And Another (Louisiana)

Strong to quite strong.

Story.

Tom Brady's House Is Finished Just In Time To Go To The Super Bowl

More.

22,000 square feet. Built from scratch on land that was purchased for $11,000,000.

Now that's a one-percenter.

Let Me Set This Spike Up For The Comments

Story.

Rhome Assistant Fire Chief

Story.

Mayor Taco

Someone mentioned this to me yesterday -- the mayor who had some Latino issues to deal with in his city and, when asked what he will do for the Latino community, said, "I might have tacos when I go home." That got him in hot water so he apologized. (Video is in that link.)

But, man, I love his delivery of that line. When he followed it up with "I'm. Not. Quite. Sure. Yet." it was some fine comedic timing. (But you could see him backtracking from that moment on.)

P.S. That reporter needs to remember he ain't working for 60 Minutes. Lighten up big fella.

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• Lake Bridgeport will probably rise a little over two feet due to the storms and will remain about two feet low. [Edit: I meant "ten feet low". Really. I knew that.]  It takes about a four day storm over the watershed to see a dramatic change. (I just like saying "watershed.")
• At 5:30 this morning, I stumbled upon the semi-final match of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open. I couldn't (and probably wouldn't) sit around and watch it, but live sports before dawn is cool.
• I follow a country pastor on Facebook who just oozes hatred. It's the craziest thing I've ever seen.
• The Arizona governor sticking her finger in the President's face did her party no favors with that sign of disrespect.
• There was a press release yesterday by Garland police about the murder of a 40 year old by two teenage girls he had met  in a hotel to share sex, drugs, and alcohol.  I loved this sentence: "At some point during the night, the party got out of hand." At some point? How about the moment the guy decided to open the the door.
• Odd conversation with Mrs. LL last night: If I have felt better because of adding a salad to every meal, is it because there is something intrinsic in lettuce or is it because it is "empty calories" simply taking the place of bad food?
• I saw an old girlfriend firing off real time Facebook pics from a bar last night. You know, it was good to be home. 
• WBAP's Hal Jay on Tom Brady this morning: "He does have kind of that scumbag side to him." Really? 
• A jury begins deliberating today whether to give the death penalty to a guy who killed two people during a robbery. Although death sentences are becoming less frequent, if they don't vote for it in this case then there truly is a change in the wind in Texas on the issue of capital punishment. 
• But the Tarrant County DA's office will be tweeting about the verdict like they were watching a high school football game. 
• A name connected with a famous Tarrant County murder case that I hadn't thought about in years: Kristi Koslow.
• Several buildings of the Selwyn School in Denton (off to the right as you drive towards I-35) burned this morning. As a kid, I'd look at it and think really smart kids probably went there. I was probably right. (That link has a picture of the fire.)
• Another wrong way crash on the Dallas tollway last night. Seems like it had been a few months since we have had one. 
• I couldn't pic Lamar (Kardashian) Odom out of a lineup, but everyone sure is griping about how he couldn't care less to be a Dallas Maverick. Yet another reason rent-a-player killed pro sports.

Giggle

Interesting When All That "Crazy Government Spending" Takes Place

The chart was created in April and President Obama's current percentage is actually up to 41%. However, that's on pace to tie W after eight years.  

(And before you think Bush The First had a fairly low number, remember that he was a one term president.)

Source. (Thanks, Ben.)

Edit: Even with all the criticism, those numbers are fairly accurate.

Hey, I Think I'm Going To Film Myself Stealing Weed From A Dealer!

I wasn't expecting much from this one but it had a pretty funny payoff. Little white boy gangsta had the look of fear on his face when the theft of pot didn't go quite as planned. I bet he could just hear the guy he ripped off saying, "I'm gonna call a couple of hard, pipe-hitting [friends] to go to work on the homes here with a pair of pliers and a blow torch."

(Language warning -- albeit understandable.)

"There's something I know" - Nancy Pelosi Says Newt Won't Be President

That's a really strange thing to say.  I wonder what she knows.

Random Ice Rink Collapse

I think it's in Russia. Not a lot of back story.

Which reminds me. I wonder if the Cowboys will ever rebuild their indoor practice facility?

Of Course You Can Make It

In Haltom City.

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• How many times have you heard, "How about that rain?" this morning?
• But that is a lot of rain. 
• A guy came up for parole in a case that some say gave rise to the most famous headline ever by the New York Post: "Headless Body In Topless Bar."
• The more I watched the State of the Union, the more convinced I became that President Obama will win re-election. And it may not even be close.
• He started off with a boom: We are out of Iraq and no longer have to fear Osama Bin Laden.
• Business quick hits: (1) The company behind Del Frisco is going public after having grown to 31 restaurants in 18 states -- I had no idea they were that big, and (2) Apple Inc. just had the second most profitable quarter in the history of any company in America with a net income of $13.06 billion -- Exxon holds the record.
• Mrs. LL signs up for a lot of workout programs. Some of them pretty odd. 
• Someone commented about the difference between the "effective" income tax rate and the "marginal" income tax rate yesterday. I don't think many people understand that. 
• Admittedly weak Random Thoughts. I had an 8:10 appointment that was a must-do.
• Since we love talking about field turf, looks like a high school in Beaumont is having trouble with theirs:

Messenger Above The Fold

Murder Defendant From Bridgeport Pleas Out Today -- 25 Year Sentence

From myspace

Book in photo after arrest

This is the one where she ran down 37-year old Jimmy Joe Robertson on 101 outside of Bridgeport. She becomes eligible for parole after 12 1/2 years.

Lots Of Women Must Be Packin' Out There

Story.

Dayna Kay Purtee looks like another woman who forgot she had a gun. (We had a lady last week go into DFW Airport with one.)  But she may have an excuse. The Internet tells me she donated $50 to former Tea Party Candidate Debra Medina so she is probably a big gun rights fan.   The good news is that she got out of jury duty. 

And I've heard those deputies running the scanners at the Tarrant County Courthouse are very sensitive. They won't cut anyone any slack or accept any "innocent mistake" excuses. (A Wise County resident ran into the same problem down there a couple of years back.)

I'm not sure, but the lady below may be her.

So You Want To Be A Kicker?

You miss a field goal to lose the AFC Championship game and the next day some wise arse college kids use your last name as a verb in order to taunt the opponent into missing a free throw to the left.

(For those interested, Billy Cundiff explained why he was late getting onto the field for the kick.)

Utah People Drive Like Texans

It starts a little slow but gets a little crazy. (I'm fairly sure this is video from yesterday.)

Edit: Direct link is here. Didn't realize the video self started. That is annoying.