Articles for October, 2010
Why Yes, the Earth DID Move
All of the sudden, about 20 minutes ago or so, I started getting all these messages from friends in the area saying they felt the earth move. Then I started hearing from friends in Oklahoma City saying the same thing.
So I looked it up, like a good journalist: 4.5 magnitude, looks like it was in Oklahoma City, but felt as far south as Dallas.
A Rangers Victory, In Two Pictures
Maybe you were busy watching Cliff Lee get a Chilean miner out last night. Or maybe you were like me, and a little sleepy and switching back and forth between TBS and CNN. But at any rate, what a game. I’m pretty sure I saw Nolan Ryan cry, even. I may have teared up, too.
But I should also show you these two things that happened. Let’s jump. (more…)
Leading Off (10/13/10)
1. The Texas Rangers scored their first ever playoff series win last night. I suppose I should have ended that with an exclamation point, maybe? Oh well. It’s too late. If only there was a way to go back and fix something you’ve typed. Huh. Maybe one day. Maybe.
2. Hmmm: “Gov. Rick Perry approved a $4.5 million award from the state’s technology fund to a company founded by a major campaign donor despite the company’s failure to win the endorsement of a regional screening board, The Dallas Morning News has learned.” And yet, somehow, it feels like this is yet another thing that looks really bad but ultimately won’t change the part in his hair.
3. Here is a great story about one of my favorite people getting married at the Fair yesterday.
Eddie Bernice Johnson Gave Scholarship Money to DFW Official’s Daughter at Dartmouth College
More Scholargate: the Dallas Morning News reports that in 2007 Eddie Bernice Johnson awarded $1,000 in college scholarship funds to the daughter of DFW Airport vice president Don O’Bannon. Johnson, as we know, owns a 25 percent stake in two Hudson News stores at DFW held in a blind trust. Don O’Bannon oversees contracts with minority-owned businesses at DFW, including Johnson’s. O’Bannon’s daughter is now a senior at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. (Full disclosure: I believe I met the young woman when she came to a Dartmouth student send-off party at our home.)
Many are calling this another example of Johnson’s “cronyism,” and even an attorney for Johnson’s trust said the $1,000 award makes him uncomfortable. Tuition at Dartmouth these days, including room, board, and mandatory fees, runs $52,275.
Preston Hollow De-Annexation Story On Channel 11 Tonight at 6
Yesterday Nerissa K. Knight over at Channel 11 asked if she could talk to me about the Preston Hollow de-annexation story I floated over on DallasDirt. The lovely Nerissa (from LA, loves Dallas) and I met over at Preston Hollow Park for an interview. Journalists make for lousy interviews. Is it bad that she had to yank the little mike thingee off me? She also interviewed at least two other people who have asked to join a sort of exploratory committee to see if de-annexation is possible. Preston Hollow residents are not too happy about the city’s recent 6.5% property tax hike. So check it out tonight at 6 p.m. on Channel 11.
Also, Eleanor Sheets due to be sentenced today…
And I confess: I did a drive-by of Ben Fountain’s house to see where he lived and check out his political persuasion. Then I did some digging to find out who the heck his friend is with the weird last name who has been telling the world that Dallas residents are deadbeats. All over on DallasDirt.
Look Who Stopped By
This creepy-crawly dude has been hanging outside our 21st-story window all day. I guess I can understand his hesitancy to move on. Where would you go from there?
Kenneth Starr Bores Lawyers, Journalists to Tears
Odd that the Philbin Awards luncheon was held today a the Belo Mansion, and yet Zac and Krista, who knew they would be attending, chose to wear jeans. Be that as it may, hold my hand and join me in the jump for a recap of one of the most boring speeches I have ever suffered through (plus a note about why the Dallas Morning News‘ Lee Hancock is buying drinks tonight):
Clay Scheitzach’s (Pretty Good) No-Show Excuse
Clay Scheitzach of Affiliated Computer Services won’t be at the Corporate Counsel Awards event this evening to find out if he won in his category. Still, the guy has a pretty good excuse. He’s
Clay Scheitzach, hanging loose after finishing the Ironman triathlon in Hawaii.
in Hawaii, after competing Saturday in the Ironman World Championship in Kona. Here’s his report from the road:
Finished in 13:22 (despite 2 flat tires and a not so fun walk up a 1.5 hill carrying my bike to the aid station). It was an amazing experience.
More, from earlier in the week:
Kona is intense. I think everyone here (aside from me) has about 1% body fat. (I blame Nancy Nichols and SideDish for the extra padding I carry.) The race is Saturday and there are a number of folks from the DFW area competing—Texas represents well in triathlon. The nervous energy surrounding this event could easy power the electric needs of most small countries. The event itself is a 2.4-mile swim (in the ocean), a 112-mile bike ride (with heat, humidity, hills and winds thrown in for fun) and then a 26.2-mile run after (because why not). Aside from the fact that I am about to brutalize myself for 17 hours on Saturday, I am in paradise. Scenery is amazing, water is crystal clear, and the weather is perfect.
