Articles for February, 2009
Ole Moon Going Out of Business
After 30-some years in business, the Ole Moon is calling it quits. You’ll find everything in the Lower Greenville store is 35 percent off now. The store’s owner, Rudi Riffkind, is a family friend and has helped me many times over the years find the right birthday or Christmas present. If you stop in to take advantage of the discount, be sure to give her a hug.
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Leading Off (2/16/09): Match Game
1. “There are a lot of companies out there that can stroke the check. The real question is do they need to stroke the check.”
2. “Sometimes, people are a little intimidated by something if they haven’t done it before. Once they figure it out, we’ll see increases.”
3. “It was like a ball of flame with a tail. It looked like a meteor. There was flame and then a flash and smoke trailing it. I said ‘Wow, look at that.’ ”
a) Despite every obstacle possible, HOV lane use is up.
b) The beginning of Armageddon just happened for real.
c) The Cowboys may not have a naming deal in place for the ‘09 season.
Bush Library Hit By Bush Recession
U.S. News reported yesterday that the library at SMU is struggling to meet its fund-raising goals:
Don’t say that former President Bush hasn’t been hit by the crumbling economy he handed off to President Obama. Friends tell us that it has slowed the drive to raise some $500 million to build and endow the George W. Bush Presidential Center at Dallas’s Southern Methodist University. “It’s a bad environment,” says one. Bush is taking no chances: He’s making donor calls himself, and even his dad, the 41st president, is helping out, as are former aides like Karl Rove. In the future, say associates, look for Bush to host fundraising events in order to meet a goal of completing construction in 2013. But for now, “he’s laying low,” says one.
Texas Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson: End Judicial Elections
Jefferson’s speech to the Lege on Wednesday was widely reported. But the week brought other news that underscored the Chief’s plea to change Texas to a merit-based appointment system. First, there was the $2.6 million bribery scheme by two judges in Pennsylvania, one of the other seven states that still elects judges. Then today there is the NYTimes report that the U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing a major case in West Virginia, decided by a new chief justice whose election – echoing John Grisham’s recent best-seller, The Appeal — was mainly financed by a coal executive whose company was a litigant in the case.
Chief Justice Jefferson was forthright about the low opinion citizens hold about their state judges:
I share [former Supreme Court] Justice O’Connor’s concern about the corrosive influence of money in judicial elections. Polls asking about this perception find that more than 80% of those questioned believe contributions influence a judge’s decision. That’s an alarming figure – four out of five.
Alarming? More than that. It demonstrates how too much democracy can undermine the very norms that make democracy possible. The rule of law upheld by an unbiased judiciary is the sine qua non of a free society. State Senator Robert Duncan (R., Lubbock) has introduced a bill to eliminate elections of appellate judges. As this editorial from the San Angelo Standard Times argues, it doesn’t go far enough but it’s a good start.
Global Economic Crisis Hits Jerry Jones?
A picture-snapping FrontBurnervian sends along the photo below of Jerry Jones, taken yesterday. Surely Jerry normally flies on his own jet. Scaling back like the rest of us maybe?
Friday Afternoon Random Question: What’s Scarier?
What’s scarier: Friday the 13th or Valentine’s Day?
UT Board of Regents A Hicks Family Tradition
Steven Hicks, chairman of Austin’s Capstar Partners has just been appointed to the UT Board of Regents by Rick Perry. Brother Tom served as a Regent from 1994 to 1999, appointed by Ann Richards. Hicks’ major initiative as a regent was forming the system’s investment arm, UTIMCO. Of course, he was then constantly criticized and second-guessed for the investments UTIMCO made. The populist brow-beating over UTIMCO’s performance bonuses is what led Dallas’ Robert Rowling to quit its chairmanship and the Board of Regents last week. Ain’t public service fun? Good luck with yours, Steven.
Al Dia Going To Two-Day-A-Week Schedule
And this is good news, not hold-on-to-your-hat news, according to the DMN memo. Right. As they say in the Spanish-language version of Wedding Crashers, “Incorrecto! Incorrecto!”
Von Erichs To Be Inducted Into WWE Hall of Fame
The talented, tragic Von Erich family finally gets a little good news: the entire clan will be inducted into WWE’s Hall of Fame prior to this year’s Wrestlemania, scheduled for April 4 in Houston. A fellow member of the 2009 class, former North Texas football player Stone Cold Steve Austin, is getting most of the shine. But anyone who grew up watching Kevin, Kerry, David, Mike, and their father Fritz dispense justice via the Iron Claw on WCCW out of the Sportatorium will surely recognize this is long overdue.
(Thanks commenter Chris.)
And while we’re here:
Worst Toy of the Year: Cowboys Cheerleader Barbie
An alert FBvian points us to the news that the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood doesn’t like the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Barbie. CCFC director Dr. Susan Linn says, “The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader Doll comes with the shortest of short shorts, stiletto boots, and a revealing halter top.” To which I say, “Hang on, Doc. Talk slower.”
Naked, “Terra Cotta Colored” Man Freaks Out Women on Katy Trail
This crazy incident happened yesterday morning. And people say we’re not a world-class city.
Tom Hicks Kicks the Tires on the Statesman
Not only is Tom Hicks apparently interested in buying the Austin American-Statesman, but Jeremy Halbreich has also taken meetings with Cox Media Group brass, which is selling the paper. First thing I’d do if I were Hicks and I’d just bought the Statesman: make all the employees pay for parking. Next, I’d quit subsidizing the corporate cafeteria. Then I’d have everyone pay for their own BlackBerries. Wait. Not every newspaper gives its employees those benefits?
Friday Fun: QWOP
Today’s Friday Fun is called QWOP, but it might as well be called Running Is Hard. I might also call it Running Is Taken For Granted By Those Who Can Do It. But I digress. The point of QWOP is to run a race, using keyboard keys to control thighs and calves. Sounds simple—and it is—but it’s very difficult. Have fun.
Leading Off (2/13/09)
1. Looks a bit like the beginning of the season. The Mavs take a big second-half lead against the Celtics, only to see it slip away at the end. That’s what happens when you ask Devean George to do anything other than look sharp in sweats.
2. Are you scared about Mexican cartel violence coming to North Texas? You should be. Ish. Honestly, unless you’re involved in drug dealing, you’re fine and probably always will be. I just wanted to point to that link so you’ll check out the crazy comments like “NOW what we have, is a FOREIGN, third world culture where death is the NORM.”
3. Mr. Leppert goes to Washington. If the plan wasn’t to rob a D.C.-area bank, I think the trip will fail.
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