Monthly Archives: December 2016

Saturday video break: New Year’s Eve

Posted on December 31, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Since today is actually New Year’s Eve, I thought it would be appropriate to break the pattern for this classic torch song. Here’s Kacey Musgraves asking you what are you doing New Year’s Eve: Props for the clarinet solo. there … Continue reading →

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So what happens to all those Texas lawsuits against the feds?

Posted on December 31, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It depends, but basically it’s up to the new Solicitor General, since he is the one defending the federal government’s actions. Since Paxton assumed office as AG in January 2015, Texas has sued the federal government more than a dozen … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

David Temple released on bond

Posted on December 31, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see what happens next. More than 17 years after the shooting death of his pregnant wife, former football coach David Temple walked out of the Harris County jail Wednesday and into the waiting arms of his family, ready to … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Goodbye and good riddance

Posted on December 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to say Goodbye to 2016. 1. Every Time We Say Goodbye – Julie Murphy 2. Good-Bye – Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin 3. Goodbye Girl – Squeeze 4. Goodbye Liza Jane – … Continue reading →

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Yet another lawsuit filed against Harris County criminal justice

Posted on December 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Lawsuit number three. Harris County has been sued in federal court for the third time in less than a year for yet another issue related to the county’s tough arrest and pretrial detention practices. This time, civil rights advocates allege … Continue reading →

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

Snopes’ world

Posted on December 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

These are busy times for fact checkers. The last line of defense against the torrent of half-truths, untruths and outright fakery that make up so much of the modern internet is in a downscale strip mall near the beach. Snopes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Websurfing | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Super Bowl security

Posted on December 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

There will be a lot. You may or may not get to hear about it. When an expected 1  million people descend on Houston for 10 days of Super Bowl concerts, contests and championship football, they will be protected – and … Continue reading →

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

Another take on the potty drama

Posted on December 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Ross Ramsey plunges in, and no I don’t regret that at all. Gov. Greg Abbott wants lawmakers to take a bathroom break, and you can’t blame him for trying to find relief. The next legislative session hasn’t even started and … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Making divorce harder

Posted on December 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I have no idea why anyone would want to do this, but here we are. Conservative Republican Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, said he wants to strengthen families and reinforce the sanctity of marriage by eliminating no-fault divorces, which now … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Texas blog roundup for the week of December 26

Posted on December 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance hopes 2017 will be better than 2016 was as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Precinct analysis: Brazoria County

Posted on December 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I had some time to spare, so I spent it with the canvass reports from Brazoria County. You know, like you do. Here’s what I was able to learn. Trump Clinton R Avg D Avg Weber Cole ======================================================= Votes 36,572 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Uber moves driverless car pilot to Arizona

Posted on December 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This happened right before Christmas, so I’m just catching up to it now. The day after California regulators shut down Uber’s self-driving car program in San Francisco, Uber on Thursday packed up its autonomous vehicles and hauled them to Arizona, … Continue reading →

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Year Two for Mayor Turner

Posted on December 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Year One was busy, but a lot of what was done this year depends on what happens next year. Tasked last year with distinguishing himself from a crowded field of mayoral candidates, Sylvester Turner styled himself as a progressive with … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Lawsuit over secular nativity display will proceed

Posted on December 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Merry secular Christmas, y’all. A lawsuit is moving forward against Gov. Greg Abbott over his order to remove a satirical nativity scene from the Texas Capitol last year. A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Plague vaccines

Posted on December 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Cool. More than six centuries after the Black Death wiped out more than a third of the population of Europe, a University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston team has shown that in experiments with rodents, their three vaccines effectively … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

HPD retirements

Posted on December 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This is a concern, but I don’t think it’s a big one. A dozen of the Houston Police Department’s top commanders were among 123 officers who filed paperwork this week indicating they plan to retire in the first half of … Continue reading →

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

Astrodome architects chosen

Posted on December 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

For the first phase. Harris County commissioners on Tuesday chose Kirksey Architecture to design a project to retrofit the Astrodome by raising its floor and installing parking spaces underneath. Commissioners designated the Houston-based firm as their top pick to conduct … Continue reading →

