It Feels Like Bizarro World

Josh Hamilton. Gone.
Ron Washington. Gone.
Nolan Ryan. Gone.
C.J. Wilson. Gone.

The "Black Widow" Keller Murder Trial Is Off To An Interesting Start

Go Get 'Em Boys!!!

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• We started dropping bombs on ISIS in Syria yesterday. Rightly or wrongly, it doesn't feel like America if we aren't dropping bombs.
• According to Grumpy TV Critic Ed Bark, Fox 4 went 19 minutes before finally getting around to mentioning the death of Max Morgan last night. I would have thought they would have at least led off with the news followed by a "more later" comment. 
• When I lived on the lake, I was always concerned about the wind forecast because that determined whether I could take the boat out. As a jogger, I'm now concerned with the humidity forecast. By the way, this morning is fantastic and feels like the first full day of Fall. (Which it is.)
• We've still got new Family Pup #2 but, as someone on here warned us, we now have someone from Craigslist trying to convince us that it is their dog. Their story is simply unbelievable. After refusing to answer even the most basic of questions (uh, what street do they live on? -- not the actual address -- just the street. Any distinctive features on the dog?), they wrote, "If you are through with your investigation, can we have our dog back? Our child really misses her." Oh, the ol' pull on the heart string trick.
• You can see how people just roam Craigslist looking for "found" purebreds and then make contact trying to get the pooch for free. 
• I was worried the Wise County deputy story would go viral. It is has now made the Huffington Post. 
• "Of the $3.4 billion in traffic surcharges that have been assessed over the last decade, only $1.4 billion has been collected—an abysmal collection rate of 40 percent. Another telling stat: Nearly 1.3 million Texas drivers now have invalid driver’s licenses due to the program’s spiraling penalties." What a joke. 
• Sports (some from over the weekend): (1) The Aggie Cadet throwing a block to protect Reveille at the SMU game has to be a campus hero by now. (2) I never stay up for late Pac 12 games but Arizona scoring 36 points in the fourth quarter and winning on a Hail Mary on the last play over California on Saturday night sounds fantastic, (3) That look on Jimbo Fisher's face as he turned away from the suspended Jameis Winston who showed up for pre-game warmups in full gear. There has to be some higher ups in the academic administration of FSU who want to kick him off the team.  (4) Oft injured Ranger Jurickson Profar, who didn't play an inning this year, is hurt again. The best that never was? (5) Any chance Tech jumped the gun last month when it signed Coach Bro to a "contract extension through 2020 that will pay $3.1 million in 2015 with a $200,000 raise each year to $4.1 million in 2020"? (5A) With the Ray Rice incident fresh in our minds and considering OU banned highly touted freshman Joe Mixon for slugging a girl in a bar, what about Tech reinstating the freshman a couple of months ago after he slugged the female basketball star during a pick-up game?  (6) Since Jean Jacques-Taylor is now in my cross-hairs, I thought I'd at least be one of the few people who reads what he writes. His recent post of "5 Plays That Shaped The Cowboys Win" is comical. It should be named "5 Obvious Plays That Even A Casual Sports Fan Would Know Caused The Cowboys to Win." Dallas stopping the Rams on fourth down in the fourth quarter was a significant play?!! Give me more insight like that!!! (7) Everyone talks about the electricity of an LSU game at night. I went to one two years ago and was completely disappointed. It wasn't even a sell-out against Washington in an early season game. (8) UT quarterback Tyrone Swoopes, apparently not realizing the team already has two losses, says he "expects" Texas to be in the national four team playoff
• Dallas police reported a major drop in crime yesterday. Yet, the taxpayers will still pay for the same number of cops and same number of prosecutors who will have to justify their jobs. And that is accomplished by arresting and prosecuting folks for alleged offenses that are so insignificant that they don't need to be in the system. 
• That TCU student on trial for date rape was found not guilty yesterday. I wonder if he realizes that it's possible that a different jury would have locked him up. The Star-Telegram wouldn't identify the "victim" by name as part of its policy. But after someone is acquitted, should that policy remain intact?
• ABC has a new show about a criminal defense lawyer/professor called How To Get Away With Murder. It might end up being  horrible, but I like the promo which has her saying, "People ask me how I can I represent someone who I know is guilty? The answer is 'I don't care.'"
• The fact that Highland Park ISD has suspended some books from being taught in high school due to "objectionable" material is mind-boggling. And the fact that one of them is named The Working Poor: Invisible in America proves the administration is tone deaf. 
• There might not be a funnier picture than a guy in a polar bear suit being arrested at the Rally for Climate Change in NYC yesterday. 

Don't Get Me This Giant Snake!!!

(And I don't what they were saying, but it was funny.)

Get Me This Dog Who Loves A Neck Massage!!

Edit: And since we are in Dog Mode, I think I've found the first anti DWI ad that doesn't isn't judgmental or threatening:

Let's Take The Family To An NFL Game

You know, that's a heck of a take down but people have died from hitting their head on concrete from less force.

