Mayor Tom Martin, Smart Watches & More in Chad’s Steaming Pile

Here are just a few things in Chad’s Pile that you will hear on Lubbock’s First News this morning. Give Chad your feedback on the steaming topics.

1. Mayor Martin in studio

It's been a while since we've spoken with Mayor Tom Martin and a lot is going on in Lubbock. On Friday's show the Mayor will be in studio to discuss the latest going on in Lubbock. We will talk with the Mayor about the 34th Street project and try to get a timeline. We'll also discuss some of the issues that were debated at yesterday's City Council meeting. Also, you will have the chance to call in and ask the Mayor a question.

Since it's Friday, we will open up the phone lines in the 8 o'clock hour and let you guys call in about anything you want to talk about.

2. Smart Watches (link)

If you thought wrist watches were only for fashion now, this might change your tune.

The Internet was strapped to wrists at the Consumer Electronics Show on Wednesday in the form of Android-powered "smart watches" that serve up online content along with telling time.Japanese consumer electronics titan Sony and venture-backed Italian startup i'm Watch were each sporting spins on timepieces that use the Google software to connect wearers with email, music, websites or other online content.

Sony's SmartWatch was promised by the end of March while i'm Watch was released at CES.

"This is the right period for the watch," i'm Watch chief executive and co-founder Massimiliano Bertolini told AFP at the company's booth on the show floor.

"Everybody wants to have technology that is also fashion," he continued. "That is the Apple secret; making devices that people fall in love with."

For some time now California-based Apple has been letting iPod Nano owners turn the small, square devices into Internet-connected watches complete with wrist straps.

I'm Watch ranges in price from $350 for colorful models with silicon wrist bands and aluminum-cased touchscreens to $15,000 for one made of pink gold and adorned with diamonds, according to company designer Gianluca Negrello.

Wearers are alerted to new Gmail messages or fresh posts at online communities Facebook or Twitter and can access digital photo albums or free Google Web-based services such as Calendar.

For now, the watches can't send messages, but they can make phone calls. Pretty cool.

3. Dumb story of the morning (link)

Here is your dumb story of the morning.

Longtime Clearwater dentist Bill Strupp just wanted to get back some of his prized sports memorabilia when he posted an ad on Craigslist offering a reward for the stolen items.

He hoped that someone who had bought one of the signed baseballs or bats — gifts from a friend, the late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner — might contact him.

Someone did call him in late December, a month after the burglary at Strupp's dental practice on Sunset Point Road. The man offered to sell the memorabilia back to him, and Strupp played along. He promised he wouldn't call the police.

"Immediately, as soon as I hung up with him, I picked up the phone and called (Clearwater police) Detective Jonathan Walser," said Strupp, 66.

Walser recommended a sting operation.

On Jan. 3, police swooped in as two men tried to sell Strupp's belongings to him at a shopping center.

Robert Kinzinger, 42, of Clearwater and Dana M. Eson, 48, of New Port Richey were each charged with two counts of dealing in stolen property.

Nice.

These and many more topics coming up on Friday’s edition of Lubbock’s First News with Chad Hasty. Tune in mornings 6-9am on News/Talk 790 KFYO, streaming online at kfyo.com, and now on your iPhone and Android device with the radioPup App.