Friday Night Lights Upon Raindrops

Alvord 7
Paradise 20
Instant Analysis: That's the score from the Messenger but some sites list Alvord winning 32-16. Video (probably has the answer if I would watch it.).

Grapevine Faith 6
Boyd 34
Instant Analysis: No truth to the rumor that Boyd chanted "we got your mustard seed" at the end of the game.

Santo 6
Chico 46
Instant Analysis: Chico admits it just couldn't get fired up for the Baptists last week. Things are back to normal now since Santo is known to have a disproportionate amount of sinners.

Carr. Ranchview 19
Decatur 42
Instant Analysis:  606 yards in total offense? The amazing part is that they scored only 42. Video

Bridgeport 7
Prosper 49
Instant Analysis: Beat down. The Bulls had only 104 yards in total offense while one Prosper player picked up 177 yards on just 13 carries.

Reno Air Show Crash Tonight

Edit: Link to video

All the news stations were scrambling but the first video was from youtube. Freeze it at the 20 second mark and you can see the plane nose diving.

It has been described as causing a "mass casualty" situation.  I'm quibbling at a time of a tragedy, but I'm not sure what "mass" means to the person making that statement.

Oklahoma vs. Florida State Taking You Into The Weekend

Knox City Guy Is Back -- This Time He's Mad At The Cowboys

Hey, I get tired of this guy after 20 seconds just like you do, but I figured it was worth a quick post for two reasons.

First, I'd bet my bottom dollar this guy grew up listening to Southern Baptist Evangelists. I'm talking old school preaching. His cadence and his enthusiasm is exactly like what you would have heard in a Thursday night small town revival service.  If he would just throw in a "turn with me now to Luke, chapter 12" every now and then, I'm not sure you would know the difference.

Secondly, the 4:50 to 5:00 makes me laugh for some reason. I'm pretty sure his finger pointing back at him scared the heck out of him.

The only thing I'm sad about is that he didn't say, "Jerry Jones, the owner, needs to fire Jerry Jones, the general manager." (But there's hope since I didn't watch the whole thing.)

Edit: Had to respond to the comment that said this guy does the youtube video for money just like I get a "check from Google" for this blog.  Nope. Not true. I've never received a dime from Google.

A Story You Cannot Possibly Avoid Today

Just use "Google News" with "weekend" "bernies" and "real".  Heck, I'll do it for you.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• Rick Perry might take a hit on the pending execution of Duane Buck. In a nutshell, after convicting someone of capital murder in Texas, the jury is asked after the punishment phase whether the defendant will be a future danger to society. They must say "yes" in order for the death penalty to be imposed. In Buck's case, an "expert" witness testified that blacks, once released from prison, are more likely to be dangerous in the future than whites. With his execution scheduled for last night, the issue was whether he deserves a new punishment trial because of that testimony. Rick Perry refused to stop last night's execution. But the Supreme Court, at the last moment, did.
• It would almost be sweet justice if Rick Perry's callous and self-serving support of the death penalty over the years prevents him, at the last moment, from obtaining his ultimate political prize.
• But one shocking thing you probably haven't heard: The expert witness was called to the stand by Buck's lawyers because the witness ultimately concluded that, specifically, Buck would not be a future danger to society. (Court opinion.)
• The Update says today that TXI is cutting 33 jobs in Wise County. Someone mentioned those cuts in the comments here on Monday but I forgot to follow up on it. 
• I was watching a girls' softball game last night when 10 Year Old Coach Pitch turned into 10 Year Old Hits A Rocket Into Coach's Chest.  Man, it stopped everybody down. 
• The Regents of the University of Oklahoma will meet on Monday, and the official agenda released yesterday lists athletic conference alignment as something they will consider. That may be the end of the Big 12, but we'll have to wait until they get to page 219 of the agenda before they can discuss it. What a beating.   
• Fox 4 News led last night with the Pat Robertson's divorce-Alzheimers-spouse controversy. I changed the channel because that was absolute proof it was a slow news day.
• West Virginia fans, being a classy bunch, have started wearing T-shirts to football games that prominently display an F Bomb.   The Athletic Director wrote a letter to the student body urging them to stop but readily admitted the school couldn't stop them. Why can't WVU stop them? West Virginia is a public school and thereby the government.  Baylor could stop it. SMU could. So could TCU. But not Texas, Tech, or the Aggies. 
• Even if she wants to knock Rick Perry over the head with his ill-fated decision to mandate the HPV vaccine for young girls, Michelle Bachman is nuts to claim a woman told her that the vaccine caused mental retardation in the woman's daughter.  Even if it is true that some woman did tell her that, you don't repeat the story on national TV unless you believe it. 
• It may be up being Mitt Romney after all.
• Texas Monthly referred to the Texas Longhorns as the Evil Empire last night. And I heard some big college football expert say the same thing on either the Ticket or the Fan this week. I'm a trend setter once again. 

Lindsay Lohan Back To Full Throttle

And Now Back To America

I saw this earlier today and had a huge question mark form over my head.  After I got past the fact that a hot chick was involved, I was confused as to exactly what the McDonald's worker prevented the girl from doing with the ice cream.  I had to google "coning" and came up with this youtube clip that has been viewed six million times.

So let me get this straight: Young America thinks it is funny to order an ice cream cone and then reach out and grab the ice cream instead of the cone. You've got a hand full of ice cream and you think you have pulled a prank on someone else?   Ummmmmkaaaaay.

That Idiocracy filmmaker needs to win some type  Nostradamus award. It's coming at us more quickly than we think.

I'm Telling You, Be Worried About The Chinese

Ever since I saw that drum routine in the opening ceremony for the Olympics in China, I've had my eye on that country. So many. So disciplined. So young. So Chinese.  

Hello, perfect army.

Now comes along this video, and I'd like to say I'm as shocked as you are! I can't get two kids into a car the size of their bedrooms unless they've got cell phones, a DVD player, and an iPod -- not to mention air conditioning blowing on "arctic". But these little Chinese kids looked as happy as can be even though sardines aren't packed in that tight.  Sure, there were one or two that got a little handsy once outside the van (trust me, the government will weed those troublemakers out), but for the most part they were like disciplined little soldiers.

You guys can worry about the Muslims, but it's the Chinese who are on my Watch List.

Know a Justin Cop?

Edit: His name is Kevin James, and he's OK. Eerily, a Dallas Police Officer named Kevin James was shot and killed in 2001.

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• Scarlett Johansson allegedly had her phone "hacked" which caused some very revealing pics to be posted all over the Internet yesterday. (I'll leave that to you.) Her lawyer has threatened legal action against anyone who posts them in an effort to stop their Internet spread. After he made the threat, I suspect he asked someone, "how's that Internet thing work?"
• Funny T. Boone Pickens quote I read: "Don't rush the monkey and you'll see a better show." I'll have to shoehorn that in sometime today.
• The Wise County Tax Office was burglarized a day of so ago. Why? It's not like they keep bundles of tax money laying around. (Side note: Another burglary is notable simply because of the store's name: "Cushy Tooshie".)
• If you tried to drive into Fort Worth this morning on 287, you may still be stuck in north Fort Worth.
• Yeah, I saw the reports about the new tell-all book about Sarah Palin. Cocaine, an affair, and a one night stand with a college basketball star? Meh.
• Seems like the power brokers in the Republican Party are beginning to believe Rick Perry would get exposed and killed by President Obama and that Mitt Romney has a better chance of winning the general election. They might be right. 
• Had a table full of females at the dinner table look at me like I was crazy last night when I suggested what position a football player played (new boyfriend) based upon the number he wore. 
• From the weekend, Auburn's War Eagle smashing into a luxury box. But like 'merica, he kept on going. 
• I still hate the Family Cat, I just no longer hate the Family Cat more than I did the preceding week.
• Google Flight Search is up and running. When they get something right, they really get it right. 
• A Decatur kid joins the Texas Tech baseball team as a junior college transfer and gets profiled here.
• Funny quote about how UT is at the heart of the probable break up of the Big 12 because of greed for The Longhorn Network: "They were like the fat kid at the buffet who had a full plate but whose eyes got big when he saw the all-you-can-eat pudding area."
• My Eyes!!!: Nancy Grace without makeup.(Thanks, Keith)
• Hadn't thought about the collapse of that bridge to Padre Island in, oh, about ten years.

Messenger Above The Fold

Financial Hit Or Great Promotion?

CC Carpets has been running this ad all month long. Buy some stuff and get it free if Josh Hamilton hits a grand slam in September. Well, he hit one tonight. Cha-Ching.

Thoughts: (1) The free publicity for CC Carpets may be well worth the financial hit, (2) did a purchaser have to specifically designate the purchase as being part of the "Josh Hamilton Promotion" or does it apply retroactively to everyone? (3) Did the company have insurance on this bit? (4) I wondered how many grand slams Hamilton had hit before tonight. Answer: 2.

Verdict In Decatur Case

99 years in prison! And if you are thinking early parole, think again. He won't be eligible for parole until he serves "one-half of his sentence or 30 years, whichever is less." I think he is 47 years old.. Background of the case was posted earlier today just before noon.

"That didn't work out well" - Defendant leaving court carrying his own law books

There wasn't  anything sensational about this case other than the defendant himself. For months, he has made outburst after outburst during court appearances basically telling anyone who was trying to help him or making sure he was treated fairly that they were crooks and/or incompetent.  Everyone was expecting some kind of crazy conduct during the trial so security was beefed up.  However, he behaved himself (at least in front of the jury) and it pretty much went down as a routine trial.

His worst mistake was timing. His exact crime, even with his long criminal history, carried with it a maximum of 180 days in jail prior to 9/1/01. After that, Evading with a Vehicle (especially if you had a prior Evading conviction) put him in a position where the State could enhance the range of punishment and restrict his eligibility for probation. With the exception of capital punishment, he faced and received the harshest penalty available in Texas.

