Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

• Wise County: Active cases: 40. Number sitting in a lab waiting for someone to analyze it: 399.
• Texas: We might be plateauing but, if so, we sure are doing it at a high elevation when compared to prior peaks. It'll be weeks before we get back to April numbers -- and we thought April numbers were bad. And, if that even happens, it will probably be just in time for the second wave. Oh, we still set a Texas record for hospitalizations yesterday.
  
  
  
  
• The new UIL rules for Texas high school football are a mess. 
• Delayed: 5A/6A can begin practice on September 7th with games on September 24th.
• For 4A and below, amazingly, they can fire up practice on August 3rd and begin games on August 27th.   Sheesh. August 3rd is less than 2 weeks away.
• Stricter county rules will trump any UIL rules (i.e. Tarrant County).
• From a health standpoint, I'm stunned by the go-ahead they gave the smaller schools. This is a prime example that we have no idea how to handle the pandemic. Hey, kids, are you so scared for your health that you want to opt for virtual learning from home? Fine with us. You want us to sanction you rolling around in a pile 22 sweaty guys on a field? Fine with us, too. 
• From a practical standpoint, scheduling just got turned into chaos for a lot of schools.  In early September, lots of 5A schools were scheduled to play a lot of 4A schools.
• Also factor in that schools are allowed to ban sports participation if a student opts for a virtual classroom. (Chico Paradise ISD had done this.)
• Fan seating is to be at 50% with appropriate distancing. Good luck with that. We all know the most reasonable people in the world are the parents of high school athletes when they attend little Johnny's game.
• The UIL will change its mind at the drop of a hat. Get ready.
  
  
• Thoughts and prayers to anyone in any position of authority who has to make opening/closing decisions during this pandemic. I wouldn't want your job. 
• How did he screw up this softball question?
  
• The New York Times has another corruption scoop. Back in the day what used to be a scandal which would rock a presidency to its core will now just fade into the background in 48 hours.
  
• Last night the Colorado Rockies did a bit on Twitter taking a shot at your Texas Rangers' new ballpark. They soon deleted it. Come on, that was funny. 
  
• An "And Another" who just happened to be Miss Kentucky 2014 was sentenced to two years in the hoosegow.  
  
• Vikings PR guy: "I've got an idea. Let's create a way where our fans can create a split screen of them catching a virtual pass from our QB at training camp. What could go wrong?"
  
• This was on the cover of the Star-Telegram home page. I'm very confused about this photo and wonder where it is from. I see a lack of uniforms, a possible tackle despite the lack of pads, a holding penalty, odd and inconsistently used headgear, and some conditioning issues. (My detective work indicates it is from Kennedale.)
  
• Sad to see the obituary of Edna Fitzgerald in the local paper. For years, she was a sweetheart of a lady who, at the Wise County Jail, would work the front desk and treated everyone who walked in with respect and a smile.  She'd actually yell, "Barry!" at me every time I walked through the door. Then she'd give me the business for all the trouble I was causing. 
• Messenger: Above the Fold