No, this isn't some bizarre sex article, you swine!  Get your filthy mind out of the gutter and read on.  Many months ago, I started replacing the incandescent light bulbs in my home with CFLs (compact fluorescent lights).  Now I'd love to claim that this change was solely motivated by environmental consciousness, but that was not the case.  What really motivated it was laziness. 

I get tired of changing the light bulbs all the time and when we moved into the river house, it seemed like every bulb in the place was on the rapidly increasing downside slope of planned obsolescence.  It seemed like every day or two - another one blinked out.

We had a small supply of new bulbs when we moved in, but they started running out and when I went to the big box hardware store, I went looking for long-life bulbs.  While I was there, I saw some of the new swirly looking fluorescent bulbs and they said they'd last a really, really long time and I was immediately hooked.

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I was awakened this fine Sunday morning by a cacophony of sound emanating from my electronic minions alerting us that the power was out. The UPS in the office was chirping and all three wireless phone systems were offering a lovely serenade of beeping and wailing . It was just interesting to lie there and listen.

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Well ... it was a challenge to hear much, but an admirable effort by the staff to provide for me to do so at the very last moment. The entire proceeding was taped so it's possible that figuring it all out will be easy, but most of today was "procedural" and covered what we were and were not going to be reviewing and responsible for.

This is a very well-conceived group and I hope to be a strong contributor ... unlike today where I was simply trying to listen (hear) and most of the discussion was held by the non-private citizen members. More next time ...

Due to "challenges" at the airport in Orlando this morning, my participation in the Council on Efficient Government with be via teleconference. That's probably more efficient anyway! Updates when done.

Today I travel to Tallahassee for my first meeting as a member of the Council on Efficient Government. I was honored to be nominated as one of three private citizens to serve in this capacity. The group meets quarterly to consider any proposed outsourcing expenditures by the State of Florida in excess of $10M. I'll let you know how it turns out.