A Black Hole Is About To Suck Us All Into Arizona at 3:00 PM!!!

Note that it will be in his office, not hers. And not just his "office" but his "Office".  Feel. His. Power.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall when those two get together.  Him: "You support me being tough on them illegals if you get that President job?" Her: "No question. States rights. Freedom. Family. And [wink], let's just say that I don't even like Mexican food." [Fade to black as they gently embrace.]

(Side note: Good to see that someone is making a documentary on Sheriff Joe. He's denounced the film before he's seen it.)

Edit: Now with pic!

The Trial Going On In Decatur

What little I know about The State of Texas vs. John Josey:

• It's an Evading Arrest case which is normally a misdemeanor, but the specific charge is Evading With A Vehicle which makes it a State Jail Felony. But the State has attempted to prove that the defendant has a prior Evading conviction (out of Bell County) which would enhance the case to a Third Degree Felony.
• He tried to have the district judge recused yesterday but a Fort Worth judge drove up, heard, and denied the Motion.
• The State put on its case this morning which included a pretty wild video of the defendant driving on 730 between Boyd and Azle while pulling a boat and moving into the opposite lane of traffic on occasion. Let's just say it would be enough to cause me serious concern if I were representing the guy.
• Troopers eventually shot out the tires and, once they got him to stop in a field, one trooper saw two pellet holes and 2 or three bullet holes in the metal of the vehicle. (This was a little hard to follow.)
• It sounds like there was some type of internal investigation regarding how the chase was handled by law enforcement and it appears there were two shots fired at the radiator in the beginning of the chase (not sure with what type of weapon or whether it was hit) that someone or some entity found to be "unjustified". That really doesn't change anything other than I guess the defendant could use it as an excuse of "I was scared of those cops so that is why I didn't stop."
• I don't know what started the chase, but I don't think it was anything of any significance.
• I learned that when a fingerprint expert testifies about "finger ridges" that lots of people in the audience will look at their fingertips.
• The jury will deliberate guilt/not guilt this afternoon. If guilty, the "punishment phase" will fire up. (I can share what I want to share later.)
• Update: convicted very quickly. Punishment range is enhanced to 25-life for the jury to consider because of his criminal history. He has had at least 10 prior felony conviction (most of them were prison sentences of 5 to 15 years for DWI and dope with one forgery thrown in.)

"What's The First Amendment? What's The First Amendment!!?? You Don't Even Know!!!"

And his Ron Paul chant is pretty funny.

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• Someone sent me a "I think this is your dog" email but it turned out to be a "Hey, now."
• Channel 8 had a story on the Bridgeport Hospital last night.
• Final last words from a Texas man executed last night: "You're not about to witness an execution, you're about to witness a murder . . . . I've never killed anybody, never. This whole thing is wrong." I'd shrug off his comments but, then again, he was convicted in Denton County.
• Anthony Weiner, the Democrat in New York who resigned after a scandal earlier this year, had represented a district which had not elected a Republican since the 1920s. That is, until last night. Boy, the conservatives will be firing off the "See! You're next Obama" battle cry all day long. 
• There was a victim's name misspelled in the engravings at the 9/11 Memorial in New York. The first thought that comes to mind: "Is that all?" 
• For you frequent Lubbock goers, stop and take a look at that War Memorial that you pass in tiny Benjamin sometime. You can tell there are many names that had to be replaced due to mistakes. 
• My girls softball team won its first game of the year last night -- and that was with our starting pitcher not being able to make it at the last minute. After that lineup adjustment, let's just say I've cleared a place on the mantel for that Manager Of The Year trophy.
• The Third Grader in the House thinks it is big entertainment watching me try to back out of the driveway and negotiate around the rented Man Sized Truck that Mrs. LL is driving. 
• The trial I mentioned going on in Decatur did indeed kick off yesterday, but I wasn't able to watch any of it. But I did notice that the windows of the courtroom doors had been covered -- it's still open to the public, but you can't see what's going on from the hallway. 
• It seems like there are a more empty storefronts on the Decatur courthouse square than usual. 
• Blake Beavan was a metroplex kid who was drafted out of high school by the Texas Rangers in 2007. Moments after being drafted, he raised eyebrows by saying he could do as well as any pitcher on the Rangers at that very moment. He finally made it to the big leagues this year and he is 4-5 with a 4.32 ERA. Not bad for a very young kid.
• The right high school kid can start right away in the NBA, could play in the NFL after about three years, but MLB needs them to develop for four or five. I've always thought that was weird. 
• I keep a detailed database of every thing that happens in every case that I handle. Once it's closed, there's generally no need to ever update it again. But I always go back and make an entry if I see the client's name in the obituaries. 
• Decatur is ranked third in the state in volleyball?
• A Texas record: Yesterday Wichita Falls recorded its 100th day of temperatures of 100 degrees or more. I'm pretty sure that won't be on the Chamber of Commerce brochure.