Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• The fire in the Bastrop area had to bad -- really bad -- to get that much coverage when most news stations were shorthanded due to Labor Day.
• But I bet Rick Perry didn't mind one bet missing the presidential forum in South Carolina to return to Texas to "survey the damage." It looks like the race is his to not screw up and that was a chance to screw up.
• Heard on the radio this morning: "When we look in a mirror we think 'well, there are some flaws but not too bad.' But when we look at ourselves in a photo we weren't expecting to be taken, our reaction is one of, 'Oh, my gosh!!"'
• From the Update:  "ESL classes and a new citizenship class will begin Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Decatur." I'm guessing that's English as a Second Language.
• Jeff Bolton, the conservative talk show host on KLIF, this morning said he wouldn't live in the Hill Country or any other rural area because of the lack of quick fire and police response and the quality of education. Even assuming he's right (a major leap at best), its ironic that a hardline conservative considers government services at the top of his Quality of Life list. 
• And the Tea Party will not be happy with what Jimmy Hoffa, Jr. said before he introduced President Obama over the weekend. 
• The Big Tex Awards for the silly fried foods at this year's State Fair makes me shake my head. What was the winner, Fried Bubble Gum? Sheesh.
• Sports fans: Did you hear/read about the the shocking "pick u up some wings" tweet that went out over Jean-Jacques Taylor's twitter account? He claimed he was hacked which is a common excuse these days. (Use the Google if interested, but it certainly is an "oh, my" moment.)
• Mrs. LL is having a Softball Team Uniform Breakdown to try and get them done in time. Sometimes, "Baby, it's all going to be OK" just doesn't do the trick. But it'll be OK.
• For you twitter fans, the #FirstWorldPains hashtag is a funny bit. 
• Former TCU/Bridgeport star Colin Jones made the cut with the 49ers but it sounded a little closer than expected.
• The Ticket had Daniel Johnston of The Devil and Daniel Johnston on the radio last week. You don't know who he is either, do you? But I'm pretty fascinated now. 
• Its the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 Week so get ready. And why the government just didn't take the World Trade Center site by eminent domain, and then build those buildings right back like they were will always be a mystery to me. (Side note: A disturbing cover of The Sunday Times Magazine about how we refuse to talk about those who jumped to their death off of the Twin Towers.)
• The Cowboys game on 9/11 in New York against the Jets on  national TV on Sunday night has all the markings of being quite the production. The chances of former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani trying to get camera time?: 100%
• I had the last pick in a 14 team fantasy football draft yesterday. My pick: Vince Young.

My Fantasy Football Draft Today In Wise County

Elected officials, prosecutors, lawyers, a trooper, and a bunch of kids. It's insane, I tell you. But at least we do it with a Las Vegas feel to it.

(Be nice. I like this girl.)

College Uniform Alert

I'm not sure what was going on this weekend with crazy tricked up uniforms (Oklahoma State and Georgia come to mind), but Maryland on ESPN tonight has gone over the top. What the heck is that? What is up with the half and half helmet? It's like Mad Max or something.

For once, I'll give huge credit to Texas and other schools which refuse to tamper with the traditional look.

Pictures From Tonight

Lightening strike at the West Virginia / Marshall  football game (no one was hurt despite an initial ESPN report that they later pulled):

Near Bastrop today (per Facebook)? If real then "wow".

Edit: Video. At the 1:30 mark you can see how high the flames are.

Glorious

But I think we'll end up being one day short of another record (number of 100 degree days.) I can handle second place.

Messenger Above The Fold

Rice Band Throws Down Some Schtick

Rice is playing at Texas tonight and their band is notorious for being very creative. At halftime, they thought it'd be funny to remind Texas fans that the Aggies plan to go to the Southeastern Conference (SEC).. To go even further, they made the "S" a "$" to indicate, I guess, that the Ags will be making more money in that conference. That's a funny bit. Well played, sirs.

That Wasn't A Dream, Right? Baylor Did Win? --- Saturday Reflections

If I'm giddy it's only because I have experienced College Football Suffering Syndrome for a long, long time. This may be the only time this year I get to be giddy. So forgive me, for I do not know what I do.

So let's review last night's game:

The "Hey, Now" sideline reporter (who is dumb as a box of rocks but that never matters to ESPN):

The perfectly timed TCU fan "You've Got To Be Kidding Me" moment:

"We've gone from a win in Pasadena to a loss in Waco?"

And we'll go to the Baylor Mascot for a reaction:

"Whaaaaat? We haz win against da frog?"

And kudos to Baylor's quarterback who I have raved about for three years, but this graphic is so wrong in so many ways. But funny.

A crowd "Hey, Now":

I've been there, buddy:

And, finally, this video was from last year after TCU absolutely destroyed Baylor in Fort Worth. A heckler taunts the players with "Good job, Big 12" in, as even TCU fans have admitted, was a classless act. But watching the video again, check out the 1:50 mark when the guy taunts Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin and then a coach goes ballistic. This video should be the poster child for good sportsmanship. When I first saw it last year, I said it needed to be played in the Baylor locker room before last night's game. I 100% believe that it was.  (But I kind of want to see the guy's "ankle tat".)