Congrats on the finish, Clay. For those who would like to attend the Corporate Counsel Awards party at The Adolphus this evening, walk-in tickets are available. The event is sponsored by the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel and D CEO.
Sharon Keller’s Reprimand Lifted
Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Sharon Keller, who caused an uproar by not leaving her court open past 5 p.m. to receive an appeal for Michael Richard, who was facing execution that night, was reprimanded by the state Commission of Judicial Conduct.
But Keller appealed, and yesterday a review board sided with her assertion that the commission lacked the authority to issue such a reprimand. However, the board also took pains to say its decision was not an opinion on the underlying case.
Things to Do in Dallas Tonight: Oct. 12
Tuesday: my second favorite day of the week that starts with the letter “T.” Here’s how you should spend it.
As Dallas’ best food blog observed yesterday, American Airlines is hosting a cooking contest today. So that’s where you’ll be at 2:45 p.m. if you’re not too busy “working.”
Those kooky philosophers are back for more thoughtful discourse at Chic From Barcelona. Tonight’s topic is “The Ephemerality of Knowledge in an Epistemological Sense.” Why weren’t they invited to Idea Week, eh? Also conspicuously absent from the lineup: tonight’s lecture by Lawrence Weiner, one of the forefathers of conceptual art. This guy is rather a big deal in the art world, so if you’re into that sort of thing, be at the Modern in Fort Worth by 6:30 p.m. to snag one of the good seats. Otherwise you’ll have to sit at the kiddie tables in the café and watch his lecture via broadcast.
Maybe you’d rather not tax your poor, tired brain during those fleeting hours between quitting time and bedtime. How about a wine tasting? I know you die-hard wine enthusiasts already have a full schedule tomorrow, but if you have room in your liver for one more event, consider tonight’s tasting at Jimmy’s Food Store. I have it on excellent authority that it will be “killer.” Paul at Jimmy’s just told me he only has a few seats left (eight to be precise), so get in touch with him now if you’re interested. And don’t worry about eating ahead of time, particularly if you like traditional antipasto–they’ll have plenty on hand.
Or—and I’m just throwing this out there—you could march up to the bar at Meddlesome Moth, brandish your October issue of D Magazine, and request a free beer.
Check out these other things to do in Dallas, and have a great night.
Dallas Exports Cheese Heroin to NYC
An alert FBvian points us to this Daily News story that says NYC cops have been told to look out for “cheese” — which, the News points out, first showed up on law-enforcement radar in Big D.
David Hale Smith: Literary Agent, True Believer
David Hale Smith is a literary agent in town whom I happen to know well enough to tell the amazing story about the time he lost his dog. But I won’t tell it now. It’s Tuesday. We’re just getting started.
While he’s sweating the above implied threat, read this here essay he wrote for Mulholland Books explaining what it is he does for a living. (Nicolas Cage? David is such a braggart.)
Leading Off (10/12/10)
1. The Army Corps of Engineers has come up with new safety requirements for the Trinity River levee system that cast doubt on whether the city will be able to get things squared away before flood maps are redrawn — meaning many property owners would have to buy flood insurance. City officials say it’s unfair that the Corps keeps raising the bar. The Corps says it’s just looking out for everyone’s safety. Jim Schutze says we’re all gonna die.
2. Two things about Dallas Stars center Mike Ribeiro’s arrest for public intoxication: first, that’s a scary mugshot. Second, his wife was arrested with him on a double date? Sounds like a fun couple.
3. Andy Moreno, that transgender student at North Dallas High, was not among the three finalists for homecoming queen — and the school won’t release the vote totals. Controversy! Outrage!
4. Speaking of Glee, tonight at 7 o’clock there’s a little baseball game going on that some of us would like to watch. Can we all agree that this is more important than whether Finn and Rachael throw a competition so that Sam can win when the club members are assigned duets? Can we just DVR that and not argue? Please?
Tom Grieve Stays, Josh Lewin Gone
From an e-mail sent out from the Newberg Report:
The Rangers have announced that they have signed a three-year contract extension with television analyst Tom Grieve, and that Josh Lewin, who has been the club’s television play-by-play man for the last nine seasons, will not return.
Which gives me an excuse to mention that at Saturday’s game, Uncle Nancy and I sat together. Early on, they put up a tribute video of Rangers highlights with Eric Nadel’s radio calls of said highlights. Uncle Nancy is good friends with Eric, and we were sitting with Eric’s wife, Jeannie. The tribute to Eric made Nancy cry. (I cry during episodes of Glee, so understand that I’m not casting aspersions. It was pretty cool.)
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