Articles for July 28th, 2011
Jim Schutze Thinks I Write Good!
It’s not every day that a man in a bathrobe, holding a shotgun, tells you that you write well. But as luck would have it, that’s happened to me twice today. True, both times it was the same guy, but I can’t help the excitement when I get compliments from the legendary Jim Schutze, author of Bully – a man I’m told is secretly a sweetheart. In an essay he posted to Unfair Park this afternoon, he calls the column I did for this month’s print product: “nicely written by a new guy over there named Michael J. Mooney.” Jim Schutze knows my name! He goes on to reiterate that “Mooney’s piece was well written.” (He says some other stuff, too, I’m told. I just skimmed for my name.) And this comes just one day after Observer managing editor Patrick Williams, in his weekly Buzz, said, “Mooney’s a talented, award-winning reporter.” (He says some other stuff, too, I’ve been informed, including that mine would make a good name for a fishing rod.) Gosh, guys, way to make my day. That’s easily the nicest thing any employee of that company has said about me in months.
Plano Family Faces More Difficulties
I told you yesterday about Micaela White, an Ursuline graduate who’s looking forward to going to college at OU. She survived thyroid cancer two years ago. She’s now fighting for her life as she battles leukemia. While Micaela was in the hospital, a fire damaged her family’s home. Her parents have been splitting their time between the hospital and taking care of her brother, who has Down Syndrome. And now, as a commenter pointed out, there’s this: Micaela’s father has been arrested for accidentally shooting and killing an employee. He has been charged with manslaughter.
I can’t imagine how difficult life is for this family right now. Micaela needs A-negative platelets (which are rare). Please go to the Facebook group “Micaela’s Army” to see how you can help.
How to ‘Pull a Dallas’: A Phrase Worth Coining
Dallas Morning News contributing writer Clayton McCleskey doesn’t think much of DART’s plans for an Oak Cliff streetcar. He’s all for streetcars; he just believes this $35 million effort is doomed to fail because 1) The streetcar won’t run often enough and 2) It won’t take passengers far enough into Oak Cliff, and won’t reach the Bishop Arts District.
In writing about it, he concludes: ”I want to coin the phrase, ‘Pull a Dallas,’ to use when someone tries so hard, yet royally misses the mark.”
Who doesn’t have “coining a phrase” on his or her list of desired lifetime achievements? McCleskey’s attempt is a solid effort, but we all know there are others hoping to seize “pull a Dallas” as their own. A quick online search reveals the top competitors:
1. pull a Dallas — To achieve success much more quickly than anticipated. As when the Dallas Mavericks went from having a win-loss record so bad that they were a lottery team one season to improving so much the next that they reached the second round of the playoffs. (January 2002)
2. pull a Dallas — To have an entire year of storylines turn out to be a dream. As with Bobby Ewing’s famed return to the TV series Dallas. Though primarily television or fiction-related, this could perhaps be expanded to mean a prolonged period of self-delusion. (Multiple instances, including June 2007)
3. pull a Dallas — To shudder and/or shake when you get turned on. It’s in Urban Dictionary, so it must be true. I’d like to know more of the etymology of this definition. (April 2008)
4. pull a Dallas — To choke. To be perceived as a champion but to fail in the face of competition. As when the Dallas Cowboys were the No. 1 NFC playoff seed but collapsed against Eli Manning and the New York Giants. (January 2009)
5. Pull a Dallas — To try hard, but royally miss the mark. As (possibly) with the Oak Cliff streetcar, or the Trinity River Project, or that “Find Your D-Spot” slogan that the Downtown Dallas association embraced a few years back. I’m sure others might be cited. McCleskey’s take. (July 2011)
Given the options, I’m liking the broader meaning of No. 2 best. And its connection to an internationally known television program gives it extra stickiness.
Things To Do In Dallas Tonight: July 28
Today marks the fourth morning in a row I’ve had Robyn’s first-ever U.S. hit, “Do You Know What It Takes (To Love Me),” stuck in my head. From all reports, the Swedish dance-electro pop star is a lot edgier these days than she was back in 1996. Aren’t we all. I don’t have a soulDecision CD in my car right now. What?
Perhaps not so coincidentally, Robyn’s in town tonight opening for Katy Perry at the Nokia Theater. Unfortunately for some of us in the office with an affinity for “Teenage Dream,” the concert is sold out. But for those looking for a little after hours fun, Robyn is DJing a late-night set at Rio Room. I’m not much of a lounge person, but I recently had a dance contest with my nine-year-old cousin and she blew me out of the water. Obviously, I need more practice. If you’re into this, I suggest grabbing tickets online in advance. Robyn doesn’t start spinning until 11 pm, so you need something to do until then.
Your only best option is the FrontRow screening of Wes Anderson’s Bottle Rocket at the Kessler Theatre. I’m not biased or anything. Or maybe I am. It’s just going to be awesome. And if you’re not there, you’ll miss out on live music, a fantastic film shot right here in Dallas, and the chance to chat with yours truly. Which I know is a huge draw.
