Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• "FORT WORTH -- Longtime Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Lawrence 'Larry' Meyers [from Fort Worth] announced Monday that he is leaving the Republican Party to run as a Democrat for the Texas Supreme Court." That's beyond baffling. The only thing I can think of is that he was ready to retire and wanted to gig a sitting justice from across the hall. But that's just a guess.
• And in other Court of Criminal Appeals news,  Judge Cathy Cochran did not file for re-election.   With Myers and Cochran's last minute moves, I wonder if anyone is even running for those two judgeships. 
• "A Dimmitt County jury has awarded $281 million to the family of a man killed when he was struck by a drive shaft that broke off a truck involved in activity in the Eagle Ford Shale." Good grief. The Eagle Ford Shale being located in a Plaintiff's attorney's heaven will have its downside. 
• Three girls get engaged and have a cutesy photo taken with all their friends. I'd marry the one on the bottom row, far left. 
• There is a civil case against the Travis County DA ongoing where they are trying to oust her after her DWI arrest and conviction.  Shockingly, a public official can be removed under Texas law for "intoxication on or off duty caused by drinking an alcoholic beverage." That's it.  But for some reason (perhaps because Austin is Austin), the prosecutors said they will prove that the the DA "is unfit for office and could harm the public interest if she remains in her position." Why? That's not required. Why enlarge your burden of proof? And why is the judge questioning whether they can prove that. 
• I had my first Starbucks product in over 6 years the other day thanks to my office partner. It had some fancy name but I think it was really a large non-fat hot chocolate with "no whip". 
• "FORT WORTH — A judge has sentenced a former agent with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to 180 days in jail and two years of probation for taking lewd photographs of a woman with hidden cameras." A lot of that story doesn't make sense: (1) It says the offense is a third degree felony -- it's not. It's a State Jail Felony, (2) I can't tell if the sentence was 180 days in jail which was probated and suspended for two years, or a two year probation with 180 days in jail as a condition of the probation, (3) Regardless, it's odd to accept a felony conviction for a statute which was declared unconstitutional by an appellate court. 
• The Ticket's Bob Sturm finally got back from Guatemala via Miami via Charleston and then to Dallas. 
• Days after Carrie Underwood helped re-created live performance of The Sound Of Music on NBC, actress Eleanor Parker from the original movie has died. (She played Baroness Elsa Schraeder.)
• Sports: Think an NCAA four team playoff (to being next year)  is better than the current BCS. I do. Then I read that if the playoff were to have been implemented this year,  "No. 2 Auburn would have to beat No. 3 Alabama [again] and the Crimson Tide would have had a bye week while Missouri picked up a second loss in [the SEC Championship] to knock them out of the playoff. Yeah, that’s real fair. Oh, and the Tide would have a shot at the national title despite not even having to win its division while Big 12 champ Baylor would be left out in the cold (both figuratively and literally)."
• Tea Party favorite Texas congressman Steve Stockman, who invited Ted Nugent to join him during the President's last State of the Union message, filed at the last minute to run against John Cornyn for U.S. Senate.  It keeps getting crazier and crazier. But let the word go forth: Thou Shall Not Refuse To Bow Down To Ted Cruz. 
• My "bet the house" proclamation of the Cowboys having less than 8.5 wins for the season is still alive.
• There has never been a movie promoted as much as Anchorman 2.
• Danica Patrick will co-host the American Country Music Awards on Fox tonight. Can you think of a more personality deprived individual to host anything? 
• My newspaper front page site hasn't updated today. Edit: Updated

Bear With Me

I couldn't find my post about Art Briles being hired back in 2007 to save my life, but Mrs. LL tracked it down. Here's apart of it:

The rest of the entry is here (with comments about what the future will hold.)  One thing that strikes me is that Baylor was so far down, I was thrilled with the chance to be average. I scoffed at the idea of winning the Big 12. 

Which reminded me of Briles' quote on Saturday night:  ‘[T]he problem with people is not that they aim too high and miss; it’s that they aim too low and hit.’

I'll be dang. 

