Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas

07/23/2008

How much church is enough?
Sometimes Christians forget they live in the real world. This may sound strange coming from a Christian, especially one whose chosen occupation is centered on helping non-Christians become Christians.

07/20/2008

Rodger Jones: OMG! There's a plan
Today we resume the True and Curious Tale of DART Man, a serialized account of a pedestrian's quest for sidewalks.

07/19/2008

Sounding Off: What impact does an increase in bilingualism have on your community?

Sounding Off: Readers discuss the impact of an increase in bilingualism on their communities.
I took Spanish in school for practicality. I am glad to say that I use it quite often . If I lived in a foreign country, I would learn the language. If I had some trouble with the language, I would hope someone would assist me as well.

Sounding Off: The importance of being bilingual
America seems to be the only place in the world where people speaking another language are seen as being suspicious. I have listened to people "go off" in a rage because the monitors at Wal-Mart are playing a commercial in Spanish. Instead of reacting with anger when signs begin to appear in Spanish, people need to use the exposure as an opportunity to learn more about the world around them.

Sounding off: The importance of being bilingual
Question: Plano-based Bennigan's Grill & Tavern is now offering menus in Spanish, and last week, Barack Obama said he was embarrassed not to be bilingual. What impact does an increase in bilingualism have on your community? Does it matter?

07/18/2008

Vickie McKillip of Carrollton: Dr. Dan can - pharmacist saves lives
If your ferret is prone to obnoxious gaseous emissions, I know someone who can help. If Grandma still uses smelling salts and castor oil, I can fix her up. And if you are the parent of a child with a chronic, life-threatening illness, like I am, I want to introduce you to Dr. Dan Daniel.

Rep. Ken Paxton: New state business tax is hurting local businesses
Two years ago, I wrote about the possible effects of our state's new business tax on area businesses, and I used as an example the potential impact of this tax on the Music Conservatory of Texas, a business located in Frisco that provides music lessons for students of all ages and varying levels.

Chuck Bloom: Being a grandfather transcends language barriers
I will usually take time to talk about anything – politics, sports, movies – but I'd rather spend all day and night bragging about my 19-month-old granddaughter, Riley Claire. Everything else is insignificant in comparison, because, in the most profound terms, I know this: It's great to be a grandfather!

Beverly Biehl of Frisco: Roles people play
There's just something about putting on a cloak. It's as if you stepped into a time machine, transporting yourself back in time to when Robin Hood was real and knights sat around a big round table discussing how they were going to save the kingdom. Add a tunic or a dress from a similar period, and, next thing you know, you're no longer concerned with rush-hour traffic, annoying co-workers, or even the price of gas.

Eric Jackson of Bike DFW: Share the road

Eric Jackson: Bridging the bicycling-car divide
Bicyclists are on the streets to get to work, go to the store, see a movie, get exercise, visit family and friends and for all of the same other reasons as motorists. In addition, gasoline is over $4 per gallon; the region risks federal sanctions if we don't improve our polluted air; and mass transit is moving forward, and is a great thing, but is a long way from being able to serve a majority of the North Texas residents.

Keith A. Brown of Pleasant Grove: Spruce High School to DISD: Believe in us

07/17/2008

U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson: The forgotten war
Imagine coming home from a bloody and brutal war only to learn that your country did not acknowledge your service. That's more or less what happened to the estimated 5 million valiant men and women who served in the Korean War.

Editorial: Frisco must offer alternatives to autos
Many people in Frisco would consider public transportation out of place in the community, or at least a frill that should be at the bottom of the list of civic priorities.

Lorraine Brock of Richardson: The TP tales
I recently had a situation in my home that not only brought back some memories but it also brought two police officers to my husband's office.

Angela Washeck of Mesquite: I'm growing up, and the pressure is great
It's the summer before my senior year. The peak of my high school career. Graduation is only one short school year away. I should be jumping for joy, elated for what is to come. Trouble is, I'm just too discouraged.

07/14/2008

Editorial: Unsettling settlement in Frisco Fairways
If only the Frisco Fairways Homeowners Association had taken our advice in a March editorial ...

07/13/2008

Bill Ames of Dallas: Saving the planet isn't easy
Liberal environmentalists are a shrill, intrusive bunch. They tout recycling programs, not caring that North Dallas' garbage collection has been cut in half to pay the cost. They dictate when we can water. They want us out of our SUVs and into the little deathtrap cars that look like decorated Easter eggs.

Murli Melwani of Plano: Reinventing the license plate
The terms copycat and reinventing the wheel are close cousins. Copycat may suggest a lack of originality, but the practicality inherent in it is the same as that in re-inventing the wheel. In fact, being a copycat may be a time- and energy-saving virtue, since both the act and the consequence are the fruit of the same family tree.

Darrin Swartz-Larson of McKinney: Deep in My Heart is Texas
I've been slow dancing with fireflies a lot lately. Walking my dogs in the early dark of night, I see their glow and glide toward them quietly so they won't disappear. It only lasts for a moment or two, and then they head off into the nighttime shadows, and I remember the leashes in my hand and pick up my pace again.

Doug Farrow: Welcome to the real world
It was before dark several weeks ago, and, even at 4:30 a.m., the cool of night was already slipping away.

07/12/2008

Sounding Off:
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Truer words were never spoken. When I'm on the highway and anxious to get to my destination two things come into play. One, I'm not patient enough to drive 55. Two, if I do I'll get run over by an 18-wheeler doing 80. Hardly worth our frustration.

Sounding Off: Slow down and save?
I would willingly drive 55 miles an hour during rush hour , when you're lucky to go any faster than 15.

Sounding Off: Slow down and save?
I think we tried this before . It didn't work then; why should it now? I suppose, national disobedience aside, it will lower average speeds slightly, saving some oil. And in those areas where public safety is considered a revenue generator, it will do wonders for their budgets, not to mention a revival in the radar and laser detector industries.

Sounding off:
This is not our first gasoline crisis, and we've been there, done that as far as speed limit reductions. The real crisis are the restrictions limiting our ability to use our own natural resources and to benefit from years of pipeline development, new drilling technologies, safer nuclear power plants and American research in petrochemicals. Where's the vision for the future? No, I'm not in favor of the 55 mph speed limit.

07/11/2008

Rodger Jones: DART man's missed opportunity
We continue the True and Curious Tale of DART Man, a serialized account of a pedestrian's obsession with sidewalks.

Gina Perales Hethcock of Plano: It's not just for kids
Hi, Gina. Annabel invited you to join the Facebook group 'United High School Class of '89.'

Rodger Jones: DART man's missed opportunity
We continue the True and Curious Tale of DART Man, a serialized account of a pedestrian's obsession with sidewalks.

Toni Armenta Andrukaitis of McKinney: Take the Girlfriend Network digital

Rodger Jones: DART man's missed opportunity
We continue the True and Curious Tale of DART Man, a serialized account of a pedestrian's obsession with sidewalks.

Rodger Jones: DART man's missed opportunity

07/10/2008

Greg Silva of Flower Mound: Customer service
Let me just put this out there: The customer is, at best, occasionally right. I'm sorry, but that's how I feel.

Diana M. Estill of Murphy: Welcome to Camp Grandma
My childhood summers included cross-country camping trips, during which our six-member family forgot all about bonding, contented instead with mere survival.

Reader response: Remembering Jack Hatchell
Re: "Remembering Jack Hatchell – An inspiration to all, he led with a smile and an open mind," last Thursday Community Opinions Editorial.