Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• Weather guy David Finfrock is going part-time. Now if Delkus would do it. 
• To work for Kenneth Copeland you must now pledge not to have sex outside of marriage, view porn, drink alcohol, smoke, cuss, or gamble. 
• Never forget Fox News portrayal of Robert Mueller when he was first appointed as special counsel:
  
• Trump is on Twitter this morning and started off by slinging some truth (so long as you don't take into account President Obama drew more viewers in his first State of the Union speech as did the first ones by Bush and Clinton):
  
• The Wise County murder trial ended in a guilty verdict and a life sentence. That's what I thought would happen three weeks ago. The original Messenger story from the time of the arrest seemed to indicate the evidence was overwhelming. And considering the fact he had a prior Injury to a Child conviction, he was doomed. (I think he has to serve at least 30 real years, but it's been awhile since I've looked at the specific parole laws for murder. And I don't think this was a capital murder case where there is life without parole requirement if the death penalty is waived.)
• Today is UIL re-alignment day with the announcement of the new composition of districts coming at 9:00. Bridgeport and Decatur need to be back in the same district.
• The next government shutdown date is February 8th and neither Republicans or Democrats seem to be thinking about it. 
• The female mayor of Nashville admits to having an affair with her former security chief. Since 2015, the security chief has earned $119,000 a year in "overtime" and they took nine trips alone together last year costing taxpayers $14,000.
  
• There's been lots of talk about the Republican Memo regarding the FBI that Trump is reviewing for release. Now there's an allegation that Trump lapdog Rep. Devin Nunes altered the memo before giving it to Trump.
• A streaker hit the fairway at the famous 16th hole at the Phoenix Open. (This must have been the Pro-Am yesterday.) There is a video of it which seems "safe for work" and it's one of the longer streaking sessions you'll ever see. 
  
• Here's a list of films released 24 years ago just to make you feel old. 

As Of 4:47 p.m.

Grass fire in Wise County is burning numerous acres on Wednesday afternoon. pic.twitter.com/7fR2Ta0k0T

— FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) January 31, 2018

Let's Check In On An American Classroom

This Is Almost A Metaphor

 A train wreck involving Republicans. Remember Charlottesville? "There are good people on both sides."

Above The Fold

Full PDF.

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• Harley Davidson announced it is shutting down its Harley Davidson plant on the same day as the stock market plunged 383 points. #winning
• Trump's State of the Union speech was the second longest in 50 years.  You can't do that these days especially when the average American's attention span is at an all time low.
• I stumbled on an Elvis movie last night, Roustabout, which is incredibly rare to do despite the fact that he made 31 films. You know, it had a ton of sexual innuendos in it. 
• A group of four of us at the courthouse yesterday struggled to remember the name of a Wise County probation officer who has been with the office for over 10 years. Someone had to consult a directory to give us the answer.
• Time waste: Remember the case where the Fort Worth PD officer got suspended for handcuffing the mother in the street. Well, the neighbor which allegedly grabbed her son by the neck is on trial before a jury with two prosecutors in municipal court for the Class C offense of "offensive touching." And get this, the lead investigator who issued the ticket way after the incident occurred was asked if he, "issued [it] because of the [media] attention or because the case met the elements of the alleged crime." His response: "That I cannot answer." It's over.
• NBA star Blake Griffin was traded for the Clippers to the Pistons this week. I don't care about the NBA, but even I feel sorry for a millionaire who is forced to go from L.A. to Detroit. 
• Love the goofy commentors yesterday who believe my "DPS stole a road sign" bit is sincere. "Bless your heart" (and you know what that means.)
• Someone pointed out that the carbon monoxide story regarding the Bridgeport couple was in the Star-Telegram last week. I thought I saw that, too. But I Googled "Perryton carbon monoxide star-telegram" and it didn't show up. Today I went to ST search bar on its site an searched "Perryton carbon" and got nothing. 
• Only four of the nine Supreme Court justices attended the State of the Union last night.
• I'll admit, when Trump just reads from the teleprompter the words written by others, he comes across pretty good. But that is not him. It is when he free styles is when we learn how shallow he really is. 
• But the neo-Nazis loved this line of his speech (written by neo-Nazi Stephen Miller):
  
• Trump told the people affected by natural disasters, specifically Puerto Rico, “We love you. We are with you." Today, FEMA officially shuts off any new food and water to Puerto Rico.
• The NFL is a money machine. There is news today that Fox has acquired Thursday night football for a reported $550 million per year for five years.
• "Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse that took place at USA Gymnastics’ national team training center at Karolyi Ranch. Abbott called on the Texas Rangers . . .  to handle the probe into claims of molestation at the facility by former gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar." Why? If there is not a single allegation of abuse by someone other than Nassar then this is a waste of time. Nassar already will never get out of prison.

