Monthly Archives: June 2007

Early voting begins today for Houston runoff elections

Posted on June 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

You know what that means: Early voting runs from today through next Tuesday, June 12. Times and locations can be found here (PDF). I figure maybe 97 people will vote in this runoff – okay, maybe a few more than … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 3 Comments

The Menil turns 20

Posted on June 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Happy birthday to one of the best things about Houston. The Menil Collection is a serene gem in the heart of this boisterous city. To see its quiet presence on green lawns and surrounded by large trees, you might not … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Fox versus Crosby update

Posted on June 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Last week I wrote about how a Fox 26 investigative report used some bad math to make the small Houston suburb of Crosby look like a hive of sex offenders. After I posted that, I heard via email that they … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Fox versus Crosby update

A question for those with Google Fu

Posted on June 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve known for awhile that my average daily Sitemeter traffic fluctuates mainly with search engine referrals. The variation can be as much as a few hundred hits a day. There are other factors, of course – the end of the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Administrivia | 1 Comment

Olivia goes to Reckling Park

Posted on June 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

It was a beautiful day for outdoor baseball today. Unlike yesterday, which is when we originally had tickets to see Rice play TCU. When the start of the game got delayed from 6 PM to 8:30, I asked if we … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on Olivia goes to Reckling Park

Where can you get a drink in this town?

Posted on June 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

It’s harder than you think to get a drink in Brazoria County. Counties, cities or justice-of-the-peace precincts can be, by local-option election, totally wet, totally dry or anywhere in between. It’s all up to local voters. Roy Hale, of the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

The session from the Houston/Harris perspective

Posted on June 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

A lot of what’s in the Chron overview of how the Lege affected Houston and Harris County is stuff I’ve blogged about in some detail, but I want to add a few comments to this effort: Among the more visible … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Loch Ness Monster

Posted on June 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Well, I don’t know what this footage of something in Loch Ness shows, but until I see a huge red eye and a long sharp tooth, I’m not conceding anything. “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this jet … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Skepticism | Comments Off on Loch Ness Monster

Dome financing comes through

Posted on June 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Astrodome Redevelopment crew, who missed a March 31 deadline to demonstrate that they had private financing lined up, then got an extension till the end of May, managed to put something together this time. “We felt like we complied” … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Dome financing comes through

RIP, Steve Gilliard

Posted on June 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Sad news. Steve Gilliard, 1966-2007 It is with tremendous sadness that we must convey the news that Steve Gilliard, editor and publisher of The News Blog (www.thenewsblog.net), passed away early this morning. He was 41. To those who have come … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on RIP, Steve Gilliard

Why SB482 died

Posted on June 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

SB482, whose death in the waning hours of the session has led to some calls for a special session to resurrect it, gets a postmortem in the Chron. The lobbying that weakened and ultimately killed electric utility reform, clean-air legislation … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Why SB482 died

The Harry Potter Experience

Posted on June 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Really sweet article by Rebecca Traister about a Harry Potter convention in New Orleans. Couple of comments: 1. I hadn’t realized that one of the biggest stars of the Potter fandom world, Melissa Anelli of The Leaky Cauldron, is a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Books | 2 Comments

Guess the list

Posted on June 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Think you know who will make the Texas Monthly Ten Best and Ten Worst list for the 80th Lege? Take a guess and win a prize. Patricia Kilday Hart and I are now working on the Ten Best and Ten … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Guess the list

Three transit stories

Posted on June 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron’s This Week section was a trove of transit stories this week: Meetings net ideas for neighborhoods Transit-oriented development could take place in Houston if the urban corridor planning process moves forward as anticipated. The Planning Partnership, a consulting … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Three transit stories

Sylvester wants a special, Dewhurst wants a do-over

Posted on June 1, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

David Dewhurst is still telling lies. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst considers the legislative session a “success” but also says he regrets the failure of a voter identification bill that split his chamber along partisan lines. “I was disappointed we did … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 3 Comments

Still not out of the woods for the West 11th Street Park?!?

Posted on June 1, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Just when you thought it was safe to celebrate the salvation of the West 11th Street Park, you find out that there may be another bullet to dodge. About a week ago, I posted a press release from Senator John … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Julie Boyle update

Posted on June 1, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Back in 2005, I wrote that the proprietor of the Midlothian Family Network website and an outspoken critic of the cement plants in that area and the Congressmen who let them pollute at will, had been diagnosed with breast cancer. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on Julie Boyle update

Wallace will not run in CD22

Posted on June 1, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

One less contender for the right to challenge Rep. Nick Lampson. Sugar Land Mayor David Wallace is getting out of politics, at least temporarily. Wallace, who announced last summer he would not run for mayor of Sugar Land again, said … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 2 Comments

Friday random music question

Posted on June 1, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

One of the songs that KACC radio has on fairly regular rotation is “Metro” by The Vincent Black Shadow (music video here, for those who are unfamiliar with it). Recently, every time it has played, Olivia has announced “I like … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 4 Comments

Stop the damn fence!

Posted on June 1, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Will the feds ever listen to the people who will be directly harmed by the stupid and useless border fence? Mayors, county judges and others up and down the 1,200-mile Texas-Mexico border are pressing the Department of Homeland Security to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 4 Comments