Local tech news in a compact, digital format. Dwight Watch Dwight Silverman, local tech guru, tackles installing the first service pack for Microsoft Vista. Dwight installs it on various platforms with various results. Dwight's also has been blogging about a workaround for Comcast's unethical treatment of bandwidth, he also unboxes the MacBook Air and touches on what could be the nail in the coffin of the HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray saga. Local Calendar Feb 19:......

We realized today that it wasn't this balmy, pathetic excuse for weather that was depressing us, but the extremely low levels of breakfast taco in our blood. You see, we had the fortune of spending the last 6+ years in a magical faraway land where you can't walk ten yards without tripping over a breakfast taco, and we've come to rely on this humble meal for energy, strength, and even happiness. We immediately looked up......

Local tech news in a compact, digital format. City Duped By New Court Technology City officials are threatening a lawsuit against Maximus Inc, the company that was hired to supposedly make things easier for the municipal court system. Officials are giving the company until Thursday to come up with a plan to work out the bugs. The city has already dropped a cool $10 million into this flawed system. Continental Allows Cellphone Check In......

"We gon' rock it till the wheels fall off," the poet Nate Dogg once said. If he was referring to the Houston Texans' 2007 season (and we have no reason to believe that he wasn't), then the rocking will soon cease, as the wheels are at very least wobbling their way out of place as a prelude to actually falling off. The annual optimism has given way to the annual draft speculation, as the never-ending......

The thought may have crossed your mind once some balmy spring day in early March, pre-heat, as the flowers start to bloom but the mosquitoes haven't yet returned. Or perhaps you realized it some fall evening as you relaxed on a patio having drinks while people in the northern half of the country listened to their radiators clank like a death knell. "Houston's not so bad, in fact, despite the [_____], it's worth it." Okay,......

Today’s Photo of the Day comes from flickr user and Houstonist photo contributor laanba. Comments from the photographer: The lighting was very interesting the day I was there. There were storms coming in with heavy clouds, but it was also sunset. It made for some dramatic skies. We agree wholeheartedly. __________________________________________________________ If you have a passion for Houston and photography, consider joining over 450 of Houston's best photographers in the Houstonist Flickr Photo Group.......

Today’s Photo of the Day comes from flickr user and Houstonist photo contributor el_en_houston. From the photographers description on Flickr: I have debates with many a people on the sanity of eating from a taco truck, roach coach, barf bus, etc. Most of these people say they would rather eat taco bell than from a taco truck! What about you? Would you prefer Taco Bell over the taco truck? Let us know by leaving......

In October of 2005, there were many voices to be heard in Houston calling Brad Lidge to be shipped out of town or worse; two years later, those voices were heard. Tonight, the Astros finalized a trade to send Lidge and utility infielder Eric Bruntlett to the Phillies for center fielder and University of Houston grad Michael Bourn, relief pitcher Geoff Geary, and third base prospect Mike Costanzo. This marks the Astros' first serious move......

Well, good news from the Texans, Cougars, and Dynamo camps. All three were winners this weekend. But there was a lot more going on in the Houston sports universe this week. Let's take a look at what people were saying: - Chronicle columnist Jose de Jesus Ortiz got called out for misdiagnosing the Astros offseason needs, and the commenter used complete sentences and no profanity. Intelligent comments on a sports blog (other than this one,......

Good morning, Houston. We suppose Tex-Mex is finally official: The New York Times wrote about it yesterday in an article that looked at famed Mexican joints in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. "Neon signs flicker above pastel storefronts promising excellent Mexican food in virtually every block of the city," the Times' Joe Drape writes of Houston. "The trick is to figure out which places will deliver on that promise." Indeed. Drape visited El Jardin......

Local tech news in a compact, digital format. Dwight Roundup Here's what Dwight Silverman over at the Chronicle has been blogging and writing about recently. Apple Leopard, what will be your next computer, analog TV's, gibbons and leopards, Firefox updates, software freebies and Comcast throttling customers. HAAUG and OS X Leopard The Houston Area Apple Users Group and Dreux Ste. Marie will bring you a review of the new Mac OS, Leopard. This event......

In case you weren't familiar, there's a large university in Austin, with orange and white for their colors, and a big, drugged cow for a mascot. You may have also heard that their football team is usually pretty good, and that a couple years ago, they actually won a national championship in football. Their quarterback that year kinda flew under the radar, so you may not have heard about him, either: regardless, he was......

Good morning, Houston. If you've ever been to Rich's, the dance club in midtown, you probably won't be surprised to hear that the crowd there Saturday was sporting "feather boas, glittering hair accessories, sparkling dresses and tutus." But exactly who was in the crowd might take you by surprise: It was a bunch of kids there for Baby Loves Disco, part of a national series of dance events that benefit childhood cancer research. (In......

This week, Phillyist saw the waters of a landmark fountain run red for a Showtime marketing stunt, the Phils pull ahead, and some serious nostalgia. They also got a chance to review an awesome tribute album, reminded folks to see the King and appreciated their beautiful skyline. Chicagoist knows what it's like to like the Cubs. But naming your kid Wrigley Fields? At least they can breathe a little easier now that Grossman's out and......

Today’s Photo of the Day comes from flickr user and Houstonist photo contributor darkhairedgirl. Photographer's comments from the flickr page: "She saw me taking these shots and just sat there smoking, chatting on her cellphone with her hair wrapped in that towel acting oblivious. She didn't get up and walk away so I figured she must not have cared that I was shooting her so much." We're glad you got a good shot and......

