Loyal Reader . . .

. . . just drove by an apartment fire off of 121 in Grapevine.

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

Old Pic Of One My Office Parties?

• Why is Michael Bublé on my TV every time I turn it on? (Observation: That man needs to rachet down the Fake Sincerity.)
• Donald Trump is also everywhere lately -- at least on every show Fox News has. GOP Candidate Jon Huntsman said last night on Hannity that Trump inserting himself into the political dialogue "dumbs down" the process.  Spot on, brother.
• Do all third graders want to talk all the time? Or just the one residing in my house? 
• Aledo's Johnathan Gray, who has committed to UT, may be the greatest high school running back in history.  But what he did in last week's game (throat slashing gesture and high stepping) which led to his ejection, leads me to believe he'll be another Longhorn troublemaker. His post game comments complaining about the officials don't help his cause.   Edit: Better link with video.
• It's Pearl Harbor Day. Actually the 70th Anniversary which you think would have been acknowledged a little bit more.
• But the Star-Telegram has a story on the 70th Anniversary featuring a soldier who was at Pearl Harbor. He was also interviewed on WBAP today and he echoed what was said in the story: (1) He isn't going to do anything special today because he doesn't want to remember the attack, (2) there's not a single Pearl Harbor survivor that he keeps up with, and (3) he didn't do anything heroic that day -- it was all chaos. Refreshing. 
• WBAP's Mark Davis proposed an "18 For Everything" legal age.  Drinking.  Military Service. Voting.  Driving. Adult Criminal Responsibility.   I think I agree. 
• When I find a string of those tiny indoor Christmas lights that aren't working, I've got a "10 minute trouble shooting limit". After that,  I chunk the whole thing and buy a replacement. You can find them for under $4.
• Then I saw where Mrs. LL had dug them out of the trash the following day. 
• C.J. Wilson is a tool, and it kills me that he's about to have a big pay day. Yesterday he was on 105.3 The Fan telling a long story about how he called 911 after a bicyclist was seriously injured outside his house a few weeks ago. (Someone knocked on his door and told him to call 911.) He was acting like he had saved the man's life by performing open heart surgery on the spot. 
• Everyone always says that Baylor became part of the Big 12 "because Ann Richards was governor."  I've never really seen any proof of that and I wouldn't rule out it being  an urban legend that has taken on a life of its own. 
• Very random thought: If you had to bet, would you think Doris Day is dead or alive?
• For all of those crazy public official prosecutions in Collin County, they sure have been successful so far. Yesterday, the District Clerk and a couple of her employees received convictions from a jury. A district judge in the county was convicted of bribery about three weeks ago. 

Messenger Above The Fold

But when did Santa start wearing a Reebok golf shirt at events? 

Presidential Gaffe?

While the President was in Kansas today, some people claim he made a goof by almost referring to the state as Texas.

Seems like an intentional joke to me.

Identify Theft News From The Courthouse (Updated)

Image Came Back After Google Search For "Identify Theft". Funny. 

I was talking to someone associated with the Wise County Court at Law, I'll call her "Shamberlyn", who told me about being a victim of recent identify identity theft.

Get this: Someone got all of her information (she didn't lose a purse or anything like that), created a fake Texas driver's license, and then applied for a couple of credit cards. So far, the bills have cracked $8,000.  But get this: Shamberlyn had a credit card at Sears (never really used), but the thief went into Sears and either said she had lost the card or didn't have it with her, and (after presumably showing them the fake ID) they gave her a "day pass" credit card. And then "boom", over $4,000 got charged.

What's up with the "day pass"? Someone else mentioned during that conversation that they rarely take store credit cards with them in order to prevent loss or theft. They simply tell the store they left them at home, show an ID, and then get the day pass. I had never heard of such a thing.

By the way, whatever company handles credit for Apple, denied the thief credit.

Edit @ 2:15 pm: The total is now up to $19,000 with Best Buy and Sam's Club yet to report

Afternoon Pick Me Up: Fergalicious

Cunning Little Vixen

SANTA ROSA BEACH — Two area residents were arrested Saturday for filing a false report.

