Tag Archives: videos

Thanksgiving video break: Goodbye, Alice

Posted on November 28, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll have a link in my Sunday linkdump, but Alice Brock, the woman who inspired the song “Alice’s Restaurant”, passed away a few days ago. Let us pause to remember her and give thanks for her life and the music … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 2 Comments

The principal shuffle

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Seems like a lot. Since Mike Miles was appointed as HISD superintendent in June 2023, there has been widespread principal turnover across the district. The Houston Chronicle has been tracking the leadership changes at HISD campuses through a series of … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Flooding in Texas

Posted on July 11, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

We have a lot. We’re going to get more. Any questions? The combination of rising sea levels and sinking land along the Texas Gulf Coast has made the region one of the most frequently flooded in the country, according to … Continue reading →

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

On cover songs

Posted on July 4, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

It’s almost certainly because of Luke Combs and his amazing cover of Tracy Chapman’s classic “Fast Car”, but cover songs are back in the conversation now. I’m an aficionado of covers, I love a good one, so this is all … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Hope we have enough water this summer

Posted on March 26, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Not looking great for some parts of the state right now. Two consecutive summers of brutal heat and drought have left some parts of Texas with notably low water supplies going into 2024. A wet year or a well-placed hurricane … Continue reading →

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It’s a matter of trust

Posted on December 29, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

This is a long story that recaps what incoming Mayor John Whitmire promised to do as Mayor, with a bit of analysis about how and when he might try to do them. It’s a good review for anyone who slept … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Christmas Eve video break: It’s the time of the season

Posted on December 24, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Time once again for a revered tradition around here, the best reading of “A Visit From Saint Nicholas”: As noted before, I’ve been posting this for over a decade, I watch it every year, and it remains one of my … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: The boys of the NYPD Choir still singing “Galway Bay”

Posted on December 2, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I will have a note on his passing in the Sunday linkdump, but for obvious reasons the first thing I thought about upon hearing of Shane MacGowan’s passing was this: As a part-Irishman, I’m an absolute sucker for a sad … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Thanksgiving video break: It’s about Alice

Posted on November 23, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

We don’t have many traditions here but we like the ones we have. I am as always thankful for my family and friends, my health, the fact that I still get enjoyment from things I’ve done for a long time … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Saturday video break: CityNerd visits Houston

Posted on October 28, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

An urban planner who has mostly heard negative things about Houston visits our city for a couple of days, and finds quite a bit about it that he likes: Found via Evan Mintz. It’s about 20 minutes (there’s about two … Continue reading →

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Private dam proposal withdrawn

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. After months of opposition by communities along the Llano River, the former CEO of Houston-based energy company Phillips 66 has withdrawn his permit application to build a private dam on his ranch in Edwards County, according to state … Continue reading →

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Cruise cars are out on our streets

Posted on September 29, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

From Axios. Cruise is testing autonomous vehicles without safety drivers in Houston ahead of a planned expansion into commercial nighttime service by the end of the year. Driving the news: A spokesperson for the autonomous vehicle company confirmed to Axios … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Paxton calls on Phelan to resign

Posted on May 24, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The last few days of a legislative session are always the dumbest days of the session. Attorney General Ken Paxton said Tuesday that state House Speaker Dade Phelan should resign, accusing him of presiding over his chamber “in a state … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Chron editorial board interviews Mike Morath

Posted on March 30, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

There’s video and a transcript here. After explaining that he missed the initial TEA community engagement sessions because he was “under the weather”, he gets asked the key question: Lisa Falkenberg 1:55 Mhmm. Okay, and then, so, we’re trying to … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Mammoths and dodos

Posted on February 12, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

How you feel about this will likely depend on how strongly you identify with that Ian Malcolm quote from Jurassic Park. The Texas entrepreneur working to bring back the woolly mammoth has added a new species to his revival list: … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: The year of Olivia

Posted on December 31, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

By “Olivia” I mean Olivia Rodrigo, though it was my Olivia who first introduced me to the latter’s music. They share something in common besides their given name, and that’s a love of Billy Joel. My Olivia came back to … Continue reading →

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Christmas Eve video break: The luster of midday

Posted on December 24, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Hope you’re staying warm and that your pipes haven’t frozen. To celebrate, or to commiserate as the case may be, here once again is my favorite rendition of “A Visit From Saint Nicholas”, as performed by cartoon and voice actors: … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: A brief manifesto about Christmas music

Posted on December 17, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Been awhile since I’ve done one of these. Maybe I’ll work a few in next year, we’ll see how it goes. I was inspired by the Slacktivist re-running his own Christmas music manifesto from a few years ago. I broadly … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Thanksgiving video break: A return to something resembling normalcy

Posted on November 24, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s spend a few minutes with an old friend: The day may come when I will get tired of that video, but that day is not today. I am as always thankful for my family and friends, my health, my … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Endorsement watch: Starting out with Susan

Posted on October 4, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron kicks off endorsement season with a fulsome recommendation of Susan Hays for Ag Commissioner. Hays, 53, lives in Alpine, where she and her husband purchased land several years ago to grow hemp and hops. Her background is as … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Stogner for Warford

Posted on September 27, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. Sarah Stogner, the former Republican candidate for railroad commissioner who forced incumbent Wayne Christian to a runoff and made waves for riding a pumpjack almost naked in a memorable campaign ad, is backing the Democratic nominee for the seat. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Coulda Been Worse

Posted on September 11, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Are you ready for some attack ads? A shadowy new group has purchased at least $6 million in TV ads ahead of the November election and is airing an ad that targets Gov. Greg Abbott as he runs for reelection. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

I’m sure they’ll evaluate themselves objectively

Posted on June 6, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

What could possibly go wrong? In October, Colorado-based E3 Consulting offered a plan for how the Public Utility Commission should redesign Texas’ deregulated power market. It produced a 44-page proposal, paid for by energy giants NRG and Chicago-based Exelon. Now … Continue reading →

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“You put an electric engine…in a DeLorean??”

Posted on February 26, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Everything old is new again. Hold onto your flux capacitors: The DeLorean Motor Company is back and making San Antonio its home. Economic development officials announced Monday that the once-defunct 1980s-era car manufacturer, whose gull-wing car was best known as … Continue reading →

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On the campaign trail again

Posted on January 14, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

It’s good to be back. In the 2020 election cycle, many campaigns in Texas went fully virtual as the coronavirus pandemic, then a new and uncertain threat, bore down on the state. They held virtual rallies, phone banks and fundraisers, … Continue reading →

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An email from Erica Davis

Posted on January 12, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox, sent to Democratic precinct chairs: You elected me to serve as your Trustee for the Harris County Department of Education and I am very proud of what we have accomplished. I too believe in elevating voices, educating … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

It’s never to early to wish you all a good night

Posted on December 24, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

And yet another viewing of my favorite Christmas Eve video: May you have a safe and joyous holiday. See you on the flip side.

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So how did Paxton’s budget grilling go?

Posted on February 14, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Meh. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton violated his budget authority when he transferred $40 million of taxpayer money to cover pay raises for some members of his staff without approval of the Legislature or the governor, triggering an angry response … Continue reading →

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

Christmas Eve video break: Time for tradition

Posted on December 24, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

And that can only mean my favorite rendition of “A Visit From Saint Nicholas”: I’ve been posting this on Christmas Eve for over a decade now. I watch it every year, more than once, and I never get tired of … Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Thanksgiving video break: At least we still have old favorites

Posted on November 26, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I think we can all agree that this is not the Thanksgiving we thought we were going to get when the year started. So let’s be thankful for the things we do have, like the comfort of the familiar. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 5 Comments

November 2020 Early Voting Day Sixteen: All through the night

Posted on October 30, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This post is scheduled to publish before 5 AM today. When that happens, voting will still be happening in Harris County. In Harris County this year, residents can vote where the Rockets or Texans play, from the comfort or their … Continue reading →

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Tuesday video break: It’s Christmas Eve, y’all

Posted on December 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

And that can mean only one thing: Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good afternoon.

Posted in TV and movies | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Thanksgiving video break: I haven’t done one of these in awhile

Posted on November 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

So let’s redo one of my greater hits: Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Astrodome song

Posted on July 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

A little bit of nostalgia for you today. Like many of us, Bruce Robison has driven by the Astrodome and gotten emotional. He is of that age — born in 1966, one year after the Dome opened — that gives … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston, Music | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment