JJVilla

Opening this weekend?

Well the owner did say this past Monday (Jan 3) that it would be soon but I though he said a few/couple of weeks. It was looking good but bare that afternoon.

Another reason not buy those crummy extended warranties.

These type of companies sell hype and quality that they can't or won't need to deliver on. Just buy the products wholesale or at skip these "warranties".

Not sure of the Spence closure but the location is difficult to access. RB was way overpriced so if Spence was the same, in this economny and easy access to better value (online, wholesellers), then they would also be in trouble.

I was there on Saturday and it was busy. Parking was a pain, though.

Man these DT downers post were a bit to way off and I was hopping they were somewhat right this weekend when I was looking for parking! So if the parking was a sign of activity then there's plenty going on in DT these days.

that "kick ball" championship made the US $623 Million in 1994, and 2022 would surpass that by a long shot.

its a popular sport for a reason, either check it out or just ignore it.

i love american football, my favorite sport. but going to soccer matches is a lot of fun. its as tense as baseball (every shot like every swing) but a lot more action and athleticism. and watching your country play is beyond passion. the only thing like it here going to a big college football game.

being in south africa was the most amazing experience. and i hope to be in Brasil possibly for the Confederations cup if we make it or maybe the World Cup. i have no desire to go to Qatar though.

Couldn't said it better myself.

As another person said, you make yourself look worse when you provide unsolicted, ignorant remarks. This is not the Chronicle comments section after all.

28 Story Apartment Building in China burned down in just one day.

Link

Quite the architects those Chinese.

My post was referring to this fire not the first post (was not clear since I cold not not view the first at work).

It's a unique building for sure, definetly like it. Better than all those beige boxes we have these days.

Tragic. The death and outcome.

Some poor fool is going to lose his life over this and the leaders / process responsible will go on producing crappy, unsafe products with stolen technology/ideas.

While I like the rusted steel, we all know they're gonna paint it.

Anyone know what color it will be painted or care to make a guess ?

While i agree with both of you that the design is a natural fit with the bayou, I wouldn't mind seeing a vibrant color chosen.

It would be an unexpected surprise in our city of neutral colors. I'm rooting for Canary Yellow.

Orange would be my vote.

On a side note and I had to post this somewhere since the other relevant topic was locked - just back from well site in Canada and got some texts while there confirming that Chris Daniels won! This was the most perplexing thing in our local elections and for me illustrates the biggest problem with straight ticket voting. Nothing personal against the guy but this person just graduated from Law school in December 2009 for one, which I saw since my friend also graduated with him! Most people that have some background in this situation lost MUCH faith in the system.

I will be voting against it not because I am against the concept but because I am against them using mostly just to make money. I mean that they are NOT using it to stop accidents but to give citations that would normally not be given or justified if common sense were applied. Many people I know have gotten these type of tickets while very few have gotten citations for actually running a red light that would causes accidents. I would vote for if they actually used the system to prevent accidents not just to make money. I know they have to make some profit but they go beyond it a bit too much.

This is great news and suitable fit for BG's US HQ.

Yes it seems: http://www.findagrav...gr&GRid=6816164

Johnny Klevenhagen, was named for his legendary Texas Ranger father. He joined the Harris County Sheriff's Department in 1961 at the age of twenty-one.

In 1984, Klevenhagen decided to run against Jack Heard in the Sheriff's race. Sheriff Klevenhagen served during perhaps the most difficult, yet challenging, period of the Department's history.

They also come with huge pigeons!

I was trying to imagine what this building looked like but realized it was before my time or before I went in that area so I found the following picture:

Texaco Building?

What this it?

Never mind, found it: http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/Building/2216/Texaco-Building.php

Austin MetroRail - they just opened a few months ago/early this year. I am not saying it's the best thing since sliced bread but it's too early to tell.

I like my car as much as the next person but I have never rented a car outside the US for work or personal travel because of the good mass transit. It more favorable when it's a good mix of trains (light/tram, subway or heavy) and buses in some cases. Diversification is good for investment and energy as well as mass transit.

Then we can argue about why "W" was a great President or not. It would get dirty and political so quick!

In most circumstances you can just renew your DL online these days, well that's what I did this time.

You can avoid the line that way for sure ... and those common folks.

Finally had to get the new one! Yes, the DL card is minor in the large scheme of thing but I have not met one person that likes the new design.

At least the previous was simple and clean or at least no one cared either way.

What's the gray thing you're talking about?

...they took our jobs!

* I guess the editor/spell check doesn't like the word "m.e.h" and changes it to "moo"!

No new pictures but some more details from meeting last night:

• Dec 2010 ground-breaking confirmed. This means complete handover and all utility/excavation done by city/other entities.

• The stage will be on the southern part, where offices and locker room would be. They will be less noticeable and covered by/under seats. Could of been worse.

• Also, steel or good foundation/skeleton of the stadium should be firm around Spring 2011 time and general shape of stadium will start to rise shortly thereafter.

The Nature Preserve concept is interesting:

http://www.springwoodsvillage.com/images/large/SW%20Nature%20Preserve%20Book%20site%20section.jpg

I thought this article provides some good ideas to learn from for a smaller but similar city and their success with mass transit. For those not familiar with the Canadian oil capital:

Calgary is generally considered a conservative city, dominated by traditional small-c social conservatives and fiscal conservatives.^[63] As the city is a corporate power-centre, a high percentage of the workforce is employed in white-collar jobs. The high concentration of oil and gas corporation led to the rise of...

Reasons for success

The C-Train's high ridership rate and cost effectiveness is attributed to a number of factors. The nature of Calgary itself has encouraged C-Train use. Calgary has a dense downtown business district, with the second most corporate head offices in Canada after Toronto, most of them crowded into about one square kilometre of land. In recent decades the population has grown dramatically, outpacing the ability of roads to transport people into the city.^[34]

Costs were controlled during construction and operation of the system by using relatively cheap, existing technology. A grade separated system was passed over in preference of a system without significant elevated or buried elements and the trains and stations selected were of the tried and tested, utilitarian variety (for example, vehicles are not air conditioned, storage yards are not automated and stations are in general concrete platforms with a modest shelter overhead). This allowed more track to be laid with the available funds and contrasts with the Edmonton Light Rail Transit which buried the portion of the system in downtown and under the University of Alberta, increasing costs. The C-Train uses a self service model of payment, reducing fare collection costs.