Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• The Aggie Bonfire tragedy was twenty years ago this morning.  Twenty years. I've said it before: If you ever get a chance to visit the memorial site on campus you need it to do it. 
  
  
• Remember that prostitution sting at the Radisson in Fort Worth of Meacham Boulevard? The  the Fort Worth PD implied that prostitutes were using the hotel as a base instead of clearly stating the sting involved cops at the hotel baiting prostitutes to come to them. The hotel was not pleased.  Fort Worth PD must be nervous because they issued a press release to clear it up. What's even more unusual is that the department admitted it "caused the hotel's reputation to be questioned and caused the hotel to lose a significant amount of revenue." Not "may have caused" but actually "caused." 
  
• A 16 year old Allen High School student was shot dead at a "house party" on Saturday night. Yesterday in Fresno, four were shot dead and six were wounded at a "football watching party." 
• Trump made an unplanned trip to the hospital over the weekend. He later claimed it was just part of a "physical", but we all know that's a lie. I wonder what happened? And for a guy who is all about optics, how in the world did anyone convince him that he needed to go to the hospital? And what was wrong that his on-site White House physician couldn't handle it? He was walking just fine when he left to go there.
  
• I wouldn't rule out stress finally getting to Trump: 
• (1) The impeachment hearings have him really bent out of shape. He's firing off a constant Twitter storm, 
• (2) He was accused of witness intimidation on Friday -- even by Fox News, 
• (3) He's mad at his Secretary of State for naming impeachment witness Bill Taylor a diplomat to Ukraine, 
• (4) He just called another witness, one of Mike Pence's top aide's, a "never Trumper", 
• (5) He got into some type of tiff with AG Barr in the Oval Office delaying a campaign trip to Louisiana by 30 minutes, and
• (6) That trip to Louisiana (and three others) to support a Republican gubernatorial candidate resulted in a defeat on Saturday. Trump doesn't like being associated with a "loser."
• Decatur's Police Chief Rex Hoskins is running for  constable in the Decatur-intensive Precinct 1. He has a genius platform: If he wins, he'll quit his 30+ year job as Decatur Police Chief.  If you like Rex (and I really do), you'll vote for him because you like him. But if you're a Decatur resident who wants him booted as chief of police, well, you'll vote for him, too.
• From the corrupt Texas county that brought you the wrongful conviction of Michael Morton, we have another! If a child "victim" says she doesn't remember (because there might not be anything to remember), a prosecutor has to disclose that information.
  
  
  
  
• Trump's buddy Roger Stone was convicted on Friday.  
• Why was this guy so close to the White House? Who is he? (Video.)
  
• Random observation: I didn't know that in federal court the jury informed the judge they had a verdict by sending a note. In every Texas state court I've seen the jury just opens the door and tells the bailiff they have a verdict or, in high tone counties, there is a light switch or buzzer the jury can push. 
  
• That Baylor/OU game was the most insane thing I've ever watched. Yes, it was gut-wrenching. But to prove to you what a Sports Genius I am, look at my text with a family member when Baylor was up 28-3.
  
• Mrs. LL and I watched that game in a bizarre way -- one I've just discovered. We chose ESPN's "Skycam" broadcast. It uses just the camera hovering over the field and none other, and you can only hear the sounds from the stadium. No play-by-play or color. It's as close to being there as you can get. (And there's less commercials, the camera hovers over the scoring bench during extra points, and, much to Mrs. LL's delight, it shows the band at halftime.)

  

  Chip and Joanne were the "guest pickers" on College Game Day in Waco.

• Get ready for your annual fraudulent story involving a reporter standing in DFW Airport claiming it is the "busiest travel day of the year." The Dallas Morning News starts us off. 
  
• Well, it actually happened. These two Biblical scholars got together this weekend. 

  

  "Closed on Sunday, you're my Chick-fil-A" 

• Bud Kennedy celebrated 32 years as a columnist at the Star-Telegram by posting this picture. I have never forgotten that headline after I saw it in news racks in downtown Fort Worth at the time.  There's something just so insane about it. I don't if was the use of the word "Slain" (not "killed") or that fact it was a "Poodle" (not "dog"). And the fact it was an "Archer" really put it over the top. 
  
• Nope. Tariffs are paid by the American taxpayer. And most people call giving cash from one taxpayer to another "socialism."
  
• Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa is about to have hip surgery in Houston. It will truly do your heart good to hear him singing and playing a ukulele. Turn the sound on. That's a heck of a voice.
  
  
  
• Trump just tweeted he is "strongly considering" testifying. Place your bets.