Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

The Winter Olympics in Russia got off to a rousing start. 

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• Smoke coming from a building next to Sweetie Pie's on the square in Decatur caused fire trucks to surround the area for over an hour yesterday afternoon. Even Bridgeport Fire showed up. Not sure what was going on, but everyone was very slow to leave. The Messenger caught video of the initial smoke.
  
  
  
• They got her after all. 
  
  
  
• And in today's America, the jury scrambles to get on TV.
  
  
  
• In an absolute clown-car type showing last night, the Republican led House failed to count the votes before they voted whether to impeach the Director of Homeland Security. They then lost.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• It took way too long, but an appellate court told a guy who is trying to become president that he can't do anything he wants with impunity while president.  This always seemed obvious to me. 
  
  
  
• From a timeline perspective, the federal D.C. Insurrection case has been on hold while the appellate court decided that issue. That stay expires next Monday unless the Supreme Court decides to keep it in place. Whether they do or not is a big deal since it will likely determine whether Trump is tried this year or not. 
• After an arrest in Texas, a person will normally be brought in front of a magistrate within 24 hours for bond to be set.  We had a ruling yesterday that those "hearings" should be public. I don't think Wise County holds them in a public place. 
  
  
  
• These are not impeachment related costs. Oh, no. This is taxpayer money used to defend Paxton in the Whistleblower's lawsuit -- a lawsuit where he admitted all liability last month. 
  
  
  
• Trump wielding more power over the Republican Party.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• They signed off on a resolution. And it comes as no surprise that Rep. Ronny Jackson is in this photo. He embarrasses us once again. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• And what's that Orwell quote in 1984?: “The Party told you to reject all evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
• I have no idea what this means other than streaming is about to become more confusing -- and probably more expensive.
  
  
  
• DPS Update: I kept my appointment to get my license renewed but wisely chose the Bowie office over Decatur since Decatur didn't have any "free" time for another two months.  There was one nice lady working in Bowie and it went off without a hitch. But get this: I had to fill out a long form and she told me "You can take this back to your car to fill it out." There was no one else in the office except her and me. There were empty chairs everywhere. DPS is the most dysfunctional organization in Texas.

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

I nailed that one because a few weeks later this happened:

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• Notable death this morning. Stomach cancer. 

• Another notable death yesterday.
  
  
  
• A Fort Worth fire truck on the way to a fire last night ended up on its side for an unknown reason. Four injured.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• No verdict yet.
  
   
  
  
  
• Members of Congress demonstrating how we are reaching Idiocracy.
  
  
  
• King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer.
  
  
  
• The border compromise bill is all but dead, but a noteworthy group endorsed it yesterday. 
  
  
  
• Even the conservative Wall Street Journal is on board.
  
  
  
• Ron DeSantis is back in Florida and held a press conference yesterday. I think that slogan could use a little workshopping. 
  
  
  
• Let's check in on Fox Business channel.
  
  
  
• Whatever that crazy lady is doing will always get my attention. 
  
  
  
  
• Legal nerdy Court of Criminal Appeals political news.
•  Ken Paxton has targeted three judges on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals who are up for re-election and one of them is firing back at him loudly on Twitter. This is very weird.
• This guy might want to consider paying that mortgage:
  
  
  
  
• NFL Fun Fact: The Philadelphia Eagles will open their season with a game in Brazil and on a Friday. Opponent to be announced. 

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

I always go back to thinking about him in Capote. If you've ever seen it, watch the actual Truman Capote interviewed by Johnny Carson to learn how much he nailed him.

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• We bombed everything in the Middle East over the weekend.
  
  
  
  
  
• Last night a bi-partisan border bill was released. The Republican controlled House immediately said it was dead on arrival. If they supported a border solution there would be nothing to campaign on.  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  
  
  

  

  Fox News reporter

  
  
• Meanwhile, I small "convoy" showed up at the border to . . . well, I'm not exactly sure what their purpose was. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• This happened yesterday. He was on the loose for 20 minutes and headed straight for McDonalds.
  
  
  
• The jury begins deliberation today for the mom on trial for the sins of her mass-murdering teenage son in Michigan. I've done a complete 180 on her lawyer. She's a mess. She makes mistakes. She doesn't know how to preserver error. But her closing argument might have been the most endearing and relatable argument I ever heard. I love her. (Full video of her closing.) And I'd never convict the mom, although I fear this jury might. I just don't know.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• A former Dallas Star stood trial for attacking three women in one day. It did not go well for the prosecution. (Franklin County is in East Texas and has a population of 10,359.)
  

  

  
  
  
  
• The Super Bowl comes to Vegas this week. This is what the Luxor looks like right now. Really. 
  
  
  
• Over the weekend we've learned nothing more about what happened to this woman after being "found safe" in Laredo.  Maybe I'm, wrong, but my radar is going off on this one. 
  
  
  
• I was lucky enough to turn on the Grammy's at the exact moment this happened. It was fantastic. (Although 80 year old Joni Mitchell singing "Both Sides Now" later in the show was moving in its own way.)
  

  

  
  
  
  
• Legal nerdy stuff.
  
  
  
• I have a conspiracy theory that the number of views of a viral TikTok (i.e. "It has been viewed over 40 million times!") are ridiculously over-exaggerated and inflated.