Monthly Archives: June 2007

“Draft Rick” in the Observer

Posted on June 30, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Observer blog writes about the Draft Rick Noriega movement, including a few quotes from yours truly. Hopefully, this will turn into a full-length piece for the print publication. Regardless, it’s good stuff, so check it out. Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on “Draft Rick” in the Observer

No diapers!

Posted on June 30, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I could have lived without knowing this. Her attorney wants to get something straight — former astronaut Lisa Nowak did not wear diapers to avoid bathroom breaks as she drove some 960 miles from Houston to Orlando to confront her … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 1 Comment

Time flies like an arrow

Posted on June 30, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Kristin Mack makes an interesting claim in her column about who’s thinking about running for what next year. [Former HPD Chief CO] Bradford, who served as police chief in Mayor Lee Brown’s administration, still has some battle scars. Among them, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 2 Comments

I do not have an iPhone

Posted on June 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Nor will I be getting one any time soon. I like whizzy gadgets as much as the next guy, but at some point, one must say “Get a life!” AT&T’s Dan Feldstein says 80 percent of the store managers in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 5 Comments

Aiyer takes a plea

Posted on June 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I was pretty sure that this would be the ultimate outcome. Houston Community College Trustee Jay Aiyer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of tampering with a governmental record Thursday and received a year of probation. Aiyer, one-time candidate for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 3 Comments

Where the votes are: HD136

Posted on June 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing my series on blue precincts within red State House districts (see here for the first installment), today I’m looking at HD136, where incumbent Beverly Woolley defeated Democrat Scott Brann with just over 70% of the vote. Unlike HD126, HD136 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Where the votes are: HD136

Fly like an eagle

Posted on June 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Great news: The bald eagle is no longer endangered. Conservationists have hailed the successful recovery of the eagle as clear evidence that the Endangered Species Act, which has been under attack in recent years from business groups and some members … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 1 Comment

Sports guy talk radio

Posted on June 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Somewhat related to the previous post, did you know that there are now about to be a total of four sports talk/”guy talk” radio stations in town? No, I don’t understand it any better than you do. I’ve listened to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 4 Comments

Great show! You’re fired!

Posted on June 29, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Well, what did you expect? Filling in for conservative talk-show host Michael Berry Tuesday morning, Houston lawyer Geoff Berg was direct with KPRC radio’s listeners. “I am a moderate,” he announced. “Michael is a right-wing fanatic. We are going to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | 1 Comment

Biggio 3000

Posted on June 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations, Craig Biggio. For today, any questions about your pursuit of 3000 are irrelevant. You made it, and you deserve the glory that goes with it. See you in five in Cooperstown. Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 3 Comments

One of these officials is not like the others

Posted on June 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I got this a couple of days ago, but didn’t have a chance to post on it till now. This (PDF) is a letter sent from the interim President and Chair of the Board of Regents of Galveston College to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on One of these officials is not like the others

Texas: Still growing like gangbusters

Posted on June 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Nothing unexpected here. Booming cities in the Lone Star state dominated the latest population estimates for cities as of July, 1, 2006, released by the census today. Six Texas cities were in the top 25 in the U.S, and three, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on Texas: Still growing like gangbusters

The reasoning behind the CCA’s decision on DeLay

Posted on June 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the basic reasoning behind the Court of Criminal Appeals’ refusal to reinstate the conspiracy charge against Tom DeLay and two of his co-defendants. In Wednesday’s decision, the Court of Criminal Appeals had to decide whether a conspiracy charge could … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on The reasoning behind the CCA’s decision on DeLay

CQ on CD10

Posted on June 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Congressional Quarterly takes a look at what I hope will become a high-profile race in CD10. Texas Republican Mike McCaul was a beneficiary of a mid-decade redistricting plan — spearheaded by Tom DeLay, the Texan who then was House majority … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on CQ on CD10

“I don’t feel tardy”

Posted on June 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I have five things to say about this article on how City Council meetings have always started late since 2004: 1. I’m trying to resist the urge to say “So what?” here. Yes, when you expect something to start at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 2 Comments

The giant blue porn-hating elephant

Posted on June 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Boy, when one has used such a title for a post, it’s a little intimidating to actually write said post. So, let me just point you to Houstonist, where the title at least will make sense. All I can add … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | Comments Off on The giant blue porn-hating elephant

Harry Potter hacked?

Posted on June 28, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Spoiler alert level: Elevated. The mystery surrounding the end to fictional British boy wizard Harry Potter’s saga deepened on Wednesday with a computer hacker posting what he said were key plot details and a publisher warned the details could be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Comments Off on Harry Potter hacked?

Welcome to the club

Posted on June 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you our newest member of City Council, Melissa Noriega. I wasn’t there for the swearing-in or the Council meeting that followed, but I trust that by now someone has asked Council Member Noriega her … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Welcome to the club

CCA upholds DeLay

Posted on June 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Court of Criminal Appeals, which is not known for being friendly to defendants, has refused to reinstate the conspiracy charge against Tom DeLay. DeLay, R-Sugar Land, and political consultants Jim Ellis and John Colyandro were accused of conspiring to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

More on J. Fred Duckett

Posted on June 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

For those of you who want to pay your respects to iconic Houston sports announcer J. Fred Duckett, the Rice Athletics Department has the details. A visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday evening at the George H … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 2 Comments

The Mayor and the veterans

Posted on June 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I didn’t get around to yesterday’s front page story about Mayor White and his plan to help wounded veterans in the Houston area. One in 11 soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan is Texan, according to the Department of Defense. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on The Mayor and the veterans

For that kind of revenue stream, I’d be a Pepper

Posted on June 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Hey, I’m a Diet Coke guy myself, but business is business, you know? Several [Council] members are in a fizz after learning that the Dr Pepper Bottling Co. of Houston soon will take over exclusive rights to vending machines at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on For that kind of revenue stream, I’d be a Pepper

Next time, ask Tory first

Posted on June 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

While I agree with Tom that the Harris County Toll Road Authority would have done well to have simply consulted with Tory Gattis before they implemented their ill-received and short-lived congestion-pricing plan, it seems to me that the stark differences … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

Teen suicide

Posted on June 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

PinkDome gets serious about a subject that really is no laughing matter: Teen suicide. Texas is taking a new step to combat suicide, a serious public health problem. Jeannine Von Stultz, psychologist and director of mental health services for Bexar … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | Comments Off on Teen suicide

Well, somebody likes those fifty-dollar lottery tickets

Posted on June 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll never understand it, but plenty of people are snapping up those fifty-dollar scratch-off Lottery tickets. For all the naysayers who couldn’t imagine folks gambling on $50 on a single lottery ticket….Turns out, the state is making out like a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Jackpot! | Comments Off on Well, somebody likes those fifty-dollar lottery tickets

Those four little letters

Posted on June 27, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Okay, is there anyone out there who really doesn’t know what NSFW means? Right, then. Please put the Internet down, and slowly back away. So it seems only right to ask: What is and isn’t “NSFW” anymore? “We’re not trying … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Websurfing | Comments Off on Those four little letters

Felony charge filed against Jay Aiyer

Posted on June 26, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

It pains me greatly to see stories like this. Houston Community College Trustee and one-time City Council candidate Jay Aiyer is facing a charge of tampering with a governmental record, a felony that could cost him his law license, authorities … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 3 Comments

Saw ’em off, I don’t care

Posted on June 26, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

As someone whose collegiate sports loyalties lie outside the UT/A&M axis, I found the lawsuit against an Aggie merchandiser for violating UT’s trademark on the Bevo logo to be more amusement than anything else. And while I generally side with … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 1 Comment

RIP, J. Fred Duckett

Posted on June 26, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a very sad day for outdoor football. J. Fred Duckett, who heralded the exploits of “Jose Cruuuuuuuz!” as the Astrodome’s public-address announcer and proclaimed, “It’s a beautiful day for outdoor football,” to generations of Rice University fans, died Monday … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 3 Comments

Probate court

Posted on June 26, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not really sure what to say about the Chron’s rather harrowing series on how messed up the Harris County Probate Court system can be, other than I sure am glad we’ve done estate planning, and I sure as hell … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Comments Off on Probate court

Hu? What?

Posted on June 26, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Are we sure it’s time for another debate about gender-neutral pronouns? Because I could swear we just had one. Okay, here’s the thing. It’s very easy to invent a gender-neutral pronoun. It’s very hard to get anyone to use it, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 8 Comments

King versus Kenedy continued

Posted on June 26, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

They’re still fighting it out over wind farms – the Kenedy Ranch has ’em, the King Ranch doesn’t want ’em. King Ranch President Jack Hunt has called for state legislation to regulate the farms – the lack of such laws … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 1 Comment

Once again with jury duty

Posted on June 26, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

What John says. Most people do not want to sit on a jury, and I was no different. Being away for a couple of days was quite disruptive (and this was a very short trial). Everybody has other things they … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 4 Comments

Keeping the gas stations stocked

Posted on June 25, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Among the many task forces that were convened after the Hurricane Rita evacuation fiasco was one to deal with the issue of depleted gasoline supplies along evacuation routes. Here’s the report. Surprisingly, until Rita hit Sabine Pass on Sept. 24, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on Keeping the gas stations stocked