Satan and Domestic Violence

So it rains while the sun is still shining - what do you call such an event? I grew up saying that it meant "the devil is beating his wife". A very odd phrase, but I heard it alot. I wonder if that phrase is still used?

I Didn't Understand This

While reading the Sports Page in the Star Telegram today, I came across the following sentence (page 7D) about Oklahoma runningback Adrian Peterson: "Most impressive has been Peterson's average time of 43 seconds in the 300-yard run [four 60s with a 90-second rest in between]. That's an exact quote, including the brackets. What does that mean? I could see an average time of 43 seconds for four 300 yard dashes with a rest period, but the quote says "four 60s". I thought about too long, and I still have no idea.

You Had To Think The World Was Collapsing

Today is the sixty year anniversary of the dropping the first atomic bomb on Japan near the very end of World War II. That got me thinking. Between 1941 and 1945, the U.S. had to deal with Pearl Harbor, the Invasion of Normandy, the Holocaust, and the dropping of two atomic bombs. That had to be a scary time to be alive.

I Didn't Know That

Did you know the Space Shuttle is basically powerless upon reentry- acting as a glider when it lands? It does not have the capability to abort a landing and circle back to try it a second time.

I'm Insane Now

OK, I rarely get a chance to watch Channel 5 News at 6:00 p.m. But I I've seen it enough to be driven crazy by the banter of the news team. Tonight, they end the broadcast with a quick piece about how Big Tex at the State Fair will have a new outfit. Part of the video showed Big Tex's huge hand on the ground as work crews put a new outfit on the State Fair icon. So they cut back to the studio for the final good-bye and Mike Synder, who had just seen Big Tex's hand on the ground, said "Give that man a hand". I groaned. Then every other person on my TV screen, the co-anchor, weatherman, and sports guy, erupted into fake laughter. I'm Insane Now.

Of Course, Betting Is Illegal But . . .

The lines on the first week of college football have been released and .... Oklahoma is a 27 point favorite over TCU (could be more) A&M and Clemson is "pick em" (interesting game) Baylor is favored over SMU by 4 1/2 (It's been a long time since the 1980s) Texas is expected to beat UL Lafayette by 38 (hide the women and children) and LSU is a 32 1/2 point favorite over North Texas (and North Texas will take the beating for the payday)

News

ABC News reported at 1:30 p.m. that a Southwest Airlines jet made an unplanned stop at Houston after a note was found claiming there was a bomb on the plane. Edit: No big deal after all (unless you were one of the ones on the plane).

A Baptist Is Worth $10 More Than a Methodist

Texas A&M has variable prices for single-game football tickets. Here is what the Aggies think of their rivals: SMU $50 Texas State $45 Baylor $60 Oklahoma State $75 Iowa State $60 Texas $85

You Expect Bad Food and Long Waits But.....

"BOSTON (Reuters) - A business executive was sentenced on Thursday to seven years in prison for sexually assaulting a sleeping woman seated next to him on a Delta Air Lines flight from Dallas to Boston. "

I Think Some School Could Have Used The Money

"DALLAS - The Dallas Police Department has been awarded one of the largest grants ever given by the W.W. Caruth Jr. Foundation Fund of Communities Foundation of Texas. The three-year, $15 million grant is expected to fill a funding gap that has contributed to Dallas' high crime rate, city officials said." The total budget of the Dallas Police Department is approximately $300 million. They blow through that $15 million in a hurry.

ICE?

Have you heard the new trend? Enter a number of an emergency contact in your cell phone and assign the name of "ICE" to it - meaning "In Case Of Emergency". That way, if you ever find yourself in a very bad way (i.e. in an accident and can't speak), someone can look at your cell phone and call someone who needs to know that things aren't going real well for you. I'm the ultimate skeptic, but that's not a bad idea.

A Subway Being Installed In Downtown Decatur?

That'll Make For A Nice Afternoon

Looking at this weekend's sports schedule (which includes an NFL preaseaon game from Japan that begins at 4:00 a.m. on Saturday morning), I noted that the Texas Rangers will face the Baltimore Orioles at home. Game time Saturday? 3:05 p.m. On Sunday? 1:05 p.m. This is August, isn't it?

Dark

Oh, by the way . . .

We have 27 dead Americans in Iraq and that is this week's death toll alone.

Those Funny Lawyers

There's a great story today in the Star Telegram of how someone is poking fun of prosecutor Mollee Westfall (who seems to be considering a run for a district judgeship in Tarrant County). She comes to Wise County to fill in as a special prosecutor every now and then. And although she's good, she doesn't have much of a sense of humor. I spent many a time dealing with her, cracking a joke, and then listening to the crickets in the background as she simply stared at me.

I Am Never Eating Chicken Again

"This picture released by PETA shows their latest ad calling to boycott American fast-food giant KFC over what they allege is the mistreatment of chickens. The ad features Australian glamour model Sarah Jane posing nude while holding a newborn chick, alongside the tagline 'Chicks Agree: Please Boycott KFC'(AFP/PETA-HO)"

"I told you to get back in there and get me a baby, HI"

Holly Hunter, 47, is pregnant for the first time. And she is expecting twins. It may not be as important as starring in Raising Arizona, but it's close.

But His Job Is So Important To Mankind

Free-agent hockey player Mike Modano has rejected the Dallas Stars' five-year, $17.75 million contract offer. Maybe one too many pucks have hit him in the head.

Hey, Don't Headbutt me in the Stomach

"The New York Liberty's Becky Hammon, in front, guards the Connecticut Sun's 7-foot-two-inch center Margo Dydek, of Poland, during the second half of their WNBA game at Madison Square Garden in New York Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2005. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)"

Ouch

Just Don't Buy Keds

I saw today that Adidas is buying Reebok for $3.8 billion dollars. That reminded me of high school. Back then, one of the coolest tennis shoes you could have were all leather Adidas Rod Laver's. They were priced at an insanely high $39.95. We also all believed it was just a matter of time until Nike would kill off Adidas.

That Went Down Hill Fast

From the Update: "CLUB CLOSED — The Club at Runaway Bay was shut down yesterday by the Wise County Sheriff’s Office after owner Rick Mai was served with a lawsuit claiming he is five months behind on payments for the business. Mai has 10 days to pay a $1 million bond to retain ownership of The Club. In that time, the business will remain the property of the Wise County Sheriff’s Office and will remain closed. " All afternoon shift deputies are to report to the Back Nine.

Leaving The Army Has Treated You Well

Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch, who was rescued in a crazy scene in Iraq about a year or so ago, is looking much better. She is entering college this fall.

That Looks Familiar.....HEY!!!!

"A Wise County woman on her way home comes across thieves pulling her trailer down the road and eventually recovers her own stolen property. "Debbie Singleton says she passed a black Nissan pickup truck that was pulling her Wells Cargo trailer that had been parked at her Cuba Road residence. Singleton called the Sheriff’s Office and continued to follow the vehicle until a Runaway Bay Police Officer stopped it. Three occupants in the pickup were placed under arrest for theft, 18 year old Lauro Delarosa, 21 year old Miguel Tovar and 21 year old Ditter Delgado. All three live in the Bridgeport area. Other stolen property was recovered from the trailer." Source: Country News

And To Think He Can't Shoot Free Throws Very Well

"MIAMI (AP) -- Shaquille O'Neal and the Miami Heat agreed Tuesday on a $100 million, five-year contract, one that presumably will keep the 12-time All-Star center playing past his 38th birthday. "

Time Waster

To see the worst sports broadcast in the history of the world, check out college freshman Brian Collins struggle during this four minute clip. Perhaps the funniest part is, despite his struggling, he throws down a "boom goes the dynamite" comment (his signature line?) during his narraration of an NBA film clip. Great stuff.

I Want My Babyback Beer

From the Update: "DECATUR PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION meets tonight to consider a special use permit for a private club license for Chili’s restaurant which will open later this month. The meeting is at 6 p.m. at city hall." For years, wasn't it the belief that Chili's would never come to Decatur unless it could sell alcohol? But now, and only now, after they have essentially completed the new restaurant, they seek an alcohol license? Any chance of that being rejected? Don't bet your bloomin' onion on it.

The Privates Will Be The Downfall of Society

It's a crazy world for criminal justice. Currently, there is a sensational case going on in Tarrant County involving Dawn Reiser who is accused of having sex with an underage male student at a private school. I noted that one of the prosecutors is Mitch Poe who was my misdemeanor court partner over 15 years ago. I also saw that the friends of Ms. Reiser have created a web site in her defense. That didn't happen 15 years ago. But then again, 15 years ago you didn't have a news site that had copies of the arrest warrant and search warrant (or took glee in publishing a picture of her running from jail after being released from jail).

Buy High, Sell Low.....or is it the other way?

In today's Morning News - in the Business Section - there is this question from a reader regarding personal finance in the "Ask The Motley Fool" area. It read: "I'm in an investment club. We own 13 stocks. How do we find out when each company's earnings reports are due? - Theresa Coursey, Santa Rosa, California". I know nothing about stocks. I don't know the significance of a Price/Earnings Ratio. I invested in WorldCom and Enron for crying out loud. But I do know this: If Theresa's investment club can't figure out when a company's earning's report is due (hint: Go to google.com and type in the company's name and "earnings report"), that club doesn't need to be investing in stocks.

It Was Almost Like Mayberry

You know what I miss? I miss that portion of the Update that met an untimely death due to privacy laws. Remember it? It was the "Admitted To Hospital" section. Without even waiting for a prayer chain to contact us, we were able to learn who was suffering from some ailment or injury. Now were just limited to deaths. That's depressing.

But The Football Team Is Supposed to be Good!

The TAKS results were released today. To find your school, check here: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/2005/districtlist.srch.html If I'm reading that correctly, Bridgeport High School was ranked as "Unacceptable". Well that's just...just....unacceptable

The Average ...

...lifespan of a cricket is 8 weeks. Unfortunately, they all seem to be born every year in August.

Oops

Last year professional baseball player Raphael Palmeiro's made the following statement before Congress: "Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. My name is Rafael Palmeiro and I am a professional baseball player. I'll be brief in my remarks today. Let me start by telling you this: I have never used steroids. Period. I don't know how to say it any more clearly than that. Never. The reference to me in Mr. Canseco's book is absolutely false. " Today he was suspended 10 days for violating the drug policy of Major League Baseball. I wonder what drug that was?

OMG, They Killed .....

There's hardly any TV show that I always try to watch. HBO's very weird, very odd, and always shocking Six Feet Under is an exception. For fans of the show, it came as a shock last night when they killed off lead character Nate. (But I guess that's what he gets for telling his pregnant wife that he's leaving her). But I then reminded myself its only a TV show. A very good TV show.

It Seemed Appropriate

I attended a memorial service the other day, and the following quote was printed in the program: To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Yahooty

"SUNNYVALE, Calif. - ABC News and CNN.com plan to start providing video news feeds to Yahoo Inc. news site, the companies have announced. CNN.com will offer daily video clips and ABC will offer on-demand video content, Yahoo officials said in a statement late Sunday. Video will be available for free to Yahoo users and supported by advertising." Slowly but surely, video is becoming more common place on the Internet. And Yahoo, which seems to be one of the few web sites that understands that clutter = bad, is the perfect company to provide it.

Back When You'd Pay $100 For a Biscuit

"NEW YORK - The company started by the late nutrition guru Dr. Robert C. Atkins to promote a low-carb lifestyle has filed for bankruptcy court protection, a further sign of the waning popularity of the diet. " I always thought the diet was a little wacky, but I never dreamed those in charge would squander krillions of dollars.

Maybe If Maverick Had Been The Pilot . . .

I think I'm pretty good about judging public opinion. But maybe I'm not. Take for example the movie Stealth which debuted this weekend. It's not exactly something I'm going to go see, but I would expect that the public would eat it up. It's big budget (cost over $100 million), it has a ton of special effects, it stars academy award winning Jamie Foxx, and has a huge advertising budget. So what does it do on opening weekend? It finishes fourth with an intake of $13.5 million. That has "bomb" written all over it.

It's Been That Long Ago?

It's been 20 years since a Delta plane crashed at DFW killing 137 people. I remember where I was when I heard the news (on I-35 in Fort Worth after driving back from Waco) . I was listening to Brad Sham's "Sports Central" on KRLD and it was amazing how long it took the news department to boot him off the air to cover the tragedy. I still think about the man who was killed by the plane - but he was not a passenger. He was driving on highway 114 very close to where the Marriott Hotel is when a portion of the falling plane killed him. Talk about fate. I learned this about him today from the Morning News: "William Mayberry died on his 28th birthday. He had arrived in the Dallas area six days before, looking for a better-paying job and a better life for his family. His wife and children, back in Vicksburg, Miss., planned to join him the following week."

And Most Kids Can't Commit to Dinner

The Morning News printed a list of "early commitments" for high school football players naming their school of choice for 2006. The University of Texas has 22 kids agreeing to play football for them while Tech has 11 and Baylor has, ugh, 4. TCU has only three but one of them was Colin Jones of Bridgeport.