I Thought That Rang A Bell

This week in Texas:

From 2002 in Tarrant County:

It is almost unfathomable that a jury can make this mistake. The same form is used in every case. Throw in the fact that the defense lawyer will always ask for "probation" and the prosecutor will ask for pen time, there shouldn't be any confusion.

Random Wise County History Lesson

The Waggoner Mansion.

The NFL Is Gonna X-Out Muslim Prayers?

Link.

Index - 1958

We've talked about that plane crash on here before. Here's a link to the AP story about it. 

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• The New York Times is on to the tweeting Texas Supreme Court Justice Willett, but the article was neither critical or positive. I'm not sure why no one calls him out on the fact that most of his "comedy" tweets occur Monday through Friday during the day when he's supposed to be earning $150,000 a year of your money. 
• Update on that non-injury helicopter crash at the Decatur airport in June: "The contract flight instructor who had initially been scheduled to fly became unavailable and an FAA flight instructor was scheduled. The accident flight was the student’s first flight with the FAA instructor and the instructor’s second flight of the day . . . ."
• Caught the end of The Usual Suspects last night. I've always understood the payoff, but I'm not sure I understand anything else. 
• I learned that this summer a lifetime Bridgeport resident had a serious health scare while vacationing in Europe. Stuck in a hospital where no one spoke English, his doctor/son bolted into action and was there within 24 hours. This is the kind of story that the Index or Messenger should focus upon. 
• I went back to listen to a podcast of the Mark Davis Show from last week in order here his rant in favor of book suspension at Highland Park. (Once found, it was like being in a time warp back to the 1940s). But I also got to hear a caller talk about "that Muslim" who killed his co-worker in Oklahoma and said, "It looks like it is time for some Redneck Justice."  I love Davis' voice at times like that when he realizes who his audience has become. 
• If I ever see a Facebook/Twitter post that ends with "and you'll never believe what happens next" followed by a link, I ain't clicking on it. 
• From the Update regarding the train/truck wreck yesterday: "Because the wreck happened on private property, Texas Department of Public Safety officers on the scene said the railroad company would conduct the investigation."  Say what? If someone ends up dead in a residence can someone just answer the door and say, "Uh, it was just an accident on private property. See you later." 
• The prosecutor in the Black Widow* trial yesterday made reference to "Daddy Warbucks" in his closing argument. Am I too cynical in believing that no one on the jury understood that reference? (*And isn't it patently unfair to refer to her as the "Black Widow" before the verdict?)
• I was called "evil" yesterday for not liking Ted Cruz. Up until that point, I didn't know that opposing Cruz was the moral equivalent of opposing Jesus. Ironically, Cruz once said, "I do think in the media there is a tendency to describe conservatives as one of two things: stupid or evil."
• And someone pointed out that I was wrong saying that the "Come and Take It" motto belonged to the Tea Party when it actually belongs to the Gun Rights folks. Duly noted. Then again, if I had to draw a Venn Diagram of the two groups, I would only have to draw one circle. 
• Baylor is a 16 point favorite over UT in Austin this Saturday. The Ticket was speculating that might be the largest home underdog margin ever for the Evil Empire. I want to doubt that, but I can't think of a game to call that assertion into question. 
• I stumbled upon a National Geographic show on cats over the weekend and got sucked in. Those little suckers are nothing other than domesticated tigers. (The Family Cat will mess with dogs just for fun more than the dogs mess with her.) 
• My ISP address at work comes back to Killeen. Any of you tech guys have an explanation? 
• If a local public official isn't on the job when they are paid to be on the job, is that theft? We know that public officials in this county have been indicted over $250 of allegedly taking property, so is there a difference?
• I gave up using cash whenever possible about six years ago and went straight debit/credit card. The news yesterday was the average ATM fee was $4.35? You kidding me? Is that right? 

Index - 1973

The more things change . . .

It looks like the Sheriff wasn't pleased with the constable acting like Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

I think there were some political ramifications over this. I'll try to find it.

The link will be worthless but something has happened

	DFW Scanner (@DFWscanner)
9/29/14, 1:15 PM Major Accident (Wise Co, Paradise) Paradise FD, Wise Co EMS has requested 2 helicopters, Air Evac 68 and CareFlite … therenow.co/events/1147

Download the official Twitter app here

Barry

Please, please be true!!!

