Good News For Sick Alcoholics

It’s in the New York Times so it must be fit to print: the newest remedy for cold and flu is booze! (I see a whole new marketing angle for bars—sick bed sections with hot toddies and waitresses in nurse outfits.) Anywhoo, the story sez “two large studies have found that although moderate drinking will not cure colds, it can help keep them at bay” and  “drinking 8 to 14 glasses of wine per week, particularly red wine, was linked to as much as a 60 percent reduction in the risk of developing a cold.” I love a good rationalization during the holidays.

Romo Is a Giver

Undoubtedly lost in all of the “Romo choked while his fidgety girlfriend was in attendance and now T.O. Owens wants to chop-block him [sic]” hubbub is this news. Romo gave $100,000 to his alma mater’s athletic program, the largest single gift Eastern Illinois University’s program has ever received. And that’s in addition to all of the money EIU will make from the EIU replica jerseys the school’s been selling. “Romo for the Holidays.” Nice.

Restaurant News

Two down.

Parcells Not Going to Atlanta

So ESPN reports. (Via Associated Press.) Maybe he took a look at his resume and said, “Wait, I passed up the chance to take Steven Jackson in 2004 and traded down to take Julius Jones instead? I have no business running a team.” Or he’s getting a sweeter offer from Miami. Put your money on the second scenario.

T.O. Dogs Jessica Simpson

Terrell Owens has been so good this year about keeping his mouth quiet. No longer. Tim MacMahon is reporting that T.O. is publicly blaming Tony Romo’s performance on Simpson and her double Ds. Well, T.O. didn’t specifically mention that attribute, but you know that’s what he was thinking. Meanwhile the Sun-Times is reporting that Cowboys team officials have asked Romo to get his head right with ball. (P.S. You could have read all this first on Unfair Park. IJS.)

Rockwall Is H-O-T

Believe me.

Forty Five Ten Sale

The day after Christmas all Fall/Winter ready-to-wear and shoes will be marked down 60% at one of my favorite local boutiques, Forty Five Ten. Every year my shoe closet gets updated with at least one pair of shoes (think: Moschino, Miu Miu, Marni) from this sale.

Me Be More Clear Write Now Time

A comment on my Leading Off post (No. 3) asks:

“Hope stays alive.” about what? That republican representation will go away or that illegal immigration will disappear off the radar screen.

Wick had the same question, but phrased it in less-pleasant terms. I was saying I’m glad someone who discusses real political issues beat someone who panders to voters on the over-hyped, over-heated illegal immigration issues. I will try to be more clear in the future.

Winner of the $15 iTunes Gift Certificate

Putting out the “print product” has distracted me from running this contest efficiently. My apologies. Jump for your results.

(more…)

‘Stagers’ See Silver Lining in Housing Slowdown

This might be more appropriate for DallasDirt, but I learned last night that there’s a nice upside to the housing/subprime fallout–for some in business, at least. Dallas home “stager” Ann Schooler–basically, she spiffs up empty or tattered for-sale houses with cool furnishings so they’ll move faster–said at a party in Preston Hollow that her business has actually increased as home sales have slumped. Today’s sellers are seeking any edge they can find, it seems, and Ann’s Schooler, Kellogg & Co. provides a big one. Schooler’s handiwork was all around us at 5031 Deloache Avenue–a 15,400-square-foot, for-sale mansion she’d decorated with stuff like Flemish tapestries, even wrapped bars of French milled soap in the bathrooms. You can have the place for $8.6 million.

Fort Worth to Smokers: Butt Out

On January 1, a new smoking ordinance goes into effect in Fort Worth. The augmented ban now restricts smoking pretty much everywhere. New additions to the list include:

… within 20 feet of a regulated structure’s primary entrance or exit, in bowling alleys and in business offices. The rules also ban smoking in bars, if the business does not generate more than 70 percent of its total sales from alcoholic beverages.

Dallas smokers can expect something similar, and possibly harsher, in the next 12 months. It’s coming, people. Deal with it. For more on that, check out the February issue of D. For less on that, go here. It has absolutely nothing to do with anything. But if you like hip-hop, charts and graphs, and a bit of blue language, you’ll have some good times.

Border Fence Is Non-Starter

Michelle Malkin, whom I adore, is not happy that the border fence is disappearing in the fog of last-minute appropriations. I, on the other hand, am delighted that this unworkable, impractical idea has been thwarted — and congratulate our two Republican senators, Kay Hutchison and John Cornyn, for their part in thwarting it.

Gary Cogill is Drawn Offsides By Alibaster

Here’s a tip for dealing with Alibaster K. Abthernabther, Gary: Either play along with the joke or ignore it.

Road Construction: I’m Not Alone

Seems I’m not the only one who’s noticed. One FrontBurnervian reminds me that every street downtown (St. Paul, Akard, Ross, Commerce) is dotted with road crews. And another FrontBurnervian has an interesting theory:

Remember how Dist. 14 had some nice road repairs under the reign of Lord Mayor Kirk. Now see Dist. 13.

A Minor Observation Made Two Weeks Ago But Confirmed Every Day Since Then

Is every major thoroughfare in Dallas under some sort of construction? Or is it just the ones I’ve been driving on (i.e., Mockingbird, Preston, Hillcrest, Northwest Highway, etc.)? Discuss.

Leading Off

1. Read this DISD story, and your takeaway is “not a scandal,” standard accounting procedures, this is normal financial housecleaning that every company goes through. But most will just read the headline: “Audit may imperil Dallas schools’ bond vote.” If accountants out there want to correct me, please do so in the comments, but this appears to be nothing more than a new accounting company classifying items in a different manner than the previous accounting company.

2. I may have read this story, about how Texas can add a $5 surcharge onto the cover charge at strip clubs, too quickly, but I think that this story has made Annette Burrhus-Clay “really excited.”

3.  After 30 years of Republican representation, District 97 (southwest Fort Worth and Benbrook) elects a Democrat, Dan Barrett, to the Texas House. Barrett focused on the shenanigans of House Speaker Tom Craddick, while his (losing) opponent focused on illegal immigration. Hope stays alive.