Told Ya! Told Ya!

Hawaii employee who issued false missile alert thought it was real emergency, FCC says https://t.co/QaSorRCThD

— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 30, 2018

This is amazing.

I was skeptical right after it happened. It was my first bullet point on 1/15/18.

NASCAR Drivers Couldn't Have Pulled This Off

How to change lanes in Utah pic.twitter.com/SK7D9PjP82

— Adam (@adam_bacaa) January 27, 2018

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• Hey you gun guys, you believe this?
• 
• More sign theft -- this time near Amarillo. (You know, I've never been on I-40 which runs from Amarillo to Oklahoma City. Heck, it actually runs from almost Los Angeles all the way to the coast of South Carolina): 
  
• There was the craziest wreck in Saginaw on Sunday morning. Some guy is at an ATM when a guy in big truck comes barreling into the parking lot. Both the driver and the ATM customer were killed. 
  
  
  
  
• A few weeks back, I mentioned a Bridgeport couple who had died at a Best Western in Perryton because of carbon monoxide poisoning.  However, there was basically no media coverage of it. Well, the Charlotte Observer, of all papers, did a big story on it a week ago. The couple was Patricia and David Ivie.
  
• There are now 36 Republican Congressmen who have announced they will not seek re-election. 
• In July, the Senate voted to impose sanctions on Russia by a vote of 98-2. The House agreed with a vote of 419-3. Yesterday was the last day for Trump to approve. He didn't. Is there any question that Russia has the goods on Trump. He's a puppet. 
• Trump gives his State of the Nation Union speech tonight. Let's take a look back at what Nixon said in one of his: 
  
• I mentioned yesterday that Texas Monthly was taking heat for essentially receiving $25,000 in social media advertising from Bumble  in exchange for being on the cover. A funny thing has happened. Yesterday I got my issue and, although there is a huge story about Bumble in it, Bumble wasn't on the cover. Below is what it was supposed to look like and what I received. Did they spike the cover at the last minute?
  
  
  
  
• The stock market dropped 177 points yesterday. Futures this morning have it dropping 227 points. Uh. Oh. 
• The Wise County Commissioners approved the courthouse security plan yesterday that I mentioned two weeks ago. Man, funneling everyone into the basement through one metal detector on jury selection days will be maddening. 

R.I.P. Chief Wahoo

BREAKING: Cleveland Indians removing Chief Wahoo logo from game jerseys and caps, starting in 2019 season

— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) January 29, 2018

Pretty Smooth

He pretended to be a Pelican and snuck onto the court for shootaround 😂 (via lina112111/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/NwTN2zqP7J

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 29, 2018

He even got a shot off.

But I'd would have liked to have seen what the cop did because he had just entered Chewing Out Mode.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• I'm always on the look out for ads disguised as news stories. Well, Texas Monthly, which obtained a new owner last year, has put its foot in the water by putting the CEO of Bumble on the cover in exchange for that company spending $25,000 to promote the story on social media. The underlying Texas Monthly staff is not pleased. 
  
• The last Blockbuster in Texas (Edinburg) has closed. 
• I watched the first episode of Waco -- about the Branch Davidians -- and it was really good. The first episode spent a lot of time on ATF's screw up at Ruby Ridge and how they were desperate to redeem themselves.
• Dr. Suess would not have appreciated Trump's "No refugees!" policy because he didn't like our isolationist policy in during World War II. And check out her shirt!
  
• According to the Messenger, two guys showed up in the early morning hours just to video the Bridgeport PD building and Decatur PD building. They were looking for a confrontation.
  
  
• Those guys normally have their ducks in a row because almost always the cops come out and ask for IDs. The response is, "Am I being detained?" They ask that because 99% of the time there is no reason to legally detain them, and you don't have to show your ID to an officer unless detained or under arrest. Edit: I might be wrong about this. Even if detained, you don't have to ID yourself. It takes an arrest.
• This is from the Morning News. I don't remember a measles outbreak in Newark.
  
  
• I was in Home Depot this weekend and saw and older gentleman with a t-shirt on that read, "The Church Has Left The Building."
• Prices at the NHL "Fan Fest." Nine dollars for Dipping Dots? 
  
