Monthly Archives: August 2004

DeLay protested at UH-Clear Lake

The protesters were out in force at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, where Tom DeLay was scheduled to speak yesterday. Signs proclaiming “Dump DeLay” and “Exterminate DeLay” showed the theme for some who gathered at the University of Houston Clear … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2004 | 4 Comments

Kerry on The Daily Show

Transcript here (via Julia via Susie). Naturally, I forgot to program the TiVo for it. I’ll see about catching the rerun today. Anyone out there actually watch it? And here’s an AP wire report. Note something interesting here: “I watch … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in The making of the President | 5 Comments

Still CHIPping away

The Legislative Budget Board has approved more spending, but CHIP is still getting stiffed. Legislative leaders approved $591 million in state spending Monday to restore health care for the needy but let deep cutbacks in the Children’s Health Insurance Program … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Still CHIPping away

Sadun turns in signatures

UT math professor Lorenzo Sadun has taken the next step to getting on the ballot for the CD10 Congressional race in November. At 2 p.m. today, Lorenzo Sadun, professor of mathematics at the University, will deliver the 500 signatures needed … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2004 | 3 Comments

Pay toll

Toll road madness has spread to the Dallas area. “It’s a way to raise money, and the money comes right back here,” said Denton County Judge Mary Horn, whose county is considering tolls along State Highway 121. “The bottom line … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 4 Comments

Survey USA does Texas

Via Political Wire, we have a new Texas poll done by Survey USA (PDF). It shows Bush leading Kerry by a 58-37 margin, which is very close to what the spread was in 2000, and is slightly better for Bush … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in The making of the President | 3 Comments

Texas Tuesdays: David Leibowitz

We’re getting close to the end of our tour through the State House, but that doesn’t mean we’re close to running out of good candidates to highlight. Today’s special guest star is David Leibowitz, who’s running in a very winnable … Continue reading Continue reading

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Trinity and Rice

Couple nice mentions of my alma mater and my graduate school in the papers. Here’s Trinity making the grade in US News and World Report again. For the 13th straight year, Trinity was tops among colleges and universities that offer … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in The great state of Texas | 4 Comments

Heflin custody case dismissed

Thank God. A judge today dismissed the case in which state Rep. Talmadge Heflin and his wife were seeking custody of the 20-month-old son of African illegal immigrants. Family District Judge Linda Motheral ordered the boy returned to his mother … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2004 | 5 Comments

Morrison ad

The Richard Morrison campaign has produced a TV ad which, if I happen to see it on TV, will be the first such political ad I’ll have seen since the primary season (such is life in a non-swing state). It’s … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2004 | Comments Off on Morrison ad

DeLay to be protested at UH-Clear Lake

This ought to be fun. CLEAR LAKE — A reception for House Majority Speaker Tom DeLay at the University of Houston-Clear Lake on Tuesday night is expected to draw protesters. An e-mail circulated last week that encouraged recipients to make … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2004 | Comments Off on DeLay to be protested at UH-Clear Lake

Fort Bend court update

I see that Juanita has given her promised report on the judge juggling in Fort Bend, and there’s still more to come. I’ve found exactly one story in the news on this, which at least had the decency to note … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2004 | Comments Off on Fort Bend court update

Tough times on the comics page

This NYT article about a recent trend in newspapers to cull the comics pages as a cost-saving maneuver leaves me shaking my head. Two comments from the story stand out to me: “I think newspapers need some percentage of attraction … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Society and cultcha | 4 Comments

“Smile, you son of a…”

The latest Angry Alien production is out, and it’s another classic: “Jaws” In 30 Seconds And Reenacted By Bunnies. Well, bunnies and a shark, if you want to be technical. Like their previous re-imaginings such as “The Exorcist” and “Titanic”, … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in TV and movies | 2 Comments

Does this blog post make my butt look big?

