Above The Fold

And Another (Incredible) Reason To Hate The NFL

Ray Rice was accused of knocking his wife senseless but avoided jail time this week in a plea deal. The Baltimore Ravens decided to get his inevitable "press conference" out of the way by holding it on the Friday afternoon before a three day weekend -- a time and place where news goes to die.

He (and his wife!) made a couple of unbelievable statements, but the insane part is that the official Baltimore Ravens twitter account quoted those statements and sent them out. Deadspin is all over it. (Language warning.)

I saw someone say that Rice will probably get a three day suspension for beating his wife. The Brown's Josh Gordon faces a sixteen game suspension for smoking weed. Yep, that's the NFL value system (that they probably formulated while burying concussion reports and ignoring teams doping up players with Vicodin to get them on the field.)

USC Taking You Into The Weekend

Just A Matter Of Time Before Something Goes Wrong With This Group

We go to Sonic all the time all over the area. Never had a problem. #ShakesAndShotguns #2A #OpenCarry @sonicdrivein pic.twitter.com/WMYMpeRlzr
— Open Carry TC (@OpenCarryTC) May 23, 2014

Hook 'em, Indeed!

NEW PHOTO: From @etalkctv who have obtained the first photo of Toronto's Mayor Rob Ford in rehab pic.twitter.com/DlukKyaIvp
— NewsBreaker (@NewsBreaker) May 23, 2014

Since It's Been Dog Week At The House

Here's a funny dog video. Just because. Living in a house full of girls, there's a lot of talking directly to the dogs I get to hear.

(But I could have done without the laugh track.)

Amazing Video Of Man Catching Baby Who Fell Out Of Window In China

And it is amazing.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• For two days in a row, Mrs. LL was able to find the owner of a lost dog that she had found who didn't have dog tags. (One odd thing we've noticed since we have experience in this: The vast majority of owners are appreciative but not ecstatic once they are reunited with their pup.) 
• A Texas federal magistrate makes it a condition of bond that a defendant write a letter to the editor apologizing to the DEA? And prosecutors want Facebook pictures taken down of DEA inflicted injuries before they agree to a bond for her sister? What the heck is going on?
• Mark Cuban thoughts coming up . . . 
• Cuban is not a racist, but if the guy didn't think his comment (that he would go to the other side of the street just because it's late and a black guy wearing a hoodie is approaching and nothing more.) wouldn't blow up, he may think more of his opinions than even I believed he did. And I didn't think that was possible. He didn't say he would be scared of a black guy with Crips' or Bloods' tattoos or looking angry at him or acting menacing or talking crazy. No, all it took was: (1) Late night (2) Black guy (3) Wearing a hoodie.
• And how can he be so dumb as to talk about race during this NBA Donald Sterling crisis? What else does he want to give a hot sports opinion about? Abortion? Politics? Religion? And to use the term "hoodie" in the wake of the Trayvon Martin case is insane.  He voluntarily created this controversy because, once again, he thinks he is The Smartest Guy In The Room -- even in the complicated area of race relations.
• Ticket fans only: It was stunning that Ticket hosts were so slow to realize that it was that one line that was causing the controversy. His statement's taken as a whole were fine, but that's a shocking one line.  Dan McDowell was clueless. Corby Davidson was, to no one's surprise, even more clueless or maybe just a predictable Cuban apologist. However, producer Jake Kemp told them what the issue was and was ignored. Donovan Lewis, the only black on air guy they have, told them that's what the problem was but to no avail.  Man, I can be an idiot, but I saw the storm coming yesterday morning when I first heard about it.
• I think that at the heart of most of my favorite movies is a guy who contemplates how to solve a problem on his own instead of consulting with others. I'm going to see if I can prove that theory.
• Early GOP voting in Texas: 2014: 55%, 2012: 47%, 2010: 38%.  Patrick is going to crush Dewhurst. 
• Mrs. LL went to a painting class last night where everyone used a template and painted a rooster. I'm as confused as you are. (But it was pretty good painting.)
• Whenever I walk out of the office before a three day weekend or a vacation, I always say to myself, "Remember this moment." And then I try to remember it the next time I return to work. It helps me appreciate the next "Remember this moment".
• Random WBAP Hal Jay note: This morning he confused the electric chair scene in The Green Mile with real life, and he thought that a firing squad fired shots into the head of the convicted person. 
• "It was fun while it lasted." - Tweet yesterday from a guy posting a picture of his Las Vegas ticket where he bet $50 at 20 to 1 odds that Prince Fielder would lead the Major League in home runs. 
• "Conservative Midland woman funds 'Abortion Barbie' posters in Hollywood". Story and a picture of one in the wild. 
• Both the hottest and ugliest gal (all combined into one person) was at the Detroit/Ranger game yesterday.

