Monthly Archives: December 2007

Car crash into the Hot Bagel Shop

Posted on December 14, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Geez. I was there this morning for breakfast, maybe two hours before this happened. A popular Montrose-area bagel shop was damaged after a car drove through the front of the business this morning, authorities said. The incident occurred around 9:20 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 1 Comment

Clemens and Bonds

Posted on December 14, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Richard Justice makes a point that, on its surface at least, is eminently sensible. Here’s the thing. If you had one view of [Barry] Bonds, you ought to have the same view of [Roger] Clemens because they’re accused of doing … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 5 Comments

Looking forward to 2008: Jeff Balke

Posted on December 14, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I have asked a variety of people to submit an essay to me to be posted during the month of December, to be called “Looking Forward to 2008”. This entry was written by Jeff Balke.) I’m not greedy. Really, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Looking Forward to 2008 | 5 Comments

The successful Caucus

Posted on December 14, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Houston GLBT Political Caucus had a pretty good election season this year. Here’s the press release they sent out about it: The Houston GLBT Caucus was victorious in 16 of the 17 races in which they endorsed in the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on The successful Caucus

The CPPP explains (again!) why Phil King’s sales tax swap is a bad idea

Posted on December 14, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Since State Rep. Phil King has once again raised the awful idea of massively hiking sales taxes in order to reduce property taxes, the CPPP has once again swung into action to explain why it’s so dumb (PDF) to do … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on The CPPP explains (again!) why Phil King’s sales tax swap is a bad idea

Duncanville sex club lawsuit

Posted on December 14, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

You may recall that the city of Duncanville recently decided to git tuff on swingers. Well, the swingers are now fighting back in court. A Duncanville swinger sued the city Wednesday, contending that a new ordinance banning sex clubs violates … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on Duncanville sex club lawsuit

HHSC Employee back in the blogging saddle

Posted on December 14, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I got word of this last week but didn’t get a chance to mention it – Ramblings of an HHSC Employee is being updated again by our intrepid and anonymous employee of the “food stamp” office in Texas. Just in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on HHSC Employee back in the blogging saddle

TPA Gold Stars: Mario Gallegos

Posted on December 13, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

[This year, in addition to recognizing its Texan of the Year (which will come this Friday), the Texas Progressive Alliance elected to recognize a number of other Texans who have contributed to Texas politics and the Progressive cause during 2007. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 1 Comment

The Mitchell Report

Posted on December 13, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Much like the impending arrival of the Iowa Caucuses, I’m kind of glad that the Mitchell Report is finally being released, on the grounds that with it no longer looming over us, we can begin to get past the hysteria … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on The Mitchell Report

Keller violated court policies

Posted on December 13, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

She admits it herself. Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Sharon Keller apparently violated court policies for handling death penalty cases when she closed the court clerk’s doors on Michael Richard’s efforts to file a last-minute appeal before his … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Looking forward to 2008: Hale Stewart

Posted on December 13, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I have asked a variety of people to submit an essay to me to be posted during the month of December, to be called “Looking Forward to 2008”. This entry was written by Hale Stewart.) Kuff asked me to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Looking Forward to 2008 | 1 Comment

Dawnna Dukes’ Vegas vacation

Posted on December 13, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t think I can add anything to Matt Glazer’s BOR post about encountering Craddick D Dawnna Dukes in Las Vegas, so let me just commend you to click over and read it. The embedded image it contains may be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Dawnna Dukes’ Vegas vacation

Some action in the Senate

Posted on December 13, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

In the course of discussing how expensive modern campaigns are now in Texas, this Statesman article talks about three contested general election races for the State Senate. But first, a little nitpicking: Unlike the 150-member Texas House — where scrappy, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 3 Comments

Truthiness in briefs

Posted on December 13, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in the Crawford v. Marion County Election Board case, which is about Indiana’s restrictive voter ID law. That brief, which you can see here (PDF), has … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Truthiness in briefs

TPA Gold Stars: Molly Ivins

Posted on December 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

[This year, in addition to recognizing its Texan of the Year (which will come this Friday), the Texas Progressive Alliance elected to recognize a number of other Texans who have contributed to Texas politics and the Progressive cause during 2007. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on TPA Gold Stars: Molly Ivins

The Lege versus The Supremes

Posted on December 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s something you don’t see every day – members of the Texas Legislature telling the State Supreme Court that they’ve been misinterpreted. In an unusual move, four legislators have asked the Texas Supreme Court to reverse a recent decision that, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 1 Comment

More billboard reductions coming?

Posted on December 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like we’re about to have some more action on the billboard-reduction front. Under a proposed ordinance, billboard owners could remove some signs in exchange for relocating other ones, city officials said. The exchange would be based on the size … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on More billboard reductions coming?

Looking Forward to 2008: Jeff Caynon

Posted on December 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I have asked a variety of people to submit an essay to me to be posted during the month of December, to be called “Looking Forward to 2008”. This entry was written by Jeff Caynon.) I have been a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Looking Forward to 2008 | Comments Off on Looking Forward to 2008: Jeff Caynon

Why I’ll be voting for Jessica Farrar in HD148

Posted on December 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I see Marc Campos has picked a side in the upcoming primary fight between State Rep. Jessica Farrar and her opponent. Commentary’s friend Jose Medrano is running for State Representative, District 148 in the Dem Primary. Jessica Farrar is the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Filing news: Who is Joel Redmond?

Posted on December 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

According to the latest list of candidates I’ve seen from the HCDP, Joel Redmond has made his official filing for HD144. Given how that open-seat race is at or near the top of the list of takeover targets by both … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Border fence protest in McAllen

Posted on December 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

May there be many more of these, until the message gets through that the border fence is a wasteful and destructive idea. City business leaders had an unorthodox plan today to get residents to attend a federally sponsored town meeting … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Border fence protest in McAllen

An HCDE smackdown

Posted on December 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Remember Michael Wolfe, the Harris County Department of Education trustee who was elected last year and caused a bit of a ruckus for his push to get the department’s headquarters named for his personal hero, Ronald Reagan? I didn’t blog … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 2 Comments

TPA Gold Stars: Denise Davis

Posted on December 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

[This year, in addition to recognizing its Texan of the Year (which will come this Friday), the Texas Progressive Alliance elected to recognize a number of other Texans who have contributed to Texas politics and the Progressive cause during 2007. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on TPA Gold Stars: Denise Davis

When billionaires fight

Posted on December 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

You know, the current unpleasantness between the NFL and cable providers Comcast and Time Warner (which King Kaufman has aptly described as a protracted whizzing match), which has now found its way to the Texas state legislature, basically reminds me … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 3 Comments

Fewer billboards!

Posted on December 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

There will soon be fewer billboards in Houston. This is a good thing. Clear Channel Outdoor Inc., one of the largest outdoor advertising companies in Houston soon will begin removing more than 800 of its small and mid-size billboards across … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Fewer billboards!

Looking Forward to 2008: Barbara Radnofsky

Posted on December 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I have asked a variety of people to submit an essay to me to be posted during the month of December, to be called “Looking Forward to 2008”. This entry was written by Barbara Radnofsky.) I look forward to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Looking Forward to 2008 | Comments Off on Looking Forward to 2008: Barbara Radnofsky

Vick gets 23 months

Posted on December 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Michael Vick has received his sentence for the federal dogfighting charges for which he pled guilty in August. Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison today for his role in a dogfighting conspiracy that involved gambling and killing … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Vick gets 23 months

Wanna buy a tower?

Posted on December 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Got a couple hundred million bucks burning a hole in your asset portfolio? If so, you can purchase a Houston architectural icon. The owner of Williams Tower, the 65-story skyscraper that dominates the Galleria-area skyline, has put the architectural icon … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of December 10

Posted on December 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Only 14 more blogging days till Christmas! While you ponder that, here’s this week’s Texas Progressive Alliance blog roundup for your perusal. Click on for more. Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of December 10

Gold stars for the Noriegas

Posted on December 10, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

This year, in addition to recognizing its Texan of the Year (which will come this Friday), the Texas Progressive Alliance elected to recognize a number of other Texans who have contributed to Texas politics and the Progressive cause during 2007. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Gold stars for the Noriegas

Looking Forward to 2008

Posted on December 10, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Starting tomorrow and hopefully going through the end of the year, I’m going to run some guest posts, all on the subject “Looking Forward to 2008”. Basically, I’ve asked a variety of interesting people to write something on this topic … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Looking Forward to 2008 | Comments Off on Looking Forward to 2008

Developing new rules

Posted on December 10, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose I’m more amused than anything else by this article on how City Council has been taking action lately to impose some new rules on development in Houston. I don’t find anything frightening about the concept, nor am I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Developing new rules

Still one election to go

Posted on December 10, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Early voting begins today for the last election in 2007, the runoff elections in Fort Worth, which include the special election runoff for HD97. Democrat Dan Barrett picked up the endorsement of the Star Telegram as voting opens. Democrat Dan … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Still one election to go

“Demolition by neglect”

Posted on December 10, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Lisa Gray gives a downer update on the Alabama Bookstop, which is not what I needed after a great weekend. “Well, there’s one,” says David Bush, wearily eyeing a two-foot discoloration on Bookstop’s high ceiling — one of several such … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on “Demolition by neglect”