CELL PHONE SLEEZE BALLS

Last week I lost my cell phone. The nimrods who found it posted my number on Match.com, which is way worse than having it written on the men’s room wall at the Old Monk. Now that I have a replacement phone, I’m getting text messages from guys perusing the site. Hey, OTGUYTX, TXGUY0507,TOPOFTHELINE1, ADRIAN214TX, and DALLASTXM4U, e-mail me and help catch the perps. Oh, and send your photo.

THEY’RE COMING FOR MY JOB

Since we’re heavy on the media reporting this week, I bring you this: DeSoto High’s student newspaper won a national award worth $5,000. The paper reported that the school’s stats on gang-related activities were inflated and that the entity brought in to address the gang-related activities was suspect.

Or, as the kids would say, “shady.” In any case, good work guys.

KENNY GOSS SNOOZES, LOSES

Kenny Goss and his partner George Micheal went to the Frieze Art Fair in London. They had their eyes on this portrait of Margaret Thatcher. According to this recap of the Frieze Fair, the duo’s efforts, just minutes after the opening, were already too late. Someone else beat them to it.

DMN CRIMINALS MIGHT GET IN TROUBLE

Jim Moroney, publisher of the News, sent this e-mail to everyone in the company today, presumably in the wake of the employee who was caught stealing credit card numbers:

As you are aware, identity theft continues to plague both individuals and companies. We want to do our part to make sure that we protect our customers’ credit card and other personal information. Please note that employees engaging in the inappropriate or unauthorized use of another’s credit card or other personal customer information may result in discipline, up to and including termination. Law enforcement authorities may also be notified.

I have two questions about that: 1) may? And 2) MAY? Jim Moroney is a standup fellow. I’ve had a beer with the guy, and I like him. I know he’s trying his best. But if he wanted to do his part to protect customers’ credit card information, shouldn’t he have instead said, “Please note that if you break the law, you will be fired, and authorities will be notified”?

HP’S SPIRIT WEEK LEADS TO SPIRITED DISCUSSION

The recent issue of Park Cities People newspaper has a front-page story about a bunch of Highland Park high schoolers taking the Spirit Week theme of “thug life” a bit too far. Rumor has it WFAA Channel 8 is interested in the story and may even have coverage of it on tonight’s newscast. But our friends upstairs (i.e. the PCP offices) would like to point out they had it first. The full story after the jump.
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RE: REQUISITE MIERS ITEM

A real estate-watching FBvian gives us a morsel about Harriet Miers’ house:

According to my parents, who live down the street from her, the realtor’s sign disappeared from her yard shortly after she was nominated. It may have gone to a private listing because of inquires by people who were just nosy and not really interested in buying her house. I believe her brother is currently living in the house. She may not move back to Dallas if she returns to her former post. To my knowledge, she hasn’t been replaced at the White House.

EXCLUSIVE BANFIELD BABY PHOTO

I sure do miss that sassy Canadian. Ashleigh sends along a pic of her baby, Jay. Which gets a father thinking. I wonder how Stella will feel about an arranged marriage.

RE: COURTHOUSE POOP

A reading FrontBurnervian has a question about the WFAA story:

If the lede is true [that Behrouz was found guilty], why does the last line of the piece read: “If the defendant is found guilty, he could receive anywhere from 10 years probation to two to 20 years in prison.”

Hmm. Maybe he’s been found guilty but not yet sentenced? Not sure. Certainly an editor would have caught that.

HAAS HAS SENSE OF HUMOR

Readers of the print-version of FrontBurner no doubt remember a book review (of sorts) of Through the Eyes of the Gods by businessman and photographer Robert Haas. The book is stunning, aerial shots of Africa taken from a helicopter. There’s an exhibit in conjunction with the book at the African American Museum here in town, and last night Haas gave
a lecture as part of the National Geographic Live! series. A DC-residing FrontBurnervian was there.
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RE: COURTHOUSE POOP

An update on the item Tim told us about: Behrouz Nahidmobarekah was found guilty of spreading his dried feces on pastries at Fiesta in East Dallas. Gotta love the defense:

“It’s not enough that is grosses you out, and it grosses everyone of us out, but what you have to prove is that it will probably cause serious bodily injury,” said Clark Birdsall, defense attorney.

In other words, “If the poo doesn’t make you sick, you must acquit.”

REQUISITE MIERS ITEM

A curious FrontBurnervian asks why we haven’t mentioned here that Harriet Miers withdrew her name from consideration for the Supreme Court (or, more acurately, she offered to have her name withdrawn, and the president withdrew it, because he’s the only one who can submit and withdraw). Anyway, there isn’t much to say that others haven’t already said today and won’t keep saying today. My takeaway: the president gacked this one. He had to know folks would want to see her White House papers. If he wasn’t prepared to show them, he never should have nominated Miers. By doing so without thinking through the process, he did an old friend a disservice.

