Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• For some reason Mrs. LL and I watched the first episode of Green Acres the other night. Let me tell you something: That was some pretty witty humor. (And I never knew that Eddie Albert's character, the guy who just walked away to live on a farm, was a lawyer who was sick of his job.)
• This is what ethical journalism looks like: 
  
• Because of job obligations, I've spent time with the Decatur Police of Chief over the last few months. I can't tell you how much I often agree with him when he fires off hot opinions. I know why he has kept his job for over 30 years -- a feat which is almost impossible in America.
• There was an Andy Griffith Show episode where Andy walked into the house of a guy firing all around him as a "state agent" from Mount Pilot was there to monitor Andy's office. The state agent, in his suit and tie, was horrified. Andy went in, got the shooter, and walked him out without handcuffs. The agent then berates Andy because "You could have been killed!" I'm paraphrasing, but Andy says, "I've known him for years. He could shoot the ear off a flea at 30 paces if he wanted to."  That's why veteran small town police are the best police.
• I've never understood the old white man's desire to do a "thumbs up" in a photo. Nice diversity, by the way:
  
• There were six people killed in a fiery plane crash in Phoenix shortly after it took off. I find this stunning: Their ages ranged from 22 to 28.
  
• Is there any fast food restaurant which serves grilled cheese sandwiches? (Asking for a friend.)
• The Republicans have controlled the Presidency, the House, and the Senate for well over a year. An opportunity to do anything they want has turned into chaos. 
• And we will all miss the Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, who is running away from one of the strongest positions in American government. (He used the age old lame excuse that he "wanted to spend more time with my family.") Uh, why was he in Texas last week raising at least $4 million in fundraisers for his campaign? Can Texas Republicans get their money back?:
  
• During a confirmation hearing for one of Trump's federal judges yesterday, she refused to admit that Brown v. Board of Education was correctly decided. Think about that. It is shocking.  I never thought I would see the resurrection of the Klan during my lifetime. They no longer wear white hoods.
  
• There is no greater coward than an American League pitcher who intentionally hits someone. (And I love the batter who who will go after the pitcher as was the case in Boston last night. Not a bad brawl, by the way.)
• A few years back I said that government jobs were now the best jobs. I stumbled on this from the great Texas Tribune when I was trying to look for the starting salary of a new assistant DA in Tarrant County. These figures (which are old from 2016) do not include retirement and insurance. I know some of the people on that list. I don't think they could survive in the private sector. 
  
• Part of the Mark Zuckerberg testimony turned into "content control" as Ted Cruz said this: "There are a great many of Americans deeply concerned Facebook and other tech companies are engaged in a pervasive pattern of bias and political censorship." He actually was mad about Facebook "censoring" the clown car of Diamond and Silk. Has America come to this? Facebook can censor anything they want to and there is not a single thing the government can do about it. It's called the First Amendment. Cruz knows this. He's just playing the Texas voters for fools. Edit: I love the comment that said Cruz didn't mention Diamond and Silk and I was just making it up. 
  
• Trump warned Russia and Syria that missiles were coming yesterday. Today he said maybe now, maybe later. Dear readers, we will end up in a thermo-nuclear war because of an unstable elected celebrity who gets up every morning, watches Fox News, and gets on Twitter. 
• Shout to the person who pulled me aside yesterday to tip me off to government waste in Wise County. I'm on it.