Monthly Archives: May 2002

That Harvard graduation jihad controversy

Posted on May 23, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Matt Yglesias has been discussing a brouhaha at Harvard concerning a student who will be speaking at the commencement ceremony on “American Jihad” which “will challenge seniors to apply the concept of the jihad to their lives after graduation”. (See … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 1 Comment

Maybe he can go work for Andrew Sullivan

Posted on May 23, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

From the Newsmakers section of today’s Chron, quoted because the link won’t last past today: Sports columnist fired The New York Post fired sports columnist Wallace Matthews Wednesday after he took his “killed” column critical of the newspaper and another … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Comments Off on Maybe he can go work for Andrew Sullivan

More dot-connecting

Posted on May 23, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Public Nuisance and Unqualified Offerings have some useful things to say about unconnected dots. There’s plenty of responsibility to go around, but the more I read the less impressed I am by Team Bush’s response, and I wasn’t all that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on More dot-connecting

Don’t go there

Posted on May 22, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

I was going to warn Larry not to use the words “schmautopsy schmotos” anywhere near the words “Chandra Levy”, but it looks like I’m too late. Well, Larry, at least you know your friends aren’t trying to horn in on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Jus’ Stuff Dept.

Posted on May 22, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Business is brisk at the Linda Lay upscale resale shop, according to Chron society columnist Shelby Hodge. THERE were no fancy invitations and no “open for business” signs at 1302 W. Gray. But customers started arriving on Friday and before … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Jus’ Stuff Dept.

Senate to subpoena White House over Enron

Posted on May 22, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Someone alert Mickey Kaus, Enron’s back on the front page and about to get nasty. The White House said it has been gathering and reviewing documents, e-mails and entry records of visitors and interviewing people with relevant information, and it … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Senate to subpoena White House over Enron

Chandra Levy’s body found

Posted on May 22, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

The remains of Chandra Levy have been found in a park in northwestern Washington, DC. One of the ways that some people used to measure how much America was “back” from 9/11 was a return to interest in and gossip … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Chandra Levy’s body found

Sign of the times?

Posted on May 22, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Today I spent the better part of the morning downtown doing battle with a piece of software. (I think I won, but the French and Russian judges are still quibbling over the score.) The building I visited is one I’ve … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Sign of the times?

Competitive balance

Posted on May 21, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

File13 gave his perspective on Bud Selig’s latest whining, and wonders what baseball nuts like The Fat Guy and I think. The Fat Guy has his say here, so I guess it’s now my turn. First, I generally disagree with … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on Competitive balance

Hindsight, schmindsight

Posted on May 21, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know about you, but now that Michael Kinsley is no longer the editor of Slate, I hope he spends more time writing satire. He’s clearly shown that he’s very good at it. Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | Comments Off on Hindsight, schmindsight

Defeating redirection

Posted on May 20, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Mac Thomason complains about being trapped by the new KausFiles, where the redirection to Slate renders his back button ineffective. The secret is speed, Mac – Hit the back button twice in rapid succession, as if you were double-clicking, and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Websurfing | Comments Off on Defeating redirection

The Swastika and the Crescent

Posted on May 20, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Another fascinating magazine that we get is the Souther Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Project, a nice bit of light reading about hatred and extremism. This article goes into ties between neo-Nazi and Islamofascist organizations. Many people have written about some … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | Comments Off on The Swastika and the Crescent

Speaking of the Technology Review

Posted on May 20, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Speaking of the Technology Review, it’s just loaded with great stuff this month. Here’s an article that argues that human cloning, like all other advances in reproductive technology, is inevitable. I have to say that I think author Daniel Kevles … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on Speaking of the Technology Review

Tanned, rested, and ready

Posted on May 20, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

We had a great time at the Schlitterbahn. It’s amazing what a stress-free weekend, plus a full day of activity, will do for your ability to sleep. Even though I’m now squarely behind the commentary curve, it felt good to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Tanned, rested, and ready

Sweet words on a busy day

Posted on May 20, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

On a busy ass-kicker of a day, when you’re still exhausted but euphoric from a trip to the Schlitterbahn, there are no words which are sweeter or more uplifting than the following: “The staff meeting this afternoon has been cancelled.” … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Comments Off on Sweet words on a busy day

Couple days off

Posted on May 17, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

We’re off to the Schlitterbahn, the world’s greatest water park, for the weekend, so I probably won’t have anything more to say until Sunday night or Monday. I’ve got a few things brewing, such as a followup on Joe Katzman’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Comments Off on Couple days off

More Disturbing Technological Advances Dept.

Posted on May 17, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Using Gummi Bears, PhotoShop, and ingenuity, a Japanese cryptographer was able to create fake fingerprints that fooled fingerprint recognition systems 80% of the time. Guess maybe I’ll keep paying cash at Kroger for awhile longer. Thanks to Michael for pointing … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on More Disturbing Technological Advances Dept.

Putting words in my mouth

Posted on May 17, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

A new breakthrough in video technology at MIT can realistically alter video images to make it appear that someone is saying something else. Read it and worry. Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on Putting words in my mouth

RIP, PFI

Posted on May 16, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Craig Biggerstaff at Page Fault Interrupt is hanging up his keyboard, citing that old bugaboo of Real Life. I salute your efforts, Craig, and hope that someday you may be able to blog again. Please feel free to drop in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Websurfing | Comments Off on RIP, PFI

Hey, Mickey!

Posted on May 16, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Back when KausFiles was still its own site and had actual archives, Mickey Kaus snickered that Democrats’ glee about using Enron to bash Republicans was overdone and premature. Take a look at the top story from today’s Chron and tell … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Hey, Mickey!

Aren’t his 15 minutes up yet?

Posted on May 16, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

John Wayne Bobbit has been dropped from “Celebrity Boxing 2” because he was arrested for assaulting his wife. Man, if “Celebrity Boxing 2” doesn’t want to be tainted by your association, you’re really on the outs. All I can say … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | Comments Off on Aren’t his 15 minutes up yet?

Homelessness feedback

Posted on May 15, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

My dad, who spent 14 years as a judge in New York City, sent me the following feedback on my post about Houston’s proposed anti-panhandling ordinance: I think that stats will verify that most [homeless people] are substance abusers or … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Homelessness feedback

Ten thousand!

Posted on May 15, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Woo hoo! I’ve reached 10,000 hits, in a bit more than three months. That may be chump change to some bloggers, but I’m pretty happy about it. Number 10,000 was a Roadrunner-NYC user, according to my referral log and Sam … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Traffic Reports | Comments Off on Ten thousand!

Ted’s back!

Posted on May 15, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

In case you hadn’t noticed, Ted Barlow is back, and he’s full of renewed vigor. You had us worried for awhile there, Ted. We may never know the meaning of croatan, but at least it doesn’t appear to have meant … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Websurfing | Comments Off on Ted’s back!

Patch Adams and the Folk Song Army Fallacy

Posted on May 15, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

From Greg Hlatky comes this article about Patch Adams and the “Dialogue for Democracy” which took place at the University of Pittsburgh. Patch, the subject of an incredibly sappy feel-good movie, is apparently a bit confused about current events: “I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Skepticism | Comments Off on Patch Adams and the Folk Song Army Fallacy

Where the future is being made today

Posted on May 15, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Shoppers can now pay for groceries at some area Kroger stores with a new point-of-sale system that uses fingerprints to associate a customer with an account. This came out of a since-abandoned pilot program in Texas to use fingerprint identification … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on Where the future is being made today

The poor will always be with us

Posted on May 14, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Larry wants to know what I think about this story about a proposed City Council ordinance to prohibit “Dumpster diving”, “aggressive panhandling”, and sleeping on city sidewalks during daytime hours. I wish I had a good answer to this. My … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on The poor will always be with us

Liberals are too nice

Posted on May 14, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Chron readers fire back at Bill Coulter for his obnoxious editorial in yesterday’s paper. Note to Stanley Kurtz: The letter writers were all a heck of lot nicer than Coulter was. (I am resisting the urge to add “Nyah nyah … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Liberals are too nice

Oopsie

Posted on May 14, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Now Reliant Energy has admitted that they, too, used controversial Enron trading tactics in California last year during that state’s electricity crisis. They claim it wasn’t very much, but their stock price got pummeled anyway. This will surely give California … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Comments Off on Oopsie

Wading in

Posted on May 14, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve waded into a debate about Iraq, Gore Vidal, Ralph Nader, and other stuff in the comments on this Matt Welch post. Please tell me if you think I’m off base. UPDATE: Be sure to read the responses from Patrick … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Websurfing | Comments Off on Wading in

Really Cool Stuff Dept.

Posted on May 14, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Would you believe bomb-sniffing bees? No, really, it sounds cool. Go check it out. (Link via Little Green Footballs.) Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on Really Cool Stuff Dept.

Extremism and responsibility

Posted on May 13, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Josh Trevino responds to my post about the moral responsibility to speak out against extremism. I had disagreed with Josh’s assertion that the failure of Europe’s leftist leaders to unequivocally condemn the murder of Pim Fortuyn is equivalent to the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | Comments Off on Extremism and responsibility

Liberal bias and missing the point

Posted on May 13, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Stanley Kurtz goes on yet another tired whine about misunderstood conservatives and liberal media bias: The belief in conservative bigotry is more than a misunderstanding. It is liberalism’s indispensable drug – the opium of the elites. Are there some bigoted … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | Comments Off on Liberal bias and missing the point

Spam du jour

Posted on May 13, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

In which I am invited to order Viagra online in order to “BE A SUPERSTUND!” I sure can see how that email marketing thing is so gosh-darned effective, yessirreebob. Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | Comments Off on Spam du jour