Monthly Archives: December 2016

Saturday video break: My Hometown

Posted on December 10, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Tom Lehrer sings of the joys of his place of origin: Clearly, Danish people don’t believe in reacting during a performance. You have to admire the self-control. Now here’s Bruce Springsteen with a different perspective: I have some complicated feelings … Continue reading →

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It’s just school bathrooms Dan Patrick really cares about

Posted on December 10, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

So claims a surrogate, who may have been floating a trial balloon. An incoming state senator suggested Thursday that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will focus on schools, not businesses or sporting venues, as he crafts an already controversial proposal to … Continue reading →

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“Fetal remains” lawsuit in the works

Posted on December 10, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Get ready. Health providers and abortion clinics have less than two weeks to figure out how to comply with Texas’ new fetal remains rules — that is, if a lawsuit doesn’t halt the process first. Amy Hagstrom Miller, founder of … Continue reading →

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

More bayou bike trails

Posted on December 10, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. Laying out the particulars for a new trail section along White Oak Bayou, Chip Place saw something out of place where the trail crossed the Heights Hike and Bike Trail near T C Jester. It was the stairs connecting … Continue reading →

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Runoff Day for HISD special election

Posted on December 10, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Saturday, Dec. 10, is Election Day for voters in HISD Trustee District VII and City of Baytown Council District 3. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. There are 178,717 registered voters in HISD … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Ladies’ night, part 24

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

There’s nothing funny about this list. 1. I Don’t Want To Be Funny Anymore – Lucy Dacus 2. (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding – Lucy Kaplansky 3. Mechanical Flattery – Lydia Lunch 4. Knocked Up – Lykke … Continue reading →

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No faithless electors!

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Dan Patrick has had enough of this nonsense. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Wednesday that a Texas Republican elector’s decision not to vote for Donald Trump may lead state legislators to pass a law requiring electors to support the winner … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Next B-Cycle expansion approved

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Expansion of Houston’s bike sharing system is pretty much in high gear after City Council on Wednesday signed off on a $4.1 million plan to roughly triple the number of bikes and kiosks. With the agreement in place, local … Continue reading →

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The latest abortion hysterics

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good grief. Women who are feeling pressured by their parents or partner to have an abortion are being advised by the state to pick up the phone and dial 911, according to a new pamphlet the state released Monday. The … Continue reading →

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Hempstead landfill application denied again

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A state commission has denied a new application to build a landfill in Waller County, saying ordinances adopted by the county and the city of Hempstead now prohibit a garbage dump in the area. A highly charged debate over … Continue reading →

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City sued over bail practices

Posted on December 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

One more lawsuit going after the practice of jailing people who can’t afford to post bonf. Two civil rights groups sued the city of Houston late Monday, alleging the city jail has detained people for days at a time without … Continue reading →

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Trautman announces run for Harris County Clerk in 2018

Posted on December 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: As one of my long-time and best supporters, I wanted you to be one of the first to know that I have made the decision to run for Harris County Clerk in 2018! As you know, I … Continue reading →

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Runoff early voting: Light turnout

Posted on December 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Hey, remember that there’s a runoff for the special election to fill the HISD Trustee position in District VII? Well, early voting for it ended on Tuesday, and turnout so far is about what you’d expect for such an election. … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of December 5

Posted on December 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance plans to send half its members to Mexico unless it gets a tax break as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Precinct analysis: None of the above

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We have been told that this was a year where many people were unhappy with the two main choices they had for President. We looked at Presidential numbers in Harris County before, and now we’re going to look again, at … Continue reading →

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More on the cost of a bathroom bill

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever one thinks of the Texas Association of Business, you have to hand it to them for their lobbying focus on the great potty issue. With the legislative session just weeks ahead, the Texas business community is digging in its … Continue reading →

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Another non-Trump elector

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know if this is becoming a thing, but it is interesting. I am a Republican presidential elector, one of the 538 people asked to choose officially the president of the United States. Since the election, people have asked … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

California is the new Texas

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Or will be, as far as litigating against the federal government goes. Gov. Jerry Brown has tabbed Rep. Xavier Becerra to serve as California’s interim attorney general, selecting the Los Angeles Democrat to fill a vacancy opened by the imminent … Continue reading →

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Precinct analysis: Bennett v Sullivan

