Monthly Archives: March 2009

Weekend link dump for March 8

Posted on March 8, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Did you remember to spring forward? The tenderness of the delicate American buttock is causing more environmental devastation than the country’s love of gas-guzzling cars, fast food or McMansions, according to green campaigners. I swear, if it’s not one thing, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for March 8

Posted on March 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Did you remember to spring forward? The tenderness of the delicate American buttock is causing more environmental devastation than the country’s love of gas-guzzling cars, fast food or McMansions, according to green campaigners. I swear, if it’s not one thing, … Continue reading →

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I’m gonna save me some daylight

Posted on March 8, 2009 by Greg Wythe

I just want to say that I love daylight saving time. I love having more sunlight hours after work, when we can all use them. Double daylight saving time might be a bit much for me, but if we kept … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 5 Comments

I’m gonna save me some daylight

Posted on March 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I just want to say that I love daylight saving time. I love having more sunlight hours after work, when we can all use them. Double daylight saving time might be a bit much for me, but if we kept … Continue reading →

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NYT on Keller

Posted on March 8, 2009 by Greg Wythe

This story doesn’t really advance our knowledge of Justice Sharon Keller, but it does provide some insight as to her supporters. At least, it confirms that she has them. How they can reconcile their opinion of her with some of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Always government handouts

Posted on March 8, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Texans for Public Justice have put together a really good report on government subsidies for WalMart here in Texas that I highly recommend. Stories like this constitute another reason why I tend not to get too bent out of shape … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | 1 Comment

Catastrophic, year 2

Posted on March 8, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Nice little shoutout to Houston’s Catastrophic Theater. Recently returned from a month-long residency at New Hampshire’s prestigious MacDowell Colony for artists, Jason Nodler is bursting with exciting plans and projects for his Houston-based Catastrophic Theatre Company. His agenda for the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Catastrophic, year 2

NYT on Keller

Posted on March 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This story doesn’t really advance our knowledge of Justice Sharon Keller, but it does provide some insight as to her supporters. At least, it confirms that she has them. How they can reconcile their opinion of her with some of … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on NYT on Keller

Always government handouts

Posted on March 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Texans for Public Justice have put together a really good report on government subsidies for WalMart here in Texas that I highly recommend. Stories like this constitute another reason why I tend not to get too bent out of shape … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Always government handouts

Catastrophic, year 2

Posted on March 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Nice little shoutout to Houston’s Catastrophic Theater. Recently returned from a month-long residency at New Hampshire’s prestigious MacDowell Colony for artists, Jason Nodler is bursting with exciting plans and projects for his Houston-based Catastrophic Theatre Company. His agenda for the … Continue reading →

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More on the deputy drivers

Posted on March 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The story about the deputies that were assigned driving duties for Sheriff Adrian Garcia and County Judge Ed Emmett got an extended play in the Chron thanks to a letter to the editor from Garcia and an email he sent … Continue reading →

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More on the deputy drivers

Posted on March 7, 2009 by Greg Wythe

The story about the deputies that were assigned driving duties for Sheriff Adrian Garcia and County Judge Ed Emmett got an extended play in the Chron thanks to a letter to the editor from Garcia and an email he sent … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on More on the deputy drivers

Time again to support your local microbrewer

Posted on March 7, 2009 by Greg Wythe

I’ve mentioned before that the microbrewers are going to try again as they did in 2007 to get a law passed that would allow them to sell their wares at their bottling plants. Here’s an update in the Chron on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

Time again to support your local microbrewer

Posted on March 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve mentioned before that the microbrewers are going to try again as they did in 2007 to get a law passed that would allow them to sell their wares at their bottling plants. Here’s an update in the Chron on … Continue reading →

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Crosstown (rail) traffic

Posted on March 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Approving the construction contract with Parsons is a big step forward for the long-awaited light rail expansion in Houston. But there’s still a lot more to be done. The Metropolitan Transit Authority will look to the Federal Transit Administration for … Continue reading →

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Crosstown (rail) traffic

Posted on March 7, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Approving the construction contract with Parsons is a big step forward for the long-awaited light rail expansion in Houston. But there’s still a lot more to be done. The Metropolitan Transit Authority will look to the Federal Transit Administration for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Crosstown (rail) traffic

Friday random ten: You say “70s throwback” as if it were a bad thing

Posted on March 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Say what you want about Amy Winehouse and her trainwreck life. Here’s what Genius has to say about her and her musique verite hit “Rehab”. 1. Rehab – Amy Winehouse 2. Papa Was A Rolling Stone – The Temptations 3. … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: You say “70s throwback” as if it were a bad thing

Posted on March 6, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Say what you want about Amy Winehouse and her trainwreck life. Here’s what Genius has to say about her and her musique verite hit “Rehab”. 1. Rehab – Amy Winehouse 2. Papa Was A Rolling Stone – The Temptations 3. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Friday random ten: You say “70s throwback” as if it were a bad thing

Activists tell TxDOT to slow down and be open

Posted on March 6, 2009 by Greg Wythe

The following is a press release from a coalition of activists, including the Sierra Club, Environment Texas, Independent Texans, Houston Tomorrow, and the CTC: Representatives of a broad coalition of quality of life, political reform, and environmental groups and citizens … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Activists tell TxDOT to slow down and be open

Posted on March 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The following is a press release from a coalition of activists, including the Sierra Club, Environment Texas, Independent Texans, Houston Tomorrow, and the CTC: Representatives of a broad coalition of quality of life, political reform, and environmental groups and citizens … Continue reading →

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The Tour de Houston

Posted on March 6, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Are you looking for a bicycle race, but without all those tedious mountains and drug tests? Well then, the Tour de Houston is what you’re looking for. The 2009 ride date will be Sunday March 22, beginning and ending downtown … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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The Tour de Houston

Posted on March 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Are you looking for a bicycle race, but without all those tedious mountains and drug tests? Well then, the Tour de Houston is what you’re looking for. The 2009 ride date will be Sunday March 22, beginning and ending downtown … Continue reading →

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On gerrymandering and partisanship

Posted on March 6, 2009 by Greg Wythe

The subject of the partisan polarization of Congress came up in conversation recently, and along with it was the topic of redistricting and gerrymandered districts. That made me hunt up this paper (PDF) from Princeton’s Nolan McCarty, UCSD’s Keith Poole, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on On gerrymandering and partisanship

On gerrymandering and partisanship

Posted on March 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The subject of the partisan polarization of Congress came up in conversation recently, and along with it was the topic of redistricting and gerrymandered districts. That made me hunt up this paper (PDF) from Princeton’s Nolan McCarty, UCSD’s Keith Poole, … Continue reading →

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Morrison speaks on the Grand Parkway

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Fort Bend County Commissioner Richard Morrison writes about the recently-greenlighted Grand Parkway Segment E and the possibility that stimulus funds could be used to fund what will become a toll road. If Segment E is funded from the stimulus money … Continue reading →

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Morrison speaks on the Grand Parkway

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Fort Bend County Commissioner Richard Morrison writes about the recently-greenlighted Grand Parkway Segment E and the possibility that stimulus funds could be used to fund what will become a toll road. If Segment E is funded from the stimulus money … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Is the TAKS test at the end of the line?

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

If so, there’s a lot of people who won’t be sorry to see it go. “We have counted on testing and testing only. And it’s caused a lot of angst in the schools,” Senate Public Education Chair Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Is the TAKS test at the end of the line?

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Greg Wythe

If so, there’s a lot of people who won’t be sorry to see it go. “We have counted on testing and testing only. And it’s caused a lot of angst in the schools,” Senate Public Education Chair Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 3 Comments

Metro approves contract with Parsons

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The Metropolitan Transit Authority board of directors on Wednesday unanimously approved a $1.46 billion contract for four new light rail lines, which would add 20 miles to its lone seven-mile line along Main Street. Under the contract, which came … Continue reading →

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Metro approves contract with Parsons

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Good. The Metropolitan Transit Authority board of directors on Wednesday unanimously approved a $1.46 billion contract for four new light rail lines, which would add 20 miles to its lone seven-mile line along Main Street. Under the contract, which came … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 4 Comments

Driver!

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I feel like I’ve read this story about part-time drivers for Sheriff Adrian Garcia and County Judge Ed Emmett before. It reminded me of this one about state Senate staffer salaries, and this one about City Council expenditures. In each … Continue reading →

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Driver!

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Greg Wythe

I feel like I’ve read this story about part-time drivers for Sheriff Adrian Garcia and County Judge Ed Emmett before. It reminded me of this one about state Senate staffer salaries, and this one about City Council expenditures. In each … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Driver!

Brennan’s to reopen

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The venerable Brennan’s of Houston restaurant, which burned down during Hurricane Ike, will reopen later this year. Alex Brennan-Martin said he wanted to put to rest the rumor that Brennan’s of Houston would never reopen. It will, in October, 13 … Continue reading →

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Brennan’s to reopen

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Greg Wythe

The venerable Brennan’s of Houston restaurant, which burned down during Hurricane Ike, will reopen later this year. Alex Brennan-Martin said he wanted to put to rest the rumor that Brennan’s of Houston would never reopen. It will, in October, 13 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Comments Off on Brennan’s to reopen