Monthly Archives: September 2006

Back off, man, we’re a scientist PAC!

An idea whose time, frankly, is way overdue. Several prominent scientists said yesterday that they had formed an organization dedicated to electing politicians “who respect evidence and understand the importance of using scientific and engineering advice in making public policy.” … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 3 Comments

Two-way wrist radio update

Are you one of those people who carries a cellphone but doesn’t always have it in a conveniently reachable place when it rings? Have no fear, a Bluetooth wristwatch can help. Next time someone calls you on your cell phone, … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on Two-way wrist radio update

Mark Foley

I blogged some of this over at Kuff’s World yesterday, and I really don’t want to get too bogged down in it because it’s impossible for me to keep up with a story like this, but do note what Josh … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Scandalized! | 2 Comments

Culberson to debate…somebody else

So it turns out that contrary to prior reports, Rep. John Culberson is willing to participate in a debate. He’s just not willing to participate in a debate that involves his opponent, Jim Henley. The following is an email from … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Former Pro Tem staffers indicted

The grand jury has handed down nine indictments against the four former staffers of the Mayor Pro Tem office who were fired for taking improper bonuses. The grand jury issued a total of nine indictments against Rosita Hernandez, Florence Watkins, … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Former Pro Tem staffers indicted

Mehlman and Abramoff

I’m not going to spend too much time on the new revelations about Ken Mehlman, Karl Rove, and Jack Abramoff, because sites like TPM Muckraker will have this covered nine ways to Sunday by people who blog for a living, … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

TTC docs to be released

Ready to learn more about that boondoggle known as the Trans Texas Corridor? Pull up a chair, because the state is releasing some documents that will tell you more than you know now. For the most part, the crucial bit … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on TTC docs to be released

More on the Wong sign story

Didn’t get to this yesterday, but I’m amused by this KTRK story about Martha Wong and the altered campaign signs. Drive through District 134 and you can’t miss them. Signs are plastered around much of central Houston, including Bellaire and … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on More on the Wong sign story

The immigration choice

One often hears of a choice between spending money on schools and spending money on prisons in budgets debates, and the effect that more spending on one can have on the other. In a related vein, Grits looks at the … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in National news | Comments Off on The immigration choice

Houston Press Best Blog awards

Looks like the Houston Press has expanded its Best of Houston awards to cover a wider variety of blogs. That was probably overdue by at least a year, but better late than never. My hearty congratulations to Slampo (who won … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Houston Press Best Blog awards

We need cleaner air

A new study by eight scientists at five local universities says Houston’s air is more polluted than other major US cities’. The study is the third to be released this year on toxic air pollution in Houston, a problem distinct … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in The great state of Texas | 1 Comment

Still more Zogbys

Another round of Zogby Interactive polls, for which BOR has the Governor’s race summary. Basically, it’s still Perry leading but in the danger zone at 33%, Bell in second but back a bit at 22%, Friedman farther back at 19%, … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Abramoff, Rove, and Mehlman – BFFs

Roll Call: Hundreds of contacts between top White House officials and former lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his associates “raise serious questions about the legality and actions” of those officials, according to a draft bipartisan report prepared by the House Government … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Abramoff, Rove, and Mehlman – BFFs

Gods. Mythical beings. Cheap beer.

As a onetime PhD student at Rice (long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away), I enjoyed reading this feature story about its notorious grad student pub Valhalla. It’s pretty much like the piece describes, and unless you drink … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Gods. Mythical beings. Cheap beer.

Only $2.9 million to go

Big Time Dick Cheney is coming to town to help Shelley Sekula Gibbs’ futile write-in campaign. The national Republican Party has joined the fight to replace former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, donating more than $100,000 to the Republican candidate’s write-in … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Only $2.9 million to go

Shame on you, Shelley

Apparently, Shelley Sekula Gibbs has noticed the fact that she hasn’t been in the news much lately, not that this should surprise anyone. What surprises even me is the way she went about getting attention for herself. Several City Council … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Why they call it “gossip”

I guess it’s good news for Kinky Friedman that after all this time, some people still think of him as a Celebrity Candidate, where the fact that he sometimes says funny things trumps the substance (or, as is often the … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Why they call it “gossip”

A Williamson twofer

Vince continues his interview series with the other Williamson County Democrat for State Rep, Jim Stauber, who’s running in HD20. Stauber has a tougher task than Karen Felthauser does, as HD20 was about eight points more Republican than HD52 in … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on A Williamson twofer

Senate candidates invited to debate at Rice

Another email of interest: The Rice College Republicans, Libertarians, Young Democrats, The N.A.A.C.P. and Rice Vote Coalition have invited Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Ms. Barbara Ann Radnofsky and Mr. Scott Jameson to a candidates’ debate at Rice University on October … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Senate candidates invited to debate at Rice

Is Houston Avenue still on the table for I-45?

Last January, a Downtown Management District board member proposed rerouting a section of Interstate 45 to run along Houston Avenue. That proposal was not well-received, and was more or less disavowed by TxDOT’s Pat Henry in a subsequent neighborhood meeting … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Is Houston Avenue still on the table for I-45?

Eternal questions, Episode One

So I was reading Green Eggs and Ham to Olivia this evening, and just as I was getting underway she pointed to the story’s protagonist, the guy who does not like green eggs and ham, and said “What’s his name?” … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Books | 7 Comments

Alvarado testifies

City Council Member Carol Alvarado took her turn before the grand jury today. City Councilwoman Carol Alvarado testified for three hours today before a Harris County grand jury investigating improper bonuses at City Hall. Alvarado, who supervised four Office of … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment

Candidate Q&A: Farhan Shamsi

As with my State Rep candidate interviews, I’m just about done with my Q&As with local county candidates. Today i have the last of the Fort Bend Democratic contenders, Farhan Shamsi, who is running for Justice of the Peace, Precinct … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

“Ineffective and embarrassing”

The Lone Star Project sums up the career of Rep. John Carter, debate ducker par excellence. Historically, Texas Members with leadership potential begin to distinguish themselves by their second term in office. Both Charlie Stenholm and Martin Frost were already … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

“Boondocks” not coming back

Dammit. The Boondocks comic strip will not return “in the foreseeable future,” Universal Press Syndicate, its distributor, announced Monday. Creator Aaron McGruder took a six-month break earlier in the year but was expected to return this fall to his provocative … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Society and cultcha | 1 Comment

Ethics complaint filed against Seaman

The countdown clock for State Rep. Gene Seaman is ticking along as a constituent who is a Republican and a former supporter has filed an ethics complaint against him. The complaints were filed Thursday by Jay Masterson, 63, a Republican … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Ethics complaint filed against Seaman

How to get smart about getting tuff on crime

Courtesy of Grits, here’s a real public safety agenda for Texas: What follows is the first installment of a list of proposals, most of which would have to be enacted by the Texas Legislature, that I think would make a … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on How to get smart about getting tuff on crime

Target housing

I know the name of this project is the Sawyer Heights Lofts, but given its location, I’ll be thinking of them as the Target Lofts. Houston-based Martin Fein Interests Ltd. is building a 326-unit, four-story project known as Sawyer Heights … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Target housing

Martha Wong and the Case of the Missing Party Identifier

What do you do when your campaign signs identify you as a Republican in a year where that isn’t such a great thing to be? Why, you do a little ad hoc editing, of course. See? Duct tape really is … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Bar owners argue against expanded smoking ban

City Council took up the question of widening the ban on smoking to include bars yesterday, and bar owners railed against it for the most part. While various organizations have expressed support for a stronger ban, it was clear at … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

Fastow gets six years

Andy Fastow receives his punishment, and it’s less than what it could have been. Andrew Fastow, Enron’s former chief financial officer, received a 6-year prison sentence today for his role in the 2001 demise of the energy company. Fastow’s sentence … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Enronarama | 1 Comment

Baseball’s living history

Meet Silas Simmons, the oldest living player from the black major leagues near the turn of the century. Simmons, known as Si, was born on Oct. 14, 1895 – the same year as Babe Ruth and Rudolph Valentino, and before … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Baseball | 1 Comment

Interview with Rep. Ana Hernandez

In addition to interviewing all of the Democratic candidates for State House in Harris County, I wanted to make sure I also spoke to the incumbent Reps who face Republican opposition. With today’s interview of Rep. Ana Hernandez, the incumbent … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Interview with Rep. Ana Hernandez

Lampson poll

I’m sure you know about Shelley Sekula Gibbs’s “if wishes were horses” poll from a couple of weeks ago. I’ve now received word from the Nick Lampson campaign about their own poll, one that is (shall we say) a bit … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 9 Comments