The Great State of Texas: Duck!

[radar image removed after receiving request to do so from WFAA official]

New Trinity Trust Poster Fails to Inspire Roughly 2 out of 3 D Magazine Employees

A dozen or so posters just showed up in our offices, care of the Trinity Trust. You know my stance on that. I think they’re fighting the good fight, and so on. Which is why it pains me to say the following: this Trinity poster — designed by London artist Jenny Bowers to commemorate a conference last year and now available to you, the Trinity supporter, in limited numbers, for $15 — is ugly. To my eye, anyway. Gail, I’m sorry. A few of us editors stood around looking at our posters when we got them a few minutes ago, going, “Really? Seriously?” Looking for confirmation, I marched it back to our creative director. He dug it. (”I’ve seen too many drawing of plans for the river, so I like the child-like style.”) Another art director agreed. (”It’s airy, fun. Looks like Matisse on speed.”) A third art director, though, was on my side. (”No. Uh-uh.”)

But what do I know, right? Comments are open.

American Airlines to Offer Check-In Via Mobile Phones

I’m sure Southwest will call their raise soon continue already doing it. Meanwhile, I’ll keep doing what I normally do with my phone: playing Bejeweled.

UPDATE: I am a moron. In my defense, I don’t care. About what: the aviation business or my own lack of smarts? Exactly.

Shipp Draws Hate Mail, Disrespect Over BB Story

Belo8 reporter Brett Shipp’s got some interesting observations about the way he’s been credited–or, more accurately, not credited–for his scoop on that South Oak Cliff basketball-team fiasco. Ed Bark scored the interview with Shipp.

Trinity Fight!

I’ll confess: I didn’t really read this Bruce Tomaso piece from a couple of days ago. I just looked at the possible logos for the Trinity River project. They’re OK, I guess. Can’t say I was blown away by anything. I’m no graphic designer, but I think I have an idea for something a little more eye-grabbing.

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Where You Should Be Tonight

The Candleroom, from 8-11 p.m., for Paws in the City’s “Martinis for Mutts” fundraiser. Paws in the City is a non-profit organization committed to ending overpopulation, abuse and neglect of dogs and cats in Dallas, and the money raised tonight will help pay medical bills for sick or injured critters.

What Blonde Celebrity Will Wreck Next Season’s Cowboys?

Commenter SDM brought up a good point in response to Jessica’s Tony/Jessica post: After the debacles that were Carrie Underwood and Jessica Simpson, who will be the next blonde celeb to shoot the wheels off a promising run by the ‘Boys? Here’s my short list. Cast your vote or nominate your own in the comments.

1. Paris Hilton
2. Hayden Panettiere
3. Heidi Montag
4. Elisha Cuthbert
5. Scarlett Johansson
6. Troy Aikman 

Could it be? The Last Tony Romo-Jessica Simpson FB post?

Doubtful. But the NY Daily News is reporting that Tony’s given Jess the heave-ho after all the controversy surrounding their relationship. Tony apparently told her they should “just be friends,” and a source is quoted as saying that Tony “is starting to blame her himself [for his poor on-field performance].” Our sympathies to Joe—er, Jessica.

Plugging the PLUG Awards

Each year, the PLUG Independent Music Awards acts as sort of counterpart to the Independent Spirit Awards for film. The 2008 installment happens March 6 in New York, and voting is still underway here. Local angle? Jump!  (more…)

News Going Private? Forget About It.

For a couple of months I’ve been touting the idea that the Belo split would allow Robert Decherd to take the News private, a possibility that excited me. Ain’t gonna happen. With this news about the Philadelphia Inquirer and Mpls. Star Tribune possibly defaulting on their loans, no lender would touch it, or if they would, the price would be so high the News couldn’t afford it.

Lisa Loeb Plays At IKEA

Has the songstress fallen that far? Yes and no. See, writer Mark Dworkin has some shtick going called “Mark Lives at Ikea,” which includes some video vignettes of him “living at IKEA.” The most recent one has Mark in trouble with his wife, and to make amends he tricks Lisa into playing a concert for them at an IKEA in Jersey. Want the link to that video? Okay. (Props to Lisa for being the least-annoying person in the video by far.)

Hospital Patient Has Gold Teeth Stolen

Zac, not sure how you overlooked this story in Leading Off. If this turns out the way it looks, they’re going to have to invent a new circle of Hell for the perp.

Urban Dictionary Adopts New Park Cities Word

It’s not quite “superman” (if you know what I mean), but our friends over at People Newspapers have entered the word “parklebrity” in the Urban Dictionary. The new word falls between “parkle” (as in “I parkled the dilznick all night long”) and “parklife” (as in “I get up when I want except on Wednesdays when I get rudely awakened by the dustmen parklife”). Glad we’re all on the same page.

Something Appears to Be Amok at DART

And Jim Schutze is doing a fine job of digging it up. This is why I love the guy.

Leading Off

1. A little bit of good news for the South Oak Cliff basketball program. SOC alum Kevin Rogers had a game-high 18 rebounds in Baylor’s 116-110 victory over Texas A&M in five (!) overtimes. Remember, I did say “a little bit.”

2. Yesterday Charles Chatman, the latest Dallas County convict to be freed thanks to DNA testing, “was treated like a celebrity by lawmakers” at a Senate hearing into why it’s taken four years to use millions earmarked for forensics. (By typing this I, of course, have dibs on biopic rights.)

3. Who’s complaining the most about a new state-mandated fingerprinting program for public school employees? Tarrant County school districts. Guys, there are going to be some kinks to work out. Cool out.