Another Person Who Reminds Me Of Someone Else

He's a second grade teacher in the Northeast who got busted for teaching a second grade class while drunk. But change the hair color, and I see a certain beaten down quarterback.

Well, I Was Right About That Blowback Thing

Dallas Observer chimes in.

War On Drugs: Alabama

This video epitomizes the War on Drugs. A round-up of 63 poor and penny-ante drug users. I'm telling you, this silliness keeps cops, jail personnel, prosecutors, defense lawyers and judges in business.

I love the elderly lady at the end of the video. She's lived there close to fifty years and didn't realize it was "that bad." Translated: She's lived there 50 years and all of these 63 Pablo Escobars haven't impacted her one bit.

There has to be a better way. (By the way, I didn't see one guy who was a crackhead who got 'holt of the wrong stuff and thought he was a leprechaun.)

But I love the guy at the :41 mark. "I'm innocent. Roll Tide." An Alabama jury will cut him loose simply for that moment.

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• Mrs. LL found a lost dog yesterday -- it had a collar but no tags. She took it to the vet and no chip was found. Sigh.  On a long shot, I pulled up CraigsList last night to look under lost/found and, with the first click, boom! Found him! I felt like I had just won big at a slot machine. Her owners came over and picked him up in thirty minutes. But get this: They weren't the owners. They were dog-sitters. (Apparently very bad dog sitters.) 
• I'm not making this up: I just looked at my Twitter feed and she found another one this morning. 
• "If I see a black kid in a hoodie on my side of the street, I'll move to the other side of the street." - Mark Cuban.  Yeah, it's a little out of context, but The Smartest Man In The Room is going to receive lots of blowback today. 
• Remember the Texas Supreme Court Justice whose tweeting I find a little odd? Here's and example from last night: "♫ Hey I just met you /and this is crazy / But here's my judicial philosophy / So RT me maybe. ♫" It just weird. 
• "The tea party is running the state. This is not an election about issues. This is an election about our side versus their side, 'our' Republicans versus 'their' Republicans. In other words, it's the Republican civil war." - Texas Monthly on the worst primary season in history. 
• All Ten of the thirteen American Idol winners have been from the South. 2002: Kelly Clarkson-Texas, 2003: Ruben Studdard-Alabama, 2004: Fantasia Barrino-North Carolina, 2005: Carrie Underwood-Oklahoma, 2006: Taylor Hicks-Alabama, 2009: Kris Allen-Arkansas, 2011: Scotty McCreary-North Carolina, 2012: Phillip Phillips-Georgia, 2013: Candice Glover-South Carolina, 2014: Caleb Johnson-North Carolina. What does that mean? I'm not sure.
• Soccer referee is a "Hey, Now."
• I missed Sarah Palin on Hannity last night. If it's online, I'll find it. It's a borderline train wreck every time. 
• The Ticket had a World War II veteran on this morning and Gordon Keith asked the guy, somewhat inappropriately, "Do you remember the first guy you shot?" He answered but he had a hard time doing so. I learned that the hard way a long time ago: The old vets don't like talking about that. I suspect the newer ones don't either. 
• "Slidell High School junior Morgan Barnes clinched a bronze finish in computer applications at the UIL 1A Academic State Meet Wednesday." In all seriousness, does anyone know what's involved in that competition? I'd really like to know.
• Golf fans only: How did this occur in 2010 between Johnny Miller and Jack Nicklaus and no one has ever seen it until this week? 

Sic 'Em, uh, Hook 'Em, uh Go Bulls!

MADRID –  Spanish bulls have scored a symbolic victory at Madrid's prestigious Las Ventas ring by injuring three matadors and forcing organizers to call off the bullfight.

The fight, the 12th of the famed San Isidro festival, was stopped late Tuesday after bulls gored two matadors and tossed a third one into the air.

Las Ventas said it was the first time in 35 years that a fight was stopped at the ring due to matador injuries.

The first torero, David Mora, was still being treated in a Madrid hospital Wednesday but was said to be out of danger. The other two bullfighters were expected to be released from the hospital later.

Video.

I hope one these bulls at least looked at the crowd afterwards and thought, "Are you not entertained?!!"

And maybe the bulls are just sending a little message that the Running of the Bulls this year might be a little different. After years of seeing their ancestors toyed with and slaughtered, it's revenge time. (Not a bad movie idea. Dibbs.)

