Ross Perot Sr. Does Something Heroic for a Real Hero

U.S. Senators couldn’t help. Oprah couldn’t help. Bill O’Reilly couldn’t. Even Kid Rock failed. (Wait, Kid Rock?) But the senior Perot stepped up and ensured that America’s last surviving First World War vet will have a place Arlington National Cemetery. Well played, sir.

Kristin Campbell Talks About Fingers

It’s times like these when I remember why I decided to become a journalist: to make a difference in the world. I just interviewed Kristin Campbell, co-host of the DaFoWo Show, for a ditty we’re doing in the “print product” next month. You’ll have to wait for the full-on. But here’s a little taste.

Maybe Secretary Gutierrez Should Have Sent A Telegram

The latest victim of American Airlines’ cancellation fiasco: U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, who had to scratch an appearance today at a Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce luncheon. “We couldn’t control tornadoes, storms, or American Airlines,” said chamber honcho Cici Rojas, explaining why Gutierrez was stuck back in D.C. The secretary was to have helped launch the National Hispanic Business Information Clearinghouse, a new online tool supporting the startup and growth of Hispanic businesses. The site’s funded in large part by Colorado-based Western Union, whose CEO Christina A. Gold pinch-hit for Gutierrez during today’s luncheon at the Fairmont.

UPDATE: Business analyst David Johnson reports that Gutierrez’ Hispanic chamber no-show wasn’t really American’s fault. Seems that once all the AA delays started happening, the secretary’s people had booked his Thursday D.C.-Dallas flight on US Airways instead. Then weather problems wound up delaying the US Air flight, and Gutierrez was stuck at the Washington airport.

Dallas Con Artist Cons Columbians

I was just catching up on the Columbia Tribune and stumbled across the tall tales of Alan Farha II. The scam artist got church’s to fork over hundreds, even thousands, of dollars after he claimed he needed money to get to his father’s funeral and money for asthma medicine and money for a hamburger that he’d totally pay back on Tuesday. I made that last one up. But the story is a good one, as stories go. Especially as I compile my list of screenplay-worthy news items. This one is probably on the Music Man cliché side, though. Still, a feel-good ending if Farha recognizes the error in his ways, gets his life back on track, and gives huge donations that save small, mid-America towns. Vince Vaughn stars. Obvs.

Good News/Bad News (For Certain People)

Housing prices have a 1 percent chance of declining in Dallas and Fort Worth, according to a press release regurgitated by the News’ Steve Brown. Riverside, California leads the list of “riskiest markets.” Why should we care about Riverside, California?  No reason, unless we are Belo shareholders and own the Riverside Press-Enterprise.�

Who’s The Most Powerful Democrat In Texas?

The S-T’s Jay Root raises the question, then answers it.

A Primer Appreciation

The Onion’s AV Club elevates Shane Carruth’s Primer into the pantheon of cult films. You may recall the Richardson writer-director-star won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 2004. And then, poof, he disappeared. I wrote a story about him and the movie, and  I remember Shane telling me he had big plans for a big epic picture with oceanography and pirates (I’m not kidding about the oceanography, and I’m almost positive about the pirates). But I haven’t heard from or about him in years.

Two Teens Risk Death by Roundhouse

Two New Jersey teens were arrested for plotting to kill local thespian Chuck Norris. If only there were some checklist of facts about the actor on the Internet that might discourage their plans.

Paging Baron Münchhausen: The Immigration Attack That Wasn’t

You know how local talk radio was up in arms yesterday about that student in Athens, Texas, who was attacked by Hispanics for carrying an anti-illegal immigration poster? Yep, she made it up.

Okay, Reality Check

The whole green movement/global warming fantasy was pretty cute and harmless at first — like Scientology or Intelligent Design, I guess — but this has gone too far. Enough, already.

Panic at the Disco Raid at the Rave Club

I don’t frequent “rave club” Afterlife Dallas very often, by which I mean not at all. But it looks like a swell place to dance the night away. For $15 at the door, you get to party until 4 a.m., buy glowsticks, and meet some friendly police officers as they raid the place. A soon-to-be-bookmarked-site The Dirty (aka, the site that had those Matt Leinart with underage girls and a beer bong pics) has a Dallas page that has an account from someone who was there. With video, too.

A Laugh to Start Your Thursday

It makes me giggle, anyway.

Blockbuster Doesn’t Want You to Leave Your House

Or, rather, the company is making it so you don’t have to. Remember when BBI bought Movielink last August? Now we know what it plans to do with it. Blockbuster is working on set-top device to stream movies directly to your TV. Kind of like Apple TV, but doubtful as design-y. When? An announcement is expected sometime this month.

Leading Off

1. American Airlines has canceled another 900 flights, the third day in a row AA has had to struggle with the grounding of its MD-80 planes. Man, I would hate to be Tim Wagner today.

2. Assistant homeland security boss Julie Myers told a Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce luncheon that the Immigration and Customs Department will continue to be hard on employers who hire illegal immigrants. Everyone then turned to look at Tim O’Hare, who had started a slow clap at the back of the room.

3. And finally, plastic surgery denier Ashlee Simpson and her medium talent boyfriend Pete Wentz are engaged.