Articles for June 17th, 2011
Keeping it Green in University Park
University Park’s annual watering restrictions only apply to commoners and other rule followers-SMU (and a few others) can do whatev. This photo was snapped yesterday during a several hour drenching but they’re flashin’ the same giant middle finger again today.
Because in the Park Cities, when we say green, we mean the color, not the thing about saving the planet.
Dallas Mayor’s Race is Ringing Near an End
Tomorrow’s election of Dallas’ next mayor will be a blessing. It will stop all the phone calls from the candidates, David Kunkle and Mike Rawlings. I’m keeping count and just may vote for the one who has rung my bell the least amount of times.
Memo To DART, From Me: I Will Be Breaking the Law
Yesterday, an entire train full of passengers – mostly people coming back from the Mavs parade – were stranded in the train after it stopped in the tunnel connecting Cityplace and Mockingbird Station. Several told the various media outlets who covered the incident that they attempted to talk to the conductor and got no response. They tried to use an emergency phone in the tunnel, and it was dead. It was also very, very hot, and with no idea how long it would take to get them moving again, many opted to open the doors and walk out of the tunnel. (more…)
Things To Do In Dallas This Weekend: June 17-19
I just went down a ’90s nostalgia wormhole (Morally questionable boy bands! Jnco jeans!) and have emerged unscathed with a vital addendum to my birthday wish list. I want one of these T-shirts. And since it’s the end of the week and I was in a terrible mood this morning after discovering that the weird natural toothpaste I bought tastes like fennel, I’d like to solicit your opinion on the debate that started this trip down memory lane in the first place. Top Katy Perry* songs of all time. Go. Mine are “Teenage Dream,” “Firework,” “Hot N Cold,” and “Waking Up In Vegas.” People Newspapers’ Bradford Pearson disagrees on the last two, so now we’re in a fight.
Friday
Tonight’s main event is the Arts District block party. To borrow from the way I described this to Tim a couple days ago, the DMA, the Nasher, and the Crow Collection have combined their usual late night activities to birth one big super late night baby. So not only are they shutting down Flora Street and filling it with food trucks, but all three museums will have various indoor and outdoor activities going on all evening long. Peter has the full line-up over on FrontRow.
However. Just in case you’re still holed up at home, bathing in a tub of ice or something decadent like that, let me take this opportunity to inform you that it is already painfully hot. So while this is certainly worth your time, I suggest you bring sunscreen. And one of those spray bottle fans. And make a beeline for air conditioning as soon as you partake in your desired al fresco food experience, though you’ll want to emerge in time for The Polyphonic Spree concert. They’re on at 9 pm at the DMA’s Ross Avenue Plaza, and it’s free. People get serious about staking out prime spots over there, so arrive early.
Woman Beaten, Sexually Assaulted Near Henderson
Over the past couple of days, I’ve received several emails from people urging me to post an item about an attack that happened off of Henderson Avenue. Without enough time to track down a police report, I had been sitting on those emails — till just now, when an alert FBvian pointed me to this mention of the attack on the East Dallas Blog of the Morning News. The most recent email:
I was hopeful one of you might be able to help shine some light on this heinous crime that occurred on Henderson Avenue late Sunday/early Monday after the Mavs Finals win. The victim is a friend of a friend and is a young professional woman who was savagely attacked, raped, and left for dead only to be found naked and laying on a sidewalk early Monday a.m. She had been hanging out with friends Sunday evening watching the Mavs and celebrating after the game at J. Black’s on Henderson.
I find no police statement on the crime, and no media coverage online. As you know, Henderson is one of Dallas’ most popular night spots, and it seems, for whatever reason, that the police and major media outlets don’t want this story told.
On behalf of the victim, I want this guy or guys (rumored to be three) captured, and I want all women living in Dallas and frequenting Henderson, downtown, or Uptown to be made aware of the potential dangers of being alone in these areas. I hope to also encourage some men to make sure their female friends never leave a bar late at night unescorted.
I’d love to see a police report and a statement from the Dallas PD as well as the owner of J. Black’s [ed note: I don't see why J. Black's, in particular, should be drawn into this]. A reward is likely going to be established by her friends and friends of friends so these barbaric men may be captured and brought to justice.
