Monthly Archives: December 2005

Filing news: Miscellania

Posted on December 31, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Not a whole lot of filing news today. Matt reports that we have another Democratic contender for State Senate, an activist from Dripping Springs named Kathi Thomas, who filed yesterday to run against Sen. Jeff Wentworth in SD25, which covers … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 3 Comments

Filing news: More mixed signals from Strayhorn

Posted on December 31, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

What does it say about your campaign when this is a story? Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn’s campaign Friday declined to dismiss rumors that she will file Monday as an independent candidate for governor. Strayhorn spokesman Mark Sanders would not answer … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Filing news: More mixed signals from Strayhorn

The DeLay-Abramoff money trail

Posted on December 31, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Huge story in the WaPo tying together all kinds of monetary threads between Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay. I’ll quote a bit, but you really have to read the whole thing to understand it. The U.S. Family Network, a public … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

Harry Potter is good for you

Posted on December 31, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I love stories like this: Scientists say Harry Potter can prevent broken bones Harry Potter may not yet be able to mend broken bones with a wave of his wand, but the pint-size wizard of book sales apparently has the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Comments Off on Harry Potter is good for you

Filing news: Stuff I forgot the first time

Posted on December 30, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The problem with doing these big accumulation posts is that it’s easy to forget some stuff. Fortunately, blog software makes publishing easy… Rumors are flying around the campaign of Carole Keeton “One Discombobulated Grandma” Strayhorn. Will she run as an … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 4 Comments

Filing news: Friday frenzy

Posted on December 30, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of filing news to report as we approach the January 2 deadline. Let’s get started… Celebrity has its privilege, as radio personality Dan Patrick’s filing for SD07 rates a fairly sizable Chron story. He’s off the air until he … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Filing news: Friday frenzy

Juror pay raise

Posted on December 30, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Starting next week, you’re going to need a reason other than crappy pay to weasel out of jury duty. Texas will no longer be among the stingiest states when it comes to pay for jury duty, raising the $6-a-day rate … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 5 Comments

Clinic expansion in South Texas

Posted on December 30, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

You may recall the 250-mile march that State Rep. Aaron Pena and a bunch of veterans from the Rio Grande Valley took in November to highlight the need for a real VA hospital in South Texas. It’s not quite what … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 1 Comment

Filing news: Piling on in CD22

Posted on December 29, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

And then there were three challengers in the GOP primary against Tom DeLay for CD22. Thomas A. Campbell, who specializes in environmental law, is the third Republican challenger to take on DeLay, who has held the post since 1985. Campbell … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

On the radio tonight

Posted on December 29, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I will be a guest on Sean-Paul “The Agonist” Kelly’s radio show tonight from 7:30 to 8:00 PM. The broadcast is on San Antonio’s KTSA, which is 550 on the AM dial, or you can click the link and listen … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | 7 Comments

Two cents on the Texans

Posted on December 29, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t follow the Texans very closely. I found myself becoming an Oilers fan back in the 90s, and though my relationship with that team doesn’t go back nearly as deeply as it does for many people, I was bitter … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 4 Comments

Get back to me in a week

Posted on December 28, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The ongoing DeLay appeals process keeps on going as the Court of Criminal Appeals has given Travis County DA Ronnie Earle one week to respond to the motion to dismiss the indictments. The state’s highest criminal court has given Travis … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Get back to me in a week

Causey’s plea

Posted on December 28, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

And the deal for Rick Causey is five to seven years in the clink in return for “cooperation” against Skilling and Kenny Boy. Causey pleaded guilty to securities fraud during a re-arraignment hearing before Judge Sim Lake today. The plea … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Causey’s plea

Identity theft protection

Posted on December 28, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The good news is that there’s momentum in Congress for federal legislation to protect consumers when their personal data is stolen from brokers like ChoicePoint. The bad news is that this new law may well be weaker than current state … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 4 Comments

Causey to take plea agreement

Posted on December 28, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

At 2 PM today, former Enron chief accountant Rick Causey will take a plea rather than go to trial. It wasn’t known what the exact terms will be but the deal includes cooperating with the government — which may include … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | 1 Comment

Rowling about to embark on Book Seven

Posted on December 28, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

JK Rowling will begin work on the last Harry Potter novel on January 15. 2006 will be the year when I write the final book in the Harry Potter series. I contemplate the task with mingled feelings of excitement and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Books | 3 Comments

Psst…Wanna buy a used rollercoaster?

