AtticaFlinch

To be clear, all this gay talk was just a joke at Bryan's expense...since he's sensitive to these kinds of things.

Here I thought you were suggesting gay men were hardwired to be incapable of differentiating between a smile and a frown on a woman... which would go a long way as to explaining why they're gay.

Was Arlo Guthrie at the station when they came back on?

Are they back on? I turned the dial to KPFT this morning on the way into the office but still only got static. I'll check here momentarily as I'm about to leave for a meeting.

But...you're gay and they're observant Muslims. It's a biased sample.

Gay men can't see women smile?

For about 6 months in 2007, I paid $550 per month for a 350 sq foot garage efficiency with street parking in Montrose. I know I got screwed on the deal, but I had needed it in a hurry. I had a much better deal for a real apartment in Montrose with a parking space that was actually a little less than $1/sq foot. The deals are out there, even in the Heights, but you have to be patient and constantly looking or know someone who's moving.

Believe it or not, but Craigslist and the Greesheet are the two best sources for small individually owned units. People who own one or only a handful of units for rent don't typically put ads in the Chronicle or in those apartment magazines you find at the front of grocery stores.

I believe this would explain most of the internet

Porn is founded on bad assumptions?

You might have a point if not for the fact that the Northline Commons Walmart is only 6 miles from the West Road Walmart. The Yale Street parcel is 7 miles from the Northline Commons Walmart. Additionally, there is a Walmart at FM 1960, Louetta, Sawdust, SH 242 and FM 3083 in Conroe. That's 7 Walmarts in a 35 mile stretch of I-45.

The question is not whether there will be a Walmart inside the loop, but when.

Don't forget you can sprinkle a few Sam's in there for good measure.

Speaking of Sam's (or stores exactly like it), there's a Costco smack in the middle of Greenway and no one seems to mind that in the least. I shopped there all the time when I lived in Greenway, and so did my River Oaks, Afton Oaks, Rice, Bellaire and West U neighbors, if the type of cars they drove were any indication of where they lived (along with the "Tower of Terror" bumper stickers).

I guess Costco must be "cool" like Target.

I say the latter, unless Walmart was involved!

Chron article.

I think it was like 20 bucks. It's a supported ride with ... portapotties ...

38 donuts will make that a requirement.

Ditto - combined with the new ramps....uck.

I like the Northwest Mall location idea, that makes a lot more sense.

Except that it's harder to get to and less central than the supposed Yale location. Besides that, Heights residents would obviously not be able to use it then as it would fall outside their comfort zone. Use HEB as a great case in point (there's an entire thread about it somewhere but lord knows where it is). Many Heights residents hoped beyone hope that this property would be filled with an HEB as there are no convenient HEB locations nearby... despite there being an HEB on TC Jester and 18th. Putting a Walmart outside the loop would be like putting it on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. It would miss a substantial part of its intended clientele.

to AtticaFlinch and TheNiche:

....and to become our country's new definition of the American working class dream? oh sad day...

Huh? I don't follow. I hate Walmart and quite a number of other major corporations (except for the one that employs me - I love you guys). I just recognize the need for a place like Walmart given the nature of our economy. And, as such, I don't see how eschewing Walmart in the Heights benefits anyone whatsoever. It's like when Rick Perry denied Texan taxpayers our share of the bailout loot because he was grandstanding to his party base. Sure, it made a handful of braindead GOP tea party types feel all warm and fuzzy, but in effect, he hurt a bunch of Texans for no real reason. It was mindless political theater and nothing more. Similarly, why shouldn't people in the Heights also have the same benefit of low prices as the people in the 'burbs? If low prices are available, then everyone should be able to take advantage of those low prices. If you prefer to abstain from Walmart, for whatever reason, then go ahead and abstain. No one will think ill of you for it. Most people only shop at Walmart out of necessity and understand that if you can afford to base your decisions on personal politics and not personal economics, then more power to you because we'd do the same if we could. But with that said, just because you can afford to make that decision doesn't mean everyone can. And who are you to dictate what and where I buy the goods that feed, clothe and otherwise support my family? If you'd like to pay my bills, then you can dictate to me where I shop. Otherwise, butt out of my personal affairs. Remember, not everyone who lives in the Heights is living the high life, and an even greater number who were livin' it up a couple years ago probably no longer are now.