Deputies were called in to investigate an alleged kidnapping of 21-year-old Sarah Zombori by 57-year-old Joseph Battista. She was being held on a $100 ransom. Battista supposedly communicated to Zombori's boyfriend that she would be killed if law enforcement was contacted, according to a Walton County Sheriff's Office press release.

Deputies were dispatched to Battista's Somerset Bridge Road home where investigators determined that Battista and Zombori were working together to obtain money from Zombori's boyfriend. Battista said the incident "was a joke," the release said . . . .

At the time of arrest, Zombori resisted arrest by kicking and striking a deputy. Zombori was charged with two counts of battery of a law enforcement officer, a third-degree felony; one count of resisting a law enforcement officer with violence, a third-degree felony; and one count of making a false report of a commission of a crime, a first-degree misdemeanor.

When  Zombori's boyfriend got the ransom call, he had to consider it to be his luckiest day ever. Look at that chick. I know gals like that. I've dated gals like that. And if I would have gotten a phone call that says, "Pay $100 and the girl goes free -- Call the cops and she meets her Maker", then I'm picking up the phone and calling County Law before they change the offer. Not only would I have saved $100, I wouldn't  have to worry with the messy breakup. It's a win-win for me. 

And the $100? That proves my point. Even she thought he wouldn't pay $101.

I'm Backing The Blue!

No way that woman should be allowed in public. Good job, fellas.

Restaurant Owner Gets Drunk. Fires Up Hot Opinions On Facebook.

Story. (Language warning.)   And I really think this is no big deal. I bet his business doesn't suffer one bit. Alternatively, Wise County can always use a new restaurant.

Greatest Cheerleading Mom Ever

Here's some video I shot at the 2011 LHSAA Cheer & Dance Competition held in Lake Charles December 3, 2011. Mom cheering on her daughter from Archbishop Hannan High School.


That's what happens when you spend a krillion dollars on outfits and training. It slowly drives you insane. If her kid doesn't bring a first place trophy, she might as well not come home at all. I support you, mom. Haters gonna hate. Let's hang out (and be sure to wear that skirt.)

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• I stopped down by some country music awards show last night. I don't know who Kristin Chenoweth is, but she looks like she's on meth and she can't sing. Other than that, not bad. 
• I think this is the winning pole dance at some pole dancing convention. That truly could by an Olympic sport if it were performed that way. I'm serious. 
• The likely Aggie schedule for next year: Home vs. Florida, Alabama, LSU and Arkansas; On the Road at Ole Miss, Miss. St, Auburn, and Missouri. Oh, my. 
• I stopped wearing a watch about five years ago. 
• On Fox 4 News last night, the mother of the walk-into-the-propeller victim gave an interview and said, "She was hit by a propeller but she will be propelled to do God's work . . . . " I had to hit replay to make sure I heard that correctly. 
• That lady and her husband have a website on marriage counseling. They promote themselves with the description of, "Ten disappointing years of marriage. Seven painful years of divorce." Thanks, but if it took you 17 years to figure it out, I think I'd look elsewhere. 
• A capital murder trial has started in Denton in connection with the death of a child in Bowie. The mother is also awaiting trial and resides in Bridgeport.  
• The War on Drugs now requires bullets to fly on an Amtrak train in downtown Dallas? The "suspect" was killed, and I'm very interested to know his background. 
• I heard yesterday that the postal systems decision to eliminate first class next day delivery will have even a more dramatic impact on the delivery of newspapers and magazines than I thought. Delivery time now may take "several days". 
• Baylor's Robert Griffin (and four others) have been invited to New York for Saturday's Heisman Award Presentation.  This site has predicted the winner for the last nine out of nine years by tracking voters who publicly announce their choices. With a little under 20% of the votes known, but RG3 has a pretty big lead. 
• I'm going to kill The Family Cat. She thinks that Christmas Tree is her personal playground. 
• The NFL is printing money: It is close to inking a deal with Fox, CBS, and NBC which will bring in $3.2 billion a year through 2012. That's a  60% increase from the current deal and, think about it,  doesn't include money from (1) the rights ESPN has to pay, (2) advertising income from its own NFL Network, or (3) the NFL Sunday Ticket fee paid by DirecTV which is currently $700 million a year.
• Biggest waste of paper: Phone Books. 
• A high profile case involving a Bridgeport lady who was convicted of Solicitation of Murder in Tarrant County seems to be officially over since prison records show she is no longer incarcerated.
• At the bottom of the Waco paper, there's a story about a "And Another" found not guilty.

And Just When I Thought It Couldn't Get Any Worse

We have television commercials by "The Hammer" and "The Strong Arm", tacky billboards that make me cringe, and shameless letters soliciting work sent to those who have been arrested.  What could be next? How about  lawyers setting up shop in a booth in a mall. Yeah, it's Florida, but the day can't be that far away.

(Right now I feel like one of those beaten down guys on the John Hancock commercials reading text messages from his spouse about when he'll be able to retire. To quote that great legal philosopher George Jetson, "Jane! Jane! Stop this crazy thing!")

Possible Afternoon Pick Me Up?

Only Danica Patrick could look miserable at the beach.

Edit: On the same trip, but on a different day, she reveals a lower back tattoo.

Criminal Mastermind?

A story broke over the weekend of a guy allegedly planting a hidden camera a "family changing area" at the Oak Point Recreation Center in Plano. Sheesh. But the camera contained images of a guy who police suspected of doing that planting.  Yep, at least it looks like he was testing it.

Once that image got released, you knew it was just a matter of time . . .

Look! I'm Like Joe Duty! Wise County Accident!

Well, not quite. No fatality. No injury. Not even any damage. Just saw it on Facebook where the owner thanked "[County Commissioner] Kevin Burns and 2 other good samaritans that pulled me out!!"

"Dr. Pepper Is The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me"

Sister, I'm right there with ya. Drop $100K on me and I'm crying like a baby and praising whoever it is that's writing the check.

And I think she would have torched me in that competition.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• I think I'm going to the Alamo Bowl (Baylor v. Washington.). I've never seen a game in that place.
• Jason Garrett is catching heat for calling time out before the potential game winning kick. But if you look at the replay, kicker Dan Bailey clearly knew time had been called but casually kicked it anyway. That's a little different than "making it the first time." Edit: For those who are aware of the "DeMarco Murray can't run unless he has his fullback in there," this will make you laugh.
• We finally put up (more) of the Christmas tree last night. It's artificial with built in lights, and I swear it's like re-inventing the wheel every time we put it up. I tried to diagnosis it but Mrs. LL told me, "Get away. You're messing up my scene." 
• Saul Garza of Fox 4 reported live from Decatur this morning due to our first blizzard of the year.
• A hot 23 year old took a private plane over the metroplex only to walk into the propeller once the plane landed. She survived but, as expected, as some pretty bad injuries. (Story with picture.)
• I've preached for years that changing demographics could cripple the Republican Party. Yesterday John McCain told CNN that Arizona is potentially up for grabs in the next presidential election due to the rise in the Hispanic population. (Thanks, Keith.)
• That Twilight movie is up to $247 million. How much do those lead actors get paid?
• I think I've mispronounced "poinsettia" all my life. 
• I had It's A Wonderful Life on at the house on Saturday night, but it was met with a resounding "meh" by everyone else.  Upon reflection, that movie is too long. (And what's up with that guy that just pushes Mr. Potter around everywhere?)
• Watch a few people go really nuts in the crowd when Tiger Woods won a tournament over the weekend. How can you possibly get that excited? 
• There's a tremendous chance that Baylor's Robert Griffin will win the Heisman Trophy, and I can't believe I'm typing this  I remember talking to my nephew about him before he had ever played a down (he graduated from high school early and ran track at Baylor finishing third in the nation the 400 meter hurdles.) I always thought he'd be a fantastic runner and an average passer.
• A former Miss USA got a DWI over the weekend. I'm coming for you, baby!
• There sure are whole lot of "Oh, yeah, what about [insert opposite political party]" in the comments. I think that's a lazy argument. 
• The postal service is eliminating next day delivery for first class mail. I think that means that the Wednesday Messenger (which, until recently, used to be labeled "Thursday") will now be mailed on Tuesday and delivered on Thursday.

Potentially Pulitzer Prize Winning Photos of Decatur Blizzard of December 2011