Gary

I have a digital thermometer that is placed in the shade (all day), and it has registered over 100 degrees for the last 12 days. Of course I'm sure it's prone to error, but it's damn hot here in Katy. Not a drop of rain in almost a month.

Is it me or is this a really hot June?

Not only can a first timer handle it, but think about this...if you screw it up and only get half what O'Connor would get, you came out even. If you see the number of files that they show up with, you know they are not putting much research into it.

Thanks Red. I took your advice, and have a hearing scheduled. I've got photos, and have varios documentation (selling price research for similar home in neighborhood, etc).

Funny that you mention O'Connor as they were the firm I was going to sign with.

Charleston.

This is my first time to contest my home/property values, and I have to plead major ignorance in what to do. What I mean is, I was tempted to hire a tax office to handle everything The thing is that they want 50% of the deduction back in their pockets, and that sounds like an awful lot. What do you guys think? Could a first timer handle it?

We just moved out here to Katy last year. Some observations:

Don't move too close to 99 or the Westpark. I grew up in Jersey Village close to the Sam Houston Tollway. You could hear cars day and night, inside and outside. Once that thing gets expanded, the road noise will be constant. People close to 99 are already asking for more barriers to be put up by to association to help block road noise.

Yeah, I'm about 1 mile from 99, and it's get's pretty loud, especially at night.

What does this have to do with where the apartments are built?

Do you think the people that work at these places funded or rallied for the building of apartments so they would have some place to live near their jobs?

This is not how it works.

I agree about Governers place, as well as some of the sections of neighborhoods south of Westpark (parts of Lakemont/Parkway lakes, etc,.)

Seriously? I know your aware of what happens to an area over time that becomes flooded with apartments. As far as your second sentence, I'm not sure I understand what your saying.

I've lived here now for seven years, and have noticed a significant change in the area. Will Seven Lakes and Cinco become crapholes in the near future? Of course not. My point was that the areas surrounding these communities are going downhill. Visual blight is on the increase, along with crime, vandalism, and a general downturn of community pride. Again, I'm speaking of the surrounding areas. Don't get me wrong. I love athletics in Katy, and there is probably know where else in the city that's better. Having said that, it's not enough to make me want to stay.

Although most of the south side of I-10 is MUCH nicer than the north side, I would advise you to look elsewhere. Katy is fast becoming a crap hole. Not to mention the apartment explosion on the Westpark, which isn't far from Grand Lakes.

I'm like Gary, I get lucky the wife and kid are with me. Even then I'll start yelling out the window at someone. Video games (Twisted Metal 2 mainly) have also altered my thoughts about smashing cars, and I find myself wanting to just ram them, but thankfully I don't follow through.

Yeah, I can assure you I would have reacted much differently 15 years ago.

If there was anybody in the car with him, especially a girlfriend or significant other, your action might not affect him as much as it would affect her. And she'll affect him.

LOL. That actually sounds pretty effective. Next time, assuming his girlfriend is with him, I'll talk with her about how much better she could do other than dating a slime ball.

Back before we all got so gun crazy, I would have gotten out of my car and taken it back to him. Can't do that nowadays. I have an idea, carry a bullhorn in your car. Then you can announce, "Litterer, dirty stinking litter, can walk the five feet to put his trash in the can!" and then drive off really really fast.

Maybe it's the quick temper in me, but I don't think I would drive off after using the bull horn, unless he showed his 45. What I should have done, and it just now crossed my mind, was get out of the car, and pick the trash up right in front of him. Of course a guy like that probably has little conscience so what good would it do.

It looks as though over the past few month the Allie's Steakhouse sign in the field between I-10 and Times Square has been "vandalized" a few times with paint and another time may have just toppled over. It is the trashiest, redneck looking sign I have seen with rough 2 x4 frame and hand-strung lighting it looks like it should be the marking the entrance to a junk-yard. Not what you really think would be appropriate for a decent steak-house. I would think the ownership would be embarassed to put something up like this.

Maybe I'm being to sensitive, but I am beyond sick of Katy, and it's we don't give a sh_t attitude. I don't care if it's unincorporated Harris County or not, this place is becoming a ghetto, and fast. Even in my hood (Governors Place south of 10)) the new home buyers are letting what were once nice homes, and yards turn into sand pits, and weed farms. My wife and I are seriously considering putting our home up for sale, biting a very expensive bullet, and moving back to the Town and Country area.

I was at Jack in the box last night waiting on my mini sirloin burgers, and this idiot in front of me dumps trash right out of door. What made things worse, there was a 50 gallon trash can right in front of him. If I didn't have my wife and kids with me I would have done something that probably would land me in jail. The one positive was the oppurtunity to show my kids what not to do with trash.

The city really needs to create a viable process to report, and prosecute these people.

Like turning the Astrodome into a giant multi-tier grow house! With built- in water reclamation and self sustaining solar power. Sorry, I just had to get that in.

Actually, I think that's a pretty cool idea.

I'm trying to remember well -known references to Texan culture from the late 70s and early 80s, and so far all I've got is Cissy getting the crap beat out of her in a Pasadena trailer (Urban Cwboy) and Who Shot JR? (Dallas). Not what I would call inpsirational.

I'm not sure how old you are, but I'm old enough to remember huge chunks of the country embracing cowboy hats, opening "Texas" bars, watching Dallas, country music dancing, etc. It was a very big fad at the time, and not just here. As far as the fad being insperational, probably not.

The 70s and 80s took place before the Bush Family ruined Texas reputation. The current governor is following in the footsteps.

That's not the point I was making. I was refering to those on HAIF that seemingly shun the Texas culture as it is/was, and seemingly hate the image of a cowboy that Texas is famous for. In other words, I'm not speaking of those outside the state. However since you bring it up... Why didn't LBJ's failed Vietnam policies (yes I know about Nixons to) relegate Texas as a state full of morons? And speaking of Nixon. Why didn't the whole country shun the Southern Californian culture after Nixon's failed presidency? There are many more politicians, Rep and Dem that could be mentioned, but I'll keep it simple.

Alot of you sound like you hate the Texas culture, and I don't understand that. This is Texas folks, and with that fact there are people that wear cowboy hats, talk with accents, ride horses, raise cattle, drive trucks, etc, etc. Why do some of you want to shun that image? Who gives a rats behind what other people think? To borrow a little of what Kimberly said, I think the gangster image and dress is the goofiest thing I've ever seen, yet for some reason it's celebrated as some "urban" concept that makes one cool.

I remember back in the late 70's and early 80's the whole country embraced the Texas culture. Now it's looked at as a bunch of back woods idiots, who don't know their ass from a whole in the ground. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I say again... What's wrong with the Texas culture, and individuals promoting it.

I've got better skyline photos in my Flickr photostream than the one they chose to use for H-Town.

Yeah you do. I looked at your "Flickr" pages, and your stuff is amazing Jax.

I have a suggestion. Anyone willing to concede to me intellectual superiority need only make that concession known on this thread. I then promise never to argue with that person, as it would not be fair. I will always agree with that person's posts and opinions, and will even occasionally applaud their intelligence. But, in return they can never question my intellectual superiority. Wouldn't that make the forum a lot more civil?

Give me a break!

Interesting that one of the posters on here complaining of incivility is the same one who has been making the veiled threats to assault me, the last one as recently as Friday. Not that I care. I put little stock in internet bullies, but the hypocrisy of someone threatening another poster, then whining on the complaint thread is staggering. And, none of this back and forth is as bad as it was during the election. I suppose since supporters of a certain party have had their way for so long, they do not know how to argue a point from the minority position. What would these posters propose? All moderate to liberal posters must applaud the conservative poster's intelligence prior to offering a rebuttal? Should all posters be required to agree that any policy proposal by a non-Republican is in fact socialist and/or fascist (never have figured out how you can be both socialist and fascist)?

Red, I never threatened you, so please don't go there. It just so happens that your a very mean spirited guy (at least on HAIF) with a HUGE chip on your shoulder, and act as if you've got the answers to everything, and do that all from the safety of your computer. Did it ever occur to you that you get more flys from a drop of honey, than vinegar?

When I made my intial comment about the second ammendment I asked for civil responses, and you in turn insulted me. How am I supposed to react? I posed the comment as a concern, and was not in anybodies face, yet you feel the need with all of your superior intelligence to mock me. As I've mentioned before, I wonder if you'd talk the way you do face to face, and my bet is that YOU WOULD NOT.

Finally, I'm not the internet bully, you are, and many here that are not in your band of followers would agree. I for one am damn tired of it.

Edit: I still wonder how you rectify your signature with your attitude on this forum. Oh, and I'll wait for this personal insult to be deleted. Of course Red's always remain. Maybe that's because he's so much more intelligent than me and 99.9% of the forum posters.

Wayne, I hope you read this, and decide to do something about it. I know that's a difficult thing for you to sort out, but some of the regulars have simply gotten out of hand with the bashing. I'll admit that in the past I've jumped into, and participated in a few bashing sessions, but I have stopped for some time now. It's gotten so bad that when I ask for a civil response, I get insults. It's really rediculous.

Here, let me try...

I believe that your irrational fear is symptomatic of a paranoid mental disorder.

Better?

ahhh Red, safely behind your computer again? Your incapable of not being a prick, and I'm hoping to meet you in person some day.

I find it sad that you don't live up to your signature in any form or fashion.

Edit: Didn't want to be a Red Scare so I deleted a comment.

it just seems like something has to be done... how can we allow people the right to defend themselves and at the same time do something about these gun rampages.

We could take away their guns, and give em night sticks.

Oh lord, freaking drama queen! (and that's coming from a homo!)

I am all for having guns for self defense to protect yourself and your family and whatnot, but to have this called a "Freedom Rally" just makes these people look stupid. They get all up in arms when they think the government might take away their rights... when at the same time most of them probably have no problem with Gay people in this Nation not even having equal rights to begin with.

"Oh No... big bad Obama is going to take away my rights!!!" ..... Try not having equal rights in the first place, then come talk to me. Stop being such a bunch of cry babies.

Is that really neccessary? If you will re-read my post, you'll notice that I said "maybe I'm jumping the gun, but am still scared". I also asked for a civil response, but that's to much to ask on this forum.

I have a compost pile! My family does, anyway. Grass clippings, leaves, garden clippings, fruit leftovers, rotten fruits and vegetables, coffee grounds, and egg shells all go in. Only seen possums once.

Eventually it will decompose into a drippy, muddy, mess, full of nutrients.

It really is being environmentally friendly.

It's not only environmentally friendly, but if done right, provides the finest soil possible.

That's a drilling truck, and the resevoire is to pump water into the ground as they drill to soften the soil. It's also designed to pump water to the drill bits to keep them cool.

This link https://www.compostumbler.com/StoreFront/IAFDispatcher has some very nice compost tumblers that make make composting much less laborious. However, I don't buy their claim about creating compost in 14 days. Seems impossible.

I've tried it, but all I seem to do is attract mosquitos.

A really stupid question, but how do you know when a pile is "done"? Do you have to keep several in various stages to have useful compost as well as a place to put your new scraps?

The mosquitos can be controlled with an all natural cedar liquid that can be found at most Nurseries. It attaches to a hose and only takes 20 seconds of spraying to get those suckers out of there. The only thing is, that you have to apply every few days.

You'll know when the compost is done when it begins to look like black soil, although you'll never get the entire bin to decompose. Just most of it. Two of the problems that I've read about, and have encountered, is not keeping the pile wet enough, and not having the proper Carbon to Nitrogen ratio. You've absolutely got to have at least 10% Nitrogen in order for the organisms to break the leaves down. Also, Oxygen is essential to the breakdown of the organic matter. In other words you have to turn the pile every few days, and areate with a pitch fork, etc, after you have watered the pile.

Edit: You don't need various stages of piles unless your dealing with small quantities. My pallet bin has about a half yard of compost, so that will take care of me for a year. It's a good idea to really pack your container with matter because as it decomposes, it significantly shrinks.