Monthly Archives: May 2008

Happy Memorial Day

Posted on May 26, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

We are back from a lovely Carnival cruise from Galveston, which was a lot of fun except for the long wait to debark followed by the 90-minute trek through Customs. You haven’t lived till you’ve done that with two small … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Happy Memorial Day

Quintero’s lawyer speaks

Posted on May 25, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Scott Henson had the chance to speak to Danalynn Recer, one of the atrtorneys for Juan Quntero, whose life without parole sentence for the murder of HPD Officer Rodney Johnson has generated a lot of anger. I found this to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Quintero’s lawyer speaks

Perry goes on the offensive

Posted on May 24, 2008 by Tiffany Tyler

The “charm offensive,” that is. An editorial in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times calls out Rick Perry on schmoozing with our legislators now that, you know, he might need them for something: But Perry would have been a better governor if … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 1 Comment

Figuring out Bobby Jindal

Posted on May 23, 2008 by Tiffany Tyler

Like Ezra, I’m curious about the governor to the east, Bobby Jindal. Republicans have been excited about him and he’s allegedly on McCain’s short list for VP. But I can’t really figure out why, besides being young and ethnic, he’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 5 Comments

Don’t talk about tuition!

Posted on May 23, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

This is the least surprising news item of the week. Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday urged university regents to consider several potentially controversial changes in policy, including merit bonuses for some teachers and state grants of scholarships, or “vouchers,” directly … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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And on the Seventieth Day …

Posted on May 23, 2008 by admin

Guest-blogger: Greg Wythe Your intrepid blogger, Charles Kuffner, is literally adrift at sea this weekend. In his absence (of the physical sort), he’s turned the keys over to others like myself (which may well represent an absence of good judgment). … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Another front in the air quality battle

Posted on May 22, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor White has a new plan to target chemical plants that have dragged their feet about reducing benzene emissions: Contesting their permit renewals with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ): The plan represents a shift in White’s focus from … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Another front in the air quality battle

DA probes Sheriff’s surveillance of Ibarra brothers

Posted on May 22, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office acknowledged Wednesday it is investigating the sheriff’s office surveillance of two brothers who filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the department over their 2002 arrest. The prosecutor’s office released a letter from … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Early overview of the District Clerk race

Posted on May 22, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

OK, I admit it. Even I can’t think of a scenario under which the race for Harris County District Clerk makes it onto the public’s radar. It’s a low-profile, clerical office. There are no scandals surrounding it that I know … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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RIP, Dick Sutcliffe

Posted on May 22, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Dick Sutcliffe, creator of the classic stop-motion children’s show Davey and Goliath, has died at the age of 90. Along with Gumby creators Art Clokey and Ruth Clokey Goodell, Sutcliffe created the Sunday-morning series to spread a religious message without … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 1 Comment

The Astrodome as movie studio?

Posted on May 22, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t like the proposal to turn the Astrodome into a hotel/convention center? Well, how does turning it into a movie studio grab you? Transforming the Astrodome into a huge production studio would preserve the landmark, create jobs and pull revenue … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 4 Comments

Remake that greenback!

Posted on May 22, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

This was something I didn’t expect. The U.S. discriminates against blind people by printing paper money that makes it impossible for them to distinguish among the bills’ varying values, a federal appeals court ruled today. The ruling upholds a decision … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 1 Comment

The answer is staring you in the face

Posted on May 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

For some reason, I wasn’t invited to this august gathering to discuss the matter of rapidly rising college education costs, but no worries. I can save them a bunch of time and solve the problem from here. Gov. Rick Perry, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 3 Comments

Not so minor after all

Posted on May 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

So the main justification for the raid on the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints polygamist compound was allegations of underage girls being married illegally and getting pregnant. Problem is, more and more of these “girls” are actually adults. Ten … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Not so minor after all

Commissioners Court gets upset over lease deals report

Posted on May 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Things got a mite testy at the Commissioners Court meeting yesterday. Commissioners Court blasted a report critical of Harris County’s lease-purchase deals on Tuesday before voting unanimously to accept its recommendations to more closely analyze all major real estate transactions … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment

More “ghost worker” stuff

Posted on May 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I realize that House Speaker Tom Craddick always has a plan for things, but I wonder when he started the “ghost worker” dustup he truly anticipated this much blowback. The chairman of the Texas House committee whose employment practices helped … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Mrs. Medina pleads not guilty

Posted on May 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Francisca Medina, wife of Texas Supreme Court Justice David Medina, pleaded not guilty to an arson charge in the matter of the fire that destroyed their house. Francisca Medina is charged with first-degree felony arson and first-degree felony criminal mischief, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Red light camera watch: Hello, Austin!

