Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• I know nothing about video games but even I couldn't miss that Grand Theft Auto V was released this week. Get this: Rockstar Games reportedly spent $115 million developing the game and $150 million on marketing it. So what are the sales in the first 24 hours? A shocking $800 million.
• Syria is still there, right?
• I lost the DWI trial earlier this week but it was a spirited fight. The jury was engaged and had very insightful comments - and compliments - after the trial (or so I'm told by the other participants).  Beforehand, I evaluated it 60/40 in favor of the State. That's good enough to take a chance since the prosecutor refused to budge off of a plea bargain that didn't include a DWI conviction.
• Someone dogged me yesterday for allowing the prosecutor to lead a witness to move things along. Trust me, if you've got an experienced trooper (who I've seen testify more than a few times) being questioned by an experienced prosecutor (who I faced countless times) about field sobriety tests that the jury will later actually see performed via DVD, there ain't no harm in moving that testimony along. 
• I had another trial scheduled for today but a full afternoon of client meetings, phone calls, prosecutor meetings, further video reviewing and negotiating got the thing settled at 5:20 p.m.  (I had the court administrator hounding me after 5:00 as to whether she could call off the jury via web posting so as to save the county juror fees.)
• Beyond funny for Breaking Bad fans: Jessie was once on The Price Is Right. (How'd I miss that?) And he was fantastic. Heck, he acted like he was on meth. On second thought, is there any chance game shows plant aspiring actors as contestants?
• Local Sports Radio News: The Fan (struggling) has moved the very irritating Gavin Dawson from nights to midday to be paired with former Ticket employee Mike Bacsik. (Bacsik is famous for being the Major League pitcher who gave up a home run to Barry Bonds in 2007 to break Hank Aaron's long time record, and for getting fired from the Ticket for tweeting "Congratulations to all the dirty Mexicans in San Antonio" after the Spurs beat the Mavericks in a playoff game in 2010.)
• And whomever the girl was who did the sports updates for Randy Galloway's radio show has been fired.  The radio business is brutal. 
• I can't tell you how many conversations I have with people who want my promise it won't be repeated in this space. (And I always honor the request.)
• The "cold front" will arrive at 2:30 p.m. today. Bank on it. Temperatures will "plummet" to the low 70s overnight. 
• Texas has the crazy "improper photography" criminal statute (otherwise known as the don't-take-pictures-of-anyone-without-their-permission-if-they-jazz-you statute)  but the highest criminal court in the state yesterday ruled the cops can't detain you for taking photos at a public pool because everyone does that. 
• The House's decision to vote on funding the government without Obamacare (that most certainly will not pass the Senate) is just like voting to repeal Obamacare: I waste of time and grandstanding. 
• John Force and Brittany Force will make an appearance in Bridgeport today. Yeah, me neither. (But she's got a little "Hey, Now" in her.)
• Former heavy weight champ Ken Norton has died at 70. I heard this morning that, in addition to being known for breaking Muhammad Ali's jaw, that he was also voted "Father of the Year" twice by a Los Angeles magazine. But didn't I hear once that at one time he basically had no relationship with his son (and former Dallas Cowboy) Ken Norton, Jr.?
• NFL: Isn't the trade by the Browns to the Colts of last year's first round draft pick Trent Richardson shocking? (The Colts gave up next year's first round pick to get him.) But do you remember that last year the Browns traded up to get Richardson by swapping first round positions with the Vikings and giving them a 4th, 5th, and 6th round pick?