Articles for July 21st, 2010
How to Drink at Work
Ross McCammon once worked at American Way, published in Fort Worth. Then something happened, and he landed a job at Esquire, a magazine that I’m told many people have heard of. On their Eat Like a Man blog, McCammon offers advice for drinking at work that I cannot find fault with. Recommended.
Rod Dreher Decamps Beliefnet as Murdoch Sells the Religion Site
An alert FrontBurnervian points us to this Mediaite story about the status of Beliefnet, which Rupert Murdoch bought in 2007 and which he sold in June. The story spends a bit of time talking about Beliefnet’s most-read blogger, brother Rod Dreher, who left our fair shores — oh, it seems so long ago, and it’s too painful to recall the exact date. Here’s what Rod told Mediaite about how his jobs at the Morning News and Beliefnet provided him different levels of feedback on his writing:
Though my day job was as an editorial writer and columnist at the News — and that was the job I put most of my effort into — the Beliefnet blog was the thing that kept getting me requests to be on radio and TV. It was a bit frustrating, because I’d work really hard to write what I thought was an important column, and … crickets. But I’d put up a tossed-off blog about a hot issue, and some producer in New York, Washington or some other place would be on the phone, wanting me to come on and talk about it.
Last I exchanged e-mail with Rod, he was bemoaning the fact that Philadelphia has no Central Market. That’s what you get for leaving the big city, man.
Real Housewives of Dallas: When Will It Happen?
I’ve heard that producers of Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise have been scouting and interviewing people for a Dallas version. It makes total sense, I suppose—we are a people who obviously love doing reality shows. And confession: I love every single one of these things. (I know. Big surprise. Laura likes a crap show.) But I’m trying to think of a anyone who has fared well thanks to this show. Many cast members are divorced (poor Countess!), lost their homes (practically the entire Atlanta cast), and/or gone into bankruptcy (Teresa, I’m looking at you and the $11 million you owe) after doing the show. Maybe Bethenny from New York is the one “success” story? I don’t know. Anyway, I have contacted Bravo about timing (I opted to email rather than mail a letter, which they thoughtfully suggested.), but I suspect it’s on the back burner now that Beverly Hills and D.C. are launching. So my question is this: What would Bravo have to offer to get you to sign up?
2826 Arnetic in Deep Ellum Hates Conformists
The acronym in the name of the new Deep Ellum bar 2826 Arnetic stands for “Absolutely Reluctant iN Everything That Is Conforming.” How this sentiment relates to a big wall mural featuring Dave Matthews and the Seattle Space Needle (pictured, at left), I leave it to you to visit the place and decide.
Our nightlife editor, Christine Sracic, trekked over there recently and filed her own report. Check it out.
Erin Wasson Faces Rejection Like the Rest of Us
Rumor alert: Dallas model Erin Wasson may have been let go from her RVCA clothing line because she and her team are “total chaos and the epitome of unorganized.” I will now balance out that sad news with this Matthew Weiner interview from ny.mag because, if you’re like me and counting down the minutes until the Mad Men premiere, it will make you happy.
Wick Allison Supports Libertarian John Jay Myers
Hey, Wick, did you know that Libertarian candidate John Jay Myers is using your off-handed remark about sending him money has an endorsement? From Myers’ campaign:
I think it’s fantastic that someone as influential as Mr. Allison understands the people of Dallas are faced with no choice among the other two candidates. Now, if I can only convince 200,000 other folks in District 32.
Did the Dallas Tea Party Spark a MSNBC Website Change?
I’m not sure how I found all the Tea Party stories today, but the Media Research Center’s Newsbusters is theorizing that perhaps the reason MSNBC changed a header on its website is partly due to a video produced by the Dallas Tea Party that mocked the network for its lack of diversity.
And now I am thirsty.
ESPN Taps Cowtown for Super Bowl XLV Coverage
ESPN’s going to use Fort Worth’s Sundance Square–not Dallas or Arlington–as the production headquarters for broadcasting its Super Bowl XLV coverage, the Star-Telegram reports. That will mean more than 80 hours of national and international exposure for Cowtown–not Dallas or Arlington. Probably makes sense, since Sundance Square is picturesque, with all that Western imagery. Still, downtown Dallas–which is hosting the big game’s “media center”–can’t be too crazy about the decision.
Pete Sessions Joins Tea Party Caucus
Pete Sessions indicated yesterday he’d be joining fellow legislator Michelle Bachman’s Tea Party caucus. So here’s the question I pose to Frontburnervians:
Is this good or bad for his constituents?
D Magazine Forever Changes the Dallas Skyline: The Movie
Are you tired of reading about the magnificent new sign that we’ve placed on our building at the corner of St. Paul and Ross? Too bad.
Our video intern, Robbie Curtis, put together a little piece of entertainment, complete with public-domain background beats, so that you too can feel the thrill of having witnessed this piece of history.
What to Do in Dallas Tonight: July 21
It’s Wednesday, and we know you would rather pluck out your leg hairs one at a time with tweezers than cook dinner tonight. Solution: Sushi Night at Dallas Fish Market. The price of one drink buys you four pieces of sushi, and with the wine discounted to $5 or so, that’s practically a free meal! Yay you. For added fun, listen to Kyle Andrews’ cheerful ditty “Sushi” en route.
After you’ve supped, make your way to the Palladium Ballroom to hear the Silversun Pickups, a band out of Los Angeles that reminds us an awful lot of the Smashing Pumpkins–and not in a bad way.
Fun facts about the Silversun Pickups:
- Nominated for Best New Artist Grammy in 2009, even though the band debuted in 2005 with the album Pikul.
- Toured with OK Go, Snow Patrol, Foo Fighters, and Kaiser Chiefs.
- Hits include “Lazy Eye,” “Panic Switch,” “Substitution,” and our favorite, based purely on the title, “The Royal We.”
In the mood for something else? Click here.
People in Dallas Don’t Like to Live Alone
Out of the top 100 metro areas, Dallas ranks 4th in population and 75th in the percentage of people living alone. I am trying to grapple with the socioeconomic implications of this discovery. We enjoy some of the lowest housing costs in the nation. So what is it about us? Everybody here shacks up in one form or another? We can’t stand solitude?
You can find this and other interesting stats in the “State of Metropolitan America” report from the Brookings Institution. Explore, report, and speculate.
Leading Off (7/21/10)
1. Gromer Jeffers Jr. reports that in 2007, shortly after DA Craig Watkins was elected, Watkins used campaign funds to buy $3,000 worth of fine threads, including a tuxedo. It wasn’t illegal, just dumb. But here’s the thing: if you’ll recall all the hubbub about the various people Watkins was in arrears to back then, the shopping spree makes sense. The guy might not have been able to afford the sort of duds that a district attorney needs to wear. Meanwhile, Watkins and his GOP challenger, Danny Clancy, are going at it over the DA’s conviction rate — which isn’t nearly as much fun as talking about the DA’s clothes.
2. Jimmy Johnson is going to compete on Survivor. Given the frequency that Johnson is already photographed shirtless, I predict another Richard Hatch deal, except, you know, without the gay part.
3. You will find no more casual observer of the Rangers than I. And yet, even I’m thinking it might be time to start paying attention, because it kinda looks like something special might happen this year.
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