Monthly Archives: February 2003

Dallas is good for something! Who knew?

Posted on February 11, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Hey, Scott! This one’s for you – a story of tailgating and trucks leading to business success: If it weren’t for top Toyota executives from Japan going to a Dallas Cowboys home game a few years ago, San Antonio might … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 1 Comment

Stupid budget tricks

Posted on February 11, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Just when you thought Texas couldn’t possibly get any less accomodating to indigent defendants, along comes a proposal to return some money earmarked for post-conviction appeals to the state. Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Sharon Keller last week suggested … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Stupid budget tricks

Enron prosecutions update

Posted on February 11, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

The Enron prosecution team is deciding where they want to go next, now that they’ve gotten a pretty good picture of how it all went down. The main question at this point is who’s next, and who’s after that. “Obviously, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Enron prosecutions update

A new Coop

Posted on February 11, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Jeff Cooper has a new home for his Cooped Up blog. Update those blogrolls, folks! And leave a word of encouragement about his new look and his (wise) decision to go Movable Typing. Remember, Jeff: the Movable Type Support Forum … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on A new Coop

Blast from the past

Posted on February 11, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Josh Marshall has been following the story of how the New Hampshire Republican party hired a Northern Virginia telemarketing outfit — GOP Marketplace — to jam the phone banks at the offices of the New Hampshire Democratic Coordinated Campaign and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 7 Comments

Racial sensitivity update

Posted on February 10, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Great. Just what we need. AUSTIN – Students at the University of Texas are accusing several fraternities of hosting parties in which participants wore racially insensitive costumes. A formal complaint was planned today against at least one of the fraternities. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 3 Comments

Redistricting on hold

Posted on February 10, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Tom DeLay has been putting pressure on the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature to redraw the congressional district boundaries to make give more seats to the GOP, but given the work that will have to be done balancing the budget this session, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 9 Comments

Great moments in tech support

Posted on February 10, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

I spent several years doing help desk work, first for a small software company, and then here for the large multinational where I now work. I’ve always been suspicious of supposedly true help desk war stories involving users who asked … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 3 Comments

Cheney can keep his secrets

Posted on February 9, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

In case you didn’t notice, the GAO dropped its lawsuit against Vice President Dick Cheney over his Top Secret Energy Meetings from 2001, so we’ll never get to know if they did in fact play Five Minutes In The Closet … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 3 Comments

OK, that’s a good reason

Posted on February 9, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

In my last entry, I took a potshot at the Chron‘s letters page: When they print a letter that’s in response to a news article, editorial or prior letter, would it kill them to link to the original piece? At … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | 3 Comments

Waving — not objectifying — Old Glory

Posted on February 8, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

In January, John Cornyn took the first step to fulfill a campaign promise to pass a Constitutional amendment banning flag burning. Here’s an excerpt from the January 17 Chron article, which is now archived: “Our flag represents the thousands of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | 5 Comments

The next generation

Posted on February 8, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday, I played in the 2003 Houston Regional Bridge Tournament. One tradition of such tournaments is the Midnight Zip Knockouts, which is a team event that takes place after the evening session. As the name implies, it’s intended to be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Comments Off on The next generation

Calpundit interviews Josh Marshall

Posted on February 7, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Kevin Drum has an interview with Josh Marshall on his site that’s very much worth checking out. Nicely done, Kevin! I wonder if we’ll start seeing more of this in the future. It’d be pretty cool if so. Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | Comments Off on Calpundit interviews Josh Marshall

Great moments in consistency

Posted on February 7, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Earlier this week, Chron political columnist John Williams had this blurb in his weekly piece: Term limits just too confining? · Add the name of Harris County Judge Robert Eckels to the growing list of term-limit backers who seem to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment

Mayoral race update

Posted on February 7, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Bill White officially jumped in to the 2003 Mayoral race on Wednesday. He’s got a plan for transportation: In an announcement speech called “Let’s Get Houston Moving,” White presented a transportation plan that he said would reduce the average commuting … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2003 | 2 Comments

Invasive species

Posted on February 6, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

A group calling itself the Union of Concerned Scientists – I’m picturing a bunch of white lab coats and deeply furrowed brows here – has released a report of over 100 nonnative plant and animal species which are threatening native … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 1 Comment

Pro-war cartoons

Posted on February 6, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Barry points to this piece by Dirk Deppey which asks “Where are the pro-war editorial cartoons?”. Dirk in turn was inspired by this Indian Express story: “Empty warheads” is how an American cartoonist recently described Washington’s war planners. The rest … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | 2 Comments

