This Is Not Good For Wise County

“Devon’s top priority in 2016 is to protect the balance sheet,” Chief Executive David Hager said in the statement.

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Hillary Barking Like A Dog -- I'm Hypnotized

HRC's Dog Bark = this cycle's #DeanScream "@JGreenDC: Here is a presidential candidate barking like a dog https://t.co/301BMMXIu3"

— C (@IStateYourName_) February 16, 2016

Above The Fold

Even The Pope Has His Limits

Usually calm and collected, #PopeFrancis scolds person who pulled him down in Mexico https://t.co/haAUHix3R5 pic.twitter.com/4fkuRLu2NS

— CNN (@CNN) February 17, 2016

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• Donald Trump has blamed George W. Bush for 9/11. That's a little over the top, but this really angered radio guy Mark Davis this morning who said "No one saw 9/11 coming!" Good lord, man. Do you not remember Condolezza Rice testimony before Congress where she said a month before there was a presidential briefing of a document entitled 'Bin Laden Determined To Attack Within The United States'?
• Many years back weren't there some guys who just happened to be from the Middle East using the Bridgeport airport for pilot training?
• The FBI is after Apple for not agreeing to turn over information on how to break the encryption of the iPhone. Good for Apple. They didn't commit the crime. Fight the Man!
• Early voting turnout in Tarrant County broke records. Something is going on out there with the electorate. 
• A funny Twitter bit happened when someone told me over the weekend I should have been at an event shaking hands for political reasons. Referencing the great movie O' Brother Where Art Thou, I responded with "I'm mass communicating here!"  Then someone chimed in with "You don't tell your Pappy how to court the electorate!" Funny. Here's the scene if you are so inclined. 
• DPS Press Release: "Weslaco –The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) seized over 100 pounds of marijuana on Sunday, February 14 after a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper stopped a vehicle in Brooks County." But you can go to Colorado a few hundred miles away and it is not a crime. Idiocracy.
• My assistant has told me she reads Random Thoughts just to determine what kind of mood I'm in.
• Every time I hear a commercial about "house flipping" I think of the phrase, "There's a sucker born every minute."
• I'd  love to see RG3 in Dallas. And if they had an offensive coordinator who knew what he is doing and RG3 got back to full health it would be at least a perfect stop gap measure. 
• NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made $34.1 million last year. Think about that the next time you see some spare NFL player unconscious on the field. 
• I've forgot to mention this for over a year: On one of my football trips I was in Morgantown, West Virginia. During warm-ups they showed a video regarding the travel of the team and the logistics. They pointed out that the equipment unit had to drive shortly under 1,500 miles for a game against Texas Tech in Lubbock. 

Parents Got Weed! School Does Not Approve!

LONDON — The deputy head teacher of a primary school in Greater Manchester has sent a note to parents asking them to stop smoking cannabis on the school run. Deborah Binns wrote the letter for parents at St John’s primary school in Radcliffe asking them to “set an appropriate example.” Community police will be monitoring the situation to make sure no-one’s toking as they drop their kids off, she warned . . . .

High Schools Now Cutting Deals With Companies?

Argyle reaches athletic apparel agreement with Nike, per Todd Rodgers. Deal is for 5 yrs, was approved last night at school board meeting

— Steve Gamel (@NewspaperSteve) February 16, 2016

I'm not saying I'm against it, I just don't know it I'm stunned or disappointed it took this long.

Very Random Movie Clip

I post this only because of an email I received pointing out that Diane Sawyer had an interview with Dylan Kelbold's (Columbine killer's) mother. There was a reference to Charles Whitman which the emailer believes, correctly, I'm fascinated with.

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• The Girls In The House went fishing yesterday, and I was trying to tell them they were doing it wrong. Mrs. LL sternly said, "Leave them alone. They are having fun." For once in my life I decided just to shut up. They were having fun. 
• Donald Trump is crazy. Donald Trump is going to win South Carolina. And he is still threatening to run as an Independent. Delicious.
• I don't care about the NBA but did I hear yesterday about an outrageous score in the All Star Game? Why play it?
• Mark Cuban was on The Ticket this morning. I've always said he is a snake oil salesman and his appearance today did nothing to change my mind. And you Mav's fans realize that he has simply ridden on Dirk all these years, right? And he didn't even draft Dirk. 
• Nothing  makes me laugh more than when WBAP's Hal Jay says, "That guy is an idiot!" 
• The 7th Grader In The House was looking at someone through a telescope this weekend. When she first looked she said, "This is creepy [to do this]". One minute later she said, "This is cool!"
• FBC of Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress has a new book? Between writing and his Fox News appearances how does he have time to be a pastor. Seriously: When is the last time he went to a hospital to visit someone in need?
• Since I'm the chief meteorologist of the Liberally Lean Weather Center I do declare* I've never seen warm weather like this. (*Read that again with a southern accent.)
• I went 48 hours this weekend without watching TV. But I did have the Internet to mess with so I won't call it a total victory.
• "ROCHESTER, N.Y. (CBS) – Authorities say a Rochester judge has been arrested on a drunken driving charge after being pulled over on her way to court."
• "Texas School Teacher Linked to Drug Gang Allegedly Running from Justice." And, by the way, pretty, pretty hot. 

Above The Fold

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• The courthouse is closed but I'm here for Random Thoughts. Once again, the hardest working man in show business
• The death of Justice Scalia was shocking. I'm almost scared to mention that less than two weeks ago I was on the steps of the Supreme Court and tweeted out a picture with the caption that Scalia refused to talk to me. The Liberally Lean curse continues.
• True story: I once shook Scalia's hand at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth.
• Before he died, the Austin American Statesman had already sent to press a story about the high tone Texas resort he was staying at.
• His death will also draw attention to the goofy Texas law requiring a Justice of the Peace to "declare" someone dead.
• Conspiracy theories are already floating. And this is right out of The Pelicon Brief.
• His body is not cold yet, but his death just caused the greatest twist in the presidential race.
• Ted Cruz said the Senate shouldn't approve any nomination until we have a new president. And he is a "lover of the Constitution?"
• I spent a ton of time this weekend going through old issues of Texas Monthly. My appreciation of that magazine grows by the day.
• Man, that magazine makes want to visit Big Bend.
• Mrs. LL almost tore off the front bumper of the Gangsta Mobile again. I spent Saturday morning performing my zip tie magic.
• Over the last few weeks I've learned you don't walk two city dogs through Twin Hills where there are other country dogs behind backyard fences. As someone told me, "Those other dogs are straight out of Compton."  That's funny.
• Mrs LL doesn't think I can fish. I told her I just happen to listen to the Honey Hole. A question mark formed over her head. 
• What's the easiest way to find/replace window screens?
• There was a good Messenger editorial this week dogging the local Republicans for not having one single forum or debate. Come on! WWDD? (What would Donald do?)
• I had a probation officer catch me off guard last week when she asked me "What is your platform? What do stand for?"  I'll admit that I paused a few seconds to think. And then I thanked her because moments like that are great practice, and then said, "To treat people fairly". I should have added "and not like cattle" but I didn't.
• I'm researching buying a kayak which has prompted Mrs. LL to tell me this will be a disaster. (Ticket fans are thinking of the Wolf Blitzer drop)

It's Friday: Let's Get Out Of Here

What the work week was like . . .

I wonder if she will be lonely on Valentines? . . .

Good week. Let's go . . . 

Here We Go Again

Two 15-year-old girls confirmed dead in Arizona high school shooting: https://t.co/wrutzx5HqJ pic.twitter.com/fbPjg8YlGI

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) February 12, 2016

We Have A New Leader In The Clubhouse: Get Me This Dog!

And there are a ton more. Funny. And I do mean funny!

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• I only get one complaint about our local Justices of the Peace: Some of them take all day to show up at the Wise County Jail to set bonds for people who were arrested the night/day before. Hey, get out there at 9:00. It is not that hard. You guys work for us. And has anyone thought about doing that process online via video? 
• A 102 year old Bridgeport woman was honored at a Mav's game the other night.
• MADD claims they receive no money from ignition interlock companies despite the fact they lobby to have those devices installed at every level. If I was in Vegas, I'd place $100 on "That has to be a bold faced lie." There has to be some connection. Follow the money.
• Incredible: Our under indictment Texas Attorney General sided with Baylor PD to shield records about sex assault reports because they are "not of legitimate concern to the public". Police departments and DA's offices who won't turn over records to the press drive me nuts. Speaking of, the Montague County DA still won't turn over the documents requested by the Messenger related to the shooting of a man and the shooting of the Wise County Sheriff's Office drug dog. There is no reason not to unless they are hiding something. (And I've heard rumors.)
• Gravitational waves were discovered in space because two black holes collided? The chance of me understanding that is less than 1%.
• Waco hit 83 degrees yesterday setting a record. Also, yesterday was the six year anniversary of the biggest snowstorm in metroplex history and the anniversary of me (1) separating my shoulder while sledding and (2) coming to the realization I'm not as young as I think I am. 
• Political nerds: A site which is absolutely credible has set up an interactive map tracking the number of "likes" on Facebook for presidential candidates based upon geography. You can even see Wise County, and I'll say I'm surprised. 
• Funny thing someone said to me yesterday: "I like your arrogance ... no [panic voice] ... I didn't mean to use the word arrogance!" 
• Ted Cruz had to pull down an ad because it was discovered one of the actresses was a former "soft" porn star. I would have loved to have been in the room when one of his aids had to walk up to him and say, "Uh, Mr. Cruz . . . . " (And I got a giggle looking for the story by Googling "Cruz Soft Porn".)
• As a guy who monitors crime in Wise County all the time, let me tell you something: If your kid is on a "dating site", you need to tell them to be careful. There are scams going on. 
• Ranger Manager Jeff Banister was on The Ticket yesterday and he was fantastic. He talked about how he was hospitalized as a young man and then teared up talking about how sad he was that he caused his parents so much worry. How refreshing. Compare: Robot Jason Garrett.
• And Jerry Jones teared up this week talking about his parents in an interview. 
• A police chase in the metroplex led to a head on collision killing two with one of the most horrific traffic photos you'll see. 

Above The Fold

The Oregon Standoff Is Closed

@NotJackKemp The chick on the phone trying to help is the blonde. lol pic.twitter.com/tJ34cRkHnr

— Don (@lawlwutttt) February 11, 2016

Man, according to The Ticket, there was a live broadcast of the feds trying to arrest them in the final standoff. And it was some kind of broadcast where people could hack in (?) as the protesters talked. Periscope? There was one lady who claimed she was driving five hours to go help the protesters out.

She's the lady above.

This requires further investigation!

Hot Air Balloon vs. House: Who Ya Got?

I'll tell you, that was almost one spectacular front door entry.