Just ten?
Do you remember way back when I mentioned the dumbest contest ever thanks to D Magazine? You had to vote for the ten most beautiful women in Dallas telling the others they weren’t hot enough. It was dumb. Apparently, these are the winners.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Book Notes
Soooo, the Sub-Rosa is working on a book. A book she “can’t talk too much about right now.” She interviewed Frank Campagna(Kettle Art owner and best bar companion ever) and has interviews scheduled with Jeff Liles (eclectic local personality and artist) and Russell Hobbs (owner of The Door) I’m wondering what it possibly could be about?
I had no idea
The Urban Daily wrote up the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance and their census project of the homeless population of Dallas which is apparently crucial to their goal of ending “chronic homelessness in Dallas by 2014.” This is an annual census that’s conducted in the last week of January.
I’m fairly blown away by this. Sounds like an intense project. According to the site, the “information is compiled during the census is also used by several interested groups, including non-profit organizations, faith-based groups, media outlets and various departments in Federal, State & local government.”
The project needs volunteers and the volunteers need training. So if your feeling a bit useful, I bet the Alliance would appreciate the help.
DATE: Tuesday, January 22, 2008
TIME: 5:30 P.M. – 12:00 A.M. (subject to slight changes if needed, most volunteers are able to leave by 10:30 p.m.)
LOCATION: Dallas City Hall – 1500 Marilla, L1 F North Auditorium (park in City Hall underground parking off Young Street and enter through the GREEN door.)
HOW TO HELP: Volunteers are needed for both the indoor and outdoor census.
Indoor Volunteer Team Member: Conducts the homeless survey in an indoor location, such as an emergency shelter or transitional housing facility. Law enforcement professionals are not assigned to these teams, but a staff contact will be provided for teams who visit these locations and agency staff will be present.
Outdoor Volunteer Team Member: Conducts the survey outdoors in teams of 3. Law enforcement personnel are also assigned to each team for safety reasons.
Training
Training on how to conduct the census will be provided for volunteers on the night of the census. Volunteers will begin signing in from 5:30 – 6:00, and should arrive no later than 5:45 P.M. in order to receive all of the information presented.
Contact Information
Thank you for your interest! In order to volunteer for the Homeless census or to receive more information, please contact Kit Lowrance at Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance:
Phone: 214-978-0002
E-mail: klowrance@unitedwaydallas.org
DMN Jackie Floyd gets uppity about the library
In her latest column, she rants about porn cruisers at the library with silly comparisons and no real answers. Yawn.
You may not eat your sack lunch inside at the Dallas Public Library, because that would be messy and distracting. If, however, you wish to view an Internet site depicting “merciless scenes of raw brutal domination,” that’s your business.
I think she just described most video games but apparently some sites that are popping up on DMN’s recent investigation head toward such scenes. Thing is, it could be rape or it could be a lion on the hunt. Am I wrong? Language folks. Can we get some clarity here? Thanks.
She goes on to rail about how the investigation boils down to 7.5 percent of viewed material over a 45 minute time frame and that city money is paying for peep shows. OK, probably true but if I’m doing my math right then that equals to about 3 minutes and some seconds. Personally, the whole issue is creepy but I can live with that kind of time frame. Yes, multiply by hours in the operating day and branches but 7.5 percent is not a quarter. So, I’m starting to wonder, is DMN really just on the hunt for their next big breaking issue? I’m not really convinced this is it.
She does get one thing right.
I understand there are no ideal solutions here. Filters aren’t ideal. Requiring librarians to pace around like hall monitors and check on what patrons are viewing isn’t ideal. Reserving a few unfiltered computers for adult users only isn’t ideal. But doing nothing is worse than not ideal.
Sure, librarians can’t be caught up in this. But, um, doesn’t the library have volunteers? Hi. Manpower anyone? It’s simple. If someone gets caught looking at stuff they shouldn’t, revoke their library card, give them a ticket and that’s it. Hey, problem solved.
God, I love it when my soapbox is smaller. And for crying out loud, Floyd, don’t be so cliche and use “for crying out loud.” It’s shows your age. Even if your column pic doesn’t.
