Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• Former Texas Congressman Jim Wright passed away yesterday. I remember seeing him for the first time on a news show when I was 16 or 17 and telling my dad that I thought he was pretty good. I think dad responded with something along the lines of, "I'm not so sure about that." 
• And I knew Wright resigned in the wake of a scandal but learned this morning (via Bud Kennedy) that he wrote a book and then had bulk sales of that book which were never delivered. But those who bought the books didn't care (and even expected) that the books would not be received  because they only wanted to donate to him. It was just a way around campaign donation rules. (I've learned he used the money to give his wife an $18,000 a year job -- not good -- but I can't find out how much other money was raised from fake sales.)
• ISIS appears to have declared war on controversial Draw A Cartoon of Muhammed organizer Pamela Geller. She doesn't seem to be concerned.  She might need a crash course in "situational awareness."
• The NFL released its "Deflate-Gate" report yesterday about whether the New England Patriots intentionally used underinflated balls in a playoff game.  All the sports talk shows were very confused about the finding that it was "more probable than not" that the Patriots organization intentionally broke the rules. That's pretty easy to understand: They probably did it. The investigators my have a belief of 51% to 49% the Patriots are guilty up to 99% to 1%. Any belief within that range is the equivalent of "more probable than not".  
• Source: Long time Tarrant County prosecutor Greg Miller is the next assistant to DA to resign under the new administration. But first, oddly, he is presenting the Grapevine officer involved shooting case to the grand jury. 
• There's a crazy capital murder case going on in Dallas about an alleged Craigslist killer.  After reading the article, the only thing jumping out at me more than the seediness of the story is that there isn't much evidence against the defendant. And this is his second trial after the first jury couldn't reach a verdict.  (Side note: It has always stunned me that double jeopardy does not prevent a retrial after the State fails to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt and a hung jury results.)
• I've always been interested in the gasoline tanker driver as he makes a delivery to a gas/station convenience store. Never really occured to me that one would be shot -- an event which happened at a QuikTrip off Bryant Irvin in Fort Worth last night. 
• It won't make it all the way to becoming law, but we had a big surprise yesterday when the Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee approved a bill to make marijuana legal in Texas.  The bill is authored by Republican state Rep. David Simpson who says that marijuana was created by God and "God did not make a mistake." He may have a point. It is just a plant.  

I Am Violating My "No Bathroom Humor" Policy

I read about this story a few days ago and wasn't interested. Then I heard the audio on the radio and giggled a bit.  So I finally watched it.  The laughing mayor pro tem finally convinced me this is pretty funny.

I Don't Know Who Brantley Gilbert Is . . .

. . . but I'm going to guess he's also a memory of the NRA.

Story.

Random Tuesday Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• I watched a little of Fox News coverage of Mike Huckabee's presidential announcement and, of course, it was glowing. But in a news clip/political commercial, Fox said he was influenced by a massive "Jesus Rally" in Dallas, Texas in the 1970s where more than 100,000 attended. I had never heard of it. Wiki tells me it is was Explo '72 where much of the rally was held on the ground now occupied by Woodall Rogers Freeway and and there were also nightly rallies in the Cotton Bowl. 
• There has been a lot of buzz about the app and website "Periscope" which allowed people to watch the Mayweather/Paq fight on Saturday for free. It's pretty simple: Some people paid for the fight on pay per view, then directed their phones toward the TV screen, and the fight was broadcasted back to Periscope where others could simply watch what that person had paid to watch. That could be done for anything on TV and seems, or at least feels, to be illegal. (Isn't that the equivalent of the old Napster or Limewire which allowed users to transfer copyrighted data to one another through those sites?) 
• UncleBarky.com wrote about his experience Saturday night using Periscope and was pretty brazen about it. "So is this piracy? It’s hard to see it that way." He equates to buying the fight and then inviting 100 people over to watch it. 
• An opinion came out from a Texas appellate court yesterday reversing a case because of the shocking conduct of a judge during jury selection.  You can read the exchange here.  She actually threw a potential juror who was a Jehovah Witness in jail on the spot.  That witness expressed reservations of having to look at alleged child pornography in the trial because of religious reasons. The judge told him that "my God" says he should watch it and, if it grossed him out, "you can take it out on the person in punishment." (Good lord. Most judges would be talking about the Presumption of Innocence at that point.) But it gets really ramped up: She tells the potential juror that if he gets on the jury and fails to do what she orders him to do, she would lock him up. ""So you want to find out what my God will tell me to do? Let's test it, Buddy. Let's test it."  The judge's name was Susan Criss, who (thank my God) is no longer on the bench. 
• A guy who escaped from prison 56 years ago was arrested this week. He is now 79 and in a wheelchair.  But here's the kicker: The Ohio State Reformatory where he was previously imprisoned was the backdrop of the 1994 prison escape movie The Shawshank Redemption.
• Odd Back to the Future discussion yesterday with a buddy: When Marty first travels back to the past and ends up in the home of his mother when she was a teenager, he sees what will later be his uncle in a playpen.  "So you're my Uncle Joey? Better get used to these bars, kid," Marty tells him. The movie had begun with a very funny cake being thrown out because Joey "didn't make parole again."  But despite Marty making changes in the past which forever change his life and the life of his family when he returns to the future, we never know if Joey still ended up in prison.  (I told you it was an odd discussion.) 
• Crazy legal thought: What if every time a Draw a Muhammad Cartoon convention occurs some type of violence takes place. Every time.  It's a crime in Texas if a person "makes an offensive gesture or display in a public place, and the gesture or display tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace."  Now that's a heck of First Amendment free speech case. 
• Tech receiver gets busted for pot! If my Google Map search is correct, he would not have been committing a crime four hours away (by car) in a state in the United States. 

They Tried To Warn You Kids In "Footloose"

Story.

Let's check out the student handbook:

Supt. Jim Rumage: “If kids are not having any sexual activity, they can’t get this disease. See what I'm saying? That’s not a bad program.”

Awkward?

I guess that's ok.  I mean, they didn't stop the taping to revamp the potential prizes. And they didn't edit that segment out when preparing the show for airing.  But still.

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• I just heard an Internet commercial on The Ticket but I only caught the last few seconds, but it was for a church promoting Mother's Day services "because your mom is always bugging you to go to church." I promise I heard, "choose one that doesn't suck" and come visit them. I'm working on getting the name. 
• Man, I've never heard so much convoluted talk about "Free Speech" in light of the shootings near the Draw A Muhammad Cartoon meeting.  Hey, the cartoon group has the right to meet and do that. And I'd go nuts if the government (in this case Garland ISD) wouldn't let them meet in one of their buildings or tried to censor the content of the meeting. I'd feel the same way if it were a Klan meeting or a Witchcaft meeting. Government has no business controlling the content of speech.  But if you attend any of those functions and suffer retribution from private individuals (being shunned by neighbors or treated differently by your boss or, illegally, physically attacked) that has nothing to do with Free Speech. 
• This morning ISIS claimed responsibility for the attempted attack. You're a little late on that, fellas.  (And why would you want to take credit for a couple of incompetent terrorists?)
•  "A man was beaten late Monday as he left a mosque in Richardson, a day after two Muslim gunmen attacked a controversial art exhibit in Garland."  Things seem to be going well. 
• Interesting story about a homeless guy in Fort Worth who was beloved because of friendliness as he occupied a corner in downtown for years. He died over the weekend. I have a buddy who had posted to Facebook over the last year about the guy's health, visits with him in the hospital, and how assistance could be provided. 
• Remember Kurt Loder from the early days of MTV? He turns 70 today. 
• I don't necessarily disagree with those who say the prosecutor in Baltimore overcharged the officers in the Freddie Gray case.  I just take great satisfaction in the law and order types out finally realizing something like that can happen. Now they just need to realize it happens every day. 
• I'm not particularly interested in the story of the University of South Carolina student who was allegedly caught on tape spraying window cleaner on her roommates' food, but I'm going crazy trying to figure out what movie star she resembles. 
• This crowded field seeking to be the Republican Nominee for president is growing and growing. And this is going to be high entertainment. 
• The American Sniper's wife has begun her book tour. To make money, she is at least being guided correctly: She appeared this morning on Fox and Friends. That will be less contentious than Mayweather/Pacquiao.
• According to today's Austin American Statesman, DPS was probably less than honest with the legislature regarding the agency's drug interdiction efforts at the border when it successfully lobbied to significantly increase its budget.

I'll Always Think Running On The Field Is Stupid . . .

and people say baseball is boring pic.twitter.com/RBEhhKwjBl

— Lana Berry (@Lana) May 5, 2015

But this guy at least has a little show biz in his blood.

We Had Some Double Fake Breaking News This Afternoon

Fox News later said, "Oops."

Georgia Mom Has 10 Year Old Son "Arrested" For Talking Back To Teacher

Cops actually went so far  as to put him in car and begin to move before releasing him back to mother.

More

Kind Of Unusual

And I wonder what Channel 8 means by "had to" . . .

Update: We had to temporarily take down our live stream above Garland.

