Monthly Archives: January 2004

Better Than Nothing Dept.

Posted on January 11, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose I should I should be all snarky about the fact that hotshot Chron columnist Rick Casey is just now writing about some of the various recent Tom DeLay scandals, including the now ten-month-old grand jury investigation into potentially … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

A&M to disband legacy program

Posted on January 10, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I have to say, I’m a bit surprised by this. Texas A&M University President Robert Gates on Friday ended the school’s legacy program, acknowledging that giving preference to applicants with blood ties to alumni is inconsistent with an admissions policy … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 9 Comments

Still no pleas for the Fastows

Posted on January 10, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

There’s still no deal for a plea bargain involving Andy and Lea Fastow, thanks to the judge in the Lea Fastow case imposing some conditions that she isn’t willing to accept. On Friday, the deals stalled when Lea Fastow was … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | 1 Comment

Friday dog blogging

Posted on January 9, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

No, this isn’t a feeble attempt to imitate Friday Cat Blogging. We finally got a digital camera, so I figure now’s as good a time as any to show off the current star of our household. It’s a hard life … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 7 Comments

Why Texas politics are just different

Posted on January 9, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not just that we’re a state in which a Republican candidate can get into a pissing contest with an oil tycoon. It’s that they do it in public that makes this state so special. To say Dallas oilman T. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 7 Comments

Congressional roundup

Posted on January 9, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Our daily tour of the Congressional scramble continues… Chris Bell has drawn a primary opponent for the new 9th CD. Justice of the Peace Al Green, former president of the Houston NAACP, announced Thursday that he will run for the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | Comments Off on Congressional roundup

I’ll just be having a few friends over, thanks

Posted on January 9, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Hey, Houston! Jimmy Kimmel wants to stay at your house during Super Bowl weekend. Kimmel needs accommodations in the Houston area — preferably with a view of Reliant Stadium — while here to host a Super Bowl-themed show Jan. 30. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

If we had to do it all over again

Posted on January 8, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

In the comments to this entry on Pete Rose and the Hall of Fame, Mike says the following: If we are going to start picking and choosing the ballplayers that we honor based on whether or not we liked them … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 9 Comments

Damn those latte sippers!

Posted on January 8, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I think my favorite response to that Club for Growth ad is Jim’s, but then I’m a sucker for quantitative analysis. Would you have guessed that Texas is way more Starbucks-infested than Vermont? Not that I’d ever set my non-coffee-drinking … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 1 Comment

Watch them scramble

Posted on January 8, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Having finally gotten the map of his dreams, Tom DeLay says he’s ready to spend whatever it takes to win the seats that the new map offers. One might hope that recent revelations will slow down the TAB spigot, but … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 2 Comments

Timing is everything

Posted on January 8, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Even if this is the only thing he does in office, Bill White will still be a success in my book. City crews have begun a yearlong project designed to ease congestion — and reduce those exasperating, one-block-at-a-time trips through … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

More Koufaxing

Posted on January 7, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

There’s more stuff to vote on for the Koufax Awards. For your consideration are the Most Humorous Blog, the Best Series, and the Best “Conservative” Blog. I put “Conservative” in quotes because it really should have been called Best Non-Lefty … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on More Koufaxing

The class of 2004

Posted on January 7, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

First and foremost, congratulations to Paul Molitor and Dennis Eckersley for their well-deserved election to the Hall of Fame. I’m surprised Ryne Sandberg is still not in, though with Wade Boggs as the only deserving newcomer to the ballot next … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 12 Comments

Fastows plea-bargaining?

Posted on January 7, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

On to a more pleasant topic: Both Andy and Lea Fastow are reportedly in plea bargain negotiations with federal prosuctors that could net them jail time. Federal prosecutors are discussing a 10-year sentence for Andrew Fastow, and the plea bargain … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | 1 Comment

Ruling roundup

Posted on January 7, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

So the court has ruled (incorrectly, in my opinion, but they didn’t ask me) to uphold the godawful new Congressional map. There will be an appeal to the Supreme Court, but frankly I’ll be surprised if they even bother to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 17 Comments

Redistricting upheld

Posted on January 6, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. The three-judge panel has upheld the new Congressional map, saying that the plaintiffs “failed to prove” the plan violates the Constitution or the Voting Rights Act. John Whitmire, I’m looking at you. There will be plenty more on this … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 20 Comments

In those other races

Posted on January 6, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Greg has you covered for the local and state races on the slate for 2004 (here and here). I have just a few things to add to his as always thorough analysis. First, there’s Harris County, which demographics and political … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2004 | 1 Comment

Thanks for spoiling it for me

Posted on January 6, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I started to read this screed on Salon about mystery writers – the author claims that it’s all been downhill since Ross McDonald – because I thought there’d be some good controversy to dive into. Instead, it was more of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Books | 3 Comments

Koufax voting

Posted on January 6, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

It’s time to cast your votes for the Koufax Award nominees. If there’s one thing I can guarantee, it’s that Diebold will not be involved in the voting process. Well, that and there’s a ton of good stuff to check … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Koufax voting

Have you seen this lottery ticket?

