Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• Thats a big . . . wave.
• We had a little niece over for the weekend. She nicknamed me "Mr. Grumpy Pants." Out of the mouth of babes.
• I went to funeral this weekend and tearfully whispered into a lady's ear who had had lost her elderly mother, "I know this pain." Her concurring response: "There is nothing like this to make you feel like an eight year old." That sums it up perfectly. 
• I hardly watch any TV anymore. 
• When I was a kid my parents took us to an all night outdoor play about the Easter story. Everyone was on a sloped hill and brought tents and sleeping bags. They timed the resurrection scene  to occur at sunrise. I think it was in Oklahoma. I slept through most of it. 
• The NFL took on the New York Times who destroyed them. One of the greatest lines from dad was: "Never pick a fight with someone who buys paper by the ton and ink by the gallon."
• Driver crashes into house in metroplex. Photo. Man, wouldn't that scare you to death?
• There was a small plane crash in Stephenville which injured a father and son because they ran out of fuel. Dear pilot: You are not smart.
• Note to self: Never tell your wife on Saturday morning that her hair looks awful and she might want to grab a cap.
• Rhome mayor tells the police chief he has resigned for not showing up for work without permission. Chief says no. Now the city council holds a quick meeting to rescind the mayor's proclamation. Things are going great down there. (Side note: Fort Worth growth is headed that way. Take a look at at the development around the Saginaw cutoff. You think any big business wants to go into Rhome with this chaos?)
• One odd thing about criminal law. If you want to appeal a case, you have to pay the court reporter to prepare the transcript. I'm not pointing fingers -- it has always been that way. But I find that so odd. 
• I never realized ducks go under the water. And, man, they can under there forever!
• Mrs. LL wants to buy a boat. My response: "No."
• A tweet by MADD: "We NEED #ignitioninterlocks in ALL 50 states. Donate by 03/31 $50 for 50."  Has that organization turned into a scam for money?
• Very odd: "A Texas Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol Trooper died in a one-vehicle crash on Saturday night in Lamar County. In a press release, officials said that at about 11:00 p.m. Saturday, Trooper Jeffrey Nichols was driving westbound on FM 38, about half of mile north of County Road 35450, when he lost control of his patrol car and crashed into a tree. Nichols died at the scene."
• Batman vs. Superman got awful reviews and still pulled in $170 million in its opening weekend. 

Dalhart This Morning

Picture says it all... #txwx #phwx #Dalhart pic.twitter.com/5AsBTYPu1U

— DalhartCloudChasing (@Thirtyguitars) March 27, 2016

Yep. That is snow. And a bunch of it.

Above The Fold

Spring Break Fun?

To paraphrase Ludicrous:

Move [guy], get out the way
Get out the way [guy], get out the way

I'm so glad I'm not young.

And The Latest Standings

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• Well, a lot of people have the day off and the courthouse is closed but . . . wait for it . . . here I am: The hardest working man in show business!
• The latest issue of Texas Monthly is about our gun culture with Taya Kyle, the widow of Chris Kyle, on the cover with a rifle strapped over her back.
• I saw maybe the craziest docket in district court yesterday. A guy gets put in jail. He won't stop mouthing off. His girlfriend in a short skirt with knee high boots won't stop talking to him. He has to be cuffed. Then a guy on the docket walks up to the bench wearing shorts and cowboy boots. And that is just the beginning of what I saw. Kudos to the judge for not blowing a gasket.
• The Ticket this morning pointed out that the NFL's denial of CTE is just like Big Tobacco back in the day denying that cigarettes can cause cancer. That is dead on. 
• I'm now at a point if I don't have reading glasses I can't read a thing. 
• Mrs. LL's little nieces showed up at the house last night. They visit maybe twice a year. My favorite bit is to look at them and say, "Who is this person?" They love it. 
• Yesterday was the 15th anniversary of a very unfortunate bird flying in front of a Randy Johnson fast ball. Video.
• I received a question yesterday from bagofnothing if that I had the opportunity to argue before the Supreme Court would I do it or hand it off to someone who had experience in doing so. Great question. But for some reason my brain went back to when I was arguing a case back in the 1990s before the Fort Worth Appellate Court when a judge in a very stern voice (and in a bluff) looked at me and asked, "Did you write this brief?" I had written it but looked at my assistant DA (we only had one back then) who was there just to watch. I very briefly thought about throwing her under the bus and blaming it on her but my assistant DA gave me a "don't you dare!" look. I meekly replied to the judge, "Yes, I did your honor."  The judge's reply, "Thank you. It will be very helpful." I won the appeal. Years later that same judge would, during oral arguments, start a question to me with "Barry, let me ask you . . . ." As opposed to the formal, "Mr. Green, let me ask you . . . ." Moral of the story: Be honest and you earn respect.
• But would I argue before the Supreme Court? Yep. But it would probably cause me a heart attack in my preparation
• The Harris County DA tried to do it 2003 in trying to justify Texas' sodomy law and got crushed. Note to self: Track that down and listen to it. 
• Garry Shandling died yesterday. An admission: I've never seen one second of the The Larry Sanders Show but everyone tells me I would love it. 
• Oddly, my reference of "Hey, Now" comes from The Larry Sanders Show but I just heard it from The Ticket. 
• Very random thought: Can a knuckle ball be thrown in women's softball?

Wise County Law Enforcement: Someone Explain What I Just Saw

A backup officer says, "It's a California plate!" as he sees a vehicle go by and then says, "I'll be back!"

There may be an absolute legitimate explanation for this. Perhaps there had been a prior report of a vehicle with California plates that had been driving erratically. But remember I've been ranting about how cops are stopping anyone with out of state plates southbound on 287 because they think they were transporting legally bought dope from Colorado. This was southbound on 287 during a traffic stop of kids who were from the South!

Edit: This clip is four seconds for a couple of reasons. The backup officer had only been there a couple of minutes and had been called because the vehicle in front of the officer who made the traffic stop had five young guys in it. These are WCSO deputies and they had made reference to a trooper -- not in a disparaging way -- but he didn't need his name involved in this.  While the officer who made the stop explains what he had observed about the kids in front of him, the car with the California plates comes by and then you hear what I posted. I'll say it again: There might be an explanation. I just want to know what it is.

President Obama Dances The Tango

But Arnold did it better in True Lies:

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• There's a guy who tweets me everyday and rates the Random Thought Girl. I'm guessing he is going to be pleased.
• There might have been a 12 vehicle accident in Dallas this morning. Everyone just needs to slow down. 
• This Cruz/Trump twitter fight over their wives is insane. Did Trump really say that Cruz's wife is a former call girl?
• And this from Trump is insane as he compares his wife to Cruz's wife: 
• 
• Implosion of the GOP at the national level. 
• Dallas coach Jason Garrett on new free agent Alfred Morris: "He's a really good football player."  As Trump would say, "Garrett is so low energy." 
• That was a heck of lightning storm last night which was also beautiful.
• Shout out to a high ranking Wise County law enforcement officer who gave me a call yesterday because he wanted my thoughts on what I have been observing from my review of DVDs of traffic stops. And  you know how this works? He didn't take what I said at face value but he made notes. He'll continue to research and compare other notes as he talks to others and will then make his own conclusions.
• In the NFL, a new rule is that any kickoff out of the end zone or downed will now be set at the 25 yard line. It's a different college rule, but you know what Baylor does? They "pooch kick" almost every time. It gets launched high in the air and try to have it come down at the 20 but with the kickoff team basically already there. The return team is almost in panic mode on many occasions.
• BagOfNothing has his boy in T-ball and wrote today about fielding grounders. Here's the greatest tip to do so: Bend at the knees and get your butt down! So many kids just bend at the waist which will end up in a disaster.
• I'm sad to announce that Barry University lost in the basketball playoffs (lower division) in Frisco yesterday. And I would like to admit I actually have a couple of Barry University T-Shirts. 
• Great line I heard at the courthouse yesterday: What the heck has Belgium ever done to anyone?
• Incredibly random fact: Did you know that Doris Day is still alive? And what percentage of the population knows who Doris Day is? 
• Happy Birthday to Mrs. LL. I think she is turning 21 but I'll have to double check that. 

Fire It Up!

https://twitter.com/nwsfortworth/status/712809512730816516

Please Tell Me This Isn't True

Story.

But there would be a motivation: To keep their budget at a record high level that got ramped up during the last legislative session for border security at the request of the head of DPS who fudged about the facts.

Truth from our government?

"Is this Russia, Danny?"

Texas Criminal Law: These Times Are Changing When The Highest Court In Texas Slaps Down Law Enforcement

The opinion was released this morning.

It begins:

It ends:

When the right wing Texas Court of Criminal Appeals tell cops they have gone too far, something has gone horribly wrong in our State.  

"The right to be left alone – the most comprehensive of rights and the right most valued by a free people." - Justice Louis Brandeis, Olmstead v. U.S. (1928)

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• Fox 4 Morning news has changed their set and format. Consultants!
• Trump wins Arizona! The craziness continues. It's over.
• Basically the only "civil case filings" I do are for Essential Needs License. But over the last year, it has become mandatory to do it electronically in the State of Texas. The "new" fees associated with it are outrageous. Instead of having my assistant walk across the street, file it, visit with friends in the office, I now pay a fortune.
• All three terrorists in Brussels were brothers. And the more I look at that photo the more they look like they were shopping at Walmart.
• Today "the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the Little Sisters of the Poor’s legal challenge to the Obama administration’s so-called religious 'accommodation' to its contraceptive mandate." Let me go down a rabbit trail: Is there a more weird name for a group than "Little Sisters of the Poor"?
• The lady who allegedly killed her two kids in Benbrook had been released from a mental hospital. Everyone did a fine job on that case. Good lord.
• Trump and Cruz got into a Twitter fight about a nude wife and "spilling the beans". I love this campaign.
• Some 50 year old kills another 50 something year old neighbor who was at Walmart in Kaufman because he was seeing his estranged wife. Maybe I don't understand relationships, but  my attitude would have been: "If she doesn't want me, take her."
• Jeb Bush announced at 5:00 a.m. this morning that he was endorsing Ted Cruz. What odd timing. And, man, that endorsement of a failed candidate named Bush will change this campaign. #Sarcasm
• I hope the new Sheriff of Wise County is making some personnel changes. I watched a WCSO traffic stop video yesterday which made me yell because of the absolute illegality of the detention. The new Sheriff is a good man. Get that place in order. 
• And note to law enforcement: It is not your job to lecture anyone. The only possible consequence is that the situation will escalate and something horrible might happen. 
• I started to grow my hair out, it got long, but the wind drove me crazy so I had it all cut off yesterday.  (Every hair cutter loves me because I always say, "I don't care what you do, I won't complain. Just make me look good." And then I tip her very well. She ends up giddy.)
• The current Rhome City Council vs. Police Chief dispute (see Update) is better than an episode of The Housewives Of Wise County I've been considering developing. 
• I had a funny conversation with a guy yesterday when we talked about how as kids we jacked around during church sermons only to have one of our parents wear us out after the fact. (Some of you will understand the phrase "wear us out".)
• Funny moment yesterday when I got into a social policy debate with an elected official at the courthouse and two administrative assistance started eavesdropping and I heard one of them say, "I learn so much when they have these fights!"
• What's up with this crazy crayon type hair color for some women?

Rumor: Rhome Chief Of Police Brandon Davis Has Resigned After Failed Sheriff's Office Bid

I'm working on it.

Cruz Just Got Crazier Than Trump

Statement indicates Cruz wants to pre-emptively turn Muslim neighborhoods in the U.S. into police states. pic.twitter.com/Nbh96wbuUt

— Betsy Woodruff (@woodruffbets) March 22, 2016

Go Get 'Em!

JUST IN: Belgian authorities have released an image of 3 suspects at #Brussels airport after terrorist attacks. pic.twitter.com/IQW5748wp6

— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 22, 2016

Lots Of "Oh. My!" These Days

BREAKING: Councillor Rob Ford, Toronto's most famous mayor, has died. He was 46.

— Jennifer Pagliaro (@jpags) March 22, 2016

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• On the heels of the murder of two kids allegedly by the hands of their mother in Benbrook comes this news: "2 adults, 2 children found dead in Sherman home." And this news: Glen Rose mom alleged to have put baby in oven. The country has gone crazy. Or, and here his a hot opinion, the country is on synthetic and prescription drugs because of our idiotic drug policies over the years. 
• Belgian subway official says there are 26 dead, 130 injured in a series of attacks - two near the American Airlines counter at an airport - today. (Video of people running.) And it caused an officer at DFW Airport to walk around with an AR-15. He later said he does it every day. Anyone ever seen that at DFW?  
• If you ever want to know how beautiful Belgium is, watch that fantastic movie In Bruges.
• So Hulk Hogan gets awarded $140 million for being filmed having sex with someone else's wife?  (I don't know if I'm more stunned by that or learning his name is really Terry G. Bollea.)
• TCU has not won an NCAA tourney game since 1987. They have now hired a coach who was part of that team.
• I think I'm seeing more crazy drivers than ever before. If you see a red light 100 yards away why weave in and out of traffic to get there quickly?
• Dear Reagor Dykes: Your latest commercials on The Ticket make you sound like even more of a moron than you have sounded in past ads which so many have mocked. It's basically a defensive, "Don't hate me until you get to know me". And you really believe that "Keeping It Real" is truly a great slogan? 
• "The University of North Texas brings in more than $11 million in [sports] revenue but also runs up expenses totaling more than $31 million. Its students are asked to subsidize the difference in the form of additional dedicated fees ($165 per semester)."
• Glenn Beck urging Utah voters to not vote for Trump: “Utah has an incredible opportunity. So many Christians have been standing up. But all throughout the South the Evangelicals are not listening to their God. Let us raise a standard in Utah.” 
• Breaking Mavs news that some of you might care about: Chandler Parsons is out for the year.
• I'm nearing the 20 year anniversary (next November) where I searched to see if www.wisecounty.com was available. It was and I bought it on the spot.  And like the Drudge Report, I've kept the format simple and easy. At one point there was a discussion between Wise County officials about suing me for having the domain name. I still remember having a talk with a local government lawyer at the time, a friend of mine, where I told him: "Please sue me. I beg you guys to sue me."