Articles for May 10th, 2011
T.D. Jakes Scores With Jumping the Broom
Sonograms Before Abortions
Governor Perry will likely sign a bill requiring women seeking abortions to have a sonogram and hear a description of the fetus. Not sure why the Wall Street Journal story about this carries a Dallas dateline, but it gives me an excuse to post and link. Let’s kill each other in the comments, shall we?
“Family Feud” Ensnarls Natinsky Campaign
The brother of Dallas mayoral candidate Ron Natinsky, who cast doubt on the candidate’s truthfulness about his business background Monday (subscription required), says he stepped forward entirely on his own because he was “irked” by his brother’s attitude toward the boys’ late parents. But in an interview this morning, Michael Natinsky–who owns Texas Auto Transport Inc. in Austin–also seemed to back up Ron Natinsky’s claim that it was Ron, not the boys’ father, who conceived of and started the company called Dallas Tape Deck on Lemmon Avenue.
“I give [Ron] credit. It was his idea. He said, ‘Dad, this is happening; we can make money selling tape players,’ ” Michael recalled. “But my dad put it together. It was [Ron's] idea, but he was an employee” of the company.
Publicized just days before the mayoral election, Michael’s May 9 charges against Ron appear to be part of a bitter, longstanding family feud involving Ron’s estrangement from his parents and, more recently, a battle over the estate left by the boys’ mother, who died in 2009, 13 years after the father passed away. Michael said Ron is contesting the will, which divided the estate among Michael and two other brothers, “cutting Ron out” of the inheritance.
Contacted about the flap this afternoon, Ron Natinsky called his brother a troubled individual who has harrassed him continually over the years. Michael “made it clear at the beginning of the campaign that he would discredit me, and I guess he’s just following up on that,” the candidate added.
Things To Do in Dallas Tonight: May 10
In first grade, I cheated on a spelling test. I even got away with it, but I felt so guilty by the end of the day that I confessed. Mary Pat Clements, my teacher, gave me a zero and said she was proud of me. She’d caught me sneaking peeks at my notes under my desk, and was waiting for me to do the right thing. Of course, I never cheated again. Ms. Clements died yesterday, after a battle with cancer, and the world is the poorer for it. She was a mentor and a friend to my mother, a brilliant educator, and generally the kindest person you’d ever hope to meet. I was a lucky kid.
Personally, I can’t think of a better way to remember her tonight than attending the opening reception for this exhibit of student artwork at the Dallas Museum of Art. The whole thing is put on by Preservation LINK, a non profit organization that encourages the visual arts in South Dallas elementary schools, with the DMA kindly lending their mezzanine. Fifth-graders were given cameras and sent out to document their neighborhoods as part of a twelve-week photojournalism course; fourth-graders were asked to examine portrait photographs and create a mixed media project. I should really take this as my cue to get serious with my own camera. Regardless, it’s a great opportunity to support these kids and their education.
Feel like something slightly more boozey? Bailey’s Prime Plus at Park Lane is hosting a heck of a happy forty-five minutes. Free mixed drinks from 6:00pm-6:45pm, free appetizers (beef skewers, goat cheese and sundried tomato tarts, yum), and a Dewar’s scotch tasting later on. I applaud them for doing Tuesday night right.
If you haven’t already, enter FrontRow’s ticket giveaway to see the Complexions ballet performance at the Winspear on Friday. And go here for more things to do this evening.
Hilary Swank Gets Handsy at Mavs Game
An alert FrontBurnervian points us to this cool time waste. It’s a hi-res image taken at game No. 3 of the Mavs-Lakers series. If you’re logged into Facebook, you can scan around and tag yourself and your friends. Check out four rows behind that Lakers bench. That’s Hilary Swank and her boyfriend/agent John Campisi. Pay particular attention to Swank’s left hand.
Size Matters, Lying About It New Felony in Texas
Hi. Do you lie about the size of your fish in tournaments? Waiting for signature this morning on Gov. Rick Perry’s desk is Texas’ latest felony – the Texas House and Senate passed a bill that would make it a third degree felony to lie about the size of your fish in fishing tournaments, be it fresh water or salt water (just in case you thought there might be a loophole somewhere).
The thing is, I’m not sure it was necessary. Last year, I actually posted about a guy who did plead guilty to a felony after weighting his fish to win a tournament. But Scott Henson at Grits for Breakfast explains that a third degree felony requires a 2-10 year prison sentence or probation with a greater risk of imprisonment later if he (or she, lady anglers) screws up later. Henson also questions the need for the law, since, for crying out loud, it’s a fishing tournament.
Sez Henson:
You know what the punishment should be for cheating or lying about the length of a fish in a tournament if you get caught? Disqualification. Ban them from future tournaments. If the tournament is affiliated with others, ban them from those. Why can’t the private sector take care of this on its own? Why should law enforcement be involved at all, much less make it a third degree felony? After all, prosecution for the offense assumes the perpetrator is found out; if they don’t catch cheaters, they face no penalty, criminal or otherwise.
So why do we need another felony?
(via Grits for Breakfast and the Texas Tribune)
Leading Off (5/10/11)
Ron Natinsky’s Brother Calls Him a Liar. In his campaign to become the next mayor of Dallas, Natinsky has cast himself as an entrepreneur, saying he started a business that installed 8-track tape players in cars. His brother says of that assertion: “It’s not truthful.” He says their father was the president of the business, and their mother did the books. Says Natinksy of his brother Michael: “He’s been after me for a long, long time to try to figure out some way to discredit me.” Oh, and also? Michael has done time for marijuana distribution. The News story ($) doesn’t mention that till near the very end.
The Mavs Beat the Lakers. This editorial is cute and all, with a lead that references wrestler Ric Flair. But, unless I’m missing something, the thrust of the piece is the following: the Mavs beat the Lakers. It’s not exactly a controversial opinion. And it’s Tuesday. The game was on Sunday.
Man With Full Face Transplant Returns to Fort Worth. The New York Post describes what happened yesterday when Dallas Weins made his first public appearance. His 3-year-old daughter said, “Daddy, you’re so handsome.” Touching story.
Larry Hagman Is Selling All His Stuff. Along with his California ranch, Hagman is putting much of his Dallas memorabilia up for auction. One wonders how many Dallas bidders will be interested.
Dalai Lama Delivers Shocking Speech. The 14th Dalai Lama spoke at SMU yesterday, saying that the best thing in life is “to crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.” (Who doesn’t love a good Conan reference, eh?)
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