Arizona High School Dedicates Pages of Yearbook to Student Mothers

Two Mesa High School yearbook pages devoted to students who have children or who are expectant parents have prompted angry calls from parents to the school principal.

Pages 40 and 41 of the school's 255-page yearbook, Superstition Vol. 105, feature the photos and a description of how difficult it is to raise children and attend high school at the same time. The pages are titled "I'm working a double shift."

Principal Jim Souder spent time Monday fielding calls from parents who questioned the wisdom of including photos of expectant students and student parents along with images of students who had won awards or served in school clubs. More.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. Don't want to glorify vs. Don't want to shun.

Daughters of Rich NBA Owners Let Them Take Part In The Draft Last Night

 Twitter liked her.

Her too.

Video of Supercat Throwing Out First Pitch

This is so bizarre, I can't stop looking at it.

And what was up with that ball and string? It looks like it was connected to the ground and either to the cat or the guy. At first I thought things were getting weirder and they were pranking the cat with a tricked up baseball.  But I suppose they had it planned for the ball to actually make it to home plate but it didn't work out. Who would have thought anything could possibly go wrong with a cat throwing a baseball?

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• So odd: Bill O'Reilly last night spent about thirty seconds on the murder charge against The Shield's Michael Jace but he played a clip of the guy's Black Panther rant from Forest Gump. It seemed like the sole purpose was to rile up his white audience. 
• Sports and Sports Media: (1) Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury was on The Ticket yesterday and he really comes across as "Coach Bro" --- but I like the guy. (2) It's stunning that former Ticket personality T.C. Fleming was let go after only two months in Pensacola as host and program director. (3) I may never hear from my Baseball Nemesis again. (4) The NBA lottery was last night. Mediocrity will keep you out of it. (5) Liberally Lean baseball player Chris Davis hit as many home runs last night as Ranger's Prince Fielder has hit all year. (6) That Prince Fielder trade looks crazy bad for the Rangers right now. They've got over 7 1/2 years left on that deal at around $24 million a year. Sheesh. 
• Pretty good stuff from some storm chasers.
• Senate GOP Leader and Tea Party whipping boy Mitch McConnell beat a Tea Party challenger yesterday by a 2 to 1 margin. And his Democratic challenger in the fall is kind of a "Hey, Now."
• A guy up at the courthouse yesterday didn't know who Andy Kaufman was. Then I felt older than dirt when I discovered Kaufman died thirty years ago. 
• I've written about a guy from Highland Park named Chart Westcott who is running for Congress. (He's the guy with the very odd "probationary law license" and a perfect looking Highland Park family.) Yesterday one of his supporters quit after learning Westcott sent out a flyer showing his opponent in a fake mug shot, a bottle of liquor, and a road way with a streak of blood. Good grief. Edit: This race is not for Congress but the Texas House. They spent over $2 million on a Texas House race. Double good grief. 
• I have an incredibly hard time finding anything I've written in the past on here via a Google search which is amazing because this blog is hosted by Google. 
• I want to read this article on the Denton County DA's race but I can't find it on the paper's website . . . 

Above The Fold

Book In Jazz Hands?

Houston story.

Baseball Players Are Odd (And Oblivious)

What A Playa

Scammin' on chicks with the slight of hand.

"There's a right way to do this thing and this is not it."

Bring your appetite... but not your guns.

That's the message from Chipotle after a social media campaign after gun rights activists openly displayed their assault rifles inside one of its restaurants in Dallas this past weekend. More.

Check Out This New McDonald's Promotional Character

Hide yo' wife. Hide yo' kids.

Story.

I'm Starting My "2014 Worst Person In The World" List Early

Random Tuesday Morning ThoughtsR

• The Family Pup loves to put her head on my laptop keyboard which always causes screen chaos.  And I have a hard time disturbing her comfortableness.
• I'm not sure I understand the current VA "controversy". It's been a disaster for as long as I can remember.
• And it is a little odd that the Far Right demands flawless and government provided health care for veterans but opposes any public funded health care for the poor.
• I watched the end of USC/Texas 2006 National Championship game over the weekend. And even as a Baylor fan, I have no problem saying that Vince Young is the greatest college football player ever. 
• We have a male "And Another" out of Denton and a lead paragraph that uses the word "ignominiously." 
• They've shut down Allen High School's $60 million stadium for the fall. Incredible. 
• I don't know anything about Brazil. I don't know anything about the World Cup. But I'm predicting the combination of the two this summer will be a disaster. Crime is crazy (police have already warned tourists "not to fight back") and labor issues will have some of the new stadiums incomplete. 
• The U.S. indicting "five Chinese military officials yesterday for allegedly stealing trade secrets" is simply silly. They'll never stand trial. It's all a waste of time but a way to get some news coverage. I'll accept Eric Holder rants on this one. 
• I'm not saying it'll be cheap, but with the repeal of the Wright Amendment we'll see the cheapest fares in America out of DFW this fall. 
• When Mrs. LL wakes up from a nap, I sometimes stand over her and say, "And you want to be my latex salesman?"
• A guy honked at the Sophomore in the House because she was driving too slowly last night. That really made me mad. 
• David Dewhurst may be the worst campaigner ever. And as I've said before, the man behind his goofy ads is the same guy which was behind Rick Perry's disastrous presidential campaign: Dave Carney. 
• "I Want To Marry [the Fake Prince] Harry" debuts tonight featuring three metroplex women: "The North Texas bachelorettes put to the test are Meghan Jones, 26, an artist from Dallas; Andrea Fox, 25, a technology sales representative from Plano; and Leah Thom, 24, a cocktail waitress from Fort Worth." I could see Mrs. LL getting sucked into this.
• I hate the phrase "we shocked the world" when spoken about any American sports team's accomplishment. And even the highly overrated writer Peter King said it the other day. 
• I love this title of an article written by a relative of a 9/11 victim: The Worst Day Of My Life Is Now New York’s Hottest Tourist Attraction

Where Do I Start?

Houston weather, traffic, news | FOX 26 | MyFoxHouston

Oddest International Video Of The Day

The most confusing video ever? A cougar? In a room? A guy taking a picture of it? A guy who just happens to be from the Middle East kicks him into the cougar as a joke and comes within inches of being mauled? And both of them think it's the greatest knee slapping event in the history of ever?

Stuff like this makes me feel normal.

I Just Thought This Was Fox News Motivated

And I'm still not sure if it is a legitimate story.

Random Concert Review

And to think he once opened Monday Night Football.

Story.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• With her mother's permission, the Sophomore in the House asked if we could host an "after party" for her flute section after some band prom on Saturday night. I, half listening, said "sure." That ended up in an overnight sleepover with thirteen girls. I think that's the number because I hit the bedroom at 10:00 and didn't reappear until almost noon. 
• While stuck in the room, I watched She's Having A Baby while Mrs. LL looking on in bewilderment at how much I love the movie.  I love all of those John Hughes films. 
• The discussion on here on Friday about how some sixteen year olds are in no rush to get their driver's license was fascinating. I had no idea.
• One more thing about the Sophomore, she volunteers to help a group that arranges Sunday afternoon softball games for handicapped kids. Since she doesn't drive, I took her there yesterday and hung around for the game.  If you ever need a reality check, do that. 
• I was watching Fox 4 News late last week when they were airing a story about a kid who had been struck by a train in south Fort Worth while he walked down the tracks. The reporter ended the segment with, "Police have not said whether they will add more officers to this area to monitor the tracks." It was thrown back to Steve Eager who replied, unscripted, to the effect of "And parents need to teach their kids to stay off the tracks." Preach on.
• The Paradise, Texas model is at it again.
• Sir Paul McCartney cancelled a series of shows in Japan. I hope the guy is OK.
• Household water should be more expensive than what it is. 
• The fact that Chewbacca lives in Boyd makes me smile. Now if that town would put his image on the water tower, I'd donate to the cause. 
• I was hearing yesterday that the gal who stormed off the set from that spare Dallas morning talk show is Robert Tilton's daughter. Confirmed? Anyone? 
• I was doing yard work this weekend listening to music (yes, music) and I began to contemplate why I don't listen to music that much. I think it's because I pay too much attention to the music and ignore the lyrics. The dawned on me while I was listening to Peter Gabriel's In Your Eyes and had a stop down moment. 
• Hey, crazy guy who sends in comments about one particular criminal case yelling at me for not posting them. I don't post comments about people I represent. It's called Blog Immunity. 
• The Family Pup wearing a tie and looking very beaten down. 
• "When US companies drug test, they wind up hiring more black people."
• Me, beginning a conversation this weekend with Mrs. LL:  "Hey, you know that song called turned up for something?" Her (smiling diabolically): "Uh, you mean Turnt Down For What?" I'm not sure I've ever been more defeated. 
• The Rangers gave away Prince Fielder bobbleheads on Sunday (does he deserve it?), but they misspelled Arlington. 
• And for those who found a horse named Barry Shortpants, I laughed. Big time.