One Last Chance

If you’re a regular viewer, you know how much I love animals.  I have three “rescues” of my own.
That’s why this e-mail broke my heart.  I received it from a friend of mine this morning.
Please read it.  Look at the pictures, and help if you can.  Act fast.  All of these animals are scheduled to be euthanized [...]

The Perils of HDTV

Don’t look too closely today, ok?  Just back away from the screen and squint a bit.  Recreate the wonder of standard definition television.
I’ll dig into my bag of makeup tricks and do my best to spare you the ghastly sight.  But I don’t think they make spackle thick enough.  If they do, it’s a [...]

The Next Domino

ATA.
Aloha.
Skybus.
Now Frontier.
Today Denver-based Frontier Airlines is seeking bankruptcy protection.  Unlike the other three carriers, Frontier will apparently continue to fly.  But it is the latest domino to fall in the struggling U.S. airline industry.  
The reason?  The single biggest factor is the skyrocketing cost of jet fuel.
So who’s next?
It won’t be either of our homeown airlines, [...]

Arpey: The Buck Stops Here

American Airlines CEO Gerard Arpey took an enormous step today towards restoring confidence in his beleaguered carrier.  He stood before reporters and took full responsibility for the ongoing FAA inspection fiasco.
(It would have been better sooner, but at least it happened.)
He didn’t blame mechanics.  He didn’t blame the FAA.  He apologized to customers.  He even thanked [...]

C’mon… Send it in!

Who said that?  Wasn’t it Ed McMahon in those Publisher’s Clearing House sweepstakes ads?
Anyway, it also applies to story ideas — especially ones related to the Beijing Olympics.
You see, there is no magic list of all the North Texas connections to the Olympics.  Of course, we know about the biggies, like local athletes Nastia Liukin [...]

Chinese Charm School

With the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics exactly four months away, my preparations are in high gear.  That includes charm school.
Last night, the Crow Collection of Asian Art in downtown Dallas was kind enough to host a crash course in Chinese culture for North Texas journalists headed to Beijing.  (It ended up being a [...]

Brushing Up

I wasn’t sure what I was going to blog about today, but once again, my journey down I-30 delivered.
Someone had their minivan out for a walk in the left lane near Hampton.  It was weaving a bit.  I waited to see if the driver would drift into the middle lane so I could pass.  But [...]

Sleeping with Dogs

Yes, I sleep with dogs.  A spotted Australian munchkin, a green-eyed brown hound, and a polar bear-kangaroo mix.  Or rather, they let me sleep with them.
On most nights it’s just a little crowded.  I usually wake up in some contorted position that would automatically qualify me for Cirque du Soleil.  Last night, however, there was [...]

Help Me Out, Will Ya?

When you came to the Factory today, did you notice how all the blog icons are arranged?  They’re that way for a reason.
The most popular ones are at the top.
The people who keep track of these things just released the blog stats for March, and I’ve slipped.  Grant Stinchfield beat me.  (Even though I think [...]

Who’s Going Home?

Syesha.  Possibly Ramiele.
I confess.  I’m hooked on American Idol.  Never miss it.  If I have to be someplace other than my couch (dogs piled around me), Tivo knows what to do.
How many times do Randy and Simon have to say it?  Don’t sing Whitney songs.  Ever.  No one could possibly be better — or even [...]