New movies to be released tomorrow on DVD

17 Again (2009) **½ Director, Burr Steers, whose other credits include Igby Goes Down and stints directing TV shows, keeps people and things moving fast enough so that you don’t have time to worry about the details, like the inanity of the story.

Alien Trespass (2009) **½ Although it’s refreshing that this film doesn’t indulge in the sort of mindless, gross-out humor that afflicts so many current cinematic spoofs, it errs too much on the other side, offering mere pastiche instead of witty satire.

The Class (2008) ***** Filmmaker Laurent Cantet’s real-time classroom scenes are revelations: They make you understand that teaching is moment to moment, an endless series of negotiations that hang on intangibles—on imagination and empathy and the struggle to stay centered. This is a remarkable movie.

Gigantic (2009) ** It’s just not all that interesting to watch two pretty young things go through the muddled rituals of the pas de duh when I can, you know, do it just as poorly myself.

Gooby (2009) Unseen by me.

I Love You, Man (2009) ***½ The picture is worth catching for the delicate and toxic nuances of Paul Rudd’s performance. And one of its funniest corollaries is that it shows how hilarious and instructive a star this perennial supporting player can be.

Nights and Weekends (2008) *** Some may find the result boring or unpolished, but there’s poetry — not to mention a fair dose of comedy — in the mix.

Paris 36 (2009) ** The movie is essentially a pastiche, as musty as a flea market.

Ten best Streeps and new Streeps

While agreeing with me that Meryl Streep is the best actress in the history of movies, writer Sasha Stone decided to (1) compile a list of the 10 best Streep performances and (2) the top 10 young actresses most likely to "win an Oscar either soon or at some point in the near future."

The top 10 Streep performances are (named without seeing Julie and Julia):
1. Sophie's Choice
2. The Devil Wears Prada
3. Postcards From the Edge
4. Silkwood
5. Doubt
6. Kramer vs. Kramer
7. Manhattan
8. Out of Africa
9. One True Thing
10. The Bridges of Madison County

The top 10 young actresses:
1. Carey Mulligan
2. Amy Adams
3. Keira Knightley
4. Ann Hathaway
5. Natalie Portman
6. Rachel McAdams
7. Abbie Cornish
8. Ellen Page
9. Saoirse Ronan
10. (tie) Keke Palmer, Rebecca Hall

While I'm sure Ms. Mulligan will be nominated for an Oscar next year and might even win it, she doesn't have enough of a track record for me to list her at the top of such a list. I would put the top pictured Amy Adams No. 1 with me followed by the next-pictured Ms. Hathaway.

NY Times on Kansas State's 2009 football prospects

Kansas State fans should be overjoyed about the return of their legendary coach Bill Snyder, who proved one fact true during his previous tenure: only one man can win in Manhattan, and it’s Bill Snyder. Unfortunately, due to his predecessor’s ineptness, Snyder will again be forced to spend much of his first season cleaning up a messy roster and, in the process, reversing the foul culture that came to define this program over the prior two seasons. There is no question Snyder can do that in his first season; he’s done it before. But can he get the Wildcats back into the mix in the Big 12 North? It’s not a great group, especially given the fact that Missouri is due to come back to earth in 2009, but I don’t think this team has the weapons to challenge for the division crown. I am concerned about the quarterback position, and thusly the offense as a whole, which will need to be at least above average to play with the high-octane offenses in the conference. I have fewer questions about the defense, partly because of the defensive coordinator tandem of Vic Koenning and Chris Cosh and partly because of the unit’s athleticism. Looking at K-State’s schedule, I predict the team to finish 6-6, 3-5 in the Big 12. Not bowl eligible because two of those wins will come against F.C.S. teams (Massachusetts and Tennessee Tech), and an F.B.S. school cannot be bowl eligible with six wins if more than one of those victories came against an F.C.S. opponent. But if Snyder gets this team playing his style of football, there is no reason it can’t be a nuisance to the rest of the Big 12 North.

Appealing to the lowest common denominator

A.O. Scott has a remarkable essay in today's New York Times in which he laments the fact that studios are rarely marketing or even producing films for adults. He writes:

"...those reliable axioms about the taste and expectations of the mass movie audience are not so much laws of nature as artifacts of corporate strategy. And the lessons derived from them conveniently serve to strengthen a status quo that increasingly marginalizes risk, originality and intelligence. The big lesson of the summer of 2009 is that those qualities, while they may be desirable in some abstract, ideal way, don’t pay the bills. The studios, housed in large and beleaguered media conglomerates, have grown more cautious as the economy has faltered, releasing fewer movies and concentrating resources on dependable formulas. Nearly every big hit so far has been part of a franchise built on an established cultural brand. "

His conclusion:

"...go see Up, the only hugely successful movie of the summer that engages genuinely adult themes. It’s about loss, frustration, disappointment. And it offers one of the season’s most pointed and paradoxical lessons. If you want to make a mature film for mature audiences, make sure it’s a cartoon."

Justice Sotomayor from a young Latino's point of view

I found this op-ed piece, written by a Rebbeca Acuna, that ran in Friday's Austin American-Statesman so moving, that I am reprinting it here:

Watching our nation's first African American president nominate the first Latina to the Supreme Court was surreal. Immediately after Obama's nomination of Sonia Sotomayor, I texted my mother, "Mom, a Latina just got nominated to the Supreme Court!" She quickly responded, "I know, how exciting!"

As I reflected on the historic nature of that nomination, I thought about the ways that I could relate to Sotomayor's life. Like her father, my mother did not speak English when she first came to the United States. My own journey to college was a long and difficult one. As an immigrant from a low-income household I spent many nights frustrated that, despite my good grades, a higher education would be unattainable. After much perseverance, and with the support and love of our family, my sister and I were the first to attend college and graduate from the University of Texas.

And while my story was not uncommon in South Texas, where I grew up, it was a story not very visible in the public sphere, and much less on the Supreme Court.

Sotomayor grew up poor in a Bronx housing project and was raised by a single mother after the death of her father. Her dedication took her to Ivy League schools and subsequently led to a rewarding legal career. However, Sotomayor's story is no less American than Sen. John Cornyn's or that of the other justices. It represents the background of the people I grew up with, and that of millions across the nation.

