This week's Old School Friday theme is "Outside my box." I've found that my musical box has expanded in my old(er) age, and includes folks like "Steely Dan" But for this week's theme I'll go with Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." I wouldn't have been caught dead listening to this act back in the day, who's best days were happening just as I was entering college. But after a few years, I've come to appreciate the tortured genius of Kurt Cobain. Happy Old School Friday! Other OSF Participants: Electronic Village - Fresh And Fab -prescribe, Kim - Ms Grapevine -Quick - Vérité Parlant -Marcus LANGFORD - CCGroovy - Kevin -Mahogany -Hagar's Daughter - Lisa C -Chocl8t - DP - Dallassouth - John - The Connoisseur - - Regina - MsMarvalus - Clnmike - Vivrant Thing -AJ - Sharon - RevvyRev - Prof. PC - Invisible Woman -- Cooper - SJP -Bria - BklynQueen 86 - Hey Shae - - From the Battlefield - Thembi - D Spot - Malcolm - -Pop Art Diva - Pjazzypar - MsLadyDeborah -

"One person, one vote." It's simple really. This is a basic principle of any democratic body. Now the words I used in the title of this post are a serious charge. At least they are in my book. Dallas South is not a shock blog, but if we get people stirred up from time to time that's fine. Yet what I witnessed...or should I say listened to, last night at the DISD board meeting made me sick to my stomach. I was in a time crunch on Thursday night, but I wanted to stop by the DISD board meeting because I knew there was a lot on the agenda; electing new officers, deciding what to do with the magnet schools and academies, and determining whether or not Board President Jack Lowe put a hit out on Carla Ranger's career. I arrived at the meeting about 10 minutes early and needless to say there were about 200 people outside either waiting to get in or protesting DISD's position on the magnet schools. There was a loudspeaker set up, so I chose to listen in the courtyard rather than try to fight my way in with media credentials. From the outset, Carla ...

My wife and I are the proud parents of a healthy baby girl: Maliyah Faith Williams.  Maliyah was born at 5:13 p.m. and weighed 7 lbs and 8 oz.  She and mother are both doing well.  Big brother Isaiah has been smiling for almost 24 straight hours. Thanks so much to everyone for all of the prayers that were offered to Tamela during her 7 weeks in the hospital and 7 weeks at home on bed rest.  She sacrificed so much to bring this little baby in the world.  Words cannot express my love nor gratitude. Thanks to the Dallas South family who has given me plenty of latitude and support through this rough time.  I've tried my best -through the help of the crew- to keep the site on track. I think we accomplished that and then some. Again, thanks to the fam and God Bless. Shawn

MAYOR LEPPERT TO HOST “GIRAFFES, MONKEYS & LEPPERTS” CELEBRATION AT DALLAS ZOO NORTH FRIDAY, JUNE 5 FROM 6 – 9 PM. Dallas citizens and families encouraged to attend; Mayor Leppert to cut “early birthday cake” at 7:30 p.m. DALLAS (May 18, 2009) – Almost two years to the day from the 2007 Dallas mayoral election, Mayor Tom Leppert will host “Giraffes, Monkeys & Lepperts -- An Evening with the Mayor” at Dallas Zoo North, on Friday (June 5) from 6 – 9 p.m. Dallas citizens and families are invited. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 3 and over, and free for children under 3. Attire is “safari casual.” General activities are from 6 – 9 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., Mayor Leppert’s birthday – which is June 5 -- will be celebrated early with free birthday cake served to the first 1,000 people. At that time, he will also deliver brief remarks. The celebration event comes after a jam-packed year for Mayor Leppert – highlights include violent crime is down by 11% and overall crime is down almost 14%. AT&T and other firms were brought to Downtown Dallas, and new plant ...

Talking about the impending hurricane season and the nation's preparedness on CNN's bloggers bunch. Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video" mce_href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a>

By Kristin of Because I Said So My husband usually likes to spend vacation on a beach somewhere relaxing to the sound of the waves. For my birthday he decided to accompany me on my yearly trip to Colorado for some light hiking and for the annual Bolder Boulder 10k. While the beach offers softly crashing waves it doesn’t compare to the majestic beauty of the Rocky Mountain range in Colorado. For my husband’s first visit the weather could not have been worse. It rained at some point every day and was cloudy the entire time. We did not bother going to Pike’s Peak because it would have been pointless, all that would have been visible would have been clouds. However, the beauty in the gently rolling hillside the quaint housing and the occasional glimpse of snow capped covered mountains has my husband eager for next year’s trip. We traveled to Bear Lake (9475 elevation) in hopes of completing a four mile hike. Instead we were met with at least five inches of snow which impeded our trek because we did not have snow shoes. At one point we were actually walking in the lake without realizing we had ventured off the trail. We got ...

Submitted by Buster Miller, originally posted at Examiner.com Still haven't figured out a productive activity for your children or teen to do this summer, one that is cost effective during the current recession and may lead into a future career for your youth? Beginning June 8 - July 31, 2009, TeCo Theatrical Productions, Inc. will offer an eight week summer theater camp at their newly renovated, ecologically friendly facility, the Bishop Arts Theater Center. Jobs in theater requires all sorts of multitasking entrepreneurial skills and talents.  TeCo's summer enrichment program provides an array of fun-filled activities that help prepare youngsters for a sustaining career in the arts. Students will not only learn how to perform on stage but will also learn the business side of the industry: how to prepare a headshot and resume, how to submit headshots & resumes to agencies, and how to audition Other camp activities include visual and literary arts, African drumming, dance, and music appreciation. The camp is open to children ages 6 to 17 years old. Only 50 applications will be accepted on a first-come, first serve basis. Camp hours are from 7 am to 5 pm, Mon. thru Thu. which is perfect for working moms and dads. The program culminates with a production by camp participants so parents can witness the transforming ...

DART will use money for light rail extension Washington, DC – (May 22, 2009) Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has released $35,990,660 in funding to Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). The money, part of the 2009 appropriations to DART, will fund a 21-mile, two-segment extension of DART’s Green Line and the building of an operating facility for vehicle maintenance and storage. Congresswoman Johnson also announced that Dallas Love Field Airport will receive a $4,617,853 grant from the Transportation Department. Love Field will use the money for runway rehabilitation and to replace emergency vehicles. “I am pleased to announce today more than $40 million in transportation funding for the Metroplex,” Congresswoman Johnson said. “The improvements made to DART’s Green Line and to Love Field will benefit North Texans and the North Texas economy.”

WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele today released the following statement on the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor. “Republicans look forward to learning more about federal appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor’s thoughts on the importance of the Supreme Court’s fidelity to the Constitution and the rule of law. Supreme Court vacancies are rare, which makes Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination a perfect opportunity for America to have a thoughtful discussion about the role of the Supreme Court in our daily lives.  Republicans will reserve judgment on Sonia Sotomayor until there has been a thorough and thoughtful examination of her legal views.”

Senator Royce West Dear Friends: This time next week I, along with my Legislative colleagues, will be concluding the 81st Legislative Session. As promised, it has been and continues to be a challenging, intense, armtwisting and exhilarating 140 days of lawmaking. As I reflect on my 16th year of public service, I am well aware of the task at hand. There is still much work to be done and the clock is ticking. Between 2000 and 2007, Texas' population grew nearly 13 percent to more than 23.9 million. With that comes an even greater demand for state services and funding. Legislative ideas can come from anywhere and anybody. Many times the ideas come from constituents and others who contact my office. Grandparents and other family members have come to my office over the years pleading that something be done to keep families together after they have been left to care for children who have been abandoned or whose parent has died, been incarcerated, or is otherwise unavailable. I've tried to address their concerns with kinship care legislation outlined in this weekly update. In addition, students and parents have contacted me by every means imaginable to talk about the rising cost of college tuition, the need for ...