• Close encounters of the toddler kind; or, “why ceramic tile doesn’t make a good playground surface”

    Every parent wants to know, “how young is too young to climb up on the kitchen table.” In this way, I’m no different than any other parent. Is eighteen months too young?

    In the heat of the moment, I decided it was too young. I hope I wasn’t rash.

  • Whistle while you wait

    In the twelve or so years that I’ve been paying attention, the Florida Legislature has not once increased the reimbursement rates for travel related expenses (of state employees, on state business). That is, until this year. One of the biggest increases is the reimbursement for meals – which doubled (Senate Bill 428, Govenor’s signature pending). Coincidentally, this is the year that a law went into effect which bans representatives to the state legislature from accepting free meals from lobbyists.

    It’s refreshing to see that our leaders have the interests and well-being of the average civil servant at heart. (Insert Bronx cheer here.)

    All of you cynics out there… stand up and take a bow. Vindication is nigh!

  • Apply pressure and hold

    According to the U.S. Department of Energy (http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp), gasoline prices for the U.S. Gulf Coast were an average of $2.81 per gallon (as of May 8, 2006).

    If I were to resume my bicycle commute program, and if gas prices were to remain stable (at this cost), the savings to our household would be an average of $15.12 per week, $65.54 per month, or $786.45 per year.

    We spoke to Mrs. Kauffman this evening at home, but she would not comment on this entry.