Let's Check In On DeSoto/Duncanville From Last Night

I hate we had to witness this ugly scene tonite there's no place for this in the game of 🏀. Players suffered injuries & its likely that suspensions will impact both teams moving forward smdh pic.twitter.com/igS8bqGu3W

— Jabari Johnson (@coachjabari) February 7, 2018

Fridgegate In Lampasas County

The amount of time and money spent on this silly case is mind-boggling. The Texas AG's office requested the Texas Rangers to investigate.

The fridge is worth less than $100 (how much less, we don't know), and it might not even work.

Above The Fold

Full page pdf.

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• He got weed! WFAA did a segment on the recent marijuana busts in Wise County.
  
• I knew Wise County's state senator Craig Estes had a heck of an opponent in Pat Fallon, but I didn't know there was a third candidate in the race: A guy who owns the the Old Nocona Boot Factory. Just a third name one the ballot might be enough to put that election into a runoff.
• I'd think that the Cavs would trade Lebron right now. He's leaving after the season anyway, they are awful, they could get a fortune for him in draft picks from a contending team, and Lebron, in waiving his no trade clause, would at least get some Cleveland love by pointing out that, "I didn't want to leave without this town getting something in return."
• Good grief. America has its own little "Rocket Man": 
  
• Who else liked military parades? I can't quite put my finger on it.
  
• Man, the Copelands sure have been in the news a lot lately. And I wonder why her plan didn't work when 21 people in the congregation came down with the measles in 2013.
• 
• I've mentioned this before and the speed is increasing: Branch banks are shutting down. For the 12 months prior to June, 2017, there were 1,700 which were shut down. There is basically no reason to go to the bank for routine transactions. (I finally started using the "deposit by phone" technology -- something that makes no sense to me.)
• And Another (Connecticut):
  
• I stole this: Breaking Bad had an alternative ending where Walter White went into a witness protection program as Gordon Lightfoot.
  
• Nunes now admits that the FISA search warrant affidavit did indicate that some of the information it is based upon might be "political". But since it was in a footnote, he didn't think it was good enough. So he's upset about the size of the font? 
• Big Las Vegas news: 
  
• The principal at Northwest High School, and former teacher in Rhome, faces a second DWI charge.

SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launch Today

This is some pretty good stuff.

• 29:45 Liftoff
• 32:25 Booster separation
• 37:30 Both boosters return simultaneously and land straight up. (Amazing.)

The remainder of the rocket was supposed to land on a barge. At the time of this posting, they aren't sure it made it. 

Not Incoming Nukes, But Still A Major Screw Up

FALSE ALARM: The National Weather Service for Houston and Galveston acknowledged Tuesday that a tsunami threat was sent out around 7:30 a.m. CDT. That warning was a test however, and wasn't meant to be sent out to people.

DETAILS: https://t.co/rEIlk4JKnt pic.twitter.com/h35bZUERMm

— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) February 6, 2018

If there are a couple of more of these we will all start paying attention to them just like we pay attention to car alarms.

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• "A Texas state district court judge [in Hildago County] has been arrested on allegations he accepted approximately $6,000 in cash bribes."
• Dirk's name was misspelled last night. And it happened in Sacramento over the weekend. 
  
• The 32 year old elementary school teacher in Weatherford who contracted the flu and was dead in days should scare us all.
• I'm still studying my maps to get a handle on the chance for "winter weather." Disclaimer: The following graphic is by Delkus. I'll factor that in accordingly.
  
• For those saying the FISA search warrant on Carter Page was illegally obtained, you have no idea how search warrants work. I do. If a judge grants it (which is 99% of the time in any jurisdiction at any level), there is almost nothing you can do. This is the opening sentence from an article in a professional journal published by the Texas District and County Attorney's Association: "Though defense counsel’s accusations that an officer lied in an affidavit for search warrant might strike panic in a prosecutor’s heart, you need not fear." Sheesh. But the author is right. (And in Carter Page's case, no one says false statements were made. The worst allegation is that exculpatory information was withheld -- something that can be legally withheld.)
• Proof Nunes is a moron. Does he truly believe there is a court reporter present when a search warrant affidavit is presented to a judge? And search warrants aren't based upon what was "verbally presented" -- they are based on an affidavit. 
  