Estimates predict that, by 2025, one in four U.S. students will be Latino. Sotomayor's ascendance from a housing project to the United States Supreme Court will enthuse young Latinos across the country and remind them that they too have a shot at the American dream. Her presence will bolster the aspirations and shift the expectations of what's achievable for young women and Latinos from working class households.

There is no doubt that Sotomayor has excellent academic and legal credentials that make her qualified to serve on the Supreme Court. With her quintessentially American story, she will be a great role model to Americans from all backgrounds.

Obama's nomination of Sotomayor renewed and strengthened the promise that, in America, all things are possible.It has shown how much we've grown as a country since 2005, when anti-immigrant legislation was prevalent and resulted in hostility toward Latinos.

The president's nomination of Sotomayor says to me, "You too are America."

Acuna is a policy analyst and communications director in Austin for state Rep. Garnet F. Coleman. She grew up in McAllen and Laredo.

A letter about the anti-health reform mobsters

There's been a lot of media coverage about organized mobs intimidating lawmakers, disrupting town halls, and silencing real discussion about the need for real health insurance reform.

The truth is, it's a sham. These "grassroots protests" are being organized and largely paid for by Washington special interests and insurance companies who are desperate to block reform. They're trying to use lies and fear to break the President and his agenda for change.

Health insurance reform is about our lives, our jobs, and our families -- we can't let distortions and intimidation get in the way. We need to expose these outrageous tactics, and we're counting on you to help. Can you read these "5 facts about the anti-reform mobs," then pass them along to your friends and family?

5 facts about the anti-reform mobs

1. These disruptions are being funded and organized by out-of-district special-interest groups and insurance companies who fear that health insurance reform could help Americans, but hurt their bottom line. A group run by the same folks who made the "Swiftboat" ads against John Kerry is compiling a list of congressional events in August to disrupt. An insurance company coalition has stationed employees in 30 states to track where local lawmakers hold town-hall meetings.

2. People are scared because they are being fed frightening lies. These crowds are being riled up by anti-reform lies being spread by industry front groups that invent smears to tarnish the President's plan and scare voters. But as the President has repeatedly said, health insurance reform will create more health care choices for the American people, not reduce them. If you like your insurance or your doctor, you can keep them, and there is no "government takeover" in any part of any plan supported by the President or Congress.

3. Their actions are getting more extreme. Texas protesters brought signs displaying a tombstone for Rep. Lloyd Doggett and using the "SS" symbol to compare President Obama's policies to Nazism. Maryland Rep. Frank Kratovil was hanged in effigy outside his district office. Rep. Tim Bishop of New York had to be escorted to his car by police after an angry few disrupted his town hall meeting -- and more examples like this come in every day. And they have gone beyond just trying to derail the President's health insurance reform plans, they are trying to "break" the President himself and ruin his Presidency.

4. Their goal is to disrupt and shut down legitimate conversation. Protesters have routinely shouted down representatives trying to engage in constructive dialogue with voters, and done everything they can to intimidate and silence regular people who just want more information. One attack group has even published a manual instructing protesters to "stand up and shout" and try to "rattle" lawmakers to prevent them from talking peacefully with their constituents.

5. Republican leadership is irresponsibly cheering on the thuggish crowds. Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner issued a statement applauding and promoting a video of the disruptions and looking forward to "a long, hot August for Democrats in Congress."

It's time to expose this charade, before it gets more dangerous. Please send these facts to everyone you know. You can also post them on your website, blog, or Facebook page.

Now, more than ever, we need to stand strong together and defend the truth.

Thanks,
Jen

Jen O'Malley Dillon
Executive Director
Democratic National Committee

My Hero. Meryl and Me

As part of an absolutely marvelous birthday celebration, My Hero, her oldest son (and my good buddy) and I went to see Julie and Julia Friday and I was reminded once again that Meryl Streep is the greatest actress in the history of film.

New York Times on Texas A&M's 2009 football prospects

Regardless of how poorly equipped Mike Sherman may be to handle the job of head coach, or how inept the defense was a season ago, the Aggies should be able to roll out of bed and reach six wins this fall. Why? A 3-0 start should be a guarantee, for starters, despite last fall’s slip-up to Arkansas State. From there, Arkansas may be a toss-up, but A&M will have momentum and probably a pro-Aggie crowd in its favor. Let’s say, for argument’s sake, the Aggies lose to the Razorbacks, leaving them 3-1 as it enters Big 12 play. I give the team one win over Iowa State, one out of Kansas State and Colorado, and a third win over Baylor. Yes, the Baylor team that pushed the Aggies around a season ago. But this game is in College Station, where the Bears haven’t won since 1984. So that’s my prediction: 6-6, but no better. One thing is clear: A&M is as far off the two big dogs – Oklahoma and Texas – as it has been in some time.

The advantages of being a fat guy

This inmate has been re-sentenced to 10 years at Jenny Craig.

Take me to the PILOT out of control

In an earlier post, I already suggested that PILOT -- money Dallas Water Utilities pays into the General Fund and is reimbursed to the DWC through higher water rates you pay -- is nothing more than a hidden tax increase.

Let me give offer this example to prove my point: You hire me to perform a service and we agree on a payment that includes an hourly fee, which you think is reasonable, plus my expenses billed at cost (no markup), which you also think is fair. The parallel to the city budget is that my hourly fee corresponds to your property taxes, and my expenses corresponds to fees you pay to the city (water bills, parking meters, golf fees, etc.)

After the first month, you get my bill and you see that my expenses include rent I paid to myself for living and working out of a house I own. Now, if you think this is a legitimate expense that you should reimburse me for, you're going to love PILOT.

Just a reminder: Your tax rate will increase

The Dallas city manager's proposed budget and the Dallas city council is making a big deal about not raising the property tax rate, even though projections showed that potential revenue for the upcoming year was, at one point, $190 million less that projected expenses. So, to make ends meet, the city cut expenses without demanding a revenue increase in the form of a property tax rate (although many fees are being increased, which, if all goes according to plan -- and it never does -- are designed to bring in additional revenue.)

