Articles for November 16th, 2009
Ex-Hurler: Rangers’ Pitching Staff Needs Starters
While conventional wisdom holds that the Texas Rangers are set with their pitching for now–for a change–some experts like the ever-astute Evan Grant don’t necessarily agree. Grant contends that Texas still needs another “premium” pitcher, and Roberto Diaz, a salesman at the NorthPark Salvatore Ferragamo store, concurs with that assessment–and then some. Why listen to Diaz, a 51-year-old native of Puerto Rico? Because he’s a former relief pitcher in the Milwaukee Brewers organization who’s pals with the likes of Pudge Rodriguez and Juan Gonzales, who also hail from PR. (In fact, Diaz says, he moved to Dallas from Florida because of the connections.) The “Rangers are a pretty good young ball club,” says Diaz (pictured), who coaches kids at occasional baseball clinics in Plano. “But they need a couple more good quality starters, and they should go into the free [agency] market to get them.”
Rod Dreher on Journalists and Religion
The DMN’s Rod Dreher has penned a great column about Islamic fanaticism, including this part which concludes with my nomination for Sentence of the Week:
That routine is, alas, not alien to American Muslim leaders with whom I’ve clashed since. They obfuscate what they really believe and try to intimidate critics into silence with accusations of bigotry. They cannily understand that’s kryptonite to many journalists, who find Baptists scarier than Wahhabists.
Dallas ISD Maintenance Worker Gives Janitors Everywhere a Bad Name
For two years, I worked as a janitor at an elementary school. Things not in my job description that would have been frowned upon that I did during that time: work on my jumpshot in the gym; read the newspaper; open the snack stand so I could enjoy a tasty ice cream sandwich while I read the newspaper. Things that would have been frowned upon that I did NOT do during that time: carry a loaded weapon; shoot myself with it accidentally. Way to go, unnamed DISD maintenance worker.
The People Speak; The Nasher Listens
It might seem like an odd way to steer a leading cultural institution. But Dallas’ Nasher Sculpture Center relied on the votes of people who attended a benefit party last night to embark on a major new undertaking. Attendees at the bash held at NorthPark Center were asked to vote for one of three “wishes” for the Nasher: A contemporary projects series featuring emerging artists, an illustrated catalog to accompany the exhibition Jaume Plensa: Genus and Species, or a monthly contemporary artist lecture series. Nasher director Jeremy Strick (pictured) says the winner by a substantial margin was … drumroll, please … the contemporary projects series. The Nasher, of course, was built by the late Raymond Nasher, who also developed NorthPark Center, whose marketing/media department cooked up the people’s-choice contest.
Leading Off (11/16/09)
1. Want to learn the ins and outs of owning a concealed handgun? Maybe you should check out the Academy for Firearms Training owned by Dallas County Constable Roma Skinner. Or not. Critics say that Skinner shouldn’t be employing deputies in his side business. There are allegations of favoritism and people are unhappy. Fortunately, no one is yet bitter enough to comment on the fact that the constable shares the same first name as the lady from Touched By An Angel.
2. Did you know that Dallas has the third busiest Mexican consulate after Los Angeles and Chicago? Apparently, we do. And sadly, because of a few unfortunate incidents–including a skimming scandal by an ex consulate employee and a mishandled lawsuit–things haven’t been going so well over there. Juan Carlos Cue Vega aims to change all that today. Well, it’s unlikely he’ll change all of it today because it’s his first day on the job. But yes, over time, Vega intends to make the bookkeeping processes more transparent and focus on relationships with foreign-born Mexican immigrants.
3. Many people in North Texas are probably going to be unproductive at work today. They’re angry. They’re depressed. They feel betrayed. This is why I don’t watch football, people. And also because, between Mad Men (please tell me that some of you saw January Jones’ dismal performance on SNL), Celebrity Rehab, and other Sunday-night delights, I simply don’t have the time. Anyway, I’m sure like every other unhealthy relationship, you’ll forget all about this transgression and go back for more.
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