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If anyone's considering that "4G" Evo phone from Sprint (which runs on the Clear network), do a quick google for the New York Times review. The phone's a disaster. One thing that sticks out in my mind about it is that if you use it's much-touted hotspot feature, you drain the battery in ONE HOUR! And even without using that feature, the reviewer (I think it was David Pogue) usually ran out of battery by lunchtime. I believe 4G is the future, and even now I'm typing this on a 4G connection. But the chips are simply too power hungry for handsets.

There aren't more free apps for Droid than iPhone. There is a larger percentage of free apps for Droid than iPhone. Here's a chart illustrating what you've heard: While the percentage of free Android apps is larger, the absolute number of free iPhone apps is greater. A lot of people have been pinning their hopes on Android 2.2. it's supposed to be much improved. But one of the things that worries me about the Android ecosystem is the quickness with which phones get EOLed. For example, the iPhone I will hopefully replace in two weeks was released in June, 2007. Only now, in July, 2010, does it no longer qualify for the latest OS upgrade and new features. I saw an interesting chart showing that Android phones tend to get kicked out of upgrades within a year. Some phones were EOLed within six months! So while 2.2 may be a great thing (or 2.3, 2.4, etc...), there's a fairly poor chance that your phone will be upgradable. It's like being back in the flip phone era when you got a phone and if it didn't work right, you were stuck with it.

People have been predicting iPhone on Verizon "next month" every month since 2007. I believe it will happen some day. But I will also only believe it when I see it. The latest credible rumor pegs it at January, 2011. Droid X isn't out, so no one can really say if it's better. it's supposed to be very good, though. I saw a dummy unit in a store the other day, and it's a little large for my pockets. But it would be good if you keep your phone in a briefcase, or purse, or if you have larger pants than I do.

Investigators in the Houston Police Department Robbery Division are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying five suspects believed responsible for at least six robberies in Houston's westside. The suspects are described only as five black males. One is believed to be in his 20s and a second is believed to be in his 40s. Surveillance photos of the suspect are attached to this news release. The incidents all occured at residences in which the suspects forcibly entered and took the home's safe with its contents inside. On May 29, the suspects entered a residence on the 10 block of Shady Lane and tied up a female housemaid. The suspects then used tools to remove the home's safe and secured contents, and fled the location. Another robbery occured on June 30 when the same group of suspects are believed to have entered a residence in the 300 block of Terrace and also tied up a housemaid. There were security cameras at the residence and images of the suspects entering and leaving the residence were captured. There are at least two more incidents linked to these suspects. Anyone with information on the identities of these suspects is urged to contact the HPD Robbery Division at 713-308-0700 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

Most cities have this for their transit, whether they have rail or not. When I travel I collect them. CTA did this back in the 90's with its Chicago Card for a few reasons: 1 - To make boarding faster, which is really really does. 2 - To cut down on the expense of cleaning stations, because the people who live in certain Chicago neighborhoods are pretty filthy, and throw trash on the ground without thinking. Before these cards, at the end of the day many train stations would look like there was a ticker tape parade. 3 - To automate transfers, again reducing expense. 4 - To give people the option of not carrying cash in crappy neighborhoods. #1 was the big reason, and it really helps. Cities I've been to that have this: London (Oyster card) Hong Kong (Octopus card) Seattle (Orca Card) Seoul (T-Money card) Istanbul (Akbil, which isn't a card because a lot of people don't have wallets there, so it's a strangely shaped contraption with a loop on it that you can hook to your clothing or keychain or whatever) Chicago (Chicago Card, Chicago Card Plus, Chicago Card+ZipCar) San Francisco (Transcard, now called Clipper) Singapore (forget what it's called on the MRT) Saint Louis (Go-To Card) Los Angeles (TAP) Paris (MetroPass) These transit cards are really the easiest and most efficient way of doing business. BUT this sort of scheme only works on transit systems where you pay one price no matter what your destination. Also, it can sometimes take years to integrate the various computer systems of regional transit agencies so that one card will work across all carriers. When I got to Seattle a couple of months ago, the Orca card was still brand new. New York still hasn't done this, but it's trying. Last I heard it couldn't get all of the regional transit agencies on board. In Chicago, the Chicago Card isn't valid on water taxis. But you can get a special green version of the card that lets you use it to rent ZipCars. In Seoul, you can use your T-Money card on subways, trams, buses, taxis, and even to buy groceries at convenience stores. In Paris, you can get a MetroCard that can also be used for museum admission. Seattle's method is seriously screwed up. At certain times of the day at certain locations you pay when you get on. Other times and places, you pay when you get off. King County Metro still issues paper transfers, while no other transit agency does. To use it on SoundTransit light rail trains, you tap at the station as you enter, and again as you leave. SoundTransit's Sounder trains have an entirely different system. Oh, and it's not valid at all when riding a SLUT. I doubt Tokyo will get a unified card in my lifetime.

