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Baylor University's Faculty Senate has passed a motion condemning a practice I talked about yesterday in which freshmen receive financial incentives for retaking the SAT. “This practice is academically dishonest and should be discontinued,” the motion read.
So what happens now? From what I hear, the next step is that Baylor's interim president, David Garland, wants to know why the Faculty Senate is opposed to this idea and plans to meet with some faculty representatives.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
A few thoughts on Edie Adams
Of course I remember Edie Adams, who died yesterday from pneumonia and cancer, for her performance as Fred MacMurray's secretary in the Oscar-winning film "The Apartment," but what I'll really remember her for was something she didn't do.
Her husband's weekly television program, "The Ernie Kovacs Show," was must-see television for me when it aired. I laughed hysterically no matter how many times I saw the The Nairobi Trio, three derby-wearing apes, miming to the tune "Solfeggio." During one spell, he had this running gag with trap doors and you never knew when it would be sprung. I remember once Jimmy Durante was a guest on Kovacs show and he did a takeoff on his own television program, complete with the ending in which Durante put on his coat and hat, turned to the camera and said "Good night, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are." He would then walk out a back door into a barren stage illuminated by three spotlights shining on it. When he would get to the first spotlight, Durante would turn to the audience and doff his hat. Same with the second. When he did it at the third spotlight, it was the signal for the show's ending credits to roll and Durante turned again and disappeared into the darkness. However, on Kovacs' show, when Durante reached the second spotlight, the trap door opened and he was gone.
Kovacs loved to do parodies on other television shows of the era. One week it was announced that the upcoming show would feature a parody of "Sheena, Queen of the Jungle," which starred Irish McCalla, someone I considered a pretty hot babe at the time. I couldn't wait to see Edie Adams as Sheena because Edie was a pretty hot babe herself and I was anxious to see her in the skimpy leopard-skin outfit Sheena wore. The skit begins. An intrepid band of jungle explorers are trapped by something (I can't remember exactly what) when one of them looks offstage and cries "Look, it's Sheena." And here she comes swinging across the stage on a vine. Only it isn't Edie Adams. It's Kovacs himself, in a blonde wig, his ever-present cigar protruding from beneath his thick mustache, the leopard-skin outfit fitted over a white body stocking. I fell out of my chair I was laughing so hard.
So, Edie, here's to you. I never saw you as Sheena. But that means I'll never forget you either.
Her husband's weekly television program, "The Ernie Kovacs Show," was must-see television for me when it aired. I laughed hysterically no matter how many times I saw the The Nairobi Trio, three derby-wearing apes, miming to the tune "Solfeggio." During one spell, he had this running gag with trap doors and you never knew when it would be sprung. I remember once Jimmy Durante was a guest on Kovacs show and he did a takeoff on his own television program, complete with the ending in which Durante put on his coat and hat, turned to the camera and said "Good night, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are." He would then walk out a back door into a barren stage illuminated by three spotlights shining on it. When he would get to the first spotlight, Durante would turn to the audience and doff his hat. Same with the second. When he did it at the third spotlight, it was the signal for the show's ending credits to roll and Durante turned again and disappeared into the darkness. However, on Kovacs' show, when Durante reached the second spotlight, the trap door opened and he was gone.
Kovacs loved to do parodies on other television shows of the era. One week it was announced that the upcoming show would feature a parody of "Sheena, Queen of the Jungle," which starred Irish McCalla, someone I considered a pretty hot babe at the time. I couldn't wait to see Edie Adams as Sheena because Edie was a pretty hot babe herself and I was anxious to see her in the skimpy leopard-skin outfit Sheena wore. The skit begins. An intrepid band of jungle explorers are trapped by something (I can't remember exactly what) when one of them looks offstage and cries "Look, it's Sheena." And here she comes swinging across the stage on a vine. Only it isn't Edie Adams. It's Kovacs himself, in a blonde wig, his ever-present cigar protruding from beneath his thick mustache, the leopard-skin outfit fitted over a white body stocking. I fell out of my chair I was laughing so hard.
So, Edie, here's to you. I never saw you as Sheena. But that means I'll never forget you either.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
On this date in
1815 Napoleon began his exile on Saint Helena.
1860 Eleven-year-old Grace Bedell of Westfield, N.Y., wrote a letter to presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln, suggesting he could improve his appearance by growing a beard.
1878 The Edison Light Company (later known as General Electric) began operations.
1888 Authorities received a letter purportedly written by Jack the Ripper.
1894 Alfred Dreyfus was arrested for spying.
1917 Mata Hari was executed.
1939 The New York Municipal Airport (later renamed LaGuardia Airport) was dedicated.
1946 Hermann Goring poisoned himself the night before his scheduled execution on charges of war crimes.
1951 Mexican scientist Luis E. Miramontes synthesized the first oral contraceptive; the situation comedy "I Love Lucy" premiered on CBS.
1964 Composer Cole Porter died of kidney failure at the age of 73.
1966 Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale formed the Black Panther Party.
1970 Anwar Sadat became president of Egypt.
Born on this date:
Virgil (70 BCE - 19 BCE)
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)
John L. Sullivan (1858-1918)
Jane Darwell (1879-1967)
P.G. Wodehouse (1881-1975)
Mervyn LeRoy(1900-1987)
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908-2006)
Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. (1917-2007)
Mario Puzo (1920-1999)
Evan Hunter (1926-2005)
Jean Peters (1926-2000)
Marv Johnson (1938-1993)
1860 Eleven-year-old Grace Bedell of Westfield, N.Y., wrote a letter to presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln, suggesting he could improve his appearance by growing a beard.
1878 The Edison Light Company (later known as General Electric) began operations.
1888 Authorities received a letter purportedly written by Jack the Ripper.
1894 Alfred Dreyfus was arrested for spying.
1917 Mata Hari was executed.
1939 The New York Municipal Airport (later renamed LaGuardia Airport) was dedicated.
1946 Hermann Goring poisoned himself the night before his scheduled execution on charges of war crimes.
1951 Mexican scientist Luis E. Miramontes synthesized the first oral contraceptive; the situation comedy "I Love Lucy" premiered on CBS.
1964 Composer Cole Porter died of kidney failure at the age of 73.
1966 Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale formed the Black Panther Party.
1970 Anwar Sadat became president of Egypt.
Born on this date:
Virgil (70 BCE - 19 BCE)
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)
John L. Sullivan (1858-1918)
Jane Darwell (1879-1967)
P.G. Wodehouse (1881-1975)
Mervyn LeRoy(1900-1987)
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908-2006)
Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. (1917-2007)
Mario Puzo (1920-1999)
Evan Hunter (1926-2005)
Jean Peters (1926-2000)
Marv Johnson (1938-1993)
Here's an interesting rumor that, if true, should seal an Obama victory
Right now, I see only one way Barack Obama loses this election and that's if John McCain or his surrogates personally drag a handcuffed Osama Bin Laden from an Afghan cave. However, I think the Bush administration has been trying to pull that "October surprise" during the last couple of election cycles without much success.
There is a story going around that shortly after tonight's final Presidential debate, Colin Powell will announce his endorsement of Obama. If that happens, the race is officially over.
There is a story going around that shortly after tonight's final Presidential debate, Colin Powell will announce his endorsement of Obama. If that happens, the race is officially over.
Brownsville either has great or really bad schools -- I can't tell which
The Brownsville Independent School District is the recipient of this year's $1 million Broad Prize, considered to be the nation's most important award for excellence in urban education and the prize that the Dallas School District Administration has been hungering for. The BISD won largely because its students outperformed those in other Texas districts with similar student populations on reading and math tests. (The schools population is 98 percent Hispanic and 95 percent needy.) The award was announced yesterday and what makes this really interesting is that on the same day state education officials announced the Brownsville district had failed to meet minimum achievement standards for the second straight year under the No Child Left Behind law.
Baylor is offering a bounty to those who retake the SAT
This has a foul odor. I can't exactly tell you why, but this gimmick Baylor University has instituted of enticing freshmen with a $300 credit at the campus bookstore if they retake their SAT and a $1,000 in merit scholarship aid if they raise their score by 50 points, just doesn't sit right with me.
For one thing, the SAT is supposed to measure incoming students. What it measures, depends on who you talk to, but that's not the point here. These students re-taking the tests have already been admitted.
Second, it comes across as cooking the books. U.S. News & World Report, which compiles one of the most recognized lists of academic institutions, uses SAT scores as a factor in compiling its ratings. Baylor has made no bones about the fact it wants to climb to the first tier of these college rankings (it's all part of something called "Baylor 2012"). Currently Baylor is ranked 76th in the U.S. News & World Report list. “This is a straightforward, cynical attempt to manipulate test score averages to boost Baylor’s rankings,” said Robert Schaeffer, the public education director for FairTest, a nonprofit group that has been critical of the use of standardized tests in college admissions.
Baylor's student newspaper, The Lariat, editorially criticized the administration's policy, but for all the wrong reasons. The paper's argument -- “The deal is unfair to the upperclassmen at Baylor. Every college student could use an extra $300 to pay for books or the chance to knock $1,000 off each year’s tuition, but only this year’s freshmen received that opportunity” -- comes across as sour grapes.
See, I always thought Baylor was supposed to be this upright, Baptist University whose religious leanings would forbid any activity that even hints at cheating. That's what I get for thinking.
For one thing, the SAT is supposed to measure incoming students. What it measures, depends on who you talk to, but that's not the point here. These students re-taking the tests have already been admitted.
Second, it comes across as cooking the books. U.S. News & World Report, which compiles one of the most recognized lists of academic institutions, uses SAT scores as a factor in compiling its ratings. Baylor has made no bones about the fact it wants to climb to the first tier of these college rankings (it's all part of something called "Baylor 2012"). Currently Baylor is ranked 76th in the U.S. News & World Report list. “This is a straightforward, cynical attempt to manipulate test score averages to boost Baylor’s rankings,” said Robert Schaeffer, the public education director for FairTest, a nonprofit group that has been critical of the use of standardized tests in college admissions.
