Leading Off (4/10/09)

1. Police are trying to catch a carjacker (or carjackers) who targets women in the Mockingbird-Abrams/M Streets area. He struck again Wednesday, and the area elementary schools (Stonewall and Lee) went into lockdown. Each attack took place within about a mile or so of my house. [Calling Trey again, taking him up on offer to arm and train me.]

2. Apparently, there’s been a problem with people being sued by their parents, who are trying to gain custody of their grandchildren, usually stemming from the decision to homeschool the little ones. A new law introduced by a North Texas legislator aims to make it harder for grandparents to do this. Meanwhile, I aim to pitch this scenario as a hilarious new Judd Apatow-style comedy vehicle starring Dane Cook and Billy Bob Thornton, tentatively titled Home Screwed.

3. And, the smoking ban takes effect today. Zac is using it as an excuse to try to quit smoking again. Look for some testy posts from him throughout, oh, the rest of his life.

20 comments

  1. That’s really bad news on the car-jacker. Problem being, the police will all be focused on giving smokers tickets instead of finding this guy.

    @ 8:36 am on April 10, 2009
  2. Eric, is there something you’d like to tell us? I am not sure why you need to be armed as a result of a carjacker who targets women. Plus I am sure your washboard abs and “guns” would be enough to scare off the perpetrator should he decide to come after you.

    @ 9:06 am on April 10, 2009
  3. When the end times come — be it viral meltdown, asteroids, nuclear exchange, or the most likely scenario: zombie holocaust — Eric’s is the face I most look forward to seeing through the three-foot thick peephole on the steel door of my shelter, clawing and scrapping and pleading to be let in.

    They’ll all be yelling, “Save us.”

    And I’ll whisper, “No.”

    @ 9:07 am on April 10, 2009
  4. @ Trey- is this yet another example of your liberal, bleeding heart, water carrying?

    @ 9:15 am on April 10, 2009
  5. Avi Adelman is smack dab between you and the carjacker, Eric. You have nothing to fear.

    @ 9:15 am on April 10, 2009
  6. I watched the Dallas Police detain a man who fit the description yesterday on Mockingbird at 9AM. I can’t figure out how to clarify if he was arrested or charged.

    @ 9:17 am on April 10, 2009
  7. Eric: Smith & Wesson makes a revolver in bright pink. I think you may like that one as your firearm of choice.

    @ 9:40 am on April 10, 2009
  8. The smoking ban TOOK effect. The DMN said in an article yesterday that the ban went into effect at midnight on Friday. I was all pumped to give away free smokes today at the Monk, as a middle finger to Puritanism. But then the Monk’s owner, Feargal McKinney, informed me that the ban actually went into effect at 12:01 this morning.

    I can’t tell you how sad I am. And anxious-nervous. And jittery. Zac knows the feeling I’m describing. Don’t you, Zac?

    @ 9:41 am on April 10, 2009
  9. Tim, you may want to check to make sure I didn’t leave any extra pistols taped under my old desk.

    Zac’s desk is right behind it.

    @ 9:43 am on April 10, 2009
  10. I was at the Libertine last night, eating, drinking and, yes, smoking like a man with his ass on fire.

    I stayed out late for a school night (I can’t really look directly at the screen as I type this), since this was the End Of An Era. Before I left, I proclaimed as much to the barmaid, who informed me that one can still smoke today. Friday. But not Saturday.

    This I corroborated with other staff. They could all be misinformed from the same source, however.

    @ 9:49 am on April 10, 2009
  11. So is the smoking ban in effect or not, Tim?

    Facts, sir! I want facts!

    Would it surprise you, sir, to know not one person at D has seen the actual law, sir?!!

    (for all but two or three readers, inside joke)

    @ 9:53 am on April 10, 2009
  12. I’m chewing Nicorette right now. Like my life depended on it.

    @ 9:54 am on April 10, 2009
  13. Judging by the DMN article, the Libertine staff is, in fact, misinformed. I know I smoked in their fine establishment well past midnight last night.

    And to smokers, jokers and midnight tokers, I imagine their misinformation could be your profit tonight.

    @ 10:04 am on April 10, 2009
  14. You can always switch to smokeless. Be sure to distinctly label that spit cup. If you use a coke or beer container make it a brand you don’t usually drink. The trick is to make that circular dimple in your butt and hip pocket look fashionable in Uptown.

    @ 10:09 am on April 10, 2009
  15. The trick is to make that circular dimple in your butt … look fashionable in Uptown.

    I don’t know that this is really a challenge…

    @ 10:17 am on April 10, 2009
  16. 12:01 this morning? I left the bars at 1:40 so I guess I’ve broken the new law and gotten away with it. I’m not going to lie, it’s a good feeling.

    @ 10:27 am on April 10, 2009
  17. A reminder to those who think Charlton Heston in a thong MIGHT come close to looking as good as Eric Celeste in a speedo, the Ten Commandments is on WFAA Sunday night, 7 pm to midnight.

    Happy holidays.

    @ 10:30 am on April 10, 2009
  18. Zak, in my opinion (backed by two or so years of Nicorette addiction), the 4 mg Fruit Chill flavor is the bestest. Oh, and don’t try chewing two of ‘em at the same time while drinking coffee. It may seem like a good idea, but it equals Very Bad JuJu.

    @ 11:09 am on April 10, 2009
  19. Man, after moving here from New Orleans I thought I was getting away from carjackings, especially living in my very pleasant and not-exactly-crime-ridden East Dallas ‘hood near Stonewall. I guess I was wrong. I hope my N.O. training helps keep me vigilant about my surroundings.

    @ 11:35 am on April 10, 2009
  20. First, it is still legal to smoke. Secondly, the government makes a ton of money off of cigarette taxes. If they really cared about public heath-make them illegal. But no, we don’t want to you to smoke them anywhere but we still want the money. Right to drink? You aren’t guaranteed a right to drink. And drinking too much is illegal. Smoking too much not.

    And we went to several bars last night. They were all packed.

    @ 11:43 am on April 10, 2009