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

Weekend link dump for December 25

Posted on December 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

May your days be merry and bright, and may all your linkdumps be full of good reading. “Silliman’s piece revisits the stark contrast — or flagrant hypocrisy — between the ardent concern for politicians’ personal ethics that prominent white evangelicals … Continue reading →

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It isn’t Christmas without Mel Torme

Posted on December 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Every year on Christmas Day, I link to my favorite Christmas story, which stars Mel Torme. It is often shamelessly ripped off a lot, which is a Bad Thing that one Should Not Do. So click over and read it, … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: A right jolly old elf

Posted on December 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

How delightful that today actually is Saturday: Every year I watch this, and every year it makes me happy. I’m especially happy that they made it while Don LaFontaine was still with us. May Santa be good to you and … Continue reading →

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Texas Central land survey case will go to trial

Posted on December 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This is a little complicated. A major decision standing in the way of a proposed high-speed rail project connecting Houston to Dallas has been scheduled for trial. District Judge Joseph “Tad” Halbach denied Texas Central Railroad summary judgment in a … Continue reading →

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

Uber pulls driverless cars from San Francisco

Posted on December 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Score one for the California DMV. Uber pulled its self-driving cars off San Francisco’s streets Wednesday after the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles revoked their registrations, effectively ending the company’s controversial pilot program after just one week. The move marked … Continue reading →

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

Friday random ten: Ladies’ night, part 26

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Once again, by sheer coincidence, this list has a meaningful intersection with the calendar: 1. I’ve Seen All Good People – Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs 2. The Coventry Carol – Mediaeval Baebes (Katharine Blake, Melpomeni Kermanidou, Sophie Ramsay, Clare … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Motion to dismiss county bail practices lawsuit denied

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Onward. In a sweeping 78-page opinion issued late last week, a federal judge has denied Harris County’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit that accuses it of operating an unconstitutional bail system. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal dismissed the sheriff and … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

More on the Buzbee DUI saga

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This just keeps getting weirder. “It appears to have been an under-the-table deal with Devon Anderson,” said Tyler Flood, the president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyer’s Association. “I already have clients calling me saying they want the ‘Tony Buzbee … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

What’s going on with Metro’s ridership numbers?

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I have no idea what to make of this. Houston’s heralded bus system redesign – garnering kudos from local riders and transit supporters around the country – is running into the reality that nothing can boost transit when fewer people … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

More DA drama

Posted on December 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not sure yet what to make of this. Incoming Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg accused three prosecutors Tuesday of trying to sabotage criminal cases by telling victims their cases were in jeopardy, and called for an investigation into … Continue reading →

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

Commissioner Locke’s last day

Posted on December 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

He served well, and did a lot in his short time in office. Gene Locke, who was appointed Harris County commissioner nearly a year ago after the death of longtime Commissioner El Franco Lee, was praised for his effectiveness during … Continue reading →

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

Obama signs Cornyn flood mitigation bill

Posted on December 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The title to this post is a bit of an overbid, but this is still a good thing. President Obama on Monday signed into law a bill that could help expedite the long process of constructing a hurricane protection system for … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of December 19

Posted on December 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance will not spoil “Rogue One” as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Texas follows through on threat to pull Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

More than a year after the initial threat was made. Clearly, you can’t rush these things. After more than a year of delays, Texas is officially kicking Planned Parenthood out of the state’s Medicaid program. In a move that could … Continue reading →

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Do the words “appearance of impropriety” mean anything to you?

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Seriously? Outgoing Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson personally has dismissed the drunken-driving case against prominent Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee. Buzbee, who was arrested on March 31, had his case dismissed Dec. 9, after completing “pretrial intervention” a type of … Continue reading →

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

Two “faithless electors”

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

In the end, Donald Trump got thirty-six of Texas’ 38 electoral votes. All but two of Texas’ 38 electors voted Monday to officially put Donald Trump in the White House, with one elector casting a ballot for Ohio Gov. John … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Precinct analysis: Don’t be mesmerized by the Clinton/Trump numbers

Posted on December 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the DMN: Donald Trump may have carried Texas and clinched the White House in November, but support for the Republican presidential nominee waned in parts of the Dallas area — news that, in a typical election year, could spell … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments