Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• For years I've been ranting about the FBI/CIA "creating" terrorists by entrapment. Well, it looks like I'm not the only one. HBO debuted a documentary last night called the Newburgh Four about the issue, and Yahoo! News featured this yesterday: "Washington (AFP) - The FBI encouraged and sometimes even paid Muslims to commit terrorist acts during numerous sting operations after the 9/11 attacks, a human rights group said in a report published Monday."
• I think we had a pretty bad motorcycle wreck in Rhome this morning.
• I jogged yesterday, and I'm not sure I've ever sweated more. So hot. So humid.
• I've always wanted to see the Big Bend area of Texas but it is so difficult to get to. I mean, going to Chicago or Denver or New Orleans is a hundred times easier.
• I've never seen a Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings movie.
• I think I'm the only person who remembers a comedy show called Herman's Head which ran in Fox's early days. I liked it. I may be the only one.
• UNT's new law school expected about 350 applications for the inaugural class this Fall — and got more than 600. Sheesh. 
• The "house explosion" always gets my attention and they had one near Houston last night. It's gone. 
• I've got Argo recorded, I know I'll like it, but I'm just never in the mood to watch it. 
• From the Update: "MEMORIAL service for Christopher John Corniel, 23, of Denton is 11 a.m. Saturday at Jones Family Funeral Home." Anyone know the story behind this? I think his mom died a couple of years ago. 
• I've mentioned this before: That single left turn lane on FM 51 730 under 287 near James Wood's is going to get someone killed. You can have two cars traveling in opposite directions at 40 mph who can legally and simultaneously go into that lane. (Google street view should be here.)

Random DPS Chart

Rick Perry was firing off a lot of numbers today as he announced that he was sending 1,000 National Guard troops to "secure the border." In doing so, he relied upon data by DPS of the crimes committed by illegal aliens.

Check out this chart from the official DPS website which shows crimes by "foreign nationals, regardless of immigration status." Anyone see a problem with this graphic? Green is for "alien" arrests who have prior arrests. Red indicates first time "alien" offenders. Blue is for the "non-alien" arrests.  But that's not the problem. See it? Pravda was more honest.

Click to enlarge.

Wrestling Bit Invites Controversy By Mentioning Malaysia Flight

NY Post – A pro wrestling schtick invoked the tragedy of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, in a lead-balloon bit that even stunned WWE fans, who are used to these outrageous acts. World Wrestling Entertainment grappler Alexander Rusev and his manager Lana, who play comically anti-American Russians, were predictably booed as they stepped into the ring Sunday night in Tampa. Then moments before WWE’s “Battleground” bout between Rusev and Jack Swagger, Lana — played by Florida-based actress Catherine Joe Perry — took the mic and told fans in her faux, over-the-top Russian accent: “You blame Russia for these recent current events?”  “Tonight we dedicate this match to the most powerful man in the world. Tonight we dedicate this match to the man that makes fools out of all of you Americans,” Lana said. “He is my role model. He is my idol, the president of Russia.” 

I really don't care about the controversy. I'm just jazzed by the accent. We've got us a modern day Brigitte Nielsen.

Random Dennis Prager Rant

I mention this guy from time to time, and I know none of you (except one) has any idea who I am talking about. He's  a conservative talk radio host who is the walking definition of psuedo-intellectualism but presents himself in such away that you would think he is one stop away from being the Pope. (If Jewish people had a Pope.)

One of his crazy bullet points concerns how higher education will "indoctrinate" people to liberalism. Just like magic. It's as if he has no faith that someone older than 18 cannot sort through different views and ideas and make a personal decision. Amazingly, he encourages people not to go to college but instead to watch his  videos from "Prager University" (which sounds great:"There are no fees, no tuition, books, homework assignments, or grueling midterms here")  that he sells online. (To quote The Jerk, "Awwww, it's a profit thing!") Edit * He'll throw up a free one every now and then, and he did so recently on how our welfare system is broken. He calls it the "War on Work."

I watched a couple of minutes of one before I couldn't take the simplicity of it anymore.

He uses this guy as a spokesman (once again, on the issue of poverty.) Angry old white guy in a suit?