Garth Being Garth

Garth looking like Zoolander back in the day

During an interview with Robin Roberts [on Good Morning America], she said the shows with the band has led to questions about whether he would go on a full scale tour. After saying that he would "love to fire it up. It's still a decision that our family has to make. Between me and you, I think we'll make an announcement soon," Brooks paused and broke the news. "We're going on a world tour 2014...I can't believe I just did that...Let's just go ahead and announce it now."

Yep. Absolutely spontaneous and genuine. No pre-planning there whatsoever.

Life was pretty good with him out of the spotlight for the last 10 years, but get ready.  He's already showing up on Walmart TV commercials. He'll be everywhere.

And did I talk about his TV special from Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago? He looked high as a kite in front of a live audience.  Just talking a million miles an hour and all wild eyed.  And then he brought wife Trisha Yearwood on stage who said a few words causing him to interrupt her and say, "Remember this is the Garth Brooks show."

But one thing is certain. After his first song is finished during his new concert tour. He'll stop and look wide eyed up at the audience as applause reigns down with that trademarked, "I didn't even know people were here!" look.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• What an insane ice storm. Those cars and trucks stuck on I-35 around Sanger overnight had my sympathy. What a nightmare. (And, man, there are a lot of trucks on our roads.)
• I kept hearing about "cobblestone ice" on freeways.  I know exactly what they are talking about from past experience: It feels like every nut and bolt in your car is going to come off. 
• And the power outages in Dallas and Collin were a problem.  The Ticket's Craig Miller had his power go off for three days and Richie Whitt was out of power for two. I told Mrs. LL that I could probably make it though one night then it would be Hotel City.
• I didn't make it down to Waco on Saturday for the Baylor game, but I desperately wanted to. I spent a lot of the morning just looking out the window and contemplating a decision. But it sounds like lots of folks couldn't make it back up I-35 on Saturday night. Heck, I wasn't sure I could make it out of my neighborhood. 
• The Fifth Grader in the House spent most of the afternoons playing with other kids in the neighborhood outside. But we had her dressed up like Randy in A Christmas Story.
• We've DVR'd the new Bonnie and Clyde starring Emilo Hirsch.  Here's what the Star-Telegram looked like after they killed two troopers on 114 in Southlake. 
• I'm stunned I haven't suffered from cabin fever. But if I have to be iced in, this wasn't a bad weekend for it to happen. 
• Extended Sports:
• A shocking list of 53 NFL players who have blown out their ACL this year. I keep thinking the sport won't exist in the future but then I think of Ultimate Fighting. 
• The Washington Redskins are in so much disarray.  Look at the empty stands at the start of the third quarter after they were throttled yesterday.  Mike Shanahan will be fired before the end of the year. 
• "The Washington Redskins are expected to target Baylor head coach Art Briles if they fire Mike Shanahan, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported Sunday, citing league sources." You know, I actually had that thought at the first of the year if Chip Kelly's spread offense worked with Philadelphia. But with Briles' new contract and with his ties to the state of Texas, that story is beyond ridiculous. 
• I thought the crowd would be small at the Kentucky/Baylor doubleheader at Jerry World on Friday and it was -- but they missed some pretty, pretty good stuff.  A four overtime women's game that set the record for most points scored in a women's game, and a Baylor men's upset of #2 Kentucky. 
• No way I'm going to the Fiesta Bowl to see Baylor play Central Florida. (The early line is Baylor by 15.5). Interestingly, if OSU had beaten Oklahoma on Saturday, Baylor would be playing Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. 
• But Central Florida's QB's girlfriend is a "Hey, Now". 
• When Baylor went into its final five games, I predicted Baylor would score 30 on all of them. I went four out of five. So did Baylor.
• Why did North Dakota State's coach leave for Wyoming? Seems like he could get a better gig than that -- he was 50-3 over the last four seasons. 
• Fox Sports superimposing the yardage graphics over the snow in the Eagles/Lions game was cool, but I'm not sure I liked it. 
• A photo of an outdoor cameraman in that game is fantastic. 
• Before the freezing SMU game on Saturday, the video screen displayed a log burning fireplace. 
• I've mentioned my growing disdain for the NFL, but the Minnesota/Baltimore game yesterday was high entertainment. And wasn't it great how the local Fox affiliate had to leave the game at the end due to "contractual obligations". (NFL mafia rules.)
• Mrs. LL has become fascinated by football rules. She'll yell, "He broke the plane! He broke the plane" when a guy struggles to get in the end zone. 
• I told her five years ago, "It sounds crazy, but Baylor will beat Texas again in my lifetime." Little did I know it would be three of the last four years. 
• OU's fake field goal with the punter/holder throwing to the kicker for a TD may be my favorite play of the weekend. 
• I had a senior lawyer in a big law firm I worked at one time tell me to never use the word "interestingly" when communicating with a client because the client will know whether or not the current subject is interesting. Idiot. If I'm talking to any professional (doctor, plumber, mechanic), I want him to tell me what he thinks is interesting/important. 
• "This woman sideline reporter thing is an officially failed experiment." - A Mark Davis tweet that can only be defined as sexist. I think sideline reporters are silly, too, but he brought gender into it for some reason. 
• I had no idea the Tea Party hated Nelson Mandela. Edit: (1) See comments. (2) Told ya.
• The County Judge in Grayson County has declared a "local disaster" because of the ice. Not sure what exactly the implications are, if any. 
• I watched The Today Show for the first time in a while this morning. Apparently some consultant told them they should all set at the same desk and yuk it up like they are having a good time. 
• The Dallas Marathon was cancelled, and there will be no refunds. Proceeds go to the  Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children so it's kind of hard to gripe (I didn't register this year).  But I think the fee for the marathon was $100 and the half marathon was $80 with over 20,000 people pre-registered. That's a lot of cash. 
• Remember that crazy New Mexico cop who opened fire on an SUV loaded with kids when the driver left a routine traffic stop? Fired. 

Channel 8 Graphic

Decatur WalMart Pic Of The Day

(Stolen from Facebook so don't dog me that the guy's face is blocked out with a heart. I didn't do it.)

I'm hearing that Walmart might be thin on supplies. One Wise Countian took this pic at the checkout line suggesting purchases like this is why there is no meat available.

Edit: Someone left a sprayer on at one of Decatur's car washes . . .

Sheets Of Ice Falling From Apartments In Plano

You have to see it to believe it.

Another one:

OSU Loses: Now Will The Evil Empire Keep Baylor From A Big 12 Championship?

Edit: It's 3-3 at halftime. First team not to freeze to death wins.

Edit: I never dreamed I'd see it . . .

Final edit:

Above The Fold

Warmer Days Taking You Into The Weekend

Tweet from WFAA TV (@wfaachannel8)

	WFAA TV (@wfaachannel8)
12/6/13, 1:05 PM Canopy collapses on boats at Pier 121 Marina at Lewisville Lake bit.ly/IWbzo8 #wfaaice pic.twitter.com/D1ALE1VAp8

Ice Day Reading: I Despise This Guy

From the Texas Monthly. Here.

Attendance Warning

I'm not sure why Cowboys Stadium was chosen as the venue tonight of the double header of Kentucky vs. Baylor in men's and women's basketball.  (There was a Tip Off Showcase earlier this year at American Airlines Center involving the three games of Oklahoma/Alabama, TCU/SMU, and Baylor/Colorado where the stands were virtually empty.)  Cowboys Stadium, on the best of days, would be an empty barn tonight. Throw in bad weather, and it'll be comical. But, per Stubhub, you can get a ticket for $11.  From there, you can probably wander to the best seat in the house. Good luck, we're all counting on you.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• A night spent with sleet/freezing rain crashing against the windows facing the north is one of the strangest things I've seen.
• It's not supposed to get above freezing today but it looks like there's a chance for some sun this afternoon. That could clear things up a little bit. 
• A quarter of a million customers without power in North Texas? And a customer can equal a family. It could get cold inside pretty quickly. 
• I posted a tweet from Paris Hilton yesterday in wake of Nelson Mandela's death which read, "Your 'Have A Dream Speech' was so inspiring."  I took it down when I found out it was fake. 
• The amazing lights on the Omni Hotel in Dallas transformed into a South African flag last night. That can't be done on the fly, can it?
• Crazy footage of an underground fire in downtown Dallas with flames leaping out. No one seems overly concerned with 15 foot flames leaping into the air by a hotel. 
• There's a new managing partner of the massive law firm of Baker and Botts in Houston. I may be wrong, but doesn't he have Decatur ties? I do know that I graduated law school with him -- I'm guessing he's doing a little better than I am. 
• Spent the pre-dawn minutes cleaning off the trampoline of ice since it looked like it would collapse. What a beating. Had to take a hammer to break it up. And those chunks were heavy.
• Wise Countian Michelle Perry had one of her ice photos make it on to Fox 4 this morning.
• We bought an electrical train to go around the Christmas tree. It started up by itself this morning. Hello, Ghosts of Christmas Present. 
• The unemployment rate falls to 7.0% this morning. Wordkyle in three, two, . . . 
• I watched The Football Life documentary on the Cowboys offensive line in the 1990s called The Great Wall of Dallas -- a nickname that never existed. The show reminded me of a saying I heard once: "Qualities that make someone a great football player are also qualities that should eventually be outgrown."
• I ended up watching two of the three hour live performance of The Sound of Music with Carrie Underwood last night on NBC. Not bad. (Then I learned that Captain Von Tropp was a big vampire player in True Blood). I kept waiting for some major flub but it never happened. 
• Watching people stuck in traffic on Fox 4 this morning is a guilty (and I do mean guilty) pleasure.
• I made myself instant hot chocolate this morning. The Fifth Grader In The House was afraid I didn't know what I was doing.
• In case we make it to the Baylor game, Mrs. LL bought me a sweater to wear underneath my jacket or other layers. It was burnt orange. She registered shock when I pointed it out  - "It was the closest thing to gold I could find!" Either she is color blind or something wicked this way come. 

Talk About A Winter Storm Warning

Johnny Manziel turns 21 at midnight. God help us all. pic.twitter.com/VK4Tj2Jcw1
— LostLettermen.com (@LostLettermen) December 5, 2013

Panic From The National Weather Service In Fort Worth

Freezing rain and sleet starting to accumulate on cars in SW Wise Co. #icestorm #txwx pic.twitter.com/viJkq3imfS
— NWS Fort Worth (@NWSFortWorth) December 5, 2013

Well, That Was Deleted Fast

Posted moments after it was announced that the Florida State QB would not be charged.

The News, The Law, And Tragedy

A tragic story. A guy blows through a red light on a Dallas street while drunk and kills the other driver, his passenger (after she was in a coma for 400 days), and the unborn child of the passenger.

He pled guilty to "three counts" of Intoxication Manslaughter. Three? Yep. Texas criminal law states that an "individual" is "a human being who is alive, including an unborn child at every stage of gestation from fertilization until birth."  So he caused three deaths in the eyes of the Texas Penal Code.

He agreed to a plea bargain of 15 years.

The story read: For all three deaths, Price will serve 15 years. The maximum he could have received was 20. He pled guilty to three counts of intoxication manslaughter as part of a plea deal agreed upon by each family involved. 

Now a portion of that is inaccurate. The maximum he could have received for each death is 20 years (a very real possibility because of these horrific facts.) But then it would be up to the judge to decide if he wanted to stack the sentences or run them concurrently.  There is nothing procedurally the Defendant could do to keep that decision out of the hands of a judge.

And the story is silent as to whether there was a "deadly weapon" finding as part of the plea bargain. If there is, he would have to serve at least half of the sentence. If not, the parole laws would allow him get out much sooner. (But, based upon experience, the parole board might keep him in there for well over half of the sentence even without a deadly weapon finding. It's hard to predict. Horrible facts and family members constantly dogging the parole board can lead to a longer incarceration.)