Heads and tales: Get with the times
Washington on the line: Maybe you’ve tried a three-way. On the phone, you naughty minx. But have you tried a 5,000-way call? Rep. Jo Bonner did, putting a somewhat-new twist on the town hall meeting. From his Washington office, Bonner talked with Mobile citizens for an hour and answered questions when they “lined up” by pressing a button. The cost: $2,200, about 9 cents a caller. The representative is no stranger to using technology to interact with citizens: His Web page features links to archived radio and TV shows (shown here). Now if he’ll just put up a transcript and MP3 of his town hall session …
• Bonner speed-dials a town hall meeting [Birmingham News]
Cutting edge: A gamma knife can cut out tumors in the head using radiation beams, but a CyberKnife can remove tumors anywhere in the body. Birmingham surgeon Swaid Swaid wants one and has formed a company to partner with area hospitals. “For once, I want a good technology to come to Birmingham that’s not fought over by everyone,” said Swaid, who wants equal access to the device for all surgeons. The next steps: getting state approval, landing partners and making sure the treatment is covered by insurance.
• Device kills tumors, spares nearby tissue [Birmingham News]
Paperbacks or prisons: Jefferson County commission president Larry Langford wants to fight crime by promoting education, specifically reading. Working with the Literacy Council, the county would create a literacy center, complete with donated computers and volunteer retired teachers and businesspeople. Sounds solid, unless we unintentionally create a group of supercriminals who can read.
• Langford urges literacy effort to curtail crime [Birmingham News]
Also:
- Trussville barbecue restaurant claims secret to success is sauce, meat
- Comedy club patron can’t believe comedian went there, said that
- Robbers conspire with store manager to end up in jail, on TV
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Thursday, July 27, 2006, 6:12 pm
“complete with donated computers”…
The $150K (county monies in FY06) that his highness Langford set aside for good ol’ Katapodis’ Computer Help for Kids oughta come in handy here. Maybe the commission president is seeking a purpose for the funding he authorized.
Thursday, July 27, 2006, 10:32 pm
Well, it was either that, or the Wade on Birmingham 7-7-7 Literacy and Financial Planning Group …