Articles for April, 2009
Lookin’ Out My Back Door: Cedar Waxwings And Things
Okay, I’ll post this real fast and then duck outta here. The strong winds this week blew in some great birds. In one hour this morning, I viewed 20 Robins, 30-ish Cedar Waxwings, 20-ish Ruby-Crowned Kinglets, a Yellow-Rumped Warbler, and an opossum (not a bird). So why is there a picture of a Red-Headed Woodpecker on this post? I’m glad you asked. Because I’ve decided to start DTwitcher on Twitter. See a bird, note the location, send a tweet. Makes sense to me. Come on!
Leading Off (4/8/09)
1. Looks like Detroit (eh, Bloomfield Hills) is getting even with us for stealing Comerica Bank. Pulte Homes is buying Centex for $1.3 billion. Said Timothy Eller, Centex’s CEO, “By acting decisively now, we’re creating unrivaled firepower to capitalize on the opportunities in homebuilding that are now becoming visible on the horizon.” So if you plan to buy a new home, expect to get shot at.
2. Dave Levinthal reports that a quarter of the Dallas City Council candidates haven’t bothered to vote in recent elections. Lead-footed Brint Ryan has been just as remiss as gun-loving Chazz Redd. Tsk, tsk.
3. Did you know that Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett has a blog over at the DMN? It started a week ago. Yesterday, he weighed in on whether women should fart, concluding: “I guess women have to let go at times too but it just doesn’t seem right, but if they do then it shouldn’t smell or make a sound.” I think we can all agree that Bennett is wise beyond his years and that his blog definitely belongs your RSS reader.
Surprise! Study Shows Texans Are Extraverted
A new study finds that certain characteristics cluster in certain geographic spots. Texans are extraverted, a tad disagreeable, mostly conscientious, only somewhat neurotic, and fairly open to new ideas — if the research is to be believed. However, a study that concludes that Maine residents are also extraverted might be seen to raise more questions than it answers. And there’s this disquietening aside: “state-level extraversion is positively correlated with robbery and murder rates.”
NCAA Tourney: Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner
First place was taken by D Empire’s own Jennifer Mosley. For her stellar efforts, she’ll get nothing and like it. I ended up at 323rd, and I was just happy I beat Tim, who finished 350th. FBvians who placed 1-2-3, and their prizes:
1. my turn ($200 gift certificate to M Crowd restaurant)
2. billyhefner (a case of Duvel beer)
3. High Low (sports-watchin’ snacks from O Organics!)
Email me at ericc@dmagazine.com to claim your prizes, folks. And congratulations.
Dallas Writer Exposes Male Thinking About Women
When I heard there was a new book out from Dallas’ Brown Books Publishing called Secrets From Inside The Clubhouse: What Men REALLY Think About Women, I thought of that old C&W song, the one where Waylon sings: “I got a good woman/What’s the matter with me/What makes me wanna love every woman I see?” And, Ron Stout’s book is apparently of that mindset. Among the North Dallas scribe’s secrets: “Act more feminine and we’ll be more masculine” (Secret No. 5); “Ask us … don’t tell us what to do” (No. 10); and “Speak English, we don’t understand Womaneze” (No. 25). Any other “secrets” out there?
More Bad News: Neiman Marcus Has Another Round of Layoffs
Not sure on the exact number yet (some speculate as high as 450 — to which our tipster says, “I don’t know where they could find THAT MANY MORE”), but it went down today.
UPDATE: According to a Neiman’s spokesperson, the speculation was wrong — about the number, at least.
There were job eliminations today – close to 145 (not 450). Aprox. 45 positions due to re-organization of Marketing, Creative Services, Advertising, Production departments. This re-organization was the result of an internal review begun nearly a year ago.
Secondly, there were aprox. 100 sales support positions eliminated from various other areas of the organization.
Job Cuts Hit The Dallas Business Journal
The DMN’s not the only one laying people off today. The Dallas Business Journal says it’s also eliminating positions. Good luck to those being let go.
A View of the Arts District
You know whose office provides a good view of the progress being made at the Wyly? Appropriately enough, Mark Nerenhausen’s does. Here’s what he gets to see every day at work:
Newsroom Layoffs At Dallas Morning News Have Begun
As noted yesterday, the newsroom at the DMN finds out which writers and editors are being let go. According to the comments on this post at the DMN Cuts blog, the process started early this morning as employees are being called to HR.
Leading Off (4/7/09)
1. Hearings began in the Texas House on the controversial Voter ID bill, with Democrats suggesting it is a way to make it harder for minorities and the disenfranchised to vote, and with Republicans saying it is simply to get rid of voter fraud. I think it’s going to make it harder for me to continue voting as Wick. (You don’t think he really voted for Obama, do you?)
2. Southwest Airlines will begin service to New York on June 28, and by service we mean you only have to make nine stops to get there from Love Field.
3. TCU will set aside campus housing for “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender students and allies — heterosexual classmates who support them.” No word on how they’re going to resolve the fact that most gays and lesbians annoy each other.
Notes From Opening Day
I’ll leave the real sportsy stuff to Evan over on InsideCorner. Clearly Rangers fans have reason to hope. You know, because they’re undefeated so far. More other stuff: I miss the old-time scoreboard in left field. The digital thing must make money (thanks to Southwest). So whatever. However, the digital board that rings the stadium (a la AAC) works. Thumbs up on that. My only real complaint: traffic. With the construction on I-30, egress was a total disaster. We dallied for 40 minutes before getting to our car. It STILL took nearly an hour to get on the highway. Cowboys games will be a nightmare if that ain’t cleared up before their season starts. Just for fun, here’s the view from our seats today (apologies again to the guy I accidentally punched in the back of the head while going for a ball).
Trying To Figure Out W
In line at Tom Thumb this weekend, I read the Globe’s new account of how former President George W. Bush is suicidal, depressed about Dallas and pining away down in Crawford for Condi Rice. But, darned if I didn’t just hear W helping call the Texas Rangers opener on The Fan 105.3 with Eric Nadel & Co., and he sounded great–exuberant even. These days, you just don’t know who to believe.
Opening Day Twitterage
A good portion of your D Magazine staff is headed out to the Rangers Ballpark to take in opening day. Here are your feeds, should you care to follow:
Nancy: twitter.com/NancyNichols
Zac: twitter.com/zaccrain
Eric: twitter.com/EricCeleste (Except Eric says don’t follow him because he doesn’t want the pressure.)
Tim: twitter.com/timmytyper
Liz Lavin: twitter.com/SpideyMonkey
Evan Grant: twitter.com/InsideCorner
DMN Layoffs Start Today; Newsroom Tomorrow
The much-delayed A.H. Belo cuts are scheduled to begin today and conclude tomorrow. According to DMN Cuts blog, the bylines you may recognize will be told tomorrow.
Home |
Masthead |
News from D |
About Us |
Contact Us |
Subscribe |
Advertise |
Privacy Policy |
Customer Service |
Awards | Archives | Reprints | d custom | Jobs | Advertiser's Index
Awards | Archives | Reprints | d custom | Jobs | Advertiser's Index