Baylor's student newspaper, The Lariat, editorially criticized the administration's policy, but for all the wrong reasons. The paper's argument -- “The deal is unfair to the upperclassmen at Baylor. Every college student could use an extra $300 to pay for books or the chance to knock $1,000 off each year’s tuition, but only this year’s freshmen received that opportunity” -- comes across as sour grapes.
See, I always thought Baylor was supposed to be this upright, Baptist University whose religious leanings would forbid any activity that even hints at cheating. That's what I get for thinking.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
A desperate McCain to opt for low road in final debate
An obviously desperate John McCain has decided to resort to character attacks in the final Presidential debate tomorrow with Barack Obama. McCain spokesperson Tucker Bounds has told Fox News "I expect John McCain will ask Barack Obama to speak truthfully about his relationship with friend and unrepentant terrorist Bill Ayers." And today McCain seems to want to blame Obama for bringing up the subject, because, according to what McCain told a reporter in St. Louis today, Obama said McCain "didn't have the guts" to talk about William Ayers in the final debate.
I don't know if Obama said that or not, but I sure hope he did. Because that obviously means the Democratic nominee is setting a trap for the foundering McCain and the Arizona senator is blindly walking right into it. If, on the other hand, Obama didn't say that, then McCain is simply and out and out liar. He may distort the truth -- both candidates have been guilty of that -- but I can't see McCain sinking lower than he alredy has.
Both McCain and his hatchet-woman running mate Sarah Palin were attacking Obama viciously on this topic last week, much to the delight of their core supporters but much to the chagrin of the rest of the American public. When the inevitable backlash began, they scaled back or, in the words of a campaign official, they put "gloves back on." But Bounds is now hinting the gloves are off again because not only will McCain bring up this irrelevant subject during the debate, but Bounds said, the American television viewing public should brace themselves for a host of new attack ads on Ayers.
For those not keeping up with the William Ayers subject, he is a professor of education at the University of Illinois in Chicago. His wife, Bernardine Dohrn, is a professor at Northwestern University's school of law. In the mid-1990s, Ayers and Dohrn hosted a meet-and-greet party to introduce Obama to their neighbors when Obama was making his first run for the Illinois Senate. Ayers contributed $200 to that Obama campaign. Between 1999 and 2002, both Ayers and Obama served on the board of a not-for-profit foundation called the Woods Fund. That board met four times a year. Ayers and Obama also interacted in their roles with the Annenberg Challenge, a program in Chicago involved in school reform issues.
The issue here, however, is what Ayers did before he met Obama -- before, in fact, he underwent somewhat of a political and personal transformation. Ayers, 63, and Dohrn were members of an anti-Vietnam War organization called the "Weather Underground," which the FBI categorized at the time as a "domestic terrorist group." They spent 10 years as fugitives until they surrendered in 1980. Federal charges against them, however, were dropped.
So McCain and Palin are out their busy linking Obama to Ayers -- not the respected college professor and school reform advocate Ayers, but the "domestic terrorist" Ayers. It just shows how low a man will go when he's only interested in winning at any cost (which was evident when he selected Palin as his running mate).
I don't know if Obama said that or not, but I sure hope he did. Because that obviously means the Democratic nominee is setting a trap for the foundering McCain and the Arizona senator is blindly walking right into it. If, on the other hand, Obama didn't say that, then McCain is simply and out and out liar. He may distort the truth -- both candidates have been guilty of that -- but I can't see McCain sinking lower than he alredy has.
Both McCain and his hatchet-woman running mate Sarah Palin were attacking Obama viciously on this topic last week, much to the delight of their core supporters but much to the chagrin of the rest of the American public. When the inevitable backlash began, they scaled back or, in the words of a campaign official, they put "gloves back on." But Bounds is now hinting the gloves are off again because not only will McCain bring up this irrelevant subject during the debate, but Bounds said, the American television viewing public should brace themselves for a host of new attack ads on Ayers.
For those not keeping up with the William Ayers subject, he is a professor of education at the University of Illinois in Chicago. His wife, Bernardine Dohrn, is a professor at Northwestern University's school of law. In the mid-1990s, Ayers and Dohrn hosted a meet-and-greet party to introduce Obama to their neighbors when Obama was making his first run for the Illinois Senate. Ayers contributed $200 to that Obama campaign. Between 1999 and 2002, both Ayers and Obama served on the board of a not-for-profit foundation called the Woods Fund. That board met four times a year. Ayers and Obama also interacted in their roles with the Annenberg Challenge, a program in Chicago involved in school reform issues.
The issue here, however, is what Ayers did before he met Obama -- before, in fact, he underwent somewhat of a political and personal transformation. Ayers, 63, and Dohrn were members of an anti-Vietnam War organization called the "Weather Underground," which the FBI categorized at the time as a "domestic terrorist group." They spent 10 years as fugitives until they surrendered in 1980. Federal charges against them, however, were dropped.
So McCain and Palin are out their busy linking Obama to Ayers -- not the respected college professor and school reform advocate Ayers, but the "domestic terrorist" Ayers. It just shows how low a man will go when he's only interested in winning at any cost (which was evident when he selected Palin as his running mate).
Now this is what I call typecasting
Three of the stars of the motion picture "Gomorrah," a look at an Italian crime family and Italy's entry for this year's foreign language Oscar, have been arrested because they allegedly really do have ties to organized crime in the country.
Bernardino Terracciano, who plays a crime boss in the film, was arrested this past Saturday and charged with extorting protection money and having ties to Casalesi family, which is part of the Camorra family. "Gomorrah," based on a book by an investigative journalist now living under police protection, is an examination of Camorra family.
Biovanni Venosa, who plays another crime boss in the film, was arrested last July and an unidentified actor who plays a hitman was arrested for drug dealing.
Bernardino Terracciano, who plays a crime boss in the film, was arrested this past Saturday and charged with extorting protection money and having ties to Casalesi family, which is part of the Camorra family. "Gomorrah," based on a book by an investigative journalist now living under police protection, is an examination of Camorra family.
Biovanni Venosa, who plays another crime boss in the film, was arrested last July and an unidentified actor who plays a hitman was arrested for drug dealing.
So much for all this "Green Dallas" baloney
When it comes right down to the interests of big business or the future of the environment, count on our Dallas City Council to wimp out and side with the interests of big business every time. The council demonstrated yesterday that all this business about "Green Dallas" is nothing more than a Web site with no teeth behind it.
While much of the world is considering a life without single-use plastic bags, Dallas says "No, not so much." We'll try education instead. I'm figuring that will be about as successful as the "Just say no" campaign was in stopping drug use.
While much of the world is considering a life without single-use plastic bags, Dallas says "No, not so much." We'll try education instead. I'm figuring that will be about as successful as the "Just say no" campaign was in stopping drug use.
Tony Romo's injury not the serious one
OK, so Tony Romo is going to miss three games. Big deal. If the Dallas Cowboys truly are as good as everyone seemed to think at one time, then Brad Johnson should do at least as well as counterparts Kerry Collins is doing in Tennessee right now (the Titans are the last undefeated team in the NFL) and Jeff Garcia did with Philadelphia two years ago. Johnson may be slow, but he's smart. The injury I'm more concerned about is the broken foot suffered by punter Mat McBriar. Today is the NFL trading deadline and I'm betting Jerry Jones is constantly on the phone searching for another punter and possibly a backup QB.
Al Davis said he fired Lane Kiffin as coach of the Oakland Raiders because Kiffin wouldn't unleash quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Well, Russell was unleashed Sunday and what did he do? He completed only 37 percent of his passes for 159 yards. He was sacked twice, was intercepted once and he lost a fumble. Hmmm.
Al Davis said he fired Lane Kiffin as coach of the Oakland Raiders because Kiffin wouldn't unleash quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Well, Russell was unleashed Sunday and what did he do? He completed only 37 percent of his passes for 159 yards. He was sacked twice, was intercepted once and he lost a fumble. Hmmm.
On this date in
1066 The forces of William the Conqueror defeated the Saxon army and killed King Harold II of England in the Battle of Hastings.
1322 Scotland gained its independence from England when Robert the Bruce of Scotland defeated King Edward II of England at Byland.
1586 Mary I of Scotland went on trial on charges of conspiring against Elizabeth I of England.
1789 George Washington proclaimed the first Thanksgiving Day.
1884 George Eastman patented paper-strip photographic film.
1912 Saloonkeeper John Schrank shot and wounded President Theodore Roosevelt.
1926 A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh was published.
1947 Chuck Yeager became the first person to pilot a plane at a speed faster than sound.
1962 A U-2 spy plane flying over Cuba took pictures of Soviet nuclear weapons being in installed, triggering the Cuban Missile Crisis.
1964 Leonid Brezhnev ousted Nikita Khruschev to become the leader of the Soviet Union; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
1967 Joan Baez was arrested in a blockade of a military induction center in Oakland, Calif.
1968 Jim Hines became the first runner in history to break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters during the Olympics in Mexico City; Apollo 7 featured the first live telecast from a manned space capsule.
1979 Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers scored the first of his National Hockey League record 894 goals in a game against Vancouver.
Born on this date
William Penn (1644-1718)
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969)
Lillian Gish (1893-1993)
E.E. Cummings (1894-1962)
Agustin Lara (1900-1970)
Bill Justis (1926-1982)
Died on this date:
John Marshall Harlan (1833-1911)
Erwin Rommel (1891-1944)
Errol Flynn (1909-1959)
Dame Edith Evans (1888-1976)
Bing Crosby (1903-1977)
Keenan Wynn (1916-1986)
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
Harold Robbins (1916-1997)
Cleveland Amory (1917-1998)
Patrick Dalzel-Job (1913-2003)
Freddy Fender (1937-2006)
1322 Scotland gained its independence from England when Robert the Bruce of Scotland defeated King Edward II of England at Byland.
1586 Mary I of Scotland went on trial on charges of conspiring against Elizabeth I of England.
1789 George Washington proclaimed the first Thanksgiving Day.
1884 George Eastman patented paper-strip photographic film.
1912 Saloonkeeper John Schrank shot and wounded President Theodore Roosevelt.
1926 A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh was published.
1947 Chuck Yeager became the first person to pilot a plane at a speed faster than sound.
1962 A U-2 spy plane flying over Cuba took pictures of Soviet nuclear weapons being in installed, triggering the Cuban Missile Crisis.
1964 Leonid Brezhnev ousted Nikita Khruschev to become the leader of the Soviet Union; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
1967 Joan Baez was arrested in a blockade of a military induction center in Oakland, Calif.
1968 Jim Hines became the first runner in history to break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters during the Olympics in Mexico City; Apollo 7 featured the first live telecast from a manned space capsule.
1979 Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers scored the first of his National Hockey League record 894 goals in a game against Vancouver.
Born on this date
William Penn (1644-1718)
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969)
Lillian Gish (1893-1993)
E.E. Cummings (1894-1962)
Agustin Lara (1900-1970)
Bill Justis (1926-1982)
Died on this date:
John Marshall Harlan (1833-1911)
Erwin Rommel (1891-1944)
Errol Flynn (1909-1959)
Dame Edith Evans (1888-1976)
Bing Crosby (1903-1977)
Keenan Wynn (1916-1986)
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
Harold Robbins (1916-1997)
Cleveland Amory (1917-1998)
Patrick Dalzel-Job (1913-2003)
Freddy Fender (1937-2006)
Monday, October 13, 2008
What happened to the surviving son?
I have one big question after reading this story in the Dallas Morning News about the murder of a woman and her her 4-year-old son 18 years ago. The story said the woman's "15-month-old son was unharmed, sitting on her bed gazing at his mother." Where is that son today? The story never says.
"Body" Bust
Ridley Scott's "Body of Lies" looks to continue the string of Iraq-themed movies that are box-office busts. It's opening weekend box office gross of $12.5 million is about $2.5 million below expectations. At best, the film will gross in the high $30 million range when its theatrical run ends. I'm figuring production and marketing costs probably amounted to around $200 million. OK, its foreign release and DVD will help a little, but this looks like another major financial dud.
On this date in
54 Nero became emperor of Rome.
1792 Construction began on the White House.
1843 B'nai B'rith was founded.
1845 Texas ratified a state constitution.
1885 The Georgia Institute of Technology was founded.
1943 Italy declared war on its former Axis partner Germany.
1960 Bill Mazeroski of the Pittsburgh Pirates became the first baseball player to end a World Series with a homerun.
1962 "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" opened on Broadway.
1967 The Oakland Oaks defeated the Anaheim Amigos in the first game played by teams of the American Basketball Association.
1971 The Baltimore Orioles played the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first night game in World Series history.
1983 AT&T launched the nation's first cellular phone network in Chicago.
Born on this date:
Lillie Langtry (1853-1929)
Art Tatum (1909-1956)
Cornel Wilde (1915-1989)
Burr Tillstrom (1917-1985)
Laraine Day (1920-2007)
Yves Montand (1921-1991)
Lenny Bruce (1925-1966)
Eddie Matthews (1931-2001)
Died on this date:
Claudius (10 BCE - 54)
Milton S. Hershey (1857-1945)
Clifton Webb (1889-1966)
Ed Sullivan (1901-1974)
Jean Peters (1926-2000)
1792 Construction began on the White House.
1843 B'nai B'rith was founded.
1845 Texas ratified a state constitution.
1885 The Georgia Institute of Technology was founded.
1943 Italy declared war on its former Axis partner Germany.
1960 Bill Mazeroski of the Pittsburgh Pirates became the first baseball player to end a World Series with a homerun.
1962 "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" opened on Broadway.
1967 The Oakland Oaks defeated the Anaheim Amigos in the first game played by teams of the American Basketball Association.
1971 The Baltimore Orioles played the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first night game in World Series history.
1983 AT&T launched the nation's first cellular phone network in Chicago.
Born on this date:
Lillie Langtry (1853-1929)
Art Tatum (1909-1956)
Cornel Wilde (1915-1989)
Burr Tillstrom (1917-1985)
Laraine Day (1920-2007)
Yves Montand (1921-1991)
Lenny Bruce (1925-1966)
Eddie Matthews (1931-2001)
Died on this date:
Claudius (10 BCE - 54)
Milton S. Hershey (1857-1945)
Clifton Webb (1889-1966)
Ed Sullivan (1901-1974)
Jean Peters (1926-2000)
Michael Connelly's new book: It may not be on a level of Superman meets Batman, but still ...
Michael Connelly is one of my favorite authors and his fictional Los Angeles Police Department detective Harry Bosch is my favorite character in the genre since Ross McDonald's private eye Lew Archer. Bosch made his first appearance in Connelly's 1992 novel "The Black Echo," which won the Edgar Award (presented by the Mystery Writers of America) as the best first novel of the year.
Since then, Connelly has written 12 other Bosch novels, the most recent one being "The Overlook" in 2006.
He has authored other novels, including "Blood Work" (1998) that was made into a movie starring Clint Eastwood. In 2005, he wrote a book called "The Lincoln Lawyer" that introduced an ambulance-chasing lawyer named Mickey Haller, a fascinating character whose office was one of his three Lincoln cars known for their outrageous vanity plates.
Connelly's just released novel, "The Brass Verdict," opens with the muder of a lawyer and Haller somehow inherits all his pending cases. When Haller goes to the lawyer's offices to go through his files, who should he find there but one Harry Bosch, the LAPD detective assigned to investigate the murder.
When I read "The Lincoln Lawyer," I felt that Haller and Bosch were simply the opposite sides of the same coin. It is only natural, then, that Connelly has brought these two together. This is a book I'm anxious to get my hands on.
Since then, Connelly has written 12 other Bosch novels, the most recent one being "The Overlook" in 2006.
He has authored other novels, including "Blood Work" (1998) that was made into a movie starring Clint Eastwood. In 2005, he wrote a book called "The Lincoln Lawyer" that introduced an ambulance-chasing lawyer named Mickey Haller, a fascinating character whose office was one of his three Lincoln cars known for their outrageous vanity plates.
Connelly's just released novel, "The Brass Verdict," opens with the muder of a lawyer and Haller somehow inherits all his pending cases. When Haller goes to the lawyer's offices to go through his files, who should he find there but one Harry Bosch, the LAPD detective assigned to investigate the murder.
When I read "The Lincoln Lawyer," I felt that Haller and Bosch were simply the opposite sides of the same coin. It is only natural, then, that Connelly has brought these two together. This is a book I'm anxious to get my hands on.
Broken pinkie sidelines Romo
The news keeps getting worse for the Dallas Cowboys. Not only did they look terrible yesterday in their loss to the Phoenix Cardinals, now comes word that quarterback Tony Romo may be out at least a month due to a broken pinkie finger on his throwing hand.
City wants to ban use of plastic shopping bags
The Dallas City Council's Transportation and Environment Committee is scheduled to hear a briefing today in which the city's staff will recommend ways shoppers reduce their use of single-use plastic shopping bags. According to the report, 1.6 billion gallons of oil is used in the United States each year to manufacture these bags and their average cost to consumers is $10 to $15 that is added to the cost of goods purchased.
The environmental concerns with these bags are that they clog storm drains, pollute streams, kill marine life or they wind up at the landfill where they slowly degrade into more toxic substances which contaminate the soil and waterways.
The city is going to recommend, as a start, working with Dallas-area retailers to establish collection bins where plastic bags can be returned for recycling (good luck on convincing consumers to do that) and offering consumers the option to purchase reusable shopping bags, which many stores now offer, but few consumers purchase. At the same time, the city would initiate a "public outreach program" that tells consumers you are not being nice if you opt between paper or plastic.
At the same time, the city would pursue "legislative authority to institute either a per unit refund fee or Refund Value of 5 cents per bag." I'm not sure that this means except that somebody is going to get 5 cents a bag and it ain't going to be the shoppers because the briefing says the money will be used to pay for plastic bag recycling centers and clean-up initiatives.
Over the long haul, within three to five years, the city wants the Council to pass an ordinance completely banning single-use plastic bags.
This could be an interesting briefing. However, it is the fifth briefing on the committee's agenda today so there's an excellent chance the committee won't even hear it. Stay tuned.
The environmental concerns with these bags are that they clog storm drains, pollute streams, kill marine life or they wind up at the landfill where they slowly degrade into more toxic substances which contaminate the soil and waterways.
The city is going to recommend, as a start, working with Dallas-area retailers to establish collection bins where plastic bags can be returned for recycling (good luck on convincing consumers to do that) and offering consumers the option to purchase reusable shopping bags, which many stores now offer, but few consumers purchase. At the same time, the city would initiate a "public outreach program" that tells consumers you are not being nice if you opt between paper or plastic.
At the same time, the city would pursue "legislative authority to institute either a per unit refund fee or Refund Value of 5 cents per bag." I'm not sure that this means except that somebody is going to get 5 cents a bag and it ain't going to be the shoppers because the briefing says the money will be used to pay for plastic bag recycling centers and clean-up initiatives.
Over the long haul, within three to five years, the city wants the Council to pass an ordinance completely banning single-use plastic bags.
This could be an interesting briefing. However, it is the fifth briefing on the committee's agenda today so there's an excellent chance the committee won't even hear it. Stay tuned.
If I voted in the poll ...
Here is what my ballot for the Top 25 college teams would look like this week
1. Texas (6-0)
2. Penn State (7-0)
3. Alabama (6-0)
4. Boise State (5-0)
5. Oklahoma State (6-0)
6. Southern California (4-1)
7. Oklahoma (5-1)
8. Florida (5-1)
9. Georgia (5-1)
10. Ohio State (6-1)
11. Texas Tech (6-0)
12. Utah (7-0)
13. BYU (6-0)
14. Ball State (7-0)
15. TCU (6-1)
16. California (4-1)
17. Michigan State (6-1)
18. Missouri (5-1)
19. Georgia Tech (5-1)
20. Oregon State (3-3)
21. Wake Forest (4-1)
22. North Carolina (5-1)
23. LSU (4-1)
24. Virginia Tech (5-1)
25. Minnesota (6-1)
1. Texas (6-0)
2. Penn State (7-0)
3. Alabama (6-0)
4. Boise State (5-0)
5. Oklahoma State (6-0)
6. Southern California (4-1)
7. Oklahoma (5-1)
8. Florida (5-1)
9. Georgia (5-1)
10. Ohio State (6-1)
11. Texas Tech (6-0)
12. Utah (7-0)
13. BYU (6-0)
14. Ball State (7-0)
15. TCU (6-1)
16. California (4-1)
17. Michigan State (6-1)
18. Missouri (5-1)
19. Georgia Tech (5-1)
20. Oregon State (3-3)
21. Wake Forest (4-1)
22. North Carolina (5-1)
23. LSU (4-1)
24. Virginia Tech (5-1)
25. Minnesota (6-1)
New movies to be released tomorrow week on DVD
(Click on title to see trailer)
4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days (2008) **** Pitch perfect and brilliantly acted, "4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days" is a stunning achievement, directed with a purity and honesty that captures not just the illegal abortion story at its core but the constant, unremarked negotiations necessary for survival in the final days of the Soviet bloc. Nothing good happens in this film, a riveting, horrifying chronicle of an illegal abortion performed in 1987 when Nicolae Ceauescu’s dictatorial hand still gripped Romania’s throat. And yet no lover of greatness in filmmaking will want to look away from one of the very best movies of the year. Tense, kinetic, intelligent and real – as if Paul Greengrass had remade "Vera Drake." An elegantly crafted, brilliantly acted film.
The Edge of Heaven (2008) ***½ Writer-director Fatih Akin divides this movie into thirds, and ends the first two sections with emotionally devastating scenes of violence, before easing into a third section that deals with the repercussions and lessons learned.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) **½ The biggest problem with this film is one that’s lately plagued director Steven Spielberg in otherwise excellent films like "Munich" and "War Of The Worlds": He fails to stick the landing. And for an entertainment with nothing much on its mind, that hurts.
Mongol (2008) *** With its breathtaking landscapes, bloody battles, bitter betrayals and an aching love story, this is a sumptuously crafted epic. It is purportedly the first in a multi-film saga on the wrath of Khan; as such, it’s probably the last thing you’d expect — great fun.
The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: Veggie Tales (2008) ** My 3-year-old granddaughter had a fine time, pronouncing the movie "very good" and backing up her assessment by going 90 minutes with barely a fidget. Which may actually be the highest compliment any movie can ask for.
Standard Operating Procedure (2008) *** Documentarian Errol Morris makes a persuasive case that many of the Abu Ghraib photos don’t show us what we think they do, and that some of the episodes depicted were staged specifically to be photographed (and might not otherwise have occurred). In presenting their testimony to the jury of public opinion, Morris would seem to be building a case for absolving some of them of mistreatment charges and implicitly asking for an investigation of those who were not charged.
Stuck (2008) **½ While not strictly a horror film, it is steeped in gore and carries a seam of mocking gallows humor as relentless as that of "Sweeney Todd." Mena Suvari’s increasingly loopy and cruel selfishness is its own nifty moral suspense, while Stephen Rea’s sad sack vibe — he already looks like a collision victim in the pre-accident scenes — is a bleakly amusing counterpoint to his gritty refusal to go quietly.
War, Inc. (2008) *½ A film that, in attempting to ridicule the Bush administration, finally just settles for being ridiculous itself.
4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days (2008) **** Pitch perfect and brilliantly acted, "4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days" is a stunning achievement, directed with a purity and honesty that captures not just the illegal abortion story at its core but the constant, unremarked negotiations necessary for survival in the final days of the Soviet bloc. Nothing good happens in this film, a riveting, horrifying chronicle of an illegal abortion performed in 1987 when Nicolae Ceauescu’s dictatorial hand still gripped Romania’s throat. And yet no lover of greatness in filmmaking will want to look away from one of the very best movies of the year. Tense, kinetic, intelligent and real – as if Paul Greengrass had remade "Vera Drake." An elegantly crafted, brilliantly acted film.
The Edge of Heaven (2008) ***½ Writer-director Fatih Akin divides this movie into thirds, and ends the first two sections with emotionally devastating scenes of violence, before easing into a third section that deals with the repercussions and lessons learned.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) **½ The biggest problem with this film is one that’s lately plagued director Steven Spielberg in otherwise excellent films like "Munich" and "War Of The Worlds": He fails to stick the landing. And for an entertainment with nothing much on its mind, that hurts.
Mongol (2008) *** With its breathtaking landscapes, bloody battles, bitter betrayals and an aching love story, this is a sumptuously crafted epic. It is purportedly the first in a multi-film saga on the wrath of Khan; as such, it’s probably the last thing you’d expect — great fun.
The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: Veggie Tales (2008) ** My 3-year-old granddaughter had a fine time, pronouncing the movie "very good" and backing up her assessment by going 90 minutes with barely a fidget. Which may actually be the highest compliment any movie can ask for.
Standard Operating Procedure (2008) *** Documentarian Errol Morris makes a persuasive case that many of the Abu Ghraib photos don’t show us what we think they do, and that some of the episodes depicted were staged specifically to be photographed (and might not otherwise have occurred). In presenting their testimony to the jury of public opinion, Morris would seem to be building a case for absolving some of them of mistreatment charges and implicitly asking for an investigation of those who were not charged.
Stuck (2008) **½ While not strictly a horror film, it is steeped in gore and carries a seam of mocking gallows humor as relentless as that of "Sweeney Todd." Mena Suvari’s increasingly loopy and cruel selfishness is its own nifty moral suspense, while Stephen Rea’s sad sack vibe — he already looks like a collision victim in the pre-accident scenes — is a bleakly amusing counterpoint to his gritty refusal to go quietly.
War, Inc. (2008) *½ A film that, in attempting to ridicule the Bush administration, finally just settles for being ridiculous itself.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Great news for the 'hood
Happened to notice this sign a couple of days ago at a small strip mall on the southeast corner of Abrams and Royal Lane and got all excited. Could this really be a direct offshoot of the Henderson's Chicken I loved when it was in the old State-Thomas area before that neighborhood was gentrified? Man, I remember many a night standing in line at that Henderson's, across the street from a closed movie theater that looked like it belonged in a Larry McMurtry novel. No drive-thru, no place to sit down in the joint. You stood in a line that circled the small restaurant's back wall (sometimes going out the door) until you reached the counter and made your order, which would then be stuffed in a soon-to-be-grease-stained white bag which you took to wherever you planned to eat it. Man, there was simply nothing better than Henderson's chicken.
When that location was forced to move, it opened what was for Henderson's, a state-of-the-art restaurant (it had a drive-thru) on the corner of Gaston and Fitzhugh, where Henderson's imitator Brothers is now located. I remember a bunch of us hopping in the car one New Year's Eve and heading down to Henderson's with the clock striking midnight just as I pulled up to the window. "Happy New Year!" I said to the woman at the window. Her reply: "That will be $14.80."
On Oct. 17, 1989 I was waiting on line at the Henderson's drive thru listening to the pre-game broadcast of World Series Game 3 between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A's, when suddenly the radio went quiet. Dammit, I thought, I wanted to hear this game. I naturally figured there was something wrong with the car radio, but when I switched to another station it worked perfectly. I switched back to the station, carrying the game -- nothing. Finally, about 15 minutes later, the station was back on the air and only then did I learn what happened. An earthquake had struck.
One night my son and I decided to attend a U2 concert at Reunion Arena. We didn't have tickets, but figured scalpers would be selling them at reduced prices once the show started. Our strategy was to go by Henderson's, pick up a couple orders of chicken and have our own pre-show picnic. We were sitting on a curb outside Reunion enjoying our chicken when two Dallas police officers approached us to tell us -- I just know it -- that we couldn't sit on the curb and eat. But as they approached one of them said: "Is that Henderson's you're eating." When we told them it was, they joined us on the curb swapping Henderson's story.
So today I'm driving down to Abrams and decided to stop by and have a look. As I peered inside the shaded windows of the storefront I saw someone inside and he saw me. He opened the door so I had to ask him if he was part of this Henderson's. He said that he was and he confirmed that, yes, indeed, this was to be a direct descendant of the original Henderson's. When I asked when it would open, he replied "Give us three weeks."
As I write this, I am unemployed, desperately looking for a legitimate (or at least semi-legitimate) way to make a living. The economy is going to hell all around me. I'm terribly afraid of what's going to happen to my beloved Longhorns tomorrow in the Cotton Bowl. But I've got two reasons to be optimistic about the near future. My granddaughter comes home Sunday and Henderson's is going to be opening in my neighborhood in three weeks.
A new low, even for Fox News
James Rainey, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times for more than 20 years really let Fox News have it in today's editions over its fake-posing-as-real documentary, "Obama and Friends: The History of Radicalism," that aired Sunday during newscaster Sean Hannity's segment "Hannity's America." Rainey wrote:
"Fox's hourlong screed is just the kind of media coverage that has contributed to the increasingly angry and irrational tone on the campaign trail. Even by the low standards of this election's advocacy journalism, the program plumbed new depths -- relying on innuendo and guilt by association to paint the Illinois senator as a dupe of the shadowy forces of the left."
But then Fox News has never ever pretended to be an unbiased news outlet. As Rainey writes, the channel's objective is to "blame all of the world's evils on those pointy-headed, America-hating liberals."
That's not news reporting, it's advocacy. Nothing wrong with that if it's correctly labeled. But then Fox News never does anything correctly.
"Fox's hourlong screed is just the kind of media coverage that has contributed to the increasingly angry and irrational tone on the campaign trail. Even by the low standards of this election's advocacy journalism, the program plumbed new depths -- relying on innuendo and guilt by association to paint the Illinois senator as a dupe of the shadowy forces of the left."
But then Fox News has never ever pretended to be an unbiased news outlet. As Rainey writes, the channel's objective is to "blame all of the world's evils on those pointy-headed, America-hating liberals."
That's not news reporting, it's advocacy. Nothing wrong with that if it's correctly labeled. But then Fox News never does anything correctly.
On this date in
1780 The deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record killed between 20,000 and 30,000 persons in the Caribbean.
1845 The Naval School (later called the United States Naval Academy) opened in Annapolis, Md.
1889 Barnard College was founded.
1911 An uprising began that led to the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China.
1957 President Dwight D. Eisenhower apologized to Komla Agbeli Gbedemah, the finance minister of Ghana, after the official had been refused service in a Dover, Del., restaurant.
1964 The 18th Summer Olympic Games opened in Tokyo.
1970 Fiji became independent after nearly a century of British rule.
1971 The reassembled London Bridge was opened in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
1973 Vice President Spiro T. Agnew resigned after being charged with income tax invasion.
1985 U.S. fighter jets forced an Egyptian plane carrying the hijackers of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro to land in Italy, where the gunmen were taken into custody.
Born on this date
Mary Plantagenet (1344-1362)
Henry Cavendish (1731-1810)
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Robert Gould Shaw (1837-1863)
Helen Hayes (1900-1993)
Ivory Joe Hunter (1914-1974)
Thelonious Monk (1917-1982)
James Clavell (1924-1994)
Richard Jaeckel (1926-1997)
Dana Elcar (1927-2005)
Jay Sebring (1933-1969)
Daniel Pearl (1963-2002)
Chris Penn (1965-2006)
Died on this date
William H. Seward (1801-1872)
Adolphus Busch (1839-1913)
Edith Piaf (1915-1963)
Eddie Cantor (1892-1964)
Ralph Richardson (1902-1983)
Yul Brynner (1920-1985)
Orson Welles (1915-1985)
Clark Clifford (1906-1998)
Ken Caminiti (1963-2004)
Christopher Reeve (1952-2004)
1845 The Naval School (later called the United States Naval Academy) opened in Annapolis, Md.
1889 Barnard College was founded.
1911 An uprising began that led to the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China.
1957 President Dwight D. Eisenhower apologized to Komla Agbeli Gbedemah, the finance minister of Ghana, after the official had been refused service in a Dover, Del., restaurant.
1964 The 18th Summer Olympic Games opened in Tokyo.
1970 Fiji became independent after nearly a century of British rule.
1971 The reassembled London Bridge was opened in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
1973 Vice President Spiro T. Agnew resigned after being charged with income tax invasion.
1985 U.S. fighter jets forced an Egyptian plane carrying the hijackers of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro to land in Italy, where the gunmen were taken into custody.
Born on this date
Mary Plantagenet (1344-1362)
Henry Cavendish (1731-1810)
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Robert Gould Shaw (1837-1863)
Helen Hayes (1900-1993)
Ivory Joe Hunter (1914-1974)
Thelonious Monk (1917-1982)
James Clavell (1924-1994)
Richard Jaeckel (1926-1997)
Dana Elcar (1927-2005)
Jay Sebring (1933-1969)
Daniel Pearl (1963-2002)
Chris Penn (1965-2006)
Died on this date
William H. Seward (1801-1872)
Adolphus Busch (1839-1913)
Edith Piaf (1915-1963)
Eddie Cantor (1892-1964)
Ralph Richardson (1902-1983)
Yul Brynner (1920-1985)
Orson Welles (1915-1985)
Clark Clifford (1906-1998)
Ken Caminiti (1963-2004)
Christopher Reeve (1952-2004)
Thursday, October 9, 2008
This, too, could happen at Kuby's
The Dallas Morning News contained a story on Page 5B today that said "A cuckooing chime and an hourly song and dance are headed to Snider Plaza. A large outdoor cuckoo clock is expected to be up and working, perched on the southeastern corner of the Kuby's Sausage House roof, within the next month."
All well and good, except this hilarious video should serve as a warning at what can happen when a cuckoo clock goes ... well ... cuckoo.
Why McCain's mortgage buyback plan is a disaster + a reasonable sounding alternative
During the Presidential debate Tuesday, John McCain announced a plan which would compel the Treasury Department to purchase troubled home loans. When he announced it I thought that really wasn't anything new -- that's already allowed in the recently passed and signed "bailout" bill. The only difference, I thought, was that the bailout bill made those purchases optional where McCain seemed to indicate they would be mandatory. However, as usual, the devil is in the details. It's what McCain didn't say about his plan that makes it even more of a disaster for taxpayers and another windfall for McCain's major contributors, the Wall Street financial institutions that caused this economic mess.
Under McCain's plan, taxpayer dollars would be used to buy the distressed mortgages from the banks at full, face value. Only then would the principals be discounted for the homeowner. That's right -- McCain's plan steals from taxpayers and gives that money to the financial institutions. Barack Obama's plan, on the other, requires the lender write down the principal and the only thing taxpayers' monies would be used for is as a guarantee that the loan would be paid. We would, in effect, become co-signers. In that way, the lenders, the borrowers and the taxpayers share in the effort to stabilize the homeowning market.
I also read today a proposal from Ambassador Marc Ginsberg who recommends the equivalent of a "New Deal" plan for current and prospective homeowners, much of which made a lot of sense to me. Ambassador Ginsberg recommends Obama enact a version of his economic stimulus package once he becomes President, assuming (probably correctly) that McCain the Deregulator is not going to be interested in that much government action to help middle class taxpayers purchase or stay in their homes. I especially liked his recommendation for a "government-guaranty fixed rate mortgage program offered through banks that would set a federally-mandated interest rate ceiling of 5.5 percent on 30 year fixed rate conforming mortgages," incentives to banks for "converting conforming adjustable rate mortgages to fixed rate mortgages" and his call for a "payment holiday" of 90 days to enable borrowers to regain their financial footing. Check it out.
Under McCain's plan, taxpayer dollars would be used to buy the distressed mortgages from the banks at full, face value. Only then would the principals be discounted for the homeowner. That's right -- McCain's plan steals from taxpayers and gives that money to the financial institutions. Barack Obama's plan, on the other, requires the lender write down the principal and the only thing taxpayers' monies would be used for is as a guarantee that the loan would be paid. We would, in effect, become co-signers. In that way, the lenders, the borrowers and the taxpayers share in the effort to stabilize the homeowning market.
I also read today a proposal from Ambassador Marc Ginsberg who recommends the equivalent of a "New Deal" plan for current and prospective homeowners, much of which made a lot of sense to me. Ambassador Ginsberg recommends Obama enact a version of his economic stimulus package once he becomes President, assuming (probably correctly) that McCain the Deregulator is not going to be interested in that much government action to help middle class taxpayers purchase or stay in their homes. I especially liked his recommendation for a "government-guaranty fixed rate mortgage program offered through banks that would set a federally-mandated interest rate ceiling of 5.5 percent on 30 year fixed rate conforming mortgages," incentives to banks for "converting conforming adjustable rate mortgages to fixed rate mortgages" and his call for a "payment holiday" of 90 days to enable borrowers to regain their financial footing. Check it out.
Quick! Pass me the white out!
It seems the reaction to this article in Monday's edition of Quick, the Dallas Morning News publication designed for those who don't read real newspapers, has been somewhat hostile, as well as it should be. I'm a pretty tolerant guy, but even I found this tasteless and, as a former Morning News editor, I can't understand how anyone could have let the story find its way into mainsteam print. There's a place for this kind of writing, but Quick isn't it.
Trinity Tonga Time
Yesterday, I mentioned a New York Times story about all the football players with a heritage to the Pacific Island of Tonga playing for the Euless Trinity High School football team, after which a friend pointed me in the direction of this video showing the team's pre-game whatever. Actually, it's pretty scary.
How hot is "W"?
Not so hot, if the first reviews are any indication. Variety's Todd McCarthy wrote the film "is unable to achieve any aims higher than as a sort of engaging pop-history pageant and amateur, if not inapt, psychological evaluation," and "feels like a rough draft of a film it might behoove (Oliver Stone) to remake in 10 or 15 years." Kirk Honeycutt of the Hollywood Reporter wrote: "It's a gutsy movie but not necessarily a good one," adding it comes "perilously close to a Saturday Night Live sketch."
Bad news on the baseball front
Viewership of the baseball playoffs was down 22 percent over what it was last year and with both Chicago teams and the Los Angeles Angels already eliminated, it doesn't look promising for the championship round. A lot of folks are blaming it on the New York factor: This is the first time in 13 years a New York team has not been involved in the playoffs. According to Variety, TV execs are praying for a Dodgers-Red Sox World Series.
The Numbers Game
Some statistics to ponder as we head into this week's Big 12 football games:
Missouri has not had a three-and-out all season.
At one point during this season, the Missouri offense scored on 15 consecutive possessions.
During the 1960 season, Nebraska completed 24 of 72 passes for 321 yards. That was for the entire season. This year Nebraska completed 20 of 36 passes for 345 yards in its first game
Oklahoma has not lost a fumble all season.
Texas, ranked fifth in the coaches poll, plays in consecutive weeks the team ranked No. 1 (Oklahoma) and No. 2 (Missouri). Then the schedule gets easier with games against No. 17 (Oklahoma State) and No. 7 (Texas Tech). Whew!
Five of the top six teams in total offense are in the Big 12: Tulsa is first followed in order by Missouri, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Texas. Oh, yeah, Kansas State is ninth.
On this date in
768 Carloman I and Charlemagne were crowned kings of the Franks.
1003 Leif Erikson landed in Canada to become the first European known to set foot in North America.
1514 Louis XII of France married Mary Tudor.
1635 Roger Williams was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for speaking out against certain religious offenses
1701 The Collegiate School of Connecticut (later renamed Yale University) was chartered.
1776 The Mission San Francisco de Asis was founded.
1888 The Washington Monument was opened to the public.
1919 The Cincinnati Reds won the World Series, known for the Black Sox Scandal.
1930 Laura Ingalls became the first woman to fly across the United States.
1967 Che Guevara was executed a day after being captured in Bolivia.
1986 The musical "Phantom of the Opera" had its first performance in London.
Born on this date
Robert de Sorbon (1201-1274)
Alfred Dreyfus (1859-1935)
Charles Walgreen (1873-1939)
Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944)
Bruce Catton (1899-1978)
Alastair Sim (1900-1976)
Walter O'Malley (1903-1979)
Jacques Tati (1907-1982)
E. Howard Hunt (1918-2007)
Lila Kedrova (1918-2000)
Johnny Stompanato (1925-1958)
John Lennon (1940-1980)
John Entwistle (1944-2002)
Savannah (1970-1994)
Died on this date
Helen Morgan (1900-1941)
Pope Pius XII (1876-1958)
Miriam Hopkins (1902-1972)
Oskar Schindler (1908-1974)
Jacques Brel (1929-1978)
Claire Boothe Luce (1903-1987)
Walter Kerr (1913-1996)
Dagmar (1921-2001)
Louis Nye (1913-2005)
1003 Leif Erikson landed in Canada to become the first European known to set foot in North America.
1514 Louis XII of France married Mary Tudor.
1635 Roger Williams was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for speaking out against certain religious offenses
1701 The Collegiate School of Connecticut (later renamed Yale University) was chartered.
1776 The Mission San Francisco de Asis was founded.
1888 The Washington Monument was opened to the public.
1919 The Cincinnati Reds won the World Series, known for the Black Sox Scandal.
1930 Laura Ingalls became the first woman to fly across the United States.
1967 Che Guevara was executed a day after being captured in Bolivia.
1986 The musical "Phantom of the Opera" had its first performance in London.
Born on this date
Robert de Sorbon (1201-1274)
Alfred Dreyfus (1859-1935)
Charles Walgreen (1873-1939)
Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944)
Bruce Catton (1899-1978)
Alastair Sim (1900-1976)
Walter O'Malley (1903-1979)
Jacques Tati (1907-1982)
E. Howard Hunt (1918-2007)
Lila Kedrova (1918-2000)
Johnny Stompanato (1925-1958)
John Lennon (1940-1980)
John Entwistle (1944-2002)
Savannah (1970-1994)
Died on this date
Helen Morgan (1900-1941)
Pope Pius XII (1876-1958)
Miriam Hopkins (1902-1972)
Oskar Schindler (1908-1974)
Jacques Brel (1929-1978)
Claire Boothe Luce (1903-1987)
Walter Kerr (1913-1996)
Dagmar (1921-2001)
Louis Nye (1913-2005)
Visiting Mars
The more I hear and read about the new television series "Life on Mars," the more I want to see it when it premieres tonight at 9 p.m. on Channel 8 (Digital Channel 368--for those with satellite dishes you'll have to do your own research).
At first I thought the show was going to be strictly based on a gimmick -- modern day detective, for some unexplained reason, finds himself moved back in time to 1973. But with a cast that includes Harvey Keitel, Michael Imperioli and Gretchen Mol and with comparisons to Martin Scorsese's "Mean Streets" (made in 1973, incidentally) it seems too enticing to pass up.
At first I thought the show was going to be strictly based on a gimmick -- modern day detective, for some unexplained reason, finds himself moved back in time to 1973. But with a cast that includes Harvey Keitel, Michael Imperioli and Gretchen Mol and with comparisons to Martin Scorsese's "Mean Streets" (made in 1973, incidentally) it seems too enticing to pass up.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Make mine a cheese Danish while Angela "wastes" her time
City Council member Angela Hunt is continuing her Marshall Fellowship tour of European counties. Before leaving Brussels for Germany, she said, she met with the head Danish Industries, which turned out to be a bunch of lobbyists. Today she is in Lubeck, Germany, where she's "visiting Lubeck's state-of-the-art waste treatment facility. In addition to cleaning waste, they also create refuse-derived fuel, which is used to generate electricity." Hey, Angela, just in case you don't know, we do the same thing right here.
Last night's debate
I personally found last night's debate to be a a major disappointment, with neither candidate really saying anything new, with the exception of McCain saying he would order the Treasury Department to buy troubled mortgages and negotiate new ones based on depressed values. The recently passed bailout bill already allows the Treasury Department to do this, but doesn't mandate it. My problem with this suggestion is that Treasury Department money is taxpayer money and it does more to bail out the greedy mortgage institutions that got us into this mess. Why not allow the courts to order the banks themselves to re-finance these mortgages? But then those institutions are some of McCain's biggest contributors.
All in all, I did not see anything that would alter the opinion of any voter last night.
The debate did seem to reinforce the notion of late conservative journalist Jude Wanniski who once referred to the Republican party as the "daddy" party and the Democratic party as the "mommy" party. When McCain talked about drilling for oil and building nuclear power plants as ways to re-invigorate the economy, Obama talked about education and health care, specifically citing the need for insurance that covers maternity care and mammograms.
Even McCain's own advisors admit that if the economy remains the primary issue between now and election Day, Obama wins. That's why McCain has sought to refocus the campaign with a series of appalling, racist commercials and has unleashed running mate Sarah Palin who has been going around making what can, at best, misleading and, at worst, libelous, attack speeches aimed at undermining Obama's character. Fortunately, McCain did his best not resort to those tactics last night, slipping up only by referring to Obama once as "that one" and to the Democrat's associates as "cronies."
There's one more debate scheduled for next Wednesday. I'm hoping we'll hear specific answers and straight talk in that one, but I wouldn't put a lot of money on it that we will. One more thing I would like to see in the final debate is more talk about "Here's precisely what I would do once I get into office" and eliminate all that "Here's why you can't trust my opponent" garbage. I really got tired at all finger pointing last night. I'm convinced it's those kind of tactics that convince American to simply say "a pox on both your houses" and boycott the election process.
All in all, I did not see anything that would alter the opinion of any voter last night.
The debate did seem to reinforce the notion of late conservative journalist Jude Wanniski who once referred to the Republican party as the "daddy" party and the Democratic party as the "mommy" party. When McCain talked about drilling for oil and building nuclear power plants as ways to re-invigorate the economy, Obama talked about education and health care, specifically citing the need for insurance that covers maternity care and mammograms.
Even McCain's own advisors admit that if the economy remains the primary issue between now and election Day, Obama wins. That's why McCain has sought to refocus the campaign with a series of appalling, racist commercials and has unleashed running mate Sarah Palin who has been going around making what can, at best, misleading and, at worst, libelous, attack speeches aimed at undermining Obama's character. Fortunately, McCain did his best not resort to those tactics last night, slipping up only by referring to Obama once as "that one" and to the Democrat's associates as "cronies."
There's one more debate scheduled for next Wednesday. I'm hoping we'll hear specific answers and straight talk in that one, but I wouldn't put a lot of money on it that we will. One more thing I would like to see in the final debate is more talk about "Here's precisely what I would do once I get into office" and eliminate all that "Here's why you can't trust my opponent" garbage. I really got tired at all finger pointing last night. I'm convinced it's those kind of tactics that convince American to simply say "a pox on both your houses" and boycott the election process.
On this date in
1871 The Great Chicago Fire broke out, eventually leaving 100,000 people homeless. It was one of four fires that broke out that day along the shores of Lake Michgan, the deadliest being in the town of Pershtigo, Wisconsin, which killed more persons (2,500) than any other fire in U.S. history.
1918 Cpl. Alvin York almost single-handedly killed 25 German soldiers and captured another 132 in a World War I battle in the Argonne Forest.
1934 Bruno Hauptmann was indicted for murder in the death of the infant child of aviation pioneer Charles Lindberg.
1944 "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" made its debut on CBS radio.
1956 Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history as the New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 2-0.
1970 Alexander Solzhenitsyn won the Nobel Prize for literature.
1974 Franklin National Bank collapsed, becoming the largest bank in the United States to fail up to that time.
1982 Poland banned Solidarity and all other labor unions.
2004 Martha Stewart reported to prison to begin serving a sentence for lying about a stock sale.
2005 The Kashmir earthquake killed 86,000 near the Pakistan-India border.
Born on this date
Edward Rickenbacker (1890-1973)
Juan Peron (1895-1974)
Rouben Mamoulian (1897-1987)
Billy Conn (1917-1993)
Walter Lord (1917-2002)
Danny Murtaugh (1917-1976)
Johnny Ramone (1948-2004)
Died on this date
Henry Fielding (1707-1754)
John Hancock (1737-1793)
Franklin Pierce (1804-1869)
Wendell Willkie (1892-1944)
Nigel Bruce (1895-1953)
Clement Attlee (1883-1967)
Fernando Lamas (1915-1982)
Joan Hackett (1934-1983)
Willy Brandt (1913-1992)
1918 Cpl. Alvin York almost single-handedly killed 25 German soldiers and captured another 132 in a World War I battle in the Argonne Forest.
1934 Bruno Hauptmann was indicted for murder in the death of the infant child of aviation pioneer Charles Lindberg.
1944 "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" made its debut on CBS radio.
1956 Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history as the New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 2-0.
1970 Alexander Solzhenitsyn won the Nobel Prize for literature.
1974 Franklin National Bank collapsed, becoming the largest bank in the United States to fail up to that time.
1982 Poland banned Solidarity and all other labor unions.
2004 Martha Stewart reported to prison to begin serving a sentence for lying about a stock sale.
2005 The Kashmir earthquake killed 86,000 near the Pakistan-India border.
Born on this date
Edward Rickenbacker (1890-1973)
Juan Peron (1895-1974)
Rouben Mamoulian (1897-1987)
Billy Conn (1917-1993)
Walter Lord (1917-2002)
Danny Murtaugh (1917-1976)
Johnny Ramone (1948-2004)
Died on this date
Henry Fielding (1707-1754)
John Hancock (1737-1793)
Franklin Pierce (1804-1869)
Wendell Willkie (1892-1944)
Nigel Bruce (1895-1953)
Clement Attlee (1883-1967)
Fernando Lamas (1915-1982)
Joan Hackett (1934-1983)
Willy Brandt (1913-1992)
Perhaps Euless Trinity should be renamed Bali High
The New York Times points out today that Euless Trinity, the mid-cities high school that has the top-ranked football team in the country, has an abundance of players from the Pacific island kingdom of Tonga. Twenty-four Trinity players have made the all-state team since 1980 and 13 of them are of Tongan descent. Sixteen members of the current roster are of Tongan descent.
The story also points out the Polynesian influence in areas of the community other than the football team -- the churches, the community organizations, even foreign language broadcasts on the local cable TV sections. What the story fails to do is really explain why Euless has been a magnet for people from Tonga, other to say that the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is located near there. But it doesn't explain why DFW is any more of an attraction than major airports in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, New York, Houston, etc.
Still, it's an interesting revelation that, to my knowledge, has been mostly overlooked by the local media.
The story also points out the Polynesian influence in areas of the community other than the football team -- the churches, the community organizations, even foreign language broadcasts on the local cable TV sections. What the story fails to do is really explain why Euless has been a magnet for people from Tonga, other to say that the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is located near there. But it doesn't explain why DFW is any more of an attraction than major airports in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, New York, Houston, etc.
Still, it's an interesting revelation that, to my knowledge, has been mostly overlooked by the local media.
Get a free smoke detector
The City of Dallas has a program that allows citizens to contact the Fire Department to have a free smoke detector installed at no charge in a resident's home. Council member Mitchell Rasansky said at today's City Council meeting that more people need to know about this. OK, Mitch, I'm going to do my part. Simply click here to request your free smoke detector.
Why drinking booze is good for your city
The Texas Hospitality Association is capitalizing on the economic downtown by telling cities that don't allow liquor sales they can enjoy major economic benefits if they go "wet." According to this THA report "A typical small community of 25,000 people having an income 10 percent below the state average can expect to generate $19 million in spending in the local economy, increase economic output by $10.8 million and create 185 jobs" by deciding to allow the sale of distilled beverages. "A town of 100,000 population with average income can expect to see an increase of $90 million in annual spending and an increase in economic output of almost $51 million while creating around 860 jobs" and "a large community of 150,000 people and per capita income levels 20 percent above the Texas average would generate a projected $134 million in new spending and almost $80 million in new economic activity while creating almost 1,400 new jobs."
It's also interesting to note that this report comes out just about a month before voters in Fort Worth, Greenville, Irving, Melissa, Roanoke, Southlake, Waxahachie, Weatherford and 11 other Texas cities go to the polls to decide on changes to laws governing alcohol sales.
Drink up and stay economically healthy.
It's also interesting to note that this report comes out just about a month before voters in Fort Worth, Greenville, Irving, Melissa, Roanoke, Southlake, Waxahachie, Weatherford and 11 other Texas cities go to the polls to decide on changes to laws governing alcohol sales.
Drink up and stay economically healthy.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
He still believes in a "promised land"
Bruce Springsteen has undertaken a one-man acoustic mini-tour on behalf of presidential candidate Barack Obama. Here he stops in Columbus, Ohio where he is introduced by former astronaut and former senator John Glen, says a few words and sings a few more.
It all culminates a week from Thursday when The Boss joins Billy Joel for an Obama rally at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The joint concert, the first time the two have ever performed together, will be held the day after the final Obama-John McCain debate which will take place just a few miles away at Hofstra University, in Hempstead, N.Y. Tickets for this show start art $500 and run as high as $10,000. However, I've heard all the tickets have been sold, although some are now being offered for $250,000. Yikes.
It all culminates a week from Thursday when The Boss joins Billy Joel for an Obama rally at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The joint concert, the first time the two have ever performed together, will be held the day after the final Obama-John McCain debate which will take place just a few miles away at Hofstra University, in Hempstead, N.Y. Tickets for this show start art $500 and run as high as $10,000. However, I've heard all the tickets have been sold, although some are now being offered for $250,000. Yikes.
She may not be perfect, but she's our sheriff.
Here's a reason to support Lupe Valdez for re-election to the office of Dallas County Sheriff: Sharon Boyd is on the other side.
The Wright man at shooting guard
New Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle is toying with starting Texas A&M alum Antoine Wright at shooting guard and having Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse come off the bench. The first sign of whether this experiment will bear fruit apparently will come tonight when the Mavs open their exhibition schedule tonight against Washington at the AAC.
What qualifies as a lead versus a supporting actor?
I don't know the answer to that question, but I have a feeling it may be about the egos of the actors involved. It sure doesn't have anything to do with the number of lines or screen time. William H. Macy was on-screen 15 minutes longer than Frances McDormand in "Fargo," yet she won an Oscar for lead actress and he was nominated for supporting. Ethan Hawke had the most lines and screen time in "Training Day," yet Hawke lost a supporting actor Oscar and Denzel Washington won in the lead category. Nicole Kidman had the fewest lines and screen time among herself, Julianne Moore and Meryl Streep in "The Hours." But Ms. Moore voluntarily asked to be considered a supporting acrtress and was nominated for an Oscar. Ms. Streep decided to take on Ms. Kidman in the lead category and wasn't nominated. I'm betting if Leonardo DiCaprio had told Oscar voters to put him in the supporting category, he would have won the Oscar for "The Departed." Instead, some voters supported him for lead, others for supporting. He wound up with a lead nomination that year for "Blood Diamond," which was nothing more than a consolation prize. Instead Mark Wahlberg, of all people, got "The Departed" supporting nomination.
I bring this up because of the upcoming film "Frost/Nixon." Right now Frank Langella as former President Nixon, seems a lock for leading actor nomination. I would have thought Michael Sheen, as TV commentator David Frost, would try for a supporting nomination even though he has more screen time and lines than Langella. After all, Sheen had more screen time and lines than Helen Mirren in "The Queen" and he tried to get a supporting nomination from that effort. But now I understand Sheen wants to be considered a lead actor. Technically, he is, but, realistically, I don't think he stands a chance of winning anything against Langella. Perhaps Sheen thinks the shadow of Heath Ledger is just too difficult to overcome in the supporting category this year.
I bring this up because of the upcoming film "Frost/Nixon." Right now Frank Langella as former President Nixon, seems a lock for leading actor nomination. I would have thought Michael Sheen, as TV commentator David Frost, would try for a supporting nomination even though he has more screen time and lines than Langella. After all, Sheen had more screen time and lines than Helen Mirren in "The Queen" and he tried to get a supporting nomination from that effort. But now I understand Sheen wants to be considered a lead actor. Technically, he is, but, realistically, I don't think he stands a chance of winning anything against Langella. Perhaps Sheen thinks the shadow of Heath Ledger is just too difficult to overcome in the supporting category this year.
On this date in
1542 Explorer Cabrillio discovered Santa Catalina Island.
1765 The Stamp Act Congress convened to draw up grievances against England.
1868 Cornell University opened with an enrollment of 412 students, the highest at any American university.
1916 Georgia Tech defeated Cumberland 220-0 in a college football game.
1919 KLM was founded.
1952 "American Bandstand" made its debut on a local Philadelphia television station.
1958 The U.S. manned spacecraft program was named Project Mercury.
1963 President Kennedy signed the Partial Test Ban Treaty.
1968 The Motion Picture Association of America adopted its film rating system.
1982 "Cats" opened on Broadway.
1985 The Palestine Liberation Organization hijacked the Achille Lauro.
1993 The Great Flood of 1993 ended in St. Louis.
1996 The Fox News Channel was launched.
1998 Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student, is found beaten and tied to a fence.
2001 Barry Bonds hit his 73rd home run of the season.
2003 California Gov. Gray Davis was recalled.
Born on this date
Granville Elliott (1713-1759)
Joe Hill (1879-1915)
Henry A. Wallace (1888-1965)
Elijah Muhammad (1897-1975)
Heinrich Himmler (1900-1945)
Andy Devine (1905-1977)
Vaughn Monroe (1911-1973)
Alfred Drake (1914-1992)
June Allyson (1917-2006)
1765 The Stamp Act Congress convened to draw up grievances against England.
1868 Cornell University opened with an enrollment of 412 students, the highest at any American university.
1916 Georgia Tech defeated Cumberland 220-0 in a college football game.
1919 KLM was founded.
1952 "American Bandstand" made its debut on a local Philadelphia television station.
1958 The U.S. manned spacecraft program was named Project Mercury.
1963 President Kennedy signed the Partial Test Ban Treaty.
1968 The Motion Picture Association of America adopted its film rating system.
1982 "Cats" opened on Broadway.
1985 The Palestine Liberation Organization hijacked the Achille Lauro.
1993 The Great Flood of 1993 ended in St. Louis.
1996 The Fox News Channel was launched.
1998 Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student, is found beaten and tied to a fence.
