To update last week's introduction, as of this morning, the Houston Astros lead the Los Angeles Dodgers three games to two in the World Series. These were the National League teams of my childhood in Houston and SoCal. In my childhood, and even deep into adulthood, I never would have dreamed that they would meet in the World Series...because they were both in the National League, dammit!
Also, I got to see the Houston Dynamo in a playoff match against Sporting Kansas City last Thursday. Note that I did not say, "I saw the Dynamo win a playoff match," because my friend and I left after the second half because it was 11 pm, and the first 90 minutes were mostly crap. Plus the booing every time Graeme Zusi touched the ball got super-old super-fast. The goal came in the 95th minute, just before the MetroRail car arrived at the EaDo/Stadium platform to whisk us away. Tonight, the Dynamo host Portland Timbers to start a two-legged tie.
Last week, a friend commented on my enthusiastic Let's Go Dynamo! Facebook post with a question about the team's ownership. In particular, he was concerned that the principal owner had written some heavy checks to Republicans. That was true of Phil Anschutz, whose Anschutz Entertainment Group was the majority owner until a few years ago. It's more than just donating to Republican campaigns: His foundation gives to groups whose entire purpose is to make life more difficult for regular folks.
However, the current principal owner is Gabriel Brener. For what it's worth, he has been known to contribute to Democrats, including the Clinton Campaign last year. My friend was assuaged; I'm just amused. These are pro-establishment multi-millionaires supporting pro-establishment campaigns and causes. Is anyone surprised? Yes, I take issue with the Dynamo's military salutes at halftime, the continuation of Brad's Brigade after Brad Davis's retirement, as well as all those corporate box seats that typically go unoccupied. But I have felt drawn to this team and its fan base since its first game as a Houston franchise in 2006, mere months after the Astros' World Series washout against the White Sox. I'd like to see the team and its supporters leaning a little more to the left—crowds at Robertson Stadium (2006-11) got pretty radical at times—but at least the fans aren't sinking as low as, say, Lazio.
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Off the Kuff looks at the latest UT/Texas Tribune poll and wishes the pollsters had a bit more vision.
Socratic Gadfly first offered his take on the Joe Straus retirement announcement and then excoriated the inside-the-Mopac media gaggle for its use of the phrase "moderate Republican."
The PDid slate--recommendations in the ongoing election for Texas constitutional amendments, Houston municipal bonds, and HCC and HISD candidates--is posted at Brains and Eggs. Stace at Dos Centavos also has some advice for Houston and Harris County voters.
In profiling 2018 Texas progressive candidates Lillian Salerno (TX-32), Tom Wakely (Governor), Derrick Crowe (TX-21), and Dayna Steele (Tx-36), Down With Tyranny! merits inclusion in our Wrangle this week.
The Lewisville Texan Journal, returning to its digital roots, rolled its final print edition last week.
Texas frackquakes are getting mapped now, according to Texas Vox.
The Texas Moratorium Network has photos and video from the March to Abolish the Death Penalty last Saturday, at the Capitol.
jobsanger would like to remind you that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.
In another crude, racially insensitive display, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller shares a suicide joke on social media. Sid Miller IS the joke, folks.
Houstonia has some suggestions for where you can celebrate Día de los Muertos.
Neil at All People Have Value reviewed the post-hurricane Harvey public art work in Houston called "Toxic Pile of Dirt." APHV is part of NeilAquino.com.
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In more state news and lefty blog posts, Houston sports teams made news for all the right reasons and a few wrong ones over the weekend.
Something yuuuuge was missing from Rev, Franklin Graham's revival in Waco, and David Brockman at the Texas Observer took notice.
An undocumented teenager held in federal custody in Brownsville was finally able to exercise her reproductive choice after a month-long court battle. Doyin Oyeniyi at Texas Monthly provides the account.
The Rivard Report bemoans how unsafe San Antonio is for pedestrians.
Writing for the Houston Chronicle, Dr. Jennifer McQuade of MD Anderson wants to know where our government is in Puerto Rico. And in Techburger, his new blog for the Chronicle, Dwight Silverman gives four reasons why Amazon Key is a bad idea.
Space City Weather examines the Harris County proposals for flood mitigation.
Wes Ferguson at the Daily Post sees fewer Texas high schoolers interested in playing football.
Aaron West at Free Press Houston has more on the history of the three skinheads arrested in Florida for firing a gun at protesters of the Richard Spencer rally.
Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, eulogizes Catherine Vance, a 40-year-old gun safety advocate from Houston who passed away a few days ago.
And Harry Hamid has a few night anthems of a ghoul.
Also, I got to see the Houston Dynamo in a playoff match against Sporting Kansas City last Thursday. Note that I did not say, "I saw the Dynamo win a playoff match," because my friend and I left after the second half because it was 11 pm, and the first 90 minutes were mostly crap. Plus the booing every time Graeme Zusi touched the ball got super-old super-fast. The goal came in the 95th minute, just before the MetroRail car arrived at the EaDo/Stadium platform to whisk us away. Tonight, the Dynamo host Portland Timbers to start a two-legged tie.
Last week, a friend commented on my enthusiastic Let's Go Dynamo! Facebook post with a question about the team's ownership. In particular, he was concerned that the principal owner had written some heavy checks to Republicans. That was true of Phil Anschutz, whose Anschutz Entertainment Group was the majority owner until a few years ago. It's more than just donating to Republican campaigns: His foundation gives to groups whose entire purpose is to make life more difficult for regular folks.
However, the current principal owner is Gabriel Brener. For what it's worth, he has been known to contribute to Democrats, including the Clinton Campaign last year. My friend was assuaged; I'm just amused. These are pro-establishment multi-millionaires supporting pro-establishment campaigns and causes. Is anyone surprised? Yes, I take issue with the Dynamo's military salutes at halftime, the continuation of Brad's Brigade after Brad Davis's retirement, as well as all those corporate box seats that typically go unoccupied. But I have felt drawn to this team and its fan base since its first game as a Houston franchise in 2006, mere months after the Astros' World Series washout against the White Sox. I'd like to see the team and its supporters leaning a little more to the left—crowds at Robertson Stadium (2006-11) got pretty radical at times—but at least the fans aren't sinking as low as, say, Lazio.
====================
Off the Kuff looks at the latest UT/Texas Tribune poll and wishes the pollsters had a bit more vision.
Socratic Gadfly first offered his take on the Joe Straus retirement announcement and then excoriated the inside-the-Mopac media gaggle for its use of the phrase "moderate Republican."
The PDid slate--recommendations in the ongoing election for Texas constitutional amendments, Houston municipal bonds, and HCC and HISD candidates--is posted at Brains and Eggs. Stace at Dos Centavos also has some advice for Houston and Harris County voters.
In profiling 2018 Texas progressive candidates Lillian Salerno (TX-32), Tom Wakely (Governor), Derrick Crowe (TX-21), and Dayna Steele (Tx-36), Down With Tyranny! merits inclusion in our Wrangle this week.
The Lewisville Texan Journal, returning to its digital roots, rolled its final print edition last week.
Texas frackquakes are getting mapped now, according to Texas Vox.
The Texas Moratorium Network has photos and video from the March to Abolish the Death Penalty last Saturday, at the Capitol.
jobsanger would like to remind you that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.
In another crude, racially insensitive display, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller shares a suicide joke on social media. Sid Miller IS the joke, folks.
Houstonia has some suggestions for where you can celebrate Día de los Muertos.
Neil at All People Have Value reviewed the post-hurricane Harvey public art work in Houston called "Toxic Pile of Dirt." APHV is part of NeilAquino.com.
====================
In more state news and lefty blog posts, Houston sports teams made news for all the right reasons and a few wrong ones over the weekend.
Something yuuuuge was missing from Rev, Franklin Graham's revival in Waco, and David Brockman at the Texas Observer took notice.
An undocumented teenager held in federal custody in Brownsville was finally able to exercise her reproductive choice after a month-long court battle. Doyin Oyeniyi at Texas Monthly provides the account.
The Rivard Report bemoans how unsafe San Antonio is for pedestrians.
Writing for the Houston Chronicle, Dr. Jennifer McQuade of MD Anderson wants to know where our government is in Puerto Rico. And in Techburger, his new blog for the Chronicle, Dwight Silverman gives four reasons why Amazon Key is a bad idea.
Space City Weather examines the Harris County proposals for flood mitigation.
Wes Ferguson at the Daily Post sees fewer Texas high schoolers interested in playing football.
Aaron West at Free Press Houston has more on the history of the three skinheads arrested in Florida for firing a gun at protesters of the Richard Spencer rally.
Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, eulogizes Catherine Vance, a 40-year-old gun safety advocate from Houston who passed away a few days ago.
And Harry Hamid has a few night anthems of a ghoul.
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