Northwest ISD closes two schools after confirmed case of Swine Flu.
The entire Denton ISD is also shutting down.
Every other open school district appears to still be sane.
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5.02.2009
The Pig Will Not Be Denied: Wise County Hit
Northwest ISD closes two schools after confirmed case of Swine Flu.
The entire Denton ISD is also shutting down.
Every other open school district appears to still be sane.
Denton County Book In Photo Of The Day
And the charge means she has allegedly been convicted at least two times before of DWI.
Cowboys Practice Facility Collapses With Players Inside
I cannot tell you the number of emails and texts I got about this.
I've got no pictures. Turn on the TV as of 4:00 p.m. Channel 11 appears to have the best coverage because they were "lucky" enough to have Sportscaster Steve Dennis out there with the camera crew.
Edit: Channel 8 has video of of the bubble collapsing. Pretty amazing.
Edit: I love Fox 4 but they keep speculating that the facility went down because of "rain buildup." No way. (They also have a video of the bubble collapsing but I'll give the nod to Channel 8 for the best footage for now.)
Edit: Amazingly, KDAF Channel 33 had the best video footage. Channel 5 showed it at 10:00 p.m. More amazing is that no one was killed.
Edit: Should have titled this "When The Walls . . . Come Tumbling Down"
Update From China
Channel 5 did a story last night on Jackie Murphree who is in China undergoing treatment. You can watch it here. So tragic but so hopeful.
5.01.2009
Aporkalypse News
- Lewisville ISD goes down
- Ponder ISD as well (in above link)
- Cisco Junior College cancels graduation - will mail diplomas
- Decatur and Bridgeport ISDs proclaim they "won't be bullied by the Politics of Fear."
One of those was made up.
Edit: I spoke to soon. Alvord ISD goes down!!!
Edit #2: A comment worthy of posting (click to enlarge)
Random Friday Morning Thoughts
- The scandal ridden ex-Montague County Sheriff died yesterday. (Thanks emailer, I had missed this completely.)
- The more religious you are, the more you approve of torture. I'm so confused.
- Watched a little of a Boating While Intoxicated case being tried in the Wise County Court at Law yesterday. I can assure you that's the first BWI case ever tried here.
- The video in the case, which showed the Field Sobriety Tests, contained more F Bombs than any other video ever shown in a Wise County court.
- The jury is made up of 5 men and 1 women. And the men did not look like "bubbas" at all.
- Get this, the boater blew a .06 (the legal limit is .08), but the test was a couple of hours after he was seen driving without lights out of Blocker's Camp on Lake Bridgeport.
- I think they might convict him for dropping a bunch of F Bombs.
- Jumping out of his boat while being towed by the Game Warden to Wise County Park doesn't help.
- That's a pretty fun case.
- Oh, by the way, Chrysler announced it will declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy yesterday. A story which 10 years ago would have dominated the news for weeks is, in 2009, an afterthought.
- I really like watching Track and Field. Well, at least the "Track" part. And I'm not sure why it's not more popular than it is.
- The Bar Exam results (given twice a year) were just released. Baylor had the highest rating again.
- Flashback: Before I took the Bar Exam (a 2 1/2 day test), we were required to give a fingerprint so, as the proctor told us, "you don't have a real lawyer sneak in here and take the test for you." Note to clueless proctor: There is no lawyer, after one year removed from law school, that could pass the Bar Exam.
- I haven't used the word "proctor" in 20 years.
- Justice Souter is retiring fromthe Supreme Court. Uh, President Obama, let's just say there's a little country lawyer in Decatur that would be a tad bit interested in that gig. (And I promise I'd use spell check more often.)
- Notice how this has been Swine Flu Free? Can't let that happen. I still believe this "panic" is the silliest thing I've ever seen. In a nation of 300,000,000 people we have 114 confirmed cases. And all indications are those 114 will get sick and then get better.
4.30.2009
The Wrath Of The Pig: Wise County!!!
