Articles for January 19th, 2010
DTC Patrons Are Generous
You can read the full release after the jump, but here’s the deal: The Dallas Theater Center collects donations from its patrons during its run of A Christmas Carol. The money goes to the North Texas Food bank. In 2008, the DTC took in $39,573.33. But 2009 was a tough year as we all know. And the DTC put on fewer performances of A Christmas Carol. So they only collected — can you tell yet that I’m giving you a huge pump fake? — $42,124.20.
Nice work, people. Handshakes all around.
A Thorough Consideration of Main Street Garden
If you haven’t noticed, we love Main Street Garden around here. And why not? Unlike a lot of Dallas parks, it actually functions as an urban park – a happened-upon green space. It is close to work, surrounded by a somewhat elegant sky-scape, and the kiddos love it. It sweats potential – warm spring days on the grass with a packed lunch and a beer poured discreetly in a travel coffee mug. (I know, who wants their beer in plastic? I think Dallas should offer drinking in public permits for the non-homeless, but I digress.) The blogger “lachlion,” who writes on “Living Car-Free in Big D,” isn’t as enamored with the park, and posts his rather lengthy complaints here and then follows up here. They are really worth a read. Jump for a reaction.
Buy a Piece of Warren Buffett, Thanks to BNSF
It’s reported that Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway will likely approve a 50-to-1 stock split tomorrow in order to finance the company’s purchase of Fort Worth-based BNSF Railway. That’s supposed to drop the price of the company’s Class B shares (now $3,247) down to about $65.
That would enable “inferior” investors to afford the stock. Here’s what Buffett wrote in 1984:
Were we to split the stock or take other actions focusing on
stock price rather than business value, we would attract an
entering class of buyers inferior to the exiting class of
sellers. At $1300, there are very few investors who can’t afford
a Berkshire share. Would a potential one-share purchaser be
better off if we split 100 for 1 so he could buy 100 shares?
Those who think so and who would buy the stock because of the
split or in anticipation of one would definitely downgrade the
quality of our present shareholder group.
Buffett must believe in the long-term value of his deal with BNSF, to depart from a long-held strategy like this.
TV with Laura: The Bachelor Episode 3 Recap
Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious by this son of Pavelka. I’m sorry. Did I say glorious? I meant ghastly. Last night, the guhls and I ingested roughly a gallon of queso as we tried to make sense of the dark times that our nation once faced. Apparently, back in the olden days (back in 1969 um… 1989 um… 1999…sorry, 2009, when this was filmed), divorce was something nice girls didn’t talk about, stand-up comedy was all the rage, and Jon Lovitz was a huge star. Nothing makes you feel more grateful for all the progress women have made—both as people and as stand-up comedians—than watching this show. Jump if you want to get into this. For those who want nothing more to do with this post–take Jake’s wife. Please! (Apologies. Have a nice day.)
Advocate Produces Film on Leppert and Elm Place
The acting needs some work, and the wardrobe and the script need some little work, but Jeff Siegel over at the Advocate, has made himself a little movie poking fun at our mayor.
I know, I know. But let’s see you do better.
Mark Cuban on the Jay Leno Imbroglio
“No balls, no babies.” That’s what Mark Cuban says. And he thinks NBC’s Jeff Zucker has baby makers aplenty. (What? Where did this post go awry?) Anyway, here’s why Cuban thinks America needs more people like Zucker.
Thanks, TxDOT, for Making the Place Ugly
One quick question. Has anyone ever seen helpful information (or even useless information) displayed on these signs standing along Northwest Highway, not far from the White Rock DART station? I’ve never seen do anything other than they’re doing in this picture: look ugly.
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Rasmussen: Kay Bailey Hutchison Isn’t Polling Well
A politically minded FrontBurnervian points us to news that the first Rasmussen Reports general election survey in the state this year shows that things don’t look good for Kay Bailey Hutchison. You know who is polling well? Wick’s fave, Rick Perry. [shaking head]
Dallas City Hall: Good Investment Opportunity
An alert FBvian snapped a pic of this sign hanging on a pole on Live Oak, near Good-Latimer. If we all go in on it together, looks like we can get City Hall for a steal. (I called the number and got the voicemail for some guy named Alex.)
An Open Letter to the Bullet Train Financiers
Dear federal government: I understand that you have a “river of cash” to distribute for high speed rail in places not called the “East Coast.” I also understand that Texas’ application “lacks the kind of political support from the governor and the Legislature that would help it compete against other states where that support has been stronger.” I just wanted to let you know that our governor and Legislature can be a little silly. They have all sorts of things on their mind right now – elections, redistricting, cutting the budget “to the bone.” They also have to think about Herb and the eagle. Oh, and Perry is a ranch guy, an Aggie, and rail goes through ranches – so it’s sticky. But, here’s the deal:
Dallas Retail Outlook: Gloomy
Herb Weitzman, the dean of local retail real estate, tried to stay upbeat this morning at his annual review of the state of the market. However, there wasn’t much news for the standing-room only crowd of real estate professionals to cheer about. I found a few interesting items in his team’s presentation, though, which I hereby pass on to you:
Leading Off (1/19/10)
1. Nolan Ryan is apparently “on the verge” of an agreement to buy the Texas Rangers. I’m sure that news makes many Ranger fans “on the verge” of something I’d probably get in trouble for typing. I’d link to whatever Evan Grant wrote about this, but it just hurts too much.
2. Wait — someone found a chupacabra? I always expected it to look, well, not like that. More like Calabos from Clash of Titans, maybe? Eh, I don’t know. It’s probably just another of these.
3. And finally, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I see you, big German! Related: today, or sometime soon, we should find out if Dirk was voted in as a starter for the All-Star Game.
(I know: two sports items and only one reference to Clash of the Titans, and it didn’t even involve the phrase “release the Kraken.” Look, you can’t force things. Play it as it lays, I say.)
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