mattyt36

Pointing out inconsistencies in logic or rehashing what’s been proven wrong time and time again is not a “personal attack.” And Ross, man, c’mon, I mean I agree with you 90% of the time, but this isn’t “adults talking,” unless it’s some over 60s mah jong club where the ante is bellyaching about the yesteryears. It’s a discussion forum. People have different opinions, as you’ve noticed. If you, for example, keep on going on and on about how you don’t believe the cap park won’t be built, well for the love of God, someone who cares so much about “opinions” should certainly be able to appreciate when people point out all the reasons why, while there may not be a contract with dried ink, it’s more likely than not that it WILL be built ... and we provide way more evidence of that than you ever have to the contrary. Surely you must realize there’s a difference between stating an opinion and stating an opinion and backing it up with at least an ATTEMPT at providing a shred of evidence. To me, THAT is the difference between an adult conversation and one between children. So, by your own darned standard, stop “attacking” us for pointing stuff like this out. You get to tell us time and time you again you “just don’t feel like it’ll be built” because you’ve somehow determined in a way that you can’t explain that TxDoT “doesn’t have the money,” and regardless, you’ll “be dead anyway” (which is an accurate paraphrase of almost everyone of your posts on this very subject … your words, not mine) … so give us the license to at least try to argue with something other than our feelings.

AMEN @samagon “but to suggest that I don't care about the issues of the other communities that are negatively impacted, or that I am simply using them towards my own evil ends? it is very easy for me to be empathetic to their issues, because I will experience some of the same issues they do related to this project.” I define my opposition to this project, not based on the substance, but rather that I have realized that others—you know, ahem, the less unfortunate types—may be inconvenienced like me. Not, “way more than I,” not “I’m lucky to not be inconvenienced as much as others,” not “Oh, I’m so concerned about my beloved Near Northside that I know and love and went to at least once in the last 20 years” (I mean, plenty of allusions to people being ripped from their homes and their lifelong neighborhood), but, at the end of the day, an implicit admission “It’s inconvenient for me and, if it’s inconvenient for me, surely I can rely on someone else’s real inconveniences to achieve a political end.” The above is a textbook, yet admittedly modern, example of NIMBYISM. You know the one thing missing in all of this commentary? Comments from the people actually affected. There’s been a hell of a lot of speculation … and plenty of people (including I) … here’s the thing … I’m actually sensitive to it … but I actually don’t think there is any real opposition. I’m sure people want to be treated more fairly, but c’mon, in an MSA of 7 million people we can’t find a way to make the not even 10% of not even 10,000 people affected without true compensation (if that even is the REAL argument) whole? This City put men on the moon! I’m sure we can come up with a great solution! I mean, if the City came to me and said, “Matty, we need your help to build a new sewer line and it just so happens your house is where the exhaust line needs to be and you need to move,” before we got to “we can do this one way or the other,” I’m sure we could have come to an agreement under tried-and-true federal law, and, at the end of the day, I’d be better off. (And, forgive me if I am being insensitive, but if I lived in an apartment, I sure as hell wouldn’t expect any say in the matter, and I doubt many apartment dwellers would either, especially not in Houston, Texas. I’d certainly be happy to get a check for a year’s rent and moving expenses, though.) (Do we have to let @samagon drive a freeway through The Woodlands so he feels “justice”? Cuz that’d be old school freeway building.)

Here’s old Ted at his best, talking as if anyone on either side gives two craps what he says. His face and tone always betrays that he earnestly believes that people actually do, probably the side effect of being raised by a whack-job preacher. This is of course way worse than his earlier, conveniently last minute “endorsement” of Man Hands, but at the end of the day, just as revealing. He’ll probably watch this at least 10 times before he goes to bed while patting himself on the back. What a shame (for only him, of course, but he’s incapable of thinking of others) the closest he got to being President was in 2016. (Teduardo is definitely in the Top 5 of the Texas Politician Total Loser All-Time Hall of Fame, and on a very crowded ticket at that, mind you … but, yeah, I rely on this guy whenever I ask myself, “What is best for Harris County? What would Teduardo do?”)

