Articles for September, 2009
Woodall Rodgers Park: Where Will Children Play?
Over on Renegade Bus, Peter Simek compares the Woodall Rodgers Park with Millennium Park in Chicago (a comparison the Woodall boosters themselves have made) and asks some good questions. Worth a read.
American Airlines: Based Here, Busted for Smuggling Drugs Here
Eight American Airlines employees were arrested for smuggling drugs. I love the stock image that NBC used to illustrate the story. This poor guy was just filling a plane with fuel. But in this context, it looks like he’s pumping heroin into a special smuggling compartment in the wing.
Dallas Might as Well Be in Gabon
An odd reference to Texas in today’s New York Times article about Libreville, Gabon:
In the airport duty-free store, the wine is upward of $400. The service at the fancy French restaurants in the chic Louis district is immaculate, and at the luxury hotel on the sea the call girls dress like fashion models.
The futuristic government palaces on Omar Bongo Triumphal Boulevard, with their flying-saucer and rocket-ship outcroppings, marbled interiors and expanses of plate glass, would make the pedestrian feel humble, if there were any. It is almost as if you could be in a prosperous city in Texas.
Is the writer saying A) That we also don’t have pedestrians in Dallas, B) That everything is big in Libreville, just like everything is big in Texas, or C) Dallas call girls dress like fashion models?
City of Dallas Sends 400 iPhones to CEOs
Bloomberg is reporting that the city of Dallas is sending 400 iPhones to CEOs across the country in an effort to get them to relocate their businesses to Dallas. The Dallas Regional Chamber is footing the $250,000 bill for the scheme. Says Bloomberg, “Each phone contains an application with customized information about the city and messages from Leppert and other CEOs. The phone also comes with contact numbers and links to a Web site with additional information. … The city plans to follow up delivery of the phones with calls and emails from the mayor and others.”
Initially, I thought this giveaway was insane. But the more I think about it, the more I wonder if it might be genius. First, you only need a success rate of .2 percent for this program to pay for itself. Second, the program is so goofy that it’s sure to be picked up by news outlets all over. Essentially, you’ve bought a national ad — in newspapers and on TV — for $250k.
Here’s a guess, though. If I’m the CEO of Behemoth Corp., chances are I’ve got a BlackBerry. BlackBerries have traditionally been the smart phone of choice for big business because they work better with exchange servers, and IT guys are more comfortable with them (even though the iPhone is clearly superior). So I get this iPhone. I’m not going to carry two phones. I think it’s cute. I give it to my assistant (because my kids and wife already have iPhones). My assistant, who also uses a BlackBerry, uses his new iPhone strictly for sexting and playing Super Mario Cart or whatever. Then one day he gets a call from Mayor Leppert. Um, what happens next?
Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Gets Cozy With AT&T
Just when we were all getting accustomed to that acronym rolling off our tongues, the Dee Cee Pee Yay has gone and picked up a corporate sponsor that requires a name change. The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts is no longer the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts. It’s the AT&T Performing Arts Center. The Ay Tee Tee Pee Yay Cee? I’m guessing folks will just call it “The Pack” (for PAC). Anyway, the full release is after the jump. It doesn’t tell you the one thing we all want to know: how much was the deal worth?
Leading Off (9/15/09)
1. Police are looking for a man who has been exposing himself in Lake Highlands. Technical question: if he’s wearing only a paper bag over his head, is he a flasher or a streaker? Anyway, I do have a suggestion on how to track him down: get a good stereo and play this. Everyone knows Eric Celeste can’t resist .38 Special.
2. Footloose sequel?: “Lovejoy High’s ’spirit horn’ too loud for some.” I don’t know. I’m with this lady.
3. Won’t our crazy billionaires start doing crazy billionaire things again? Making schools better? COME ON, T. Boone. That’s bush league. Where’s your clone army? Digitally inserting yourself into every classic movie? A volcano in downtown Gun Barrel City? Paying everyone to start saying a word you invented? Funding research to invent a better fork? A train/ferry between Dallas/Austin/Houston? Those are just off the top of my head, and I didn’t even have to use my go-to (weather machine). Step your game up, sir.
Meat Loaf Co-Star Patrick Swayze Dead at 57
In 1998, Patrick Swayze, who died today after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, made Black Dog, one of the few movies of his that I won’t watch on a Saturday afternoon on basic cable. But the trailer was one of my running jokes for years, because of its seemingly random assortment of names at the end: “Patrick Swayze … Randy Travis … Meat Loaf … Black Dog!” Since it features the pride of Thomas Jefferson High, here you go.
Cowboys, Not Rangers, Built Arlington’s Field of Dreams
The Ballpark in Arlington opened in 1994. Part of the sales pitch to voters funding its construction was the fantastic new developments that would spring up around it — restaurants, retail, hotels. We know how that story has turned out.
When the same voters approved $325 million for The Colossus at Arlington next door, a similar vision was presented. But, so far, nothing. Is Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck at all concerned that 15 years from now we’ll be talking about the development around Cowboys Stadium just as we talk about the Ballpark’s failed plans? Of course not, he told me this afternoon. Why not? “Because it’s the Cowboys.”
We (North Texas) don’t love the Texas Rangers the way we love the Cowboys. That’s an indisputable fact. (I say that as someone who much prefers the national pastime to “violence punctuated by committee meetings.”) But do we hold America’s Team in such high esteem that developers — and the retail, restaurants, and hotels they hope to accommodate –will rush to be associated with the big blue star in a way that they’ve never been compelled to join with the Rangers’ grand ambitions?
If the near-reverence in Cluck’s voice is any indication, the answer is yes. I’m hearing echoes of James Earl Jones: People will come, Jerry. People will most definitely come.
Arlington ISD Fifth Graders Not Going to Hear Bush Speak After All
Remember this? Bit of a ruckus over the fact that Arlington ISD chose not to show President Obama’s speech to schoolchildren, but approved a field trip to hear former President Bush talk at a Super Bowl-related event?
Anyway, turns out that’s not happening anymore. Says Superintendent Jerry McCullough:
“In retrospect, I can see how the district’s decisions concerning these two events could be seen as favoring one event over another.”
And that’s enough to earn Eric Celeste’s patented: “You think so, doctor?”
Everyone in Dallas Will Die From the Flu, Ctd.
Well, we have a diagnosis. The boy has the flu. Is it the dreaded and feared swine flu? As his pediatrician put it (shout out to Dr. Bergman!), the swine flu is the only flu in town. I’m headed off now to get Tamiflu for the whole family.
What does this mean to you, the dear, sweet, healthy FrontBurnervian? Remember that the swine flu is just the flu. It’s no more dangerous than regular flu flu. Thing is, no one has immunity to it, making it very contageous. Got that? Our pediatrician says the hard part of his job is deciding whom to treat with Tamiflu. Treat those who’ve been exposed to it now, and they’ll likely just be exposed again in a few weeks or a few months (he’s expecting a lot of people will get sick this year). And down the road, we’re almost certain to run out of the stuff. Right now, he says he’s only prescribing for family members of those who’ve got it. If your kid has a fever, get him to the doc pronto. Get it early, and Tamiflu lessens the severity of the flu. Wait a couple days, and it does nothing.
Finally, if you’ve French-kissed either me or my son recently, you’re probably going to die. Watch out.
Wade Phillips Needs Sunscreen
Here is what Wade Phillips (@sonofbum) tweeted after the game: “1st win was fun for our team but it was hot and I need mopre sunscreen.” Is it just me? That’s an interesting takeaway. Not “… but our run defense still needs to improve” or “… but football is a fickle mistress so everyone keep your fingers crossed.” Nope. He’s focused on dermatological safety.
Love that guy. He’s trying to out-dada Marty B (@Jupiters_Crunch).
Everyone in Dallas Will Die From the Flu
MEDICAL CITY, DALLAS — If the waiting room of my son’s pediatrician is any indication, this flu season is going to be triple awesome this year. The place is packed. Parents sitting on the floor. Coughing, phlegmy, pink-faced kids everywhere, wearing their pajamas, carrying blankets. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Republic of Texas Football Rankings: Week 2
As long as Wick is blaming Rick Perry for license plate design, I guess he can heap my idea for a Republic of Texas football rankings on the Gov., too. So can you.
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