Articles for May, 2009
WFAA Shuts Down Comments to Its Site
I still say this blog is diminished by not having comments. And I still say I understand Wick’s reasoning in making the move to shut down comments a few weeks back. But perhaps Wick is a trendsetter. Because now WFAA, too, has shut down its comments. Send us a letter and tell us what you think about this trend.
Willard Cannot Be Stopped. He Can Only Be Contained.
I wouldn’t want a day to go by wherein I did not promote D Magazine Willard Spiegelman promoting his new book. KERA brings you the opportunity to see the good professor in makeup. Added bonus: he talks about why he didn’t include sex in his “ordinary pleasures.”
See Laura Bush’s Commencement Address Tomorrow
Folks in the Park Cities with Charter Cable can tune in to Channel 19 tomorrow morning at 9:30 to catch SMU’s commencement, highlights of which should include Laura Bush’s speech and these fancy new robes. Must be nice to have cable.
Friday Fun, DMN Style
“Emersom Biggens.” “Anita Lay.” “Lou Briccant.” “Norma Stitz.” Who knew Dallas Morning News commenters would come up with stuff like that? The story is a serious one–about local cops busting a prostitution ring employing underage girls–but some of the reader reactions are pretty amusing.
Wild Times Again In Lee Park
This photo shows the “Man Cave”–one of several spaces at Lee Park’s usually staid Arlington Hall that were all tricked out last night to mark the second anniversary of The Social Book, Dallas edition. Seventies rock blasted in the “cave”–actually, the Hall’s patio–as party-goers tossed back 360 Vodka and chomped on appetizers. Other parts of the building were decorated with an “organic green” feel or to ape a swanky lounge, complete with tunes by the Marc Toussaint Combo. Meantime Scott Evans, The Social Book’s Houston-based publisher, explained why for the second year in a row, he’s giving the leather-bound books away for free.
Leading Off (5/15/09)
1. There will be a special election for three DISD board members — Leigh Ann Ellis, Edwin Flores, and Ron Price — in November. One of these people once landscaped my flower bed, and I once danced the Electric Slide next to another one. Edwin Flores I don’t know.
2. A surprise to no one: there could be a full-scale federal investigation of the Cowboys practice facility collapse. Spoiler alert: this will not end well for the Cowboys.
3. And a Richland Hills man is building a shuffleboard empire. Trust me, I’m not laughing. This man accomplished something. You know what empire I’m building? I’m building an iPhone Poker empire. Who is more productive? (Sorry to taunt you, former commenters.)
Willard Spiegelman Will Again Drive to Plano
Tonight at 7:30 our dear professor Willard Spiegelman will bravely venture north to Legacy Books to read from his new book, Seven Pleasures: Essays on Ordinary Happiness. Readers of the “print product” know what Willard thinks of Plano. Today will be a scary day for Willard. And for Kyle Hall, too. He is not only the director of marketing and events for Legacy Books, but he’s a former student of Willard’s. Tonight the task of introducing Willard falls to Kyle. Let’s all hope they both get through the evening.
Free Tickets to a Trio of Shows at The Loft
photo: Alicia J. Rose
Thanks to our friends at The Loft we have four pairs of tickets to give away to each of the following shows: the Thermals (5/21), Letters to Cleo (5/23), and the Helio Sequence (6/5). (Not anymore; see updates below.)
I’m going to make it easy on you. All you have to do is e-mail me with the name of your favorite song by the band you want to see. I’ll even cheat and help you if you can’t name a Thermals song, because they (that’s them to the left) are definitely worth seeing live — and if you go, you’ll have the rare opportunity to buy me a drink.
(Kidding about the drink.) (Not really.)
UPDATE: All four pairs of Thermals tix are gone. Same goes for the Helio Sequence tickets; well done, folks. Two pairs of Letters to Cleo ducats remain. Hurry!
UPDATE WITH A VENGEANCE: They’re all gone. Thanks for playing, everyone.
Eight DFW Chrysler Dealerships Closing
What a week DMN auto writer Terry Box picked to get married. (Nuptials planned for Saturday.) Chrysler announces it’s shuttering nearly 800 of its 3,200 dealerships nationwide–including eight of the 19 in North Texas. And, General Motors may not be far behind. The bright side? The DFW dealerships left standing–especially their service departments–are about to get a whole lot busier.
Re: TI’s IT Department Needs Troubleshooting
Last week I posted about problems in Texas Instruments’ IT department and linked to the DBJ’s story reporting 12 percent of TI’s workforce—about 3,400 employees—were to be cut in January. An FBer sends his two cents:
As one of those cut, I was curious if you were aware that number was inaccurate or that at least it only accounts for direct employees? I know that nearly all, something like 99% of all contractors, were let go on 1/23. More than half of my IT support group was cut, from 9 to 4. We were told before we were let go that the total number was to be 30%. My estimate was that the count as of the 1st week or so of February would have been about 7000 people, not the 3,400 listed above.
Pearls of Wisdom From Wick
Wick is still fishing for the next million weeks or so. Which is why the transcript of his deposition in a recent case ended up on my desk. My favorite part so far:
Q. Do you believe it’s appropriate to state an opinion as fact without identifying it as an opinion?
A. I state opinion as fact all the time.
Bob Sturm on Dallas/Denver and Its Aftermath
Sports Sturm’s thoughts on the end of the Dallas/Denver series and where the Mavs go from here are ready for your perusal right over here.
Leading Off (5/14/09)
1. The Mavs’ season ended last night with a 124-110 loss to the Denver Nuggets. With no more hockey and football a few months away, we can all focus on the first-place Texas Rangers. And everyone in this building can fight over taking credit for starting a baseball-heavy sports blog.
2. I think we all like a good counterfeiting story. That one is a little more straightforward and low-rent than the counterfeiting tales I usually prefer, but it’s Denton so, you know, take what you can get, right?
3. Looks like there’s not going to be legalized gambling in Dallas or anywhere else anytime soon. I guess I’ll just have to continue to lose money the old-fashioned way: marriage and fatherhood.
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