Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• In separate instances this weekend, a stunt plane crashes to the ground and an "air walker" falls to his death while trying to go from a wing of a plane to a helicopter. Good Morning America graces us with video of both this morning. Kind of makes the show ironically titled today.
• I don't think being a "wing walker" is a necessary craft in this world. 
• Former Bridgeport/TCU footballer Colin Jones was drafted as a defensive back but has also been practicing as a wide receiver. I don't know if that is a good sign or bad. 
• That first day of school is a big thing, isn't it?
• Photo from the funeral of the Bridgeport child that was accidentally killed in a gun accident last week. (Facebook, so maybe limited access.) Edit: Available here and here.
• Random jogging thoughts: (1) What are the chances of being mugged in the dark while running, (2) there was an assistant DA in Tarrant County who claimed that his sister was the "Central Park Jogger", (3) I wonder how many people remember the "Central Park Jogger" case. 
• In the Paradise murder case, the Messenger reported over the weekend that the victim had been "positively identified" but that the name was being withheld until next of kin could be contacted. I would think that would have been done by now. 
• Can't remember the name of the new comedy which is being promo'd by some lady saying, "Why do guys wear a jersey when they watch a football game? That's be like me watching CSI dressed up as a dead hooker." 
• In San Francisco, you can take your family to an NFL game and try to avoid two separate shootings in the parking lot and a man beaten unconscious in the bathroom. Sheesh. Here's the brawl in the stands during the game. (Video.)
• Next we'll be seeing a gunfight breaking out in a soccer game in Mexico. (Video.)
• Our new dryer is right out of Idiocracy. It doesn't have a timer on it -- you just set it to "dry" or "less dry" or "more dry" and it stops when it is finished.
• If you saw the biggest baby in the world do a faceplant off of a couch this weekend while his sisters(?) dance in front of him, then you probably saw one of the most bizarre videos ever. I don't even feel comfortable linking to it. 
• Lindsay Lohan and her momma do not look like Lindsay Lohan and her momma.
• The Decatur ISD Superintendent was quoted in the Amarillo paper saying the Texas legislature did not have the "political will" to deal with the budget crisis. 
• I saw a commercial for a big budget movie last night called Contagion which looks a lot like Outbreak. (And did the latter really need that helicopter chase scene?)
• The Messenger's site is loading slowly, isn't it?
• After being beaten senseless for month, the Rebel Force in Libya had a cakewalk into the capital city over the weekend and took it over. I kept thinking it was set up for an ambush, but maybe I'm wrong. 
• #34, here is your fifteen minutes of fame: 

You Remember That You Are Running For President, Don't You?

Hey, I don't care what you build, but if your in the middle of a campaign which is in the middle of a horrible recession, you might not want to file paperwork to demolish you $12 million vacation home so you can quadruple the size of it.

Rick Perry would jump on this like nobody's business but for living in a taxpayer funded $10,000 temporary rent house.

Little League World Series

I'm stealing this line: "The 'sinking ship' feel to the video when the kid goes down is a work of art."

(He's fine.)

Messenger Above The Fold

Dallas Cowboys News

Jerry just let us know that, "In my mind, I'm announcing Drew Pearson, Charles Haley and Larry Allen will go in the Ring of Honor."

Caption This Trophy

With all the reporters in Iowa covering presidential politics at the Iowa State Fair, one of them came upon  the press conference of some company displaying the new trophy that will go to the winner of this years game between Iowa v. Iowa State. It's a father holding an ear of corn in front of the family unit after a hard day's work.  The Internet has not been kind. My favorite so far:

Another one was along the lines of  "Son, I'm sorry, but the farm's lost. Now run on and go get you a football scholarship."

I've Mentioned These Kids For A While

Story.

If you like crime, justice, and documentaries, you've got to rent Paradise Lost: The Child Murders Of Robin Hood Hills (1996) and the follow-up Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (2000).  You can actually enjoy the second one (which is great) without watching the first. And, I promise, you'll never forget Mark Byers.

Fred Flintstone Driver Trying To Stop Car With Feet

(You've got to get past the cop yapping with the reporter to see the driving.)

