Monthly Archives: December 2006

Culberson and Metro, the next generation

Posted on December 24, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

OK, so now we know what the proposed routes are for the Universities line. I’ll leave it to Christof and Tory to discuss the merits of each possibility, as they pretty much cover all the relevant points. We also now … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 4 Comments

Last appeal in DeLay case to be heard in January

Posted on December 24, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Among other things that the new year will bring is the long-awaited trial in Travis County of Tom DeLay on conspiracy and money laundering charges. Back in September, the Court of Criminal Appeals agreed to hear Travis County DA Ronnie … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Last appeal in DeLay case to be heard in January

Get well soon, Rep. Lampson

Posted on December 24, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

My best wishes to Rep. Nick Lampson as he recovers from his recent angioplasty. “He’s doing great – laughing and joking about getting out of Christmas shopping,” said Lampson family friend Dave Matthiesen, a Houston-based lawyer who visited with Lampson … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Get well soon, Rep. Lampson

RIP, The Stables

Posted on December 23, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Note: I drafted this before I left on Thursday so I’d have something interesting to post that wouldn’t take much time to do. I’ve mentioned that I work near Reliant Stadium. I drive past The Stables steak house frequently. Years … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 1 Comment

Readers’ choice

Posted on December 23, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The Capitol Annex Readers’ Choice Awards for 2006 are up. Thank you very much to everyone who voted for me as Best Blog. It’s an honor and a pleasure to win in that category – there’s quite a bit of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Readers’ choice

Back from New Orleans

Posted on December 23, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’m back from New Orleans. The game could have gone better, but we all had fun, our performance was well-received, and we can now talk about the next time we go to a bowl game without sounding silly. I’ll be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Comments Off on Back from New Orleans

The proposed routes

Posted on December 22, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve got just a few minutes on a hotel computer, so I just want to quickly note this Chron story about the proposed routes for the Universities line. I’ll have stuff to say about it later. For now, talk amongst … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

Going to New Orleans

Posted on December 21, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’m off to the bowl game. I’ll be back on Saturday. A guest blogger or two may or may not pop up in the interim. Be sure to watch the game tomorrow night (7 PM Central time) on ESPN2 – … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 1 Comment

Robinson Warehouse – Looking in the basement

Posted on December 21, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I usually start these posts with a long-view perspective of the whole demolition, but I thought this time I’d show a closer view, where you can see more of the basement. I got right up to the edge of the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Robinson Warehouse – Looking in the basement

More Saint Arnold’s coverage

Posted on December 21, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The Saint Arnold Goes To Austin blog has the latest roundup of blog and mainstream media coverage of the microbrewery legislative project. I have to say, I’ve been very pleased with the attention this effort has gotten so far. It’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on More Saint Arnold’s coverage

Making it easier to be a tourist

Posted on December 21, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Tory writes about Galveston’s image problems and the effects on its tourist industry. He branches off from there into a discussion on how to make it easier to be a tourist in Houston and take advantage of the stuff outside … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

The case for extended warranties

Posted on December 21, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Recently, Kos wrote about what a bad deal extended warranties are for just about all products. I confess, when I was young and stupid, I bought a few extended warranties. Never used them, of course – I doubt I could … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | 2 Comments

New blogs on the block

Posted on December 20, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Via Miya (it sounds funny to say that, but there you go), I see that U of Saint Thomas poli sci profs Jon Taylor and Michelle Carnahan have a blog. There’s certainly room in the ecosystem for more Texas-focused blogging … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on New blogs on the block

And once again, the gambling industry rears its head

Posted on December 20, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

You know, the libertarian in me is perfectly willing to accept an expansion of legalized gambling in Texas. As with many other potentially pleasurable but not really good for you things, it’s hard to make a case for banning or … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Grandma got run over by an inflatable reindeer

Posted on December 20, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Fighting Jay Lee (none more surly than he) notes the curious recent phenomenon of inflatable Christmas decorations in people’s front yards. I find them to be more of an amusement than a heresy, but I can certainly understand why one … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 2 Comments

Two last voting opportunities

Posted on December 20, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Voting closes tonight at midnight for the Capitol Annex Reader’s Choice Awards. This time, there are finalists to select. Go help Vince pick out the best and worst of 2006. The actual vote link is here. And for the really … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Websurfing | Comments Off on Two last voting opportunities

It’s a…well, you know

Posted on December 20, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

That’s what they want you to think! It was the invisible hand of the market, not a magic bullet, that closed the Conspiracy Museum in Dallas. At the end of the month, this repository of controversial theories will vacate the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 3 Comments

Where will you get the guards for those jails?

Posted on December 20, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Grits follows up his previous bloggage on the current push to build more jails, which some of us razz while others cheer, with a basic question: Who will staff these new prisons and jails? The state is chronically 3,000 guards … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Rice bowl game update

Posted on December 20, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

According to MK Bower, the Rice Owls have sold 6800 tickets to the New Orleans Bowl. Considering that’s about three times the size of the undergraduate student body, I’d say that’s not too shabby. Rice’s bowl ticket sales (as of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Comments Off on Rice bowl game update

Bagwell’s case for the Hall of Fame

Posted on December 20, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I had mentioned before that I was curious to see how Jeff Bagwell stacked up in Jay Jaffe’s rating system for the Hall of Fame. Well, here’s my answer. Short answer: Bags does even better than I thought, and I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on Bagwell’s case for the Hall of Fame

I finally own an iPod

Posted on December 19, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Dwight will be so pleased to hear that I’ve finally entered the 21st century… Believe it or not, I received an iPod Nano as part of a Christmas gift package at work. Just in time for my trip to New … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 3 Comments

CD29 results thread

Posted on December 19, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’m following the CD29 results here. The folks who are embedded with the DiNovo campaign are doing the same here and here. With all of Matagorda and about half of Brazoria in, the standings are here, and K-T’s assessment at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on CD29 results thread

Are you ready for some more Universities Line jousting?

Posted on December 19, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

From my inbox, the METRO Solutions NewsFlash Vol. I, No. 31, dated last night: This Thursday (December 21) at the regular meeting of METRO’s Board of Directors there will be an agenda item regarding University Corridor. The item refers to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

HD29 special election today

Posted on December 19, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Today is the day for the last election of 2006, the special election in HD29 to fill the seat of the late Rep. Glenda Dawson. I’ve got a writeup on it over at Kuff’s World, and to that I’ll add … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on HD29 special election today

The original George W

Posted on December 19, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

One of Tiffany’s great-uncles is Tony Gullo. The extended Gullo family has an annual Christmas party hosted by one of the siblings, and this year it was Tony’s turn. The shindig was at their home out near Magnolia. They have … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on The original George W

Toll road cameras

Posted on December 19, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Smile for the toll road cameras! The Harris County Toll Road Authority is nabbing drivers who owe thousands of dollars in tolls using a new technology that signals when repeat offenders enter the tollway. Cameras stationed at busy toll lanes … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 3 Comments

Project Bridge the Gap

Posted on December 19, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, Texas Democrats made numerous gains in this election cycle – in Congress, in the State House, in counties like Hays and Dallas, and so on. While there’s much to be happy about in these results, there’s much … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Project Bridge the Gap

Vouchers for autistic children proposed

Posted on December 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’m going to have to give some serious thought to Sen. Florence Shapiro’s proposal to give parents of autistic children vouchers to pay for specialized early-intervention education for them. On the merits, this makes a lot of sense. This is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 5 Comments

A matter of priorities

Posted on December 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

This is a nice story about the efforts of San Antonio to buy land in the surrounding areas as a means of maintaining a sufficient recharge zone for the Edwards Aquifer. Everything about this, from the way it got approved … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 2 Comments

Zoning? In Houston?

Posted on December 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

OK, who besides me saw today’s front page story about St. George Place and said something like “Huh, I had no idea that there was anything called ‘zoning’ anywhere in Houston”? The neighborhood is home to the first of Houston’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 4 Comments

No love from the National Journal

Posted on December 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Last Thursday, I blogged about how the National Journal twice quoted an incorrect assertion that Tom DeLay’s 2003 re-redistricting netted the GOP a mere two seats. PerryVsWorld has also blogged about this – though I disagree about his assessment of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on No love from the National Journal

How they spend their campaign cash

Posted on December 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Following in the footsteps of Bay Area Houston and The Muse, who have both put a ton of time and effort into this, the Dallas Morning News takes a look at how our state legislators spend their campaign cash. A … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on How they spend their campaign cash

New rules in Austin, but no effect on Northcross

Posted on December 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Late last week, the Austin City Council approved new rules for big-box store development, but did not apply them to the Northcross Mall site. The rules will require the city to notify more neighbors of proposed large stores and have … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | 3 Comments

Le Wi-Fi, oui oui

Posted on December 17, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Add the city of Paris to the municipal Wi-Fi revolution. If Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe has his way, free wireless Internet soon will be in public places throughout the city – including the cafe haunts on the Left Bank where … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | 2 Comments