The horror of this crime sickens me beyond words, and I know the victim is suffering terribly. As such, I appreciate any help you can provide in bringing attention to this story.
Thanks.
(As there are rumors this is a gang-related attack, please quote me as an anonymous FB source.)
Julia Sweeney, R.I.P
The noted publicist and former Times Herald columnist died Tuesday. An obit written by Alan Peppard runs in today’s Morning News. Those who knew her (and even those who didn’t) will want to read this 1981 D Magazine cover story on Sweeney, penned by Mike Shropshire.
Joe Bob Briggs on Anthony Weiner
An alert FrontBurnervian points us this essay by former D Magazine staffer John Bloom (aka Joe Bob Briggs), who defends the kooky actions of Anthony Weiner. Sample:
The Democratic Party is supposed to promote the rights of gays, lesbians, transvestites, transsexuals, hermaphrodites, midgets, circus performers, and biker gangs. It’s supposedly an article of faith among Democrats, especially when it comes to gay marriage, that there’s no such thing as normal. As long as no laws are violated, every American determines his own definition of a normal life, including a normal life in the bedroom, the swingers’ club, the bathhouse, or anywhere else he, she, or it decides to aardvark around. If suddenly the Democrats have decided that Anthony Weiner talking dirty on Facebook and emailing his Love Log to Vegas blackjack dealers constitutes “unacceptable” and “bizarre” sociopathy — if the standard is that low — then God help them the first time a lesbian Congresswoman from Vermont gets “outed” by her college roommate at Swarthmore who has decided to reminisce about the mostly forgotten Group Grope in Parrish Hall back in ’97 by establishing a Facebook page dedicated to recalling every detail of every girl who may or may not have kissed said Congresswoman or otherwise touched her in a compromising manner.
Read the whole thing. It’s funny. And Joe Bob makes a good point.
Another Reason To Love Dirk Nowitzki
I love a good malapropism. And I love people who issue them in humorous ways. My wife, for instance, once declaimed: “You are skating on a thin thread, mister!” That’s good stuff.
Which brings me to this gem from Dirk at the rally inside in the AAC after the parade: “It’s been an amazing ride, an amazing journey. There’s been a lot of ups, a lot of downs. This is the top of the iceberg, and it feels absolutely amazing.”
Bear in mind that he did this in his second language, which makes it all the more impressive. It’s like his off-balance, one-legged fadeaway, a thing of beauty that you want to rewind and watch in slow-mo so you can see just how he did it. “It’s been an amazing ride. There’s been a lot of ups, a lot of downs.” Okay, so those words, for most people, would call to mind a roller coaster. That’s where you expect Dirk to go. But no. He fakes you out and instead goes for — a mountaintop? No! Your second guess is wrong! Dirk is three moves ahead of you. He goes for the top of the iceberg — which, of course, is only a few feet above sea level.
But wait. Also notice that he goes to the “top of the iceberg,” rather than the “tip of iceberg,” the latter (and much more common) expression referring to a large problem, only part of which is evident.
Swish. The ball splashes through the nylon, and Dirk goes running back down to the other end of the court, wagging his tongue and popping his jersey, as you’re left to stand there and scratch your head, wondering how the hell he just did that.
Leading Off (6/17/01)
Tornados? There’s an App For That. White Settlement resident Justin Graham is a software designer by trade, but on the side has developed two iPhone apps - TornadoSpy and StormSpy – that allow users to track storms that fellow users have reported. Graham’s apps become really popular during spates of high storm activity, such as the recent wave – where 1,600 copies were downloaded.
Bills, Bills, Bills … and more bills are awaiting Rick Perry as soon as he comes back from a week of national appearances. About 1,170 pieces of legislation are sitting on his desk, waiting for his signature, and he has three days to do all that signing. My hand cramps just thinking of it.
No More Neighborhood Parade in Richland Hills. This is what happens when something nice, small towny and neighborly gets overrun by adults.
Teachers Can Get Paid Less. Rainy Day Funds are for chumps. Instead, let’s write a bill that allows districts to pay teachers less money, makes bigger class sizes possible, and allows for furloughing teachers without pay.
The Weekend Starts in 10 Hours. Give or take. I figure the rest of today will be spent basking in residual this. Saturday is all yours, but by Sunday morning, you probably should’ve bought your dad a card, and perhaps a nice gift.
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