Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• Hey, where is Bacon? I have no idea how I'm doing on the Random Thought Girls.
• The Cult is at Billy Bob's tonight? (Although I can't say I know one of their songs other than the greatness of She Sells Sanctuary.)
• "'Affluenza' Teen Ethan Couch's Wild Millionaire Parents Accused of Laundry List of Crimes and Traffic Violations" - From some site called "The Christian Post". And the article is interesting only if you think having a pre-2000 history of traffic tickets, hot checks, and one dismissed assault case is newsworthy.
• The judge in that case apparently did not formally pronounce a sentence on two companion intoxication assault cases which were tried at the same time. The Tarrant County DA's office is now grandstanding by saying they'll seek jail time on those charges. Good luck with all that. The chances of a retiring judge being bullied by public pressure are slim and none
• Back when Richie Whitt started his blog (paywall still there), one of the first things he wrote was, "Who would blog for free?"  (Two thumbs up, pointing back, "This guy!")
• My dad made sure I had a credit card by the time I was eighteen. Actually, it was an American Express. He told me it was pretty simple: When you use it, you'll have to pay for it a month later. Because of that I never considered charging something to be a "loan". I considered it to be thirty days of convenience.
• November was the warmest November on Earth since we've been keeping records since 1980. Evidence of Global Warming? I don't know. Compare: Some guy in Decatur who vehemently mocks the concept of Global Warming because of a cold day in Wise County last week.
• Mark Davis went on a War On Christmas rant on the radio this morning calling those who would take offense to a public/government school promoting the Christian holiday as "having a mental illness."  
• Maddeningly hypnotic: "Corpus Christi Coons!"
• Some are doggin' me for not talking politics. Honestly, there's not a whole lot of politics that goes on in December.
• There was another house explosion, this time in Azle, yesterday. And we aren't talking minor damage. The entire home is gone. 
• "I pay over 60 cents of every dollar to the government" - Sean Hannity lying on Fox News last night. There is simply no way that is true even if you add up every local, state and federal income tax accessed.
• I forgot to mention that on Saturday of the Baylor/Texas contest I posted about the game seconds before it began. The first comments was within five minutes from the "speaks volumes" guy who was dogging  the President. I didn't post it. But if his intention was to momentarily suck the life force out of me, he won.
• With all the lottery talk yesterday, there were constant odd comparisons with one being the chances of being hit/killed by an asteroid. I began to question some of those numbers (you ever heard of anyone being hit by an asteroid?)  The first page of a Google search revealed the following different answers: 1 in 3,200 (hit by); 1 in 250,000 (hit by); 1 in 74,817,414 (death by); 1 in 700,000 (death by); 1 in 700,000 (hit by). 
• While at Jerry World for the Six Man game on Saturday I learned that giving ATT naming rights has one benefit: They now have free Wifi flowing through that place at full throttle.
• Sports: The Cowboys coaching staff is getting dogged for not running the ball in the second half. Compare Baylor against UCLA in the Holiday Bowl last year once Baylor figured out the run was available. Baylor ran the ball 67 times and threw it only 13 in the 49-26 win. Which coaching staff do you trust more?
• They plan on shutting down the Willow Springs golf course in Haslet in order to build houses on it?

Above The Fold

Christmas Vacation

Obama Prepares to Leave for $4 Million Hawaii Vacation... http://t.co/ykXTE6TuAP
— DRUDGE REPORT (@DRUDGE_REPORT) December 17, 2013

So Texas That It Hurts

Language warning.

I have no idea the back story on this. If anyone sees anything on it, let me know.

