Monthly Archives: January 2007

Todd Graham goes back to Tulsa

Posted on January 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Holy crap. Twelve months ago, Todd Graham stood before a roomful of players, administrators and supporters, and spoke of initiating a Rice renaissance. He presented a plan to revitalize the football program and then steadfastly set out to put that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Comments Off on Todd Graham goes back to Tulsa

Ron Paul for President

Posted on January 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like we might have an open seat race in CD14 in 2008. Ron Paul, the iconoclastic nine-term congressman from southeast Texas, took the first step Thursday toward launching a second presidential bid in 2008, this time as a Republican. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 4 Comments

Six Flags to sell Splashtown

Posted on January 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Astroworld is gone, and now Six Flags is dumping Splashtown, though its fate is new ownership rather than the wrecking ball. The company said the sale, which is expected to bring $312 million, is a part of its strategy to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Six Flags to sell Splashtown

Murcer’s tumor was malignant

Posted on January 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The surgery to remove a brain tumor went well for former Yankee Bobby Murcer, but his prognosis is still grim. The tumor that was removed from Bobby Murcer’s brain during surgery last month was malignant. “As we begin a new … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 1 Comment

Triggering

Posted on January 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Well, Senator Danno is making good on one of his campaign promises, for what it’s worth. Freshman Sen. Dan Patrick, the Republican talk-radio host from Houston, made the abortion ban the subject of his first bill, SB186, which he filed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Triggering

Radack v. Sanchez

Posted on January 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I remain skeptical that anything much will be done to eliminate the office of Harris County Treasurer now that it is inhabited by Orlando Sanchez instead of Richard Garcia, but County Commissioner Steve Radack is still giving it the old … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 4 Comments

Bob Perry donates to the West 11th Street Park effort

Posted on January 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Credit where credit is due. A $100,000 donation from Houston home builder Bob Perry on Wednesday raised boosters’ hopes that they can preserve all 20 acres of the West 11th Street Park. City Councilwoman Toni Lawrence, whose district includes the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Bob Perry donates to the West 11th Street Park effort

It’s official: We will have an election to replace Shelley

Posted on January 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I noted this on Kuff’s World yesterday, and today there’s a fuller story in the Chron. Giving up on efforts to delay the vote until November, Mayor Bill White on Thursday called a May 12 special election to fill the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 4 Comments

A few things about my iPod

Posted on January 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

OK, I’ve got the iPod. I’ve started ripping CDs and synching them to it. And I’m going to exercise my God-given right as a blogger to tell you all the things about it that I like and dislike. 1. The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 14 Comments

Robinson Warehouse – Clearing debris

Posted on January 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

When last we looked at the Robinson Warehouse, it was pretty much gone, with little more than one short wall and some debris remaining. I’d have thought by now that the little wall would quickly follow into oblivion, but not … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Robinson Warehouse – Clearing debris

“They paved paradise”

Posted on January 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I drove past the now-defunct Stables restuarant the other day and saw that one of their last acts while still in business was to change their marquee: I know how you feel, pal, I know how you feel. While the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 3 Comments

Mario Gallegos

Posted on January 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

At the end of this story about Sen. Dan Patrick’s solo performance is a bit about Sen. Mario Gallegos, who was named President Pro Tem of the Senate. Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, lauded the ailing Gallegos for undergoing rehabilitation for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Mario Gallegos

On the bright side

Posted on January 10, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

We may still have Speaker Craddick, but as of noon yesterday, we no longer have this: Bye-bye, Martha. Enjoy your retirement. I know I will. I’ll be curious to see how long the signs stay up (that one’s on Richmond … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 5 Comments

Time to start making lemonade

Posted on January 10, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

So the Speaker’s race is over, and it didn’t go the way I hoped. These things happen, and I can’t really say that this was an unexpected result. I had hope, but it was always going to be tough. Now … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

Kids’ music

Posted on January 10, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I’d been kicking around a post on kids’ music in my mind for a couple of days now, since by necessity I hear a lot of it these days. The good news, as noted in this Chron article, is that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 5 Comments

Email from beyond the grave

Posted on January 10, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve read before about services like this, mostly in the context of storing one’s various account passwords in a single place that will be convenient for family members to access after one’s demise. I think I know how to get … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on Email from beyond the grave

EarthLink to do San Francisco’s WiFi

Posted on January 10, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

EarthLink is it in San Francisco. EarthLink Municipal Networks, one of the finalists to provide citywide wireless Internet in Houston, has reached an agreement with the city of San Francisco to build a network there and offer free access to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 3 Comments