I presume Miers will soon take her house off the market.

CALATRAVA BACKLASH CONTINUES

Architecture critic Witold Rybczynski has his doubts about Santiago Calatrava.

SLATER STARTS TYPING, QUICKLY

In anticipation of possible indictments, Karl Rove biographer and DMN political writer Wayne Slater is reportedly working feverishly on an update to his book Bush’s Brain called The Architect. Hurry, Wayne. Hurry.

NEWS NEWS

A TV-producing FrontBurnervian over at CBS 11 has this announcement:

Steve Mauldin and I are pleased to make the following announcement:

Back by popular demand our 4 o’clock news returns Monday, October 31. Jeopardy will move to 11AM. The resources of the 11AM newscast will move to 4 o’clock. Maria Arita and Jody Dean (yes, Jody Dean returns to CBS 11) will anchor the half-hour 4 o’clock newscast. At 4:30PM we will air Inside Edition. Doug Dunbar and Shannon Hori will anchor the 9AM newscast. Jody will continue his popular morning drive-time role at KLUV, as well.

This is exciting news as our 4 o’clock news was hugely successful. Tune in on Monday!

THE GINA MILLER Q&A

As noted earlier, Gina Miller is now doing sports for our buddies over at Channel 11. Gina was kind enough to answer a few tough, sexually charged questions from FrontBurner. Read on:
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SHERMAN SHENANIGANS

A memory-having FrontBurnervian writes:

Remember that judge in Grayson County that caused the big stink by telling a girl that if she had sex whilst on probation, she’d be violating the terms of her probation, and that she had to live with her parents the entire time, not get any tattoos, etc?
She’s in the news again.

Sure enough, Judge Lauri Blake is. The long story has something to do with a missing file, a locked door, and a ladder. Not quite as sexy as that other one.

RE: GRAFFITI

In case you’re not tired of the topic, a Maven-riffic FrontBurnervian points to this article in a recent issue of the magazine. It’s about the famous tagger SEKT. Warning: deciphering the comments that follow the article will hurt your head.

MAYBE THEIR STAY ISN’T SO TEMPORARY

Remember all those Katrina evacuees who found shelter in Dallas? Looks like they aren’t leaving any time soon. And that’s if they want to, which apparently they don’t.

YOU, TOO, COULD BE ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE DALLAS BAR ASSOCIATION…

At least, that’s the sentiment of this piece.

RE: CELEBRITIES SPOTTED

If you’re curious about the film they’re filming, it’s called Invincible, a Disney movie about a regular guy who gets to play for his favorite football team, the Philadelphia Eagles. Think The Rookie on the gridiron (same producers, after all). Walhberg plays the regular guy. Kinnear will be the coach. They no longer need extras, by the way.

CELEBRITIES SPOTTED

It’s been awhile, hasn’t it? Thanks to a friendly FrontBurnervian for the tip:

Rumor on the street is that Mark Wahlberg and Greg Kinnear were in the Corner Bar last Wednesday night. Apparently they are in Dallas filming a movie.

No, they were not filming at the Corner Bar. And, even though Wednesday is karaoke night at the Corner, they weren’t singing either. Just drinking.

QUICK AIN’T WHAT IT’S CRACKED UP TO BE

A new study out on free daily papers like Quick has found that the gambit isn’t working for publishers like they hoped it would. They’d hoped to reach new, younger readers. But that’s not necessarily what’s happening:

The main effect has been that heavy newspaper readers simply read more, picking up the freebies in addition to their regular paid dailies.

The report questions whether the investment in these freebies has been worth it. You can bet the folks at Belo are asking themselves that same question. And somewhere, Jeremy Halbreich is still pissed.

SUPERSTRING TO ROCK THE CPL

Dallas band Superstring have just announced that they’ll be performing at the CPL® World Tour Finals in New York November 20-22. That’s the Cyberathlete Professional League, you squares. According to lead singer Julie Lange,

“Music is just as important to gaming as music is to the movies and to life! What a great place to be at this time in entertainment history and to share our music with the CPL.”

Full release after the jump.
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RE: FINALLY, PARKING DOWNTOWN

Dammit.

RE: THE WRIGHT STUFF

A pugilism-enthusiastic FrontBurnervian wants to see a real showdown:

Kelleher is going up against Arpey? Is that the best that AA can do for this hearing? I’m sure he’s a fine guy, even a good public speaker. But against Kelleher? Herb will use the guy like a toothpick. This is like Tyson/McNeely. Unless Kelleher is thrown off by the No Smoking rule. That could keep his testimony short.

Now get Bob Crandall back for this hearing and you’d have yourself a real heavyweight matchup. That would be worth the time on C-SPAN.