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• "Keller teen's probationary sentence prompts Tarrant DA and legislators to push for changes in juvenile law." So the government doesn't get the result it wants so we need to change the laws? What's next? An automatic do-over if they get a "not guilty" verdict?
• Sports: (1) Since 2010, the Aledo Bearcats have more December win in Cowboys Stadium that the Cowboys do -- That's a fact I read but haven't verified. (2) Detroit Lions undrafted rookie TE Joseph Fauria has 7 touchdown catches. Cowboys 2nd-round TE Gavin Escobar has 8 total catches. (3) The Dallas Cowboys leads the NFL in yards per rushing attempt but are last in rushing attempts per game. (4) Mack Brown, in his final press conference, said he might write a book some day on what it's like to be the coach of UT. That almost came across as a subtle threat to expose the folks who tried to undermine him. (5) Dez Bryant will only reach about 65% of his potential because that guy ain't smart, and (6) I learned extra points in 6 Man Football are actually worth two points. 
• Deion Sanders founded, was fired from, hired back to, and fired again from Prime Prep Academy. The school board last night voted to fire the school's superintendent which leads everyone to believe Deion will be hired back. Ah yes, stability.
• I think this is the first year that I didn't have to add anything to our Christmas lawn decorations. Just pull everything out of boxes and set it up. (I even had a stash of replacement bulbs.) It only took eleven years. 
• Loved the story on Fox 4 last which included interviews of people buying lottery tickets for the Mega Millions Jackpot. One guy said he only buys one ticket because buying more would "not increase your odds."  Not sure about that, buddy. (I'm not saying it will increase your odds in any significant way, but it will increase your odds.)
• Mystery: A five year old Frisco kindergartner gets sick at lunch and dies hours later. 
• Breaking: Six American troops killed in Afghanistan plane crash
• Mrs. LL and I watched a "documentary" on The Lake Worth Goat Man on a show called Monsters and Mysteries in America. I didn't learn much because it may have been the worst produced show in the history of ever. And the acting was worse -- except for the sound of a cat which caused The Family Pup to furiously search the house for it. 
• The show also had a feature on chupacabra sighting in Texas which included a 911 call in Jack County but no reference to the incident in Runaway Bay a couple of years back.
• The most 2013 Googled "what is" questions concerned, twerking, ricin, DOMA, sequestration, lupus, molly, gluten, Obamacare, Snapchat, and Bitcoin. 
• A family's video Christmas card goes viral. I wonder if they are really that happy. 
• The National Finals Rodeo is leaving Las Vegas after twenty-nine years and is moving to Orlando. 

Phone Message Recorder Picks Up Crazy Song After Message Over

Listen. It's gold.

Beary-kins? Beary-babe? Bear-Bear? Carebear? Beary-boy?

Courtney Stodden Goes Brunette

The 19 year old first dumped her loving and only-with-the-best-intentions 53-year-old husband, Doug Hutchison, in November, and now she's dumped the blond hair. Probably just trying to project a little more innocence. Obviously, it's working.

Source. (Thanks, Steve.)

