Monthly Archives: November 2007

Will the Mayor sail smoothly in his last term?

Posted on November 18, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting overview of Mayor White’s upcoming final term in office. Fresh off his re-election this month, Mayor Bill White heads into his final term with the most ideologically aligned City Council since taking office in 2004. When newly elected members … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 2 Comments

The rural doctor shortage

Posted on November 18, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Rural Texas has a severe shortage of doctors. Kent County has not had a doctor in 53 years. “The last one we had died in 1954,” County Judge Jim C. White said matter-of-factly. “When we need medical care we go … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 2 Comments

Wanna buy an armoire?

Posted on November 18, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Are you in the market for an armoire? If so, you’re in luck, as there’s apparently quite a glut of the out there, thus allowing for some real deals. Swamplot has the scoop. Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Comments Off on Wanna buy an armoire?

A suggestion before construction begins

Posted on November 18, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron’s This Week section had an article on the Universities Line decision last week. While there wasn’t much there that we didn’t already know, this bit from a business owner on Richmond got me thinking. Manager Avelino Diaz of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

The immigration “threat”

Posted on November 17, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The attitudes about immigration found by the 2007 Houston Area Survey are not as bad as the Chron headline make it sound. It’s a fairly mixed bag and there certainly are some disheartening things, but it’s not all negative. “Anglos … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on The immigration “threat”

People like transit

Posted on November 17, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The 2007 Houston Area Survey (PDF) is out, and to some people’s surprise, it shows that a lot of folks around here want transit options. The findings represent a challenge to leaders of suburban counties where transit service is scarce, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

More baseball pandering from Rudy

Posted on November 17, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

So imagine there’s a guy who played right field for a total of 12 seasons, only seven of which saw him appear in as many as 120 games, and who was out of baseball by the time he was 34. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on More baseball pandering from Rudy

What’s up with Google Blog Search?

Posted on November 17, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Back in June, I wondered why a Google blog search for links to my site was suddenly returning so many fewer results than a Technorati search was. Recently, in the course of doing some background research for a post, Vince … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Administrivia | Comments Off on What’s up with Google Blog Search?

Victor Morales announces for HD04

Posted on November 16, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Via QR and BOR, frequent candidate and former former Democrat Victor Morales has announced his intention to challenge State Rep. Betty Brown in HD04. That’s a tough district, so I can’t say I like his chances, but I wish him … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Was someone in the Crowne Plaza when it was imploded?

Posted on November 16, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

KHOU was the first to report on the story of the Crowne Plaza implosion mystery, in which a shadow in video taken just before the big boom have led to questions about whether a person might have entered the place. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Was someone in the Crowne Plaza when it was imploded?

Commuter to rail to Galveston

Posted on November 16, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron reports on a study that makes the case for a commuter rail line between Houston and Galveston. The Galveston-Houston Commuter Rail Study estimates it would cost between $380 million to $415 million to revive commuter service on the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 4 Comments

National Noriega

Posted on November 16, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Pretty good recap of the past couple of weeks for Rick Noriega and his fundraising efforts. Noriega is traveling today to Las Vegas as a guest of the Democratic National Committee to meet national party donors who are attending the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on National Noriega

“Toxic” Bill Keffer

Posted on November 16, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas League of Conservation Voters discusses one of the top tier races for 2008, the rematch between State Rep. Allen Vaught and the man he ousted, Bill Keffer: It appears as though former Representative Keffer is going to once … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on “Toxic” Bill Keffer

Delisi and Krusee

Posted on November 16, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

A week after State Rep. Diane Delisi announced her intent to retire, a couple of prospective candidates for her seat emerged. Samuel Murphey, of Harker Heights, said he is considering running, and John Alaniz, of Temple, said he intends to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Delisi and Krusee

Still more on “The Purge”

Posted on November 15, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Elise Hu continues doing good work on what she calls “The Purge”, about the email retention policy of Governor Perry’s office and how it relates to Texas’ open record laws. Turns out that at least one state office hasn’t had … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 1 Comment

Bell files lawsuit against Perry

Posted on November 15, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Well, this could get interesting. Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Bell filed a lawsuit against Gov. Rick Perry’s 2006 re-election campaign and the Republican Governor’s Association today claiming they illegally hid $1 million in donations from Houston homebuilder Bob Perry. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 6 Comments

Bonds indicted

Posted on November 15, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Bummer. Barry Bonds was indicted Thursday for perjury and obstruction of justice, charged with lying when he told a federal grand jury that he did not knowingly use performance-enhancing drugs. If convicted on all five counts, baseball’s home run king … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 2 Comments

