2009 June | FrontBurner

Articles for June, 2009

Texas A&M Resignation, Ctd.

Rick Perry’s interference with the university is even worse than I thought. And what qualified a former gubernationial chief of staff to be chancellor of a major research university? Most governors aren’t qualified to be chancellors of a university.

posted by Wick Allison | June 16th, 2009 10:35am | filed under Education |

Carolyn Horchow, R.I.P.

Joe Simnacher’s obituary in the News this morning gives the flavor of this remarkable woman’s life. Her style and intelligence and sense of mission enriched us all. Our deepest condolences to Roger, Regen, Lizzie, and Sally.

posted by Wick Allison | June 16th, 2009 8:55am | filed under Super Heroes |

Leading Off (6/16/09)

1. The judge has issued a gag order in the Dallas City Hall public corruption case scheduled to go to trial next week. Which is fine with me: I’m never comfortable with speculation about criminal proceedings. Let the case against former Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill, developer Brian Potashnik, and others play out first. Then we speculate, and we speculate hard.

2. The good news: recently there have been fewer battles between developers wanting to tear down historic buildings and preservationists wanting to save them. The bad news: that’s because developers are holding onto their effing hats.

3. A White Rock Lake lighting plan has been approved to bring to the Park Board. It calls for more lighting in parking lots and piers, and increased lighting along the parts of the trail that run near roads. Nearby residents didn’t want full lighting along the trial, because they feared more people would use the park at night. Me, I wouldn’t feel any safer with keeping part of the trail in the dark, as it just encourages Trey and his “infrared naked night jogging” workout plan.

posted by Eric Celeste | June 16th, 2009 6:57am | filed under Nature, Politics, Real Estate |

Nat’l Restaurant Association Honors Brinker

The industry group ran a full-page ad in the New York Times today saluting Norman Brinker. The ad may have run in other national newspapers as well. I don’t remember seeing such a tribute from an industry group for one of its members before. Here is part of what the ad said:

His innovations in casual dining changed the way America eats. His motivational management practices are embedded in leaders across our industry and will live on. He proved that restaurants that build customer loyalty and provide rewarding careers become the cornerstone of their communities.

posted by Wick Allison | June 15th, 2009 7:57pm | filed under Dining, Super Heroes |

Knox Chili’s Shuttered For Brinker Fete

Don’t stop by the Chili’s on Knox tonight expecting to grab your usual Oldtimer or Quesadilla Explosion. The whole joint’s been closed to the public since 2 p.m. to accommodate a private party honoring the restaurant’s godfather, the late Norman Brinker. Organized by honchos at Brinker International, where Brinker was chairman emeritus, the bash for Brinker employees and Norman’s friends followed today’s service for the Dallas entrepreneur at the Meyerson and was scheduled to continue until last call.

posted by Glenn Hunter | June 15th, 2009 7:09pm | filed under Business, Dining, Local News, Super Heroes |

Hutchison Blasts Texas A&M “Politics”

The resignation of President Elsa Murano, who reportedly refused to buckle under to system chancellor and Rick Perry-friend Mike McKinney’s directives, causes the senator to launch a warning to the system’s board of regents. The former president seems to have disagreed with McKinney’s hiring policies, as when a vp of publicity spot was given to the governor’s former college roommate.

posted by Wick Allison | June 15th, 2009 3:56pm | filed under Education |

I Have Tickets to The Jonas Brothers on Saturday: I Need Your Help (Money)

I have five perfect nieces and one perfect nephew. I would do anything for them. So when the nieces learned that Kevin, Nick, and Joe would headline a show at Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington on June 20th, they squealed with delight and I picked up the phone.

Did I buy just five perfect tickets? Noooooo. I pledged a BUNCH OF CASH toward a luxury “Silver Level” box on the 50-yard line with 20 cushy seats, a private bathroom, bar, and freedom to squeal and hear the concert at the same time. That is why my nieces call me Uncle Nancy—I am not your average aunt.

Anywhoo, Uncle Nancy and her five perfect nieces need to fill up the box, which by the way, is the closest one to the stage. I am selling 10 tickets for $250 apiece (less than face value), and each pair comes with a parking pass (normally something like $40). You think $250 is steep? Tickets in the cheaper low level boxes at the stadium are listed on Stubhub.com at $1,200 APIECE. E-mail me now. I hate it when they cry.

posted by Nancy Nichols | June 15th, 2009 3:53pm | filed under Celebrity, Crime, Entertainment, Events, Music |

Californians Are the New Yankees

This story from Oklahoma City is about the influx of Californians there, but the statistics apply to Dallas as well:

From 2004 through 2007, about 275,000 Californians left the Golden State for the old Dust Bowl states of Oklahoma and Texas, twice the number that left those two states for California, recent Internal Revenue Service figures show. In fact, the mid-South gained more residents from California during those four years than either Oregon, Nevada or Arizona. The trend continued into 2008.

posted by Wick Allison | June 15th, 2009 2:02pm | filed under Real Estate |

Dallas Won’t Regain Job Losses Until 2011

map-employment-html-box

So says IHS Global Insight, an economic forecasting firm. Austin and San Antonio are expected to be back to pre-crash employment this year or next. For the story, go here. For an interactive map, go here.

posted by Wick Allison | June 15th, 2009 1:48pm | filed under Business, Hold On To Your Effin Hat, Local News |

Bank Robber Caught on a DART Bus, Ctd.

Eric, if Skip Bayless’ ghost has entered your body, ask it to post some remembrances about Nancy Nichols from back in the day.

posted by Tim Rogers | June 15th, 2009 1:47pm | filed under Local News |

Bank Robber Caught on DART Bus

He robbed the Park Cities Bank in Mockingbird Station, then caught a bus next door. Talk about going green! (Someone please kill me, as the ghost of Skip Bayless has clearly entered my body.)

posted by Eric Celeste | June 15th, 2009 12:53pm | filed under Crime, Transportation, Travel |

GM Can’t Close Texas Dealerships, Ctd.

Friday’s post on the Texas AG’s petition to the bankruptcy court brings two different reader reactions. Oddly, I agree with them both. The first makes a solid point about the validity of state laws:

Either we are a nation ruled by law or not. Just because it is fashionable to have a politburo in DC run the car industry right now doesn’t mean that we can abandon the principle of rule by law. Why the law exists or how it came to be a law is completely immaterial.

The “politburo in DC” is actually a U.S. federal bankruptcy judge in New York, but the argument stands. The second makes an equally valid point about how state laws are customized like Saville Row suits to fit the needs of a particular industry:

(more…)

posted by Wick Allison | June 15th, 2009 9:55am | filed under Automotive, Law |

Leading Off (06/15/09)

1. Despite the sorry state of the budget, the Dallas City Council will vote on a $500,000 settlement for two families who sustained injuries on a trip to the zoo back in 2004. As you’ll remember, gorilla Jabari escaped his pen and wreaked havoc for 40 minutes before being shot and killed by a police officer. The council probably shouldn’t count on any of that money being used on future trips to the zoo.

2. Also, on Friday, the council will vote on whether to start selling bonds to build the convention center hotel once interest rates are at 5.5 percent. The hotel should open in late 2011 or early 2012 at a cost of around $350 million. Coincidentally, all of these pesky economic woes should be history by then. According to a document prepared for the vote: “the hotel will open in what is expected to be a strong recovery period in the industry.”

3. Perhaps you’ve noted Dallas police officers cruising around on T-3s – the three-wheeled, electric vehicles that some say look like “something from Star Wars.” Just for kicks, if you get pulled over by a T-3-riding officer, try concentrating really hard while saying this: “You don’t need to see my identification… These aren’t the droids you’re looking for… I can go about my business…Move along.”

posted by Laura Kostelny | June 15th, 2009 6:45am | filed under Local News |