Might Want To Take A Wider Turn There, Buddy

Oh. pic.twitter.com/SqhLyod1AQ
— Mr. Y'all. (@PlainOlCamm) September 22, 2014

Not sure what the background on this is.

(Side note: Any one else seen the limo parked on Hale Street in Decatur over the last couple of weeks?)

It's Bridgeport vs. Decatur Week

Check out this front page of the Index after Bridgeport beat Decatur for the first time in forever. So cocky.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• A lawyer in Decatur wanted me to ask what you what you would think if he brought his dog to the office. Let's assume it is not a pit bull. What say you? Unprofessional? Funny bit? Understandable? Comforting?
• The great TV show Vice is after White Rose Women's Center in Dallas which misleads women by pretending to be an abortion provider, coaxes them in, and then hits them with anti-abortion material. Oh, and they are having a fund raiser at the Dallas Country Club in October with Rick Santorum being the speaker.
• I watched most of the Wendy Davis/Greg Abbott debate the other day. Wendy Davis is a horrible debater. It was like watching a Jason Garrett press conference. 
• The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled last week that if you call your neighbor six times over a twelve month period because you are angry that you can lawfully be charged with the crime of Harassment. "Is this Russia, Danny?"
•  On the other end of the spectrum, the Court granted relief for a guy who was wrongfully convicted, in part, because the State hid favorable evidence. Get this: “At the hearing, the lead prosecutor conceded, during this 2007 trial, that she was an alcoholic who was also taking prescription diet pills that affected her memory. She was later fired by the District Attorney . . . for unrelated ethical violations. During the … hearing, the prosecutor repeated seventy-two times that she did not recall or did not know the answers to questions concerning the investigation or trial of [the Defendant." Prosecutors often refer to themselves as "The guys who wear the white hats." Remember that. 
• I deal with a lot of people who are under lots of stress and with a life that is in a free fall sometimes. After dealing with one of them last month (tears shed), I told my assistant, "Sometimes I feel more like a counselor than a lawyer." Then I paused. "I guess I am technically a counselor."
• Random Weekend Texas High School  Football Score: Blum 116, Abbott 88.
• The inventor of the Slush Puppie died last week. I have only the very vaguest memory of the  Slush Puppie.
• I'm mad at myself for not watching The Roosevelts. 
• We lost TV access for a several hours over the weekend, and I ended up checking out HBO Go on the iPad. Let me tell you, watching a show on an iPad with headphones isn't a bad way to go. 
• Saw a car turn into Decatur High School this morning which had two bumper stickers. One was "Come and Take It" (Tea Party) and the other was "Keep Calm and Chive On." (Chive.com). For some reason I found that confusing. 
• I went to the Fellowship [Mega] Church in Grapevine yesterday morning to hear Mark Davis speech. Oh, man, do I have a lot of hot sports opinions to be forthcoming. But I do know this: If I had one wish, it would be to walk into that place with Jesus on the condition that he tell me everything he was thinking. 
• It's amazing that a guy was able to jump the fence and make it into the White House on Friday. There's no question there was a security guy who was simply bored to death at the time it happened. The fence jumper was an Iraq vet diagnosed with PTSD and paranoia. Was that war even worth that single man's life which is now in a death spiral? 
• From the Update: "State National Bank, which has a branch in Decatur, has announced that it will be acquired by east Texas-based Pilgrim Bank in the first quarter of next year. Lonnie 'Bo” Pilgrim'." Old Timers will remember that Bo Pilgrim once handed out $10,000 checks on the Texas Senate floor to try an influence legislation that would impact his chicken processing empire.  
• I watched the first half of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty last night. I loved it in the beginning because it was about a beaten down guy who wildly daydreams of being somewhere else and doing other things. [Looking in mirror.] Then is seemed to get off track. 
• Sports: (1) OU looks strong. (2) It is only fitting that the craziest season in Ranger history has them going 8 of 9. (3) I'm not worried about calling for Dallas to have less than 7.5 wins. They are horrible. Edit: My assistant just walked in and told me to be nice to the Cowboys.  (4) Sixth Grader in The House while watching the play in the opener where Jameis Winston leaped over his own player on a touchdown run in a win over OSU: "Wow!!! Who was that???" Me (with defeated voice): "Jameis Winston. He's an idiot." (She looked at me with that "What-do-you-have-against-him look). (5). Am I in the minority if I say that I think Gus Johnson is a fantastic play by play guy? (6). In the past, when a team was punting there was just one up back for blocking. Now there are always three. (7). So why did that lineman shove the Rams' quarterback on the sideline yesterday? (8). The Johnny Football fake-fight-with-the-coach-play was fantastic. (9). That Roger Goodell press conference on Friday was a Hail Mary for his job. Get rid of him. (10). Ticket Fans: ESPN's Dallas Jean-Jacques Taylor tweeted yesterday that the Cowboys would be right back in it if they could score after being down 14-0. I decided to be a smart arse and replied that the statement was obvious. He replied that I should go somewhere else for my sports talk. I might have replied that I had to go shove some wings in my face. Man, I think that guy has a big bag of nothing. 

