Monthly Archives: February 2006

Double jeopardy for Andrea Yates?

Posted on February 23, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Andrea Yates’ attorney is alleging prosecutorial misconduct in the matter of Park Dietz’s bogus testimony. In court papers filed Monday, attorney George Parnham said prosecutors in her original trial were reckless, if not intentionally misleading, when they used testimony they … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 8 Comments

Cuellar’s consultants

Posted on February 23, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The United Steel Workers union is publicly calling on Rep. Henry Cuellar’s campaign consultants to disavow him. No stones are being left unturned here, that’s for sure. Ciro Rodriguez has raised something like $270K from netroots and other sources since … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Whose port is it anyway?

Posted on February 23, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the news of port security being handed to a company that’s fully owned by a foreign government. As Reed Hunt remarked, the UAE could not own a US television station, but port … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 2 Comments

Time for a little Olivia break

Posted on February 23, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

It’s been a little while since I’ve posted some pictures of Olivia, hasn’t it? Well, there’s no time like the present. Click the More link to see a couple of snaps my sister Kris took while in town to help … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 3 Comments

Roger Owen self-destructs

Posted on February 23, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Roger Owen, the gay-bashing candidate for CD01, had himself a little meltdown at meeting on Tuesday at the Gregg County Democratic Party’s headquarters. Patrick Franklin, the Democratic candidate for HD07 and the target of Owen’s misplaced ire, has the details. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

TxDOT responds to evacuation task force report

Posted on February 22, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

In response to the release of the report by the Governor’s task force on hurricane evacuations, TxDOT says it’s already doing a lot of the things it’s been called upon to do. Janelle Gbur, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 1 Comment

The mysterious budget

Posted on February 22, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The more we learn about what happened with those unauthorized bonuses to staffers in the Mayor Pro Tem’s office, the less we seem to know about how it all happened. The city office where four employees received unauthorized bonuses saw … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on The mysterious budget

Elyse Lanier, Port Authority commissioner

Posted on February 22, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Umm, okay. Elyse Lanier, the city’s former first lady and an unabashed booster of Houston, was appointed today as a commissioner on the Port Authority of Houston. Lanier replaces Cheryl Thompson-Draper, who resigned last month after being accused of uttering … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 5 Comments

Go local with PLAN

Posted on February 22, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Via Kevin Drum, progressives now have a new resource for helping good bills get through state legislatures. It’s called the Progressive Legislative Action Network, and it was inspired by a conservative outfit called the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). You … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Go local with PLAN

We’ll always have Shipley’s

Posted on February 22, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

As a regular eater of their product, I meant to link to this story about Shipley’s Donuts’ 70th anniversary earlier, but fortunately Lair and Houstonist were on task. Don’t really have much to add to it other than of late … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 6 Comments

Sosa out, Bonds going

Posted on February 22, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

So it looks like Sammy Sosa will be retiring, now that he rejected the Nationals’ lowball contract offer. Sosa’s production fell off a cliff last season, so perhaps this was a propitious time for him to hang ’em up. Unfortunately … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 1 Comment

More endorsements and one non-endorsement

Posted on February 21, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

If my endorsements for the Democratic primary weren’t enough for you, there’s plenty more where that came from: See Vince, Perry, Stace, Eddie, and Greg and get your fill. On further reflection, I want to add some recommendations for races … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 5 Comments

Hurricane Task Force recommendations

Posted on February 21, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Governor Perry’s task force on What We Learned From Those Nasty Hurricanes Last Year has presented its recommendations. Texas can best manage future disasters by vesting the governor with the power to order mandatory evacuations, a task force recommended Monday. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 5 Comments

Leininger’s lineup

Posted on February 21, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

As we enter the voting part of primary season, it’s good to see some coverage around the state of Republican moneybags James Leininger and his attempt to install five sycophants into the Lege. The stakes involved in his almost seven-figure … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

My endorsements for the Dem primary

Posted on February 21, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I think most of these are easily knowable by my regular blogging, but just for the record, here are my endorsements for Democratic primary elections in Harris County. Only contested races are included here. Senator – Barbara Radnofsky Governor – … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Why bother?

