I just posted my first riff

over at the Houston Democrats blog.

Some of us will be Drinking Liberally this evening. You're invited.

Update: Lisa in the comments corrects me about the official DL meeting. Some of us will carry on the tradition anyway and you're still invited. Post if you need more info.

More upward pressure on gasoline prices coming

The refinery explosion which occurred today at the BP Amoco facility in Texas City (near Galveston, south of Houston) claimed at least 14 lives and sent nearly one hundred people to the hospital.

Terrorism has been ruled out, according to the FBI.

This refinery, the third-largest in the nation, produces 3% of the nation's daily gasoline supply.

Without demeaning those of my neighbors who lost their lives or were injured today, one of the significant impacts of this event will be an immediate spike in the price of gas, perhaps as much as 10-15 cents per gallon. That's depending on how long this refinery's gasoline production is interrupted. "Immediate" can be defined as within the next few days. That will occur at your pump, wherever it is you happen to live in the United States.

I believe the price of gasoline, already steadily escalating, will begin surging. I think $3.00 a gallon, here in Texas, by Memorial Day, is a distinct possibility. I hope I'm wrong, because the impact of such a circumstance on the economy -- locally as well as nationwide -- will be severe.

And now back to your Terri Schiavo/Michael Jackson/steroids-in-baseball regularly scheduled programming.

Update: Perhaps I was Chicken Little in my prediction:

Other than the unit affected by the blast, the rest of the refinery was running normally, said Hugh Depland, spokesman for BP, formerly British Petroleum.

He declined to answer questions about the capacity the refinery was running Thursday or how production would be affected.

Gasoline prices could rise slightly because the plant is such a large gas producer. In afternoon trading Thursday in New York, the price of unleaded gasoline for April delivery was up less than a penny at $1.583 a gallon.

One of my favorite times of the year

...and not just because everything's greening out.

No, the true joy I feel is related to college hoops, MLB spring training, golf tournaments, and the NBA push for the playoffs.

Last night the Rockets threw a net around Shaquille O'Neal and the Heat, the best team in the East and derailed their 12-game winning streak. That capped a couple of weeks of dominance over their Western conference opponents -- except for the Timberwolves. That hiccup aside, the Rockets seem to be peaking at the right time; I think they could go far in the playoffs, especially if some key cogs on their rivals stay injured (Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, etc.)

I'm still favoring one of those Tobacco Roaders -- UNC, Duke, or Kentuckaay --for the NCAA championship. Though it's nice to see Bob Knight having another little moment. I really think that guy has mellowed out at last.

I also like Ezeqiuel Estacio for the fifth spot in the Astros rotation and Willy Taveras in center. Now rather than later, please, Phil Garner. And maybe go ahead and get Bobby Higginson.

The Shell Houston Open is next month and I already have my tickets. And a few opportunities to play on the board.

Hope you're enjoying your spring as much as I am.

It's like living in a real city

blogHOUSTON, by way of Pegasus News, links to the Dallas Morning News for some coverage, including a nifty little pocket guide in .pdf format, enabling one to utilize and enjoy the Houston light rail line and the stops along it.

(Though it's not without their daily snarky potshot at the Chronicle -- which must be the staff's prime directive -- I read blogHOUSTON regularly, despite their much-too-conservative bent.)

Here's my humble O about the light rail:

We live within walking distance of the Smith Lands station and have been taking the train downtown for Astros games, Rockets games, and Main Street Square for dining and entertainment. We took a self-guided Art Deco tour of buildings along the line last fall, and two weeks ago went to the Cartier exhibit at the MoFA. I've been riding the rail to my doctor's appointments lately, saving me the hassle and expense of parking.

Nothing has transformed my experience of living in Houston to a greater degree than this train coming by my house.

Houston Democratic events for March

Not all of it, just what's left of it...

(I usually put these calendars of events up at DU; Lyn at the HoustonDems blog asked me to put it here so she could link to it:)

-- Rep. Alma Allen's staff will give the Meyerland Democratic Club a legislative update at their monthly meeting on Monday the 21st at Poblano's Mexican Grille and Cantina, 9865 S. Post Oak Rd. (Meyer Park Shopping Center), S. Post Oak and W. Bellfort. Meeting begins at 7 pm; come at 6:30 for dinner and socializing.

-- also today, the Area 5 Democrats get our future governor, Chris Bell, as guest speaker. They meet at the PACE Union Hall, 302 Pasadena Blvd. in Pasadena from 7:30 to 8:30. It's not too late for you to get there...

-- Tuesday March 22nd, the Harris County Young Democrats will screen "Mass Media in Times of War" , a documentary featuring Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! which takes the media to task for their too-compliant treatment of the Bush administration's justifications for the Iraq invasion. Following there will be a panel discussion led by Dr. Bob Buzzanco, professor of history and Dr. Garth Jowett, professor of media studies at the University of Houston, and Harvey Rice, a Houston Chronicle reporter who covered the war for the newspaper from Iraq. The meeting begins at 7:30 pm. at the Artery, 5401 Jackson (at Prospect). For more information visit http://www.harriscountyyd.org/ or email hcydpresident@yahoo.com .

-- KANDO (Katy Area New Democratic Organization) will host US Senate candidate Barbara Radnofsky on Tuesday, March 22 beginning at 7 pm. They meet in the downstairs meeting room at the Cinco Ranch Library, 2620 Commercial Center Blvd., in Katy. Contact Rhonda Coleman at 713-304-2975 or visit the club page at KANDOCLUB@yahoogroup.com

-- the West Houston Democrats have their weekly Legislative Lunch on Wednesday the 23rd (and the 30th) at Sandy's Produce Market, Katy Fwy. between Dairy Ashford and Kirkwood (on the south side) from 11:30 until 1 pm.

-- the monthly Environmental Initiative for Houston Region Democrats will be Monday, March 28 from 6-8 pm at the Harris County Democratic Party Headquarters, 1445 N. Loop West, Suite 110. Contact Stephanie Hrabar at 713-683-0638 for more information.

-- Amy Goodman will be the guest lecturer on "Independent Media in the Time of War", Tuesday March 29th at the River Oaks Theatre, 2009 West Gray, beginning at 7:30 pm. Tickets online at http://www.kpft.org/ are $12 for members, students, seniors, and those on a fixed income and $15 for others ($35 is the cost for a basic membership). If lack of funds are of concern, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities. Call 713-526-4000 for details on volunteering. Amy's book, Exception to the Rulers, will be available for purchase. For details about the pre-lecture benefit reception, call Donna at x315 (reservations available for a higher donation - call for details).

-- and Jay Aiyer will kick off his campaign for Houston city council (At-Large Position 2) at the Four Seasons Hotel on Wednesday, March 30th from 5:30 to 7:30. Contact Sondra Haltom for more info: sondra@lonestarstrategies.com

That's me, top left, in the red shirt, waving at you. See me?

And here's more Sunday funnies (even though it's Monday...)

By the way, sorry been gone for awhile

I'll post a picture of us on spring break as soon as I can remember how...

DeLay: Could we change the subject?

America's Most Wanted Pest Exterminator, floating toward the career equivalent of Niagara Falls, has spent the last few weeks thrashing about for something, anything to distract the American Idol electorate from his numerous ethical dilemmas. Sadly, a woman in a vegetative state came to his rescue, and La Cucaracha Grande latched on to her as if she was a life ring. Of course it took about thirty seconds for his hypocrisy to bubble up again:

ABC News obtained GOP talking points explaining why they should intervene in the Schiavo case. Among them, that the "pro-life base will be excited", and that it is a 'great political issue .'

-- ABC News

"I don't know where those talking points come from, and I think they're disgusting."

-- Tom DeLay, asked about the talking points.

I know where they come from, Tom. Outta your ass.

Now would be a great time for Howard Dean to remind everyone that the Party of Intrusion has discovered a new portal into your private life.

Death of a thousand cuts

As a result of reading this article and learning that my local energy provider had contributed to La Cucaracha Grande's legal defense fund, I wrote the following e-mail to the directors of investor relations at Reliant Energy, Inc., this morning and thought I'd share it with all of you:

Dear Ms. Slavin and Mr. Barber:

I cancelled my Reliant Energy consumer electric service this morning, and on its quarterly anniversary at the end of this month, I will be trading out of my mutual fund that holds Reliant stock, and I thought it would be important to let you know why I made those decisions.

I learned yesterday that Reliant had made a contribution to Tom DeLay’s legal defense fund. As a customer and stockholder (albeit one of the smallest), and despite your spokesperson Pat Hammond’s comments that new Reliant executive management will be “conducting its business with integrity and putting some of the matters from the past behind”, I find that decision to be untenable as regards continuing my business with your company.

It’s not important that you respond, as my choices have and will be finalised, but you might consider giving my concerns a wider audience with those who will be responsible for making political contributions on behalf of Reliant Energy, Inc. in the future.

Regards,

(me)

And just now I found this:

"If death comes from a thousand cuts, Tom DeLay is into a couple hundred, and it's getting up there," said a Republican political consultant close to key lawmakers. "The situation is negatively fluid right now for the guy. You start hitting arteries, it only takes a couple." The consultant, who at times has been a DeLay ally, spoke on the condition of anonymity, saying he could not be candid otherwise.

That drip, drip, drip you're hearing?

It's blood.