[I visited Dallas around November 10; the shot above shows the Grassy Knoll.]

It's not like Dallas sprung up out of nowhere, it just feels that way to a very great extent. Everything you need to know about Dallas you probably already know: Dealey Plaza, J.R. Ewing, and the Dallas Cowboys. Texas Stadium is partially domed (OK, for my thesis to hold it would have to be fully domed, but play along), they play on Astroturf, and, if you wanted to create from scratch a plastic sports team you'd never do better than what developed naturally. Think Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson, sparkling clean sports uniforms and murderous cheerleader moms. Throw in massive sprawling suburbs with everything and nothing, and you don't need to know much more.

The Deep Ellum (as in "Elm" pronounced by semi-literates) section of town is somewhat of a Bohemian section, but there didn't appear to be too many wackos there. I didn't check it out at night, but I'd imagine it's just a party section. Supposedly, those from the southern reaches of Dallas occasionally go there spoiling for a fight. Deep Elm/Ellum is currently undergoing gentrification, but the movers and shakers there apparently haven't moved on to the next big area. The gentrification appears to be part of the Dallas culture. They appear unable to leave well enough alone, it must be painted over and modernized. Some of Dallas' short history is preserved, but some of it has also been cemented over. Everything must be clean and modern and well-ordered, lest it interfere with the uptight, rush-rush atmosphere.

Supposedly, Fort Worth is much more laidback. There, according to a source, you might find an expensive hotel next to a vacant lot. But, in Dallas, the vacant lot would be immediately paved over to make it look acceptable.