January 06, 2006

By the way, I meant to give props to Larry Powell a couple of days ago. On his pet-centric blog, he's all over the mysterious case of Simon, the stolen cat. Powell provides this link to the surveillance photos at the Petco in question. Please, someone help find these two guys. I have a long list of questions for them.

Adam McGill · 04:25 PM

Defamer pointed the way to this story in the LATimes (that was actually a reprint of Paul Farhi's Washington Post story). It's about Chuck Norris and how he became a cult favorite. Cited as evidence is the previously discussed Random Chuck Norris Fact Generator. The most popular fact continues to be:

Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried.

Adam McGill · 04:05 PM

A FrontBurnervian Foodie asks:

My wife and I miss Guthrie's and his fish and chips,beer-battered asparagus and the rest of his menu.
Do you know where William Guthrie is these days?

Nancy Nichols · 03:57 PM

Iris owner, Susie Priorie, spills the beans on her new chef:

Yeah, Russ is retiring from kitchen work (bad knees, etc) and going to just do his teaching gig at AIMS. He will still pop in periodically (we hope) to work on special projects or off-site catering. Matt Bresnan, the Tasting Room chef at LOLA, is our new chef and we love him. He's young, innovative, energetic and perpetually good-humoured. It's still American [food] at its best, but we will change the menu more often and try to go for more of the small, local purveyors for our ingredients. IT was a win-win for all of us.

Nancy Nichols · 03:53 PM

Executive chef Mathew Dunn is done at Central Market Plano. Once a chef at Star Canyon, Dunn is set to rejoin Stephan Pyles at Stephan Pyles. Jeroboam has a new chef, Hugh Stewart, and a new menu that features perogies for lunch. According to pres Whit Meyers: “The things are flying out the door.” Also heard that Russell Hodges is leaving Iris, but haven’t confirmed. Developing.

Nancy Nichols · 02:54 PM

No, it's not DConstruction again. It's Texas Gigs, which has been around for a while, but now it's bigger and better, thanks to a new partnership with Pegasus News. Some Friends of FrontBurner really want you to check it out. So, um, check it out. The press release is after the jump.

Continue reading "A SITE FOR LOCAL MUSIC FANS"

Adam McGill · 02:09 PM

Wick and Lewis Carroll — that's the necessary pairing here. Remember Jabberwocky? Well, Wick's 'meretriculous' is a portmanteau word, as the OED explains:

1872 ‘L. CARROLL’ Through Looking-Gl. vi. 127 Well, ‘slithy’ means ‘lithe and slimy’... You see it's like a portmanteau: there are two meanings packed up into one word. Ibid. 129 ‘Mimsy’ is ‘flimsy and miserable’ (there's another portmanteau for you).

Glenn Arbery · 12:23 PM

Speaking of meretricious, an alert FBvian found this ad for beautiful people. Apparently not everyone attending the party will be an amateur. Makes me feel a little better.

Tim Rogers · 12:04 PM

Yesterday, someone passed along info to me about The Beautiful Room. It's a party that only beautiful people are invited to attend. So I submitted two photos to see if I could pass muster. I just got my response:

Dear Tim,

We appreciate your interest in The Beautiful Room. Unfortunately, your submission did not meet one or more of the membership criteria and The Beautiful Room will not be able to extend an invitation for membership to you. Please understand that the qualification process is completely confidential and we are unable to release specific information concerning your application.

Thank you so much for your time.

Be beautiful,
The Beautiful Room

Be beautiful? No thank you. I'll just be bitter.

Tim Rogers · 11:32 AM

D food writer Teresa Gubbins has her own blog, News You Can Eat. Today comes this great news from a fellow FrontBurnervian Foodie:

Teresa Gubbins’ blog is up for “Best Blog Covering the Food Industry” in the 2005 Food Blog Awards. I mention this because it was FrontBurner that led me to start reading her blog in the first place! The nominees were announced earlier today, and voting is open until 1/18.

Nancy Nichols · 11:20 AM

35.6 million people watched Texas beat USC, according to Nielson, up 73 percent from last year.

Update: It's Nielsen, not Nielson. (And t's meretricious, not meretriculous. Although I agree with Glenn: if meretriculous is not a word, make it one.)

Wick Allison · 11:19 AM

People has just enough scoop to make you laugh a little, get creeped out a little, and then almost feel sorry for the guy. For example: Nick admits he used to wear Jessica's shoes every now and then, and he's not afraid of his emotions.

Adam McGill · 10:21 AM

"Meretriculous"? Are you kidding me, Wick? You're going to use a word like that without (apparently) looking it up to make sure you're spelling it correctly? That's showing a lot of confidence, sir.

