dachmation

As an Ivy league school, if your admissions group is doing its job along with professors and counselors, then most students should get A's. This sounds oddly familiar to the nonsense I'm hearing this time of year for performance evaluations and the "tough economy" from the parent company.

I wonder about ""doing its job"-- If you taking an "Ivy League" class, the criteria of expectation would be higher wouldn't it? Than a non Ivy League school? Would all professors expect "good work"---If you completed what was expected by your professor, to the expectations the professor stated that would be "good" work. As in any non Ivy League school----but by defination an Ivy League education isn't that is it?

So doing all that is required in a fashion the professor expects should warrant perhaps "B or B+"

but it seems to me that there would be students that would purposefully distinguish themselves with work that went beyond "Good" just as there would be students that wouldn't meet the criteria the professor stated. It seems probable that 50% of every participant in every classroom would meet the expectations of the teacher--after all it is an Ivy League school but with that said there must be someway for the professor to distinguish and reward "excellence"-- How to do that seems to be the question.

I'm afraid that sometimes, being part of an expensive Ivy League system leads to expectations by the students that simply meeting the required expectations of a professor = a grade of A

A similar thought process of "legacy acceptance" just because your parent or relative was a student you should be accepted as a student--sometimes at the expense of more qualified candidates.

This leads to those anecdotal situations we hear about where TA's in Ivy league schools are sometimes told to "pass" everyone who "turns in their work"

Wondering how to navigate this economy straight out of law school, in top 55% of class, no experience, didn't make the law clerk "click", frightful amount of education loans to pay off begining 7 months from graduation

maybe other grandparents wonder this too

helpful discussion would be appreciated

I am the grandparent of law school grad--------have watched as this youth embraced a wild and reckless lifestyle, paid for said lifestyle, wanted to "turn his life around" , did the 12 step programs, decided on lawschool, knew his family couldn't pay for law school so indebted himself, concentrated on criminal law--perhaps because of "embrace" of reckless lifestyle and how how that was met by law enforcement?--who knows--

still he completed law school and passed the bar ---------------------with out elusive recommendations that usually accompany that accomplishment. For what ever reason--pulling himself up by his boot straps and finishing his goal of becoming a lawyer--didn't get him employment.

Wondering how to navigate this economy straight out of law school, in top 55% of class, no experience, didn't make the law clerk "click", frightful amount of education loans to pay off begining 7 months from graduation

maybe other grandparents wonder this too

helpful discussion would be appreciated

I'm thinking there is another post about "neartown" (remember all that 'charette' stuff??) but here's what I understand after 4 years worth of attending their meetings---

Neartown is the "umbrella " organization of all the civic clubs within area{North Boundary Dallas Ave--East Babgy--South I59--West Shepherd} that meets the 4th Tues at Cherryhurst Community center---7pm

This is from their website---Neartown.org

The Neartown Association was established in 1963 by a group of dedicated individuals seeking to improve the quality of life in Houston's unique and historic inner-city neighborhoods. Undaunted by the time-consuming community-building process, they were not willing to wait for someone else to save and restore their home front, nestled between downtown Houston and the Houston Medical Center.--

. . . . . . . . soooooooooooooooo it's basically Montrose---I'm not sure why they didn't call it that--it's a good organization to keep up with what's happening in our area.

Annise Parker was a former president of Neartown.

I believve EMCA Peggy Shrifft park was a SNAP project and the upcoming improvements to it are also SNAP projects

Is there a charity that collects used Christmas Cards?

-------i'm glad the antique store is open, that could mean more business in that area but . . . . . . it looks like there is living space above that antique store as well as living space above the continental club-- I point this out because of the potential for other types of business to go into those spaces. And it seems likely that the more things that go in and draw the interest of buyers-- the better all the business will be

When establishments are built on the Metro line--are they encouraged to build housing above?

a little side step-after lights in the heights -i drove down grant and turned on pacific street and noticed all the HPD and news crews and barriers with lots of Parker signs in front of South Beach? because?

