Monthly Archives: October 2005

Offline and loving it

Posted on October 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Dwight writes about the “hardcore offline” – folks who don’t use the Internet, either from never trying it or from trying it and not liking it. There’s an interview here with the scoop, and his post and comments have some … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 5 Comments

A look at the law

Posted on October 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron takes a closer look at the law used to indict Tom DeLay on criminal conspiracy charges. Tired of absentee ballot fraud in his races for the Texas House and in his wife’s first race for Dallas mayor, then-Rep. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on A look at the law

Rep. Kevin Brady arrested for DUI

Posted on October 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Speaking of US Rep. Kevin Brady, it looks like he had a bit too much fun at Homecoming Weekend. U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, a Republican from The Woodlands, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence Friday night in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

FEMA fouling up in East Texas

Posted on October 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The people of East Texas are not happy with the assistance they have gotten from FEMA since Hurricane Rita devastated their cities. Widespread confusion and inconsistency over who is entitled to grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is inspiring … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 5 Comments

Prop 2: It’s about letting people protect their assets

Posted on October 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I had the pleasure of meeting Tammi Wallace of the Houston Equal Rights Alliance at an anti-Prop 2 meetup a couple of weeks ago. She gave what I thought was an excellent and broadly appealing talk about why Proposition 2 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 2 Comments

Caravanning

Posted on October 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s another look at the massive traffic jam that took place during the Rita evacuation, focusing on households that left with more than one car. Although no statistical data is available yet on the massive evacuation, “there were certainly more … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 4 Comments

When animals attack

Posted on October 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, I had some correspondence with a local attorney named Bruce Moldovan, whose firm is representing a dog owner in a lawsuit against the city of Houston. It’s an interesting case, and as I’m a dog owner myself, I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 8 Comments

DeLay’s defense

Posted on October 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Well, it’s pretty clear that Tom DeLay has been listening to the damage control experts, isn’t it? He’s got his attack points down, and he’s got a little wind at his back now, thanks in part to the efforts of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

Friedman’s restructuring

Posted on October 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Damon linked to this story about some layoffs in the Kinky Friedman campaign on Saturday. You can go argue in the comments over there about what it means for him to hire a consultant that once worked for Dan Quayle, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Friedman’s restructuring

Proposition One

Posted on October 9, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Prop 2 is the easy one. Proposition One is giving me a headache. Proposition 1 would amend the Texas Constitution to authorize the creation of the Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund in the state treasury. The Texas Transportation Commission … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 5 Comments

The grassroots movement on Prop 2

Posted on October 9, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

This Chron article gives the best reason why those who oppose the Double Secret Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment, also known as Proposition 2, need to get out and vote on November 7: “This is unique, historical. Nothing like this has happened … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | Comments Off on The grassroots movement on Prop 2

Miers and Gore

Posted on October 9, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Far be it from me to offer any advice to the right-wing crowd that’s currently frothing over the not-what-they-wanted nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, but I’m getting a little tired of seeing stuff like this in the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 2 Comments

Playoff baseball = lost productivity

Posted on October 8, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

You may live for the playoffs, but if you do so at the office, you’re part of a $225 million problem. Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas estimates that the playoff schedule will cost employers about $225 million this year, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 5 Comments

Toll road lawsuit

Posted on October 7, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

An anti-toll road organization has filed a lawsuit alleging that two toll road related authorities are illegal. A lawsuit filed in Travis County contends the Metropolitan Planning Organizations in San Antonio and Austin — which dispense tens of millions in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

The coincidences keep piling up

Posted on October 7, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Amazing, isn’t it how one man can be responsible for so many coincidences? Former House majority leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) met for at least 30 minutes with the top fundraiser of his Texas political action committee on Oct. 2, 2002, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 2 Comments

Sugar Land Kiddie Roundup ends in dismissals

Posted on October 7, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Remember the Sugar Land Kiddie Roundup, in which a bunch of kids who were attending a parentless party at which alcohol was present but who were not drinking got busted for minor-in-possession by the overzealous SLPD? (See here and here … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Houston loses out again on the Super Bowl

Posted on October 7, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Once again, Houston has lost out on landing a second Super Bowl. Houston and Atlanta may want to get out of the Super Bowl business after being rejected a second time in less than five months in favor of a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 4 Comments

I-45 and US290

Posted on October 7, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an I-45 update from Jim Weston of the I-45 Coalition: You may recall reading an article by Rad Sallee in the Houston Chronicle on 9/1/05. The headline was “North Freeway expansion back to drawing board”. (ed. note: See here.) … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on I-45 and US290

Hutchison’s bad idea

Posted on October 6, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison has a bad idea for border security that she wants to make into law. With complaints mounting about lax border controls, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison called Wednesday for giving local police the power to arrest … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Hutchison’s bad idea

Tom ‘n’ Roy, together forever

Posted on October 6, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Tom DeLay and Roy Blunt, two peas from the same rotten pod. Tom DeLay deliberately raised more money than he needed to throw parties at the 2000 presidential convention, then diverted some of the excess to longtime ally Roy Blunt … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Tom ‘n’ Roy, together forever

Why we left

Posted on October 6, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The Chronicle does a poll about the Rita evacuation. If a Category 4 hurricane had a bead on Houston, 62 percent would leave — a slightly higher percentage than actually did flee ahead of Rita, according to the poll. […] … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 5 Comments

Ted Lyon for Governor?

Posted on October 6, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Via DC9 and email from Judge Susan Criss comes the following tidbit gleaned from the current newsletter of the Galveston County Democratic Party: The rumors are strong around the state that Ted B. Lyon will seek the Democratic Party¹s nomination … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Polling followup – Is there a basis for comparison?

Posted on October 6, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Following up on all of the bloggage about that Zogby Interactive poll, the Chris Bell folks did a little research into other attempts to quantify Texas gubernatorial races a year or more out from the election. Here’s what they found … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Polling followup – Is there a basis for comparison?

Still in search of privatization savings

Posted on October 6, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Following up on the earlier news about the very critical state audit of claimed savings by privatizing HR and payroll functions of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (THHSC), we have this Chron story which adds some more details. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

New evidence, new indictment?

Posted on October 5, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The word from the Travis County DA Ronnie Earle’s office regarding the latest indictment against Tom DeLay was that it was the result of new evidence. Earle said the grand jury that indicted DeLay last week on the last day … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 2 Comments

Yes, that would explain it

Posted on October 5, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Well, at least there was a pretty good explanation for why Padres ace Jake Peavy stunk up the joint yesterday. Jumping up and down in a close knot of teammates during San Diego’s celebration of the NL West championship, Jake … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 2 Comments

Layoffs in New Orleans

Posted on October 5, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has announced that he will lay off 3000 municipal employees due to lack of any revenue stream for the city. Nagin announced with “great sadness” that he had been unable to find the money to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 3 Comments

Nonscientific municipal poll numbers

Posted on October 5, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

With the lack of a high profile race at the top of the ticket this year, we’re unlikely to see any real polling done for the municipal elections – checking my archives from 2003, the first one we got then … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 1 Comment

Harrell’s rescheduled announcement

Posted on October 5, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Mary Beth Harrell‘s official announcement of her candidacy in CD31, originally scheduled for September 27 but postponed for obvious reasons has been reset: Campaign Kick-Off Rallies – Tuesday, October 11, 2005 Killeen Civic and Conference Center, 11:30 am till 1:30 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Harrell’s rescheduled announcement

Another piece of the puzzle

Posted on October 4, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Well, if you took any joy at the generally negative reaction among conservative pundits and bloggers to the nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, this will serve as a little cold water to the face. Link via Avedon. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 4 Comments

Playoff time

Posted on October 4, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Haven’t written much about baseball lately, have I? Well, as a Yankee fan, I spent much of this season holding my breath. Things looked pretty grim in May, and even as late as Labor Day, the Bombers didn’t quite have … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 4 Comments

Poll time

Posted on October 4, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Some interesting poll numbers from Zogby at the Wall Street Journal (link via Kos). Let’s start with the Texas Governor’s race, where a three-way battle shows Rick Perry at 40.1%, Chris Bell at 27.2%, and Kinky Friedman at 18%. A … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 11 Comments

Reindicted and it feels so good

Posted on October 4, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the fuller story on the new DeLay indictments. A new Travis County grand jury hurriedly reindicted U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay on a charge of conspiring to violate state election laws and added two charges related to money laundering Monday … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 7 Comments

New DeLay indictment

Posted on October 3, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

This is a bit of a surprise, since I hadn’t realized there was another grand jury in session. A Texas grand jury today indicted U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay on a new charge of money laundering. A different grand jury whose … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 3 Comments