skwatra

...

 

What most surprises me is just how popular the trails have suddenly become. I've been using this park for well over a decade and remember times where nobody else was visible on the trails. Now it feels like the running trail at Memorial Park, except with a mix of cyclists and runners doing a fitness circuit. Part of me misses the solitude and peace of the old park, as it feels like an outdoor gym now, only much prettier and with nicer trails.  

 

I haven't noticed this, but it's strange that they would ride golf carts on the paths. Given how busy the path is during peak times, I'd think they would ride bicycles or even Segways.

I'm in the exact same position, i moved to the area and started biking that area in 2003. I actually liked that it was rustic, there was not great path for road bikes, and it wasn't crowded. But its hard to complain about how much they have done, creating an asset for the city.

For the security, I'm sure cost is a factor. Segways would be tough for that reason. Most rental security (i have come across) are way too lazy for bikes. though i like both of those ideas.

I've seen HPD on horses in the areas closer to downtown on occasion. but that's different of course.

The ones i saw would just stop when I was coming to make sure I can avoid them, and they were on the edge of the path - so they were as courteous as possible. But they did take up most of the path and cause traffic jams a few times.

Summerfest in a week and a half. Not sure how they are going to set it up. There are 6 stages (were there 7 last year?), but they don't have a map or anything yet.

They were really close to pouring concrete on the last of the paths in that area, so that should be ready at least. the new sod will probably get destroyed...

USA's first match is against Ghana on 6/16 at 5pm, then Portugal on 6/22 at 5pm (local). Going to be really tough to get out of this group...

Riding on Sunday and yesterday evening, I saw a few security guards on golf carts on the path. I wonder if that is going to be a normal thing?

I think we may be mixing things up. Currently as far as I know the city only provides two types of recycling, depending on neighborhood:

• Curbside Recycling utilizes an 18-gallon bin placed at the curb for collection.
• Automated Recycling utilizes a 96-gallon cart rolled to the curb for collection.

we finally got the larger automated bins for mixed-use recycling. I had the smaller (no glass allowed, hand pick up) bin until last friday. That was picked up every two weeks and I would often have to borrow a bin from a neighbor because it would fill up, and that was without glass. The mixed-use pick up begins on 6/23 for me, and 6/30 for the other side of the neighborhood. This is around Montrose and West Gray, they've had it in place south of Gray for a while now (and I've been jealous).

Didn't see this thread back in 2009. I have seen the parking enforcement officers out more often lately, honestly i didn't even know about the 24 hour rule until i saw them chalking tires late last year.

One person had a ticket for blocking a driveway on my street recently, and my friend got one a few weeks ago as well (montrose area). His driveway is not long enough for a car, he and his neighbor both started parking parallel to the driveway on the street to keep the sidewalk clear. They have not been ticketed, but reading the ordinance laws someone posted above, that is illegal as well.

I'm going to mention the 'tear up your own sidewalk' idea to him.

Anyone have any comments on Rockport? Its near Port Aransas, looks like a nice small town with beach and a little street with art shops and restaurants.

I'm planning a weekend trip myself, and camping and too much activity is out given my wife will be 6 months pregnant.

I'm proud of the cross. God forbid we build something offers hope and peace. Nobody objects to billboards with a fetus on it promoting abortions or neon porn signs. Houston is in the bible belt. Religion is part of who southerners are historically. If you don't like the way things are done here, then you don't have to stay here. There is nothing worse than an outsider coming to MY city telling me how I should live. I think the crosses should be bigger. 

The problem is it doesn't offer hope and peace to all.

Personally I don't like the perception. If I felt that Houston was any way in the Bible Belt I wouldn't live here. We have a lot of everything here, and I am all for freedom of religion and speech so I'm not going to go petition against a cross or anything. especially for a religiously affiliated hospital or church. though I do get annoyed by the half torn down building with a huge sign that says "is jesus your lord?" with words partially fallen off too (gulf freeway northbound between 8 and 610). that's just an eyesore...

I wonder if I've just done it too many times, it's my phone or chron just hates me

searching for the chron url did not work for me this time, it usually does. then i did a search for 'chron grb superbowl' and it was the first link, and that gave me the full article

My dad was there yesterday and said the structure was starting to get built up a bit (progress).

here's a rendering (http://www.sikhnationalcenter.org/):

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/about/people/index.html

"Johnson Space Center's 15,000 civil servants and contractors work within a structure of directorates reporting to the center director."

My point was, that its not that bad. Its a government program, its going to vary depending on the budget, congress, and presidency. ISS just got extended through 2024, our budget is not what we wanted but at least it hasn't gone down.

