Monthly Archives: August 2005

Building on Hackett’s success

Posted on August 4, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Now that Paul Hackett acheived Very Serious Warning status with his close electoral loss in OH-02, what happens next? Let’s start with the Charlie Cook view (as articulated by Amy Walter) of the current landscape: Republicans in 49 states should … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 1 Comment

Ogden’s gambit

Posted on August 4, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

You’ve got to give Sen. Steve Ogden credit – he’s doing what he can to bring Meaning and Purpose to our endless legislative summer. Tax bills cannot originate in the Senate, but constitutional amendments can, and he’s got a threefer … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Rebates for rotten reviews

Posted on August 4, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Remember David Manning, the fake movie critic that was invented by a couple of Sony employees to generate positive buzz for some bad movies? Shortly after that scam was discovered, a group of moviegoers filed a class action lawsuit alleging … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 3 Comments

Watson eyes Barrientos’ seat

Posted on August 3, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Former Austin Mayor and 2002 Democratic candidate for Attorney General Kirk Watson wants to run for the State Senate seat currently held by Gonzalo Barrientos. For now at least, he’s saying he’ll only do it if Barrientos retires. Watson, slated … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Watson eyes Barrientos’ seat

Randi’s Encyclopedia

Posted on August 3, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

James Randi’s Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural is now available online. It’s everything you ever wanted to know about hokum and its hucksters, complete with Randi’s snarkery. Check it out. Via Jim Henley. Continue reading →

Posted in Skepticism | 2 Comments

Bribery by not giving money

Posted on August 3, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, State Rep. Corbin Van Arsdale is one of those people who really can’t take no for an answer. Van Arsdale, R-Tomball, had requested a campaign contribution from TX Friends of Time Warner Cable PAC in a July 19 letter. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 5 Comments

Can we go home now?

Posted on August 3, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Poor Kimberly. It can’t be much fun being a reporter based in Austin right about now. I mean, what is there to write about? That there’s still no consensus on anything related to school finance, even on a bill that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Can we go home now?

Final thoughts on OH-02

Posted on August 3, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Well, Paul Hackett definitely beat the spread yesterday. Getting 48% of the vote in a district that went for Bush by a 64-36 margin is pretty damn good. In terms of positive media generated, setting a tone for 2006, proving … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 8 Comments

Early results look strong in OH-02

Posted on August 2, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I doubt I’ll be awake when the final result comes in, but as I type this, Paul Hackett is winning by a 23,957 to 22,846 margin. That’s with 305 precincts of 753 reporting. Apparently, turnout is double the projection – … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 2 Comments

Harris County Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force shut down

Posted on August 2, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Via Scott, the Harris County Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force, which was headed up in Baytown, has been shut down. Given that their accomplishments include mistaking hibiscus plants for pot, I’d say on balance this is a good thing. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

“I like backpacks, and I cannot lie”

Posted on August 2, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Usually, when the advertising industry gets hold of a popular song for its nefarious purposes, the result is mortifying. Every once in awhile, though, you get something truly inspired. Target Corp. is advertising its back-to-school booty with a takeoff of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | 8 Comments

The plague of pop-up ads

Posted on August 2, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Might this be the beginning of the end for the cursed pop-up ad? A new service Claria Corp. is launching this month will still deliver advertising to the computer desktops of Web surfers. Only this time, they won’t be annoying … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 2 Comments

Let’s make a deal…pretty please?

Posted on August 2, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The lesson for today, kids, brought to us by Governor Perry: If at first you don’t succeed, lower your standards. Gov. Rick Perry on Monday indicated he would accept a scaled-back school finance bill with a pay raise for teachers … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 2 Comments

Today’s the day for Hackett

Posted on August 2, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Well, today we get to find out just how effective the Paul Hackett campaign has been. I have no idea what will happen, but however much we’ve fought the good fight, I think winning is more likely to be defined … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 1 Comment

Future Hall of Famers

Posted on August 1, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Norbizness points to this two–part story on ESPN about which active players will make the Hall of Fame. I don’t care to go through the whole list, but I do have a few comments. – I think Mike Mussina‘s chances … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 10 Comments

The new Coke ad

Posted on August 1, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Coca Cola is tinkering with another icon – its classic 1971 commercial featuring the jingle “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing”. Thirty-four years ago, a 60-second spot shot on an Italian hillside, with a cast of embassy workers … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | 16 Comments

Meeting the municipal candidates

Posted on August 1, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

As I mentioned before, I had the opportunity to meet with several candidates for City Council at Kaveh Kanes on Sunday morning. They were, in order of their arrival: Jay Aiyer (At Large #2 George Hittner (District C) Anne Clutterbuck … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 3 Comments

The Monsoon Chronicles

Posted on August 1, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Best of luck to Seth and Sarah Oldmixon as they leave to spend the next two years in Bangladesh with the Peace Corps. They’re writing about the experience here. Bon voyage, you two! Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | 1 Comment

A new speaker in 2007?

Posted on August 1, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Arnold Garcia, Jr floats the notion that Tom Craddick’s Speakership could be a casualty of the endless legislative summer. While some might sniff disaster in the air around the Capitol, others smell opportunity. House members bucked the leadership, and the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on A new speaker in 2007?