BagOfNothing.com

I'd love to have a copy of that book, even if it is a reprint. 
But I'd rather have a new job of all things.

It was a pleasant surprise to see the Mom Game podcast on local television. I’m not sure how long Julie Dobbs and Emily Jones (both local sports personalities) have been on TV, but last night they had Troy Aikman on the show, via the phone. Come on, Troy, you couldn’t do a Zoom call to help the girls out? I’m kidding, that really doesn’t annoy me. Aikman talked about how he would and always will open the door for his daughters, and how one daughter used to make a game of who could open the door first for the other when she was younger. Aikman shared a moment when he told his little girl that it may be a game now, but it doesn’t matter how old you get, I will always open the door for you. He also added that if any guy wouldn’t be willing to hold the door open for her, then he isn’t worth her time. I thought he had some good stuff to share, especially about being a divorced father of daughters. Hey, I can certainly relate. Divorce keeps my daughter away from me more than I would like, and I often worry that I don’t get to spend enough “regular time” around her to share some fatherly wisdom.

I literally cannot remember a time when Clarice Tinsley has not been broadcasting the news on KDFW. I still remember being impressed when the station held a special 25-year celebration for her, thinking how close I was to that number in age and how that was an enormous amount of time. Now, as I approach 50 (next month) and she celebrates her 46th year at the station, I laugh at my young adult self for thinking 25 years was a grandious amount of time. The perception of time is a lot different after you’ve lived enough life to actually have some “real” perspective to look back on. Sure, it’s a significant amount of time, but I wasn’t able to comprehend or appreciate time until I realized how I have more days behind me than in front of me. And I often think about my father, how he already spent 28 years in the military and didn’t have his first child until half a decade later. He had an entire life before he knew me, and all I knew of him was the last third of his life.

It’s the 50th anniversary of Jaws. It still amazes me that the film premiered in Dallas, of all places, because the Medallion Theater was a good luck theater for 29-year-old Stephen Spielberg. He was pacing at the back of the theater at the time, trying to interpret the audience’s reactions. Two years later, he came back to the Medallion to hold the first test run showing of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. But I mention all that just to say that despite hearing this fact multiple times, it finally registered with me. Jaws was the very first summer blockbuster film. And, it all started in Dallas. Crazy, huh?

• How Dallas JAWS test screening changed the film (and cinema) forever
• The night ‘Jaws’ premiered in Dallas, with Spielberg nervously watching in the audience. The Medallion Theatre at 125 Medallion Center, Dallas, was chosen to be the site of the first public screening of “Jaws.”

Random advice I read in a newsletter I thought worthy to share:

If you’re trying to retain new knowledge, create space for insight. This might mean stepping away from the probleIt’m, walking outside, getting sleep, or doing something unrelated so your subconscious can connect the dots.

When the solution finally hits, you’ll not only solve the problem, you’ll remember it longer, too, and be able to apply those lessons to other problems you want to solve.

It’s not even just insight, but there have been plenty of times I just wanted to complete or wrap something up and couldn’t figure it out or get things right, and stayed stuck there in frustration. But over the years, I’ve learned sometimes I just need to step away for ten minutes or even go do something else or sleep on it, and when I return, I’m shocked at how quickly I was able to wrap it all up because all I did was take a break and get a fresh perspective.

It’s a darn shame about all the flooding in Central Texas, especially all the missing children. The Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes. Amazing. When asked about the weather forecast, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem tried to get in front of the news and blasted the outdated technology behind the government’s weather alert system, “We needed to renew this ancient system that has been left in place with the federal government for many, many years, and that is the reforms that are ongoing there.”

What she and the administration won’t tell you is that the staff and resources were adequate until the new Trump Administration and DOGE took an axe to the National Weather Service to fight what they consider the false climate change narrative.

Texas officials were also quick to pounce on the NWS.

You’re going to see a lot more stuff like this creep into the news in different forms. Eventually, something regarding food and water is going to be overlooked for the same reasons, as will many medical and healthcare issues.

Dallas renames lakes along the Trinity River to honor Native American tribes

He proposes to his visually impaired girlfriend using the Braille alphabet! pic.twitter.com/yy9yptts3w

— This Account Makes You Happy (@FeelYouHappy) June 23, 2025

• Shaq was recently interviewed about his favorite places in the Metroplex. His favorite restaurant is the same as mine, Babe’s.
• The average weight for women in the United States is about 170 pounds, and the average height is 5 feet 3 inches.
• I wonder when digital IDs like state driver’s licenses will become commonplace. To be honest, I’m surprised it hasn’t happened. This article refers to them as a  “Mobile Driver’s License.” While the name makes sense, if you think about it for a moment, it’s kinda funny. It almost sounds redundant, because you need a driver’s license to operate a “mobile” vehicle, so they already are a mobile driver’s license, but they mean in this text as being on your mobile phone, or digital device. Almost a fifth of our states allow them; they are:
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Iowa
  • Maryland
  • New Mexico
  • Ohio
  • Puerto Rico
• Meet the Oregon lawyer who dresses like it’s 1893
  
  I know you are wondering if she shows up to court like Mary Poppins. Nope, the 27-year-old attorney is smart enough to know boundaries. You know, I often try to save you a click by providing the one or two main things in an article. I’ve wondered if any of you’ve noticed or appreciate it.
• I always thought “alumnus” or “alumni” or their variations meant someone who had technically graduated from a particular school or university, not just attended. But, I guess I’m wrong. It means either.
  
  
  
  This all came about because I heard someone, a non-alumnus of the University of Texas, mention that Jon Hamm was a UT alumnus. He attended, but never graduated. So, I guess he is, technically.
  
  
  
  That reminded me of the time I wrote about Marina Oswald and the University of Michigan’s website referring to her, Lee Harvey Oswald’s widow, JFK’s assassin, something most institutions would shy away from, as an “alumna of Michigan.”
  
  
  
  Depending on how you look at things, I might be a University of Texas alum. But I tread lightly because I don’t want to be a poser or steal any valor. I don’t want to be all hat and no cattle, but I earned a business certificate from the university, taking several classes on the Austin campus. So, I still think it’s a stretch.
  
  How did all of this come about? This recent article, and yes, it out ranks the greatness that is Rice: UT Austin crowned best university in Texas, leads in global ranks – When narrowing it down to U.S. higher ed facilities, UT-Austin rounded out the Top 20 — the only Texas school among the nation’s most elite universities.
  
  
  
  It must be embarrassing for Baylor folk to see their school ranked lower than UT Dallas, the University of North Texas, UT Arlington, and UT San Antonio.
• The safest driving city in the U.S. is in Texas, according to report – Allstate analyzed data related to auto insurance claims in the 200 most-populated U.S. cities to create the 2025 America’s Best Drivers Report.
  
  

• And to think people didn’t take the Pentagon Pizza Report seriously.
  
  Did pizza orders predict US strike on Iran? – Social media account spots surge near Pentagon; alerts surfaced just before Trump confirmed bombing
  
• The most astonishing thing that happened regarding the U.S. bombing of Iran is that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth didn’t somehow leak anything regarding the mission on any non-government secure or non-secure messaging app.
• I’m not saying bombing Iran is the right or wrong decision. But I know a lot of Evangelicals were more than pleased that President Trump referred to God during his address to the nation confirming the bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
  
  “And, in particular, God. I want to just say, we love you, God, and we love our great military. Protect them. God bless the Middle East. God bless Israel and God bless America.”
  
  I understand their desire to spread the gospel of Christ and to glorify God’s kingdom. But I don’t think they will take the time to consider how non-Christian leaders and the rest of the population of Iran will interpret those words as a start to a holy war in the name of the Christian God. That has me concerned about what kind of retaliation supporters of Iran will take against the U.S.. I’m not talking about missiles or soldiers, I’m concerned about acts of random terrorism, such as mass shootings or suicide bombers, in high-traffic and populated areas and events. Thankfully, our government is proactive on this stuff and has a 22-year-old guy leading terrorism prevention. Seriously.
  
  
• It’s interesting that President Trump chose to be flanked by Vice President Pence, Defense Secretary Hagel, and Marco Rubio, who is handling the demanding jobs of both Secretary of State and National Security Advisor. It’s not like him to share credit. So, I think this may be a good thing. However, I also suspect it was done to help boost the image of the men, who the majority of the public feels are under-performing.
  
• I’m trying to imagine what I would think as a senior in high school in 1994 if I were told that not only is Donald Trump re-elected as President, but the Oklahoma City NBA franchise also wins the NBA Finals.
• While I don’t like the idea of war, I have to admit, that was a pretty bad ass and impressive technological mission the U.S. military pulled off.
• What’s up with Republican presidents always starting wars or dropping bombs in the Middle East? I think we all understood Desert Storm was justified. But then the next President Bush claimed there was evidence of weapons of mass destruction and went to war with Iraq. We later found out that was false evidence; WMDs were never found, and Colin Powell’s reputation was tarnished. Now, President Trump, with U.S. intelligence stating Iran was not building a nuclear weapon, decided to drop bombs. I wonder if there will ever be evidence. Evidence or not, it doesn’t matter; conservatives love to bomb the Middle East. No wonder they are so paranoid.
• Apple should create an AI version of Steve Jobs to handle all their future press presentations and conferences.
• It’s sad that anytime you want to attend a Texas Rangers game, you have to factor in at least $20 for parking.
• Credit to Gov. Greg Abbott for vetoing the THC bill. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick must be clutching his pearls. Something went on behind the scenes for all this unnecessary drama to happen. Abbott was abnormally quiet. Probably blackmail.
• Texas governor signs bill banning Chinese citizens from buying property in the state – The initiative allows those who hold valid US visas to purchase property, but only if the property is used as a primary residence
• Republican representative’s ectopic pregnancy clashes with Florida abortion law – Kat Cammack blames left’s fearmongering after medical staff hesitated to give her drugs needed to end pregnancy
• United Airlines Sued For Kicking Wrong Asian Woman Off Flight – United Airlines is facing a discrimination lawsuit, as an Asian woman claims she was kicked off a United flight simply because she was mistaken for another Asian passenger seated several rows away from her
• North Koreans fight over feces as annual ‘compost battle’ begins – Impossible government quotas make people turn violent as they try to get enough poop to make fertilizer.
• Man allegedly admitted to killing neighbors at nudist resort over a hot dog, detective testifies

• Full turn. pic.twitter.com/7tmGU8d5Zz

  — The Figen (@TheFigen_) June 21, 2025

• I’m sorry to only post twice a week; I’ll try to pick up the pace. I also hope I can find a job soon; it’s tough out there.
• I think my next mini-vacation road trip will be to the LBJ Ranch or the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
• Nails on a chalkboard – Anytime CBS airs a Big Brother commercial in which everyone whispers.
• Glad to see Rick Carlisle’s Indiana Pacers win last night to take it to a game seven. He took them to the Finals before only to come up short; hopefully, he can finish the job this time. It was nice to see him grow into a better, or at least a nicer and more appreciative person, during his years in Dallas. How often do you hear of a head coach attending a fan’s funeral?
• When I saw this headline I thought it couldn’t be true – The U.S. Army swore in four senior executives with ties to technology companies Meta, Palantir and OpenAI as lieutenant colonels in 2025. 
  
  But according to Snopes, it is.
• But can they have frickin lasers on their heads?
  
  Florida Republican Proposes New ICE Detention Center Surrounded by Alligators
• War is Hell.
  
  Netanyahu stuns Israelis by describing ‘personal cost’ of Iran war – postponing son’s wedding
• Minnesota’s Hormel sues Wisconsin’s Johnsonville alleging stolen sausage secrets
• Albeit, in France – Netflix will start showing traditional broadcast channels next summer
• On one of the dating apps, a woman’s initial message to me asked me exactly how bad my back is and exactly how much I dislike modern country music, and does that include Texas Red Dirt? Even though modern country music is the Special Olympics of music, I do have an appreciation for other forms of country; it’s the bro-country that kills me.
• There is a local connection to the two massive flagpoles that President Trump had installed on the White House’s North Lawn and south side.
  
  A Plano small business, US Flag & Flagpole Supply, is having its flags and two 80-foot flagpoles permanently installed at the White House today.
  
  
  
  
  Personally, I liked the traditional look of Old Glory flying atop the White House. These are almost too big and gaudy.
• In other White House landscaping news, the Rose Garden is getting paved over. I hear Trump believes there’s a draining issue and doesn’t like the soft ground that chair legs stick into. But, let’s make up a conspiracy theory, that’s more fun. Perhaps this is a cover for something secret they are installing, like a super weapon or a safety shelter.
  
  
• In case you missed it, the Stanley Cup was damaged during the Florida Panthers’ celebration of their victory. I’ve heard it often gets damaged and repaired, but incidents like this are probably out of the norm.
  
  
• 75,000 pounds of THC products seized in DFW raids as Texas Gov. Abbott weighs statewide ban
• This is insane. It’s two weeks old, but I’m just now seeing it. The new administration has changed the process for applying for a job with the federal government. Take a look at question number three. How the heck is a freshman out of college applying for a call center job answer this?
  The Trump administration is adding four essay questions to applications for civil service jobs, asking applicants about their favorite executive orders and their commitment to government efficiency.
  
  The essay requirements apply even to relatively lower-level jobs starting at the GS-5 pay scale or above—positions that can begin at base salaries as low as $32,357. Those jobs include nursing assistants, park rangers and firefighters.
  
  The new questions, outlined in a memo from the Office of Personnel Management on Thursday, include ones that could give insight into the applicant’s political philosophy for civil service jobs that are supposed to be nonpartisan.
  
  The Four Questions:
  1. Constitutional Commitment: How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government?
  2. Government Efficiency: How would you use your skills to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Cite specific examples.
  3. Policy Alignment: How would you help advance the President’s Executive Orders and policy priorities? Reference initiatives that resonate with you.
  4. Work Ethic: How has your work ethic shaped your achievements? Link your personal traits to professional readiness. 
  

  I’m floored that this is being covered more by the media.