Chico Elementary is now the first one to close.
Slidell ISD has shut down completely.
Source.
(Thanks to commentors for pointing this out almost immediately.)
Collision Alert
We are so cautious as Americans that we will shut down the whole southwest proper just because somebody gets "flu like symptoms". But we are also the kind of people that will come up with a promotion where two kids race to home plate, in opposite directions, and without helmets.
There's a collision. Wait for it.
Decatur ISD's Position On Pigdemic
April 30, 2009
Parents:
The Decatur Independent School District considers the health and safety of our students as our top priority. With the recent announcement of some confirmed cases of swine flu in North Texas school districts, DISD has been particularly watchful on all of our campuses.
No confirmed swine flu cases have been reported in Decatur ISD, however we have two suspected cases of Type A influenza in the district. We are communicating with local health authorities as well as the regional health department, and we are confident that we will be notified immediately if this case is confirmed as swine flu.
The custodial staff at all campuses are diligently cleaning and disinfecting, as is done every day, to make sure our schools are safe. As we remind our students and staff to take precautionary measures, we encourage parents to reinforce the same measures at home such as:
Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after they cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when they cough or sneeze.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
At this time, all DISD campuses are open. Should we receive any information of a confirmed case of Swine Flu, we will consult with the appropriate officials to determine what needs to be done to protect our students.
The Pig Attacks Dallas ISD
Get ready (and you heard it here first): A student at Dallas ISD's Daniel Webster Elementary School has a confirmed case of the swine flu. As a result that school is closing until at least May 11th.
So will the entire Dallas ISD shut down?
Edit: Fox 4 first to report it.
Edit: More silliness --- Fort Worth's Mayfest has been canceled. And shockingly: "The Tarrant County Health Department, in the interest of public health and safety, has declared that all outdoor public gatherings must be cancelled." Richard Zavala, Director of Parks and Community Department
Random Thursday Morning Thoughts - Special Pig Flu Edition
The Swine Flu scare is one of the silliest things I've ever seen in my life. Absolutely one of the silliest.
- When Fort Worth ISD shut down "due to" the flu last night, some people consider it an official sanctioning of their need to panic. And many feel the situation must be much worse than we are being told. I don't believe that for a second. (Kind of fun to watch reactions here.)
- ABC News' Dr. Timothy Johnson greatly criticized the World Health Organization's statement of "All of humanity under threat." Preach on, bruther.
- I was more worried when I walked out of the old Outbreak movie a few years ago. (Hey females: Want to see a quick clip of Patrick Dempsey in the movie?)
- And the "Health Department" of the City of Fort Worth might consider hiring a spokesperson. That lady, pictured above, looks like she's ready to throw off the white jacket and head off to happy hour in that blouse.
- And she instilled no confidence whatsoever.
- And when she was asked if parents should keep their kids away from places "like Chuck E. Cheese" by a Fox 4 reporter, she said "absolutely." I could see Chuck E. Cheese officials across the metroplex spitting out their drinks at that moment.
- "Pigdemic" is a funny name.
- The Dallas Morning News web site has a "Swine Flu Survival Guide" link.
- If the Swine Flu could kill you in days like in the movie Outbreak, I'd be scared. But every "confirmed" case in the U.S. is just someone getting sick. Then better. (The death yesterday in Houston was some kid that had just came in from Mexico.)
- Is this true? The World Health Organization confirms only seven deaths in Mexico and not the 150+ their government is claiming?
- It's driving me crazy. Crazy, I tell ya!!!
- Sports Illustrated has come out with it's Top 25 for college football this fall. That's assuming we don't cancel the season this week.
- Edit: Stolen from the comments . . . "It's the Aporkalypse!"
- Ok, I wouldn't cheat you out of a Random Girl:
4.29.2009
Pigdemic Update: Have We Lost Our Minds?
Doors won't open back up until May 11th. (Edit: Some are saying the 8th, which is a Friday.)
And that's without a single confirmed case of the pig flu. (Edit: Channel 8 says "one case" was confirmed. But, sheesh, it's the flu! I've seen interviews with kids who have been previous "confirmed cases" and they describe the symptoms as, well, like the flu.)
"Still Life"
About a year ago I wrote this post with the above obituary attached to it. It had caught my attention for obvious reasons.
Well, this month's Texas Monthly has an article about the woman and her son written by the great Skip Hollandsworth. I read it over lunch but wish I had saved it for later -- I'm not used to crying during lunch.
It begins: Thirty-five years ago Dallas—and the country—was gripped by the tragic story of John McClamrock, a high school football player paralyzed during a violent tackle. But after the newspapers moved on, another story was quietly unfolding, one of courage, perseverance, and a mother’s fierce love . . . .
This Blog Runs Itself
Nothing says "guaranteed to get posted" like a hot girl busting it like nobody's business. And, baby, you hit the ground hard.
P.S. Cute outfit.
How Not To Start Off A Wednesday
From the always entertaining Denton Police (unofficial) Twitter feed.
Well, That Was Uncomfortable
(1) This was posted yesterday on the D Magazine blog.
(2) Tim Rogers is a very funny guy
(3) Marty Haag is the former news director at Channel 8
(4) Tim was trying to be funny by using the "rolling over in his grave" followed by the "still alive?" line.
(5) It's uncomfortable because Marty Haag is dead and one of his sons notified Tim Rogers of that fact.
(6) The uncomfortable acknowledgment.
Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts
- This Swine Flu stuff is driving me absolutely nuts -- especially with news this morning that there has now been a "confirmed" death. Hey, the number of deaths in the U.S. from the regular flu is 36,000 a year!
- Read that first bullet point again and mention it to someone.
- The Drudge Report's bold headline this morning ominously reads: "First Dead."
- Cleburne High School shut down this morning even though Swine Flu had not been confirmed in the illness of four students.
- I'll swear I saw the following graphic about the Swine Flue at the bottom of the screen on Larry King Live last night: "Breaking News: Is World In Peril?"
- Today's issue of the Messenger (which still oddly has "Thursday" in it's masthead) has a list of indictments from the most recent meeting of the grand jury. I don't know what's going on, but there are a ton of them for the second month in a row.
- Fox is not covering Obama's press conference tonight on its regular entertainment channel. Really can't blame them for that.
- I had three comments the other day that this little blog has become stale and boring (tell me about it -- I'm stale and boring.) Oddly, they were all posted by people that read"Random Thoughts" within its first hour after being uploaded.
- Wise County is clearly one the most conservative counties in the nation. I think we forget that the rest of the country does not think like most of us.
- Do seemingly normal people that take extravagant vacations also spend every dime they make?
- Even though I run all the time, I rarely do any other type of exercise. I wiped the dust off my Bowflex this weekend and immediately remembered why.
- Hal Jay of WBAP was talking to a national reporter in Mexico this morning who had no accent whatsoever. He told her, "You guys have a beautiful country." Her reply, "I'm from Texas."
- Someone wrote "Bite Donna" in the dust on my back windshield.
- One of the best things I ever did was going to work for a large Dallas law firm right out of law school. I quickly decided that I was not going to spend my life that way.
- I watched Sean Hannity say on TV that he would be waterboarded "for charity." Wait, let me put it in Hannity terms: "Sure," Hannity said. "I'll do it for charity ... I'll do it for the troops' families." Now MSNBC's Keith Olbermann is really putting the pressure on him to do it -- offering $1,000 a second for the experiment.
- An election I can't vote in but desperately want to be over: The Dallas Convention Center hotel.
- My prediction about the Mavericks was horribly wrong. And I didn't watch a single minute of the playoff series.
Get Ready
This was fascinating in a newsy way. Reuters put up this story at 5:36 a.m. Central Time, and within 10 minutes it was quoted on Fox News, NBC, and ABC -- all giving credit to Reuters. But that's a pretty scant report right there. No city in Texas, no hospital referenced, and all confirmed by a "government official."
I presume the details will be filled in. But get ready for Swine Flu Panic: Day Three.
4.28.2009
Dirty, Dirty Fox News
The first part of the clip shows Obama reading a question (and answering it) at a town hall meeting. The last part of the clip shows how Fox News cuts up the tape to give the impression that Obama held the belief of the question.
Shocking. And I've been told to only worry about the "liberal media."
Source.
Taken From Some Where In Wise County
And emailed in. Is that a Crown Victoria owned by Victoria who crowned it her secret?
Update
Recall James Carroll Franklin who last January, moments before he would have learned that the jury was to grant him probation in our Wise County district court after a drug conviction, bolted from the courthouse and headed to the hills. He was caught a short time later. (We don't have hills nearby.) The next day the judge granted him the probation that the jury had dictated, but required him to spend 180 days in the Wise County Jail.
Well, I learned today that the defendant actually appealed the sentence (his right) and was released on an appeal bond (required). Now I don't want second guess anyone, but do you really want to appeal a probated sentence when the range of punishment was from five years to life? (Side note: If the appeal was only about the sufficiency of the evidence, the appeal would make sense: The appellate court could only affirm the conviction or acquit the defendant. It could not require a new trial.)
Anyway, it looks like the defendant didn't pay his lawyer (who was also his bondsman) and a warrant was issued once the lawyer "went off the bond." The appellate court also ordered a hearing in the district court to determine if the defendant actually wished to pursue his appeal. It was scheduled for this morning but I've got a feeling the defendant won't make it.
Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts
The Swine Flu issue: Hey, people! Everyone who has contracted it in the U.S. simply gets sick and then gets better.- Getting in your car this morning was a greater risk to your life than the Swine flu.
- Anybody else question whether 152 people have really died from that flu in Mexico?
- I never get a flu shot.
- Those paper masks? Do they work? I wouldn't think so.
- The 41 year old hot swimmer from last year's Olympics, Dara Torres, has written a book that she she promoted on WBAP this morning: Age is Just a Number: Achieve Your Dreams At Any Stage In Your Life. Seriously, what could she possibly say that hasn't been said? And what if I dream to be an Olympic swimmer, can I "achieve" that "dream", too?
- And did her book publisher pay WBAP a fee for that 5 minute commercial described as an interview?
- Someone emailed me and said they saw the Decatur Beggar outside of Vista Ridge Mall over the weekend.
- Someone also emailed me that he saw a pickup in Boyd with a bumper sticker that read, "I Voted For The White Guy."
- Both apologized for not getting a pic.
- Some spare guy doesn't get drafted by the NFL last weekend and some blog posts a bunch of pics of his very hot sister. I love the Internet.
- Cancer is horrible. Every time I see a human interest story on the news about some guy battling the disease (and I saw one last night), you know they aren't going to win. I'll go back to a Dale Hansen quote: "My ex-wife lost her battle with cancer this year because it wasn't a fair fight."
- Heck, even I would have been freaked out if I had seen the airliner flying low over Manhattan with a fighter jet behind it.
- A guy was arrested for stealing Huggies in Grapevine. Anybody else thinking of the line, "I'll be taking these Huggies and any cash ya got."
4.27.2009
Maybe Monday Is Good TV Night
Gov. Perry is moderating a panel discussion tonight in Garland about Obama's first 100 days in office. Bud Kennedy sends along this pic "30 minutes before showtime" via his Twitter feed.
"The event, expected to draw as many as 3,000 people, is one in a series of events Perry is using to reach out to the more conservative wing of the GOP on his path to a 2010 re-election bid expected to include a primary battle against U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison."
Love That Chicken From Pop Eye's
I've never ran a TV news room but lord knows that I could. If someone ran this clip past me before air time, I'm pretty sure I might grab a the female reporter by the neck and ask, "You couldn't find one white person to interview? Do you understand what a sterotype is? Do you understand that this is going to end up on youtube for promoting racial sterotypes? Do you want to come over to my place on Saturday if you're not doing anything? Wait. Forget that."
