DJ V Lawrence

You really think QB is the priority and should be wasted with the Texans' 1st round pick? If I were the Texans, here's my priority list... 1) Find a new offensive coordinator. The one we have is going to Air Force, and perhaps we could use that spot on another former head coach like we did Mike Sherman as defensive coordinator. We need a coordinator who's capable of taking chances and completing them with his plays. Jim Mora and Dennis Green were both fired today as head coaches; both in my opinion would be much more effective as coordinators than head coaches. 2) In the draft, we need better pass protection, DL, and OL. They've improved a lot from last year, but it still needs a lot of work. Our runningbacks have a lot of potential. If there's no Reggie Bush or Vince Young sure-thing type RBs or QBs available, Beef up the protection and depth. 3) If a QB is a need, get a quality veteran on the bench like Garcia or Plummer. If Carr doesn't have a 1st quarter, get the backup in immediately, and let him stay as the starter until Carr gets his game back at practice. Carr had a decent season. Even when he had a good game and the Texans lost, the Houston media seemed to blame him more than the Texans lack of depth. David Carr in my opinion is only as good as his coordinator, and if he can't start next year, Carr needs to be a backup. The biggest mistake the Texans could do is get rid of Carr without bringing in two quality, proven QBs. I don't think Rosenfels should be the only quality backup available. Have him fight for the backup spot. The Texans' biggest weakness is lack of depth.

Still haven't answered any of the questions from before. Here's another: what places do you think have people that are cool to you? Who's not trying too hard, and who's "real" in your opinion?

I think Parcells has done a good job. He's more of an old-school, experience-over-new blood kinda dude, and I don't think that sat too well for Cowboys fans that wanted Romo to start when Bledsoe started at the beginning of the season. The Owens distraction was over-rated. He didn't keep the 'Boys out the playoffs.

Yep. Mine's to build my internet business, open up a band website for myself, and to travel like a bad basketball player...

http://www.nkzone.org/nkzone/entry/2006/11..._in_py.php#more A Woodstock-style rock festival in Pyongyang

I wanna see Houston get more main events in boxing and mixed martial arts like Pride, K-1, and UFC. I'd LOVE to watch UFC in Toyota Center for example. Before UFC got big, they used to always fight at Arena Theatre. Now, it's always Anaheim and Las Vegas. Houston LOVES a good fight, and perhaps the Sports Authority can do more to build a strong boxing and fighting collition so main event fights could be hosted in Houston. Imagine if the Astrodome were turned into a hotel. That could also be the perfect backdrop for main-event boxing and mma fights.

The Cowboys have a chance to redeem themselves in the playoff, but man does that look like a collapse. They should have been division champs this season in my opinion, and it should have been Philly with the wild-card. Congrats to them for making the playoffs, but they've under-achieved so far. Regardless of what happens in the post-season, they need to add a piece or two during the offseason to be Super Bowl contenders. They lost the division title by losing the last two games to their division rival and the worst team in football? I think they'll have a good 2007, but they need to start off the season better than they did this year. I'm curious how Owens will do, but Romo should be the focal point if he's as good as he was prior to the Eagles' game. Texans, what can I say. Hats off to 'em. They finish the season with their second-best record in franchise history, ended up beating the Colts for the first time ever, end the season with back-to-back wins for the first time since 2004, and redeemed themselves after their most embarassing loss in their history (Titans). They have a lot to build off of. The defense has a LOT of potential in 2007. Offense also shows a lot of promise, but either the QB or the OL needs more work. Think about it this way: Last year, the Cowboys were 9-7 and the Texans were 2-14. The Cowboys won seven games more than the Texans in 2005. This year, the Cowboys still finished 9-7 while the Texans finish at 6-10, meaning the Cowboys finish with three more wins than the Texans this season.

Houston should also become a fashion mecca. So many creative and marketable designers are in Houston, but have to do their work and their shows in NYC, LA, Miami, Aspen etc. to be showcased. Maybe Houston should work on developing a world-class fashion week for all the big name fashion companies.

I think Houston's City Council and city leaders could make more proposals to bring different types of business headquarters into Houston that don't pertain directly to energy. In another thread, it was talking about an LA Times article on Houston. Within that article, it was mentioned that 2 out of every 5 jobs in Houston have to do with the energy market. Houston should stay strong on the energy market, but needs to do more to become diverse in the international market so we're not so dependant on one source the way Detroit was with automobiles back in the day. I'd also like to see more high-scale development between Houston and Galveston to the scale of Sugarland or Woodland's Town Centers, Meyerland Plaza, or MidTown's redevelopments, particularly across from freeway from MMP. Some upscale lofts have popped up. At least make that area more loft friendly with the same amenities as Midtown has. It could be another pedestrian nightlife-type area. We should also have a few street festivals per year on Main Street Square at night similar to The Main Event back in Super Bowl 2004. Have it last from 9pm to 3 or 4am with no alcohol served except in the clubs. It's an area with great potential, and has a great vibe to it. Perhaps doing something like that with big name artists and sponsors like HoustonPress and MX/Sirus radio, and who knows.

My concern is the fact that we may mistake Sadaam's trial and execution as something significant and positive in regards to homeland security. I understand why he was tried and who tried him. Iraq laid justice on Sadaam and rightfully so, and that wouldn't have happened if it weren't for our troops and administration. Good job. But Sadaam's capture and trial is not the main reason why we went to Iraq; that was supposed to be just a bonus. I personally want to see Osama with a rope around their necks more than Sadaam. As an American, Sadaam's trial wasn't really any concern, and I don't know why our media covered it as if we were supposed to be effected by it.

All jokes aside, I thought the same thing. Something was very odd about that. Even the 30-day thing. Usually, wouldn't a dude be on death row for at least a year or two before being executed? And yeah, we all joke around about it, but Sadaam's not a dude I would consider significant as a terror threat to the U.S. as I did Osama or Al-Zakawi. When Al-Zakawi was killed, that was poetic justice. We went into Iraq in 2003 to keep Sadaam and the Iraqis from using WMDs against us. When you look back at Sadaam's execution, he was on trial for something that really didn't have anything to do with the U.S.. He murdered thousands of his own people, and paid the price, but there's a lot of other world leaders still currently in power that need to be put on trial for their genocidal track records. If Sadaam's execution makes our fellow Americans safer in the Middle East and mainland, this is a big success. But if things there are still just as dangerous for our troops as before, I don't really see Sadaam's death as significant.

It has to be natural grass for professional soccer. It's just FIFA and MLS rules. When played at Reliant, it's still natural; not astroturf. I like the Astrodome idea as well, but since Astrodome Redevelopment has the upper hand for the time being, chances of that happening are not so strong. I say keep the Dome's size and make it the largest soccer-specific stadium in the U.S. if that were the location. Sure, it would probably be a few years before the Dynamo would be able to sell out a stadium that size by itself, but the Dome could be a multi-purpose track and field stadium. The Dome would sell out anytime the major soccer events like European tours and major Cups were there, and we know that because of the trends we've seen at Reliant. We could also push for the track and field world championships. Question is if the stadium could be revamped in a way that looks as good as the hotel renderings.

"Hey Sadaam, how's it hanging?" Bad joke. Sorry

I can understand the stance of the river areas in Sacremento: They're trying to avoid subdivisions from poping up on otherwise scenic land and river. It's not that people are tearing down homes; it's the fact that their tearing down unreplacable forest and waterways. It's all good, yo. Houston, however (and I'ma get beat up 4 saying this), I'm all for this mansionization thing. It's replacing old homes, not forest or anything like that. If you want a big house, by all means build it! You shouldn't have to move out of your neighborhood to build a house as big as you want if it's in the same lot space as before. If you wanna waste your cash building a trophy house, go for it. It's your cash, not mine. If the neighbors have a problem with what you want in life, let them cry about it in their own house. No one should stop you as a homeowner from wanting to live in a bigger house while staying in the same old neighborhood, so long as your house is presentable.

RI.B. (Rest in Baghdad)

Man, that judge got no patience, do he?

Try this one: http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/12/29/canada.arctic.ap/

Now you're totally off Look at a postcard, go to any city's airport, turn on any tv show located in any of those cities(NYC, LA, SF), and lemme know what U see in the background. Dude, where were you when we had that Monopoly thread on HAIF a few months ago, and we had to choose the "best" place in each city? Nobody's debating anything about anything being "cool" or "uncool". I've never been to Santa Monica, so I wouldn't know how cool or uncool it is. But if L.A. brands it as cool, then it's no big deal, whereas if Houston branded Kemah or ANYWHERE else in Houston as cool, then Houston's "trying too hard", when both cities are promoting themselves. Watch a morning show on ANY basic cable network one day (GMA, Today, CBS This Morning) and tell me what U see in the background. 5th Avenue, Rockafeller Center, and Times Square. I've been to all three places, and with the exception of being on tv, there's nothing you could do there that you couldn't do in Uptown or Downtown Houston (shopping, theatres, tourist attractions, 24/7 hang-out spots, places where the rich stay, etc.). Yet since I mentioned that, some people on HAIF will think I'm "trying too hard" to promote Houston? NYC and Houston are #1 and #2 in terms of their theatre districts, yet one's "cool" and the other's "trying too hard"? I'm not promoting anything; those places are just there. But after living in Houston for the past six months, hearing others say there's nothing to do and there's nothing "hip" or "cool" in Houston tells me something's wrong. Perhaps it's an automatic stigma. BTW Marty, screw U dude!! I was thinking of using that exact picture on my avatar!! The Million Dollar Man ROCKS!!!

You're missing the point. It's not that WE think Santa Monica Boardwalk is cool. The point is that when L.A.'s boardwalk is branded as the "cool" or "hip" thing on tv, postcards, etc., it's not ridiculed. But if it were Kemah Boardwalk that Houstonians ever used as an example of why Houston's a hot place, it would be considered a joke. It has nothing to do with either place's attractions...

John Edwards announced he's running, and to be frank, I'm not sure if he has a strong chance should the Reps bring in someone with stronger name recognition like Colin Powell (who I don't think is running), Condolezza Rice (who I also don't see running for prez. VP maybe), Gulianni (who I think could be in a cabinet, but it's hard for me to see him risk his legacy after his good name after 9-11) and a couple others. John McCain in my opinion has the best chance for the Republicans to win. He's been the most consistant voice since the beginning of Bush's term in terms of his ideas, has been heard, and seems to have more of a bi-lateral approach. I think if Obama or Hillary Clinton ran for the Democrats, they'd have a very healthy chance at winning the presidency. If they ran TOGETHER as President/VP (particularly Obama for President, and Hilary as VP), it'd almost be a guaranteed win for the Dems in '08 chance for the Republicans to win. A lot of conservatives seem not to like Hillary because of her chances to win. Obama's a popular dude as well. I'm not talking about who I'd vote for, because anything can happen in two years, but I'm just brainstorming who'd have the best chances of winning if elections were held today.

Well said! 250 cool-points awarded to Worldlyman, yo!!!

GalleryFurniture.com Bowl!!

I can see us selling naming rights to our freeways >

What's everyone's opinion here on the re-po home market headed into next year? Is the buy/sale market in Houston stronger or weaker for those looking to make profit off appreciation? Since I've been back, new homes have shot up like crazy in Alief/Sugarland/Katy. SHould we expect a rise in new developments and a drop in purchases of older homes in 2007?

I think if Garcia were guaranteed a starting spot at his age, he'd take it. He won't be on the field when McNabb's healthy. Or perhaps he could become a mentor to Carr as both battled out for the QB spot week after week. There would probably be no QB excuses for loss if McNair offered a lum sum for him.