3.24.2015

Checking The Highlights From The NIT Tournament



And to think it gets overshadowed by March Madness.

Old Dominion guy representin'.
at 9:45 AM

Current Legislature News: It's Budget Time




That's a staggering number (which is being increased under the most conservative legislature ever). And that's just for the state government. It doesn't include county or municipalities or school districts. As I've said before, government employees are critical to our economy and we are far more socialists than anyone wants to believe.


at 9:27 AM

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts


  • New Dallas County DA on why she fired her most trusted assistant after three months: “He’s first assistant, I’m the district attorney, and when there is tension between the two of us and conflict between the two of us, this office deserves more.” - Susan Hawk. Let me tell you, something beyond weird has to be going on in that office. 
  • A Dallas police helicopter had its windshield blown out by a bird last night? That just seems weird to me. 
  • Controversial new Cowboy Greg Hardy last night on Instagram: “I don’t Care If U Like Me, I Like Me and God knows all so I pray he Blesses America, The Cowboys and no place else #happy to have an opportunity #WorkLikeUAlwaysDo#Harder#Hardy#sackscoming#goodmorning all real Kraken fans I love u guys.”  My head is spinning. 
  • The Cowboys are doing an awful job putting a spin on his signing. Instead of pointing out he was never convicted and we really don't know the facts, they paint the signing as a chance to "rehabilitate" him. Come on. Just say, "He can rush the passer. That will make us better. That will allow us to win. When we win, we make more money." In this day and time we'd all respect that since we all know it is true. 
  • Two churches in Decatur close to the square have fantastic music which kicks off at the top of every hour. But they go off at the exact same time which causes the greatest noise pollution ever. We've got a Methodist vs. Baptist music smackdown going down. 
  • I'm still giddy about Ted Cruz running for president. How can a guy so smart (yep, he is) not know what is about to hit him? This is going to be brutal. It reminds me of Grizzly Man -- oblivious to danger.
  • I blew past Bill O'Reilly last night when he was reading email and someone criticized the Wounded Warriors Project for spending up to almost 50% of contributions for "administrative costs" when other organization take a fraction of that. O'Reilly explained the percentage was higher because the Wounded Warrior organization was "larger" so it had more marketing costs. I hit the pause button and just thought, "What? That makes no sense." (A little Googling shows that O'Reilly and that project are a little too cozy. Meaning: He and Fox News are a big part of the marketing costs.)
  • Did I see where Cruz got a whole hour on Hannity last night? Fair and Balanced? How much would that cost if it were an infomercial which it basically is.
  • Mrs. LL's mom saw me jogging yesterday, stopped and handed me a birthday card for Mrs. LL, and then I jogged the rest of the way holding it. (It was a short distance but I kind of felt like a super UPS guy.) 
  • From the Update: "The Decatur City Council yesterday agreed to move forward with phase 2 of the initial period study for the expansion of the Decatur Civic Center which includes a Fairfield Inn and Suites which would be built next to the facility." Does this involve taxpayer funds? And does any small town have more hotels than Decatur? 
  • "A 12-year-old boy was taken arrested at school on Friday on manslaughter charges. The juvenile suspect admitted to police that he had been playing with the gun at his friend's house. He said he thought it was unloaded when he pulled the trigger. 'We truly believe, that this 12-year-old believed this gun wasn't loaded at the time he pulled the trigger,' said Joe Harn of Garland police."  Whatever lawyer defends that kid has the easiest job in the world. That's the second time in a week that cops have charged someone and called the event an accident. Edit: For those questioning this, you might want to study the word reckless as it is defined in the Texas Penal Code. How can he be actually "aware of but consciously disregard" a risk when he "truly believe[d]" there was no risk?  He wasn't charged with criminally negligent homicide. And aside from any legal defense, you want to prosecute that kid after that cop's statement? Edit 2: Buddy, when the legislature defines a term, it no longer matters what you were predisposed to believe what that term means. That link above was to an opinion explaining everything you need to know between the difference between criminal recklessness and criminal negligence. I'm not being critical. Most criminal defense lawyers and practitioners have no idea about the difference. Edit 3: Let's do it this way. I put a bullet in a revolver, spin the chamber like in Russian Roulette, and fire at my buddy because I'm a moron. I don't intend for him to die (murder). I don't know he is going to die (also murder). But I'm actually aware of that risk of death and I consciously disregard it (manslaughter). But in the news story the cop said the kid didn't believe the gun was loaded. That is, he did not have actual awareness there was a risk. He maybe ought to have known of the risk (now were getting into the area of criminal negligence), but it's not manslaughter. 

at 8:36 AM

3.23.2015

Guy Does Wheelie -- Loses Bike



I think the part that got my attention is that crazy run right before he falls. But props for popping back up like a champ.
at 2:04 PM

Today In The World Of Criminal Justice

From late last year from Dallas:
Today with no explanation:
And unrelated from Austin, we've got another judge arrest:
Here she is when not in the hoosegow:


at 12:07 PM

I Heard Attendance Was Mandatory




Seriously.