To impose your preferences on everyone around you reeks of tyranny.

On the other hand, if you were to hand me a petition calling for an overhaul of our economic system which would prevent future cases of corporate misconduct such as perpetrated by Walmart, then I'd sign it. Hell, I'd probably volunteer to stand on a street corner and get even more signatures. But I wouldn't waste my time on something so inconsequential as Walmart trying to build on land that has no ecological or cultural value.

I don't think Walmart should be the new "working class dream", but I'm mostly a pragmatist. Let's solve the underlying illness, and the symptoms will sort themselves out.

I smell a lawsuit coming. This tower really makes no sense. Seriously, who is going to buy a condo, starting from $1 million, in Downtown Dallas? This isn't Manhattan. Not even the Trump Tower Chicago starts off that high. What are presales like for the Museum Tower? Why do they feel the need to rush this tower, considering all of the other high vacancies in other condo towers in the area? Dallas continues to amaze me.

The City of Dallas operates under the Field of Dreams principle:

If you build it, ghosts will walk out of the cornfields and secretly be your father... or whatever. I never stayed awake through the entire movie.

Wow, so much for a friendly discussion. Y'all need to calm down a bit and discuss this like adults. Lively banter is fine, but this has gone way past rude and obnoxious. Seriously.

Walmart brings out the best in people.

"...the high number of employees on Chips & Medicaid..."

The Census did not guarantee consistent hours and provided no health benefits, but people like myself from all over the country were happy to accept the work. Low wages are better than no wages. And someone that's employed has less time or motivation to commit crime. That's good for your neighborhood.

Walmart has a history of telling their employees to go on medicaid, food stamps and chips instead of giving them a living wage and/or more hours. Don't you think that you deserve that....? Walmart is going to increase the number of part-time workers that won't get insurance for over a year - but their turnover is so high that it probably doesn't matter.

This is the one point I have a contention with, not because it's not true as for all I know it could be true, but because no one should be surprised anymore when a massive corporation tries to cut costs. That is, after all, the goal of a corporation. To increase profit, corporations must either increase revenue or decrease costs. Playing with health insurance, reducing corporate contributions - or eliminating it altogether - has been a common step for many corporations. With as many people as are in the employ of Walmart (1.2 million in the US alone), health insurance is doubtless going to be one of Walmart's largest controllable expenses - that and overtime. With that many employees, eliminating overtime and cutting health benefits could save them billions of dollars annually, which helps to ensure that I can get my value priced porkchops in bulk without having to concern myself with whether or not I can afford to put fresh diapers on my child.

The point is, this behavior is not unique, and this sort of thing isn't Walmart specific. With the new healthcare law as currently in place, a number of corporations, some thought respectable previously, have mulled options to cut employer subsidized programs in favor of the government imposed penalty. Companies like AT&T, John Deere, Caterpillar and Verizon have seriously considered just dropping healthcare altogether. In other words, you aren't mad at Walmart. You're mad at an economic system that allows companies to act unethically in order to remain competitive with other companies acting unethically. You're wasting your breath protesting a Walmart. Even if you were successful in preventing a Walmart from building in the (near) Heights, it won't solve anything. It's like putting a band-aid on a dismembered arm. What you want is massive corporate reform. You want reform of the nature that will prevent companies like Walmart from doing the things you find so reprehensible.

Awesome. A new place for breakfast.

I walk to Blueberry Hill...

Is that where you found your thrill?

Of course, there are many white people that like to pretend they are less white because they apparently love Wal-Mart, surface parking lots, and adding chorizo to Kroger's brand pizza, but I am not sure that really helps me make a point.

White people crazy!

Well had I known you would take it so personally I would have included a disclaimer. All generalizations (and, in fact, all posts of mine in the future) are hereby NOT directed at you, and should never be taken to reference you specifically in any way, shape or form.

Well then, perhaps you can explain where you got the word spite to describe the position of those not opposed to the Walmart rather than spend your time responding directly to me. As it is, going forward, I'll let your own words respond to your remarks. I won't bother thoughtfully typing out replies as it clearly *yawn* takes too much of my time and I don't want it to be construed as in anyway personal - regardless of the fact I may (or may not) have made it so. If you try to call me to task on it in the future, I'll just claim it was an "opinion" and feign incredulity that you were annoyed or offended at something that was so clearly not directed at you or anyone who shared the same viewpoint that I criticized. If I call all people stupid for holding a thought that I disagree with, and if you happen to be one of those people who I'm supposedly calling stupid, just take a chill pill, because I'm not specifically calling you stupid. I won't ever do that directly. Passive-aggressive comments are a much more effective way of getting that across, amirite?

I may be guilty of generalization (which was my intent, which seemed like it would be obvious but clearly was not), but certainly not "heightened exaggeration." To parlay this into an accusation of "love of hyperbole" goes beyond some kind of cognitive bias and into hyperbole itself.

sigh. Implicit in your paragraph are the notions that:

-- it's just a handful of people who don't want the Wal-Mart

-- these handful of people are driven by hate

-- these people are a minority

-- these people are vocal

-- these people seek to "dictate the lifestyle for everyone"

-- these people seek to dictate a lifestyle for anyone

-- these people seek to dictate a lifestyle

-- these people don't "have the right" to do such things even assuming these are their intentions

-- "having the right" to do something has anything to do with an end result

-- ecological/cultural concerns with the construction site must usually be considerations to block out a Wal-Mart

-- Wal-Mart only builds stores where they think they can turn a profit

If you had prefaced it with "I think that" instead of presenting your opinions as fact, it would not have been quite so hilarious. I guess the humor factor dissipated a little when it became clear to me that you weren't just saying these things to be obnoxious.

Well, I was speaking from my perspective (ie "it seems"). But I suppose if you're going to present your opinions as fact, there's nothing I (or anybody) can say that contradicts you.

I hate Walmart as much as the next guy, but I'm pragmatic about the fact I need to shop there from time to time. Let me put it to you this way, I use Walmart as a last resort always. It's not my first choice retailer, but sometimes I have no other choice. Either I can shop at Walmart or either pay too much for something or go without. I'd love to tell you I can afford to make all my financial decisions based on my personal ethics and political beliefs, but that's not the case. If shopping for my pork chops at Walmart means I can take my family, including my 7 year old stepson, to see Toy Story 3 this weekend versus sitting at home with our thumbs up our butts, I'm going to shop at Walmart. It's pretty simple math and not an opinion. When you live on a budget, sometimes you have to make choices you find personally detestable in order to satisfy others around you. This isn't spite. This is simple economics, and fairly understandable at that.

Wow. Project much?

I do on a number of things, but I don't know how calling your characterization of all those not opposed to a new Walmart as being driven by "spite" hyperbolic reflects me projecting at all. Perhaps you and I are using different definitions of the word hyperbole. So you know, I'm using it to reference heightened exaggeration. Perhaps you could provide a different definiton to help me understand your position.

It's happened before. Usually there's more in consideration than simply that a handful of people hate Walmart (ie. ecological or cultural concerns with the construction site).

The vocal minority doesn't have the right to dictate the lifestyle for everyone, and when it comes to Walmart, if they think they'll be able to turn a profit, they'll build the store.

Now THIS is a good example of framing and mischaracterization, right on cue. Thanks for a good laugh!

I don't see it. Please explain. What have I mischaracterized here that's so hilarious?

And the particular Wal-Mart you mention is more like a 40-minute round-trip for those of us just to the east of you; and the only closer Wal-Mart is also not especially convenient and is obsolete.

