Happy Mardi Gras, everyone. I would kill for a beignet and coffee from Café du Monde right about now.
If you haven’t already, take a quick look-see at my SideDish post rounding up the restaurants and bars with Fat Tuesday specials. If you’re seriously starving for Cajun food, I’d start the evening with Margaux’s prix fixe buffet, which will feature tasty dishes like mustard fried catfish, blackened chicken, and cheese garlic grits. Raya will be updating the our nightlife Facebook page all day with party options, but probably just about any bar should be willing to make you a hurricane or four.
Now, I’ve never been to a Clay Aiken concert, nor have I ever watched an episode of American Idol. This is mostly because I’m a horrible television snob. However, I did have the opportunity to hear this guy live during his run as Sir Robin in Monty Python’s Spamalot on Broadway a few years ago, and I think it’s safe to say that he’s got talent. Aiken will perform tonight at the Verizon Theater.
Last but certainly not least, tonight’s your last opportunity to catch David Lee Nelson…Status Update at the Out of the Loop Fringe Festival. FrontRow’s Mr. Lusk gives stand up comedian David Lee Nelson’s solo performance a thumbs up — actually, it’s a green Go See It. Either way, I’m sold.
For more things to do this evening, go here, and stay safe out there.
Paul Krugman bemoaned the performance of Texas schools two weeks ago. Basically he associated how little Texas spends on education with how poorly our students do.
David Burge at Iowahawk thought there might be something wrong with Krugman’s numbers. So decided to compare Wisconsin, with above-average spending per student of $10, 680, and Texas, with below-average spending per student of $8,320 (2008 numbers, latest available). Of course, his primary reason is that Wisconsin is newly notorious for its collective bargaining, and Texas is a state which allows no public-employee collective bargaining. Burge then broke down the only comparable set of numbers he could find, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, by ethnic group. The results were instructive.
As someone who has attended (in my younger days) more than one science fiction convention, and once stood in line for Yeoman Rand’s autograph (no, I can’t rationally explain that to myself either), I understand the point of view of the parents who wished to protect their geeky children from ridicule by having Dress Like a Geek Day canceled at University Park Elementary.
And after the whole “Thug Day” controversy at Highland Park High School a few years back, I suppose the school district needs to be cautious.
But wouldn’t a more sensible solution to have been to ask the children to adhere to the original definition of the word “geek.” Think of it: Hundreds of Park Cities children could have been running around dressed like carnival performers, pretending to bite the heads off rubber chickens. What a joyful experience that could have been, instead of a bland “Panther Spirit Day.”
You misplayed this one, Highland Park ISD.
At least according to Mike Allen at Politico. President Obama is appointing the current secretary, Gary Locke, as ambassador to China.
As I mentioned in Leading Off this morning, new details have surfaced in the 15-year-old murder case of Amber Hagerman. Joey Dauben at the Ellis County Observer was working this story before the mainstream press came to it. Dauben, in fact, has all but accused a man of the murder. Very much developing.
Securities Firm Fined $500,000. In the first case of its kind, according to the Bond Buyer, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fined Southwest Securities Inc. half a million bucks for paying unaffiliated individuals to solicit municipal securities business for it. As you might know, that violates Rule G-38. I once broke Rule F-27, and I rather enjoyed it.
New Lead in Amber Hagerman Murder. Police confirm they have new information, thanks to a child pornography bust in a small Texas town. Amber Hagerman, of course, was the 10-year-old girl who was killed 15 years ago and gave her name to the Amber Alert system.
Ann-Margret Is Coming to Town. The Dallas International Film Festival (3/31-4/10) has announced that Ann-Margret will receive its Dallas Star Award. She will get the award at the festival’s opening night. The following night, the festival will have the honor of world-premiering her latest film, Lucky.
Wrestling News. WWE Superstars taped its Thursday show last night at the AAC. Here are the results. I like this format. For instance, the Mavs could tape a game tonight, we could learn on a message board what the result was, and then we could all watch the game on Friday.
Leading Off Is DMN-Free Today. Finally, if you didn’t notice, your favorite early morning FrontBurner feature was compiled today without use of the Dallas Morning News, whose paywall was officially erected this morning. I think we can all agree — subscribers and non-subscribers alike — that the phrase “officially erected” makes us a feel just a little uncomfortable.