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Ann Harris Bennett was the only countywide Democratic candidate to be trailing on Election Day as the early voting totals were posted, but as the night went on she cut into the deficit and finally took the lead around 10 … Continue reading →

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Lane Lewis to step down as HCDP Chair

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the Inbox: It has been 5 years to the month since you first elected me to be your Party Chair. Over the last 5 years, our social media presence grew and enabled us to deliver our message to thousands … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2017 | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Bud Selig elected to MLB Hall of Fame

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. Bud Selig, the folksy former commissioner of Major League Baseball who presided over an unprecedented period of expansion, innovation and turmoil in the sport, was elected to the Hall of Fame on Sunday by the hall’s restructured veterans committee … Continue reading →

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Precinct analysis: Ryan v Leitner

Posted on December 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan was the only non-judicial incumbent elected in November. Here’s how his race looked. Dist Leitner Ryan Leitner% Ryan% ========================================== CD02 158,149 113,363 58.25% 41.75% CD07 135,129 116,091 53.79% 46.21% CD09 25,714 106,728 19.42% 80.58% CD10 … Continue reading →

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Pasadena voting rights case in the judge’s hands now

Posted on December 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We await a ruling. Armed officers guarded a closed-door committee meeting. Discriminatory comments surfaced at City Hall. Latino-backed council members were hustled from chambers by police. The accounts of perceived intimidation and back-door dealings were detailed during testimony in a … Continue reading →

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More on the overtime rule ruling

Posted on December 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the NYT: Over the last two years, Federal District Court judges in the state have chipped away at Mr. Obama’s legacy by striking down or suspending no fewer than five regulations, executive orders or actions, and guidelines, including an … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for December 4

Posted on December 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

“Richard Painter, Chief Ethics Counsel for George W. Bush, and Norman Eisen, Chief Ethics Counsel for Barack Obama, believe that if Trump continues to retain ownership over his sprawling business interests by the time the electors meet on December 19, … Continue reading →

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One HD46 hopeful calls on Rep. Dukes to resign now

Posted on December 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: This morning, Chito Vela called on current State Representative Dawnna Dukes to immediately resign her position as State Representative for Texas House District 46 instead of waiting until January 10, as she previously announced. If Rep. Dukes … Continue reading →

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The costs of the “fetal remains” rule

Posted on December 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This is going to cost a lot of people a lot of money. State health officials have contended that the “minimum costs in complying with the rules” would total $450 a year per health care facility, arguing that those costs … Continue reading →

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As go gas prices, so goes interest in transit

Posted on December 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It is what it is. Cheap gasoline has Texans driving more, indicating that efforts to promote mass transit or bicycle commuting are falling short, a new statewide poll suggests. As folks hit the road, though, they are increasingly supportive of … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: My Best Friend’s Girl

Posted on December 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

A classic from The Cars: Gotta love those period-era live videos, at least when the sound quality and production are reasonably good. Sometimes I wonder what the people who shot the video thought would happen to it. Getting uploaded to … Continue reading →

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Whitmire files complaint against bail-denying magistrates

Posted on December 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. An influential Texas lawmaker on Thursday filed formal complaints against three Harris County magistrate judges after they were captured on videotape rushing misdemeanor defendants to jail without considering no-cost bonds. State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, filed the complaints with … Continue reading →

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Here’s your chance to give feedback on special education

Posted on December 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The feds are coming to Texas to hear what you have to say about it. The U.S. Department of Education is sending representatives to tour Texas and take comment from school community members on special education, continuing to look at … Continue reading →

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MLB All Star Game will no longer determine World Series home field advantage

Posted on December 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Hallelujah. The Associated Press reported early Thursday morning that, as a part of the new collective bargaining agreement, home-field advantage in the World Series will no longer be determined by the All-Star Game. Home-field advantage will now be awarded to … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Ladies’ night, part 23

Posted on December 2, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Moving through the letter L. 1. Ant In Alaska – Liz Phair 2. Take It Back – Liza Anne 3. Ill Wind – Lonette McKee 4. Royals – Lorde 5. Cowardly Lion – Loreena McKennitt 6. Stay With Me – … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 2 Comments

The thing you need to know about the guy behind the “three million illegal votes” claim

Posted on December 2, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

He’s a known liar and grifter. When President-elect Donald Trump tweeted Sunday — without evidence — that “millions” of people voted illegally in the race for the White House, he invited a wrath of condemnation for again stoking doubts about … Continue reading →

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