Sign 'em up!

Aside from the much-chronicled Uncle Barky's self-publishing venture (don't forget to click on those Google ads!), two of our 13 Arts buyoutees from the DMN have been snapped up by ravenous employers:

* Toni Edwards, former Guide listings editor, took the buyout on Friday, 9/15, and started her new job the following Monday. Ka-ching! (Tony told me details, but my memory's going in my old age -- I'll post 'em when I get 'em from her.)

* Over lunch at the bar at Lone Star Park today, ex-books editor Charles Ealy unveiled this zinger: He's taken a job with the Austin American Statesman as assistant business editor/real estate and growth. Charles, always an "in the middle of everything" kinda guy, is a sure bet to thrive at ground zero of the Austin real estate boom. And fear not, film fans: The honchos at Austin seem eager to let Our Man in Cannes return to the French Riviera next spring!

Anybody else back in the "employed" category? E-mail me or post here.

The first post-DMN success story

Uncle Barky (a.k.a. Ed Bark) reports that he's had more than 31,000 hits in the first week of UncleBarky.com. That's pretty remarkable, considering he's a start-up from ground zero. And check out the 100+ comments to his "Why I'm Here" manifesto -- a who's who of TV critics and regular folks.

Life in the slow lane

Weekday #2 of life post-Belo: Dentist appointment, house repair, long walk with fellow buyoutee, twilight movie... Man, I could get used to this retirement thing. If not for that pesky not-independently-wealthy status...

"Retirement" was definitely the watchword when we strolled into the 4:45 p.m. show of The Illusionist (interesting flick with a nicely plotted twist, by the way). We were 20 years younger than any of our 8 fellow moviegoers. Felt like strapping on the fanny pack and hitting the Early Bird Special at Furr's.

Hula-la

Unlike the incredibly productive Ed Bark, I spent my first day post-Belo pretty much wasting time. And celebrating the 50th birthday of beloved neighbor Dave Meehan. His "Hula by the Poola" fest was a blast -- backyard tents, margarita AND daiquiri machines and, real live hula dancers. Shake that thang, Dave!

Uncle Barky unleashed

Man, Ed Bark wastes no time. Two days after his departure from the paper, the doyenne of Dallas TV has launched a multiple-blog website, unclebarky.com. Don't miss his "why I'm here" manifesto.

Lots of TV critics are giving this blogging thing a try, notably, the Kansas City Star's Aaron Barnhardt. But nobody's got the productivity, stamina and wit of Ed. Sheesh, on his first day he's got more content than most sites accumulate in a week!

Rock on, Ed.

Blogmania

Mike Precker's started a Fourth Floor Alumni Association blog, joining the overall Newsbuyout blog and this one. We buyoutees might be leaving the paper, but darn it, we just can't stop communicating!

AASFE is in the house

Tonight (Weds., 9/13) is the Cowtown kickoff of the annual American Association of Sunday and Features Editors' convention in Fort Worth. (The Worthington is the official hotel; opening-night festivities will be in that cool rooftop garden at Reata, left.) If you're looking, some arts and feature eds from across the country will be trolling for talent. And if you aren't, hey, it's not a bad place just to hang out.

Life After the DMN

Welcome to "After the DMN," a blog for former Dallas Morning News arts staffers (and current ones, too!). Email me if you want to post, and I'll make you a member.