Chief Gary Adams Trivia

I had coffee with the Parklebrity top-cop today. I bet you didn’t even know he owns a Harley. Yep, you heard it here first.

Got Lice?

I’ve received a few e-mails this week from moms saying that their child has brought home the “someone in your child’s class has lice” memo- again. One mom mentioned that her child said a friend didn’t get sent home because she just had lice eggs, not lice. I’m not a lice expert, but isn’t that kind of risky? And, well, wrong.

We need a no nit policy. Comments are on.

Our Wino is Better Than Yours

Maybe we’re biased, but we think Julie Blacklidge, our regular wine columnist, is pretty great. We’re a little behind on this, but congratulations to her for passing the International Sommelier Guild’s Wine Fundamentals Level 2 course. Read all about it on the SideDish blog.

Now I’ve seen it all

Following last night’s Dallas Mavericks-Chicago Bulls game at the American Airlines Center, I actually did a double take on the way back to my rental car (don’t ask).

Right outside of Victory Park, a guy was hawking Barack Obama Texas Primary T-shirts. I surely expected — and saw — a flood of Jason Kidd jerseys in the point guard’s triumphant return to Big D, but sports fans buying political T-shirts after a game is a new one for me.

Scots play Mount Pleasant tonight

Highland Park’s boys basketball team will look to extend its season when it faces Mount Pleasant in a Class 4A regional quartefinal at 7:30 tonight in Royse City.

The Scots (29-4) have won 12 straight games and have never trailed in two playoff games, wins over Frisco and Paris.

HP made it to the regional semifinals last season. The Scots lost to eventual state champion South Oak Cliff, 43-41.

Blue Wave girls bring home another state title

Highland Park’s girls swimming and diving team claimed its eight consecutive Class 4A state title on Saturday in Austin.

The impressive feat marked only the second time in University Interscholastic League history that a school has won eight straight championships in the same sport.

The Scots scored 236 points to edge Katy Seven Lakes, which finished with 204. Each of the HP relay teams finished in the top three of their events. Allison Arnold won the 200 freestyle.

The Blue Wave boys finished in 12th place with 67 points despite just four individual entries and a relay team.

Not Feeling the Starbucks Love

First, Starbucks says they will close all their stores for three hours tomorrow.  Straight.  Then …

(more…)

Having “The Talk” with Kids

The New York Times has an article today about a documentary called “Please Talk to Kids About AIDS,” which features two sisters, aged 4 and 6, learning about sex and everything that goes with it at an AIDS conference in Toronto. This brings up an interesting question: It’s difficult to talk to children about sex, so how does one begin to explain AIDS? Most parents think the AIDS talk is something that comes long after the sex talk, but some experts suggest getting it all out on the table. When do you talk to kids about AIDS, if at all? [Image via Center for Attitudinal Learning]

Re: Business Networking via Facebook

Back in the good ole days of college, I thought Facebook was the most incredible tool for journalists. Say you were doing a story about people who didn’t drink on their 21st birthday, you could find a group dedicated to that, look at the members of the group, and then go to that person’s profile, which would undoubtedly have their phone number. It was the best tool for finding random people.

I always wanted a Facebook for the world, but now that it’s gone global, no one’s using it properly. Everyone’s worried about privacy and they’re not posting phone numbers and contact info. It’s annoying.

Business Networking via Facebook

Back in the olden days of 2005, Facebook was just for college kids to show off keg stand photos and talk about their favorite bands. But now people are using the social networking site for business. I just got this e-mail:

I’m Ashley—a 2006 TCU grad now doing PR in NYC. I have a wild story about [redacted] and although I know you cover real estate, I figured I’d try to reach out to some fellow TCU grads (oh the joys of Facebook)!

And it surprised me. In a global marketplace, I guess you use whatever connections you can, but I wouldn’t think to Facebook or MySpace someone to build a business relationship. Those crazy kids.

PC Presby Picks Preferred Pastor

Park Cities Presbyterian, a stone’s throw away from us down Oak Lawn Avenue, looks to be close to picking a new senior pastor:

The Pulpit Search Committee of Park Cities Presbyterian Church (PCPC) has announced its recommendation of a new senior pastor to the congregation, and the Session has affirmed its choice of Mark A. Davis. A congregational meeting has been called for Sunday, March 30, 10:40 am, for the purpose of voting on this recommendation by the committee. The call to Mr. Davis will then be presented to the church’s governing body, the North Texas Presbytery, at its May 2-3 meeting for approval.

(more…)

Summer 2008

Looks like summer for kids in HPISD doesn’t start until after May 30.

Here’s the calendar. Looks like Merritt won’t have to plan that week after all.

Taliban Takes Cell Phone Ban Further Than Park Cities

I hope the PC governments don’t get word of this. The Taliban in Afghanistan are pressuring mobile phone operators to shut down at night because “occupying forces” use the signals to track Taliban fighters.

Clearly, this could be used right here to track TPers on their midnight vandalism sprees.