Category: Uncategorized

The Austin Statesman has some photos from a Flash Mob Pillow Fight in Austin.

I’m not one who loves to brag on myself, but I’m feeling pretty good today. I was just informed that I won two honorable mentions at APME over the weekend.
My story on downtown parking (I think I wrote it my first week at WDL) won an honorable mention for business reporting and my story on the Roach “problem” at KFC won for Freedom of Information Act use.
I guess it’s good to know you’re doing things right when judged by your peers. As soon as I can find one, I’ll publish a full list of the winners.

The NY Times reports that originally Santos was not planned to win the presidential election last night on The West Wing.

Like many political campaigns, the presidential election depicted last night on “The West Wing” on NBC would have had a different ending had it been held four months ago.
But the reversal of fortune for Matt Santos — the Democratic nominee, played by Jimmy Smits, who was the victor — had nothing to do with any shift in opinion among voters.
Instead, Lawrence O’Donnell, an executive producer of the show, said he and his fellow writers had declared Santos the winner only after the death, in mid-December, of John Spencer, who portrayed Santos’s running mate, Leo McGarry. At the time of Mr. Spencer’s death, the plot for last night’s episode had been set: the election was to be won by Alan Alda’s Arnold Vinick, a maverick Republican (modeled a bit on Senator John McCain), whom many Democrats (including the Democrats who write the show) could learn to love.

The story also discusses the future of the cast members, including President Bartlet (Martin Sheen), who plans to enroll in college at The National University of Ireland in Galway.

Last night reminded me again that I really miss Leo’s character and I’m really going to miss the West Wing when the season ends.
It was somewhat predictable that Santos would win the election, but I loved all the “false finishes” during election night.
I loved the speach Santos gave to encourage voters after Leo (John Spencer) died. “This is bigger than Leo and anyone else – this is about a vision for our nation.”
I loved the heartfelt interaction between Josh and Donna, Josh and Santos and CJ and the President as each of them learned of Leo’s death.
It was if they were just finding out for the first time that John Spencer had died.
I hope there are some Emmy’s lined up for the cast and crew on this one.
I really wish the show could continue with a Santos presidency, but I guess all good things have to come to an end. Thank goodness for the West Wing on DVD.

From the DFW Film Commission:

A large studio feature film starring Tom Hanks (also producer) is interested in finding a mansion/estate locally to shoot at this fall, likely October/November. Scenes take place primarily around the swimming pool and sounds like only a few days of filming. The property should have pretty large grounds and the house they want is VERY elegant and traditional in style. The film is set in the early ’80s. Please respond via e-mail with suggestions, including contact information if all possible. We appreciate all leads but particularly those that have already expressed an interest in allowing filming. 214.571.1050 – www.filmdfw.com

Think I can sell them on my second story apartment/duplex?

Wanted to pass this invitation on to everyone in the Dallas area…

You love God but you just can’t do Sunday morning style church?
You’re really not into singing songs all the time or you don’t believe that singing songs is the only way we can worship God?
You would like to be part of a church where you are accountable to each other and are responsible for helping each other grow?
You’re tired of professional Christianity and you just want to be church like it was with Jesus and his followers back in his human days?
You believe Church is more fluid than a building or tradition.
Sound interesting?

Some like to call it ‘church’, others call it ‘fellowship’, while many believe it to be ‘community’…….We believe it to be essential and feel that many congregations have lost the “familial” sense of the body of Christ!
In our search for a place to belong and fellowship together we have begun to gather in homes to seek the heart of the father together!
After months of prayer and dialoging we have finally begun to gather as a community in Ellis County.
Our invitation to you is always open and our desire is to be a place for people to engage and explore God in fresh, exciting, and maybe even new ways!
We gather on Saturday nights for a couple of hours, so if you are intersted in knowing more details just reply to this bulletin!