Reflections on today's news

• Talk about going out with a whimper and not a bang. Today's specially called Dallas City Council meeting was the last one for term-limited council members Dr. Elba Garcia and Mitchell Rasansky. There was some legal and other non-controversial items on the consent agenda. The only item for individual consideration was one authorizing the issuance of the bonds for the construction of the convention center hotel. Citing conflict of interest, both Dr. Garcia and Mr. Ransansky had to recluse themselves from the vote.
• Go figure. Six Flags, Chrysler, GM file for bankruptcy. However, the Texas Ballet Theater says it will be free from its $2.4 million debt by the end of the month. (I'll try to refrain from saying something like "those people must really be on their toes." Whoops! I failed in refraining.)
• Hmm, I wonder who we're talking about here? The court papers list his name only as D.N. and that he's a resident of Dallas County. He is seeking custody of an unborn child if it is proved that he is the father of that child. We also believe he is a rather tall gentleman, of German extraction who is known for putting the biscuit in the basket from long distances.
• I am not a George Strait fan, but I understand his popularity. However, would someone please explain to me the appeal of the Jonas Brothers and why 45,000 folks are shelling out significant sums of money to go see them perform Saturday at Jonestown?
• I noted yesterday that we would hear more about this and this latest news that the drowning death of Van Ha "Vanny" Stocco was a suicide does not come as a shock. This is just a sad, sad story. No good guys. No bad guys. Only victims.
• There is a bad guy here, however, and to my mind he got off light. This child had a skull fracture and, according to prosecutors, he brain had "practically turned to mush."
• How far can a leaf fall? I remember when the burning sports question of the day was who should be the first pick in the NFL draft -- Ryan Leaf of Washington State or this Peyton Manning kid out of Tennessee?
• Forget about this. Now perhaps we'll get a better picture of the wolverine and its origins.
• Memo to the Dallas Morning News: It seems someone on your national or state news desk (if you still have either after all the cutbacks) should have picked up this story about a Texas-based Continental Airlines pilot who died midway through a transoceanic flight from Belgium to Newark.
• Dallas Morning News' Dallas Mavericks beat writer Eddie Sefko says the big enchilada is definitely not coming to Dallas. Whew! For a minute there, I thought we were in trouble.
• Speaking of trades, what about Sean Penn for Tom Cruise? One person argues that might not be a bad idea and I must admit I agree.
• The statistics found here about rape in South Africa are appalling, but the numbers from the United States are equally as deplorable.