2001 Barry Bonds hit his 73rd home run of the season.
2003 California Gov. Gray Davis was recalled.
Born on this date
Granville Elliott (1713-1759)
Joe Hill (1879-1915)
Henry A. Wallace (1888-1965)
Elijah Muhammad (1897-1975)
Heinrich Himmler (1900-1945)
Andy Devine (1905-1977)
Vaughn Monroe (1911-1973)
Alfred Drake (1914-1992)
June Allyson (1917-2006)
Diana Lynn (1926-1971)
Cotton Fitzsimmons (1931-2004)
Died on this date:
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)
Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809-1894)
Christy Mathewson (1880-1925)
Clarence Birdseye (1886-1956)
Mario Lanza (1921-1959)
Leo Durocher (1905-1991)
Cyril Cusack (1910-1993)
Herblock (1909-2001)
Tonight we need answers, not evasions, no pre-planned speeches
Either Democrat Barack Obama or Republican John McCain is going to inherit one helluva financial mess next January and tonight, during their second televised debate, the two must outline to American voters what they plan to do about it.
Each candidate began their respective campaigns making promises and outlining programs. But then the financial crisis changed the entire landscape and the candidates have yet to fully come to grips with that reality. They need to explain how they will change their priorities in the wake of what has happened to our economy in the last months.
Mr. Obama has grudgingly admitted that some of his pet programs in energy independence, education and health care may have to be delayed, but he has yet to offer specifics. McCain just keeps talking about cutting federal spending and examining all areas of government, topics that have absolutely no relevance to the issue at hand.
The crisis is not about spending, it's about taxes and both candidates need to come face-to-face with that reality. Mr. Obama keeps talking about raising taxes on the wealthy to pay for his programs, but in this economy, I'm not sure that would be the proper course to take right now. Maybe in a few years, but not now. Mr. Obama needs to (1) accept this fact and (2) explain to us how this will change his priorities.
The heart of McCain's economic plan is to extend the Bush tax cuts permanently and recommend billions of new tax cuts. This is a sure recipe for disaster and McCain must admit tonight that this plan would implode our economy because it would destroy our ability to borrow the money needed to pay for the bailout.
Above all, however, we need to hear from each candidate how they plan to advocate for homeowners. At least Obama favors amending the bankruptcy code so courts can modify mortgages. McCain mistakenly thinks the mortgage industry will fix itself, some how, some way.
And finally, we need to hear specifically what each candidate would do to make sure something like this never happens again. Obama at least says he favors additional regulations. That's not enough, we need to hear specifics. Of course, Obama's stance is better than McCain's. Until just a few days ago, the GOP nominee has followed the Bush line of deregulation, which is what got us in this mess.
So please, guys, give the American people specific answers tonight.
Each candidate began their respective campaigns making promises and outlining programs. But then the financial crisis changed the entire landscape and the candidates have yet to fully come to grips with that reality. They need to explain how they will change their priorities in the wake of what has happened to our economy in the last months.
Mr. Obama has grudgingly admitted that some of his pet programs in energy independence, education and health care may have to be delayed, but he has yet to offer specifics. McCain just keeps talking about cutting federal spending and examining all areas of government, topics that have absolutely no relevance to the issue at hand.
The crisis is not about spending, it's about taxes and both candidates need to come face-to-face with that reality. Mr. Obama keeps talking about raising taxes on the wealthy to pay for his programs, but in this economy, I'm not sure that would be the proper course to take right now. Maybe in a few years, but not now. Mr. Obama needs to (1) accept this fact and (2) explain to us how this will change his priorities.
The heart of McCain's economic plan is to extend the Bush tax cuts permanently and recommend billions of new tax cuts. This is a sure recipe for disaster and McCain must admit tonight that this plan would implode our economy because it would destroy our ability to borrow the money needed to pay for the bailout.
Above all, however, we need to hear from each candidate how they plan to advocate for homeowners. At least Obama favors amending the bankruptcy code so courts can modify mortgages. McCain mistakenly thinks the mortgage industry will fix itself, some how, some way.
And finally, we need to hear specifically what each candidate would do to make sure something like this never happens again. Obama at least says he favors additional regulations. That's not enough, we need to hear specifics. Of course, Obama's stance is better than McCain's. Until just a few days ago, the GOP nominee has followed the Bush line of deregulation, which is what got us in this mess.
So please, guys, give the American people specific answers tonight.
Is Dallas' optimism realistic
In a survey of more than 300 municipalities released last month, the National League of Cities reported that four out of five finance officers said their cities would be less able to meet needs in 2009 than this year. The group called the findings troubling, with no sign of getting better.
“This is the first time for at least two decades that all three major general tax sources — property, income and sales — have all declined at the same time,” said Michael A. Pagano, a co-author of the report and dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois, Chicago. “That’s the real frightening thing for cities.”
“It’s not like the 2000 or 1991 recessions; those hit the coasts first and flowed to the middle,” Dr. Pagano continued. “This one doesn’t differentiate between high-tech and low-tech cities, manufacturing towns or new exurbs.”
Los Angeles and Chicago are facing budget shortfalls in the $400 million range. New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has ordered $1.5 billion in cuts during the next two fiscal years.
Even Tempe, Ariz., is looking to cut 75 to 100 city positions.
Yet, here in Dallas, we have an administration that keeps telling us "Everything is OK. Property values are going up. Sales tax revenues will increase. No problems here." I would really like to believe them, but ....
“This is the first time for at least two decades that all three major general tax sources — property, income and sales — have all declined at the same time,” said Michael A. Pagano, a co-author of the report and dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois, Chicago. “That’s the real frightening thing for cities.”
“It’s not like the 2000 or 1991 recessions; those hit the coasts first and flowed to the middle,” Dr. Pagano continued. “This one doesn’t differentiate between high-tech and low-tech cities, manufacturing towns or new exurbs.”
Los Angeles and Chicago are facing budget shortfalls in the $400 million range. New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has ordered $1.5 billion in cuts during the next two fiscal years.
Even Tempe, Ariz., is looking to cut 75 to 100 city positions.
Yet, here in Dallas, we have an administration that keeps telling us "Everything is OK. Property values are going up. Sales tax revenues will increase. No problems here." I would really like to believe them, but ....
Twogether in Texas: how cute, how unnecessary
The state is spending $16 million of our taxes on a pre-marriage counseling program. Government officials say it's needed to curb the growing divorce rate. Although those already married can get advice, it looks to me as if this program is geared to those who have not yet tied the knot.
In the great scheme of government things, $16 million isn't a whole lot of money (although more than I'll ever see in my lifetime), but it seems to me that in an era when our public school teachers are woefully underpaid, when the DISD is forced to layoff teachers, the state could find better uses for this money.
In the great scheme of government things, $16 million isn't a whole lot of money (although more than I'll ever see in my lifetime), but it seems to me that in an era when our public school teachers are woefully underpaid, when the DISD is forced to layoff teachers, the state could find better uses for this money.
And what would you like to be when you grow up?
Gee, daddy, my dream is to someday breed rats and mice. You know all these laboratories need a plentiful supply of rats and mice and I could provide them. I might even get zoos interested in buying them. And you know what I'll call it? It will be The Big Cheese Rodent Factory and I will be known as "The Big Cheese." That's my dream, daddy. Just one thing, however. Do you think the neighbors might complain?
Monday, October 6, 2008
"W" is ready
I heard that Oliver Stone's "W" is finally ready and will be screened for select media tomorrow in advance of a major junket scheduled for later this week. I've also heard that the film will be recognized and talked about more for its performances than for its storyline, which primarily explores the relationship between George W. and his father. And, finally, I've heard (but don't hold me to this) the film ends in an imagined scene in which President Bush I goes over the top in a tirade leveled at his son, saying something to the effect that, thanks to George W., no one named Bush will ever be elected President again.
On this date in
1884 The Naval War College was founded.
1889 The Moulin Rouge cafe opened in Paris.
1889 Thomas Edison showed his first motion picture.
1927 "The Jazz Singer," regarded as the first talking picture, opened.
1928 Chiang Kai-shek became chairman of the Republic of China.
1945 Billy Sianis and his pet billy goat are ejected from Wrigley Field during Game 4 of the World Series.
1966 LSD is delcared illegal in the United States.
1973 Egyptian troops crossed the Suez Canal beginning the Yom Kippur War.
1981 Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated.
1987 The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 9-5 against the nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court.
Born on this date:
1820 Jenny Lind.
1846 George Westinghouse
1905 Helen Wills Moody
1906 Janet Gaynor
1908 Carole Lombard
1914 Thor Heyerdahl
Died on this date:
1892 Alfred Tennyson
1951 Will Keith Kellogg
1962 Tod Browning
1973 Sidney Blackmer
1983 Terence Cardinal Cooke
1985 Nelson Riddle
1989 Bette Davis
1992 Denholm Elliott
1997 Johnny Vander Meer
1998 Mark Belanger
2000 Richard Farnsworth
1889 The Moulin Rouge cafe opened in Paris.
1889 Thomas Edison showed his first motion picture.
1927 "The Jazz Singer," regarded as the first talking picture, opened.
1928 Chiang Kai-shek became chairman of the Republic of China.
1945 Billy Sianis and his pet billy goat are ejected from Wrigley Field during Game 4 of the World Series.
1966 LSD is delcared illegal in the United States.
1973 Egyptian troops crossed the Suez Canal beginning the Yom Kippur War.
1981 Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated.
1987 The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 9-5 against the nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court.
Born on this date:
1820 Jenny Lind.
1846 George Westinghouse
1905 Helen Wills Moody
1906 Janet Gaynor
1908 Carole Lombard
1914 Thor Heyerdahl
Died on this date:
1892 Alfred Tennyson
1951 Will Keith Kellogg
1962 Tod Browning
1973 Sidney Blackmer
1983 Terence Cardinal Cooke
1985 Nelson Riddle
1989 Bette Davis
1992 Denholm Elliott
1997 Johnny Vander Meer
1998 Mark Belanger
2000 Richard Farnsworth
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