Articles for December 16th, 2011
Rudy Reuttiger Accused of Stock Fraud
Daniel “Rudy” Reuttiger, who was portrayed by Sean Astin in the movie “Rudy,” has been accused of stock fraud by the SEC in regards to his beverage company, Rudy Beverage. How does this connect to Dallas? Well, let me connect some dots for you.
Back in the day, some 80 percent of Rudy Beverage Group was purchased by Global Beverage Solutions, according to this press release. Global Beverage Solutions, which traded under the ticker GBVS in the penny stock market, was one of four companies for which the SEC said now-on-the-lam-from-the-FBI-and-former-stockbroker Josh Lankford manipulated stock prices. Josh Lankford was based in Dallas, as were his companies, Market News First and Lankford Media Group.
And, full disclosure, I worked there. I’ve actually had a Rudy Beverage. It tastes like benches that have been ridden and oranges and despair. And vitamins. And the commercial that ran about it on MN1 haunts me to this day.
DMN Reporter Talks Holiday Shopping
Gift card sales are up. Home Depot’s aiming to steal holiday-decor sales from Michaels Stores. And she bought her first 2011 Christmas gift way back in July. Those are a few tidbits from an interesting Q&A with veteran retail reporter Maria Halkas of the Dallas Morning News. The interview, which focuses on holiday-season shopping, was posted today on the Talking Biz News website.
DMN‘s Bruce Tomaso Notes Passing Of Kathlyn Gilliam, Kicks Wick Allison in the Jeans
This happened on one of the Morning News‘ 543 blogs at 6 a.m. yesterday so we all missed it. And somehow it didn’t come up in the “Kathlyn Gilliam Wick Allison” Google Alert I set up five years ago. (I may have missed it among all the happy holidays emails from Soldier of Fortune and Crochet Monthly.) Bruce Tomaso, noting the passing of Gilliam as well as the details of her public viewing yesterday, couldn’t help taking a moment to pull Wick into the fray over his past comments about Gilliam, the first black trustee of DISD. Or, actually, since he spent exactly 118 words on Gilliam and 100 on Wick, you could probably reverse that. So, I will: Bruce Tomaso, while kicking Wick in the khakis over his long-held distaste for Gilliam, also noted that she died on Saturday.
Robert Jeffress On the Death of Christopher Hitchens
If you haven’t heard, Christopher Hitchens died last night. You can read about it here, here, and here. I didn’t realize until today that one of the last things he wrote–he was as prolific as he was eloquent–was about Dallas’ own Robert Jeffress, and his controversial comments on Mormonism. Hitchens kind of agreed with Jeffress.
Turns out, Dr. Jeffress has actually been reading through some of Hitchens’ work recently, in preparation for his next book, which will be a research-heavy book addressing atheism. I asked Jeffress over email how he feels at a moment like this, when a prominent atheist dies. This is what he told me: (more…)
Things To Do In Dallas This Weekend: Dec. 16-18
My grandmother, patron saint of cookies, used to do all of the Christmas baking. She made gingerbread men, iced butter men, thumbprint cookies, white wedding cookies, chocolate chip, brownies, and two different cakes. But in the few years since I took over the cookie factory, family members have just been lucky to get his or her preferred man (ginger or butter) to stick in their stocking. This year, however, will be different. I’m starting early. I’m completely on top of this. And by that, I mean I’m at least buying the ingredients.
Friday
For those wondering where Tatum O’Neal has been since winning her Oscar at the age of 10, well. Tonight, you’ll have no doubt. O’Neal takes the Music Hall stage in yet another rendition of A Christmas Carol. This particular production uses the same sets, costumes, props and special effects created for the 2008 Kodak Theatre production in Los Angeles.
That, or just head to the movies. I really want to see Sherlock Holmes, but I wouldn’t be opposed to the Inwood Theatre’s evening of holiday classics, which actually runs all weekend. They’re horning in on the Texas Theatre’s bad B-movie territory, showing a digital restoration of Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, a baffling mixture of ’60s-era sci-fi, Christmas cheer, and youthful slapstick humor. But what could be better than bookending that ridiculousness with a couple of Max Fleischer cartoons? Not much. “Christmas Comes But Once a Year” is one of my favorites things.
Hebron 121 Station: The Ugliest Apartments in Dallas-Fort Worth?
Does this make you feel like you're five minutes from the beach?
You’ll hear it said about some neighborhoods, almost always meant as a compliment: “It doesn’t feel like Dallas.”
Does this happen in other major cities? Do people feel a sense of pride in living someplace so unlike the rest of the area? Â Those aren’t rhetorical questions.
Usually I hear these statements made about quiet, tree-filled settings with an actual bit of hill-like topography, qualities rare on this flat plain we inhabit. But take a look at the image above of the Hebron 121 Station apartments. That doesn’t look like Dallas, either, does it? Â And as Steve Brown notes (behind the paywall) about the development in today’s Dallas Morning News: Â ”The colorful Caribbean-style architecture, resort landscaping and location on Denton County’s new commuter rail line has made the 90-acre development a hit with renters.”
I was not surprised to learn in Brown’s piece that Huffines Communities is responsible for the project, as they’re the same firm behind “resort living” and “Cape Cod-style homes” in landlocked Denton County. With Hebron 121 Station, they seem to have taken their building philosophy to another level. Given that they’ve got a waiting list for those dying to live in a flood plain former flood plain, and they’re going to build even more units, I guess there are plenty of people who believe more is better when it comes to palm trees in a parking lot. Just listen to this resident:
Leading Off (12/16/11)
We Wished Everyone A Merry Christmas But You. Dallas Morning News metro columnist Jacquielynn Floyd only got three Christmas cards this year. That’s crazy. I mean, I had three by Thanksgiving. I have probably a good 30 right now, five with the same Pinterest baby-holding-a-string-of-lights idea. So why won’t anyone send Floyd a Christmas card? Was one of the three from Steve Blow? Hypothesize in the comments.
Fort Worth Vs. The Preacher. The subject? Acts of God.  Pastor Greg Beutel was driving down the street when he was rear-ended by a street light. His insurance company submitted a claim, and the city of Fort Worth rejected it, because the law says municipalities don’t have to pay for acts of God. Ballsy to take on an expert, Fort Worth, yes?
Florida Hooligans Pilfer Purses. Specifically, this gang of thieves (OK, now I’m picturing them in tights and Tommy Bahama shirts) targets women picking up their children from daycare. Even more specifically, they target ones who leave their cars running and unlocked, with the purse inside, while they run in. So don’t do that, or the Felony Lane Gang (no lie, that’s the name of the merry band of thieves) will get you. Consider yourself all PSA’d.
Tebow’d. The 12 billionth GOP Debate and Happy Funtime Banjo Hour happened last night. And then this happened. Twice.
Les balles Sont Effrayantes Quand Ils Sont Errent (Or Something Like That). The Lewis family is getting tired of their stuff – and their dog – getting hit by stray bullets from the nearby Paris Police Department shooting range. Â The city says they’re addressing it, though.
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