Monthly Archives: January 2006

Sixty-five percent of nothing is still nothing

Posted on January 31, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Eye on Williamson beat me to the analysis of this article on the pointless sixty–five percent rule, but there are a couple of things I’d like to add. Standard & Poor’s analyzed data in Texas and eight other states considering … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 6 Comments

RIP, Coretta Scott King

Posted on January 31, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Coretta Scott King, widow of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr, has died at the age of 78. “We appreciate the prayers and condolences from people across the country,” the King family said in a statement. The family said she … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 2 Comments

Eat ’em up, Republicans

Posted on January 31, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Nothing like a hearty diet of eating your own, as the Quorum Report describes. For months now, rumors have swirled around the capital that operatives of Dr. James Leininger were recruiting primary opponents for House voucher opponents, specifically Carter Casteel, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Eat ’em up, Republicans

Koufax awards for 2005

Posted on January 31, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been remiss in noting that the nominations for the 2005 Koufax Awards are rolling out over at Wampum. This year, they’re starting with the comments closed, to give everyone time to check out as many of the nominees as … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 3 Comments

Raising taxes on college students

Posted on January 31, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Rep. Chet Edwards has some bad news for college students and their parents: A massive cut in student financial aid is buried in a reconciliation bill that could be voted on in the House as soon as Wednesday. Take a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Raising taxes on college students

How not to settle the Bagwell situation

Posted on January 31, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I have to agree with Tom – this column by Richard Justice about how Drayton McLane and Jeff Bagwell should settle their differences is just plain ignorant. I mean, among other things, a little thing called the Collective Bargaining Agreement … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on How not to settle the Bagwell situation

Kenny Boy on trial: And so it begins

Posted on January 30, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Jury selection for the trials of Kenny Boy Lay and Jeff Skilling is underway, and if Judge Sim Lake has his way, it’ll be all over today as well. Here‘s some background on the process. The Chron is gearing up … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Kenny Boy on trial: And so it begins

More toll road resistance in San Antonio

Posted on January 30, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve written several times about the issue of toll roads, and the passionate resistance their implementation has spawned. I believe, and I continue to believe, that it’s an issue that will change how people vote this fall. I don’t know … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

More on the Intermodal Transit Center

Posted on January 30, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Christof follows up on the announcement of a potential Intermodal Transit Center north of downtown by speculating on what it might end up looking like. Having read the forum discussion, I think doing this in pieces makes a fair amount … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on More on the Intermodal Transit Center

Report from the Juan Garcia campaign kickoff

Posted on January 30, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The Red State has a report from the Juan Garcia campaign kickoff rally in Corpus Christi, with Gen. Wes Clark and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bob Gammage in attendance. So were a couple of prominent local Republicans, though I daresay their … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Report from the Juan Garcia campaign kickoff

Snapper and Wal-Mart

Posted on January 30, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Fascinating article about Snapper lawnmowers, and the reasons why they pulled their products from the shelves at Wal-Mart. Definitely worth the read. Link via RC3. Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | 2 Comments

Ballot battles resolved

Posted on January 29, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

A number of lawsuits by various candidates who were knocked off of primary ballots were resolved in recent days. In Austin, former State Rep. Terry Keel will not enter the Court of Criminal Appeals on a TKO, as the Texas … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Ballot battles resolved

A few more words about Uncle Ken

Posted on January 29, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

First, I’d like to thank everyone for the kind words of condolence that I’ve received in the comments, email, and by phone. I really appreciate it. Having the whole family in town was a great comfort for all of us. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 6 Comments

RIP, Kenneth Edwin Kuffner, Sr

Posted on January 28, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

My uncle Ken passed away unexpectedly this week. Pretty much the whole extended family is in town for the funeral, which was today. I’m a little wrung out from helping people make travel and hotel arrangements and from picking people … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 14 Comments

The state of the city 2006

Posted on January 27, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor White gave his State of the City address yesterday. Tory was there, and he has some of the highlights. The Chron also has an audio link for the speech, so you can hear the whole thing yourself. Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on The state of the city 2006

Who’s your donor?

Posted on January 27, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The anti-DeLay TV ads get another day in the news cycle, but not in a way that I’d have preferred. The Public Campaign Action Fund and the Campaign for America’s Future said they used the nonprofit arms of their organizations … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

Strayhorn to audit the Cassidy Group contract

Posted on January 27, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Though I may be annoyed at how much Carole Keeton Strayhorn has bamboozled certain segments of the Democratic Party lately, I will not deny that she does have her uses. Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, responding to a report in the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Strayhorn to audit the Cassidy Group contract

A profile of Kathi Thomas in SD25

Posted on January 27, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Just Another Matt introduces us to Kathi Thomas, who is running as a Democrat against State Sen. Jeff Wentworth in SD25. Matt promises a further entry later on her stances. Check it out. UPDATE: Here’s part 2, on Kathi Thomas’ … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on A profile of Kathi Thomas in SD25

Bentzin’s flop

Posted on January 27, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The date for the HD48 special election runoff is February 14, with early voting beginning on February 6. Democrats are united behind Donna Howard. If you want to know more about how badly Ben Bentzin did in the initial race, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Bentzin’s flop

Looking for equivalence in all the wrong places

Posted on January 26, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Where your tax dollars are going, thanks to the benificence of Governor Perry. Two weeks after the state made its first $15,000 monthly payment to a contract lobbyist in Washington, D.C., the lobbyist and his firm spent $7,600 to host … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 2 Comments

Interviews with Madla and Uresti

Posted on January 26, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Philip Martin keeps up his string of candidate interviews by getting answers from Frank Madla and Carlos Uresti for the SD19 primary. It’s good stuff, so check it out. Folks have had a little fun at Madla’s expense recently, so … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Interviews with Madla and Uresti

Bye-bye, Bagwell?

Posted on January 26, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Not really much to say about the Jeff Bagwell saga, in which the team is attempting to claim he’s physically unable to play in 2006 and thus claim over 90% of the $17 million salary he’s owed from their insurance … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 5 Comments

Houston Pavilions

Posted on January 26, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve noted before the development of a downtown park/retail/entertainment area, to be called Houston Pavilions. The Chron now reports that it will contain a big music venue as a key component. A proposed $200 million real estate project near the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

How blog activism is supposed to work

Posted on January 26, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

From an anonymous comment on a blog post to hooking up a person in need of assistance with an expert in the field, all in under 24 hours. That’s blog activism in its idealized state. Read how it happened at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 13 Comments

The school finance machinery starts grinding

Posted on January 25, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Eye on Williamson has been doing a great job following all the school finance news. Check out this post on what the upcoming special session won’t fix, and this one on the first meeting of the Senate Select Committee on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 4 Comments

Lawsuit filed over highway noise

Posted on January 25, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

If you’re in Houston, you’ve surely seen the massive, high-in-the-sky expansion to the I-10/Loop 610 interchanges. A lawsuit has now been filed by activists who say that the design of these interchanges does not follow federal laws to abate road … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Lawsuit filed over highway noise

Houston 1836

Posted on January 25, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The new Houston MLS franchise has a name. How does Houston 1836 grab you? No, it’s not a spinoff of Beverly Hills 90210. For better or worse, it really is the name chosen for the city’s Major League Soccer team. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 27 Comments

Bell hits Strayhorn on vouchers

Posted on January 25, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Since 2000, James Leininger, a major donor of the voucher movement, has made four contributions to Mrs. Strayhorn totaling $100,000. In addition, he secured a loan of $950,000 to then-Carole Keeton Rylander’s first campaign for comptroller. In return, she … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 3 Comments

Gammage gets endorsements

Posted on January 25, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bob Gammage picked up his first major endorsement on Monday, from House Democratic Caucus Chair Jim Dunnam. He trails Chris Bell by a wide margin in that department, but this is a nice one to have. More … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Gammage gets endorsements

“DeLay’s Last Disciple”

Posted on January 25, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Mary Beth Harrell gives the latest edition of the run against Tom DeLay chronicles with her current Kos diary. I wish we had some better data on DeLay’s name recognition and approval ratings in districts like CD31, but at least … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on “DeLay’s Last Disciple”

Keep that trial right here

Posted on January 24, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The Skilling/Lay trial will stay right here in Houston. As expected, U.S. District Judge Sim Lake ordered late Monday that the request from ex-Enron chairman Ken Lay and ex-CEO Jeff Skilling to move the case be denied. The pair face … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | 1 Comment

Toll road selloff madness spreads to Austin

Posted on January 24, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Late last year, the Harris County Commissioners’ Court got the bright idea to consider selling off its toll road system to a private operator (see here and here for more). Apparently, the folks up in Travis County now think that’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 6 Comments

Another setback for BlackBerry

Posted on January 24, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I haven’t previously blogged about the patent-infringement lawsuit against Canada’s Research In Motion, Ltd, the makers of BlackBerry handhelds and servers, but since I administer a BlackBerry infrastructure in real life, seeing stories like this always makes me clench my … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Comments Off on Another setback for BlackBerry

Network neutrality

Posted on January 24, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Do you know what network neutrality is, and and how a change from that policy could affect the operation of the Internet? Read about it and keep an eye on it in the future. It looks unclear at this time … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 1 Comment