Head On Collision

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Big College Football Weekend Taking You Into The Same Weekend

Bonus unrelated Christmas GIF:

Rolling Stone Tried To Destroy The U. of Virginia Last Month. Now Says They Were Completely Wrong.

The magazine backtracked this morning with a "Note to Readers" and using the language, "In the face of new information, there now appear to be discrepancies in Jackie's [the alleged victim's] account, and we have come to the conclusion that our trust in her was misplaced."

That's a fancy way of saying, "She lied. We bought it. Big time. And this is so bad we have to publically admit we were wrong."

Less than a week after the original story came out, UVA suspended every single fraternity on campus until the next semester pending an investigation.

Guy vs. Icicle: Who Ya Got?

Man, I would have put that hard hat back on pronto.

I Thought State Politicians Were Warning Us ISIS, The Taliban, and al Qaeda Were Coming Across In Droves

Story.

Oh, The Humanity Indeed

The Blazers in-arena blimp crashed into the crowd. pic.twitter.com/ayp5ODcIcq
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) December 5, 2014

Can't escape the carnage.... The Ford SUV blimp crashed inside Blazers game tonight! pic.twitter.com/krGZhDSMJt
— Jonathan Maus (@BikePortland) December 5, 2014

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• That wasn't as near as strong a case against the ex-JP accused of killing the DA, wife, and ADA.  But he was tried on a change of venue in the very conservative Rockwall County. That's the danger of asking for a change of venue: They'll grant the request and then send you into a snake pit. (Ask Darlie Routier whose case was transferred to notoriously conservative Kerr County.) 
• Dallas County reported a flu death this week. Why isn't there a silly Ebola-like panic? 
• It's Kids Jeopardy week.  A week which confirms how little I know. 
• "With today's report, 2014 is on track to be the best year for U.S. jobs gains since 1999." Blame Obama. 
• The Fort Worth Court of Appeals affirmed a conviction out of Jack County late yesterday with facts about a party that will give you Tired Head. 
• The Cowboys went for it on 4th and goal last night. Before 3rd down, the official incorrectly announced over the PA that is was 2nd down. The camera then went to Jason Garrett who had no reaction. You would think he would want a clarification at that point. Is is possible Garrett didn't realize after the next play that it was actually 4th down when they went for it?  Hey, that exact thing happened in the Baylor/UT game where the official also announced the wrong down. Baylor ended up going for it on 4th and goal, didn't get it, and then the game stopped down because Art Briles was arguing that it had only been 3rd down. 
• There's a case about a 12 year old kid named Tamir Rice, while holding a toy pistol, being shot by a cop in Cleveland. They were describing the video on The Ticket this morning and it sounds really shocking. I've heard almost nothing about it. 
• I saw a Sheriff's Deputy running code red (or whatever its called these days) down College Street in Decatur this morning. 

I Present The Most Bizarre Texas Lawyer Video In The History Of Ever

A couple of guys at the courthouse couldn't wait to tell me about this video this morning. And when they tried to describe it, it gave me Confused Head.

But I had no idea.

I can't explain the first part. (It is borderline NSFW unless a guy wearing underwear and getting oiled up is acceptable in your work place.)

The second part is the guy on the phone with the State Bar of Texas which won't approve his phone number of DWI-KING. (Uh, that would have to be approved?)  His anger is what prompted the video.

Side note: He's done bits before.  And he's a 2001 graduate of the University of Texas Law School.

Second side note: When can I retire from this "profession"?

Bridgeport's Solar Plant That Never Was

In the 1970s, Bridgeport "flirted" with converting to 100% solar energy. Yep, you read that correctly. I know there was an article in Texas Monthly about it back in the day, and I'm almost 100% sure it was even a segment about it on 60 Minutes. So far, the only thing I found is this UPI article in a California paper.

The reason that this came up is that a loyal reader saw this news item from yesterday: "A federal district judge has ordered Waco-based Life Partners Holdings and two top executives to pay $46.9 million in fines for misleading investors about life insurance policies they had purchased from clients who were terminally ill, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission confirmed Wednesday . . . . Chief executive and founder Brian Pardo was ordered to pay a $6.2 million civil penalty . . . . "

It was Pardo who was the head of "Solar King" and the guy who tried to convince Bridgeport into believing that a solar energy plant was possible. Of course, it was not.

Mugshot Girl Liked Her Mugshot

Story.

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• I really have no idea if the cop should have been indicted for the "choke hold" in New York, but I'm leaning "no." He's probably a lousy cop who exercises poor judgment, but he probably didn't commit a crime. 
• But if there was anything that gives credence to my "Too Many Cops" rant, it's that video. How many cops do you need to enforce a silly don't-sell-cigarettes-without-collecting-tax law? How many was that? Six? Seven? Eight? Good lord. 
• If you say, "He'd be alive if he hadn't broken the law", you are pretty shallow. That belief could be used to justify a cop shooting someone for speeding. 
• The cops did a good job of handling the protests in New York. The crowds wanted to peacefully march in protest so the cops just calmly walked beside them. All went well.  In Ferguson, the cops would have put on riot gear and try to block the street. 
• When it comes to getting indicted, it must be conceded that cops and prosecutors generally get a pass for illegal conduct. 
• Fort Worth motorcycle death. 
• There's some crazy/cool artwork behind the Decatur Visitor's Center which now has Christmas decorations. I'm not sure who decided to build that display there because no one ever sees it because of its obscure location. 
• Watched some of one hour special for the Christmas tree lighting last night at Rockefeller Center. Mrs. LL said that all Mariah Carey needed for Christmas was a bra. 
• I've never seen Miracle on 34th Street.
• Heard from a very reliable source that Dallas DA Craig Watkins fired an assistant DA during a trial a couple of weeks ago for supporting Watkins' opponent, Susan Hawk, in the recent election. 
• A man decapitated himself in public in Dallas.

Oh, My: Northwest ISD Bus

PIC - Fire in a school bus on SB I35W near Golden Triangle in Fort Worth. (Pic: Camille Gonzalez) #txfire pic.twitter.com/I8g3v9VBsS
— DFW Scanner (@DFWscanner) December 3, 2014

I'm sure the kids got out (if there were any on the bus), but that's a disturbing visual.

Edit: Make that a Disturbing Visual X 1,000.

Update On The Case About the JP Allegedly Killing Prosecutors

UPDATE: Defense in #EricWilliamsTrial rests without presenting a case. Closing arguments in case start Thursday morning.
— FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) December 3, 2014

That was quick. And, honestly, what was the most incriminating evidence? I kept waiting for some bombshell piece of evidence. And I thought his wife was going to testify against him. Did I miss that?

(A quick Google search told me the O.J. Simpson trial took 135 days. We move more quickly in Texas.)

Gal From the 2014 Margarita Ball In Dallas

I was talking to a Wise County lawyer earlier this week who said he almost went to this thing. My only reply was, "Isn't that pretty high tone?"

Slideshow from the Dallas Observer.  (There's actually one photo which is more risque that this one.)

The Headline Alone Makes My Brain Hurt

Story.

And Charles Whitman's brain is gone!!!!

Get Me This Dog Who Loves Weather Broadcasters!!!

But what the heck was all that background sound at about 26 seconds in?

Whatever Happened To The Days Of Proper Angel Wing Wearing Etiquette?

Priceless pic of the day: Ariana Grande slapped in the face by Victoria's Secret Angel's wing pic.twitter.com/Jnqsp5JeRM
— Hayley Spencer (@HayleyBSpencer) December 3, 2014