Pigskin Reflections

Gainesville 20 Decatur 35
Instant Analysis: That should be enough to bring the cockiness back

Bridgeport 51 Burkburnett 36
Instant Analysis: Defense? We don't need no stinkin' defense.

Chico 26 Gorman 20
Instant Analysis: I should have trademarked my Zombie comment from last week. And, seriously, when is the last time Chico scored 20 points in one quarter like they did in the 3rd?

Gunter 7 Boyd 28
Instant Analysis: Nothing jumps out at me other than a good bounce back from last week's loss.

Paradise 20 Henrietta 23
Instant Analysis: Those 20 points came in the 4th quarter. Woke up too late. 

Whitewright 41 Alvord 25
Instant Analysis: It wasn't even that close

La Marque 75, Houston Wheatley 6

Instant Analysis: Craziest score I could find from around the state. 

Watch Me Jinx It As I Post In The Third Quarter

I've been here before. This is FAR from over.  But the biggest shocker is the TCU defense

Edit: At the end of the third and I'm still worried:

Edit: And now we go to the 4th quarter and look what is happening. **Facepalm**

Edit: Looking for Paxil on Craigslist:

Edit: Looking for pistol in my closet:

Edit: I see a white light at the end of the tunnel and I'm being called back. What's that voice? What did you say?  50? Did I hear 50?

Edit: Final? Oh, my. Oh, my indeed! That was one of the craziest games you'll ever see.

Daughter and Mom Take You Into The Weekend

Audrina Patridge and her mammy

Look What The New Owners Did To Skyler!!!

Today (email pic from new owner):



Yesterday! (This is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen):

I Think I've Got My Softball Team's Pre-Game Speech Ready

"Gonna fight . . .. 'til you can't fight no mo. And when you can't fight no mo . . . you gonna lie down an bleed awhile . . . You gonna get up . . . and fight some mo!!!"

Man, can you imagine the looks on everyone's face if I was to break into that.

It's Game Day!

You can take your baseball and your NFL, it's college football game day. ESPN at 7:00 p.m.: #14 TCU vs. Baylor.  TCU has winning streak of 25 regular season games, but the betting line is insane: TCU opened up as a 10 point favorite but that's now down to 3 1/2.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• I kept hearing that the "Wise County fire" was "50% contained yesterday". It was pretty much out, wasn't it?
• There was a time I'd laugh that a forecast of highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s would be called a "cold front." I'm not laughing now.  Bring it.
• Mrs. LL is loading up the girls and going to Arkansas this weekend. It'll be weird being in a quiet house even though it is pretty much how I've lived almost all of my adult life.
• My girl's softball team had a "simulated game" last night in practice. Uh, this has the potential to be a disaster. The league is 12 and under, player pitch, with stealing. Sheesh. This game is pretty much going to turn into walk-n-steal? Right?
• Then I heard a rumor that some coaches will have their player sprint to first on a walk and then take off to second if the catcher hasn't gotten the ball back to the pitcher. First, I can't believe that's legal. Second, coaches, have you no decency! Have you no honor!
• That was a pretty nasty wreck in Wise County yesterday, but what is that rectangular shaped object in the foreground of the photo?
• In today's USA Today: "Under normal conditions, the Decatur Livestock Market, about an hour outside Dallas, sells between 250 and 400 cattle a week, says Mickey Scarborough, operations manager. On Monday, the auction house sold 1,200."
• Not unusual for me: I was supposed to be at a plea bargain hearing this morning, but my court appointed client can't make it because he's in jail somewhere else on other charges. 
• Right now over at Fox News everyone is getting an email saying, "Be sure to mention every five minutes that the official jobs report this morning has unemployment still at 9.1% with no new jobs added last month."
• Overheard on the radio: "Doesn't it make you uncomfortable when someone says 'God spared' their house in a wildfire? I mean, why did He put your neighbor's house which burned to the ground in His crosshairs?"
• Dave Ramsey is holding a seminar in Dallas on October 1st but he's been running commercials for over two months saying it is "trending towards a sellout." Tickets are $42 to learn how to get you finances in order.
• The Ticket's George Dunham was in Miami last night doing play by play for UNT's football game. He was also broadcasting live from the station's Dallas studio at 5:30 a.m. this morning. 
• Anybody know what whole hole number that is in the pic of The Cliffs below? 

Tell Me My First Girls Softball Game Won't Be Like This

Wait a second? Did I see a player tackle a ref? I'd ban the whole team. (And I have organized youth sports experience!!!!! A whole two weeks worth!!!)

Story.

Edit: I invoked a "no racism in the comments policy" on this one. Man, I'm glad I did,

Pick Me Up: Fiona

We've had Sybil and that Fischer chick on here the last few days, and someone felt like we were leaving out Fox 4's Fiona so they sent me a pic. Actually, it was a huge picture with a guy standing next to her. Somehow he accidentally got cropped out when I was uploading it.

"County Law! County Law!" *

Police not "getting along" with Rodney King and giving him the "what for" 

A federal appeals court has ruled that we have a First Amendment right to film the police while they are in the course of doing their duties.  That seems to be common sense, but it's good to know the next time the cops tell you to "quit filming!!!"  (But these days, they film themselves with in car cameras more than anyone else does.)
________
* Title is a callback joke to cops being (voluntarily) filmed here.