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All Yule, All the Time
| December 24, 2001 |
Dallas |
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One Texan is spreading holiday cheer the old-fashioned way — through the airwaves.
Paul Dybala, a 30-year-old Web developer, has established Radio HOHO, a 30-minute, recurring broadcast originating from his home near White Rock Lake. After assembling some low-level transmission equipment he purchased at an electronics store, he came up with the idea of using it to establish a Christmas-themed radio station, supposedly relayed from the North Pole.
The "Santantenna," constructed from a laundry tree and decorated with lights, stands 20 feet high in the middle of his front lawn. Hand-painted signs advertise the station, encouraging motorists to tune to 95.5 FM.
Anyone driving within 100 feet can hear the recording, which consists mainly of "Jingle Bells," performed by such artists as Karen Carpenter, Elvis Presley, the Muppets and, of course, the Singing Dogs. Dybala cuts in between renditions with weather reports from the North Pole, commercials aimed at elves and some pretty terrible holiday jokes.
Photo reprinted with permission from www.radiohoho.com. |
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Longhorn Makes Its Way Into Airport
| December 21, 2001 |
DFW Airport |
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An installation team for BulLovArts' painted longhorn statues, originally reported by Texas Twisted on July 13, 2001, ran into a predicament when they attempted to move one of the enormous creatures into Terminal B of DFW Airport. As it turned out, the 7-foot-tall steer, with its 8.5-foot horns, wouldn't fit through the door.
It was feared that the statue would instead have to be moved into the rental-car facility, but certain bullish employees refused to give up. A door large enough to fit the longhorn steer was soon found in Terminal C and the big, blue beast was successfully installed near Gate 2.
Additionally, a Pegasus statue from Pegasus Soars, originally reported by Texas Twisted on Sept. 21, 2001, is on display in Terminal B near Gate 20. |
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Southern Exposure
| December 21, 2001 |
Dallas |
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The new year is almost here and it's time to update that wall calendar.
As luck would have it, the First Men's Garden Club of Dallas has come out (in more ways than you might think) with just the thing to fit the bill.
Twelve club members volunteered to drop their overalls and pose for a revealing 2002 calendar, which is available for purchase this month.
But don't expect your traditional "Firehouse Heroes." The dozen gardeners featured in the fund-raising pictorial range from 53 to 89 years of age.
Modesty does overcome, however, as the daring green thumbs pose with strategically held gardening implements. Clubbers would argue, I'm sure, that there's still plenty of meat to go with the vegetables.
The pinups will appear in person to sell and sign calendars on Dec. 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at North Haven Gardens and Jan. 11-13 at the Arlington Convention Center. |
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Thinning the Herd
| December 15, 2001 |
Fort Worth |
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More reshuffling is taking place for the employees who work with the Fort Worth Herd, the Texas Longhorns that make a twice-daily drive down East Exchange Avenue in Fort Worth.
Since its beginning in June 1999, the tourist attraction has suffered from internal political turmoil. Due to what the Parks and Community Services Department last year called a "significant amount of mistrust, professional immaturity, resentment, lack of respect and self-centeredness amongst ... the staff," disciplinary actions have been common with Herd employees.
The latest actions involve the transfers of four individuals who work with the Herd. Drover Thane Zufelt and top hand Chester Stidham, both original Herd cowboys, were reassigned to the city's athletics division and public events division, respectively. Two others were moved at their request: trail boss Charlie Jones, who helped organize the Herd, to the city's planning and resources management division, and the Herd's public education specialist Victoria Klimchock to a similar position at the Log Cabin Village.
Last October, original trail boss Dennis Merrell was fired from his position when officials deemed his job performance unsatisfactory. Merrell blamed bureaucracy and micromanagement.
Many attribute the continual staff problems to a conflict between the cowboys and their work environment. After all, most of the riders who work with the herd are real-life, rough-riding cowhands who can't easily be turned into disciplined city employees.
The employee transfers have left open positions with the Herd that officials are now looking to fill. They're seeking a new trail boss, an assistant trail boss and additional drovers. |
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Sammy Hagar Said It Best
| December 14, 2001 |
Houston |
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When President Clinton did away with the nationwide 55-mph speed limit in 1995, roadside tourists were ecstatic as highway speeds climbed to 70 mph across Texas. But unfortunately, for the folks living in and visiting the Houston area, that will soon change.
The Texas Transportation Commission, which governs the Texas Department of Transportation, has approved a plan that will lower the maximum speed limit once again to 55 mph. The change will affect Harris, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Montgomery, Waller, Chambers, and Liberty Counties, where ozone levels exceed federal air-quality standards.
TxDOT says it will begin replacing signs in late January and should be finished by the clean-air deadline of May 1.
On the flip side, however, the commission has also approved an allowance for speed limits of 75 mph in rural areas with populations of fewer than 10 people per square mile. Eighty-six of Texas's 254 counties are eligible for the increased speed, most of which, not surprisingly, are in West Texas. |
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Man Responsible for the Slurpee Takes the Big Gulp
| December 10, 2001 |
Dallas |
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Bob Stanford, Dallas advertising genius, passed away Friday due to complications from Parkinson's disease at the age of 83.
If you're not familiar with the name, you may have known him as the Frito Kid, a 1950s character who appeared on Dallas's Channel 8 munching and plugging Fritos corn ships. In fact, Stanford's face was the first to be broadcast from a Dallas station.
For those not familiar with his television appearances, his legacy still persists in his advertising ventures. He helped in the creation of the Pepsi Challenge and came up with the slogan "Oh, thank heaven for 7-Eleven," which is still used today.
Perhaps most notably, however, is his renaming of 7-Eleven's flavored ice drink. Introduced in 1965 as the Icee, Stanford was the man who, two years later, came up with the ever-popular name Slurpee, 11 million of which sell each month. |
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Drawn and Quartered
| December 5, 2001 |
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Texans have less than a month left to submit their designs for the Texas State Quarter!
 If you've used a vending machine at all in the last three years, you're probably aware that the U.S. Mint has been stamping a series of quarters, which, by the end of 2008, will represent all 50 United States. The quarters are being released in order of the states' submission into the union, each making its debut approximately every 10 weeks.
The Texas quarter, which should appear in May of 2004, does not yet have a design. Texas residents are being invited to fill that void.
Selected qualifying designs will be reviewed by the U.S. Mint for appropriateness and "coinability." The final design will be selected by the Texas Governor.
Texas Twisted's vote goes for an image of Paisano Pete, but if you've got a better idea, contact the Texas Numismatic Association right away for the proper forms.
Remember, the deadline is Dec. 31! |
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