What we're talking about here is something called the General Fund, which actually comprises less than half of the city's entire budget. The General Fund ($1.016 billion out of the total city budget of $2.720 billion) pays for the operations of all the city's services except Aviation, Convention & Event Services, Municipal Radio, Storm Water Management, Water Utilities and, for the most part, Sanitation Services. Those services are paid for from funds they each collect from separate billings (i.e., the money to operate Water, Storm Water and Sanitation comes from the money residents pay each month in their water bill; Municipal Radio gets income from advertising sales; Convention & Event Services from the conventions booked; Aviation from landing fees and leasing property at the three airports operated by the city, etc.).

But there is another part of the city's budget known as the Capital Budget. This is what funds the major construction projects. They are financed through the sale of bonds and in 2006 voters approved the largest bond sale in the city's history. That approval meant that, to pay for those bonds, the property tax rate would increase during the five ensuing years after the vote.

So when you hear your property tax rate is not going to increase because of this budget, that is technically true. But your tax rate will increase this year because of the passage of 2006 bond package.

Shrinking City Hall

The new proposed Dallas city budget is available now on the city's Web site. One of the parts I found most interesting was comparing the various departments the city has now to what it will have if the City Council approves the city manager's proposal, which, except for a few minor tweaks, is likely. (The picture here of the new Dallas Center for the Performing Arts is the photo on the cover of the City Manager's proposed budget)

Current City Departments (34)

Aviation

Budget and Management Services

Building Inspection

Business Development and Procurement

City Controller's Office

Civil Service

Code Compliance

Communications and Information Services

Convention and Event Services

Court and Detention Services

Development Services

Economic Development

Efficiency Team

Environmental and Health Services

Equipment and Building Services

Fair Housing

Fire-Rescue

Housing

Human Resources/Risk Management

Intergovernmental Services

Library

Mayor & Council Office

Office of Cultural Affairs

Office of Emergency Management

Office of Environmental Quality

Park and Recreation

Police Department

Public Information Office

Public Works and Transportation

Sanitation Services

Strategic Customer Service

Street Services

Trinity River

Water Utilities

City Departments Beginning Oct. 1 (24)

Aviation

Business Development and Procurement

City Controller

Civil Service

Code Compliance

Communications and Information Services

Convention and Event Services

Court and Detention Services

Economic Development

Equipment and Building Services

Fire-Rescue

Housing/Community Services

Human Resources/Risk Safety

Library

Mayor and Council Office

Office of Financial Services

Park and Recreation

Police Department

Public Works and Transportation

Sanitation Services

Street Services

Sustainable Development and Construction

Trinity Watershed Management

Water Utilities

Budget town hall meetings

I was expecting the Dallas city manager's proposed budget for the next fiscal year would be on the city's Web site by now, but no such luck. What is there, however, is a list of the budget townhall meetings, those fun little gripe sessions where not enough people to make a difference show up, are treated to a power point presentation from an assistant city manager or, in many cases, City Manager Mary Suhm herself, and those in attendance get to complain about the reduced hours at rec centers and libraries as though someone can manufacture money and do something about it. The art farts will pack Angela Hunt's townhall meetings and complain about how the Department of Cultural Affairs is being merged with the Library Department (since I have not seen the final budget, this is conjecture; but I have heard this will be part of Ms. Suhm's budget) and will argue that the arts actually generate a lot of income for the city, which might be true, but not the art programs that were once subsidized by the city. I have no problem whatsoever with the city cutting the purse strings on these arts programs; they should be underwritten by the private sector or left to wither on the vine.

I guarantee you the one thing that will go over everybody's head: PILOT. That's a shifty program the city has to raise your taxes and hide that fact in the form of a water rate increase. The way it works is this: Instead of you paying additional taxes, Dallas Water Utilities pays them for you' That's right -- DWC forks over a significant amount of cash to shore up the city's General Fund. Then, to cover this expense, DWC raises your water rates. In fact, PILOT stands for Payment in Lieu of Taxes. Now, what the city will tell you is that every other utility pays the city taxes, so why not the water utility. Of course, the reason is that the water utility is part of the city so it is essentially taking money out of your left pocket and moving it over to your right pocket, except in this case they are forcing water customers to pay for the shift.

So, what say you? Why not attend one of these town hall meetings and ask about PILOT and watch the song and dance you'll see. It can be very entertaining. And ask them to defend the idea that it is not a hidden tax increase.

And while you're there, congratulate the folks in the Sanitation Services Department. They are actually reducing their rate by 64 cents a month. That may not seem like a lot (the annual savings is a whopping $7.68), but the operative word here is "reduce." In this budget cycle, with everything else going up, the amount Sanitation's reduction is irrelevant. But then you might say, "But they're cutting back on my trash pickup to once a week." To which I'll reply: "A good portion of the city is already receiving once-a-week garbage pickup and they like it just fine." It means people will recycle more (recycling pickup will also be once a week, not biweekly), and air quality will be improved marginally by fewer garbage trucks running around our streets and alleyways. It should be noted, too, that most other U.S. metropolitan areas feature once-a-week garbage pickup and only once or, at the most, twice a year bulky trash pickup, while we will continue to have it once a month (for the next fiscal year, at least). I know of at least one city council person who would like to see the sanitation rate cut even more, and eliminating bulky trash pickup completely is one of the ways this council person sees as a way of accomplishing this. But, hey, if you agree with that notion, bring that up at one of the below-listed townhall meetings as well. It would be more constructive that moaning about rec center or library hours or even eliminating a lot of arts funding.

There's some differences in the town hall meeting schedules this year. Not all of them are in the evening --Vonciel Hill has a couple at noon and Pauline Medrano has scheduled one for 10 a.m. -- and some are being held on Wednesdays. That day was usually left open in the past, because that is when the City Council holds its weekly meetings. Jerry Allen has scheduled one for Aiken Elementary School, which is not even located in his district, but should be after the next redistricting. The busiest date is Sept. 1 when six town hall meetings are scheduled (which should stretch the city's staff pretty thin). And Ms. Hill may be setting a modern-day record by hosting seven -- count em, seven -- budget town hall meetings.

Monday
Anita Martinez Rec Center, 3212 N. Winnetka; 6:30 p.m., Steve Salazar, host
Tommy Allen Rec Center, 7071 Bonnie View Road; 7 p.m.; Tennell Atkins, host
Tuesday
Kleberg Rylie Rec Center, 1515 Edd Road; 7 p.m., Tennell Atkins, host
Wednesday
Jaycee/Zaragoza Rec Center, 3114 Clymer; 6:30 p.m.; Steve Salazar, host
Thursday
MLK Jr. Senior Center, Building E, 2901 Pennsylvania Ave.; 6:30 p.m.; Carolyn Davis, host
Monday, Aug. 17
South Oak Cliff High School Auditorium, 3601 S. Marsalis; 7 p.m.; Dwaine Carraway, host
Singing Hills Rec Center, 1909 Crouch; 6:30 p.m.; Vonciel Hill, host
Tuesday, Aug. 18
Thurgood Marshall Rec Center; 5151 Mark Trail Way; 6:30 p.m.; Vonciel Hill, host
Bachman Rec Center, 2750 Bachman Drive; 6:30 p.m.; Steve Salazar, host
Lake Highlands Freshman Center Auditorium, 10200 White Rock Trail; 7 p.m.; Jerry Allen, host

West Dallas Multipurpose Center, 2828 Fish Trap; 6:30 p.m.; Dave Neumann, host
Wednesday, Aug. 19
Arcadia Park Library, 1302 N. Justin; 6:30 p.m.; Steve Salazar, host
Thursday, Aug. 20
North Central Police Station, 6969 McCallum; 7 p.m.; Ron Natinsky, host
Fruitdale Rec Center, 4408 Vandervoort; 6:30 p.m.; Vonciel Hill, host
Peak Academy Cafeteria, 4600 Bryan; 6:30 p.m.; Pauline Medrano, host
Eloise Lundy Rec Center, 1229 Sabine; 6:30 p.m.; Carolyn Davis, host
Hitt Auditorium, Methodist Hospital, 1441 N. Beckley; 6:30 p.m.; Dave Neumann, Delia Jasso, co-hosts
Monday, Aug. 24
Auditorium, Edna Rowe Elementary, 4918 Hovenkamp; 7 p.m.; Dwaine Carraway, host
Room 108/109, Pleasant Gove Campus, Eastfield College, 802 S. Buckner, 6:30 p.m.; Vonciel Hill, host
Skyline Public Library Auditorium, 6006 Everglade; 6:30 p.m., Carolyn Davis, host
Tuesday, Aug, 25
Pleasant Oaks Rec Center, 8701 Greenmound; 6:30 p.m., Vonciel Hill, host
The Brady Center, 4009 Elm; 10 a.m.; Pauline Medrano, host
Kiest Rec Center, 3080 S. Hampton; 6:30 p.m.; Dave Neumann, host
St. Thomas Aquinas Drama Room, 3741 Abrams; 6:30 p.m.; Angela Hunt, Sheffie Kadane, co-hosts
Thursday, Aug. 27
Umphress Rec Center, 7616 Umphress; 7 p.m., Dwaine Carraway, host
Fretz Rec Center, 6950 Belt Line, 7 p.m.; Linda Koop, Ron Natinsky, co-hosts
Visiting Nurse Association, 1440 Mockingbird; 6:30 p.m.; Pauline Medrano, host
White Rock Church of Christ, 9220 Ferguson, 6:30 p.m., Carolyn Davis, host
Winfrey Point, 950 E. Lawther; 6:30 p.m.; Sheffie Kadane, host
Monday, Aug. 31
Mark Twain Elementary, 724 Green Cove, 7 p.m.; Dwaine Carraway, host
Cummings Rec Center, 2976 Cummings; noon; Vonciel Hill, host
Frontiers of Flight Museum, 6911 Lemmon; 6:30 p.m.; Angela Hunt, host
Tuesday, Sept. 1
Walnut Hill Rec Center, 10011 Midway; 7 p.m.; Ann Margolin, host
Pleasant Oaks Rec Center, 8701 Greenmound; noon; Vonciel Hill, host
Aiken Elementary, 12300 Pleasant Valley, 7 p.m.; Jerry Allen, host
Fireside Rec Center, 8601 Fireside; 7 p.m.; Tennell Atkins, host
Village Country Club, 8308 Southwestern; 6:30 p.m.; Angela Hunt, host
Martin Weiss Rec Center, 1111 Martindale; 6:30 p.m.; Delia Jasso, host
Thursday, Sept. 3
Beckley Saner Rec Center, 114 W. Hobson; 7 p.m.; Dwaine Carraway, host
Churchill Rec Center, 6906 Churchill; 7 p.m.; Linda Koop, host
Park in the Woods Rec Center, 6801 Mountain Creek; 7 p.m.; Dave Neumann, host
Lee Park Arlington Hall, 3333 Turtle Creek; 6:30 p.m.; Angela Hunt, host
Tuesday, Sept. 8
Paul Laurance Dunbar Library, 2008 E. Keist; 7 p.m.; Dwaine Carraway, host
Ronald McNair Elementary, 3150 Bainbridge; 7 p.m.; Tennell Atkins, host

What could be a worse idea than Steven Spielberg remaking "Harvey"?

Bob Dylan making a Christmas album, that's what. But from what I'm hearing, His Bobness (who appeared in concert earlier this evening with John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson in Grand Prairie), has recorded four Christmas songs at Jackson Browne's studios in Santa Monica, Calif., and plans to release his Christmas album -- well, you know when he'll release it. The songs he's recorded so far are Must Be Santa, Here Comes Santa Claus, I'll be Home for Christmas and, hold on for this one, O Little Town of Bethlehem. Frankly, I would rather he finally authorize the CD release of Dylan than to continue with this idea.

For what it's worth: Last night's Top 5 rated television shows

1. So You Think You Can Dance, 7 p.m., Fox
2. The Mentalist, 9 p.m., CBS
3. CSI, 8 p.m., CBS
4. Big Brother 11, 7 p.m., CBS
5. Law and Order, 9 p.m., NBC

Where the wild things might be

Catherine Keener is one of my favorite actresses working in films today and, for the most part, I have been a fan of the films of director Spike Jonze. I loved the result of their collaboration on Being John Malkovich. I'll never forget how she delivered the line "Check, please." (Watch it and see what I mean.) However, I have mixed feelings about Jonze's latest film. Where the Wild Things Are, opening in October. For one thing, judging from this trailer, Ms. Keener doesn't have all that much screen time and some of my other favorite actors -- James Gandolfini, Forest Whitaker and Paul Dano -- have voice credits only. Finally, I think the creatures look stupid.

