Monthly Archives: February 2003

Where the rubber meets the road

Posted on February 20, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve been talking about budget cuts as the Only Acceptable Solution for the budget crunch for awhile now, so let’s talk a bit about what that’s actually going to mean. Two articles from today’s Chron give us some insight, starting … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 2 Comments

Bad things you can do to pizza

Posted on February 20, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

From Brad DeLong: Ann Marie, staring at a line on a menu offering kung pao chicken pizza: “I think we can safely say that fusion cuisine has gone too far.” I think it’s the combination of hoisin sauce, peanuts, and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 4 Comments

Iraq can pay for its own reconstruction

Posted on February 20, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

From Yahoo News: The Bush administration said Tuesday that it expects Iraq to pay for its own reconstruction in the event there is a war to oust Saddam Hussein. “Iraq, unlike Afghanistan, is a rather wealthy country. Iraq has tremendous … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | Comments Off on Iraq can pay for its own reconstruction

It’s a great time to be a political consultant

Posted on February 20, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Tim Fleck gives an overview of fat times in the local political consulting industry, thanks to the sure-to-be-a-record-breaker Mayoral race that looms large this November. First up, we see that Bill White is not letting his Democratic credentials keep him … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 3 Comments

Texas blogging

Posted on February 19, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Aziz asks: Mainly out of simple curiosity, who else is a Texas (political) blogger? Liberal or Conservative, I’m interested in compiling a list. I think that’s an excellent idea, and I hope Aziz doesn’t mind if I crib it from … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 74 Comments

One for the Pteropundit

Posted on February 19, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Scientists are trying to figure out why there are a bunch of dead robins in Central Texas. The leading theory is…well, see for yourself: Pesticides, a common killer, were ruled out. So was West Nile virus because the mosquitoes that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 1 Comment

City Council to consider anti-war resolution

Posted on February 19, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Despite more pressing matters facing it, the Houston City Council will be considering a resolution to oppose an invasion of Iraq. Six of the council’s 15 members support some form of a resolution on possible U.S. military action and some … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 2 Comments

A few things about me

Posted on February 19, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Awhile back, Scott suggested I add a bio of some kind to this page. Well, in honor of my birthday, this post is it. If you’re curious about some possibly interesting but mostly obscure facts about me, then please click … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 11 Comments

Happy birthday to me

Posted on February 19, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Today is my 37th birthday. I’m exactly the same age as Justine Bateman and exactly one day older than Cindy Crawford. Probably the most famous person to share a birthday with me is Copernicus, who would be 530 years old … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 24 Comments

Crime and punishment, NCAA-style

Posted on February 18, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Steve Smith of OffWing Opinion recently wrote of the passing of Michigan booster Ed Martin, whose payola to the Wolverine men’s basketball teams of the late 80s have recently come to light: Although I don’t condone lying to a court … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Comments Off on Crime and punishment, NCAA-style

Goodhair nips heresy in the bud

Posted on February 18, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Some pesky Republicans in the Lege have been straying off the ranch lately, calling for an expansion of the state sales tax so that drastic cuts in the education allotment can be avoided: Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, said the state … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 3 Comments

Salon interviews Molly Ivins

Posted on February 18, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Salon has a short – almost disappointingly so – interview with Molly Ivins today. Check it out. Continue reading →

Posted in Websurfing | 1 Comment

Ah, fame

Posted on February 17, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Via Mark Evanier, I see that some crazy college kids in Baytown (about 30 miles east of Houston) wanted to set a world record on February 1 by gathering the most people ever wearing Groucho Marx noses and glasses in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Ah, fame

I love it when you’re snarky

Posted on February 17, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

I have to admit, when the Chron‘s Cragg Hines gets snarky he can be quite entertaining. Take this piece on Tom DeLay’s strongarm tactics to force the Lege into taking up congressional redistricting: The last time I wrote about Tom … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | 2 Comments

There ain’t no such thing as a free tuition

Posted on February 17, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Oooh, this one’s gonna sting: The state of Texas may have to renege on promises to pay college tuition for eligible students: An estimated 5,000 students would be denied free college tuition promised to them by the state because of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Just call me Coach

Posted on February 17, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

I’m still not exactly sure how this happened, but some time over the weekend, I got talked into coaching a Little League baseball team. One of Tiffany’s coworkers (John) is a head honcho in a league in his neighborhood (which … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Just call me Coach | Comments Off on Just call me Coach

It’s gonna be a long campaign

Posted on February 16, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Get ready to start seeing Bill White for Mayor ads on the teevee and radio, as the first announced candidate tries to raise his name recognition: The Houston lawyer and businessman has purchased enough television commercial time for each Houstonian … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2003 | Comments Off on It’s gonna be a long campaign

Cynthia Cooper redux?

