Articles for May, 2010
Yipes! Pete Delkus is Jacket-less
The end of the world must be preparing to take place. WFAA’s Pete Delkus has been on-air for the past hour without a jacket.
On the other hand, KXAS’s David Finfrock is suited up and on-air.
Breaking News: WFAA’s Joe Trahan Uses Illegal Driver
The good strong folks from Jack Matthews’ Old American golf course in The Colony invited a few local media luminaries out to play their new course. Not sure how I made the cut. But I got paired with TV’s Joe Trahan. Nice fellow. I am enjoying my time with him. Except for the following: he uses an illegal driver custom designed for him by Art Sellinger, the World Long Drive guy. So Trahan drives the ball like 350. HUGE cheater.
What To Do In Dallas Tonight: May 20, 2010
Yes, today is really May 20, unlike yesterday, when I thought it was May 20 but it wasn’t. It happens. Something must be very special about today. Yes, something is special, especially if you are a totally dorked-out dog lover like me.
Does your dog want to get married? Probably hard to tell. But shouldn’t he/she be able to if he/she wants to? I think we can all agree there. So, if you want to join your dog with another dog in holy “muttrimony,” your wish can come true tonight. Bring your pooch to Lee Park at Arlington Hall for the Wuf Wedding, benefiting Paws in the City and the Lee Park Canine Conservancy. Jennifer Bassman from Wuf Pet Resort and Spa gives us all the details:
Your dog can marry another dog (Carol from Love Notes has written poetic nuptials for the special day), or a group ceremony can also be arranged. Instead of rings, dog biscuits will be exchanged, which will be much easier on your puppy’s tum than a diamond. Dogs will also receive a special Wuf Wedding dog tag to mark the day. A reception immediately following includes champagne from Mutt Lynch winery, a cake from Le Gateau Cakery (and one for the pups), music, and more. Flowers from provided by Bella Flora and barbecue from Dickey’s are just two more perks.
Or you could go to the Byron Nelson. But skipping work tomorrow to go sounds like a better plan to me.
More here. Oh, and if anyone wants to make an honest man out of my dog Charlie, his pic is after the jump.
Is The Good Guys Good? Yes.
Did you catch the preview of FOX’s new cop comedy The Good Guys last night? If so, you saw how much Dallas pops up in the show. Like, a ton. South Side on Lamar, 90 percent of Deep Ellum in some form or fashion — they even made the area around City Hall look great. You also may agree with me in saying it is a super fun show that gets past a fairly generic conceit with solid acting and clever writing. Will I keep watching it? Definitely. It returns on June 7, in its normal time slot on Mondays.
Also, if you saw the show, and feel like I do, you might be interested in 3,000 more words than continue more or less in this vein. If you want to read them, I’ve created a hyperlink for your convenience and I will put it right at the end of this post so you know where to find it. And, in addition, just so you’re sure where to look, I will also put it in the spot where I say “click here.” Ready? Click here.
Enter D Magazine’s Words With Friends Tournament
Our June cover story is about the handsome devils in McKinney who invented the best game in the history of letters. Of course, I’m talking about Words With Friends. If you don’t have an iPhone (or iPad), count yourself lucky. Because you can’t play it. Which means you can’t become addicted, as I have. Thanks for that, Rhonda Reinhart (and I WILL beat you one of these days).
Anyway, because we’re all about the multimedia and the cross-platform optimization thereof, we’re having a Words With Friends tournament that you can enter — or that you can throw your name into the hat to enter. It starts June 1. Get all your details here. The 64 entrants will include not only smart and clever readers like you but celebrities like me. Kidding. Kind of. A few D Magazine dorks will play. So will the creators of the game. And Krys Boyd from KERA. And even Martellus Bennett has said he’ll join us. Plus Evan Grant!
Are you excited yet? Can you feel it tingling? Me, too. Hope you’re not in my bracket.
Leading Off (5/20/10)
1. I had so many hopes for this article after reading the headline, “Bob Woodruff Park in Plano to Host Texas Tree Climbing Championships.” But I was disappointed. I learned all about how old the trees in this park are, but I never learned the answers to the important questions: how do you get into tree climbing? What exactly makes a champion? What’s the record time/height for tree climbing? What are the tricks of the trade for tree climbing? These are the questions a true, hardcore journalist would’ve asked. (Or at least I would have because my tree climbing career ended at age 8 when I tied a rope around a tree to protect me in case I fell. I did fall. The rope was tied at the bottom of the tree. I got the worst rope burns of my life. I like to think I’m smarter now.)
2. Well, this just seems silly (you’ll get the pun in a minute). A McKinney school has made a new fad illegal. Apparently these little Silly Bandz are all the craze. At first, I didn’t get why they were banned. But after watching the segment, I understood. The very intelligent little boy, who is very serious and mature for his age, had some good things to say about how distracting the toys are.
3. I’m really not sure what to say about this one. Apparently a woman offered up her twins for $12. At the end of the piece, the writer mentions this is probably a scheme. I hope so. But even if it is a scheme, what a bad schemer. Ask for more than $12.
The Case of the Unfortunate Typo: The WB33 Edition
An alert Frontburnervian sent me a link to a WB 33 story about how having sexy time too soon in a relationship can ruin intimacy or something. They interview an author of a book, and everything.
But here’s where it gets sticky – a quote from the author contains a typo that um, kind of changes the story. A little. Or makes sexy time a little sexier, if you’re in to that kind of thing.
The quote:
“Because there are no holes barred, that’s the expectation.” Atwood says the pressures women are under to have sex early in a relationship are worse than ever.
Really, that may be the problem, right there. Bar a few of ‘em, I say.
Murchison, Ctd.
Commenter Jackson takes me to the woodshed for the earlier post, saying it was “gibberish,” bogus, and laughable:
In the Spectator piece, Murchison promotes the Texas Education Board’s belief that “strict separation of church and state was not the Founders’ original design but rather a conceit of Thomas Jefferson’s.” He even goes so far as to quote a board member as saying, “I have $1,000 for the charity of your choice if you can find it in the Constitution.” What a tired, old, shallow argument. Anybody ever read the Federalist Papers?
Besides, the Constitution is a secular document. It begins “We the People,” and contains no mention of “God” or “Christianity.” Its only references to religion are exclusionary, such as, “no religious test shall ever be required…” Even the presidential oath doesn’t contain “so help me God” or any requirement to swear on a bible (both became common additions over time).
The bottom line is that teachers will now be required to cover Judeo-Christian influences, but not the philosophical rationale for the separation of church and state that the most important of our Deist Founders believed in. …
I could go on, but what’s the point? The whole exercise by this Board is political, brought to us by reactionary tent revivalists. William Murchison adds no “perspective” to any of this. He’s just part of the Amen Corner, which he has been for five decades.
Dear Weather Forecasting Type People: Define “Slight”
So I’m reading, now, that we’re either going to be pummeled by giant hail (or not) tonight. And there might be a tornado (or not) tonight.
And in this story, the National Weather Service prognosticator says there’s a “slight” chance of severe weather with tornados.
So which is it? Are we having a climb-in-the-bathtub-with-your-mattress-because-OMG-tornado weather, or is it a gentle rain? I ask for the guy pictured – who freaks out, gets in your face, and has very bad breath.
We’ve Got Ourselves a Referendum on Dallas Dry Areas
A very highly placed source confirmed for me moments ago (fresh news!) that the Progress Dallas (not to be confused with Dallas Progress) folks have gathered the necessary signatures to force a referendum on our silly patchwork of dry areas in Dallas. They will turn in the signatures to be counted and verified tomorrow. I think I speak for elbow benders across this great town of ours when I say: let’s drink! And vote!
Murchison: Textbook Flap’s About Balance
Writing in the new issue of The American Spectator–I know, it’s a Hitlerite rag that can’t be trusted because it’s, well, it’s, it’s just, so, well, so conservative–Dallas’ William Murchison puts the Texas textbook controversy into perspective. And, as a bonus, takes a DMN columnist to task for some hysterical rhetoric.
Campaign Started to Have Laura Bush as Guest at Gay Pride Parade
(alternate title: It’s a Good Thing I Look in My Spam Folder Occasionally)
A Frontburnervian sent this last week, apparently:
During her recent book tour, former First Lady Laura Bush revealed that she supports marriage equality. While some have criticized Mrs. Bush for not speaking up sooner, if she is serious about standing up for what is right, we welcome her to the cause.
Let’s draft her as a guest of honor for the 2010 Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade on Sunday, September 19, 2010 in Lee Park!
Today, I see an update to this from Change.org, where writer Abbie Kobf writes that since the former first lady appeared on Larry King and said kinda sorta disagreed with her husband’s stance on the subject, a lot of interest has been expressed in having Bush appear at this year’s parade in Dallas, complete with a Facebook group.
What To Do In Dallas Tonight: May 19, 2010
Today, don’t miss the V.O.D. Pop Up Shop, happening in the West Village. You might remember a few weeks back when we told you about Pop Up 310, a really cool temporary art gallery located in the former Gardens space. The guys from the gallery and the girls from fabulous boutique V.O.D. are working together on this one, for a fashion/art collaboration. Here’s what to expect: from noon to 8 pm, shoe designer Tiffany Tuttle will be on hand with her 2010 collection, and jewelry designer Arielle dePinto’s amazing designs will hang on the wall like art (see picture after the jump). V.O.D. owner Jackie Bolin tells us that dePinto has sent some of her one-of-a-kind show pieces, like a mask completely crocheted from chain, shown here. So you fashion types won’t want to miss it. Art lovers will enjoy black and white photos from Mary McCartney (yes, Paul’s first born) that will also be on sale.
Cocktails start at 6.
More events for today can be found here.
Jump for pics of the Pop Up merchandise.
PETA Protesters Protest Hard at DMA
As Glenn mentioned yesterday, PETA is doing its thing today at the DMA in honor of Dean Foods’ annual shareholders meeting. Here’s what the scene on Harwood looked like a few minutes ago on my walk in to work. My favorite protester is the woman in the black dress who saw me snapping the pic and did the peekaboo move over her sign. Glenn, I picked up a “Go Vegan!” brochure for you. It’s waiting for you in your chair.
Leading Off (5/19/10)
1. Ugly, ugly situation at the Episcopal School of Dallas. A teacher had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student. They were caught by cops in a parking lot. There are thousands of e-mails. So the teacher resigned. And now the parents of the girl are suing the school because they say they were forced by administrators to withdraw their daughter from ESD. I can see why the parents would be angry, if what they say is true. At the same time, after what happened, how could the girl continue to go to school there?
2. Dallas City Council members Delia Jasso and Steve Salazar want the city to issue an official statement protesting Arizona’s new immigration law. Kudos to Mayor Tom Leppert for telling them that the city has more important matters to address — like, oh, that $130 million budget shortfall.
3. Thanks to the Dallas/Fort Worth Area Tourism Council, visitors to North Texas can now buy something called an Attractions Pass, which will get them admission to seven of our area’s top attractions. What are those attractions, you ask? Well, the DMA is on the list. But so are Southfork and the International Bowling Museum, which makes me embarrassed for us all. If you built an Attractions Pass for North Texas, which seven spots would you choose?
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