In this week’s paper there’s a story about a bunch of Highland Park grads who have made their marks in the tech sphere. One of those grads is AJ Forsythe.

While I demand you read my story as well, the video above is from a Forbes story written about Forsythe’s company, iCracked. Enjoy.

On the other side of our office, D is having its annual Best of Big D competition, complete with a host of Park Cities shops and restaurants. During the nominating process I kicked over a few ideas to our magazine colleagues, and some of them popped up on the ballot. So I’ve done my part.

Your part is to now vote. There is no Park Cities party-line vote, but a few of your hometown favorites (Molto Formaggio, Bandito’s, La Duni, Cafe Pacific, to name very few) are on the ballot. Vote daily.

Anna had this yesterday at Unfair Park, but I wanted to toss it up here as well. Seems the One Million Moms group has called for a boycott of GCB, saying it is “deliberately attempting to sabotage our faith.” A statement on their website goes on to say:

It is based on the book “Good Christian B*tches” and mocks Christianity repeatedly. This anti-Christian program blasphemes God, Jesus Christ, God’s Church, and the Bible. As Christians, we will not stand for this Christian-bashing program. No other religion has to contend with this ridicule so why should we?

I disagree with just about everything this statement says, but the bur in my side is the “No other religion has to contend with this ridicule so why should we?” part. Really? The President of the United States hasn’t been subjected to repeated claims that a.) he’s Muslim, and b.) that that’s a problem? Really? Have we completely white-washed the history books so much that we forgot how much people openly hated Jews for much of the 20th century? Really?

I understand and support a group’s right to protest something. I do. But when their logic is flawed at such a base level (and this is coming from someone who thinks this vapid representation of the area I cover is beneath the dregs of most Vh1 reality shows), that’s when I stop listening to their arguments.

Michael Allen, Matt Owen, Alex Carroll, and Will Bakke visited Paris while making "Beware of Christians."

Set your DVR to record Tuesday’s episode of The Price is Right. You’ll get to see Highland Park High School graduate Will Bakke.

Bakke dropped in on a taping of the game show last month while touring to promote his latest film, Beware of Christians. According to a press release I got from his publicist, he had to go by his given name, Wilbur, during the taping “due to legal reasons.” But during his airtime, Bakke was able to mention that he is a filmmaker in Austin, that he went to Baylor, and that he loves Jesus.

“The show is going to be hilarious,” Bakke said. “We freak out on national television. This tour keeps getting crazier.”

Dan Koller, Georgia Fisher, Bradford Pearson, and Claire St. Amant pose with the lunch prepared by Georgia, plus a D Magazine pillow!

Last Thursday, the Park Cities People staffers you see here had the pleasure of hosting Sgt. Lance Koppa for lunch. Sgt. Koppa, the relatively new public information officer for the town of Highland Park, took this picture, because he was so impressed by the meal that Georgia Fisher had arranged in his honor.

Let me back up. As she has told you, Georgia recently rented a radar gun for a story that will appear in the March 9 edition of the paper. When she ran into some technical difficulties with the gun, she called the Highland Park Department of Public Safety, hoping to gleam some of their expertise with such equipment. Sgt. Koppa was kind enough to show her the ropes, and during their impromptu patrol, he mentioned that he would love to see where Park Cities People is produced and to meet our staff. Georgia half-jokingly replied that maybe we could all get together for pimento cheese sandwiches, then she made that idea become a reality. (The sandwiches were delicious, by the way.)

Sgt. Koppa answered a few questions I’ve long had about the unique nature of Highland Park’s Department of Public Safety. For those who are unaware, there’s a reason that agency is not known as the Highland Park Police Department. All DPS officers must be certified as police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians. Sgt. Koppa said Highland Park is one of 70 municipalities nationwide that fields a force of such triple threats.

Highland Park officers work 24-hour shifts, going off-duty for 48 hours before returning to work. Those shifts are divided into eight-hour units (7 a.m. to 3 p.m., 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.). Most officers will put in eight hours as a patrol officer, with the other 16 spent on call as a firefighter or EMT.

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A few months ago, University Park bought themselves a few iPads for councilmen and city employees to use during council sessions and meetings. Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical of the cost savings, but the city ran the numbers, and it actually works.

In next week’s paper I’ll rundown all of the environmental cost-saving measures the city is taking, but for now, here are the iPad numbers, courtesy of city secretary Liz Spector.

Paperless Agenda Savings 2012[1]

I have an 11-year-old daughter who is relentlessly asking to read the Hunger Games novel. The office opinion is split between the 20 somethings who think it is fine and us older and oh-so-much-wiser folks who say no way. Would you let a mature but only 11-year-old read this book?

According to this study, Park Cities residents likely would. H/T Fox DFW

Discuss.

Last night, I live-blogged the Oscars with a couple of the cats from D. It was a taxing chore, and one that made me never want to look at Billy Crystal’s powder-caked mug again.

A little bit of Highland Park flair popped up in the proceedings, though, that caught my eye. Billionaire oilman (and Crescent Avenue resident) Tim Headington was thanked during the “Best Art Direction” speech, by the winners from Hugo. Headington and his production company Film District produced the film, which took home five awards last night.

Headington has also produced The Aviator and The Departed. Seems him and Scorsese have quite a thing going on.

On Twitter today, I came across a link claiming to stream tonight’s Highland Park-Kimball game.

Just to put it out there, I am an expert in illegal streams. Living in Texas doesn’t allow me to watch most Jets games, or Saint Joseph’s games, so I have to get creative. I’m usually able to watch at least a quarter or a half before the site gets shut down. It’s a sad fact, but the internet’s wonders never cease.

That said, I’m not sure about the legality of streaming a high school basketball game, but it’s worth a shot. The game’s the only one highlighted for tonight, and be sure you have either Windows Media Player or Silver Light. And don’t blame me for the pop-ups; they’re like a cover charge.

UPDATE: Not illegal. Watch at will.