lockmat

The 6 pm version sounded like they were saying 'No taxpayer money at all'. Could be a good deal if the developer and the Dynamo can satisfy each other. Great access, on the rail line (though I am not sure where the rail station is). Very interesting.

I think it is across S. Rice from the Sam's Club, butting up against the rail line. Maybe a block from Westpark Tollway and US 59.

There's a pretty big semi vacant spot there next to the powerlines. I wonder what the access is like getting there, getting on/off the freeway.

edit: looks like they are talking westpark near s rice (south of galleria)

How far south is that? right near 59? or closer to Bellaire?

edit: i look down until s. rice changes names near Braeswood. Missed westpark somehow.

nm, found it. was blending in with 59

. Seems the law there changes with the wind.

Or with the money I suppose.

Yeah, I heard that in theory if you make sexual gestures in public or if you are seen with someone who is not your spouse inside the house, they will also arrest you. But I would still venture to say that they are much more liberal than a lot of other arab countries.

Beautiful photos! Looks like Vegas at night, but not during the day. I noted the girl in one mall photo with short skirt, and open back. Are they allowing that now?

Sounds like you've been there. But actually, many of the girls and women there dress like they do here. I guess they discourage but people still do it anyway. Not sure if they're expats working there or just tourists, but I was surprised that they were dressed that way. Dubai is pretty liberal compared to other arab countries. Guess they have to be to be so business friendly.

Great pictures. I'm surprised by how many construction cranes there are in pic 4. I guess the building hasn't slowed down.

My colleague there said Dubai has a huge percentage of the cranes around the world. I was a little skeptical, but who knows...when you are there, construction cranes are absolutely everywhere. Actually, all the construction was probably one of the most impressive things I saw there. The cluster of high-rises is not the only place their building them either. they are building them 15, 20 mins away too from all the action. All to say, the amount of construction there is amazing. And they're not just building 4-story corporate campuses there either.

Amazing how difficult it is to get the full Burj Dubai--ahem, Burj Khalifa--in a single photograph. Were you able to go inside?

No, I wish. The ceremony was at night but I never went back to see it the rest of my stay.

It means that instead of paying 8.25% sales tax and property tax... how about a 10.5% (or higher?) sales tax and no property tax. The sales tax would have to increase to rate such that it offsets the loss in property tax revenue. That's the only way it could work. In other words, yes everyone pays a sales tax when they buy something. It's about RAISING TAXES on everything you buy and making you pay MORE sales tax...

I could only handle about 45 seconds of that youtube video. Good God Medina fits the typical Texas GOP zombie role of no/less federal government, arming ourselves to the teeth, none/lower taxes (even though it would have to be the same tax in reality), etc, etc.

everything except food and prescriptions etc

What does a liberal do in a race like this?

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

Will the future will bring us New Woodlands? I hope not.

why not?

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

Maybe......i hope so. Granted i am only going on the photos. Much to my disapointment my schedule didn't allow me to go DT when i was in H-town for the holidays. i wanted to go ice skating as well at DG. IF, the floor plates are about the same size, then, whew! i am relieved.

m.

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.

One of my neighbors emailed the developer, David Goswick, to ask about the delay. Here is the reply he got.

We have been delayed due to the economy. However, we will make several exciting announcements in February.

In the meantime, we are leeting our good neighbors (the church) use our signs until next week.

Stay tuned.

Thank you for the interest.

David Goswick<BR style="mso-special-character: line-break">

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

Please elaborate.

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

ketchup?

sauce

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

In the early 1980s Exxon planned to consolidate employees in Conroe, but shelved the project after the oil bust.

HBJ reports today that ExxonMobil plans to build a new very large campus in Spring (west of I-45 at the point where the Hardy Toll Road intersects with I-45). The plan is to consolidate pretty much everything except for the downtown operations. Also reports a rumor that at least parts of the Refining & Marketing HQ operations may move from Virginia.

http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2010/01/18/story2.html?b=1263790800^2732161

Sources who received campus details directly from Exxon or others connected to the deal paint a picture of an elaborate complex north of Houston, possibly with several million square feet of space.

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.