Monthly Archives: December 2010

More on Sumners and the LWV

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve got some updates on the change in policy by Tax Assessor-to-be Don Sumners regarding voter registrations at naturalization ceremonies. First, Sumners has acknowledged the need to get pre-clearance from the Justice Department for any changes to voter registration procedures, … Continue reading →

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

More evidence that expanded gambling is doomed

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From the latest TPJ Lobby Watch: Gambling interests with stakes in the legalization of casinos or slot machines bet heavily on Democratic House candidates going into the Republican-dominated 2010 elections. Political bookies widely expected the GOP to expand its slim … Continue reading →

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Burning biomass

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I can’t say I knew much about this before I read the story, but now that I have my initial reaction is to be skeptical. Interest in building power plants fueled by wood waste has recently surged in East Texas, … Continue reading →

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

No voter registration for you

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The following email, sent from the League of Women Voters registration address to its membership, was forwarded to me. I present it below in its entirity: From: LWV Voter Registration Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 3:19 PM Subject: Voter Registration … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Branch makes the case for stimulus spending

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know if that’s what he intended, but it sure is what he did. State Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, said Thursday that Texas should consider seizing one advantage from hard times, which would be to let universities lock in … Continue reading →

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“CSI:San Antonio” would be far preferable

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, hell no. According to The Hollywood Reporter, CBS is planning a neo-Western crime drama from executive producer Anthony Zuiker called “Desperado.” It focuses on a group of lawmen who enact cowboy-style justice in modern times on criminals in San … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of December 6

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is gathering up boughs of holly in anticipation of future hall-decking as it brings you this week’s blog roundup.

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RIP, Carlos Guerra

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I join Greg and Stace in mourning the loss of former Express News columnist and blogger Carlos Guerra. Carlos Guerra, a former columnist at the San Antonio Express-News, was found dead Monday in Port Aransas, officials there said. Officers with … Continue reading →

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Voluntary furloughs

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose this was inevitable. Mayor Annise Parker announced a voluntary furlough program for civilian employees in December, the first in what may be a series of difficult steps the city must take to close a $30 million budget deficit … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

KTRU supporters go to the FCC

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I wish them luck, but I would not hold out much hope. Supporters of Rice University’s student-run radio station have formally asked the Federal Communications Commission to deny the station’s sale to the University of Houston, contending it would weaken … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mixing alcohol and caffeine

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t drink “energy drinks” or the new “caffeinated alcohol” drinks because they look hideous and I’m way too old for that crap, but apparently they have drawn the attention of the regulatory agencies for being potentially dangerous. The Texas … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The 2011 Hall of Fame ballot

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Brace yourself for lots of posturing and moralizing about the eeeeevils of steroids and the general decline of society. Suspected steroid users Rafael Palmeiro and Juan Gonzalez are on baseball’s Hall of Fame ballot for the first time, joining Bert … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , | 20 Comments

Weekend link dump for December 5

Posted on December 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It’s possible to be more excited about Christmas than my kids are, but it’s unlikely. From the “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” department. Disclosure is for suckers. From the “There’s no such thing as bad publicity” files. Except … Continue reading →

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DeLay sentencing delayed

Posted on December 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We won’t know the fate of convicted felon Tom DeLay (I do so love saying that) until after the new year. The sentencing was scheduled for Dec. 20 but DeLay’s lawyers have a conflict on that date. “It’s probably going … Continue reading →

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City’s finance director leaves

Posted on December 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Make of it what you will. City Finance Director Michelle Mitchell, a former Goldman Sachs veteran who has helped guide Houston through consecutive years of severe budget problems, is leaving her post. Mitchell said she offered her resignation Wednesday after … Continue reading →

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

Will their first fan giveaway be flyswatters?

Posted on December 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Sugar Land Skeeters? For serious? Sugar Land’s minor league baseball team has yet to be formed, but planners have begun selling tickets for its 2012 inaugural season Wednesday after unveiling the team’s name, the Skeeters. Hair Balls has a … Continue reading →

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Diabetes

Posted on December 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure you’ve seen some variation of this story by now. The number of Texans with diabetes will nearly quadruple from 2.2 million to 8 million in the next 30 years, threatening the solvency of the state’s medical system, according … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Saturday video break: It’s never wrong to mash up “Star Trek”

Posted on December 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Some things don’t require an introduction, others defy the very attempt at one: Beam me up, Scotty. UPDATE: This can happen when you draft stuff in advance. Go here to see the video. Sorry about that.

