12.09.2024

Random Monday Morning Thoughts




Baylor and TCU, both 11-1, were left out of the college football playoffs.

  • Overnight: It occurred during a traffic stop.


  • We have new photos of the United Healthcare killer, and I cannot believe he has not been identified yet. 



  • Legal nerdy but in the news: The trial of the guy for choking an unruly/threatening guy on the New York Subway went to the jury late last week, and we had a surprising legal maneuver on Friday.  The jury was deadlocked on the charge and, instead of the judge declaring a mistrial (like we do in Texas), the State dismissed that charge and convinced the judge to allow the jury to continue to deliberate on the lesser included offense. (Honestly, I don't know of a case in Texas where the State tried the dismissal trick. Normally the jury can't move on to the lesser charge unless they unanimously agree on an acquittal of the greater.)



  • If I'm reading the Wise County records correctly, this guy was sentenced 28 years last week in a plea bargained case. Cause number CR24263.

  • The Paradise Panthers are headed to the semi-finals for the first time after defeating Shallowater.  Here's video of their first touchdown which was the result of a great mad scramble with a throw two receivers in the same area.

  • Friday.
     

  • The MAGA Republicans and the Normal Republicans were fighting all weekend over who the next Texas House Speaker will be. 

    • I'm sure that it was high on God's priority list. 

  • The Syrian government was toppled by rebels over the weekend which is good but also means that it'll be chaos there for the next few years.

  • Trump:
    • Another incredible grift: $199 perfume.

    • Interview which aired yesterday: Trump telling us he will sick the FBI on this political enemies. Well, you know, he's not going to "direct" them to do it although his new handpicked FBI director will "have to." Video. This should scare us all to death, but the masses will just shrug.

    • Interview yesterday #2: He still doesn't understand tariffs. Video.

    • He has named his new Hope Hicks replacement: One of his very bad lawyers.


  • Congrats to SMU for edging out Alabama for the last playoff spot.  But, by the time ESPN got around to slowly rolling out the 12 team playoff reveal, one reputable reporter had, for the first time, leaked the committee's selection. (He was laid off from ESPN in 2017.)

  • Not for everyone, but I loved it: Dick Van Dyke in a touching music video with the lead singer of Coldplay. (Director's cut) 
  • The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas got mad at the Dallas Morning News for their meth cover story and series. 

at 8:30 AM

12.06.2024

It's Friday -- Let's Get Out of Here

at 2:30 PM

Random Friday Morning Thoughts




It was a quick verdict in the wild killing of the Kaufman County DA and his wife. 

  • Insurance executive killer update: I'm stunned he's not been identified once this pic came out yesterday. I bet the cops do know his name but are just trying to quickly nab him near his home base. If they can't find him, then they'll release it. Just a wild guess.

    • But there is more proof to my "they know his name" theory: They know when he was on a particular bus? 


  • So long as Trump supports Hegseth for defense secretary, I think he'll ride out this storm and get confirmed. Plus, he's throwing out a Jesus force field:



    • Edit: Trump just reaffirmed his support on Truth Social this morning. He'll get confirmed. The Senate will bow the knee to MAGA.

  • It gets worse: "His 20-year-old son was identified by KYTX and KHOU as Mark Howard, who the outlets reported had Down syndrome."

    • Found his profile and office.

       

  • Rep. Pat Fallon embarrassed himself yesterday.  The crazy video can be seen in two parts. 


  • Kind of legal nerdy stuff. Texas Supreme Court judge Nathan Hecht is receiving all sorts of accolades as he is being forced into retirement because of his age. 

    • I called him out in 2007 for almost getting lawmakers to force the taxpayer to pay his private $300,000 lawyer bill to fight an alleged ethics violation. 

  • The Weather Second™.

  • The Business Second™.  This is on Highway 114 and in the Northwest ISD. And you just thought traffic was bad now. 

     

  • This was building yesterday and just became official. MAGA can claim a new victim. 

  • Incredibly nerdy legal stuff I learned yesterday: There's a death penalty offense in our state which is not in the Texas Penal Code but which also gives the jury the option to sentence a person to just two years in prison after conviction.
  • Time which has passed since the Wise County Sheriff's Office, despite having a full male DNA profile, has failed to solve the murder of Lauren Whitener in her home at Lake Bridgeport: 5 years and 155 days.


at 8:30 AM

12.05.2024

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts




Lot's of "Oh, the humanity" jokes about this at the time.

  • The shooting of the healthcare insurance CEO in Manhattan is one of the wilder things you'll see. Here's the full video which most networks won't play. We often hear about failed "murder for hire" cases, this feels like one a successful one. And, notably, "three bullets at the scene where the UnitedHealthcare CEO was shot reportedly had the words 'deny,' 'defend,' and 'depose' written onto them."  That's absolutely a civil litigation reference. 


  • From around midnight:

  • Looks like one of the many murder cases on the docket for Wise County will be tried next week: State v. McKinley Mantrell Bradford, cause no. CR24230. It involves allegations that he killed 51-year-old Chico resident John Freeman.

  • We are the dumbest state. Story.  And as things like schools being hamstrung by budget cuts abound, he considers THC -- in any amount -- a "priority".


  • Fort Worth: Maybe the death penalty is making a comeback. 

  • What's going on with North Richland Hills? It was the scene of the very recent drive-by shooting at the "wrong" house, and there are these two headlines over the last 24 hours:
    • Here's a video of the guys running away:


    • At International Leadership of Texas North Richland Hills K-8:
  • The Business Second™.

  • Random college football note. 

  • Messenger - Above the Fold


at 8:30 AM
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