Monthly Archives: February 2002

O Stephanie, where art thou?

Posted on February 28, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll add my name to the growing chorus of folks who’ve greatly enjoyed Stephanie Dupont’s extended guest-hosting of Brian Linse’s blog. I haven’t seen anyone else say this, so I’ll say it: Brian, when you get back to LA, do … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on O Stephanie, where art thou?

Teaching intolerance

Posted on February 28, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

There’s been a fair amount of bloggage regarding this article in the WaPo about Islamic schools in America. I’m as alarmed as the next guy, but not because gasp we’ve suddenly discovered such things in our midst. No, my discomfort … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | Comments Off on Teaching intolerance

It’s Official

Posted on February 28, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

The Ballpark Soon To Be Formerly Known As Enron Field is now officially The Ballpark Formerly Known As Enron Field. Enron will get some money back in the bargain. As long as none of it goes to Lay, Skilling, or … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on It’s Official

Speaking of bought and paid for

Posted on February 28, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

According to this story in the Chron, “[a] $100,000 donation from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tony Sanchez’s bank in 2000 helped fund Republican efforts to retain control of the U.S. Senate”. You know, I’m as desperate as any Texas Democrat to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2002 | Comments Off on Speaking of bought and paid for

Road fees

Posted on February 27, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Fritz Schranck has some good stuff about how we pay for roads. Check it out. Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | Comments Off on Road fees

I Am Not A Crook

Posted on February 27, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Jeff Skilling denies all in his testimony to the Senate. What a scuzzball. This is my favorite bit: In Tuesday’s hearing, Skilling clashed with senators over his stock sales, repeatedly blamed auditor Arthur Andersen for signing off on questionable accounting … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on I Am Not A Crook

Coming to a neighborhood near you

Posted on February 27, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Wendy’s International has bought a 45% interest in Houston restaurant chain Cafe Express. Cafe Express is a “fast-casual” restaurant. Watch that phrase, I think you’ll be hearing it again. Cafe Express is Wendy’s first investment in the fast-casual restaurant business. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Comments Off on Coming to a neighborhood near you

Trying to understand Amy

Posted on February 27, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Last night Tiffany and I watched Judging Amy, the Amy Brennerman vehicle on CBS. T has seen a few eps, but I’d never watched it. It wasn’t bad – decent writing, good cast, and Tyne Daly’s a hoot – but … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 2 Comments

Tribute to The Bear

Posted on February 27, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

No, not Bryant. I’m talking about Don Haskins, the longtime coach at UTEP (formerly Texas Western), who made history by winning the 1966 NCAA men’s basketball championship with an all-black starting lineup. The team they beat was Kentucky, coached by … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Comments Off on Tribute to The Bear

Dog emergency

Posted on February 26, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Had a minor dog emergency this afternoon while taking Harry for his afternoon walk. He usually walks on my left, and sometimes when the leash goes slack his right foreleg will step over it, making it necessary to untangle him. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Comments Off on Dog emergency

More woes for the 55 MPH speed limit

Posted on February 26, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Governor Rick “Goodhair” Perry is asking pollution officials to look for alternatives to lowering the speed limit. This just gets more and more entertaining. One thing to keep in mind is that average speed on Houston highways during peak hours … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on More woes for the 55 MPH speed limit

If you care about your kids, you’ll read my blog

Posted on February 26, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Today while at the bank I heard a political ad on the radio which began “I want the best for my children. That’s why I’m voting for…” Is it too late to stick an amendment in the Shays-Meehan bill that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2002 | Comments Off on If you care about your kids, you’ll read my blog

The Andrea Yates trial

Posted on February 26, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve avoided commenting on Houston’s other big story, mostly because I’m conflicted about it. What Andrea Yates did was horrible, but I don’t believe that killing her is in the interests of justice. I think we can all agree that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 5 Comments

There’s a cheap West University Place Police joke in there somewhere

Posted on February 25, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Justin Slotman says that the IRoB is still ranked for the Google searches on “Jaime Sale nude”. Well, I was getting a lot of Google hits on “Elena Berezhnaya nude”, but alas, I seem to have dropped out of contention. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Websurfing | Comments Off on There’s a cheap West University Place Police joke in there somewhere

Suburban smut smackdown!

Posted on February 25, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Some time ago I wrote about the hapless Chief of Police in West University Place and his suspension for having surfed to smut sites on the Web. Seems the loss of pay is the least of his worries, as the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Suburban smut smackdown!

Satire takes another body blow

Posted on February 24, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Cleveland Indians pitcher John Rocker, best known for his sensitive commentary on racial and sexual relations, will portray a crazed killer in a new movie. The film, called “The Greenskeeper”, is the type of film that also features a Playboy … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | Comments Off on Satire takes another body blow

Satellite subversion

Posted on February 24, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Glenn Kinen points to this excellent article in the NY Times Sunday magazine about NITV and its subversive pro-American broadcasts to Iran. I sure hope they can find a sugar daddy to help them keep up the good work. Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | Comments Off on Satellite subversion

Slobogoogling: Sonja Myers

Posted on February 24, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Matt Welch has been all over the Free Slobodan Milosevic petition which has been signed by over 1300 people. He suggested that bloggers start Googling these folks to see what else they’ve said and done. Well, David Janes has put … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Slobogoogling: Stan Goff

Posted on February 24, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Stan Goff, as nearly everything written by or about him always says, is a retired US Special Forces Master Sergeant. He’s written a book called Hideous Dream: A Soldier’s Memoir of the U.S. Invasion of Haiti. I’m not qualified to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Officially Recognized Religions

Posted on February 23, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Gary Farber has a nice piece about John Ashcroft’s recent remarks, in which our breastphobic Attorney General says “Civilized people — Muslims, Christians and Jews — all understand that the source of freedom and human dignity is the Creator. Civilized … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 3 Comments

Righteous show

Posted on February 23, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Went and saw the Asylum Street Spankers last night with some friends. What a totally kickass show that was. Having Guy Forsyth play with them helps get them back in touch with their bluesier side. It’s worth the price of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Righteous show

Ask me a hard one next time

Posted on February 22, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Craig at Page Fault Interrupt asks: If there really were such a thing as reincarnation, would you rather come back as a Saudi woman or as an American dog? Dude. Anyone who could ask that question isn’t a dog owner. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | Comments Off on Ask me a hard one next time

Many naugas died to bring you that chair

Posted on February 22, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Earlier this week Tiffany attended the ninth annual Houston Heritage Society Attic Sale. It’s basically a big garage sale thrown by Ladies Who Lunch as a fundraiser for the Heritage Museum. While at said sale, Tiffany found and bought an … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Comments Off on Many naugas died to bring you that chair

Good news and bad news

Posted on February 21, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Ginger talks about the sad state of computer documentation, and wonders how one can redirect mail in Outlook. I have good news and bad news for you, Ginger. It looks like it can be done, but as if often the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on Good news and bad news

Unsafe at any speed

Posted on February 21, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Matt Welch recently pointed out a bizarre interview in the Chicago Tribune with Ralph Nader. I don’t normally do this sort of thing, but I think this deserves some deconstructing. I’m going to quote selectively, so go to the link … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Unsafe at any speed

Fuzzy math

Posted on February 21, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

In today’s Chron, there’s an ad for the new movie Super Troopers. This ad contains the following pull quote from critic Lou Lumenick of the New York Post: “An Amazingly High Joke-to-Laugh Ratio!” Um, you do know that this means … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on Fuzzy math

One stupid white man, anyway

Posted on February 20, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

According to his regular newsletter, Michael Moore is calling for President Bush to resign during the 7th inning stretch on Opening Day at Enron Field, which will be on April 2. I quote from the letter, to which Amy was … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on One stupid white man, anyway

The last thing I’ll ever write about Can’t Stop The Music

Posted on February 20, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Karin sent me a note about an upcoming homage to Can’t Stop The Music at the Austin Drafthouse by local comedy troupe Mr. Sinus Theater 3000. I have to say, I’m just sick with jealousy that I won’t be able … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | Comments Off on The last thing I’ll ever write about Can’t Stop The Music

House update

Posted on February 20, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

The owners of the house we want have come back with a counteroffer. We’re still apart on price but I think we’ll be able to meet in the middle. We’ve given a new offer to our real estate agent to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Comments Off on House update

Religion and the court

Posted on February 20, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Dahlia Lithwick discusses Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s reasoning behind his recent claims that Catholic judges who believe the Church’s teaching that capital punishment is wrong should not be on the bench. Scalia, who is a devout Catholic, is not … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 2 Comments

They say it’s your birthday

Posted on February 19, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

It’s my birthday, too, yeah. I’m exactly the same age as Justine Bateman, and exactly one day older than Cindy Crawford. Here’s what else has happened on my birthday. Nice of the Senate to celebrate my 20th by outlawing genocide, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Comments Off on They say it’s your birthday

And for a present

Posted on February 19, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

I finally got a Blackberry wireless email device. With my pager and cellphone, this means I am now officially a triple-threat geek. Tremble in my presence, mortals! Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Comments Off on And for a present

There’s a campaign finance reform joke in here somewhere

Posted on February 19, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Continental Airlines CEO Gordon Bethune lauds Tom DeLay for all his help to the airline industry after 9/11. There are many ways that one can be snarky about this sort of thing, but I’ll settle for the one that’s closest … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Comments Off on There’s a campaign finance reform joke in here somewhere

Rodeo Report, Night 1

Posted on February 19, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

We showed up at the Dome a bit before 7 last night in anticipation of the Martina McBride/Lyle Lovett double bill. I, having never actually been to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, expected that the “7 PM” time listed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 2 Comments