Brian’s back

Posted on February 5, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Brian Linse is back from the wilds of London, and he notes that he was blogging about John Lott before it was cool. Welcome back, Brian! Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Brian’s back

Demographically appropriate music

Posted on February 5, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

When I’m in my car, I generally listen to what I call “demographically appropriate” music on the radio. Basically, what that means is that there are only two radio stations that play stuff that I generally like – the All-80s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 5 Comments

Oh, those polls

Posted on February 5, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Kos links to this LA Times story about President Bush’s continually falling poll number, which contains the usual ambivalence about invading Iraq: The public remains unconvinced of key elements in Bush’s case for war. Nearly three-fifths of respondents said they … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 1 Comment

Kenny Boy gets sued

Posted on February 4, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Ken and Linda Lay have been sued by Enron’s creditors, who allege that they still owe money for loans that they paid back in Enron stock. They were doing this up into November of 2001, just before the Dynegy deal … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Kenny Boy gets sued

No state income tax – no surprise

Posted on February 4, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

State House Speaker Tom Craddick says there will be no state income tax adopted this year. “I would not think that there’s any chance we’ll pass an income tax,” said Craddick, noting that a provision in the Texas Constitution requires … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 8 Comments

The pope approves of Harry Potter

Posted on February 4, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

From the news wires: The Vatican is giving two thumbs up to the Harry Potter series. The good vs. evil plot lines of the best-selling books are imbued with Christian morals, the Rev. Don Peter Fleetwood told a Vatican news … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Books | 2 Comments

Ron Paul

Posted on February 3, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

I heartily second Patrick‘s recommendation of this Texas Observer interview with US Rep. Ron Paul (R, TX). He’s a nut, in my humble opinion, but he’s a lot less scary than certain other Republican Congressmen from Texas that I could … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 5 Comments

Kuff gets results

Posted on February 3, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

You fans of Diane Duane should check out the comments on this old post for an update on the status of her “Door” books. Remember: You heard it here first! Continue reading →

Posted in Books | 1 Comment

Hail to the chief

Posted on February 3, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Police Chief C.O. “BAMF” Bradford is back at work amid handsprings and huzzahs from supporters, and he gave them a good demonstration of his political skills: Asked whether the ordeal caused him to fear for people wrongly charged and without … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in K-Mart Kiddie Roundup | Comments Off on Hail to the chief

Your regular plug for light rail

Posted on February 3, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

A recent Rice University/University of Houston poll shows strong support for light rail in Houston. “The clear message is that the public’s appetite for a solution to Houston’s traffic problem is extremely strong,” said Robert Stein, Rice dean of social … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 4 Comments

Columbia coverage

Posted on February 3, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Dwight Silverman, the tech writer for the Chron, has a pseudo-weblog on the Columbia disaster. I say “pseudo” because anything without a link each entry isn’t really a blog in my universe. But hey, it’s a fair sight better than … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Websurfing | Comments Off on Columbia coverage

Mayoral race roundup

Posted on February 2, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Some new developments in the 2003 Mayoral Race Sweepstakes this week. First was the announcement that Ed Wulfe is not a candidate. Wulfe, an adviser to Mayor Lee Brown who has helped develop a Main Street revitalization program, was considered … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2003 | 1 Comment

The last word on the Bradford trial

Posted on February 2, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

The Houston Press has weighed in on the perjury trial of Houston Police Chief C.O. “BAMF” Bradford, and it’s almost embarrassing how much more detail they have than the Chron did. I could quote large bits of it, but you … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in K-Mart Kiddie Roundup | Comments Off on The last word on the Bradford trial

Lottery changes proposed

Posted on February 2, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

As expected, the state Lottery Commission has proposed changes to Lotto Texas which result in longer odds of winning the jackpot. The hope is that this will also result in bigger jackpots and brisker sales, mostly from people who only … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Jackpot! | 1 Comment

Just put it on our tab

Posted on February 2, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a potential cost of invading Iraq that you probably hadn’t given any thought to: Airlines are lobbying for another handout to help them recoup losses that they expect to face as a result of a war. As the threat … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Comments Off on Just put it on our tab

RIP, RAWbservations

Posted on February 2, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Sadly, Alex Whitlock has had to make good his promise to take down RAWbservations. He does have a couple of group projects in the works, and will be continuing his fiction writing. I wish you the best of luck, Alex, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on RIP, RAWbservations

Hochberg on the budget

Posted on February 1, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Here, via Greg Wythe, is some more detail about that $10 billion budget deficit and how big cuts will have to be if our elected leaders are serious about no tax increases: 1.) While the Texas budget totals around $113 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Hochberg on the budget