Articles about Super Heroes
Dallas Mavericks Sending Dirk Nowitzki Bobblehead To Space Because, Sure, OK
It’s happening soon. Like, at 3 today. [UPDATE: Or maybe already happened? I don't know. Countdown clock was for today. I will take the word of the two-thirds of the people who commented on this already, not counting me.]Â It has a camera attached, or something. Honestly, I’m not positive what’s going on. Is anyone? Anyway, this reminds me the Mavs kick off their season in just about a month. And, also: I SEE YOU (in space), (little) BIG GERMAN.
Puppeteer Takes on Africa
Darren Collins. Photo by Billy Surface
In our June issue, I introduced readers to Darren Collins. Collins is a puppeteer who gave up his house more than a year ago and decided to live in his car, on friends’ couches, or in backyards. I also mentioned that he planned to take his puppets to Africa to teach people about AIDS. Puppets have the freedom to say things humans can’t.
Well, Collins is in Africa. He’s been there for more than a month. He does updates about his time there nearly every day through Facebook. I’ve enjoyed reading his updates–sometimes they’re funny, sometimes they’re very sad, and other times they’re just great to see what it’s like to be a vagabond/puppeteer in a foreign country.
After the jump, I’m including a few of Collins’ more recent posts. Collins is hoping to stay in Africa for as long as possible. He’s meeting with various organizations and has found a team of puppeteers who want to work with him. He’s running out of money, though. If you want to help, go here.
Celebrate Your Next Birthday With Homeless Kids
A couple weeks ago, Joslyn told me about Paige Chenault, an incredible woman who is very passionate about birthdays and homeless children. She told me about The Birthday Party Project. I was gearing up to write an article about it when I opened this morning’s Dallas Morning News and found a majority of a page dedicated to The Birthday Party Project. Since that article is behind a paywall, and because I think everybody needs to know about this wonderful organization, I’m posting my version here. Read it, and then contact Chenault and host a party:
There are three things event planner Paige Chenault believes strongly in: family, birthday parties, and the power of a moment. A couple years ago, while touring the Dallas LIFE homeless shelter, Chenault found a way to combine her three passions. She came to a room that housed a dad, a little girl, and two little boys. She took a peek inside the family’s closet and saw just one little dress hanging up. “It was the most beautiful Easter dress,” Chenault says as tears well up in her crystal blue eyes. “It was the only dress that this little girl had. That’s probably exactly where I went ‘I’m ready to rock. Let’s do this.’” And by “this,” she means The Birthday Party Project.
The JET Is On the Runway … And Taking Off For Boston
Well, it looks like Jason Terry is gone. Knew it was probably coming, but still. Love that dude. Pour it out.
Is Dallas Ready For Dallas?
Tonight at 8 p.m. CST it begins. Join us at The Texas Theatre for the only Dallas watching party taking place in a theater where Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested. How’s that for a Dallas identity wormhole?
In the meantime, head over to FrontRow where we have a rundown of what early reviews are saying about the show — and the city. And meet Terry Linwood, the Jeopardy! champ and long-time Dallas fan who will be recapping the show for us each week. Be sure to check back early tomorrow morning for his take on the debut.
And to pump you up for tonight, a little flashback:
2012 Dallas Mavericks (And Their Fans) Can Look to 1995 Houston Rockets For Hope
In 1994, the Houston Rockets, led by a singular star (Hakeem Olajuwon) and a supporting cast of role players, finally won a championship, after one near-miss (losing to Boston in the 1986 NBA Finals) and a fair amount of disappointing playoff exits. It was a dream season, one that didn’t look likely to repeat itself when the team entered the postseason the next year as a lowly No. 6 seed, despite picking up a still-talented, but largely past his prime Clyde Drexler, now mostly ground-based after a career of high-flying highlights. But they surprised everyone and won a second championship.
In 2011, the Dallas Mavericks, led by a singular star (Dirk Nowitzki) and a supporting cast of role players, finally won a championship, after one near-miss (losing to Miami in the 2006 NBA Finals) and a fair amount of disappointing playoff exits. It was a dream season, one that doesn’t look likely to repeat itself when the team enters the postseason this year as a lowly No. 6 (or maybe No. 7) seed, despite picking up a still-talented, but largely past his prime Vince Carter, now mostly ground-based after a career of high-flying highlights. And then…?
Look, crazier things have happened, is all I’m saying.
I See You, Big German Traffic Reporter
SHUT IT DOWWWWN!
Bridge-o-Rama’s Oversized Puppets Honored West Dallas Giants
Judge Harold Barefoot Sanders Jr.
Here’s one of the huge puppets that made an appearance in today’s free Parade of Giants on Dallas’s Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge over the Trinity River. Created by artists as part of the Bridge-o-Rama celebration, the puppets honored 15 people who had a big impact on West Dallas. This one depicts Harold Barefoot Sanders Jr., the federal district judge who oversaw the lawsuit that desegregated the Dallas Independent School District. As a representative in the Texas House earlier in his career, Sanders also sponsored legislation creating the Trinity River Authority. While the puppet (on display here post-parade off Singleton Avenue) shows him shoeless, Sanders actually got his distinctive middle name from his grandmother, Dennie Barefoot. The legendary judge died in 2008.
Excellence in Nursing Awards 2012
In our March issue, which is on newsstands tomorrow, you’ll see a section called Excellence in Nursing Awards. We asked hospitals, patients, and nurses to fill out a really lengthy nomination form for nurses they thought deserved some recognition. We got 349 nominations. From those nominations, we had a panel narrow the list down to 86 finalists and 21 winners. Last night, we had a dinner at the Westin Galleria to recognize all the wonderful work nurses do and to announce the winners.
Sci-Fi Expo Patrons Discuss Costume Philosophy
I’ve been to my fair share of comic book and science fiction conventions. But until this month, Claire St. Amant had never been to one. So when we went to the Sci-Fi Expo at the Irving Convention Center recently, I did the talking and she did the filming. We hope you’ll do the watching.
American Jewish Committee to Honor Phil Romano. Nice, But Count Me Out
The AJC, founded in 1906 to combat pogroms against Russian Jews, has a long and honorable history of combatting anti-Semitism and discrimination in all its forms. On March 29, it will hold an event at the Ritz-Carlton to bestow a Human Relations Award on local creative genius Phil Romano. It sounds like a wonderful idea, until one considers how the AJC will use $3,000-$10,000 per table it will collect.
The modern AJC has turned itself into a propaganda arm of Israel’s Likud Party, trying to push America into yet another Mideast pre-emptive debacle, this time against Iran.
Meanwhile, I do have to compliment AJC for developing a nice fundraising ploy to supplement its Jewish support. It regularly holds these events honoring popular non-Jewish business leaders in cities around the country so that friends and admirers feel compelled to write large checks to attend. And with Phil Romano, they picked a good one.
Phil, you deserve the honor. But the AJC does not deserve anybody’s contribution, unless you want to help ignite a humanitarian and financial disaster that will make Iraq and Afghanistan look like walks in the park.
Tuff Juice Gets His Ring
The Los Angeles Clippers finally came to town last night, which meant Caron Butler finally got his ring. Here’s something I didn’t know: when Caron hurt his knee, he PUSHED HIS KNEECAP BACK INTO PLACE BEFORE WALKING OFF THE COURT. Tim won’t wear shoes if his foot hurts. Just to put things in perspective. That’s why they call him Tuff Juice. (Hit the theme.) Not Tim. I don’t know what his nickname is, but it’s certainly not Tuff or Tough anything. I think “Scumbag” has been bandied about in the comments, but I don’t think that’s official.
Superman Visits Downtown Dallas
The question is, why didn’t he just fly in? You can use a lot of gas between Dallas and Metropolis.
Update: Apparently, Superboy or Supergirl was also in town Friday. An alert FrontBurnervian sends in this picture she snapped in the Turtle Creek area. She said the blue car had a red and yellow interior. In case you can’t tell from my photo, the red car’s windows had a blue tint.
I Still See You Big German
Dirk Nowitzki has been less than great this season. But don’t give up on him, guys. I’ve already had to talk my son out of using the word “sucks,” because he’s basically a generic sports-talk radio hack in the body of a 7-year-old. ANYWAY. Here are some highlights of Dirk last season. Drink it in. He’ll be back.
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