— WFAA TV (@wfaachannel8) May 4, 2015

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• So some group called American Freedom Defense Initiative’s  holds a "Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest" to draw cartoons of Muhammad and then violence breaks out? Who would have thunk it? When Lt. John McClane wore a sandwich board in Harlem in Die Hard With A Vengeance I didn't think there was a potential for anything to go wrong at all either.
• And one of the attackers has the very Middle Eastern sounding name of  . . . wait . . . Elton Simpson of Arizona?
• The organizer of that event is a blogger who truly believes President Obama is the love child of Malcolm X. 
• The Texas Senate has passed a bill creating a tax free weekend for firearm sales. Soooooo Texas. 
• Car insurance question: Someone asked me the other day if there was coverage when you allow someone else to drive your insured vehicle. I'm pretty sure the answer is yes under the "permissive use" clause. Then they asked me why that wouldn't provide coverage for a teenager in the house who you just give blanket permission to use your car so you could avoid listing the teenager as a named insured on the policy (and avoid getting your rates jacked up.) My very technical legal answer was, "I don't know, but I don't think you can do that." Anyone out there have a definitive answer? 
• I've worn a white shirt, tie, and suit to work for years and years.  Oddly, now if I walk into a convenience store or fast food restaurant (Subway for example), it's not uncommon for the worker to ask me, "What do you do?"  That never happened until recently. 
• We've got a bird or two who chirps outside in the middle of the night. It's not owl or a whip-poor-will, and I couldn't think of other birds which are vocally active at night. 
• Sounds like a lot of people feel ripped off for paying $100 for the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight via pay-per-view.  I would have been worried once I saw the Burger King Guy in Mayweather's entourage immediately before the fight. 
• I think my Honda lawnmower might be on its last legs after ten years or reliable use. 
• In a bizarrely funny moment this morning, Mrs. LL and I created a new character called Yawning School Announcement Lady.
• I remembered this weekend that a long, long time ago that I went to a Kentucky Derby party.  Immediately after the race, most of the females in the room immediately yelled, "That's it? That's all there is?!"  They were expecting a long race.
• Joan Jett opened up for The Who in Dallas this weekend and a basically topless Miley Cyrus joined her for three songs. (Hey, you look it up. This is a family friendly blog.)
• Junior Miller of The Ticket went to The Who concert and pointed out that they did something refreshing: There was no encore. The fake encore has bugged me ever since the first time I saw a concert. 
• I told Mrs. LL that I was working on a one act play/film starring The Family Pup and Dumb Family Pup #2.  And I'm serious.  I even have the basic dialogue worked out. Prediction: This will be a comedic masterpiece which will cause much confusion with the Females In The House. 
• Was reminded this morning of a long forgotten crush of mine: Melissa Sue Anderson of Little House on the Prairie.  I looked her up. She's in her fifties now and . . . still pretty hot. 

I'm Sure There's a Back Story

If a guy was stealing third, we have the perfect crime.

Random Poker GIF

I don't know why I laughed at this so much.

Guy is holding an Ace and a Ten.  After four cards on the table, he's holding two pairs with one card to go. His opponent has one pair after the four cards are displayed. Two Aces and he holds a Queen.

One more card to go. I'm no poker expert, but there's only one way for Mr. Two Pairs to lose. I guess that's why his odds of winning were 93%. He's all in.

His expression is priceless and it lasts soooo long.  Extra humor comes from the guy on our right who isn't involved in this hand any longer.  There's just a small glance from him where he looks like he's about to bust out laughing.

Any lip readers out there? I couldn't make out what Mr. Two Pairs says before the final card is turned over.

Crazy Guy Trashes Restaurant's Kitchen. Has No Respect For Taser.

Language warning.



I'll tell you one thing, if I'm one of the kitchen workers I'm getting the heck out of there. I'm certainly not just standing around and letting him walk within inches of me as he experiences, uh, anger issues. Did he pick up a knife at one point? Sheesh.

The Taser part may be my favorite. He kind of treated it like a small annoyance.  At that point I thought he might be an angry zombie high on PCP. (Note to self: Remember that for movie script. #GonnaGetRich.)

And then we end it by bringing it back to current events: A review of the cops method of arresting someone. I'll be dang. Didn't have to shoot him. Didn't have to beat him senseless. Didn't have to do a fatal chokehold. Didn't have to break his neck. See, we can all get along.

Look Out! Things Just Got Ramped Up!

#Baltimore State’s Attorney says there is “probable cause to file criminal charges” in death of Freddie Gray. pic.twitter.com/6XJ1ph0Q5k

— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 1, 2015

But I'll admit the following seems a bit weird . . .

BREAKING: All 6 officers will be charged in Freddie Gray's police-custody death.

— FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) May 1, 2015

Complete list of Baltimore City officers' charges @FOXBaltimore @CBS21NEWS pic.twitter.com/coUlbLA7DT

— Lara Bryn Greenberg (@LaraCBS21) May 1, 2015

Edit: The initial reaction from the Far Right is that there's an out of control prosecutor who cares more about making a statement and winning than seeking justice. Perhaps. But perhaps we are entering an era where prosecutors are finally going to treat the police just like they treat your average man on the street. And sometimes that's not pretty.   Heck, regular people get indicted these days for car wrecks when there was no intent to harm and no evidence of alcohol or drugs being involved.* But this breaking news just feels different, right?

What's the phrase? "Ain't no fun when the rabbit got the gun, huh?"
________
*I got two quick comments disputing this. I can name three car wrecks in Wise County off the top of my head that resulted in death where all of the drivers were indicted. Two were indicted last October for Manslaughter (driving recklessly) and there was no charge of Intoxication Manslaughter (where the allegation would be that drugs or alcohol caused impairment which led to the fatality.). The other was a Criminally Negligent Homicide case which led to a jury trial and emotional photos. (In that case there was a blood alcohol concentration of .03 but even the prosecutors didn't believe that would have any impact on the defendant's abilities and didn't charge him with Intoxication Manslaughter.)

Random Friday Morning News

• “Every girl wants to be swept off her feet. It’s when you put her in the trunk that she starts to freak out.” - Facebook post of a Denton City Councilman.  It was deleted and he later blamed his 16 year old stepson. I think I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on that one.
• I'm not sure what class it is, but the Junior in the House has a project where she has to plan a wedding within six months and come in under a budget of . . . wait for it . . . $25,000.  (I almost went all George Bailey like he did after ZuZu got sent home from school in the rain. I'd change the line to, "What do you mean talking marriage to a Junior and what about that crazy budget???!!!") Mrs. LL laughed at me saying, "So this particular project now makes you care about their school assignments?"
• Random thought about fines in criminal cases. In plea bargains, prosecutors are pretty consistent about the fine for a particular case.  That sounds fair but it really isn't. For example, a fine of $1,250 on a Class A Misdemeanor is petty cash to some and financially crushing to others.  And even without the extremes, that punishment is different to some degree for everyone. I don't have an answer unless a prosecutor is required to review someone's tax return before making a plea bargain.
• We watched a Modern Family episode last night where heavily accented Gloria told her older husband Jay that he never goes out and has fun anymore: "You go to bed at 9:00 o'clock right after you get mad at the news!" I think Mrs. LL laughed a little too hard.
• That kid in Parker County who killed his mom and sister took a plea bargain of 45 years. He will be eligible for parole after serving one-half of the sentence.  (The Supreme Court has ruled that a juvenile cannot receive the death penalty or even life without parole.  This kid was 17 at the time of the crime.)
• NFL Draft thoughts: (1) I didn't watch or listen to much of any of it yesterday and I used to love it, (2) I think #1 pick Jameis Winston will be a colossal bust, but I am awful at QB predictions despite being widely known as a sports genius, (3) Commissioner Roger Goodell, who made $44 million in 2012, didn't know how to pronounce the name of the second person chosen, (4) I've always thought "take the best player available" regardless of need was the dumbest thing ever. That is based on the 100% wrong assumption that you know who the "best player available" is. (5) The NFL draft has an odd slave auction feel to it. "You are coming to work for me and we now have a rule which tells me exactly how much you will be paid. There is no negotiation."
• In the past, rioters would be countered by police with a fire department sized water hose. (I'm talking about just arcing the stream into the crowd).   Just spraying the crowd with water changes the dynamics because an individual rioter no longer felt shielded by the masses because he was being personally effected by getting wet. It was more of a mental trick than a physical one.  But I guess there is no way a water hose will be used in this day and time because there would be unfair comparisons to images of Alabama. 
• There was a carjacking case in Dallas last night where the suspects were apprehended after a chase. Their ages were 13, 15, and 17. And the 13 year old was driving. 
• I see so many 18 wheelers around Wise County which look like they are being driven by someone who is getting groggy. 

Breaking: Official Liberally Lean Gal Britney Twists Ankle!

That actually happens in the last couple of seconds.

But I've got an extra problem here. Although I spend most of my evenings reading fine literature, the Ladies In The House oftentimes watch recorded episodes of Dance Moms. Since I will occasionally look at the screen to make sure the content is educational and uplifting, I've become somewhat of an accidental expert on dancing. (I never cease to amaze myself.) Anyway, here's a hot opinion: These dancers surrounding the greatest musical act in the history of ever aren't very good.  It wouldn't surprise me that she was so frustrated with them that she lost her Zen like concentration which caused her near death inducing injury.

Let me just say . . . I might lead a riot because of this injustice later tonight.