Monthly Archives: December 2004

Be careful what you wish for

Posted on December 31, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

As noted yesterday, Republicans in Texas are once again threatening to remove the power to investigate election code violations from the Travis County District Attorney’s office to the Attorney General, presumably on the theory that they won’t have to worry … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 5 Comments

Colyandro moves for dismissal

Posted on December 31, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Related to the previos item, John Colyandro, one of the three individuals indicted so far in the TRMPAC investigation, has filed a motion to dismiss the charges against him. John Colyandro contends he couldn’t have improperly received the contributions because … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Colyandro moves for dismissal

Sears cuts a deal

Posted on December 31, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Via The Daily DeLay, Sears has joined Diversified Collections Services in making a deal with the Travis County District Attorney’s office in the TRMPAC case. Prosecutors have agreed to drop an illegal campaign contribution charge against Sears, Roebuck and Co. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 2 Comments

Daddy’s got them Deep Ellum blues

Posted on December 30, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

You know how some people have fretted that traffic cameras would lead to less privacy? This is the sort of thing we worry about. Dallas police have joined with private businesses in the city’s Deep Ellum entertainment district to watch … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 2 Comments

Public Citizen calls for Justice inquiry on Westar

Posted on December 30, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

This pretty much speaks for itself. Public Citizen is writing to provide the Department of Justice with significant new information regarding possible violations of 18 U.S.C. §201 (“Bribery of public officials and witnesses”) by current and former Westar Energy, Inc. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

No more milk cartons

Posted on December 30, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Schoolkids are saying sayonara to milk cartons. Encouraged by a milk industry study that shows children drink more dairy when it comes in round plastic bottles, a growing number of schools are ditching those clumsy paper half-pint cartons many of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 5 Comments

Reviving football at UTA

Posted on December 30, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I never knew that the University of Texas at Arlington had ever had football, but they did, up until 1985. Now they’re talking about reviving it, and this Star Telegram article details the story. A couple of bits to comment … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 4 Comments

Weekly Standard on Abramoff

Posted on December 30, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Tom sent me an email with a link to Andrew Ferguson’s article on Jack Abramoff in the Weekly Standard. I’d seen the link before, but the getting around to reading and blogging about it part got lost in the holiday … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

Troll

Posted on December 29, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

My comments have been infested by a particularly obnoxious troll over the past couple of days, someone who seems to think that because I allow feedback, he’s free to leave offensive and racist remarks and that I am somehow obligated … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Administrivia | 5 Comments

Melissa Noriega

Posted on December 29, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Meet Melissa Noriega, wife of State Rep. Rick Noriega (D, Houston), who will be filling in for her husband while he is on active military duty in Afghanistan. Melissa Noriega, 50, is a special projects manager for the Houston Independent … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

Former Cintra lobbyist now working for Perry

Posted on December 29, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Remember the Trans Texas Corridor? Turns out that until three months ago, the guy who is now Governor Perry’s legislative director worked for the firm that won the first construction bid. As a government affairs consultant for Cintra, Dan Shelley … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

No jail time for a little pot

Posted on December 29, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Harold Dutton (D, Houston) has what I think is a smart proposal: Make possession of an ounce or less of marijuana a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine but not prison. Texas law currently calls for six … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

RIP, Jerry Orbach

Posted on December 29, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Jerry Orbach, best known for playing Lennie Briscoe on Law and Order, has died from cancer. Orbach died Tuesday night in Manhattan after several weeks of treatment, Audrey Davis of the public relations agency Lippin Group said. When his illness … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 1 Comment

The DeLay Rule wasn’t lenient enough

Posted on December 29, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

The Stakeholder points to this WaPo article which shows just how seriously the House Republican leadership takes its ethics. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert is leaning toward removing the House ethics committee chairman, who admonished House Majority Leader Tom DeLay … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 3 Comments

One way to win over the netroots

Posted on December 28, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not following the ins and outs of the race for DNC Chair very closely, but I’m impressed that Donnie Fowler took the time to stump for himself at MyDD. Whatever else his qualifications may be, he’s demonstrated he knows … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 9 Comments

Looping around the Rice Village

Posted on December 28, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Via Anne, I see that Metro is thinking about a shuttle that would serve the Rice Village/Medical Center area. Just for the record, I thought of it first. To provide a slightly different perspective than what is expressed there, it … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 5 Comments

In order to save the Astrodome…

Posted on December 28, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I’m a little behind the times in commenting on this story about the sad current state of affairs with the Astrodome. Tom thinks that demolition is the Dome’s ultimate fate and that it’s past time for us to recognize that. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 9 Comments

How to help

Posted on December 28, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Forty four thousand dead. I have no words. Here’s how you can help. Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | 1 Comment

Little things really do mean a lot

Posted on December 27, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

From one of the many snarky year-end wrapup stories in the Chron comes this tidbit: LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT: Astros pitcher Roger Clemens was ejected from his son’s youth league game after an umpire accused Clemens of spitting a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

RIP, Eddie Layton

Posted on December 27, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Eddie Layton, the longtime organist for the Yankees, has passed away. Layton died Sunday, the New York Yankees said. The team did not know his age. Layton joined the team in 1967 when the club began using organ music at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 9 Comments

“Driving While Cellphoning”

Posted on December 27, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Restrictions on using cellphones while driving are on the agenda for the 79th Lege. In the upcoming 79th Texas Legislature, lawmakers will consider bills by [Sen. Rodney] Ellis and fellow Democrat Rep. Jose Menendez of San Antonio, that allow only … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 14 Comments

The CRNC and Jack Abramoff

Posted on December 27, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Boffoblog points me to this WaPo article updating the College Republicans fundraising scandal. I must say, I’m still waiting for someone to do a little forensic accounting and figure out where all the money went. As I noted here, it … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 2 Comments

A pain in the thumb

Posted on December 27, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Just what we all need – more ways to get repetitive stress injuries. But as the popularity of text messaging — on BlackBerries, cellular phones and other handheld devices — explodes across the United States, some fear for the health … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 2 Comments

RIP, Reggie White

Posted on December 26, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

This is a shock. Reggie White, a fearsome defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers who was one of the great players in NFL history, died Sunday, his wife said. He was 43. The cause of death … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 2 Comments

The Nuge comes to Texas

Posted on December 26, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Via Rick Perry Versus The World, George Bush has a noisy new neighbor in Crawford. The so-called Motor City Madman is officially turning Texan. Michigan rocker and hunting activist Ted Nugent said he plans to get a Texas driver’s license … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 4 Comments

The Yule Log

Posted on December 26, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

If you have to ask why The Yule Log is an institution in New York City every Christmas, you’ll never understand. The Christmas morning yule log special on WPIX – a four-hour tape of a log blazing brightly in a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 3 Comments

Death of blogging predicted: Film at 11

Posted on December 26, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

This DMN article on blogs post-election has been making the rounds lately. You’d think they might have talked to a couple more representatives of the home state, since Texas is chock full of political blogs, but they didn’t. At least … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 2 Comments

Merry Christmas!

Posted on December 25, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Have a holly, jolly Christmas; It’s the best time of the year I don’t know if there’ll be snow but have a cup of cheer Have a holly, jolly Christmas; And when you walk down the street Say Hello to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 14 Comments

Prop 2 backers sue

Posted on December 24, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

They were coy about it at first, but disappointed backers of City Proposition 2 have filed suit to force its implementation. Two separate lawsuits filed late Wednesday ask judges to order city officials to enact Proposition 2 as soon as … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | 8 Comments

More on anti-traffic camera bill

Posted on December 24, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story on the anti-traffic camera bill filed by State Rep. Gary Elkins (R, Houston). It appears to have bipartisan support. State Rep. Gary Elkins of Houston, a Republican who led opposition to camera enforcement of red lights … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 3 Comments

J’onn J’onzz

Posted on December 24, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

It takes a special kind of geek to appreciate the fact that a reporter for E! Online even knew who J’onn J’onzz, the Martian Manhunter, is, much less cared to write a story about why he’s the only original member … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 6 Comments

Put some clothes on!

Posted on December 24, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I’m always grateful to hear of a really dumb law being passed someplace other than Texas. Alarmed by glimpses of sweaty citizens in the buff, the city council in the southeastern city of Villahermosa has adopted a law banning indoor … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | 2 Comments

On the usefulness of Santa Claus

Posted on December 23, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Jim Henley has a couple of interesting posts on the nature of Santa Claus and how a parent deals with it. Something for me to think about in the coming years (I’d better get started on my story about why … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 1 Comment

Merry Christmas, Tom

Posted on December 23, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Check out the ad that the Public Campaign Action Fund is running in the Houston Press this week. It’d be cool to see more of that in the future. Nice job, folks. Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Merry Christmas, Tom