And then, after it ran, I'd personally go fire the anchor for the intro when she said, "Tonight customers were clucking their disaproval."
Just Saw This In Time
"Unlike many other young Marines, Lance Corporal William Allen, 26, who appeared on Time's cover in 2005 (above), joined the military the day before 9/11. But like many who fought in Iraq, Allen suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. He died [last week] of a drug overdose after self-medicating."
Radio News
I don't listen to The Bone because I got sick of the stuff they play when it first came out a krillion years ago, but if you liked The Bone, bad news: It's not The Bone anymore.
I bet radio is a brutal business.
Art and Death
This picture was on the front page of the Messenger this week and there's no question the angle was intentional in order to get the billboard in the background. It's kind of a contrast between birth and death especially since the fatality involved a very elderly individual.
I really don't have any problem with that at all.
Edit: I'll be. He says it wasn't intentional.
Random Monday Morning Thoughts
- Anyone else remember when Southlake had that small Dairy Queen on the right off of 114?
- Swine Flu Pandemic: Panic, Overrated.
- There was an obituary this week in the Messenger of an elderly man but the photo that accompanied it was that of him as a young man. I used to have a problem with that. Now, I support it.
- The Rev. Jeremiah Wright was in Dallas last weekend. He managed to fire off, "Never had a black woman sleeping legally in the White House every night, and she doesn’t have to sneak in through the servant’s entrance." That guy has some hot sports opinions.
- I can't help but watch the NFL Draft every year, but it makes me uncomfortable. A bunch of rich, white owners deciding what healthy black men will work for them.
- Dumbest Cowboy pick: With a young, great kicker already on the roster with Nick Folk, Dallas drafts a kicker in the fifth round. (Although apparently he is so freakishly fast and strong that he might be able to play special teams)
- On the first day of the draft, ESPN had a camera on the Cowboys' "War Room". Everyone wore a dark suit except Coach Wade Phillips who wore a yellow shirt over his plump frame. He stuck out like a banana. The guy has no idea.
- "The Mexican" is on every movie channel all the time.
- Bea Arthur died this weekend. On The Ticket this morning they mentioned there was an episode of Maude where she had an abortion. Man, I had no idea. (Then they brought up that Edith in All In The Family was sexually assaulted in one episode.) I think they didn't understand "comedy" in the 1970s.
- I have never been remotely entertained by The Doors.
- I randomly clicked on an issue of The Spin from 2005 and saw this: "An inmate who was sentenced last week to at least 30 real years in prison commits suicide in the Wise County Jail." I have no memory of that. That kind of scares me.
- Underrated actor: Jason Statham.
- I watched Iron Man yesterday. I think my brain is programmed as such that I don't like Super Hero movies even if everyone else proclaims them as great.
- I've said it for years: A pitcher intentionally throwing at a batter (in the American League where the pitcher does not have to bat) is the most cowardly sports act in history.
- I didn't watch a second of NASCAR but the end at Tallagdegha was crazy. Carl Edwards car goes airborne into the chain link fence. Eight people were hurt but I'm still amazed that car didn't go into the stands.
4.26.2009
Nothing To See Here
OK, this may be of extremely limited interest because it starts incredibly slow and the whole thing is only marginally funny. Frankly, I have no idea what the heck this is. But there is one part that made me laugh out loud: The Katie Couric segment which begins at 1:20 (although the "Angry Gorilla" across from Sean Hannity right before it did make me smile.)
The First 100 Days Of Obama
More and more people are believing that they country is headed in the right direction. And, as "Barack Obama approaches the 100-day mark with rising economic hopes, the best job approval rating at this point in 20 years, [and] the broadest personal popularity since Ronald Reagan . . . ."
(Saw this on This Week With George Stephanopoulos.)
