Above The Fold

Shaq Meets Gov. Christi

"Feel my power."
"No. You feel my power."
"No. My power."
"No! My power."

Pics Of Big Press Conference Today AT WCSO

I heard some national heavy hitters were there, but I don't have any names yet.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• That "shootout" yesterday turned out to be quite the national news story. And it'll probably have a little more legs today when Colorado officials fly into Decatur and another press conference is held. 
• The story was on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams last night but some how did not ever reference "Decatur" or "Wise County". 
• I knew the suspect had shot the Director of Corrections and a pizza guy in Colorado but I had to learn this from The Ticket this morning: He killed the delivery guy so as to use the pizza and vest/jacket to pose as a delivery guy when he knocked on the Director of Correction's door. 
• Sheriff David Walker does a good job on TV. So many country sheriff's come off as hicks, but we don't have that issue. 
• The spillway is open at Lake Bridgeport dumping water into Lake Worth when our lake is already over fifteen foot low.
• The President visits Bethlehem today. 
• I was walking up to the courthouse yesterday and tried to get out the intersection quickly because a car was coming. I might possibly have done a slight one-time "skip" move as I hurried along. As I got to the courthouse, a buddy was standing there who said, "Why don't you just go ahead and do a full skip across the street next time?"
• While you were sleeping: Three marines dead at Quantico.
• I made a horrible mistake during jury selection yesterday that the prosecutor graciously allowed me to correct. I think he was afraid I was going to die of a heart attack. More later. 
• Everyone talked about LeBron dunking on Jason Terry (meaning Terry got "posterized") earlier this week which gave rise to this question I heard on the radio: Do they still make actual posters? And, man, that was some beautiful passing before it happened.
• Your phone charges faster in airplane mode? I guess that makes sense. 
• A couple of Wise County troopers and a deputy on the cover The Denver Post.

Decatur Shootout Suspect Identified

And he was (past tense only because he's dead) a White Supremacist.

The WCSO Car Hit By Gunfire This Morning

Press release is below. But an update: The suspect has now died.

WOW

Story. We've got us a national story here, people.

I'm In Trial And This Is An Automated Post

But rest assured, I'm ending every cross-examination with, "Kapooyah!"

Man Down!

Messenger Update. Cops firing bullets.

Edit: Wow. This began as a deputy shooting on 287 in Montague County.

Edit: Reader photos:

Edit: Chase back up on 287 southbound:

Cat Crisis At The Courthouse

Edit: Attempted cat rescue! But the cat jumped to a different balcony.

Last Chance To Sign Up For Liberally Lean Tourney

Sign up here. Games start later this morning and then the sign ups end.

And Clint Phillips brought by this edition of the August 1, 1990 edition of the Dallas Morning News that the second place winner can claim. Fairly cool. I looked up Ryan's line: 7 2/3 innings and 146 pitches.

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• I don't think I've ever used the word "myopic".
• It's been a long time since the shooting of the Kaufman County ADA with no apparent leads. That might have been a professional hit. A very well done professional hit.
• The Highland Park Romo kid who was no-billed in the date rape case is now suing his accuser. That sounds Angry Parent Motivated.  But Fox 4 reporting that they have already spent "several hundred of thousands of dollars in legal fees" seems next to impossible -- unless they are the victim of a legal robbery.
• The Heat were down 27 last night in the third quarter and came back to keep a streak alive that even I care about. Not enough to watch it, but enough to be interested. 
• I didn't listen to much of Jasmine on 105.3 The Fan, but her contract was not renewed yesterday. Radio is a dog eat dog business.
• A long article in D Magazine about Chris Kyle which begins and ends with the mysterious story of him killing two guys during an attempted car jacking at a gas station in Texas -- a story which can't be verified. After reviewing his life, the writer basically concludes that it might be false but we all need to believe in legends.
• We had a modified "And Another" out of Colleyville except both the accused and the alleged victim are both males. And the accused looks like a kid himself. 
• I had to get my laptop repaired because it wouldn't charge. Charger was fine. Battery was fine. But some connection where you plug it in had to be soldered (I think that's the right word) back on to the motherboard. 
• What a bizarre story out of Maypearl: Two teenagers try to burglarize a home but flee when the home owner opens fire. They then kill themselves.
• I may be out of pocket today since I should be in a DWI trial. 
• Did you know that Reagan and Bush #1 never visited Israel during their presidencies?

Late Afternoon Pick Me Up

The Alabama quarterback's girlfriend on Splash last night.

Viral Video Of The Day

The guy was doing good at first but finally caved. Man needs some Scene Control.

Man Interrupts Mayor's Speech

That was some serious style. Just interrupting the speech like he owns the place. And you know what the funny thing is? I'm dying to know what he was going to say. As Mia said to Vincent in Pulp Fiction, "Oooohhhh, this doesn't sound like the usual mindless, boring, getting-to-know you chit-chat. This sounds like you actually have something to say."

P.S. How cool is it to be named "Sly"? Sly Green. I like the way that sounds.

Above The Fold

Liberally Lean Tourney: "Fifty Big Ones To The Winner"

It's about 24 hours until the deadline to register for the Liberally Lean Pick 'Em Tourney of 2013.  I've decided to go with a $50 gift card (Visa/Mastercard) for the winner. I doubt if there will be a tie, but, if so, we'll use Yahoos!'s tie-breaking system. In the one in a krillion chance there is a tie even after the tie-breakers, the $50 prize will be split.

Sign up here.

Man, there are some funny bracket names you guys throw out there.

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• AI guy in a self check out line in Walmart yesterday was telling people behind him, "I might be a while. I've got a lot of pennies." He then methodically stood there paying in pennies like it was a slot machine. Shouldn't you cash those pennies in first before going through the check out line?
• The Texas Senate voted for term limits (two of them) yesterday. The most vocal opponent was Wise County's own State Senator Craig Estes. Maybe he needs more than two terms to find Wise County.
• The legislature is also considering allowing government entities to post required public notices online instead of having to buy space in local newspapers. Local newspapers are not impressed with this idea. 
• The Family Pup #2 (the Yorkie saved from death row) is a little bit more rambunctious than The Family Pup. He'll hound you to play fetch all day long and has this weird ability to jump onto window sills that are over two foot off the ground.
• And Mrs. LL, I promise when I look around and see the chaos of you, the kids, the dogs, and the cat, I don't say to myself, "What have I gotten myself into?" Promise. Double promise. 
• Whatever happened to the metroplex cop who was involved in a high speed chase and then shot the unarmed fleeing man a krillion times? 
• The President is in Israel today? I thought you guys told me he didn't care about that country.
• After my Vicksburg trip, I've gone back and watched some of Ken Burn's "The Civil War" documentary online. I was stunned to see it first aired in 1990. 
• I wrote over Thanksgiving that everyone should read the two part series in Texas Monthly about the falsely accused Michael Morton who was falsely imprisoned for killing his wife until DNA led to someone else. That "someone else" is now on trial for Morton's wife's murder and Morton took the stand yesterday. He is, after all, a witness as to the last time he saw his wife alive. 
• I missed George Mason Robert Morris beating Kentucky in the NIT yesterday. The game had to be played in the 3,000 seat home arena of George Mason Robert Morris because Kentucky had a scheduling conflict. Kentucky averaged 12,000 at home per game. Edit: Huge error. Kentucky averaged 23,099 per game.