Monthly Archives: August 2004

Always nice to know that there are other states with whacked out politics

Posted on August 11, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

So there’s been a lawsuit filed in the Rodney Alexander race, claiming that the last-minute party-switcher violated Louisiana state law by essentially filing for the race twice, once as a Democrat then again later as a Republican. I don’t know … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | 8 Comments

Term limits intact for now

Posted on August 11, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like the proponents of the move to roll back Houston’s term limits law have hit a roadblock. Lobbyists and people who do business with the city, among others, were considering a measure that would allow Houston’s mayor, controller and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Term limits intact for now

“And I’ll never have that recipe again”

Posted on August 11, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

What can one say about VH1’s list of the 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs? 1. There are about a half-dozen or so songs on this list that I like, for some value of the word “like”, anyway. There’s no point … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 5 Comments

Texas WednesdayTuesday: Hubert Vo

Posted on August 11, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that goes for our Tuesdays as well. This week’s Texas Tuesday is so big, it covers all of Wednesday. Meet Hubert Vo, our featured candidate for today, read his intro and his … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Texas Tuesdays | 1 Comment

Rearing its ugly head again

Posted on August 11, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

An anti-immigrant hate group is once again running misleading ads Targeting Marting Frost in the Dallas area. Democrat Martin Frost and Republican Pete Sessions, both Dallas incumbents vying for the same North Texas seat, wrote separate letters on Friday to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | 3 Comments

The Kenny Boy professorship

Posted on August 11, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Now that Kenny Boy Lay has been officially indicted, his alma mater has publicly considered its options for the economics professorship he endowed, and the $1.1 million donation that came with it (link via Kevin). Today, Chron columnist Loren Steffy … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | 4 Comments

Soechting followup

Posted on August 11, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Karl-T and Redpeg give their thoughts on Chairman Soechting’s objection to the DNC’s money-exporting practice. Karl-T’s bit about the State Party’s relationship with county parties is especially worth reading. Check it out. UPDATE: Lasso promises a relevant Statesman article for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 2 Comments

Muppet Shakespeare

Posted on August 10, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Not just anyone can recast A Midsummer Night’s Dream and other Shakespeare works with Muppets, but Lis Riba and her husband have done a brilliant job of it. Too bad Disney now owns the Muppet franchise and has reduced their … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 1 Comment

The Irwin Schiff case

Posted on August 10, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Awhile back I commented on the case of tax avoider Irwin Schiff, who was ordered by a federal court to stop selling one of his fraudulent how-to-not-pay-income-taxes books. I thought this was extreme but justifiable on grounds that there’s no … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 3 Comments

Now!

Posted on August 10, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Kenny Boy says “Try me now!” Ex-Enron Chairman Ken Lay wants to go to trial immediately and alone, possibly without a jury, and he’s ponied up some $15 million to get it done, according to court papers filed Monday. Lay, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | 3 Comments

Rainout

Posted on August 10, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Due to technical difficulties with the TexasTuesdays.com webhost, which kept the site unavailable to us until a few minutes ago, we are postponing this week’s Texas Tuesday until tomorrow. It may look like Wednesday to you, but it’ll still be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Texas Tuesdays | 1 Comment

Time for TV

Posted on August 10, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Mark Evanier has some interesting TV tidbits, including this story about TiVo’s future as a business, and this news about the Trio network (who knew anyone was rerunning Battle of the Network Stars?), and this post about an unusual moment … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 3 Comments

Kerry to address VFW

Posted on August 10, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll be interested to see what kind of response John Kerry gets when he speaks at the national VFW convention next week. Kerry will speak to VFW members Aug. 18, said Brendon Cull, a spokesman for the Democratic Coordinated Campaign … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Comments Off on Kerry to address VFW

More from the Congressional trail

Posted on August 10, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

And the money keeps flowing in CD 32: How anxious are Republicans about Rep. Pete Sessions’ chances for a fifth term? Every top House GOP leader has sent money his way – $318,000 in all, with $10,000 apiece from political … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | Comments Off on More from the Congressional trail

Us against the world

Posted on August 10, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Democratic Party Chair Charles Soechting has thrown down the gauntlet. State Democratic Chairman Charles Soechting said Monday that he is disgusted that his national party has written Texas off as Republican and is urging financial donors from here to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 9 Comments

Gentlemen, start your arguments

Posted on August 9, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

And the latest school finance lawsuit is set to begin today. The trial before state District Judge John Dietz of Austin, expected to last six to seven weeks, could put more pressure on lawmakers to increase spending on education or … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Gentlemen, start your arguments

Drafthouse expansion update

Posted on August 9, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The Alamo Drafthouse expansion, first noted here, has hit the AP wires. With a slightly new name but same attitude, Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas Ltd. plans to expand to San Antonio this month, and by early next year to Tyler, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 5 Comments

Best. Slogan. Ever (this year, anyway)

Posted on August 9, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Crazy Times Demand a Crazy Senator. If such a yard sign ever gets printed, I want one. Via your one-stop source for all things Keyesian, ArchPundit. Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | 2 Comments

The roots of the Strayhorn/Perry feud

Posted on August 9, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Would you believe the falling out between Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn and Governor Rick Perry all started over funding for community colleges? [Strayhorn’s] claim: Perry torpedoed funding for her TexasNextStep proposal last year, even though he had earlier voiced support … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 2 Comments

July traffic report

Posted on August 8, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Had about 37,000 hits in July, which is a dropoff from June and May but not bad considering I had no flood-of-traffic links. This is probably my natural level for now. I’ll be curious to see if the publicity surrounding … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Traffic Reports | Comments Off on July traffic report

Maddux wins 300

Posted on August 8, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to Greg Maddux for his 300th career win. He’s the 22nd pitcher to reach that milestone and is now tied with Earl Wynn and Lefty Grove for 20th place all-time in victories. What’s amazing to me is that as … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 6 Comments

Book signing opportunity

Posted on August 8, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Want to hear Molly Ivins and other Texas Observer authors read from Fifty Years of the Texas Observer, and maybe score an autograph? You lucky duckies in Austin and San Antonio will have your chance in September: Sept 8 BookPeople, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Comments Off on Book signing opportunity

RIP, Red Adair

Posted on August 8, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Red Adair, the world’s most famous fireman, has died at the age of 89. Adair got his start in 1946 working for Myron Kinley, a pioneer of well-fire and blowout control in Houston. In 1959, Adair bought Kinley’s equipment for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on RIP, Red Adair

A game of inches

Posted on August 8, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Now that Kevin has kindly sent a boatload of readers here to find out about Fifty Years of the Texas Observer, I thought I’d discuss another article from that book, one from the much more recent past. This one, The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Comments Off on A game of inches

Keyes watch

Posted on August 8, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

ArchPundit is your one-stop shop for all things Alan Keyes, including several looks back at Keyes’ two disastrous runs for the Senate from Maryland in 1988 and 1992, and this gem which notes that Keyes is a tax delinquent. Meanwhile, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | 1 Comment

The verdict is in

Posted on August 7, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever else one may think of the Houston: It’s Worth It! marketing scheme (and as noted, I rather like it), if Rick “Hostshot” Casey and Kevin Whited both think it’s a good idea, it must be doing something right. Now … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 3 Comments

Help! My TiVo thinks I’m a Tarantino fan!

Posted on August 7, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday, my TiVo recorded Pulp Fiction. I just noticed that it’s now recording Jackie Brown. I have no idea what’s brought on this sudden Tarantino fetish. Our subscriptions right now are for The 4400, The Prisoner, and The Amazing Race. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 5 Comments

Isn’t that what the civil courts are for?

Posted on August 7, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Ginger emailed me about this TechCentral Station column in which author Gil Weinrich laments using criminal justice remedies for white-collar crimes. Andrew Fastow is expected to serve a 10-year sentence, and Enron CEO Kenneth Lay could face as much as … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | 1 Comment

Herbert and Blakeslee

Posted on August 7, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Atrios links to a Bob Herbert column and notes that he doesn’t link to Herbert often enough. Despite my odd reticence to draw attention to his work, Herbert should be in line for every humanitarian award there is for his … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 2 Comments

Starbock update

Posted on August 7, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The makers or Starbock Beer will keep on pouring for the time being, at least until they take their copyright battle to court next year. Pete has the scoop. Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Comments Off on Starbock update

The future’s so bright

Posted on August 6, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

You know, in my entire life I don’t think I ever looked this cool. Not bad for a two-month-old. Click the More link to see for yourself. Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 3 Comments

New MT-Blacklist

Posted on August 6, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

If you’re a MT-Blacklist user (and you should be), there’s a new maintenance release, version 1.65, available. If you’ve got version 1.64, it’s a minor change to one line of code in Blacklist.pm. That change was added because some spammers … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Administrivia | Comments Off on New MT-Blacklist

Your weekly Enron guilty plea

Posted on August 6, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

John Forney, come on down! You are the next contestant on Plead Guilty and Promise The Feds You’ll Cooperate! John Forney, 42, of Ohio, is the third official to plead guilty to manipulating electricity prices from Enron’s now-defunct trading office … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | 2 Comments

Web polling

Posted on August 6, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Many moons ago, ESPN.com did an online “Battle of the Bands”, in which they matched up collegiate marching bands NCAA-tournament-style and asked their readers to vote for the winner. The Rice MOB was one of the entrants, and I spent … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | 1 Comment