And he actually used this as a graphic: A welfare recipient who just happens to be portrayed with an opaque dark figure in front of a flat screen TV next to a bag of money. Idiocracy, indeed.

_____
*Edit: OK, I'm wrong about him charging for the videos. Those silly things are free. I was confused because he actually charges for podcasts of his radio show which isn't the industry norm. I'm stunned he's not trying to make a buck off the videos. (Although he will take a $5,000 donation.) But, again, I was wrong.

Random LeAnn Rimes Post

I used to post about Rimes quite a bit. Not sure where she had been, but she hung out in Miami last weekend. At least she is eating again. Somewhat.

From 2011:

Selfie Weekend

Girl smiling at Auschwitz:

Former Alabama QB's wife on honeymoon:

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

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• Late Saturday night, I saw a car in my lane backing up on Loop 820 to get to an exit ramp. Mrs. LL saw it before me and almost had a heart attack. We had enough time to react but just by a few seconds. I thought of the The Butterfly Effect.
• Ran across Night Shift last night. Still one of the funniest movies ever. "Love brokers!!!!"
• "MIAMI –  A Florida jury has slammed the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. with $23.6 billion in punitive damages in a lawsuit filed by the widow of a longtime smoker who died of lung cancer in 1996." Not only is the lawsuit crazy, so are both of the numbers in that sentence. 
• At least 70 children have died from Israeli missiles. Hey, I appreciate Israel as an ally, but this blind "they can do no wrong" makes no sense. 
• Mrs. LL is stunned by the cost of some fabric (she's doing some curtain project.) She had a very confused look on her face when she thought she had ordered two "rolls" and then two "yards" showed up in the mail .
• I remember the family rushing home from church to watch the moon walk on Sunday evening (or was it Saturday and Vacation Bible School?) 45 years ago, but I don't remember watching the actual event. I may have fell asleep.
• A story which you would think would have received more press:  "GRAND SALINE – A 79-year-old Methodist minister who died after setting himself on fire on a busy street in this town of about 3,100 residents left behind a suicide letter asking the community to repent for its racism."
• The Sixth Grader In The House is at camp this week. There will be 1,000 less questions asked in the house this week.
• Speaking of, try to explain the Royal Family and their role in England to the Sixth Grader.
• Mrs. LL cleaned out the garage before I could get to it. 
• Not sure what I think about wisecountywashers.com
• I could have sworn I saw Ronald Reagan on a tarmac after the USSR shot down the Korean jet using the term "Evil Empire".  I guess I'm wrong about that. 
• Dang air conditioner tripped the breaker again. Time to call the expert. 
• I'm completely confused about Colby Lewis' rant about a bunt on Saturday night.
• It's hard not to look like you are full of hatred if you are holding up a sign that says, "Illegal kids go home!!!"
• The Family Pig had been very tentative on his feet. Now he'll run five feet and buck like a bull out of happiness while he does it. Maybe one of the funniest things I've ever seen. 
• I've got a buddy who loves the USC Song Girls. And he's not ashamed to admit it. 
• One of the Sophomore In The House's friends had posted a "postcard" on Facebook asking, somewhat disturbingly, "If there were ten handguns in front of you and only one had a bullet, would you pick one of the ten guns up, point it at yourself, and pull the trigger if you would receive $1 million if the gun did not have the bullet?" Ok, she's a good kid. But when she was over at the house last night we told her that was weird. (Although I will admit we created a game out of ten pieces of paper which degenerated into Deal or No Deal.)
• You have to be deranged like me, but if you want to hear two guys from The Ticket spend over an hour telling about their trip to find the Alabama Leprechaun Tree and play audio from the experience. here it is.  
• I'll watch the Tour de France only to hope to see helicopter views of the landscape. 
• I bought a ton of home grown tomatoes at a road side stand on Friday. One of life's greatest pleasures. 

Above The Fold

OK, One More British Open

He could have won big money with this: "I bet I can hit this out of the bunker onto the green and have it come back and approach from me behind."

When Fox Wants A Perfect Union Worker, They Find One

The 1960s Would Be Ashamed Of Our Protest Abilities

PROTEST: Small group demonstrates against Dallas Co. Judge Clay Jenkins plan to shelter "border kids" outside office. pic.twitter.com/gjvFl3CUbs
— Carla N. Wade (@CarlaNWade) July 18, 2014

Counter Demonstration: More people showing up in support of Jenkins & plan to shelter "border kids" in Dallas. pic.twitter.com/5V3D3T80SD
— Carla N. Wade (@CarlaNWade) July 18, 2014

The Ol' Swing On A Rope Almost Get Killed Trick

Youtube: My sisters attempt at the ole rope swing in key west florida. Her foot got caught in the loop and slammed hard into the rocks. She Split her head open and got pretty banged up but she walked away from it with no broken bones or serious injuries.

Ok. Calm down. She's fine. But, man, that trip back towards the shore would be terrifying. And thumbs up to the puppy dog for at least being concerned. Thumbs down to the guy who must be on his way to rob a train.

Get Me This Goat Trying To Stand On A Bean Bag

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• They will be selling beer at UNT football games this year. (SMU has already announced it would do so.) Something that seems unheard of only a few years ago now hardly gets any attention. 
• You know, I was a little surprised at how easy it was to take a jetliner out from 33,000 feet with a missile launched from the ground. Most experts believe this is the type that was used.
• One of the most bizarre stories about the Malaysian aircraft disaster was the Dutch passenger who made a pre-flight joke (about the still missing MH370 flight from March) by taking a picture of the plane and posting it with the caption  "If it disappears, this is what it looks like."
• Random money thought: Google's last quarter revenue increased 22% when compared to last year. That would be $16 billion in a quarter. Meanwhile, Microsoft announced it will lay off up to 18,000. 
• I can't find it anywhere, but I saw a clip of a commercial for the "Undertaker Brothers" which was created by the owners of  the Johnson Family Mortuary in Fort Worth where a few unburied bodies were found this week. It was gold.
• I'm about to clean out the garage but first I've got to give notice to the Ladies In The House that I'm going to do it. Why? I will throw dang near anything away unless I think it will be used within the next year. 
• I finally heard Sean Bergin, the New Jersey reporter who was demoted for saying that "young black men growing up without fathers" were the cause of a recent wave of violence. The guy thinks a lot of himself and is trying to make himself into a martyr. And he now claims that he made the statement knowing it might cost him his job because he cares for all the young people being killed and someone "had to have the courage to say it." Riiiiight.
• Yesterday evening might have been the greatest July evening weather-wise ever.
• I've lost a ton of money on individual stock bets over the years (something I no longer do) but, on a lark, I actually bought 100 shares of American Airlines when it dropped to about three dollars ten years ago. There were rumors of bankruptcy, and I thought "no way". Some how, some way, despite finally declaring bankruptcy, those shares survived. They now sell at $42. 
• Am I smug about that stock? Nope. I only bought 100 shares -- a massive mistake. And I also bet on Enron and WorldCom. I would have had better luck at a roulette table. 
• Fox Southwest has been replaying major Big 12 football games from last year with basically every play but edited down to one hour. It is fantastic. 
• I don't think anything will reveal a person's "true colors" more than than the opinion they have on the "border crisis". (Which may not have been a "crisis" after all.) 
• Someone honked at me yesterday (not in a friendly manner) and for the life of me I don't know what I did. 

And Everyone Of Them Would Admit They Have No Idea What They Are Doing

The @dallas_da welcomes a new class of #prosecutors to the Misdemeanor division. #dallasda #criminaljustice pic.twitter.com/D9Y6opQstk
— Dallas DA (@dallas_da) July 17, 2014

Random financial thought:

The average starting salary for an incoming assistant DA in 2007 (best numbers I could quickly find) was $56,000. Let's adjust it conservatively upwards to $60,000. You're looking at $1.2 million a year in salaries alone.  Throw in benefits, retirement, support staff, office space, and supplies and that's a ton of taxpayer money.

I was curious what the total budget was for the Dallas DA's office, but for the life of me I couldn't find it.

And Another - Connecticut

2014 is making a heck of a comeback in the summertime.

Story.

Random DPS News

Off-duty Texas trooper accidentally shoots self http://t.co/s4fHbg3Cjs
— WFAA TV (@wfaachannel8) July 17, 2014

The Real Evil Empire At It Again? Or A Ukrainian Screw Up?

Flashback:

Edit!: