Monthly Archives: April 2008

Interview with the Mythbusters

Posted on April 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I love these guys. And yes, I think they’re doing science. AVC: You guys don’t have any formal scientific training, but you generally seem to follow scientific methods and procedures when you’re testing myths. To what degree are you attempting … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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More on the Perry 2010 plan

Posted on April 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

PoliTex has some follow-up comments from Rick Perry after his surprise re-election announcement from yesterday. [Perry] didn’t seem to see the big deal [over the timing of his announcement]. “I just got asked,” Perry said. “After a while, as people … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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RIP, Danny Federici

Posted on April 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I noticed a new name among the E Street Band members on Monday night (not counting fiddler Sister Soozie, as Springsteen explained Patty Scialfa’s absence by noting they had three teenagers), but didn’t know the reason for it. Now I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Live in concert

Posted on April 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

After the great experience of Monday’s Springsteen concert, I thought I’d try a little something different for this week’s random music selections. Here’s a list of ten memorable live music performances I’ve seen: 1. Maynard Ferguson, Snug Harbor, Staten Island, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 2 Comments

Ibarra brothers want to go back to court

Posted on April 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

You know that settlement agreement in the lawsuit against the Sheriff’s office? It may not be so settled after all. The county paid Sean Carlos Ibarra and Erik Adam Ibarra the agreed settlement on April 1, but the brothers want … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment

Making Montrose walkable

Posted on April 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

This sounds like excellent news. The Montrose Boulevard Conservancy’s two-year plan to create a high-quality, landscaped and well-lighted pedestrian pathway with park-like amenities along one of Houston’s main streets got a green light from area residents on April 10. The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Council approves billboard deal

Posted on April 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The deal with Clear Channel to take down 831 billboards, which was presumably tagged by Council last week, has now been approved unanimously. The agreement with Clear Channel Outdoor would remove 831 small and medium-sized billboards — a two-thirds reduction … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Ashby highrise lawsuit coming?

Posted on April 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

That’s what Houston Politics reports will eventually happen. James Reeder, a co-chairman of the neighborhood group fighting the proposed tower, says it’s likely that the developers will make enough changes in their project to secure the permits they need. Since … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

The thirty-nine percent solution

Posted on April 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

To shamelessly steal PDiddie‘s title, Governor Perry today told the Republican Governor’s Association that he wants four mofo years. Gov. Rick Perry, after speaking Thursday at a forum held by the Republican Governor’s Association, told reporters that he plans on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Two down, one to go for K-Mart settlement

Posted on April 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

It’s almost over. Two of three remaining plaintiffs with legal claims against the city and former Houston police chief C.O. “Brad” Bradford for alleged civil rights violations during a botched raid almost six years ago have reached settlements. Houston lawyer … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in K-Mart Kiddie Roundup | 1 Comment

Early overview of the DA race

Posted on April 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I’m going to start my Early Overview series with a look at the DA race, as that has arguably been the highest-profile county race so far. There are several things about this race that set it apart from the others, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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More on the MLS-Mayor kerfuffle

Posted on April 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Thanks to today’s Chron story on the little spat between MLS and Mayor White, we now know where that higher-than-previously-cited price tag of $105 million for Dynamo Stadium came from: During a subsequent news conference to publicly assuage the mayor’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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West U makes school zone cellphone ban official

Posted on April 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

As you may recall, the West U ordinance that banned the use of cellphones in moving vehicles while in school zones had received preliminary approval from its City Council, but needed to be passed a second time to become law. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Border fence lawsuit update

Posted on April 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Just an update on where the border fence lawsuits stand, as I missed a couple of stories recently. Here’s one from Friday in which the judge gave permission to the federal government to enter the property of border residents who … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Top 100 novelty songs

Posted on April 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Pretty good list, actually. Here’s the criteria: These songs were chosen for their originality, wit, humor, and lasting popularity. Novelty = “New or unusual”. Most ‘Novelty’ songs are comic takes of current events, cultural fads, or holidays, along with parodies … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 1 Comment

MLS versus the Mayor

Posted on April 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Are you wondering what the status is of the Dynamo Stadium deal, which at last report saw City Council approving the land purchase in early March? Apparently, so is MLS, and they’re getting a mite antsy about it. On Friday, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 1 Comment

Lake Radack

Posted on April 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I know that County Commissioners are into building things, but this is a new one on me. Out on prairie as flat as a polished dining room table, where he has no river or even rivulet to dam, Commissioner Steve … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

An early overview of the county races

Posted on April 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Now that we know what all of the countywide race matchups will be, I thought I’d take a little time to look at the individual races for the non-judicial offices that will be on the ballot this November. It’s a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 3 Comments

How bad is Fort Bend’s air?

Posted on April 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, nobody really knows for sure. Sugar Land and surrounding Fort Bend County often get a double dose of dirty air from commuters’ tailpipes and what’s blown inland from the Gulf of Mexico, air-quality experts say. But nobody knows for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Hilton Americas up for sale

Posted on April 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The hotel next to the George R. Brown Convention Center is on the block. Houston Convention Center Hotel Corp. has hired real estate firm CB Richard Ellis to sell the property through a process that also will seek development proposals … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

The Curse of Big Papi?

Posted on April 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

This is actually pretty funny. A construction worker’s bid to curse the New York Yankees by planting a Boston Red Sox jersey in their new stadium was foiled Sunday when the home team removed the offending shirt from its burial … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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800K for Skelly

Posted on April 15, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

So you thought that Michael Skelly raised a mere $750K this quarter? I’m here to say he did better. Actually, his campaign and this press release say it: With $796,809 raised in the first full quarter of 2008 and $666,506 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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At long last, he unites us

Posted on April 15, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Via State of Mine, the news story that most amused me today. President Bush has talked a lot about being a modern-day Harry Truman: a president who makes tough but unpopular decisions that will be appreciated by history, if not … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Springsteen!

Posted on April 15, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

What an awesome concert. I may not hear anything today, and I’m a little sleep-deprived, but man, was it worth it. Bruce Springsteen is God, and we were truly privileged to see him and the E Street Band perform last … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 6 Comments

The race to replace Janek

Posted on April 15, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, there will be a special election sometime this year to replace State Sen. Kyle Janek, who currently represents SD17 and who plans to resign in June. We also know of one declared Republican candidate, and a whole … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 2 Comments

How big a house do you need?

Posted on April 15, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The beginning of this article about the state of the seven-figures housing market in Houston fascinated me. When Ronald and Paige Wardell began shopping for a house inside the Loop, they figured they could find everything they wanted for $750,000 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 5 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of April 14

Posted on April 15, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Happy Tax Day! Whether you’re awaiting a refund or mailing in a check, you can always count on the Texas Progressive Alliance to give you your money’s worth. Click on for the week’s highlights. Continue reading →

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Settlement reached in K-Mart Roundup lawsuits

Posted on April 14, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The great K-Mart Kiddie Roundup saga may finally be drawing to a close. Dozens of people arrested by Houston police during the 2002 street racing raid that turned into a scandal for the Houston Police Department have reached a tentative … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in K-Mart Kiddie Roundup | 2 Comments

Miles indicted

Posted on April 14, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Lovely. State Representative Borris Miles has been indicted on two counts of deadly conduct. The indictments stem from two different incidents on the same day back in December. The first incident happened during a Rockets/Mavericks game at Toyota Center. At … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Thumbs up on Day One for Discovery Green

Posted on April 14, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Pretty good reviews, I’d say. Those who flocked to the opening “Family Day” event gushed with enthusiasm as they surveyed the green space. While the park is compact, visitors Sunday said they were amazed at how much there was to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Kelly Fero: the man, the myth

Posted on April 14, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a nice little read about longtime Austin Democratic consultant Kelly Fero, who got himself into a spot of hot water in recent weeks. It’s so inside-baseball that even I don’t get all the references, but illuminating nonetheless. On the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Another lawsuit against Farmers Branch

Posted on April 14, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

This time it’s over their at-large City Council system, which the plaintiffs claim dilutes Hispanic voting strength. Their attorneys, Rolando Rios of San Antonio and Domingo Garcia of Dallas, drew up a set of single-members districts that they contend would … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 1 Comment

Breaching the fence

Posted on April 14, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

How do you beat a million-dollar border fence? It’s easy. Illegal immigrants armed with torches, hacksaws, ladders and even bungee cords are making it around a section of the border fence hailed as the most efficient way to stop them. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Discovery Green Q&A

Posted on April 13, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron has a chat with Nancy Kinder, who headed up the private fundraising efforts for Discovery Green. Q: When you started raising money, what was the pitch you made to donors? How did you convince people this would be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 3 Comments