Wall Street Journal Profiles Texas "Vampire Weekends"

Get this: "And often, lawyers say, defendants faced with blood evidence admit their guilt and don't bother with a trial. 'If it bleeds, it pleads,' said Fort Worth prosecutor Richard Alpert."  

At least the government has a cute phrase for the process of prosecuting someone with blood taken against their will. 

Story.

Monday Morning Pick Me Up

Britney wrapped up her latest tour over the weekend in a strong way in an effort to keep her place among official Liberally Lean girls. Attagirl.

Death and Death

Many years ago, I joined the Tarrant County's DA Office. Being new, I received such fine perks as sharing an office with two other prosecutors. There were two desks. They got them. I got a chair. Yep, a chair. Good times.

But the two prosecutors who I was court partners with were Mitch Poe and Robert "Bob" Ford. Mitch, who was younger than me, was a 100% prosecutor and was expected to be a career man in the office. It turned out that way. He died suddenly about five years ago.

Bob was a civil libertarian who didn't stick around the DA's office very long. He became a defense lawyer and was known to give the most non politically correct quotes to the press. He was also brilliant. But he, like Mitch, died suddenly last week.

It's just a weird feeling. Three guys stuck in a little office. And now only I remain.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• Dallas motorcycle death over the weekend.  This one involved an off-duty police officer and, as we see all the time, it happened by wrecking and falling from an overpass.
• If you are a Cowboys fan and an Aggie fan, you've experienced a lifetime of last second collapses this season.
• Did Cowboys defensive cooridinator Rod Ryan swallow another beach ball?
• Heard this morning that when Jerry Jones is shown in his suite, everyone is focusing on his over-reacting grandkid.  He's been named "Spalding" by the Twitterworld in honor of the Caddyshack character. (Here's an image of them.)
• Jones almost opened the roof last night but decided against it due to the threat of rain. It's been opened twice for games in its history -- both night games. Someone has speculated that it will never be opened during the day because the sun and big screen don't mix. I believe that.
• A howling dog ruined any chance of sleep for me last night.
• The Star-Telegram reported on Friday that the EPA planned to designate Wise County as "a nonattainment area for failing to meet federal ozone."  I've yet to see anyone explain what the consequences of that designation are. 
• Joe Paterno broke his pelvis over the weekend. There has been lots of speculation that he continued to coach because he feared his health would deteriorate if he didn't.  He remembers Bear Bryant dying four weeks after announcing his retirement in the early 1980s. 
• I was really "off the grid" this weekend. 
• I woke up one morning to find a long note from Mrs. LL that she was testing a project to protect the Christmas tree from the cat. I then noticed long strips of tape, placed upside down, around the base of the tree. Then the note said it didn't work and, "The cat is in the garage."  I then looked up and saw the cat walk past me toward the tree. That girl ain't right. 
• Conservatives have been attacking the declining unemployment rate claiming "It doesn't include people that have given up looking for work." True, but that's the way it always has been calculated so the number is what the number is.
• The Third Grader In The House has taken up "Cup Stacking" complete with a mat with a built in timer. 
• The Republican contenders all ganged up on Newt during Saturday's debate.  They could be a science project of how they all devour whoever amongst them rises to the top.

Messenger Above The Fold

Heisman. We Haz It.

Robert Griffin III wins the Heisman Trophy.  There are some things I never expected to see in my lifetime. One down.

From the Star-Telegram's Cheers and Jeers

$236 of magazines?  The heck with the company scam, I want to hire the kid as a salesman.

LA Nutcase Shooting At Cars

Story with brief (and shocking) video.

Robert Griffin III In Times Square Before Heisman Ceremony

I know I'll get dogged for this, but all I can hear is Eddie Murphy in Trading Places saying, "I have...I have legs. I have... look at this. Legs! I can walk."

And maybe, just maybe .....

Does This Look Like . . .

. . . an artist rendering of a couple of proposed luxury residential buildings in South Korea? Why, yes. Yes it does.

"Medical Emergency In Freezer Section In Decatur Walmart"

"Subject fell and hit his head. It'll be right past the produce section."

