Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• In reporting a horrible story of a dog attack of a toddler, Fox 4 had some TV gold last night of family members going after the reporter and neighbors. It truly is a must see. (And a shout out to Lari Barager for ducking . . . twice.)
• I haven't been there in a while but 8.0 in downtown Fort Worth is shutting down and The Flying Saucer is moving into that location after Mayfest. Would-be hipsters are in mourning.
• A Jenny Craig needing cheerleader bails on a backflip.There's no way that girl could execute that. 
• Watched a lawyer in a hearing yesterday start off by asking the judge what the State had to prove.  How is that possible? 
• If anyone remembers the singer JoJo ("Leave. Get out."), well, she's all growns up.
• Had a buddy tell me yesterday that I need to re-evaluate my "n word policy" in that I've proven my point regarding the existence of racism. He may be right.
• I don't think I've ever seen the Republican party go from 100% sure they would capture the White House to 100% doubt in a little over a three month period. It truly is incredible.  And Mitt Romney, if the nominee, will get crushed for one reason: The Christian Right is not going to turn out in enthusiastic masses to vote for a Mormon. I think they'll stay home and protest the choices they were given instead. 
• Whenever I see someone weave in and out of traffic, I'm convinced they have a low IQ. And that makes me fear their driving even more. 
• I've been put on notice that the Michael Jackson themed Glee will be the Family TV tonight. I'm livin' large. 
• "Why couldn't we have this weather last year?" - Dallas Super Bowl Committee
• I woke up to everyone talking about this dunk by Blake Griffin last night.
• I think I've detected a rivalry between two Wise County girls who try to "out hot" each other by posting pics of themselves on Twitter.  One criticizes the other's body while the other questions the morals of her competitor. It's better than TV.
• Ron Washington got a two year extension as manager of the Texas Rangers. Of the team's 19 playoff wins in its history, 18 of them have come under Washington. 
• I've never watched Flip This House but there's a radio commercial now playing where the host is looking for "20 people to train" in a free seminar on how to make money, well, flipping houses. Scam. Scam. Scam. 

Video Of The Sixth Grade Bridgeport/Springtown Basketball Scandal Of The Century

I'm not exactly sure what I'm seeing, but it looks like we had a double technical on the Springtown coach at the 1:30 mark.  I don't know if the yelling is worthy of being "T'd up", but it is 100% annoying.

Two Chicks Drive Into Lake In Rockwall

I heard them talking about this on The Ticket this morning and two-thirds of the hosts said, "I can see how that could happen." Really? You can understand how someone can mistake a boat ramp for a road and then not use something called "a brake pedal" before you end up in the drink?  Sheesh.

I also figured it was going to be an overblown news story of "a hero" but, after watching it,  I bet those gals would have drown if it wasn't for the deputy. If they'll drive into a lake, I'm not betting on them to have the sense to open a door, roll down a window, or break out the glass. Speaking of. What was that little glass-breaking-doo-hickey the cop had? I want one.

Edit: Uncut video at youtube.

Boom!

Did you guys hear that?

Dallas ISD Teachers Might Call In Sick To Protest

The school board voted to have teachers add 45 minutes to their work day without a salary increase. None to happy, they began to organize a protest to call in sick. Kind of like acting like a union when you're not a union.

But this lead organizer appeared on TV in a silhouette because he feared retaliation from district officials. However, his voice was not altered at all. Call me crazy, but I think the chances of him being identified are about 100%. Can't you identify anyone you come in contact with on a regular basis by voice? The silhouette picture is just bonus information.

Monday Morning Pick Me Up

Bus Driver In Charge

Happened last week. Mouthy bus driver appears at around 1:50. She has a job to do, people!

To see how close she got to the reporters, here's a different angle.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• Iowa woman gives birth to a 13 pounder. Fox 4's Lauren Pryzbyl this morning commented with an "ouch" which led co-host Tim Ryan to stare silently off to the side. 
• The Boyd ISD held a meeting to get citizen input on what the wanted in a new head football coach. Most said they wanted a "godly" man. That sounds nice, but it also would be illegal discrimination based upon religion, wouldn't it?
• I somehow got sucked into watching the "Winter X Games" on ESPN last night. Watching a guy attempt a double back flip on a snowmobile is 100% Idiocracy. And, if interested, it did not go well.
• I got an AARP card in the mail. An authentic AARP card. I qualify. I depressed.
• A guy in Dallas killed three family members last Friday and almost every media report noted that he was captured after going through Taco Bueno and ordering a "breakfast sausage burritto "
• The "military's deadliest sniper" was on WBAP today hawking his book. I don't why that guy bugs me so much, but he really does.
• I'm tired of hearing about Betty White. 
• Horrible accident near Texas Tech over the weekend when a vehicle driven by a twenty-something jumped a curb, killed a bicyclist, and then rolled the vehicle killing his two passengers. Yep, alcohol is suspected.
• The Colts would have to pay Peyton Manning $28 million to keep him on the roster next year? That's a no brainer. Cut him. 
• The grandmother from Happy Gilmore and the old man neighbor from Home Alone died last year. For some reason, people were mentioning it this weekend.  By the way, I think Home Alone is a horrible movie. Edit: Now news comes that Elaine's boss on Seinfeld, Mr. Pitt, has died. It character actor catastrophe. 
• I can tell when some people are having an emotional break down by just following them on Twitter. 
• People are calling Wise County residents (per the Update) and posing as DEA agents and wanting a fine paid because they know they had purchased drugs over the Internet. Which means that there are a lot of people purchasing drugs over the Internet if that scam works. 
• The Machine Gun Kelley shotgun auctioned over the weekend (another Update reference) has a weird history. It first ended up in the hands of Las Vegas mogul Benny Binion who for unknown reasons gave it to the owner of Billy Bob's Texas who for unknown reasons gave it to a "prominent Las Vegas business man." 
• Edit: I had this whole thing typed out and "bam" it got deleted 10 minutes before deadline. The above was a mad scramble.

Messenger Above The Fold

Bridgeport Sixth Grade Basketball Game Today

One of the coaches got kicked out then "Cops called to restore order" per an email I just received. Sounds like a scene is breaking out. Stuff going on outside. People demanding money back.

Developing . . .

Press Release From WCSO

On Tuesday, January 24, 2012, Wise County Deputies concluded an ongoing investigation by executing a search warrant at 400 W. Sherman Street in Chico, TX. Arrested at the scene was Shirly Stipes, 49 years of age, and Miguel Lira, 29 years of age. Both of these individuals were charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver, Possession of Dangerous Drugs, and Possession of Marijuana. Both of these suspects are being held in the Wise County Jail on $60,000 bond. Seized at the residence was approximately 19 grams of Methamphetamine, over 2 ounces of marijuana, 200 pills classified as a controlled substance, as well equipment and supplies utilized in the distribution of narcotics. Also located at this residence was approximately $8,000 worth of stolen property from three separate jurisdictions.

Investigators learned of the routine drug shipments to the address in Chico, TX, and arranged foranother package of Methamphetamine to be delivered to the Stipes residence on Thursday, January 26, 2012. Wise County Deputies were present at the house upon the arrival of the drug courier, Ketsana Phouttavong, 32 years of age. He was taken into custody at the scene during his attempt to deliver two ounces of methamphetamine. Based upon the method of distribution, Wise County Investigators believe this shipment would have been resold on the streets of Wise County at an approximate value of $11,000. Phoutthavong, of Haltom City, TX, has been charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver and is being held at the Wise County Jail on a total of $27,500 bond. This subject has a “NoBond” hold issued by the United States Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. An additional warrant from the Texas Department of Pardon and Parole is expected to be issued with “No Bond” for Parole Violations. This warrant would be based upon the suspect’s previous conviction for Robbery.
Wise County Investigators expect to make at least four additional arrests in this case.

Told You The Tarrant DA's Office Would Tweet That Case Like A Football Game

The moment the verdict was read in the courtroom.

Edit: And they even work after 5:00 on Friday to put together a fancy press release.

Taking You Into The Weekend

Oops. Wrong headline. She is associated with this . . .

Story.

55 MPH Seems Like A Long Time Ago

I'm not sure I knew about that 80 mph stretch.

Texting And Movie Going

If you'd support a movie theater who kicked a girl out who wouldn't stop texting during a movie and then would post her profanity laced phone call of complaint, you'll get a kick out of this.

Random Wise County Meth Post

Not very exciting but the Fort Worth Court of Appeals affirmed this guy's conviction today. He got a 12 year sentence and a $2,000 fine.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• We're almost into February and it hasn't really been cold yet. Weird. All the trees will bloom in a little over a month.
• The Messenger has added five online ads surrounding its online Update. 
• Thirty-one killed in Iraq because of a bomb blast. The Vietnam War will look like a good idea compared to W's decision to invade that country before long. Edit for commentor: Nope. Congress did not authorize the war with a declaration of war as required by the constitution. Edit #2: A "resolution" supporting the President if the President chooses to invade a country is no way a "declaration of war" by Congress. Edit #3: And the resolution supports my initial point 100%. It was Bush's War.
• The capital murder jury in Fort Worth deliberated most of the day yesterday without reaching a verdict. One odd thing they asked for from the judge: The transcript of one of the lawyer's closing argument. I've never heard of that before.
• There was a drug arrest out of Chico yesterday of a guy whose last name was Phoutthavong. He has an immigration hold on him. 
• Mark Cuban was not impressed ("total idiots") with a Ticket round table discussion last night about Lamar Odom.
• Regarding the shocking picture of the Decatur school bus and the collapsed bridge, I'm surprised we don't have more country road bridge collapses.  I bet they aren't regularly checked.
• Wichita Falls (AP) – A 5-year-old North Texas girl is dead after she was found hanging by the neck from her jump rope on a piece of playground equipment. Good grief. 
• Hypothetical we had up at the courthouse yesterday: If you had to be sentenced to prison, at what point (in number of real years) would you make the decision to flee to Mexico? Your current age plays a huge factor in the decision, but we all agreed a 20 year sentence would cause us all to head South. 
• I'd take a 20 year sentence if I could kill those Sweetjack commercials. 
• The Republicans spent time in their debate last night talking about colonization of the moon? Really?
• I debated whether the death of "Epstein" from Welcome Back Kotter warranted a bullet point. 
• You could have a movie preview of Liam Neeson tracking down and killing a butterfly and it would still look good. 
• There was so much impromptu singing in my house last night that I felt like I was in an episode of Glee.

Wise County Bus Tries To Drive To Underworld

Story.