Newest Hoax Via Text Message

HOUSTON -- It's a new twist on an old scam. Instead of promising wealth over e-mail, scammers are sending death threats to cell phones. Diana Hendrix got an unsettling message via text on Saturday. More.

Man, this world is getting crazy. Back in the day all we had to worry about was holding $10 million for some Nigerian for a $2 million fee.

Simpler times.

JFK Memorabilia Up For Auction

Lee Harvey Oswald's last paycheck for the half day of work* on November 22, 1963.

Yep, they paid him.

Opening bid is $3,000.

*Edit: "4 1/2 Days/ Lee Harvey Oswald/ for Nov. '63". That's what's written in the corner.

Base Running Skills - Who Ya Got? Old Ranger Ian Kinsler or New Ranger Prince Fielder

Reporter Face Plant In Ice Of The Day

Ouch. But she's quite the trooper.

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• I think I dodged the onset of the flu yesterday.  Incredible chills, weakness, no appetite and the like. I forced down soup in the evening and buried myself in bed under a ton of covers. Based on the way I feel this morning, I think I might be lucky.
• Mrs. LL took a nap earlier because her neck was still killing her. She started talking gibberish so I asked her if she had taken anything. "Muscle relaxers" she mumbled. Oh, boy. I figured she would be out for the evening but in an hour she was up and acting completely normal. The gibberish might have been because she was dozing off.  I was almost responsible for making tacos for the Kids In The House!
• And the Fifth Grader in the House told me how all the kids in school are getting sick.
• And then the Family Pup threw up. (It's always pathetic if she ever does that because I'll rush over to clean it up and comfort her and she just sits there with the saddest eyes thinking she is in trouble.)
• It was an odd commercial for ESPN three years ago, but it had Ian Kinsler and Prince Fielder sitting on a couch talking about being traded. (For the non-sports fans out there, Texas traded Kinsler for Fielder last night.)
• I knew about the oil boom in East Texas but the recent issue of Texas Monthly taught me about an equally productive oil find in South Texas called the Eagle Ford Shale (sounds like a car dealership.) Anyway, yesterday Devon announced it would invest $6 billion into it. Edit: This is in the Update. Didn't think they would see it. 
• Billy Graham, 95, is in the hospital again, but is expected to be released. It was 20 years ago this month that Time magazine put him on the cover with the headline of "A Christian In Winter" -- that is, the last season of his life. 
• I probably should have covered the Bell County trial of C.J. Grisham more because it was fascinating. Did he commit an offense when he objected to turning over his rifle (which can legally be carried out in the open) when an officer, who may or may not have had a reasonable suspicion to detain him, asked to inspect it. After refusing, he was arrested and charged with Interference with a Police Officer. He was found guilty two days ago and sentenced to a $2,000 fine with no jail time yesterday. Gun rights people were, needless to say, up in arms. 
• I've got a bad feeling about Baylor/OSU. It's to the point where I don't want to read anything else about it, and I kind of wish it was over and someone would just tell me the score. 
• Baylor has chosen some outfit named SMG to manage its new stadium and, shockingly, alcohol will be sold at non-Baylor events. 
• I spent 10 minutes scanning the TV guide for any show on JFK last night and couldn't find a single one. That seems impossible. But if I'm wrong, I can blame it on "flu like symptoms."
• Pete Delkus says the "Artic Front" is 12 hours ahead of schedule and will be in DFW around 10:00 p.m. tonight. 

Random Case Of The Day

That guy received 20 years this morning out of Williamson County under facts which seem unusual. It looks like the case got a ton of coverage in the Austin area:

A jury convicted Yazdi in October of murder for the death of 23-year-old Recio in 2012. Recio crashed his car on Avery Ranch Boulevard and fled from the scene about 3 a.m. Feb. 3, 2012 in order to avoid being charged with driving while intoxicated, prosecutors have said.

Recio ended up in Yazdi’s front yard and Yazdi came outside and shot him three times as Recio was climbing over a fence to get away from Yazdi, prosecutors said. Recio died on the sidewalk outside Yazdi’s home on Staked Plains Drive.

Above The Fold

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• An outfit called GeezerTunes.com is now advertising on the right wing talk radio station 660 AM - The Answer. (That's the home of Mark Davis and Dennis Prager and soon to be the home of Sean Hannity.) Speaks volu..... oh, nevermind.
• And I know I only have one Dennis Prager listener/defender but I gave Prager another chance. No one says the most obvious things and considers them to be profound than that guy. It is mind boggling that he considers himself some kind of life and relationship expert.
• Mrs. LL is down with a sore upper back and I've got the strangest severe chills this morning. We're falling apart. 
• I'd like the Dallas Cowboys serving food at the Salvation Army center yesterday a lot more if the cameras weren't invited. 
• Texas Monthly is now onto Judge Jerry Ray calling his attack on a Tarrant County jury a "bizarre outburst."  I guess the Star-Telegram is going to ignore it. 
• Decatur schools have early release on Friday because of volleyball and football playoff games. Is that commonplace? 
• A Flower Mound police officer participated in a marathon in San Antonio over the weekend then disappeared. Edit: Just found (but no explanation yet.) Edit #2: He was found in Florida.
• A Florida Republican congressman was charged with cocaine possession and, you know what, I don't care. 
• I'm backing off thinking about going to Stillwater on Saturday. Temperatures in the 20s with possible icy roads along the way. 
• I went down to Dealey Plaza ten years ago for the 40th JFK anniversary. It was a peaceful crowd but a handful of conspiracy guys got agitated when Dallas cops started putting on riot gear for no apparent reason. Someone in charge told them to take that stuff off, they did, and everything went back to normal. 
• The "checkpoint" in Fort Worth where drivers were forced to stop and then asked to volunteer saliva, blood or breath was insane. 

