Articles for March, 2009
Dallas Woman Almost Falls For Oldest Trick in the Book
Someone called and told her she had won $1,000 concert tickets (to what? the second coming of Christ?) and all they need was her Social Security number to pay the taxes on her winnings. It says here this is a new scam, but pretty much only the surface details have changed.
I’ll go on record and say this: if you give your SS# to someone over the phone, you deserve whatever disaster awaits.
New Blog Covers DMN Changes
This is the third blog covering the layoffs and newsroom changes at the Dallas Morning News. Why another one? Because whoever ran the past two decided not to do it anymore, and, to quote the site’s anonymous author:
If this cut is like the last ones there will be no other place where we can all exchange what we know or what we fear. Or where we will be able to find a list of those who will be leaving. Or where they can easily post a farewell.
Already there is an interesting post about editor Bob Mong’s notice in the paper that, in response to reader feedback, “we will assign specific teams to our communities—including reporters who specialize in schools, government and community affairs, and investigative reporting.” Which prompts this point:
That could mean a substantial redeployment of the Local news operation that will somehow happen in addition to the layoffs. Will this change of assignment affect how the layoffs will be done?
A Push To Expand The Convention Center–Again?
Spending for a new convention-center hotel not enough for you? Then you’ll love another upcoming push by the visitor/convention bureau: expanding the convention center itself–again–by another 300,000 square feet. That tidbit’s revealed in D CEO magazine’s April cover story, a hard look at how effective head honcho Phillip J. Jones has been luring business meetings for the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau. Jones supporters like to say the DCVB’s on the right track, with hundreds of millions of dollars in projected future “room nights” stretching out to 2017–if we’ll just build that convention-center hotel. But skeptics including restaurateur Al Biernat say Jones is a “tourism” man lacking the inclination or the skill to curry large-scale convention biz. One fact they point to: hotel stays by Dallas conventioneers fell 25 percent between 2002 and 2008. The April D CEO hits Borders and Barnes & Noble newsstands later this week.
King Tut Draws 430,000 to DMA
In case you were wondering if people were still buying tickets to see Tut in this bad economy, KERA’s Art & Seek Blog links to this article from the LA Times that says the King Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of Pharaohs exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art has brought in over 430,000 people so far. Yep, this makes it the most-visited exhibition in DMA history. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’ve got until May 17. And don’t forget to pick up a Tutti Bear on your way out.
Evan On The Ticket: Listen With Your Ears
Head over to InsideCorner to hear The Ticket’s Mark Elfenbein talk to our sports star. I said now.
Monday Morning Dr’s Advice
See here. You’ll thank us later.
Leading Off (3/16/09)
1. Donald Ray Williams, wanted for his role in a September 2007 armored car robbery outside a Compass Bank on Abrams, was arrested yesterday in Rosebud. Maybe the authorities should have been keeping an eye on Williams since he pretty much pulled the exact same crime in 1988. Oh, and since he told FBI agents back then that, whenever he got out of prison, he was going to rob another armored car. I’m not a professional, but I’ve found that when criminals call their shots like that, they’re usually not bluffing.
2. If you want to know the political persuasion of the candidates for City Council, this may help.
3. In “you think so, doctor?” news: Dallas is noticing a dip in sales tax revenue. But it should be okay. Donald Ray Williams promised that the next time he robs an armored car, he’ll spend at least half of the proceeds within our city limits, following an appropriate “laying low” period.
Bonus Item: Pour one out for actor Ron Silver, who died yesterday after fighting esophageal cancer for two years. Dallas connection? He was in Semi-Tough, filmed right here, and based on Dan Jenkins’ novel. I’m pretty sure if you pay extremely close attention, you’ll see him in here somewhere:
Matt Martinez, Jr., R.I.P.
Matt Martinez, Jr. passed away at 7:30 Friday evening. Details here.
Politico Update On Bush Library
The headline may be a little over the top, but Mike Allen at Politico.com has some interesting tidbits, including the former president dropping in on a SMU politics course. Here’s another:
The most interesting – and controversial – part of the plan is the George W. Bush Policy Institute, which will remain controlled by the president’s foundation and will open well before the planned museum opening in 2013. SMU’s president says the institute will be more “vibrant … than simply being a museum frozen in time.” The president’s advisers are still chewing over what topics to emphasize.
As it happens, we have a suggestion on that in D Magazine’s next edition.
FrontBurner for Your Drive Home: Talkin’ Baseball and Stuff on The Fan at 4:25
I’m going to hop on KRLD-FM 105.3 “The Fan” this afternoon at 4:25 to talk a little baseball with Ben and Skin. Tim Cowlishaw apparently refuses to share air time with me. Here’s a link to a rundown of our likely topics of conversation and another link to where you can listen live.
Friday Afternoon Random Question: Man Show
What do I have to do to get my manhood back?
They Probably Wouldn’t Sell Many Staplers, Anyway
Besides Avi, some businesses along the Greenville Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade route aren’t exactly eager for all the fun to begin. In fact, the Office Depot at Greenville and Lovers Lane has posted a sign saying it will close up shop during the parade. (Seems the store was stung by rowdy revelers rushing to use its “facilities” in years past.) In contrast, a nearby CVS will be more welcoming–for some mysterious reason. The drugstore’s hung a banner with this advice: “Go Green. Get Luckability. Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Bud Lite.”
Bugatti Veyron is Italian for Bad-A$$
Within the next few months, Bugatti is looking to establish a dealership in Dallas. Yesterday I had the opportunity to drive a Bugatti Veyron, the fastest, most expensive, most-sought-after car in the world. My co-pilot, racecar driver Butch Letzinger, met me and other media at Mercedes Benz Park Place Motorcars. He gave me a quick tour of the $1.6 million machine, and then it was my turn. (more…)
Jim Witt Says He’s Not Going Anywhere Today
There have been rumors going around the Star-Telegram this week that executive editor Jim Witt’s last day would be today. I called him, and, like he always does, he called right back. I’m paraphrasing, but putting it in block quotes because it looks cooler:
If it were true, I’m sure at least half the staff would start cheering. But no one has told me I’m leaving, and I don’t plan to today. That said, it’s still early.
He then wondered aloud whether he should remove the “Jim Is In” sign in front of his office, just to really get fuel the gossip.
Archibald McAlester Continues To Scoreboard Me
In early 1994, a recent Harvard graduate dropped off a package above the Green Elephant (now the Barley House). His name was Archibald McAlester. He went by the name of Keven. We were about to start a little entertainment weekly newspaper called The Met. We needed a music editor. His application consisted of a resume in which he made fun of himself and Harvard. (”True what they say about the toughest part is getting in.”) He gave me three short CD reviews: Yo La Tengo, Stereolab, and the Afghan Whigs. They were wonderful, and I hired him on the spot. In the next few years, he wrote two things that I will always remember. In our first issue, he wrote about Kurt Cobain: “‘Here we are now/Entertain us.’ If you’ve got six better words to encapsulate the modern rock experience, I’d like to hear ‘em.” And about the indie band Superchunk: “I say to you, Superchunk: [Expletive deleted] you and the indie rock poser horse you rode in on.” He then got out of journalism to be a documentary filmmaker. He’s made that look easy, too.
Long way of saying that he continues to shove his awesomeness in my face, as he just confirmed that his second documentary, The Dungeon Masters, will be a part of the AFI Dallas lineup, probably on April 1 and 2. Go see it. (It was well received in Toronto.) I’ll be the bitter guy faking a smile and kissing his boney, talented butt.
FYI: Yes, Robert had this a week ago. He’s better than me, okay? I just now got to it and wanted an excuse to put up that picture.
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