Posted on February 16, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Is two-time WNBA MVP Cynthia Cooper about to come out of retirement? Houston Comets owner Les Alexander thinks so: “These are heady times for the Houston Rockets and Comets,” Alexander said to those in attendance at the annual Tux & … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 3 Comments

From the Venus and Mars files

Posted on February 16, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Tiffany and I just had the following conversation: T: “I’m going to iron the shower curtain.” C: “For the love of God, why?” T: “I’ve run it through the washer and dryer, and it still has the folds from the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 5 Comments

Google buys Pyra Labs

Posted on February 16, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Hmmm. Google has bought Pyra Labs, the company that created Blogger and Blogspot. “I couldn’t be more excited about this,” said Evan Williams, founder of Pyra, a company that has had its share of struggles. He wouldn’t discuss terms of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 1 Comment

January traffic report

Posted on February 16, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

January was my busiest month yet, with just over 6500 visitors, according to the SiteMeter counter. Listed below are the top referrers, according to my webhost’s report. As always, thanks to everyone for visiting, reading, and linking. Continue reading →

Posted in Traffic Reports | Comments Off on January traffic report

Will the budget crunch lead to casinos?

Posted on February 16, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

And here we go again on another well-worn subject. With the budget crisis and the doctrinal unwillingness to examine the state’s revenue streams, a bill to legalize casinos is once more making its way through the Lege. The difference is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Here we go again

Posted on February 16, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Emma from The Oregon Blog, Barry Deutsch, and Nathan Newman are arguing about that moldie oldie Nader v. Gore. My sympathies are pretty firmly with Nathan on this one. In particular, I’m right there with him as he goes, for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | Comments Off on Here we go again

Chron discovers Astroturf

Posted on February 15, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Well, not really, but they did print an opinion piece about it. The current GOP Team Leader-inspired turfing has been known for over a month, thanks to the likes of Atrios and Failure Is Impossible, but better late than never, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | 4 Comments

Rural schools fear Robin Hood reform

Posted on February 15, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

School funding in Texas is done from a combination of local property taxes and state funds. It’s roughly a 50-50 mix, though right now the state’s share is at a low point. In the early 90s, after the inequities of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 3 Comments

Clueless or criminal?

Posted on February 14, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve given my share of beatings to Kenny Boy Lay for his role in the Enron implosion. One of the main reasons why people like me have believed in Lay’s culpability was his steady selloff of Enron stock in 2001, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | 3 Comments

Sharon Keller hits the trifecta

Posted on February 14, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

I recently introduced you to Justice Sharon Keller of the state Court of Criminal Appeals. She was in the news recently for suggesting that funds earmarked for legal representation of death row inmates be returned to the state to help … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 3 Comments

Valentine’s Day isn’t happy for everyone

Posted on February 14, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Today is the day that Robert Chambers, the so-called “Preppy Killer”, gets out of jail after serving all 15 years of his plea-bargained sentence for the murder of Jennifer Levin in 1986. Chambers confessed in 1988 to strangling 18-year-old Jennifer … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Valentine’s Day isn’t happy for everyone

Happy Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 14, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

I’m still under the weather and thus low on blog energy, so this is as good a time as any to rerun My Favorite Valentine’s Day Story. Happy reading. Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Comments Off on Happy Valentine’s Day

Clinton wows ’em in Austin

Posted on February 13, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Bill Clinton was in Austin yesterday and gave a speech about current events. I’m a little low on energy today thanks to a cold, so I’ll just point out this funny line by Liz Carpenter, the former press secretary to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 1 Comment

Another Enron report released

Posted on February 13, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s yet another report of Enron’s evildoing, this one about a variety of questionably legal tactics to skirt tax laws. I could quote large bits of this, but I think the following sums up everything you need to know: Enron … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | 2 Comments

Good news and bad news

Posted on February 12, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

The good news is that famed Texas populist Jim Hightower has a blog. The bad news is that the design sucks, the layout is ugly (and when an “aesthetic retard”, as Tiffany lovingly calls me, says something is ugly, you … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | 4 Comments

State budget update

Posted on February 12, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Governor Goodhair has finally gotten around to admitting that the only way to eradicate the $9.9 billion budget deficit without raising taxes is to cut funding for education and health care, two things he never actually mentioned while on the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on State budget update

Those troublesome women

Posted on February 12, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Via DC Thornton, I see that Right Wing News recently hosted a Warblogger Awards competition. I find one thing moderately curious about this, which is that there are separate awards for Best Female Blogger and Best Overall Blog. I don’t … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 9 Comments