Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Off Topic: Jets v. Patriots

Been a while since I went off topic, but January has been so darn depressing I think we all need a "pick-me-up."  So I'm going to give you my pick on who is going to win the Jets / Patriots game this weekend.

Unlike other forecasters who rely on knowledge of the game and its players, I prefer to pick the games based on the behavior of key players outside the field of play. Why take all that time to study game films and compile passing stats when I can just pick based on who gets on my nerves?
For me, this game comes down to Tom Brady (quarterback for the Patriots) versus Antonio Cromardie (cornerback for the Jets.) All I have to do is figure out which of the two bugs me the most, and pick his team for the win. I don't know why it works, it just does. The teams that have the least annoying players never win. It's a cosmic rule. It's why the Angels can't win a World Series: disqualified due to their team name alone.

First I'll evaluate Tom Brady. Here is Tom pissing me off by telling me to turn off my lights to save the earth.


Then Tom spent $7500 for Christmas lights last year, after telling the rest of us to turn ours off. He's a strong contender, no doubt.

But Antonio Cromardie won't give up without a fight. Check this video where Antonio tries to remember how many children he has, their name, and their age.  He tries this after explaining how "you got to be that father figure, you know. That husband."


I count 8 children, including 2 newborns and 4 children who are 3 years old or thereabouts. I concede I may have been unable to understand some of the childrens' names. Here's my best effort accounting them.
  • Alonzo who is 5.
  • Kerry which is 3.
  • My junior which is 3.
  • My daughter who just turned 3 as of yesterday.
  • Tyler, he turns 3 in December.
  • Daughter born October 16th named London.
  • Lailani is 2 years old.
  • My newborn, with my wife, her name is Jersey.
Now for the moment you've been waiting for.


I pick the New England Patriots to defeat the New York Jets. At least Antonio made me laugh.

Texas Good To Go on Killing Its Citizeny

The Court of Criminal Appeals in Texas has put an end to Judge's Fine's hearing on the constitutionality of Texas' death penalty.
Because there is no basis under Texas law to conduct a pretrial evidentiary hearing to determine the “as applied” constitutionality of a state penal or criminal procedural statute, we conclude that the trial judge does not have legal authority to conduct any such pretrial evidentiary hearing and make any such pretrial declaratory judgment. He is acting beyond the scope of his lawful authority. Therefore, the State has demonstrated a clear right to relief. We conditionally grant mandamus and prohibition relief and, if he does not do so himself, will order the trial judge to dismiss Mr. Green’s “Amended Motion...
I believe the CoCA ruling is correct as a matter of law. Read the entire ruling at the link if you wish to make your own informed decision.

I believe that Judge Fine is correct, as a matter of fact, when he claims that innocent people have been executed. Though I am far from my stated goal of reviewing all 460+ executions in Texas, I have already found four people probably innocent but definitely executed. Those four are:


Each of those four appealed to the Court of Criminal Appeals in Texas for relief. Each was denied relief. Each died with a needle in his or her arm.

Regarding Spence, one of three alleged accomplices is still alive and still serving a life sentence. The likely actual culprit is dead, having shot himself in the head when the police attempted to arrest him for the fatal stabbing of an elderly couple.

I now have the trial transcripts and many other documents for the Spence case. I have much more research to do. I'll be writing more about his case this year.

Cleve Foster Execution Stayed At Last Moment

The U.S. Supreme Court intervened at the last moment to stop the execution of Cleve Foster. That story is here. My analysis of the Foster case is here.

Jeffrey Matthews Executed by the People of Oklahoma

This blog received an inordinate number of hits regarding Cleve Foster. His execution was stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court. My independent analysis of the case led me to believe Foster is almost certainly guilty. I continue to stand mute on his execution.

This blog received even more hits regarding Richard Clay. He was granted clemency, life in prison without parole. My independent analysis of the case led me to believe Clay was quite possibly innocent. I am ecstatic that Missouri Governor Jay Nixon granted clemency.

This blog received no obvious increase in traffic regarding Jeffrey Matthews. He was executed yesterday by the people of Oklahoma. I find no news articles of that execution. I refer you instead to this page.

My independent analysis of the case led me to believe Matthews was almost certainly guilty. I continue to stand mute on his execution, with this exception. It makes me sad to see a man die so.