Articles for January, 2010
Dallas’ Misunderestimation of Fair Park’s Value
Unfair Park put the question to Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau head Phillip Jones: why didn’t they show Fair Park to the Professional Convention Management Association meeting that was in town last week? Jones answers that they highlighted Fair Park in promotional materials, but that he was more concerned with emphasizing downtown.
Since the DCVB’s brochure featured “an entire section” about the State Fair, were the convention planners given the impression that nothing happens out at Fair Park, other than when the Fair is running? Wick said in the January “print product” that Fair Park is too valuable to continue to let the State Fair occupy it.
A few weeks ago I spoke with Michael Morris, the transportation guru for the North Central Texas Council of Governments, about Dallas’ effort to make a bid for the 2012 Olympics, for which he developed a transportation plan. When I asked what lessons had been learned from that failure, his response centered on Fair Park.
The Olympic people were very clear on this: “You’re so close to your amenities, you underestimate their value. Fair Park–there’s nothing else in America like Fair Park. You should have talked about it more in your Olympic bid … the historic nature of it, the size of Fair Park.”
The Infinite Regress of Cool
I don’t like reading We Shot JR because it offers good, honest coverage of our Denton-centric music scene. I like reading We Shot JR because it offers good, honest coverage of our Denton-centric music scene in a snotty, knavish tone that quips and bitches at anything and anyone. You can’t out-cool We Shot JR because nothing is cool – including We Shot JR – so get it out of your heads you pretentious hipsters. That’s why I find the Twitter feed “Why Denton Sucks” so hilarious – they undercut We Shot JR by simply taking one additional ironic step back from the scene so that We Shot JR is lumped-in with it, declaring the grand suckiness of it all. As I see it, this game could go on forever. So who’s going to start the “Why ‘Why Denton Sucks’ Sucks” Twitter? Because then I’ll start the “Why ‘Why “Why Denton Sucks” Sucks’ Sucks” Twitter. Ah, music scenes.
Worse Bank Robber Etiquette: Leaving Behind Your Purse or Announcing Your Robbery a Day in Advance?
Both actually happened yesterday, Scott Goldstein reports. Hmmm. Tough to call. I’m leaning toward the former, only because the crime had already been committed, and that’s obviously just really sloppy crime committing right there. But the latter carries a terroristic threat charge, and that surely will not make things easier for the defense attorney. I don’t know — call it a tie?
Laura Bush And Entourage Turn Heads At Jonsson Public Library
FFL Laura Bush + media + Secret Service (pictured)+ Kids Vision Fest + Jonsson Public Library daytimers = Robert Altman-type scenario.
SweetCharity has a play-by-play.
City Staff Urges Ethics Exemption For Tax Districts
So. Based on what the DMN had to report:
- The city of Dallas gave three private developer groups governmental powers through the creation of “municipal management districts.”
- City staff, and the economic development committee, decided that greater power doesn’t come with greater (ethics) responsibility.
It looks like the issue isn’t settled. Councilman Ron Natinsky, who was as enthusiastic as any member of the council in authorizing these districts, promised to take his concerns to the full council:
“We’re exempting our appointees to the MMD boards from all [city] ethics responsibilities … I think it sends a somewhat bad message that we’re approving the appointments of people to a board and then we just totally said you don’t have to – in any way, shape or form – abide by the city’s ethics codes.”
Leading Off (1/20/10)
1. Taylor Pugh, the long-haired Mesquite 4-year-old whose parents refused to cut his hair so that he could go to school, himself came up with a solution: braids. His mom says the do he wore yesterday made him look a little like Princess Leia. See for yourself. Me, I think Padmé Amidala is hotter. But to each his own.
2. Only 15 times has someone bowled a perfect 900 series. A Plano kegler by the name of Bill Fong took a perfect series into the final frame on Monday. His quote after that final ball: “How could one of the best things happen to me, and all of the sudden I am in the bathroom thinking I am going to die?” Congrats to Fong for bowling an 899.
3. On a serious note, if you haven’t donated yet to the Haiti relief effort, read this story about Jean Arnwine, a Highland Park woman who died while on a volunteer medical mission. Then consider donating $10 to the Red Cross by texting the word “Haiti” to 90999. The charge will be added to your phone bill.
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.)
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