Monthly Archives: January 2008

When the Eighties attack, and other stories

Posted on January 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

A few news briefs of interest… State Rep. Juan Garcia, who won a close race to unseat longtime Republican Gene Seaman in 2006, will face a former Democrat in his re-election bid. In honor of his blast-from-the-past opponent and his … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on When the Eighties attack, and other stories

No ballot challenge over Chuck’s withdrawal

Posted on January 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Fans of unadulterated political theater will likely be disappointed by this, but I think it’s for the best. A court challenge to the procedure that allowed embattled Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal to withdraw from the Republican primary now … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 2 Comments

Kirby Drive high rise update

Posted on January 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

According to Nancy Sarnoff, the high rise development on Kirby must be going well, because the developers there are looking to expand it even before it’s finished. The West Ave development that’s going up on five acres at the southwest … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Kirby Drive high rise update

TPA endorsements for Democratic primaries

Posted on January 15, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

There are a lot of contested Democratic primaries this year, more than most of us can remember there being in a long time. For the most part, this is a good thing, as many of these contests indicate a greater … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Rosenthal’s judgment

Posted on January 15, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting analysis of the career of Chuck Rosenthal and how his judgment, which he claims was at fault for all the recent unpleasantness, has been an issue for quite some time. Attorney Jim Leitner, who ran against Rosenthal in 2000 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Chat with Metro

Posted on January 15, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Short notice and all, but those of you with a little spare time during lunch might check this out. Got a question for Metropolitan Transit Authority president and CEO Frank Wilson? If so, get to a computer at noon Tuesday, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Chat with Metro

Candidate Q&A: Baltasar D. Cruz

Posted on January 15, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Note: This entry is part of a series of written Q&As with judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. I am also doing recorded interviews with non-judicial candidates. 1. Who are you, and what are you running for? My name is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Candidate Q&A: Baltasar D. Cruz

That’s really dark

Posted on January 15, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a known scientific fact that any article about science-y things that starts off with a quote from This Is Spinal Tap is worth reading. A scientist at Rice University has created the darkest material known to man, a carpet … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on That’s really dark

Fifty-dollar scratch-off redux

Posted on January 15, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

You may need to sit down for this one: Those fifty-dollar scratch-off games that the Texas Lottery pushes on the public in the hope of luring richer people to play, are instead mostly bought by not so rich folks. The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Jackpot! | 1 Comment

Texas blog roundup for the week of January 14

Posted on January 15, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

We may not know who our Presidential nominees may be just yet, but we know that if it’s Tuesday, it’s time for another Texas Progressive Alliance blog roundup. Click on for more. Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of January 14

The land for Dynamo Stadium

Posted on January 14, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

This story about the city’s letter of intent to buy land east of downtown on which a future Dynamo Stadium will be built raises a lot of questions. The city could spend up to $20 million to buy six downtown … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 1 Comment

County sues builders over “bandit” signs

Posted on January 14, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I support this effort. Harris County has sued a homebuilder over advertising signs placed along public rights of way, the first time the county has tried to enforce the state’s new bandit sign law. Espree Homes and Royce Builders, owned … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 3 Comments

Candidate interview: Joe Jaworski

Posted on January 14, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Note: This entry is part of a series of recorded interviews with non-judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. I am also doing written Q&As with judicial candidates. There’s been a lot of focus lately among Democrats on winning back seats … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Candidate interview: Joe Jaworski

The homestretch for the Katy Freeway expansion

Posted on January 14, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Hard to believe since I know it feels like it’s been under construction forever, but the Katy Freeway widening project is coming to an end this year, at least if things go as planned. A couple of thoughts from the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 4 Comments

Where the DeLay case stands now

Posted on January 14, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Now that he’s back in Texas, you may be wondering what the current status is of the DeLay prosecution. The Observer’s Cody Garrett has a nice summary: The case is on the docket for March 7, but that may be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Where the DeLay case stands now

No thank you for not smoking

Posted on January 14, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Now that’s what I call a backlash. The owner of a small German computer company has fired three non-smoking workers because they were threatening to disturb the peace after they requested a smoke-free environment. The manager of the 10-person IT … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | Comments Off on No thank you for not smoking

Pity the poor developers

Posted on January 13, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

This article, about the new developers’ PAC in Houston, is fascinating on many levels. Over lunch with Mayor Bill White on Monday, former Mayor Bob Lanier laid out his concerns that new regulations on real estate development threaten the city’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 7 Comments

Hutchison and the border fence

Posted on January 13, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I almost feel sorry for KBH. In an uncharacteristic display of public frustration with party colleagues, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison on Friday sharply criticized two Republican congressmen who had accused her of a stealth effort to derail the fence along … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 2 Comments

IRS complaint filed against Perry-backing foundation

Posted on January 13, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. A project to mobilize faith-based voters to support a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage may have illegally served Gov. Rick Perry’s re-election campaign, according to a complaint filed Thursday with the Internal Revenue Service. The Texas Freedom Network, a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on IRS complaint filed against Perry-backing foundation

Henley and CD07

Posted on January 13, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Saw a copy of the Bellaire Examiner at my in-laws’ house the other day, and this article about the CD07 race caught my eye, as it gave some background as to why 2006 Democratic candidate Jim Henley decided to run … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

DA investigating incident involving Borris Miles

Posted on January 12, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Lovely. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office is investigating a complaint that state Rep. Borris Miles, D-Houston, made threats and brandished a gun at a holiday party last month. According to witnesses, Miles entered a St. Regis Hotel ballroom uninvited, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 6 Comments

The sheriff’s new home

Posted on January 12, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Well, the good news for the local GOP is that there don’t seem to be any new bombshells in L’Affaire Rosenthal today, just a routine request for a leave of absence by Kelly Siegler so she can campaign. The bad … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 2 Comments

Red light cameras come to Round Rock

Posted on January 12, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Add Round Rock to the list of cities with red light cameras. The city of Round Rock is still in the process of getting its red-light cameras in place after unanimously approving their use in September. Assistant Police Chief Tim … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Duncanville sues the swingers

Posted on January 12, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

You may recall that a group of swingers in the city of Duncanville filed suit against the city to overturn a new law they passed that would ban sex clubs such as theirs. Well, the city has responded by saying … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on Duncanville sues the swingers

He’s baaaaaaaaack…

Posted on January 11, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Look who’s back in town: That disturbance you felt in the Force recently? Now you know what caused it. Guess the whole Virginia thing didn’t work out so well. Earlier this year, I resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | 1 Comment

Where the potties are

Posted on January 11, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Kelly Siegler, earlier this week, on why she’s uniquely qualified to be the next District Attorney: “To put it real bluntly, Mr. Bradford, Judge Lykos, Mr. Lietner, they don’t know where the bathrooms are.” Maybe they don’t, but thankfully Muse … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 2 Comments

Friday random ten: Cover-two

Posted on January 11, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing with last week’s theme, here’s ten more songs for which I have multiple versions in iTunes. 1. “A Fool In Love” – Ike & Tina Turner/Marcia Ball, Lou Ann Barton, Angela Strehli. I know I’ve said there’s only one … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 2 Comments

An update on Metro and the FTA

Posted on January 11, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

This article, on the opening of Metro’s new North Corridor community office tomorrow, is more interesting for the update it gives on the FTA approval process for the newly re-christened light rail lines. The North Line was one of Metro’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on An update on Metro and the FTA

More on AG Abbott’s entry into the Rosenthal saga

Posted on January 11, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Today’s Chron story provides a little more info about Attorney General Greg Abbott’s impending investigation of DA Chuck Rosenthal. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott launched an investigation Thursday into whether Harris County’s top prosecutor, Chuck Rosenthal, violated state laws by … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 2 Comments

Burka on the House races

Posted on January 11, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Paul Burka gives an exhaustive rundown of the 89 contested House races that we will see this year. There’s a boo-boo or two in there – as I noted in the comments, Democrat Kevin Murphy is running in HD29, and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 2 Comments

More on Dynamo Stadium

Posted on January 11, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Chron soccer writer Bernardo Fallas looks at the state of the stadium negotiations, and sees the reason why it’s taken this long. Just six weeks ago both sides seemed poised to shake hands and come out of City Hall victorious. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Comments Off on More on Dynamo Stadium

The Governor’s inbox

Posted on January 11, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

What with all the Rosenthal stuff going on, let’s not forget about John Washburn’s efforts to keep Governor Perry’s office from routinely wiping out emails after seven days. (You have to admit, that policy is looking pretty shrewd for him … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on The Governor’s inbox

AG Abbott comes calling

Posted on January 10, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

That didn’t take long. Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal will face a state investigation into whether campaign-related e-mails on his government computer warrant removal from office, officials said today. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s office informed county officials today … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

The fallout from Rosenthal

Posted on January 10, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Two items from today’s story about political fallout for the local GOP from the Rosenthal mess: Two GOP candidates for district attorney said Wednesday the disclosures of racist, sexist and sexually explicit items on Rosenthal’s government computer, along with correspondence … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 3 Comments