Interesting ...

This article/editorial is by Wick Allison, the top dog at D Magazine. I don't know how much journalism really goes on over there, but he makes some interesting points in this piece.

Sinking Ship

To stay afloat, the Dallas Morning News just threw some 85 souls overboard. But saving the daily will require more radical thinking. Here are five steps to save the paper.

Great perspective on work

From Sunday's editorial section, Points, in the DMN.

Matthew B. Crawford: Shop class as soulcraft
Why do we devalue manual work when it's so satisfying?

Love, love, love the State Fair?

Then this one's for you.

Howdy, folks! Check DallasNews.com/StateFair for all the latest news, updates and fun trivia. There's also a related blog, "Our Fair Lady," at statefair.beloblog.com. Enjoy!

Sherry's Easy Grape Salad

Here's one of the recipes from Saturday's breakfast, courtesy of Sherry Peel.

Ready In: 1 Hour 15 Minutes
Yields: 8 servings

INGREDIENTS:
1 pound seedless green grapes
1 pound seedless red grapes
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme
1 (6 ounce) package slivered almonds

DIRECTIONS:
Wash grapes in a colander under running water, and remove all stems. Place in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, stir together the cream cheese and marshmallow creme until smooth and creamy. Pour the mixture over the grapes. Using a rubber spatula or large serving spoon, fold the mixture into the grapes until well coated. Fold in the almonds.
This salad may be served immediately, or covered and refrigerated for 1 hour to set slightly, and to allow flavors to blend.

Bryan Woolley bought me lunch

Bryan Woolley was one of The Dallas Morning News' truly great narrative writers. No one could say more with less than he could. He's a man of few words, but every one counts. Though he contributed each week to the lifestyles sections, and sometimes had more than one piece in a single section, he really revealed his greatness this past summer with "A Writer Begins."

"A Writer Begins" was an eight-part summer serial that appeared on Sundays in July and August. It chronicled the humble West Texas beginnings of his journalism career that went on to last 53 years. Each installment not only showed his love of writing, but also of the newspaper business. It seemed he was born to be a newspaper man.

He later told me he received a sizeable stack of letters from readers and was quite surprised by such a response. I wasn't. The writing had been so strong that it prompted me to finally overcome my nerves and write to him myself.

I first sent him a complimentary e-mail after the series kicked off. With remarkable class and grace, he replied and made kind remarks about a handful of pieces I had written for the paper. To this moment, I remain astonished, and I see it as a major road sign in my life, telling me to stay on course. In fact, he told me the "secret" was to keep going and keep it simple.

I wrote to him again after the fifth part of the series to ask him how he had determined what to include and how to structure it. He shocked me with his response. After explaining that he had simply made a list of memorable people and events and then narrowed it to eight scenes, he commented that he had not had the chance to write about all of it, but would in his next book. The one he would write after he left the paper in September. Bryan had accepted the paper's voluntary buyout that seemed to be directed at the most "experienced" people.

Though I had yet to meet the man in person, tears welled up in my eyes. It's amazing the emotion you can feel for an artist, because an artist has bared his soul so very eloquently to you through his work. You can't replace someone like Bryan, as though you could just hire another excellent, but "less expensive" narrative writer. He was part of the paper's spirit, and he had devoted his life to the newspaper business, which added a tinge of anger and remorse to his loss at the paper and to my sadness.

I felt like I had to meet him while I had the chance, so I asked him if he wouldn't mind going to lunch with a baby writer before he left. He obliged me.

Bryan met me in the lobby of The Dallas Morning News building, decked out in sunglasses and a white panama hat. He's a man of few words in person, also.

We walked to the Founders' Grill near the office, and over lunch, we had a great talk about writing -- he never took a writing or journalism class in his life -- newspapers and the future. He remarked that though he was sad to be leaving, it would have been hard to stay without the colleagues he treasured.

I was curious to know what he would do now. Write novels, of course. But would he take any time off or have a little fun with his severance money?

