Articles for February, 2011
DART Train Turns Into Thrill Ride
I’ve been riding DART trains for years. Today was the first time I’ve traveled through the underground portion with no interior lighting. You can’t tell from the photo, but there were at least a dozen other people on this train with me. Kinda spooky up in here.
Things to Do in Dallas This Weekend: Feb 11-13
Welcome to the weekend. It’s going to be a bit of a doozy, as I celebrate not being trapped in my house.
Friday
Starting today, the Magnolia is screening all the short films (animated and live action) nominated for an Academy Award. You could probably watch them online, but honestly, haven’t we spent enough time cuddling with our laptops the past couple of weeks?
I have it on good authority that the gigantic Fashion Industry Gallery Finale sale is not to be missed. The lovely Raya Ramsey over at ShopTalk tells me that the designer deals are just incredible, and I believe her. I know, I know. For some of you, tonight is “date night,” not “shopping night.” But ladies (and gents), if your date is in dire need of a new pair of pants, consider this a public service announcement.
In Defense of Dwaine Caraway
Michael Davis — the vice chair of the City Plan Commission and self-proclaimed “social media beast” — has an interesting theory about why Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway has been taking so much heat lately. No, it’s not because he calls the chief of police when he gets into a spat with his wife (still waiting on those police reports). It’s not because he gave a key to the city to Michael Vick. It’s because the Dallas Morning News is out to get him. The paper is looking for payback because Caraway was against the alcohol referendum. Awesome theory.
But if the paper is gunning for Caraway, shouldn’t he stop giving reporters so much ammunition?
SMDH
Brits Have a Giggle at Our Expense for Aguilera Goof, Super Bowl Flyover
If you have a few minutes to kill, have a look at how awesome we come across in the Daily Mail.
Dwaine Caraway Gets YouTubed for Michael Vick Incident
A bearded FrontBurnervian passes along this YouTube video posted by Arthur and Archie. Submitted for your perusal.
Leading Off (2/11/11)
It’s Cold Out There, So Turn Some Stuff Off. ERCOT warned yesterday afternoon that the possibility of rolling blackouts still exists, since the temperatures are still so low that people need to run their heaters more. So on your way out the door this morning, turn a few things off, maybe. Why? Because apparently, hospitals aren’t exempt from them, after all.
Relax – It’s Totally Not an Emergency. Because of statewide budget cuts to education funding (thanks to a budget deficit that may be $15 billion, or could be $27 billion), DISD must cut an estimated $250 million from its budget, so nearly 4,000 employees will be dismissed. But, thank goodness, budget deficits are not an emergency – just sonograms before abortions, sanctuary cities and voter ID.
Moncrief Stays True To His Word. Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief announced yesterday that he would not run for a fifth term. Moncrief has long said that he didn’t believe a mayor should serve more than four terms.
Our Long Regional Nightmare Is Over. With the whole Michael Young debacle still going on. it was a big sigh of relief yesterday to find that slugger Josh Hamilton signed a two-year, $24 million deal with the Rangers. So even though we didn’t get Cliff Lee and now Michael Young wants to depart, we’ve got that going for us.
Why, Hello Friday. It’s supposed to be warmer this weekend. Two weeks of bundling up and cabin fever are nearly over. Go outside. Hit the grill. Find a patio. That’s my plan, anyway. Yours?
Laura Miller—and New Friends—Tout “Clean” Coal
Laura Miller, the former muckraking journalist and political progressive who once battled TXU’s plan to build “dirty” coal plants in Texas, is hanging out with some strange bedfellows these days.
As the public face of Seattle-based Summit Power Group, which is trying to put up a $2 billion “clean coal” facility near Odessa, the former Dallas mayor works for a company whose chairman is Donald Hodel, a one-time cabinet member in the Reagan Administration.
And one of the investors in the Odessa project–which is called clean because it would “capture” up to 90 percent of carbon-dioxide emissions–is Clayton Williams, the West Texas oilman who once conducted a controversial GOP campaign for governor.
But all that, it seems, is ancient history now.
More Bobcat Pics (This Time in Richardson)
After I put up that post yesterday with the picture of the bobcat in North Dallas, alert FrontBurnervian Rick Hamilton sent in pictures of a bobcat taken by his father-in-law, Gus Strangeland, near Campbell and Plano roads, in Richardson. Bottom line: I think we can safely conclude that we’re under attack by vicious bobcats. After the jump, you’ll find Strangeland’s account of taking the pics.
Things to Do in Dallas Tonight: Feb. 10
Guys, I’ve been looking forward to writing this post all week. Not only because it’s almost the weekend, but because nothing makes me squeal and mutter to myself like a crazy person like the prospect of an interesting piece of theater. Anyone sitting near my desk Tuesday afternoon can confirm.
Travesties, a ridiculously tough comedy of historical coincidences by British playwright Tom Stoppard, opens tonight over at Theatre Three. Quick summary: In 1917, author James Joyce, Dada art movement founder Tristan Tzara, and communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin all happened to live in Zurich, Switzerland. They didn’t actually have much to do with each other, but Travesties is a hilarious “what if.” I think it’s worth a gander for a couple of reasons. First, this play is so rarely performed that I’m all over the chance to see what Theatre Three does with the material. Second, Stoppard is so smart it’s scary. If you pay close attention, you’ll probably learn something.
For those interested in intellectual pursuits of a slightly different variety, there’s a free whiskey tasting at Brackets. If you’re like me and completely clueless about ages and blends and all that jazz, the kind folks from Dewar’s Whisky will set you on the path to becoming a real connoisseur. After that, Central 214’s late night happy hour sounds like the perfect opportunity to impress a special someone with your newfound knowledge.
I know it’s cold, but I just can’t let you hibernate with so much going on. Click here for more things to do this evening, and have a good one.
Feral Dogs Hound CBS Channel 11 Studios
An animal-loving FrontBurnervian passes along a communique from CBS brass in New York City to a local person who had complained about a local CBS Channel 11 staffer bringing a gun to work to shoot some feral dogs outside their Fort Worth studios. Hang on. Before you get too worked up, know that the gun was loaded with rock salt. Here is the explanation offered on February 8 to the complainant by Robin Bona, vice president of human resources for CBS Television Stations:
We have looked into the matter addressed in your email to Mr. Dunn [Peter Dunn, president of CBS Stations]. Although Company Policy does prohibit firearms in the workplace, these were unusual and unique circumstances. There were very aggressive dogs in the area of the station. Employees who were coming into the station at night were fearful of being attacked.
The County was contacted but they will only come out to pick up trapped animals. The police actually came to the station and advised that these dogs were dangerous and, if they came across the dogs, they would shoot them.
I was advised that it was rock salt that was shot at the dogs and it occurred at the back of the station where there were no employees. Also, rock salt does not penetrate the skin. It was used to scare the dogs away. At no time was anyone in danger.
There are currently traps set. If the dogs are trapped, the County will come and pick them up.
We understand your concerns and hope that this has cleared up any questions you may have.
Now, listen. I don’t have any problem with shooting feral dogs with rock salt, especially if they are aggressive. I just wonder how the TV station would treat this story if they learned that, say, someone down at the Morning News were doing the same thing.
Chivalry is Dead on The Red Line
I will always give up my seat on a crowded DART train to a woman. Does this make me an old-fashioned relic? Apparently so, because there are plenty of “gentlemen” in this town who are content to let the ladies stand.
Leading Off (2/10/11)
Prince Contract Was for $1.5 Million. We still don’t know why the concert was canceled. But it looks like there were a lot of perks to Prince performing. Beyond the 1.5 million, he’d get $100,000 for travel, one suite and 19 rooms for two nights at a hotel, $55,000 for administration, and four VIP tickets to the Super Bowl. Monika Diaz, the reporter who broke the story, discovered that no signed contract exists. I don’t know much about business, but I’m thinking you shouldn’t sell the most expensive party tickets without having a signature from the key performer. Of course, I also wouldn’t sell tickets to seats that don’t exist. I suppose hindsight’s 20/20.
Give Me Your Pretty Little Fur. Yesterday, a 77-year-old woman was robbed of her fur coat (worth $22,000) and her ring (worth $65,000). But let’s be honest, it was really cold yesterday. And I’m sure that ring will buy the robber a lot of gloves and scarves. I’m sure he is sharing the warmth with all his friends. And now the woman gets a new ring. Let’s just call this a win for everyone.
It’s cold outside. I tried to avoid mentioning the weather this morning. But I couldn’t get around it. So. There. It’s cold.
If WFAA Wants To Know About School Closures, They Will Come Find You
WFAA, during its 5 p.m. broadcast, did a rundown of districts that closed today, and what their plans might be for Thursday. One of those districts? Dallas ISD, where they apparently showed up at district spokesman Jon Dahlander’s house, dragged him out to the front yard in his pajamas and his wife’s coat, and then asked him if the district was ready to make a decision about tomorrow.
The answer? Not yet.
Furry Critters Spotted at the Hilton Anatole
Fur-bearing creatures
Hey, Tim, I spotted some fur-bearing creatures, too! They were leaving today’s Saint Valentine’s Day Luncheon and Fashion Show at the Hilton Anatole.
Despite the wretched road conditions, half of the guests showed up to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Bobcat Cruises North Dallas
A restaurant-running FrontBurnervian passes along this photo taken in her North Dallas hood, just south of LBJ between Hillcrest and Preston. Apparently the thing has been spotted quite a bit by the neighbors, too.
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