Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• There was a heck of a lot more hoopla about the Rangers winning a playoff series last year because people were actually able to watch the games.
• I made fun of Ranger T-shirts last year that proclaimed them "West Division Champions." I think we finally matured this year -- I didn't see a single one.
• Darlie Routier is back on the market. (Either you know who she is or you don't.)  When her execution date rolls around, I'll bet that case will explode back onto the scene. 
• Gov. Chris Christie is a Sarah Palin wannabe. After months of teasing the GOP about whether he'll run for president, he holds a press conference yesterday to announce that he would not. He stayed in front of the camera answering questions for almost an hour. 
• The Messenger has an ad in their own paper today implying that they will rename its Sunday paper the Saturday paper (its been delivered for two decades on Saturday) and its Thursday paper the Wednesday paper (same deal.)  It's about time. 
• You military/aircraft guys, is there any significance to this video from an aircraft carrier? It's making the rounds with not much of a description.
• Every time I see Joel Osteen and his wife get interviewed (they were on Piers Morgan last night), I stop down.  That wife of his has to High Maintenance to the nth degree.
• University of North Texas "Hey, Now"?
• Great softball moment from my team: Other team's batter walks, my catcher drops the ball and believes it's a dropped third strike -- even though there weren't even two strikes, she throws the ball down to first striking the runner in the back of the head, the runner takes off to second, and my first baseman then launches the ball into left field as everyone else stood around and watched.  If I don't get Coach Of The Year, something is wrong. 
• The NBA strike is almost in full force and I feel fine. 
• The Messenger has a story about the 1972 Bridgeport/Decatur footballgame. They should do more of those flashbacks.
• I know I'm Old School when I get to work and realize I don't have any collar stays in, but I have an extra set in my desk for emergencies. 

A Loyal Reader . . .

. . .  sent me this pic from a Dallas Morning News slideshow (specific link) of last weekend's Aggie/Razorback football game.   That flag in the lower right corner: There's something not quite right.

(Thanks, Heath.)

Messenger Above The Fold

Different Perspective

After spending the morning picking a jury in an Indecency With A Child case where the defendant is pleading guilty and that jury to assess punishment, I take a lunch break and learn that (1) geeks are  upset that Apple has announced the release of an iPhone 4S and not an iPhone 5, (2) hard core Texans are upset that the President is in Dallas, (3) Tea Party people are upset Gov. Christie announced he wasn't running for president, and (4) baseball fans are upset because the Rangers are playing at 1:00 in the afternoon.

A person's problems are very relative.

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• The old guy from The Green Mile does a photoshoot with his child bride on the beach.
• I really haven't followed the Amanda Knox case, but once the judge freed her yesterday, I would have bolted for the airport to get back to the United States. And I think she did.
• Saw that the "Job Of The Day" on Fox 4 this morning was a "Front Desk Coordinator."
• Political expert (?) Hank Williams, Jr. compared President Obama to Hitler yesterday, and I wondered if that would impact his (very old and tired) Monday Night Football theme song run. Well, ESPN killed it last night. Maybe they were just looking for an excuse to can it for good.
• And it seems fitting that the crazy comparison occurred on Fox and Friends. That network may end up doing more harm than good to the conservative movement by the time it is all over with. 
• Then the goofball "Boot In Your [Arse]" guy Toby Keith comes out and says he really doesn't have a problem with gay marriage. Man, this world is confusing.
• Has any sitting President ever gone deer hunting and publicized it?
• Thirty spotted donkeys in Bridgeport taken over by Humane Society.
• I'm in trial today. Nothing fun about this one. I'll tell you more later. 
• Even when I'm what they call a Senior Citizen, I don't think I'll fall for a scam like this Grapevine man did.
• There were rumors of an American Airlines bankruptcy on the horizon, and folks got nervous yesterday when its already extremely low priced stock dropped by over a third. 
• If Cowboys Stadium had the roof closed on Sunday (perfect weather), why go to the trouble of putting a retractable roof on it at all?
• There's just something wrong about the baseball playoffs starting at 4:00 in the afternoon and being on TBS. 

Look At What Mrs. LL Just Saw!

She just picked up the Family Gangsta Sedan, headed to Fort Worth, and saw this. (via her Twitter.)

You think Mexican Drug Cartels can "send a message"? That man is sending all North Texas deer a serious message!

Great. Just Great.

"What for he take me along anyway?Pay up! This place is nasty!"

I just know the Family Pup is now going to turn up missing, and Mrs. LL will be telling me that "I need to get that dog back from those skanks before sundown!!"  Man can't catch a break. (Story.)

Sidenote: She took the little dog to a non-Wise County groomer on Friday, and told her that she wanted the hair clipped "just a little bit."  The Yorkie, who used to look like the pic above, now has less facial hair than Chaz Bono.

Dave Ramsey . . .

