Articles for August, 2010
Bedbugs May Be Coming to an Office Near You
They are threatening our free-range chicken, hotels, dorms, homes and rental properties, and some folks think we need to pass disclosure laws before Dallas gets as buggy as New York City. (Or Cincinnati.) Also over on DallasDirt: a home-stager reveals her deepest, darkest secrets, and do we really need to raise taxes in Dallas if our property values just went up?
WFAA Questions Southlake QB’s Eligibility, Ctd.
Word is that Southlake Carroll won’t know if star QB Daxx Garman will be playing Friday night until that day, now that his eligibility is being reviewed again.
But since Brett Shipp’s report, another website has ponied up what it says is another part of the story. If it’s true, well, wow. If it’s not, well, wow.
Steve Blow Just Killed Me Dead With His Column
It’s been a busy day (lie). I didn’t get around to seeing the newspaper until just now (truth). I’m sorry I did. Because now I’m dead. Steve Blow killed me. Again.
You see, he read the recent New York Times story about the Wyly Bros. and their trouble with the SEC. The dateline for the story was Aspen, Colorado, where the Wylys escape the Dallas heat every summer. And he’s outraged. I’ve removed the paragraph breaks after every sentence to make this excerpt more readable:
But if you are Sam and Charles Wyly and you want to fight your image as tax-dodging, self-dealing plutocrats, do you really start by summoning the New York Times to your summer retreat in Aspen? Forgive me if my heart wasn’t melted by the Wylys’ claim this week that they’re just victims of nasty bash-the-rich politics. All I could think while reading the article was — mmm — “August in Aspen.” How nice it must be to have a home in Colorado and a few hundred million dollars sheltered in the Caymans. And if that’s a poor attitude, forgive me. It probably didn’t help that the Wylys’ interview was published on the hottest day of summer, when temperatures hit 110 in parts of Dallas. In Aspen that day, the temperature climbed from a nippy 49 in the morning to a scorching 77 in the afternoon.
What? Who cares that the Wylys summer in Aspen? I mean, I care. Because it sounds awesome. But I don’t hold it against them. Because that’s what wealthy people do. A whole bunch of wealthy people in Dallas get the hell out of town when it gets hot. Even some just plain rich people do it. If I could afford to do it, I would, too. So would Steve Blow. He goes on to say:
If the Wylys really want to connect with common folks, let ’em make their case to a few rumpled Dallas reporters in a corner booth at the Circle Grill. I’d spring for the iced tea.
Who says the Wylys want to connect with common folks?! They want to connect with people who read the New York Times! They want to connect with the people who might have a bearing on their case with the SEC.
I’ve said it before. Once again: it’s embarrassing to have a city columnist like Steve Blow writing for the newspaper of record in a city the size of Dallas.
Mini Ponies Are Extra Cute
By now you’ve already read this piece on Celina, Texas, the small town that wanted a Tollway to run through it. The article mentions Lazy N Farms, a mini pony farm that, had the town received its wish, would have had the Tollway run right along its edge. A couple of us were intrigued by these mini ponies so we made the (long) trek out to Celina to see what they’re all about. We learned these ponies were originally used to haul things around in coal mines and that they weigh between 250-300 pounds. We also learned that the American Miniature Horse Association World Show is taking place September 24 through October 2 in Fort Worth. Then we got a little taste of what the show’s like. Check out the video. (And please, please, please forgive us for the fact that there’s a hurricane blowing through the entire time. It was about a billion degrees, and we never even noticed the wind.)
What to Do in Dallas Tonight: Aug. 26
I gotta tell you, folks. Yesterday was a pretty big day for me. Though my Billy Idol Sneer-alike Contest yielded exactly zero entries, which made me very sad, finding Neil Diamond’s Twitter feed more than made up for it. Also, I learned that Saturday is Free Cherry Lime-Aid Day at Firehouse Subs. And, and … I discovered that a very special act is coming to the State Fair of Texas.
