Monthly Archives: September 2012

Baccarat

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I’m fascinated by this story. Hours after a judge ordered the Golden Nugget Atlantic City to let gamblers cash in nearly $1 million worth of chips they won in a card game where the decks were unshuffled, the casino’s owner … Continue reading →

Posted in Jackpot! | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Friday random ten: More one hit wonders, part 1

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I came across this interesting rumination on what truly makes a “one hit wonder”, which pointed me to this list of the Top 100 One Hit Wonders Of All Time, according to VH1. I encourage you to read the story … Continue reading →

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Traci Jensen’s challenge

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I got the following from the Traci Jensen campaign the other day: This past Wednesday morning, Traci and her Republican opponent Donna Bahorich participated in the Greater Houston Partnership’s “Meet the Candidates: State Board of Education” forum. This was the … Continue reading →

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Can’t we all just get along?

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I have a question about this. Commissioner Steve Radack has already been heaped with praise from his colleagues for helping broker a deal with Metro chairman Gilbert Garcia and Houston Mayor Annise Parker that replaced an earlier proposal that would … Continue reading →

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Castro puts pre-K on the national stage

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to thrusting himself into the national spotlight with his DNC keynote address, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro also brought the discussion about pre-kindergarten education to the fore. Under the biggest spotlight of his political career, Mayor Julián Castro … Continue reading →

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A streetcar for the East End?

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It could happen. As the once solidly industrial East End transforms with a 4-month-old soccer stadium, a light rail line under construction and the imminent sale of a 136-acre plot that could signal coming lofts and boutiques, boosters are studying … Continue reading →

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HISD board to vote on ethics reform

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Houston ISD trustees would have to abstain from voting on deals involving big campaign donors and disclose potential conflicts of interest with a wider range of vendors under new policies up for consideration Thursday. The board has been working … Continue reading →

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New pollster says Romney leads 55-40 in Texas

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It would figure that the day after I complain about a lack of polling data in Texas we get a fresh poll result for the state. Thanks to a lopsided lead among white voters, Romney is leading President Barack Obama … Continue reading →

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The “Draft Cecile” movement spreads

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

If enough people ask her about it, maybe she’ll start thinking about it. Eric Ferrero, the vice president of communications for Planned Parenthood, said [Cecile] Richards is often asked “all the time” if she will follow her mother’s footsteps and … Continue reading →

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SOS versus Sumners

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not a steel cage death match, but it’ll do. In a strongly worded letter today, the Texas Secretary of State’s office told Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar Don Sumners that his decision not to purge presumed-dead voters … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of September 10

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance thinks it’s high time the NFL began negotiating honorably with its referees as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Interview with Ann Johnson

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Harris County has been a hotbed of interesting legislative races over the past decade, with five incumbents losing general elections in State Rep. contests since 2004. Two of those victories by challengers occurred in HD134. Trying to make the third … Continue reading →

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Not dead yet

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

As they say, reports of their deaths have been greatly exaggerated. Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Don Sumners said Monday that he would not purge from the voter roll before the November election any of the 9,018 citizens who received letters … Continue reading →

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“Waiting for Godot” in Texas

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. “It’s only a matter of time.” For more than a decade, that thought has provided solace to the out-of-power Democrats who dream of turning Texas blue, much like it was before Ronald … Continue reading →

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

MFU Houston

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: The Houston Mobile Food Unit (MFU) Collective will present City Council Members with stakeholder-driven Ordinance changes in September, which will further promote business growth and entrepreneurship in Houston. The proposed Ordinance changes will eliminate the 60-foot distance … Continue reading →

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Counties may try to expand Medicaid on their own

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Washington Post reports on the efforts of county and hospital district officials in some of Texas’ largest counties to bypass Rick Perry’s refusal to expand Medicaid for Texas and seek approval to do it themselves for their own jurisdictions. … Continue reading →

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Whither the University Line?

