Monthly Archives: August 2007

Council filings are now open

Posted on August 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The November election season for City of Houston offices is now officially open. Matt Stiles has the list of Monday morning first-in-line filers, plus a pretty good accounting of who else is out there. Couple names to add to his … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 3 Comments

River Oaks Shopping Center: Going, going…

Posted on August 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I took these pictures yesterday morning on my way to work: This is the Shepherd end of the center, where the Black Eyed Pea used to be, viewed from the Starbucks lot. The For Fun, For Life, For You sign … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Seven fifty-six

Posted on August 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to Barry Bonds. I don’t care what anybody else says. This was a hell of an achievement. I for one plan to celebrate it. Well done, Barry. Well done. UPDATE: I agree with Matt Yglesias: [T]he day when MLB … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 1 Comment

Cornyn still flipflopping on the fence

Posted on August 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

John Cornyn came to El Paso, and provided a new twist to his already convoluted stance on the border fence. Cornyn, who is running for re-election in 2008, gave a legislative update to about 100 business leaders and local officials … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Cornyn still flipflopping on the fence

Money, it’s a hit

Posted on August 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Now hear this: Mikal Watts has a lot of money, and he’s not afraid to use it. Attorney Mikal Watts has the wealth to wage a Senate race in Texas, reporting in financial disclosure forms that he earned $40 million … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Money, it’s a hit

On supporting Michael Vick

Posted on August 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I had wondered before if there would be an organized constituency supporting Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick as he answers charges that he was a ringleader of a nasty dogfighting operation on his property. We know now that civil rights … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 2 Comments

Yao gets hitched

Posted on August 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Yao Ming. Yao Ming, the supersize Houston Rocket, on today married his girlfriend of eight years in a private Shanghai ceremony that local media described as a melding of Chinese and Western traditions. The wedding … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Comments Off on Yao gets hitched

The next (last?) SOB appeal gets underway

Posted on August 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Back in May, several of Houston’s topless clubs got a temporary stay from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, which prevented the city of Houston from arresting their employees under the previously-upheld anti-SOB law. Today, the promised … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 2 Comments

National Night Out is tonight

Posted on August 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Tonight is National Night out, which was conceived as a way of fighting crime by getting people to know their neighbors a little better. Now in its 24th year, National Night Out is a nationwide event where people are encouraged … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | Comments Off on National Night Out is tonight

Noriega now part of BlueAmerica

Posted on August 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The latest addition to the Blue America 08 PAC suite of candidates is none other than Rick Noriega. Blue America raised over $540,000 for the candidates it supported in 2006, and has already taken in another $56,000 for its 2008 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Noriega now part of BlueAmerica

Against it before he was for it

Posted on August 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Poor Senator Cornyn. It can’t be fun to be blown with the prevailing winds like that. Two years ago, Sen. John Cornyn said a border fence was a bad idea. Last month, he voted to build one. Critics accused Mr. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Against it before he was for it

Texas blog roundup for the week of August 7

Posted on August 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

And on we go with another Texas blog roundup, as once again conducted by Vince. Click on for the good stuff. Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of August 7

Council vote on Center may come today

Posted on August 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The City Hall blog notes that proposed sale of the Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation is on the agenda for City Council today. You can see it here as Item #27. I’m told that there are about 20 carryover … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Council vote on Center may come today

Report card time

Posted on August 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Observer blog rounds up a few legislative scorecards from varying interest groups (and of varying degrees of quality and usefulness) for the 80th Lege, and notes that a few heavy hitters haven’t been heard from yet. Several organizations, most … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Report card time

HGLBT Endorses Candidates in November 6th Races

Posted on August 6, 2007 by admin

At their August 1st meting, the Houston GLBT Caucus endorsed the following candidates in the November 6th elections: Houston Controller Annise Parker Houston City Council: At-Large Position 2 Sue Lovell At-Large Position 3 Melissa Noriega At-Large Position 4 Ron Green … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on HGLBT Endorses Candidates in November 6th Races

Last chance to speak out for the River Oaks Shopping Center

Posted on August 6, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Houstonist has the scoop. Tuesday, August 7 at 2pm is the last chance for the public to speak about the pending historic landmark status of the River Oaks Shopping Center, River Oaks Theater, Alabama Shopping Center, and Alabama Theater in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Last chance to speak out for the River Oaks Shopping Center

Feds knew about TYC, took no action

Posted on August 6, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

After more than six years of the Bush Administration’s Justice Department, can anyone honestly say they’re surprised by this? For four years, U.S. Justice Department attorneys heard the horror stories: Inmates in Texas juvenile prisons were being beaten and molested … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Feds knew about TYC, took no action

Lawsuit filed over smoking ban

Posted on August 6, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I confess, I didn’t see this coming. [A] coalition of bar, nightclub and cabaret owners last week challenged Houston’s smoking ordinance in a federal lawsuit. They argue that city officials overstepped their authority last fall in passing the ordinance, scheduled … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 6 Comments

“For Fun, For Life, For You”

Posted on August 6, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

This sign has been on the fence behind the soon-to-be-demolished River Oaks Shopping Center for a few weeks. One presumes that it’s the new-and-supposedly-improved Center to come that is “for fun, for life, and for you”, but there’s no identifying … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on “For Fun, For Life, For You”

Backroom gambling in Houston

Posted on August 6, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I have a couple of questions regarding this article on the proliferation of illegal slot machines in Houston. Gaming rooms have proliferated throughout the Houston area in the past few years. They have become targets for crime, law enforcement say, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

iPod noise pollution

Posted on August 6, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Fear it. The iPod is best known as an instrument of solitude — unless the user ignores standards of etiquette by invading the eardrums of fellow commuters, office mates or other innocent bystanders. Then it starts to get annoying. Especially … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Comments Off on iPod noise pollution

Reconsidering the motion to reconsider

Posted on August 6, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve expressed before my skepticism that Travis county DA Ronnie Earle’s request that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals reconsider its decision to let stand the dismissal of the conspiracy charge against Tom DeLay would come to anything, but Paul … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Reconsidering the motion to reconsider

Bonds ties Aaron

Posted on August 5, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to Barry Bonds for his historic feat yesterday, putting him just one step away from the top spot on the all-time home run list. Forget what pompous windbags like Richard Justice think. What Barry Bonds has accomplished is amazing, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 4 Comments

Change of Command photos

Posted on August 5, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, Rick Noriega was in Chicago a few days ago to be at Yearly Kos. While I’m sure he’d have liked to stay there longer, given the enthusiastic response he got from everyone he met, he had an … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on Change of Command photos

University Corridor Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

Posted on August 5, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The next phase of the Universities line process has begun, as Metro has released the University Corridor Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Universities corridor. It’s a bunch of big honking PDFs full of all kinds of technical information … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on University Corridor Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

A footnote on the new Costco and light rail

Posted on August 5, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

When I posted about the new Costco coming to the inner-Loop location of Richmond and Weslayan, I wondered if its potential proximity to a light rail stop might affect their offerings in some way. This West U Examiner story gives … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Bexar DA rains on needle exchange pilot

Posted on August 5, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Why it can be so hard to make progress sometimes: It only takes one reactionary to screw things up. In a move that could threaten a pilot syringe exchange program for drug addicts in Bexar County, District Attorney Susan Reed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Bexar DA rains on needle exchange pilot

Harris County bond vote coming

Posted on August 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve talked before about the proposed $900 million bond issue that Commissioners Court may put on the ballot this November. That price tag may be greater by the time all is said and done. The court on Tuesday will consider … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Harris County bond vote coming

Now it’s up to Abbott

Posted on August 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday was the deadline for filing briefs with the Attorney General in regards to the Keffer request for a ruling on Speaker Craddick’s claim of absolute power to recognize or not a motion to vacate the chair. Quite a few … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Now it’s up to Abbott

Another report on voting machine problems

Posted on August 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

A comprehensive study of electronic voting machines used in California has exposed some security weaknesses in machines used here in Houston. The tests, administered by the University of California at Davis, found that absent tighter procedures, hackers could alter vote … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 2 Comments

Hurricane forecast updated for 2007

Posted on August 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Midway through the hurricane season, things are looking a little better than before. Hurricane researcher William Gray lowered his 2007 forecast slightly Friday, calling for 15 named storms, with eight becoming hurricanes and four becoming intense. On May 31, at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on Hurricane forecast updated for 2007

At Yearly Kos with Rick Noriega

Posted on August 3, 2007 by admin

I had the privilege of being with Rick Noriega all day yesterday at YearlyKos. Netroots rock star! I got the photos . . . Rick liveblogs at Daily Kos during YKC07. He got on the recommended diary list FAST! He … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Primaries everywhere you look

Posted on August 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

All of a sudden, the news is full of primary challenges for various legislative seats in Texas. We’ll start with SD11, where Sen. Mike Jackson now has more to worry about than just Joe Jaworski. From QR, via Vince: Texas … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

The amendment lineup for the fall election

Posted on August 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Get ready for another long list of constitutional amendments on your ballot this November. Texas voters will decide whether to approve as much as $3 billion in bonds for cancer research when they go to the polls in November to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on The amendment lineup for the fall election