Monthly Archives: April 2003

Spam spam spam spam

Posted on April 30, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a spam summit going on in DC right now as the powers that be grapple with The Scourge Of The Internet ™. On the first day of the Federal Trade Commission’s “spam summit,” participants could not even agree on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 5 Comments

Not what I call good community relations

Posted on April 30, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Back in 2000, in better financial times, the city of Houston passed a referendum to fund a new downtown basketball arena. A similar referendum had been defeated before, thanks in large part to well-funded opposition from conservatives (not to mention … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

Penguin dreams

Posted on April 30, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Ann Salisbury has de-lurked to bring us some good news: Bloom County comics are being rerun for UComics subscribers. The direct link is here, but you need to subscribe first. Comic historians will find this even more exciting: We are … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Websurfing | 9 Comments

Senate regrets its own budget

Posted on April 30, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Well, the state Senate finally passed its not-as-godawful-as-the-House-but-still-pretty-bad budget yesterday, and from all the wailing and gnashing of teeth that followed you’d think that maybe it didn’t have to be that way. “I wish I could say I was proud … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 2 Comments

Now that’s an innovative revenue stream

Posted on April 30, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Tom Spencer points to this article about doings in the Missouri Senate, which contains the following rather amazing proposal to add to the state’s coffers: After defeating the governor’s plan, Republicans took up their own blueprint for raising additional revenue. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 3 Comments

More Santorum ugliness

Posted on April 29, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Via LeftLeaner, I see that not only are religious conservatives lining up behind Sen. Rick Santorum, they’re now aiming their fury at the AP reporter who interviewed him, as if this is somehow her fault: Joseph Farah, editor and CEO … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 2 Comments

Nearing the halfway point

Posted on April 29, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

We are now five games into our 12-game schedule, and we are still looking for our first win. I think this is going to be harder on me than it will on the kids, who seem for the most part … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Just call me Coach | Comments Off on Nearing the halfway point

Cracks in the armor?

Posted on April 29, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Two stories today highlight issues that I believe will be long-term problems for the GOP here in Texas. First off is this one in which a state House subcommittee rejected a bill that would have imposed a lower cap on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 6 Comments

Poincare solved?

Posted on April 28, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

A year ago I blogged about the Clay Mathematics Institute and its million dollar prize for solving one of seven longstanding problems. One of those problems is the Poincare Conjecture, which is a statement about how shapes and surfaces can … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 3 Comments

Those unemployment blues

Posted on April 28, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a new kid on the Texas Political Bloggers block, a joint effort from Austin called the Burnt Orange Report. They have a post about Texas’s depressing unemployment rate, currently at 6.5%, or 6.7% if you adjust for the season. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 2 Comments

RIP, TAWVFCI/OP?MPB&CSR,U!!!

Posted on April 28, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

It looks like the University of Virginia pep band, also known as “The Award-Winning Virginia Fighting Cavalier Indoor/Outdoor Precision(?) Marching PEP Band & Chowder Society Revue, Unlimited!!!!”, may have finally met its match in the form of rich alumni who’ve … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Comments Off on RIP, TAWVFCI/OP?MPB&CSR,U!!!

Bye bye Beelzebud?

Posted on April 28, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Baseball Commissioner Beelzebud Selig is claiming that he will retire when his current term expires. Doug Pappas has a Premium article in the Baseball Prospectus that basically boils down to “I’ll believe it when I see it”. Selig said many … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 8 Comments

Louisiana Purchase bonds found

Posted on April 27, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Would you believe that our nation’s outstanding debts might include bonds from the Louisiana Purchase? A find by the National Archives suggests that the United States might have shortchanged the investors who financed the Louisiana Purchase 200 years ago last … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 1 Comment

Riding on a rail

Posted on April 27, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Everyone knows I’m a fan of rail, so Metro’s recent announcement about building extensions to the current light rail line as well as a heavy rail line out to the southwest is a Good Thing, as far as I’m concerned. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Urgent assistance needed

Posted on April 26, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Max Power points to this story of what happened when a Business Week reporter decided to respond to all of those Nigerian email scams. Check it out. And now the Nigerian scammers have met the Raving Atheist. If that’s not … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | 3 Comments

A film shows in Brooklyn

Posted on April 26, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Man, the Bull Durham story sure has legs. There will be a 15th anniversary screening after all, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, on Wednesday, April 30. You folks in Brooklyn ought to check it out if you can. As … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on A film shows in Brooklyn

“Today Show” followup

Posted on April 26, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Well, if TAPPED is willing to believe that Tim Robbins got cut off by The Today Show in mid-interview, maybe I should believe it, too. Did anyone reading this actually see what happened? I’d love to hear from you. Meanwhile, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 2 Comments

Not all diplomats speak diplomatically

Posted on April 25, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. US Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Elizabeth Jones was asked to comment on [Newt] Gingrich’s recent harsh criticism of her department’s Middle East diplomacy. “Newt Gingrich does not speak in the name of the Pentagon and what … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Iraq attack | Comments Off on Not all diplomats speak diplomatically

Never give up, never surrender

Posted on April 25, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

As I predicted, Tom DeLay hasn’t let an unfavorable ruling and tepid-at-best support stop his drive to redraw Congressional districts in Texas. At this point, the best strategy for Democrats is probably to try and run out the clock on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | Comments Off on Never give up, never surrender

Never a good sign

Posted on April 25, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Those crackpots at Judicial Watch have taken a break from trying to prove that Vince Foster was murdered and have turned their attention to Houston and the death of former Enron executive Cliff Baxter. Judicial Watch, a self-described “public interest … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Never a good sign

Tom Coleman indicted

Posted on April 25, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Former “Lawman of the Year” Tom Coleman was indicted on three counts of lying under oath for his made-up testimony during the Tulia drug trials. If convicted, he faces 10 years in jail and a $10,000 fine. I call that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 11 Comments

The latest on that coercive baptism story

Posted on April 24, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Once again, Ginger is on top of developments in the story of US Army Chaplain Josh Llano, who reportedly traded water for baptisms. After receiving numerous complaints about Llano’s reported activities, the Army investigated, and yesterday they cleared Llano of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Iraq attack | 6 Comments

Sex and the Senator

Posted on April 24, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

The national GOP is coming to the defense of Sen. Rick Santorum, who is currently in some hot water for his repellant remarks about gays and “deviant” behavior. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist defended Sen. Rick Santorum on Wednesday as … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

Redistricting is optional

Posted on April 24, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

The story so far: Tom DeLay has continued to push for congressional redistricting in Texas to get more Republicans in Congress. He’s drawn up a map that would likely shift five seats from Democrats, who currently have a 17-15 edge, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | Comments Off on Redistricting is optional

Our Governor the weasel

Posted on April 24, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Following the revelations that Governor Goodhair’s ultra-secret budget proposals would have made a complete mockery of most of his campaign promises, our one and only Guv is now denying all responsibility for it. “That was a lot of different people’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Hispanic voting in Houston (again)

Posted on April 23, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

This article about the ongoing National Conference of Black Mayors gathering in Houston talks about how the growing proportion of Hispanic voters in the state’s population will make it challenging for cities like Houston and Dallas to elect their second … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Hispanic voting in Houston (again)

Petroskey apologizes, sort of

Posted on April 23, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

While I was out of touch on the Left Coast, Hall of Fame president Dale Petroskey issued a non-apology apology to Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon for his cowardly and un-American retraction of an invitation to Cooperstown to celebrate the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 1 Comment

Great moments in headline writing

Posted on April 23, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Streets here not as deadly as they seem, on page one of the Metro section of today’s Chron. Next week, a headline about how the smog isn’t so bad once you get used to it. In case you’re curious, by … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Senate targets uninsured drivers

Posted on April 23, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

The good news is that our Lege is attempting to deal with the fact that as many as 26% of drivers in Texas are uninsured. The bad news is that they’ve picked a dumb way to do it. [Sen. Teel … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 3 Comments

Our Governor the liar

Posted on April 23, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Earlier I noted that Governor Perry lost a battle to keep drafts of budget proposals secret. Now we see why Perry wanted to do this: his initial budget proposals broke nearly all of his campaign promises. At a debate at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 2 Comments

Home again

Posted on April 22, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Well, that was the longest day of travel not involving passports that I’ve had in awhile. The flight out of Oakland was delayed for two hours, as the originating flight from Houston had a medical emergency and had to make … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Comments Off on Home again

Online Estonia

Posted on April 22, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a nice little article about the former Soviet republic of Estonia, which is now one of the most Net-connected places on earth: Dubbed E-Stonia by some, the country ranked No. 8 out of 82 countries in putting the Net … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | 3 Comments

Sunny thoughts from his own domain

Posted on April 21, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

Kevin Drum is the latest Blogspot refugee and Movable Type convert. Update your bookmarks and leave him a comment on his spiffy new site. Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Sunny thoughts from his own domain

The good old days weren’t always good

Posted on April 21, 2003 by Charles Kuffner

In the comments to this post, Jeff Cooper says I’m surprised to see you so cynical about [baseball’s] “golden age.” After all, one of the defining characteristics of that period is that the Yankees were in the World Series almost … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 3 Comments