City buys West 11th Street Park

Posted on January 10, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Great news. The city of Houston formally agreed Monday to purchase and preserve the West 11th Street Park, a 20-acre wooded enclave in northwest Houston coveted by developers, but the park may lose as much as a fourth of its … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

The reason why parents get gray hairs

Posted on January 10, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

On the one hand, I’m glad that both my children will be girls, because I won’t have to worry about stuff like this. On the other hand, I’m not happy that both my children will be girls, because I will … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 3 Comments

Dunnam statement on Speaker’s race

Posted on January 9, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I’m taking a little break from all things Speaker’s race to get myself coherent again and to post some other stuff that’s built up. I’ll have things to say later, and if you just can’t wait then click on some … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Dunnam statement on Speaker’s race

Craddick wins

Posted on January 9, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I wonder what the record is for longest Speaker’s vote in the House is… The story so far: Basically, the Geren compromise, which would have involved written votes for Speaker that were kept under wraps until after committee assignments were … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 4 Comments

Dan Patrick: One of a kind

Posted on January 9, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

We interrupt the news of the Speaker’s race to bring you this. No surprise, but Republican freshman Sen. Dan Patrick of Houston lost his first battle on his first day. You could say it was rather decisive. Patrick was the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 3 Comments

And they’re off and stalling

Posted on January 9, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

It’s been nearly two hours and we don’t have a Speaker yet. If you want to follow the action but don’t want to stream the video, let me point you to the following: BOR Chron blog Statesman blog The Texas … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on And they’re off and stalling

Hall of Fame vote is today

Posted on January 9, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The other high-profile public election in which trying to understand the way some of the voters think is enough to drive you to crystal meth happens today as well. I’m talking about the baseball Hall of Fame ballot, and in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 1 Comment

Koufax nominations for 2006 are now open

Posted on January 9, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The initial round of nominations for the 2006 Koufax Awards has begun. If you need a review of what the Koufax Awards are all about, go here. And as always, if you want to help the fine folks at Wampum … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Koufax nominations for 2006 are now open

Today we’ll have a Speaker

Posted on January 9, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

One way or the other, today we’ll know who the Speaker is. A bitter fight is expected on the Texas House floor today as two conservative Republicans battle for last-minute votes to become the next speaker. Incumbent Tom Craddick and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

YouTubing the Old Sixth Ward

Posted on January 9, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

This is very clever. Leaders of one of Houston’s oldest neighborhoods, developed long before cars, paved roads or utility poles became part of the urban landscape, are using 21st century technology in their struggle to preserve a dwindling number of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

The Kirby construction mural

Posted on January 9, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

You’ve probably noticed the temporary open spaces on Kirby between Alabama and Westheimer, where a number of buildings including the old Page Parkes building, the Fire and Ice restaurant that was once the Hard Rock Cafe, and Jalapeno’s Restaurant, have … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on The Kirby construction mural

YouTubing the Speaker’s race

Posted on January 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

If you want to get a rough idea of who’s currently on Team Craddick, watch the videos, whose origin were the subject of so much speculation. How many people were there is subject to some dispute. It looks like the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on YouTubing the Speaker’s race

Why do (dead) birds suddenly appear/Every time you are near?

Posted on January 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Anybody else think this is a metaphor of sorts for the Speaker’s race? Police shut down 10 blocks of businesses in the heart of downtown Austin early today after dozens of birds were found dead. Emergency workers donned yellow hazardous-material … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Combs’ first revenue estimate expected today

Posted on January 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Susan Combs will take her first meaningful action as State Comptroller today when she releases the revenue forecast for the next biennium later today. “The numbers we put out on Monday will be the dollar numbers the Legislature can spend … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Combs’ first revenue estimate expected today

The first sign of a successful program: Coach poaching

Posted on January 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

We all knew this was a matter of time, though I think we all hoped it would be a matter of a little bit more time than this: Rice offensive coordinator Major Applewhite has been contacted by Alabama about a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 2 Comments

Selling magazines

Posted on January 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Have you ever had your door knocked by a kid selling magazine subscriptions as part of a contest? I have, and I’d never given it much thought beyond the vague guilt I felt for sending them away empty-handed. After reading … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | 4 Comments

CD death watch: Car stereos

Posted on January 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Another step on the CD death march: New cars are starting to come with stereos that don’t have CD players. CD players in automobiles could be sent the way of eight-track tapes by in-dash systems such as one Ford and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 2 Comments