Jimcj5

Is this old news? Surprised I hadn't seen anything about it on HAIF yet. http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories...15/daily21.html Sounds big, potentially. Without getting into the macroeconomic issues involved, I'll say that I usually find it more convenient to drive between TX cities (speeding all the way) than fly because of airport hassles and cost (unless of course work pays, $40/bbl helps too). A high speed rail line would be a great new option to save time and productivity without paying too much more to travel. Also, Amtrak is such an embarrassment. Acela is a such a joke! Cut 45 min. off your commute (assuming it's ever on time, which is a bold assumption) for a 50% ticket premium? Vintage 1970s technology at work, too. I know it's not cost effective, but I guess I look at rail as sort of a national status symbol. I know there are much larger issues here like economies of scale, freight priority at switches, but so long as we're throwing around 100's of billion$, would it hurt to get rid of the K-Car rail system and buy at least a recent model?

The interior was lit up as I drove home from work last night. The rose window that faces onto San Jacinto, which depicts the Sacred Heart, was very vivid and looked beautiful. I hope that when it's finally opened that it's often lit up like that in the evenings.

I think you're talking about the old Federal Reserve building. This has been purchased by the Archdiocese of Houston-Galveston for their Cathedral Centre. It will basically be a bunch of office/classroom/activity space to supplement the cathedral's presence downtown. First, they have to renovate it and bring it up to code, but I think is supposed to open later in 2008. http://www.sacredhearthouston.org/document...Heart_flyer.pdf

The caption on those photos note that they're from a civil defense drill. I'd bet DT would look as packed today if such drills were still happening. I'll trade the city-wide exercise in imagining nuclear annihilation for less street level bustle any day. I'll also trade the bus(!?) for my car, or any other means of locomotion.

Found this pretty hilarious music(?) video courtesy of little green footballs. Some pretty interesting shots of downtown from atop the esperson building in this video that showcases the hazards of cultural collision. No offense to any native Hindi speakers, I'm sure.

Noticed on my way into work this morning that the parking lot between San Jacinto and Caroline is empty and roped off. One last vehicle was being towed out and there was a truck dismantling the parking kiosk on the lot.

It'll be hard to dig that hole with all those cars parked in the lot.