Yea yea, so there are plenty of websites out there that offer reviews, rankings and information on Houston restaurants. But the problem for Houstonist is that we have to go to more than one to get the information we want. We've finally discovered a website that we actually like. Check out Urbanspoon, a new website covering Houston area restaurants. Like the –ists, Urbanspoon covers many cities around the world. As one of the best food......

Kanye West has been making several headlines this week; First was regarding his comments about MTV after the VMAs on Sunday where he said, "They exploited [Britney], they played me and I really don't mess with MTV." Many have voiced their belief that his witching words come from not winning any of the five MTV Awards he was nominated for this year. The ever mild tempered West has gone on to say that he......

The best part about a 3 day weekend: A 4 day work week. Bonus! So happy Tuesday. The weekend's just around the corner. After visiting the HCP last week for the SPIN Party, we realized just how little we visit this art space, considering all the great programs they offer. Like First Tuesday! Yes, we are THAT excited it's Tuesday. First Tuesday provides an opportunity for local photographers and media-based artists to share their work......

What are you doing Saturday night? Whatever your plans are, do your best to swing by M2 Gallery in the Heights and check out 600 sq mi: Photos from Houston, Houstonist's first-ever photo show. It — and we say this completely objectively — is going to be incredible. In case you don't remember, here's the background on the show: Since we started Houstonist, we've gotten a lot more aware of the number of incredibly talented......

Houstonist vs. Houstonist is a new feature in which two Houstonist contributors will face off to debate an issue that's relevant to life in the Bayou City. Want to join the debate? Hit the comments section at the end of the post. As we're sure you've heard, Houston's stricter smoking ban — which affects all but a handful of workplaces, including bars — goes into effect tomorrow. The push for the expanded smoking ban gained......

With unseasonable weather descending upon much of North America, schools getting ready to reconvene, and sports seasons getting exciting, it's a busy time of year for us here in the Ist-A-Verse. Luckily, even with all the things we have to do, we still managed to get together to let you know what we've all been up to. After cooling down from a hot weekend of many badass Sunset Junction Street Fair photo dispatches, LAist asked......

Good morning, Houston. We've always wondered about our lady friends' uncanny ability to find food — particularly food they claim they shouldn't be eating — and now there's scientific evidence that women may actually have a built-in talent for locating grub. The news comes from The Daily Telegraph in the UK, which reports that women at a farmers' market were much better at finding a stall where they had bought a certain food than......

"The Master of Orgasims", Jean Gerrard a crepe lover and a flaming escort joined the fray of Missed Connections as Houstonians searched for amateur philanthropists, hotties with some hotness or their roommate this week on Craigslist. Coffee shop crushes rebounded for those of you keeping score at home. Pickings were slim this week yielding only one "good" post. Enjoy? DOMINOS PIZZA - WEST ALABAMA / GREENWAY - m4m A shot in a million.... YOU:......

Today’s Photo of the Day comes from flickr user and Houstonist photo contributor Graustark. This shot is of construction of a downtown church. In the photograph's comments, Graustark stated that she liked the stairs. We have to admit that they drew us to this image also. If you have a passion for Houston and photography, consider joining over 350 of Houston's best photographers in the Houstonist Flickr Photo Group. If Houstonist uses your photo......

Chicagoist is gearing up for this weekend's annual Air & Water Show along the lakefront. In what's becoming an annual tradition around there, staff member Todd McClamroch even got to fly with one of the participants. Chicagoist's decidedly opinionated readership was also appalled that one of their staffers found a popular local brewpub to be a great place to bring a kid. They also think that an unlikely activist for immigration rights should just take......

Good morning, Houston. Nothing to lol at here: the Houston SPCA is rolling out a new policy for pet owners who drop off their pets. From now on, there will be a fifteen minute "counseling session," during which the owners will know if the pet is going to be a candidate for adoption or if it's going to the big litterbox in the sky. The policy is meant to make it harder for owners......

Today’s Photo of the Day comes from flickr user and Houstonist photo contributor finna dat. This is a great image to end the summer. Frolicking barefoot in the yard not even realizing how soon school will be starting. HISD is scheduled to start school, tomorrow, the 14th. Please watch those school zones. Correction: as stated in the comments, teachers start tomorrow, students on the 27th. -Eric S. If you have a passion for Houston......

Need to know just a little bit about something? Ask a dilettante. Don't telemarketers and bill collectors know that the long pause when you answer the phone or the (even worse) "please hold for an important announcement" greeting is just a signal to immediately hang up? They're already inhibited by caller id. Why do they make it even harder on themselves? -- Jeff Balke, Houston A lot of things don't make much sense, Jeff. Why......

Local tech news in a compact, digital format. Compaq Gets A New Logo Houston based Compaq unveiled a new logo for the company at a technology conference in India. HP/Compaq has modernized the font and given the trademark Compaq Q a weird new look. Houstonist is still on the fence about this logo. Dwight Silverman over at The Chron covered this story in a Tech Blog post and you can see the graphics he......

So, short of some kind of miracle — we're not sure exactly what kind, but we're thinking maybe a midnight ghostly visit to Weingarten Realty CEO Drew Alexander, a la A Christmas Carol — the north section of the River Oaks Shopping Center will be coming down in the next few days, to be replaced with a new retail strip anchored by a Barnes & Noble megastore. And in case you've forgotten, B&N's moving into......