Messenger Above The Fold

I Wonder If It Has Turf?

At first I was kind of hacked off, but then I started thinking. If we are going to detain those people for over 10 years without giving them a trial because we can't prove they were terrorists, we might as well give them something to pass the time.

Story.

Rhome Wreck

Taken by me while driving on 287 on a slick road. Joe Duty ever do that?

Edit: This really was a lucky shot. I just held the phone out at a 90 degree angle and pushed what I hoped was the shutter button as I glanced to my right for a second.

The Morality Police Are Protecting You Again

Bodog.com was a big one. Now the government wants its assets, procured from people having fun on sports betting, for itself.

P.S. Don't forget to buy your lottery tickets.  And when does Lone Star Park open?

I Bring You Culture From Around The World

Well, if this kid ever has to absolutely, positively go under a car instead of walk around it, he's in great shape.

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• President Obama has got to get rid of his Press Secretary. He is awful. (He had a chance to hit a homerun yesterday with Santorum's comment calling the President a "snob" because he wanted all kids to go to college. Instead he spoke like he'd never been to middle school."
• Decided to take out the Round Up and kill all the weeds in an empty flower bed in the back yard yesterday evening. As I soaked it, I noticed a strange plant about four inches tall. Then it dawned on me: Mrs. LL planted tulip buds there last Fall. 
• I scared her when I came in the house and sadly told her, "We need to talk. I need to tell you something." I felt awful. 
• I know next to nothing about the Mavericks and the NBA, but even I realize Lamar Odom is a spare.
• I turned over to the Daytona 500 right when the flames of that crazy fire during a caution were at their peak. That was a very confusing moment as I tried to figure out what happen and got even more confusing when I only heard the words "helicopter engine". 
• "Help me Tom Cruise. Help me Oprah Winfrey"
• The Daytona 500 should move to prime time. Isn't that good for the sport?
• Baylor women went to 30-0 last night after beating the Lady Aggies. But it was way too close for a moment.
• The Tarrant County PR gal posted a pic (bottom of page) yesterday but I kind of giggled by the slight photo bomb of the defense lawyer in the background. 
• We sure haven't heard much (if anything) about the results of the Traffic Ticket Warrant Roundup from this weekend.  I'm convinced that the program is a bluff. 
• Is that "America's Deadliest Sniper" guy selling T-shirts? The Fan's Greg Williams wore this yesterday. First a book and now this? Has that crossed the line? 
• For some crazy reason, I've got to be in court in Montague County this morning. I never go to Montague County.

Man, That Koran Burning Has Really Stirred Things Up Over There

Let's get out of there.

Story.

(And I'm putting the number of comments at four before a certain subject is brought up.)  Edit: Katy with the win in Comment #6.  You people need to step it up!

Monday Afternoon Pick Me Up

Illegitimacy Is The New Norm

I've been seeing references to a recent New York Times article about the current trend of births in the U.S. to women out of wedlock. Wow, now I know why: "More than half of births to American women under 30 occur outside marriage."


From a racial background, 73 percent of black children are born outside marriage, compared with 53 percent of Latinos and 29 percent of whites.


I learned about that NYT article today at lunch while skimming through the new Time.  Since we're talking about changing trends, look at this graphic about interracial marriage. 

It ain't Leave It To Beaver anymore. 

Wise County And Government Aid Received

"The share of Americans’ income that comes from government benefit programs, like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, more than doubled over the last four decades, rising from 8 percent in 1969 to 18 percent in 2009." 


