Bag of Randomness
Monday, October 19, 2026

To my surprise, and perhaps yours, Marion Ross, best known as Mrs. Cunningham on Happy Days, is still alive. She’ll celebrate her 98th birthday this Sunday. Her last screen credit was in 2021. I only know this because I watched Terms of Endearment for the first time over the weekend. And, as I always do, I read the movie’s Wiki and IMDB pages and researched the cast and crew.

Shirley MacLaine (who many forget is Warren Beatty’s sister) and Debra Winger did get along well. MacLaine wrote in her book that Winger once farted on her face, and Winger later confirmed it in an interview.

Jack Nicholson won an Oscar for portraying a retired astronaut from the Apollo program. Amazingly, Burt Reynolds, Harrison Ford, and Paul Newman all turned down the role.

I was surprised to see Danny DeVito in this Oscar-winning film, albeit in a small role. Can you name all the films that DeVito and Jack Nicholson have both been in? How about just the number of films that they have both been in?

The answer is 5.

Film Nicholson’s role DeVito’s role
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) Randle McMurphy Martini
Goin’ South (1978) Henry Moon Hog
Terms of Endearment (1983) Garrett Breedlove Vernon Dahlart
Hoffa (1992) Jimmy Hoffa Bobby Ciaro
Mars Attacks! (1996) President James Dale and Art Land Rude Gambler

I always thought it was cool that early in his career, Nicholson made an appearance on The Andy Griffith Show.

While reading legendary cartoonist Tex Avery’s Wikipedia page, I discovered Bugs Bunny’s iconic catchphrase originated from a Dallas high school.

College football has seen upsets galore this season. The Notre Dame vs. BYU game caught my attention. Steve Young did the intro, which got me thinking that it would have been a cool thing to see both him and Joe Montana as honorary captains before the game. But that would probably be best for a bowl or playoff game.

This also happened.


Speaking of Steve Young, I always thought it was cool how Bill Bates helped him up and gave him a hug at the end of this game.

It seems like Joe Buck and Troy Aikman have a strained relationship. I’ve admired Aikman as a football player, but have always felt he was thin-skinned. There have been a few moments on The TICKET he’s appeared to be easily offended. He’s hinted that he’s entertained the idea of working as a GM of an NFL franchise, but stated his daughters were too young and he’d like to have some experience before diving in. Well, his daughters are adults, and he’s been a paid advisor for the Dolphins. So, I expect after he and Buck broadcast the Super Bowl this season, that’s the last we’ll see him in the booth. I’m sure he wants to do something new after spending more than a quarter century doing the same job. And if that does happen, I have a crazy prediction. He’s going to offer Bob Sturm a job, who used to work for Aikman, doing something with stats, I think.

That Tesla demonstration was amazing. I’m surprised we’ve never seen a James Bond or a Batmobile do something like that. But, Tesla didn’t have the first car that could hang upside down.

Coogler makes some great stuff, but I’m awfully skeptical.

Ryan Coogler’s ‘X-Files’ Reboot Picked Up to Series at Hulu

I could never find an update to this story:

Man dies after jumping or falling from Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells, police say

However, a friend has told me it was a suicide. He was the ex-husband of one of my classmates. They have two adult children.

High school QB dismissed from team after calling audible, 12 teammates suspended for supporting him

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Monday, October 19, 2026

Bag of Randomness
Monday, October 12, 2026

Oh man, what a horrible three days if you happen to be both a Cowboys and a Longhorns fan. On Friday, I said all the makings of a rivalry upset were there, and that was certainly the case. Previously, I said that Texas was a soft number one, and that couldn’t be more true. I cheer for the team, but I do my best to live in reality.

McMurry University has a very unique-looking field.

This has to be the most incredible play in football this year.

Talk about precise work.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ip-TBPtSONM

Considering how the NFL has changed the game to favor the passing game, it’s amazing the single-game passing record still stands after 75 years, and was set by a backup quarterback, no less.

This unbelievable NFL record was set 75 years ago and somehow still stands – Norm Van Brocklin threw for 554 yards on September 28, 1951

The current administration wants to kill electric vehicles, but there seems to be a demand.

I’ve always wondered how ants handled rain.

This man has been fact-checking President Trump for ten years. If Trump ever throws out a number or says an unnamed person refers to him as “sir,” it’s a lie.

Love this man, and I’ve read more of his books than any other author.

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Monday, October 12, 2026

Bag of Randomness
Friday, October, 9, 2026

Well, if Trump is looking for a way to fire up his base, I suppose a livestream death execution is one way to do it.

Speaking of the death penalty, and I’m not even advocating for or aginst it, but I’m trying to imagine what it’s like living the majority of your life with a death sentence hanging over you. Then, the moment comes. I imagine the night before would be horrid. Then, being strapped down on a table, saying your goodbyes, and finally accepting your fate. The emotional turmoil of thinking these are the last seconds of your life, only to wake up outside of prison walls and ultimately contemplating if you’d be forced to go through that again.

Oh, happy Friday, folks!

There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that the Cowboys were going to play awful last night. When everyone is overwhelmingly picking them to blow out a winless team with an undrafted quarterback, it just had the makings of an underperformance. Heck, the game looked like a live stream of an execution of America’s Team.

Despite the outcome last night, it was interesting watching Deak Presco

Likewise, the Longhorns should win tomorrow, but all the makings of a rivalry upset are there. I’ve seen it too many times being on the other side of a rivalry.

Speaking of which, even though this was Vince Young’s first play in the Red River Rivalry, the Longhorns still lost.

Somewhat related, and in some ways more impressive, was Arch Manning’s first play against the Aggies, a 15-yard rushing touchdown on a fourth-and-two. It’s the making of a legend.

Oldie, but a goodie. And, not AI generated.

I’ll be honest, I was totally unfamiliar with the term “receivership.”

Vanderbilt Divinity School is under receivership. No one seems to know why

(RNS) — One of the nation’s most prestigious divinity schools has been placed in receivership, leading to speculation that the school might close or change drastically.

“After careful consideration, including an independent review, we have placed our Divinity School in receivership as a mechanism for renewal,” a spokesperson for Vanderbilt University told RNS in an email. “Over the next two years we will work to position the school for long-term success, investment and growth.”

Details about the receivership have been hard to come by. There has been no public announcement and little comment from the university’s leadership outside of news reports, leading to speculation among alumni that the school would close.

Link

I feel so sorry that most of the nation also has to suffer Texas political ads by the GOP.

Why Ken Paxton, and his wife, were all over your TV on NFL Sunday

Why? In short, it’s actually cheaper to pay for an ad the whole country will see rather than advertising just to Texans.

The cost to air a single 30-second spot in the big four Texas markets (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin) during Cowboys-Texans was more than *$2M*

I forgot this was the same game that Payton made that beautiful goal-line leap into the end zone with his feet tucked to his chest.

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Friday, October, 9, 2026

Bag of Randomness
Monday, October 5, 2026

I remember playing Tecmo Bowl against one of my brother’s friends late one evening. He made a flippant comment when I decided to go for it on fourth down that has stuck with me ever since: “Landry would have punted.” For the last 40 years, I’ve looked for opportunities to say it. It never applied better than yesterday, when Dallas head coach Brian Schottenheimer chose to kick a field goal late in the first half. The field goal fell short, giving the Texans great field position and allowing them to score before the half.

It’s tough watching Pam Oliver do sideline reporting. Her speech is severely impacted, and my heart goes out to her. As for her condition, the only information I can find online is that she suffers from serious migraines. I’m no doctor, but it seems like it’s gotta be something more than just migraines.

That juke was so good he broke the other guy’s ankles.

Dakota Johnson hosted SNL and turned 37 at midnight. According to this Buzzfeed writer,

In 52 years of SNL history, three celebs started hosting on their actual birthday: Rob Lowe, Calista Flockhart, and Peyton Manning, while another four hosted on their birthday after midnight: Ellen Burstyn, Chevy Chase, Ashton Kutcher, and now Dakota

CBS and Tony Romo have parted ways. His job went to JJ Watt. I thought this was an underrated tweet.

The story behind the tradition:

 

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Monday, October 5, 2026