Dallas, Now Virtually Improved

Late yesterday Microsoft unveiled a new-and-improved “Version 2” of its Live Maps, which claims to better render in 3D only four cities thus far: Las Vegas, Denver, Phoenix and Dallas. Says Microsoft of its Virtual Earth experience: “Cities now have thousands more buildings than before especially noticeable as you move…

Hard-Hearted AG|Sober Judgment

“Family Court Judge Sheds Light on Unfair Child Support Practices in Texas” by Megan Feldman, April 3 Hard-Hearted AG This story boils my blood. My wife was a child support officer for the attorney general for several years. She has told many stories about men paying support for kids fathered…

Never Have Kids

Never have kids: It should probably be a warning for anyone wanting to enter the field of family and divorce law that the story told to prove King Solomon’s wisdom involved a family dispute. You gotta be super-wise to wade into those mares’ nests. Solomon had a tricky dispute over…

Dave Campo Is Back Where His Pro Career Started

Chances are your lingering memory of Dave Campo is: A) Inexplicably going for one point, instead of two, on Thanksgiving Day 2001. B) Karaoke singing “I’ve got sunshine…on a cloudy day” during HBO’s 2002 Hard Knocks. C) 5-11. 5-11. 5-11. D) All of the above. Ready or not, the worst…

Dallas Has a Real-Life Dr. Gregory House in Dr. Richard Buch

When Linda Bajadali first saw Dr. Richard G. Buch, she thought he was a “rebel.” The tall surgeon in scrubs and lab coat wore a red, white and blue bandanna around his head and a self-assured smile. Buch examined Bajadali’s shattered knee for a few minutes. “We’ll take care of…

Hannah Montana, the Jonas Brothers and … Dallas’ Demi Lovato?

Dallas’ Demi Lovato Till, oh, 13 minutes ago I’d never heard the name Demi Lovato — which, admittedly, is a little surprising, as the TV in our house does occasionally find itself tuned to the Disney Channel, courtesy a remote-control-savvy 4-year-old with whom we share the space. Regardless, the 15-year-old…

Will Clarke on the Right Way and the Amway to Sell Your Novel

Mark Graham Will Clarke Good news, as the encroaching idiocracy may still be a ways off. Nonetheless, how does a professional writer stay positive — and sell books — in what’s been a fairly depressing reading landscape? Local novelist Will Clarke makes the rounds at Dallas book clubs. “The most…

Really, Skip, You Thought Oliver Stone’s Bush Biopic Would Make Sense?

George Bush Presidential Library and Museum The Hollywood Reporter got its grubbies on a copy of W, Oliver Stone’s forthcoming biopic about The President, and the movie-biz trade says it depicts George Dubya as “a foul-mouthed, reformed drunk obsessed with baseball, Saddam Hussein and the conflicted relationship with his dad.”…

Update: The Fear of Landing

At this point, we’re sticking with Braniff. In the comments section of an earlier item today, our good (and beleaguered) Friend Tim Wagner — ya know, The Voice of American Airlines — offers further details regarding the airline’s compensation package for those left stranded by the airline’s copious cancellations this…

Lock It Down? Or Wrappin’ It Up?

Dallas Stars I spent Tuesday out at Dallas Stars practice, which, I know, surprises some of you in that, whaddya know, they’re still playing hockey these days. In preparation for tonight’s Game 1 of their playoff series against the defending champion Anaheim Ducks, I came away with a couple things…

The Revolution Will Be Posterized

Over on DC9, Pete’s featuring four of Erykah Badu’s tour posters, created by EMEK, which are making the rounds courtesy Soulbounce. This one’s a personal favorite — suitable for framing, even at this size. But I’d still like one in extra-effin’-huge. For more of EMEK’s work — and he is…

Really, Tom Hicks? Really?

Liverpool FC chief executive Rick Parry Seems Tom Hicks just don’t get it. Because just two days after his Liverpool FC kicked its way into the Champions League semi-finals, the Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars’ owner is demanding that Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry step down. Like, immediately. Hence, this…

They Know Why You Don’t Fly

Some 150,000 folks were put out yesterday when American Airlines canceled more than 1,000 flights — “or more than 45 percent of its daily schedule,” says the Reuters video below. And there’s plenty more where those came from. But, back to the video for a moment: Really, do you wanna…

You Have Been Warned

Should you see a parade of limos and police officers later today, don’t worry — Dick Cheney won’t be in town loading up on more weaponry. John McCain will finish off his day in Dallas after a morning stint on The View and a “a small business roundtable in Brooklyn.”…

Inky in Hog Heaven (So We Hope)

Every now and then I wonder whatever became of Pete Incaviglia, probably my fourth-favorite Texas Ranger of all time. Of course, I need wonder no more: He’s the manager of the Grand Prairie AirHogs of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which makes its bow May 8 with an…

The Fear of Not Flying

Tell Your AA Story Whilst cruising the Flickr this a.m., I came across this photo of a billboard touting a Web site where dissatisfied American Airlines customers can “Tell Your AA Story.” Fitting, of course, to see this today, as the Fort Worth-based carrier canceled approximately 1,000-plus flights today, following…