Monthly Archives: November 2007

Lance Armstrong’s political future

Posted on November 26, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I think Lance Armstrong did a good job in getting Prop 15 through the Legislature and then approved by the voters. He did the hard work necessary for such an endeavor, he leveraged his celebrity and his life experience, which … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Lance Armstrong’s political future

Michelob or michelada?

Posted on November 26, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

You know, I just love a good David versus Goliath trademark fight. Mambo Seafood is taking on the mightier Michelob in a beer brawl. The fight began in 2003 when the local seafood and Mexican restaurant chain filed a trademark … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 2 Comments

“No ducking truth behind Perry’s gift”

Posted on November 26, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

From the weekend, the Statesman lays out the issue of Rick Perry’s RGA troubles. Even by Texas standards, the Republican Governors Association’s argument that it isn’t a political committee is absurd. Not only absurd, it’s obscene. Just before last year’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on “No ducking truth behind Perry’s gift”

Philly Wi-Fi network hits a snag

Posted on November 26, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

From last week, more signs from EarthLink that they are done with the municipal WiFi business. Three years after Mayor John Street announced that Philadelphia would be the first major U.S. city to have its own wireless Internet network, the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on Philly Wi-Fi network hits a snag

District D runoff overview

Posted on November 25, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The last of the three City Council runoffs to get an overview story is in District D, and it gets a pretty decent story for its wait. The runoff for the District D seat on Houston City Council will be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 1 Comment

Why were you printing them in the first place?

Posted on November 25, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I just have one question regarding this article about the hip, trendy, environmentally-conscious email sig making the rounds these days: Stephanie Fessler doesn’t drive a hybrid car, compost her orange peels or bring her own reusable cloth bags to the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 3 Comments

More on transit options

Posted on November 24, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I appreciate Tory’s summary of his views on transit, which I find largely agreeable. I don’t know if he was specifically responding to my critique of his prior post about the Houston Area Survey data on transit or not, but … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 6 Comments

The Lizards and Consumers Union team up again

Posted on November 24, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Austin Lounge Lizards and Consumers Union, who banded together two years ago to bring us The Drugs I Need and It’s Always Christmastime for Visa, have done it again with a new song and video about toy safety, an … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Comments Off on The Lizards and Consumers Union team up again

Runoff overviews: District E, At Large 5

Posted on November 23, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

There are four local races remaining in the 2007 election season, and as of today we’ve gotten overviews for two of them. First up is in District E, where Kingwood’s Mike Sullivan is up against Clear Lake’s Annette Dwyer. Voters … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Runoff overviews: District E, At Large 5

Time to terminate term limits

Posted on November 23, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I thought term limits were a bad idea when I first heard about them in the 1990s. It always seemed to me that everything you might reasonably hope to achieve with term limits you could get instead by some kind … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 3 Comments

Why am I not surprised he’d be a slapper?

Posted on November 23, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Stay classy, Tom. Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay may not be in a leadership position on Capitol Hill anymore, but that doesn’t mean he can’t weigh in on the current GOP leadership. DeLay told Yeas & Nays that Republicans … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 2 Comments

Bruuuuuuuuce!

Posted on November 23, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I think I know what to get Tiffany for Christmas now. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform April 14 in Houston, for the first time in more than five years. More information on the venue and on-sale … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 1 Comment

What I have to be thankful for this year

Posted on November 22, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I think everyone already knows what I’m thankful for this year, but just so we’re sure: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m one hell of a lucky guy. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from me … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 4 Comments

Stuffing wars

Posted on November 22, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

So. How do you stuff your turkey? ‘stina wants to know. We were a bread-based stuffing family when I was growing up, but I’m an avid devotee of the Italian sausage/rice/fennel stuffing that was Tiffany’s grandmother’s recipe. That recipe has … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 1 Comment

“A battle of ideas”

Posted on November 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

So this is what a campaign based on a “battle of ideas” looks like. I’d always wondered about that. Ray McMurrey, 42, is a government and history teacher at a Gates Foundation Early College High School on the Del Mar … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 2 Comments

More cheering for Dynamo Stadium

Posted on November 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday’s celebration of the Dynamo’s second consecutive MLS championship turned into an impromptu rally in favor of Dynamo Stadium. Also present were several Houston City Council members and Mayor Bill White, who congratulated the team but not before enduring chants … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 1 Comment

Sorry, not funny

Posted on November 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Trash talking in sports, especially between fans of rival teams, is a time-honored tradition. But as in all things, there are lines that shouldn’t be crossed. Via Racy Mind and the Library Chronicles, I’d have to say that making Katrina … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Comments Off on Sorry, not funny

TLCV endorses Dan Barrett

Posted on November 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

More good news for Dan Barrett: The Texas League of Conservation Voters (TLCV), a coalition of Texans committed to clean air, clean water, and access to public lands, water, fish and wildlife, has endorsed Dan Barrett for state Representative in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on TLCV endorses Dan Barrett

What if they’re not a cash cow?

Posted on November 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Matt Stiles points to this Governing Magazine newsbrief about red light camera revenue, and asks a simple question: After Sioux Falls, South Dakota, installed red-light cameras at a key intersection, it saw its revenue from tickets for red-light infractions plummet. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on What if they’re not a cash cow?

Border webcams to come online again

Posted on November 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Remember the border webcams that were piloted last year, then went away because there was no money for them? Well, Governor Perry thinks he has found funds for them now. Gov. Rick Perry has identified $3 million in federal funding … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 2 Comments

RIP, Dick Wilson

Posted on November 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Dick Wilson, the character actor best known as Mr. Whipple, has passed on. Dick Wilson, the character actor and pitchman who for 21 years played an uptight grocer begging customers “Please, don’t squeeze the Charmin,” died today. He was 91. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | Comments Off on RIP, Dick Wilson

Cleanup can be done

Posted on November 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, Mayor White has upped the rhetorial stakes in demanding action from local plants on cleaner air. The plants have for the most part claimed that they can’t meet his deadline. Turns out there’s more to the story … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Cleanup can be done

Dynamo Stadium: If not now, then when?

Posted on November 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

My congratulations to the Houston Dynamo for their second consecutive MLS championship. Now how about that stadium that’s been in the works for however long? The Houston Dynamo, fresh off the team’s second straight championship, could have a private-public deal … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 2 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of November 19

Posted on November 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a short week, but we’ve got a full lineup of Texas Progressive Alliance blog highlights. Click on to check them out. Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of November 19

Lampson’s strategy

Posted on November 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I confess to having mixed feelings about this story concerning Rep. Nick Lampson’s political strategy these days. I like Rep. Lampson, and have liked him for a long time. He’s a good guy, a dedicated member of Congress, and easily … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Dan Patrick versus the world

Posted on November 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Los Dos Professors bring word of the latest front in the Dan Patrick Proxy Wars, courtesy of Capitol Inside: Patrick, who’s backing Tomball businessman Allen Fletcher in his bid to oust State Representative Corbin Van Arsdale in next year’s GOP … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Noriega’s primary opponent

Posted on November 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Mikal Watts may be gone, but there will still be a contested primary for the Democratic nomination for Senate next year. Here’s a look at Rick Noriega‘s opponent, Ray McMurrey: McMurrey, 42, will make his official announcement Tuesday in Austin, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Noriega’s primary opponent

Dan Barrett gets ParentPAC endorsement

Posted on November 19, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Always good to see the Texas ParentPAC get involved in an election, especially considering their track record last year: The bipartisan Texas Parent PAC today announced its endorsement of Dan Barrett for state representative in House District 97, which includes … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Dan Barrett gets ParentPAC endorsement

Chron advocates saving the Dome

Posted on November 19, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

On Sunday, the Chron editorialized in favor of keeping the Astrodome. The county spends $1.5 million a year simply to maintain the Astrodome in its largely unused state. That is an untenable situation that cannot extend indefinitely. County commissioners are … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 4 Comments

Richard Morrison for Fort Bend County Commissioner

Posted on November 19, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s some good news: Richard Morrison, the man whose run against Tom DeLay in 2004 marked the beginning of the end of the Hammer’s career, is running for County Commissioner in Precinct 1 in Fort Bend. His opponent is incumbent … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Why we didn’t need that jail bond

Posted on November 19, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Marc Levin writes about how we can and should deal with the Harris County Jail now that the bond to build more of them went down. A new Texas law allows law enforcement officers the discretion to issue citations, instead … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Why we didn’t need that jail bond

Madison coin makes its debut

Posted on November 19, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, the fourth entry in the Presidential dollar coin series, bearing the likeness of James Madison, made the scene. While there are a lot of doubters, Mint Director Ed Moy says he is hopeful that the latest attempt to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 2 Comments

Five Upcoming Comic Book Movies That Must Be Stopped

Posted on November 19, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The title pretty much says it all. I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that I can remember the 1970s vintage “Shazam!”, where lines like “Oh, Elders, fleet and strong and wise, appear before my seeking eyes!” were spoken with great earnestness. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 4 Comments

Loren Jackson campaign kickoff

Posted on November 19, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I wasn’t able to make it to Loren Jackson‘s campaign kickoff event for District Clerk last week, but fortunately Stace was there with a report. Loren’s a bright and energetic guy, and if you haven’t had a chance to meet … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Loren Jackson campaign kickoff