10.24.2016

Gary Player and Yao Ming This Weekend



Not photoshopped.
at 9:47 AM

Random Monday Morning Thougts



  • Channel 5 had a story on . . . 
  • Compare and contrast: College football: Oklahoma 66, Texas Tech 59. NFL: Arizona 6, Phoenix 6.
  • Talk show host Mark Davis this morning told his listeners to vote straight ticket Republican. I'm stunned by the straight ticket part. Incredible. But so many people who should know better do it.
  • First overall draft pick Jared Goff has not played a single play. And the guy starting ahead of him is horrible. There was an episode of Hard Knocks which showed Goff working after practice on the end zone fade. Without the a defense, Goff took about 10 attempts before he actually made a completion. He may be just that bad. 
  • Trump this morning: The election and the polls are rigged.

  • I replaced the outdoor wall light fixtures this weekend. You know, that's a pretty good bang for buck investment. Side note: Any of you guys recommend a particular outdoor sealant?
  • I never watch The Walking Dead but based upon the buzz this morning the season premier may have crossed the line last night.
  • "The reward for information on Zuzu Verk's whereabouts or her safe return was raised Friday to $100,000."  Two things: (1) I can't find the actual details on providing information on her "whereabouts". It's got to have some qualifier or someone could just say, "Texas" and hope she is found in Texas. (2) Who in the world would now come forward when the reward reaches $100,000 when they wouldn't do so when it was at $1,000 or lower? You would either do it for free or not at all.
  • Baylor has played an easy schedule, had two bye weeks, is unbeaten and #6 in the Coaches Poll.  Hey, they could lose every remaining game because they may not be any good. But its fun being in this position all the way through October when almost all teams have at least one loss.
  • Amazon has an ad on the front page of the Star-Telegram website where it is seeking employees. I'm not sure I've seen such a high profile "help wanted" ad.


at 8:38 AM

10.21.2016

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

 In honor of the WNBA season coming to an end
 When ATVs Attack
 "Back and to the left"
"Respect"
I'm not sure the Five Second Rule works here
at 3:15 PM

Netflix Made An Original Movie About Me?

Presenting: Barry
at 12:38 PM

Watch For This Impending Texas Disaster


There's a lot of talk about education this week in Austin with much focus on school vouchers. Forget about vouchers. Remember the following two things which could rock Texas.

First, we are horrible at providing special education:



But what if the legal obligation of Texas not only to provide those services but what those services are to be has been wrong, inadequate, and illegal? The U.S. Supreme Court this term just decided to hear a case which might throw education in states like Texas for a loop:

If Texas is currently cheating the system by preventing students from having special education services, is there any question that the services they do provide is woefully inadequate?  It's simply refusal to pay the money. And the Supreme Court may tell schools next spring that they need to open up their pocketbooks.
at 12:01 PM

P.S. I Screamed Like A School Girl



From youtube: I was traveling from Indianapolis to Whitewater, WI for a practice weekend with Machine Ultimate. I was going 70mph (speed limit) on I65 north. I travel the 3-4 hours by myself every time and use singing as a way to pass time, and critique it later. At this point I was practicing a nasal type voice on a Casting Crowns song when the crash happened. I was watching the road and saw nothing that caused me to worry. Simply hydroplaned in a heavy rain. My car slid sideways, and then was completely backwards by the time I slid off the road and went down a small hill. I hit a mile marker sign (230) on my way off the road. Here are two of the most amazing parts: I sustained NO injuries. Not even a scratch. And my car took NO mechanical damage and is completely driveable. Only body damage.
at 11:23 AM

