Articles for August, 2011
Episcopal School of Dallas Trial Has Been Dramatic
If you’ve missed Claire St. Amant’s coverage of a family’s lawsuit against Episcopal School of Dallas, you’ve missed a lot. The following courtroom quotes have appeared in her posts:
- “I’m so [expletive] in love with you, my baby. I want you and that beautiful [expletive] in my bed each night, and I want to make babies with you.”
- “My boobies miss you.”
- “I’m having a hard time keeping my pants up. … My daughter says I shouldn’t say things like that.”
- “Father Swann, that is a lie, sir, is it not?”
Testimony from Stephen Swann, the school’s founder and headmaster, was scheduled to resume today.
Leading Off (8/8/11)
Questions Over Senator Royce West’s Business Behavior: Exactly what role Royce West will play in the ongoing investigation into the nefarious dealings of John Wiley Price is still unclear, but the most interesting part of this report in the Dallas Morning News this morning (sub. req.) about the state senator, a long time associate of Price and a powerful presence in local politics, is the section that breaks down his various contracts with government entities, particularly DISD and DART. West has already had his hand slapped for playing loosey-goosey with ethics rules. Last year the Texas Ethics Commission fined the politician for paying rent on an election office from campaign contributions to a company he owned.
Town Outside Dallas Shuts Off Water Supply: Yes, yes, yes, it’s hot. How hot? If we keep hitting 100 degrees through Friday, it will break 1980’s 100 degree day streak, the longest ever. It is hot enough to catch the attention of British papers, and now some fear the drought will persist into next year. But it doesn’t get worse than in the Kaufman County town of Kemp, where the city has turned off its residents’ water supply.
Michael Young Gets 2,000th Hit: It was a little dribbler down the third base line that Young beat out. Not sensational, but somehow an appropriate way for one of baseball’s most underrated players and a consummate journeyman to reach the milestone.
Who Runs the USPS?
I ask because Friday former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert (now vying for a Senate seat), tweeted this:
How does Obama expect govt to run healthcare if it cant (sic) run the post office? USPS lost $3.1 bill in Q3http://t.co/dJfqDEu #txsen
Now, after I made my knee quit jerking, I settled in to do some rudimentary research on who exactly runs the United States Postal Service. Now, yes, some of you are going to tell me what I thought: The Post Office (as we all like to call it) is a private entity. Or maybe you’re going to tell me it’s a government agency. Turns out, we’d all kind of be right. (more…)
Charles Wyly Dies in Colorado Accident
I’m sure Glenn or someone will have more on this later, but billionaire Charles Wyly – whose name is affixed to the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, died today in a car accident in Colorado. He was 77.
Wyly’s philanthropy was key to the evolution of the Dallas Arts District, but he had also had his troubles of late, and was being investigated for insider trading.
A Make-Up Gift For Our Lack of Posts Today
Sorry for the lack of posts today. We’re finishing up our September issue (Best Breast Augmentation Doctor Joke Makers!) and Tim won’t stop talking about himself. So we’re swamped. To make up for that, here is a clip of Marc Anthony covering the Eagles’ “Hotel California.” The audio has been disabled, because of a copyright violation I think, so there is no sound. But there are subtitles, in Spanish. I love you all.
Former Dallas Broker/Almost Media Mogul Owes Gubmint Lots of Money
We have discussed Josh Lankford before. For instance here, when the Dallas Morning News did a story about his start-up Internet TV company that covered the penny stock market. Or here, where I talked about how I got hired to work at the company in its early months. And even here, when everyone expressed extreme shock that O.J. Simpson would agree to a series of interviews on that network.
What has Lankford been up to since that time? Well, now he’s on the lam from the Feds, after being charged for his alleged role in a series of pump-and-dump scams. And just a few days ago, the SEC asked for and received a judgement against Lankford for more than $94 million in penalties.
I mean, if they ever find him.
Bless the Downtown Dallas Tunnels, and Skyways
Corner of Akard and Patterson
I’ve walked by this architectural oddity (at right) jutting out of the side of the Spurgeon Harris building in downtown Dallas hundreds of times since D Magazine World Headquarters relocated in fall 2009. Usually the weather is far too decent for me to think anything other than “what the hell is that?” as I go by.
But today I was inspired by the continuous extreme heat to do something more. I was certain that I was somehow being a sucker for walking all the way down to one of my favored lunch spots near Thanksgiving Square while exposed to the sun’s onslaught. I was certain there must be a better way. And there is.
Today, for the first time, I discovered the missing link. I discovered this link in much the same way that Columbus discovered America. Because my colleagues and I were ignorant of it, I believe I have a right to claim it as our own. Regardless of how many Dallas office drones have tread upon it before.
For this strange structure is part of the skyway that made it possible for me to go nearly the entire distance between Thanksgiving Tower and the garage directly across from our office without suffering heat stroke. (And Krista will be able to walk home indoors, assuming she can leave here during business hours.) As portions of the tunnels cannot accurately be described as featuring “air-conditioned comfort,” I’m looking forward even more to using this system when it’s pouring rain. If 1600 Pacific weren’t closed, I could get all the way to the Bank of America building and back.
Vibrant street life be damned. We need our tunnels.