Posted on February 20, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve complained many a time about the Chron’s piss-poor coverage of local races. Seeing the half-assed, apathetic stories they have today on the Senate and Congressional primaries does nothing to change my opinion of their efforts. Look at how little … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 9 Comments

RIP, Curt Gowdy

Posted on February 20, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Another great baseball broadcaster has called his last game. Curt Gowdy, whose distinctive baritone was the TV voice of the Red Sox for 15 years, died at his Florida home after a long battle with leukemia. He was 86. Gowdy … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 1 Comment

Interview with Garnet Coleman

Posted on February 20, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Garnet Coleman is the one member of the House Democratic leadership to face a reelection battle this year, as two challengers entered the Democratic primary for HD147 at the last minute. Coleman is one of the true good … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 5 Comments

Cookbook, please

Posted on February 20, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

First-time candidate for public office Larry Stallings has a request: Now is the time for some of those bright Trinity kids to actually write a cookbook on how to get elected in Texas – yes, a cookbook, a “take an … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 2 Comments

RFP for Houston WiFi network

Posted on February 20, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Via Dwight, the city of Houston has posted an RFP (which you can get in either Word or PDF format, and on which you can post a comment here) for a citywide WiFi network. It’ll be a public/private partnership like … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 1 Comment

Creating ringtones for fun and profit

Posted on February 19, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Speaking as one of those annoying people who uses the default sound on his cellphone, I’m slightly boggled to read that composing ringtones is big business. And now, anyone can do it! Ring tones are already big business, accounting for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 2 Comments

Non-Rasmussen poll numbers for TX-Gov

Posted on February 19, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

And for my birthday present, we got some poll numbers from the DMN. (All results are summarized here.) I’ll start with the highlights: If the November general election for governor were being held today and Chris Bell were the Democratic … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 5 Comments

The big four-oh

Posted on February 19, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Today is my 40th birthday. We had a little party to celebrate last night, and I think everyone had a good time. Before anyone asks, the answer is I feel great about hitting this milestone. If my 40s are to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 12 Comments

Alvarado says her signature was forged

Posted on February 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t have much to say about this story, in which Mayor Pro Tem Carol Alvarado says “that’s not my handwriting!” on forms authorizing those unauthorized bonuses. It’s still too early to say whether anyone other than those currently accused … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 12 Comments

Light posting this weekend

Posted on February 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve got family and friends in town this weekend for my birthday, so I’ll be spending a lot of time away from the computer. I’ll post some stuff, just not so much. I’d suggest we all go outside and enjoy … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 1 Comment

How much is that candidate in the window?

Posted on February 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve blogged before about uber voucher proponent James Leininger and his financing of likeminded candidates for the Lege, but I hadn’t realized until I read this Harvey Kronberg piece just how much control he exerts over them and their campaigns. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Add it up

Posted on February 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

It’s bad enough that people like Richard Cohen can proudly write about their own ignorance and have it pass as commentary. What’s worse is that I don’t think it’s ever occurred to Cohen how competence in mathematics could make him … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 1 Comment

I don’t even know how to title this one

Posted on February 17, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The headline pretty much says it all: Candidate worked as prostitute. [Tom Malin, a Dallas Democrat who is seeking election to the Texas House] acknowledged Thursday that he once worked as a prostitute. “I’ve made mistakes in my life, and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 5 Comments

Richmond rail meeting at METRO

Posted on February 17, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The METRO meeting to discuss the Universities rail line was very well attended. Some 350 people arrived in cars, buses and light rail trains Thursday to hear 28 of them advise the Metro board on whether its planned University line … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 5 Comments

Henry Cuellar, serial Bush hugger

Posted on February 17, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

It wasn’t just the 2006 State of the Union address where Henry Cuellar gave President Bush some sugar. The Lone Star Project has the video evidence. Of much greater concern than that is Cuellar’s support of the Minutemen. Let me … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 7 Comments

Why Howard won

Posted on February 17, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I like Philip Martin‘s postgame wrapup on the HD48 special election. Much of what he mentions is, I think, replicable in other races. And yes, Ben Bentzin’s ties to the DeLay machine certainly did him no favors. Dems will need … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Turn that camera off

Posted on February 16, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’m a little late to the party here (life is like that sometimes), but let me add my voice to those who are criticizing this bad idea from Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt. Surveillance cameras monitored by police could be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 2 Comments

Investigation at the Mayor Pro Tem’s office

Posted on February 16, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Nothing like allegations of unauthorized bonuses paid to City Hall staffers to shake things up downtown. Four employees in Houston City Councilwoman Carol Alvarado’s mayor pro tem office were placed on administrative leave today after city officials said “payroll irregularities” … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 4 Comments

TypeKey authentication working now

Posted on February 16, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Thanks to some excellent support from Movable Type, I believe I’ve gotten TypeKey authentication working. That means that as of now, if you sign in with a TypeKey ID, your comment will appear right away, with no wait for approval. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Administrivia | 2 Comments