The university was founded by Jerry Falwell.
at 9:46 AM

Random Monday Morning Thoughts


  • Liberally Lean Pick 'Em standings. 
  • Ted Cruz is running for president! Ted Cruz is running for president! Take it to the bank: He will get crushed. 
  • Conservative talk show hosts were already asking for other potential Republican candidates to not "snipe" at him. Translation: Even other Republicans are going to point out that he's a nutcase.
  • Fox News (Hannity or O'Reilly) this time of year will always have Spring Break stories complete with footage of girls in bikinis and then they use it as an excuse to talk about the depravity of today's younger generation. 
  • I've focused recently on what seems to be an increase in police shootings. The Dallas Morning News' Steve Blow wrote an article about the same thing over the weekend. I would suggest you read it but it's boring. Do I believe I could do a better job than that guy? Absolutely. 
  • The official tax payer funded Tarrant County website has this about new DA Sharen Wilson: "Wilson remained on the bench for 23 years, developing a reputation as 'Tarrant County’s toughest criminal court judge.'” Isn't that the equivalent of an ad? By the way, there were two "not guilty" verdicts under her administration last week.  That doesn't mean the prosecutors were bad, but it might mean they were scared to dismiss the case or offer a reasonable plea bargain. 
  • I'm not sure why the Update promotes the group whose focus is the "sovereignty, security and self-sufficiency of Texas and promotes its eventual independence."  Do they pay for that mention?
  • There was a controversy in Austin last week when someone posted “Exclusively for White People” stickers on some businesses. It turned out to be a lawyer who has created some embarrassing videos in the past which even I have reposted.
  • "Some rocks you don't turn over". - From the last episode of Better Call Saul.
  • The Supreme Court today will hear oral arguments regarding whether the State of Texas can refuse to issue a license plate with the Confederate Flag emblem on it. I would think the answer is no. If the government gets in the business of tricked up license plates, it can't be in a position to decide which ones are "appropriate". 
  • Which reminds me of a comment posted from Friday in response to my bullet point about the Northwest ISD's kid's fictional writings. When I say something is an interesting free speech issue, that doesn't mean I endorse the speech. How anyone cannot understand that it mindboggling. 
  • I'm not a fan of The Ticket's Corby Davidson but he did a great job with Mike Doocy last night on Fox 4 when he took a shot at Dale Hansen.Texas House 
  • Texas State Representative Jason Villabala filled a bill limiting when citizens can video cops and deservedly took heat for it on social media. So he began blocking all critics including a student reporter. Think about that. A government representative does not want to hear views the differ from his own nor answer questions. 
at 8:39 AM

3.21.2015

That Colleyville Murder and The Irish Travellers

Brad Pitt as an Irish Traveller in the great movie Snatch

Remember that really bizarre Colleyville murder which involved a couple of strangers allegedly killing a woman and trying to cash in on an insurance policy? Someone told me shortly after the arrest that it would involve Irish Travellers. That confused me because I knew nothing about them in the U.S. But, to cure my ignorance, the Star-Telegram has released a three part series on the case authored by Deanna Boyd and Melody McDonald Lanier.

Part one.
Part two.
Part three.



at 6:15 PM

The Death Of A ManThis Morning Who Troubled Me Because Of A Photo

Chuck Bednarik -- basically famous for one play. Or, probably more accurately, made famous because of a couple of incredible photos as he stood over Frank Gifford in 1960. Gifford didn't play the rest of the season or all of next season because of a concussion.



The photos* bugged me when I first saw them. I bet I was in my teens. Heck, it bothers me still. There is so much there. An intimidating guy. A helpless man. Maybe a dead man. Yet, a cowardly gesture accentuated by the ref having his back to the act.  If you didn't know the background you would speculate that possibly some assault like conduct had occurred.  I've pictured the two men as boxers in an impossible scenario of the ref being distracted instead of immediately sending the winner to his corner.

I wondered for a few years what Bednarik thought about that moment and then I finally saw this clip on TV. The final few seconds stuck with me.



Didn't like the guy before and didn't like him after that.

But one thing I can't find on the Internet, and I hope some network or website does today, is an interview of Frank Gifford from probably ten to fifteen years ago (maybe longer).  He had always said it was a clean hit, but the always professional and gentleman Gifford finally showed a great deal of irritation at the way Bednarik enjoyed describing the concussion he had caused. And, even better, Gifford contorted his face for the camera and impersonated Bednarik as he appeared at the end of above youtube clip. I'm so frustrated I can't find it.

(Did the concussion cause long term effects on Gifford? Exhibit A: He married Kathy Lee.)
______
*In my initial post I zeroed in on the second photo. I had always viewed that one as Bednarik standing over Gifford and taunting him. A commenter said he was simply holding an injured arm. That may be possible. Let me research it.
at 9:37 AM

3.20.2015

Social Media Breaks News More Quickly Than Any Traditional Media Outlet


at 8:50 PM

What? It's Late Friday And The Work Week Is Over?


at 4:18 PM

The DEA Has Some Weird Patches




Source: The Washington Post.
at 2:53 PM

Middle School Mom Arrested For Cheering On Daughter In Fight



Story.

I'm not real sure what's happening there, but she can always say she was supporting her daughter. Some parents might choose to go to a softball game or band concert, but she prefers a more basic approach.  I just would have wished she would have yelled something like "Sweep the leg" so we could be certain she was there for constructive advisement.

(But since this was in Albuquerque, we can't rule out bad meth since Walter White isn't around any more to make the blue stuff.)

Uh, "Hey, Now"?:




at 10:59 AM

Crazy Friday Morning Story




Around 5:30 a.m. this morning, a guy in Fort Worth walks into a convenience store saying he had been shot while driving. It was around Bridgewood and 820 in east Tarrant County.
at 8:59 AM

Random Friday Morning Thoughts



  • I mentioned the other day that I thought SMU coach Larry Brown looks and sounds like he has health problems. Yesterday there was confirmation that he was ill. And I'm not sure there is not more to it.  
  • If you got out of your car at 8:01 in Decatur this morning, you got rocked by thunder and lightning and rain which seemed to come out of nowhere. 
  • A guy in Fort Worth was held in contempt and jailed yesterday by Judge Wayne Salvant for "taking pictures of the jury."  Man, this is a great First Amendment issue (taking a photo qualifies as "speech".) What if the photos were taken in the hallway? I don't think there is a law against that and how could it be constitutional if there were? It's a public courtroom. I'm allowed to go in and see the jury and even learn their names if I was there for jury selection. But I can never take a juror's picture? What about if I do it next year in a public place? What if I'm a victim's family member and I'm doing it because I'm proud of the jurors? 
  • And another issue about that case is that it sounds like the judge demanded that the guy turn over his phone so it could be searched for the photos. We know the police can't do that without a warrant and a judge is no different. 
  • Mrs. LL and I will dramatically hand over the TV remote to the other after either of us feels like we've monopolized it for too long or we know the other is wanting to watch something. 
  • Had the oddest experience two days ago when I passed a guy while jogging (he was walking) and he was very loudly singing, "Can't you see? Can't you see? What that woman . . . has done to me." Surprisingly, his voice was fantastic. Mrs. LL said that some vocalist practice while walking. I was thinking he just ended a relationship. Perhaps both?
  • Looked up that song which I hadn't heard in a while. It had a 61 second musical intro and lasted 6:05. You don't see that today. 
  • The Update has an item today about a 56 old lady (and first time offender) who was given a two year "deferred" sentence and placed on five years probation for simple drug possession. I'm nitpicking but "deferred" is the wrong word. I think you meant to say it was a two year sentence in the State Jail probated and suspended for five years. (But this bullet point is the equivalent of someone pointing out spelling errors on Random Thoughts, and I'd delete it if I hadn't spent so much effort on it.)
  • I love Junior Miller on The Ticket but he says the dumbest things sometimes. Today he cited a Channel 8 "Text Poll" on whether the public supported the Cowboys signing of Greg Hardy. The results were 93% against and 7% for. He was surprised. I was surprised he thought the poll had any credibility. A poll which requires the respondents to take action in order to respond will always end in a result that favors the most emotionally based response. Who was more likely to take the effort to text in? Those for or those against the signing? It would be those who are angry. 
  • That Hillary email "scandal" lasted about as long as I thought it would. (Completely irrelevant side note: You've got some serious name recognition when someone can be refer to you by your first name only.) 
  • Dale Hansen made national news yesterday for his "Unplugged" segment which is the reason he did it in the first place.  Many agreed with me yesterday with someone on the radio even saying, "How in the world did Dale Hansen become the moral authority for DFW?"
  • A Northwest ISD student was in class this week despite writing a fictional story which was violent and sexual in nature and which included the names of his classmates. Some want him removed.  Isn't this another First Amendment issue?  Can a kid write fiction without any threat of actually acting out on that fiction and be free from punishment by the government? The answer has to be "yes", right? 


at 8:39 AM

3.19.2015

Random Thought Updates SInce This Morning

Did I mention Dale Hansen's rant was all about Dale? It continues . . .




Did I mention something about police chases resulting in injuries lately? Ditto . . .


at 3:30 PM

Nothing Worse Than Hearing Someone Talk About Their Bracket But This Is My Blog!!!

My sports genius prediction:

And less than three hours into the tourney: WELP.


Well, I've still got Baylor to cheer for . . . . OH NO! (But this may be one of the greatest March Madness moments ever. The coach's son hits a crazy game winner as the coach with a blown Achilles falls off his chair in the background. He tore it last week celebrating a win with his son seconds after the game ended.):



Can't help but smile at this . . .
















But that was an epic Baylor meltdown: "Georgia State . . .  trailed by 12 points with 2:39 remaining. Of the 262 NCAA tournament games since 2004 in which an underdog trailed by 10 or more points with 2:39 to go, only one (0.38 percent) went on to win the game. … Until Thursday, that is. And that one upset was a No. 4 seed over a No. 1 seed — so this is unprecedented in the past 11 years."
at 1:52 PM

Desoto Puppy Rescue

Post by FOX 4 News.


Sure, cute story. But we call "first responders" for that?  There's no one willing to wade into that little pond and get the dog?
at 12:13 PM
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