Google Maps

If you've ever experimented with the maps by Google, you know at the click of a button you can see a satellite view of what your looking at. Target stores, in a genius move, has realized the popularity of this technology and have painted some of their rooftops. Here's an actual satellite pic of a Target store near Chicago. I thought it was a joke when I first heard of it, but no. Edit: Oops. The rooftop art was originally done because the Target was near an airport.

Wackiest Public Restroom In The History Of Ever

Link. Edit: One of the Commentors referened www.snopes.com. It is, by far, the greatest "urban legend" buster ever.

Oh, Man, I Already Have Plans

TCU football has announced a home-and-home series in 2013 and 2014 with LSU. The Horned Frogs will visit Baton Rouge on Sept. 7, 2013, and the Tigers will go to Fort Worth on Sept. 6, 2014.

UT / USC Revisited

The National Championship game was on ESPN Classic tonight and I had to watch it again. I knew the game was incredibly exciting and it that it had some kind of magic to it. This may have something to do with it: ABC did not run a single commercial during the last 25 minutes of the game. That's what kept us "extra" glued to the tube.

Send Yourself An Email In The Future

Link. I just sent me one that will arrive in 2008. It says, "If you are still doing that stupid blog thing, seek counseling. Your life is a failure. Pack it up and move to Jamaica."

A Little Perspective

Recent news stories proclaimed the U.S. population was edging towards 300 million people. Considering that we think the world revolves around us, isn't it interesting to note that we comprise less than 5% of the world's population of 6.4 billion? That means, obviously, that 19 of ever 20 humans is not an American. Edit: Good point from a commentor. The population of America includes illegals.

People Love Their Cell Phones Too Much

You wouldn't buy a cell phone bed for $14.99, would you?

I Bet The Prosecution Didn't Think Much Of Their Case

From the Morning News: A former Dallas police officer who was fired after being accused of groping a female motorist during a traffic stop was found not guilty of the charge on Thursday. The motorist, an employee at a Dallas topless club, charged that 5-year department veteran Jermaine Thompson threatened to take her to jail unless she showed him her breasts during a Sept. 2004 traffic stop in far northeast Dallas. The woman told police that Mr. Thompson touched her breasts after she lifted her shirt. Investigators verified that the officer's car was where the woman said it was by reviewing the car's electronic tracking system data. The woman also said Mr. Thompson later showed up at the club where she worked, tried to get in free and groped her again. Mr. Thompson was charged with improper sexual activity with a person in custody and faced up to two years in a state jail. He waived his right to a jury trial and was found not guilty by District Judge Keith Dean. Mr. Thompson's attorney, Tom Pappas, argued that the woman's trial testimony differed from statements she originally made to investigators and that details of the police investigation did not corroborate her account. Interesting tidbit: A defendant can waive a jury and have the judge decide the case IF the prosecution agrees to the waiver.

Former Teen Idol Leif Garrett Had A Bad Week

Explanation here. The way he used to look here.

Didn't We Just Celebrate It Cracking 11,000? Ouch

I Feel Old

A 29 year old has been named Offensive Coordinator of the New England Patriots.

She's Lost Her Mind

From Dallas Mayor Laura Miller regarding new cameras in downtown: "It will dramatically lower the incidence of street harassment downtown," said Mayor Laura Miller. "The fact that we're going to have this, and the red-light running cameras, and the new cameras at Fair Park – it's going to be a 'Big Brother' city." Uh, Laura, that's a bad thing.

Maybe World Peace Has Been Achieved

The Miss America pageant is going on in Las Vegas this week, and Texas is represented by this gal. Her "platform issue" is: "Putting an end to verbal abuse."

This Should Be A Short Meeting

"DAR MEETING — The John B. Denton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will meet tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the Wise County Heritage Museum in Decatur. Rosalie Gregg will present a program titled, 'The Aurora Alien: Fact or Fiction?'"

War of The Worlds

. . . . is coming out on DVD. I saw it in the theater and it was ...uh...HORRIBLE.

I'm Not Sure I Believe That At All

VP Dick Cheney said today in light of the Bin Laden tape: "It is no accident that we haven't been hit in more than four years," Cheney said. "We've been protected by sensible policy decisions, by decisive action at home and abroad, and by round-the-clock efforts on the part of people in the armed services, law enforcement, intelligence and homeland security." I'm wondering what the response will be after the next attack - Which will surely come. Won't it?

Ugh

Remember . . .

. . . the story posted below about the cop allegedly "puttin' a whoopin'" on the roller derby girl? Well, here's a page with pics of all the girls on her team, "Assassination City". The bloodied roller girl's pic is the first one on the forth row (with a very uncomfortable name). And man, are there some lookers on that team.

Girl Accidents

It's from America's Funniest Home Videos and, amazingly, it is pretty funny.

Fake Kevin Federline New Album Cover

Pretty Big News

A tape with Bin Laden's voice directed towards the U.S. was released today. Press acounts say . . . He said insurgents were winning the conflict in Iraq and warned that security measures in the West and the United States could not prevent attacks there. "The proof of that is the explosions you have seen in the capitals of European nations," he said "The delay in similar operations happening in America has not been because of failure to break through your security measures. The operations are under preparation and you will see them in your homes the minute they are through (with preparations), with God's permission."

Stick 'Em Up

According to the Star Telegram today, about 24 percent of Carroll ISD's $73.3 million operating budget will be sent to the state to cover the district's Robin Hood payment.

I'll Pull My Full Head Of Hair Out ....

......if I see the "Breaking News" graphic on the local news one more time for a story that is neither "breaking" nor "news".

Jimmy's New Hair Made Its Debut Over The Weekend

The Last Time I Sang Karaoke

Video. Edit: I'm so confused by the seriousness of the first two comments

A Quiz

You can find out whether you'll like Brokeback Mountain.

Burger King

Those Burger King commercials of "The King" being super-imposed on NFL film clips really creep me out.

Michael J. Fox

He was on for the second week in a row on Boston Legal. As many of you know, he is suffering from Parkinson's disease. You can see it. It's heart breaking.

Uh Oh

There was a mind numbing Supreme Court ruling today upholding Oregon's assisted suicide law. But the big news was there was a three person dissent to the ruling: Justice Scalia (very conservative), Justice Thomas (the Anita Hill guy who is also very conservative) and Chief Justice Roberts (the new guy that just got confirmed). Get ready for a bold new conservative world. This is gonna get ugly once Alito gets there.

Hey, All You 34 Year Old Coaches Out There

One of your peers just became a head coach in the NFL and is making at least $2 million per year.

Scarlett Johanson At The Golden Globes

Wowza.

Somebody Probably Cares

If you ever wanted to listen to Martin Luther King's 16 minute "I Have A Dream Speech", the mp3 of it is here.

You're Heather Graham . . .

. . . you're famous, you have a new TV series, your network loves you . . . and the show is dead in the water after one episode.

Yet Another Way . . .

. . . I don't want to die.

Hillary 2006

"NEW YORK - Sen. Hillary Clinton on Monday blasted the Bush administration as 'one of the worst' in U.S. history and compared the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to a plantation where dissenting voices are squelched."

Gas Bill

Mine was outrageous this month.

Unreliable

This blog's host, which is operated by Google, is very unreliable. But, then again, it's free so it's hard to complain.

Random Golden Globes Thoughts

• Keira Knightley is smoking hot
• Russell Crowe scares me
• I didn't realize that Drew Barrymore could not afford a bra
• Chris Rock is funny
• The "Desperate Housewives" actresses always seem to be "acting" and I think they might really hate each other.
• The acceptance speech from Steve Carell of "The Office" was very funny (he said his wife wrote his acceptance speech and it was littered with "I'd like to thank my beautiful wife" references)
• (Sidenote: Rent or Buy the two seasons of the British version of the "The Office". I'll put it in my top five list (easy))
• Reese Witherspoon seems to really love her husband, Ryan Phillippe. (Although his character from "Cruel Intentions" still creeps me out)
• I've never really understood Woody Allen movies
• I love Scarlett Johanson
• Uh, Brokeback Mountain just won "Best Screen Play"
• There seems to be a great deal of cleavage on the screen tonight
• "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is loosing some of its luster. But "Entourage" is great.
• I didn't know Penelope Cruz struggled with English so much
• "The Producers", a Broadway hit, looks horrible as a movie
• Uh, oh, Brokeback Mountain just won an award for best song. We have a liberal conspiracy going on.
• Anthony Hopkins has quite the resume. But he's looking a little old and tired (as we all will be one day)
• I still remember when I went and saw Silence of the Lambs on a date.
• "Crazy people don't set around wondering if they are nuts".
• I think Clint Eastwood is extremely overrated.
• I think Geena Davis falls within that category as well (although her acceptance speech of the 8 year old girl tugging at her dress that "didn't really happen" was funny)
• As the show comes to an end, I've come to the conclusion that it really wasn't that good
• I've never thought "Will and Grace" was all that funny. But I love the Messing gal.
• Philip Seymour Hoffman is great, but I doubt many people will see "Capote"
• Dennis Quaid's quip about how "Brokeback Mountain" is a movie that is about something that rhymes with "Chick Flick" was verrrry uncomfortable.

Gore 2008

"Former Vice President Al Gore will deliver a major address Monday on the threat posed by policies of the Bush Administration to the Constitution and the checks and balances it created. The speech will specifically point to domestic wiretapping and torture as examples of the administration's efforts to extend executive power beyond Congressional direction and judicial review."

Joe Pichler

I don't know who this child actor is, but he's missing.

Amanda and her Almond Eyes

Deep Ellum

The Dallas Observer's cover story this week is about the death of Deep Ellum. This very odd "cop vs. derby girl" incident isn't exactly endorsed by the Dallas Chamber of Commerce.

Giddy Up

The Golden Globes award show is on tonight and, although I don't watch many of those type of shows, I normally like it. It's a combo of TV and movie stars that you don't see in one place very often. And I'm also interested to see if that movie will win Best Picture.

Horrific

Have you seen the video of the two teenagers beating the homeless man with a baseball bat? Incredible.

Not A Typical Wise County Weekend

From the Update: "CHICO SHOOTING — The Rhome man who was shot Sunday afternoon has died at a Fort Worth hospital from his wounds. Wise County Sheriff David Walker said Marshall Roper, 67, died early Monday at John Peter Smith Hospital. Walker said that Roper and Tony Kempf, 46, of Chico apparently had an argument at Roper’s girlfriend’s house near Chico when the shooting occurred. Kempf received a superficial wound to the head. Walker said that the two apparently struggled over the gun and Roper was shot once in the head." This made the WBAP news this morning, but I haven't seen it on any other news web site.

Post Christmas Depression . . .

. . . was relieved for a while today because of a great Indianapolis / Pittsburgh playoff game.