Monthly Archives: November 2005

Dodgers hire Colletti

Posted on November 16, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Today is not the day for Kim Ng, as the Dodgers go old school by hiring Giants Assistant GM Ned Colletti. Colletti was chosen over Kim Ng, the Dodger assistant general manager of four years and one of two women … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 1 Comment

For sale: One lottery vendor

Posted on November 16, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Anybody wanna buy a lottery vendor? No felons or other people of low moral character need apply. The Rhode Island company that operates many of the Texas lottery’s most popular games is up for sale, and state officials are looking … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Jackpot! | 4 Comments

Radnofsky officially announces

Posted on November 16, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Feels a little funny to say that Barbara Radnofsky is making her official announcement of her candidacy for Senate, since she’s been campaigning for well over a year now, but she is, starting in Dallas yesterday, in Fort Worth today, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Radnofsky officially announces

The city’s plan for a Wi-Fi network

Posted on November 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The city of Houston is on its way to bringing a WiFi network to town, beginning with the downtown area. The city of Houston will begin looking in March for a company to not only build a wireless Internet network … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

RIP, Earl Abel’s

Posted on November 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

First, they came for Little Hipps. Now, they’re coming for Earl Abel’s. Earl Abel’s, the 72-year-old San Antonio restaurant known equally for retro decor and retro cuisine, likely will close its doors early next year to make way for a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 5 Comments

Bob Gammage?

Posted on November 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Long as we’re talking about Gubernatorial primaries, I (and several of my blogging colleagues) got an email about another potential Democratic candidate, a fellow named Bob Gammage. Karl-T has the text of the emails in question for you. I’ve said … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Bob Gammage?

Where’s Carole?

Posted on November 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Hey, wasn’t there supposed to be a contested GOP primary for Governor going on? Whatever happened to Carole Keeton Strayhorn? Strayhorn has a lot of money in her campaign war chest, but lately, many political observers have noted that her … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Where’s Carole?

Where’s Warren?

Posted on November 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I seem to recall that one of the reasons we so desperately needed to Double Secret Illegalize gay marriage in Texas was that if we didn’t, we might someday wake up in a society of polygamists. Therefore, I trust that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Where’s Warren?

Armbrister to retire?

Posted on November 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Via PerryVsWorld and BOR, Chris Elam is reporting that State Sen. Ken Armbrister is going to retire. Armbrister has been around for awhile, he’s one of a dwindling number of Democratic throwbacks who frequently does not go along with the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Armbrister to retire?

Shane Sklar fundraiser in Galveston

Posted on November 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Shane Sklar will be in Galveston next week for a fundraiser. From his press release: Building on his growing grassroots support throughout the 14th District, Democratic Congressional Candidate Shane Sklar will hold a fundraiser in Galveston next week. Sklar’s fundraiser … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Shane Sklar fundraiser in Galveston

Kim Ng

Posted on November 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The Los Angeles Dodgers, the franchise that broke the color line in Major League Baseball in 1947, may be about to shatter another barrier, as they are interviewing Kim Ng for their open General Manager job. “I’ve been out in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 3 Comments

Electing versus appointing

Posted on November 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron returns to the issue of electing judges in Texas, which first came up during the recusal merry-go-round in the DeLay money laundering case. I’m still not convinced that the popular alternative of appointments followed by unopposed retention elections … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 3 Comments

CD28 poll followup

Posted on November 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The early poll in CD28 that I mentioned last week has been pikced up as a story in the Express News, with comments from all campaigns. Andre Pineda has the pointer and some further thoughts in response to what his … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 5 Comments

Two homecomings at Rice

Posted on November 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

This was homecoming weekend at Rice, but this time the Owls were joined by another school bringing together its alumni to celebrate and reminisce. While Rice University celebrated homecoming Saturday, about 400 people with ties to hurricane-damaged Tulane University reunited … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 1 Comment

More on Cornyn and Abramoff

Posted on November 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The Agonist points to an AP wire story about some emails between Ralph Reed and disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who is currently under federal indictment for fraud as well as under investigation by the Senate Indian Affairs committee, which … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 3 Comments

Walking to San Antonio: Wrapup and pictures

Posted on November 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Aaron Pena writes a wrapup of the march he and many veterans took from Edinburg to San Antonio to highlight the need for a VA hospital in South Texas. For the moment the feeling is one of elation … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on Walking to San Antonio: Wrapup and pictures

Tell me again who’s in charge here

Posted on November 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I admit that I haven’t been following the story of escaped-and-recaptured death row inmate Charles Victor Thompson very closely, but I was struck with a thought as I read this front-page story on how “lack of supervision” may have led … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 6 Comments

Yates trial 2.0

Posted on November 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

As it appears there will be a new trial for Andrea Yates instead of a plea bargain (for which the Chron editorialized today), this story covers the topics to keep in mind as things proceed. Harris County prosecutor Alan Curry … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 2 Comments

HD26: Contested primary for Charlie Howard?

Posted on November 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Bob Dunn reports that attorney and former Sugar Land Mayor Dean Hrbacek is “considering” a run in the GOP primary against incumbent State Rep. Charlie Howard. “We’re evaluating it right now,” Hrbacek said Friday. “We’ve been meeting with people in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on HD26: Contested primary for Charlie Howard?

Radnofsky gets a little help from her would-be future colleagues

Posted on November 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Catching up on some stuff from the week…Barbara Radnofsky was in Washington, DC, for a fundraiser/meet-n-greet with several Democratic Senators and Congress members. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison has the best poll numbers of any Texas politician, a huge campaign account … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Radnofsky gets a little help from her would-be future colleagues

The last days of Kaplan’s-Ben Hur

Posted on November 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The closing of Heights landmark Kaplan’s-Ben Hur continues to generate stories of reminiscence. Martin Kaplan has thrived on maintaining personal contact with his customers, staying out on the floor each day. The office work he must do is reserved for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

How “Lost” reinvented television

Posted on November 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Since I never get tired of blogging about Lost, let me finally point out this piece in the Statesman about my favorite show. “Lost” creators J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof started by plotting a “mythological roadmap” that answered the show’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 4 Comments

Walking to San Antonio: The veterans have arrived

Posted on November 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Now with an official escort by the SAPD and representatives of Mayor Phil Hardberger’s office, the band of veterans from South Texas have arrived at the Alamo, thus completing their journey. They succeeded at bringing attention to their cause, now … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 1 Comment

Mike Krusee loses big at home on the propositions

Posted on November 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Mike Krusee was a big proponent of Propositions 1, 3, and 9, all three of which he authored or sponsored. So what does it mean then when one learns that all three were rejected by Williamson County, his … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 1 Comment

Veterans for Harrell, Harris for veterans

Posted on November 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Mary Beth Harrell, for whom Veterans’ Day is a “family affair” in her home – she is married to a retired Army warrant officer, and she has two sons on active duty – just picked up a nice endorsement from … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

The missed misdemeanor

Posted on November 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The WaPo has a fascinating story today about the monthlong dance between Tom DeLay and Ronnie Earle that almost led to a misdemeanor plea on DeLay’s part but instead wound up with the felony indictments against him. A key question … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

Walking to San Antonio: Got a permit for that?

Posted on November 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The story of State Rep. Aaron Pena and the band of veterans who are walking from Edinburg to the Alamo to highlight the need for a VA hospital in South Texas took a bizarre turn earlier today. Around noon on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 1 Comment

The case for Ciro

Posted on November 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Andre Pineda has something to say about the upcoming Democratic primary in CD28: To all you Texas bloggers out there, I blame you. Between you and the San Antonio papers, you had me convinced that Richard Raymond was for real. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Texan of the Year

Posted on November 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

And now a note from PinkDome: What a long, strange trip it’s been. The Texas Bloggers have banded together to ask our readers to nominate a Texan for our very own blogger version of the mainstream media’s favorite attention grabber, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 6 Comments

Full speed ahead on THHSC privatization

Posted on November 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

As Greg says, you know the state’s plan to privatize the Texas Health and Human Services Commission is way out there when the federal government is publicly questioning its ability to deliver services to those who need them. Until this … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

More hearings for the Lottery commission

Posted on November 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

What the heck. It’s been a few months. Let’s have some more State House hearings on bad mojo at the Texas Lottery Commission. Texas Lottery officials were summoned Tuesday to testify before a legislative committee for the second time in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Jackpot! | Comments Off on More hearings for the Lottery commission

Appeals court upholds new trial for Andrea Yates

Posted on November 9, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Even the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals occasionally gets one right. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals today upheld a lower court’s ruling granting a new trial to Andrea Yates, the Clear Lake-area woman convicted of drowning her children in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 4 Comments

RIP, Gilley’s

Posted on November 9, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

It’s nice to know that the coldblooded destruction of local landmarks also happens outside the city of Houston. Today’s victim: Gilley’s. The one-time Saturday night rodeo hotspot is being torn down this week by Kingwood-based Inland Environment Inc. at the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 3 Comments

Election 2005: National results

Posted on November 9, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of good news for Democrats around the country. Both governorships that were up for grabs remained in Democratic hands, as Jon Corzine won easily in New Jersey and Tim Kaine completed his comeback win in Virginia. (Note to Rick … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 3 Comments