If you work downtown, or know people who visit downtown, there’s an interesting little industry that comes to life every year about this time. Right when the weather gets better.

At intersections such as Market and Pacific (a southern porthole to the lovely West End), people are ticketed for crossing the streets when the “Don’t Walk” sign is illuminated. Seriously. And it’s a big fine.

In the summer, these “spotters” are out in full force, typically wearing red t-shirts, bicycle helmuts, black shorts, and this harrowingly big computer thing-a-ma-jig. They nail people mostly at lunch. And I do have to admit their intention is good. They are trying to discourage people from crossing the DART tracks which straddle Pacific Street.

Tell any tourists you know about this fairly Draconian practice.

Lately I’ve been working downtown and have seen people gawking at all the Dallas neon when they get slapped with this $100 ticket. Money they could have spent at the Hard Rock, helping the local economy. And saving the planet.

Dallas isn’t exactly notorious for treating out-of-towners hospitably in the shadow of the Texas School Book Depository.

This little Swedish (I think) girl’s parents and brother are missing after the Tsunami.

Log in to MoveOn.org to send a letter to President Bush & Congress urging them to send urgently needed relief.

From their site – The tsunami in southern Asia and Africa may be the worst natural disaster of our time. Rising to this challenge is at the heart of global leadership, and the world is depending on us.

Americans are generous and ready to step forward, but the U.S. Congress and the Bush administration have made a weak initial contribution to the effort — first offering $15 million and then $35 million when they came under pressure. We believe that:

“President Bush and Congress must offer whatever assistance is necessary to prevent further human suffering in the wake of the tsunami disaster.”