I was wondering if anyone had used this HPD courtesy--did it work for you? did you're neighors get a benefit from the extra patrol?

I would like to know the intentions of those lots and also am wondering about the house down the street next to Sacred Heart tatoo-- It's been recently painted but still has significant vine growth up throught the roof.

I had been old by Neighborhood protection that it had been investigated and found "unsafe" and would be torn down-- still. . . . . a new coat of paint on the front porch?

Doesn't one of the TV stations publish pictures and address of decorated homes?

this would seem to be better worked through a neighborhood association or civic association--still there is a huge possibility that donating compost material would just be a precursor to being asked to donate time to help with composting

Why did he only serve 2 years as govenor?

Perhaps by paroling Clyde Barrow in 1932?

Is HPD gathering their statics in a different manner than before?

Avondale Civic Association boundaries----( On the East side) Bagby to (On southside) westheimer until Taft then south to Lovett to (westisde) Montrose to (Northside) Fairview street (south side id the street ntill Taft then both sides to Bagby---Avondale has two designated Historic districts within its' boundaries.

600 Avondale (across street from Cheek coffee founders) is on the proposed avondale Historic Home tour as Gov. Ross Sterlings Home.

The Uptown line is going to share ROW with Post Oak Road, right?

The graphic seems to indicate the Galleria is on the left of the proposed Uptown line.

at the PIP the Capt gave an antedote about how crime reports from "Private" patrol officers (like River Oaks Police) aren't put in data base-- I wonder if this is true with other "Private"patrol officers -- Management Districts (Galleria, Upper KIrby, East Montrose) hire off Duty HPD officers that use unmarked SUVs and patrol their respective areas

This is the plan the Menil has accepted and will implement--how soon will be see changes begin? The Menil chose not to purchase the HEB property?

I did intend to write fiesta as this was mentioned during the introduction of the master plan and I thought the Menil might have considered obtaining it but then rejected that idea-- I suppose I misunderstood.

Found this artical in today's Chronicle very interesting , but wonder if it would truly help the obese.--Taxing luxuries isn't exactly new, though, and it could generate needed money?

"Fund reform and fight obesity with tax on sodas"

By ARTHUR B. MARKMAN

HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Neartown also heard about the Master Plan (done by David Chipperfield of London-- I think) at the Menil--highlights of future plans

-- will build an auditorium, another single artist gallery-- upgrade current green space

--committed to open and green spaces-- the Richmont apts are owned by Menil and generate income-- plans would demolish that and put in new large green space surrounded

by income producing property with height limit of 3 stories-- apparently lots of property was bought in that area with that in mind-- no high rises-- the dark gray places (Richmont apt-- Old Telephone building in white) in picture are owned by Menil--gray with white dot owned by Rothko-

--old telephone building at Mandel and Richmond will be torn down and a new storage building will replace (maybe converting existing bungalow)

--some of the streets will be put back in to improve traffic flow

--all bungalows are to be preserved if possible

--current parking on Alabama will stay

This is the plan the Menil has accepted and will implement--how soon will be see changes begin? The Menil chose not to purchase the HEB property?

Perhaps more interesting --

Metro claims most of the property it buys isn't eminent domain but voluntary--at the same time acknowledging that after 2 properties are bought --they have established the prevailing worth of the real estate in that area-----

I think dollars plays a key part in all of this. Permits, ticketing and tow trucks.

I want to relate an incident about permit parking. An owner of a rental house on Avondale parked outside that house with members of the civic asso to have short 30 minute meet about a project. 10 minutes later his car was towed another was upon a different tow truck. After informing the HPD officer that he DID own that house, the question was asked "How did HPD find out that 2 cars were parked 10 minutes into the "Permit only after 5pm? Did the tow truck driver call on his cell phone and inform on officer personal cell phone?"

