Skattershooting again . . . .

• Has anyone else noticed the small cemetery about five miles this side of Denton on the north side of highway 380? It looks like a heck of a lot different than the typical Judeo-Christian cemetery. I get this weird feeling  that when somebody dies of that particular faith (whatever that might be), they are immediately taken there and buried.
• Back during the "Chinese Crisis", the US released photos of the downed pilot of China when he previously was hot-dogging around one of our planes. I was very confused to see the Chinese plane have the english numerals "81192" on the side of it. Shouldn't that have been written in Chinese?
• Earlier this year, Texas A&M fullback Ja'Mar Toombs decided to forego his senior year of eligibility and declared himself eligible for the NFL draft. Well, the draft came and went this month and Toombs was passed over by every single team.
• Speaking of the draft, did you know that the second round pick of the Cowboys, Quincy Carter, threw five (count 'em, five) interceptions last year against South Carolina?
• So Hollywood released the movie "Josie and the Pussycats" this month. Someone want to explain to me why they wanted to make a movie about a cartoon that no one ever watched?
• I am intimidated by the menu at Starbucks.
• Here's a question: When a guardrail along an interstate is damaged, why does the highway department immediately put up signs that say "Guardrail Damage Ahead"? What am I supposed to do when I see the warning?
• There is no greater spokesperson against the War on Drugs than New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson.
• Speaking of the failed War on Drugs, are any of you far right wingers disturbed by the shooting death of the seven month old baby of a missionary in Peru? "The Peruvian air force mistook the small aircraft for a drug plane and opened fire. It was acting on information from a U.S. surveillance plane, whose crew was contracted by the Central Intelligence Agency".
• "Blow", by the way, was a  pretty good movie.
• If I told you that a robotic, unmanned airplane was able to cross the Pacific Ocean for the first time, (1) when would you guess it occurred, and (2) how newsworthy would it be? Answer: (1) It happened this month, and (2) the Dallas Morning News reported it in a one paragraph story on p. 7A of its April 24, 2001 edition.
• I wonder what the salary is of MADD spokesperson Bill Lewis.
• The Texas House of Representatives voted in favor of the ridiculous "hate crimes" legislation the other day. Talk about partisan politics: Democrats in the House were in favor of it 77-0 while Republican opposed it 10-60. And the press simply reports that the bill passed "87-60".
• Fourteen years ago, fresh out of law school, my secretary asked me if I wanted free Dallas Mavericks tickets. Incredibly, it was to Game Three of the conference finals against the L.A. Lakers. Little did I know the significance of who I was watching: Rolando Blackman, Mark Aguirre, Roy Tarpley, Derrick Harper, Sam Perkins, Detleff Schremph, Magic Johnson, Byron Scott,  James Worthy, A.C. Green, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
• Isn't it a bid odd that Magic Johnson was diagnosed as HIV Positive about ten years ago and now he's doing Coors commercials?
• The guy that created www.wife-beaters.com is nothing more than a salesman looking for free publicity. Nevertheless, the media is going wacky over the guy.
• I'm certainly a fan of free speech, but I'm not real fond of Molly Ivins referring to the President as "Dubya" nor am I particularly pleased with Blackie "Remember the Good Old Days" Sherrod's reference to Troy Aikman as "Troy Boy".
• This sentence comes from a review in the Dallas Morning News about the Paul Simon concert the other night at the Smirnoff Music Centre: "Mr. Simon and his 11-man multiethnic band . . . are one of the greatest dance bands in rock today."  Huh? Dance band?
• "Neither in French nor in English nor in Mexican" - President Bush on not taking questions at a photo-op with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrestien. (Newsweek p. 23, 4/30/01)
• Did you know that we have not had a U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas since January when Paul Coggins resigned?
• From the "Department of Can't Get Enough Publicity So I'll Make Some": Garth Brooks allegedly offered a portion of his liver to Chris LeDoux who needed a new one last fall.  I hate the guy so much I can't stand it.
• Mark Cuban is known for his hard work and hard play. Did you see that during a post game interview after the Mavs first game playoff loss to Utah that his nose started bleeding?
• The U.S. Supreme Court recently OK'd the amazing practice of police arresting folks for Class C misdemeanors. The Texas Legislature had already allowed police officers to arrest citizens for all Class C violations with the exception of speeding and, get this, having an open container of alcohol.
• There is a new commercial on TV depicting a teacher who has the new "invisible braces". Why does she need braces? She has the straightest teeth in the Southwest Proper.
• David Letterman is not funny. My theory: If you stand in front of a crowd night after night that is willing to  howl with laughter no matter what you say, you will eventually lose touch with what makes the common man laugh.
• I rarely watch Ally McBeal anymore but I was impressed with tonight's episode that included Robert "I'm Going to Jail" Downey, Jr; Paul "Pee Wee Herman" Rubens; and Sting. Not bad at all.
• The Texas Legislature is trying to do away with the popular election of appellate judges (you know, those names on the ballot that are soooooo familiar to you) with a process that involves gubernatorial appointments. Thought you would want to know that two of the worst legislators voted against the measure: Jane Nelson and Florence Shaperio.
• Why shouldn't eight-liners and other video gambling games be legal? If a person wishes to throw away his own money, so be it. Should government tell him he can't?
• President Bush, on Good Morning America, said that the US would back Taiwan if it were attacked by China. Prior to that moment, the US had an intentionally "ambiguous policy" on the matter. This policy would encourage Taiwan not to declare its independence (since it would not know that we back it up) and, if it did, would not encourage China to attack (since it couldn't be sure we wouldn't defend Taiwan). Up until the other day, I had no idea such a policy existed. I have a sneaking suspicion that President Bush didn't either.
• As of today, no Texas Ranger starting pitcher has an ERA less that 6.33.
• Everytime you see a news report of a video camera being used to catch a speeder or red light violator, it is a bunch of bull. You are not responsible if your car commits a traffic violation. You are responsible if you commit such a violation. However, proof of your car going through an intersection is no proof that you were driving it at the time.