How Much Sinning Can You Do In Montana Anyway?

The very abbreviated worship service created by Pastor Tim Christensen of Gold Hill Lutheran Church (Butte, Montana) for the 11 AM service taking place at the exact same time as kickoff for the 49ers - Panthers NFL playoff game.

Hunting

Gordon Keith's latest column in the Dallas Morning News has generated over 350 comments. It's about hunting and the defense of it.

I've never understood it.

I'm not a vegetarian. I understand the meat on the table was brought to me because the death of an animal. I understand the concept of population control.  But I don't "get" the joy of pulling the trigger.

That Cheerleader Took That Charge Like A Champ

I Have No Idea What The Back Story Is

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

Edit: Due to repeat

• Mrs. LL and I saw American Hustle this weekend. Verdict: Very good. And the late seventies soundtrack was an added bonus/ (Side note: That little Jennifer Lawrence is going to be the next big thing.)
• I learned I've been confused January Jones and Amy Adams for over two years -- which is silly since they look nothing alike. 
• And we basically never go to a movie unless it is being shown at one of those places that's a combo restaurant/theater. 
• Tarrant County DA's press release regarding various cops charged with forging overtime slips: “Based upon the Tarrant County District Attorney’s high ethical standards, these cases are being dismissed in the interest of justice.”  Can you call yourself ethical? Isn't that a term that others should use about you?
• I saw a tweet about Senate hopeful (and nutcase) Steve Stockman giving a speech that was closed to the press. I wanted to read the story but some outfit called Texas Weekly has a subscription fee of $250 per year!
• That water outage in Bridgeport is inexcusable, right? 
• I can't wait to hear the real story of how Derek Holland blew out his knee. I'm guessing he was on stilts in a clown outfit. 
• Lane Kiffin has been named the offensive coordinator at Alabama. It'll be interesting to see if he can destroy that program as well.
• If I hear that Bruno Marrs song one more time, I might off myself.
• Mrs. LL and I ended up watching an episode for the last season of Girls over the weekend. Is it always that intense?
• The Golden Globes once again proved its the only awards show worth watching.
• The E! Network made a fun fact out of Michael J. Fox's Parkinson's disease.
• I haven't been to a high school basketball game in years, but Decatur 67, Bridgeport 33 sounds like a beat down. 
• They introduced the Punt, Pass and Kick winners during halftime at one of the games yesterday. I remember when they actually had the passing competition during halftime. (Some kid would be dressed up in the opposing team's uniform and get booed. Good times.) 
• There was some kind of Tea Party "Freedom Rally" in the metroplex this weekend where Ted Cruz spoke. There is absolutely no chance of him winning the Republican nomination but I'd love to see him try. 
• I've been a long time critic of Peter King and especially the drivel that is Monday Morning Quarterback. Case in point: Just read the small portion where he recounts his interaction between himself and another guy on a train here.
• "Study finds MTV’s '16 and Pregnant' may have prevented 20,000+ births to teenage moms in 2010." I didn't think kids were that smart.
• I'm not sure he played (he was nursing a calf injury), but it had to be a pretty interesting game yesterday for Bridgeport's Colin Jones. He was drafted by the 49ers and then traded to the Panthers. 
• A Southwest airlines flight landed at the wrong airport yesterday. That is beyond comprehension. 

Bicyclist On The Fort Worth 7th Street Bridge

I actually drove across it for the first time this morning. This happened a bit later. Nuts.

Above The Fold

Oh no!

Edit:

Baby Polar Bear Taking First Steps Into The Weekend

Because it was the first full work week of the year.

A Modern Day Billie Joe McAllister

FOX5 Vegas - KVVU

Now this is more like it. No getting on your knees with your hands up. No subjecting yourself to an old fashioned tasing. Nope. She's going full throttle right in to the river. Either going big or going home.  It's good to see that young people today have some initiative. Story.

Yolo!

Part Of Josh Brent's Intoxication Manslaughter Case Closed To Press?

RT @shaunrabbfox4 reporters told they cannot observe Josh Brent jury selection process because there is no room pic.twitter.com/IaeEdUp6QN
— FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) January 10, 2014

If this is true, I'm sounding the alarm. You have the right to a public trial.

See Lilly v. State, 365 S.W.3d 321 (Tex.Crim.App.2012) Trial in chapel of a maximum security prison violated right to public trial and case was reversed.  

