Back Talk Preston Hollow

Around the web: Donating blood, the Yugo, Google and the flu, TV heroes

A regular roundup of stuff that wouldn't necessarily make it on the blog, but is worth noting:

• Had to come to this, given the state of the economy. I saw my first donating blood to make ends meet story, in the Chicago Tribune. Said one person at a plasma donation center: "Instead of sitting at home watching TV, I can spend a couple hours and make some extra gas money. Everything is hard, it's all getting more expensive: gas of course, just the cost of living."

• Those of us a certain age remember the Yugo, quite possibly the worst car ever made. It ended production recently, and to much fanfare. Apparently, in its native Serbia, the Yugo is still well-respected: "This is driving in its most natural form," said one enthusiast. "You feel every bump, squeak and jolt, and one can enjoy the sweet smell of gasoline and exhaust fumes. No car can replace it."

• Want to know if we're having a flu epidemic? Check with Google. Google.org, the search company’s philanthropic unit, says it has a tool that may be able to detect regional outbreaks of the flu 10 days before they're reported by the federal government. The tool tracks hits on flu-related web sites, figuring that someone who is sick will search Google for symptoms, cures, and the like.

• Ed Bark, local TV critic and blogger extraordinaire, rates the toughest TV heroes of all time. Gunsmoke's Matt Dillon is No. 1, which seems a bit high. I'd think NYPD Blue's Andy Sipowicz (No. 7) could take Matt just by sneering at him.

Back Talk’s final day on this site

Starting Monday, the blog’s home will be on our new website. So far, so good -- not too many problems, and we appreciate everyone reporting bugs, oddities, and the like. Please, let us know if something isn't working.

This site will be turned off after today. There will be no new posts, and you won't be able to make comments on previous posts. But you will be able to read old posts. After the jump, everything you need to know as we finalize the transition.

DISD news roundup: No election, new CFO and another investigation

Lots of DISD action this week ... here's a brief summary of some of what went down, along with (of course) a little commentary:

• After its embarrassing financial crisis, DISD is spending $258,000 annually to hire a new chief financial officer. Larry Throm comes via Austin and Lubbock, where he is credited with being a tough watchdog on district finances there. "Dallas is absolutely fixable," Throm told the DMN. "I would not have taken the job if I didn't think I could be successful. They need to install some internal controls, generally accepted accounting principals and some safeguards."

This weekend: shop at Etsy Dallas, and do brunch at Pescabar

Put on your sensible shoes, power up with a triple-shot latte, and head down to the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bell Bash. You’ll find tons of cool local art and crafts there (read: gifts your friends actually won't re-gift at the holiday office party). It’s free to get in, and goes from 3-10 p.m. Saturday.

End the weekend right with the Sunday brunch-and-movie package at Pescabar: A meal, bellini (or mimosa) and ticket to The Magnolia—all for just $20.

Edwin Flores education summit

Dallas ISD School Board Trustee Edwin Flores will be at Marsh Middle School this week to talk about academic achievement, recent policy changes, and that hot-button financial recovery. The first talk is at 3 p.m. and will be in English—another talk at 4:30 will be in Spanish. Anyone who has kids in a District 1 school is encouraged to attend the free event.

DISD board vote may extend trustee terms and delay May election

When Carla Ranger starts looking like the reasonable one on the DISD board, we might have a big problem. But that seems to be the case on the board's possible vote today to delay the currently scheduled spring elections for trustee seats currently held by Edwin Flores, Leigh Ann Ellis and Ron Price.

In a nod to stability, the board is considering extending board terms, which would mean the three trustees wouldn't face re-election until 2010 as opposed to May 2009. The board is relying on a state law that allows school boards to extend trustee terms; DISD's lawyers apparently are giving the board the go-ahead even as Ranger cites other legal opinions saying such a move would be illegal.

Jim Schutze weighs in on the idea in this week's Dallas Observer, and most of his points are dead-on.

Extending trustee terms is a good idea, giving the volunteers we elect a longer period of time to learn the ropes and at least try to keep everything honest on Ross Avenue.

But voting to extend the terms to get around having an election, as opposed to making the term extension effective after the next election cycle, essentially trumps our right as voters to have a say on DISD's ongoing issues. It could very well be in DISD's best interests — and it certainly is in Supt. Michael Hinojosa's best interest — to keep these three supportive board members on the job. But that's just not the way things should be done in a democracy. An election to vote in new board members, if that occurred, might make things even more messy at DISD, while re-electing these three board members would send a message that stability is what voters want.

But that's a decision for voters to make, and it shouldn't be taken away from us by the very people whose actions many are questioning.

Back Talk is moving, Thursday edition

Frankly, I'm a little concerned. Not enough of you have changed your RSS and email subscriptions yet. If you don't do it this week, your subscription will end when the old site goes dark on Monday. It's easy, really -- just click a link or two and some basic typing. If you click the RSS link and get some code and not the form, close the page and click the link again. It should work the second time. We know about this, and we're trying to fix it.

After the jump, everything you need to know to re-subscribe and use the new site.

Dallas ISD School Board Trustee Edwin Flores hosting District 1 Summit

On Saturday, November 22nd, Dallas ISD School Board Trustee Edwin Flores is hosting a District 1 Summit.  The topics for discussion are a District 1 report, academic achievement, major policy changes and District financial recovery and transformation. It sounds like there will be lots to talk about that is of great interest to parents, teachers and community members.

The Summit takes place Saturday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Thomas C. Marsh Middle School located at 3838 Crown Shore Drive. There will be a Spanish session from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to attend. 

Oceanaire cooking classes at the LUXE show home

If you’re anything like me, holiday entertaining is right up there with root canals and doing your taxes. But Oceanaire executive chef Chad Kelley promises he can make the process a little less overwhelming, really. He’ll be sharing easy-to-make recipes for hors d' oeuvres and cocktails during a cooking class Saturday, Dec. 6 at the LUXE Show home. If you want to sign up for classes, you can do so now online.

Friends of the Preston Royal Library book sale

Bolster your book collection and update your DVD selection this week at the Preston Royal Library. The Friends of the Preston Royal Library are hosting the annual book sale there this Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and there will be tons of discounted hardbacks, CDs, and movies--plus all that money supports our neighborhood library.