Articles for February 21st, 2013
Dallas Cowboys Fan Loses Bet, Will Name Her Son After RGIII
Source: ExtremeSkins.com
The screen-grab above pretty much sums it up, but the Washington Post grabbed the family for a chat:
…they were also pregnant with their first child, and were struggling to come up with a name. And Vega suggested the winner would get to choose the baby’s name.
“She didn’t really disagree with that at all, but she started saying she would name it Troy Aikman or Emmitt Smith, all these old Cowboys,” he recalled. “I would die if my son grew up to be a Cowboys fan. That’d be awful. I don’t even know how I’d feel.”
Still, they agreed on the bet. If the Redskins won, Vega could pick the name. If the Cowboys won, Pena, 31, was in charge. Each of them was granted one veto; Vega nixed “Emmitt Vega,” and Pena said no to “Darrell Green Vega.” They each chose again; Vega went with “Robert Griffin Vega,” and Pena chose “Austin Miles Vega,” after her favorite active player.They had a Thanksgiving gathering with family members. Pena’s whole family was in Cowboys gear. Vega and his mom wore Redskins attire. And he became terrified when reading about Tony Romo’s near-flawless turkey day record.
“I was second-guessing the whole time, like, What am I thinking?” Vega recalled. “If she’s gonna name him after a Cowboys player, there’s no doubt he would be a Cowboys fan. My son, as a Cowboys fan? I might have to disown him.”
Fandom.
T. Boone Pickens and Michael Bloomberg Are Now Best Friends, Apparently
From a Yahoo! story about gas-natural gas food trucks in New York (not our usual beat, but bear with us):
T. Boone Pickens, the billionaire energy mogul from Texas, joined Bloomberg at a press conference outside New York’s City Hall to unveil the city’s first natural-gas-powered food truck and to talk about clean energy efforts—an issue both he and the mayor are passionate about.
Speaking to a large group of reporters and political types on a frigid February morning, both men showered each other with compliments. Bloomberg praised Pickens as “one of the great Americans” in business and someone who has emerged as a “powerful voice” for clean energy efforts.
“I used to read about T. Boone Pickens in the paper, and I never thought I’d know him on a first-name basis,” Bloomberg said.
A few seconds later, Pickens returned the compliment, telling Bloomberg, “Mayor, if you were in Washington today, we’d be a hell of a lot better off than where we are.” Bloomberg beamed, as several people applauded.
This, of course, is ridiculous. If Bloomberg were to ever head to the White House, his brand of “conservatism” would be shellacked by the right for its nanny-state tendencies and by the left for its pro-big business stances. Little would get done. Still: T. Boone, natural gas, etc., etc.
Mavs Season Saved: Anthony Morrow Is Coming To Town
Kidding. He was playing about 12 minutes a game for Atlanta, and replaces Dahntay Jones, who was playing about 12 minutes a game for Dallas. But he can shoot.
Highland Park Man Booked For Evading Arrest, Becomes Frontrunner For Mugshot of the Year
MacDonald. Photo: Dallas County Jail
Charles MacDonald was arrested early this morning in Highland Park for evading arrest and criminal mischief, two charges that very poorly describe what happened. According to the Morning News:
…MacDonald, 24, of Highland Park was stopped by officers near Arroyo and Maple avenues about 1:45 a.m. by uniformed officers investigating drug complaints in the area.
Police say MacDonald refused to exit his vehicle and showed a large knife to officers, who backed away. They followed him to a home in the 5300 block of Waneta Drive.
When police arrived, MacDonald fled into the home to a back bedroom occupied by another man. Officers say MacDonald threatened to kill himself and everyone else, so they again backed off.
SWAT officers were then called in, and they arrested MacDonald after a standoff that reportedly lasted about two hours.
Dude knows how to take a mugshot. Very “I sat on something I shouldn’t have, but am surprised by how not uncomfortable this feels.”
Miami Officer Stabbed in Grapevine: ‘We’re Trained to Survive’
Serial rapist Alberto Morales stabbed Miami-Dade Police Department Det. Jaime Pardinas four times in a Grapevine parking lot before escaping, Pardinas told reporters in Miami today. It was also revealed that Morales was not handcuffed at the time of the attack, and that the two engaged in a hand-to-hand fight in the car before escaping. Morales led police on a four-day manhunt, and was shot and killed Feb. 15.
“This is what we do,” he said. “This is what I’ve dedicated my life to do. To protect the citizens of Dade County, and deliver the best job that I could possibly deliver. For me it was, ‘I’m not going out. I’m not going down.’”
Damn.
Click This Link Only If You Have Time To Waste
If you’re like me, you’ve grown tired of this whole Harlem Shake business. Also, though, if you’re like me, you’ll nonetheless enjoy watching FrontBurner do the Harlem Shake.
Robert Jeffress ‘Had a Very Pleasant Conversation’ With Tim Tebow Last Night
That video is just 50 seconds of a 15 minute clip of Robert Jeffress speaking with the American Family Association this morning. (Watch the whole video here.) In it, Jeffress explains that Tebow said he “needed to lay low” for a while and let this blow over. Other highlights:
- this was all based on lies and misrepresentations by the secular media
- members of the secular media have never read the Bible, never mind studied it extensively
- the real harm here is Tebow pulling out of the appearance
If you want to fill your ears with 15 minutes of people claiming that they are tolerant, then smashing people for their beliefs, go for it.
Karbhari Remains Sole Candidate for UT-Arlington Presidency, Despite Lawsuit
Karbhari
University of Alabama-Huntsville provost Vistasp Karbhari is still the only candidate for the presidency of UT-Arlington, even after questions were raised about his role in a shooting at the Alabama school.
Karbhari is currently been sued by the families of staff members who were killed by another professor on the Huntsville campus in 2010. The state Board of Regents released a statement yesterday afternoon, after a closed-door meeting:
This incident was discussed during the interview process, and Dr. Karbhari was heralded by his university for his leadership during such a critical time. He was described as compassionate, committed to taking care of victims’ families and was praised for his ability to steer the campus through one of the most terrible experiences imaginable.
Under Alabama state law, public universities have absolute immunity and cannot be sued. In light of that, attorneys for families of two of the victims filed a wrongful death lawsuit naming Dr. Karbhari, as the university’s chief academic officer.
While all of the Regents were aware of the shooting incident on campus, not all were aware of the lawsuit at the time Dr. Karbhari was interviewed. As we continue to discuss the lawsuit with Dr. Karbhari and his attorneys, he remains our sole finalist for president at UTA.
The Shorthorn, UT-Arlington’s student paper, spoke with search committee members about the decision:
It’s Time to Get Smarter About Defense Spending, Though it Won’t Be Painless for North Texas Contractors Like Bell Helicopter
When the subject is a reduction in military spending, look out for ruffled feathers and plenty of resistance.
I discovered this in the mid-1990s, when the feds’ Base Realignment and Closure group put Albuquerque’s big Kirtland Air Force Base on its hit list. Kirtland wasn’t scheduled to be closed outright but to get a major realignment, including the loss of about 6,800 jobs. So, as editor of a New Mexico business newspaper, I wrote that the proposed cuts—part of the nation’s post-Cold War “peace dividend”—could present a wonderful opportunity for businesspeople to repurpose parts of the base for promising entrepreneurial ventures. Shortly after I was slammed with all the blowback, a group of prominent citizens was formed to ensure that Kirtland would never be “realigned” in any meaningful way. And it wasn’t.
Now we’re facing another similar opportunity—or peril, depending on how you look at it. As Thomas Korosec explains in the March cover story of D CEO, major local defense contractors like Bell Helicopter are girding for the prospect of reduced outlays over time for military projects. Not only are two wars drawing to a close after more than a decade of combat, but the U.S. federal budget is in crisis mode, with once-unthinkable annual deficits and red ink as far as the eye can see.
Things To Do In Dallas Tonight: Feb. 21
Fly away home, little beer.
Our Peter Simek has done my job for me with his note about Richard Patterson’s video art project at the Texas Theatre tonight. You should attend.
The artist and painter has recently dabbled in film, and produced these six short vignettes that Peter declares not to be missed. Peter also says it’s pretty much your only chance to see them, thanks to copyright issues and other stuff that just flies right over my head. A conversation between Patterson and Peter, which sounds a bit like a fun folk band, will follow the screenings, and then there’s a DJ set from Wild in the Streets. That’s Lisa Bush, who sticks mostly to vinyl and plays old soul, pop, and French pop. All this is free. And I’m still swooning over the white pie I had at Eno‘s a few weeks ago—spinach, roasted garlic, onion, mushroom, ricotta. So good that a friend who claimed he wasn’t hungry started snatching slices.
Also tonight, the Meridian Room in Fair Park celebrates four years since their phoenix-like resurgence as the Parry Avenue spot we all know and love for its surprisingly good bar food and consistent drinks. I’ve been going there for what seems like forever, for reasons that run the gamut from birthday celebrations to half-price food night to quick drinks before theater performances. Lots of good memories. I don’t doubt that others feel the same way, so a toast to the place that’s served us faithfully is definitely in order. There’s drink specials, such as three dollar rum punch, $3 cans of Fireman’s 4, $4 well drinks, and two different shot-and-a-beer options. Live music starts at 8 p.m.
Finally, don’t forget to head over to FrontRow and enter today’s ticket giveaway—a pair to The Taming of the Shrew at Stage West, which begins its run tonight out in Fort Worth.
For more to do this evening, go here.
Fuel City Made Wrong Choice
Too bad the Fuel City owner knuckled under to outside pressure and gave up the white buffalo (sub. req.) Haven’t we seen this rodeo before—like last year, for instance? First, we all thought the rare animal up in Greenville was heralding the world’s end; then we were instructed that no, it was a symbol of “rebirth” and that, in any event, it required special treatment. And you know the sordid way that story ended up.
Doesn’t Fuel City, a private business, have the right to conduct its own affairs? Plus: if the protestors considered the store’s display to be “insensitive” and irreligious because of the excessively commercial locale, isn’t that just a tad bit narrow-minded? If Jesus came back today, for example, who’s to say he wouldn’t be walking around in the guise of an insurance broker or—wild guess—a union carpenter? Or a guy selling chips and beer nuts at a gas station?
Tim Tebow Cancels First Baptist Appearance
While I was looking forward to sharing a message of hope and Christ’s unconditional love with the faithful members of the historic…
— Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) February 21, 2013
… First Baptist Church of Dallas in April, due to new information that has been brought to my attention, I have decided to cancel my…
— Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) February 21, 2013
…upcoming appearance. I will continue to use the platform God has blessed me with to bring Faith, Hope and Love to all those…
— Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) February 21, 2013
…needing a brighter day. Thank you for all of your love and support. God Bless!
— Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) February 21, 2013
Had this brother never heard of Google before agreeing to this?
Programming Note: Artist Richard Patterson Unveils Rare Video Work at Texas Theater Tonight!
You may know the name of British artist Richard Patterson for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you were enthralled with his defense of the opening ceremonies of last summer’s London Games. Perhaps you’ve read his musings on FrontRow. Maybe you caught his exhibition at the Goss-Michael Foundation in 2009. More than likely, though, you know him because Patterson is an accomplished and renowned painter who has been residing in Dallas now for some time, a member of that pivotal generation of British artists that is known by the clumsy moniker “YBA.”
I said painter, but as you all know, Dallas does funny things to people who move here and stick around for a while. In Patterson’s case, he has been dabbling in video of late. The result is a series of video pieces Patterson is calling “Six Short Stories.” They are screening tonight at 8 p.m. at the Texas Theater for one night only. Admission is completely free.
Why can’t you miss this screening? Well, for one, because the work is hilarious, fascinating, moving, deeply intelligent, and beautiful. It is also likely the only chance you’ll ever get to see Patterson’s videos (in part because of all sorts of confusing copyright stuff that tends to give gallery dealers headaches).
So what to expect? Pushed to describe his work, Patterson calls the videos “dream-like vignettes” and feigns British self-deprecation:
[It is] A film with scant originality and little authenticity featuring fast cars, bare breasts, inflatable furniture, the music of Allegri and Michel Legrand, death, the Jaguar Mk2 and much, much more… Don’t bring your children.
Also, following the screening, I’ll be participating in an onstage conversation with Patterson, and after we gab, a DJ set by Wild in the Streets will take us all into the night. See you there.
Civil Rights Complaint Filed on Behalf Of Student Who Had Pencil Shavings Poured Into His Mouth
You’ve likely heard this story already, about the Arlington eighth-grader whose teacher poured pencil shavings into his mouth as a disciplinary action. The teacher was suspended, then allowed to return to work. All this: terrible.
The boy’s mother has now filed a civil rights complaint against the district. From CBS 11:
Local civil rights activist Kyev Tatum is representing the family in the case and says the complaint charges the district didn’t handle the teacher’s actions appropriately, that the boy involved was discriminated against because of his race and disability, and that the school was trying to cover up the whole thing.
“Instead of coming out clean and saying we don’t tolerate this, they decided to cover it up and let her go back to class,” said Tatum. “There’s no difference between what they did and the administration at Penn State [University] did.”
Well, that’s where we differ, I think. In one situation, a teacher poured pencil shavings into a boy’s throat. In another, an institution allowed a pedophile to molest multiple boys, for years. What happened at Boles Junior High School was terrible, yes, but don’t try to equate it to Penn State.
San Antonio, Austin Officials Smarten Up, Say Olympics Would Never Happen
In addition to Dallas, the cities of Houston, Austin, and San Antonio also received letters from the U.S. Olympic Committee this week, asking if they’d like to bid on the 2024 games. It’s a terrible idea for Dallas, and other cities had the same thought.
Chairman of San Antonio Sports’ board of directors George Block, via the Express-News:
“Not a chance,” Block said of that possibility. “It’s a multibillion-dollar expense and fundraising. That’s (for) Chicago and other cities with multiple corporate headquarters…We’d nowhere near be able to raise that sort of money. From a priority standpoint, we’re nowhere near that. It would have to make sense strategically and economically.”
Bobby Epstein, chairman of Austin’s Circuit of the Americas track, via the American-Statesman:
“No way to make money on the Games. Greece went bankrupt on them and London is still trying to pay bills,” Epstein said. “We don’t even have (an) airport with global routes or dozens of customs officers. We don’t have any stadiums in place.”
USA Today ranked all 35 of the cities that received the letter; Dallas was lumped together with Houston and San Antonio for spots 20 through 22 because, “We know all these Texas cities are different, but it really infuriates Texans when you say they’re not.”
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