Posted on December 27, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I feel it is my duty to inform you that much of AstroWorld is for sale via auction, with bidding to take place January 6-8 starting at 9 AM Friday at the now-former park’s Kirby Drive location. What you might … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

Music industry turmoil watch

Posted on December 27, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Couple of interesting articles about the state of the music industry and how some people are looking for new ways to do business in it. First, from the Chron, this piece on all-digital record labels. In 1978, Devo frontman Gerald … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Music industry turmoil watch

Filing news: Two more for SD18

Posted on December 27, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The Republican field for the now-open SD18 seat has gotten more crowded as State Rep. Glenn Hegar of Katy and a veterinarian from Wharton named Dwight King have jumped in. Here’s the Chron on Hegar: Hegar, a rice and corn … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Filing news: Two more for SD18

The Year of Blogging Dangerously

Posted on December 27, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

It may be a little early for year-end wrapup stuff, but the National Journal’s William Beutler has one anyway that was worth the read. Check it out. Or, alternately, go read who won the first annual Kippie Awards. That one … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 1 Comment

Making the case for Blyleven

Posted on December 27, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

If you’ve read this site for awhile, you know that I firmly believe that Bert Blyleven belongs in the Hall of Fame. His vote total has crept steadily upwards every year, but he’s still only a bit closer than halfway … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on Making the case for Blyleven

Justice denied

Posted on December 26, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I’m going to join with Tom here in a little Richard Justice-bashing for his lame column today. If people keep reminding Tim Purpura he has been on the job 14 months without acquiring a player of consequence, he’s going to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 5 Comments

Where will we put all the people?

Posted on December 26, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I like a good article about the future of growth in Harris County as much as the next guy, but I’m a little bugged by this one. I’ll tell you why after the usual excerpt: Over the next 30 years, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 6 Comments

It’s still Christmastime for polluters

Posted on December 26, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Why is it that polluters have such an easy time of it? They can always count on a little help from their friends in the Legislature. The majority of Houston-area lawmakers in the Texas House voted against legislation intended to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

A plea for Causey?

Posted on December 26, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Hope everyone who celebrated Christmas yesterday had a good one. The one piece of news from the day was this story about former Enron chief accounting officer Rick Causey talking to the feds about possibly taking a plea. Causey has … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | 2 Comments

Need a little Christmas?

Posted on December 25, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Haul Out The Holly Put up the tree before my spirit falls again Fill up the stocking but deck the halls now For we need a little christmas right this very minute Candles in the window Carols at the spinet … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 8 Comments

So long, Foley’s

Posted on December 25, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday was your last chance to shop at Foley’s. The fact that Foley’s will become Macy’s in the fall of next year means little to some people. Others might even welcome it, being able to shop in familiar stores with … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | 3 Comments

Once again, Merry Christmas, Mel Torme

Posted on December 24, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Every year around this time, I link to my favorite Christmas story, featuring Mark Evanier and Mel Torme. I do it because every year it’s worth reading again. Check it out and see for yourself why. Continue reading →

Posted in Websurfing | 2 Comments

It’s always Christmastime for polluters

Posted on December 24, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention, also known as GHASP, has something to tell you. From their press release: When chemical plants and refineries violate air pollution regulations, they can count on light fines from Texas environmental officials, according to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

Banking on bridge

Posted on December 24, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Take that, poker! Poker may be all the rage with junior high school kids, but the two richest men in the country are betting a million dollars they have a better card game to offer young people: bridge. That’s contract … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 3 Comments

Choose one channel from column A and one from column B

Posted on December 23, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been meaning to write about all the recent news about “family-friendly” cable packages and a renewed push for “a la carte” pricing since I first saw a couple of articles on the subject in the Chron awhile back, but … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | 5 Comments

Orlando Sanchez on the comeback trail

Posted on December 23, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

You heard it here first, and now Kristin Mack confirms it: Two-time Mayoral loser Out Of Town Orlando Sanchez is aiming for the County Treasurer job in 2006. The job is strictly administrative and carries no real power. The county … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 8 Comments

Wanted: Public partner

Posted on December 23, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The Houston To-Be-Determineds of MLS are officially looking for that special someone to help them build their dream stadium. The Anschutz Entertainment Group, owner of the team relocating from San Jose, Calif., would share a new stadium with Houston high … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 2 Comments

What exactly is the Strayhorn campaign up to?

Posted on December 22, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

PerryVsWorld is right: This story is getting stranger by the day. The story sounded familiar to Bexar County Commissioner Lyle Larson. A top aide to Republican gubernatorial hopeful Carole Keeton Strayhorn calls the wife of Democratic hopeful Chris Bell last … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment