Moving to a new blog site

I have moved my blog to here. Please officially enjoy more Newsroom Stew as I join the MyWestTexas.com's family of blogs.

Texas Monthly doesn't care for the MRT's Craddick endorsement

To quote Texas Monthly's Paul Burka, "And the sun rose in the east"

It seems Burka didn't care much for the Reporter-Telegram's endorsement of Tom Craddick for state representative.

He wrote on his blog, " (the endorsement) did not mention the controversies that have surrounded his speakership. Endorsement editorials are under no compulsion to present an even-handed view of the candidates, but this one was remarkable in its omission of the obvious."

My take: This editorial was to pick the representative for this district, not speaker. Should Craddick defeat Dingus and it comes time to write an editorial about why Craddick is or isn't the right person to be speaker of the house, maybe it will be mentioned there.

As a reader I expected the editorial to tell us who's the best person to represent the district and since his position as speaker wasn't cited as a reason, I agreed with the editorial board's decision not to go into the controversies Burka expected.

That Tampa Bay Rays manager sure does look familiar

Well, he really doesn't but Joe Maddon was the Midland Angels manager in 1985-86. Apparently, his standing and record are much better than they were back then when he was 121-148 in Double-A Midland.

We often talk about the players who have been through Midland. Here's an example that you never know when a coach also will make it big.

Go Rays.

Playing Bush and being Bush, two different deals, Josh

The following quote has or will appear in numerous movie reviews across the country. It will likely find its way in our Weekend Pass this Friday.
Josh Brolin, who plays George W. Bush in Oliver Stone's "W," puts Midland, Texas, right in the center of Bush's Middle East strategy.

According to the AP, Brolin says,:
"Bush tried to bring Midland, Texas, with him to the Middle East and wanted to do basically what Reagan had done during the Cold War. 'I will bring Midland, Texas, to the Middle East and everyone will praise me.' Without taking into account having any respect for the diversity of this world. It's like what he says in the film. 'Any kind of government's fine with me as long as it's democracy.'"

A few reactions here.
- Glad to see Brolin is such an expert on Midland and what it means to "bring Midland" anywhere.
- I would have settled for Bush "to bring Midland" with him to Washington. Had he done so, things would probably be different. The Republican brand might be different.
- If the Midland line is accurate, would that mean a JumBurrito on every other street inside the Green Zone in Baghdad?
- Interesting that the movie will show in Midland. I probably will wait for it to come out on video.

Sub $3 gas is here in Midland

According to TexasGasPrices.com, it is possible to pay less than $3 for a gallon of gas in the city of Midland.
It was reported at 12:02 p.m. Wednesday that the Chevron at North Big Spring and Loop 250 is selling gas for $2.95 a gallon. Basically the rest of the stations in Midland city limits are still in the low-$3 range.

UPDATE: Reporter-Telegram photographers got a picture of the Town & Country at Loop 250 and Big Spring and the price was $2.99.

So go buy your gas at that Chevron until someone goes lower.

Other lowest gas prices in West Texas
El Paso $2.95
Amarillo $2.66
Abilene $2.73
Lubbock $2.79
San Angelo $2.46

Roy Williams, my favorite Dallas Cowboy

Have to say the more I think about Roy Williams becoming a Dallas Cowboy the more I like it. He's not only the greatest athlete the old District 3-5A ever produced but he appears to be an even better person and representative of the area.

As far as the Cowboys go, I liked the column by the Morning News Jean Jacques Taylor. In it he talks the trade and what it says about Cowboy owner Jerry Jones.
While it looks like Jones is assembling a fantasy league team or football's version of the New York Yankees for his own amusement, Taylor says it is much more than that.

Some days, you wonder whether Jerry Jones is the smartest owner in professional sports. Other days, you wonder whether he's the dumbest.
But you never wonder if he's doing everything within his power to win his fourth Super Bowl.
Ever.

The new commitment to excellence? Al Davis of the new century? Let's not overthink this.

And if my wife is reading: I also believe I have the first item on my Christmas list. A Roy Williams jersey. Get yours here.

Cowboys could use a little Mojo

Former Permian star Roy Williams to Dallas? It might be happening. Read this report from ESPN.com.

I'd do it in a heartbeat if Roy is then signed long term. First-round pick? I'd do it.

UPDATE: Deal done. Read here.

Changing face of downtown

Oil Editor Mella McEwen reports:

"With demolition of Arco's former offices in the 'Belt Buckle' Building in the 500 block of Illinois Ave. complete, Basic Energy Services is preparing to move forward with its Permian Plaza project.
Basic Energy executives report they are preparing to build a parking garage on the site of the demolished building and will soon have contractors survey the neighboring Hightower Building for renovations. By late 2009, they say, that block of downtown Midland will look quite different."

Pacman suspended ... it was bound to happen

The NFL has suspended defensive back Adam "Pacman" Jones for four games. Here is the story.

Not really surprising. The NFL did what it needed to do in this situation.

Some people say it serves the Cowboys right for signing a guy like Jones. I never had a problem with the signing. If it worked, great. If not, big deal. Cowboys fans have always known their stars aren't all angels and all players aren't accounted for at church. It was like that in the 70s, 80s and 90s. It is still true today. The problem is they are Cowboys, so their flaws matter more than someone from another team.

Jerry Seinfeld once said we are "Rooting for Laundry" when it comes from pro sports teams. That has never been more true than it is today.

Midland Mayors 101

With today's headline about the former mayors endorsing Craddick, we thought we would provide a lesson on when the mayors served.

1968-1972 Edwin H. Magruder Jr.
1972-1980 Ernest Angelo Jr.
1986-1992 Carroll Thomas
1992-1994 J.D. Faircloth
1994-2001 Robt. E. (Bobby) Burns
2001-2008 Michael J. Canon
---
Source: City of Midland

I have seen $2.92 gas ... in San Angelo

We realize the price of gas is higher in Midland due to reasons beyond everyone's control. Still it is fun to point out the differences.
Lowest price of gas in Midland, according to TexasGasPrices.com: $3.29 at I-20 and 1788. Lowest price elsewhere in Midland is $3.33.

Lowest prices elsewhere in West Texas:
- Abilene $3.13
- Lubbock $3.04
- Amarillo $2.97
- San Angelo $2.92 (basically a 40-cent difference compared to most stores in Midland)

We're not supposed to make a big deal about the price of gas here in Midland (free market and all), but as I see it, free market conditions mean a person driving a vehicle with a 20-gallon tank faces increased gas costs of $130 a year (assuming 26 fill-ups a year and a 25-cent difference in the cost of gas).

UPDATE: Thursday night some stations in Midland are reporting $3.23 gas. In San Angelo? $2.79.

What is the real Horseshoe deficit

Ospurt at Jessica's Well said the actual deficit for the Horseshoe in 2009 could reach $1.29 million ($1.65 million if "you believe the bed tax really doesn't reflect Horseshoe brought in revenue to the community"
Here is the post.

It makes for interesting reading.

If anyone wants to comment on why Ospurt may be wrong, feel free to comment here or at Jessica's Well.

That post about the streak ending ... just disregard

While we think the streak comes to an end sooner rather than later, it won't this month. 61 and going strong. Read here.

Sales tax streak to be tested today

For the last 60 months -- usually on the Thursday following the first full weekend -- you have been able to open the Reporter-Telegram and see how the city enjoyed a positive sales tax collection (compared to the same month during the previous year).
It has been a most impressive run. I mean really, five straight years and no down months, not one. Some of us may never see anything like it again.
Which brings us to the point. Today, the city announces its October sales tax collection (representing spending from the month of August), and for the first time in a long time, the city faces the real possibility that the streak will come to an end.
Will it be today? We will find out.

Not sure about that

Ruth Campbell reports in Tuesday's Reporter-Telegram that County Commissioner Jimmy Smith said Midland County built the Horseshoe, a multipurpose facility, to increase Midland?s ability to attract large events and it has been a catalyst for creating 1,500 jobs and more development along Interstate 20.
He also said the Horseshoe brought "$3 million into the community."

On the first point, I would have thought the SouthSide Wal-Mart was the real catalyst to development along I-20.
On the second, the $3 million figure would seem like a hard statistic to prove (right or wrong). It sure does seem high.