Here's a link that shows all the pictures from the slideshow in one page: http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2010/08/architecture-survey-slideshow-201008?currentPage=all I've been to four of these places. The picture they use for the HSBC building really doesn't do it justice. Though much of its significance is in how the interior is laid out (and thus VF used an interior photo), it is most visually striking from the outside. And at night. Here's a picture I took for HAIF's sister web site, Chinese Architecture.cn. More pictures of the HSBC New Headquarters. It's also interesting that in a list of just 20 buildings, that two are churches. The cross of light is interesting, but I think I've seen that elsewhere. Doesn't Saint Basil's Chapel in Houston do that, as well? Or am I thinking of another building?

I love it when I come to HAIF to post a link to something, and you guys are already discussing it.

I popped over to Redmond, Washington last month to shoot some pictures for the Towrs architecture web site (plug! plug!). Not all that much to see there. It doesn't seem to have a real downtown. It's like a small bedroom suburb, rather than an actual town. That may explain the Microsoft campus. It's like a big gated suburban village, rather than a corporate office park. I was pretty disappointed with what I saw there. Dozens and dozens of boring flat office buildings with virtually no character. This is a company that can do anything with its architecture, but chooses to do nothing. A wasted opportunity. It's so bland I only bothered to take a couple of snaps of Microsoft. The best architecture in town is, without a doubt, the city hall. Great job on that one. Modern, but very local. Good colors and aesthetic. Very nice. But if it wasn't for Microsoft, I don't see any reason for this town to exist. The Clise Mansion King County District Court Microsoft Building 92 Redmond City Hall Redmond Marriott Town Center Redmond Town Center Willowmoor Farm Windmill

I've finally ordered the new iPhone. It will replace my current iPhone, which is the original one that I got on launch day back in 2007. I'm looking forward to the new features, especially having a real GPS. Has anyone else gotten the iPhone 4? If so, what is your opinion of it?

There will be another HAIF forum software upgrade today. If you notice anything broken or odd, please let me know.

This thread is for discussing the Carlos Garza Sports Complex in Texas City. Here's the latest Galveston Daily News article about it: http://galvestondailynews.com/story/158475

I've added the Stormpulse interactive Alex tracking map to the first message in this thread.

This is unnecessary. The moderators asked me about the one-liners you keep posting in this thread. Here is my response to them: If you can't stay on topic and be civil and intelligent, then you will find your posts edited for content. And before you go screaming like a little baby about "ZOMG! CENSORSHIP!!!!111!!Elebenty" get over yourself. It's not censorship. Thinking it is just illustrates how ignorant you are of true censorship issues.

Big. Really big. Scary big. About the size of a small banana.

I didn't. I only had two-and-half days. First half day I made it to Port Angeles. Second day went to Forks. Third day returned home. The whole area warrants further exploration.

Some of my pics that I took of San Francisco that didn't make it onto HAIF's sister site, Towrs.

Finally got to watch my first World Cup match. Unfortunately, it was Denmark vs. Cameroon. The game was OK. More interesting than I expected. At least it wasn't a tie.

I think that was true in the 90's, and certainly before. But I think that's no longer true, it's just a stereotype.

Much of Canada's energy comes from hydropower. It's so common that people don't even call it a "power" bill or an "electric" bill -- it's a "hydro" bill. 58% or Canada's electricity comes from hydropower: 369.6 terrawatt hours (source). Only China produces more: 522.4 terrawatt hours. Each bill I get from my power company (Puget Sound Energy) shows what percentage of the energy comes from what source. Currently: 41% Hydroelectric 36% Coal 20% Natural Gas 2% Biomass, landfill gas, oil, forestry waste, wind 1% Nucelar As a point of interest -- HAIF is carbon neutral. The hosing provider purchases carbon credits to offset the power used by the server and related equipment.

Maybe the triangle has something to do with "Trinity." As in "river," "square," and I'm sure Dallas has at least one more Trinity to fill out the... uh... trinity.

Your tax dollars at work -- preserving and maintaining the Hoh Rain Forest. A fascinating place to walk around.

Thanks. To the naked eye they look mostly grey, but with a couple of filters on the lens the colors really pop.

These are pictures I took on a beach in an indian village. I'm not naming the location because the indians are real bitchy about outsiders. Photographs for personal use only. No video of any kind, whether for personal use or not. And don't touch any of the rocks on the beach. Oh, but be sure to stop by the gift shop on your way out.