Bag of Ramdomness
Thursday, June 26, 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.

Posted in Personal | Comments Off on Bag of Ramdomness
Thursday, June 26, 2025

Your Daily Bag of Nothing
Monday, June 23, 2025

  • 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

Posted in Personal | Comments Off on Your Daily Bag of Nothing
Monday, June 23, 2025

Your Bag of Nothing for Friday, June 20, 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.

Posted in Personal | Comments Off on Your Bag of Nothing for Friday, June 20, 2025

Your Bag of Nothing for Monday, June 16, 2025

  • Standing in a slow-moving line to purchase some food, an older, white-bearded gentleman behind me asked me, out of the blue, if I liked the outdoors. I said that while I don’t hunt or camp, I do like the outdoors. He then pulled out his phone and started showing me some photos of rattlesnakes he had caught on the land he owns in the panhandle. I told him I spent some time in Abilene and learned to be careful while walking out of a friend’s house outside the city at night, you’ve got to be careful where you step, so as not to step on any snakes as you walk off the porch and as you get in your car. He shared a few stories about rattlesnakes that had lost their rattles, and then mentioned that he and his family spend a lot of time on the property hunting and riding four-wheelers. I told him that it must create some great opportunities for bonding and making memories, and he shared a few more family stories with me. I wasn’t really in the mood for talking, but I hope I helped make his day better.
  • Since my father served most of his military career in the Army, I was looking forward to the Army’s 250th birthday parade. Especially seeing the troops march in different era uniforms. I didn’t like the idea of how much it was going to cost, especially having to retrofit the tanks with special tracks to avoid damaging the streets of DC and to ship them via rail all the way from Texas. I know it coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday, and that didn’t bother me too much, but I certainly didn’t want it to have the appeal of the parades we’ve seen in China, Russia, and North Korea. A lot of folks have forgotten that tanks and missiles have been part of FDR’s, Ike’s, and Kennedy’s inaugural parades.




    But I was disappointed in what I saw. Not so much of the thin crowds, but the soldiers that marched didn’t look sharp or in synch. Granted, I hear that’s because, unlike those communist regimes, these soldiers don’t march often and perform actual real jobs, and special ceremonial troops are used for marching at public events.

  • The assassination and attempted assassination of two members of the Minnesota State Congress isn’t getting as much coverage as I expected it to. Especially when the suspect was still at large. It was disappointing to see how many conservatives condoned and found humor in the fact that these two victims were of the opposing political party.
  • CBS’ Watson Is Popular, But There’s Another Sherlock Holmes TV Show That’s Been A Quiet Success, And I Hope More People Start Watching It

    Y’all know I have a high appreciation for all things Sherlock Holmes. I’ve only caught a few segments of Watson, but I felt it was really a remake of House and quickly lost interest. However, I’ve only recently learned about Sherlock & Daughter, and it seems pretty intriguing with a new concept and twist on things.
  • Bill Murray recently shared a story about how Bruce Willis used to be an NBC Page and would refill his and Gilda’s M&M’s when they were on Saturday Night Live. I had no idea.
  • I love slapstick comedy movies and was a big fan of the Naked Gun franchise, at least the first two films. So, when I heard Liam Neeson was cast in the remake, I had high hopes. Leslie Nielsen? Liam Neeson? See the play on names? Not to mention, both were known for playing serious characters, so they fit this brand of comedy. I was also familiar with Neeson doing some great straight-laced comedy in one of the Ted movies and with Ricky Gervais. However, my expectations have lowered after seeing a few clips, and now the new movie poster, featuring him and Pamela Anderson on the cover. I was slow to realize it’s a play off the James Bond Octopussy poster.
Posted in Personal | Comments Off on Your Bag of Nothing for Monday, June 16, 2025