Articles for January, 2009
Capt. C.B. ‘Sully’ Sullenberger has 383,000 friends fans on Facebook
Yes, the Denison native’s popularity has certainly taken an uptick since the downturn of US Airways Flight 1549. A sad footnote: He still doesn’t have as many friends as Topo Gigio (with 512,000 fans). What does a hero have to do to beat out that darned figment of our imaginations?
All This, Just To Sell Sugar Water…
Last we left, I puzzled over how the makers of Dr Pepper thought they could sell Dr Pepper to both the “Frazier” “Frasier” crowd and the “90210″ posse. Now, in the February issue of D CEO, comes Spencer Michlin with his behind-the-scenes story of how Dr Pepper reunited Kelsey Grammer, Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) and “Frazier” “Frasier” writer Christopher Lloyd for the TV spot. What “doctor” will be featured next by the Pepper People? I’m hoping for this one, who would certainly use the Plano-based soft drink to wash down a handful of prescription whatevers.
Insert Bull Rider Pun Here
The Professional Bull Rider tour makes a stop in Dallas this weekend at the AAC. I was checking out the site, hoping to find a local rider to root for, when I got sidetracked by the Injury Reports. Surprisingly, only a half dozen riders are on it, including Mike White:
Mike White is out with a possible fractured jaw sustained when he was pulled down on the bull’s head during his ride in Fresno. He is undergoing x-rays at home and is questionable for Dallas. He also sustained a lacerated chin that was sutured in the training room.
Ow.
The Canada-cation of Dallas?
Alt Hed: Where You Might Want To Be Tonight
The Trinity Trust has invited Larry Beasely to lecture about the New Urbanism and how it relates to Dallas. Specifically, how it relates to the Trinity River Corridor Project. If you’ve been to Vancouver recently, you’ve seen Beasely’s work. He was the Director of Planning there. He’s now a special advisor to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Tonight’s lecture is open to the public, and the official invite is here.
How Likely Is Texas To Go Democratic?
Not very, according to Texas Monthly’s Evan Smith, writing in the current issue of Newsweek. Two interesting statistics:
John McCain beat Obama 74 to 25 percent among white Texas college students, while Obama fought him to a draw elsewhere. In the suburbs, Obama won nationally, but McCain won in Texas 61-37.
Charter To File For Bankruptcy
The cable operation owned by Paul Allen (and founded by Dallasite Jeff Marcus) operates in Highland Park , Rockwall, Duncanville, Mansfield, and Haltom City, among other cities. The company has $20 billion in debt.
Leading Off (1/19/09)
1. Are you ready for the one of the most expensive, hotly contested city council races ever? That’s rhetorical, because I know you are.
2. Does it make Cowboys fans feel any better that the two teams meeting in the Super Bowl, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers, were responsible for two of the team’s most soul-crushing losses? No? Just checking.
3. And finally, you know what’s an in-demand ticket? Obama’s inauguration. You know what’s green? Grass. And water is wet.
How Polluters Win Permits In Texas
We’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if you haven’t followed the DMN’s “State of Neglect” series, you owe yourself a favor. Today’s installment by Randy Lee Loftis shows again why newspapers are so essential to a functioning democracy, especially in an era when special interests have come to dominate the legislative process. Who else could put the time and resources into such a thorough investigation of how polluters continue to get their way in Texas?
Defunct Metro Grill Restaurant Owners Lose Big Lawsuit
Owners Mark and Dirk Kelcher closed Metro Grill and allegedly filed for bankruptcy. Then they did a bunch of bad stuff and got caught. Read all about it.
Check Out Your Neighborhood’s Home Prices
Okay, maybe not your neighborhood. More precisely, the area your neighborhood is in. The DMN has a nifty little map that charts 4th quarter sales. HP is up 3 percent. Oak Lawn is down gazillions.
Triceratops Skull To Be Auctioned On Sunday
A Triceratops skull found in Eastern Montana will be auctioned off on Sunday, through Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries. Bidding for the skull starts at $210,000.
File Under: The Best Humor Usually Has A Kernel of Truth
Texas Instruments CEO Rich K. Templeton drew the biggest laugh at the Dallas Regional Chamber’s annual meeting this afternoon at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas:
“If you read the newspaper, you see a lot of negative economic news and gloom and doom and ‘Oh! My gosh!’ it’s … mostly true.”
In reply, the crowd erupted in laughter. Templeton said that bad times will pass, “but it passes with people who have energy and passion and who invest and get educated, and we go out and innovate new technologies to create different futures going forward. That’s why it’s exciting that we have a community like the Dallas area to do that work in.”
Breaking News (Must Credit Nancy): Highland Park Village Under Contract
Must I do everything around here? You might want to do a sobriety check on your sources, Tim. Ray Washburne is leading a partnership that has Highland Park Village under contract. The deal will close in March. Al Hill Jr. is not on the contract. There are more than a few “undotted ‘i’s.” You’re close on the price. Nice work. (Can I be on Gordon’s show now?)
Breaking News (Must Credit FrontBurner): Highland Park Village Sold for $150 Million
I have it from multiple sources that Highland Park Village has been sold to the Al Hill Jr. Trust for $150 million. The only thing that remains to complete the transaction are a few undotted “i”s.
Correction: It ain’t All Hill Jr. Same family, different Hunt. Info to follow.
Friday Afternoon Random Question (1/16/09)
Why does everyone keep calling Preston Hollow a suburb?
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