Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• I was going to give a hot legal opinion on the proposed Arizona law that would allow the discrimination against gays based upon religious freedom but, after looking at the text of the bill, it seems to be a political controversy -- not a legal one. I'm not sure how that proposed law changes anything.  How confusing. (But I bet the governor vetoes it -- she's getting a ton of heat.)
• Please let the primaries be over. Yesterday I saw an ad for a Texas Supreme Court judge who pointed out that he believed in a "loving God" (I guess that's better than believing in a vengeful one) and added he was the son of a police officer (but the Texas Supreme Court does not handle criminal cases.)
• All the news outlets were acting nuts yesterday about an "online minor sexting" case being dismissed by the Tarrant County DA's office after the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals struck the statute down last year. (Hey, I wrote about the court's holding last October). And that has to be one of many, many cases dismissed because of the ruling. It's not like the DA's office had much of a choice. Calm down.
• I bet there is 1,000 times more money being spent on the litigation regarding the guy hurt by falling ice at Cowboys Stadium before the Super Bowl than is spent on your average felony criminal case.
• Dallas DA Craig Watkins pretty much said yesterday that a lot of old timers just can't seem to believe that Dallas has a black DA. He will throw out the race card on you. 
• Finally caught a little bit of Matthew McConaughey in True Detective. Pretty, pretty good. 
• Big anniversary day yesterday: Jerry buying the Cowboys 25 years ago, Ali beating Liston 50 years ago, and, under the radar, SMU received the death penalty 27 years ago.  All occurring on February 25th. 
• "Built by RSI Racing Solutions, a small company from Bridgeport, Texas, known for slamming twin-turbos into these SRT- and Dodge-badged supercars, the Viper you’re about to see . . . . " Wait. What?
• Headline from a couple of days ago: "Pentagon Set to Slash Military to Pre-World War II Levels." Today, I'm hearing new advertisements for recruitment for the Marines on The Ticket. 
• "Kiss announced today that the band won't be performing at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in April because disputes over the lineup churned up ill will among the members."  Well, at least the audience caught a break.
• The Family Unit is becoming obsessed with Jeopardy. We have to hit pause after every question and seem to rarely get one right, but it's fun when we do. 
• Not that there's anything normal about it, but the murder of the 22 year old manager of a Red Wings Shoe Store in Arlington in broad daylight yesterday is bizarre. Police are to release some surveillance footage today. 

Above The Fold

And On The News Of An Former Aggie Getting Arrested . . .

UT comes out with this news.

Before There Was Johnny Football There Was Bucky

Not exactly an earthshaking story, but I hadn't thought about this guy for years. And I had completely forgotten that he spent a year with the Cowboys (although profootballreference.com doesn't list him as throwing a pass.)

But he was creative. I remember against Baylor once he did a play action pass where he just stood completely flat footed with the ball hidden behind his back before he hauled off and threw it. Hated the guy. But he was great.

Creepiest Mascot Ever?

And without pants!

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• The "got milk" campaign is going away.
• It better rain this Spring - a lot - or Lake Bridgeport is going to be a disaster. Heck, that can almost be said about it now.
• I went to a legal seminar on Friday and actually spoke out from the audience. I'm not sure I've done that in 25 years. (And, upon reflection, I really didn't have all that much to offer.)
• Mrs. LL and I saw the play Venus in Fur at the Circle Theater in downtown Fort Worth on Friday.  Get this: It was a two person play that ran for 90 minutes without an intermission. (And, man, that was an older crowd.) 
• And if you haven't been to downtown Fort Worth since the recent renovations, check it out. It's fantastic.
• The President issued a statement on the death of Harold Ramis.
• The Ticket has been talking all morning about the 25th anniversary of the Jerry Jones buying the Cowboys, and they had Ivan Maisel on to talk about the iconic photo of Jerry and Jimmy at Mia's. If you go to the restaurant on Lemmon Avenue, they have that photo hanging in that booth. 
• The ex-girlfriend of almost indicted Dallas district judge Carlos Cortez is pretty hot. 
• I watched a little of Ted Nugent on CNN last night. He's not quite as happy go lucky as he once was. In fact, he's almost an angry old man.
• I flip over to WBAP for about five minutes every morning. Today they had a new sponsor: Food 4 Patriots which sells pre-packaged survival food. What the heck is going on over there? 
• From the Update: "The Bridgeport Class of 2018 . . . . " I couldn't read anything past that. 
• It looks like Tarrant County won't be coming Democratic any time soon. Early voting shows Republicans are outvoting them by over a two to one margin. 
• Two ex-SEALs on the "Captain Phillips" ship might have died from a drug overdose. 
• Not that anyone cares, but there was a "controversial" ending to the Argyle/Celina girls basketball game that sent Argyle to the State Championship Tourney after double overtime. 
• There are abortion protesters at Paschal High School in Fort Worth this morning? Why?
• The Star-Telegram has a cover story on Highway 114 this morning. I remember when it went through downtown Rhome. 

America's Needs Will Be Met: Taco Bell Is Getting Into The Breakfast Business

Link

Oh, no: Harold Ramis Has Died

"No, we're not homosexual, but we are willing to learn."

Ghostbusters, Stripes, and more.

Story.

Wise County Assistant D.A. In Texas Monthly

He'll be leaving us soon to return to private practice. He'll also leave behind a reputation as a prosecutor who was honest, smart and reasonable.

A portion of the article is available here. The back story, which is riveting, is here.

Do You Have A Right To Carry A Gun?

We don't know.

Sports Geeks Only

Johnny Football (4.56 - impressive) vs. South Carolina's defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (4.47) in the 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• Everyone keeps telling me to watch Friday Night Tykes.
• I watched American Beauty again yesterday. That may be in my top five of all movies. 
• I had a life changing moment on Thursday. I'll tell you once I can find the words to describe it.
• Something I intend to read from of the Dallas Morning News: The rise and spectacular fall of Eric Brauss. Is he still alive?
• I didn't watch a second of the Daytona 500 and have still not watched one moment of a Dallas Mavericks game. And I feel better for it. 
• But apparently during the rain delay of Daytona they replayed last year's race which prompted some media outlets to report the wrong winner of this year's race. 
• I'm almost done with the first season of House of Cards. It's good. But I wouldn't say great. 
• Ever been to North Side Outlaws bar in the stockyards? A grandmother is dead from a stray bullet outside of it over the weekend. 
• I've got that Nancy and Tonya segment from NBC last night on the DVR. 
• I was at a legal seminar on Friday. The difference in speakers was stunning. On one hand you had someone actually understood what it was like to stand in front of a jury and on the other you would have some fraud who was trying to impress an audience.
• Flipping through the channels this weekend a came across a movie I had never heard of starring Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch and  Thomas Haden Church. I'm always surprised when I see a movie with so many stars that has slipped by me. Then again,  I suppose I had never heard of it because it looked bad.
• I thought the TCU assistant athletic director would get in trouble for mindlessly mocking the Aggie bonfire tragedy but, man, that was quick. 

Above The Fold

A Certain TCU Assistant Athletic Director Is About To Feel Aggie Wrath

He took it down.

Aggies not happy with him.

Feds Prosecuting Gay Haters In Springtown

Federal authorities charge 19-year-old Springtown man with committing a hate crime in savage Labor Day beating http://t.co/qADE0f6LCW
— Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) February 21, 2014

I don't have the stats, but these prosecutions are rare.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• I didn't watch any of the Canada/USA women's hockey match but that open-goal-shot-that-bounced-off-the-poll was breathtakingly heart-breaking.
• You'll see Superbowl Rings or College National Championship Rings sold on E-bay, but do you ever see Olympic medals on there? 
• Early hot sports opinion that is not an official prediction: The Rangers will not make the playoffs. Holland will miss half or most of the season, Harrison is having back problems, and who knows if Colby Lewis will come back. 
• Judge Carlos Cortez of Dallas, who was no-billed by a grand jury yesterday, said he is stunned at how something like the potential prosecution could happen even if he's not guilty. Note that he is a civil, not a criminal judge. That explains that sentence.
• Grand juries need to be public, no? Edit: I meant the proceedings, not the names. 
• Postings may be sporadic today. I'm in a legal seminar, which from looking around right now, seems to be horribly attended. Edit: Except they guy who just sat down right beside me didn't seem to realize the open seats. Double edit: He just used the term "ergo" in casual conversation. I'm moving. 
• I was on a Dallas and Irving tollway this morning. Wasn't there a time when tollways meant no traffic? And for those of us who don't worry about inconsistent traffic, they have computed their commute into work so that they arrive within a five minute window.
• Mrs. LL and I are going to a play tonight in downtown Fort Worth at some local theater company's place. She loves plays.
• An Alvord fire killed two yesterday, this morning the Messenger still hasn't released their names. Is the paper being more cautious?  
• I saw some of that fighting in the Ukraine last night on the news on NBC and it was insane. I think I'm going to go back and find the name of the photo-journalist because he was putting his life on the line with insane risks being taken.  
• Ted Nugent has always said nutty stuff. Greg Abbott just forgot that politicians rarely, if ever, appear with him. 
• The Tea Party may be passionate, but it just doesn't have the numbers. Except in one scenario: A Republican runoff at the state level that charges the base to turn out when most people have lost interest. That's how Cruz beat Dewhurst. If Dan Patrick can get into a runoff this time with Dewhurst (I'd love those ads), I could see it happening again. 
• But Dewhurst is not running the same idiotic Cruz-Represesented-The-Chinese type of campaign as he did last time. 

Stick Around Until The Cactus Makes An Appearance

"Oh my goodness, he fell into the Jumping Chollas!"

From This Morning's Mailbag - Literally

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I'm getting tips the old school way these days.

(I suppose he wanted me to see this.)