New York Times' prediction for Baylor's 2009 football season

Yeah, I’ve got Baylor tied with Texas A&M for fifth in the Big 12 South and 10th in the Big 12 over all. Are Baylor fans going to be happy with that? No, probably not. Despite winning only four games last fall, the Baylor fan base is beyond optimistic for the potential of this year’s team, and anything less than a bowl trip may be considered a disappointment. Fair? Oh, definitely not. But thanks to head coach Art Briles, and his achievement reversing Baylor’s losing culture, optimism clearly rules the day. And there is reason to be excited: B.U. has a wonderful coach, a future Heisman contender in sophomore quarterback Howard Griffin III and two potential all-Americans on its defense in senior middle linebacker Joe Pawelek and senior free safety Jordan Lake, though the entire defense is not yet up to par. Can the Bears get to six wins? Yes, but it will be close. To do so, there is no doubt Baylor needs to enter Big 12 play at 3-1, meaning it will need to take one of Wake Forest and Connecticut. Doable. That would leave the Bears needing a 3-5 finish in Big 12 play, something the program has done only once. Briles could coach my team any day, and Griffin is must-see television … but I’ve got the Bears at 5-7, 2-6 in the Big 12, just shy of bowl eligibility. I’m just concerned where the team – while not your Baylor squad of old – is going to get three Big 12 wins. Iowa State is one, but where else? Nebraska at home? Not going to happen. Missouri on the road? Perhaps. A&M on the road? Baylor won last year, no reason to think it can’t win again. A 5-7 finish, with most of the offense slated to be back in 2010 and another stellar recruiting class on the way, should not be viewed as a failure.

I'm fighting for you

--David Horsey, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

They've called out the mob

The Democratic National Committee has just release a new commercial in which it says Republicans, who failed to win at the polls, are now resorting to mob rule to get their way. And, if the recent outbursts at Congressional townhall meetings are any indicators, it seems like the right-wingnut ants are marching.

Two entirely different family films

In one, It's Complicated, Meryl Streep plays a woman who has an affair with her remarried ex-husband, Alec Baldwin, while also being courted by an architect played by Steve Martin. For some reason, this doesn't work for me -- at least, not a first glance. It reminds me a little of Something's Gotta Give, which may be because both are from the same filmmaker, Nancy Meyers.

The other, The Boys Are Back, looks a little more promising. It stars Clive Owen as a writer whose wife dies suddenly and must raise his two sons on his own.

G.I. Joe to be the summer's final blockbuster

Jeffrey Wells doesn't think so. He says the G.I. Joe film will do $30 million max, more likely $20 million. He's more of an expert at these things than I, but I'm thinking Julia and Julie will do $20 million and Joe's box office should be closer to $50 million. Here's why: the movie-going public has shown a fascination for action heroes and seeing things being blown up; G.I. Joe, from what I'm led to believe, has that in spades. The other reason I'm thinking big for Joe is because I had lunch Tuesday with a close buddy who always sees the box office winners on the weekends of their release and he told me over some El Fenix enchiladas that he was planning on seeing G.I. Joe this weekend. That's all the proof I need.

For what it's worth: Last night's Top 5 rated television shows

1. America's Got Talent, 8 p.m., NBC
2. So You Think You Can Dance, 8 p.m., Fox
3. Wipeout, 7 p.m., ABC
4. CSI: N.Y., 9 p.m., CBS
5. So You Think You Can Dance, 7 p.m., Fox

The New York Times on Rice's 2009 football season

You’d think that after forecasting Rice to bring up the bottom of the conference last fall I’d do my best to avoid underestimating the Owls in 2009. Alas, it seems I have yet to learn my lesson. Still, I remain confident that in 2009, extreme losses on offense will prevent a repeat of last fall, when an extremely potent passing attack covered up the team’s continued defensive ineffectiveness. This is a pretty simple premise: Lose your best players, control the ball less often, score less often; control the ball less, the other team has the ball more, they score more. Making matters worse, the schedule is at least equally difficult to a season ago. After the season opener at U.A.B., the Owls take on six consecutive 2008 bowl participants. That’s not a great recipe for success. Still, I’m much higher on this Rice team than I was entering the 2008 season. If all goes right (entering the U.C.F. game at 3-4, for instance), I imagine Rice will reach bowl eligibility. Despite getting burned a season ago, I don’t think Rice will be that good. I predict its losses on offense and a tough first two months will doom the Owls to a 5-7 finish in 2009, with a definite possibility of 4-8 if last year’s understudies don’t take to their new roles.

Only three legitimate Heishman hopefuls

Mark my words: One of three quarterbacks will win the Heisman Trophy, awarded each year to the outstanding player in college football, and two of the three have already won the award. Unless they each succomb to a season-ending injury, I promise you the Heisman will be won by either Florida's Tim Tebow, who won it two years ago, Oklahoma's Sam Bradford, the current Heisman holder, or Texas' Colt McCoy.

Good night, John

I must admit, I was never a big John Hughes fan. Most of his movies were a little too schmaltzy for my taste. He was like a Frank Capra for the generation right behind mine. I will give him this, though: When we saw his generation was outgrowing what he was trying to sell, he just took his billions and retired as a filmmaker at the tender age of 41. He did continue to write, although I doubt many will want to remember him for his last idea, Drillbit Taylor.

I will also give him this: He had a great eye for discovering previously unknown talent. His films provided breakout vehicles for the likes of Matthew Broderick, Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy, Macaulay Caulkin, John Cusack, Judd Nelson, Steve Carell, Lili Taylor, Bill Paxton and, of course, John Candy.

If I had to pick one Hughes film that I would want to be a part of my film library it would be Planes, Trains and Automobiles, a film critic Roger Ebert called "a funny movie, but also a surprisingly warm and sweet one." Of Hughes' more famous "teen" films, Ebert wrote: "He took teenagers seriously, and his films are distinctive for showing them as individuals with real hopes, ambitions, problems and behavior."

There goes Missoula's chances at hosting the Final Four

Looks like it won't ever take place in Dover, Eugene or Lake Tahoe either. However, Boise is still in the running, as is Cheyenne and Fargo, N.D.

Stallworth's reinstatement

I'm not sure how house arrest is defined, legally, but it seems to me it should prevent Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth from playing in the NFL for at least the next two years.

Does Barbra have an ulterior motive?

I've got this funny feeling that Barbra Streisand is trying to resuscitate her career with a live DVD/CD.

Sessions continues to lie to his constituents about healt care

Like most of his fellow Republicans, congressman Peter Sessions continues to spread false information about pending health care legislation -- or, at least, he's not willing to correct others when they are wrong.

No one -- absolutely no one -- is is even hinting at a government takeover of health care. What is being proposed is a government-subsidized insurance alternative for those who, for whatever reason, don't have health insurance now or those who might want less expensive, more comprehensive health insurance coverage.

But if you're fortunate enough to have health insurance and, if for some strange reason, you are satisfied with your current plan, the proposed legislation would not force you to give it up.

The best zoos in the United States

I'm no authority on this, but my cousin is. Back in 1990, when she was in charge of the aviary section of the Bronx Zoo, she provided my son and I with a day at that institution I'll never forget. She was subsequently hired by the folks at Disney to get their Animal Kingdom project in Orlando underway.

During today's debate on privatizing the Dallas Zoo, City Council member Angela Hunt wanted to know what were the top ranked zoos in America and how they were managed. I'll leave it to others to explain the second part of her question; however, my cousin just told me that most "experts" would agree on the following ranking of the 10 best zoos in the United States:

1. San Diego Zoo, San Diego, Calif.
2. Disney's Kingdom, Orlando, Fla. (This was not a self-serving mention her part: This park contains 500 acres that are home to some 1,700 animals representing 250 different species throughout the park.)
3. San Diego Wild Animal Park, San Diego, Calif.
4. Maryland Zoo, Baltimore, Md.
5. Bronx Zoo, New York, N.Y.
6. Columbus Zoo, Ohio
7. San Antonio Zoo
8. Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Neb.
9. Phoenix Zoo
10. St. Louis Zoo

Close behind:
Audubon Zoo, New Orleans
Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley, Minn.
Cincinnati Zoo

The U.S. Travel Guide offers this list:
1. Columbus Zoo
2. San Diego Zoo
3. Lion County Safari, West Palm Beach, Fla.
4. Phoenix Zoo
5. Fort Worth Zoo
6. Houston Zoo
7. Cincinnati Zoo
8. Disney's Wild Animal Kingdom
9. Philadelphia Zoo
10. Audubon Zoo

Here are the choices from an organization called United States Tourist Attractions:
1. San Diego Zoo
2. Brookfield Zoo, Chicago
3. San Diego Wild Animal Park
4. Albuquerque Biological Park
5. Pittsburgh Zoo
6. National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C.
7. Bronx Zoo
8. Oklahoma City Zoo
9. Phoenix Zoo
10. St. Louis Zoo

Dallas will privatize its zoo

The reaction from Dallas City Council members to the idea of having the Dallas Zoological Society take over the operations at the city's zoo has been overwhelmingly positive during today's council briefing on the idea. Even council member Carolyn Davis, who, as usual, didn't really understand the concept, seems ready to vote in favor of the transfer when it comes before the council for a vote a week from today.

What I did find amazing about today's briefing was the overwhelming praise for the zoo from the council members. Have these people ever visited a real zoo -- San Diego, Bronx, Washington, Chicago, even the Fort Worth Zoo? The Dallas Zoo has a long way to go to reach the levels of those institutions.

Council member Tennell Atkins did not attend today's briefing, so I don't know which way he'll vote, but I'm guessing next week's decision on this could quite easily be unanimous in favor of the deal.

Hanks halts Harvey

Tom Hanks has decided he doesn't want to be compared with Jimmy Stewart and has decided to withdraw from consideration for playing the lead in Steven Spielberg's planned remake of Harvey. From what I'm hearing, Will Smith is next in line for consideration. This project is going downhill faster than I imagined it would.

For what it's worth: Last night's Top 5 rated television shows

1. America's Got Talent, 8 p.m., NBC
2. NCIS, 7 p.m., CBS
3. America's Got Talent, 7 p.m., NBC
4. Big Brother, 8 p.m., CBS
5. Hell's Kitchen, 7 p.m., Fox

Dem bones, dem bones, dem lovely bones

One of the most anticipated films this year is The Lovely Bones because (1) it is an adaptation of a best-selling, much loved novel (which is told from the point of view of a murdered girl) and (2) because it is the latest effort from director Peter (Lord of the Rings) Jackson. I'm a little concerned because, since his magnificent film Heavenly Creatures, Jackson has virtually abandoned making films that have anything to do with character development, which this story depends on, and, judging from this trailer, the film may not be told from the same viewpoint as the novel.

New York Times on SMU's 2009 football prospects

I’m still not ready to anoint SMU. capable of making a bowl appearance, but I am confident we’ll see a much better on-field product in coach June Jones’s second season. To take a monumental step forward, the team would need to make significant improvements in their ball control and on defense, two areas where I remain skeptical of SMU’s abilities. Still, there is good reason to predict anywhere from three to five wins in 2009. Looking at the schedule, SMU both opens and closes its season with its most winnable games. This makes the heart of a season truly deadly, but allows the team to both enter and end 2009 on a good note. With another year under their belts and a set of recruits to install in the system, I think the Mustang offense will be better this fall than last, but the offensive line remains a concern. Likewise for the defense, which returns eight starters but lacks quality depth and playmakers to stop some of Conference USA’s most explosive offenses (Houston and Tulsa, for instance). Over all, I predict SMU to make a three-game improvement: 4-8, 3-5 in conference play. The program’s not there yet, but its on its way. The team couldn’t ask for a better coach running the show.

