Monthly Archives: September 2002

M*A*S*H, 30 years later

Posted on September 30, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Would M*A*S*H have been able to survive its early ratings problems if it came along today? Would it even have gotten onto network TV? Larry Gelbart doesn’t think so. Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 3 Comments

The Torch is out

Posted on September 30, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

New Jersey Senator Bob Torricelli has dropped his bid for reelection, thus giving a boost to the national Democrats’ efforts to hold the Senate. For the gory details and various scenarios, check out the Daily Kos. Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2002 | 6 Comments

Weatherman needed

Posted on September 30, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. — Bob Dylan, “Subterranean Homesick Blues” (*) Anyone who knows which way the wind is blowing in this election, please raise your hand and keep it raised so … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2002 | 1 Comment

Einhorn trial to begin

Posted on September 30, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

The long-awaited retrial of accused murderer and fugitive (*) Ira Einhorn is set to begin this week. Already I’m grinding my teeth: Einhorn’s lawyers have said they hope to call celebrities such as Ellen Burstyn and Peter Gabriel as character … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

More fun in Montgomery County

Posted on September 30, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

I see that the Mainstream Montgomery County folks have discovered yours truly, as well as my fellow Axis of Left-Leaning Bloggers member Rob Humenik. They’ve got a decent collection of news stories linked, including this one, which contains a few … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on More fun in Montgomery County

Mainstream Montgomery County

Posted on September 28, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Having decided that they don’t want to be mistaken for the publicity-hungry wackos of the Republican Leadership Council, a group of Montgomery County citizens have formed a group called Mainstream Montgomery County to oppose censorship and general nutbaggery. Anne Bayerkohler, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 6 Comments

Referral roundup

Posted on September 28, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday’s weird Google search result: “Sex with Hermes scarves”. Nice to know we draw a higher class of pervert here at Off the Kuff. Today’s had-to-happen-sooner-or-later Google search result: “Madelyne Toogood nude”. Okay, so not all of the perverts we … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | 2 Comments

Bush upside-down book photo a fake

Posted on September 27, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Scott alerts me to this debunking of the Bush-holding-a-book-upside-down photo. I’m convinced, and I’m not surprised. It’s too easy to fake photos, and in retrospect, there was never a URL to a news story attached to that picture. Just one … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Skepticism | 2 Comments

Instant messaging

Posted on September 27, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

The MIT Technology Review has a look back at instant messaging in its regular Trailing Edge feature this month. The technology dates back to the 1980s, when MIT implemented a system that was designed to send notifications about things like … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 4 Comments

And in news on that other local story…

Posted on September 27, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron notes that all those lawsuits that are fixin’ to be filed over the K-Mart Kiddie Roundup could add up to a lot of money, even in individual awards are likely to be limited. Oh, and it seems that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in K-Mart Kiddie Roundup | 1 Comment

Fastow arrest imminent

Posted on September 27, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Former Enron evildoer Andrew Fastow is expected to turn himself in next week for arrest on fraud charges. As with David Kopper, the government appears to be aiming for a quick plea bargain: The charges will probably come in the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Fastow arrest imminent

The continuing story of the end of oil

Posted on September 26, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Kevin points me to this WaPo opinion piece which heralds the coming end of the Oil Era. Kevin quotes the following paragraphs to note the differences in direction of the EU and the US: The sun is setting on the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on The continuing story of the end of oil

Vengeance and the mentally ill

Posted on September 26, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

US District Judge William Wayne Justice criticized the criminal justice system for “a spirit of vengeance” in dealing with the mentally ill. He was in town at the UT-Houston Medical School giving a lecture. For proof look no further than … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 6 Comments

Dude, where’s my biscuits?

Posted on September 26, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

A KFC employee has been arrested after giving a customer a bag of marijuana as a side dish to his order. I am, as they say, Not Making This Up: The customer who visited a KFC in this San Francisco … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 3 Comments

Isidore hits New Orleans

Posted on September 26, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Tropical Storm Isidore, which still packed a pretty big punch despite never working its way back up to Hurricane status – made landfall in Louisiana, dumping more than 10 inches of rain and knocking out power for thousands of people. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | Comments Off on Isidore hits New Orleans

Madelyne Toogood

Posted on September 26, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

There are two items of interest regarding the Madelyne Gorman Toogood, the woman who was videotaped beating her young daughter, in today’s Chron. First, columnist Ken Hoffman interviews Toogood and her attorney, Steve “Rocket” Rosen. Whatever good they may have … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 13 Comments

Crooked “E” nets $44K

Posted on September 25, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

The crooked “E” that was for sale at the Enron auction sold for $44,000 to a buyer who was told to get it at any cost: Jimmy Luu, sent by his boss to buy the sign, said he was given … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Crooked “E” nets $44K

The wild card, again

Posted on September 25, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Rob Neyer has an interesting suggestion to the wild card dilemma. I’ll quote him since this is a quick-hit piece that won’t get archived: My gut feeling is that there are plenty of postseason berths already. Any more, and we’ll … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on The wild card, again

Wal-Mart and Montgomery County followup

Posted on September 25, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Letter writers have harsh words for the class-conscious Wal-Mart protesters and the Montgomery County Decency Squad. I just love being at the forefront of public opinion. Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Wal-Mart and Montgomery County followup

Cry havoc, and unleash the lawyers of war!

Posted on September 25, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

The number of lawsuits filed stemming from the K-Mart Kiddie Roundup case is up to three, with many more likely to follow. In their suit, Brandi Ratliff, 18, and William Ryan Grenwelge, 20, claim false imprisonment and blame the city … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in K-Mart Kiddie Roundup | 1 Comment

Enron auction a smash success

Posted on September 25, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

I wandered over to the Radisson Astrodome during my lunchtime to check out the Enron assets auction, but as you can see, I never made it in the door. (Sorry, Scott.) There were two lines stretching out the door, with … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | 2 Comments

You can’t always get what you want

Posted on September 25, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Debate over the proposed resolution to kick some Iraqi butt continues apace, but it looks like the President will have to settle for something less than complete power to do whatever he wants whenever he wants it: “At the end … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Iraq attack | Comments Off on You can’t always get what you want

Poor, misunderstood Dick Armey

Posted on September 25, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

At a campaign event for Katherine Harris, Dick Armey took a moment to educate the world about the two types of Jews in America: “I always see two Jewish communities in America: one of deep intellect and one of shallow, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 4 Comments

Isidore update

Posted on September 25, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like TS/Hurricane Isidore will be heading to Louisiana and not to the Houston area. Here’s hoping everyone stays safe and dry throughout. Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | Comments Off on Isidore update

Buffy: The blogs are bursting

Posted on September 24, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

I should have updated my post below earlier to link back to the Buffy Blog Burst index. Better late than never, I guess. Anyway, there’s lots of good stuff there, so go check it out. I’m particularly fond of Amptoons’ … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Websurfing | Comments Off on Buffy: The blogs are bursting

Wal-Mart brouhaha

Posted on September 24, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

I totally don’t know what to make of this story about a group of folks in a northwest Houston subdivision who are trying to halt the construction of a 24-hour Wal-Mart in their vicinity. On the one hand, looking at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 6 Comments

Montgomery County still sucks

Posted on September 24, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Those wacky Republican Leadership Council members up in Montgomery County have claimed another victory when an Oshman’s store placed a fig leaf on a statue of David and moved it atop the store. Although the recent decision by managers of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 3 Comments

Isidore heads back out into the Gulf

Posted on September 24, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

Tropical Storm Isidore is heading towards the Texas Gulf Coast after battering the Yucatan Peninsula. It’s not clear when and where it will hit yet, but pretty much everyone’s nervous about it. Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | Comments Off on Isidore heads back out into the Gulf

Buffy: Fuggeddaboutit!

Posted on September 23, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

This post is part of a Buffy Blog Burst. Go check out the index of posts, they’re all worth reading. I’ve been racking my brain over what to write for the Buffy Blog Burst. In a show that’s already had … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 2 Comments

Why I voted for Al Gore in 2000

Posted on September 23, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

This is the sort of speech I want to hear from my President. It’s why I voted for Gore in 2000 and why he’s the frontrunner for my vote in 2004. Link via O-Dub. Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Comments Off on Why I voted for Al Gore in 2000

Fellow traveller

Posted on September 23, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

I just got a nice note from Tom Spencer, who wondered if I was the Charles Kuffner that he went to college with. I am, and I’m glad to hear that an old classmate is a fellow traveller. Tom’s a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | Comments Off on Fellow traveller

There but for the grace of God…

Posted on September 23, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

The main reason why I haven’t been too harsh on Florida for its most recent election snafus is because it could happen here just as easily. I’ve used the eSlate voting machines – I’m one of those annoying people who … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on There but for the grace of God…

My first move will be to have Bud Selig arrested

Posted on September 23, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

If Larry Simon wins that FX American Candidate show, he’s going to have an all blogger cabinet. I’m in line for Secretary of Commerce. Surely I can do a better job than that girly-boy Don Evans. (Note: The fact that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Websurfing | 1 Comment

Get yer Enron surplus items here

Posted on September 23, 2002 by Charles Kuffner

There will be a big auction of surplus Enron items this Wednesday at the Radisson Astrodome, which is quite near where I work. All sorts of interesting this will be available: The nearly 5-foot tilted E being auctioned by Enron … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | 1 Comment