Random Friday Morning Thoughts




  • That Al Smith Charity dinner last night was better than all three debates.  I had it on and really didn't intend to watch it but it suddenly became can't miss TV. Mrs. LL noticed my "Oh, my!" face when I couldn't believe what I was hearing. 
  • Overall, Hillary and Trump took great and funny shots at each other. Trump's routine, however, had about a three minute section which caused him to be booed and some speechwriter to ultimately be thrown off the Trump Tower. Lines like “Here she is tonight, pretending not to hate Catholics,” did not play well. 
  • But the unintentional star of the show was Fox Business reporter Maria Bartiromo. It was mesmerizing. 
  • It used to be really weird that within a couple of days of when a guardrail was damaged there would be "Warning: Guardrail Damage" sign put out and then repairs would be almost immediately made. (It was weird because guardrail damage shouldn't be someone's #1 priority when driving.) Anyway, now guardrail damage lasts for months and months. The guardrails around the 380/287 exchange in Decatur look like a battle ground.
  • Former Tech coach Mike Leach said publicly that Arizona State steals signals and was promptly fined $10,000.
  • If you have any interest in whether the Cubs can reach the World Series, you have to find and see the 30 for 30 "Catching Hell" on the Steve Bartman incident. It covers everything from who Bartman was, how he ended up sitting there, what the rules are for fan interference, how the media inadvertently made him a target for horrible Cub fans, and where he is now. 
  • "Arlington police say pictures taken with phones stolen from a car were apparently backed up to the victim's computer."
  • The Supreme Court Effect of this election is in play because of the elderly age of some of its members. We all just assume that those positions are kept until death. Even I had forgotten that David Souter simply retired from the court seven years ago and is still active today.
  • Someone give me the names of the three Tarrant County assistant DAs who have left over the last couple of weeks. 
  • A girl claims to have found Bryan Cranston's new book in a bookstore at Love Field which was signed by him with an inscription and a receipt saying the book was free. Being the skeptic, I thought it was a genius publicity stunt by his publisher. (And it could be done in other airports as well.)  But Cranston was in Dallas on that date so it could be a single quirky gesture. 
  • The Palo Pinto County Sheriff was indicted. He was involved in a car chase that ended in a death that seemed a bit odd to me at the time. (I'll have to find my old link.)

at 8:39 AM

10.20.2016

We've Got Chico News

Although I think the fact that we've got a train off the tracks is a little bigger news than a road being blocked.  (And where exactly is that? And why in the world did they make a hashtag out of "Wichita"?)

And I have a reason to remind everyone of the rock quarry pits south of Chico. The railroad track splits them and runs through Chico.


at 2:18 PM

Real Life Russian Superhero



This is a strange one. Some guy comes up and sucker punches a gal causing all of us to recoil. And then, when certainly all hope is lost, what must be Chuck Norris' long lost Russian cousin just walks off the bus and takes care of business.  Even had a little visit with the guy before picking up the girl's belongings and walking away.

The guy just saw a situation that needed a little perestroika.
at 1:14 PM

Trump Clarifies Stance Like You Would Expect


at 12:00 PM

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts



  • If it weren't for anti-lock brakes this morning, I would have been in a wreck. Someone just pulled right out in front of me from a side street in heavy traffic. There's no question I would have gone into a long skid without those brakes. And afterwards, with my heart pounding and the Youngest In The House in the passenger seat, I felt like I had just lived a commercial. (I saw the same thing happen two other times and saw a pickup getting pulled out of a ditch. People be driving crazy.)
  • And at that moment moment, the results and analysis of last night's presidential debate didn't seem important at all. 
  • But the debate did happen. And I think it will be remembered like that Ali/Frazier fight where they beat the crap out of each other but just one famous moment comes to mind beyond all others: Frazier knocking Ali down hard and then Ali popping right back up. Last night, Trump knocked himself down with his silly position that he may not accept the results of the election. That is what will be remembered.
    Trump hats in background?
  • How self inflicted was that? Trump didn't have to say it. There are a million ways to answer it and the moment gets lost to time.
  • But Trumps' "such a nasty woman" line took me aback more than anything. 
  • I didn't know Trump has a sister who is a federal appellate judge on the Third Circuit.
  • The local paper in Waxahachie was the third paper in the nation, and first in Texas, to endorse Trump.
  • This was a bad week for DPS to claim they are monitoring school buses. From Austin yesterday: "An armed man posing as a policeman Tuesday tried to stop a school bus with an Anderson High School student on board . . . . "
  • My one and only admin assistant is in Vegas to see the Rolling Stones. That show was cancelled yesterday less than 24 hours before it was to start. 
  • My team of experts is projecting that Decatur will face Brownwood in the first round of the state football playoffs. 
  • I didn't know that the Wise Regional Health System had a mascot and that you can own the same outfit for the low, low price of $982.44. (They aren't selling it. I just found it.) 
  • Queen of "And Another" turned stripper turned Dr. Phil guest.
  • In an incredibly rare move yesterday, the conservative Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled 6-3 to reverse the conviction of a couple for Injury to a Child by burning the child in hot water. They had both been sentenced to 25 years in prison. What is more newsworthy is that the case was not ordered to be retried but instead they were acquitted. The reason: Insufficient evidence or, in practical terms, there is no way a juror could believe beyond a reasonable doubt that they were guilty.
  • If your initial emotion about that is anger, you must believe the couple is guilty. Why? 

at 8:40 AM

10.19.2016

We've Got A Cat Killing Vet In Texas!


Daily Mail – A vet who used a bow and arrow to kill a neighbor’s cat which had wandered onto her home and then boasted about it online has been suspended.

 Beneath a shocking image of her holding the dead animal, still with an arrow in her head, Kristen Lindsey wrote: ‘My first bow kill… lol. The only good feral tomcat is one with an arrow through it’s (sic) head. Vet of the year award… gladly accepted.’ 

 She was judged by the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to have been cruel to the animal, named Tiger, and was banned from practicing for a year.

 After the picture emerged, Lindsey was fired from the Brenham animal clinic where she worked.

 And the Internet will not tolerate it!


Wait. Is that Jesus holding a cat?

It used to be a simpler time back in the day.

at 1:33 PM

High School Football Character Building Didn't Work Out


at 1:10 PM

Fun With Math And College Football




And we wonder why Texas won't give up or make any concessions on . . .

ESPN is on Year Six of a 20-year, $295 million contract
at 12:08 PM

Above The Fold

Full readable page.
at 9:07 AM

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts



  • How odd it is to have four young metroplex girls go missing or killed where their male friends are suspects or more: (1) The victim in the recently completed Arochi trial - never found, (2) Jackie Vandagriff, the TWU student - found dismembered and burned near Lake Grapevine, (3) Typhenie Johnson  of Fort Worth who went missing about a week ago - not found, and now (4) Zuzu Renee Verk of Keller who is/was attending Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas - not found.
  • "ZuZu" was the name of the child in It's A Wonderful Life. Several sites tell me it means "lily" which reminds me that a petal fell off  of ZuZu's flower in the movie which caused her concern. I wonder if that was a coincidence.
  • There was lots of talk yesterday that Hillary was tightening the race with Trump in Texas.  It won't happen this time, but Texas will eventually turn blue. Can you imagine four or eight years from now if Florida becomes firmly Democratic and Texas becomes "the" swing state which decides it all?
  • WBAP's Steve Lamb yesterday: "Tony Romo will come back sooner or later but we don't know when." You know, that "sooner or later" part is not necessarily true at all. 
  • I kept hearing about the Texas 11 and 12 year old Texas football team which had their "season  cut short after taking a knee". Here they are:
  • That area of Runway Bay which burned yesterday has been the general location of multiple unrelated fires over the years. (Condos, apartments, homes, etc.) And I'm not sure high winds/tornados haven't destroyed a couple of building right around there as well. It's like the Wise County Bermuda Triangle of property damage.
  • Anyone remember the Bermuda Triangle?
  • The Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas wants Trump to come by and renew his vows before tonight's debates.  That place has been the site of the weddings of such famous people as Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Michael Jordan, Britney Spears, and me. Decatur criminal lawyer Paul Belew was also married there. 
  • "The Legislature in 2015 approved $800 million over two years for border security and shifted the focal point of the campaign from the National Guard to the DPS, which is set to hire 250 new officers by the end of the year . . . . DPS Director Steve McCraw said the [new] $1 billion funding request for the 2018-19 budget is necessary despite competing demands for state resources. 'We wouldn’t ask for it if it wasn’t needed'." Incredible. Give it a few years and DPS will pull out of the border business but won't see its budget decreased by one dime.
  • Never forget: 
  • That "rodeo" scandal with Decatur connections has been settled per the Star-Telegram. (But even though they put the story on its front page, a link to the story is not on its home page --- a home page with a ton of links. I don't understand that.)


at 8:40 AM

10.18.2016

Actual News


at 4:33 PM

Reefer Madness 2016



As the states begin to legalize marijuana for personal use across the nation, opponents are taking one last stand.   I'd hate to see this lady's expression when she learns you can come to Texas and pick up some Pampers and a case of beer in the same store.
at 4:24 PM
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