Monthly Archives: June 2004

Am I my brother’s lobbyist?

Posted on June 13, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Sometimes, connections aren’t everything: The estranged brother of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, is negotiating a $1.2 million lobbying contract with Nueces County officials who want to protect the area’s military installations from a new round of base … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Am I my brother’s lobbyist?

TiVo’s fight for survival

Posted on June 13, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Via Mark Evanier comes this article on TiVo and its litigious strategy for long-term survival. I love me some TiVo, and we bought the lifetime pass on the theory that they’ll be around long enough to make it a better … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 6 Comments

Clutch City, ten years after

Posted on June 13, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron has a nice lookback on the Houston Rockets championship team of 1994 as the ten-year anniversary of that title approaches, along with sidebar stories on the opponents they overcame and the bizarre OJ Simpson white Bronco interlude which … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 5 Comments

Regional transportation plan criticized

Posted on June 12, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The road-oriented 2025 Regional Transportation Plan was criticized by a host of local activists on Thursday. This probably doesn’t have much interest to folks outside Houston, but I have to comment on this: Council members limited themselves to questions and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Regional transportation plan criticized

Berkowitz denied parole

Posted on June 12, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

David Berkowitz, the notorious “Son of Sam” killer, has been denied parole. Berkowitz, serving 25 years to life in prison for the ambush killings of six people, was told by the state parole board that his “excellent disciplinary record” behind … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 5 Comments

Down to the wire for Rodriguez

Posted on June 12, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Rep. Ciro Rodriguez is arguing his case before an appeals court in what is likely his last shot at overturning the recount results from the 28th CD Democratic primary in which challenger Henry Cuellar was declared the winner. During oral … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | Comments Off on Down to the wire for Rodriguez

More on blogging and advertising

Posted on June 12, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

My old Trinity classmate Robert Nagle extends on my recent post about BlogAds. His interest is more from a literary perspective, but I agree that the issues faced by small site operators are basically the same. Check it out. Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on More on blogging and advertising

Wi-Fi on the highway

Posted on June 12, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Everywhere I look, there’s another Wi-Fi installation popping up. Via Aziz, I see that the next frontier is highway rest stops. Texas is the first state in the nation to provide free wireless Internet access at its safety rest areas, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 1 Comment

Blogger caucus

Posted on June 11, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

For obvious reasons, I’ll be pretty much a no-show at the Democratic convention, but I will be able to make it to the first ever Texas political bloggers caucus next Friday the 17th from 1-3 PM at Kaveh Kanes downtown. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Texas Tuesdays | 1 Comment

Meter this!

Posted on June 11, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Budget crunches sure can lead to some unorthodox solutions. How about more parking meters downtown? Downtown would have twice as many metered parking spaces and visitors would have to feed the meters until 2 a.m. under a plan presented to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Larry Bird

Posted on June 11, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I recommend King Kaufman’s take on Larry Bird’s remarks about the NBA “needing” a few more white star players. I thought he covered the topic thoroughly and insightfully. One thing I’d like to note: What the NBA can do, though, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 8 Comments

Texas quarter launches

Posted on June 11, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas quarter, with its Lone Star design, has officially been released. And may I just say that this is the most retarded thing you’ll read about any of the state coins. The new Texas quarters are the same size … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 28 Comments

Abbott rules in favor of Earle

Posted on June 11, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The poor Texas GOP can’t even get its own Attorney General to cut them some slack in the TAB/TRM grand jury investigations. Attorney General Greg Abbott, a Republican, has ruled that Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle does not have … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 2 Comments

Haven’t we heard this before?

Posted on June 10, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Perry: Special session possible this summer AUSTIN — As lawmakers discuss changes to the way the state pays for public schools, Gov. Rick Perry said today there is still a chance for another special session on the issue this summer. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 4 Comments

RIP, Ray Charles

Posted on June 10, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The legendary Ray Charles has passed away at the age of 73. Ray Charles, the Grammy-winning crooner who blended gospel and blues in such crowd-pleasers as “What’d I Say” and ballads like “Georgia on My Mind,” died Thursday, a spokesman … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 13 Comments

Salon on BlogAds

Posted on June 10, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Nice article by Farhad Manjoo in Salon on the BlogAds experience. He touches on all of the things that I think need to be said when discussing candidates buying ad space on blogs – bloggers and blog readers don’t like … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | 2 Comments

Oh, no, you don’t

Posted on June 10, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Governor Rick Perry says he knows how the State Supreme Court justices are going to vote on a school finance reform lawsuit. One of those justices says oh, no, you don’t. If Gov. Rick Perry thinks he knows how the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Oh, no, you don’t

A government of laws, not of men

Posted on June 9, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I’m more in link mode than analysis mode right now, but I trust that this article doesn’t need a whole lot of comment. Gov. Rick Perry recently predicted, in a private meeting in Dallas, that a lawsuit challenging the state’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 2 Comments

Schlitterbahn Galveston lease signed

Posted on June 9, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The Schlitterbahn and the city of Galveston have signed the deal to bring the water park there, though at the last minute it was revealed that there was another partner involved. The city had originally planned to sign an agreement … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 2 Comments

Another straw in the wind?

Posted on June 9, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Kos, writing for The Gadflyer, argues that the recent special-election wins by Stephanie Herseth and Ben Chandler in reliably red districts is a portent that 2004 will be an abnormal election, one that may disproportinately favor Democratic Congressional candidates. He … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | 2 Comments

Noriega to Afghanistan

Posted on June 9, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Rick Noriega of Houston is being deployed to Afghanistan. Noriega, a major in the Army National Guard, now is making plans to head off to a war zone. From a camp near Kabul, Afghanistan, he will train Afghans … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Iraq attack | Comments Off on Noriega to Afghanistan

DeLay “charity” update

Posted on June 9, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I must have missed the op-ed in the April 21 Chron in which Tom DeLay boasted of the construction of the Oaks at Rio Bend, which is a residential campus for foster children and their families. According to this Press … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on DeLay “charity” update

Further evidence that I’ve made it as a blogger

Posted on June 8, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Someone once said that true fame is to be the answer to 8 Down or 14 Across in the Sunday crossword puzzle. Given a choice, I’ll take being the subject of a Norbizness captionapalooza. I may have to print that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 2 Comments

Home again

Posted on June 8, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

All members of the household are home. Harry has been introduced to Olivia, but was more interested in seeing Tiffany again. He wasn’t quite sure what to make of it when she cried. I think they will do fine, though … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 9 Comments

Colorado re-redistricting officially dead

Posted on June 8, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I doubt this will be any kind of portent for the upcoming Jackson v. Perry case, as the issue had turned on the Colorado state constitution, but SCOTUS has denied cert to the GOP in their attempt to get a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | Comments Off on Colorado re-redistricting officially dead

Texas Tuesday: Martin Frost

Posted on June 8, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor sleep deprivation caused by new babies can stop us from bringing you another Texas Tuesday, with this week’s feature being Rep. Martin Frost. We’ve also got a reposting of the interviews that Byron … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Texas Tuesdays | Comments Off on Texas Tuesday: Martin Frost

Aguirre wants his job back

Posted on June 8, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Former HPD Captain Mark Aguirre, fired for his role in the K-Mart Kiddie Roundup fiasco, has filed an appeal with an arbitrator to get his old job back. He claims that his firing was personally motivated. Houston police officials on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in K-Mart Kiddie Roundup | 3 Comments

Thank you

Posted on June 8, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Thank you all very much for the kind words and thoughts on Olivia’s arrival. They really mean a lot. The last couple of days have been pretty overwhelming (in a good way, of course), and all the good will Tiffany … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 4 Comments

The baby has arrived

Posted on June 7, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

It is with great joy, excitement, and relief that Tiffany and I announce the arrival of Olivia Rose Kuffner, who made her debut yesterday, June 6, at 5:58 PM, weighing in at 7 pounds 15.5 ounces (3.615 kg for the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 36 Comments

Meyer campaign blog

Posted on June 5, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The Morris Meyer campaign blog appears to be up and running. Note that by having an RSS feed, I discovered its activity sooner rather than later. Yes, I’m going to preach the RSS gospel until I’ve converted everyone. What’s the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | 1 Comment

Rasmussen does Texas

Posted on June 5, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Jim D brings us (via Kos) the Rasmussen poll numbers for Texas: May 1 – May 31 (Purported Margin of Error: +/- 3%) Bush 55% Kerry 38% Other 3% Not Sure 4% Both Jim and Rasmussen note that Bush carried … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 1 Comment

Citywide Wi-Fi?

Posted on June 5, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Well, we may not get Wi-Fi parks, but according to Dwight Silverman, the city of Houston is looking at Wi-Fi everywhere. While it’s still at the “what if we did this” stage, the plan under consideration borrows from a successful … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on Citywide Wi-Fi?

Herseth speaks

Posted on June 5, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The Stakeholder has a report from a rally in South Dakota honoring their new Congressperson Stephanie Herseth, and a guest post from Rep. Herseth and many of the volunteers who helped get her into the House. Two down, eleven more … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | 1 Comment

Making the sales tax deductible

Posted on June 4, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

According to the Star-Telegram, legislation is in place to allow residents of states with no state income tax to deduct sales taxes from their federal income tax. [Tom] DeLay, R-Sugar Land, said in an interview with the Star-Telegram that the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 5 Comments