Monthly Archives: July 2004

And the number is…

Posted on July 15, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Seventy-five million. Houston cleaned itself up so quickly after five days of All-Star Game festivities that when commuters arrived in downtown Wednesday morning, the city looked like it did last Wednesday — only it was $75 million richer, and Main … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

Enron emerges from bankruptcy

Posted on July 15, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The end of Enron draws nearer. Enron Corp. received court approval today to emerge from one of the most expensive bankruptcies in history. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Arthur Gonzalez in New York signed off on Enron’s plan to exit Chapter 11 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Enron emerges from bankruptcy

I’d watch that

Posted on July 15, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Slacktivist proposes a new TV show. Eventually, someone from the Cartoon Network will realize that Fafnir and Giblets really ought to be made part of the lineup on Adult Swim. This would entail getting a team of animators to create … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 2 Comments

AusChron on the Perry impeachment talk

Posted on July 15, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The Austin Chronicle took a look at the Perry impeachment talk and makes some sense of it. They summarize: [T]he Big Push to impose casinos into Texas – under the guise, like a streetwalker in a cheerleader skirt, of funding … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on AusChron on the Perry impeachment talk

DeLay documents donations

Posted on July 15, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Tom DeLay is disputing the allegations that Enron money went to TRMPAC as part of the grand re-redistricting scheme (see here). DeLay’s Americans for a Republican Majority deposited $25,000 from Enron on Nov. 7, 2001, according to documents provided by … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on DeLay documents donations

Dreamhost problems

Posted on July 15, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like I’ve been suffering from the same Dreamhost permission problems that Byron, Orange Politics, and several folks in this MT support forum thread have been having problems. The fact that I can now save this post and see it … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Administrivia | 4 Comments

Come home to the city

Posted on July 14, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

As long as we’re talking about attracting people to a city’s downtown, I’ll mention this op-ed from Sunday by Rice prof Stephen Klineberg, who talks about why suburban Anglos are expressing more interest than before in moving back to inner … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Come home to the city

Say goodnight, Jimy

Posted on July 14, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like the era of Jimyball is ending. Astros manager Jimy Williams and his coaching staff will learn their fates at 1 p.m. today with former Milwaukee Brewers and Detroit Tigers manager Phil Garner set to become the franchise’s 14th … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 3 Comments

Drink ’em if you got ’em

Posted on July 14, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The main thought that occurs to me as I read this article about Conroe’s attempts to bring a little life to its downtown now that an archaic anti-alcohol law has been lifted is that the Conroe Chamber of Commerce had … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

Daily DeLay update

Posted on July 14, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron finally writes a story of its own on the DeLay/Enron revelations. Nothing new, really, but there is a new line of defense put forth by Jonathan “Caricature Assassination” Grella: DeLay spokesman Jonathan Grella said there was nothing wrong … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

Scooter

Posted on July 13, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Now hear this: The animated baseball known as “Scooter”, which explains things like the slider (“it’s like a fastball except it slides!”) to children, which Fox has thrust upon an unsuspecting public, is the dumbest thing I’ve seen in a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 12 Comments

Tracking DeLay money

Posted on July 13, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Couple of useful Kos diary entries for you here, tracking who got DeLay PAC money, and who’s giving the money. Check it out. Continue reading →

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Gays in baseball

Posted on July 13, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Buried deep within this survey of Major League Baseball players on topics such as steroids and competitive imbalance is this nugget: A strong majority of players, 353 to 73, said having a gay teammate wouldn’t bother them. “I’m sure I’ve … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 1 Comment

More on the DeLay front

Posted on July 13, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington (CREW) has filed an FOIA request with the FEC to find out more about Westar’s illegal campaign contributions. The Stakeholder was first to note this yesterday afternoon. Still no original coverage in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 8 Comments

The 4400

Posted on July 13, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

So I watched USA’s The 4400 last night (three cheers for TiVo!), and I liked it. It’s a good concept – 4400 people who have been abducted by aliens since 1946 have suddenly been returned to Earth. None of them … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 2 Comments

Texas Tuesdays: Jeanette Popp

Posted on July 13, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Today’s featured candidate on Texas Tuesdays is Jeanette Popp, a woman who became politically active after the wrong men were convicted of her daughter’s murder. If that makes her sound like an unconventional candidate, she is. Read her story and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Republican farmers for Stenholm

Posted on July 13, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

You want evidence of ticket-splitting, here it is. LUBBOCK – Cotton farmer Don Langston has voted Republican for more than three decades, but this year his livelihood will steer his congressional vote. Mr. Langston is among West Texas Republicans who … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | 3 Comments

Conflict of interest for DeLay attorney?

Posted on July 12, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Taking On Tom DeLay notes that one of DeLay’s defense attorneys may be needed as a witness in the TRMPAC investigation. Quoting from a Roll Call article: Former Rep. Ed Bethune (R-Ark.), now a partner at the law firm Bracewell … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

Cuellar finally wins CD28

Posted on July 12, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The full 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned its preliminary ruling and declared Henry Cuellar the winner of the 28th CD Democratic primary over Rep. Ciro Rodriguez. The 5-2 ruling ends Rodriguez’s bid in state court to overturn the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | Comments Off on Cuellar finally wins CD28

Box turtles?

Posted on July 12, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

What is it with Republican Senators and their bizarre obsession with interspecies intercourse? “It does not affect your daily life very much if your neighbor marries a box turtle. But that does not mean it is right. . . . … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 16 Comments

Rudy T to the Lakers

Posted on July 12, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll echo Kevin in congratulating Rudy T for his new gig. Actually, I think it’s the Lakers that deserve the kudos, for having the good sense to hire a coach like Tomjanovich. It’ll be weird seeing him in LA, like … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 1 Comment

Lea Fastow starts her sentence

Posted on July 12, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

She has until 2 PM to turn herself in, at which point she puts on the orange overalls and gets acquainted to her new surroundings. The good news for her is that Andy is allowed to visit. UPDATE: And there … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Lea Fastow starts her sentence

Enron funds solicited for redistricting

Posted on July 12, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

All I can say is wow. In May 2001, Enron’s top lobbyists in Washington advised the company chairman that then-House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) was pressing for a $100,000 contribution to his political action committee, in addition to the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 5 Comments

Nobody knows the trouble he’s seen

Posted on July 11, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Some day, someone will appear on a talk show as Ken Lay’s cellmate. After he was taken to the federal courthouse in handcuffs Thursday, ex-corporate kingpin Ken Lay started chatting with a couple of other men in his holding cell. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | 2 Comments

Now that’s what I call working the refs

Posted on July 11, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I’d say this is as good a reason as any why Tom DeLay doesn’t fear Chris Bell’s ethics complaint against him, GOP attempts to make it go away by fiat notwithstanding. WASHINGTON — Of the five Republicans investigating an ethics … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 2 Comments

We’re back

Posted on July 11, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Olivia has proven to be a pretty good traveller so far. She slept most of the way to New Braunfels, timing her wake-and-cry for feeding to within five minutes of a rest stop. She was a bit more awake, and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 2 Comments

Meeting family

Posted on July 10, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

We’re off to New Braunfels to introduce Olivia to some family. Wish us luck on the road. Back tomorrow with stories to tell. Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Comments Off on Meeting family

“Dumb and mean”

Posted on July 10, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

What can you say about an editorial from a Republican-stronghold newspaper that calls Governor Perry dumb and mean? Not mincing words, I guess. The political behavior exhibited by Governor Rick Perry has been perplexing to many people. He often seems … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 2 Comments

Enron board members get off easy

Posted on July 9, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t expect any members of Enron’s Board of Directors to do the perp walk with Kenny Boy and his cohorts. Enron’s 14-member board could escape the collapsed company with little more than bruised reputations and perhaps a few million dollars … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | 1 Comment

Sadun gets his sigs

Posted on July 9, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Democrat Loranzo Sadun, aiming to oppose Mike McCaul as a write-in candidate in the 10th CD, has announced that his campaign has 500 verified signatures on their ballot access petition, which is enough to allow any write-in votes for him … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | Comments Off on Sadun gets his sigs

Byron in Boston

Posted on July 9, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Major congrats to Byron LaMasters for getting credentials to cover the 2004 Democratic Convention as a blogger. I’m looking forward to reading your coverage, Byron. And bring a digicam, too – you never know who you’ll be able to get … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | Comments Off on Byron in Boston

Convention profiles

Posted on July 9, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Local Voter, your one-stop shop for determining who your elected officials and upcoming ballot choices are, has a page of profiles of the speakers at te upcoming Democratic convention. A similar page for Republicans is in the works. Check it … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | 2 Comments

TiVo for the police

Posted on July 9, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

This is pretty cool: digital video recorders in police cars. The systems cost from $7,000 to $10,000 per car, about the same as traditional analog video systems. With analog, however, there’s the added expense of storing hundreds or thousands of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 1 Comment

Mark your calendar

Posted on July 9, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Earlier this week, I said: Coming up next: Why (eventually) hosting an NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional at the Toyota Center will bring millions of dollars plus prestige and exposure to the City of Houston! Just bookmark this post for future … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 1 Comment