I guess the generation raised on good old fashioned American cartoons is coming of (old) age. We're all broke, can't afford to get our brakes fixed, and have to rely on our childhood memories just to get by.  (And if this guy doesn't have a coyote in the back of that truck with a couple of Acme sticks of dynamite and an anvil, I'm going to be sorely disappointed. )

Nutty Arizona Sheriff Has (If It Is Possible) Just Gone Nuttier

I've got a very short list of people that put me over the edge. Nancy Grace, Ann Curry, and Sean Hannity to name a few.

But one guy who causes my Loony Radar to go off on an almost daily basis is Arizona Sheriff  Buford T. Justice Joe Arpaio. He's a fraud at best. A racist at worst. But he is, without a doubt, a self-serving panderer.

His latest "look at me" ploy is his announcement that he's going to investigate whether the President is a U.S. Citizen  -- something that seems squarely outside the jurisdiction of some backwoods Arizona sheriff. The Tea Party would do itself a favor if it would distance itself from people like him.

And, as a side note, his Twitter feed is a joy. He's normally telling you that he's about to go out and "round up some illegal aliens", how he's proud  that he has a "tent city" jail in 111 degree temperature,  or where his "DWI chain gang" is going to be.  But I loved this one the other day:

Yep. When a 109 year old lady dies, somehow Sheriff Joe knows how to make it all about him. But, then again, that's all he does.

Edit: Listen to the big man talk this afternoon!!!

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• The Random Girls(s) pic is from the opening of Bikini's sports bar in Arlington. More here.
• One of my first trials as a prosecutor involved a Resisting Arrest case at Hooters. My first witness was the manager on duty who, when asked to describe the restaurant, took it upon herself to go into PR mode and describe it as"a family friendly environment." Good start.
• Lake Bridgeport is 11 1/2 feet low and it looks like it is now on pace to begin losing a shocking two feet per week. 
• I've heard that very few people have been on the lake this summer. Makes sense. Being in a boat on a lake in this heat seems like it would be absolutely no fun.
• Our local Texas Ranger (the law enforcement one) played football for the University of Louisville during the team's glory years around 1990.
• If you ever saw the documentaries on The West Memphis Three on HBO then (1) you loved those shows, and (2) you'll be interested to know those "boys" might be released today. 
• We had a Wheel's Off Waiter at Texas Land and Cattle last night at a birthday celebration. That is, if you consider having your salad, appetizer, and main course all arrive within five minutes of each other as being Wheel's Off.
• I'm not saying it is so, but the Paradise Murder case has the potential to be bizarre. And I think the cops now know the name of the deceased but I don't know if they've figured out where she is from.
• Drove by the University of North Texas' new stadium yesterday. It looks really nice but it's also like a 5A high school stadium on steroids. 
• Honor in odd places? So far in Wise County, if a prosecutor makes a promise or a representation, you can take it to the bank. It may be one of the last places in the state where you can say that.  Sadly, there will come a day when that is no longer true.
• The Third Grader in the House told me the other day that she "had been in the longest line in the history of lines." Attagirl. 
• I had no desire to watch Most Eligible: Dallas on the Bravo channel, but I'm going to after hearing about how pompous the guys on the show are.
• Shouldn't we be a little bit nervous that Israel, in retaliation for the death of eight within its borders, has sent jets to bomb the Gaza Strip? That's not exactly the kind of tension you want to get out of hand. 
• In other international news, the Georgetown Hoyas went to war yesterday with Red China during a basketball game. Video. Oh, my.
• We're getting a new clothes dryer today. That appliance better be prepared for me to stand over it with a stop watch because I want to see some fast drying, and I want to see it today. 

[Updated] Man Booked In Wise County Jail For Alleged Murder In The Paradise Case From Yesterday

Disclosure: I was appointed this morning by the Court to represent the juvenile. However, it is my belief, after talking to authorities, that the juvenile will not be charged, is not connected to any crime, and will be released from detention this afternoon.  Obviously, the appointment puts me in a position of protecting the juvenile above anything else. Any posts and any comments will be moderated accordingly. (Above information is public record taken from the WCSO website.)

Edit at 4:55 p.m.:   This afternoon the juvenile in this case was released from detention with no charges being filed.  He is not considered a suspect, and has cooperated fully with the police and, specifically, the Texas Ranger assigned to the case and investigators with the Wise County Sheriff's Office. From the facts, it would appear that law enforcement became aware of the alleged murder prior prior to the juvenile learning about it.  Before his release, he was consulted with by Child Protective Services who took measures to ensure his safety and well being. As to the future, I expect him to be attending public school on the first day of class.

You OK Anderson?

It's Football Season In Texas

Hey, I didn't watch all of this, and I suppose there's no way this guy understands "brevity = good".  But this is worthy of a post because (1) Decatur attorney Mark Howell is actually from Knox City, Texas (I have it on good authority that he's about to run this video as a commercial with a new slogan of "Proof I'm A Common Man Lawyer Serving The Common Man" or "I'll Open Up A Can Of Knox City On The Opposition") and (2) I'm not going to let Ty Brickersmith get shorted (51second mark.)

Thursday Morning Pick Me Up

And to think all these photos are from a Texas lawyer's web site.

"Son, You Got A Panty On Your Head"*

A panty mask, a dress, and white go-go boots.  I like his style.

_______
* Man in pickup to H.I. McDonough, Raising Arizona (1987)

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• We've got a dead body and a "who done it" in Wise County (two posts down)  and we can't get the story on any metroplex TV station? What do we need? Two bodies?
• The Family Clothes Dryer no longer drys clothes. Ugh. But I've hated that thing from the day I bought it -- And I'm thinking of going Industrial Size this time. Suggestions?
• The remodeling of TCU's stadium is continuing. Did I hear correctly that there aren't any lights so two September games have been moved from evenings to the day, and that majority of the crowd will be forced into the east stands which (obviously) looks back into the sun? It'll be a nice stadium when completed but for now: Beat-Ing.
• And the death of the child in Bridgeport a couple of days ago was due to a gun accident. No foul play. Just a horrible and tragic accident. 
• My first club experience ever: Seeing a new wave band called The Telefones in a club called Tango on Greenville Avenue in Dallas. I was pretty sure I wasn't in Wise County any more. 
• I know you don't care about the current scandal at the University of Miami but you have to like the reason given for blowing the whistle on the school by the incarcerated ex-booster: "Straight up revenge." (And the story, investigated and broken by Yahoo! Sports has been said to be the "finest piece of online sports journalism in history.". Take a look at the story where they list the implicated players to the side with hyperlinks taking you to the allegations and supporting documentation.)
• "The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said Wednesday that it has levied a $212,500 fine against J-W Operating Co. of Wise County."
• Nice moment when I woke up in the middle of the night: A quiet house, The Family Pup asleep under the sheets, the Family Cat amazingly asleep on the covers above my feet, and Mrs. LL quietly asleep as well. I tried to stay awake just to enjoy the picture. 
• Tony Romo said that his bachelor party consisted of a no alcohol evening in a cabin in West Virginia with a bunch of guys playing Hide and Seek in the dark. He's kidding, right? (The no alcohol part seems believable  but the rest of it is down right weird.)
• It's a little long, but if you want to read about a lawyer suing his ex-law firm this is really funny. Preview: Before he was fired, he sent an email to his bosses in the firm that said he had "a superior legal mind to most I have met." That'll get you points. 
• Little Miss Sunshine is growing up.
• Man, I should have made the Wise-County-Teachers-Get-Trained-On-Abuse-By-Watching-Shocking-Video a post all its own. (Tons of comments about it under yesterday's Random Thoughts.)

Liberally Lean Forecast

1) We're dying here.
2) We would be killing the 100 degree streak record right now but for your prayers for rain last weekend. Thanks a lot.
3) Should we start getting on the bandwagon to break the 69 days of 100 degrees or better?
4) If there is a bus in the sky on Monday, my life is complete.

We Got A Murder?

Messenger is on it.

What's the word people?

Edit at 7:30 p.m.: It has been confirmed that the body is that of a female although badly decomposed due to the intense heat. Body was found wrapped in a tarp tied on both ends which had been drug into a barn with what was presumed to be a tractor. A tip from a citizen of gunshots being heard a night or two ago led to a search warrant which then led to the body.  The owner of the home is being detained and interviewed.  A car with out of state plates is for sale on the property which might be unrelated to the incident. A juvenile is being detained.   The property will be kept secure overnight with a more detailed search tomorrow.

General area: