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Notes on the Just-Completed Philbin Awards Luncheon

A number of our group has returned from the Belo Mansion, whereat was held the 26th annual Stephen Philbin Awards luncheon to recognize excellence in legal reporting. The keynote speaker was Susan DeSanti, of the Federal Trade Commission. Jump for notes on the proceedings.

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Pssst … Don’t Tell Anyone, But Yesterday Was Columbus Day

SweetCharity tells me it’s a “Yankee holiday,” and other native Texans say it was never that big a deal in schools here anyway. Still, the utter void of local news or notice about Columbus Day–it was yesterday, by the way–is striking to anyone who grew up thinking of the holiday as sort of important in our country’s history. As usual you can blame the blackout on the gods and goddesses of PC, who’ve cowed everybody into thinking the West’s “discovery” of the Americas was somehow evil. To these multiculturalists and their minions all I can say is: “Happy belated Columbus Day!”

What the Dallas Police Dept. Will Never Tell You

I was in Dallas police headquarters the other day, doing some research for a story, when I got the rare opportunity to see the inside of a Dallas public information officer’s office. Public information officers are the men and women you see on TV or quoted in the newspaper when a crime happens in Dallas — they are the official voice of the Dallas Police Department.

Anyway, while discussing a case with the officer I happened to notice post-it note on the wall near the telephone. At the top of the note it read, “Never Mention” and went on to list four things:

1. Confessions
2. How or why suspect was identified
3. Evidence
4. Weapon type

I’m guessing here, but it’s safe to assume that these pointers are designed to keep information from leaking to the public that would tip off any at-large suspects.

I’m Sorry: I Can’t Leave That DMN U2 Review Alone

I mentioned it in Leading Off this morning, but since I was there and (more or less) saw what Mario Tarradell saw, I’m going to have to dig in a little deeper. You’ll find me after the jump, still trying to drown out the voice of the guy behind me who 1) never stopped singing and 2) couldn’t find the right key with a GPS and a Mapsco.

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Cars Should Be Safe This Year

Remember this debacle last year? Fans of the Red River Rivalry left the fair to find their cars had been illegally towed. Well, here’s hoping it doesn’t happen this year. But I’m not going to take my chances. I’ll just take DART. Nothing is worse than leaving the game (especially if your team lost), jumping through hoops, and losing money to get your car back.

Tibetan Monks at the Crow Collection This Week

On Sunday, seven Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in Atlanta began a mandala to celebrate new beginnings, in this case the opening of the AT&T Performing Arts Center this week. My one IPhone photo does no justice  to the ceremony (the nice pictures sent by the Crow Collection people were too big for the blog, or so WordPress tells me).

The intricate work on the mandala will continue all week on the second flow of the Crow Collection.  On Friday, there will be a prayer flag presentation ceremony at 6 pm, with viewing until midnight. On Saturday, the monks will conduct a shamala meditation sitting from 1 to 2 pm. On Sunday, the monks will conduct a closing ceremony in which the mandala is dismantled, reminding us of the impermanence of all things.

Leading Off (10/13/09)

1. Here’s Mario Tarradell’s review of U2’s show last night at Cowboys Stadium. Skip to the last paragraph for the only thing he had to actually attend the show to write. Skip to another review if you want to learn anything about the show, beyond generic platitudes and boiler-plate. Seriously, guys: Hunter Hauk. He’s right there in the same building.

2. A Fort Worth man was sentenced to 25 years in the fatal beating of his 18-month-old stepson. Why did he do it? The boy — who, again, was 18 MONTHS OLD — spilled food on the carpet. I’m sorry. Did I wake up in an alternate universe where the phrase “life in prison without the hope or prayer of parole” is pronounced “25 years”? Because if I didn’t, then I’m confused as to how a man with a history of violence could punch an 18-month-old child to death for spilling food on the carpet and get 25 years, with a shot at parole in half that time. I don’t care if he’s remorseful. I don’t care if it was an accident.  You can explain it to me however you like; not bending on this.

(Sorry. Got off on a bit of a rant there. Let’s all take a moment and catch our breath. I’ll try to leave you with something a bit more positive.)

3. How about a picture of Oprah at the State Fair, wearing a cowboy hat and eating a corn dog?