The word you were looking for was "meretricious," meaning "of, like, or characteristic of a prostitute." Great word.

Tim Rogers · 10:06 AM

I've been looking forward to sharing today's Friday Fun with all of you kind, time-wasting people for weeks. At long last, here it is: Fishy. Eat smaller fishes. Avoid bigger fishes. It starts to get difficult around Level 3. When you get to Level, oh, 6, and your fish gets tagged by a larger one, you'll feel like you let your little fishy down. You grew up with that little guy. Don't be embarrassed if you have a good cry.

Adam McGill · 09:54 AM

My game-dazed post yesterday about Keith Jackson drew some pretty sharp rebukes. Mildest were the ones from several picky FBers pointing out that Jackson has been out of retirement for four years. Well. The sterner FBers who exposed Jackson's gaffes during the game (and I remembered every one of them, once they reminded me) did sort of sting. So why do I still like Jackson's work?

Continue reading "RE: KEITH JACKSON"

Glenn Arbery · 09:37 AM

Men's Fitness is brilliant. Every year, they release a list of fattest cities. It's total bunk. But that's not the point. Because the list gets great coverage and generates huge publicity for the magagazine. Anyhoo, the latest ranking puts Arlington as the fittest city in Texas. Dallas rose from sixth to fourth on the fattest list in the country. For what that's worth.

Tim Rogers · 09:34 AM

A downtown-working FrontBurnervian is an eyewitness to a major accident:

Has anyone talked about the accident at main/pearl? Major, 4 car, one flipped... been watching from five stories up - kids fled the scene - one dumped something in the nearby dumpster. We called to tell the cops but no one's gone to look in and find it yet... we're all tempted to go look ourselves.

Adam McGill · 09:33 AM

Either Quick is showing a lot of confidence or a lot of desperation. In this morning's edition, the front page is replaced not by one, but by two ads, one a full page and the other a sticker on the first. It's confidence if it means they are so sure people have become such regular readers that they'll pick up their copies out of the news boxes anyway. It's desperation if it means they need the ad revenue so much they'll sacrifce readership to get it. (And by the way, do the advertisers realize that their front-page ads turn away the very readers they were trying to reach?) I don't know how often Quick does this, but even I--the most meretriculous of all publishers--wouldn't be brave enough to attempt it.

Wick Allison · 08:55 AM

Oh, never mind.

Nancy Nichols · 08:27 AM

January 05, 2006

Our sister paper Park Cities People won't have another edition for your perusal until next Thursday. So you'll have to wait until then to read more about the following story. Jessica Hoover, a scribe for said paper, tells us the biggest party in years happened Monday night around 10 pm, at 4678 Edmondson Avenue in Highland Park. The home belongs to Constance Taylor, who was not there at the time. Curiously, the police report says she "is well-known to Highland Park police officers," Hoover reports. In all, 31 kids, all minors, were cited: 27 for MIP's (that's minor in possession) and 16 for MIC's (consumption by minor). How you can "consume" something without "possessing" it is beyond me. One hopes Hoover will solve that mystery and more in the January 12 Park Cities People. Stay tuned.

Adam McGill · 05:47 PM

Heavens. That wasn't your garden-variety, Bill Parcells-style inappropriate remark. He shouldn't have been suspended; he should have been fired.

Tim Rogers · 03:59 PM

A Russ Martin Show-producer-knowing FrontBurnervian sent an e-mail to said producer, asking if the strike was for real. "Haha! Nope, no strike. We're on live today :-)" was the reply. Sure enough, they're live today, bashing Howard Stern-replacement David Lee Roth last I heard.

Adam McGill · 03:57 PM

If you're looking for "dirty, mysterious words," look no further than Sarah Dodd. She's got the story of Thinh Nguyen's application process to be a cop and the racial slur that ensued.

Adam McGill · 03:54 PM

Forgive me. I shouldn't joke. The crime news is actually quite encouraging. For the first time in more than 10 years, it's down in all major categories. When Chief Kunkle said he wanted to reduce murders by 20 percent in 2005, I think we all thought he was nuts. The murder rate dropped 18.9 percent. Give the man a raise.

Tim Rogers · 03:53 PM

Comes a story about the police chief of Farmers Branch getting suspended for "making inappropriate comments about people of Vietnamese heritage." But no mention of what he actually said. As a consumer of news, I'm frustrated.

Tim Rogers · 03:49 PM

Here is another link to WFAA's story. Brad Watson reporting. He kind of buries the lead: DART rail is going to go alongside Scyene "in years to come." DART rail = development possibilities, unless there's a crime-magnet motel in the neighborhood.

