College Football Takes You Into The Weekend

Prosecutorial Discretion

Story.

What was said:

"The case was a difficult one for the state," the prosecutor said in a statement. "We relied heavily upon the testimony of a previously convicted felon and evidence of an ongoing drug transaction. We believe, however, that it was important to prosecute murder as murder wherever it occurs within Tarrant County even if we don't approve of the circumstances."

What  I hear:

"We really didn't have a lot of evidence this guy did it," the prosecutor said. "As the government, we supported a witness who apparently couldn't be believed because he's a convicted felon who is still committing felonies. We believe, however, that when you've got a dead body we might as well try to convict someone of murder even with evidence like this."

Man Has Campaign Skills

Edit:

From the Texas Speedway this morning

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• In watching some of the Michael Jackson doctor trial, I'm beginning to believe California has the worst prosecutors in America.
• WBAP reported the official temperature at Alliance Airport this morning was 25. Someone needs a new temperature gauge. (My only Hal Jay note is that he said he had never heard of the band 38 Special.)
• Fun stuff yesterday: Google the words "Do a barrel roll."
• Fox 4's Lauren Pryzbyl this morning on Justin Beiber: "It looks like he rarely says no. He seems to have his hand in everything." Her comment was innocent, and she was oblivious to her co-hosts "oh, my" expression.
• An actor in one of the worst movies every, Porky's, has committed suicide.
• Official unemployment number just released: Down to 9%. Advantage: The President.
• I hope it is not officially stealing to take candy from a kid's Halloween stash. 
• Fox News Stu Varney must wake up every morning convinced the sky is falling.
• I went to Sardine's in Fort Worth last summer and now it's closing to turn into an 1980s themed place. More of the Liberally Lean curse?
• Here's a pic of the mother of the teenage part of the Crazy Couple. Potentially a "Hey, Now."
• I'm not sure what she was typing, but Mrs. LL spent 20 minutes last night writing out a complaint to a pizza delivery company. I believe there  must have been a serious "toppings issue."
• I dreamed I was trying to take a flat screen TV in the woods behind my childhood home to watch a Cowboys game. Seems normal. 
• I don't know what the Felon in Possession/Tampering defendant in Wise County received as a sentence yesterday. No one was talking about it up at the courthouse late yesterday, and it was not in today's Update.  Not exactly To Kill A Mockingbird excitement.
• Sports: (1) I'm locked into Alabama/LSU this weekend, (2) A Bridgeport girl is playing basketball at St. Edwards University, (3) Decatur girls volleyball won last night as Bridgeport was eliminated, and (4) Bridgeport v. Lake Worth was the Ticket's Big Black Cowboy Computer's Craig Way Memorial High School Game of the Week this Morning. 
• Video of the Day yesterday: San Francisco guy not pleased with getting a traffic ticket.

One-Half Of The Crazy Couple Without Makeup

"That girl ain't right."

More.

The Humiliation Will Hurt More Than The Wound

Story.

Lawsuit Of The Day

Does this look like a man who married a hot chick, got divorced, and then filed suit against the wedding photographer because he wasn't happy with the wedding pictures? Yep. And not only did he want money, he wanted money to fly the complete wedding party back to New York to recreate the wedding for a different photographer.

Part of the lawsuit still lives but in dismissing part of it, the judge wrote:

This is a case in which it appears that the “misty watercolor memories’’ and the “scattered pictures of the smiles . . . left behind” at the wedding were more important than the real thing. Approximately seven years ago, plaintiff married his now divorced wife, with photographs taken by defendants. Although the marriage did not endure, plaintiff’s fury over the quality of the photographs and video continued on.

Brilliant. A whole funny review of the situation is here.

Halloween Just Won't Die

From some club over in Dallas.

1310 The Ticket Radio Fans: Norm Hitzges Got Married

I had no idea.  More here.

Judge Beating Victim On "Today Show" This Morning

Link.

I've Never Really Liked These . . .

. . . "feel good" touchdown plays.  This is pure Obama Socialism, isn't it?  A government sanctioned event where the masses give up something to assist the less fortunate. What's this country coming to? Throw in that the kid fumbled and still scored just proves it even more.

In the America I grew up in, one of the defensive players would have scooped up the ball and ran the length of the field for a TD. That's competition. That's what this country was built upon. (Not to mention that it would have been video gold.)

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• We'll see cold fronts many times a year but yesterday's was weird because of the change of strong winds. One second it was blowing 30 mph out of the South and then next it was 30 mph out of the North. Good times.
• Funniest thing in the Update today: "JUST A TEST – The Decatur Police Department will test the storm sirens at noon today, weather permitting."
• I was right about the Aransas judge media storm that was going to happen yesterday. And it'll be worse today.
• And that guy is done as a judge because there is no way he survives this. No way. But he's on paid leave at the moment. 
• I consider it a life's failure that I've never been placed on paid leave at some point in my life. 
• And whomever was commenting yesterday about how all Texas gun laws would be trumped by a conflicting federal law is correct. You just have no idea what federal gun possession laws are. 
• By the way, that guy in Wise County was found guilty yesterday of the gun crime and  the offense of Tampering With Evidence. He faces a ridiculous 25-99 years on the Tampering charge but that's only because (I'm guessing), his punishment range is enhanced for having twice been convicted and sent to the pen before. And he's only 27.
• The signs behind the set on ESPN's College Game Day are funny.
• I didn't think it was possible, but I hate small talk more now than I did five years ago. 
• The more I watch of the GOP presidential hopefuls, the more I'm beginning to think President Obama will win re-election even with the poor economy. 
• One of the members of the Family Household starts every sentence with, "Guess what . . . . " It's pushing me over the edge. Big time. 
• I tried to write a bullet point for the "x Greater Than Tebow" meme but I couldn't explain why I thought it was funny. 
• WBAP's Hal Jay expressed bewilderment this morning upon hearing about the game "Angry Birds."
• Yesterday I posted the front page of the Denton Record Chronicle about a "theft ring" and today the Update makes reference to the paper and that story. 
• Twenty years ago today: Bill Clinton was elected President. 
• Anyone who votes early in the arcane Texas Constitutional Amendment election may actually take their civic duty too seriously. 
• I was all excited when it was announced that Nancy Grace was going to be on Dancing With The Stars but I haven't watched a second of it.  
• So what's the story with the Decatur coach's son who injured his knee early in the season? There's a silent auction this week to help out the family, and the kid remains home-bound while he awaits another surgery. That's unusual. 

Snakes On A Post Office!

Just got a report from a lady in my office that a massive snake was outside of the door at the Decatur Post Office.  (Which probably means a little snake about a block away.)  No need to fear, some fine private citizen corralled the creature and rescued the town!

This reminded me of the Great Decatur Snake Incident of 2009 pictured below.

The Dallas County Model: A Sure Way Too Boost Attendance At A Commissioners' Meeting

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• Guess whether the Senate or the House took the time to vote last night on a proclamation that "In God We Trust" is still the official motto of the U.S.? Guess which news organization led with the "American people can rest assured" after the vote? Easy answer.
• There's a criminal trial going on in Decatur for Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and it sounds as though he possessed the gun in his home. To me, that means the guy simply failed to wait long enough. (He could legally possess a gun in his home five years after being released from parole. Edit for source: Texas Penal Code 46.04(a).)
• I think I'm the only person who thought Bank Of America's proposed (then dropped) policy of charging $5 a month to use your debit card for purchases wasn't all that unreasonable. If given the choice of not having that function or paying $5, I'd pay the $5.
• Saw in the obituaries that Tyler Trey Reasoner, 28, of Bridgeport died. His brother died six years ago in a four person fatality wreck in Decatur. 
• Prediction: One of the GOP candidates will call out Rick Perry on his immigration policy after the death of the Carrollton girl at the alleged hands of an the illegal alien.
• I laughed at a commercial for the new Muppets movie when it had of them in a group shot,  reacting with their mouths wide open, to the announcer asking, "You realize you guys aren't famous anymore, right?"
• Sports: Play by Play man Babe Laufenberg said on The Fan yesterday that the Cincinnati Bengals offered the Cowboys a first round draft pick last year for TE Martellus Bennett and Dallas turned it down. Really? Wow. 
• When all is said and done, the Herman Cain sexual harassment "scandal" may be the best thing to happen to him. He's getting a ton of free press at this critical time in the campaign. (But it'll get interesting if one of the ladies gets out of the confidentially agreement as she wants per her lawyer who was on CNN last night.)
• I don't know how many people are interested in Houston DA elections, a runaway grand jury, and crazy politics, but I found this to be good stuff.
• The Decatur Eagles: Still unbeaten. Still not in the AP Top Ten. 
• Funny: The one of the Occupy Dallas people unplugged the lights on the Fox 4 live remote crew this morning after being disturbed from sleep. 
• Non-story of the day: TCU official calls campaign sign of Graham "Cracker" McMillan potentially offensive although no one else on campus seems to care. Then again, the campus could be described as 98% cracker.
• Justin Bieber might be a Baby Daddy. But apparently the mother forgot to think about Bieber being underage at the time of conception. 

Get Ready For A Media Explosion Over This

Link.

Caution for language and obvious violence.

There will be outrage far and wide, but I promise someone will comment on here that they used to receive worse beatings from their parents all the time.

Edit: Aransas local media coverage is here along with a statement from the judge.

Edit: The daughter's twitter feed is here where she says she doesn't want anyone to threaten her father. She also says she is "on a plane to New York."  I bet it is Good Morning America or the Today Show.

Texas Alcohol Law?

I've never heard of the three sips rule. (Source: Huffington Post today).

Edit: I suspected this was bogus (that's why I posted it), but I've been leery of Texas alcohol laws ever since a Wise County deputy called my attention to some crazy bootlegging prohibitions that we have. By the way, some folks say the "three sips" law is actually an ordinance in Lefors, Texas (but I wouldn't bet on that either.)