Jokes aside, I’m really looking forward to this. It’s the second part of our “Dallas, Outlaws, and the American Dream” film series, and if you come dressed in costume, such as a yellow jumpsuit or one of these stylish Polos with a contrasting-color collar, you’ll get a ticket to the final movie on August 25th. As for dinner, I wish that Norma’s stayed open later, but I have a hankering for avocado which will inevitably lead to enchiladas anyway. There are, of course, tons of neighborhood options.
For people who are not heading out to Oak Cliff and are therefore no fun at all, yes, there are more things you can do. Find ideas here.
The Three Coolest Items for Sale at Good Records, the Best Record Store in Dallas
Chris Penn models the 3D glasses that come with Brightblack Morning Light's album.
I’ve been going to Good Records for some time now, though I wouldn’t call myself an expert on the store. Given its recognition as the Best Record Store in Dallas, I thought it was time to go straight to the expert—co-owner Chris Penn—to hear about the coolest (and weirdest) records in its inventory. I had dreamed of being shown an ancient, long-lost copy of The Beatles’ Carnival of Light, but what I found instead was a little less dusty and stained. Not that I should have been surprised: Good Records is, after all, a store that predominately sells new vinyl and CDs. Used music is bought and sold, but until Sir Paul walks into the store and hands over his copy of Carnival, I guess I’ll just have to wait. Until then, it’s 3-D and scratch-and-sniff vinyl, “nothing too too out of the ordinary.” Right, Chris.
Groupon Today Is Sweet Deal on D Magazine Subscription
Hey, we’re happy that you buy the magazine every month on the newsstand. We make more money that way. But you? You’re not being smart. A copy of D Magazine on the newsstand sets you back $4.99. Is it worth it? Most certainly. But if my math is right, you’re spending $64.82 a year to read us in print (still, to my mind, the best way to get it done). A subscription, of course, would save you some dough. For just $18, you can get 12 issues of your award-winning city magazine delivered to your mailbox. That right there, that’s better than a fair deal.
But guess what. Today and today only, you can score a subscription to D Magazine for just $9. Or, for $20, you can get 12 issues of D Magazine and six issues of D Home. That’s insane!
Get your Groupon.
Rain, Please Come Here
So it’s been hot for 25 million days now*, and we need some rain. And some cooler temperatures. I mean, really – it’s sad when we get excited that it’s only 80-something degrees at night. So I did some research, and it seems that, in addition to washing our cars and moving to new abodes, there are things we can do to make it rain**.
And then I found this. And there are enough of these spells that each of us can take one, and then each feel like a hero when it finally does rain.
Or you can wait and see if this stupid Tropical Storm Don kicks up anything. Your choice.
*An estimate.
** Not in the rap music way. Although if you’d like to do that in my yard, please email me for an address.
One Man’s Appreciation of Quick
I named Quick. Or maybe Dennis Hall did. I honestly don’t remember which of us came up with the name, but I know it was one of us. And since Dennis is rarely around to dispute me, I just tell people it was my idea.
In the fall of 2002, Dennis and I were two of a dozen or so Gen-X Dallas Morning News employees who were recruited for a secret mission. We were detached from our jobs for a week, put up in a Belo property a few blocks from our office, and tasked with brainstorming new products that would appeal to young people. The group broke into pairs and trios and began spitballing crazy ideas. The only one that sticks with me was a sidewalk kiosk that would give you news in your areas of interest based on a password or a swipe card. (I know, I know — you have to understand that this was long before smart phones or iPads would make such an immobile idea ridiculous.) Dennis and I came up with a much simpler concept: a newspaper with shorter stories. We called it Quick.
Yesterday afternoon, when I was on deadline, Tim came over to my desk and asked, “Didn’t you work at Quick?” Since Dennis was nowhere to be found, I replied, “Not only did I work there, I named that thing.” Tim said, “Well, they’re shutting it down.”
I didn’t have time to be floored at that moment, but once I got off deadline, it was all I could think about. I loved that little paper, and I loved the experience of contributing to its creation for its first three years. So I want to give it a proper sendoff. This may take awhile, so if you don’t have some time to kill, move on to the next post.
Leading Off (7/28/11)
There’s Air Conditioning in the Tunnels. Hey, look. It’s a story about why you should like the downtown underground tunnels. They have air conditioning. So you can drive your car to your garage, go to your office, and then go to the tunnels and never have to see the sun. (I was trying to be facetious with that last bit. But then I remembered yesterday’s half-mile walk to work. If only those tunnels actually connected…)
Offensive Doll Kicked Out of Pool. DJ Allan Peck’s daughter left her doll floating around at the Holmes Aquatic Center in University Park. Apparently, parents found the doll offensive. They want it to look more like a doll. So the only way it can return is if it’s dressed in a swimsuit. Peck said he’d just leave it at home next time.
It’s hot. And it’s going to stay that way. And we’re running out of water. Happy Thursday!
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