No answer was given but in the back and forth conversation this resulted -- the one car was taken off the tow truck for $60cash and the other tow truck brought back the other car for $80 cash. No tickets were issued--

Avondale association did look into how that stretch of street was "permit only" with out the knowledge of the owner of 3 rental houses-- Quick answer-- only residents are notified--and yes each resident was notified three times and the notification was started and pursued by one lone resident on Stratford street and no one on Stratford or Avondale disagreed.

The ticketing and tow truck situation revealed that HPD has an entire separate department and yes HPD officers are dedicated to going to all permit parking only and ticketing violators.

I'm visiting in NYC and noticed the OP-ART in the Sunday Section of the New York Times deals with the "recently announced ban on most bakes sales in New York City schools" by having "Bake Sale Memory" written by various people--all were charming--

I'm not sure if Bake sale bans are anywhere on HISD agenda but still I was wondering--------What is your best Bake Sale Memory?

My best BAKE SALE MEMORY---- Ft Bend County Tiger Cubs annual cake sale to raise funds for camping. . . . 50 or so tiger cubs and their families there---our own tiger cub baked a cake he thought would sell chocolate cake chocolate frosting-- plastic dinosaurs dipped in melted chocolate chips, chocolate sprinkles and shaved chocolate from a Hershey bar over the rest of the cake. He was excited to see all the other decorated cakes and enthusiastic about the ones he wanted to bid on. The auction started and we were surprised that his cake went up for auction first and got a fairly high price BUT what surprised us next was the fact that the family of ANY cake that was being auctioned bid big bucks to take home their own cake-- no matter what our family bid on the cakes we were outbid-- our little tiger cub was the only one to leave with out a cake.

I was told the property on southwest corner of Westheimer and Montrose was sold in 2008 but since no development has taken place, I wonder if that is still true. But to think that a developer wouldn't be interested in that property because of "sketchy" people hanging around the covenant house is perhaps naive-- otherwise how would gentrification of deteriorating neighborhoods some to pass. Developers are motivated by profit-- If that property could be developed with a huge profit-- it would happen. There are other things that puzzle me ---

I have worries of what will happen to Alabama street when Richmond is wrecked during Metro construction. --the Metro community meetings give the impression Alabama will be used as a detour--perhaps one way towards downtown (what street will be designated for the "other way?"

I also wonder how the "ideals" of the Montrose Conservancy Group will be able to "beautify" Montrose Blvd with a median, bike path and full size sidewalks--- the street seems too narrow to begin with and the thought of loosing the tree canopy to widen it seems grim.

Plus with the" charette" proposing a traffic circle at the intersection-- what will be come of Aladdins Restaurant--the only restaurant that seems to thrive on that corner?

---I think there is another thread on this subject also

September 14, 2009

North Montrose Civic Association

Developer: Whole Foods coming to Montrose

Copyright 2009 HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Sept. 14, 2009, 6:04PM

WholeFoods Market is moving forward with its plan to build anotherinner-loop store in the Montrose area, the developer who owns the landsaid Monday.

The Finger Cos.said it has signed a long-term lease with the upscale grocer, which isfinalizing plans to build a 40,000-square-foot outlet at the corner ofWaugh Drive and West Dallas Street.

"We are lookingforward to opening our 6th store in the Houston area and becoming apart of the Montrose community," said Mark Dixon, Whole Foods MarketSouthwest regional president.

The Finger Cos. also is planning a luxury apartment complex on the site.

TheNorth Montrose Civic Association is a non profit neighborhoodassociation that for nearly 30 years has promoted activism and socialinteraction through its civic minded volunteers with the purpose ofimproving our neighborhoods and overall quality of life. While ourneighborhood has undergone a radical transformation over the past 30years, many of the issues we face today are still quite the same. NMCAhas been at the forefront of working with residents, businesses,elected officials and other organizations and institutions to provide acohesive voice on those issues that affect our neighborhood.

I saw some HPD officers folding up a card table outside the Target on Sawyer with a poster stating National Night Out and a Target logo.. Is there something being planned for the Target parking lot? What are the local plans?