John Rich

First image: U.S. Geological Service topographical map of the area, showing an old railroad grade approaching the river from the northeast, and then disappearing at the river. Oddly, there is no trace of it ever continuing out the west side of the river. Was this bridge literally the end of the line? Second: An identical pair of iron pilings, still embedded in concrete, underneath the current railroad bridge over the Brazos at Interstate-10. Apparently from an earlier railroad bridge, which was replaced by the one that is there now. This current bridge is also still pretty old - 1910 I think, and still active. Third: Finishing my canoe trip underneath I-10, and pondering those odd articulated/hinged joints, I looked up under the modern concrete bridge, and saw this! A hinged joint which connects the horizontal steel rails to the vertical concrete pillars. So, whatever the principle behind this kind of hinged bridge connection, it's been around for quite a while, as we're still using it today.

Next up are photos of bridge sections that are exposed above the water. I believe these sections are probably laying upside-down. The flat part facing the water must have been the rail bed, while the arched part facing up would have been bracing on the underside. The bridge section is about 16' long, judging by the length of my canoe alonside it. The big nuts on the plate are 4" square. The odd part is that hinged joint with many stringers extending from it. Obviously this was some kind of articulation, but how and why? One theory is that the bridge was a draw bridge or swing bridge to allow steamboats to pass by on the river. Or maybe these were just superstructure support, and were hinged to allow flexing of the bridge as a train passed over. Anyone know? If anyone can provide any insight on what this bridge might have looked like, or the design of it, I would appreciate it.

Took a little trip in my canoe, and photographed the remains of an 1882 railroad bridge that formerly crossed the Brazos River, between San Felipe and the present day Interstate 10 bridge. From what I can figure out, this was the Texas Western narrow gauge line, which ran from somewhere (anyone know?) to Sealy. The line died out as soon as it was built, because it was incompatible with other regular gauge lines, so rail cars couldn't be switched to other lines. First up, three photos of a pair of pilings, consisting of steel/iron tubes, about 6' in diameter, filled with concrete. These would have been embedded in a concrete footing and standing upright, but have fallen over onto their side on the river bottom. These items are visible only because of the current very-low water level in the river. I think they are normally submerged.

A pop-up ad overlays the sign-in box, making it rather challenging to sign on. How about putting that darned thing somewhere else? See the attached image for an example.

I'm getting too much credit for this activity. The news reporters actually tagged along with Louis Aulbach, who is the person who has done all the research on Camp Logan. I'm just a friend of Louis', and tagged along with him, just like the reporters. Louis is the expert on this subject, not me.

Yes, the reservoir is controlled by the ACE, but that is public land, and citizens are free to walk and explore in it. Their own web site even says so: "In addition to the Reservoirs’ flood damage reduction mission, recreation and nature observation opportunities abound through the approximately 26,000 acres of land that makes up Addicks and Barker reservoirs. Large sections of the reservoirs remain undeveloped. The visitor is welcome to come and walk through the fields or along the streams and enjoy the many opportunities that Mother Nature has to offer." Web site: http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Addicks/ There are no people in Army uniforms patrolling the area to run hikers off. Scroll to the bottom to the large red box for the short list of prohibited activities, like camping and guns.

I can't afford no steenkin lawyer. I'm unemployed, so there are no wages to garnish. I have no money in accounts, as I've drained my 401k during my unemployment for living expenses. I've got a 2001 Chevy Blazer with 150,000 miles worth about $2,000, so that wouldn't even cover the debt. And a 2008 VW Beetle which is worth $12k, about exactly what I owe on it. So I seem to be levy proof, as there are no assets worth anything for them to seize. Would that stop them, or would they go ahead and take something just to show me who's the boss? I do have good equity in my house, but they're talking levy, not lien here. Would they seize a house with $75k equity to satisfy a $4k debt? I wouldn't put anything past those bastards. The last thing I had from them was an acknowledgement that they recognized I had no income, and because the debt was small, they were going to postpone any enforcement. Nothing has changed. And now they're all of a sudden talking "levy". Hope and Change! Maybe I should chain my vehicles to the tree in the backyard...

I owe the IRS $3,000 from 2006, during a time when I was unemployed. I don't have the money to pay it off, or even to make reasonable installment payments. They have sent me a certified letter saying that they "intend to levy on certain assets". What exactly does that mean? Are they likely to tow away my car and sell it to satisfy the debt? Or will they just put a lien on my house so that when it's sold at some point in the future they get their cut out of the profits? I'm wondering if I should worry about my car disappearing in the middle of the night. I really don't have have any other assets worth anything other than the house and the car. And sale of the car would barely cover the debt - it's not worth much more than what I owe on it. Can anyone enlighten me on what actions I can expect from the IRS here?

Thank you, Bryan, for that great info. I have never heard of this interstate pact before. It sounds like I should pay-up to avoid further trouble in the future.

On a recent vacation I was caught in a speed trap in New Mexico, and ticketed for doing 60 in a 45 zone. I was actually doing 55, but I wasn't going to argue with the cop on the street. The fine is $80. Question: What happens if I just ignore this out-of-state ticket? Would Texas cops know that I have an outstanding unpaid ticket in New Mexico? Would it get me arrested some day when pulled over for a ticket in Texas? Please spare me your moralizing about accepting responsibility for my actions. If you can provide info on how the police may share interstate info and enforcement, it would be greatly appreciated. Yeah, I'll probably end up paying it, but I'm just curious. I still wonder if the cops in Boston are after me for the parking ticket I received there in the 1980's...

A quick search reveals the answer: HPD Mounted Patrol

24 Hour Fitness - Hayes. 11320 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77077 This location moved down the road to 12400 Westheimer, a much bigger, nicer facility. 24 Hour Fitness - Sugarland. 9920 Highway 90A, Suite A, Sugar Land TX 77478 They had two locations on opposite sides of Hwy 90, within a mile of each other. Stupid. They merged them into one location. 24 Hour Fitness - Campbell. 1000 Campbell Rd, Houston, TX 77055 This location moved north a few blocks to Blalock & Westview. Re: "None have been replaced" They were either replaced, upgraded nearby, or consolidated. Just good business sense.

I find it ironic that I'm being painted as an ogre for my position here. My opponents think that taking blood forcibly from a drunk-driving suspect is okay, and deporting illegal immigrants is a bad thing. I think that's bass-ackwards. We shouldn't be forcible penetrating someone's body who is only suspected of a crime. And if someone is proven to be an illegal immigrant, then they should be deported. Both of these are the rule of law. My position is the one that respects both the law and human rights. Forcibly taking blood from someone is like requiring them to prove their innocence, or to testify against themselves. Neither of those things are the basis for our legal system - in fact, they are contrary to it. The idea that I could weave my car a little on a drive home late at night because I'm tired, or distracted adjusting the radio, and a few minutes later burly men in uniforms could be holding me down while someone sticks a needle in me, is abhorrent. It sounds like something Josef Mengele would do. Not America.

One man's trash is another man's treasure. Different strokes for different folks. Just because you disagree with me, doesn't mean you have to hurl insults. It's possible to disagree without being disagreeable.

Your body should not be subject to piercing by sharp instruments, against your will, by government authorities. No matter what you've done. The police already have video cameras, field sobriety tests, field breath tests, and so on, to use as evidence against drivers who are really drunk. If they can't make convictions based upon that, then the problem lies somewhere else. Sticking needles into people against their will is not the solution to that problem. How do they get a judge to sign a search warrant? Don't they need some kind of evidence to make their case for that? Why isn't that evidence by itself already good enough? Do you really want the precedent in place that your body belongs to the government, to do with as they please? And if you're innocent and just following the advice of attorneys to refuse all the other tests, then they shouldn't punish you with needles for standing up for your rights as the accused. Anyone who thinks this is okay, is someone who really frightens me...

You don't have to stick a needle in a someone's vein to determine that they're illegal. I draw the line at the invasion of bodies with sharp instruments.

I don't like all that artsy-fartsy stuff. I like to be different. I want to protest the state sending me new plates every few years, forcing me to memorize new numbers, when my old plain plates were still just fine.

So, how do they force you to give a blood sample against your will? Do they have large policemen tie you down to a chair while someone sticks a large needle in your arm? This doesn't sound like the American I know and love.

That's a start. Then they should also deport all illegals they find in jail, regardless of past criminal history: illegal is illegal.

I've been re-painting my Texas license plates, using white paint to cover-up the stuff at the top and bottom: the space shuttle, the cowboy, etc. I've basically returned it to the previous plain format. And I've researched this in the Texas law too, and it seems perfectly legal. The only thing the law requires is that the number be readable, the state name must be visible, and the little one-inch state outline must be there. Everything else is optional. I've been driving my altered plates around on both of my vehicles for several years now, and have not been challenged by police. If ticketed, I'll fight it, because the law is on my side. Attached: photo of one of my altered license plates

Now you have my attention. I've long driven past that house with it's tin roof and wrap-around porch, and been glad that it has held off from selling out for residential or commercial development, like all the other land all around it. I've done a lot of hiking and research into the old towns of Addicks and Barker in the flood reservoirs, so this revelation is very interesting. That area was settled by German immigrants starting about 1880, and they had a thriving community with a rich social life and traditions. I've seen the ruins of the foundations of some of their old homes, and often wondered what happened to the homes that used to sit atop those foundations. I always figured the Corps of Engineers bulldozed them when they took over the land. So it's interesting to find out now that maybe they survived in another form! Several of the German immigrants were so distraught over the take-over of their land for the reservoir, that they commited suicde rather than see their land and homes taken by the government. For a great book about the history of this local area, look for a book called "The LH7 Ranch", about Emil Marks, who ran a ranch in that area, with up to 6,500 head of cattle.

Do you feel that all suicides are "cowards"? Why? Don't people have the right to choose to terminate their own life if they wish? Who are you to tell someone that they should go on living if they don't want to? If someone is dying from a terminal illness, are they cowards for choosing when to go? You are way too judgemental about the way you view other people's lives. You should be careful about that, because some day you may find yourself in their shoes.

I'd go with the lower end of your estimate. And it takes 12 seconds and 1,400 feet to accelerate to terminal velocity. Since the parking garage from which he jumped was not that high, he wasn't falling at nearly that speed. Still, it is plenty enough to kill anyone, and to do it very quickly. And unless they are an expert skydiver, they're not likely to be able to control their body attitude during the short descent.

San Jacinto monument.

30,000 people commit suicide in America each year - 82 per day. But it's rare to ever read or hear of one in big-city news. For the most part, they just aren't considered "news" - they're too common and routine. "News" has to be new, or different. On the other hand, look at the Freddie Mac CFO that committed suicide overnight - that one will be splashed all over the place. But he's just one of 82 that committed suicide yestereday. So why is his death somehow more important for everyone to know about, then all the others? Every one of those suicides is a tragedy, with grieving family and friends left behind. There's a story behind every one. And if a story that would normally fill the bill for publication is somehow withheld, then perhaps the news folks are being biased in their presentation of the news to the public. If they're going to do it under a certain set of circumstances to everyone else, then they shouldn't make exceptions in cases where the death strikes too close to home - that's media bias. And once they start doing that, then the public doesn't really have a true picture of what's happening. Don't withhold facts. Print all of the facts, and let the chips fall where they may.