Monthly Archives: June 2005

Really really last minute giving

Posted on June 30, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

There’s about an hour and a half in the Q2 campaign contributions period, so if you’re reading this before midnight (wherever you may be), you can still help some fine folks’ quarterly numbers. The Jeffersonian has a pretty good starter’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Really really last minute giving

MLS in the Dome

Posted on June 30, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I confess, I don’t pay all that much attention to soccer, so I haven’t been keeping up with this story. The Astrodome might recover some of its faded glory if a Mexican club interested in bringing a professional soccer franchise … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 6 Comments

How’s it playing in Houston?

Posted on June 30, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Everybody’s linked to the SurveyUSA 50-state approval ratings poll for President Bush, for which Garance has the best take, but what interests me is the results for Texas, where Dubya is pulling anemic (but not Perryesque) 50/47 numbers. Inside that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 1 Comment

Ethics committee may be back in business

Posted on June 30, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

If you’ve been feeling lost and adrift since the House Ethics Committee went silent, fear not for their return may be imminent. A partisan dispute that stalled a House investigation of Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, moved closer to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Ethics committee may be back in business

Grilling Greer

Posted on June 30, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Lottery Commission chairman Reagan Greer was in the hot seat today as the House Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee looked into the expanding scandal over inflated jackpots. Among the latest revelations is an admission that they believe in killing … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Jackpot! | Comments Off on Grilling Greer

Notes from the consensus

Posted on June 30, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Have we achieved consensus yet? The House Ways and Means Committee passed a tax plan Wednesday with a steep hike in the sales tax that many senators oppose. The plan closes loopholes in the corporate franchise tax without imposing additional … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Notes from the consensus

All hail the King of Plunk

Posted on June 29, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Craig Biggio, the undisputed modern day king of the hit by pitch. Craig Biggio’s arm guard is headed to the Hall of Fame. The way Houston Astros manager Phil Garner sees it, the player … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 2 Comments

KBH’s veterans goofup

Posted on June 29, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is scrambling to cover a hole in the Veterans’ Affairs budget. The Veterans Affairs Department will ask for an emergency infusion of cash to meet its health care expenses this year after pressure built in Congress … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 2 Comments

RIP, Edloe the cat

Posted on June 29, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

My sincere condolences to Lair on the death of his cat, Edloe. May he find many treats in kitty heaven. I’ll give Harry an extra Milk-Bone tonight in Edloe’s memory. Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 5 Comments

Oh, yeah, that Enron Broadband trial

Posted on June 29, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I confess, I’ve sort of lost touch with the ongoing Enron Broadband trial. Like Tom, who provides us with a nice update on the case, I thought it would be closer to finished by now. Those poor jurors – I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Oh, yeah, that Enron Broadband trial

More fame

Posted on June 29, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

KTRK’s Michael McGuff interviewed yours truly plus Kevin and Anne for a pretty spiffy article on the local blog scene. Reading through it, I’m reminded that I apparently haven’t lost my touch for giving colorful quotes: “If there’s one way … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 5 Comments

Truth in Lotto advertising

Posted on June 29, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, I hope someone liveblogs this. Texas lottery officials could face tough questions and some nasty wrist-slapping today when they testify before lawmakers about inflating several Texas Lotto jackpot estimates. But they would face more scrutiny under a bill filed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Jackpot! | 3 Comments

School finance heresy narrowly defeated

Posted on June 29, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

If you’re wondering how the whole consensus on school finance reform thing is going, here’s a clue: The House just passed the same plan it had put forward during the regular session. House Bill 2 would cut school property taxes … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 2 Comments

George’s successor

Posted on June 29, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I’m relieved, yet a little bit disappointed, to hear that George Steinbrenner has named his successor. With his 75th birthday approaching next week, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner made it official Tuesday: Son-in-law Steve Swindal will follow him as head of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 3 Comments

WiFi happenings

Posted on June 28, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Dwight reports on the city’s downtown WiFi-enabled parking meters. That may sound silly, but there’s a purpose for it – the wireless networking will allow the meters to accept and verify credit cards for payment. My main reason for parking … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on WiFi happenings

Eminent domain battle in Freeport

Posted on June 28, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

One of the things I missed last week while gadding about in Colorado was how the Kelo decision affects plans in Freeport to build a marina on the Old Brazos River. “This is the last little piece of the puzzle … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 3 Comments

Mediation in Midlothian

Posted on June 28, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve posted a couple of updates recently on the situation in Midlothian, where residents are trying to prevent cement maker TXI from circumventing environmental regulations. Yesterday I got an email from Julie, my regular Midlothian correspondent, who sent me a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 1 Comment

Your liberal media at work

Posted on June 28, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

From the story on Kay Bailey Hutchison’s official announcement that she’s running for reelection to the Senate: No prominent candidates have announced plans to challenge Hutchison. How nice of the reporter to decide for us who is a “real” candidate … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 4 Comments

We’ll tell you what you can do with your money

Posted on June 28, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

It’s bad enough that Congress has held hearings into the vitally important issue of steroids in baseball. Now they want to have a say in who does or does not get to own a piece of a baseball team. Does … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 4 Comments

On punishing the guilty

Posted on June 27, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, the NCAA socked it to Baylor for multiple infractions committed under former coach Dave Bliss. The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions on Thursday placed Baylor on probation for five years and barred the men’s basketball team from … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 4 Comments

There is no cushion

Posted on June 27, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Other states may have an unofficial speed limit that’s 5-10 MPH above what’s posted, but not Texas. Well, sort of. The Texas Department of Public Safety, the Harris County Sheriff’s Department and the Houston Police Department said they will write … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 4 Comments

Where the wild landscapes are

Posted on June 27, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I read with great interest this front page story about a homeowner in my neighborhood who’s drawn both praise and flak for her wild yard. For a stranger, approaching Kelly Walker’s house on Arlington Street is a lesson in navigation. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 3 Comments

Happy birthday, Juanita

Posted on June 27, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure you remember the travails of Nooky’s, Sugar Land’s premier erotic baking establishment. Well, you’ll be glad to know that all of the huffing and puffing by some of Fort Bend County’s bluenoses (as chronicled by Juanita as only … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 1 Comment

Perry’s vetoes: Worse than you thought

Posted on June 27, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Governor Perry’s veto of HB2193 was bad enough, but he didn’t stop there. As of last week, Texas prisons are officially full and must contract to rent space for all new prisoners from county jails. Unbelievably, though, it turns out … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 3 Comments

More on Midlothian

Posted on June 26, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I find it a bit sad that a story like this gets reported on by a Chicago newspaper and not a Texas one, but at least it’s been picked up by the Chron. MIDLOTHIAN – The neighbors introduced themselves hesitantly … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 1 Comment

Mythbusting

Posted on June 26, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Rick Casey laments Kay Bailey Hutchison’s decision to sit out the Governor’s race next year. Kay Bailey Hutchison had an opportunity to destroy a myth that is crippling Texas. It is the myth that the only way to win the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 6 Comments

May traffic report

Posted on June 26, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

May was my busiest month of the year so far, with about 57,000 hits. Links from Atrios and Crooked Timber helped boost the numbers a bit, but things were pretty steady overall. Every once in awhile, I look at the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Traffic Reports | Comments Off on May traffic report

TAB gives it up

Posted on June 25, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s our first look at the contribution records that the Texas Association of Business didn’t want us to see. Documents released in a civil lawsuit Friday show that Texas Association of Business officials were trying to influence the outcome of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 4 Comments

Janette Sexton Campaign Kickoff Reception

Posted on June 25, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

In a previous entry on Janette Sexton, I promised to pass along information on her first fundraiser. I got the scoop last night, so here it is – click the More link for the details of the event, to be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Would KBH have beaten Perry in the primary?

Posted on June 25, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Among the stories that I wasn’t able to read last week was this one which contained some poll numbers for the KBH-Perry primary matchup that we won’t get to see. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison would have been a strong … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 3 Comments

Lottery officials speak

Posted on June 25, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

And they say “We screwed up”. “We’re just looking for answers and see what they have to say,” assistant committee clerk Cynthia Venecia said Friday. At the lottery commission’s meeting Friday, officials acknowledged that they knew estimated ticket sales would … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Jackpot! | 1 Comment

Back home blogger radio

Posted on June 24, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

We made it all back home in good shape today (have I mentioned what a boon it is to have a baby who sleeps on airplanes?), and amid the laundry and unopened snail mail I’ll be doing my usual stint … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 1 Comment

The last word on MoFo, yo

Posted on June 24, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Sometimes it takes a middle-aged white guy to put things into perspective. This week, the Texas governor got caught saying “Adios, Mofo.” This line will follow Perry around like a dog after a ham sandwich. Patrick Henry said, “Give me … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 4 Comments

Lottery chief to explain shortfalls

Posted on June 24, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I can’t wait to hear this. A Texas lottery chief is expected to detail today why the state advertised an $8 million jackpot this month when available prize money fell short by more than $1 million. The error, also slated … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Jackpot! | 1 Comment