. . . was at the Potter's House (a church) this weekend. The purpose was to have you get control of your finances. I like the guy. His advice is pretty good, but it can pretty much can be summed up with: "Pay down your debts no matter what it takes."

Then I heard they charged $5 for parking.

Big Chemical Plant Fire In Waxahachie

Everyone is really concerned what is being emitted. A witness on WBAP says, "It really stank."

Edit: Say what?  If I put on a suit that was toxic, I certainly would be asked to leave. Duh.

Calling All Ladies

Mrs. LL and I saw this on the news last night -- a world record for a bikini parade with 357 women. Her reaction? That's all it takes? 357? We could organize that in Wise County in a New York minute, and it'd be a heck of a lot more entertaining than some Australian looking models!  We'd have character.

And for a moment we could all put aside out differences. Liberals and conservatives. Thongs and Tube Tops. I might even get a Nobel Peace Prize as well.

After Yesterday's Loss

Fans yell, Romo dejected, Rowdy smiling -- all taking place in a billion dollar stadium.  Ah, yes, America.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• Tony Romo slowly but surely loses a few fans with each passing year. And I think it is getting close to the tipping point.
• Regarding the last play, not only did Felix Jones not know it was fourth down, but neither did Fox's Joe Buck or Troy Aikman. I wonder what their combined salary is to be football experts?
• Married moment last night as I snuggled into my recliner at 6:30: Family member (on Mrs. LL's side of the family) was in a slight crisis that required us to spend the next three hours driving, waiting, and driving. Honestly, I expected stuff like that happens more often than it does. 
• So Rick Perry leased a ranch to hunt on that was allegedly called "Niggerhead," and definitely had that name painted on a huge rock (which may or may not have been painted over in the 1980s.)  At this point, the allegation is far more damaging that the ultimate truth.
• A pdf of the lease shows that former Wise County state rep Ric Williamson signed the lease along with Perry. Good to know we are connected somehow.
• What might be more shocking is that Perry said over the weekend that he wouldn't rule out federal troops in Mexico to combat drug violence. The failed War on Drugs is actually going to become a real War on Drugs.
• Did anyone see Fox 4 news at 9:00 p.m. on Friday? Steve Eager and Heather Hays were (surprise) having audio problems outside of The Ballpark in Arlington, but when they finally cut back to them, Heather invited a drunk fan to join them. The look on Eager's face was priceless. (Was Heather, uh, a little loopy?)
• I can't say I've followed the "Occupy Wall Street" protest but it looks like quite the party from the pictures.
• I'll admit posting was a little slow last week, but I'm in the middle of back to back trial weeks (the government is picking on me.) 
• A stage actress in Houston died over the weekend, and was lauded in the Houston Chronicle. She grew up in Decatur. Can't say I ever heard of her. 
• Last Friday, two people were arrested in Wise County in connection with the death of a Cooke County child. I'm not sure if they lived here or were just arrested here.
• I dreamed last night I owed tens of thousands of dollars to a Nigerian gang who had an arsenal of torture tools, and (perhaps unrelated) I was picking up a snake with my hands. Not sure what is going on. 
• This weekend: Decatur/Bridgeport.  Oklahoma/Texas.  Good times. 
• All over the news, including leading the Update this morning, is the Ray Perryman study telling us what a great financial impact the Barnett Shale has had. Sure, it's big, but is it that big? My first question was who paid for the study. Answer: The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. Have you ever heard a Chamber of Commerce say anything negative about a local economy?

Fort Worth Mayor At Gay Pride Parade Yesterday In Fort Worth

That is waaaay too much hair for a mayor.  (Assuming I don't have them mixed up.)

Credit: Bud Kennedy on Facebook.

Who Was That Gal On The Aggie Sideline Yesterday?

And is that Jude Law beside her? And why does Aggie collapse in second half?

This world is a mystery.

Edit: Oh, my. Arkansas fan at the same game.

Shocking Scores All Over The Place

Oh, and from the video below we learns (1) more people show up to an Alvord football game than a college game between Pacific and Lewis and Clark, and (2) a block PAT is still a live ball.

Criminal Justice Idiocracy

Twenty-two years old. No criminal history.

36 years?

That's insane.  We deserve the destination to which we are heading.

Story.

Friday Night Lights: Limited Wattage Edition

Bridgeport 24
Graham 21
Instant Analysis: Both teams ran the ball a lot (58 times combined). This makes those who like how Texas high school football has turned into a Run and Shoot video game very sad.

Decatur 52
Burkburnett 27
Instant Analysis: Decatur, feeling very confident about next week's game with Bridgeport, has agreed to actually go to Bridgeport. Many of the players are excited about this first time experience. No, you don't need a passport.

Tampa Bay Rays 9
Texas Rangers 0
Instant Analysis: C.J. Wilson is schooled by the Ray's pitcher who was starting his second major league game. Pontificate about that, California Boy.

Messenger Above The Fold