Monthly Archives: June 2004

StarBock update

Posted on June 4, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The legal battle between Starbucks and a Galveston brewpub over its “StarBock” beer, first noted here, will enter mediation shortly. U.S. Judge Samuel Kent ordered the parties to mediate the case and set it for trial in 2005. Kent wants … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 4 Comments

Rodriguez appeal update

Posted on June 4, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The next stage of the legal dispute between Rep. Ciro Rodriguez and Henry Cuellar over the primary result will take place on June 24. A three-judge panel of the 4th Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments on June 24 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | Comments Off on Rodriguez appeal update

Cognitive dissonance watch

Posted on June 4, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The Governor speaks. Gov. Rick Perry assured Republican Party activists on Thursday that he is a conservative after their own hearts and, in a campaign-style speech kicking off the GOP state convention, he sidestepped a controversy over gambling that could … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 3 Comments

The Slurpee Generation

Posted on June 4, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Thank heaven for the Internet and its ability to reach an elusive demographic. Young people – those in their teens to 30s – have so many ways to communicate that reaching them has become a guessing game for marketers. That’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 2 Comments

May traffic report

Posted on June 3, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

May was by far my busiest month ever, with about 56,000 visitors. I have Comptroller Strayhorn and the Unitarian Universalist Church to thank for that, as both my original post and my followup on the reversal were linked all over … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Traffic Reports | Comments Off on May traffic report

Texas news briefs

Posted on June 3, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Some days there’s so much stuff you just have to do a little linkdumping… Tom DeLay makes a modest proposal to Nancy Pelosi. A staffer for House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), trying to whip up television bookings for his … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 3 Comments

Comment spam alert

Posted on June 3, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I just checked my activity log, and I’m seeing hundreds upon hundreds of comment spam attempts for “listbanx.com” and “leadbanx.com”, all coming from the same IP address (65.91.30.30) and all in the last two days or so. Do yourself a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Administrivia | 1 Comment

Who was on the naming committee for this?

Posted on June 3, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Sarah notes that the GOP counterpart to John Kerry Thursdays is called Wictory Wednesday. “Wictory”. Yeah, me too. Remember when Diane Chambers got involved in politics? Carla: “Wim with Jim?” Diane: I thought it up. It’s very Joycian. Carla: If … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 2 Comments

Contract with America redux

Posted on June 3, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Earlier, in shilling for progressive bloggers in other states to adopt the Texas Tuesdays concept, I noted that Nick Confessore downplayed the impact of the “Contract with America” on the GOP sweep in 1994. The Bonassus (just added to my … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | Comments Off on Contract with America redux

New administration, same budget battles

Posted on June 3, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

In one of his last pieces for the Press, Tim Fleck suggested that Mayor Bill White and Comptroller Annise Parker would sooner or later butt heads. I’m sure that he nodded knowingly as he read this story today. Mayor Bill … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 2 Comments

Voting in America

Posted on June 3, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Public service announcement for those in the Houston area: I’ve been asked to pass along an invitation to a fundraiser for a new documentary called “Voting in America”, a work in progress that has room for you in the final … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Voting in America

You have the right to an attorney

Posted on June 3, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

In re: the President hiring an attorney in the Plame case, I think Josh Marshall is asking the right question: When will the Vice President get a lawyer, too? Tangential but not entirely unrelated observation: Whoever was responsible for enabling … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Iraq attack | Comments Off on You have the right to an attorney

RIP, Town and Country Mall

Posted on June 3, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Say goodbye to Town and Country Mall. The long-awaited demise of Town & Country Mall became a reality on Wednesday for the few tenants still left operating in the 20-year-old property, which never seemed to hit its stride. The mall … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 5 Comments

Berman piece hits Texas papers

Posted on June 2, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The op-ed by UT law prof Mitchell Berman, which was originally printed in the LA Times, ran today in the Statesman. I’m glad to see it get some airtime in Texas and hope it spawns some debate. In related news, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | Comments Off on Berman piece hits Texas papers

Max Sandlin interview

Posted on June 2, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

My Texas Tuesdays colleage Gary Beason has a nice interview with Rep. Max Sandlin up on the TT site. Check it out. If nothing else, this ought to impress you about Sandlin: Chili Pepper Magazine called you the “Zestiest Legislator.” … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Texas Tuesdays | Comments Off on Max Sandlin interview

How cozy is that?

Posted on June 2, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Remember when it was revealed that the state government threw a quarter million bucks at a Las Vegas consulting firm so it could draw up some custom slot machine legislation? Turns out that the point man for that firm is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on How cozy is that?

The cool parents

Posted on June 2, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Something for me to strive for as I enter fatherhood (real soon now). It is not always a rosy path through adolescence for these mothers and daughters, but there is an upbeat teen spirit wafting through their lives that smells … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 3 Comments

Crawford Mayor backs Kerry

Posted on June 2, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Just for the record, not everyone in Crawford, home of the Bush ranch, is a Bush backer. The Mayor of Crawford, for example. Crawford may be the heart of Bush country, but the town’s mayor says John Kerry is the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 3 Comments

Steal this idea

Posted on June 2, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Morat says: For the record, I think Texas Tuesdays is a great resource to those of us living in Texas, and hope similar sites spring up for the other 49 states. Nothing beats an informed electorate. Nothing would please me … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Texas Tuesdays | 2 Comments

Herseth wins

Posted on June 2, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth for her victory in the South Dakota special election last night. Turned out to be a close race, meaning that loser Larry Diedrich’s weird statement about moral victories will either be taken as vindication or … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | Comments Off on Herseth wins

Chet Edwards wrapup

Posted on June 2, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Props to Byron for doing such a great job with yesterday’s Texas Tuesday posts on Rep. Chet Edwards, and thanks to all the bloggers who participated. Special thanks to Richard Morrison for giving back to the effort with a blog … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Texas Tuesdays | Comments Off on Chet Edwards wrapup

Fame clock watch

Posted on June 1, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Dwight Meredith gets a mention in the LA Times, thus shaving a few seconds off his fame clock. I’d say that’s a good trade. Via Julia. He then goes on to demonstrate why in a just world he’d be in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Fame clock watch

Wi-Fi parks

Posted on June 1, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

If I had to guess where this was happening, Austin would have been my first guess. Hell, it would have been my second and third guesses, too. Free wireless Internet access has come to Austin’s oldest park, where nature apparently … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 6 Comments

More on Edwards

Posted on June 1, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Byron’s working hard today at the Texas Tuesdays page, with two excellent updates on Rep. Chet Edwards. Check ’em out here and here, and please remember to kick in to the cause. Continue reading →

Posted in Texas Tuesdays | Comments Off on More on Edwards

Urban redevelopment update

Posted on June 1, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Great news for my neighborhood: an old industrial area just north of I-10 will be redeveloped as commercial property. A major shopping center is being planned for a long-overlooked industrial site just west of downtown. Property Commerce, a local retail … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

GOP convention this week

Posted on June 1, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas GOP has its convention this week in San Antonio. More than 17,000 people are expected to descend on the Convention Center beginning Thursday for three days of party-building through speeches, rallies and elections. Officials say it is the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 1 Comment

Moral victories in South Dakota

Posted on June 1, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

How bad do you think you’re going to lose if you concede defeat before you begin? SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Republican congressional hopeful Larry Diedrich is effectively conceding defeat in today’s South Dakota special House election before the polling booths … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | 1 Comment

Texas Tuesdays: Chet Edwards

Posted on June 1, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I know, it feels like Monday today. But it’s not, and that can only mean one thing: It’s time for another Texas Tuesday, with our very special guest star Rep. Chet Edwards. Byron has a nice intro to Rep. Edwards … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Texas Tuesdays | 2 Comments