The Southwest Airlines pilot who called his co-workers "grannies" and "grandes" formally apologized to the airline's employees this week.
Capt. James Taylor, who had not been previously identified, said he deeply regrets the comments and remarks he made about Southwest's flight attendants. His offensive rant, which included anti-gay comments and vulgar language, was picked up by an open microphone broadcasting over an air-traffic-control channel in March."It was truly insensitive of me and I would like all of you to know that from now on, I will show nothing but the utmost respect during my interactions with all employees," according to a letter sent by Taylor to Southwest employees and made public by Houston TV station KPRC."Please know that this event has forever changed me and I hope that others can learn from my mistake."Southwest suspended and fined Taylor in April, but he has been reinstated. In a message to employees last week, CEO Gary Kelly said he was personally disappointed with the pilot's behavior but that the punishment had been carried out."The matter was resolved already legally, and it would serve no purpose to reopen that now even if we could," Kelly said. "And I know that many of you do not like that decision. While there will be a complete and thorough review with management of this entire episode, it is important to understand that the discipline was rendered in April, and it cannot be reversed."Taylor had also called the Houston base "one of the ugliest bases" in his rant and his letter specifically addressed those workers."I hope you will allow me to maintain a working relationship with all of you that will provide me the opportunity to extend an individual, personal apology to each one of you whenever we fly together."With apologies made, the Southwest flight attendants union said Wednesday that it will not file an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against the carrier. It had considered making a complaint when Taylor's comments became public.Barbecue restaurant's closing doesn't faze ownerCity Pig BBQ on Eighth Avenue, which tried with mixed results to recreate old-school Fort Worth 'cue reminiscent of Jimmy's, Skinner's and B-Black's, closed June 21, but its owner doesn't seem the least upset.Alan Davis, 53, said he sold off all of his equipment to Eddie Brown, owner of Off the Bone in Forest Hill. Brown plans to open a new barbecue restaurant in Mansfield, Davis said. Brown did not immediately return a call.As for himself, "I am sitting back and enjoying the rest of the year," said Davis, who asserts that City Pig was not a money-loser. He was thankful to the residents of Ryan Place, Berkeley Place and Fairmont neighborhoods who tried his smoke-it-slow brisket, ribs and pork, and came back for more.Moreover, he can afford to relax, the entrepreneur says, because he was selected to provide 7,500 pulled pork-and-slaw sliders at the Super Bowl VIP tailgate party back in February.The pork was smoked the previous day on Eighth Avenue, then brought to Cowboys Stadium at 4 a.m. in coolers. A "buffalo chopper" shredded the still-hot meat, which Davis' crew packed on top of hot grilled slider buns."It was profitable," said Davis, who said the catering gig led to another at the Houston Livestock Show.With the North Texas Super Bowl success under his belt, Davis is trolling for a partner to cater the next one in Indianapolis. And he's keeping his day job with a telecommunications company.Cookie Machine expands into cakes and piesSeveral months after the closure of Red Oven Bakery in Pantego -- known for its red velvet cakes and cupcakes -- a nearby business has picked up the slack of filling the community's need for sweet treats.The Cookie Machine, famous for its variety of cookie dough sold retail and as fundraisers, started baking cakes, cupcakes and pies a couple of weeks ago. Owner Tanya Terrell Weideman said she bought supplies and baking equipment from the Red Oven Bakery owner.The only thing she couldn't get was their red velvet recipe.Not to worry, Weideman says. She said she tested several recipes and has one that rivals the Red Oven's."We have cupcakes, cakes and three varieties of pies, and red velvet is one of them," Weideman said.There's a snickerdoodle and a Southern pecan "that's to die for," she said. In addition, the flavors include white, chocolate, carrot, coconut, German chocolate, Italian crème and tres leches.The Cookie Machine, at Arkansas Lane and Roosevelt Drive, is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.The store also has soups, salads, sandwiches and gluten-free products. Cupcakes are $1.25 each.Southlake couple develops a new kind of fake fingernailYou might say Katie and Jerry Saxton have this business nailed.The Southlake couple say they have patented a new type of artificial fingernail that improves on alternatives. Their Custom Nail Solutions sells nails that are fitted to each customer's natural nail size and shape.They're not cheap. The initial set, which includes taking impressions of each fingernail at their studio near Dragon Stadium, costs $239. For $179, customers can make their own nail impressions using a kit they mail in.But the Saxtons say the nails are made of a high-impact plastic that's guaranteed not to chip or break. www.customnailsolutions.com.Sandra Baker, 817-390-7727sabaker@star-telegram.comScott Nishimura, 817-390-7808snishimura@star-telegram.comBarry Shlachter, 817-390-7718barry@star-telegram.comHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