You bet. He intends to get a Mac lap-top computer with all the trimmings. You know, so he could write anywhere. At the pool in his condo community. In the park, watching the ducks. That kind of thing.

You can take the writer out of the newspaper, but ...

Bryan Woolley. The consummate writer. And apparently gentleman, as well. When lunch concluded, he smoothly reached for the check and picked up the tab with that endearing, old-school gentility.

It was just one more picture he created in my mind that I'll never forget.

Breakfast Club recap

Dear Breakfast Club,

Thanks for making our third anniversary so special. The new recipes were fabulous, and the discussion was inspiring as always.

Welcome once again to our first-timers -- always great to see new faces!

A couple of announcements:
- The next breakfast is tentatively scheduled for early November, and the theme will be one of our annual favorites: Comfort Food. More details to come.
- After that, we'll take a holiday hiatus, and come back in 2007 with the all-time most popular breakfast theme: Chocolate for Breakfast.

I hope you're enjoying the blog. Please feel free to add comments and to send me stuff to post -- articles, announcements, recipes, job openings/job searching, book or movie suggestions. This is our blog, together -- our creative scrapbook, as Breakfast Clubber Tara Kirk suggested.

Finally, I'd like to leave you with what I thought was a profound bit of perspective offered by Breakfast Clubber Sherry Peel. At one point in our discussion, she mentioned that she didn't like to receive product surveys from companies, because instead of asking what she thought, she would prefer that the company show confidence in its product and tell her why it was so great.

I think there's a life lesson in that. I would imagine, especially as women, we're often submitting product surveys about ourselves to other people. What will people think if I do this, go there, wear that, try something new? How will others see me?

I don't think there's harm in having those questions, per se, but we probably don't need to let them totally drive how we develop our product -- ourselves. Since the theme of this past Breakfast Club was "new," and we discussed new things we're doing or would like to try, I hope nothing holds any of us back in those endeavors. Go for it. Be you. Don't ask how great you are -- show it.

Until next time ...

Viva la France!

I love this! Sofia Coppola, the writer/director of one of my all-time favorite movies, Lost in Translation, takes us around Paris -- and right on the heels of our French-inspired Breakfast Club discussion.

From the NY Times:

TRAVEL / T STYLE MAGAZINE: TRAVEL | September 24, 2006
Sofia Coppola’s Paris
By LYNN HIRSCHBERG
Sofia Coppola scouted the City of Light to direct her latest film, “Marie Antoinette.” In between, she indulged in her favorite French sport, shopping.

More for the foodies in the group ...

From the NY Times:

TRAVEL | September 24, 2006
The Riches of Lucca
By MARK BITTMAN
Where can you find the best food in Tuscany? This walled city, once a thriving banking and silk center, might be the place.

10% of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are women

An interesting comment on our culture and today's society.

From the NY Times:

WEEK IN REVIEW | September 24, 2006
Jane, We Hardly Knew Ye Died
By LIZETTE ALVAREZ
Americans wouldn’t stand for women fighting, or so went the conventional wisdom.

Tickets!

Courtesy of the DMN Over the Top blog:

Much Ado for free

Half Price Book Stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are giving away free tickets to Shakespeare Dallas' Much Ado About Nothing while they last. It's running Oct. 4– 8 and 11 – 14 at the Samuell Grand Park, as well as Oct. 18 – 22 at Addison Circle Park.

Dallas Observer making waves, but not for the reasons you think

Most people, like me, think of the Dallas Observer as an edgy -- sometimes over the edge -- weekly paper that certainly covers a side of Dallas that the DMN often doesn't -- or at least not in the same way. It's nothing if not provocative, and it's definitely not for the kids.

The editor is Julie Lyons, who recently launched an online column on the Observer's blog, Unfair Park. The name of the column? Bible Girl: The Unfair Park Religion Column. And let me just tell you, it's not what you expect. She is breathtakingly open and honest about both her beliefs and her personal pitfalls.

I won't issue an opinion here, but I will say that it's important to read each column in its entirety before you decide what she's trying to say. Whether you agree or disagree with her, it's well-written and will make you think. At least to me, though she is coming from a religious perspective, she sounds much more like a journalist than a ranting pundit or the ranting guest of a pundit.

At any rate, her latest column is something else, and it's causing quite the stir among Dallas media types. And I mention it, because the juxtaposition of her column (and of her being the editor) with the more expected Observer fare is terribly intriguing. I have to say that the Observer's act of allowing her viewpoint to be expressed alongside all of the others certainly suggests a true open-mindedness toward all opinions.

www.dallasobserver.com/blogs

For homeowners or potential buyers/sellers ...

Two interesting articles today about the housing market:

The first is from CNN:

More home markets 'extremely' overvalued - Sep. 21, 2006

(Except not Dallas -- nor several other major Texas markets)

And here's this from your own DMN:

Study: Dallas at low risk for home-price slide

Column tomorrow!

Hi everyone,

I've got a new column coming out tomorrow in the Family section (lifestyles), or you can read it online at DallasNews.com.

This link should take you there in the morning: www.dallasnews.com/family

As always, your e-mail efforts at DallasNews.com would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again for the continued support.

Let me know what you think of the column ...

For all of my favorite foodies ...

This is an interesting look at some great finds in your regular old grocery store -- the idea being that places like Whole Foods are expensive, and that it will be too cold in the winter to peruse farmer's markets. Clearly, the author is not referring to Texas, but it's intriguing nonetheless.

DINING & WINE | September 20, 2006
In Search of Grocery Gems
By JULIA MOSKIN
A full day’s worth of irreproachably good food, courtesy of your local supermarkets, beginning with breakfast.

Ric Burns documentary tonight!

Yes, he's the brother of Ken and has quite the knack for documentaries himself. I watched one a few months ago on Eugene O'Neill. It was excellent -- I didn't move the whole time it was on.

Anyway, there's a two-parter starting tonight on Andy Warhol. It's showing on PBS. Don't know much about Warhol other than the pop culture notions of him, so I think it will be interesting.

Here's a preview from the NY Times:

ARTS / TELEVISION | September 20, 2006
A Portrait of an Artist Both Loved and Hated
By ROBIN POGREBIN
The filmmaker Ric Burns digs beyond the surface of Andy Warhol to bare the derisive artist’s underside in a four-hour film airing on PBS.

Farewell column from DMN book critic

This was not published in the paper, so it can only travel via the sometimes incredibly helpful Internet:

CRITICAL MASS: Jerome Weeks' farewell column

Simply fascinating

From the NY Times:

NATIONAL | September 19, 2006
It’s Muslim Boy Meets Girl, but Don’t Call It Dating
By NEIL MacFARQUHAR
The largest Muslim conference in North America hosted speed dating sessions called the “matrimonial banquet.”

Well, of course.

From the NY Times:

SCIENCE | September 18, 2006
Institutions Hinder Female Academics, Panel Says
By CORNELIA DEAN
The panel said that in an era of global competition the nation could not afford to underuse female talent.

On the eve of our next breakfast ...

Courtesy of the DMN

If you get around, you may stick around

06:51 AM CDT on Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Nurture your relationships. They just may keep you alive longer, according to John Robbins, author of Healthy at 100: The Scientifically Proven Secrets of the World's Healthiest and Longest-Lived People (Random House, $24.95).

The book runs light on practical health tips and heavy on anecdotal and scientific evidence to make Mr. Robbins' points. But there's no shortage on inspirational stories to help you consider shaping your lifestyle so you can enjoy it with vigor to the end.

Diet and exercise are still important, as Mr. Robbins explains through a meticulous analysis of four cultures with unusually high numbers of centenarians. He also argues, however, that human connection has an unmistakably positive impact on our quality of life as we age, in spite of the bad health habits many of us possess.

In one nine-year study Mr. Robbins discusses, researchers found that people with strong social ties to groups such as family, friends, church or volunteer organizations were less likely to die than people who lacked such a network, even when their lonely counterparts had more healthful lifestyles.

So keep up with your pals. Your body may thank you later.

Where are they now?

On Friday, Sept. 15, 111 DMN journalists took a voluntary buyout -- several big names included. And one has already re-emerged. Veteran TV critic Ed Bark, who also writes the occasional political column, has entered the blogosphere in a big way at www.unclebarky.com. "Uncle Barky" is the way he humorously refers to himself in his writing as the need arises. His blog is dedicated to continuing his career as a critic. It should make for an interesting read, as he will be able to engage in the free speech of the self-employed.

I'll keep you posted as I hear more about former DMN rock stars.

Book review

Don't laugh, but I just read a book called Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl by Debra Ollivier. I was skeptical, fearing a silly or trite look at the French in terms of pouting, fashion or um ... "romance." Instead, it actually gives a well-rounded, informative cultural background for what comprises French living across the board. The detail is so rich that you feel like you're there, so if nothing else, it's a great escape.

It's written primarily on a behavioral level, but it will provoke some introspection, if you look for it. The overall idea you walk away with is that women of other cultures absolutely have some wonderful things to offer in the form of different perspectives on life, and we might do well to incorporate a few of their viewpoints into our own.

It's an easy, and frankly, relaxing read, that really makes you want to revel in your femininity, as well as find your inner French girl, as the title suggests. I'm definitely working on the latter. There are also several fun "extras." Brush up on the names of famous French intelluctuals, writers, actresses, queens and the like, plus American women who successfully adopted a French lifestyle. The book also recommends several films and books that offer authentic takes on the culture. Apparently, America's own Edith Wharton (one of my absolute favorite novelists) was quite the Francophile.

It's fun, it's cultural and it's a nice break from a day that may have drowned you in testosterone.

Little Miss Sunshine

This movie has received a lot of good press, positive reviews, etc., so I put down the cash to see it this weekend. Loved it. I tried not to go in with any expectations -- only to be moderately entertained -- but I was, in fact, enormously entertained. The cast was perfect. They were such a good ensemble that no one "stole" the show. And despite the age-old premise -- a family pushed too far in a quest for something meaningful to them, though trivial to the outside world -- it was surprisingly fresh.

I thought it really bridged the gap between the often too dark, too quirky, too unrelatable independent film and the predictable mainstream blockbuster that succeeds on the good looks of its stars. The plot is fun, notwithstanding its absurd or deeply serious moments, and the character development is top-drawer. Bonus: It never starts dragging, and it ties up the loose ends for the most part.

This movie is not going to change your life, but it will make you laugh, and you won't regret the spending of time and money to see it. Note: Though it stars a child, it's not for the kids. There are a handful of adult moments of varying types, but not so many as to make it unpleasant.

Nora Ephron on aging

Fun article from The Washington Post on Nora Ephron's new book — it's not a review, but a look at the issues she talks about.

The Age of Woman
By Libby Copeland

In her new book on getting older, "I Feel Bad About My Neck," 65-year-old Nora Ephron details the things she does to keep herself from aging. She diets, has a trainer and a treadmill. She has her hair professionally styled twice a week and a filler called Restylane injected into her chin. She's had...

For the complete article, go to www.thewashingtonpost.com.

Sale alert

Courtesy of the DMN's shopping blog:

A $5 prosecco
Prosecco is Italy's answer to Champagne. It's fizzy, fruity and fun. Jimmy's has a deal on Ciao prosecco: $5 a bottle, $48 a case. It ordinarily goes for $10.99 a bottle. Why this excellent value? The label is changing, so this is wine with the old label. Co-owner Paul DiCarlo says the wine is a light gold color with a soft sparkle and scent of peaches and pears. Head over now, or stop in Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. if you want to try before you buy. The holidays aren't that far off, you know.

(Jimmy's is an east Dallas institution. It's an Italian food store, run by Italians. Pick up some of their pizza dough or fresh pasta, while you're there.)

More famous Breakfast Clubbers

Our own Tara Kirk was featured in a story for The Dallas Morning News yesterday — "Gen Y finding the comforts of home at work."

Check it out at DallasNews.com/jobcenter.