Monthly Archives: July 2009

LSP says Johnson reassigned from voter registration duties

Posted on July 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s their report. The Lone Star Project has learned that Republican Tax Assessor-Collector Leo Vasquez has reassigned Associate Voter Registrar Ed Johnson from voter registration duties to a communications role. Johnson was exposed by the Lone Star Project as “the … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Friday random ten: Cooling down

Posted on July 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

After the earlier Too Hot list, I felt this was necessary. 1. Baby, It’s Cold Outside – The Priestess and The Fool 2. Cold Shot – Stevie Ray Vaughan 3. Cold – Annie Lennox 4. The Cool, Cool River – … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Two billion dollars

Posted on July 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Governor Perry’s grandstanding rejection of the federal stimulus money for unemployment insurance is going to cost us all more and more. Texas is preparing to borrow as much as $2-billion to pay for unemployment insurance benefits. That’s what the chairman … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Where’d that driver’s license data come from?

Posted on July 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Lone Star Project revisits the matter of Ed Johnson and Dwayne Bohac and their cozy relationship as business partners with a real in at the Harris County Tax Assessor’s office. Last month, the Lone Star Project revealed that Harris … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Someone must be doing it

Posted on July 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Ars Technica: 12% of e-mail users have actually tried to buy stuff from spam. [The Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group (MAAWG)] conducted 800 interviews by phone and Internet across the US with people who had e-mail addresses not managed by a corporate … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

KBH goes link trolling

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Oh. My. God. This morning, I came across a Web site for U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s gubernatorial campaign. A provocative twist: The site may have been juiced with the intent of drawing visitors with the help of more than … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

NHPO online survey for July

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The National Hispanic Professional Organization (NHPO), in conjunction with The Carreno Group, conducted an online survey of the Houston municipal elections earlier this month, for which they have just released the results. I’ve placed it under the fold for your … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

From the “Nobody knows what KBH will do” department

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

That would be because she doesn’t know what the hell she’s going to do. Here’s Kay, take one, from the Mark Davis radio show. Davis: So you’ll be coming out at some point. When do you think its decision time … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Post the meeting notices already

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, it’s not so easy finding out when Metro has a committee meeting. Metro does post the time of its regular monthly board meeting on its Web site, but not for the committee meetings. Reporting on government agencies has taught … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

More money for SUPERTRAINS

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. [Thursday], the U.S. House passed its housing and transportation bill, which will provide funds for fiscal year 2010. Approved mostly by members of the majority Democratic party, the bill would allocate $4 billion to high-speed rail programs — if … Continue reading →

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Intown Q&A with Mayoral candidates

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Houston Intown magazine is one of those freebie publications you’ll find at your coffee shop and whatnot. The current issue has a Q&A with the five Mayoral candidates that’s worth a look. For whatever the reason, their website isn’t set … Continue reading →

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Interview with Noel Freeman

Posted on July 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing with the At Large candidate interviews, today we hear from Noel Freeman, who is running in At Large #4. Freeman was a candidate for the At Large #3 special election of 2007, finishing seventh in the field of 11. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

The secret Superintendent search continues

Posted on July 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

HISD continues its stealthy ways in seeking a replacement for outgoing Superintendent Abe Saavedra. The Houston school board, trying to protect the candidates’ identities, will interview the job seekers behind closed doors at its headhunting firm’s downtown office. The board … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics, School days | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Just how viable is the Grand Parkway anyway?

Posted on July 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

So it’s official, Commissioners Court has voted to seek stimulus funding for the Grand Parkway Segment E despite numerous concerns about the way they went about it. Houston Tomorrow explores a facet of this that I hadn’t been aware of … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Let’s do the time warp again

Posted on July 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Businesses try to restrict Internet access for employees, employees diligently try to find ways around these restrictions. What year is it again? It’s a common complaint from young people who join the work force with the expectation that their bosses … Continue reading →

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Gallery arsonist arrested

Posted on July 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

An arrest has been made in the setting of the fire at the Gallery Furniture warehouse back in May. A man fired five years ago from Gallery Furniture has been arrested and charged with arson, accused of setting the fire … Continue reading →

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KBH to vote against Sotomayor

Posted on July 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Nobody is surprised by this, right? Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison says she will vote against confirming Sonia Sotomayor to be a Supreme Court justice. She said Tuesday she is concerned about Sotomayor’s views on the Second Amendment on the … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

HISD trustee fundraising

Posted on July 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Yes! One more report on campaign fundraising, this time for HISD Trustees. These reports are online, but I didn’t know where to look for them. Fortunately, School Zone did, and that’s good because the July reports are still in paper … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

As goes Cy-Fair, so goes Texas

Posted on July 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Earlier this month, I noted that the Cy-Fair ISD was considering the repeal of an optional homestead exemption so it could pay for salaries and services it needed for the schools. They backed off after residents protested, choosing instead of … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Education stimulus money for Texas approved

Posted on July 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. The U.S. Department of Education has approved Texas’ application for using $3.2 billion in federal stimulus money, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said. That money will be used to pay for textbooks and a $1.9 billion increase in school … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of July 27

Posted on July 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Time again for the Texas Progressive Alliance weekly blog roundup. Click on for the highlights.

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MLS All Star Game coming to Houston

Posted on July 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. As the MLS All-Stars prepare to take on English Premier League club Everton in Wednesday’s MLS All-Star Game in Sandy, Utah, the league announced Monday that Houston will host the 2010 edition. “The city of Houston has consistently and … Continue reading →

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Interview with Lonnie Allsbrooks

Posted on July 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Returning to the At Large races, the next candidate for this year’s interview series is Lonnie Allsbrooks, who is running for At Large #1. Allsbrooks is the owner of the Beer Island bar in the Heights and has been in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Texas Monthly on Sharon Keller

Posted on July 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Monthly gives the long-form magazine article treatment to Sharon Keller and her upcoming trial before the Commission on Judicial Conduct. It’s well worth reading, and they try their best to humanize her, but I can’t bring myself to care … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Hurricane season quiet so far

Posted on July 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

That’s nice, but it doesn’t mean we’re in good shape. Although the first Atlantic named storm typically forms by July 10, the real activity doesn’t usually begin until August, and a lull in early season activity doesn’t necessarily presage a … Continue reading →

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Should the Aggies move to C-USA?

Posted on July 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’m unsure if Richard Justice is kidding or not in his apparently annual suggestion to the Aggies that they realize they’re in over their heads in the Big XII and join C-USA instead. I mean, his serious stuff often reads … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Irving to appeal ruling in single-member districts lawsuit

Posted on July 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise. The Irving City Council plans to appeal last week’s federal court ruling that ordered the city to create single-member council districts before holding any more City Council elections. Mayor Herbert Gears said the city will also request that … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Weekend link dump for July 26

Posted on July 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

One small step for a blog, one giant leap for blog-kind. White flour! Via Chad. You are not a Bible character. That goes double for you, Mark Sanford. Along those lines, this is just putting lipstick on a bunch of … Continue reading →

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Maddow on Perry

Posted on July 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I mentioned in passing that Governor Perry has decided that since his battle against the stimulus package was so effective, he needed to turn to health care reform, which he planned to oppose on 10th Amendment grounds. No, I have … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Grits on the jail czar

Posted on July 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

When I blogged about the creation of a “jail czar” position in Harris County whose job it will be to deal with overcrowding in the local jails, I said hoped that Scott Henson would comment on it. He did leave … Continue reading →

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Red light cameras? There’s an app for that

Posted on July 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Of course you can use your iPhone to avoid red light cameras and speed traps. Dwight tells us about it. Most Houston drivers know that the city has set up cameras at certain intersections to snap photos of those who run … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Galveston goes smoke-free

Posted on July 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. The Galveston City Council adopted a comprehensive smoking ban Thursday, forbidding people from lighting up in bars, restaurants, private clubs and tobacco stores. Council members Karen Mahoney, Elizabeth Beeton and Tarris Woods joined Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas, … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Saturday video break: Motoring

Posted on July 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

You know what this feature really needs? A big steaming dose of cheesy 80s goodness. And it just doesn’t get any cheesy-80s-goodness-ier than this: Night Ranger – New Music – More Music Videos What can I say? The 80s, man. … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Jones gets another opponent

Posted on July 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In the wake of her comments about Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association President Jeff Caynon, Council Member Jolanda Jones has drawn a new challenger for her seat. On Friday, retired HISD administrator Davetta Daniels filed to challenge Jones in November. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments