Ups, downs
Bidding adieu to a Thumbs writer. D’oh!
In the movie “Jurassic Park,” Jeff Goldblum’s character Dr. Ian Malcolm shares a profound revelation: Scientists were “so preoccupied with whether they could that they didn’t stop to think if they should.” We wish a frequent writer of Thumbs, deputy opinion editor Evan Mintz, had heeded that wisdom before announcing his departure from the Chronicle for a job in public relations. We’ll miss his wit, tenacity and passion. His love for Houston and his drive to make it better were evident in everything he wrote. Selfishly, we kinda hope that when he reports to his new gig, he’ll miss journalism and his freedom to insert obscure “Simpsons” references in his work product so much that he’ll have his own profound revelation: “D’oh!”
The state has authorized Harris County to participate in the Countywide Polling Place Program that allows registered Texas voters to cast their ballots at any polling location within Harris County on Election Day. Voters already have that option during early voting. The first opportunity to use the new program is the May 4 Joint Election. Hopefully, this will help lift our state’s sagging turnout stats.
The Dallas Morning News gave two local playwrights a crash course in news writing — and maybe quality news consumption, too. The two actors, Janielle Kastner and Brigham Mosley, were getting their news from Twitter and BuzzFeed when they were commissioned by the News and Ignite/Arts Dallas to gather interviews and news writing experience for a play-in-progress featuring a discussion with newspaper staff and an audience Q&A.
Let’s all take a … paws. SB 476 passed the Texas Senate 30-1, prohibiting municipalities from restricting dogs dining al fresco with their owners. The bill by state Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-Irving, allows them to accompany their owners as long as they remain leashed, on the ground and off the furniture. The law doesn’t require the business to permit dogs. But restaurants that do need to hang a sign indicating the dog-friendly rules. Everybody likes dogs, but do we really need the Lege telling cities to sit, stay and roll over on restaurant rules?
The ancient Greeks said you shouldn’t speak ill of the dead, and that should apply to tweets as well. Thumbs up to Dan Crenshaw, Houston Republican congressman, for pushing back against the Tweeter-in-Chief ’s bizarre rantings against the late war hero U.S. Sen. John McCain. “Mr. President, seriously stop talking about Senator McCain,” the former Navy SEAL tweeted. So what should the president be talking about? How about storm surge protection. Read tomorrow’s editorials for more on that.