Articles for January, 2009
60 Minutes Confirms Ed Wallace’s Rants
If you listen to “Wheels with Ed Wallace” as much as Glenn Hunter and I do, you probably don’t have a life. Regardless, when I watched last night’s episode of 60 Minutes, I felt sort of good for Ed, who is featured in D CEO’s January issue. The story pretty much confirmed everything that he’s been ranting about, regarding how the price of oil has been driven by speculation, as opposed to Chinese taxi cab drivers and peak oil. The 60 Minutes piece also makes me wonder if billionaire T. Boone Pickens has wandered too far off the Reality Reservation with his belief that the high price of oil supports his theory that demand for oil has exceeded its supply.
FB Field Trip: SMU vs. UTEP at Moody Coliseum
On Saturday night, my wife and I took our son to Moody Coliseum to see the SMU Mustangs face off against the UTEP Miners in a Conference USA clash. He was upset that the YMCA had decided to cancel his PK4/5 basketball team’s Friday evening practice as well as the Saturday morning game and team pictures. So he was excited for the chance to at least watch some basketball, but probably happier about the fact our family package included vouchers for free hot dogs and soda. The game was good, and much better at the end, but I was more interested in what was going on in the stands.
If I didn’t know better, I would have assumed it was a UTEP home game, as there were at least as many fans in orange and blue (some even wearing miners’ helmets — not a good look) as there were those sporting SMU colors. They were much louder, too, and organized; they led their own chants and one group unfurled a giant UTEP flag. So, a question, to anyone who might know: did the UTEP faithful travel all the way from El Paso, or is there a giant stronghold of UTEP alums in the North Texas area? And while we’re here: SMU fans, step up. (Not looking at you, small but vocal student section.)
Glenn Hunter Makes Boldest Move of 2009 So Far
You know what’s bold? Putting yourself on the cover of your own magazine. I just got the February issue of D CEO. Glenn, to you, sir, I say: well played. (At top, the magazine cover (which, upon further inspection, features billionaire Harold Simmons). Below, Glenn.)
NYT: Go Visit Dallas
Over the weekend, the New York Times Travel section published something called “44 Places to Go in 2009.” Dallas was No. 17, in large part because of the October opening of the Performing Arts District. So that’s good news. What bugged me was the lead to the NYT blurb on Dallas: “Everything is bigger in Texas, and the Dallas art district is no exception.” Seriously? You had to pull out that old saw? Murmur.
‘09 Scorecard: Hyatt Regency Dallas 1, Hilton Anatole 0
The big buzz yesterday at the Dallas Safari Club Convention and Hunting Expo at Dallas Market Hall is the show’s decision to relocate next year to the Dallas Convention Center to accommodate its steady growth. That change means the Club’s “host hotel”–a considerable chunk of business–will be switching from the Hilton Anatole to the Hyatt Regency Dallas. Club honcho Debi Mills said this past weekend’s expo attracted more than 900 worldwide exhibitors–outfitters, gun makers, jewelers and destination proprietors including Dallas businessman Ward Lay (pictured), who owns a hunting, fishing and guest lodge in Argentina–and better than 22,000 attendees. One former Safari Club board member said expensive items like high-end jewelry sold well at the expo this year, while cheaper offerings languished on exhibitors’ shelves.
Cedar Waxwings Spotted in Midway Hollow
Thanks to the recent cold front, my yard is rocking with Goldfinches and Cedar Waxwings. Aren’t they gay?
Update: I use this with a doubler. (Hi, B&H!)
Leading Off (1/12/09)
1. Cowboys linebacker Anthony Spencer was arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct outside a bar in Indianapolis. What, exactly, does that entail? “According to police, Spencer and a friend, Matthew Millhouse, attempted to pay the bar to remain open. After being told they had to leave, they threw punches at the bouncers, pounded on the exit doors and shouted at bar staff, police said.” Millhouse also apparently told officers that his “dad’s a pretty big wheel down at the cracker factory.”
2. Rangers shortstop Michael Young wants to be traded, since the team plans to move him to third base. It may sound selfish, but in his defense, he’s already switched positions once to help the team out (from second to short after the A-Rod trade). And the Rangers will be, at best, mediocre for the rest of his life.
3. And finally, Dallas DNA, a six-episode Discovery Channel series about Dallas County D.A. Craig Watkins and the conviction integrity unit, debuts in April.
Bethany, Your Mom Called. She’s Worried.
Bethany, why have you foresaken our comments section? Is everything okay?
Fort Worth Pensions Tied to Madoff Money
The Bernie Madoff scandal may have aftershocks all the way to Fort Worth; the Star-Telegram reported today that the Fort Worth Employees’ Retirement Fund had invested millions in the (alleged) Ponzi scheme through a third-party investment group, and withdrew the money last year. Business Week says a New York bankruptcy judge may try to “clawback” cash from groups that withdrew before the collapse. For the Fort Worth fund, that could mean $10 million.
Friday Afternoon Price-Hike Story
Starting February 9, the DMN will increase its newsstand price to $1. Currently the Monday-through-Saturday newspapers are a bargain at 75 cents. Economic factors and the cost of newsprint were two reasons for the price change. Oh, and the revenue at A.H. Belo fell 13 percent during the first nine months of 2008. I am kissing my paycheck. Thanks, Wick. Back to you, Zac.
Friday Afternoon Random Question: 2009 Predictions
What will Jim Schutze be mad about this year?
How will the Cowboys/Stars/Rangers/Mavs screw up?
How many Eric Celeste-based posts will Tim Rogers file?
How high will the price of a Wednesday Dallas Morning News eventually reach?
Feel free to ask and answer your own in the comments.
Wild (?) Speculation of the Week: Hearst to Buy Belo
From a Seattle-based carbon life form:
KING-5 here in Seattle, a Belo station, began reporting yesterday that the Seattle Post-Intelligencer was to close. There’s been wild and rampant speculation as to how they and they alone could know this (they continue to stand by the story). One of the rumors that came down was that Belo was acquired by Hearst, and since Hearst cannot own a newpaper and television station in the same market, Hearst would be forced to shut down the PI. The only possible source of that information would appear to be through Belo. We really don’t know what’s going on. Everyone at both the Times and PI are stunned. And no one can figure out the source of that story. Either that reporter is the best reporter in the city, or she’s the village idiot. Which I guess depends on whether this report is true.
Update: To clarify, the idea is that Hearst has bought Belo (broacasting), not A.H. Belo (newspapers).
Attention, Lawyers. Time to Vote for “Best Lawyers 2009″
Please note: this year, for the first time, we’re doing only “personal lawyers.” No M&A attorneys and the like. In 2009, we’re focusing on: Bankruptcy & Workout (personal bankruptcy), Consumer Issues, Criminal Defense, Elder Law, Family Law (divorce), Labor & Employment, Personal Injury (plaintiffs), Real Estate, Tax, Traffic Tickets, Trusts & Estates, and White Collar Defense/Antitrust. If you practice in one of these areas, we invite you to tell us who are the best lawyers working in the Dallas area. Voting ends at the end of the month.
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