6.03.2025

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts




And the fact that she would became a voice for the conservative movement is almost as shocking.


  • Oh, my. In Haltom City yesterday. No serious injuries.

  • A guy jumped off a bridge onto Central Expressway in Dallas yesterday during rush hour traffic.

  • Isn't the CIA supposed to be a secretive instution by its very nature?

  • When this acting head of FEMA made his first address to the agency, I knew he was a goofball.  He proved it again yesterday. (He has since said he was just joking.)


  • Chart of number of social media posts made by Trump: First term vs. Second term.


  • The Business Second™. I'm already convinced.

  • Legislature quick hits
    • Judges got a 25% raise yesterday, with base pay increasing to $175,000. Wise County rep. Andy Hopper voted against it. 

    • It was never enforceable anyway.

    • A long term conservative House rep from North Texas has retired.  He now has time to dedicate to his fifth marriage


    • Will he or won't he? All eyes are on Gov. Abbott to see if he will veto the All-THC-Is-Illegal bill.   I think he might do it. 


  • Talk about a lawyer not wanting to go to court. (Gift link.)

  • Legal stuff: If you are a law enforcement officer, an example of how not to act on the witness stand was on display yesterday in the Karen Read retrial. Video.
  • I told you last week that college softball is fantastic, and the OU/Tech game last night is Exhibit A. Down to their last strike, OU homered to tie it up (video) only for Tech to win it at their next at bat. They now face the Evil Empire in the finals in a best of three series. 

6.02.2025

Ransome Monday Morning Thoughts




That last line. 


  • This happened on Friday and I've seen references to it being in Wise County, but it was actually just over the Tarrant County line on FM 718.  I think I've got the house pinpointed at 12000 Melissa Cove. (There's some nice houses out there.)


  • Breaking: Finally captured in Kaufman County this morning.

     



  • A firebomb attack in Boulder, Colorado yesterday afternoon of supporters of the Israeli hostages, injuring eight, was insane. You've probably seen the video of him ranting post-attack. We've since learned that the attacker was in the country illegally, so you've got a perfect online storm brewing. 


    • Side note: Israel didn't let up on Gaza this weekend:


  • After Russia carried out 114 aerial attacks on Ukraine on Saturday with drones and missiles, killing at least 10 and injuring 33, Ukraine unleashed one of the greatest surprise attacks ever yesterday deep into Russia.  Zelensky did have some cards to play after all. 


    • Here's video of how the drones were launched from trucks parked around Russia.
    • I wouldn't expect this to go very well today: 

  • Remember the judge who was arrested for allegedly interfering with ICE agents? Video has been released (but it doesn't really change much.)


  • This insanity was barely a blip on the radar.

  • If you haven't seen this Senator's dismissive, "We are all going to die" statement, or her non-apology the next day (filmed in a cemetery), here ya go: Here and here.  Both are bizarre.

  • Elon Musk showed off a shiner in the Oval Office on Friday.

  • The former police chief in Arkansas is still on the run after his prison escape.  Side note: He had was already the subject of a documentary called "Devil in the Ozarks."

  • Texas legislature quick hits (today is the last day to pass anything):
    • Rep. Jeff Leach and Lt. Dan Patrick are at war with each other over this.

    • A rare defeat for tort reform: 

    • Cell phones in schools to be banned:

    • Seems big: Last might the House voted to ban all vaping by a vote of 96-35. I don't know if there is any more work to be done on it before it is sent to the governor.
  • An incredible story out of Waco: A death row inmate’s appeal has been limbo for 4 years as a McLennan County trial court hearing was never held. Neither the DA or the judge knew the case had been remanded in early 2021 by the Court of Criminal Appeals on a post conviction writ.
  • A crazy multi-vehicle crash in downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee yesterday afternoon. Video of aftermath.



5.30.2025

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







Random Friday Morning Thoughts




I was all over the Waco Twin Peaks case back then. 


  • Meant to post this yesterday. The Tarrant County DA's office says it no longer thinks it can prove its case. In reality. it was a case that the DA's predecessor actually indicted and one which the current DA would not have.  Video of the shooting had previously released by police.


  • Now that's a headline

  • Texas Monthly's Top 50 BBQ Joints included one in Decatur:

  • There was a bee invasion on the courthouse square in Decatur yesterday. Some bee wranglers had to be brought in. 
  • I'd love to tell you more about this case, but it really makes no sense why the judge allegedly threatened a defendant with a case pending in his JP court to take a totally separate felony plea bargain offer in the district court. 

  • Get ready for construction costs to skyrocket. (Video of raid.)


  • In a ridiculous long rant last night, Trump further attacked the judiciary saying he will no longer listen to the conservative Federalist Society on his federal judge selections.  He also went after Leonard Leo, the darling of conservatives everywhere, who has guided Trump on those picks. You might remember this rendition of Leo in a painting owned by Dallas' Harlan Crowe, who is also in the painting along with Justice Clarence Thomas.

  • He will always be with us.  (Side note: The New York Times this morning has an article on Elon's drug use during the Trump campaign. Gift link.)

  • The new Trump selection: A 29 year old guy who has made social media posts urging Trump to declare martial law to (steal) the election, has praised the Confederate flag, and made posts praising Laura Loomer and one of the Tate Brothers, 



  • You can certainly tell Sen. John Cornyn is running for re-election. 

  • College Softball World Series: I love it.   OU's walk off homerun, when down by 2 runs and with 2 outs in the final inning, was fantastic yesterday. Video.  They play Texas tomorrow at 2:00 p.m..  And Tech won. They play UCLA at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow.

  • Lauren Whitener Clock: 5 years and 332 days.