My Favorite Mayor Went To Church Yesterday

Toronto's partying mayor Rob Ford visits a church which just happens to be predominately African American (or African Canadian?) Video.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• Fox's Megyn Kelly took quite a bit of heat for her "Jesus was white" comment, but she continues to insist that the issue "is far from settled." Sheesh. 
• I've raved about Empire of the Summer Moon before and, for those of you who read it, it dedicated some its pages of how the white man basically killing off of the buffalo was the beginning of the end of the Indians. Knowing that, check out this historic photo I came across this weekend.
• I'll joke about the Wise County "Fossil, Rock and Mineral Society" from time to time, but I love that they'll have a Christmas dinner this year with guests being "asked to bring a rock-related item for a gift exchange." (Per Update).
• My "bet the house" prediction on the Cowboys winning less than 8.5 is still alive. And speaking of that debacle yesterday, Dallas threw is 23 times and ran it just 7 times in the second half. Also, check out this crazy "win probability" chart that was ongoing during the game yesterday.
• I went to a six man game at Cowboys Stadium this weekend. Fantastic. I'll try and dedicate a separate post to it later. (One of the bands had about 10 members -- four of whom were the cheerleaders temporarily filling in -- and the band director played an instrument as well for the National Anthem.) And I got to see the power of Sky Mirror!
• Remember how I hate how reporters will say they had a "nice chat" with a sports figure just to name drop? Dallas Morning News guy Barry Horn did it this weekend about his run in with Baylor's Kim Mulkey. 
• During the ice storm I was constantly thinking, "If I slip and fall, I'm going to hurt myself". I wonder at what age we begin to think that? I certainly didn't think that in my twenties and probably not in my thirties. 
• John Cornyn leads Tea Party nut case Steve Stockman by 50-6 in the first poll released. 
• Denton PD had an arrest for "ASSAULT PUBLIC SERVANT | RESIST ARREST SEARCH OR TRANSP | ALCOHOL PUBLIC INTOXICATION | DISORDERLY CONDUCT-FIGHTING IN PUBLIC" with a book in photo which seems consistent with the charges. 
• Ridiculous: Attorney General Greg Abbott considers "looking into" the case of the Keller kid who received probation for Intoxication Manslaughter. Equally ridiculous: Wendy Davis calling the sentence "a disgrace."  Aren't these the same folks who always say they respect the criminal justice system and the rule of law?
• Legal question for you juvenile law gurus out there: The Tarrant County DA's office pursued the case under the "determinate sentence" law, but is there any prohibition which would have prevented them from certifying him as an adult in an Intoxication Manslaughter case?
• I put out the giant inflatable Chrismas monkey on our front lawn. There's just something about it . . . . 
• Everyone from USA Today to CMT to The Rolling Stone reported Ray Price had died on Sunday after his son prematurely made the announcement.  But he's still alive as of this morning. 
• As a kid, I saw commercial after commercial for the film Billy Jack which also beat us down with the song "One Tin Soldier".  The lead actor has died. 
• A wreck at Sam Houston State left three students dead and the  car leaning nose first up against a building. 
• Discipline does work:: In all of college football, the rankings for least penalties per game include Navy at #1, Army at #8, and Air Force at #17. Baylor was the worst at #125. Texas Tech was #124.

Carnage

This makes my day: Packers bus driver runs over police motorcycle at game. Cop not on it. Seriously??? Jeez Packers.. pic.twitter.com/ejJmhgxkgH
— Amanda Guerra (@AmandaNBC5) December 15, 2013

Great Miami Field Goal Attempt Today

Texas Chaos

Texas insider Chip Brown wrote earlier this week that Mack would retire. He didn't. Chip Brown then got killed on Twitter. So he wrote this today on how Mack had executed a masterful political power play to save his job. 

And then hours later (but seconds before I wrote this) . . . BOOM:

Mack Brown has informed the team and recruits of his resignation He will coach the bowl game.
— Longhorn Network (@LonghornNetwork) December 15, 2013

Longhorn Network don't lie. And it is official.  Edit: Brown would later say, "The program is being pulled in different directions."

Mack Brown, when he was first hired by Texas 16 years ago. pic.twitter.com/8jv0EAC0DX
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) December 15, 2013

The Evil Empire has standards. This does not measure up:

He probably does this year.

Above The Fold

Weekend Perusing

Time magazine's 2013 Top 10 of everything in 54 categories..

I'm Confused: How Many Offensive Coordinators Do They Have To Have?

Today:

 Yesterday:

And both are apparently true.

Texas Monthly New Bum Steer Cover

Looks like David Dewhurst, Jerry Jones, and Houston professional sports teams will be big players.

