Happy parallel lines day. And also, happy Veteran’s Day. Remember your favorite service member.
Friday
It’s been awhile since the folks behind Contemplative Cinema put together an evening of odd-yet-thought-provoking films. But the ghost of events past returns tonight at the Texas Theatre (ugh, I know, two Texas Theatre events in two days). Well, technically, it’s in the Texas Theatre “dungeon,” the underground screening room. Expect new and in-progress films by San Francisco-based artist Eric Stewart, who explores landscape and ecology by messing around with the surface of 16 mm film. Mothlight by Stan Brakhage, Fuses by Carolee Schneeman, and Film Feedback by Tony Conrad are also on the program. All the films are silent, so chew that popcorn softly.
Not up for weirdness? Country artist Josh Turner takes the stage tonight at the Texas Stampede, presumably to croon something romantic and/or uplifting. The celebration of all things Western kicked off yesterday and continues through tomorrow evening. The cause is a good one, since proceeds benefit North Texas children’s charities, and there are lots of kid-friendly rodeo activities. Here’s where I’d insert the phrase my grandfather used when firing up the big old Lincoln, but it’s an inappropriate reference to camel refuse.
We sent D Magazine intern Carol Shih, a Dreamcatcher fan, to see the man who caused a visceral fear of aliens climbing out of toilet seats during her formative years. Her report:
Hail to the King
By Carol Shih
Rarely does Stephen King make appearances at charity events, but lo and behold, the horror writer decided to grace Dallas fans with “A Conversation with Stephen King” at the Majestic Theatre last night. This benefit for the Sixth Floor Museum gave those who shelled out extra green the chance to drink cheap glasses of wine and rub shoulders with the King himself at a 6 o’clock reception. Afterward, DMN columnist Lee Cullum led King in an hour-long conversation over his latest novel, 11/22/63, in which an average English teacher uses a time machine to prevent the Kennedy assassination. Why does this plot sound familiar? Oh, right, it’s been done before. But instead of going on and on about the origins of King’s novel, here are some highlights from the slick King’s talk:
Perry Explains It All. A night after stepping in “it,” Gov. Rick Perry appeared on Letterman to present the Top 10 reasons he did so. My take? He didn’t do horribly. But I’m still wagering he would give anything to find Clark Kent, convince him to change into his blue and red jammies, fly up into space, and then reverse the orbit of the Earth back to two hours before the debate started, when he’d say, “Hey, intern, won’t you write down the three departments I hate on a Post-It and slip it in my pocket?”
Fraggled. North Texas parent Keith White and Rev. Kyev Tatum both think a decades-old episode of Fraggle Rock contains a racial slur. However, The Hub, which aired the episode, says a look-see at the script says differently. Can we all just agree that “Gee, Gobo, we’re sorry,” can possibly sound like what they think they heard, but Jim Henson, in all his Muppet-wisdom, would probably not put a racial slur in a children’s program?
Dallas! Apparently people would like to move to Dallas, only they aren’t. Big Bob has the deets, but I say those people who said they’d like to move here should wait a few years because if they come here now they’ll only make that whole mess on 635 more irritating than it already is and I swear I’ll end up murder balling someone with my car if people don’t learn that the EB on ramp to 75 has three lanes and the middle one will allow you to go north or south. I mean, um, welcome to Dallas. Jerks.
Donkeyed Up. “Deputy Paul Stroud can hardly keep up with the county’s stray donkey problem.” Dallas County officials are going to assess (see what I did there?) the problem.
Happy 11-11-11, Or Not. I can’t tell. It’s either good luck, or not. So maybe it’s a wash, and completely normal. As you were?
The Dallas jury in that animal-cruelty trial has spoken, the Dallas Observer reports, and its verdict on Tyrone McGill, the former shelter manager accused of letting a cat die in a wall, is: not guilty.
Brother Bill Holston has sent us another dispatch. In this short ditty, you can decided for yourself if his solitary walks in the woods are slowly driving him insane.
FrontRow has two VIP tickets to Saturday’s benefit concert (featuring Rhett Miller of the Old 97’s, Sarah Jaffe, and The O’s) up for grabs. Enter to win here.
Quick, though, you only have 30 minutes or so before we must randomly select a winner.
Sure, a just-released UT study found no direct connection between natural-gas fracking and groundwater contamination. Coming as it does on top of a recent Fort Worth report showing little to no adverse impact on air quality from gas drilling, you might think drilling and fracking opponents would begin to notice a pattern here. But if you did, you’d be wrong.
