Monthly Archives: June 2005

Yankee Stadium 2.0

Posted on June 16, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I have to admit, though all the recent talk about the Yankees moving to a new stadium has always given me hives, this plan strikes me as being not so bad. The New York Yankees unveiled plans to build a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 4 Comments

DemocracyFest

Posted on June 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Regretfully, I will not be able to make it to DemocracyFest this weekend in Austin due to other commitments. Looks like there will be a lot of interesting stuff going on, and I personally always enjoy a little networking opportunity, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on DemocracyFest

Phil Jackson 2.0

Posted on June 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

So I guess we’ll find out if Phil Jackson can coach a team that isn’t already playoff caliber. To be honest, I kind of think he will make a difference, though how much of that will be due to Kobe … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Comments Off on Phil Jackson 2.0

More on the new Metro plan

Posted on June 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

There’s more coverage today of the new Metro plan. I’m kind of amused by the calls, in the article and elsewhere for a do-over vote on the issue, if only because it would put John “Bill White is da man!” … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 3 Comments

It’s semi-official: Strayhorn to run for Governor

Posted on June 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Thus sayeth the Quorum Report: Reliable sources tell QR that Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn will announce her candidacy for the Republican nomination as Governor this Saturday. We have not yet received direct confirmation from her campaign office but have enough … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 6 Comments

A laundry list from Cap Inside

Posted on June 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Capitol Inside has a big overview of many potential state house races, some of which we’re now familiar with and some of which are new to me. Here’s the meat of it, with some comments at the end: Dallas Democrat … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 8 Comments

Meet Janette Sexton

Posted on June 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I mentioned before that I recently had the pleasure of meeting Janette Sexton, who is running to unseat Robert Talton in HD144. I asked her to write a short introductory piece about herself for my audience, and I present it … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Meet Janette Sexton

Pass-the-hat time

Posted on June 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

You may have read on one of the other fine Texas progressive blogs out there that Chris Bell is hoping to raise $30K online by midnight tomorrow. (What’s significant about June 15? It’s the one year anniversary of his ethics … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Pass-the-hat time

The continuing lottery shortfall

Posted on June 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

In our last episode, we talked about the Texas Lottery’s funding shortfalls, and how it had exaggerated a jackpot total because it didn’t have the sales receipts to cover it. Today, the Chron writes that the shortfalls are ongoing. The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Jackpot! | Comments Off on The continuing lottery shortfall

America’s Least Popular Senator

Posted on June 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Which US Senator has the lowest approval rates of them all? Give it up for local boy and box turtle enthusiast John Cornyn and his anemic 40/36 ratings! He’s not a one-hit wonder, either. As you can see on this … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 1 Comment

The new Metro plan

Posted on June 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve now read about the new Metro plan, and I think it’s pretty good. At the very least, I think Mayor White deserves a lot of credit for getting Reps. Culberson and DeLay in harmony with the program. I hope … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

Ins, outs, and elsewheres

Posted on June 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Via Matt, I see that John Courage is officially running for the CD21 seat currently held by Lamar “Lapdog” Smith. I am aware of rumors of other candidates, but for now, at least we know the Democrats will have a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 4 Comments

Friends in high places

Posted on June 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a story from the weekend that deserves some attention. Gov. Rick Perry is lending his endorsement to an organization established by two indicted associates of U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay that is promoting amending the Texas Constitution to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Friends in high places

Commissioner’s Court one-ups the Lege

Posted on June 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I can’t believe I missed this story last week, but fortunately Jonathan (who can use words like “metaethics” in a blog post without looking silly) caught it. Spurred on by Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction” at the 2004 Super Bowl, county … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 3 Comments

How does my TiVo love me?

Posted on June 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

On the very day that I confess that The Night Stalker scared the bejeezus out of me as a kid, I discover that my TiVo has gone and recorded three episodes off of the SciFi channel for me. I’m pretty … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | Comments Off on How does my TiVo love me?

Traffic light camera mystery solved

Posted on June 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve found a story in the Chron archives which definitively answers the question about the existing cameras at certain intersections inside the Loop. Basically, Kevin was right – they’re there to facilitate traffic flow along certain roads, though they’re not … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Wanna see something really scary?

Posted on June 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Ray in Austin has an amusing tale of watching scary movies with his kids, something which began as a Halloween tradition a few years back. They called a temporary hiatus after both children were terrified by the 1936 Bela Lugosi … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 15 Comments

Far out development followup

Posted on June 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Last week I linked to a Chron article about development farther and farther away from Houston’s core. This article is a followup of sorts to that, and it’s a nice discussion of some of the issues that way-out development causes, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

Get ready to avoid Kirby Drive

Posted on June 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

This is going to suck like a shop vac on steroids. On an average day, about 50,000 vehicles traverse West University Place along the four lanes that are Kirby Drive. Sometime before the year-end holidays, though — and for at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 3 Comments

Ready or not, here come the cameras

Posted on June 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Like it or not, now that the Lege declined to ban cities from installing red-light cameras, Houston is set to roll them out soon. “They are going up, you bet,” said Mayor Bill White, during a recent news conference. “Every … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 10 Comments

There’s speeding, and then there’s speeding

Posted on June 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

We all already knew this, right? Authorities patrolling U.S. highways tend to give motorists a cushion of up to 10 miles per hour above the speed limit before pulling them over, says a survey by a group of state traffic … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 7 Comments

Analysis of HD47

Posted on June 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

As promised, I’ve done a fuller analysis of HD47, the State House district which has just been abandoned by incumbent Republican Terry Keel. You can see all of my data in this spreadsheet. Here’s an executive summary. Overall, as expected, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | 8 Comments

Death in the Star Bock family

Posted on June 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Some sad news from Galveston. Because of his wife’s death, a Galvestonian in a trademark battle with the Starbucks coffee chain has temporarily closed the bar where he sold Star Bock beer. LeAnne Romano Bell, 58, died Thursday at the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 1 Comment

Sandlin for State Senate?

Posted on June 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Long as I’ve posted some rumor-confirmations, I’ll now link to another rumor: Katie hears that former Rep. Max Sandlin is thinking about running for the to-be-vacated Senate District 3 seat currently held by Todd Staples. Now, I’ve previously advocated for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 3 Comments

Putting some faces to names

Posted on June 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Tiffany and I attended the HCDP Texas Heroes event last night. It was a great opportunity to hang with some folks I’ve come to know over the past couple of years, and also to meet some people I’ve been blogging … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 3 Comments

Coverage of TAB ruling

Posted on June 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story on yesterday’s ruling by the Texas Supreme Court that the Texas Association of Business must disclose information about how it raised money in 2002. The Supreme Court, without comment, lifted a stay it had issued on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Coverage of TAB ruling

Texas Supremes rule against Bill Hammond

Posted on June 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Also from the Quorum Report: TEXAS SUPREME COURT DENIES BILL HAMMOND’S WRIT OF MANDAMUS IN 2002 ELECTION CIVIL TRIAL Had sought to avoid answering specific questions about Texas Asssociation of Business contributors posed by plaintiffs in civil discovery Questions must … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 2 Comments

HD47: Keel drops out

Posted on June 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

From the Quorum Report: TERRY KEEL ANNOUNCES RUN FOR AN APPELLATE COURT SEAT Leaves open seat in HD47 This afternoon, Rep. Terry Keel (R-Austin) told reporters, “I am here today to announce my intentions for the 2006 election cycle. HD47, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Revisiting the I-45 tunnel

Posted on June 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Also in the This Week section is an article on the proposal by engineer Gonzalo Camacho to redo I-45 from Greenspoint to downtown as a tunnel. He gave a presentation on this at the I-45 town hall sponsored by Rep. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 5 Comments

Analysis of the latest re-redistricting ruling

Posted on June 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Rick Hasen reads the federal court decision from yesterday so you don’t have to. He has some interesting thoughts on what it all means. Check it out. Thanks to Seth for the tip. Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 2 Comments

Ray Hill to retire

Posted on June 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Local activist Ray Hill, the founding father of Houston’s GLBT Political Caucus, is retiring from the activist life. Hill’s extended activist career irreverently will be celebrated today at “The Well Deserved Roast of Ray Hill,” set for 7:30 p.m. at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Ray Hill to retire

Creative accounting in the Lottery Commission?

Posted on June 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday, the Star-Telegram reported on a complaint filed by Lotto watchdog Dawn Nettles that the state Lottery Commission had inflated the advertised jackpot due to slow ticket sales. Lottery officials re-jected the allegations but acknowledged that because of lagging ticket … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Jackpot! | Comments Off on Creative accounting in the Lottery Commission?

Re-redistricting re-upheld

Posted on June 9, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The Quorum Report reports: FEDERAL PANEL RULES IN FAVOR OF THE STATE ON REDISTRICTING Next step would be a direct appeal to the Supreme Court. Plaintiff Attorney Gerry Hebert has confirmed a federal three-judge panel has ruled in favor of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 3 Comments

Radack to retire

Posted on June 9, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

County Commissioner Steve Radack says he will not run for reelection in 2008. His decision will set off a political free-for-all typical on the rare occasions when an incumbent vacates one of the powerful commissioners’ seats, Radack said. He plans … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment