Monthly Archives: February 2009

Friday random ten: Flight of the Genius

Posted on February 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As promised (threatened?) last week, it’s time to pay another visit to Genius-land, in which we use the Genius feature of iTunes to create some playlists from which we draw the weekly Friday Random Ten lists. Needless to say, the … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Flight of the Genius

Posted on February 6, 2009 by Greg Wythe

As promised (threatened?) last week, it’s time to pay another visit to Genius-land, in which we use the Genius feature of iTunes to create some playlists from which we draw the weekly Friday Random Ten lists. Needless to say, the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Friday random ten: Flight of the Genius

Wilshire Village Apartments

Posted on February 6, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Normally, another story about another old and rundown apartment complex in Houston being set for demolition isn’t that noteworthy, at least for me, but this Swamplot post about the Wilshire Village Apartments struck a chord with me because I used … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 4 Comments

Wilshire Village Apartments

Posted on February 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Normally, another story about another old and rundown apartment complex in Houston being set for demolition isn’t that noteworthy, at least for me, but this Swamplot post about the Wilshire Village Apartments struck a chord with me because I used … Continue reading →

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Craddick’s cleanup

Posted on February 6, 2009 by Greg Wythe

I’m amused by this. Before the House voted Speaker Tom Craddick out of his powerful job, state officials wiped his computers clean and deleted scores of electronic files, raising concerns that important public records may have been destroyed. Files on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 3 Comments

Craddick’s cleanup

Posted on February 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’m amused by this. Before the House voted Speaker Tom Craddick out of his powerful job, state officials wiped his computers clean and deleted scores of electronic files, raising concerns that important public records may have been destroyed. Files on … Continue reading →

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A piece of the stimulus pie for Metro

Posted on February 6, 2009 by Greg Wythe

This would be nice. Houston Metro is due to receive as much as $180 million over the next 12 months from a huge economic stimulus bill to help jump-start construction of two light rail lines, a House committee chairman said … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

A piece of the stimulus pie for Metro

Posted on February 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This would be nice. Houston Metro is due to receive as much as $180 million over the next 12 months from a huge economic stimulus bill to help jump-start construction of two light rail lines, a House committee chairman said … Continue reading →

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And the answer is…more cameras (maybe)

Posted on February 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Well, there is some logic to it. The Houston Police Department is considering changes — possibly even expansion — to its red-light camera program after a city-commissioned study showed that crashes went up at intersections where the devices have been … Continue reading →

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And the answer is…more cameras (maybe)

Posted on February 6, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Well, there is some logic to it. The Houston Police Department is considering changes — possibly even expansion — to its red-light camera program after a city-commissioned study showed that crashes went up at intersections where the devices have been … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Parker polls, King drops out

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Annise Parker hits the ground running by releasing a favorable poll on her candidacy for Mayor. “City Controller Annise Parker is the clear front runner and a strong favorite to make the runoff. Parker is better known than any declared … Continue reading →

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Parker polls, King drops out

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Annise Parker hits the ground running by releasing a favorable poll on her candidacy for Mayor. “City Controller Annise Parker is the clear front runner and a strong favorite to make the runoff. Parker is better known than any declared … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | 4 Comments

First impressions

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve said that I intend to keep an open mind about the Mayoral race, because I just don’t know enough about all of the potential contenders at this point. But as the old saying goes, it won’t be so open … Continue reading →

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First impressions

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Greg Wythe

I’ve said that I intend to keep an open mind about the Mayoral race, because I just don’t know enough about all of the potential contenders at this point. But as the old saying goes, it won’t be so open … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | 1 Comment

That Gallup poll of partisan preferences

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure by now you’ve seen that Gallup poll, which measured party affiliation in all 50 states and showed Democrats to have a slight edge, by a 43-41 margin, over Republicans in Texas. For a discussion of the methodology, you … Continue reading →

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That Gallup poll of partisan preferences

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Greg Wythe

I’m sure by now you’ve seen that Gallup poll, which measured party affiliation in all 50 states and showed Democrats to have a slight edge, by a 43-41 margin, over Republicans in Texas. For a discussion of the methodology, you … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 1 Comment

Is KBH overstating her support?

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Evan Smith says not everyone whom Kay Bailey Hutchison says is supporting her for Governor is actually supporting her for Governor. Ever since Kay Bailey Hutchison semi-kicked-off her race for governor in Austin a couple of Saturdays ago, I’ve been … Continue reading →

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Is KBH overstating her support?

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Evan Smith says not everyone whom Kay Bailey Hutchison says is supporting her for Governor is actually supporting her for Governor. Ever since Kay Bailey Hutchison semi-kicked-off her race for governor in Austin a couple of Saturdays ago, I’ve been … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | 3 Comments

The next US Attorney in Houston

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Now that we finally have an Attorney General, we also have a lot of people who would like to work for him. The U.S. attorney wannabes who confirmed for the Houston Chronicle that they are interested are Harris County District … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The next US Attorney in Houston

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Now that we finally have an Attorney General, we also have a lot of people who would like to work for him. The U.S. attorney wannabes who confirmed for the Houston Chronicle that they are interested are Harris County District … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 1 Comment

Hurricane relief spending

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

So as noted, hurricane relief has been designated as emergency items by Governor Perry for the Legislature. They will have their work cut out for them. Ike and two other hurricanes — Dolly and Gustav — struck Texas last year … Continue reading →

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Hurricane relief spending

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Greg Wythe

So as noted, hurricane relief has been designated as emergency items by Governor Perry for the Legislature. They will have their work cut out for them. Ike and two other hurricanes — Dolly and Gustav — struck Texas last year … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on Hurricane relief spending

Ed Gonzalez kickoff event

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Ed Gonzalez will have a campaign kickoff event for District H next Wednesday, February 11, at Irma’s Restaurant downtown from 5:30 to 7 PM. You can get all the details here (PDF). We’re rapidly approaching the filing deadline for the … Continue reading →

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Ed Gonzalez kickoff event

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Ed Gonzalez will have a campaign kickoff event for District H next Wednesday, February 11, at Irma’s Restaurant downtown from 5:30 to 7 PM. You can get all the details here (PDF). We’re rapidly approaching the filing deadline for the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | 1 Comment

Saavedra to step down

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In 2010. Houston ISD Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra plans to step down from his post by spring of 2010, he announced this morning. “I have recently informed the school board of my intention to retire within the next year. I want … Continue reading →

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Saavedra to step down

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Greg Wythe

In 2010. Houston ISD Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra plans to step down from his post by spring of 2010, he announced this morning. “I have recently informed the school board of my intention to retire within the next year. I want … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Saavedra to step down

A list of who has actually filed treasurer’s reports so far

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Noel Freeman did us all the public service of trooping over to the City Secretary’s office and compiling a list of people who had filed treasurer’s reports as of Monday for election to a municipal office in 2009. As I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | 3 Comments

A list of who has actually filed treasurer’s reports so far

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Noel Freeman did us all the public service of trooping over to the City Secretary’s office and compiling a list of people who had filed treasurer’s reports as of Monday for election to a municipal office in 2009. As I … Continue reading →

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Reliant roof repaired

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

And just in time for rodeo season. Reliant Stadium’s retractable roof has lost its gap-tooth look and should be as good as new in plenty of time for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which runs March 3-22. The five … Continue reading →

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Reliant roof repaired

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Greg Wythe

And just in time for rodeo season. Reliant Stadium’s retractable roof has lost its gap-tooth look and should be as good as new in plenty of time for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which runs March 3-22. The five … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina, Other sports | Comments Off on Reliant roof repaired

Memorial Park bridge

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Very cool. Friday was a beautiful place to be in Memorial Park. But the mayor was there for a different reason: the start of construction on a new bridge, funded by the Memorial Park Conservancy, that will be open later … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Memorial Park bridge

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Very cool. Friday was a beautiful place to be in Memorial Park. But the mayor was there for a different reason: the start of construction on a new bridge, funded by the Memorial Park Conservancy, that will be open later … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Memorial Park bridge

Exonerating the deceased

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

One of the things Eric Berger focused on in his story about the relevance and importance of Charles Darwin some 200 years after his birth was the rise of DNA and its application to criminology. Today, DNA evidence is as … Continue reading →

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Exonerating the deceased

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Greg Wythe

One of the things Eric Berger focused on in his story about the relevance and importance of Charles Darwin some 200 years after his birth was the rise of DNA and its application to criminology. Today, DNA evidence is as … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Exonerating the deceased