Articles for November, 2009
Express-News Undercut by Front-Page Ad
I have no particular objection to running unobtrusive front-page ads on newspapers. I’d prefer that they remain confined to a small strip across the bottom, but I know that with some papers trying anything and everything to remain afloat, there’s going to be experimentation. The local Star Community Newspapers group has even been floating ads in the center of the front page, above the fold and surrounded by content.
But can we all agree that today’s San Antonio Express-News front is just awful? Maybe papers should set some sort of guideline. Something that says ads will be omitted from the front when they’re running a two-line, six-column head? Or when the lead story has a major body count?
American Airlines Flight Attendants to Stage Mock Strikes This Month
This, apparently, is in advance of getting permission to have real strikes.
Quick two-part question: How is a mock strike different than a real strike? Follow-up: Can you explain that again?
Good News for Humans Who Breathe Air
Comes news that Dr. Al Armendariz, an SMU prof in the the Lyle School of Engineering has been named the Environmental Protection Agency’s new regional administrator. Armendariz has been an outspoken critic of federal and state regulators for not doing enough to clean up North Texas’ air. Jim Schermbeck sends along the official statement from Downwinders at Risk, the group that has long battled the Midlothian cement plants:
Dr. Armendariz is exactly the kind of person you’d want to have this job, but seemingly never gets it. Because of what’s at stake and the fact that Texas is the belly of the polluter beast, this may be one of the most important, far-reaching appointments the Obama Administration makes. Downwinders at Risk is proud to have been the group that first utilized Dr. Armendariz’s expertise in 2005 for our cause of cleaning up the Midlothian cement kilns. That work led directly to his becoming the premier “citizen’s scientist” in Texas on air pollution, and paved the way for his much larger influence on the state scene. Congratulations to both Dr. Armendariz and the EPA.
Congrats, too, to SMU. Armendariz will keep his faculty appointment while serving at the EPA.
Leading Off (11/06/09)
1. “After nightfall at Fort Hood, the religious gathered to pray, the patriotic gave blood, and doctors and nurses worked to save the lives of the wounded. Sirens continued to sound, but traffic once again rumbled along Battalion Avenue and speakers blared, ‘The emergency no longer exists.’” D Magazine contributing editor Gretel Kovach is headed to the scene Friday for the New York Times.
2. Yes, these Frisco students probably weren’t going to act on their threats to kill a teacher, posted on Facebook. But senseless violence like what happened at Fort Hood yesterday reminds us why it’s a good idea to err on the side of caution. And maybe teach kids other ways to “vent their anger.”
3. Planting a yard of artificial turf makes just as much sense as pouring time, energy, gallons upon gallons of water, and chemicals into maintaining a sparkling green lawn in the wilting sun of Texas. And if you want to paint a baseball diamond on there, fine by me. If the spirit of Shoeless Joe Jackson shows up, well then, all the better.
Stephen Hough Can’t Find Anything to Buy in Downtown Dallas
Stephen Hough writes for London’s Telegraph. He’s kind of a big deal. He’s visiting our fair burg to hear the DSO. An alert FBvian points us to the following dispatch. Here’s what Hough has to say about Dallas so far:
There are many wonderful things about this city, not least the DSO and their acoustically miraculous home, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, but downtown shopping is not one of the highlights of a visit here. I walked for several blocks with only the ghosts of former stores in evidence until, finally … there was something to buy across the street.
Check out what he found to buy.
Correction: Yes, Hough will hear the DSO. But he’ll also perform with the orchestra. Says Stacie Adams, PR maven for the symphony:
We won the Grammophone award for our recording with Stephen in 2005. He is amazing. And he is performing the same piece, my all time fave, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Rachmaninoff, tonight and through the weekend.
Check, Check
This is a post to see if we’ve corrected for Daylight Savings Time.
Doc Gallagher Has History With Financial Regulators
Sorry we didn’t have this up last week, before “Doc” Gallagher was one of the featured speakers at the Jewish Community Center of Dallas’ Senior Expo.