(I finally turned on my iPhone 911 App for Wise County Fire and Emergency)

@12:29 PM

Edit. In a completely unrelated story, guess what the lady below was trying to do in an Oklhaoma Walmart?

Jeterville RIP

Photo of front of a coozie

I'm still awaiting a picture from what remains of Jeterville after the fire this morning (anyone?), but I was reminded of this post from 2007 when a complete stranger wrote me about an event that happened there many years ago.

Edit: Star-Telegram now has a story about the fire.

Fog To Be The Subject of An Investigation

There are reports of a one vehicle rollover -- causing it to land upside down in a pasture -- off of FM 730 north of Decatur. Two people inside. Sounds like minor injuries. Visibility was said to have been about 100 yards.

Edit: Make that South of Boyd (I was only off by a little bit.)  But the Messenger has pics.

And Another (Amarillo)

Story. She's a fan of halftime.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• One of both of the structures formally known as Jeterville on the Wise County/Tarrant County line was totally engulfed by flames this morning. Reports are that there were enough firetrucks to put out The Towering Inferno.
• You just thought it was fog out there this morning.
• "It's that horrifying moment . . . ."
• Standing across the street and looking at your Christmas lights may be the best moment of putting up Christmas lights. 
• Whether is be in my personal or business life, I've bet I've uttered the phrase, "Would you please bring me [something]" less than ten times. My legs aren't broken. 
• An 18 year old kid in McKinney who molested "several young boys" and suffers from a degenerative brain disease according to the prosecutor is sentenced to a real 35 years in prison. This is the most civilized way to deal with him? From drugs to mental disorders, our lazy knee jerk reaction to just lock people up will be horrifying to future generations.
• I'm skeptical of people who always post on Facebook or Twitter about how great their life is or how wonderful their friends are.  
• Texas has approved a licence plate with three crosses on a hill with the phrase "One State Under God" on it.  And that doesn't endorse Christianity?
• Online harassment/impersonation leads to a criminal prosecution in Collin County. We are just now seeing prosecutions under Section 33.07 of the Texas Penal Code which went into effect in 2009.
• ESPN's Erin Andrews files a $10 million lawsuit in connection with the hotel peephole incident from a couple of years ago. Sheesh. It's the best thing that ever happened to her. She's become a full fledged celebrity ever since.
• I'm insane now. "Charlie Manson 'Everyday I'm Shufflin'" video. The Internet was made for things like that.
• That Rick Perry anti-gay ad might get him some votes in Iowa but it would absolutely kill him in the general election. Who advises that guy? And he needs some serious advising. 
• It's the full length movie, but Pulp Fiction has been recut and put in chronological order on youtube. (Credti: BagofNothing.com for the find.)
• The Family Pup has decided she wants to jump on me and act like she is on crack in the middle of the night. Her days are so filled with eating and sleeping, how can she possibly not be tired all night?
• Hope Dallas Maverick fans liked that Championship Trophy. After yesterday's free agency news, it'll be a long, long time before they see another one. They've decided to waste this year (and one of Dirk's few productive ones left) to hit it big in free agency next year. I have no confidence in Mark Cuban being able to rebuild that team from scratch. 
• Sports birthday that should be a "What Ever Happened To?" segment: Todd Van Poppel.
• The Update is late today. Somebody oversleep at the Messenger? Edit: It's up now, but since when did it turn into The High School Basketball Update?

Rick Perry Can't Catch A Break

In Perry's new anti-gay ad, he just happens to be wearing the exact same jacket worn by Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain. 

Kate Upton In The New Three Stooges Movie

I would link to the trailer for the movie, but it looks horrible.  The Stooges deserve better.

C.J. Wilson Reportedly Signs With Angels (Too) For 5 Years $75 Million

( CJ Wilson bragging montage) Edit: His best bragging work is here.

Angels must have found a big bag of money. Story.

And this is yet another reason I hate pro sports: Free agency. You don't like you team? Want to make it better? Simple answer: Go buy someone.  The Rangers have done it to get to the World Series (Cliff Lee, Vladimir Guerrero in 2010. Adrian Beltre, Mike Napoli in 2011.)

Jerry Seinfeld said it years ago: When it's all said and done, we're just cheering for laundry.