• Oh, my: 
  
• A Tarrant County family court judge sure is getting creative in the area of fundraising:
  
• I mentioned Kenneth Copeland getting a G5 last week. Get this: "Copeland, a member of Trump’s Faith Advisory Council, will speak at a prayer breakfast at an Army base February 1st. He claims PTSD doesn't afflict True Believers."

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

 Always keep your eye on the skateboard (although I guess he did, literally.)

 I've got a question: Why does everyone run like a murder has been committed.

 Not a bad Bicycle Kick. And not a bad Kid Kick (although inappropriate.)

 "Honey, I promise. My undivided attention was on the kid."

 "That second blow felt pretty strong. Let me cheeeeeeeeeeeeec . . . ."

If that's his standard bit, it's a weird bit.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• The golf course at Robson Ranch caught fire yesterday. I actually played it a few times back in the day. 
• The FBI didn't really need this right now. From Houston: "FBI agent kills kidnapping victim during Houston raid, reports say."
• From the Star-Telegram about a Wise County inmate. Note: He got out yesterday.:
• 
• New York Times: "WASHINGTON — President Trump ordered the firing last June of Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel overseeing the Russia investigation, according to four people told of the matter, but ultimately backed down after the White House counsel threatened to resign rather than carry out the directive." For a man who has nothing to hide, he is scared to death of Mueller. Why? 
• Trump denied the above report calling it, predictably, "fake news." So who do we trust? The Times or Trump? Let's have Fox News' Sean Hannity awkwardly decide for us. This is pure gold. 
  
• Another one bites the dust. (And he made the payment to a a junior staffer "many decades" younger than him who he called his "soul mate.") He made the decision "after prayerful reflection."
  
• The White House shockingly agreed to keep and expand DACA yesterday with a "path for citizenship" for 1.8 million people (there's probably many, many more) if he could get $25 billion for The Wall. Heck, give him the money. It will never be built, and in the next election his base will be mad about DACA and the fact that Mexico isn't paying for The Wall. The boys over at Breitbart are alreadly livid. And Ann Coulter is none to pleased.
  
• I'm beginning to believe the medical profession is the most disorganized profession. 
• Tiger Woods played well yesterday and afterwards many were stunned because he has "two vertebrae fused together." That's what BagofNothing had done. The recovery is a little hard but both he and Tiger will be fine if not better than before. So many people think the surgery is the equivalent of putting a metal rod down your spine. 

Another High Speed Chase . . .

. . .ends with innocent people lucky they weren't killed.

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• Larry Nassar, the disgraced Olympic gymnastics team doctor, received 45 to 175 years in prison yesterday. He deserves everything he got, but that judge was a drama queen playing for the cameras. "I just signed your death warrant," was embarrassing. And Texas prosecutors didn't like it either: 
  
• I'd love to know the number of commentors who admire Alex Jones. I'm beginning to think it might be a pretty good percentage. 
• A couple of days ago they jumped on the alleged "secret society" of the FBI (which has been revealed to be nothing other than a joke from a text message) and called it the "Illuminati." Oh, come on. We all know the Illuminati runs the secret super computer in Belgium called The Beast which will eventually, through the Illuminati, place a chip or "mark" in people so they can be tracked and miss the Rapture. Silly people.
• I've always wondered what those boys at MADD made. This is from 2016.
  
  
  
  
• I had no idea that Wise County's own TV evangelist, Kenneth Copeland, bought -- correction: his church bought him -- a G5 private jet. To make it even more ridiculous, it was purchased from Tyler Perry. 
• Jerry Fallwell, Jr. was on CNN last night defending Trump having an affair with a porn star right after Barron was born. It was an "Aw, shucks. We all sin" defense. He even channeled Jimmy Carter by invoking Jesus' proclamation that if you lust in your heart after a woman, that's the same as adultery. 
  
• I've never seen a story that I disbelieve more than this one: 
  
• The Aggies owe former coach Kevin Sumlin $10.4 million for firing him. It is due in lump sum. Today. 
• "Freedom Texas"  the group who "works to educate people about the sovereignty, security and self-sufficiency of Texas, and promotes its eventual independence" is still meeting in Wise County. I checked out its home page. It's a rant against Muslims and President Obama with statements like, "We cannot understand why Obama does not do more . . . ." They might want to think about an update.

DeLorean Wrecks Near SMU

Marty apparently didn't get it up to 88 mph.