Monthly Archives: April 2009

Sanctions sought for deadline-missing attorney

Posted on April 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This is a necessary step, but it is not a sufficient one. Texas’ highest criminal court has asked the State Bar of Texas to investigate a San Antonio attorney who missed critical deadlines in four recent death row appeals — … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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I hate you! Please help me!

Posted on April 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I hate you! [Governor Rick] Perry will moderate a forum Monday on President Barack Obama’s first 100 days. Expect more talk about out-of-control Washington spending, says spokesman Mark Miner, with much time spent listening to people at the Dallas-area stop … Continue reading →

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I hate you! Please help me!

Posted on April 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I hate you! [Governor Rick] Perry will moderate a forum Monday on President Barack Obama’s first 100 days. Expect more talk about out-of-control Washington spending, says spokesman Mark Miner, with much time spent listening to people at the Dallas-area stop … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 3 Comments

Weekend link dump for April 26

Posted on April 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The “We haven’t seceded just yet” edition… Choose your own apocalypse. There may come a day, and that day may never come, when teabagging jokes cease to be funny, but it won’t be any time soon. On the other hand, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for April 26

Posted on April 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The “We haven’t seceded just yet” edition… Choose your own apocalypse. There may come a day, and that day may never come, when teabagging jokes cease to be funny, but it won’t be any time soon. On the other hand, … Continue reading →

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Chron District H overview

Posted on April 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Early voting for the District H special election begins tomorrow. Here’s the Chron’s usual overview story on the race, in which each candidate gets a paragraph of biography and a paragraph of quotation. Dunno if that’ll help you make up … Continue reading →

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Chron District H overview

Posted on April 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Early voting for the District H special election begins tomorrow. Here’s the Chron’s usual overview story on the race, in which each candidate gets a paragraph of biography and a paragraph of quotation. Dunno if that’ll help you make up … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | 1 Comment

It only hurts when it happens to you

Posted on April 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This story is about the likely death of the Wentworth nonpartisan redistricting committee bill, which wasn’t unexpected, but the real story is about how it went down. A move to put redistricting into the hands of a bi-partisan public commission … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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It only hurts when it happens to you

Posted on April 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This story is about the likely death of the Wentworth nonpartisan redistricting committee bill, which wasn’t unexpected, but the real story is about how it went down. A move to put redistricting into the hands of a bi-partisan public commission … Continue reading →

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More on the SUPERTRAIN

Posted on April 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Are the stars really aligning to bring a SUPERTRAIN to Texas? Maybe so! Current plans for a Texas system envision a “T-bone” track shape connecting Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Houston and other towns. But much remains vague: where exactly the … Continue reading →

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More on the SUPERTRAIN

Posted on April 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Are the stars really aligning to bring a SUPERTRAIN to Texas? Maybe so! Current plans for a Texas system envision a “T-bone” track shape connecting Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Houston and other towns. But much remains vague: where exactly the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Senate passes Safe Passing bill

Posted on April 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Via email from the CTC: On Tuesday, the Texas Senate passed the Safe Passing bill on the third reading. Thanks to each of you who contacted your senator: you helped make it happen! Before it passed, Senator Patrick proposed two … Continue reading →

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Senate passes Safe Passing bill

Posted on April 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Via email from the CTC: On Tuesday, the Texas Senate passed the Safe Passing bill on the third reading. Thanks to each of you who contacted your senator: you helped make it happen! Before it passed, Senator Patrick proposed two … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Tweet it! The cops!

Posted on April 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

New frontiers in social networking and law enforcement. Milwaukee’s department is one of a growing number of police and fire agencies turning to social networking Web sites such as Twitter, which lets users send text-message “tweets” to a mass audience … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Tweet it! The cops!

Posted on April 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

New frontiers in social networking and law enforcement. Milwaukee’s department is one of a growing number of police and fire agencies turning to social networking Web sites such as Twitter, which lets users send text-message “tweets” to a mass audience … Continue reading →

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Busy day yesterday

Posted on April 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

There were a lot of bills passed yesterday by one chamber or the other. My mailbox is full of press releases touting them. I’m going to go ahead and print them beneath the fold as a roundup. A few bills … Continue reading →

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Busy day yesterday

Posted on April 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

There were a lot of bills passed yesterday by one chamber or the other. My mailbox is full of press releases touting them. I’m going to go ahead and print them beneath the fold as a roundup. A few bills … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

More Tier I schools

Posted on April 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. The Texas House on Friday voted unanimously on a plan making it easier for the University of Houston to gain elite status by gradually becoming a national “tier-one” research institution. Houston, the country’s fourth largest city, deserves a … Continue reading →

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More Tier I schools

Posted on April 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. The Texas House on Friday voted unanimously on a plan making it easier for the University of Houston to gain elite status by gradually becoming a national “tier-one” research institution. Houston, the country’s fourth largest city, deserves a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on More Tier I schools

The Mayorals and gambling

Posted on April 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

What the Mayoral hopefuls think about expanded gambling in Texas, in particular for the Houston area, is an interesting question, but I’m not sure it’s a relevant one. Three candidates for Houston mayor bobbed and weaved today as they were … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | 2 Comments

The Mayorals and gambling

Posted on April 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

What the Mayoral hopefuls think about expanded gambling in Texas, in particular for the Houston area, is an interesting question, but I’m not sure it’s a relevant one. Three candidates for Houston mayor bobbed and weaved today as they were … Continue reading →

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The sanctity of marriage personified

Posted on April 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I have so much respect for The Onion for its ability to stay ahead of the satire curve. Rudy Giuliani is declaring war on gay marriage — vowing to use his … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | 1 Comment

The sanctity of marriage personified

Posted on April 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I have so much respect for The Onion for its ability to stay ahead of the satire curve. Rudy Giuliani is declaring war on gay marriage — vowing to use his … Continue reading →

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Stand Up To Help Bloggers Get Needed Protections Under Texas Law

Posted on April 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Vince writes about a bill that is of great interest to all us bloggers. On Monday, the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee will hold a public hearing on a bill which will give Texas bloggers and citizen journalists some … Continue reading →

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Stand Up To Help Bloggers Get Needed Protections Under Texas Law

Posted on April 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Vince writes about a bill that is of great interest to all us bloggers. On Monday, the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee will hold a public hearing on a bill which will give Texas bloggers and citizen journalists some … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Friday random ten: If at first you don’t secede

Posted on April 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

More new music – more free downloads, more paid-for downloads, more CDs I hadn’t had as part of a playlist yet. You know the drill, so here we go. 1. So Young And In Love – Bruce Springsteen 2. Steel … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: If at first you don’t secede…

Posted on April 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

More new music – more free downloads, more paid-for downloads, more CDs I hadn’t had as part of a playlist yet. You know the drill, so here we go. 1. So Young And In Love – Bruce Springsteen 2. Steel … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 1 Comment

More on Lonnie Allsbrooks

Posted on April 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Lonnie Allsbrooks, the most recent entrant in the race for City Council At Large #1, sent a missive to Swamplot about problems he’s had trying to open a second establishment with a beer and wine license. It’s not easily excerpted, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | 2 Comments

More on Lonnie Allsbrooks

Posted on April 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Lonnie Allsbrooks, the most recent entrant in the race for City Council At Large #1, sent a missive to Swamplot about problems he’s had trying to open a second establishment with a beer and wine license. It’s not easily excerpted, … Continue reading →

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Perry’s ongoing war on the unemployed

Posted on April 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

You have to say this about Governor Perry: He never goes off message, no matter how ridiculous that message may be. Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday re-stated his opposition to legislation that would allow the state to accept federal stimulus … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 3 Comments

Perry’s ongoing war on the unemployed

Posted on April 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

You have to say this about Governor Perry: He never goes off message, no matter how ridiculous that message may be. Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday re-stated his opposition to legislation that would allow the state to accept federal stimulus … Continue reading →

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Videotaping interrogations

Posted on April 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

One of Sen. Rodney Ellis’ many criminal justice reform bills has passed the Senate. Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, won Senate approval of a measure intended to encourage the recording of police interrogations. Ellis said his Senate Bill 116 arose out … Continue reading →

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Videotaping interrogations

Posted on April 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

One of Sen. Rodney Ellis’ many criminal justice reform bills has passed the Senate. Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, won Senate approval of a measure intended to encourage the recording of police interrogations. Ellis said his Senate Bill 116 arose out … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Where the stimulus funds are going

Posted on April 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I didn’t get to this last week, but City Controller and Mayoral candidate Annise Parker announced the creation of a new website that would track what stimulus dollars are coming to Houston and how they’re being spent. The website is … Continue reading →

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