Articles for March, 2008
Layoffs at Channel 11
Wow. This is huge. Uncle Barky reports that Channel 11 has laid off reporter Robert Riggs and producer John Sparks. Reporter Kaushal Patel is gone, too, but with all due respect, the Riggs and Sparks sackings are the big news. This does not bode well for 11.
Update: I got Tracy Rowlett on the phone as he was preparing for his 5 o’clock newscast — meaning he didn’t have much time to talk. In short: “It’s a sad day,” he says. “It’s a station-wide deal. Every time a door closes, you wonder who is next. I’ve watched this happen so many times in this business. But it’s the economy. It’s going to hell in a hand basket.”
Re: Noted Sexologist Ken Starr
See, this is one of the reasons I dig the Star-Telegram. The brass gave FrontBurner permission to put up the entire article I wrote for them back in 1998. Thanks, guys:
Fashion At The Park Update
Fashion and fun at the tents continues. Go here for some pics from all the happenings. CH Carolina Herrera (which we hear is going to be quite a show) shows tonight at 7, followed by Intermix at 9, and Miss Sixty at 11. We’ll be attending a private dinner with Carolina Herrera Jr. this evening. More details to come.
Judge Strikes Stupid Strip Club Fee
A Texas district judge in Austin ruled that (and I may be paraphrasing here) State Sen. Royce West’s $5 fee for strip club patrons is a bunch of hooey. Patrons of the ecdysiastic arts, rejoice!
Noted Sexologist Ken Starr in Town Tonight
The author of the Starr Report will speak at the inaugural reception of the Dallas chapter of the Pepperdine Alumni Association. Makes me wistful for my brief run through the Star-Telegram and the greatness of Julie Heaberlin, who let an idiot on her staff write this story about footnotes. (If only someone at the Star-T would let me post the full text. Hint, hint.)
RE: AFI Dallas
It’s not nice of AFI to schedule gala events on nights when I’m teaching Moby-Dick — “‘The whale! The ship!’ cried the cringing oarsmen” — but what do you do?
Glenn Hunter-Era DBJ Wins SABEW Award for Online Excellence
Remember the Dallas Press Club scandal? The Dallas Business Journal, then headed by Glenn Hunter (now editor of D CEO) were the diggers who uncovered the Elizabeth Albanese scandal. For their work they’ve been honored with the Society of American Business Editors and Writers award for online excellence for a breaking news story.
The story behind the story: Glenn was a member of the board of the Dallas Press Club and learned about the whole mess. He recused himself from the board and got to work with staff writers Dave Moore and Chad Eric Watt on busting the whole thing out. They had their story ready to go for the April 16 issue, but owning to internal conflicts it was to be held until the following week. The Press Club, doing its level best to cover the whole thing up, issued a brief statement on that Saturday morning, April 17, vaguely alluding to the problems that had come to light. But it was a half-hearted, fact-free admission. Glenn marshaled his writers who came in that same Saturday morning and, fighting both lawyers from the corporate headquarters and a ticking clock, they put together an outstanding story for online publication that unveiled the whole scandal.
So, kudos to the Dallas Business Journal’s Dave Moore and Eric Watt. To read their award-winning story click here.
Tony Romo Ain’t Hitched to Jessica Simpson
Several FrontBurnervians have asked me about this story, wherein Jessica Simpson’s mom apparently tells a reporter that her daughter is married to Romo. A friend of Romo’s tells FrontBurner that is definitely not the truth. So there you have it.
Philippe Starck Calls The House “Unnecessary”
Have you bought your place yet at The House? You know, the place designed by Philippe Starck? Well then: ha! Because Starck says he’s “ashamed” of the place. Ashamed of everything he’s done. It was all unnecessary. Design is dead. Thanks to the FBvian who points us to the story.
Re: Did Jim Bowles “Split His Britches” Or Not?
As I was typing that, an FBvian was sending me a link to this story in the DMN about the runoff. The dust-up at the meeting is covered. Kinda buried the lead, though, guys.
Did Jim Bowles “Split His Britches” Or Not?
The ladies of the Park Cities Republican Women’s club got more than they bargained for at their Tuesday afternoon meeting. According to some in attendance, Jim Bowles experienced a good old-fashioned 500 Internal Error.
Oncor Hearts Great Blue Herons
Here is a picture of Hank, the heron who fishes regularly outside of my house. Hank is a lovely bird, and he builds his nest high up in the trees or on a conveniently placed telephone or power line, which can be a problem if they bust the connection. Apparently Great Blue Herons are a huge hassle for Dallas-based Oncor. They monitor over 100,000 miles of power lines many of which are lined with heron nests. Read the jump to find out what they plan to do about it. (more…)
JC Penney’s Upscale Strategy A Failure?
Sales are down. So is the stock.
FrontBurner Madness Update
In the contest for the $200 gift certificate to Texas de Brazil, heelSpurs has first place. My bracket, Eric Celeste Has No Shot, is tied for sixth. Eric’s bracket, Tim Rogers Has No Hair, is tied for 123rd. Again, IJS. Last place belongs to the biggest loosers. Still. Your leaders:
1. heelSpurs
2. Sweaty Stuff
3. John Galt
3. Old East Dallas
3. cookies 1635
6. Crackbabies 4
6. Feherty’s Training Wheels [best name on the leader board]
6. Eric Celeste Has No Shot
6. Remember the Alamo(dome)
6. T sizzle or fizzle
Bloggers’ Locker Room Access the Latest on the List of the Million Things On Which Mark Cuban and the NBA Don’t Agree
The NBA rejected Cubes’ locker-room blogger ban. The NBA then wagged a finger in his face and firmly instructed him “not to bring that weak stuff in here no more. This is my house!”
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