Moses, Michelangelo, Ben-Hur all die

Charlton Heston, the Oscar-winning actor who achieved stardom playing larger-than-life figures — including the chariot-racing Ben-Hur, Red Sea parting Moses and a “damn dirty ape”-hating astronaut — has died at age 84. In addition to his iconic acting roles, Heston became an unapologetic gun advocate and a firebrand proponent of conservative causes.

The 210 take: Despite his earlier promises to the contrary, as of press time Heston has not yet let go of his gun.
 

It really does pay to fly this airline

Europe's Flybe has given the term low-fare airline an entirely new meaning: It paid 172 people to fly back and forth across England and the Irish Sea to help it meet a target for passenger numbers. Flybe hired the temps after narrowly falling short of a target to deliver at least 15,000 passengers on a route, which meant it would have to forego a $550,000 rebate.

The 210 take: When told of the plan to use ringers to simulate crowds, Crossroads Mall said, “You can do that?”
 

Just what we need – another aging hippy

The peace symbol — three simple lines within a circle — is 50 years old. Introduced at a British ban-the-bomb rally April 4, 1958, the peace symbol's peak of potency was in the 1960s, when it was the emblem of the anti-Vietnam War movement and all things counterculture. Said its late creator, British graphic designer Gerald Holtom: “I drew myself ..... a man in despair ..... put a circle around it to represent the world.”

The 210 take: Sadly, at age 50, the peace symbol now needs Viagra to keep its characteristic shape.

Playground audit hurts like a hot slide in July

City Auditor Pete Gonzales Jr. resigned after a tussle with the City Council over a playground safety review. Gonzales, who had been on the job just 11 months, had launched a performance audit of Parks and Recreation Department playground equipment without previous approval, and then tangled with officials who tried to block the review.

The 210 take: Score another victory for the powerful Happy Fun Rusty-Nail Brand Playground Equipment lobby.

Historian promotes Texas' forgotten flag

Tejano historian Dan Arrellano is on a mission to change what he says is one of the biggest misconceptions in the state — that there were not six national flags flown over Texas. There was a forgotten seventh flag, Arrellano says, hoisted in San Antonio in April 1813 declaring the first, brief incarnation of the Republic of Texas.

The 210 take: That scream you just heard was the maintenance man at Fiesta Texas realizing how many signs he's going to have change. 
 
With staff and wire reports