lockmat

I have a question. In the last debate, Medina mentioned getting rid of property tax and replacing it would be a "broad based sales tax." What does that mean? Doesn't everyone in Texas pay a sales tax when they purchase something? She starts talking about it at the end of this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq2eMIZcPy0

About 30-45 mins away Sandboarding with Emirates airlines in the background moooooo, i mean ???

Random freeway pics etc Old Dubai

They're not the greatest, but maybe they're from a little different perspective than the professional ones you've seen online. Also, it's funny to see pics from other people who have also been there b/c many have the same freeway shots with buildings line on both sides of the freeway. Dubai Mall, one of the biggest in the world. It's next door to the Burj Khalifa, right behind me. Behind me is the mall and to the right is the Khalifa. To the left is the water area where they had that water show. To the left is the mall and behind me is the Khalifa You can see the base of the Khalifa to the right. Sort of a context shot. Dusk shot Mall is to my right Context shot Entrance of mall I went into. Very nice finishes Restaurant in foreground with waterwall behind it. Notice the diving man. You'll see more next Khalifa with it's sister building next door to the right. Context Beginning of celebration More balloons more This is just the top of the building as I was zoomed in

Pretty cool that they would have to build it over a freeway if built. They'd also have to move places like a childrens museum. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watson_Island,_Miami,_Florida

why not?

You can see through this building a lot, more so than other glass buildings, don't yall think?

Oh yeah, I forgot that i walked off the dimensions the other day after the 5k. Not completely accurate, but it helps a little I guess. 84x37 One Park Place: Length (not including breezeway on north side): 84 steps One Park Place: Width (not including garage): 37 steps 55x32 Embassy: Length 55 steps Embassy: Width (entire structure) 47 steps, (room quarters only) 32 steps Embassy is not really even a very tall building either, so I think it's gonna look like some of the old towers downtown has around, but newer of course. These are steps from my 6'2" strides

How about joining HPD? Decent salary, easy to promote, good benefits, job security.

Did anyone else recieve the Earthquest Institute's first newsletter ( Newsletter Link )? It has soon nice tidbits of information. From the ideas stated, it seems like they're on the right track. Also, I'm not sure if this is a new rendering or not. Too bad it's kinda small

I am not even on the fence as to whether I want to run the Half next year. I still don't like the idea at all, but the 5k was fun.

Any speculation as to what "several exciting announcments" could be? I'm guessing the annoucnment of retailers or the restaurants people voted on.

I could be completely wrong, but if Houston comes and claims the area they'll build in, will they be taking taxes away from some other entity, or no?

sounds like highway robbery

sauce Interesting tid bit at the end of the article. My how different things would be if that had happened.

http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2010/01/18/story2.html?b=1263790800^2732161 I wonder if it includes that tract of land where some dude built the shell of a warehouse and the promplty tore it down, including a concrete retention (detention?) area. Any guesses as to what the affects of the area will be, if any? Maybe more restaurants etc?

Did anyone watch the debate tonight? I only saw a few minutes but plan to go back and rewatch it. I believe it will be put up on texasdebates.org The one thing I came away with is that Medina is no pretender.

Are the floor plates really that much smaller than One Park Place? They look about the same to me.

Sounds like a good deal to me. The article also says they expect to have an answer next month.

In my opinion, doesn't it seem odd that he would come out and say that. Doesn't seem like he's giving himself very good leverage.

I had the rare opportunity to go to the event last night. I really didn't know what was going to happen at all, so I got there early and ate at the Dubai mall next door and then headed out at 5pm which is when someone told me when it (whatever that was) began. I was as close to the building as the public could be and waited there for 3 hours for something to happen until finally the head Dubai guy (forgot his name) showed up and then there was a water show that not even the Bellagio could live up to. Then they had some people parachute down from the black night. After about another hour of just watching the head hancho on the big screen, walking around and glad handing, I decided I needed to get out of there since I had no clue what and when anything else was going to happen. Plus, I had work the next day and didn't want to fight the crowd for a taxi. Anyway, while waiting in a covered area for the taxi, I heard some popping going on, which I figured out was fireworks, which I read was an amazing show. But it's weird, b/c like Ross said, it looks tall but it's hard to tell from the base. I did not see it on the plane ride in, but saw it from the outskirts of the city, and yes it's very tall. I have heard many people say that Dubai is sort of the Vegas of the east. That's a horrible comparison as the amount of very tall scrapers and construction going on doesn't even compare. Also, the tower was named after the President as Editor noted, which is in Abu Dhabi, whom bailed out Dubai...I guess a small gesture towards the guy.

EarthQuest theme park backers still digging up funding (subscription only) http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2010/01/04/story6.html?ana=e_ph

I will not be writing a novel anytime soon as a result of my poor ability to describe something. They finally have last nights video on their website. Here is a screen shot of what I was talking about. Really, we have no excuse now. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/34635900%2334635900 As the video says, they're becoming mandatory in other countries and coming soon to a US airport near you.

CultureMap and Ralph Bivins made up this list. Thoughts? http://culturemap.com/newsdetail/12-27-09-a-decade-of-development/

Oh, so I was supposed to pick who I thought was gonna WIN???