Monthly Archives: June 2006

Shane Sklar Q & A

Posted on June 10, 2006 by admin

Here’s the Q&A I promised with Shane Sklar. I’ve gotten some feedback from people asking for stuff like this to be done in podcast form, with an RSS feed. I think that’s a great idea, and will work on it … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

One ridiculed grandma

Posted on June 10, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I won’t have a whole lot of time for following regular news stories while I’m here, but I have to link to this story about the rousing round of ridicule Carole Keeton Strayhorn got for her bizarre request to be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 3 Comments

Liveblogging: I suck

Posted on June 9, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’m here in “Bloggers’ Alley” in the main session for the evening, where Wes Clark just finished wowing the crowd. Busy guy – he was at Yearly Kos before this. I thought I might try liveblogging this, but I’m apparently … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 3 Comments

This press thing is pretty sweet

Posted on June 9, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Who knew that a press pass got you free food and WiFi? I may never leave. Just did a brief chat with Shane Sklar, which I’ll post later tonight or tomorrow. I’ve got a chat scheduled with Mary Beth Harrell, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on This press thing is pretty sweet

Getting there is half the aggravation

Posted on June 9, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

We made it to Fort Worth (Greg came with me). Whoever said that Houston is hard to navigate has never driven in the Metroplex, I’ll just say that. We’ve got the WiFi working, and we’re about to attend a press … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Getting there is half the aggravation

More on the Dems’ TRO

Posted on June 9, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’m about to leave for Fort Worth, so here’s the Chron story on the Democrats’ lawsuit temporarily injuncting the GOP against starting the process to replace Tom DeLay on the CD22 ballot. State District Judge Darlene Byrne of Austin, a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 3 Comments

Interview with Ellen Cohen

Posted on June 8, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I had the chance to sit down and talk with HD134 candidate Ellen Cohen earlier this week. I’ve usually done email interviews in the past (this being the sole exception till now), but I’ve got a digital voice recorder now, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Dems get temporary restraining order against replacing DeLay on November ballot

Posted on June 8, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Breaking news. In a surprise twist to the Tom DeLay saga, the Texas Democratic Party filed suit Thursday in an attempt to keep the resigning Republican Congressman’s name on the November ballot. The suit, filed in Travis County 126th District … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Where I’ll be tomorrow night

Posted on June 8, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Tomorrow night in Fort Worth, various progressive bloggers of Texas will get together and have a party. ATTENTION BLOGGERS, BLOG READERS, LURKERS, CANDIDATES, DELEGATES, OBSERVERS, AND OFFICEHOLDERS: You’re all cordially invited to THE PARTY OF THE YEAR: the 1st Annual … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Where I’ll be tomorrow night

One unknown grandma

Posted on June 8, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Since we’re in a musical frame of mind today, I think we’ll all agree that the song that accompanies this article is the classic Who Are You?. Independent Carole Keeton Strayhorn won political office under her two previous married names, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Where the cameras will be

Posted on June 8, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

For those of you who want to avoid getting a ticket from the about-to-be-installed red light cameras but don’t want to change your driving habits, here are the intersections to avoid. Camera enforcement, pushed by Mayor Bill White and approved … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Where the cameras will be

DeLay says bye-bye

Posted on June 8, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Give me a minute here. I’m getting all verklempt. Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay urged colleagues today to “stand on principle” and ignore the media in a farewell speech to fellow House Republicans at their weekly private meeting. DeLay, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 4 Comments

Two public meetings on transportation tonight

Posted on June 8, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

From the I-45 Coalition mailing list: METRO Meeting, Thursday, June 8th, Ketelsen Elementary School, 600 Quitman Street (at N. Main) from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – INTERMODAL TERMINAL PUBLIC MEETING What’s an Intermodal Terminal ?? – It’s basically a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

More on the faxes to nowhere

Posted on June 8, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron editorializes about the faxes to nowhere, and in doing so they say what should be done next. Stop further CHIP disenrollments until Accenture meets basic performance levels. Request that the 2007 Legislature reinstate 12-month eligibility for CHIP/Medicaid enrollment. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Eversole jumps on the Treasurer abolishment bandwagon

Posted on June 7, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

County Commissioner Jerry Eversole has joined the list of people calling for the abolishment of the County Treasurer’s office. Commissioner Jerry Eversole asked County Attorney Mike Stafford what steps the county needs to take “to set in motion the action … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

New boss for Harris County Sports Authority

Posted on June 7, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Meet the new boss of the Harris County Sports Authority. The sports authority’s board voted unanimously to hire Janis Schmees as its executive director. She was given the mandate of bringing more events to the city – even though the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 2 Comments

Noriega on immigration

Posted on June 7, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The following is from the subscription-only Rio Grande Guardian, sent to me in email. Noriega: Reject GOP’s divisive platform on immigration CORPUS CHRISTI – A Democratic lawmaker from Houston has told young Latinos to reject the “divisive approach” signaled by … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 3 Comments

Mapchangers

Posted on June 7, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Mark Warner’s Forward Together PAC is having a little online competition. The 2006 elections will be an opportunity for Democrats. For the first time in many years, Democrats have a strong chance to win majorities in both houses of Congress. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Bell to speak at stem cell summit

Posted on June 7, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

From a Chris Bell press release: Texas Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Chris Bell will participate in a roundtable discussion during the second annual national stem cell policy and advocacy summit at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California Sunday, June 11. The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Bell to speak at stem cell summit

Chet’s chances

Posted on June 7, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I confess to being nervous about Rep. Chet Edwards‘ re-election chances. He’s in a really red district (66.3% Republican in 2004, according to the SOS redistricting reports), he narrowly beat a flawed candidate, and with fewer high-profile races this year, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Au revoir, suckers

Posted on June 6, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Au revoir, mes amis. Il a été bon de vous connaître. Texas pals of former House majority leader Tom DeLay are bidding adieu to their retiring leader with a single question: “Parlez-vous Francais?” DeLay doesn’t speak a lot of French, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 5 Comments

Kinky: I do too have issues!

Posted on June 6, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s check and see how the Kinky Friedman campaign is going. Independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman, best known for his satire and cigar, took his first halting steps toward dispelling the rap that he isn’t versed on the issues. He … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 6 Comments

“Outdated office”

Posted on June 6, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron editorializes on the recent Radack-Sanchez smackdown and the growing realization that the time is now to abolish the office of Harris County Treasurer. During an joint appearance before the Chronicle editorial board during the primary campaign, Sanchez criticized … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 3 Comments

State hurricane evacuation plan now online

Posted on June 6, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

A updated version of the official state hurricane evacuation plan is now online. The state’s 157-page plan was posted online late Friday, the day after the Atlantic hurricane season began. Some local emergency management officials said Monday that they did … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on State hurricane evacuation plan now online

Two!

Posted on June 6, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t care what kind of crazy stuff some people may believe about today and today’s date. Here’s all you need to know: Today is Olivia’s second birthday. She started the celebration a little early by coming down with a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 10 Comments

Dallas is your place for bad driving

Posted on June 6, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Wherever I go, there’s always someone to tell me that their city features the world’s worst drivers. It’s like a point of pride – “You wussies in [city X] have it easy. Here in [city Y], only the strong survive … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Dallas is your place for bad driving

School finance: The more you look, the less you like

Posted on June 5, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I have written before about how the changes to the school finance funding formula enacted in the last special session have been received by the plaintiffs in the West Orange-Cove lawsuit. Their contention that the requirement of a referendum to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Evidence of actual dissension found

Posted on June 5, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

On Saturday at Kuff’s World, I noted that an effort to insert a plank in the State GOP’s platform calling for the repeal of the new business tax failed by a 28-3 vote. That was not the end of the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Evidence of actual dissension found

Split verdicts in the Enron Broadband retrials

Posted on June 5, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Last year, the Enron federal task force failed to secure any convictions in the first trial of executives of the former Enron Broadband Services. Even though that case was considered stronger than some of the others they had to try, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Split verdicts in the Enron Broadband retrials

Get ready to call your Congressperson again on Net Neutrality

Posted on June 5, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Net Neutrality will come up in Congress again this week. Here’s the latest email on the subject from MoveOn: Dear Charles, It’s time. Next week, the full House of Representatives votes on whether to protect Internet freedom. Your representative, Sheila … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Get ready to call your Congressperson again on Net Neutrality

John Carter’s priorities

Posted on June 5, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

You may have heard that Fort Hood is having some financial difficulties. A “severe budget crunch” has hit Fort Hood, one of the nation’s largest military posts and home to a U.S. Army division serving in Iraq, officials said Thursday. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 1 Comment

Protecting veterans’ identities

Posted on June 5, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

You may recall last week that an employee of the Veterans Administration had a laptop that contained a database with more than 26 million personal records in it stolen. This led to Sen. Tom Harkin (D, Iowa) to introduce a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Protecting veterans’ identities

Houston sports icons

Posted on June 4, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I just have one question regarding this article that names and asks for feedback on “your favorite Houston-based athlete of all time”: A.J. Foyt?? His uniform was his own, but is it even debatable that anybody was more identified with … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 8 Comments

Tropical Storm Allison: Five years later

Posted on June 4, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Jeez, has it really been five years since Tropical Storm Allison flooded the hell out of Houston? Tiffany and I were actually out of town the weekend that it happened – the worst flooding occured overnight on a Friday. We … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Tropical Storm Allison: Five years later