After a nationwide survey, the Wallace Foundation in 2006 chose Dallas and New York for an investment in arts education. For DISD, the amount was $8 million over three years. In July, 2008, it issued this positive assessment of “Thriving Minds,” which I just stumbled upon and which is worth sharing.
1. If you’re in Grapevine High School right now, I hope you’re wearing pants like these. And I hope your computer is not plugged in. And I hope that the road ahead is lit with dreams and tomorrows … which are lit with dreams. Also.
2. Capt. Chesley Sullenberger update!
3. Startlegram headline on Anna Tinsley’s “George W. Bush homecoming” story: “Bush family returning to a different Dallas.” Miami Herald’s take: “Changed Dallas (the sheriff’s now a lesbian) greets Bush.” The winner? Journalism!
At Jerry Foote’s memorial service last week, his wife of 45 years rose as the last speaker and delivered in the place of a remembrance a poem that was so different and so moving that I asked permission to publish it, which I now do after the jump:
The NYTimes’ Maureen Dowd, whose Pulitzer Prize was not awarded for her fact-checking, writes today:
Pete Sessions, a conservative from Waco, Tex., and the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, warned that they could become an insurgency, having learned more about insurgencies “because of the Taliban.” (Yes, that’s the same Taliban that was allowed to regenerate by bumbling Republican leaders.)
Actually, Pete’s district goes nowhere near Waco. But I don’t see that as a problem. I see it as an opportunity. Michael Irvin doesn’t call the cops back? What do you expect? He’s from Waco. Jessica Simpson breaks down on stage at a Michagan Michigan concert? Gordon Keith fails again to be funny? Tim Rogers shaves his head? Waco.
Leslie Brenner hasn’t started her gig yet as the DMN’s No. 1 foodie, but for my money Rod Dreher could have gotten the job. Read his “review” of Aurora, where he says his meal literally changed his life. Good stuff.
An alert FBvian points us to news that CBS might roll with a sitcom called Big D, about a New York couple that moves back to the man’s hometown. It’s still in the pilot stage, so let’s all pray that it gets the green light. Because I miss Green Acres.
SportsDay is my newest besest friend on Facebook. As of this morning, SportsDay has 72 friends. Let’s see, how many more friends do they need to save their baseball coverage? Group SuperPoke!
Kyle Kearbey and I have been very busy producing today’s video interview with Teiichi Sakurai, the owner and chef of Tei-An in the One Art’s Plaza. Enjoy.
Definition of Ladies Day: Quality Not Quantity.
Zac, close your other eye. For the record, the posts produced by the strong feminine side of FrontBurner have, as of 3:36pm, captured 65 (strong) comments while the posts tossed up by the men have garnered only 20-ish wimpy replies. Oh, and we did this. Tra la. And this. Now for something completely different.
I thought it was Ladies Day on FB. What happened?
It’s like a casting call clearinghouse up in herrre. This one is from SMU’s Guildhall, the program dedicated to videogame development education. Looks like some game makers are in search of the next Lara Croft:
Extra, extra read all about it: exclusive dining opportunity.
My mention of the Dallas Opera’s open casting call yesterday (the one where they’re looking for eunuchs) opened up the flood gates of casting callers. (”Flood gates” might be an exaggeration: There was one other company who sent an email to a coworker who forwarded it to me.) The organizers of the Flamenco Festival are looking for musicians, actors, and dancers. Details are after the jump.
A helpful FrontBurnervian passes along this news item: investment managers of the Permanent University Fund got $2 million in bonuses, even though the fund’s value fell 27 percent. Cue state senators airing their grievances. Chairman of the University of Texas Investment Management Company Robert Rowling explained that the bonusus were contract obligations. That explanation apparently did not suffice. After more grilling, Rowling “angrily resigned.”
Update: A similarly helpful FrontBurnervian notes Paul Burka’s account of the goings-on, which on its own might not merit “Update” status, but commenter “effigy2009″ makes it a must.
The Sunday edition of The New York Times has some tips for folks visiting our fair city. It’s heavy on the Arts District, and, thankfully, there’s no mention of Ghostbar in the article. I love that they put the Rattlesnake Bar and JR’s in the same weekend.
