Monthly Archives: November 2014

Weekend link dump for November 30

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

So how many screens do you have going right now? Some alternatives to Uber that are hopefully available in your town. Please come to Houston, Sidecar. A review of the ways Major League Baseball is experimenting with to speed up … Continue reading →

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Obamacare 2.0

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The open enrollment period for the Obamacare insurance exchanges is going on right now. This year, the feds are taking a more direct approach to getting people to enroll. Secretary for Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell, whose appearance at … Continue reading →

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RIP, Father TJ Martinez

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Some sad local news. Father TJ Martinez seemed comfortable anywhere and with anyone. Raised in Brownsville and educated at some of America’s finest universities, he could charm princes of industry and encourage children born to paupers to study hard to … Continue reading →

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The frontlogged Hall of Fame ballot

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Here are all of the eligible candidates for the MLB Hall of Fame class of 2015: Here are the first-time eligible players, in alphabetical order: Rich Aurillia Aaron Boone Tony Clark Carlos Delgado Jermaine Dye Darin Erstad Cliff Floyd Nomar … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Downtown

Posted on November 29, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

A classic from Petula Clark: Remember how they used that song on Lost to introduce Desmond living in the hatch? Now here’s a typically offbeat cover of it by the B-52s: I can’t even think of a band that reminds … Continue reading →

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Bill King to run for Mayor

Posted on November 29, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Because there aren’t enough candidates for Mayor already. Bill King is inching toward a run for mayor of Houston as the field in next year’s open-seat election continues to grow. King, an attorney and the former mayor of Kemah, designated … Continue reading →

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Abbott responds to motion to lift same-sex marriage ruling

Posted on November 29, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

He’s against it. Try not to be surprised. Texas officials want a federal judge to uphold the state’s same-sex marriage ban, calling a request by gay couples to be allowed to immediately marry “untimely” and “out of order.” “The plaintiffs … Continue reading →

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Houston needs a swimming hole

Posted on November 29, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

A fascinating proposal from Gray Matters. The good idea: Houston needs a great big swimming hole. Idea guys: Monte Large and Evan O’Neil, of Houston Needs a Swimming Hole. Where the idea came from: Enduring the Houston heat. Large, an … Continue reading →

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Friday video break: Black Friday

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I have no idea why I haven’t used this on Black Friday before: I love it when a band successfully reinterprets its own established work, as Steely Dan does here, turning the synth-driven tune into a slowed-down blues rocker. For … Continue reading →

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Bell fundraising lawsuit to be heard in January

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

A busy legal calendar just got a little fuller. A judge in January will hear likely mayoral candidate Chris Bell’s request to block Sylvester Turner’s plan to transfer money from his officeholder account to his mayoral account when the fundraising … Continue reading →

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Abbott can’t stop talking about suing Obama

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It’s what he does. A state lawsuit challenging President Obama’s executive order shielding as many as 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation could come from Texas in the next two weeks, Gov.-elect Greg Abbott said during a Monday press conference. … Continue reading →

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Thanksgiving video break: I’ve done this often enough to call it a tradition

Posted on November 27, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

And what a tradition it is: I plan to be in a turkey coma today, hopefully in front of a football game. Hope you have the Thanksgiving you want as well.

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Early voting begins today for SD18

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: The early voting period for the December 6, 2014 Special Election to Fill a Vacancy for State Senate District 18 will take place Wednesday, November 26 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Monday and Tuesday, December … Continue reading →

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On being Ron Reynolds

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Just because everyone’s out to get you doesn’t mean your behavior is above reproach. To hear Ron Reynolds tell it, the embattled state representative is just plain misunderstood. Over the past decade, Reynolds has been sanctioned twice by the state … Continue reading →

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Fifth Circuit sets their schedule

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Mark your calendars. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments about the constitutionality of Texas’ tough new abortion restrictions on Jan. 7. The law passed in 2013, known as House Bill 2, banned abortions after 20 weeks … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of November 24

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance knows that even in a bad political year it has plenty to be thankful for as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Texas same-sex marriage plaintiffs ask for stay to be lifted

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I wish them luck. Two same-sex couples have asked U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia of San Antonio to allow gay marriages to begin taking place immediately in Texas. On Monday, couples Mark Phariss and Victor Holmes of Plano and Nicole … Continue reading →

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Henry Martinez named as interim Constable

