Wise County's Dream Candidate. Obama better be glad that guy isn't old enough to be President.

(Personal note: That looks exactly like the photo I used in my DA campaign when I, too, was 29.  I was soooo ahead of my time.)