“We continue to believe there are many, many things we will continue to blame on drilling and fracking,” said Ted “Teddy” Angus, coordinator of the Garland-based Gasbags Against Drilling and Fracking group (GADF). “I mean, what about all those earthquakes we’ve been having? You think they just up and happened, for no good reason at all?
“And what about the wildfires, which coincidentally have been increasing, just as gas drilling has gotten really, really popular?” Angus went on. “We also think fracking has something to do with the ice caps and global warming. We haven’t figured out exactly what–not yet, anyway. Our List committee is compiling a list of other things drilling and fracking probably causes, too, and we will be issuing that list to the news as soon as we can’t think of any more things.”
As you may have noticed already, we’ve tweaked the design of our comments. You’ll also find a new ditty called “You might like,” with some helpful links. The latter addition will take some time, I’m told, before its algorithm learns enough information to be helpful. Give it awhile. Be patient. Meantime, if you have a second, tell us what you think of the new comments style.
When a Financial District-dwelling friend told me about this, all I could think was, “Of course.” Because the clinically depressed brainchild of Herman Melville is practically the Occupy movement’s mascot. While a similarly nerdball reading might serve as a positive PR stunt for Occupy Dallas, let’s all prefer to keep eating.
Tonight, guitarist Jimmie Vaughn returns to his hometown of Oak Cliff for the first time in 45 years. Yes, he’s visited Dallas in the last half decade, but we’re splitting hairs here. The Tilt-A-Whirl Band will join Jimmie on stage at the Texas Theatre before he takes part in a discussion to share how growing up in Oak Cliff influenced him and his younger brother, Stevie Ray. VIP tickets are sold out, but you can still snag a general admission seat. And since it’s basically right around the corner from the theater, Mesa seems like a must visit for dinner. Check out Nancy’s glowing review and all the pretty, pretty pictures of delicious food in the November issue of D.
Continuing our love affair with Dallas history, Stephen King is here to discuss 11/22/63, which is of course both the name of his new time-traveling novel, released two days ago, and the date that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Mike and Tim talked about the book here and here. It’s on my reading list after I finish 1Q84, Murakami’s 900+ page monster. Numerical titles! So popular right now. Anyway, King’s appearance serves as a fundraiser for The Sixth Floor Museum. As I understand, he doesn’t do this sort of thing often, but it seems fitting. Again, VIP tickets that included a reception with the author are gone. Oddly enough, though, the actual conversation at the Majestic Theatre has yet to sell out.
For more to do tonight, go here.
Mark Cuban’s brother, attorney Brian Cuban, has been outspoken about the disturbing scandal unfolding at Penn State. First there was this blog post. Then there was this radio interview. This week has been rough for fans of the program. Of course, the entire ordeal has been exponentially worse for the victims.
Rick Perry Has An “Oops” Moment in GOP Debate. Bethany already mentioned it. But, hey, why not go to the tape one more time? If you watch closely, you can see the exact moment his campaign staff fired up Monster.com in unison. I had something else planned, but a slight tweak in our blog backend sort of swallowed it up, or at least kicked it in the jeans so hard it’s going to have to sit a few plays out. And no, I was really calm throughout that entire process. Not sure why you’d ask, but thanks for checking on me, I guess.
Rangers Pitching Coach Mike Maddux Interviews For Cubs Manager. Said Maddux, maybe: “I like Chicago’s stance on mustaches, to be honest with you, and I’ve always been a big fan of the Smashing Pumpkins. Yeah, all the way back to Gish. Well, sure, yeah, of course I lost a little bit of interest around — what was that? — oh yeah, Machina/The Machines of God. Who didn’t? I’m not even sure they were into it anymore, you know? But tell me ‘Siva’ doesn’t slay. Tell me that with a straight face, man. HA. You can’t! [hums the main guitar riff for 30 seconds, while playing drums on his legs] Anyway. What? Yes, I’ve already asked if Greg would be my pitching coach.”
City Gives Occupy Dallas an Ultimatum. They say the protesters are breaking their agreement. The protesters are protesting that.
Tonight’s Super Big Time Awesome Not At All Repetitious GOP Debate and Banjo Funtime Hour isn’t even over, and Rick Perry’s befuddlement on which three cabinet positions he’d get rid of is already on YouTube.
And WFAA’s Brad Watson has already responded.
Isn’t the Internet kinda awesome?