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Is the University Line in doubt? Some people think so. Over the last decade, METRO spent $71 million of your dollars to build a rail line. But the agency recently took that project off the table for at least another … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

More on Texas proving the need for the Voting Rights Act

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From the DMN: “There have been growing arguments that the Voting Rights Act is obsolete and should be struck down,” says University of Michigan law professor Ellen Katz, a nationally recognized expert on the Voting Rights Act. “But [Gov.] Rick … Continue reading →

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A look at HD136

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Statesman takes a look at the new State Rep. district in Williamson County. All county and state elected officeholders from Williamson County are Republicans. The party has long dominated the area. But Democrats are eyeing the new district as … Continue reading →

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Interview with State Rep. Craig Eiland

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

We now move into the State Rep. races, and as with the Congressional portion of my interview series I’m very pleased to kick things off with a distinguished veteran lawmaker. State Rep. Craig Eiland has represented House District 23 since … Continue reading →

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Voter registration restrictions back in place

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and AG Greg Abbott remain BFFs. Texas won a stay Thursday of a federal court decision that had barred enforcement of the state’s toughened voter registration law. Attorney General Greg Abbott described the development … Continue reading →

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The 2013 campaign season has officially begun

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Sort of, anyway. Some of us received this email in our inboxes recently, touting the virtues of former Bill White chief of staff Terence Fontaine as a candidate for District D; incumbent Wanda Adams is term-limited out next year. I … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: For Metro

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron comes out in favor of another referendum. If you look closely at the weekday mix of traffic, you’ll finds lots of 18-wheelers inching along during rush hour. That makes congestion more than an annoyance for individual commuters. Along … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for September 9

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve had 100% growth in linkdump posts in the month of September. I don’t know what the final frontiers of deep frying are, but I don’t think we’ve reached them yet. Ugandan Little Leaguers visit Yankee Stadium. My kids like … Continue reading →

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Favorable poll for HISD and other bonds

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a good start. Most Houston-area voters plan to support $2.7 billion worth of city, public school and community college bond packages on the November ballot, according to a new poll. The results defy conventional wisdom that a crowded ballot … Continue reading →

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85 MPH speed limit officially approved

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. The Texas Department of Transportation has approved an 85 mph speed limit for an upcoming 40-mile stretch of Texas 130 from Austin to Seguin. Currently, no road in the country has a posted speed … Continue reading →

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Roundabouts in the sky

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Imagine driving into downtown Houston on interstates 10 or 45, or U.S. 59, and having to merge with all other incoming traffic onto an elevated, one-way traffic circle around the cluster of … Continue reading →

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From the fish fraud files

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

My name’s Friday. I’m a fish fraud cop. Game wardens inspecting the takes of the “Nice Tails” team at the annual Ladies Kingfish tournament last month knew something was up when they saw a trout with a mottled belly and … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Trapped

Posted on September 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Song #52 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “Trapped”, originally by Jimmy Cliff and covered by Bruce Springsteen. Here’s the original: Very cool. I think I always knew that Springsteen was performing a cover, but I’d never heard … Continue reading →

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HCDE election lawsuit dismissed

Posted on September 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The lineup for the fall elections is now officially set. The disputed election results for the trustee runoff between two Democratic candidates will stand after a federal judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Harris County Department of … Continue reading →

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On tickets and plea bargains

Posted on September 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting story about the municipal courts, but I’m a bit puzzled by the numbers cited. About 22,000 traffic tickets were dismissed in a single month in Houston this summer – nearly half the number issued during that span, according to … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

A dollar a tree

Posted on September 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Replacing the trees lost in the Bastrop fires last summer is going to cost some money, but there’s now a foundation working on raising that money. Flanked by containers bristling with pine tree seedlings, state and local officials on Tuesday … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: It’s all politics

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Enough politics. Let’s have some political songs. 1. Born In The USA – Bruce Springsteen 2. Winning The War On Drugs – Asylum Street Spankers 3. Arthur McBride – SixMileBridge 4. We Shall Overcome – The SNCC Freedom Singers, Dorothy … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Oliver to remain on the ballot

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t say I’m surprised. Attorneys representing Harris County Democratic Chairman Lane Lewis and the state Democratic Party argued that perennial candidate [Lloyd] Oliver should be kept off the ballot because he violated a party rule prohibiting a complimentary remark he … Continue reading →

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