A Head's Up....

...for those that care. "The Blog" may be a little slow this weekend. (Fun will interfere with it a bit). And a second note about the "Comments". So far I've left it as a public forum where people can post anonymously. So far. So good. Some of the comments make me a little uncomfortable (not about me - I've got a thick skin after all these years) but nothing objectionable has been posted so far. (OK, one person did drop an "S Bomb" that I deleted). Bottom line: Play fair. Have fun. - Barry P.S. I promise to post a very funny story that happened to me last weekend - it involves waking up to strangers inside my house. Good stuff.

Let's Rethink That Strategy

The first lawsuit over the pain killer Vioxx came to an end this afternoon in the Plaintiff friendly confines of South Texas. A jury awarded the family of Robert Keene (not that Robert Earl Keene) over $250 million in finding that the drug caused his death by a heart attack. There are over 4,000 of such lawsuits pending. Up until now, Merck & Co., the maker of the drug, claimed it would fight every claim "one by one" all the way to a jury.

"Nothing Comes Between Me And My Calvins" Was A Long Time Ago

"A photo provided by Nike Inc. show's an ad featuring a woman's buttocks. It's no longer just rail-thin models who are showing up in fashion magazines and on billboards. Large women, or what are being called 'real people,' are now gracing ads of companies selling everything from tuna to cellulite cream. Nike Inc., the world's largest maker of athletic shoes, has jumped onto the bandwagon with a campaign featuring close-ups of 'Big Butts' and 'Thunder Thighs.' (AP Photo/HO) " The text of the ad, as well as other ads in this series, can be read here.

Now Someone Is Thinking Outside Of The Box

I have finally determined how my post death ceremony should be properly conducted.

More Methamphetamine News

Anyone remember Damon Chapman? He was the guy that was convicted last year be a Wise County Jury and sentenced to 40 years in prison. He also made news shortly thereafter when he allegedly tried to escape from the Wise County Jail and was captured in a nearby residential subdivision. Well, the Fort Worth Court of Appeals has reversed his conviction. (The opinion is here butI suspect you'll get bored with it very quickly).

Worth A Giggle

While waiting to see a young lady wrongly incarcerated at the Jack County Jail this morning, I had a chance to study a very informative poster about drugs. You know, the name of the drug, it's common slang name, effects, dangers, etc. For example, the slang for methamphetamine was listed as "speed, ice, crank, crystal meth." I was kind of surprised to see the "alcohol" was listed under the depressant section. But then I learned the slang terms for alcohol: "Broosky, Hooch, Mad Dog, Booze, Juice".

Priorities

It looks like there is big news from the Domestic Violence Task Force (see Update). Of course the big question is: How does the effect Casino Night?

It Was A Yawner But I Did Learn Something

Oakland Raider wide receiver/bad boy Randy Moss admitted to Bryant Gumbel, for the upcoming episode of HBO's Real Sports, that he still uses marijuana "every blue moon or every once in a while I might.'' Yawn. Moss' agent, Dante DiTrapano said, "In an attempt to promote their dying network, they have maliciously couched his remarks in a manner that is confusing and leaves room for negative interpretation.''

Tired Head

There seems to be a growing hysteria in the national media regarding the use of methamphetamine. But haven't we seen it all before? I'm sure (but I have no proof) that the cover of Newsweek was dedicated to LSD in the 70s, Ecstasy in the 80s, and Cocaine in the 90s. Heck, marijuana was probably on the cover in the 60s. And the story is always the same. The current drug of fear will destroy us, we need more prisons to stop it, but some how, some way, mankind survives into the next decade when some new drug will grace the cover of the weekly magazines.

Makes You Go "Hmmmm"

The Dallas Morning News ran a series of articles over the last couple of weeks on the spending excess of the residents of Collin County (Plano, Rockwall, McKinney). It basically wrote of residents that make a ton of money (over $150,000) but are up to their arse in debt because they can't resist buying their teenage son a BMW, joining country clubs, and buying houses ("McMansions") they can't afford. But then came this Letter to the Editor today which ended with: "The excess you describe occurs everywhere . . . . If you wrote a series that stereotyped South Dallas as a neighborhood where everyone steals cars. takes drugs and has illegitimate children, you'd have John Wiley Price . . . calling you unfair and racist. Why is it OK to stereotype any other place?"

Officer Lance Armstrong Would Be Different

Channel 8 news tonights had a piece on the Carrollton PD using bicycles. I have never understood that. It would be hot. An officer could not respond to an emergency call very quickly. And they couldn't possibly make a traffic stop. Hey, wasnt' Decatur PD using bikes a couple of years ago? I haven't seen one lately.

Last Man Standing

Only one NFL rookie remains unsigned and continues to hold out: Cedric Benson of the University of Texas.

Hey, That's Close To What I Did In The NBA Last Year

The Mavericks are close to signing 7-foot DeSagana Diop, 23, who was the eighth overall pick in the 2001 draft and played four seasons in Cleveland. Diop's best season came in 2003-04, when he averaged 2.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and .91 blocks a game.

You Would Hope Your Tax Dollar Would Have Covered This

"PARADISE FOOTBALL — The Paradise High School football team will host a towel/soap scrimmage today. All fans should bring a towel and a bar of soap as admission to the scrimmage that will be donated to the athletic department."

The Daily Show Is Very Funny

"Justice Sunday" was last weekend - I'm not exactly sure what it's all about, but I think it is the Christian Right's attempt to lobby for conservative judges in the American courts. Speaking at the rally was Phyliss Schlafly who said, "The biggest threat facing America today is our out of control judges". As Jon Stewart said tonight on The Daily Show (after a very long smirk and a very long pause): "Especially Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Osama Bin Laden".

Sans Originality

There are a ton of TV commercials these days for some very lame looking movie called "The 40 Year Old Virgin". The film clip advertising the movie normally shows this hairy guy getting some type of body wax that involves the following formula: (1) see hairy guy (2) see tape placed over hair (3) see guy look scared (4) see tape rip away hair, and (5) see guy scream. That bit might not be funny because it been used a hundred times before in other sitcoms and movies.

Stephen King's Mind Isn't This Nutty

My vote for the craziest man ever.

Just When I Was Having A Good Week

State Representative Phil King of Weatherford says he will seek re-election to another term in the Texas Legislature. King made the announcement Tuesday. The 3 term lawmaker says he feels he is making a difference in Austin and wants to ask the voters of Parker and Wise Counties for another opportunity to serve.

Texas / OU

"The Texas-Oklahoma football game is as much a part of the State Fair of Texas as corny dogs and Big Tex. There is a very real chance, however, that Texas and OU could be playing their last game at the Cotton Bowl in 2007 before taking their Red River rivalry back to the campuses. " - The Dallas Morning News I think there is a significant chance the game may go back to Austin and Norman. First and foremost, I believe UT thinks that they could have beaten OU over the last five years - at least a couple of times - if they could have only played the game at home instead of a neutral site. Their desire to win trumps any loyality to the Cotton Bowl. (I'm not sure I blame them). But don't rule out the game being moved to the new Cowboy's stadium in Arlington.

I Always Thought Those Guy Were Odd

A former actor who portrayed one of the Power Rangers, 26-year-old Skylar Deleon, has been ordered to stand trial for the alleged murder of "a wealthy California couple who, prosecutors say, were tied to the anchor of their yacht and thrown overboard alive, never to be seen again."

It Doesn't Seem To Make The News Much Anymore

Forty-three were killed in Iraq yesterday. (But the biggest headline this morning was that Madonna was released from the hospital.)

And To Think I Used To Like "Happy Days"

I've said for years that everything HBO creates is brillant. They have done it again: Entourage (which I've just discovered) may be one of the funniest shows on TV. (As Curb Your Enthusiasm begins a new season and Six Feet Under ends it run).

How Odd

You sometimes hear about a bicyclist being hit by a car, but what a weird accident in Plano this weekend. Two cyclists ran head-on into each other causing the death of 52 year old Michael Mahoney. The story is here.

Random Movie Thought

I finally saw "Dazed and Confused" (which is frightening like a real high school in 1976). I knew that Matthew McConaughey played a great character in it (and he does). But I was surprised to see a young Ben Affleck and a young Joey Lauren Adams (from "Chasing Amy" fame). And I finally figured out why McConaughey started off this year's Daytona 500 with "Alright! Alright! Alright!"

Can I Have Puff Daddy Since It's Twice Removed?

First his name was Sean Combs then Puffy then Puff Daddy and then P. Diddy. Well, it's time to change again. Now it is simply "Diddy" - the "P" is gone.