Cause the walls start shaking. The earth was quaking.

Back-to-back earthquakes near Azle http://t.co/kNtvbRPnEz
— WFAA TV (@wfaachannel8) November 19, 2013

I'm A Reasonable Guy

You know, peace, love and understanding and all that stuff.

But I wanted to see the security guy beat that punk senseless.

Ok, I feel better.

Random Question: Who Is Pictured On His Shirt?

If I don't have a correct answer from you guys within an hour, I'll be disappointed. Get on it.  I've gone from Madonna to Kurt Cobain to David Lee Roth. Not a clue.

Story.

Even If He Was Trying To Shoot Out The Tires (Debatable), You Can't Fire Shots There Can You?

Story.

Worst Paint Job In The History Of Ever

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• I promise I saw a sticker on the back windshield of a truck in Wise County this morning that said, "Jesus doesn't tap out."
• Speaking of, in this era of the fear of concussions how does MMA/Ultimate Fighting exist?
• College sports: (1) The Auburn crowd reaction to that amazing last play on Saturday is, well, amazing.  (2) I thought UT caught a big break when "coach in waiting" Will Muschamp went to Florida. I think the guy is a meat head. And he proved it again. (3) I re-watched the first quarter of Baylor/Tech last night. It is beyond entertaining. And Gus Johnson, whom I have never heard broadcast a football game, was fantastic. (4) That catch by Texas Tech receiver Eric Ward was incredible. (5) Stolen for the Ticket this morning: What purpose do the pylons in the back of the end zone serve?
• I've been livid about retired judge Jerry Ray chastising a jury in Tarrant County for finding a guy not guilty in a DWI case. I was excited when Grits For Breakfast picked up the story yesterday morning and ecstatic last night when I saw the Dallas Observer was on it. If Fox 4 or the Star-Telegram (Bud Kennedy, I'm looking at you) doesn't jump on it, I'll be sorely disappointed.
• And the Dallas Observer had the news that the guy blew a .095.  I understand that the general public would assume the guy is guilty, but there is not a prosecutor with half a brain who would tell you that such a case is a slam dunk. In fact, if the guy looked good on video then the case is a train wreck waiting to happen for the State. 
• He was a visiting judge which means he only fills in by appointment. I'm guessing those gigs are about to dry up. 
• One of the oddest things about the Kennedy assassination site is the white "X" painted on the street at the location where the President was shot. As of yesterday, it is gone. 
• I'll flip over to WBAP in the mornings every now and then and for some reason Brian Estridge drives me insane. They had a guest on this morning -- some guy named Eubanks promoting a book -- who spoke of the Richie Incognito bullying incident. Eubanks said, "Don't judge someone on what the say. Judge them on their actions." Really? Seriously? How dumb is that? Estridge, with excitement in his voice, said, "That's a really great point!" 
• It has been revealed that Jackie Kennedy's pink blood-stained dress is in the National Archives and, based upon the request of Caroline Kennedy, will not be displayed until the year 2103. (Why that year?)
• I may be the fastest self-check out grocery buyer in the history of ever. 
• "North Texas Drivers Stopped at Roadblock Asked for Saliva, Blood." Is this Russia, Danny?
• I've been a critic of Dallas lawyer Lisa Blue for years (she was married to asbestos king Fred Baron who funded the cover up of the paramour of presidential wannabe John Edwards). This is complicated, but it was interesting to see her name in the story: "Dallas County’s fee dispute with lawyers sinks settlement of federal lawsuit." And DA Craig Watkins is involved. Something ain't right. 
• Up until three years ago (besides when I was a kid), I had not had a dog. The Family Pup is a Yorkie who costs too much, has destroyed floors, and barks at the worst time. And I'm not sure I've loved anything more. (Except you, Mrs. LL -- That disclaimer will keep me out of trouble). 

Toronto Mayor Is So Full Throttle. So Chris Farely.

Today:

Over the weekend:

The Room Is Spinning Because Of The Cuteness

Source

The "I'm A Man. I'm Forty" Guy

How in the world can we beat that?

Huh?

UT Young Conservatives to play "Catch an Illegal Immigrant game" Weds. Anyone who finds someone wearing "illegal immigrant" sign gets $25.
— Emily Ramshaw (@eramshaw) November 18, 2013

Trying to find the back story on this.

Edit: Hey, guys. When Greg Abbott distances from you, you've really crossed the line.

.@gregabbott_tx flack on the YCT immigrant sting: "Our campaign has no affiliation with this repugnant effort” pic.twitter.com/LkrbYFoDcK
— Evan Smith (@evanasmith) November 18, 2013