Posted on January 6, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

It’s pretty much gotta suck to lose a winning lottery ticket worth $162 million. CLEVELAND — A $162 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot belongs to a woman who says she lost the winning ticket, even if someone else finds it, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Jackpot! | 5 Comments

Light rail Day One

Posted on January 6, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

This article says that Metro trains were “mostly empty” during the first day of revenue service yesterday. For what it’s worth, I drove past a southbound train that was approaching the Smithlands stop at Greenbriar and OST yesterday at about … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

RIP, Tug McGraw

Posted on January 5, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Damn. Tug McGraw, the zany relief pitcher who coined the phrase “You Gotta Believe” with the New York Mets and later closed out the Philadelphia Phillies’ only World Series championship, died Monday. He was 59. McGraw died of brain cancer … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 2 Comments

Map problems?

Posted on January 5, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Breaking news from the Quorum Report. APPARENT DIFFICULTY IN REPAIRING MAP Sources report problems with three districts There are only three possibilities for the three judge panel reviewing the congressional redistricting map: 1. Accept the map 2. Reject the map … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Killer D's | 4 Comments

Congrats to the real couples

Posted on January 5, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Meanwhile, back in the real world where people marry each other (or want to, anyway) as an expression of love and commitment, two sets of couples I know announced engagements on New Year’s Eve. I’d like to extend my belated … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 8 Comments

Yeah, but where did she register?

Posted on January 5, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

So sorry that my recent bridge commitments caused me to miss the Spears-Alexander nuptials last weekend. I have actually attended a Vegas wedding chapel wedding, back in 1991 while I was at Comdex, and it too ended with an annulment. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | 2 Comments

Legacy admissions

Posted on January 5, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

So Texas A&M’s legacy admissions policy has come under fire (also noted by Byron). A&M’s program is drawing particular fire because university President Robert Gates recently announced the university, now free from a court ruling prohibiting racial preferences, won’t consider … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 6 Comments

Pete Rose finally fesses up

Posted on January 5, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

If you’ve watched any sports on ABC or ESPN recently, you’ve probably seen the teaser for the Pete Rose interview to be aired on Thursday night in which he’s asked the question “did you bet on baseball?” To no one’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 17 Comments

IAH

Posted on January 5, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

This article from the Sunday Chron is about the new international terminal at Houston’s Intercontinental Airport. (I refuse to call it Bush Intercontinental for the same reason that I refuse to call the Astrodome the “Reliant Astrodome”.) I don’t actually … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 6 Comments

I’m back

Posted on January 4, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Well, we made it to the finals, but we didn’t finish in the money, so no free trip to Reno for me. I’ll be back tomorrow with my usual posting, and a few hands of interest for those who like … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 7 Comments

Bridge weekend

Posted on January 2, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I’m about to head up to Austin to play in the District qualifier for the North American Pairs event in Flight B. Unless you play tournament bridge, that probably means nothing to you, but the upshot is that the top … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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

Poincare progress?

Posted on January 2, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Mark Kleiman recently asked about the status of the Poincare conjecture, which a Russian mathematician named Perelman claims to have solved. This Boston Globe article, sent to me by my buddy Matt, would seem to indicate that Perelman’s work is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on Poincare progress?

We’re not #1!

Posted on January 2, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Thank you, Detroit! After three years at the top of Men’s Fitness list of “fattest cities” in America, Clutch City dropped from first to second in the 2004 list. Detroit, with its colder climate and jump in television viewing, moved … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 3 Comments

Ridin’ that train…

Posted on January 2, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like a whole lot of people wanted to kick the tires on the new light rail line. When they have to wait two hours, and in some cases get sent home emptyhanded, and yet they still sound positive, it’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 3 Comments

Wilks on the point

Posted on January 2, 2004 by Charles Kuffner

I know I speak for Rice fans everywhere when I say that the best thing about the recent trade that sent Moochie Norris to the Knicks is that it installs Mike Wilks as the Rockets’ backup point guard. This is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Comments Off on Wilks on the point