Monthly Archives: November 2007

A perfectly cromulent neighborhood

Posted on November 13, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

You know, I never thought I’d see a day where it would be necessary for Pete to come to the defense of Mister Rogers, but that day has apparently come. And just in time, it seems. Check it out. Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | Comments Off on A perfectly cromulent neighborhood

Texas blog roundup for the week of November 12

Posted on November 13, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Election Week is over, but before we get too wrapped up in the runoffs, let’s take a moment to see what’s been said recently in the Texas Progressive Alliance blogs. Click on for the highlights. Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of November 12

Kubosh loses in court

Posted on November 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, I’ve been eagerly awaiting a resolution to the Kubosh lawsuit, which challenged the city’s right to install red light cameras and impose civil penalties for being caught by them running a red light. Today, Judge Sharolyn Wood … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Know your HHSC contractors

Posted on November 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Want to know who’s actually providing services to the HHSC these days? The CPPP is keeping track. Earlier this month, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission released two draft Request for Proposals related to the development and operation of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Know your HHSC contractors

Trautman announces for 2008

Posted on November 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Diane Trautman will take another shot at HD127 next year. Dr. Diane Trautman, former candidate for District 127 State Representative in 2006, hosted a town hall meeting at Homewood Suites in Kingwood on Saturday, November 10, and announced her intention … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 3 Comments

New development on Yale

Posted on November 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Almost two years after the last days of Kaplan’s-Ben Hur, the site of the onetime historic department store is being turned into an apartment complex. A $30 million apartment complex under construction on a century-old commercial site in the Heights … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

Five years ago

Posted on November 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, BOR took a couple of looks back at how things were five years ago in the aftermath of the 2002 election (short answer: it sucked), and compares to how things are now. I’ll give you one way in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2002 | Comments Off on Five years ago

Facebook and Plaxo spam

Posted on November 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

So recently I got a friend invite from this “person” on Facebook. In case you can’t see it, the page (one “Page Peel”, har har har) is a dot com site, looking suspiciously like the sort of thing I’d flag … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Websurfing | 1 Comment

Thanks for clarifying that, Tom

Posted on November 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know for sure how many Craddick Dems there are left in the Lege, but I hope those that remain, whether they face a primary challenger or not, read this article and answer a simple question. As he seeks … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Thanks for clarifying that, Tom

The Dome conundrum

Posted on November 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Couple points of interest regarding this story about the quandary county officials find themselves in with the Astrodome Redevelopment/Texans and Rodeo dispute: The court will wait until January before voting on whether to allow Astrodome Redevelopment Corp. to go forward … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Comics curmudgeoning

Posted on November 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

sigh Why must the Chron mess with my comics? The good news is that, Monday through Saturday, one page of comics will be printed in color. The bad news is that, Monday through Saturday, the number of pages devoted to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 1 Comment

Anthony Bourdain understands the Internet

Posted on November 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

A fellow named Robert Donoghue went to hear chef Anthony Bourdain speak recently, and he came away with a great piece of advice: Just got back from seeing Anthony Bourdain in in the city, and it was an absolute treat. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Comments Off on Anthony Bourdain understands the Internet

Chron slaps Keller again

Posted on November 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron writes what others have been saying: The recent decision by the Court of Criminal Appeals to accept email filings of appeals is a direct rebuke to Judge Sharon Keller. The Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct has yet to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Chron slaps Keller again

FBGOP in limbo

Posted on November 10, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The poor Fort Bend GOP. I almost feel sorry for them in their current predicament. County GOP Chairman Gary Gillen stunned political officials and activists Thursday when he announced that he and party Treasurer Richard McCarter, Secretary Nancy Porter and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on FBGOP in limbo

He writes letters

Posted on November 10, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Joe Jaworski writes the following letter to Governor Perry: Dear Governor Perry: I know you share my outrage at the snail’s pace of state aid for Texas families more than two years after Hurricane Rita came ashore with such force. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on He writes letters

One good reason to support the Writers in their strike

Posted on November 10, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

This is good enough for me: Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | Comments Off on One good reason to support the Writers in their strike

If the house is rocking, don’t bother knocking

Posted on November 10, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I love headlines like this: City Of Duncanville Cracking Down On Sex Parties. Who knew they had them? You can almost see the light bulb going on over Wayne Dolcefino’s head. And I can’t believe In the Pink hasn’t covered … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 2 Comments

Wrapup roundup

Posted on November 9, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

A few more election wrapup pieces to finish off the week… Joe Trevino talks to Carolyn Feibel about how he made it to the runoff in At Large #5. I asked Trevino who he thought his supporters were. He identified … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Wrapup roundup

