Articles for August 12th, 2010
Zac Crain Just Went For a Run
It’s still hot outside, you guys.
(Now someone give me my $50 stipend. )
Nicky Sheets Sentenced to 40 Months in Prison
Candy Evans is down at the courthouse for the case of John Nicholas Sheets. She’ll have more details on DallasDirt later, but here’s what she writes:
Was sentenced today by federal judge Jane J Boyle to 40 months in a federal prison.
Andy Beal Is Not Happy With the Morning News
Earlier this month, the Dallas Morning News ran a story about Andy Beal’s tax kerfuffle in which the called Beal’s tax return “illegal.” At the time, I pointed to a Forbes story that referred to Beal’s tax maneuvers as a “sham,” which sounded to me like a carefully chosen word. Well, now comes a press release (after the jump) in which Beal expresses his displeasure with the News for characterizing it as an “illegal tax return.” Of particular note: “The DMN article also failed to note that … Mr. Beal paid all the taxes, penalties and interest that the IRS believes he should have paid for the years at issue. Because he believed that the law allowed the deductions, he then sued the IRS to get the money back. The article also failed to note that almost all of the penalties the IRS requested were disallowed.”
I’m guessing that Beal’s hackles are raised even higher given that the publicity-shy billionaire agreed to help the News back in February with its glowing profile of him.
Mariachi Band Invades D Offices
Last Friday a nine piece mariachi band invaded the D offices. The resulting mayhem can be found on FrontRow.
Did Evangelicals Save Dallas From the Housing Bubble?
That’s basically the thesis of this paper by Christopher Crowe for the International Monetary Fund. Wendall Cox – keeping a straight face – finds some problems with the notion, starting with this:
Rising prices are needed for there to be any incentive to speculate. If, for example, the numerous Evangelicals in Dallas-Fort Worth had undertaken a furious speculative frenzy, prices would not have gone up, instead more houses would have been built. This is because the liberal land use regime in Dallas-Fort Worth permits housing to be built in response to demand and nullifies any potential for speculative gain. Evangelicals, of course, like Catholics, Mainstream Protestants, Jews and Atheists are not stupid and were no more inclined to speculate on housing in the plentiful Dallas-Fort Worth market than they would have been climb over one another to offer higher prices for sand on the beach.
Bushes Greet Troops at DFW
Dallas residents George W. and Laura were busy yesterday. In addition to catching the Rangers/Yankees tiff last night in Arlington, they showed up in the morning at DFW Airport to greet some returning troops.
Ed Whitacre Steps Down As GM CEO
Whitakcre basically created the new AT&T (hence, the Whitacre Tower in downtown Dallas). He is stepping down from his temporary role overseeing GM as it announces its second quarterly profit, this time of $1.3 billion.
Whitacre is being replaced by fellow telephonatic Dan Akerson, former CEO of XO Communications and Nextel. Now the question is, will Akerson take the next step in reforming the geriatric, inbred GM culture by moving its corporate headquarters to Dallas?
What to Do in Dallas Tonight: Aug. 12
Oh hi. It’s Thursday, or as I like to call it, Almost Friday and Therefore Practically the Weekend, So It’s OK to Drink Day.
If you like a little fashion with your Champagne, check out The Shak at Stanley Korshak’s fourth anniversary soiree. I have to hand it to these people. Lowering our spending inhibitions by plying us with free booze is brilliant. (Maybe we should consider setting up beer cart/magazine kiosks throughout the city?)
Perhaps sparkling wine isn’t your thing. Fret not! You have other options: As Haley Hamilton pointed out yesterday on SideDish, Veritas is offering one heck of a great wine tasting with award-winning winemaker Carol Shelton. Veritas co-owner Brooks Anderson tells me if you mention D Magazine, you’ll get your first glass of wine half off after the free tasting. Bonus: TheLaundry, a new boutique next door, is having a big sale tonight, so if you’re in the mood to shop after all, you can!
Whether you choose option A or B, you should be feeling pretty good by 8 p.m., which happens to be when the Pat Benatar show starts at House of Blues. Why this goddess of rock didn’t team up with Cyndi Lauper for this tour is a tragedy and a mystery that may never be solved. Can you imagine so much badassery on one stage? Sigh. If wishes were horses, etc. Regardless, there’s no question Benatar can hold her own, and tonight’s show promises to be a great one.
Find other great things do to in Dallas.
Dallas Real Estate News: Still Seeking Jodie Fisher’s Last Commercial Job in Dallas
The Dallas real estate market may be on summer vaca, but I’ve got some cool listings up over at Dallas Dirt. Plus we’re playing games today. Plus the Ritz Carlton Residence Towers folks tell me why the Dallas Business Journal has upped their blood pressure. And of course, I’m still seeking info on Jodie Fisher, former “Girl of the Southwest”, and where she worked in Dallas commercial real estate even as former EDS staffers send the sexy single mom thank-yous.
Where is this pool located?
Kenny Goss Pal George Michael Pinched–Again
Still more DUI-type trouble for singer George Michael, main squeeze of Dallas art-collector guy Kenny Goss. This time the former Wham! star crashed his Range Rover into a London store called Snappy Snaps, apparently a quick-photo shop. I know it’s addictive behavior and tragic and all, but, come on; couldn’t the guy just hire a driver?
Dallas K-2 Ban Is Silly — And a Mite Hysterical
Tod Robberson raises the question: What science supports the City Council’s ban on the alternative marijuana product?
Answer: None.
Dwaine Caraway, who pushed for the ban, opposes reform of liquor laws, and wanted a city-wide dress code, is emerging as the Dallas’s number one Church Lady.
So, About That Rangers Game
As Jeanne mentioned, I was at last night’s game. With that many people in the ballpark using their cell phones, all hopes of actually telling you guys about it real time flew out the window. So today, I will give you bullet points. Let’s jump.
When the State Levels a “Punitive Tax”
Most people don’t pay it. A program intended to make DUI driving too expensive has instead produced 1.2 million scofflaws.
Leading Off (8/12/10)
1. UNT’s former jazz director, Leon Breeden, died yesterday of natural causes. Though I didn’t know him, he definitely left an impression. Read his obit here.
2. It’s great that the oil spill is almost capped. However, there is a downside to it being cleaned. As a Fort Worth manufacturer explains in this story, BP ordered him to send as many booms as he could make. And once BP received his latest shipment, the company rejected it. Now the manufacturer is stuck with a $500,000 bill and lots of unnecessary booms. I guess the silver lining is that we’ll be prepared for the next oil spill. I’m sure the manufacturer and his suppliers won’t see it that way.
3. I have so many thoughts about this story about a woman who has a condition that prevents her from gaining weight. 1. Why do this story now? I think I’m missing the news hook. 2. What is the point of the story? If the point is to say, “Hey, you wish you couldn’t gain weight? It’s not as great as it sounds,” then that point needs to be made a bit more apparent. In fact, the main source of the story makes a crack about how great it is not to gain weight. 4. As much as I’m sure it sucks, I still think it sounds like a great idea. And it would be a much easier way to lose/maintain weight than a tapeworm.
4. The Rangers lost last night. But, unlike others, I’m not devastated because I’ve never pretended to be a fan. I’m here for football. I’ve watched OU’s intro video about 10 times today. I’m prepping my fantasy football league. Baseball is great and all. But bring on the pigskin.
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