Adam McGill · 03:03 PM

A neighborhood-minded FrontBurnervian spotted this notice on Dallas.org. Residents and neighborhood groups have filed paperwork to get the City of Dallas to close the "hot-sheet motel" American Inn at 4538 Scyene in southeast Dallas. I didn't have much luck with the video link to WFAA's story, and I can't find any DMN coverage. Any FrontBurnervians who frequent the American Inn know what's what?

Adam McGill · 02:26 PM

A two-and-two-putting-together FrontBurnervian notes that the The Russ Martin Show's site says, "Watch for the new home of The Russ Martin Show" superimposed across a picture of a satellite. Is Russ following in Stern's footsteps? Renegotiating his contract? Or just pranking? An inquiring e-mail to Martin bounced back.

Developing.

Adam McGill · 02:17 PM

A knowledgable FrontBurnervian (is there any other kind?) offers a political perspective:

I suspect that Fort Worth will be a problem. If you are going to make it work, you need to include Alliance. In the past Fort Worth refused to discuss Alliance, dismissing it as inconsequential to the Love Field debate and even following that line as FedEx moved operations to Alliance sucking money from DFW. If it’s just DFW and Love Field, Fort Worth will lead the effort. Even putting Meacham in the pot would be ok with them (Fort Worth continues to try to get commercial service at Meacham but there is obviously no market). But, throwing Alliance in the pot will change their view--especially since Dallas controls 2/3 of the board seats.

Wick Allison · 01:28 PM

Slate's "Explainer" column attempts to answer that question. Worst case scenario: they're shredded. Best case scenario, citing last year's title game: they're shipped to Haiti and a local church there distributes them.

· 12:01 PM

Aside from Jacobson's column, here's something else for homeless officials to consider. This study says giving homeless alcoholics a steady supply of liquor improves their behavior--and health.

· 11:52 AM

I think Sherry Jacobson is doing a great job, regardless of the hits from us she takes. Finally, and this addresses what I talked about yesterday, a Metro columnist to read.

· 11:42 AM

It was a game so great that I'm grateful for the unexpected presence of the only announcer who could do it historic justice: Keith Jackson. I didn't follow the pregame hype, so I'm not sure how they got him out of retirement to do it.

Glenn Arbery · 10:43 AM

A political FrontBurnervian says Martin Frost's journalistic turn is no surprise:

1) "So what is he doing now? He's a journalist!"

Why so surprised? Martin was a journalist before he was a congressman (and let's not forget, irrespective of your partisan leanings, that Martin was a far better congressman for Dallas-Ft. Worth than Pete Sessions could ever hope to be). He went to the University of Missouri-Columbia specifically for its journalism program--and only after writing for Congressional Quarterly did he realize that he could do the job of a congressman better than the people he covered...and he did.

2) "And a major contributor to none other than Fox News."

What's so surprising about this? Isn't Fox News supposed to be "Fair and Balanced?" As such, doesn't it need a voice like Martin's?

As for the court battle, this will be historic...legislatures (in both Red states and Blue states) have gerrymandered districts to benefit their own--at the expense of the people. When you have less than two dozen competitive House seats in the entire country you know there's a problem. This is surely not what the Founders envisioned. Non-partisan redistricting may very well be the cure to the corruption that ails the halls of Congress.

Reid Slaughter · 10:24 AM

The city is positively giddy today, and why not? Right before Christmas, four local high schools win state football championships. The recently crappy Cowboys manage to turn in a winning season. The Mavericks and the Stars both look awesome and lead or nearly lead their divisions, and now Texas — which has a gigantic, rabid fan base in Big D — wins the National Championship. So head on over to the water cooler and let's talk about it! How about this quote from ESPN.com's Dan Shanoff:

"Best Game Ever?": If you factor in (1) the eye-popping strength of the two teams; (2) the "all-time" status of this USC dynasty; (3) the individual brilliance of the game's MVP, Vince Young; (4) the seesaw scoring culminating with Young's fourth-down TD in the final thrilling minute; and (5) the widely unexpected result, it was the most overwhelmingly breathtaking title game of all time.

Here's the most impressive thing you can say: It lived up to the all-time outrageous levels of pregame hype. When does that ever happen?"

Reid Slaughter · 10:20 AM

The News this morning carries a disturbing story on Love Field's financial losses by Katie Fairbank and Tanya Eiserer (and not, interestingly, chief aviation reporter Eric Torbenson). I've been preaching on this subject for months, as have the diligent reporters over at CBS11 and the Star-Telegram.

But there is a larger issue involved.

Continue reading "HOW NOT TO RUN AN AIRPORT"

Wick Allison · 09:46 AM

For more than 20 years, Dallas' Martin Frost was one of the most powerful Democrats in Congress. Then, redistricting changed the size and shape of his district and he lost an epic 2004 election battle to Republican Pete Sessions. So what is he doing now? He's a journalist! And a major contributor to none other than Fox News. In this piece on the upcoming court case on Texas redistricting, Frost says the March court battle will have "historic" consequences.

Reid Slaughter · 09:36 AM

Not many nice things have been written about News columnist Sherry Jacobson in this space. But today she gets a gold star for her column about the homeless problem at the downtown J. Erik Jonsson Library. The homeless problem is an emotionally charged one. It would be easy--especially for a DMN Metro columnist--to offer an "one the one hand, but on the other" take. Yet Jacobson makes a forceful stand, one that'll likely get her a bunch of angry e-mail. She ends her column by saying:

"After nearly two decades, it's ... time to give Dallas' premier library back to the people who paid for it."

Tim Rogers · 09:36 AM

A Russ-listening FrontBurnervian passes along this strong-language-laden e-mail thread as an explanation for Russ' recent absence from the airwaves. Seems like Russ has waited three years for spiffier digs at work. "I'm tired of the (expletive deleted) excuses. I'm 'unavailable' for the time being," he says. Protest, publicity stunt, or prolonged vacation--take your pick.

Adam McGill · 09:25 AM

For too many years, when remarking on one of their local Congressional representatives--the late Jim Collins, for example, or Sam Johnson--Republicans in Dallas have been able to do little more than sigh and say, "Well, he votes right." In other cases--say, for example, Joe Barton--Republicans who put party loyalty above principle had to avert their eyes from watching their man carry water for special interests such as the concrete industry.

Today I bring glad tidings of great joy.

Jeb Hensarling, the Aggie who represents part of Dallas County in District 5, is stepping up to the plate in a major leadership role to reduce out-of-control GOP spending and to reform the entire approach Congress takes to its budgeting process. If he's successful it would revolutionize the Congressional process. Here's an explanation from John Miller in National Review.

Wick Allison · 09:16 AM

If there was a contest, I think Arbery just won it.

Wick Allison · 08:39 AM

Yes the UT victory last night was bliss, but did you know that, with just a couple of clicks, the DMN website allows you to change fonts and colors so you can read the game story in UT orange? That is soo gay. I love it.

Nancy Nichols · 08:32 AM

Looks like someone with a brain has finally turned to face the strain of running a restaurant in the Sipango spot on Travis. An alert FBFoodie, who is a mad man with a set of golf clubs, sez:

Heard yesterday that Patrick Columbo’s brother has an investment group being formed to open a place in the old Sipango.

Nancy Nichols · 08:24 AM

William Wordsworth, prophet, in 1805: "Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, / But to be Young was very Heaven!"

Glenn Arbery · 08:21 AM

January 04, 2006

Imagine a Venn diagram of SMU alums and FrontBurnervians and you have an idea of what my inbox looks like. More comments from the FB Nation after the jump.

Continue reading "RE: SMU ALUMS"

Adam McGill · 04:20 PM

A fellow SMU alum weighs in:

I'm a fairly recent SMU alum (2001), and I don't go to games -- I go to more games from my HS alma mater (Highland Park). The thing is, a school has to cultivate school spirit in their athletic program for alumni to really feel an attachment to their teams. Even though SMU basketball has been solid, if underperforming, teams, SMU hasn't been able to really drive students to the game and get a buzz going on campus. For most students, SMU football is just something that happens on Saturday and really, really messes up parking on campus. And basketball is an afterthought. I don't think the school has done a good job of creating excitement about the games -- promotions, student incentives to go, whatever. They seem to be trying to reach out more to Dallas in general -- but Dallas won't be interested until the students make it exciting to go to games again. It takes time to build a city-wide fanbase, something has to come from good programs and strong alumni that really evangelize the teams. But alumni don't care, because no one cared when they were in school -- just because they went to the school doesn't mean they want to go watch mediocre sports. SMU needs to rebuild tradition with the student base, and let that crawl naturally outward to the city.

Adam McGill · 03:57 PM

A data-tracking FrontBurnervian comes through with the number re: SMU alums:

There are (exactly) 35,164 SMU alumni living in Dallas. There are (exactly) 102,544 SMU alumni living anywhere.

Adam McGill · 03:07 PM

A snarky FrontBurnervian says:

No, the DMN Editorial Board thinks it is the newspaper for Austin … and Houston (link). And, next month they will probably nominate queens for Fiesta in San Antonio.

Adam McGill · 02:58 PM

More suggestions for satellite radio from the FB Nation. Also, this:

A few months ago, in frustration and fatigue with the Dallas radio landscape I turned to WRR. I've almost totally not gone back except for a bit of "talk" just to keep up. It has been really surprising to me how much I have enjoyed the classical format until I realized why I liked it so much and felt so much better after a long ride home......before listening to WRR..."garbage in, garbage out", after switching...... You might try it for a few days and see how you feel.

Adam McGill · 02:33 PM

"Goooo, red. Goooo, blue. Goooo, crimson?" True, last night's SMU-OU game wasn't pretty, but it was exciting nonetheless. If the Mustangs had even a halfway-decent night from the field, they coulda pulled off a major upset. Shoulda, coulda, woulda. But what struck me was the number of OU fans at the game. Published attendance was 6,857, and I estimated about 70 percent Oklahoma fans. My brother-in-law asked how many SMU alums live in Dallas. My guess is somewhere around 125,000, but that's probably way off. Granted, SMU athletics competes with the Mavs, Stars, Cowboys, Rangers, and FC Dallas, and the fans only like winners. But talented players want to go where the fans are. It's a chicken and egg thingy.

In related news, anyone else find it odd that the DMN editorial board made a bet with the LATimes? Doesn't the dog in that fight belong to the Austin-American Statesman? Is Dallas globbing on to UT's (ahem, debatable) chances of a national title because we've truly given up on SMU?

Adam McGill · 02:25 PM

A PR-practicing FBvian is not pleased with Blow's column either:

Apparently Blow is under the impression that the Dallas SWAT team could better spend their days making balloon animals and painting faces.

Seriously, this has to be one of his most useless columns ever. The man filled an entire column full of lukewarm mush about a show he’s never even seen? How hard is it to run down the hall and borrow Eddie’s preview copy? Or call the production company and ask for one?

Steve-o needs to go back to giving sloppy print kisses to Scott Sams, now that was real news! (Sarcasm fully intended.)

· 11:41 AM

You're only a sucker, Paul, if you bought a ticket for $4,000. And at that price, you'd be a sucker in any case. UT knows where its bread is buttered: the Lege sets its budget. And it might seem a little shady--not to mention illegal--if the University started scalping its own tickets.

Wick Allison · 11:13 AM

Democratic chances in the governor's race were nil--I mean, who ever heard of Chris Bell or Bob Gammage?--until Carol Strayhorn announced as an independent, or so argues Tom Pauken in this interesting anaylsis over on DallasBlog.com.

Wick Allison · 11:07 AM

An alert FBvian passes along this story on the influence of elected officials. Sure, two tickets for the Rose Bowl cost $4,000 on eBay. And many UT donors and fans have had no luck in securing their own. But that doesn't mean the government can't. Dallas state Rep. Roberto Alonzo got two tickets to the game. Dallas Rep. Dan Branch got six. So did state Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano). And all they had to do was ask the University of Texas System. It provided the officials the seats at $175 a pop--the face-value.

I guess we're all suckers.

· 11:04 AM

Michael Lenehan of the Chicago Reader has this screed about the demise of newspapers. He blames Craigslist, Google, and (gasp) bloggers. He suggests journalists--real journalists--go on strike for a year to show all the news enthusiasts out there what they'd be missing. I would offer my own rebuttal and sophisticated analysis, but I am one of those lazy bloggers Lenehan despises. Besides, Ryan Rhodes dissects Lenehan's whine better than I ever could.

Adam McGill · 10:59 AM

I love the AP photo of Abramoff the DMN used this morning. In that coat and hat, could the man look any more Al Capone-ish?

· 10:26 AM

Speaking of airwaves, the blogger formerly known as the Zany Sports Lady is now the Zany Radio Lady. The Friend of FrontBurner says she's moving on and attaches the following information about a new radio station in Collin County.

Continue reading "RE: DALLAS RADIO"

Adam McGill · 10:06 AM

Steve Blow writes today about the upcoming reality series. His take is, Golly, why do the SWAT guys look so mean and nasty in the promos?

The gentle soul also wonders if the show is appropriate for children. Sigh.

Blow does opine about the show's likelihood for success...through TV critic Ed Bark, that is, who thinks it'll tank.

