With news of the Mayor’s plan for Houston area Wi-Fi coming out, it was suggested that such a system would provide access to the internet for the poor. Of course, ownership of laptops with wireless network access is probably not very high among the poor, but that did not seem to faze those claiming it as a benefit.

Now comes word of a solution to that problem coming out of the same UN summit on information technology that “allowed” the United States to retain control of the internet. Your tax dollars given to the United Nations in action:

A cheap laptop boasting wireless network access and a hand-crank to provide electricity is expected to start shipping in February or March to help extend technology to school-aged children worldwide. The machines are to sell for $100, slightly less than its cost. The aim is to have governments or donors buy them and give full ownership to the children. “These robust, versatile machines will enable children to become more active in their own learning," U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan told reporters.

Perhaps they can look up the oil-for-food scandal on the internet, Mr. Annan.

[MIT Media Lab chairman Nicholas] Negroponte did not say who would build the machine, which will cost $110 to make, but at least five companies are considering bids to do so. He said a commercial version may be available at a higher price to subsidize machines provided to children.

Welcome to United Nations computer welfare. Can UN-mandated city-wide wireless networks be far behind? After all, those poor hand-cranking children will need something to log on to once they are given their UN computers. And if you are concerned that the kiddies’ computer time will be cut short by laptop thieves, think again.

The devices will be lime green in color, with a yellow hand crank, to make them appealing to children and to fend off potential thieves; people would know by the color that the laptop is meant for a kid.

Of course! Color-coding is the way to cut down on crime. Why didn’t anyone think of this before? Another feather in Kofi Annan’s cap.

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With the population of New Orleans largely dispersed, there has been a sea change in the political fortunes of conservatives in Louisiana:

In a committee room deep inside Louisiana’s Capitol building this week, something unusual happened: A House panel rejected a funding proposal from the Department of Education, complaining that it was overly generous to New Orleans’ public schools.

Rep. Charlie DeWitt, a conservative Democrat from the rural community of Lecompte, was downright gleeful afterward. Sending that budget back, he said, was “so much fun.” [...]

Before hurricanes Katrina and Rita, there was a familiar equilibrium in the Louisiana Legislature, whose hallway still is pocked with bullet holes from Huey P. Long’s assassination. Black Democrats were key allies of Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, and conservative rural lawmakers harbored age-old grievances about New Orleans’ grip on political power.

Now, with the city’s population dispersed — and no indication of whether, or when, most residents will return — some lawmakers hope they are witnessing a permanent reversal of fortunes, said Elliot Stonecipher, a political analyst based in Shreveport.

“Even good people are quietly sitting back, not lending their support to the rebuilding of New Orleans,” Stonecipher said. “What you’re seeing is a lot of people snickering and winking and nodding…. This is something they thought they would never see.”

What will really be interesting is seeing what happens to the government of New Orleans itself. Will New Orleans become more conservative, to the point where you actually have a credible Republican candidate? If so, you can expect me to be there campaigning.

[Hat tip: Brothers Judd]

This is some interesting news out of Florida.

As of this week, Derrick Wallace, head of Orange County’s NAACP, has switched parties — to become a Republican. "I’ve thought about this for two years," Wallace said Tuesday afternoon, just a few hours after returning from the elections office. "This is not a decision I made yesterday."

While state Republicans and Democrats expressed their respective pleasure and dismay, Mr. Wallace gave his reasons for the switch. Unfortunately, ideology seems to have had little to do with the move.

Wallace, a construction-company exec, was candid about the fact that his business life was a big part of his decision to change. "It’s purely a business decision. Ninety percent of those I do business with are Republicans," he said. "Opportunities that have come to my firm have been brought by Republicans."

Not the most rousing speech in support of Republican policies, is it? In fact, it sounds more like Mr. Wallace made the move to make his business more marketable to prospective clients. He does attempt to tie that “marketability” to his work at the NAACP, but state Democrats were not impressed.

Lest you be disappointed, the story also managed to include some tired old accusations from Florida Democrats.

But Shea and other Democrats have long maintained that Republican talk about inclusion is little more than that: talk. They cite GOP policy after policy — on everything from voting rights to health care — that disproportionately negatively affects blacks.

Well, one of their own, for whatever reason, has now joined the “racist oppressor party.” We have seen what Democrats will do to a fellow party member who dissents in the case of Zell Miller. Keep an eye on Mr. Wallace, in the event he needs cushions for his political fall.

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If you are a whiz with Flash animation cartooning, have a good sense of humor, generally support the causes and issues we highlight here, and most importantly– are willing to work for free– LST has the perfect project for you!

Email me via lsteditors@gmail.com, and please include some links to your past work.

While you won’t get paid, we will happily supply lots of links to your personal/business website, and tons of free publicity.

Plus, you’ll have that special satisfaction that can only come from doing your part to help out the cause.

For free.

Thanks.

David Benzion
Publisher/Managing Editor, LoneStarTimes.com

There are a lot of folks struggling in this world that need our prayers, and LST can’t possibly mention all of them,* but we feel moved to highlight Tami Curry Evans, her husband Larry, and daughters Hailey and Morgan.

The Evans’ are from West Virginia, but are currently calling Houston "home" while Tami undergoes treatment for NH Lymphoma down at M.D. Anderson.

Of the countless people being served by that fine institution right now, Tami came to our attention while cruising the blogosphere because of this post:

Monday, November 14, 2005

Monday - Good News

Hello everyone,

I went to the hospital today for my blood tests. Talked to the doctor and she said all tests are good. White blood cells are up, liver and kidney’s good, hemoglobin up, potassium good, and uric acid normal. The doctor took me off of two medications, yeah! I told her my ribs are still hurting when I yawn or take a deep breath. She ordered a chest xray for Monday just to be safe. While I was waiting for the test results, Amanda walked in. Her four day chemo treatment went well. She said she was nauseated, but that’s it. Her next chemo is November 28th. She will move into her apartment after Thanksgiving. She promised to call more often to check in.

I want to tell you about a restaurant we went to yesterday. My cousin, April, took us to The Taste of Texas. It is a fabulous steak house. You can not buy a steak under 10 oz. The men ate 16 oz. steaks and got to pick out the steak themselves. The salad bar had everything you could think of including fruit. Beside the salad bar was shaved assorted cheese and all the bread you wanted. They had jalepeno cornbread, cheese bread, rolls, and more. You could also pick the type of butter you like, such as, apple butter, cinnamon butter, light butter, and etc. You could order one side dish with your meal. I ordered a baked potato which was almost as big as my steak. Oh, the DESSERTS, were awesome. My cousin, Zach, ordered a slice of heaven which was vanilla and chocolate mousse. Larry and I split a snicker’s cheesecake with chocolate on top. My cousin, April, ordered a pecan pie with cinnamon icecream. We all tried the variety of desserts. By the time we were ready to leave, I needed a tow truck. You could have rolled me out of there. It was the best meal I’ve had in a long time.

My next chemo is November 21st and the next set of tests to check the tumor is December 20th. That’s the day they will say WHAT TUMOR? I pray for total healing in my body by November 21st in Jesus’ Name!!! Don’t forget to read the scripture I gave you which was Matthew 18:19,20.

I miss and love you all. Stay GODSTRONG!!!!

[Emphasis added by LST]

Tami, please know that the whole LST "family" prays for your healing, and for strength to your husband and daughters.

Readers should feel free to use "comments" to offer your own encouragement to the Evans’.

And if you want, go ahead and also compliment LST’s principal advertiser, the very fine Taste of Texas restaurant, conveniently located just off I-10 and the West Sam Houston Tollway, the perfect spot for your office or family gathering this holiday season.

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* (In other words, don’t bombard us with a flood of other– no doubt very deserving– folks that need our prayers. We can’t make this the official prayer-circle of the blogosphere. Please consider all prayers of healing offered here for Tami to apply generically to the individual in your case.)

Volunteers from the Dan Patrick for Senate campaign emerge from yesterday’s rally energized for the task ahead.