See Garcia v. State, 401 S.W.3d 300 (Tex.App-San Antonio 2013, pet. ref'd) Three family members of Defendant excluded form voir dire due to spaced limitations was error and case was reversed.

 

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• Chris Christie is a perfect politician for New Jersey.
• I've never been a fan of his since the first time I heard his voice: He was interviewed while U.S. Attorney in This American Life's 2009 "Arms Trader". The subject of the show is one of my biggest sources of irritation: The federal government seeking out incompetent "terrorists" in the U.S. and spending a fortune to set them up for an act of terrorism that they could never do on their own. Christopher Christie, as he was referred to, came across as a publicity seeking prosecutor. And, as it turns out, he was. 
• Am I reading this right? A list released yesterday by the Texas Education Agency listed Boyd High School, Bridgeport Middle School, and Chico High School on its "PEG" list? And the "PEG program permits parents whose children attend schools on the PEG list to request that their children transfer to schools in other districts." And a school only gets on the list if "50 percent or more of [its] students did not pass any of the state assessment subjects in any two of the preceding three years."
• There was a Fort Worth ISD's whistleblower lawsuit that was filed in Wise County a while back which I swore was settled on the first day of trial last year. But late yesterday the Fort Worth Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the school in a previously filed summary judgment. I'm confused. 
• A DA candidate in Iowa City, Iowa says that "if elected he would not prosecute public intoxication or marijuana possession cases." These times they are changing. Or not? That was the policy of the Wise County Attorney twenty years ago. 
• The Golden Globes are Sunday -- the only awards show worth watching.
• The Yearning for Zion Ranch in Eldorado, the home of the Mormon radical sect that was one led by imprisoned Warren Jeffs, has been forfeited to the State after the group didn't show up in court to battle against the seizure. That's odd for a group which normally fights tooth and nail. Or maybe they have disbanded. 
• The scariest thing I've ever heard and scene seen: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department now has a SWAT team. It'll be like Rambo Game Wardens. (That link contains a picture which is a must see.)
• Breaking employment news: Unemployment drops to 6.7%. (Cue Wordkyle in 3, 2, . . . . But is sounds like he might be justified this time.)
• I-30 was shut down for hours in both directions on the bridge over Lake Ray Hubbard this morning because of a massive 18 wheeler pile-up. Now that's a traffic nightmare -- there's not exactly service roads you can jump onto to bypass it. 
• I don't understand it all, but it sounds like there's been a heck of a war over who controls the Wise County Posse Grounds. And the war is over money.
• I wonder how many people in Bridgeport said yesterday, "I never realized how much I appreciated easy access to water." 

Lawyer Ad Of The Day: Jamie Casino

And You Wonder Why They Hate Us?

Competitive eater Molly Schuyler broke the world record for fastest eating of a 72-ounce steak at Sayler’s Old Country Kitchen in Portland, Oregon. This tiny [120 pound] woman devoured the monster steak in 2 minutes and 44 seconds. The previous Guinness World Record for eating a 72 oz. steak was 6 minutes and 48 seconds, set by Peter Czerwinski (Furious Pete)

In other news, let's go to Ann Curry in Africa.

Bridgeport Water Leak -- Updated

Getting lots of report of a "major water leak" in Bridgeport which is disrupting the residential water supply.

Developing . . .

Edit: The Messenger has chimed in . . .

Major leak near Bridgeport water plant could leave city without water until 10 pm. #BreakingNews http://t.co/iKPuXabquv
— WCMessenger.com (@WCMessenger) January 9, 2014

Edit: School's out. No toilets make it a problem.

This Lady Is Running For Texas State Board Of Education

We have Devil worshipers who cannot wait to vote. Like I said to the liberal grannie who thinks the Devil is right. Christians will win.
— Lady Theresa Thombs (@ladythombsdj) January 9, 2014

She had a heck of a performance at a campaign forum on Monday night which was brought to our attention first by Bud Kennedy and then elaborated upon by the Dallas Observer.

Gov. Christie Says He Was "Blindsided" -- Fires Person "Who Lied To Me"

Everyone was buying what he was selling until he said that he learned of the situation yesterday "after I had finished my workout."

Completely Geeky NFL Stat No One Will Care About

In this world of high flying offenses, look where the final four playoff teams [in the NFC] fall on a chart that plots points allowed and yards allowed.

Edit to commentor: Yeah, I understand. In a world of high flying offenses, it is defense which carries the day. Pay attention.