	Aman Batheja (@amanbatheja)
9/29/14, 11:02 AM Top of Drudge Report right now: "CRUZ IN" Links to @dcexaminer story but their site has crashed. pic.twitter.com/MLhjDhvUgq

Jerry Jones Channels Mr. Burns of "The Simpsons"

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• That goofy Texas Supreme Court judge who I always dog, Don Willett,  tweeted on Friday that he would be working all weekend "#BecauseServant". Sheesh. He then proceeded to do silly tweets all weekend and revealed he watched the Baylor game, attended a wedding, and went dove hunting on Sunday morning. (A quick Westlaw search only revealed six opinions this year that began, "Justice Willett delivered the opinion of the court".)
• I saw Konni Burton speak on Inside Texas Politics. (She's running for Wendy Davis' old state Senate seat.) What a strange and simplistic woman.
• Couldn't the headline for the Oklahoma guy who killed his co-worker be: "Man With Jesus Tattoo on Chest Beheads Co-worker"?
• The original Yahoo! Directory, which debuted in the 1990s, is now officially dead. The concept was simple: Index every website by placing it in a category then sub-category then sub-category etc. I bet it took them two years to decide that it was completely unmanageable.  
• I've love going back and reading the "Shootin' Blind" columns from old Index papers. Last week, the Index published a picture of the author, Harlan Bridwell, celebrating his birthday at Dos Chiles. I think it said he was 97. 
• Regarding that Greg Abbott traffic commercial: I'm guessing they staged and filmed that at dawn on a Sunday morning. That can't possibly be real traffic because everyone would be acting a fool in the background for the camera. And I say Sunday morning because they wouldn't have shut down a street at a meaningful time. 
• The Rhome City Council, Mayor, and Police Chief are at odds again per the Update. If Wise County towns comprised a family, Rhome would be the drunk uncle. 
• Sports: (1) I'm completely confused by the Cowboys. I understand how they can score points. It defies logic, however, that they can stop anyone. And I'm still not convinced. (2) OU vs. TCU. Baylor vs. Texas. Both are next weekend but, dang it, both begin at 2:30 p.m. Then the next week it flips: OU vs. Texas. TCU vs. Baylor. Man, I fear TCU. (3) Michigan coach Brady Hoke needs to be fired for almost killing his quarterback. I actually saw it live on TV and was appalled. And the student newspaper wants him fired for it. He was punished for indifference to player safety ten years ago. (4). How in the world was Cowboys Stadium designed in a way to allow the sun to blind the players? It was never more apparent than in the late afternoon game of Aggie/Arky. (5) I've got one of my great Football Trips planned for October. Details later. (6) Mrs. LL on Al Michaels last night: "Did he just say baaawwwllll?" (6) After losing to Texas, Kansas fired Charlie Weiss.  Notre Dame owed him $19 million after they fired him and now Kansas owes him the remainder of $2.5 million for this year. (7) I find it amazing that the NFL has packed stadiums when you can watch it at home. Why do people go through the expense and beating? 
• Mark Davis defends the (now repealed) Highland Park ISD book suspension. Never has a man sounded so out of touch.
• Mark Davis this morning on Chelsea Clinton giving birth this weekend with her Jewish husband: "On Chelsea and Marc's to-do list: determine who converts.  Charlotte [the baby] will one day ask if Jesus is the Son of God.  A debate should not ensue." 
• The Black Widow didn't testify. She'll be found guilty and get absolutely crushed with punishment, right? 
• Email I received: "Dude  . . .   I just finished watching Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on HBO and there is a segment that will make your day.  They rip apart Ayn Rand and included in the bit is a ripping of Mark Cuban."
• Roger Goodell visited the National Domestic Violence Hotline center for the cameras. Incredible. Now if ten years from now he were to write a book and reveal that he had done it secretly because he wanted to get a better understanding of the issue, I would have the utmost respect for him. But to do it as a publicity stunt provides more evidence that he thinks the public is stupid. 
• Too many TV shows exist: Some show called Highway Cowboys on HGTV filmed at Runaway Bay recently. 
• The BagOfNothing guy today wrote about going to his high school reunion.  He actually went there with an open heart which isn't the norm for high school reunions. 
• CNN had a round table discussion on Sunday Morning over the topic: "Is Barack Obama morphing into George W. Bush?" 

Cowboys On Sunday Night Football

I'm pretty sure he cares a little more than I do.

Body Slam Of The Day By Ohio State Assistant Coach

The crowd cheers, but I bet the administration was none too pleased. He might want to leave that to the security folks next time.

After A 50 Yard Fake Punt By Arkansas, This Aggie Girl . . .

will have to suffer from people walking up to her and saying, "I'm so confused!" for the rest of the year.

"Ugly Kardashian"?

The only person who I wanted knocked silly more that the QB was his coach.

Above The Fold

Horrible Saturday News

DFW: Bus carrying North Central Texas College softball team members crashes, 4 killed http://t.co/6dII51Wk8v
— FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) September 27, 2014

Through twitter posts I was able to find this picture believed to be the #NCTCSoftball victims #PrayersForNCTC pic.twitter.com/FaEWeIscER
— Joangel Concepcion (@JOANGELFOX4) September 27, 2014

Bridgeport vs. Decatur

The start of Battle of Big Sandy pic.twitter.com/NUvb32y75Q
— Richard Greene (@WCM_RGreene) September 27, 2014

Empty seats? Is is now a thing to be fashionably late to a high school football game?

An Example Of Courthouse Compassion

Video link.

HOUSTON (KTRK) --A man charged with capital murder passed out in his first court appearance in the case. Dalton Deune Jones, 26, is charged with the fatal assault of Alejandro Gonzalez-Alonzo, 43.