Doctor Don't Preach

"NEW YORK (AP) - Madonna's 47th birthday celebration was marred when she suffered several broken bones in a horse riding accident at her country home outside London, her publicist told The Associated Press on Tuesday." And here is some pre and post air brushed Madonna.

It's The First Time Mark Cuban Didn't Act Like A Billionaire

The NBA has a salary cap and a penalty for going over the cap. That is, for every dollar that a team spends on salaries over the pre-set cap ($61.7 million), the owner of the team must contribute to a league fund an amount equal to the amount his team is over the cap. That brings us to Michael Finley of the Dallas Mavericks. Under a one-time exception to the new collective bargaining agreement, each NBA club was allow to release one player. If done, the team would still have to pay that player pursuant to that player's contract, but the owner would not have to pay the salary cap penalty that the player's salary would have caused. Finley was released last night. Over the next three years he will get $50 million for doing nothing. And although owner Mark Cuban has to pay the salary, he will not have to pay another $50 million in salary cap penalties. That's why Finley was released. I want to be Michael Finley.

I Wonder If He Uses Steroids?

"Wrestler Hulk Hogan (R) headlocks WrestleMania champion John Cena at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards at the Gibson Amphitheater in Universal City, California, August 14, 2005. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni "

Now Rex Wants To Be Paid Like Dr. Phil

It was a pretty news filled Update today: a tragic death out of Jacksboro, a Wise County deputy arrested, and former Bull QB Phillip Daugherty quiting Texas Tech. But I couldnt help but do a double take on this note: "BE CAREFUL – Monday was a rough day for Decatur police. Chief Rex Hoskins said his officers worked five accidents within a few hours on FM 51 South - none of them involving teenage drivers who were returning to classes at Decatur High School. “We had five officers on the street and they were very busy all day,” he said. Hoskins had to referee a fuss between a mother and her teen-aged daughter after the dispute made its way to the police station. "

Yeah, It's Sappy. But I Like It Anyway

"Phil Mickelson of the US is joined by his children on the 18th green at Baltusrol Golf Club after getting a birdie to win the PGA Championship in Springfield."

He Hasn't Had A Pot Pie In Two Weeks

"FAIRFIELD, Calif. - The husband of Cindy Sheehan, the mother camped outside President Bush' Texas ranch to protest the death of a son in the Iraq war, has filed for divorce, according to court documents. "

I Didn't Even Know There Was A Contest

This dog (pictured) has won the World's Ugliest Dog Contest three times in a row. I understand why.

I Thought That Sounded Fishy

In connection with that plane crash (see below), all the major media reports said yesterday that one of the passengers had sent a text message to a relative speaking of the pilots being unconsciousness and the plane being very cold. I thought how odd it would be to have the patience to type out a text message in a rapidly descending plane. Turns out, the man who made the report was lying.

OK, I'm Pretty Sure I Don't Want To Die This Way

"ATHENS (Reuters) - Most of the bodies recovered from a Cypriot plane that crashed [over the weekend] near Athens with 121 people on board were frozen solid, a Greek official said, suggesting the airliner was a flying tomb before it plunged to earth. "

This Is Not Looking Promising

I didn't watch much of the Cowboy game on Saturday night, but I heard this morning that, due to penalites, in the third quarter the Dallas offense was faced with a 3rd down and 50(!!) to go. You don't see that very often.

WWJB

It was kind of funny on Fox 4 News tonight as they did a piece on the protestors at the President's Crawford ranch. Somebody had this little kid carrying around a sign that read "Who Would Jesus Bomb?"

Water, Water Everywhere

The Star-Telegram has published a story regarding the top water bills in Tarrant County for June of this year. Miller Brewing had a shocking water bill of $369,850.27. But I was stunned to see that there was a residential water bill (owner not disclosed) that was $3,097.95.

Wishing I Was Smarter

"KISSUFIM, Israel - Israel formally began its historic operation to withdraw from the Gaza Strip after a 38-year occupation by outlawing the continued presence of Jewish settlers in the Palestinian territory. Some violence ensued." This was big news this weekend. But, I'll admit, I've stayed confused by Israeli-Palestinian relations all of my life.

Random Though By Someone Else

"Largely because of our war on drugs policies, the U.S. has been transformed into the most-incarcerated nation in history. Even though we in the U.S. have fewer than 5 percent of the world's population, we have more than 25 percent of the world's prisoners. What message does this sent ot the rest of the world?" - Kirk Muse, Mesa, Ariz. (Letter to Dallas Morning News)