Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• Chris Christie is a perfect politician for New Jersey.
• I've never been a fan of his since the first time I heard his voice: He was interviewed while U.S. Attorney in This American Life's 2009 "Arms Trader". The subject of the show is one of my biggest sources of irritation: The federal government seeking out incompetent "terrorists" in the U.S. and spending a fortune to set them up for an act of terrorism that they could never do on their own. Christopher Christie, as he was referred to, came across as a publicity seeking prosecutor. And, as it turns out, he was. 
• Am I reading this right? A list released yesterday by the Texas Education Agency listed Boyd High School, Bridgeport Middle School, and Chico High School on its "PEG" list? And the "PEG program permits parents whose children attend schools on the PEG list to request that their children transfer to schools in other districts." And a school only gets on the list if "50 percent or more of [its] students did not pass any of the state assessment subjects in any two of the preceding three years."
• There was a Fort Worth ISD's whistleblower lawsuit that was filed in Wise County a while back which I swore was settled on the first day of trial last year. But late yesterday the Fort Worth Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the school in a previously filed summary judgment. I'm confused. 
• A DA candidate in Iowa City, Iowa says that "if elected he would not prosecute public intoxication or marijuana possession cases." These times they are changing. Or not? That was the policy of the Wise County Attorney twenty years ago. 
• The Golden Globes are Sunday -- the only awards show worth watching.
• The Yearning for Zion Ranch in Eldorado, the home of the Mormon radical sect that was one led by imprisoned Warren Jeffs, has been forfeited to the State after the group didn't show up in court to battle against the seizure. That's odd for a group which normally fights tooth and nail. Or maybe they have disbanded. 
• The scariest thing I've ever heard and scene seen: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department now has a SWAT team. It'll be like Rambo Game Wardens. (That link contains a picture which is a must see.)
• Breaking employment news: Unemployment drops to 6.7%. (Cue Wordkyle in 3, 2, . . . . But is sounds like he might be justified this time.)
• I-30 was shut down for hours in both directions on the bridge over Lake Ray Hubbard this morning because of a massive 18 wheeler pile-up. Now that's a traffic nightmare -- there's not exactly service roads you can jump onto to bypass it. 
• I don't understand it all, but it sounds like there's been a heck of a war over who controls the Wise County Posse Grounds. And the war is over money.
• I wonder how many people in Bridgeport said yesterday, "I never realized how much I appreciated easy access to water."