One hurdle cleared for Astrodome Redevelopment

Posted on November 9, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Previously, we learned that the Harris County Attorney was researching whether or not Commissioners Court could approve the Astrodome Redevelopment plans over the objections of the Texans and the Rodeo. Now we have the answer to that question. The Houston … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on One hurdle cleared for Astrodome Redevelopment

Prop 15 not so popular in Travis County

Posted on November 9, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

So Proposition 15 passed by a solid margin, with over 61% of voters statewide supporting it. But it turns out that Travis County, home of Prop 15 uber-supporter Lance Armstrong, nearly rejected it. What’s up with that? Proposition 15 just … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 2 Comments

Why was Sue Lovell’s race so close?

Posted on November 9, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The City Hall blog asks Sue Lovell why she thinks she won by such an unimpressive margin against Griff Griffin. Lovell claims that she purposely did not campaign, instead choosing to spread her “political capital” to three other council hopefuls: … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Why was Sue Lovell’s race so close?

Why did the jail bond lose?

Posted on November 9, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

So, why did the jail bond fail? Ed Emmett would like to know. County Judge Ed Emmett said Wednesday that he still was analyzing the loss — the first defeat of a county bond request in 20 years — and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Why did the jail bond lose?

Fort Bend GOP leadership quits

Posted on November 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Have I mentioned lately that 2008 is going to be a very interesting year around here? Yes, I think I have. And it’s stuff like this that keeps fueling such statements. In a surprise announcement before an audience of elected … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Fort Bend GOP leadership quits

Clark and Kerry for Noriega

Posted on November 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The endorsements keep coming in for Rick Noriega. Here’s an email Wes Clark sent to his list: 20 months ago I asked you to take a chance. To help a veteran, who had been drafted into his race, facing long … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Clark and Kerry for Noriega

DFA officially endorses Noriega

Posted on November 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Excellent news. Here’s the press release: Democracy for America, a coalition of activists committed to promoting fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates and values, today announced its endorsement of State Representative Rick Noriega for United States Senate. DFA’s first endorsement of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on DFA officially endorses Noriega

McNair speaks on Dome redevelopment

Posted on November 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

That sound you hear is another nail being hammered into the coffin of the Astrodome Hotel/Convention Center plan. Texans owner Bob McNair opposes the most recent plan to redevelop the Astrodome because it conflicts with the team’s lease that gives … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on McNair speaks on Dome redevelopment

CCA to accept email filings

Posted on November 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

About damn time. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals said Tuesday it will accept emergency e-mail filings in death penalty cases in an effort to avoid a repeat of the nationally controversial execution of Michael Richard. […] The court said … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on CCA to accept email filings

Instant replay for baseball?

Posted on November 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

David Pinto reports the following: The general managers voted 25-5 to use instant replays to decide boundary calls: The recommendation, by a 25-5 vote, was limited to boundary calls – whether potential home runs are fair or foul, whether balls … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on Instant replay for baseball?

Less local, more national

Posted on November 8, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, I don’t listen to talk radio, but this story about some changes in the lineups here interested me. Talk-show hosts Chris Baker and Cynthia Hunt have been taken off the air at Clear Channel-owned radio stations KTRH … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Less local, more national

Ashby ordinance delayed

Posted on November 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

According to Matt Stiles, the Anti-Bissonnet High-Rise ordinance was on the agenda for City Council today. Well, sort of. As the council convenes today, though, it seems likely that the measure could be delayed for as long as three months. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 4 Comments

Prediction review

Posted on November 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

So how good were my predictions yesterday? Let’s take a look. Mayor – The over/under line for Mayor White is 90%. I think he just slides over it. Mayor White got 86%, so the unders won. Still, that’s pretty impressive, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 1 Comment

Uncle Dan wins!

Posted on November 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Good news from my dad: My Uncle Dan, who was running for the Dutchess County Legislature as a Democrat against a long-term Republican incumbent, won his race yesterday by a respectable margin. In doing so, he helped tip the partisan … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Uncle Dan wins!

Results wrapup

Posted on November 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing on from last night… – The HISD bond referendum squeaked through, with 51.2% of the vote. There’s a lot of people breathing a sigh of relief today, especially when you consider that it only had 48% of the early … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Results wrapup

Implosion!

Posted on November 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Wanna see a building implode? Sure you do – who wouldn’t? Well, you’re in luck, because one is going to meet its maker this weekend in such a fashion. Swamplot has the details. At 7:10 on November 11th, the Crowne … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Implosion!