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Will all of you darned kids PLEASE get off of my interlawn!!! Seriously though, I have a hard time getting too nostalgic about these things mainly because there are very few on that list that I would want to do with my daughter that I feel like I can't. I guess catching fireflies as I don't really see them anymore...

If you are referring to my post and that is all you took from it, maybe you should read it again...And yes, uninsured illegal immigrants are a huge burden on our healthcare system and in our emergency rooms, especially here in Texas. I will agree that the obscene profits of the pharmaceutical industry stand out, and the whole doctor-rep relationship is a little suspect, but I think that could be solved with reform, rather than overhauling the entire system. Let

I will try to find the article I was reading that said the smoking rate in the US was much higher, but I did find a study by the WHO that actually said the smoking rate in Canada was higher, but that US citizens consumed more cigarrettes per person per year... WHO study

I constantly hear my friends harp that all our healthcare problems would be solved if we were more like Canada, but I don't think you can fully make that argument. There are too many factors that go into healthcare and mortality/fertility rates (lifestyle, culture, demographics) to say a Socialist healthcare system would have the same impact it does in Canada (saving lives as you put it). Also, there is the impact that other socialist systems Canada has that result in a reduced population living in poverty. Canada has much lower obesity rates and a much smaller population of smokers, is that because they have universal healthcare? No, that is a cultural/lifestyle difference that greatly impacts the amount of deaths from heart disease in that country. You also have the impact of Hispanic immigrants in the United States. And all these points do not even address the age of the populations in the two countries (did Canada have a baby boom?), which I have never analyzed but would impact healthcare a great deal. I am not saying that our system is perfect, or even the best, but I am not sold on nationalization for us either.

BizJournal Article If you read this, it paints a pretty rosy picture of Bridgeland. The article emphasizes strong sales in a tough market. When you are a company leveraged to the hilt and you need cash, you have to sell some strong assets you would otherwise hold. I am sure they are selling it because of strong performance and expect high interest from buyers. As the article mentions, there is some precedent for companies to take on partners in master planned communities. You could tell the difference pretty easily if you had ever been to Bridgeland...the winding street pattern is supposed to be a selling point of the community. I found it a good way to get people going to wrong way down a divided drive...

Phew, well that is a relief...I gotta have my turnip greens!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! My dad used to take me here since I was a kid...the waiteresses and cooks know him by name...this is really terrible news. Any reason given? I am scared to tell my Dad, it will ruin his day.

Sad to see it move from its current location much closer to me, but I think this is a great opportunity for another special treasure downtown. I love St. Arnold's and can't wait to take the Saturday tour at the new facility!!! You really can't help but wish all the success in the world to them. What type of beer is the new "El Santo"? Guess I can check the web huh?

I have been to numerous events around discovery green also, but never inside the park. Well that will change this weekend. Dock Dogs is going to be there and we are going to check it out. I don't know if everyone know what it is, but it's basically a big air competition for dogs jumping from a dock into a pond. I think it is open to all dogs. Check it out here dockdogs.com I can't wait to walk around and grab a burger. Also, I think the ice skating in the winter will be one of the coolest things you can do in Houston. They could really make it a destination if they have a "North Pole" village set-up and sell hot chocolate, have carolers, and such. Can't wait to bring my daughter, though she needs to start walking first...

What was the fight about and who was involved? Were they young mothers? That sounds crazy. I just can't imagine grown-ups behaving this way, and more people joining in??? Where is the playscape at Willowbrook, I don't think I have ever seen it?

Not that I speak for Macbro...but I don't think he was referring specifically to you...there are a lot of people on this forum that try to bash any area other than their own, and a lot of people that hear about one unfortunate crime committed in a generally nice area and espouse a sky is falling mentality about the area turning ghetto. I have only ever lived in one other city (Austin)...but does anyone else have any experience with another place that has more upper-middle class areas afraid of turning bad than Houston...is this unique to Houston because of it's sprawl? I knkow this wasn't around in Austin.

Are you saying I said that?? Because your comments and my quote are pretty much in agreement... Agreed, this needs to happen soon. I can't believe Simon (is it Simon???) is not doing more to push for some rejuvination at the mall after the demise of Lord and Taylor... EDIT::: General Growth not Simon...Do they have much experience with malls???

If anything keeps us out of the area it is the traffic...plus with all the development much closer to us on 290, we may go to Willowbrook less and less, which is the scenario described by Brigantes and Mr. Football...

I'm sorry, but I am just not seeing what you guys are talking about...I think "pretty rundown" is a very applicable phrase for the shopping centers along 1960 with are getting up there in age now. Yeah, they built apartments and now there is a little more crime and undesirable looking cars in the area, but ghetto??? I don't think so, not even close. My wife and I spend a lot time over there eating at County line, shopping at Willowbrook even with the "newer" clientel. We have even seen movies at the AMC on the other side of 249. I go to REI all the time. We had our baby at Methodist Willowbrook. This area is not as bad as is being described here. I am sorry you had your car vandalized, but those things happen everywhere, at every mall, and it is a petty crime even though I know how violated and angry it makes you feel. And as many times as I have stopped at Willowbrook and run in to make a puchase, our cars have never been vandalized (eknock on wood). In my opinion, hopefully the Mall will be renovated as it is sorely needed. And hopefully the work to beautify 1960 will trickle down to some of the aging shopping centers to get some facelifts. I should note that I am only talking about the Willowbrook area, the closer you get to 45, the more and more I agree with most of these comments.

There was a car to car shooting as a result of road rage...it wasn't gang or drug related...the mall is pretty far from a "Sharpstown Fiasco"

Well your original prediction came true...you should not have modified it so many times... Congrats to Utah on a good series that they really won the first two games in Houston...now it will get really tough against the Lakers. They (Jazz) are going to have to play better than they did the last few games against Houston to win that series, but I dont think you guys are out of it if you drop the first two in LA as long as you figure out something that works defensively for you in Utah. I have heard many say Lakers in seven...I say Lakers in Six. Can't wait for Lakers-Hornets if it comes to pass...my dream scenario is Kobe getting the MVP then Chris Paul and Co. schooling LA a la Hakeem v. Robinson. and one last note...I hope you don't really believe that any Rockets Champ should come with anything close to an asterisk. Jordan didn't play in 93-94 because he was retired. There is NO precedent in sports history to say any Champ in any league gets an asterisk after the best player in an era retires. Should every series winner get an asterisk after Babe left the game...how many years after? Also, I could say that Hakeem in 93-94 may have been better than MJ that year, especially if MJ's heart wasn't in it and he was going through a lot of off the court turmoil. And what about the 94-95 Championship where Jordan played 19 regular season games and the Playoffs? They had no answer for Shaq and Penny, but Hakeem did. The Rockets were the best team in the league for two full seasons with the most dominant player in the era at the center position...no asterisk needed.

Don't know the last time anyone has seen the Dome, but she is in pretty bad shape. The place looks like it is falling apart. I believe when Houston was puting together its proposal for the 2012 Olympics, it budgeted $87 million just to bring the Dome up to snuff for track and field back in 2002...that does not include a removable grass surface, luxury boxes, or decreased capacity...

I think every team in the West was hoping to draw the Rockets or Mavs...especially with Raefer out with a hamstring, McGrady with a sore shoulder, Battier with a bad foot, and Landry with a sore/weak knee...man I am starting to get depressed....doesn't help that Utah is probably the most physical team, even moreso than San Antonio...

Don't disagree with the Jazz in 6 prediction...though I am always cautious when every "expert" at espn is picking the Jazz in 6 or 7... I also think the Spurs have no doubt taken the crown of flopping from the Jazz, though they win championships when they do it....maybe it is just Robert Horry... I do disagree that the Rockets are very far away from being a championship caliber team. They have some good young talent in Landry and Scola, plus Yao is pretty young and really coming into his own when he is on the court. Shane is a good role player and T-mac is still a great shooting guard especially if he is not the key to your offense in the playoffs and you don't ask him to "take over" games. That leaves the achilles heal of the Rockets which is solid point guard play...the Jazz have Williams who is excellent...Raefer was the key to the Rockets winning streak when he played as well as he possibly can...without him for two games in this series hurts badly (as crazy as that sounds) and as inconsistent as he is, a championship is out of the question. So really, I see the Rockets as one key piece away. Also, remember we were one of four teams to win in Utah this year (second game of the season but it counts) and we did win 55 games in the Western conference, so don't take us TOO lightly...

Yeah, I have seen Banksy on 60 minutes, his stuff was pretty funny. I guess I just see a little more creativity and thought in a work by Banksy than DEMOS written in bubble letters. But maybe this guy is protesting strip mall development...that they should all be Demolished. There is now new graffiti on the METRO park and ride garage at 290 and skinner being developed by Newquest...who knows how long it will take them to wipe this one away...It is on the facade of the third floor of the garage where the perp probably crawled onto the awning. It is not the same DEMO guy, or at least is doesn't say DEMO...

Rodriguez is now 7-3 with a 2.54 ERA, 101/30 K/BB ratio, and nine home runs allowed in 109 1/3 innings at home since the start of last season. He's 3-10 with a 6.41 ERA, 76/34 K/BB, and 16 home runs allowed in 92 2/3 innings on the road. His era in his start in San Diego was 7.2...and as for the balls that should have been caught, we don't really have a strong fielding team per se, though they have been okay so far this season. So I agree, there is hope...if you pitch him at home...

I can't help but get the feeling that this is going to be one of those years were we just can't get all phases of our game clicking at the same time. In SD our bats were aspleep but our pitching was on...then our bats start to come around and our bullpen goes to hell, soon our bullpen will normalize and our starters will start to get tagged....sorry for the pessimism, I just don't see our starting pitching holding this level of performance through the rest of the season. That is except Chacon...he was a highly touted prospect who may end up being a late bloomer...the potential has always been there for him to be a solid number 3 starter....Sampson and Bakke are a different story, though I love Bakke's toughness. Wandy is a wash because he can't pitch on the road, unless they schedule his starts all at home, I mean, why not???? Has a pitcher in history ever had such a steep home-road disparity for so long?

....and then it was gone....lets hope for no return...

Kudos to everyone involved with this project...this looks like it will really be something special, especially if they realize the entirety of the cypress creek - spring creek branches. If anyone hasn't seen these waterways in Harris-Montgomery county...parts are simple beautiful, with steep cliffs, hills, and rapids. I am glad they are going to get the treatment they deserve.

But he DID get the brick side of the new retail centers in front of Randalls on the other side of Barker Cypress....which should be a huge pain in the ass for the developer... I wonder if he is reading this thread???