Wise County is below the national average.
Pretty fancy NY Times interactive national graph here.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• Whatever happened to SIDS - sudden infant death syndrome? I used to hear about it all the time, and now I haven't heard of a case in years.
• I need to find out what happened, if anything, to the Palo Pinto County Sheriff who shot and killed a guy who was on a high (or low) speed chase. I'm guessing the answer is "nothing".
• That super agent Leigh Steinberg alcohol-caused-his-fall-from-grace story is fishy.  I thinks there's something more to it. 
• Some guy went to the Decatur Swap Meet over the weekend and took some pictures. I don't think I'd be interested in that. 
• The again, I went to a "cup stacking" competition on Saturday. I took a video of this kid practicing whose mother thought he wasn't focused enough. 
• I completed the Cowtown half marathon with a time of 02:03:13. My second fastest ever.  
• Wise County attorney, Thomas Aaberg, finished 27th overall in the full marathon. He's 39 and ran with a 7:15 per mile pace.. Amazing. It was a few years ago (and he won't mind me saying this) that he was an overweight guy at the courthouse who decided to do something about it.
• Mrs. LL took part in a "flash mob" this weekend.  It was the real deal put on by some organization called "Flashmob America" who required practices but even paid a small stipend.  Those who were the subject of the mob was a conference of 1,200 TGIF managers at the Gaylord Texan. 
• Due to a mix up, I failed to register Mrs. LL for the half marathon like she thought I was going to do. I think she's still mad. 
• I don't watch late night TV but stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live the other day but he quickly went to break. I sat there wanting to see the next segment he teased but I had to wait through nine minutes of commercials. Never again. 
• The Michigan Primary tomorrow is the biggest day of the year for Republicans. If Santorum wins in Romney's "home state", this will become high entertainment. But I don't think it will happen.
• Danica Patrick must have consulted (or at least finally listened to) a PR agent. She actually smiles now. But, man, she dropped some F Bombs when she was crashing on the race on Saturday.
• I took a break from Tosh.0 for a few months but watched it again over the weekend. Shockingly funny.
• Modern Family may be smartest written show since Arrested Development.
• Baylor Athletics was featured this week in a Sports Illustrated article entitled "Baylor Rising" and yesterday in The New York Times named "No Longer Defined By Futility and Death." Edit: And RG3 will be on the cover of EASports NCAA 2013.
• How can anyone say the Academy Awards is entertaining? Who does it appeal to? Even more so this year, there seems to be a huge disconnect between the show and the public.
• Someone tweeted last night: "When is the awards show for movies people actually saw?"
• Wrong way driver killed two last night but this time it was in Fort Worth.
• Mitt Romney tried to be the common man this weekend and went to the Daytona 500. Asked by the AP reporter if he follows NASCAR, Romney responded, "Not as closely as some of the most ardent fans. But I have some great friends who are NASCAR team owners." And he's the most "electable" against President Obama?
• The President this weekend announced the forming of "African Americans for Obama."  Figured that would set you off.

First World Problems

Today's Letter to the Editor in the Star-Telegram:

A search of the appraisal district records of the home:

Messenger Above The Fold

Taking You Into The Weekend

Hot girl in the foreground. Comedy gold in the background.

And Another: Houston

Story. That's one pouty mugshot.

Mitt Romney Appeals To The Working Class Of Michigan Today . . .

. . . by pointing out that his wife drives a couple of Cadillacs.

I'm just surprised he didn't realize his gaffe and then follow it up with a nervous laugh while softly saying, "Uh. Scoreboard?"

Throw together clips of this, trying to bet Rick Perry $10,000 during a debate, the "I like firing people" speech, the "I'm not concerned about the very poor" TV appearance, and the joint appearance with Donald Trump, and we've got a heck of a commercial in the making.

Quite The Scene Yesterday On The Tollway

Now traffic cam video has been released.

NEW: Video of 18-Wheeler Tollroad Crash Released: MyFoxDFW.com

Is This A Bluff?

Any of you guys ever get arrested at your house because of one of these "Traffic Ticket Roundups?"  Sometimes you'll see a particular city send out a warning of "pay up" on your outstanding tickets or we might arrest you on a predetermined weekend..  This time, they claim, 276 law enforcement entities in Texas are going to take part in it.  Even our publicity seeking Texas Attorney General is getting in on the threats.

I bet this is just a bluff to scare people into paying their tickets. There are a lot of municipal and JP courts that don't even issue warrants. They just put notice of the outstanding ticket in something called an OMNIBASE system that prevents you from renewing your drivers license until all tickets are taken care of.

I'm betting this is nothing more than a bluff.

Honestly, the amount of manpower expense to arrest someone solely for a traffic ticket doesn't' justify it. It would would cost more than the ticket revenue. And, if a person is arrested, they don't have to pay the ticket. Normally a bond is set and you can walk out for a fraction of the cost of paying the ticket.