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I'm glad that you may be considering the GHCVB, because I was serious. I didn't really mean any harm with my last post. I really feel that someone with as much interest in seeing events/exposure for Houston (and undoubtedly you do by evidence of your creation/participation in threads regarding Superbowl, World Cup, Olympics, Real World, TV Shows filmed in Houston, etc, etc, etc.) should apply that energy in places where it will really matter. I think the Convention & Visitors Bureau would be a good fit for someone like you. . .seriously.

Great, another "Houston isn't good enough" thread! DJV Lawrence, I say this with the most sincerity. . .you should apply for a job with the Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau. I mean, if you really would like to see all of these events come to Houston, you should put forth all of that energy towards an agency whose job it is to do exactly that. All of this time/energy being wasted on this message board, over and over again, in thread after thread is not going to produce any positive result. I'm sure 1) the people over at the Convention & Visitors bureau would welcome someone with your enthusiasm, 2) you will feel more fulfilled, and 3) the City of Houston will be better of for your contribution. It's time to put up or shut up, now.

If you two (TheNiche AftonAg) don't have anything else to add to this discussion, other than your pissing contest, may I suggest you pm each other, and spare the rest of us who want to focus on substantive issues affecting the line. Thanks in advance.

The Cowboys learned a valuable lesson yesterday. . .When you play like the Houston Texans, you lose.

I guess some should not only learn the distinctions between the words "city" and "metro," but respect their definitions.

I've had to deal with Jordy on a few occasions. Was he becoming complacent with his job, and taking things for granted? One could make that argument. However, I don't know if getting rid of him was a smart move. At any rate, he seems to be taking it all in stride. "It's a wonderful thing for them to let me continue to work with those whom I have had personal relationships with and be a point of contact for clarification on things that I have been involved in," Tollett said. Until then, GHCVB Chairman Doug Horn and Chairman Emeritus Don Henderson will coordinate day-to-day operations at the bureau. Quoted from http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/sto...tml?jst=b_ln_hl I know Don Henderson is a good man, and I feel confident that as long as he's involved in the process, the GHCVB should land on its feet.

Just for clarification's sake. . .All of this talk about Richmond Avenue leave's me scratching my head. What exactly is on Richmond other than Sam's Boat/Place, Dave & Buster's, a strip club behind a car wash, and some place called "The Main Event?" I know Richmond used to be filled with lots of bars and restaurants (circa 1990-98), however that's not the case anymore. With very few exceptions, that whole area (Richmond AND Westheimer between Sage and Sam Houston Tollway) is really only home to a number of strip clubs, a dangerous night club ("Roxy") and a lot of C Class restaurants. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong on this.

lolol. . .then why is so much of this thread comprised of posts from you? "Light Rail" is referred to as such because it is an industry-specific term that distinguishes it from "Heavy Rail!" Go look both of them up, then post the definitions of both here. . .then we can end the discussion. The bottom line is that no one uses the term "light rail" because it sounds cool, or futuristic, or because he/she is trying to make an "expensive transit system sound vastly more durable and useful." Do us all a favor, and discontinue the arguing just for argument's sake. IMHO, it's adding little to no value to this discussion.

DART Rail Sparks yet more Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Intangible benefits like TOD can't be ignored when considering rail construction/expansion. __________________________________________________________________________ http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...ne.bc65f57.html Work will start this month on the first phase of the 33-acre retail and mixed-use complex. Park Lane project planned 12:17 PM CST on Thursday, December 14, 2006 By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning news Houston-based PM Realty Group said Thursday that it has formed a partnership with a Chicago investor to develop three residential buildings in a North Dallas project. PM Realty Group has been working with Harvest Partners on the development of the 33-acre Park Lane retail and mixed-use complex at North Central Expressway and Park Lane. Houston-based PM Realty Group said Thursday that it has formed a partnership with a Chicago investor to develop a three-building residential complex at North Central Expressway and Park Lane. Work will start this month on the first phase: a 20-story tower with 62 residences and a 15-story tower with 218 homes. An adjoining four-story building will have 45 loft apartments. The developers plan to have the first homes ready in summer 2008. The combination of the residential buildings, retail and DART's adjoining light rail station " will make Park Lane one of the most desirable places to live in Dallas," PM Realty president Rick V. Kirk said in a statement. . . .

I can't answer the first part of your question. However, the second part is definetly no. Not only do I stand by my statements (in part because The Nicheagreed with much of my post, albeit he tried to split hairs in a pitiful attempt to prove his original point), but I challenge The Niche to provide us with one (1) historical example of a city that has constructed its system, as we know it today, all at once. . .which is what I believe he's suggesting METRO should wait (10 to 15 years?) to do. Now, if every other transit authority, in the USA/world built successful rail systems contrary to The Niche's proposed model, then guess who I'm going to side with. AND Finally, for all that read this post. . .look at my post and then look at the Niche's post, then ask yourself which one makes more sense, and takes less effort, words to explain. In my line of work, we have a saying. . .if you have to do to much explaining, you're loosing the argument (because it doesn't take a rocket surgeon to tell us the Sky is Bl ue when we can look up and see that the sky is Blue). . .Make sense?

What you're stating here is a bit different from the portion of your earlier comment that I quoted and responded to. Your statement that I quoted in post #16 seemed to suggest that Austin's growing popularity was strengthened due to the "Real World Austin." In the statement above, you just state that Austin has a growing popular image. You and I agree on that much. However, I disagree with you that the series "The Real World Austin" helped make Austin popular. IMHO, Austin was already popular. . .which is why there was ever a "Real World Austin" to begin with.

Could you point us in the direction of the study, surveys, or other statistical data that support your statement? Thanks in advance.

In your theater of the mind, when will that be? If state/city/METRO planners adopted your rationale, there would be little to no point in ever building another rail or road. Construction costs for these things rise over time. The longer you wait, the more expensive it gets. Not the reverse. This is due to supply and demand issues, as well as currency/property valuation issues. The excuse you provide for not building a rail alternative is, IMHO, misplaced. Had METRO began to build its rail system back during the Whitmire administration (over a quarter century ago), and continue with expansion through today, it would have cost far less than what it will eventually end up costing to build a system today. Additionally, the City would probably have an impressive system that would provide real alternatives for travel between many of the City's business centers, entertainment destinations, densely populated areas, and airports. Does rail cost? Sure it does. However, it is an investment we make now so that future generations of Houstonians and visitors will have an efficient transportation option that will increase their quality of life while in the City. The price we pay today, will be diminished over time as the system grows.

Enough with the "Why can't Houston Get (Host) One" garbage, already! Why are soooooooooooooo many people in this forum sooooooooooooooooo concerned about how many Superbowls, World Cups, Music Conventions, television shows, etc, etc. are in held in Houston? Seriously, to me it screams "Hey world look at us, please, please, please look at us. . .we're Houstonians, and we're cool too. . .please validate us!" Do you really think a "Real World Houston" is going to make any difference at all in outsiders' perception of this city?

Couldn't have said it better, myself!

I'm sure it will be much more interesting/entertaining for you to explain to us how my comment doesn't make sense.

. . .as if that (ownership and operation of a car) were the end all, be all, of life!!! I have a different belief. I believe that an unequivocal majority of people who grow up in a society that places a minimal importance on the ownership and operation of a car, don't have near as much envy as you'd like to think they have of you and/or any of your kids who may be of car-driving age.

The Houston Chronicle has geniuses on its staff, too. Take a look. ______________________________________________________________________ It's Christmas in December, draft critics By RICHARD JUSTICE Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Can you imagine what Sunday is going to be like for Bob McNair? Uncomfortable doesn't even begin to describe it. If you're angry about all the things the Texans have done wrong, if you'd like to let them know how you feel, this is the week for you. It's a referendum on the Texans. That's what Vince Young's return to his hometown amounts to. It can't be anything else. If the Texans were winning or if there were some sense they're headed in the right direction, Vince's return wouldn't be nearly as much of an issue. You're going to hear people say they're going to Reliant Stadium on Sunday to cheer for Vince. That's only partly true. Many of them are going to cheer Vince only because doing so will remind the Texans how badly they blew it on draft day. . . See rest of the article here.

I want to know why 19514 is SOOOOOOOOO angry. These are just words on an electronic message board. Let me suggest to 19514 that there are places you can go for that.

Uh oh, Gary's resorting to name calling. This thread (or Gary) is getting out of control (just watch his response to this post). It's time to shut this thread down.

Reggie Bush had a "breakout game" yesterday, including 4 touchdowns, and Vince Young won his 5th out of his last 7 games as a starter, in which he provides the Titans with the team's second straight, come-from-behind, 4th quarter victory. The egg on the Texans' faces is starting to harden.

After 41 pages of commentary, can someone answer the following questions for me? 1. Has the alignment for this line been determined yet? 2. Has a date certain been announced for the groundbreaking of this line?

IMHO, this topic is silly. Let me ask a question to all of you who have thrown out all sorts of neighborhoods/suburbs in response to this thread topic question. Just what are the elements of good minority neighborhood (i.e. can I get copies of the Houston Defender at my local grocer)? I think you all would have to come to a consensus on the criteria before you could decide which neighborhood is the "best" one. Personally, I don't think this group could ever decide on much of anything, much less a set of standard criteria for this topic. That's why, IMHO, this thread is silly.

If you think the Texans will reach .500, you should get your head out of Uranus.

Even though the futility, silliness, and otherwise absurdity of your argument regarding geographical portions of sports franchise names has been exposed, you still continue to argue. . .AMAZING! If it really means that much to you, and others (which apparently it does because of your unwillingness to accept the obvious, post, after post, after post), feel free to forward a letter to Jerry Jones asking him why the Dallas Cowboys are named the Dallas Cowboys. . .although, after reading many of your posts, I don't think second-guessing billionaires' business decision would be a forte of yours. I will tell you, and it should be obvious, that municipalities (city, county, state) can choose to financially support a stadium. However, an owner will name his team what he pleases. Generally speaking, If you think it's stupid, wrong, or embarrassing for a sports franchises to bear the name of a city, county, or state that the team's stadium is not located, then your problem is with the owner(s). If you have a specific problem with the Dallas Cowboys' non-inclusion of the city where Jerry Jones' Stadium is built, then your problem, my friend, is with Jerry Jones (and formerly Tex Schram). After all, it is his, as well as every other sports team owner(s)' decision as to what he will name his team, and where he will build his stadium if he owns the stadium (Houstonians didn't have the ultimate decision making power on where any of the sports franchisees' stadiums were located. They were simply given the option of voting to fund the construction, unlike Dallas voters, by the way). However, if I were you, I'd focus more on the topic of this thread. . .the Houston Texans. You might get more satisfaction from petitioning the Texans' ownership to bring in a new team, and encourage them to make better drafting decisions. The Texans suck! That's a plain and simple fact (so i can't be starting a flame war). People lie. . .numbers don't. Look at the record.