Things To Do In Dallas This Weekend: Aug. 5-7
If you have not yet taken a gander at our newest blog, StyleSheet, you should. It’s full of lovely ladies and gents who are proof that million degree temperatures don’t actually give us license to dress like a bum. That being said, I would not laugh at anyone who decides to make a CamelBak a permanent fixture in his or her wardrobe. Load it up with extra ice.
Friday
Who said Dallas and Fort Worth weren’t created equal? Probably no one said that. But softies for songs like “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” and “Yellow Submarine” by some little band called the Beatles on both sides of our vast metropolis are in luck this weekend.
1964…The Tribute Band is on at the Bass Hall in Fort Worth both Friday and Saturday night. Rolling Stone dubbed this one “the best Beatles tribute on Earth.” I have no way to prove this, but I hear Ringo is the preferred Beatle on Mars.
Leading Off (8/5/11)
Proposed City Budget Not That Wet. City Manager Mary Suhm’s proposed budget isn’t as dire as predicted earlier in the year, but it still cuts a lot from libraries and parks, and closes several pools. Also, your water bill will go up. Good news? The city found room in the budget to hire more police officers.
Man Rescued From Very High Height. So this guy, in this heat, is up on a Burleson cell tower, working. And because he’s like, 760 feet closer to the sun, he got hot and disoriented, and took off his safety harness and eventually just got trapped up there. And then Burleson firefighters climbed all the way up to rescue him. In one fell swoop, I found two jobs that I can’t do.
The Response is This Weekend. So far, tickets to Rick Perry’s The Response day of prayer, fasting and something else I don’t remember haven’t sold so well. Houston’s Reliant Stadium holds more than 70,000, and there are 8,000 in ticket sales. I’m pretty sure you don’t rent out a giant building if you expect the response to be 1 percent of the seats available, IJS.
Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Sigh.
I Give Up. It’s hot, and I’ve given up moving. Two days ago, I found a college football game on the TV from last season, and watched it so I could psychosomatically feel cooler. Go with God, people.
Trader Joe’s Rumor No. 123,475
So I like Trader Joe’s. I’d like to have one here. And because of that, and because I was interested in seeing if this group ever got any actual information on possibilities, I joined this group.
And then today, someone posted this message:
The inside dope I got from a reliable source is that there will be a Trader Joe’s opening in the old Kroger location in Plano at Park and Preston, Northeast corner. I have no idea when the store will open.
An email is in route to HQ to find out if this is true, but I don’t really expect them to confirm the location. Because that’s not how it works, right?
Dallas Morning News Goes Casual To Beat Heat
A memo just circulated to staff:
In order to reduce power consumption during the current heat wave, we will be raising the room temperature in The Dallas Morning News and TXCN Buildings by two degrees beginning tomorrow, Friday, August 5.
To help employees cope with the higher temperatures, the dress code for employees in those buildings has been revised, effective today through Labor Day, to be summertime business casual seven days a week. In addition, employees may wear shorts and sandals during this time (no sports shorts, cut offs, spandex or flip flops, please).
If the heat wave continues past Labor Day, we will consider extending the modified dress code past that date.
To further reduce energy consumption, please turn off lights in meeting rooms and offices when not in use, and remember to turn off all computers and personal electronic devices when you leave for the day.
We at D Mag headquarters won’t be outdone in this effort to conserve energy. We’ve raised the temperature in our office by three degrees, and from now till Labor Day staff is required to wear crop tops.
Troy Aikman Is Totally Hot
Thanks to commenter Ashley, my man crush on Troy Aikman is growing more intense. Check out this shirtless pic of him on TMZ. Besides Hershel Walker, name another ex NFL player who has kept himself together as well as Troy.
A (Partial) List of Things I’ve Done With Sources
Since there has been a fair amount of controversy on the lines you can and cannot cross with a source, here is a partial list of things I have probably done with sources.
Woodall Rodgers Deck Park To Feature Jet Engines
I had no idea. From an email update on construction of The Park:
With its cross-beams nearly 80 percent complete, construction of The Park is on schedule for its fall 2012 opening.
Crews have installed 252 of the 316 concrete crossbeams that span the 5.2-acre deck park and the final beams are expected to be placed in October. Meanwhile, construction crews have completed 40 percent of the waterproofing the deck needs to ensure water does not seep through the concrete and into the tunnel once complete.
“As the deck nears completion, North Texans are in for an extraordinary sight,” said Linda Owen, president of the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation. “Soon we’ll see the arrival of trees and plants, lawns and trellis, and it will be unmistakably clear what a transformational space our community has created.”
Improvements are also being made to the newly-created tunnel for drivers travelling underneath the deck park. In October, workers will complete the installation of 32 jet fans that will be monitored and controlled by computers at all times to protect air quality. In addition to the jet engines, drivers travelling on Woodall Rodgers Freeway will also notice the eastbound Pearl Street exit has been reopened. The exit closed last December as a safety precaution at the beginning of construction.
Dallas residents aren’t the only ones getting a new view of The Park. The Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation, which oversees the development and programming for The Park, relocated to a space overlooking The Park last week. Its new home will also serve as a meeting space for volunteers and programming partners.
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