Monthly Archives: June 2010

This is why we call him “Smokey Joe”

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

You’ve probably seen it by now, but feast your eyes anyway on Rep. Joe Barton apologizing to BP for that mean ol’ government making them pay for their mess in the Gulf. He’s since apologized for the apology, but given … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on This is why we call him “Smokey Joe”

Utah to join PAC 10

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In case anyone still cares. Oh, and the Big 10 is having some scheduling issues now that they have 12 members. Boy, no one could have predicted that. I think I’ve decided that the now-misnumbered Big 10 and PAC 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rick Perry and the Latino vote, part 2

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

On Tuesday, I took a look at how Rick Perry did in the 2002 election in the State Rep districts (SRDs) that have Spanish surname voter registration (SSRV) percentage of 50 or more in order to try to get a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2002, Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Response from Randle Richardson regarding the CEP report

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As noted before, Randle Richardson, the CEO of Community Education Partners (CEP), left a comment on the Hair Balls post in which Houston’s LULAC chapter and the Texas ACLU raised concerns about that report evaluating CEP’s effectiveness. He left a … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Response from Randle Richardson regarding the CEP report

Texas sues the EPA

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose this was inevitable. Texas filed a federal court challenge Monday to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to reject part of the state’s air-quality program. […] State Attorney General Greg Abbott’s office — in a statement accompanying the … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Voter ID not about facts

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Linda Harper-Brown admits that voter ID legislation has nothing to do with the facts. “There are a lot of things that we pass laws on down here that we don’t have a hard, firm fast number on. Uninsured … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Voter ID not about facts

Compostable bag update

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The city has decided to not begin fining people just yet for not using the new biodegradable bags for yard waste. I agree that most people just need clear instructions and reasonably durable bags to do this, and I’m glad … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Public spending on private travel

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an excellent bit of investigative journalism from Forth Worth’s Channel 11: Must be nice getting to go on all these corporate-funded junkets, with public-provided security, and not have to tell anyone any of the details about it. But as … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Public spending on private travel

Public hearing on tar sands pipeline

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Sierra Club has an announcement. The impact of toxic tar sands oil on Houston’s air quality will be the subject of a press teleconference on Friday morning in the hours before a public hearing hosted by the State Department … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Public hearing on tar sands pipeline

Is the Big XII in UH’s future?

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Now that we know the Big XII will survive, one question that now arises is whether it will try to replace defectors Nebraska and Colorado, and if so with which teams. Already, there’s a drumbeat for UH being included. Richard … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Maybe having a press conference in front of your opponents’ campaign HQ isn’t such a hot idea

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Especially if they’re ready for you to arrive. Chicken suits are the new black. That’s what happens when you’re afraid to debate your opponent. BOR has more.

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Maybe having a press conference in front of your opponents’ campaign HQ isn’t such a hot idea

The Marfa solar fight

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

A company wants to build a solar power plant in Marfa, and some residents there don’t like it. In what she describes as an all-encompassing obsession, [Malinda] Beeman is fighting to preserve that lifestyle, which she and hundreds of other … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

House committee hearings on emergency preparedness in Houston on Friday

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The House Select Committee on Emergency Preparedness will be holding some hearings in Houston on Friday at the George R. Brown Convention Center. From the email I got about this: Those testifying at the hearing include Harris County Judge Ed … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on House committee hearings on emergency preparedness in Houston on Friday

Texas blog roundup for the week of June 14

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance salutes that grand old high-flying flag as it brings you this week’s blog roundup.

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

Help Hogg Middle School find its next principal

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Hogg Middle School serves my neighborhood. They are in the process of searching for a new principal. The following is a note from HISD to interested parties about a meeting tomorrow related to this: Dear Hogg Middle School Community, As … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Help Hogg Middle School find its next principal

Rick Perry and the Latino vote, part 1

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Say what you want about Rick Perry, he’s got a much firmer grasp of the changing demographics of Texas and their political implications than many of his partymates do. As such, he plans to compete vigorously for the Latino vote … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2002, Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

More on the three options for the Dome

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As promised last week, we now have more information on the three options for the Dome. The Sports & Convention Corporation hosted a news conference Monday to present the broad outlines of three possible plans for the 45-year-old Astrodome and … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Hey, remember when Kinky Friedman wanted you to believe he was a Democrat?

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a reason why some of us never believed a word he said. I figure he’ll reinvent himself again in 2012 as a Green, thus completing his tour of the Texas political world. Some people just don’t know when to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The cheapest jail cell is the one you don’t use

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Sorry, Newton County. Commissioners Steve Radack and Jerry Eversole held up renewal of a contract with Newton County on Tuesday, and suggested that Harris County needs to do more to get the cheapest possible jail beds. “If the dollars are … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The cheapest jail cell is the one you don’t use

You can still text while driving in Arlington

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

At least one town is bucking the no-texting-while-driving trend. The Arlington City Council on Tuesday decided not to consider a citywide ban on texting while driving. City councilmember Robert Rivera had requested to set texting while driving as an agenda … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , | Comments Off on You can still text while driving in Arlington

Big XII lives

Posted on June 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. “The University of Texas’ athletics programs will continue competing in the Big 12 Conference,” the school announced Monday in a statement. Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin released the following statement: “Texas A&M is a proud member of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Michael Williams followup

Posted on June 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Between some comments I got on my previous post and some emails I received as well, I can say with confidence that the Michael Williams in question is the HCCS Trustee. In addition, it is my understanding that he intends … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Personality matters

Posted on June 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Lisa Falkenberg, writing earlier this week about longtime teacher Jamie Simmon leaving HISD after 27 years to take a job with YES Prep: The decision, she says, has nothing to do with the daunting challenges of educating Lee’s largely at-risk, … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Personality matters

Ellis criticizes county’s public defender proposal

Posted on June 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

State Sen. Rodney Ellis, who authored the bill that allowed Texas counties to create public defender offices, is not pleased with the plan that Harris County currently has to establish one. Ellis and other critics of the system say it … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Ellis criticizes county’s public defender proposal

The cupcake controversy

Posted on June 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I recently came across an interesting blog about children and food, particularly school food, called The Lunch Tray that’s worth your time to take a look at. I especially liked this post about the habit of bringing cupcakes to school … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Weekend link dump for June 13

Posted on June 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

You haven’t lived till you’ve heard your three-year-old sing Money, Money, Money. The truth behind spelling bees. Also, why do we have spelling bees, anyway? The dark side of smartphone apps. Just go read Roger Ebert. What if political scientists … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | Comments Off on Weekend link dump for June 13

What about A&M?

Posted on June 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

On the one hand, there’s evidence to suggest that the Aggie faithful want to sever ties with UT and go East. SEC commissioner Mike Slive visited College Station on Saturday, according to Billy Liucci’s Maroon & White Report, and A&M … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on What about A&M?

Man the barricades!

Posted on June 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Wayne Slater, on the just-ended state Republican convention in Dallas: For a party in power, there seem to be a lot of martyrs in the Texas GOP. Rush Limbaugh says Democrats are the party of victims. But it was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Archaeopteryx chat

Posted on June 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

And now, a brief moment of Science from HMNS: On Thursday, June 17, from 10 – 10:45 a.m., HMNS is hosting a live online discussion with paleontologist Pete Larson, president of the Black Hills Institute. Pete will be discussing his … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Archaeopteryx chat

The Trib talks with Craig Watkins

Posted on June 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good stuff. For the 11th event in our TribLive series, I interviewed the district attorney of Dallas County about why and how he’s worked to exonerate the wrongfully imprisoned and whether he’s dragging his feet on a controversial corruption case … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Trib talks with Craig Watkins

Saturday video break: Even football players cry

Posted on June 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The 1970s. A time of wide lapels, challenging societal norms, and retired football players singing about the virtues of being in touch with your feelings. This video is about all of those things: Those of you of a certain age … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

What Becky Moeller says

Posted on June 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I like this statement by Texas AFL-CIO President Becky Moeller so much, I’m printing it in full: Texas AFL-CIO President Becky Moeller issued this statement at a news conference held near the site of the Republican State Convention in Dallas: … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

UT headed to PAC 10

Posted on June 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

So says the Statesman. The University of Texas is virtually certain to abandon the Big 12 Conference for the Pacific-10 Conference when its governing board meets Tuesday. Texas Tech University is expected to follow along. Texas A&M University officials apparently … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Not everyone was impressed by that CEP report

Posted on June 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, a Texas A&M researcher released a report that evaluated the effectiveness of Community Education Partners (CEP), the provider HISD uses for its disciplinary alternate education program. The evaluation was very positive for CEP, saying it did a good … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments