Monthly Archives: July 2010

Friday random ten: Three cheers for the red, white, and blue, part 3

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve had red, we’ve had white, and now we’ve got blue: 1. Blue Angel – Squirrel Nut Zippers 2. Blue Baiao – Susanna Sharpe and the Samba Police 3. Blue Jeans – Eddie from Ohio 4. Blue Light – David … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Will the racetracks and the casinos work together?

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

At the very end of this Trib story about more legislative hearings on gambling expansion comes this tidbit: The Win for Texas group — which includes current racetrack owners who’d like to add slot machines and other games to their … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Water rate rebate passes Council

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Back in April, Council approved a water rate hike. There were some complaints from apartment owners at the time about the size of the rate increase that would apply to them, and the city agreed to make some changes to … Continue reading →

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

Beware the false moderates

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Marsha Farney, the Republican running to succeed super wingnut Cynthia Dunbar in SBOE 10, was considered the more moderate candidate in the GOP primary runoff for that nomination. When compared to Dunbar, or to her hand-picked successor, Brian Russell, Farney … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Let’s call it what it is

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I do not understand the resistance to renaming the Texas Railroad Commission to reflect what it actually does. The Railroad Commission is the state’s chief regulator of oil and gas production. The agency no longer deals with railroads yet still … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Chronic Consumer Stabilization Initiative

Posted on July 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In the comments to my previous post about mental illness and the criminal justice system, reader Katherine reminded me of this Houston Press article from last December, about a pilot program between HPD and the Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Mayor Parker on the proposed Heights Wal-Mart

Posted on July 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Hair Balls has an update. Walmart spokesman William Wertz told Hair Balls that Walmart is considering the expansion at this time but no plans have been approved. “We can confirm that we are looking at this site, but discussions are … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Meria Carstarphen

Posted on July 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, the Chron had a profile of HISD Superintendent Terry Grier that looked at what he had accomplished and what people thought of him after 10 months on the job. This week, the Statesman has a profile of Austin’s … Continue reading →

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

Texas blog roundup for the week of July 5

Posted on July 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance wishes America a Happy 234th Birthday as it brings you this week’s blog roundup.

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Dems drop effort to remove Greens from the ballot

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

After the initial Supreme Court ruling, it was probably a long shot. The Texas Democratic Party today cleared the way for Green Party candidates to remain on the ballot this year by dropping its state Supreme Court challenge to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

On we go with the red light camera debate

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The DMN has a story about the ongoing red light camera debate around the state. There’s a lot of familiar stuff in there, but this bit caught my eye: While camera critics dispute the safety data, the money generated has … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Grits visits the Harris County jail

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a thoughtful post by Scott Henson on his visit to the Harris County jail and the proposed booking center, which was touted as a gateway primarily for arrestees with mental health issues. While acknowledging the need for more resources … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

DA responds to CM Johnson

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Council Member Jarvis Johnson said his piece last week about his recent arrest for not pulling over on a traffic stop. Yesterday, the Harris County District Attorney had their say about it. Houston City Councilman Jarvis Johnson told police he … Continue reading →

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Tar balls in Galveston

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s hope this is not the start of something bigger. About a dozen tar balls that washed ashore on Crystal Beach were identified Monday as oil from the BP well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico, the first evidence that … Continue reading →

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Being Hector Uribe

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

There are days when I truly love being a political blogger, because they give me a reason to take note of stuff like this. Somewhere in Indiana, a man needs a date. And he’s using Democratic land commissioner candidate Hector … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The first candidate forum

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

What do you get when you have a gubernatorial candidate forum without Governor Perry? Pretty much the same as what you’d have with him, but without the distraction of his pathetic attempts to defend his record. The League of Women … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Revisiting the Libertarian effect

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

While we still don’t know what the deal will be with the Green Party, we may wonder what of that other third party on the ballot? Ross Ramsey takes a look at the Libertarian Party and the effect its candidates … Continue reading →

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

Ars Lyrica school outreach

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Ars Lyrica is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that produces a yearly series of concerts of early music, primarily Baroque, for general audiences. Part of their mission is a school outreach series. The following is from a press release I got … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

A modest theory

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I have become convinced that fifty or sixty years ago, a number of terror cells infiltrated the US and impregnated a bunch of women with babies who were groomed from birth to become utter morons who would destroy the country … Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

It’s all right, he wouldn’t have contributed anything to the debate anyway

Posted on July 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The first gubernatorial debate of the general election is today, and one person will not be there. Democratic nominee Bill White and Libertarian Kathie Glass, both lawyers, are scheduled to face off in a Kerrville Area League of Women Voters … Continue reading →

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

CM Johnson speaks

Posted on July 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Council Member Jarvis Johnson has a few words to say about his arrest for evading police on Wednesday. “I want to be very clear about the night in question,” Johnson said at a brief news conference. “I am not going … Continue reading →

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

Valet parking

Posted on July 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Do you love it or hate it? Whether one makes use of the service or not, valet parking has a spot in the Houston area’s landscape. The podiumlike stands with uniformed attendants sit like landmarks in front of hot night … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Valet parking

Defining downtown San Antonio

Posted on July 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The city of San Antonio is going to take a closer look at what it’s doing with its downtown. How to change the locals’ experience of downtown, and why it even matters, has become Topic A for many — in … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for July 4

Posted on July 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Hurrah for the flag of the free! May it wave as our standard forever, The gem of the land and the sea, The banner of the right. Let despots remember the day When our fathers with mighty endeavor Proclaimed as … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

Where’s Wal-Mart?

Posted on July 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Wal-Mart has bought a tract of land near the Heights. The store would be part of a larger development just south of Interstate 10 near the northwest intersection of Yale and Center. […] A development site plan obtained by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Texas 20/20 on the budget

Posted on July 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Via First Reading, a group called Texas 20/20 has taken a look at what other states have done to deal with their budget shortfalls, and how that may apply to Texas in next year’s legislative session. The author is former … Continue reading →

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Council redistricting news

Posted on July 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Campos had an interesting tidbit from the other day. The H-Town City Council [Wednesday] morning started discussing next year’s redistricting process. Instead of creating a city council committee on redistricting, the H-Town Mayor mentioned that she will probably let the … Continue reading →

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There may be hope for FIFA yet

Posted on July 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. We’ll see. But it’s a start. With pressure for video replay mounting after two blatant missed calls at the World Cup, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said soccer’s governing body will reopen the issue after the tournament. Blatter said Tuesday … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Fireworks

Posted on July 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

At times like this, we turn to Schoolhouse Rock for answers: Happy Third of July, everybody.

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Supremes give Greens a reprieve

Posted on July 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

They’re on the ballot for now. The Texas Supreme Court today stayed a district judge’s order blocking the Green Party of Texas from certifying its candidates for the general election ballot. The order allows the Green Party to legally establish … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

LSG hearing on expanded gambling

Posted on July 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Legislative Study Group held a hearing on Wednesday to start the discussion about the various proposals for expanded gambling in Texas that will be brought to the Lege next year. Racetrack and casino interests that want to expand Texas … Continue reading →

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We have a new illustration of “chutzpah”

Posted on July 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From Sen. John Cornyn, who knows a thing or two about shamelessness. Sen. John Cornyn pinned Democrats with the failure of a plan to extend jobless aid for millions of unemployed workers, only a day after Democrats fell a vote … Continue reading →

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The community college crunch

Posted on July 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Increasing enrollment and decreasing funding is a bad combination. Community colleges, like most other state agencies and institutions of higher education, faced a 5 percent cut in state funding for 2010 and 2011. That was about $3.2 million each year … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Three cheers for the red, white, and blue, part 2

Posted on July 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing with last week’s theme, here are ten white songs: 1. Angry White Boy Polka – Weird Al Yankovic 2. Dancing with Mrs. White – Great Big Sea 3. Nights in White Satin – Making Movies 4. White Boots – … Continue reading →

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