wakester

They should move those buses to the 217 Cypress. 50 people * $4.50 > 2 people * $15

I had the Q card for almost a year before it was rolled out and for 9+ months it was 15 rides to get 5 free rides. So I think I have had a lot more free rides then that guy.

My wife ate there with her girlfriend and loved it. She wants to take me. Surely someone here (a regular) has been there and had a good experience?

Ate there Friday and it was pretty good. Did not see the monkey and my son was not happy about that. I had told my wife about the post about the salads and everytime they asks if they could take our salad plates we got chuckle.

In one of those Metro live chat sessions I ask the person who is planning the lines about the Uptown line and if it would go down the middle of 610 until Memorial. He said they were talking with TxDOT and that it was their preferred option. Ofcourse the problem with that stretch Post Oak Blvd to Memorial is that they can not take an inch of Memorial park which is on both sides of 610 at one point.

My previous experiences with Metro service to the Big Airport have involved long, bewildering sidetrips through Gunspoint apartment complexes.

It will be a more direct route. It will use the HOV on 45 when it is open and Hardy Tollroad when it is not. I think you will be able to check bags(?) and it will be $15 one way (or more but I thought I remember them saying something like $30 round trip)

This reminds me of a few years ago when Compaq thought it was a good idea to split the space bar in half and have one side space and the other side back space. I about through the keyboard through the monitor.

I hope they have a different entrance than just Barker-Cypress. That intersection at 290 looks like a nightmare. I bet at around 5:45pm people wait 20+ minutes to get from 290 to Barker-Cypress.

I saw a poster of it once at a "Chinese vegetarian buffet" on Westheimer, so it is some kind of Eastern religious temple. I use to live in Mission Bend (down the street) until like 1998 and I always wondered what the heck that was.

Driving home yesterday I thought I saw a sign that said "Gucci - only in San Marcos". It was on the left on 290 westbound near the Cy-Falls Water Tower. I meant to ck again today, but forgot.

Why would a store in the San Marcos outlet - owned by the same people as the Cypress one - do that?

The Sam Marcos Outlet has at least 2 other signs on 290. I noticed them this week. Maybe they think someone from Houston driving out to Cypress will see them and say "Hey, lets just keep on driving".

The HOV system today is an honor system with selective enforcement. I do not see that as changing.

It's entirely possible that HOV cars will enter at different points than toll paying cars.

In any case, I am sure they have thought of this issue and have worked out a solution.

A picture is worth a 1000 words

I do like how people always through a fit that they have been "tricked". I guess all the public meetings they had and the documents that have been on the Web for years that showed this and talked about "variable" tolls was not enough. They need to go to each person and tell them.

Took my kids Saturday to see Spiderwick on the IMAX. They did not tell anyone that the IMAX and some of the other theaters are assigned seats. Some people started to get upset and the manager gave everyone free IMAX passes. They better do a better job explaining the assigned seat policy or it could get ugly. I could see someone getting their tickets and then eating dinner and showing up right before the movie. If everyone is just sitting in any seat it could become a mess.

Looks like they are gearing up to give Office Depot a run for their money in Houston.

I prefer to get my office supplies from Dunder Mifflin.

I doubt that MS will do it. I think one of the main reasons they supported HD-DVD was to drag out the format war until they could get the online distribution up and running. Besides estimating the add on would be over $200, that would have the effect of making the $399/499 PS3 look like a bargain.

In hindsight the Blu-ray drive in the PS3 was a fantastic plan. The PS3 helped Blu-Ray win the format war and now Blu-Ray is going to help the PS3 sells.

The best use of slugging was on the HBO show "Curb Your Enthusiasm". Where the guy was late for a Dodger game and picks up a hooker so that he can drive in the carpool lane. That was also the show where a guy that was accused of murder was able to show that he was in the background and was set free.

Another thing I noticed related to the politeness of Houston transit riders (and I don't know if this is common elsewhere) but when people get off the bus most tell the driver "Thank You". It probably annoys the driver after the 20th person says it.

On different points :

Overcrowded P & R buses :

- On the 290 routes this is a big problem (at least the 214 and 217). I catch the bus at the NWTC, so I get it after it after it has left downtown. The 217 (Cypress) has always been packed. Usually requires standing and sometimes you can not even get on because people are standing all the way to the door. Lately the 214 (1960) bus has become an issue even though those buses run about every 5 minutes during peak time.

People lining up to get on the buses :

- I use P & R and local buses (33/35/49) and I have notice that people act the same for local as they do for P & R buses. They line up and the NWTC to get on and when you get to the NWTC it is a wait your turn to get off.

"slug"s :

- Although Metro does not seem to interfere with the practice, I don't think they are happy about it. I would also say it has less to do with crowded buses and more with people saving a couple of bucks. I have seen where the bus in the morning is not close to being full but people still line up for a free ride. Also, the last two P & R lots have setup where you use the Q-Card to park for free otherwise it cost to park. I wonder if this is how they are looking to stop it. Right now it only verifies that you have money on the Q-Card but I could see them deducting from the Q to park and then the bus becomes a transfer.

wow a fact? ask a park and ride user whether they'd agree.

Last time I looked, no trains were replacing a Park & Ride buses.

Can't wait to get some of that "Grandma's Special Sauce"

One surprise that I have seen is that it is not the "whites" that seen to not support Obama (with Edwards out the vote seems to be split between Obama and Hillary) but other minority groups (Latino, Asians, ...) Which is a surprise since you would figure that if Obama can break through the "All White Male" barrier, it would make it easier for other minority groups.

As a Democrat you hope that the Latinos are voting "for" Hillary and not against Obama. Otherwise if Obama gets the nomination and loses their vote he will be toast.

901 Starbucks Coffee Opening Soon

Now that was a big surprise!

Looks like the Texas Democratic primary will be pretty important. It has been a while since a Texas Democrat's vote meant much in a presidential race (unless you traded it with a Nader swing state voter).

I wonder if McCain will strike a deal with Huckabee? Get him to stay in the race as long as Romney is there and then join the ticket as VP. Or do the anti-McCain Republicans now rally around Huckabee and dump Romney. Don't think there are many southern states left.

One other thing, I was a witness for the DA a few years back in which the Prosecutor was John Jordon (the one for this case) and let me tell you, those Eyebrows are even more intimidating in person!

What I find most disturbing is that she left on Dec 31st and the police came on Jan 2nd. So it is not like the house was nice and clean when she left. So the children have been living like this for awhile.

In the meantime, get the word out as best as you can, Stan. The problem right now with the lot (meaning, where the pick up point will be in the lot) is that it will be hard to see by people who aren't aware in advance.

Also, unlike the 221 or 228, the 222 won't be running outbound trips beyond 6:30 PM.

I wonder why they won't get the 229 (bus that does the off peak service and stops at Addicks and Kingsland) to stop at this location? It is not like on 290 where the Cypress P & R is about 10 miles from the NW Station P & R. This one is like right across I-10.

Maybe it is a good thing for 222 riders, if Metro does not have an off peak service then they will pay for a cab if you need to leave during the day or late.