Monthly Archives: May 2008

Council fusses at Metro over rail details

Posted on May 31, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

This story about City Council delaying a vote on the “consent agreement” with Metro seems to me to be less bad than it sounds. Among council members’ concerns were sidewalks, street beautification, the impact of construction, the danger of trains … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

Hotel tax lawsuit goes class-action

Posted on May 31, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Back in 2006, the city of San Antonio filed a lawsuit against online hotel bookers, claiming that they were paying an insufficient amount of hotel taxes. Basically, sites like Travelocity book a boatload of rooms at a fixed discount price, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Comments Off on Hotel tax lawsuit goes class-action

Once again, a matter of priorities

Posted on May 31, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve hit on the theme of budgetary priorities and choices many times in recent weeks, and I see that Rick Noriega has given me a nice opportunity to hit it again. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Rick Noriega lashed Republican incumbent … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

LSG report on higher education in Texas

Posted on May 31, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Since the subject of public universities and tuition costs have been in the news lately, this would be a good time to direct you to the just-released Legislative Study Group Analysis and Recommendations on State of Higher Education in Texas … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on LSG report on higher education in Texas

A change of direction at TxDOT?

Posted on May 31, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Is new TxDOT Chair Deirdre Delisi, whose appointment to replace the late Ric Williamson was not very well received due to her close ties to Governor Perry, trying to take the agency in a new direction regarding toll roads? Maybe, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on A change of direction at TxDOT?

The best argument ever against the intentional walk

Posted on May 30, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I’m watching a bit of the Women’s College World Series – I quite enjoy NCAA softball, which is a very different game than baseball. After UCLA walked Arizona State slugger Kaitlin Cochran to start the fifth inning and she came … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 1 Comment

KTRK interviews Texas DNC Rules Committee member

Posted on May 30, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

KTRK political reporter Tom Abrahams has a long interview with DNC superdelegate and Rules and Bylaws Committee member Jaime Gonzalez, Jr., in which they discuss issues such as what to do with Florida and Michigan. Those of you who can’t … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Supreme Court upholds FLDS ruling

Posted on May 30, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The State Supreme Court has upheld the earlier ruling by the Third Court of Appeals that the state of Texas overstepped its bounds in the case of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the removal … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

RIP, Harvey Korman

Posted on May 30, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Harvey Korman, one of my favorite comic actors of all time, has passed away at the age of 81. A natural second banana, Korman gained attention on The Danny Kaye Show, appearing in skits with the star. He joined the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 2 Comments

Ibarras sue again

Posted on May 30, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Look out, Lloyd Kelley and the Ibarra brothers are suing the Sheriff’s Office again, this time alleging that the HCSO retaliates against people who file complaints against it. “There is a pattern and a practice of abusing civil rights and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 2 Comments

Talking tuition

Posted on May 30, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a start. One by one, representatives of the state’s universities were called before a Senate subcommittee Wednesday to explain why they have raised tuition 50 percent or more during the past five years. “It was done after much anguish,” … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 2 Comments

New math, Russian-style

Posted on May 30, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

As someone with a degree in – and a love of – math, I’m always interested in stories about better ways to teach math to kids. “Most people can’t imagine a ‘beautiful proof’ or an ‘elegant theorem,’ but in fact, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 2 Comments

“The Sanctuary”

Posted on May 30, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Those of you interested in immigration matters, here’s a new blog for you: The Sanctuary. Their mission statement: The Sanctuary is a grassroots effort of pro-migrant, human-rights, and civil-rights bloggers and on-line activists dedicated to the enactment of meaningful immigration … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on “The Sanctuary”

A little perspective, please

Posted on May 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Since the release of the Texas Observer poll of new and crossover voters in this year’s Democratic primary, a somewhat strange narrative has taken hold. Here’s Burka: The voting pattern-a huge spike in turnout combined with little interest in downballot … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

The Texas Observer polls the new primary voters

Posted on May 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Leland Beatty takes a look at all those new folks who voted in the Democratic primary. [W]e surveyed 2,500 voters, half of whom had never participated in a primary until 2008 and the other half voters who participated in previous … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Sheriff still hasn’t learned his lesson about deleting emails

Posted on May 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Some people never learn. It may be just one email, but the sheriff’s office is trying to explain why it was trying to destroy a key piece of evidence, which has now been subpoenaed by a grand jury investigating that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Sheriff still hasn’t learned his lesson about deleting emails

Early overview of the HCDE Trustee races

Posted on May 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The last countywide office that I will examine in my Early Overview series is one that I would normally call the most obscure office in Harris County. That would be the office of Harris County Department of Education trustee. In … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Baselice’s Texas poll

Posted on May 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Rick Perry’s pollster Mike Baselice has released a poll showing John McCain with a significant lead over either Democratic candidate for President in Texas – he pegs McCain with a 52-36 advantage over Barack Obama, and a 51-36 edge over … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Judge strikes down Farmers Branch anti-immigrant law

Posted on May 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Good. U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay issued a permanent injunction barring the city from implementing Ordinance 2903, which voters approved 2-to-1 in May 2007. But the newer version of the effort, Ordinance 2952, remains and is slated to go into … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 2 Comments

We should all have such critics

Posted on May 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

You’d think a story headlined Critics question White’s motives for environmental push would feature some criticism of Mayor White. This is what you got: In his third and last term, White has backed up his eco-friendly rhetoric by purchasing wind-powered … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 2 Comments

Janek resigns

Posted on May 28, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

It’s official – State Sen. Kyle Janek has handed in his resignation letter to Governor Perry. Perry now has to set a special election date, which I’d guess will be November 4, same as the regular election. He can always … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Janek resigns

Settlement in vote suppression lawsuit against AG Abbott

Posted on May 28, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Good news, from the Lone Star Project: Events unfolded in dramatic fashion today in Marshall, TX. As the case was set to go to trial, the Plaintiffs, including the Texas Democratic Party and Democratic activists, were approached by lawyers for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Settlement in vote suppression lawsuit against AG Abbott

Commercial valuation baloney

Posted on May 28, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

This story about commercial property valuations rising is no surprise, but there’s a staggering piece of baloney in it that really needs a response. Commercial property values in Harris County increased an average of 34 percent this year amid a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 2 Comments

Olivia the star (gazer)

Posted on May 28, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

So last week, as I was about to chase Olivia off to bed, Tiffany stopped me and said “No, wait, there’s stargazing on the Esplanade tonight. Why not take Olivia out for a few minutes and let her look through … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 1 Comment

The party to attend in Austin next week

Posted on May 28, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Are you going to be in Austin for the Texas Democratic convention next week? If so, then this is the party to attend while you’re there: The Texas Progressive Alliance Proudly Presents The Third Biennial Blogger’s Caucus Thursday, June 5, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on The party to attend in Austin next week

Metro to hold open house on Southeast corridor today

Posted on May 28, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: METRO is conducting an Open House and a Public Hearing to receive comments on the Southeast Corridor Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement (SFEIS), which was released for public review May 9, when METRO announced the availability of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Metro to hold open house on Southeast corridor today

The Comets at Reliant

Posted on May 28, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I took Olivia to see the Comets’ home opener last night at Reliant Arena. We only stayed for the first half, which is going to be the norm for night games, but we had a good time while we were … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Comments Off on The Comets at Reliant

Texas blog roundup for the week of May 27

Posted on May 28, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day holiday-shortened week. Here’s your still-full-length weekly roundup from the Texas Progressive Alliance: Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of May 27

Abbott’s ambition

Posted on May 27, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Given that at least our last three Attorneys General made runs for higher office – it may be more than that, but that’s as far back as I can recall offhand – it should be no surprise that our current … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Abbott’s ambition

A new front in the war on mosquitoes

Posted on May 27, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

You hate mosquitoes, right? Of course you do – everybody does. So do I, but like most people I also hate having to apply mosquito repellant. It’s unplesant stuff that smells bad, but it’s a necessity of life in places … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on A new front in the war on mosquitoes

Court thwacks CPS over FLDS raid

Posted on May 27, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

While I was out last week, the case of the state of Texas versus the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints took a turn against the State when the 3rd Court of Appeals issued a ruling saying, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Court thwacks CPS over FLDS raid

From the “Dance with them what brung you” files

Posted on May 27, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a good thing I’m tanned and rested from my weekend vacation, or else this Clay Robison column might have caused me to faint. How much college tuition would $1.4 million cover? The simple answer, of course, is not nearly … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on From the “Dance with them what brung you” files

Is the death penalty declining in Texas?

Posted on May 27, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

This Chron story asks a provocative question: If a Harris County jury declines to give the death penalty to Juan Quintero, is it the case that a taste for the death penalty is on the decline here? The jury decided … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Is the death penalty declining in Texas?

And in other news, water is wet

Posted on May 27, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

From the “Headlines That Write Themselves” Department last week: Lack of evidence stalls investigation of UFO sightings. Never would have seen that one coming! Whether a UFO visited two Central Texas towns will remain a mystery – at least for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Skepticism | Comments Off on And in other news, water is wet