In-law report

Michael Phillips, my brother-in-law -- the historian who took over book/daddy for his comments on Arthur Schlesinger -- has just won the T. R. Fehrenbach Award from the Texas Historical Commission for his ground-breaking book on Dallas' racial history, White Metropolis.

The painful irony here is that Michael hasn't been able to get a full-time teaching job as a historian for several years now. And you thought mainstream media has been going through some pathetic employment upheavals lately. I have had friends -- department chairs -- tell me they've had a hiring freeze for five years now.

Not even The Dallas Morning News has been that bad.

Congratulations, Michael.