On to more urgent matters: namely your evening plans. If you’re in the mood to relive the ‘90s, you’re in luck. Meat Loaf, Sheryl Crow, and Green Day all play tonight. This means you’ll have to record the season finale of Burn Notice and watch it later. I know that takes strength, but dig deep and I bet you’ll find it.
Or, perhaps you’d like to take in a movie. We’ve got you covered there.
However, if you have, say, $50 to burn, I highly recommend you check out the F.I.G. Finale VIP Preview Party. Here, you’ll get first dibs on all the great, discounted merchandise. Plus, free parking! Word to the frugal: tickets to this shindig cost $60 at the door, so save some money by ordering online.
Not what you’re looking for? Find other things to do in Dallas.
Schlegel Sells Pavestone to Okies
You might recall that Bob Schlegel thought he’d sold his Pavestone for $540 million until the FTC kiboshed the deal at the last moment. Ouch. Well, now he’s finally sold his company, which makes concrete landscaping stones and suchlike. Or he has sold an equal interest in it (I’m assuming 50 percent). The buyer? The Oklahoma Publishing Co., publisher of the Oklahoman. Details of the deal weren’t disclosed. Here is my question: Schlegel isn’t exactly what you’d call publicity shy. Why is FrontBurner the first outlet in Dallas to mention this (as far as I can tell)?
GroupOn for Gays Launches in Dallas
Speaking of gay chihuahuas, surely you know about Gay List Daily, the gay DailyCandy. Zac told me about it. A local guy by the name of Cooper Smith Koch is behind it. Now he’s launched Gay List Deals, the gay GroupOn. He told Instant Tea that he launched it to “support our community by encouraging our readers to buy from local gay-owned or gay-friendly local businesses.” Look for Cooper Smith Koch next to launch Gay List Fantasy Football. (H/T DallasVoice.com)
Gregg Asher Goes Digital
If you run in certain circles, you know of Gregg Asher. If you don’t run in those circles, know this: he is a Dallas hairstylist, he looks like an unshaven sylph, and he oftentimes wears women’s shoes (heels, not flats). Now Asher has taken to blogging. Sample beginning of a post:
My chihuahua and I share the same birthday. I know it seems gay, but true. Ever since I got her, my mother has sent me a celebratory card but never acknowledges my dog. I wanted to get to the bottom of why my mother was being a bitch to my bitch.
I figured you’d want to know that.
Dallas Home Sales Down, Prices Up: That’s Wacky
Is there an economist in the house?
On Tuesday, Candy Evans reported on DallasDirt that Dallas-area home sales year-over-year were down 27.8 percent in July. Yesterday, Steve Brown at the News reported that home prices in the Dallas area increased 3.47 percent in the second quarter over last year. In a functioning market, one would think lower sales would lead to lower prices. Or at least stable prices. But higher prices?
There’s something wrong with this picture. Explain it to me, please.
Leading Off (8/26/10)
1. Wanna know what’s really awkward? You’re reading a story about an FBI agent who threatened to kill two people: his wife (soon to be ex-wife and FBI agent) and another FBI agent. The story goes on to describe the guy as enjoying martial arts and having pictures of him cutting objects with a sword on his Facebook page. Then you realize that you have pictures of yourself cutting apples with swords on your Facebook page. I’m not going to draw conclusions and say that “a” leads to “b.” But still. Awkward. And now I have to delete some photos.
2. I’ve been worried about Joel Miller ever since I heard he was fasting while sitting on top of a trailer in order to get 60,000 school supplies. Well. He reached his goal and broke his fast by going to the Trinity Hall Irish Pub and Restaurant. But has he left the trailer? Nope. He’s still there. I get what he’s trying to do. It’s commendable. But I think to not come down after saying you would once you raised all the supplies is a bit dishonest. This time I am going to draw a conclusion: had I donated supplies, I’d be very upset.
3. Cameras at deer blinds can catch some pretty cool things. I’ve seen deer fighting, coyotes roaming, and now this. Sure this story might need a little more investigating, but I’m just going to go ahead and jump to conclusions: I think we just may have a UFO on our hands.
Avoid Germs at the Gym
Just got a press release about local inventor Dawn Meifert. It seems she has invented a little something called PhitGrip, which is described as “a palm-size , tube-shaped, cushioned rubber grip with antimicrobial agents printed onto it.” Apparently, these grips prevent you from having to touch the handles on treadmills and dumbbells. And later, after all the goodness you’ve accomplished at the gym, you can use them on the grocery cart as you load up on treats. Speaking of germs and just generally bad things, myfoxdfw.com has the most awful, most ghastly, germiest story ever in the world.
Dallas Cowboys: White House Press Secretary Thinks Your Blue Unis are Cursed
Yes. Robert Gibbs took time out from telling us that Pres. Obama would be going to Fort Bliss to talk about the Dallas Cowboys and their blue uniforms.
Randy Galloway on Evan Grant: “He’s Lazy”
Let us pause for a moment to curse the name of Evan Grant, the rat bastard that used to work for us and had the audacity to quit over a little thing like getting a better job offer that pays him, like, 15 times more money than he was making.
…
Done? Okay, now turn your attention to this little ditty Grant wrote about the Cliff Lee imbroglio. A national ESPN radio guy said that the Rangers ace has been “mailing it in” because he doesn’t really care about his new team, doesn’t like the state of Texas, and just wants a better job next year (which on its face makes no sense; you don’t get a better job offers by sucking, except in Grant’s case). Grant called B.S. on the radio guy and on the local ESPN site. He use some rather convincing stats to point out that Lee hasn’t mailed it in, and he implied that the ESPN folks are simply making stuff up when they say “sources” told them Lee doesn’t care about the Rangers.
So yesterday, local ESPN radio talker Randy Galloway circled the wagons with his co-workers. On his show, which I’m told airs on 103.3 on the FM dial, he called Grant “lazy” and “a weasel.”
Yes! He is a weasel! And worse!
10 Most Beautiful Women in Dallas: Who Will Be Week 2’s Finalists?
I wish we could invite you behind the curtains with us, so you can watch the voting happen for the 10 Most Beautiful Women in Dallas 2010. We’re in Week 2 of our semifinalist contests, and the numbers of votes are soaring. But the race is still tight. We’re biting our nails as we wait to see what will happen next.
We don’t blame you for finding it difficult to make a selection each day. Do you choose the youngest in the competition, Lauren, our 21-year-old who could kick everyone’s butt at math? Or Laurence, whose delightful accent transports you to a French cafe when you watch her video clip? Maybe it should be Alex today. Her darling dimples and fierce biochemistry/psychology double-majors make you weak at the knees. Or perhaps you’ll go with Bina, the sultriest attorney you ever did see. Then again, Ashley’s a great choice. Her bouncing curls and ear-to-ear smile shed some sunshine on this gray day. Only the top three will advance to the finals.
All we can tell you is vote. Vote from the heart. And vote every day. Good luck.
Reliant Energy Stumbles With New Outdoor Ad Campaign
I don’t know who does Reliant’s advertising. I talked to the internet, and it wouldn’t tell me. Whoever it is, the agency needs to rethink Reliant’s outdoor campaign for the new “cap and save” program. I’ve heard the radio spots. They’re good. Straightforward and simple: you lock in your price at a cap. If the price of energy goes down, so does your price; if it goes up, your price remains unchanged. So far, so good.
But now take a look at the huge billboard that went up recently on a building two blocks down Ross from D HQ. I saw it for the first time today and remarked to one of our art directors that I thought it was bad. “Can you explain it?” asked the art director. “I don’t get it.” Which is precisely my point. Unless you’re already familiar with the “cap and save” concept, this billboard is confusing. Why would you be all “Oh yeah” if prices went up? Beyond the confusing words, the double image of the woman is dull. I give it a “D-,” and it scores that high only because all the words on the billboard are spelled correctly.
(Note: for a brief time, I worked in an ad agency and created outdoor ads. The people at Nestle, no doubt, still talk about the sweet stuff I did on their behalf while employed by Publicis. What I’m getting at is, I’m an expert in this field.)
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