Three words: Buttock augmentation surgery. “It’s everywhere now,” said Yadira Yanez, a 30-year-old mother of three who recently underwent buttock augmentation to get a fuller, rounder tush. “It’s on TV where you see people that have done it and made … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Society and cultcha | 6 Comments

Casey scores again on Heflin

I’ve been critical of Rick Casey in the past, but give the man his due: when he’s good, he’s good. Today he talks to an unnamed judge, who gives us some color commentary on the strange Heflin custody case. The … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2004 | 2 Comments

Dean in town

Howard Dean is visiting Houston this weekend to help raise some campaign funds for Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and Richard Morrison. “People think Texas is George W. Bush country,” Dean told hundreds packed into the Houston International Theatre School on … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2004 | 1 Comment

We may never get rid of Beelzebud

Beelzebud Selig’s term as Commissioner of Major League Baseball has been extended through 2009. That sound you hear is my teeth grinding. I may have more to say about this later, when I’m done banging my head against the wall. … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Baseball | 2 Comments

The NYT says “It’s Worth It”

Tom and Kevin both note this NYT story about the Houston: It’s Worth It campaign. I think it’s pretty strong evidence for the effectiveness of the HIWI campaign that the Times wrote a respectful and gets-it article about the effort … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on The NYT says “It’s Worth It”

No ruling yet in Heflin case

The judge in the strange custody dispute between Talmadge Heflin and his former maid has declined to rule for now on the matter, which is a victory in a way for the Heflins since the child in question will remain … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2004 | 1 Comment

Asking the unaskable

Kerry asks the question that our wimpy national “press” corps is too chicken to ask. As an extra special bonus, he also has another Malkin screencap. Continue reading

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Ratliff says Robin Hood not the problem

The school finance lawsuit is perking along, with the plaintiffs still putting on their case. Former State Sen. and Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff, one of the authors of the 1993 “Robin Hood” law testified that Robin Hood would still be … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Ratliff says Robin Hood not the problem

Fed funds for METRO?

METRO is asking the federal government to pick up the tab for the next two light rail extensions. Metro officials hope that by pledging to pay for all of the subsequent two lines — from Midtown to Hillcroft and downtown … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Hotshot takes on Heflin

Rick Casey picks up the White Man’s Burden ball and advances it down the field. And the Heflins’ lawyer argued that the child’s parents couldn’t afford health insurance, and the boy suffered the long waits that Medicaid coverage brings. That … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2004 | Comments Off on Hotshot takes on Heflin

Nothin’ but good times ahead

They’re an optimistic lot in the Houston hotel business, that’s for sure. The Super Bowl drove thousands of visitors to Houston hotels earlier this year, but it still wasn’t enough to cure the city’s ailing lodging market. More than two … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Deal Hudson

One can call Deal Hudson a hypocrite if one is so inclined. Personally, after reading this story about him, I’d say he’s a jerk, and then some. Hudson resigned a faculty position at Fordham University after being accused of sexually … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Scandalized! | 8 Comments

Further evidence of my decrepitude

Yesterday was the 20th anniversary of the day I started college. Classes at Trinity actually started on August 23, 1984, but freshman orientation began on the 18th. Back in those enlightened days when the drinking age was still 19, nobody … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 6 Comments

Signs, signs, everywhere there’s signs

That sign-stealing hubbub in CD32 sure is getting a lot of coverage. Here’s a typical example. “Pete was picking up signs that were unlawfully placed by his opponent [during] the last days of the campaign,” said Chris Homan, Sessions’ campaign … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2004 | 1 Comment

Anarchy now!

Am I the only person who just loves the concept of an anarchists’ convention? Anarchists generally pride themselves on their rejection of government and its authority. But a faction of them fed up with the war in Iraq say they … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in The making of the President | 12 Comments

Heflin custody dispute update

All right, the Talmadge Heflin custody case is now on the front page of the Chron, and it’s time to consider a couple of uncomfortable questions. First and foremost is the question of the Heflins’ motivation for bringing a suit … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2004 | 6 Comments

What’s it gonna be, boy, yes or no?

You know how on Law and Order a witness will try to give a complicated, nuanced, occasionally evasive answer to a yes/no question, and the lawyer asking the question, whether McCoy or a hotshot defense attorney, interrupts to emphasize that … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in The making of the President | 2 Comments

The horror! The horror!

I think I may have finally found an election in which I’d fervently wish for a viable third-party candidate: The Gossips hear that former City Council member Gabriel Vasquez and his new wife, Lisa Diamond, who is chief of staff … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Talmadge Heflin in custody battle

This is a very strange story. A state lawmaker and his wife are to face their former maid in a Houston court today in a battle over custody of the woman’s 20-month-old son. State Rep. Talmadge Heflin and his wife, … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2004 | 2 Comments

No smoking!

Smoke ’em if you got ’em, ’cause you may not be able to in as many places as before. Councilwoman Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, the only physician on the City Council, is studying smoking ordinances in other cities with an eye toward … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | 13 Comments