But if you saw him there, or you’re planning to attend one of his free sessions this month at Sonny Bryan’s in Richardson, Golden Corral in North Richland Hills, or the Highland Park Cafeteria in Dallas, you might want to check out this piece from the latest D CEO.
One aspect of the story that didn’t make it into the final piece, because of space considerations, is that much of the marketing of “the Money Doctor” (who buys time weekly Saturday mornings on KAAM-AM 770) is aimed at senior citizens. He’s appeared on the cover of Mature Texan (with Ebby Halliday), for instance. And he’s done shows on topics like the dangers of nursing homes, in addition to warning his listeners about the dangers of working with “Big Broker.”
He’s absolutely right that you’ve got to be careful from whom you take financial advice.
Rhett Miller Ticket Giveaway!
The handsome Rhett Miller performs November 14 at the Granada Theater. Doors at 7:30. The show is part of the CF Concert Series, which raises money to fight cystic fibrosis. I’ve got four tickets to give away (at $28 each, that’s a prize package worth almost $112) to the two people who make the best case that they are HUGE Rhett Miller fans. (To be clear: two people will win four tickets; I’m giving away eight tickets. Two times four is about eight.) I don’t care how you make your case. Post a picture. Tell a story. Whatever.
Comments are open. Contest ends at noon on November 12.
Big Announcement on WRR
I am “broadcasting” with Adriana Bate on WRR 101.1 till 11:30. Tune in for a big announcement.
Update: Adriana Bate announced this morning that her last day on the air at WRR will be Tuesday. After three and a half years with the station, she’s leaving Dallas to join her husband in Los Angeles. The couple has been doing the long-distance thing, and it’s grown too burdensome. Adraina’s replacement will be Tempie Lindsey, whose voice, according to WRR’s website, has been described as “gentle as a summer rain.” Which is odd. Because I’ve been described as “easy as a Sunday morning.” So I look forward to broadcasting with her next month.
Putting the Finishing Touches on the Winspear
Because you can’t have a green space without the green.
Yet Another Review of A Midsummer Night’s Dream
This is why Elaine Liner is the best theater critic in town. Check out what she has to say about opening night’s performance compared to the matinee she attended. (Her comments about the theater itself also resonated.)
Cowboys Stadium a Magnet For Prostitutes
A completely unfair headline on this post, I’ll grant you. But since both the 2010 NBA All-Star Game and Super Bowl XLV will be played inside the belly of Jerry’s giant robot space turtle in Arlington, and since as many as 100,000 prostitutes are expected to come to the area for the games, I’d argue that it’s not entirely inaccurate.
Anyway, the Morning News had a good blog post about this already. I’m really linking to it to point out how quickly the comments on the DMN Crime Blog item degenerated into racial epithets.
Leading Off (11/5/09)
1. Fort Worth officers receive a “no, no” after the raid on a gay bar, which resulted in at least one person being harmed. Some people are unhappy with the lacking severity of discipline. More details on the investigation will be released today. On a related note: several recommendations were made by a diversity task force (which was formed after the raid) to Fort Worth city officials. One proposal was for Forth Worth’s insurance to cover workers’ sex-change operations.
2. You know a story’s going to be interesting when it includes this quote, “Am I killing? Yes, I am,” said Dr. Curtis Boyd. “I know that.” Boyd had to open a surgery center in order to keep performing late-term abortions (which means he can perform abortions on women as late as six months into their pregnancies). He has opened this center recently on Greenville Avenue, which is in Rep. Jeb Hensarling’s district. Remember Jeb? Of course you do. He’s in this month’s print product. Well, he isn’t happy about this.
3. A 12-year-old may have misdemeanor assault charges filed against him as he “shot” a 4-year-old with an airsoft gun. The 4-year-old turned around and said, “Pick on someone your own size.” Then told his parents who told the cops who told the 12-year-old he may have charges filed against him (I’m assuming this is how it went down). This reminds me of a little drama going on over at our sister blog, Overheard. A 12-year-old “accidentally” threatened a blogger. The blogger said, “Oh, really?” Then called the cops who then contacted the kid who then apologized. Bully fail.
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