You High Rolling Bettors: Explain This To Me

My biggest CFB bet of the day goes in 10 minutes. Rice (laying less than a TD is still out there) pic.twitter.com/488SIKmoMf
— RJ Bell (@RJinVegas) September 20, 2014

Rice is playing Old Dominion today, and this guy posted his Vegas bet ticket. I'm not a bettor and, oh, I have questions:

• Why is Old Dominion coded as "PLB"?
• I think the -110 means you have to bet $110 on Old Dominion -6 to win $100, but what is 372?
• How can I tell who this guy bet on? 
• What does "Win $3,000 to pay $6,300" mean? This is even more confusing since the ticket cost $3,300.
• Does a "straight bet" mean he's betting with the line or straight up? I'm guessing it's with the line. 
• When the guy walked up to the counter at the Vegas sports book, what did he say? "I'd like to bet [finish this sentence.]

Edit: Thanks for the responses. Good stuff.

Edit #2: The guy lost.

Slight Messenger Sports Funny This Morning

The last posts on their "live blog" covering last night's games:

Atta boy, Chico! Then you look down on the same page:

Two things: (1) The comment in the live blog about the Chico score wasn't Richard Greene. He was covering a different game and posted under his own name Someone else was posting under "WCMessenger." (2). That mistake is forgivable. If your job is to cover high school football on a Friday night, at 10:30 you could post "I'm about to launch this laptop out of this press box because I can't freakin' take it any longer!" and I wouldn't blame you. 

Above The Fold

Oh, No! I Don't Even Believe In Love Any Longer!!

Honey Boo Boo's Mama June & Sugar Bear have split! http://t.co/HlezX9CVOU pic.twitter.com/tq8eJIJVnT
— E! Online (@eonline) September 19, 2014

Fox 4's Max Morgan In Serious Health Crisis?

Max's condition has worsened over night. They are trying everything possible to get his liver to respond. pic.twitter.com/OA68RyoQGD
— Larry Rodriguez (@RodriguezLarry) September 19, 2014

High School Football That May Only Interest Me

Yesterday, someone commented with this link which is a fantastic high school football site chronicling the yearly record and coach at the time of every Texas high school football team.  I was looking at Bridgeport's records and then just happen to scroll down and saw Carrollton R.H. Turner's record over the last view years:

Look at that! How horrible. Five wins in nine years. Good grief. But then I recalled something different about this year. Look how they have started. Wow.

Decatur Shuts Down Downtown Street For 2:30 Parade

Temporary Police Order!

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• I'm afraid the story involving a local deputy has the potential to go viral. WFAA had it last night. The Ticket talked about this morning. 
• That Ron Washington press conference where he said he resigned because he was unfaithful to his wife was flat out weird.  There had been one blogger who had (controversially) said he had resigned because of a "sexual assault." Any chance there is a woman who will claim it was an assault but Washington is getting in front of the story by matter-of-factly portraying it as consensual? Perhaps. But why to admit to anything at all? Some speculated there's a baby. I'm not sure about that, but something isn't right. 
• Speaking of, the Star-Telegram had a riveting story yesterday involving a date rape trial going on involving two TCU students. I won't link to it because of the Star-Telegram's stupid paywall (which might ironically kill the paper.) I will tell you that alcohol was involved and there is no question the incident wouldn't have happened if it had not been. And it also would not have happened if both of them had just sat around and smoked weed. Yet we glorify alcohol consumption but put people in cages for marijuana. 
• Corporal punishment is a bit bizarre when you really think about it. We can do to a child what would be a crime if done to an adult? 
• I had a weird dream last night involving an old girlfriend, her sisters, and alligators. 
• Yesterday morning I read that England, which allows betting on anything, had odds on whether Scotland would vote to depart the UK. They were overwhelming in favor of the "no" result. I knew then there wasn't a a chance. 
• "A grandfather shot and killed his daughter and her six children Thursday in the town of Bell, Florida before committing suicide." Good grief. And stuff like this isn't the lead story on every newscast these days. 
• I bought some Fall mums for our flower bed. Big ones. I'm a fan of the outdoor Fall flower. 
• I always dog the BagOfNothing guy for hating Baylor football (although he denies that he does), but I finally found out why: Today he reveals that when Art Briles was at Stephenville, he harassed BagOfNothing from the sideline during a JV game. 
• "State Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples announced Thursday he will resign within the next two months to head Texas' primary oil and gas trade group." It looks like business as usual for Texas politics.
• Since I promote Blog Transparency, I want to remind everyone that I told you to bet the house and take the Under for the over/under line of Cowboys total wins at 7.5.
• There is no way Rick Perry or Ted Cruz can win the Republican nomination much less the Presidency. But I pray they try.