How To Avoid Crashing Into A Cop Car

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• Sheriff Joe is in the Christmas spirit: All face to face inmate visits have been discontinued and the only way to visit now is via video conferencing at a rate of $12.95 for a 20-minute chat.  (The only upside is that relatives can also visit remotely from a home computer -- that's probably a fair trade off that he didn't anticipate.)
• That kid who is now running North Korea had his uncle, who had been second in command for years, executed for treason.  If he's trying to prove he is crazier than his dead daddy, he's making a good case. 
• The finals in the Texas six man football playoffs take place tomorrow in Cowboys Stadium.  I've never seen a six man game and am tempted to go. (I'm also tempted to go see 14-0 Graham vs. 14-0 Argyle at Northwest -- except it's a night game.)
• It was in the low 40s this morning and felt balmy. 
• Lawyer stuff that I find fascinating: Mark Bennett of Houston runs a blog and, man, he takes no prisoners.  That is, he's smart but making friends isn't high on his list.  That led to a blog post a few days ago where he crucified a brand new lawyer for ridiculous (and false) statements on his website promoting his new practice. (i.e. "pre­mier DWI lawyer", "the assassin of suppression"). That new lawyer actually responded in the comments. Good stuff. Then comes a follow-up post after Bennett discovered that the brand new lawyer had been hired on a capital murder case! The comments are golden and even Grits For Breakfast has picked up this fiasco that is about to happen.
• Every time I post an animated GIF I get a comment, heavily laced with profanity, yelling at me for doing so. But most of the words are misspelled in a comical way. I don't if the guy's ignorant or if it is someone brilliant doing a pretty funny bit. Keep 'em coming. 
• Good grief: That Texas judge who had to resign after texting the prosecution tips during a criminal trial has signed up to run for DA. At least she's discovered her true colors. (Dang it. Now that Cyndi Lauper song is stuck in my home.)
• The bride who pushed her brand new husband over a cliff pled guilty to a lesser offense yesterday right before closing arguments were to begin. She now faces up to 20 years in prison instead of life. (I didn't realize the case was in federal court because the death occurred in a national park.)
• I didn't publish a comment yesterday that claimed I had responded "8 times" as anonymous in the comments. Not true. I never do that.
• Sports: (1) Gambling? Baylor's best and fastest receiver, who broke his wrist in the Oklahoma game, has been cleared to play in the bowl game.  Vegas might want to adjust the line accordingly. (2) TV ratings for every college football game this year. (3) The Rangers drafting Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson with an obligation to pay $12,000 was nothing more than a publicity stunt. And a brilliant one at that. (4) The terms of Aggie coach Mike Sumlin's new contract were released yesterday and he's making $5 million a year. Imagine what he'll make if he ever wins the SEC West Division. (5) I don't know who former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield is but a mansion he bought is in such bad shape that officials are going to burn it down. (6) I'm pretty sure Mack Brown is going to retire but part of me is beginning to believe a huge cluster is breaking out in Austin. (7) Chicago receiver Alshon Jeffery, who torched the Cowboys last weekend, was once recruited by then Tennessee coach - and spare - Lane Kiffin when Jeffery was committed to South Carolina. Kiffen told him that "he would end up pumping gas for the rest of his life" if he went to South Carolina. Jobless Kiffin is much closer to pumping gas than Jeffery is. 
• The Hawaiian official who approved the release of the President's birth certificate has died in a plane crash. Let me save someone some time: "It looks like that Kenyan Obammy had that Hawaiian killed. Speaks volumes, doesn't it?"
• Random and Obscure Observation: I've never come close to be charged with a crime but that would rapidly change if I were locked in a room with Courtney Kerr (Google her) for five minutes. And I'm talking about a crime of violence. 
• The Nancy Graces of the world (and even local wannabes) are jumping on the probated sentence for the kid from Keller in the Intoxication Manslaughter case. Let me say what I said three days ago: He's sixteen!
• I don't want to say anything, but it looks like Santa is double booked in Wise County on Saturday morning according to the Update.
• Singer Ray Price knows he will die in the next few days from cancer. With that in mind, he's decided he'll leave the hospital in order to be allowed to die at home. 
• [In a deep movie preview type voice] "In another battle on the War on Drugs, Operation M-pact took place in Texarkana . . . "