Incoming In Three, Two . . . .

This calculator will help estimate how much health insurance will cost you on the new marketplace: http://t.co/D6M8mh38G4
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 14, 2014

Edit: Kind of related, Lifehacker.com has a primer on the different types of health plans available in the private sector.

Christian Laettner Didn't Even Have This Kind Of Magic

So much going on here: (1) The first shot goes OVER the backboard, (2) We've got pink shirt, khaki pants guy in charge of getting the ball back to him, (3) Cheerleaders who react as if they haven't had much to cheer about in the past, and (4) Excitement that only a college kid could have when he wins Jimmy John's for a year. Not $10,000 or $50,000 or a scholarship. Jimmy John's.

We've Got Us A Genuine American Hero

ABC – A Punta Gorda man was arrested Saturday after ramming a shopping cart into another man. According to a report, deputies responded to a disturbance call at the Walmart on Taylor Road around 6:30 p.m. A Walmart manager told deputies they escorted 77-year-old William Golladay out of the store after yelling and hitting another customer with a shopping cart. The 65-year-old victim was in a motorized shopping cart purchasing items in the express lane when he noticed Golladay counting his items as he placed them on the counter. When the number of items exceeded 20, Golladay began yelling at the victim saying he couldn’t use that register.(More.)

I pride myself on being able to breeze through the express line (whether self check-out or otherwise.)  And I always use the express line because I go to the grocery store a million times a week and always pick up items that number less than ten.   And it drives me insane when there is some yahoo who just blatantly breaks that most sacred of all American rules: "Twenty items or less."  There is no question I'll be arrested some day when I go absolutely nuts on some guy who breaks that twenty item benchmark. A man can only be pushed so far. 

I'll be Mr. Golladay. And when that day comes, I'll remember his inspiration. The greatest generation indeed. 

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

Edit: Repeat?

• A Wise County "conservative Republican" and the Wise County Democratic Party Chairman were in Azle last night seeking answers regarding the earthquakes.
• Sports: (1) Texas Tech won't let former walk-on quarterback Baker Mayfield play immediately at his new school of choice, OU, instead forcing him to sit out a year. And that's a kid who wasn't under scholarship, (2) I watched the Baylor/UConn women's game last night -- entertaining stuff, (3) Former Cowboy exec Gil Brandt compares Johnny Manziel to Doug Flutie -- a comparison which I take as a criticism if I were Johnny Football, (4) This comes from WBAP's Hal Jay so who knows if it is correct, but he said that once UT pays Louisville the $4 million+ contractual buy-out for Charlie Strong, that the money is considered as income for Strong who'll have to pay income taxes on it. (5) From the Star-Telegram: "TCU's Role Model Should Be Baylor."
• Interesting strategy in the Josh Brent trial where they are contesting guilt when the blood alcohol content was .18.  Since the victim's family doesn't want him to go to prison, I'd of thought he would have simply pled guilty before the jury, accepted responsibility, and then focus all of his efforts on obtaining probation.
• The more I hear about the Southwest jet landing at the wrong airport, the weirder it seems. Heck, the GPS on your phone could have prevented that. And did you know that the intended destination of the Branson airport doesn't have radar? 
• I generally don't have allergies, but I'm certain that Mountain Ceder causes me to sneeze like crazy. We had the highest pollen count of the season this weekend (279) but the count was into the thousands in Austin and San Antonio. 
• Mrs. LL has started a yoga class and apparently is very surprised by the fitness of the ladies which are many years her senior. 
• The Sonic commercial guys used to be funny, right?
• The Musers did a segment on Fitbit this morning. Never heard of it until recently. But a gal up at the courthouse got one for Christmas.  Edit: Someone commented that the segment sounded like a paid ad disguised as a regular segment. That is an interesting take. 
• I'm surprised that the guy who paid $350,000 to shoot an endangered rhino (still makes absolutely no sense) decided to come forward and identify himself. When he posted on his Facebook page that he'd like to thank all of those for their "comments", the post itself received 1,347 comments (at least that was the number a second ago)
• I've got the Alex Rodriquez 60 Minutes story on my DVR, but I'm only mildly interested. (But I do like the fact that he sued MLB and the player's union yesterday only because he has the chance to go scorched earth.) 
• Are cops not releasing auto wreck information as freely as they used to? It seems like every Wise County wreck that occurs the evening before that the name of those involved is not available in the Update even on the following morning. 
• The Decatur ISD Superintendent got a $6,500 raise last night. He made $145,000 in 2011-2012 per the Texas Tribune.

C

Mavs Fan Tries To Get T-Shirt

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