Netroots Nation in Austin

Posted on November 15, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Netroots Nation, formerly known as Yearly Kos, will have its 2008 convention in Austin. There are many reasons that we chose Austin, personally, I was most compelled because the hotel rate was $25 better than the other city. But it … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 1 Comment

The bridge protest

Posted on November 15, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

As you may know, I’m a tournament bridge player, though not as frequent a player as I once was, thanks to other obligations. I can honestly say that in nearly 20 years of playing at tournaments, I have very little … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | 2 Comments

The parallel election

Posted on November 15, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Okay, this is disturbing. Johnnie German admitted he was nervous as he used high-security codes to tap into the Harris County elections computer system last week and change some of the results manually. The system was in good hands as … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 6 Comments

Voter ID by the numbers

Posted on November 15, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

TPM links to this qualitative look by the Brennan Center on the effects of Indiana’s restrictive voter ID law, and it’s a must-read. Citing new evidence that Indiana’s voter identification law is disenfranchising thousands of Indiana voters, lawyers at the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Voter ID by the numbers

Stop Sharon Keller rally this Friday

Posted on November 15, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Pretty much says it all: Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Stop Sharon Keller rally this Friday

Fort Bend GOP update

Posted on November 14, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The poor, discombobulated Fort Bend GOP may be able to get out of limbo by the end of this month. The Fort Bend County Republican Party Executive Committee is planning a special meeting, possibly on Nov. 29, to take the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Fort Bend GOP update

The Chief Blogger debuts

Posted on November 14, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Miya reports that the long-awaited blog by HPD Chief Harold Hurtt is now operational. Sadly, he did not use any of our suggested names, going instead with “Chief Hurtt’s Bog”. Which is boring, but certainly accurate. Welcome to the blogosphere, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 1 Comment

Fiesta versus TxDOT

Posted on November 14, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I noted before how the Katy Freeway expansion is forcing the closure of the Fiesta at I-10 and Blalock. Before that happens, there has to be an agreement on how much TxDOT should pay for the property. Fiesta and the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Fiesta versus TxDOT

State Rep. Robby Cook will not run in ’08

Posted on November 14, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Vince and BOR pass along the word from QR that State Rep. Robby Cook will not run for re-election in 2008. This feels like a probable loss for the Dems next year – Cook was the only sitting Dem to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Highland Park bans cellphone talking while driving in school zones

Posted on November 14, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

We heard about it two weeks ago, and now it’s official: You must hang up and drive in a Highland Park school zone. Drivers will no longer be able to talk on handheld cellphones while passing through school zones in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Ending euthenasia

Posted on November 14, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

This is a worthy project. A local animal welfare group today will launch an ambitious effort to stop the euthanasia of dogs and cats at area shelters by the end of 2013. Sean Hawkins, president of Saving Animals Across Borders, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 1 Comment

What’s wrong with this picture?

Posted on November 14, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Seen on the Chron’s Business page yesterday evening: Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on What’s wrong with this picture?

More on the red light camera ruling

Posted on November 13, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story on the ruling in the Kubosh lawsuit that I had noted yesterday. The basic facts were covered in that Newswatch post, so I’ll just skip ahead to the new stuff. “The city is very pleased with … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Email retention revisited

Posted on November 13, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Last month, Elise Hu of KVUE took a look at the state of Texas’ email retention policy and how it relates to open record laws. A fellow named John Washburn read about it and decided to do something about it. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 2 Comments

Watch it go boom

Posted on November 13, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Did you miss the Crowne Plaza implosion this weekend? Well, have no fear. Swamplot is there for you, with pictures, videos, reader reports, and links to more pictures. And if that isn’t enough for you, HouStoned has more. It would … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Watch it go boom

Where’d that red light camera money go?

Posted on November 13, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Remember how SB1119 from last session was supposed to allocate money collected by red light cameras for trauma centers? That hasn’t quite happened. Medical trauma centers in Texas have fallen victim to a legislative version of bait-and-switch. This year lawmakers, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Where’d that red light camera money go?

RIP, Satriale’s Pork Store

Posted on November 13, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

And another landmark bites the dust. An empty lot, littered with rocks and roped off by chains, is all that remains of the butcher shop where Tony Soprano once held backroom meetings and sipped espresso at outdoor tables. Satriale’s, the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | Comments Off on RIP, Satriale’s Pork Store