Poll-Axed

As the electorate’s disgust with its leadership deepens and the general election approaches, Republicans, even in Texas, are suiting up to defend their posts. Face-offs are unfolding in numerous local and statewide contests, but the showdown between Senator John Cornyn and state Representative Lieutenant Colonel Rick Noriega—and the recent seesawing…

Time Warped

Time warped: Man, Buzz really must stop washing down the Ambien with a bottle of cough syrup at night. It’s giving us the weirdest dreams. For example, we mistakenly thought that a major American political party had chosen a young, black, politically ambitious newcomer to run for president on a…

You’re a Wiener, Day Two! Meat the Man Known As “Meat Sweat”

Marc Laureys: a little man with a big appetite for Skittles and meat Yesterday, we told you about Dallas’ first-ever qualifier for the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest and introduced you to homegrown rookie Bryan “The Chazzer” Lipchitz. In his Q&A, Lipchitz said he hopes…

Summer = Bummer

Tiger Woods: 3 minor knee surgeries, 14 major championships. With news today that he needs another knee surgery and time to heal a broken leg, Tiger Woods’ U.S. Open victory just became even more miraculous. In conjunction, Dallas golf guru Hank Haney just got jiggy with the “clear” button on…

Looked Like You Picked the Wrong Week to Stop Sniffing Glue

Not a scene from DFW’s air traffic control, swear One week ago today, the Government Accountability Office released a report that noted the Federal Aviation Administration’s stepped-up efforts to hire new air traffic controllers, to compensate for “the projected departure of over 15,000 air traffic controllers between 2008 and 2017.”…

You Gotta Pay to Play, Say SMU’s President and Head Football Man

Observer contributing photographer Brian Harkin contributes the photos for USA Today’s stories today on SMU and head football man June Jones, who figures he can get the Mustangs to a BCS bowl within the next five years. (Optimism tastes just like pineapple!) There’s also the piece headlined: “SMU spends big…

Out of ICE Custody, a Plano Imam Must Now Leave the Country

Imam Safdar Razi Ali A Friend of Unfair Park sends word that Imam Safdar Razi Ali was released last week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, more than two months after federal authorities snatched him from his Plano home without explanation. There is but one caveat: Ali must leave the country…

Boston Three Party

In retrospect, last night’s title was won last summer. Three things I guarantee after last night watching the Celtics, not surprisingly, beat the Lakers for the NBA Championship: 1. Kobe Bryant isn’t, in fact, Michael Jordan. In the clincher, he went 22 minutes between baskets. 2. Coaching, I repeat, coaching…

Charles Dean Hood Will Not Die Tonight

Charles Dean Hood The story of Charles Dean Hood, who was scheduled to die tonight for the 1989 murder of Ronald Williamson and his girlfriend Tracie Wallace in Plano, has garnered national attention since at least 2005, when Salon first broke the story that State District Court Judge Verla Sue…

Degenerate Bet of the Day

Another season. Another empty spot on the Mavs’ mantle. The basketball season officially ends tonight, when the Celtics beat the Lakers in Boston and win the NBA Championship. In a tense, low-scoring game, gimme the Celtics minus the five, under the 191. For entertainment only, of course. Then, finally, we…

A List That Warrants a Look

Whew — I ain’t on the city’s outstanding-warrants list, just posted to the city’s Web site as part of its threat to arrest the deadbeats. So, I dunno, you might wanna check and see if you’re on it, lest you wind up stung by the rather benignly monikered Operation Pay…