Articles for February 15th, 2010
Former Observer Publisher Turned Fishmonger Alison Draper Takes Top Sales Gig in Chi-Town
This Tampa Bay Business Journal story got one thing wrong: Alison Draper hasn’t worked for Belo since 2008. She left to work in sales for a Texas fishmonger — where, I’m told, she sold quite a lot of fish. Anyone who ever worked with Alison wouldn’t be surprised. Girl can sell. Doesn’t matter what. And she knows how to have a good time while doing it. Which makes her a good fit as the new vice president and chief sales officer of Creative Loafing, the company that owns the Chicago Reader, among other properties. Creative Loafing has had some hard times recently (as has everyone in publishing). But the hiring of Alison would be a “buy” indicator if this were a stock.
Cheers, Alison. Have fun in the Windy City.
Dr. Steven Keating Helps Pick Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Top Pooches
The 134th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show starts tonight with the hounds, toy, non-sporting, and herding groups being judged.
Nationally known and Dallas’ own Dr. Steven Keating has been up in NYC judging the Miniature Pinschers, Shih Tzu, Silky Terriers, Toy Fox Terriers, Toy Manchester Terriers, and Yorkshire Terriers.
Talk among the kennel set is that last year’s finalist Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot (aka Sadie the Scottie) is favored to get the cup. Tabloids types whisper about her liaison with Tad the Chihuahua.
Texas Rangers Owe MLB $39 Million
An alert FBvian points us to the story in Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal (reg. req.), which begins:
The Texas Rangers have been in violation of baseball’s collective-bargaining agreement since at least last season for failing to pay $39.55 million into a deferred compensation fund, according to a letter sent on Oct. 22, 2009, by MLB executive vice president Rob Manfred to the bidders …
One presumes this debt was figured into the purchase price of the team, yes?
Plano Mayor Phil Dyer and I Should Start Book Club
The Plano Public Library’s blog borrowed a trick from our own ReadingRoom and has started asking prominent citizens what they’re reading. Their first entry comes from Plano Mayor Phil Dyer.
He’s reading a Thomas Jefferson biography. I’m interested because I’ve embarked on a goal to read a bio of each of the 43 men who have served as U.S. president. (Yes, it’s an arbitrary ambition. Some people decide that running 26.2 miles will make them feel that they’ve accomplished something in their lives. I set my sights elsewhere.) Jefferson is next on my list. After finishing David McCullough’s absolutely fantastic John Adams, I’m interested to see if a Jefferson biographer can change my opinion that our third president was a duplicitous phony and a coward.
By the way, Mayor Dyer, I’ve read Joseph Ellis’ His Excellency, George Washington, the next book on your list. I found it less satisfying than his Founding Brothers, perhaps because Washington was famously a stoic and that somewhat-distant personality limits the ability of the work to render him in vivid detail. Call me. Maybe we can pull together a discussion group at Legacy Books.
Ken Starr Named President of Baylor
Wow. Big news. The Texas Tribune has the scoop.
Dead Dog Hounds His Master
I have a friend I will call Mr. S. He woke up this morning to find his dog, whom I will call Dog, dead. Dog apparently got into some Valentine’s Day chocolate, overdosed, and went on to his great reward. Tragic. Except it gets worse. After calling his vet, Mr. S was given the name of a service that would come retrieve Dog’s carcass and treat it with a bit more respect than would the city’s Animal Services Department (all due respect to those hard-working folks). But said service can’t come pick up dead Dog because they lost power during the snowstorm. Without power, they can’t pick up any carcasses. So now Mr. S has to wait until tomorrow, while poor Dog lies there in his house. Anyone know of a faster way to deal with Dog and help out Mrs. S?
Debra Medina On The Day The Music Died
Texas Tribune reporter Abby Rapoport travelled with Medina the day of the Glenn Beck interview. Her inside account is a short but intense peek into the center of a media maelstrom.
“Everything’s Bigger in Texas”: Now An Epidemic
Remember when I noted my distaste for the phrase “everything’s bigger in Texas” recently? If you share my views, please do not click here, where you will find a round-up by Celtics Hub of the many, many times that phrase (or some derivation of) was used during All-Star Weekend. Now, please, can we all knock it off for the next forever?
NBA All-Stars Didn’t Slam Dunk All The Bling, Beauties, And Blizzard Of Snow-10
If you thought all the limousines, gorgeous women (pictured), and big names were attached to the NBA All-Stars these past few days, you might want to reconsider.
Should We Do Away With 12th Grade?
Utah is considering making it optional, with the possible goal of eliminating it entirely. The Dallas County Community College District is way ahead of them. Its collegiate program for high school students allows 11th and 12th graders to get an associates degree at the same time they get their high school degree — giving them a two-year jump on college. Studies show 11th and 12th graders are capable of a lot more than we throw at them, hence the rise of AP programs. The community college option seems like a great approach. Those guys in Utah need to catch up.
The Funeral of Carolyn Shamis: The Girl Can Still Throw a Party
Dallas real estate icon Carolyn Shamis died on February 5, and her party funeral drew out a Who’s Who of Dallas real estate last Thursday. Carolyn Shamis would not have wanted it any other way.
Silent Bob Speaks Out Against Southwest Airlines
Film director Kevin Smith tweeted over the weekend about being booted from a Southwest Airlines flight because the captain determined he couldn’t safely fit into just one seat.
I’ve passed the stinkin’ arm-rest-test. And still, the lady asks me to get up and come with her off the plane. I get up without a fuss at all, quietly grab my bag, make eye contact with a fellow Fatty who was praying he’d pass, and leave.
Southwest Airlines apologized but stood by its “customer of size” policy.
Now it’s time for Kevin Smith to apologize to me for Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
Leading Off (2/15/10)
1. Attendance at Cowboys Stadium shattered the record for a basketball game, downtown was bouncing, and there were many chance encounters with celebrities over the weekend (Scottie Pippen was apparently at Target on Haskell when I was there on Sunday, but I never found him). All in all a good weekend for the city’s sports scene despite the weather, which bodes well for the 2014 NCAA Final Four, according to this rundown of weekend highlights.
2. According to Oncor’s Twitter page, restoring power to some neighborhoods turned into a feud between Oncor and some homeowners who didn’t want the electric delivery company to trim their trees, thus stalling efforts to return power.
3. The new CityDesign Studio’s first major project is prepping West Dallas for development that may come with the completion of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. The challenge is a difficult one: how do you encourage development and revitalization while maintaining the character of the existing neighborhood, which means preserving affordability in an area that seems ripe for rampant speculation and steep property value increases?
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