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations. A 23-year veteran of the Houston Community College police department will succeed the disgraced Victor Trevino as constable in Precinct Six, county officials announced Monday, elevating a Latino officer who promises to have no aspirations to become a Latino … Continue reading →

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DCCC wants Gallego for a rematch in 2016

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise here. Rep. Pete Gallego lost his re-election bid two weeks ago — and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is already pushing for him to run in 2016, Roll Call reports. Gallego, a freshman Democrat from Alpine, was unseated … Continue reading →

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Supreme Court re-upholds strip club tax

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Technically, they declined to re-review it, but practically speaking I figure it’ll amount to the same thing. The Texas Supreme Court on Friday declined to review whether a $5-per-patron fee at live nude entertainment clubs is an occupation tax in … Continue reading →

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Rural counties skeptical of high speed rail plan

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

This is a bit concerning. Steve Drake regularly makes the nearly four-hour drive from this city to Houston to visit his fiancée’s family. So he was excited about the news that a private company intended to build a bullet train … Continue reading →

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Kleinschmidt to resign in HD17

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Just in case you thought there weren’t enough special elections on the horizon. Newly elected Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is reaching out to a former House colleague to fill a key staff position in his new administration. A source close … Continue reading →

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Ken Paxton is still an ethical morass

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

He’s just now a statewide ethical morass. A state judge will determine whether to revoke the securities license of Frederick Mowery, who was linked to the State Securities Board’s May reprimand of Attorney General-elect Ken Paxton, for allegations that included … Continue reading →

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Dallas gets set to tackle vehicles for hire

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck. Sticking points remain on Dallas’ proposed car-for-hire rules, as the City Council prepares to vote next month on a new ordinance to regulate taxicabs, limos and app-based companies such as Uber and Lyft. Several council members raised questions … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for November 23

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Fans of comic art should be sure to check this out. Duck Dynasty: The Musical. Not a joke, apparently. When corn mazes get out of control. Maybe this will help Ted Cruz understand what net neutrality is all about. Republicans … Continue reading →

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From the “Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life” department

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Every dark cloud has a silver lining, y’all. You just have to know where to look for it. Metro’s four-month delay in opening two rail lines will give the agency time to obtain enough cars to prevent severe crowding when … Continue reading →

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EPA climate change plan would save water

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Well, what do you know? As state regulators fret about how President Obama’s effort to combat climate change would affect the Texas power grid, a new study says the rules would be simpler to adopt than those regulators suggest – … Continue reading →

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Kemp’s ridley sea turtle in trouble

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Dammit. Texas’ official sea turtle is on a slide that could eventually lead to extinction after a spectacular comeback and years of effort to save it, according to figures released Tuesday at a gathering of scientists and environmentalists. “It was … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Don’t Stop Believin’

Posted on November 22, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

You’re not too cool to sing along. Admit it. That was recorded in Houston, as you could tell from the pandering lyrics edit. The copyright says 2005, but that’s got to be at least 20 years off. My guess this … Continue reading →

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SBOE adopts history textbook changes it hasn’t read

Posted on November 22, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Awesome. After adopting hundreds of pages in last minute updates and corrections, the Texas State Board of Education approved new social studies textbooks Friday. All but the five Democrats on the 15-member board voted to accept products from all publishers … Continue reading →

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Of course Greg Abbott wants to sue

Posted on November 22, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It’s what he does. What else is there to him? Minutes after President Obama doubled down on his promise to change the country’s immigration system through executive action, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott made a vow of his own: Expect … Continue reading →

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And the dominoes do begin to fall

Posted on November 22, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Game on. A calf scramble for legislative seats set off by two lawmakers’ decisions to run for San Antonio mayor could produce a rare shakeup in the Bexar County delegation that reports for duty in Austin on Jan. 13. As … Continue reading →

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The Woodlands wants to be on the high speed rail route

Posted on November 22, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t blame ’em. The Woodlands Township is urging federal and state officials to take another look at the potential benefits of adding a high-speed rail corridor along Interstate 45. Last month, the Federal Railway Administration and the Texas Department of … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Numerology

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

After the letters come the numbers. 1. Eat For Two – 10,000 Maniacs 2. Somebody’s Been Sleeping – 100 Proof 3. Land of the Laced – 100s 4. Sex – The 1975 5. S.I.M.P (Squirrels In My Pants) – 2 … Continue reading →

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