Decatur Fountain From Friday

That little duck is a nice touch. (Thanks, Tony)

I Presume They Mean Newark, NJ

Hunt recently moved from Denton, and Priddy was living in Newark, Maj. Ray Tuttoilmondo, a Galveston County Sheriff’s Office spokesman, said. But this story was sent to me, so who knows?

Note To Fellow Wise County Lawyer People

Did you know, as of this morning, we are forever going to be memorialized in the official Southwestern Reporter? Explained. (pdf file)

Woman Calls 911 For Wrong Order

Woman Calls Cops on Burger King sound bite Funny sound bites

I'm with this chick. When a gal wants a Western Burger made right, she wants a Western Burger made right. How hard it that? Last week I almost called Decatur PD when Taco Bell didn't understand "Ranchero Chicken Soft Taco - Fresco Style." Police are here to protect and to serve? Sheesh. (And is Sacramentee any where close to Sacramento?) Link.

I Hate These Things

- I'm at a criminal law seminar at the University of North Texas - I've seen a few people I know. Just as soon not know anyone - The next topic is 'immigration consequences' - I like the current speaker but I've heard this same schtick four times before - I'm going to walk around campus at lunch - Listening to a girl gripe about the Denton's DA's office about a probation revocation. Some things are universal. - The guy beside me has on a tight Affliction like tshirt - He's sitting by a gal with a HUGE diamond wedding ring - Just found out they were married. So much for fun Tiger Woods like speculation. - Criminal defense lawyers normally look like they're homeless at these things - Except me - It may be North Texas Boulevard now but to me it will always be Avenue D - we have free coffee but no free soft drinks. Ugh. - The school newspaper calls Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind the best movie of the decade. Really?

Barry (from iPhone)

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• When radio DJs used to say, for example,"We'll take the 97th caller for a chance to win [something]" did they just take the first caller after waiting a while, or did they actually reject 96 people before taking the 97th call.
• I recorded that Jersey show on MTV last night but haven't watched it yet.
• The SMU student that was kidnapped and raped may have been the victim of illegal aliens. Once that news broke, the Dallas Morning News had to shut down comments on a story.
• Since I got so much heat over (what I thought) was a light hearted post over a nativity scene at the courthouse, I went back and researched some Supreme Court opinions on the Establishment Clause. I thought it was funny that the following phrase was used in the lead opinion: "Perhaps in the early days of the Republic these words were understood to protect only the diversity within Christianity, but today they are recognized as guaranteeing religious liberty and equality to 'the infidel, the atheist, or the adherent of a non-Christian faith such as Islam or Judaism.'"
• Taylor Swift bought a hair straightener thingy. Not bad.
• Isn't there a huge difference in not believing in global warming and not believing global warming is caused by carbon emissions?
• It's tough out there: A big Dallas law firm slashes first year lawyer salaries to $120,000.
• I unexpectedly saw a girlfriend from 15 years ago yesterday. That's so much fun when that happens.
• Lots of people with sins as large as Tiger Woods sure are throwing stones at him.
• We are supposed to have faith in Wade Phillips when he dresses like this?
• I'm going to be in Costa Rica during the National Championship game. And the closest town has no paved roads. This is gonna be tricky trying to find a TV.
• I've got a 911 tape from Decatur PD sitting on my desk. I love the anticipation before I listen to those things.
• I think I saw Christina Aguilera in a commercial the other day. I've missed her ever since she dropped out of sight to become a Baby Momma.

Redneck?

But like all things on the Internet, I question if that was a truly functioning TV before it got blasted to Kingdom Come. But it is a Christmas Miracle that the guy at 3:35 didn't get his fool head cut off.

Stimulus Spending Tracker For Wise County

Link. (Thanks, Wayne.)

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• Channel 8 story on Decatur's Jackie Murphree being pushed for Sunday's White Rock Marathon. I think her civil lawsuit is still pending, by the way.
• Stumbled across Nip/Tuck last night. Good grief, when did it jump the shark? Oh yeah, that was Season Two.
• Cowboys Roy Williams irritates me to no end with his Hook 'Em Horns hand sign whenever he (rarely) scores a touchdown. I guess he's just trying to relive the days when he was relevant.
• I like gloves. Gloves are underrated.
• Danica Patrick, who announced yesterday that she will race on some Saturdays next year in the NASCAR series, is one of the most bitter girls I've ever seen --- and for no reason. Edit: Hey, NASCAR Bubba who chided me by saying, "NASCAR races on Sunday." Not the Nationwide series. I hate NASCAR and even I knew that.
• What Microsoft's Windows is to the Apple Computer, Google's new Android operating system for mobile phones will be to Apple's iPhone. The Android will explode over the next five years.
• As much as I like college football, I'm appalled at Congress' trying to meddle with the BCS.
• If you are familiar with "auto-tune" (which is the cause of the death of music) and you keep up with pop culture news, you'll love The Year In Auto-Tune.
• Have you seen the clip of the girl getting hit by a guy in tonight's episode of The Jersey Shore on MTV. Good grief.
• I'm headed to an office Christmas party of Saturday night. I like it because it's not my office party. But it'll drive me nuts if the owner stands up and talks about profits instead of the employees.
• Hot teachers have now moved on to each other.
• That cute little kid from Family Ties isn't so cute anymore.
• No offense to any Facebook friends, but I could not care less about how you are performing in "Mafia Wars."
• President Obama formally received the Nobel Peace Prize this morning. It makes me happy simply because it drives the right wing nuts.

Remember Those Clouds From Yesterday I Wrote About?

Some guy got some pictures of it in Fort Worth. (Thanks, Kevin.)

Evil Empire Must Be Printing Money

Link. Did he cure cancer or something when I wasn't paying attention?

I'm Working On My Christmas Cards

We've Got A Constitutional Crisis Going On!

So I'm up at the courthouse a second ago and noticed the above religious display. I casually mention to the employees of an unnamed county office that said nativity scene might "promote" a particular religion and, therefore, run afoul of the First Amendment. I was met with "Don't be a rabble rouser," "Why are you offended by the little Baby Jesus," "I think we ought to make Christianity the National Religion," and, finally (about 10 minutes later), "All those Muslims want to strap bombs to their chests and blow us up." There went my Christmas Spirit. (But one court employee did point out, in a remotely related subject, that you can buy a manager* at Tractor Supply." I'll be.) __________ *Edit: Ok. Ok. I meant "manger"

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• Had a lady who works up at the courthouse tell me that she paid $100 for a "Horse Psychic" to come and check out her horse over the weekend. Yep.
• TV "judge shows" beat me down very quickly. Formula: Have a wise cracking judge dress down a party in the case who has an attitude.
• There were the weirdest clouds late yesterday afternoon. Kind of like a long tube. Maybe it was a space worm hole.
• If you had 15 seconds to go back in time and tell your 15 year old self anything, what would it be? And would it be financial or relationship oriented?
• A Kay Bailey Hutchison commercial touts that she created a "National Amber Alert" which I think (1) is a dumb idea [Edit for the person that thought that was stupid: note the word "national"] and (2) I've never heard of one being issued.
• Decatur's AC's Beer Barn shut down? Their bikini car washes gone forever? Oh, my.
• The story of the SMU student being abducted off the street in front of friends is just weird. "Stranger on stranger" crime is really, really rare.
• My over-talkative dry cleaning lady has disappeared. I miss being asked personal questions and having her comment on my clothes.
• I know someone who'll go crazy over this: You can audition for Survivor this weekend. (Although I'm skeptical about it because it almost sounds like a car dealership in Fort Worth promises to forward the information to the show's producers as opposed to the show actually running the auditions.)
• I understand people that suffer from depression.
• There are lots of people that call me Mr. Barry by accident.
• They are about to start a four year massive traffic project at 114 and 121 in Grapevine. Be prepared not to go to Grapevine for four years.
• President Obama suggests a tax cut for businesses yesterday and Fox News bashes him for sounding like a Republican.
• Very Funny: A Jacksonville Jaguar cheerleader with an oversized golf club chasing a Tiger mascot wearing a red shirt at halftime. Picture.

Baby Mama Angry. Gets Lawyer.

I'll admit that I didn't know the following from the story: "Students cannot be excluded from activities based on pregnancy, according to federal law." Really? It's that cut and dry? (Hey, I stick to state criminal law for a reason.)

Tuesday Afternoon Pick Me Up

Carrie Underwood.

Mark Cuban Gets Thrown Through A Table

On some rasslin' show last night. I never have been able to stand the guy, but he's a born showman. And fake or not, I'm not getting thrown around by a fake wrestler months after having a hip replacement.

Me, Jarhead, Denny Crane .... Dancing?

What the heck?