Posted in TV and movies | Tagged , | 1 Comment

New flash: Dropping Medicaid would be bad

Posted on December 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t take my word for it, take the Texas Department of Health and Human Services’ word for it. Opting out of federal Medicaid, something Republican leaders have been considering as a method to wipe out Texas’ estimated $25 billion budget … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Howard still wins after recount in HD48

Posted on December 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Her margin is margin is a bit smaller, but still greater than zero, and that’s what counts. With the votes counted again, the Austin Democrat beat Republican challenger Dan Neil by just 12 votes, Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir said … Continue reading →

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Dynamo Stadium lease deal reached

Posted on December 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We didn’t get the World Cup, but soccer fans here had something to celebrate this week. The Dynamo have agreed to pay $76 million to build a professional soccer stadium in downtown Houston and then lease it from the city … Continue reading →

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You really can go broke saving money

Posted on December 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The state of Texas has cost itself billions of dollars over the past decade or so by doing things like cutting CHIP and thus losing out on far more federal funds than any savings achieved in the state budget. Harris … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: The top 500, part 4

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing on with the songs in my collection from the Rolling Stone Top 500 list. 1. I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Marvin Gaye (#80) 2. You Really Got Me – Van Halen (#82, orig. The Kinks) 3. Every … Continue reading →

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HPD braces for cuts

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

More than $15 million is going to be cut from HPD’s budget, in part to lost red light camera revenue and in part to the overall budget picture. The equivalent of more than 100 civilian jobs, including temporary workers, will … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Hobby and Ellis on Medicaid

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

State Sen. Rodney Ellis and former Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby lay out the reasons why quitting Medicaid would be a disaster for the state. Texas already has the unfortunate distinction of having the highest uninsured population in the country. It … Continue reading →

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Travis County DA to investigate Double Dip Driver

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Republican wave helped him survive re-election this year, but State Rep. Joe Driver’s troubles aren’t over just yet. Assistant District Attorney Gregg Cox, head of the public integrity unit, which oversees official corruption cases, said Tuesday that prosecutors had … Continue reading →

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Wentworth will try again with redistricting bill

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Every two years, State Sen. Jeff Wentworth introduces a bill that would take redistricting out of the hands of the Legislature. Under Wentworth’s plan, a commission responsible for drawing new maps would be made up of two appointees selected by … Continue reading →

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No World Cup for you!

Posted on December 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Bummer. In a mild upset, tiny but oil-rich Qatar was awarded the 2022 FIFA World Cup only a few minutes after Russia was awarded the 2018 bid in a process that was decided by a vote of FIFA’s 22-member executive … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Red light camera lawsuit

Posted on December 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m trying to understand exactly what this is all about. Here’s the little sidebar summary, which captures the basic facts pretty well: The city of Houston • filed a “pre-emptive lawsuit” in U.S. District Court Nov. 15 seeking a judge’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

More on Latino turnout

Posted on December 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Greg adds in his opinion on the Latino turnout question, and as usual it’s worth your time to read in full. Two things for me to comment on. First: If there is a one point that I’ve been reluctant to … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The war on lightbulbs

Posted on December 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t even know where to begin with this. Light bulbs – the universal icon of a bright idea – have become for conservative politicians and activists a symbol for something much more nefarious: Big Brother. Gov. Rick Perry writes … Continue reading →

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

The marriage tax is working

Posted on December 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Back in 2007, the Lege passed a bill authored by Speaker-wannabe Rep. Warren Chisum that doubled the cost of a marriage license for any couple that did not take a state-approved marriage class. The idea, according to Chisum, was that … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Do we or do we not have a structural deficit?

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In this corner, State Rep. Mike Villarreal: In a kerfuffle involving two House members who really like to engage in detailed discussions of Texas’ tax system, Rep. Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio, sent reporters a letter in which he told Rep. … Continue reading →

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

DREAM drama

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In theory, there will be a vote in the Senate on the DREAM Act during the lame duck session. I don’t have a whole lot of faith that the usual Republican intransigence can be overcome, but it’s well worth the … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments