Monthly Archives: December 2002

Engine tax proposed

Posted on December 4, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep Warren Chisum, better known for his crusade against gay marriage, has what I think is a pretty good proposal in the works regarding issues of the environment and the budget: Charge a fee for bigger engines. Cars, off-road … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 2 Comments

Sunnydale ecology

Posted on December 4, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Ever wonder if the human population of Sunnydale is big enough to sustain its vampire population? Well, fear not, for an actual ecologist has done the math for you. Check it out. Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | Comments Off on Sunnydale ecology

Newman v. Heldman

Posted on December 4, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Nathan Newman and Sam Heldman have a good debate going about whether or not the Supreme Court’s review of the Texas sodomy law is a boon or a curse for progressives. Start with Nathan’s opening statement that progressives are better … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Comments Off on Newman v. Heldman

Sparse attendance at Enron auction

Posted on December 4, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

No big crowds this time at Round Two of the Enron auction. One of the marquee crooked E’s went for a mere ten large to a guy whose wife wants to use it as a coffee table. Is there any … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | 1 Comment

I sure hope this doesn’t become a Sopranos subplot

Posted on December 4, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Headline in the Chron: Mobster indicted in prison sperm-smuggling case: WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — One of five New York mobsters believed to have smuggled their sperm out of a Pennsylvania prison to impregnate their wives has been indicted, along with his … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | 1 Comment

New frontiers in art and literature

Posted on December 4, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

First, there was cow poetry: [Nathan] Banks, a 22-year-old student at Purchase College, painted single words (from “a” to “existential”) on the flanks of about 60 cows near his upstate New York home, then let them wander around to see … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 2 Comments

Goodhair says sodomy law “appropriate”

Posted on December 4, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Governor Rick Perry has officially forfeited the ability to call himself a proponent of limited government after publicly pronouncing the state’s odious sodomy law “appropriate”. He declined to state what other things that he personally thinks are icky that he’d … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 3 Comments

No sugar tonight in my coffee

Posted on December 4, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

The Imperial Sugar refinery, from which the Houston suburb of Sugar Land gets its name, is closing its doors, a victim of high costs and slim profit margins. Company headquarters will still be there, but over 300 people are out … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on No sugar tonight in my coffee

The allure of blaming the victim

Posted on December 3, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

This post discusses the most recent episode of The Sopranos, the penultimate episode of Season Four. This blog is a spoiler-free zone, so the rest of this post will be underneath the More link. Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | Comments Off on The allure of blaming the victim

Welcome back

Posted on December 3, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

In case you hadn’t noticed, Alex is back in the swing of things after successful completion of his NaNoWriMo mission. Diane is also back, and she seems to like the color pink. Taunt her about it at your peril. That’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 2 Comments

Goring Kerry

Posted on December 3, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Kevin Raybould has a sharp rebuke to Mickey Kaus for the reasons Kaus gives for disliking John Kerry. The “nut graf”, as the insiders say: This whole post is Gore II. Gore was a bad man because of his appearance … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | 5 Comments

Enron auction begins today

Posted on December 3, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder that another Enron auction begins today. Go here for the webcast. Aeron chairs, Enron socks, and a seven-foot lighted, twirling “disco E” are among the items available. Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Enron auction begins today

Fire damages Fastow mansion

Posted on December 3, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Missed this one yesterday, but apparently some yutz tried to burn down the mansion that was once owned by Andrew Fastow. Doesn’t look like there’s any connection to Enron, but feel free to put on those tinfoil hats and spin … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Fire damages Fastow mansion

SCOTUS to review sodomy case

Posted on December 2, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

The Supremes are set to hear a case that originated in Houston concerning Texas’ sodomy law: The justices will review the prosecution of two men under a 28-year-old Texas law making it a crime to engage in same-sex intercourse. The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 11 Comments

Bullet successfully dodged

Posted on December 2, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Spent the afternoon at the Civil Court building downtown thanks to a jury summons. The real secret to not getting empanelled in Harris County is to draw a high number when you’re sent off to a courtroom for voir dire. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Comments Off on Bullet successfully dodged

Slugs and body snatchers

Posted on December 2, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Fascinating story in today’s Chron about the practice of impromptu carpooling. People driving to work from the outlying areas will cruise through some of the larger Metro bus stop areas looking for people to share a ride into downtown. By … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 12 Comments

My Hall of Fame ballot

Posted on December 2, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

If I had a ballot in the Hall of Fame voting, I’d cast it for Bert Blyleven, Gary Carter, Rich Gossage, Eddie Murray, and Tommy John. Frankly, it’s a crime that Blyleven, Carter, and the Goose aren’t already enshrined, and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 14 Comments

On the dial

Posted on December 1, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Where on the dial will you find starlet-filled Jacuzzis and news reporters who strip? Jerry Springer? The latest Fox reality show? Nope. Univision and Telemundo, according to Chron Latin TV writer Magaly Morales, who works up a pretty good froth … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 3 Comments

Where local music rules

Posted on December 1, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a story about North Carolina radio station WBZB-1090 AM, which plays only local music. They don’t have much signal, but you can hear them over the web. Some snotnosed industry consultant gives them a “one in a billion” chance … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 6 Comments

The mayoral race

Posted on December 1, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, God, they’re already predicting a long and expensive campaign for mayor in 2003. Someone shoot me, please. There are already five presumed candidates, with the possibility of others. Right now, my preferences would be as follows, in reverse order … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2003 | 1 Comment

Piiiiiiigs…Innnnnnnn…Suburbs!

Posted on December 1, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

The town of Anahuac, in nearby Chambers County, is overrun with wild pigs whose elusiveness, appetite, and sheer numbers are causing havoc for all. By day, these hogs usually keep out of sight in the Houston area’s backwoods and bayous. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Piiiiiiigs…Innnnnnnn…Suburbs!

The Prairie Dog Lady

Posted on December 1, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve written about Lubbock and its prairie dog issues before (here, here, and here). The Texas Magazine in Sunday’s Chron gives a nice profile of Lynda Watson, the “Prairie Dog Lady”, considered the best in the world at catching the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 6 Comments