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skwatra

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  1. skwatra
  2. skwatra
    I never said i was anti-gun rights. I am anti-gun. Maybe there isn't much of a difference or maybe I didn't get my point across. I don't care what the statistics say about concealed handguns or open carry. I don't want to see them out in the open in my daily life, never have in the past (in my 35 years, and I go out a lot), and don't want my kids in that type of society. The person can be responsible, it may make me safer, it may not. But if they feel they need one (concealed or otherwise) that means they don't feel safe? I guess in my mind, if you're not going hunting or to a shooting range, you shouldn't need a gun with you. And by the way (not very relevant to this discussion) but my uncle was shot by a cop. He was closing down his shop, and curfew had just started. Two cops told him he was clear to go and as he walked to his scooter a 3rd shot him in the back. This was in India in 1984 after Indira Ghandi was assassinated, and we're Sikh.
  3. skwatra
    looking for movies next week since my cousin has has bday free ticket, and they don't have any showings after 1/7 other than: 13 Hours:The Secret Soldiers Of BenghaziAnyone heard any further info on the supposed attempted blacklist of iPic in Hollywood from the big chains?
  4. skwatra
    though i haven't posted on this thread, i would fall with the so called "fear mongering, misinformed pansy" crowd. My uncle was shot in the back and killed without provocation (in India), so my mom is very anti-gun and that's how I was raised in the 80's in Maryland and Texas. I'm not naive, I know there is going to be violence, crime, war - this is human nature and guns are not going anywhere. But I have NEVER seen a gun outside of a holster of a police officer or federal agent, or the military when entering certain facilities for work. I am also aware that most states allow open carry. But no state has passed an open carry law that has provoked people to flaunt their new found rights in my lifetime (so to me it feels like we're going backwards). I also wasn't raised in a time with social media where people are reposting pictures of people in stores waiving their guns around. Luckily my kid is too young to see any of this, and hopefully it'll go away. I'm not usually against other people's freedoms, to each their own. I don't feel more or less safe in general, its not going to stop me from going to certain places. I just think its unnecessary and don't want my son to grow up in a place where guns being out in the open is normal. I don't think that's going to happen - and don't think living in Houston will be any different. Otherwise maybe we'll move to New Zealand.
  5. skwatra
    I didn't realize there were so many Fuzzy's locations. I've eaten there in Longview where my wife is from and also seen it in Nacogdoches and Tyler, just thought it was a smaller chain from east Texas. Its no Torchy's but its a welcome addition. Hopefully it lasts in that spot, and is open late.
  6. skwatra

    Star Wars?

    skwatra replied to samagon's topic in Off Topic

    I thought it was really well done. From a writing perspective, action scenes, acting - all went back to the original trilogy in style but modernized as necessary for the masses. They didn't overdo the CGI which I was happy about. I was very pleased, but also went in without expectations.
  7. skwatra
    They have started putting up the lights at Allen and Dunlavy. East of Taft, there has been a lot of work on the former frontage road
  8. skwatra
    What's wrong with stucco? aesthetics? structurally a concern? life?
  9. skwatra
    better be careful the thread may be locked again!
  10. skwatra
    Google link to get to full article: https://www.google.com/search?q=Mayor%27s+race+looking+anything+but+nonpartisan&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8 Keeping partisan politics out of this, who do HAIFers feel will be better for Houston, in dealing with municipal issues and keeping things going in the right direction? Honestly from the little I followed in the original race, Turner rubbed me the wrong way. I know nothing of his long history and generally don't follow politics except for major social issues. King came off as fake in the debate clips i saw. I wasn't really impressed by anyone but Bell was my choice.
  11. skwatra
    I don't know all the details, just whatever my wife tells me... What i do know - CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) is the federal agency that runs medicare. Anyone over 65 is eligible for traditional Medicare. There are a large number of patients that go to St Joseph that rely solely on Medicare. CMS has cut them off, so St Joseph can no longer bill to Medicare. So they will have to turn away patients that are relying on Medicare coverage. My wife works for a Medicare advantage program. This is where insurance companies offer added care on top of Traditional Medicare for a fee - supplemental insurance. She works in a clinic with Doctors that accept this advantage program. That won't be affected at the moment. Though obviously whatever happens to the whole hospital will impact everyone.
  12. skwatra
    My wife confirmed what was stated about the mentally unstable patient - i remember her telling me about it when it happened. After that shooting the investigation picked up a lot of scrutiny. The meeting the CEO announced Monday that was to be held on Thursday was canceled. There is an article about the findings in the chron: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/St-Joseph-inspection-finds-deficiencies-in-6641625.php
  13. skwatra
    iPic may appear to be winning now but it won't last. Why would a distributor care about one theater when the bottom line is at stake? They may have called Regal's bluff (which was not a bluff it appears) this time but will they continue to do so? I assume Regal would pay more for the rights than iPic - not sure if its based on numbers of seats or screens or tickets sold but iPic couldn't compete with Regal on any quantity measure i would think. So will distributors give in at some point? Those are some big movies. I can't imagine Edwards not getting Star Wars... We'll see what happens. And to reiterate I am rooting for iPic!
  14. skwatra
    I have definitely noticed it with iPic but I assumed it was because they were starting slow. For mock they were playing classics, then first week of charity donation opening they were playing the hits from the last year, leading up to the big opening of Spectre. For Sundance, I thought they had a variety of mainstream large distribution movies and independent ones as well. Now I'm wondering the same, were they forced in to this? There are no major AMCs or Regals really close by but you never know. Also they have been bought out by Carmike so that may chance their approach as well. Will be interesting to see what comes out of this, from based on what limited information we have I'm rooting for iPic!
  15. skwatra
    The CEO of St Joseph is speaking to the core team on Thursday. They are partially doctor owned (21%) with Iasis Healthcare owning the rest.
  16. skwatra
    Well even IF the countries you listed (China and other Arab countries) took them in, the refugees may not escape persecution there. If you were in fear for your and your families lives, had to drop everything you owned and ever know and start all over from scratch, where would you want to go?
  17. skwatra
    My wife works in a clinic located in St Joseph. The federal program being terminated is for traditional Medicare only, which is a huge blow but there are other funding sources still in place. She just heard about it this week as well, not sure what will happen.
  18. skwatra
    Darn I was really hoping for a Steak 44!
  19. skwatra
    They actually have cleaned up that plot at least a little. They maintain it (mow it), have a couple of volleyball nets. And recently they planted a bunch of bushes. I agree I would like to see some actual infrastructure, or if it will just be a "sports field" they could do a little more with it and actually utilize it. At least its not a completely unkept jungle looking plot like some of the others in the area.
  20. skwatra
    Not a great pic, but I was amazed at the presence of this structure all the way from Allen Pkwy looking south on Montrose.
  21. skwatra
    I'm a big fan of Mongoose vs Cobra, they always have good Porters and Stouts and rotate through so quickly there is always something new. Clown Shoes has some really good varieties I always like to try. Keep an eye out for B52s, relatively new brewery in Conroe. I saw it at iPic Theater which was surprising. MoonTower Inn is a good watering hole, no architecture except for a shack on picnic tables! Okra is an older building downtown that is worth checking out.
  22. skwatra
    The ordinance was intended to protect everyone. But to address what I think you're getting at - the people who are not clearly protected now (not to argue over if they are protected to make this point - many would disagree on this), the LGBT community - if they all came out and voted Yes, they are still an overwhelming small majority of the total population. So i don't believe your assumption is correct. The 14th amendment is broad, and was written after the Civil War. There have been many Supreme Court cases that effectively have added on to the Amendment over the years to address more current rights issues. But there are several LGBT rights that are not protected at the Federal Level. Further, having a law at the Municipal level makes it much easier for a regular person to take to court (cost-wise and complexity). Think about gay marriage, some people argued that the 14th amendment allows it, based on "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws". But states had the rights to make gay marriage illegal until a Supreme Court decision came down earlier this year stating Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. HERO was more specific than the 14th Amendment, and added clarity on LGBT and Transgender. Words: "It is the policy of the city that all of its residents and persons subject to its jurisdiction shall not be subject to discrimination based on an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, military status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or pregnancy. "
  23. skwatra
    The Premium Plus seats range from $18-24 (weekday or weekend timing dependent) for members, and comes with Popcorn. I'm not sure if that's the same pricing for regular membership (free) as that's what I'm seeing as a Sapphire member. That was free to sign up for during the promo period, but i think its nominally $15/year and comes with a free ticket on your bday (use 7 days before or after). We've talked about this before, its not some place I'll go regularly, but to splurge every once and a while its not too bad. And the food is pricey but really good at least. I'd rather pay $10-14 for a really high quality filling appetizer to split with someone over $5+ for regular theater popcorn somewhere else. And regular Premium seats ($12-14) aren't bad if you get the second row right in the middle. I saw Spectre that way and enjoyed every second of it.
  24. skwatra
    An Atlanta-Houston comparison argument started. It didn't seem very bad last I saw it, but that part that I felt was just a discussion was removed as well so I assume it came from that.
  25. skwatra
    That said, I hope ROD is sustainable and not just some flashy temporary show that only lasts a short time. I won't be spending my money at the retail there, just not my thing. But i'll be going to iPic (Spectre tonight!) and restaurants when they open.
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