Bizarre Bridgeport Woman's Death

Per Messenger.

Messenger Above The Fold

Waitress Contest Taking You Into The Weekend

More.

Big Tex?

Full press release here.

(And from The Department Of Things That Bug Only Me: The DPS press release says this guy was wanted for a parole violation and "larceny".  I don't think Texas law has used the term "larceny" since 1974. Now everything is grouped in the Theft statute at 31.01 of the Penal Code. DPS needs update those books down there.)

The Case That Keeps On Twisting

His lawyers want their client's bond revoked? That makes no sense.  I suppose that if the lawyer made his bond and he wasn't paid for the service as promised, he could pursue that avenue --- but he would be crazy to do it. Work the issue out with Zimmerman. Don't do something stupid like having him thrown  in jail which will only cause the nation's ethical spotlight to be turned on you.

And if the lawyer didn't make his bond, that tweet from the AP completely confuses me.

 (Haven't seen the full story on this yet.)

Edit (graphically):

We've Had A Rare Death Sentence For A Woman In Texas

Story.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• David Dewhurst calling press conference to announce the endorsement of Craig James, who got 4% of the vote, is comical. There is no question that many, many people in Lubbock who would have otherwise stayed home on election day will now go to the polls to vote against Dewhurst. Seriously, that stunt will have a negative net effect.
• The little girl that was allegedly accidentally shot by her father in a home by Alliance Airport will cause questions to be asked.  
• I hate the new Half Marathon route for the Dallas (not White Rock) Marathon. The run through high-tone Uptown and Highland Park -- my favorite part -- has been abandoned.
• Pete Delkus said that today will be the most beautiful day for the rest of the summer based upon the low humidity, sun, mild temperatures and winds. I think he is right.
• Lil Wayne tried to go to the Spurs/Thunder game last night but was turned away because . . . he didn't have a ticket. Refreshing. 
• I say, "Oh, my body" a lot these days. 
• For all those attending high school graduation ceremonies: Try not to let the fact that the knuckleheads sitting by your son or daughter are also graduating diminish your excitement. 
• Unemployment rose to 8.2% this morning. Fox News is almost giddy.
• The Messenger seems obsessed with the Ennis man's child porn case. 
• Odd: The Family Unit has the College Softball World Series bracket on our refrigerator and we've all chosen a team. I might be responsible for that odd behavior.
• Get your Purple Drank on!: Honey Boo Boo from Toddlers and Tiaras is getting her own reality show.
• Someone explain this Marriott/Gaylord Texan deal to me. Marriott paid millions for the right to manage the hotels?  I guess now they'll get paid to manage it and maybe take a small portion of the profits?
• The Vanderbilt football coach is in hot water for saying he won't hire an assistant coach until he sees their wife. 
• Some people won't read Random Thoughts until they look at the RTG. 

Sounds A Little Crazy

I saw a couple of tweets from news sources that said he had been found guilty on a count and then the judge sent the jury back to deliberate on the remaining charges. Within the hour, there was a not guilty verdict on one count and a mistrial on all the others due to a hung jury.

And there's a huge difference between being a bad guy and a criminal.  And, yeah, he's a bad guy. One of the best articles I read almost a year ago on why he might be acquitted is here. It explains a lot.

And Another - New York

This one's a school librarian who got arrested in a sting operation yesterday. It's a year for the ages.

Yet Another Chapter In The Downfall Of America

Yahoo – A California pitcher finished his team’s last regular-season home game with 20 strikeouts … and was only kept from a shot at a complete-strikeout game because he was removed with one out remaining. Ryan Olson, the budding star in question, is a junior hurler for Upland (Calif.) Western Christian School. He’s the newest name in the school’s arsenal of strong pitching, with his final home outing of the regular season — a 6-0 victory against Murietta (Calif.) Calvary Murrieta School — proof of his dominance. Olson completely dominated the Calvary Murrieta hitters, striking out 20 batters in 6 2/3 innings. Yet, Olson’s dominance wasn’t enough to earn him a complete game, for what many might consider a rather noble reason: He was removed to make way for a senior pitcher because the home finale also served as Western Christian’s senior day.


As most of you know, I have one year's experience coaching a bad pre-teen girl's softball team so I'm imminently qualified to fire off a hot sports opinion here.


Noble reason? You've got to be kidding me. Look, this kid is not only about to throw a perfect game but a perfect game composed of all strike-outs. And the coach is going to break that up so a senior can come in and pitch on Senior Day? Who gives a flying flip about Senior Day? It's May. Every day is Senior Day for those slackers. And if you want to do Mr.-Put-Me-In-The-Game-Because-I-Managed-Not-To-Flunk-Out a favor, tell him, "If you don't get your act in gear you'll spend the rest of your life on the bench watching others do great things. And you're watching something really great right now." Then I'd slap him up side the head and watch little Nolan Ryan on the mound mow down # 21.  


Then I'd call the local paper and tell them how I taught that pitcher everything he knows. Might even get my picture taken.  That's what makes America great.

And Another (From NY Post Yesterday)

It's not even June but we might as well hand the trophy to 2012. (Story.)

T. Boone Wins The Internet

(For those still unfamiliar with Twitter, Rapper Drake sends out the tweet of "The first million is the hardest. T. Boone then "retweets" it (the "RT") and adds his comment. Both have confirmed accounts.)

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• There are a lot of awards given out to kids in school. 
• Did you know there is a soccer match between Mexico and Brazil at Cowboys Stadium this weekend. And it is sold out. I wonder what percentage will be Hispanic. Over 90%? Is that too low?
• Wrong way driver in Mesquite last night kills five including three children..
• After being down 16-0 after three innings last night, it's a miracle the Rangers only gave up 21.
• Tony Romo threw out the first pitch to that debacle.
• I wonder if the John Edwards jury is doing a bit. They enter day nine of deliberations.
• WBAP's Hal Jay said one of his favorite songs is Sting's "Fields Of Gold." I'll be. Mine too.
• Everyone is dogging Kathie Lee Gifford for not doing her homework when she asked Martin Short about his wife (not knowing she was deceased), but Short's answer certainly gave the impression she was alive. It sounds like, "We've  uh have married 36 years."  He was trying to be gracious but it added to the confusion. An answer of "We were married 36 years" would have ended that line of questioning. 
• Heard on the radio: At what age does a guy no longer go over to someone else's house just to "hang out"? It better be at a pretty young age. 
• A guy can kill five in a Seattle cafe and it's not the lead story on the news. Even when the story is accompanied by a clear picture of him walking into the establishment.
• I think Wordkyle questioned me yesterday about calling the Tea Party an "organization." Am I off base?
• What if there were two Libertarians who wanted to run for the same office in the same location. Would the state have to go through the expense of putting on a separate primary to decide who goes on the ballot in the Fall?
• The economy is still stagnant but I'll continue to bet on Obama for this Fall's election.  But there's a lot of things that can happen.
• There's been no announcement about Jane McGarry's future but she's changed her Facebook page to remove any photos showing her in the KXAS studios. Omen?
• Mrs. LL always talks about moving to Costa Rica. I wonder what it would be like to really do that. 
• The more I hear about the movie Bernie (I mentioned it a couple of weeks back), the more I want to see it. One of the big enticements is that it is directed by Texan Richard Linklater whose career got rolling with Dazed and Confused.
• Those constables in the Valley look like wrestlers.

Second Wise County Teen In A Week

Link.

I Created This Weather Graphic While I Was In The Liberally Lean Storm Center

Does This Look Like A Snake Handling Preacher Who Died Of A Snake Bite 30 Years After His Daddy Died The Same Way?

Why, yes, it does.

Hey, I don't care how someone worships. I suppose this guy would think that bringing in some electric guitars and singing a U2 song is a strange way to worship, too.  And to a certain extent, handling snakes as a way to show your faith makes a little bit of sense. At least he backs it up. What God shorted him on brains he sure replaced it with faith.  But if I were him, I would have gone with some kind of rat snake and innocently not mentioned that to the congregation. Then again, the concept of lying to a congregation about showing faith is a theological dilemma that I just can't handle on a Wednesday.

Side note: This story reminded me of our impromptu worship service on the courthouse square almost three years ago to the day.

A Final Farewell To The Dismissed Senate Candidates

How did Tom Leppert lose when he campaigned in that shirt? 

Small print says

Column 1: # of Hookers James Supposedly Did Not Kill [at SMU]           

Columns 2: % of Vote James Received in GOP Primary

Image sources: Frontburner

Those Propositions On The Republican Ballot aka Let Me Ask You A Loaded Question

You can always word a question to get the answer you desire, but that wouldn't happen on an official ballot, would it?  Let's check out the propositions on yesterday's ballot. (I'm sure there's an explanation of how these came to be, but I'm flying blind here.)


SCHOOL CHOICE:
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child instead of the bureaucracy, through a program which allows parents the freedom to choose their child's school, public or private, while also saving significant taxpayer dollars. Yes or No.

That was certainly  fairly worded. Are you in favor of educating a child by saving tax dollars or throwing money at a "bureaucracy"? I'll have to study that one.

REPEALING OBAMACARE:

Congress should immediately repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (otherwise known as Obamacare) and reject the rationing of healthcare by government or the intrusion by government into the doctor-patient relationship. Yes or No.

Let's see. Will your average Texas Republican want to repeal "Obamacare" (let's be sure to call it that) or do they want government "intrusion" between you and your doctor. I can't imagine how this one would turn out. 

PUBLIC PRAYER

Government should be prohibited from restricting the content of public prayer. Yes or No.

I didn't know this was a problem. Restricting "the content" of public prayer? Seriously? We have battles over when prayer can occur in government settings, but I'm not sure I know of an instance where the words of a prayer were regulated.

BALANCED BUDGET / COMBINING GOVERNMENT GROWTH
Out of control spending should be stopped at all levels of federal and state government through constitutional amendments limiting any increase in government spending to the combined increase of population and inflation without voter approval.  Yes or No.

You had me at "out of control spending." 

REDISTRICTING
The Texas Legislature should redraw the court-imposed lines for Congress and State legislative districts in its upcoming session in order to remedy inequities. YES or NO


There was actually a guy in my voting line who was asking about this. I know that the new lines (required after the census) were challenged by minority groups as being unfair and the courts eventually made them be redrawn. So this question tells the voter that  "court-imposed lines" are unfair. Who wouldn't want to remedy an "inequity"?