Monthly Archives: April 2007

The 50 best tech products of all time

Posted on April 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Last year, PCWorld gave us the 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time. Proving perhaps that there’s more good than bad in the world, they now give us (via Dwight) the 50 Best Tech Products of All Time. Looking through … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 1 Comment

There’s no such thing as free trash

Posted on April 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Is a $3.50 monthly “waste reduction fee” in your future in Houston? It might be, though it’s a little early to say for sure. The fee, which would be new for Houston, would generate as much as $19 million that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 4 Comments

City WiFi details emerge

Posted on April 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The city WiFi contract is on the Council agenda tomorrow, and the Chron has some details from the contract. The City Council on Wednesday is expected to consider a $2.5 million contract with EarthLink Inc. that would allow the company … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Talton 2, Turner 0

Posted on April 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

As he did with the CHIP bill, State Rep. Robert Talton has (temporarily, at least) derailed a measure by Rep. Sylvester Turner via point of order. Rep. Sylvester Turner’s effort to restore electricity discounts for thousands of low-income Texans was … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

I accept your offer

Posted on April 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

PSoTD says: Just an experiment. Using an edited version of Avedon Carol‘s blogroll, below are a list of blogs that I would appreciate being blogrolled from, and that I think the content here is appropriate to be blogrolled from on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 1 Comment

It wasn’t all Accenture’s fault

Posted on April 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

When the state finally cut bait on the disastrous Accenture/HHSC outsourcing experiment, many fingers were pointed at Accenture in blame. But as the Texas Observer reports, a significant amount of blame should land on the shoulders of the Health and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on It wasn’t all Accenture’s fault

Justice for Laura Candlelight Vigil reminder

Posted on April 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder that tonight at 7 PM in Friendswood is the candlelight vigil to mark the tenth anniversary of the abduction and murder of Laura Smither. Here’s the press release from the Laura Recovery Center: JUSTICE FOR LAURA – … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Justice for Laura Candlelight Vigil reminder

One step forward, one step back

Posted on April 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Bill to legalize abortion set to pass in Mexico City Dominated by liberals, Mexico City’s legislature is expected to legalize abortion in a few weeks. The bill would make this city one of the largest entities in Latin America to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Ah, opening day

Posted on April 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Well, the glorious 2007 baseball season is officially underway, even if the folks who are DirecTV-impaired can’t enjoy it to the fullest. While Opening Day is always a time for hope and faith, I just want to say that recent … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on Ah, opening day

More Council interviews

Posted on April 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I have an interview with City Council special election candidate Kendall Baker up over at Kuff’s World. In posting this, I discovered that I’d managed to forget to link to my earlier interview with Ivan Mayers. Sorry about that. I’m … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 1 Comment

Fundraiser for Mark Strawn

Posted on April 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Mark Strawn is a neighbor of ours who was involved in a serious car crash a few weeks ago. He’s recovering nicely, but he is still mostly immobile, is in need of constant care, and has a long rehab with … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 1 Comment

Kids and restaurants

Posted on April 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

What Polimom says regarding this story about a restaurant owner who told the parents of particularly unruly kids to not come back. Civilizing young people is a slow, sometimes frustrating process, but it can be done. Children are high energy, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 7 Comments

Expanding the NCAA tournament

Posted on April 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been wondering if the size of the NCAA tournament is something that might get tinkered with again now that 64 is no longer a sacred number. Looks like the possibility exists for it to happen, though apparently not soon. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 1 Comment

The Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation

Posted on April 1, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve driven past this place. I’ve always been curious about its history, and now I know a little something as its future is threatened. For more than 40 years, it has occupied a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

One last hope for the Astrodome Hotel

Posted on April 1, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

So the Astrodome Redevelopment folks didn’t get financing by the March deadline. There’s always the county to turn to for help. “From day one, we have always known that it is an option to do this as a publicly developed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Scratch-off ripoff revisited

Posted on April 1, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

In February, the Chron printed a story about how the Lottery would continue to sell scratch-off games long past the point where all of the top prizes had been claimed. After the predictable outrage, the Texas Lottery Commission has changed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Jackpot! | Comments Off on Scratch-off ripoff revisited

Woodlands annexation legislation passes out of committee

Posted on April 1, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Back in December, a deal was brokered between the Woodlands and the city of Houston to take annexation of the Woodlands by Houston off the table forever. On Friday, SB1012 by Sen. Tommy Williams, one of the deal brokers, passed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Woodlands annexation legislation passes out of committee