• Two days a week, because of extracurricular activities, I've got to the Freshman in the House to school at 5:45 a.m. That's 5:45!!! I can't wait until that kid get's her driver's licence in the Fall.
• We had a North Texas police chase yesterday where the guy fled on foot once his tires were shredded. Those baggy pants served as a law enforcement tool.
  
• Under the radar election news yesterday: Pennsylvania has more registered Democrats than Republicans yet, because of gerrymandering, Republicans hold 13 of 18 Congressional seats. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down the gerrymandering last month and ordered the districts redrawn. An emergency appeal by Republicans to the Supreme Court yesterday was denied. Dems will pick up a ton of House seats.
• The government "shutdown" deadline is in a couple of days. In January, everyone acted like the sky was falling unless a deal was made. Now, as they'll kick the issue down the road again, no one even mentions it. 
• This is the Dallas Morning News scorecard from the Patriot's draft in 2006 2000 where Tom Brady was taken in the sixth round. 
  
• Remember the judge presiding over the Trump University lawsuits who Trump called a "hater" and a "Mexican" during the campaign? Well that judge is now about to rule on "The Wall" in an environmental case. 
• The naming of Robert Wagner as a "Person of Interest" (hate that term) in the death of Natalie Wood in 1981 is nothing other than California law enforcement officers wanting to get in front of the cameras. One lead investigator said, "This is a suspicious death investigation. We want to know what happened from the time of the argument to when she got into the water." Sounds like you've got an open and shut case there, hoss. You'll note the DA's office hasn't said a word.

Someone Strangle This PA Guy

There’s like 6 people in the stands ....1130am...Clearview basketball announcer is feeling it . pic.twitter.com/y7xA0hBC1l

— Kenny (@KenMcNick) February 3, 2018

It's not the NBA, buddy.

But I bet the guy will end up dimming the lights and getting a flashlight to use as a spotlight once the idea dawns on him. Then he'll bring a boombox with that Alan Parsons Project song on it and he will be at full throttle.

Panic In The Streets!

Honestly, we were due for this. And there's probably more to come.

Time Does Indeed Fly By

The Berlin Wall has now been down as long as it was up, 10316 days. Today’s front page of Berliner Zeigung pic.twitter.com/jTOkzGJnV0

— Jon Stone (@joncstone) February 4, 2018

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• The federal government is set to borrow $1 trillion this year. That's an 84% increase over last year.
• Paul Ryan lost his mind bragging about the tax cuts this weekend. He posted, and then quickly deleted, this:
  
  
• The Nunes Memo: Trump said it "vindicated him" in the Mueller investigation. Did he even read it? The co-author of the memo, a Republican, disagreed: 
• 
• More Nunes memo thoughts: (1) Big bag of nothing, (2) Nothing illegal was done or even alleged to have been illegal in the memo, (3) Carter Page was already under investigation for Russian collusion for two years before the FISA warrant was obtained, (4) The FISA warrant had to be re-approved every 60 days with evidence showing that it was fruitful. It was. By three different judges. (5) Carter Page was in bed with the Russians. (6) Despite Fox News' odd claims, it did not "confirm" that Trump Tower was wiretapped as Trump claims. Carter Page wasn't even with the campaign when the FISA warrant was issued.
• Eagles coach Doug Pederson is everything Jason Garrett is not. There is no way Garrett goes for it on 4th down early in the second quarter and no way he calls a pass to the quarterback.
• If he had been named Nick Folestein, would she have written "QB Nick Folestein, Jewish!"?
  
• Weird halftime moment as the Patriots headed to the locker room: 
  
• Downtown Minneapolis lit up in the shape of Prince's guitar was cool: 
  
• I liked Justin Timberlake's tribute to Prince but the song choice ("I Will Die For You") seemed to be, uh, awkward.
• Number of New England punts last night: 0. Total penalty yards by both teams combined: Just 40.
• After the stock market plunged 666 points on Friday -- creepy, right? -- it just opened down over 200.

Above The Fold

Full PDF here.

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

 Fake scream leads to head slap. This is like the Three Stooges.

 When kids have never seen an episode of The Lone Ranger.

 Me at social engagements.

 You have to admire his professionalism.

Nice slide design but that landing area needs a little work.

Funny Bit

Last night we captured surveillance footage of a vandal trying to break in to one of our employee's vehicles in our parking lot. While the suspect is still at large, we took the liberty to have John Curley give his play-by-play of the incident.

Take a listen 🔊 pic.twitter.com/FYQTiJsTDt

— KIRO Radio 97.3 FM🎙 (@KIRORadio) February 1, 2018

"Time! Time! Incoming Plane!"

Holy moly! I hope everyone was ok. pic.twitter.com/fInW5BmtE8

— Car Crash TV (@Crashingtv) February 2, 2018

(I have no background info on this.)

If I Had Been A Contestant . . .

Trebek the real MVP pic.twitter.com/5XkDRGrIb0

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 2, 2018

. . . I could forever say I ran a whole category on Jeopardy.  In the end I would have finished dead last, but I'd always have that humble brag to throw out.

Better audio and video that I can't embed here.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• There was a shooting on a DART train in downtown Dallas this morning. 
• Realignment. There are four districts in 4A with only four teams in each district.That means those 16 teams are guaranteed to make the playoffs this Fall. Truly, one or more could go 0-10 and get in.
• In other realignment news, a 6A school in Amarillo got put in a district with two Midland and two Odessa schools. According to Google maps, the distance between Odessa and Amarillo is 260 miles taking 3 hours and 56 minutes. And that, of course, is one way.
  
• This just happened. Here's a GIF.  Here's a full video with audio which is insane. 
  
• TCU and Gary Patterson are being sued by a former receiver claiming he was rushed back from injury causing him to lose out on an NFL career. He also claimed that Patterson threatened to release him if he didn't play against Texas and they lost. 
• $36,238: The starting salary for new correctional officers in Texas penitentiaries. And that's with a new increase.
• On this Groundhog Day, let's remember that Groundhog Day was released 25 years ago. And it will be forever more entertaining than the appearance of the real overgrown rat every year.
  
• This tragic story finally came to an end last night. But he even taunted his ex-wife moments before his execution.
  
• It's Super Bowl weekend. What did D Magazine predict before the season?:
  
• Bridgeport ended, at least for now, the annual football game with Decatur. I didn't know their enrollments were so disproportionate. Decatur has 910. Bridgeport has 642. Edit: Someone said my data is old and they are right (it's from 2016). The new numbers are 1,054 and 651. Bridgeport just growing by nine students seems odd.

Dear Judge: You Can't Do That

This is the case that received publicity after a Fort Worth Police Officer responded to a complaint that the Defendant had grabbed the complainant's son around the neck. The police officer was suspended for his conduct, and the Defendant was ultimately charged with a Class C misdemeanor for touching the kid.

The jury found him guilty of "Offensive Touching" and then it came time for the judge to assess punishment.  The judge offered him an option (1) Pay $269 in court costs and a fine, and be found guilty, or (2) agree to pay $569 in court costs* and a fine, do 100 hours of community service — and receive six months’ deferred-disposition probation (meaning no conviction). Problem: The judge had no authority to do the latter.

Here are the rules:
(1) A prosecutor can offer deferred as a plea bargain before trial.
(2) If there is a trial before the court (meaning there is no jury), the judge can make a finding that "the evidence substantiates the defendant's guilt" and place him on deferred. He has that right.
(3) But if there is a jury trial, as was the case here, the only thing the judge can do after a guilty verdict is set the fine.   He can't do what he did: Ignore the guilty verdict and place the defendant on deferred thereby wiping out the conviction the jury just decided upon.

The only way the judge could do what he did would be to grant a Motion for New Trial, have the next trial before him, and then give the defendant deferred. 

A lot of strange things go on in municipal and JP courts in Texas when folks don't know the rules.
_____________________________
*That disparity in court costs between a conviction and deferred seems out of whack. Court costs are set by statute and aren't subject to manipulation. Normally, at least in every case I've ever handled, court costs for deferred are lower that court costs associated with a conviction.