barracuda

I suppose you are comparing them to groups like Freegans? I think it's a great idea to maximize use and minimize waste, but I also think there are limits. Not everyone can live off the excesses of society, as there have to be some people to create the excess in the first place in order for it to work. But it's a good point, and there are way too many people living in McMansions and driving Suburbans when they would do fine in a house 1/4 the size and transportation that is much more modest. The current state of American consumer culture is not sustainable, and the recent hike in fuel prices is only the beginning.

How so? Because they live off of society. Most homeless are dependent on handouts to survive. Why else do they beg for money? Organizations and individuals give homeless much if not all they need to survive. So generous people are giving, and the homeless are taking. Do homeless people give back to society? Sometimes, by offering to do odd jobs or helping each other out. But I don't think too many homeless are harvesting their own food, stitching their own clothing, or living in open, undeveloped areas. They depend on the developments and generosities of others for these things, which are often funneled through a charitable organization. Point taken. LTAWACS may not be the best example. But there are many of us who do try to give back. I think you are incorrect. A troubled and unstable household is a breeding ground for future criminals. You make a good point on resources. I think people could definitely learn to manage resources better by learning a thing or two from how homeless live. I'm sure that will make many people uncomfortable. At the same time, homeless can be wasteful in their own way by leaving trash and discarded items behind when they move from place to place. This is probably a reaction to feeling rejected from society, like, why clean up for a society that treats me like garbage? I suppose many people are frightened by homeless, but that probably has more to do with uncertainty about the mental condition of a person acting unusual, or the discomfort of a stranger approaching you to ask for something for nothing, not the simple fact that the person is homeless. Familiarity does a lot to ease fears, though.

That's a strange argument. You seem to feel that most individuals are of little value, unless they can identify specific contributions they make to society, excluding jobs, friends and families. This is an awfully dark and depressing view of society. I would argue that a job, friends and family, as well as volunteering or donating to charities count as contributions to society. Not everyone can contribute to the level of Mahatma Gandhi or Abraham Lincoln, but most people contribute obscurely in smaller but important ways. Now a homeless person may be a past or future contributor, or he may be neither. That doesn't make the person any more or less human, but I would argue that most homeless draw from society more often than they give back. And the people with the McJobs are typically the ones who are working 40-60 hours a week and giving to charities or religions that should be helping these homeless people. So, by that definition, I think it's logical to argue that someone like LTAWACS is a greater contributor to society than your average homeless person. Thank you. Comparing my humbleness to a seven year old and a ten year old illustrates the utmost maturity and the finest of debating skills.

Red, you completely mangled my point. I was responding to MetroMogul's claim that someone with a McJob has nothing more to contribute to society than your average homeless person. My point is that most economists and politicians would disagree. Jobs are pretty important. I bet everyone on HAIF has a job and contributes to our economy. We don't live in a hunter-gatherer society. I never said anything about removing "unwanted humans". That is just callous. You're right, Midtown went from a third-world crime zone to neighborhood in transition. By most measures, this would be considered a good thing. But if you want to advocate for drug addicts and criminals, that's your choice. You make this too easy.

A harsh response to a harsh comment. But in LTAWACS's defense (since you are the homeless advocate), I would think employment, education, literacy, salary, home ownership, etc. would count for something in our capitalist society. If you were to ask any economist or politician, taxpayers with McJobs are pretty important to our society. They are contributors to the system, whereas the homeless usually draw from the system. I know that's a generalization, as it can go both ways, but overall, that is the big picture. But I guess your point is that the system sucks?

There was never much parking in the area before the skate park. I guess the city didn't realize just how popular the skate park would be.

Wow, that looks really out of place next to Empire Cafe. It looks quasi-suburban and very boring. It's like a giant box of beige.

I went running on Saturday and noticed that people were already using it. There were about a dozen people standing by the fence on the side watching about 3 or 4 skaters testing it out. It looks pretty cool and it's a great location overlooking downtown and the bayou.

I agree that everyone should boycott any business that leases space in it. I know that's not much, but at least it's something. Hopefully Houston will have the thrust needed to enact stronger preservation laws as a result of Weingarten's destruction of some of the city's most beloved landmarks. That is the only good I can see coming out of this and their eventual destruction of the Alabama theater.

Yeah, as long as they keep them trimmed up it should be fine. Hopefully they're mature and shade the entire lawn someday.

So what is the deal with all those chandeliers hanging from the trees?

Europa Cafe. Was a nice little Argentine restaurant near rice village in a neat old house. They changed owners a few years ago and the food immediately went downhill. Way downhill. The place reopened last year as Seco's, which is pretty good, albeit completely different compared the original menu at Europa.

The produce section is much nicer and the store looks cleaner than before. The only bad thing is they scattered some product categories around the store, so it's hard to find some things if you're used to the old layout.

I noticed today that the underground garage below DG is open. There were cars exiting the garage as people left the GRB convention center. Anyone know if there is a tunnel system to connect the garage to GRB?

That explains why it sounded like a bombing scene outside. Sure would be nice if the city or local media would tell us (or warn us) about local events like this. I looked outside and didn't see anything, and then I turned on the news in case there was an accident or in case somebody was attacking us. Crazy!

Thanks for the pics Jax. It's amazing to see all the mature live oaks in the park. I wonder how many of them were transplanted. I remember seeing the developers transporting mature live oaks to the park when they were first starting construction. I hope they all survive .

I suppose you're right. It must just be that much louder due to winter and the lack of leaves on the trees. This was the loudest I've ever heard it. It almost sounded like artillery going off.

Did anyone else hear all the explosions going off at around 8:15-8:30 last night? I live in Midtown, and was really loud. I suppose it may have just been a fireworks display, but didn't see anything outside. Does anyone know?

From Wikipedia: "In any climate, an arena ice surface can be installed in a properly built space. This consists of a bed of sand, or occasionally a slab of concrete, through (or on top of) which pipes run. The pipes carry a chilled fluid (usually either a salt brine or water with antifreeze) which can lower the temperature of the slab so that water placed atop it will freeze. Such rinks were developed in the late nineteenth century, the first being the Glaciarium in London." Full article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_rink

Vulgar, eh?

The sign for The Planet was installed awhile back. I was wondering what that was for. I thought it was some kind of club.

They look decent from the pictures, but definitely overpriced. However, I wouldn't want to live within several feet of Elgin...it's going to be noisy as there is a lot of traffic on that road. http://www.marydunn.com/going2.asp?ihouse=6553394&mls= What I don't understand with many of the new townhome complexes (and this really irks me) is the trend of building one row of homes right behind another with a little alley/driveway in-between them. If you were to buy from the second row in this complex, your front door/windows are literally facing another house just a few feet away (you can't see this from the pictures...only the first row is shown). And I can only imagine the parking problems in the driveway. I'm all for denser development in Midtown, but this is not the way to do it. It's pretty obvious when developers are trying to maximize profit to the expense of livability.

I remember Midtown Bagel. They did have great bagels. Parking wasn't a problem back then as I remember it...especially not in the morning. Too bad, Midtown doesn't have any decent bagel shops now. Closest thing is Einsteins on Montrose. That works if it's ready when you arrive. I've had to wait 20 minutes inside even though I ordered by phone 20 minutes earlier. They are slow.

Hopefully not! It'd be great to see some local independent resaurants open up, though. IMO, chain restaurants are for the suburbs, where people like predictable, bland, pre-packaged food that doesn't require a chef to prepare. There are a few exeptions, but that is generally what my experience has been.

Memebag, don't take my comment as an attack on the homeless...it's merely an observation. Most people don't want to see people urinating in public or building makeshift camps in a nice public park. It is a shame that our country can spend trillions on needless wars, yet cannot gather the gumption to tackle a national problem like homelessness. But that is the state of things. If it turns out you have devoted your life to helping the homeless, then please lecture away, for admittedly, I have not.