Having met Kim, I kind of think that may be what she is gunning for. Lesbians can be so unpredictable. Man Hands Mealer will most definitely be foaming at the mouth for a ticket, I have no doubt about that.

Well, Augie, you do have a little 5 year old boy in you, I mean with the toy gun fetish and all. So I’m not surprised that the above reference to a 30-year old hot sauce commercial gives you the gigglies. After all, it’s the second time you’ve indirectly referenced it today. What I am surprised about, however, is that the meme creator spelled surprise with the first “R,” which puts them a rung or two above the average Republican these days. They can’t spell O’Rourke correctly, though, which is totally ironic given the “I’m not surprised” comment. So I place the education somewhere around the 7th-8th grade level. (Or maybe homeschooled?) Regardless, definitely seems qualified to write for one of @Blue Dogs favorite political tabloids. Color me … not surprised. “Stupid is as stupid does,” I believe is a contemporary enough turn of phrase for “Get a rope.”

Maybe Kenny P and she can share a cell. It'd only be fair.

I quoted Mimi Swartz, a fine Houston-based journalist for 40+ years.

Hack endorses hack. Good thing Cruz's popularity in the County has been in the toilet for a good 5 years. Can't say I've ever met a sane person who likes the guy. Opinion | Ted Cruz, Hometown Anti-Hero - The New York Times (nytimes.com) If you're speaking in empty platitudes, best get it right, the figure of speech is a "massive campaign warchest."

What exactly makes a development “fluid”?

It’s all a question of elasticity, Augie! Surprised you didn’t suggest a gas tax version of the Laffer Curve, buddy!

Hot off the presses from today: JetBlue cuts 20 routes, trims new Canada service, to boost summer reliability Likewise, Spirit had a big buildup planned for IAH for June (including the new MTY service) that has now been deferred to August. Southwest rolled out a new "Back to Basics" management plan to focus on staffing and increase operational reliability in Q1. Life becomes difficult and unpredictable when there aren't enough pilots to fly the planes. And, even when you can hire them, you can't train them because all of the training slots are full. And it's not for lack of "planning," per se . . . this was all planned for, but the plan turned out (almost universally across the industry) to be a bad plan. Mesa is actually parking relatively new EMB-175s (a very limited commodity for United if you know anything about their pilot contract) this summer because they don't have the pilots to fly them. They probably don't put that stuff in your monthly Rapid Rewards newsletter.

Depends on the day of the week . . . And, whatever you do, don't tell Steve Hotze, Lance Berkman, or Hot Wheels!

OK @Reefmonkey, it's obviously a random big conspiracy and nothing to do with what's been written about over and over and over and over in the press or come up in almost essentially every airline earnings call for last quarter. So sorry for your bad luck. (I know frequent fliers think they know anything, but consider that those who actually work in the industry may have a bit better grasp on these things than you.)

Now you’re just being a Mr Silly Pants, Augie! He’s back to his chants and incantations! (Remember, you have to say it at least 3 times in a row while dancing around a fire, @Blue Dogs)

Airline schedules aren’t fleeted and finalized until 60 days out (was 30 earlier during the pandemic). And the airlines (WN among them) have been adjusting summer schedules to mitigate operational disruptions from staff shortages. If you make your reservation more than 30 days out, there’s a not insignificant chance it’ll change, most of the time minor, but sometimes more dramatic. If you make it 90 days out, you’re almost guaranteed to have some change. Southwest will continue to be among the hardest hit due not only to the industry-wide staffing shortages but also the delays in 737 MAX deliveries … they had to rejigger their entire delivery schedule last quarter due to ongoing delays in the certification of the MAX 7. Your assumption that crew or fleet issues can be resolved months in advance is wrong, BTW. That’s exactly what they’re accomplishing with these changes. There’s nothing random about it. Note also that you don’t have to accept the automated rebooking changes … you can try to rebook on a more convenient itinerary … if the website doesn’t let you do it, call Reservations. But if your reservation is for, say, October, I can almost guarantee you’ll end up going through that multiple times.

Uh huh. This is the guy who goes on and on and on about substance. 🙄 Oh the irony. Regardless, glad we could finally put this to rest.

Astute and piercing as always, @Blue Dogs!

Spare us the self-indulgent dramatics. The logical fallacies have all been pointed out specifically and substantively time and time and time again. Thank you for the above as it is probably the best (and only internally coherent) summation of your opposition. It's not some noble opposition to pollution, nor some romantic social justice concern, it's not love of transit or any "better way." It's simply avoiding your own inconvenience. Which, by the way, makes complete and total sense and is entirely defensible! Think of all the elbow grease you could've saved by avoiding all the disingenuous arguments on the side. But reasons of naked self-interest--as fundamental as it may be to the human condition--just aren't that appealing to others.

I see what you're doing, trying to get me to click the LOVE button there, Augie 🤣

This thread is full of nakedly disingenuous arguments made by @samagon, none of which he actually engages on. So many places to start . . . "This project is really about commuters from Conroe to Galveston," and "oh, it's all about the environmental issues" or "It's all about the people who will be forced to move" and then later in the thread suggesting the right thing to do would be to just widen 610 East because, I guess, on the east side environmental impacts or relocating people doesn't matter or such a project is under some happy rainbow of protection. Plenty of statements made about the project or TxDOT that are shown time and time again to be false or be entirely baseless, yet he keeps recycling them. That is the very definition of disingenuous. @samagon's beliefs--whatever they are--are immaterial to basic facts and logic. And don't fault at least some of us for associating such rhetorical techniques with the possibility that he doesn't really give two sharts about what he says he cares about. Yes, we certainly could be wrong about the genuineness of his statements, but such a conclusion isn't coming out of nowhere.

Well, I've definitely done my part by bringing out the big guns (@august948 would be proud!) by posting my opinions on the subject of the NHL Houston Aeros on this very message board. Guess I will have to sharpen my pencil and write a letter to the editor of the Houston Chronicle, that should do it! 🤣

Not enough airtime for those famous hands . . . opportunity missed! Great airtime for her vacant, absolutely clueless look and empty platitudes, however. I just wish she wouldn't be so wrapped up in identity politics . . . why does she list "Hispanic" as her first qualification? It's also sad she has to use green instead of a nice, bold red and put "Republican" in such a small font for, well, obvious reasons . . . it's an explicit acknowledgment that the Republican brand is, shall we say, NO BUENO in Harris County! (SAD!!!!) It's also such a shame to see public servants in uniform engaging in disingenuous politics, but, hey, they're politicians themselves. Not to mention some high-and-mighty speak for constables, who, under Texas law have the following duties: -Serves as a licensed peace officer and performs various law enforcement functions, including issuing traffic citations -Serves warrants and civil papers such as subpoenas and temporary restraining orders -Serves as bailiff for Justice of the Peace Court You may know them from patrolling your local toll road. Not that the average low-information voter would know the distinction. More theater, courtesy of the ever-growing entertainment wing of the Republican Party. Thankfully we have one of their most passionate "deputies" to "keep us up to date."

I was in Phoenix a month ago, luckily when the Astros were there, so I saw the Chase Field setup, which I didn't remember from before. Do those essentially just operate as outside-of-the-park concessions owned by the team? If so, yes, please, none of that. The Reds stadium has some decent stuff around it. Seems like the proximity to the Convention Center should help bring year-round foot traffic. And, knowing Tilman to be the competitive guy he is, hopefully he'd do something for the Toyota Center, with the caveat that he doesn't own any of the surrounding land, of course.

On top of that basic fact, does anyone have any idea of how many residential units downtown are rented/owned as second home "pied-à-terres"? I know it at least used to be a significant enough thing at One Park Place.

Hotel guests are what? Probably 3-5 more times likely to eat out on a given night than a resident (for obvious reasons)? Convention business is also key to developing the tourism market. It’s fair to say a nice mix of both is essential—take a look at any city in that regard.