Above The Fold

Michael B. Jordan And Woman

That guy was in The Wire except I don't remember him being on The Wire. Her? She's a universal mystery.

Fight at Peter Piper Pizza in Burleson, TX

Pretty sure Fox 4 had the story first.

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• Pic from "TopGolf's Suits and Boots charity event on Jan. 25, 2014" in the metroplex.
• I actually watched the Lt. Governor debate last night. Observations: (1) That footage should be placed in a time capsule because in twenty years Texas will be stunned that any of these guys could get elected to anything. (2) All candidates call for creationism to be taught in schools. (3) Said rape/incest are not valid exceptions for abortion. (4) All thought the judge and JPS made bad decisions in the Tarrant County Munoz case. (5) Only one would consider looking into legalizing medical marijuana. (6) Dan Patrick is a nutcase and the fact that he declared bankruptcy in the 1980s -- and refused to answer a question last night as to whether he has a "moral obligation" to repay the discharged debt -- will kill him. 
• "If you don't like Texas weather . . . . " [gunshot]
• I've become a fan of Nyquil to let me sleep through the night. (Hey, before you jump on me, it's not like I'm buying a kilo of Ambien on the black market.)
• Super Bowl participant Broncos middle linebacker Paris Lenon is the last player in the NFL who played in the XFL.  (I actually remember watching the opening moments of the first XFL game with Vince McMahon screaming into a microphone before a half empty stadium. And I'm pretty sure the "He Hate Me" guy was in that game.)
• "Legendary folk singer Pete Seeger has died at 94."  Should I feel bad about not knowing that name? 
• The joy of the Fifth Grader in The House making a homemade smoothie and The Sophomore in the House finding the hidden bag on Snickers. Oh, life.
• "Don't kid yourself: Macklemore's Edgy Politics Are Not Edgy." For some reason, I found that short article interesting even though I know next to nothing about the Grammy artist Macklemore.
• I once rode the New York Subway over a period of three days and have taken a train from Rutgers to Penn Station. And I loved all of it. (Livin' large, right?)
• From someone in the know: Wise County is awaiting the results of two more possible flu related deaths. Probably the cause of only one of the two. 
• "In Texas you have to be 18. You have to jump four times tandem – with another person. In Oklahoma you only have to be 16." - sister of a Joshua teenager who almost died when her chute failed to completely open during a skydive. 
• No way I'd do this unless it was the only available option I had:  "[Wise County] Taxpayers may also pay [property] taxes online with a credit card at myswdata.com (using the drop down 'Wise CAD' option). A 2.4 percent charge is added to all credit card transactions."
• Our District Attorney's mother has passed away. 

Clever

The world is again captivated by a media & police pursuit of a slow moving white Ford Bronco MT @simonhoupt: pic.twitter.com/dQrNaFH1Ee
— Ziad Fazel (@ZiadFazel) January 27, 2014

Things Change Once Ruskie Whips Out An Axe

One guy with axe > Car + Three guys who couldn't land a punch anyway

A GIF of Every Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover

The Circle Of Life: Peace Doves Attacked By Other Birds

The carnage.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• I saw the Wolf of Wall Street over the weekend.. Observations: (1) It was full throttle but too long, (2) Leonardo DiCaprio, when he wears sunglasses, looks like Jack Nicholson at times, (3) Margot Robbie is a smoking "Hey, Now", and (4) It's kind of fun and tense to sit by strangers when an uncomfortable scene is shown. 
• Ticket fans: The Wise County Spelling Bee (from the archives.)  
• I had been waiting for the decision in the Denton "No Body" case for months, and I'm sure I was the first one to "report" it on Friday. I even got a shout out from the Dallas Observer. 
• Sports: (1) I still haven't watched a second of a Mavs' game, (2) The Evil Empire figured out that Baylor may have the worst defense in the country, (3) Tiger Woods might be done. (4) A grey bearded Deion Sanders makes me feel old, and (5) Listening to Ticketstock over the weekend made me realize how great it was when The Hammer was a part of the Hardline. 
• Grammy observations: (1) I'm big fan of Pink because she works so hard. I'm not a fan of the slacker. (2) And another Getting Old thought: I wanted to hear Chicago without Robin Thicke, (3) Funny Taylor Swift reaction. 
• Wrong way driver in Dallas last night. 
• Brett Shipp has a new investigative report about an SMU basketball player who had a grade changed during his senior year in high school. That's news?
• I hate it when a reporter asks/tweets "What question would you like me to ask [insert name]?" Hey, you're the reporter -- you figure it out.
• Something I plan on reading: "Tony Dorsett Is Losing His Mind. Unexplained fits of rage. Forgetting where he was yesterday. A Dallas Cowboys great begins to discover the price of football." I loved Dorsett.
• I was wrong: There was a judge with the enough courage to order life support withdrawn from the Munoz woman. And I'm surprised that JPS didn't fight further.  I'm glad they didn't.
• I was a little surprised at the Josh Brent verdict. As I wrote, I thought he would get somewhere between 2 and 10 years. That being said, there's no reason to "change the law" as some nutcases are already clamoring for.  (And I think its a fascinating question as to whether Josh Brent will be a Cowboy this Fall.)
• "The Statue of Liberty's face before it was installed - 1886."

Above The Fold

And Another - Pennsylvania - 33 - Married

Fair to quite fair.

Story.

The Dallas Stars Did Comedy Vs. Toronto Last Night

And a shot of their wheels off mayor:

Verdict

Josh Brent gets 10 years but it's suspended and he gets probation for the full amount.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) January 24, 2014

 He also received 180 days in jail as a condition of probation. 120 days was mandatory with the judge having discretion to go up to 180.

Breaking News: I'm A Legal Genius

Remember how I used to rant about the prosecution of the No Body Denton Murder case? Well, the case was just reversed on appeal for insufficient evidence.

From the archives:

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• Patsy Ewing Chance, who was in the Update obits yesterday, is Greg "The Hammer" Williams' mom.
• Colton Moore, the 18 year old who allegedly killed the Garland 7-11 clerk, posted on Fox 4's Facebook page about the shooting before his arrest. 
• Last night, Colton Moore of Krum won a gold medal in the X-games one year after his brother was killed competing in the same event. 
• Yep, same name. 
• I watched the documentary The Imposter last night (on CNN of all places.) It's "the story of a Frenchman who impersonated a Texas child, Nicholas Barclay, who went missing in 1994" and it's fantastic. 
• The Family Cat has now decided to spend the majority of her days and nights on the stop stair of the staircase. Weirdest thing ever. 
• Greg Abbott was on Megyn Kelly's show last night and she accused him of dodging a question when he wouldn't directly answer whether he "stood by" an earlier press release where he had said if you can't trust Wendy Davis to tell her life story correctly then "how can you trust her to lead?" Why he didn't just say "Yes, I stand by it" is beyond me. 
• I hate this time of year. 
• Saw lots of people throwing down some righteous indignation online yesterday by proclaiming that Justin Bieber was not "drag racing" because that's an organized sport but was instead "street racing." Ummkay. 
• "AUSTIN (AP) — The Houston-based Mulva Foundation is making a $60 million pledge to the business and engineering schools at the University of Texas."  I just had a Seinfeld flashback. 
• Today is the 20th Anniversary of The Ticket and they'll celebrate with their annual Ticketstock convention this weekend. Wild Guess: The Hardline's Mike Rhyner announces his retirement.
• A college goalie gave up a 200' goal because he was off to the side chit chatting with some fans/friends. Video.
• There was just the craziest noise on the Decatur square and then the power went out. 

Decatur Meat Special

(Via Facebook)

Make That "Texas Prosecutor"

Story.

Josh Brent Trial Update

Dr. Michael Noyes director of adult probation testified there are 34 people on probation now in Dallas Co. for intoxication manslaughter.
— Rebecca Lopez (@rlopezwfaa) January 23, 2014

I was first curious as to how this was even admissible. I mean, what is the relevance of what happened to other people in other cases?

But the defense angle, I believe, is that the probation department has a specialized program of treatment for Intoxication Manslaughter cases. How effective that program is would certainly depend on the number of people undergoing that treatment. If the number is one, a second person would certainly get specialized treatment. If there were 2,000, not so much.  Bottom line: The number is relevant.

Practically speaking, a juror can now argue in the jury room that 34 other people have received probation so why shouldn't Josh Brent.

And from earlier . . .

The Josh Brent jury is made up of mostly minority jurors. The first witness in sentencing is a trooper from Illinois.
— Rebecca Lopez (@rlopezwfaa) January 23, 2014