Articles for December, 2009
Can Traffic Congestion Be Good for Dallas?
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is looking for money to fund new road construction projects, and the need for them seems rather clear. As Rodger Jones points out on the DMN’s transportation blog, three Dallas area roads make the top 10 in a list of congested Texas roadways. But is traffic congestion necessarily a bad thing? While studies have shown (including this British survey from 2006 and this Maryland study from 2002) that widening roads and adding new roads are not effective in reducing congestion, congestion itself offers some benefits to dense urban areas that are accessible to multiple means of transport, like Dallas’ urban center. Congestion offers an incentive for commuters to use alternative means of transportation and move closer to their places of employment, while offering businesses an incentive to locate near public transportation hubs. While wider roads may make it a little easier to get out to the ‘burbs in the short run, long term congestion could mean more economic development right where Dallas wants it: in its core.
The Fake Gerry Fraley Causes Problems on Twitter for the Real Gerry Fraley
There has been much hubbub on Twitter about a person tweeting as DMN sportswriter Gerry Fraley under the name BioDome10. The fake Fraley tweeted that Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry has died before the news made its way to mainstream channels. The fake Fraley even tweeted that the real Fraley, DMNGerryFraley, was actually the impostor. Are you following all this? I’m happy to have cleared it all up.
Leading Off (12/17/09)
1. A couple companies that (wrongly?) requested extra amounts of the scarce H1N1 vaccine back when it was forecasted everyone would get the virus and become very ill have been cleared after an investigation. It appears it was simply a “misunderstanding.”
One misunderstanding was a typo: Star Medical Group had intended to serve 50,000 close contacts of infants 6 months or younger but accidentally registered for 500,000.
So what does all this tell us? That people are not always great in a crisis. But when that crisis ends up not being that much of a crisis, people are really forgiving. And everyone lives happily ever after.
2. Some parents are just selfish. Their kids each gave a quarter to raise enough money to buy their Frisco principal a designer handbag for her birthday. And now the parents are complaining that the gift sent the wrong message and the money should have been raised for a charity instead. Sheesh. What would the principal have worn with her designer shoes (last year’s birthday gift) if the kids didn’t come through this year? The principal found out about the surprise and ended up donating the money. Again, this was just a misunderstanding.
3. Thirteen city of Dallas employees in the water department have filed a lawsuit claiming racism at the workplace. They were threatened and intimidated by graffiti on bathroom walls. (I think the same could be said for the male employees of D.) And maybe this situation with the water department is all just a misunderstanding, too. Maybe.
Candice Crawford Not Engaged to Tony Romo
The crew at the 33 News decided to ask their co-worker, Candice Crawford (pictured), about the rumors that she’s engaged to Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. The answer: No.
Then they decided to have some fun with a little game, but they made the solution too obvious.
Eastfield College: Crosses ‘Demean’ Ceramics Class
The Liberty Legal Institute, the organization you may know from its work on the famed Plano ISD candy cane lawsuit, is at it again. This time they’ve sent a letter threatening legal action against Eastfield College in Mesquite, because the school forbade a retired auto worker who was taking a non-credit course in ceramics from making crosses. Liberty Legal claims the policy is a violation of his right to religious expression.
The school’s policy was that “making religious icons and other stock pieces ‘demeans the goals of’ the program, which seeks to encourage original, creative work by students.”
I understand why the DMN didn’t use the following press release quote from Hiram Sasser (really), the director of litigation for the Liberty Legal Institute. But I have to quote it here, because he really ups the ante:
“It appears the Eastfield College art department has no room in the inn for artistic religious expression such as that of Michelangelo or Leonardo da Vinci; hopefully they will change their mind.”
Winners of the Write Like Steve Blow Contest Announced
Thanks to everyone who submitted an entry to our contest. Jump to read the three winners’ Steve Blowish columns. Each winner will receive a free copy of Hank Stuever’s Tinsel, courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Office Building Party Fails to Produce Embarrassing Video
So our building, St. Paul Place, is throwing its Christmas party right now. (Holiday party. Whatever.) I rallied the troops to head down to the lobby. “The Canadian Consulate is in our building,” I said. “Canadians know how to party! Let’s go drink some drinks and make some bad decisions!” Instead of Canucks and free-flowing whiskey, I found only non-alcoholic drinks, some shrimp, and our design director, Todd Johnson (pictured), dressed as a cast member from The Matrix. When it became evident that a dance contest would not break out anytime soon, I repaired to my desk. (Note to building management: in all sincerity, thank you. But watch out next year. I’m coming prepared.)
Did Tiger Woods [Insert Golf Pun] Jessica Simpson?
Are we above linking to this Star Magazine story that says Jessica Simpson turns out to be one of Tiger’s ladies? No. We are not above it.
Dallas Police Officer Keith Ashley: Not a Great Cop, Sort of an Awesome Liar
According to this Dallas Morning News story (sorry for the missing link before), Ashley is currently on restricted duty as the DPD investigates his behavior on November 24. Supposedly, he was at an apartment complex checking into a burglary call. But teachers at the Lighthouse Christian Academy in west Oak Cliff say that, instead, he was in their parking lot, having sex in his squad car.
“I saw a leg hanging out of the door, and me and another teacher observed a police officer in the vehicle, and when we looked closer we realized they were engaging in improper conduct,” teacher Angela Russell said.
That’s not exactly what one would call “being inconspicuous.” At this point, I thought it was after school hours. But I was wrong.
[Russell] said the children saw what was going on, too. She approached the officer as the woman was leaving.
“I asked him, ‘What’s going on here? Do you know there are children in this building and this is a school and there are children here?’ ” she said. “Oh, and he gave us a story as to why it was going on, and then he left, and I immediately called and complained about it.
That story?
Ashley told commanders that the woman in the car with him was his wife and that they were having marital problems and he was consoling her.
Wow.
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Pick 2009’s Best, Ctd.
Jason, as a former Angelika snack peddler (and projectionist, and ticket peddler – ah, those were the days), let me come to their defense: that’s how we got paid. Tickets may (may) cover print costs, high-dollar popcorn and soda keeps the doors open. It burns, but think of it as a donation towards being able to see these picks on the big screen.
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Pick 2009’s Best
The Dallas-Fort Worth Critics Association released its list of the Top 10 films of the year today, and they picked Up in the Air as the best of the best. I’ve not seen it yet. Nor have I seen five of the others on the complete list.
But I have seen The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Up, and A Serious Man. All four would make my imaginary list. If you haven’t seen A Serious Man, run out today and do it, before it leaves the Angelika.
Which brings me to the real reason I decided to post this: So that I can shake my fist like a grumpy old man. The Angelika recently raised their snack bar prices. $6 for a tiny bag of popcorn, Angelika? Really?
If I hadn’t had my coupon for a free bag, available each and every week in People Newspapers, I’d have been really mad.
For the full DFW critics release, (more…)
The Market Organizers are Organizing
Monday’s briefing on community gardens / markets to the Dallas City Council’s Transportation and Environment Committee has spooked neighborhood market organizers, who fear the city’s regulations may stifle existing and potential outdoor markets and gardens, specifically in Oak Cliff. (If you need to get up-to-date, check out Schutze’s humorous account of the humorous proceedings, which included good-willed concerns about pigeon feces on your fruits and veggies.) At issue: the three mile buffer the city suggested creating around the Farmers’ Market, which would extend into parts of Oak Cliff. That had organizer / activist / bicyclist Jason Roberts rallying the troops earlier this week, and district 1 council member Delia Jasso has told Roberts’ merry band that she will get their concerns to the negotiating table as the council discusses establishing a “pilot program” for open air markets, one in her district and one in the north.
Via Roberts:
“One thing to note is that the successful Urban Bazaar held twice yearly in Bishop Arts, began life at the Downtown Farmers’ Market, but it moved due to the heavy regulations required by the city at the location. It’s an example of how a larger regulatory body could hurt our local efforts.”
A New Downtown Pedestrian’s Unsolicited Advice for Streetcar Routes
As of Monday, the rebirthing downtown has one additional pedestrian: me. (By the way – I’m the new guy. Hi!) I can take two buses to work from where I live in the Cliff – the 76, which offers a nice little walk through Main Street Garden (there’s at least one vote of support for its practical success – need a morning coffee budget come spring), and the 11, which dumps me at the West Transfer Station at the start of a decidedly less interesting trek up past the parking lots off San Jacinto. I thought I ought to find a rainy day bus option, but figuring out how the busses are routed through downtown is difficult – even with a map. Perusing the map, however, I couldn’t help but notice what a fantastic route bus 21 runs (confession: I have a thing for bus routes). Add to that the 50, the 39, the 1, and the 60, which all intersect beautifully with downtown and light rail stops. Trick to a carless existence in Dallas: work downtown.
So a thought: make these routes streetcar lines. Then I wouldn’t need a map – I would only need to look for steel tracks in the street to know I can get anywhere. Streetcar naysayers read this. Anyway, just sharing the morning daydreams I had as I got off the bus. Glad to be here.
How Many DISD Schools Are Really Failing?
In Leading Off this morning, I made mention of the schools rated as failures by the TEA. It’s called the PEG list, for Public Education Grant schools. The district’s spokesman, Jon Dahlander, is doing his best to keep everything in perspective. Yes, DISD has more schools on the PEG list than any other district in the state (it’s the second-largest district, after Houston, ahead of Fort Worth and Austin), but the number of exemplary and recognized campuses at DISD increased this year from 103 to 128. The DMN story mentions that. What it doesn’t mention is the following, from Dahlander:
Six of the 48 schools that were today’s PEG list were rated Recognized by TEA this year. Because the list includes results from the previous two years, it does not take into account improvements made during the last year. If it did, that would bring the number of schools on the PEG list last year to this year from 52 to 42, which would be about a 20% decrease.
I know where the comments will take us. “You’re such a DISD apologist, Rogers! My tax money is wasted on that joke of an institution!” Don’t disappoint me.
Write Like Steve Blow Contest Ends in 75 Minutes
If you want to win a free copy of Tinsel, you’ve got a little over an hour. Get busy. More details here.
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