Posted on May 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Get ready, Austin. The red light cameras are coming soon. Red-light cameras at some of the city’s busiest intersections will begin helping enforce traffic laws beginning May 23, when more motorists are on the road for Memorial Day weekend, Austin … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

Pigeon wars!

Posted on May 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Some stories are so goofy that all you can do it sit back and marvel at them. The dossier spills over into two drawers of files full of hand-scribbled notes, maps marked with sharp black dots — and snapshots of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Bell for SD17?

Posted on May 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Clay Robison mentions a possibility for the Dems in SD17. Democrat Chris Bell, who lost a race for governor two years ago, is being encouraged by some Democrats to run for the District 17 state Senate seat soon to be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Build green and save some green

Posted on May 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Commissioners Court wants to make it easier for builders to be green. Companies that build environmentally friendly facilities in Harris County could get a sizable property tax break under a proposal to be considered by Commissioners Court today. The plan … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment

A loophole for red light runners?

Posted on May 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Is there a magic ticket for getting out of a camera-generated red light violation? Attorney Randall Kallinen said drivers should appeal their tickets because the affidavits that back up the video images are “conclusory,” instead of based on evidence. “Conclusory” … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on A loophole for red light runners?

Time for the Super Bowl Shuffle again

Posted on May 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Today we find out if we’re getting another Super Bowl. [Texans owner Bob] McNair and the Houston Super Bowl committee, which is chaired by John Nau III, will present their bid to the NFL owners in a meeting today in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Comments Off on Time for the Super Bowl Shuffle again

HomeForTheDynamo.com

Posted on May 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

While all the negotiations over Dynamo Stadium drag on between the city and the team, Houstonist reports on a grassroots action by fans hoping to move the process along. A group of supporters calling themselves “Home for the Dynamo” have … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Austin light rail hits delays

Posted on May 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The light rail plan for Austin has run into that oldest of snags, the committee to study alternatives. When Austin Mayor Will Wynn used his annual “state of the city” speech in October to plant the seed of rail, what … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Let’s hear it for nerdmobiles!

Posted on May 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

From the “You never know what may come back into style” department, the high cost of gasoline is making Geos and Hyundais the new hot cars. Early-1990s econoboxes such as Ford Festiva, Hyundai Excel and Geo Metro — once the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Texas blog roundup for the week of May 19

Posted on May 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Can you believe how nice the weather has been in Houston lately? About the only nicer thing I can think of is this week’s Texas Progressive Alliance blog roundup. Click on for a cool breeze of the bloggy kind. Continue reading →

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Probe of Sheriff’s office urged

Posted on May 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Good. State Sen. Rodney Ellis and other lawmakers today said they have asked the Texas attorney general to investigate the Harris County Sheriff’s Office’s surveillance of two brothers who successfully sued the county and the Sheriff’s Office. Ellis, D-Houston, said … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Abbott’s partisan efforts

Posted on May 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The Morning News has a nice writeup on the efforts by Attorney General Greg Abbott to root out “vote fraud” in Texas. More than two years ago, Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott pledged to root out what he called an … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 3 Comments

The booster club advantage

Posted on May 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe it’s because my high school didn’t have any modern athletic facilities while I was there – our “home games” for baseball, basketball, and football were all played someplace else, and all these years later I still have no idea … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Interviews with Bradford and Lykos

Posted on May 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

A gentleman named Dean Becker of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition just published interviews with Harris County DA candidates Clarence Bradford and Pat Lykos. The subject is primarily the “war on drugs” and its effects, but there’s some more general stuff … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Score one for preservation

Posted on May 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

There’s been so much bad news for preservationists lately that it’s nice to hear about a win every now and then. Like this story, about reusing a historic building instead of tearing it down. “What the heck is that?” That … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Score one for preservation

More TIERS coming

Posted on May 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The colossally ineffective TIERS system has been given the go-ahead to expand in Texas, though not by very much. The federal agency that oversees food stamps this week agreed to let Texas expand a new computer enrollment system in a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on More TIERS coming

Things Younger Than McCain

Posted on May 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Not exactly a single-serving site, but sort of one in spirit: Things Younger Than John McCain. Like, for instance, the Golden Gate Bridge. And Cheerios, and the shopping cart, and the concept of an area code, and…you get the idea. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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