Currently Dunvale is the only reasonable choice Walmart for inner-loopers, and when I lived in Greenway, without traffic, that journey took at least 20 minutes one way. Unfortunately, as I work for a living and don't like being inside of Walmarts, particularly that Walmart, at 3 am, I had to share my road space with other people... which made my drive considerably longer. When I lived in Montrose, at minimum an additional ten minutes was necessary for the one way trek to low price territory.

I'd have shopped at the Meyerland location more often, but I hated getting in and out of the parking lot there.

I really don't see what the big problem is. This is Houston, not Bumfart, Massachusetts. There are more than enough people here who will continue to shop at the smaller, local retailers. All that's happening now is the people who would spend their Walmart dollars in the Heights location are apending it in Dunvale or Meyerland, simultaneously increasing traffic congestion and, by default, air pollution. In other words, building a Heights Walmart will help to save the environment.

I agree. And if riding light rail to dinner is a dream for someone then they need to get a life.

You can't help your dreams. I once had a dream that I was having a conversation with a rabbit who wore a top hat and a monocle.

And I was on stage in my high school auditorium.

Wearing only my underpants.

One side motivated by quality of life considerations, the other side seemingly motivated entirely by spite.

That's one way to frame it. The quality of life issue does seem to be the primary point of contention for one side, but spite is an askewed mischaracterization of those arguing from the other side. I think convenience and price would have been a better description, but I know that would have interfered with your love of hyperbole.

But anyway. For me, the more important larger issue is: even if the neighborhood wanted to stop Wal-Mart, could they?

It's happened before. Usually there's more in consideration than simply that a handful of people hate Walmart (ie. ecological or cultural concerns with the construction site). The vocal minority doesn't have the right to dictate the lifestyle for everyone, and when it comes to Walmart, if they think they'll be able to turn a profit, they'll build the store.

I am having issues trying to view or download either...maybe it's just me? Anyone else?

Here's the direct link. I posted the two visual aids on the top right of the screen. If you go to the homepage, be forewarned, you could easily spend all day reading up on this.

I just got home from grocery shopping with the family at Walmart. No one cares much on 1960 though. And before anyone asks, no, none of us were raped or robbed in the parking lot. That could have been due to the torrential downpour going on while I was loading the trunk though. Everyone knows criminals fear the rain.

I am having issues trying to view or download either...maybe it's just me? Anyone else?

They open on my smackberry, so I don't know. They're available on the EIA website. I'll track down the exact address when I'm back on my office computer in the morning.

if Walmart has a target demographic of people under a certain income level, but this area has transitioned so much that it's now mostly the educated, upper middle class ... why should the area be forced to accept a store that caters to the smaller percentage of the area population?

Because you'll use it too. People always do. And not just you either. As the only inner loop Walmart location, people of all sorts of income brackets will drive in or ride a bus to use it. The Heights is centrally located and not a dangerous neighborhood. It's a pretty obvious choice for any major retailer to set up shop. Plus, it has the added benefit of having the Target in close proximity increasing consumer choice and competition.

And don't get me wrong. I hate Walmart. I can't stand the place. I always feel like I need a shower after I leave one. It's obvious the employees hate their jobs. It's obvious the company promotes unethical business practices to keep their prices low. I hate that in their first foray into Mexico, they built a store practically atop the archaeologically priceless site of Teotihuacan. I lived in Austin when they built on the environmentally sensitive Barton Springs watershed despite thousands of protests from residents. I hate that all new Walmarts are built with a McDonald's in them as there's one company I like less than Walmart, and it's McDonald's. Yet, I can't not shop at Walmart from time to time. When you're on a budget or pressed for time, it's the best shopping option, even if it leaves you feeling unclean.

Energy Flow.pdf

This is an interesting graph that shows precisely how we source our energy, how we break it down by source and where we use it.

Also, this:

pecss_diagram1.pdf