Bag of Randomness for Monday, September 14, 2015

COzQDTFUAAAVp49jkjkj

  • If there’s one thing a Jason Garrett team won’t do, it’s panic.  We saw that last night and saw it a lot over the past two seasons.  The Cowboys will dig themselves a hole, and little by little, looking forward and not back, they put one foot in front of the other and move forward.  They don’t always come out on top, but when the sky looks like it’s falling, they don’t panic, they just focus on the very next thing.  It’s something I’ve been paying attention to and admire the coach’s and team’s demeanor, and there are some great life lessons to pull from it.
  • Bob Costas stated this was the latest, as in how much time is left on the clock (seven seconds), game-winning touchdown in Cowboys history.  I’m not so sure of that or if I totally understood his factoid.
  • Too bad he’ll be out for the next four to five weeks with a broken foot- @PatDoneyNBC5A happy Dez Bryant outside the Cowboys locker room (caution language)
  • @ESPNStatsInfoHighest Completion Pct in Game, Minimum 30 Attempts
    Cowboys History
    Troy AIkman 80.5% (1996)
    Tony Romo 80.0% (Sunday)
    Aikman 80.0% (2007)
  • @SportsCenter – Most 4th-quarter comebacks since 2006:
    • Tony Romo – 23
    • Peyton Manning – 21
    • Eli Manning – 20
  • Ratings wise, NBC must have loved how the game went to the final moments.
  • NBC Sunday Night Football used a profile picture of Cowboys kicker, Dan Bailey, with his eyes closed.  It surprised me that the number of responses on social media blamed Bailey for the pic, instead of the photographer.
  • To promote or honor the upcoming 50th Super Bowl, the 50-yard-line and the number itself will be painted gold on all NFL fields.  Good concept but they should have picked a prettier color of gold.
  • After a commercial break, you’ll sometimes see certain local landmarks highlighted before going back to the game.  It’s just a matter of time before we see them feature Pecan Lodge.
  • Right after the game, the first story on our NBC affiliate was about high school concussions. Odd segway if you ask me.
  • Random prediction – Within the next ten years, a woman will broadcast an NFL game, and Fox will be the network to broadcast it.  I think a woman has been in the broadcast booth for either a college game or Canadian game.
  • There were about a hundred too many Draft Kings commercials and plugins this weekend.  The same can be said with the number of times NBC replayed Odell Beckham’s amazing one-handed grab from last year.
  • While talking to the kids about their late grandmother, I realized that my mother only lived 18-years after she turned forty.  My father almost lived 35 years after his fortieth, the same as his father, which means I’m guaranteed the same.
  • I overheard someone say that when you meet someone new, avoid RAPE – Religion, Abortion, Politics, Economic, but it’s okay to talk FORD – Family, Occupation, Recreation, Dreams.
  • Another high school football player hit a ref.
  • According to this Irish genealogy website, last names with the prefix “Mac” means “son of” and a prefix “O” means “grandson of” or “descended from”.‏
  • President Obama’s faith has been a subject of speculation for a while now, but I’m surprised some people think he’s Mormon or Jewish – Among all adults, 39% say they believe Obama is a Protestant or other Christian, 4% think he’s Catholic, 2% Mormon, 1% Jewish and 1% something else. Another 11% say he’s not religious, and 14% that they just don’t know.
  • Pastor Matt Herndon – Six Reasons I Could Lose My Faith
  • Plano church plans Garth Brooks-themed Bible study in advance of his upcoming Dallas shows
  • Buzzfeed – Texas Cheer Squad’s Performance Set To The Sounds Of 9/11 Has Everyone Talking
  • My friends in Texas’ Big Country will be familiar with the Assembly of Yahweh in Cisco.  This Reuters article talks about how one of their pastors is a billionaire, and along with his brother, gave $15 million to a Super PAC backing Republican presidential contender Ted Cruz to put them on top of the top donor list.
  • Will deliver in rain, sleet, or snow, but not when the Pope is in town – Philadelphia residents in eight different ZIP codes won’t be getting any mail when Pope Francis pays a visit to the city later this month, on Sept. 26-27. The affected areas all fall inside the security perimeter that will be overseen by the U.S. Secret Service.
  • Houston ChronicleGeorge P. Bush missed 23 of first 50 work days after dad entered race – His office has stated the data in the article is incorrect.
  • In the next decade, Houston will pass Chicago for second most populous city
  • Florida gun shop offers $25 off with promotion code ‘Muslim’
  • Ohio church sues strip club for holding topless protests
  • This article states that Germany is welcoming to Syrian refugees for a couple of interesting reasons, one of them –  Germany is desperate for workers to boost its aging and shrinking population.
  • Big news in the western wear world – Sheplers brand going away after 116 years, morphing into Boot Barn – I can honestly say I’ve never stepped inside either of those stores.
  • Gourmet Cali hot dog chain breaks into Texas with Dallas stand – Interesting idea,  King’s Hawaiian rolls for a bun.
  • One Alabama city is now considering banning mini-skirts and short shorts
  • GIF – Luckiest field goal I’ve ever seen
  • GIF – That kid almost rode him for eight seconds
  • GIF – Impressive gymnastic foot archery
  • GIF – Smartest cow ever
  • American Airlines accidentally used the wrong plane to fly to Hawaii
  • Tarantino’s original cast wish list for “Pulp Fiction”
  • Trump is in town, this should be interesting, and I wonder if there will be any local celebrity appearances.
Posted in Personal | 7 Comments

Bag of Randomness for Friday, September 11, 2015

dHcszt4

  • After the attacks back in 2001, I thought I’d always have a strong emotional attachment to that day, but I’m surprised at how desensitized I now feel.
  • The dog is part of Texas Task Force 1 – Buzzfeed – A Rescue Dog And Her Handler Who Worked At Ground Zero During 9/11 Were Honored With An Amazing Day
  • Buzzfeed – A Rainbow Emerged From The World Trade Center The Day Before The 9/11 Anniversary
  • I was hoping Tom Brady would get injured on the first snap and not be well enough to play again until after game four of the season.
  • Those Luke McCown (backup QB for the Saints) commercials for Verizon’s backup services are pretty funny.
  • Jerry Jones is falling apart – Cowboys owner Jerry Jones undergoes second hip replacement – I’d be willing to pay $50 for an audio/video feed of him in his suite Sunday night for the home opener.  You know he won’t miss the game, you know he’ll be on pain meds, and you know he’ll be drinking his Johnnie Walker Blue.
  • Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal returns fire at Trump via Twitter after Trump stated they never met and won’t because Jindal didn’t qualify for the next debate – @BobbyJindal@realdonaldtrump We have met. You wrote a check. A fool & his money are soon parted. A fool & his dad’s money are parted sooner.
  • I’m usually not much for opinion pieces, but this piece about Trump and Cruz seemed insightful, “On some level, it must kill Cruz to play understudy to the cartoonish tycoon. But Cruz is a brilliant opportunist, and his courtship of Trump makes sense. If Trump falters in his bid for the nomination — as most still expect — Cruz will be well positioned to secure Trump’s endorsement, and his supporters.”
  • Heavily Armed “Christian Patriot” Militia Vows To Stop Future Arrests Of Kim Davis – I believe this sniper at the Bundy ranch is part of the organization, and I don’t understand how positioning oneself on a shielded sniper’s nest with a rifle aimed at a group of people is legal.
  • That whole situation in Arizona with a sniper shooting at drivers on a highway is unnerving.  Eleven confirmed shootings so far.  It’s a bit reminiscent of that D.C. sniper.
  • For some reason, I just really want to buy this book (GIF).
  • The new LBJ Expressway is available to use.  I’m not a fan of how toll rates change, that they charge a higher rate at peak times.  The NTTA reason it’s a way to control flow and for drivers to choose off-peak hours, but most people don’t have a choice in the schedule they work.  And it’s time for my routine rant about how toll charges should be an item to deduct when it comes times for taxes.
  • 10 Time-Lapse Images Show Dallas’ Dramatic Skyline Changes since 2007
  • Texas State University is 3rd kinkiest college in U.S., dating app says
  • If there was a contest for losing, this guy would come in second place (because he’s so good at losing) – Lone candidate for Iowa school board seat gets no votes
  • French Castles Cheaper to Rent Than San Francisco Apartments
  • DallasNews.com – Photos: Step inside luxurious side of Texas A&M’s new-look Kyle Field
  • This is the best explanation of gerrymandering you will ever see
  • ‘The Tonight Show’ booking Donald Trump reminds me of another NBC moment of panic.  When Katie Couric was going to host a week of ‘Good Morning America’, The ‘Today Show’ booked Sarah Palin for the same time period.
  • CBS11 last night made a big goof before sending it off to Colbert.  They stated his guests were Jeremy Renner and Alison Brie, but the actual guests were Vice President Joe Biden, the CEO of Uber, and Toby Keith.  The news anchor, Doug Dunbar, just read what was in front of him.  Renner and Brie were guest on the show that follows Colbert.
  • Colbert started the interview in a very solemn way, talking to the VP about the recent loss of his son.  And unlike Bill Clinton, who many questioned his sincerity, you can just see and hear the genuine love and emotion coming from Biden talking about his late son.  Colbert, a fellow Catholic, then asked how his faith has played a role in all of this.  Here’s a rough summary of what he said, “My wife gave me this quote, ‘Faith sees best in the dark.’  For me, my religion is an enormous sense of solace, some of it relates to ritual, some of it relates to comfort – of what you’ve done all your life.  I go to mass and I’m able to just be alone. I find the rosary comforting. What my faith has done takes everything from my life, all comforting and good things, culture and theology, it’s just a place you can go.  The faith doesn’t always stick with you, sometimes it leaves me, so I don’t want to come off, as . . .” and then he realized he was rambling a bit and wrapped it up. Sometimes I get annoyed at politicians who wear their faith on their sleeve, but I’ll give Biden a pass on this one as he was asked specifically about it as it relates to all the tragedy in his life.  I think there was a small bit of selfishness (in a good way) of Colbert asking him about faith as it relates to tragedy, since he lost his father and three brothers at the age of ten due to a plane crash.
  • Both Biden and Colbert shared quotes from their mothers:
    • “What’s the use of being Irish if don’t know life is going to break your heart.”
    • “Remember, nobody is better than you, but you’re better than nobody.”
  • The exchange between Biden and Colbert was extremely unique, something I don’t think I’ve ever seen on a late night show.  It was a beautiful balance of poignancy, probing, and just a dash of humor.
  • Biden stated when his son, Beau, was serving in Iraq, he asked for his name tag to be removed and replaced with another name, perhaps “Roberts” because he didn’t want to others to think differently of him because of his name.  I’m sure the press will be following up with that story.
  • I tend to think Joe Biden and George W. Bush are somewhat alike.  Though they both are known for gaffes, they are smarter than people give them credit for, strong in their faith, married women with careers in education, and they both earnestly love their country.
  • Surprise appearances on ‘The Late Show’ last night were Joe Theisman, Franco Harris, Richard Dent, Jim Brown, and Bill Cowher.  “Dent” is a great football name.
Posted in Personal | 4 Comments