It hasn't been the same since the mass layoffs at nasa.

many of the shuttle folks found jobs on other nasa contracts in the area. clear lake is doing as well as ever. holding at ~3K civil servants and well over 10K contractors employed by JSC. i completely avoid baybrook and clear lake in general other than my commute because its so crowded. hopefully this expansion won't affect the through traffic on 45 too much...

is there really an essence/vibe to a place if no one is ever in there to experience it? 

what do you think would be more popular, an underground cistern, or an underground paintball field in the middle of the city? the underground cistern open to the public as is may be popular with certain crowds.. but they probably arent the crowds you want to attract (homeless people, drug dealers, ect). 

 

selling the place short? its an old underground reservoir... i didnt realize it was very aesthetically appealing. like i mentioned, the place would likely be completely covered in padding/w.e to protect the people from injuring themselves, and that would shield the structure from any "damage", preserving it in its original state.

This is one of the top tourist destinations in Istanbul:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293974-d294555-Reviews-Basilica_Cistern-Istanbul.html

Ok, ours isn't 1500 years old and probably doesn't compare, but I paid to get in just to walk through (small fee) and they hold benefits and concerts down there all the time.

Ch 11 is reporting that is contained to that site.

These are not the Fingers apartments. They were being built by JLB apartments.

They were unoccupied. No one reported hurt so far.

The news story last night was about the historic cemetery adjacent to the new apartments, and complaints about respect for that cemetery. Obviously there will be a full arson investigation.

live coverage online:

http://www.khou.com/home/238613191.html

my condo is a few blocks from here...

Finally some movement here:

http://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/03-19-14-austin-takeover-of-houston-continues-with-construction-of-new-dog-friendly-montrose-bar-and-grill/

i didn't notice anything when i drove by the site yesterday, but it was night and honestly i stopped paying attention to it since the announcement last fall...

i'm in the same boat, been by walking or biking 3 times and its been closed each time. twice on weekends and once last week in the middle of a weekday...

just heard this on NPR. This is great, I was just in SF biking and they close off Golden Gate park to vehicles (at least most of it, including the major thoroughfares) on Sundays. I was wishing Houston would do more then the Picnic Loop.

Not sure about Westheimer... but as a cycler I'm going to take advantage! though too short for any real exercise, but if it gets people on their feet. 

SA has a tough schedule ahead as well, but ours is tougher. 2 seed would be great, but realistically i would say that is best case - do you really think we'll catch OKC having to play them twice, miami and indiana? we are basically sitting in a 3-way tie in the 3 spot right now. I'd be happy to just top those 3 and get home court in the first two rounfs.

CSN is killing me. I never thought this would last as long as it has regarding other providers picking up the channel. 3 good games coming up on national TV, hopefully I'll be able to catch them.

BTW, some interesting statistics regarding commute methods are found in the following.  If you want to test yourself, I've listed stats for three cities below - Houston, Dallas, Austin.  Pick the city first and then look at the report and see how correct you were.  If you're feeling really brave, post your answers before you look at the report. 

 

http://demographia.com/db-jtwmma2012.pdf

 

City A

79.7% commute in car alone

11.0% car pool

  3.5% work from home

  2.6% use mass transit

  1.4% walk

  0.3% bike

  1.6% other

 

City B

81.0% commute in car alone

10.1% car pool

  4.6% work from home

  1.5% use mass transit

  1.1% walk

  0.2% bike

  1.5% other

 

City C

76.3% commute in car alone

11.1% car pool

  6.4% work from home

  2.3% use mass transit

  2.1% walk

  0.8% bike

  1.1% other

I'll play.

Based on working from home and biking, I'll go with Austin for City C.

A and B is a crapshoot. I'll go with Houston for B. My rationale, I watched 1000 commuters in Dallas and saw 2 bikers, but in Houston I saw 3 (ok, i just guessed).

I guess I watch for the sports. I didn't watch many of the pieces, of what I did watch maybe 10% was interesting. I watch hockey because I have played my whole life and enjoy the sport. I'll watch any of the other sports I know less about if there is direct competition (1500m short track, ski cross, snowboard cross). Getting in to the athlete definitely helps with the timed or judged events, I agree with that.

You are asking for 60% of the population (of Crimea) who have been there for generations to just pick up and leave? I'm not defending Russia, and they should not have mobilized troops. But Crimea being an autonomous state within Ukraine was only going to work for so long.

Back to the original thread, NBC was annoying. At least this time they did have plenty of sports on live in the mornings, so I would just record the items i wanted and watch those after work. Overall given the winter olympics are less popular here, the fluff pieces were designed to draw interest in to the athletes and keep people on for the events. Unfortunately from what I heard it worked.

And yes, we had a few speed skaters from the Katy area. I don't believe they placed.

here is another tool for mapping demographics. you can get in to a lot of detail with this:

http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/explorer