Articles for August 2nd, 2011
Rolling Brown Outs? Not Cool. At All.
As the temperature on the thermometer began climbing higher today, word started circulating that rolling brown outs were possible because the area was already maxing out on its system load whatsits, according to ERCOT. While I have already discussed my love of things like this, this, and this, I found something new to click and refresh on today: ERCOT’s fancy load graph, and Oncor’s maps that show current outages.
So listen, seriously. It’s hot. Really hot. Hot enough that having no electricity for an hour or so could make even the coolest house pretty gosh-darned toasty. So unless you want to just sit naked in a room, arms and legs akimbo, drinking lemonade and dousing yourself with what was ice water two minutes ago, ERCOT recommends the following*: (more…)
Another Super Bowl-Related Plan Bites the Dust
One by one, the grand plans once touted by Super Bowl XLV backers seem to have popped like balloons. First there was the week-long, “mega-bucks” run-up to the February game; it got curtailed by the ice storm. Then there was the seating fiasco. Then the apparent failure of other Super Bowl cities to rush to embrace the SLANT 45 initiative, which was supposed to have been DFW’s Super Bowl legacy for all times. Now, even the host committee’s regional sports commission idea has been tossed on the scrap heap. Best-laid plans, indeed.
It’s So Hot That …
You know how hot it is? It’s so hot that when you’re welding the Museum Tower together, you’ll take shade from a big ol’ gay pride umbrella. (photo by Elizabeth Lavin)
The Mansion’s New Owner Inspects Her Acquisition
The Mansion restaurant was the scene of the hotel’s past and future first ladies last night. In the private dining room on the Veranda, former Mansion hotelier Caroline Rose Hunt was with chums T. Boone Pickens and Billie Lee Rippey. When asked about his being in town during the summer’s record-breaking 100-degree heat wave, T. Boone said, “How can you be out of town when you set a record?”
Across the way in the library, the luxury hotel’s new top lady, 29-year-old Sonia Cheng, was having dinner with her key executives. She is a Harvard grad and the granddaughter of New World Hospitality founder Cheng Yu-tung. She’s also in charge of the New World Hotels that just added the Mansion to its stable.
When it comes to her likes and dislikes in the luxury hotel business, the Wall Street Journal had an interesting interview with Sonia. One of her chief dislikes is bed covers. According to Sonia, “Who knows how often they wash it? What’s wrong with a simple clean, white bed sheet? Do we need a heavy useless bed cover to represent luxury?”
Instead of Paris Hilton, think Lucy Liu.
Things To Do In Dallas Tonight: Aug. 2
The Man is afoot. Brad Pearson (of People Newspapers and karaoke fame, as soon as I get that video up on YouTube) sends word that the Google Street View car is out and about today. He says it’s an adorable, camera-laden sedan much like this one. You can’t miss it, on the off chance you actually spot it. Meanwhile, I’d like to extend a warm (bam!) welcome to the Street View team. I hope they enjoy rolling around in hell.
So, you’re going to want to stay indoors today. I can assist. I could also technically walk to tonight’s event, but uh. See above. Anyway, there’s a fun little thing called TAP Uptown kicking off at St. John’s Wood. It’s a free, weekly happy hour with live music from local bands and a charitable impulse. I have a very soft spot in my heart for public education, and TAP’s culminating service project on Aug. 28 will benefit nearby North Dallas High School. At the bar tonight, though, just listen to Smile Smile and maybe check out the opportunities to mentor incoming freshman through the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.
And since Tuesday nights are for drinking, feel free to help Times Ten Cellars over in Lakewood celebrate their six-year anniversary. They’re offering wine specials from open to close, but they’ll break out the barbecue and live music around 6 pm.
For more to do, go here.
Plano Lawyer Gets 180 Days in Jail for Yelling at Judge
You should never get in an argument with someone you are legally required to call “Your Honor.” According to this sub-required story, it was the first time District Judge John Roach Jr. has sentenced a lawyer to jail time. Key quote, from the opposing counsel: “She was constantly in his face, using such statements as ‘Your Honor, you can not shut me up. You cannot keep me quiet…Put me in jail, Judge Roach, I don’t care.’”
Apparently she changed her mind on that whole not caring thing. Sharon Easley, the “particularly antagonistic” family attorney (who also ran against — and lost to — Roach for the spot on the bench in 2006), publicly apologized and had her sentence knocked down to 15 days, which she’ll serve during off-work hours (8 p.m. to 6 a.m.), after the birth of her grandchild.
Rhett Miller To Appear in Atlantic Monthly
The frontman for The Old 97’s writes on his Twitter feed: “The September issue of Atlantic Monthly will feature excerpts from the diary I kept during 9/11 and the days that followed.” You’ve been notified.
Leading Off (8/2/11)
Dirk Nowitzki Is the Most Marketable Player in the NBA. The Sun-Sentinel created something called the Nielsen/E-Poll that indicates Dirk is the coolest dude on the hardwoods. Seems like a good time to put that guy on a magazine cover, eh?
Football Coach Dies After Practice. Prestonwood Christian assistant football coach Wade McLain died after his team’s practice Monday. The cause of death is unknown, but the heat is likely a contributing factor. It’s supposed to get up to around 110 today. Please, everyone be careful out there.
Kwame Kilpatrick Is a Free Man Once Again. Today the disgraced former mayor of Detroit ends a 14-month prison term for violating his probation. He plans to return to Dallas and work on his memoir. But while he was in prison, a grand jury indicted him on public corruption charges. So he’s got that to look forward to.
Hot Girl Alert. In Sydney, Australia, they’ve got a sports team called the Manly Sea Eagles. I want you to think about that for moment. Then think about 26-year-old Angela Nicotera, who used to be a cheerleader for the Manly Sea Eagles. Because now she’s a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. You want video? I’ve got video.
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