For what it's worth: Last night's Top 10 rated television shows

1. Two and a Half Men, 8, CBS
2. The Big Bang Theory, 8:30, CBS
3. C.S.I. Miami, 9, CBS
4. Dateline: NBC, 9, NBC
5. Law and Order: Criminal Intent, 8, NBC
6. Rules of Engagement, 7:30, CBS
7. How I Met Your Mother, 7, CBS
8. Great American Road Trip, 7, NBC
9. House, 7, Fox
10. Sugarland, Live on the Inside, 7, ABC

Someone is "Taken" from Liam Neeson again

Judging from this trailer for The Other Man, Liam Neeson is starting to make a career of making films in which he must track down people who take relatives from him. This time it's his wife (Laura Linney) who is Taken, but it appears, from the trailer at least, she is taken willingly by Antonio Banderas (and what woman wouldn't?).

I guess Neeson is just biding his time waiting for Steven Spielberg to follow through on casting Neeson in the title role of his planned filmed biography of Abraham Lincoln. As am I. In fact, I wish St. Steven would go ahead and finally tackle that long-delayed project instead of his planned remake of Harvey with, presumably, the safe Tom Hanks as Elwood P. Dowd. I was thinking late last night that this idea could possibly be salvaged by casting Jack Nicholson in the lead: He would bring a nice edge of borderline insanity to the part

Good night, Desperados

Don't your feet get cold in the winter time?

The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine

It's hard to tell the night time from the day

You're loosin all your highs and lows

Ain't it funny how the feeling goes away?

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?

Come down from your fences, open the gate

It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you

You better let somebody love you, before its too late

--D. Henley, G. Frey

Olberman: "You were meant to serve the people, not the corporations"

Commentator Keith Olberman let individual members Congress who oppose a federal health care alternative have it with both barrels in a marvelously worded and delivered commentary last night. He said the Republican Party was purchased and owned by the nation's insurance and pharmaceutical companies, those that want to keep the costs of health care out of the financial reach of many Americans, but he didn't spare the so-called "Blue Dog Democrats" either, suggesting the word "Blue" should just be removed from their designation.

He brought up an interesting point: The very plan these members of Congress want to deny the American people is the same plan they have for their own health insurance.

New York Times on North Texas' 2009 football prospects

I had hopes that the Mean Green would begin to put it together in their second season under Todd Dodge, but the team’s complete lack of progress leaves me skeptical about their future under the former high school coach. I remain optimistic that the offense, now under the direction of the coach’s son, will become more potent, but the program’s recent aversion to any form of defense leads me to predict more struggles for U.N.T. in 2009. Making matters worse, the growing competitiveness of the Sun Belt means no easy weeks in conference play – though Western Kentucky could be a win – meaning the Mean Green will have to scratch and claw its way to every victory. The pressure is really on Dodge to show some progress; his contract will likely keep him around regardless of their final record, but another one- or two-win season makes his future very bleak. I see North Texas finishing 2-10, with a win over W.K.U. keeping them out of the basement in the Sun Belt.

Go, Jose, Go

Robert Wilonsky of the Dallas Observer talked to the family of Jose Escobedo today and reports Jose ain't ripping up his lawn regardless of the idiotic edict from the Landmark Commission nazis. Even if the city council ultimately rules that Jose's turf must go, he says it's staying. That's the way to stand up for your rights, Jose.

Ann vs. Angela

Da Mayor charged Dallas City Council member Jerry Allen of Lake Highlands with finding ways to trim the Dallas City Council's budget. One of his ideas was to cut the number of city secretaries in half and letting each councilmember share one. District 14 council member Angela Hunt didn't cotton to that idea one bit: "... with the significant cuts in many city services, the council is going to see an increase in constituent phone calls and service requests, and the proposal to eliminate half the secretaries will, in my opinion, reduce our ability to respond to residents," Ms. Hunt wrote recently.

Freshman District 13 council member Ann Margolin sees it differently, however. "I have agreed to share a secretary and cut my office and travel budget by 25%," she writes.

I'm going to have to side with the freshman on this one. True, council members, in Ms. Hunt's words will "see an increase in constituent phone calls and service requests," but those can be handled by the council assistants, not the secretaries.

One thing they do agree on is cutting all that paper wasted on printing council agenda materials. Ms. Margolin writes: "I am also advocating reducing our annual council bill for printing agendas which costs about $140,000 ...:" and Ms. Hunt's list of suggest council budget cuts contained this item: "Eliminate photocopying agenda materials (use online agenda). Savings: $148,000." These materials were hand-delivered to council members at their homes on Friday evenings and going to an on-line agenda would also mean eliminating that delivery service, which Ms. Hunt noted, would save another $6,024.

Ledger's last still in limbo

You would think with his posthumous Academy Award and all the good feelings surrounding the late Heath Ledger, one would have no trouble getting his final film into theaters. But that's simply not the case. Terry Gilliam brought the film, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, to Cannes where, as I understood, it picked up a European distributor, but not an American one. So Gilliam showed his product at the recent Comic-Con. Still, no takers, although the ever-optimistic Gilliam says he is talking to potential suitors. We'll see.

The New York Times on Texas Tech's 2009 football season

Only in the Big 12 South could a team as talented as Texas Tech be relegated to second-tier status. This is the case because of a pair of teams in Oklahoma and Texas who will rank in the top five, and another in Oklahoma State which could perhaps squeeze into the preseason top 10. Unfortunately, the Red Raiders need to play all three. I have no doubt that the offense – which I don’t think will miss a beat – will hang with this talented opponents, but I’m unsure if the defense has what it takes to lift Tech above eight regular-season wins. Not that victories aren’t there for the taking: North Dakota, Rice, New Mexico, Kansas State, A&M, Kansas and Baylor should all be victories. Nebraska and Houston are toss-ups (I think Tech will beat U.H., however), as is, to a lesser degree, Oklahoma State. But there are two clear favorites in the South this year, Oklahoma and Texas. I’m not predicting any major drop-off for the Raiders, but I doubt this team’s ability to again finish atop the division. My prediction: 8-4, 4-4 in the Big 12.

Let them eat dirt and be without air conditioning

Pretty good looking front yard, if I do say so myself. Too bad the owner of this property is being forced by some historic-preservation Nazis to rip it up and replace it with weeds and dirt.

The property in question belongs to one Jose Escobedo who, unfortunately, lives in Junius Heights where, if for some reason the neighbors don't like you (because, say, you walk your well trained, friendly dog around the neighborhood without a leash) they'll turn you in to the strong arm of the neighborhood vigilante committee. That's what happened to Mr. Escobedo. Although his front yard looks pretty swell, some no-goodnick in his hood threw up her arms and screamed "Oh, my, heavens to Betsy. That's not God-made grass out there."

And it's true. It's fake grass. That means it looks nice. It will never need water (water conservationists, take note). It will never need to be mowed (air conservationists, take note). It will never need fertilizer (oh, never mind). And it will never be allowed to remain in Junius Heights which is under the cruel thumb of the Landmark Commission, which ruled today "Jose, da turf has gotta go."

Jose and I have a lot in common. We both detest yard work. I have a townhome where the homeowners association takes care of the front yard and I have covered the non-patio section of the back yard in plastic sheeting topped with mulch. The Landmark Commission doesn't do yard work -- it just forces everyone else to. Well, it can try. Mr. Escobedo says he still won't do yard work and all the Landmarks and all the Commissions in the world can't force him to do that. If he has to yank his lawn, he'll just leave it as dirt and weeds, by gum. See how the neighbors like that. Of course, that's why the city of Dallas has Code Nazis as well.

Here was one stupid comment from Landmark commissioner Ann Piper. She said (possibly even with a straight face) that the Junius Heights neighborhood dates back to the early 1900s and "there wouldn't have been artificial turf used in that period." Hate to break this to you, Ann, but I'm betting they didn't have air conditioning in that period either. If that is the precedent you are using to force Mr. Escobedo to yank up his lawn, then I'm suggesting Mr. Escobedo should petition the Commission to force all Junius Heights resident to yank out their air conditioning systems. Air conditioning? Hell, these folks probably didn't even have electricity at all or even indoor plumbing in the early 1900s. So what say you, Ann? Let's really return to those find ol' days and see how the residents like that -- especially the one that squealed on Mr. Escobedo to the Landmark Commission.

Spielberg pulls 6-foot rabbit from hat

The news that Steven Spielberg will remake the 1950 classic Harvey makes me worry that his version might be more like Donnie Darko than the comedy that starred James Stewart as a regularly inebriated chap whose best friend is an invisible 6-3½ tall rabbit. Guessing is open on who could play the James Stewart part. I'm thinking Bruce Willis could pull it off.

New movies to be released tomorrow on DVD

Delgo (2008) *½ A few magic rocks and tepid battle scenes do little to inspire interest in the goings-on as Malcolm McDowell and Eric Idle spout villainy and punch lines, respectively.

Mutant Chronicles (2009) Unseen by me.

The Mysteries of Pittsburgh (2009) ** You know a movie’s got problems when the most memorable thing about it is Sienna Miller’s mustache.

Obsessed (2009) * Ali Larter just doesn’t have the same bite as the bunny-killing stalkers of years gone by.

Race to Witch Mountain (2009) **½ Dwayne Johnson charms you through the worst of it, but the effects are cheap, the dialogue is about as challenging as a Hannah Montana episode, and the pace manages to be both brisk and numbing.

The Soloist (2009) *** The film is imperfect, periodically if unsurprisingly sentimental, overly tidy and often very moving.

Here's what the New York Times has to say about Kansas' 2009 football season

It’s hard to take Kansas seriously as a Top 20 contender when the Jayhawks continue to struggle against the better teams on its schedule. Even in 2007, when K.U. won a school-record 12 games, only one victory came against a B.C.S.-conference opponent with more than seven wins. The story continued a season ago, with the Jayhawks struggling through a 3-5 mark – 2-4 in the Big 12 – against opponents who finished the season with a winning record. Is there any reason to think this season will be any different? Kansas gets Nebraska – this one is big – and Oklahoma at home, but must go to Colorado, Texas Tech and Texas while facing Missouri at a neutral site. This is not a schedule conducive to success. In no way am I saying Kansas will struggle for a bowl bid, or does not have at least a solid chance at winning nine or 10 games; I just cannot put the Jayhawks in the Top 25 when given my confidence that the team will lose four games. (Senior quarterback Todd) Reesing is a marvel and the two top receivers as good as any pair in the country; the secondary talented enough to slow down some of the Big 12’s explosive passing attacks; and, as always, K.U. has a terrific coach in Mark Mangino. Nevertheless, in my mind, this is an eight-win team, but no more. Even if Kansas does beat Nebraska, I don’t think its over all conference record will be good enough to take the North.

You think Dallas has budget problems

Wait until you read what's happening in Alabama's most populous county, where it appears two-thirds of the county employees -- up to 1,4000 people -- will loose their jobs today. Why? Same old story: declining sales taxes, declining property taxes. Only in Jefferson County, the problem seems to be exacerbated by a crooked sewer deal, an illegal tax and a do-nothing state legislature. Roll Tide.

City takes first step to get out of the zoo, aquarium businesses

The City of Dallas is finally doing something it should have done a long time ago -- taking the first step to get out of the zoo business. Or at least it will try to. The plan, which would turn over the operations (but not the ownership) of the zoo to the Dallas Zoological Society, is scheduled to be briefed to the City Council on Wednesday. If approved, turning the zoo's operations over to the DZS is expected to save the city more than $16 million during the next five years. The city has a similar contract in place for the management of the Arboretum.

Eight or so years ago, when the city was going through budget nightmares similar to what it is experiencing now, I was on the fourth floor at City Hall late one night and the only other person around was then City Manager Ted Benavides. I suggested to him that evening he could solve a lot of his budget woes by getting the city out of the zoo business. He looked at me as though I had just sentenced him to die in front of the city council firing squad and, thinking back on it now, I probably had. My idea was far more draconian than the one the city is proposing now. My recommendation was just to shutter the whole operation and merge it with the superior Fort Worth Zoo and re-brand that one as a regional attraction. Kinda like what we did with Jonestown: We let Arlington go all the expense to build the thing but it is still going to be the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

This option going before council committee Wednesday, while not as economically beneficial as my original idea, is more politically realistic.

Page 22 of the briefing suggests the operation of the Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park is also part of the deal (I think). I find the wording of the first two bullets on that page rather confusing, however.