· 10:05 AM

Awhile back, the print version of FrontBurner featured a story about Jennifer Higgins and her business. She's married to Channel 5's Brendan Higgins and makes a stain-removal thingy called Miss Oops. She also sells Miss Oops Pedicure in a Bottle. Near the end of 2005, she sold 7,100 bottles of the stuff on QVC, which earned her a return appearance on the network last night for their "Top 10 New Products of 2005" show. I'm told she sold out in four minutes. But Brendan swears he can't retire yet.

Tim Rogers · 09:50 AM

Tomorrow night a reality show debuts on A & E. It will follow around the Dallas Swat team.

First Kunkle lowers crime. Now this. If only DPD could find the person who stole my car. I loved that car.

· 09:46 AM

Our January "Best & Worst" issue appears to have struck a nerve. Over the break, Wick heard from a number of people who thought the cover was shocking. Shocking, I tell you! I had one long-time subscriber call to cancel because she thought our calling the mayor a chump was an unforgivable sin. ("I'm not for the mayor or against her. But I support Dallas. And you don't call the mayor of Dallas a chump!") I think it's a funny cover, but I'm surprised by the shock and outrage.

In any case, it's selling like crazy. Last night at my Tom Thumb, it was completely sold out. I checked with circulation this morning, and they confirm that it's selling out everywhere.

Tim Rogers · 09:33 AM

Yesterday, I casually mentioned my frustration with Dallas radio. One helpful FrontBurnervian reminded me of 95.3 FM The Range, which I like until it gets all twangy country. Several people have tried to convert me to satellite radio, but that's just ignoring the problem. Says another FrontBurnervian:

I was told by a local radio program director that the reason that local radio sucks so bad is that radio media buyers in this town buy only based on ratings, with no regard for the demographics of ratings.

Essentially meaning that the richest, most loyal, most consumer driven 1.4 rating would not get "media buying" support compared to a horribly unloyal, "lower demo" 2.3 station.

He also said that our market is known throughout the country as a one of the 3 or 4 worst radio markets in the country.

Adam McGill · 09:26 AM

A head-scratching FrontBurnervian sends us this story: two men entered a "Dallas-area" Petco and stole a kitty with a gun. (The men had the gun, not the kitty.) My theory: the two men are international diamond smugglers. They were about to make a big sale, when their stolen precious gems were accidentally knocked into a bowl of Meow Mix. Simon the cat chowed down, ate the jewels, and ran away. The two men tracked the cat, found it at the Petco, and decided to take no chances about its return. Or maybe they were just high.

Adam McGill · 09:02 AM

An alert FrontBurnervian points out that the CNN host did a Q&A on I Want Media wherein he gave his daily news diet. He said it includes a helping of the News. He said he likes to see how certain stories play in different regions of the country. Is it just the way I read between the lines, or does that sound like "I like to hear what they're saying in the sticks"?

Tim Rogers · 08:54 AM

January 03, 2006

On Espn.com they have Reggie Bush's high school highlights.

Wick Allison · 05:45 PM

Journalists are famous for their thin skins, but the News' Sharon Grigsby seems to need a suit of body armor. First post:

Houston?
Apparently the folks on Frontburner don't think much of our TOY choice ... Perhaps I'm being overly gullible after a week of vacation but is Wick Allison serious when he says: "Houston? I have a simple explanation. It's the "grass is always greener" syndrome. It occured in this case because nobody on the News editorial staff has actually been to Houston." I know hyperbole but this seems downright libelous!
1:48 PM | Sharon Grigsby (More) | Respond | Permalink

Houston?
I'm not surprised by Frontburner's dissatisfaction with our choice of Houston as TOY ... but this is a level of snarkiness that I hadn't expected: "Houston? I have a simple explanation. It's the 'grass is always greener' syndrome. It occurred in this case because nobody on the News editorial staff has actually been to Houston. " Did I get on Bronson's blog by mistake?
Posted 3:12 PM | Sharon Grigsby (More) | Respond | E-mail this entry | Permalink

re: "Houston?"
I know, I know ... I'm just giving attention to a petty remark by posting Wick's "Frontburner" slam of our TOY choice of Houston, which in MHO, clearly kudo'ed Dallas' efforts to help Katrina evacuees but honestly pointed out that Houston had the larger challenge. That said, I love this response from a blog reader: "That's SOOOO Park Cities ... have they [complained] about joggers in River Oaks?" And this: "I thought it was pretty mean ... almost wrote to say that but actually didn't want to get into e-mail exchange with him."
4:16 PM | Sharon Grigsby (More) | Respond | Permalink

Wick Allison · 05:36 PM

This news item is a couple of weeks old, but it bears mentioning. Our very own Kidd Kraddick won a Radio Megablast Award for Top 40 Air Personality of the Year. Nice. Also, Mix 102.9 FM won Hot Adult Contemporary Station of the Year.

Yet, still, Dallas radio has me on an unending quest up and down the dial, pleading for something listenable for longer than five minutes.

Adam McGill · 04:33 PM

A pigskin-minded FrontBurnervian points to this ESPN story. Cowboys offensive and defensive coordinators Sean Payton and Mike Zimmer, respectively, are rumored to be sought-after prospects by coachless times like the Green Bay Packers and St. Louis Rams. My Hot Sports Opinion: can't one of them stick around and let the Tuna retire soon? Like, now?

Adam McGill · 04:28 PM

A complimentary FrontBurnervian has a suggestion:

I discovered your blog about six months ago through a friend and still love it. I think you should put a post up a/b the Bloggie Awards. (link) I already voted for you guys!

Adam McGill · 03:46 PM

Dallas hypnotist Renée Snider offers a free seminar to celebrate the Second Annual World Hypnotism Day. You will enjoy this seminar. You will applaud at its conclusion. You will remain for the "low cost group session." You will tell your friends. And when I snap my fingers, you will have no recollection of reading this post.

Adam McGill · 03:22 PM

News editorialist Rod Dreher celebrated the crunchiness of new Conservative leader David Cameron on Sunday in this article for the London Times. My bet is that Dreher loathes Houston.

Wick Allison · 01:26 PM

I have a simple explanation. It's the "grass is always greener" syndrome. It occured in this case because nobody on the News editorial staff has actually been to Houston.

Wick Allison · 01:20 PM

I know why Bush is moving back to Dallas. He'll buy oillionaire Cary Maguire's house on Park Lane. Maguire is an amateur presidential historian and has a replica Oval Office in his house. That way, Bush can move in and still pretend to be president.

No? Not so much?

(Now we'll find out where Wick is.)

Tim Rogers · 01:13 PM

A concerned FBvian wonders where our fearless leader is:

Wick must be off today. It's noon and no one has commented on the Morning News' selection of Houston as the Texan of the Year. I didn't check to see if the Chronicle picked Dallas or if the Star-Telegram picked Mineral Wells.

If I had volunteered for days (and nights) down at the Dallas Convention Center; stood at Town East mall greeting buses; taken strangers into my house; or, been government officials like Mary Suhm or Margaret Keliher--I'd think I'd been totally dissed by my hometown newspaper. WTF?

Tim Rogers · 01:06 PM

A FBvian with apparently too much time on her hands was watching How Do I Look? on the Style Network yesterday. The makeover show was making over Ashley, an Iowa native and Duke University student. They showed her in her dorm room looking at magazines, saying she needed to spice up her wardrobe and be less "home on the range." And which magazine was she reading? The September issue of D. How very, very odd.

Tim Rogers · 11:21 AM

There's a travel agency in Plano, ARTA Travel, that manages trips for the city's cops and school administrators. Now, a former employee says ARTA's current employees are recycling unused tickets for their own gain and claiming airline awards they're not entitled to. ARTA brass dismisses the charges and calls the former employee, Julie Ponder, "disgruntled." Still, the American Society of Travel Agents filed an ethics complaint against the company.

Developing.

· 10:52 AM

Interesting to note: the NY Daily News seems to think the "Turtle Creek neighborhood" where Jerry Jones lives is not in the "tony township" of Highland Park.

Tim Rogers · 10:44 AM

I've pretty much given up on the funny pages, ever since the DMN ditched Ballard Street, bounced Boondocks back and forth between the comics and the op-ed pages, and shuffled all of the strips to the "Lifestyle Magazine" section. But I took a glance at them today. Look. There, below the typically unreadable Cathy is a rule line, followed by the plea "Check out Darrin Bell's Candorville in The Dallas Morning News Sunday comics." Then, there's an unfunny Candorville strip that looks very much like an ad. "Dear God, if you remind me to read "Candorville" in the comics pages of The Morning News every Sunday, I'll do whatever you want," it begins. Now, is that an ad for the DMN's Sunday funnies, Candorville, or both? And isn't it weird to have an ad in the strip itself? Has this sort of thing been happening in the funny pages all along? It's funny--but not ha-ha funny.

Adam McGill · 10:08 AM

A gossip-mongering FrontBurnervian notes that DMN columnist Alan Peppard is quoted in today's NY Daily News (third item). The topic? Where the Bushes will live when they're out of the White House. Some think Lee Fikes was fronting for the Bushes when he bought an empty HP lot. Peppard says, "baloney."

Adam McGill · 09:56 AM

January 02, 2006

A football-appreciating FrontBurnervian points out today's Cotton Bowl was apparently a good game after all. A last-second field goal gave Alabama a 13-10 victory, begging the question, "Where's your offensive genius now, Mike Leach?"

Adam McGill · 03:15 PM

Former Texas Ranger Kenny Rogers might be formerly married, too, unless there's a perfectly rational explanation for these pictures of the pitcher with a woman who's not his wife. Tsk, tsk.

Adam McGill · 02:12 PM

That's the verdict in this AP story from last week, despite the demise of Chicago's RedStreak:

Experts cite strong advertising potential and some steps toward success at many of the free tabloids, including Metro, published by London-based Metro International with separate editions in several U.S. and European cities; Express, owned by The Washington Post Co.; Tribune Co.-funded RedEye; and Quick, published by Belo Corp.'s The Dallas Morning News.

Wick Allison · 11:10 AM

A mysterious letter arrived in our mailbox over the break. It is handwritten, grammatically incorrect, and not addressed to anyone in particular. Its author is possibly disturbed, and I think it might be brilliant. Kind of like Russell Crowe in Beautiful Mind. See for yourself. I have transcribed it, mistakes and all, after the jump.

Continue reading ""BREAKFAST ON A PLATTER""

Adam McGill · 11:06 AM

is simple, actually: "Treat your customers like they own you, because they do."

· 11:00 AM

Before the break, we at FB had a lively debate about the merits of a new book, Nate Blakeslee's Tulia. Todd Bensman wrote a story for D last year refuting the book's main claims, namely that a bigoted white cop had arrested 10 percent of the panhandle town's black population on erroneous drug charges. Bensman found the cop, Tom Coleman, to be a bad cop but not a racist one--and had FBI documents to back it up. Bensman said his report for D would "forever be the turd in [Nate Blakeslee's] punchbowl."

Now, Nate has responded. (This is actually the second time Nate and Todd have gone at it on FB. Still, I'm gonna cut off the debate after this; I fear that to continue it would invite redundancy.)

For those who care...

Continue reading "NATE BLAKESLEE DEFENDS HIMSELF"

· 10:27 AM

An Ellum-dwelling FBvian gives us a report from the street:

Just walked by Dada, and the signs are still up. Poor planning and decisions by some folks and a couple of mud-headed property owners can really drive a neighborhood nuts. But a lot of places (Local, Pepe and Mitos, Monicas, plus businesses like Orange, Francis Simun, Reel F/X, Rudolph's and, heck, even 7-Eleven) continue to pack 'em in. Hate to shill, but check out the Deep Ellum Residents Councils web page, Deepellumhome.com, to see that reports may be premature. Club life made Deep Ellum but can only sustain so much. Hate to see old friends in trouble, but me and my many neighbors enjoy being downtown's close-in suburb.

Tim Rogers · 10:16 AM

An alert FBvian points us to the Observer's coverage of Deep Ellum. Zac Crain and Bob Wilonsky both wrote about the passing of Trees; both essays are worth reading. Sniff, sniff.

Tim Rogers · 10:13 AM

Those who worked with Christina Rees during her tenure at this magazine remember the raven-haired lass as someone who had no equal when it came to brewing hot tea, curling up in a chair like a cat, and brooding. Now comes news that she's opening her own gallery (scroll down).

Tim Rogers · 09:50 AM

In case you, like me, are dutifully working today: the Cotton Bowl is about to kick off. I don't think we're missing much.

Adam McGill · 09:42 AM

How many times does the question need to be asked before we finally get the answer? We heard rumblings over the break about businesses down there shuttering. An alert FBvian points us to this item about Club Dada having some trouble with the TABC. I also hear the Observer is working on another "Deep Ellum: WTF?" story.

Tim Rogers · 09:04 AM

One of the more interesting tidbits of news over the break was that ACS might be sold for $8.1 billion. Darwin Deason, the founder of the computing-services firm, controls about one third of the company's stock. After the company pays off some long-term debt, Deason figures to pocket about $2 billion. That'll buy a lot of Diet Coke and Kahlua. Oh, and an even bigger yacht. (For those who don't get the reference, enjoy our June 2003 profile of Deason titled "Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless." You'll have to pay to read the full article, but the lead follows after the jump.

Continue reading "DARWIN DEASON IS GOING TO NEED A BIGGER BOAT"

Tim Rogers · 08:56 AM

Back in business. Sort of. Glad to have you with us. We'll try to do better this year. Promise.

Tim Rogers · 08:40 AM