VicMan

in Japan, private transportation is more expensive than it is here which results in more people using public transportation. with the density there, the public transportation is more efficient which is another factor.

Exactly - It's just like New York City.

As a consequence of being a society with public transportation as king, the Japanese people tend to have slimmer physiques.

That's sad...lots of memories associated with that place. I remember going there when it first opened, and it was definitely the nicest theater around. Prior to its opening, we used to go to the theater at Meyerland Plaza or the Bellaire theater (both of which are also history). I can't remember the last time I visited AMC Meyer Park, but it must have been at least 10 years ago...

I went to Meyer Park several times during its final days.

* There was a time when the sound didn't work, and I had to flag a technician in order to get the sound working.

* There were few patrons, and the patrons seemed like they mainly came from apartments.

* Employees told me that the theater had the possibility of being closed.

Really? I like walking because it gives me exercise and it allows my family to save money that would be normally earmarked for gasoline (and hence, I become wealthier ).

I noticed, when I visited Japan, that very few Japanese (at least in Tokyo, Yokohama, and Kyoto) had potbellies because public transportation and walking factor into the daily lives of the Japanese.

If Americans took more public transportation and walked more often, less obesity would plague the US. Unfortunately, TheNiche is correct that a lot of people are unwilling to inconvenience themselves by using less quick modes of transportation.

No, that's not the moral of the story. If I can find a way to become wealthier, I'll probably increase my use of gasoline (and other goods and services that use oil-based products). And I'll be happier for it, because...

...I have no symbolic goals based in principle...

...and while is is possible to reduce consumption, I'd just rather go to the effort to earn money so that I can afford to spend it being comfortable and lazy. Laziness is the greatest motivator! Strange but true.

Even if there was gouging, Pump, reducing your consumption will force the companies to lower gas prices anyway when they find that less gas is being sold.

Also, kids, use carpooling, or, if you go to school, try to take the school district transportation. Also METRO operates bus services to several high schools in the area.

* By the way, my parents often drove me to school (and in the second semester of grade 11, I started driving to school) - So, I did NOT follow the advice given in this sentence.

The only LOGIC I see is that pretty much during Bush's presidential term, gas has been high, and, like this past election, gas gets really cheap just before voting time in early November, and even though gas at that time was in the lower to mid $60 per barrel, gas was around $2.00 to $2.20, that makes no sense. They only do that so that people can forget that the Republicans are greedy.

It is possible to reduce consumption, though. I found that people drive unneeded miles.

* Drive to the local library? Take a 15-minute walk instead

* Drive to an establishment along a bus or train route? Take the bus or train.

* If there is heat, put on deodorant, carry a drink, use sunscreen, wear sunglasses, and carry an umbrella

* If you are traveling to either Houston airport with little luggage, find a way to take the METRO express buses.

* Press your representatives to develop train routes so that driving is not as necessary in Houston

Valero (VLO) is based in San Antonio. It is owned by anyone willing to buy shares on the New York Stock Exchange.

Also, most cities have a single or very few gasoline depots, connected at a hub of products pipelines, and owned by one corporation or another (usually not a corporation that is also a refiner). The pipelines tend to send batches from different refineries, and each batch of the same refined product gets mixed together in storage before being distributed by truck to gas stations that are owned primarily by U.S. citizens...yes, U.S. citizens own the Citgo stations.

Vic is correct. The entire oil industry is incestuous and the only way to hurt Venezuala is to not buy gasoline (or for that matter, use any goods or services made possible as a result of refined hydrocarbons). That is to say, unless you join a commune, you can't. ...and if you DO join a commune, perhaps you'd be a better pawn of socialism by helping Venezuala and using oil-based products. I'm not sure. The whole discussion is screwy.

I am not talking about GAS CONSUMPTION at all ! ! ! I am talking about WHERE you buy your gas. By all means, by all the gas you need, buy all the Ethanol you need, just don't buy from stores owned by the Venezuelan Govt.

At the very least, perhaps our Government should seize control of ALL 14 refineries owned by Valero, and those owned by Citgo and distribute them out to Conoco and Chevron and Exxon, since they lost their refineries in Venezuela ?

Yes, but if Citgo is boycotted completely (this hasn't happened), then Citgo will have unsold gasoline while the other outlets have increased demand. Citgo would find other buyers easily (including other gasoline suppliers).

Remember that a boycott of one gas supplier will only accomplish symbolic goals, and not practical goals.

The "smooth and gentle" kind of racism is often the most dangerous and it is exactly the kind I was referring to in my previous posts on this topic, the kind I have frequently encountered myself and which I believe can be the most damaging. So "smooth and gentle" that you often don't know what hit you.

I understand completely why you decided to walk instead of pushing the envelope to buy a house in RO.

Sometimes you simply have to adopt a motto I've coined: The days of saving people from themselves are over. Even though I'm not a Houstonian, I hope you enjoy Houston, a city I'm hoping to relocate to in the near future.

Not to mention that it is hard to prove and detect.

Edwards or the Greenway, both in Greenway Plaza.

By the way, remember that the Edwards is the area large, traditional first showing theater, while Landmark Greenway is a small, art house theater.

EDIT for 2008: Greenway has closed!

Actually, I wasn't talking about shifting when to buy gas (I.E. that "boycott") - I was talking about cutting gas consumption, period. (Ride METRO, walk, ride a bike, press your leaders for heavy rail and light rail, et al).

I laugh when anyone suggests it, you only hurt the convenience store owner, because everyone will just buy the gas the day before or the day after.

I am all for using less, but in the mean time, if we have plenty, there is no reason for $60 barrel oil $3 gas/gallon.

I know other countries have it worse than us, even now, but Venezuela still pays only like $0.40 a gallon.

We should have something in the middle.

I'd be happy with a $1.50 again, realistically, maybe $2.00, but not $2.50 or $3.00.

According to this: http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/saudigas.asp - There is no way to know EXACTLY where oil comes from - I.E. Snopes states that some Russian middlemen sold Iraq oil. Again, the best way to solve this is to cut consumption, period.

The thing is Vic, you gotta start somewhere, and if you KNOW where your money is going, doesn't it make it that much easier to say NO! ???

Also, guys, if anyone tells you that you can influence prices if you consume the same amount of gasoline but buy only a few gallons at a time, that is false as well: http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/eggs.asp

Also, this 2005 article ( http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/hess.asp ) states that Hess does not buy Middle Eastern oil, but that has nothing to do with the fact that Hess was founded by a Jewish man: this was simply because Hess had no exploration facilities there. Remember, though, that:

* The article is outdated, as it was last published in 2005

* Hess does not have a contract stating that it cannot buy Middle Eastern gas

* If too many people patronized Hess, Hess would either have to raise prices or buy gas from oil companies that drill in the Middle East (referring to other articles)

Again, reduce consumption if you wish to stop sending money to Venezuela or the Middle East.

The moral of the story is that one must reduce the consumption of gasoline, period.

I also found this: http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/saudigas.asp

This was last updated on March 16, 2005. I.E. it is somewhat outdated. Yet, it is still useful to explaining more about the oil industry.

Also, it points out that, even if the USA suddenly stopped taking OPEC oil, there are other countries, such as Japan, that take OPEC oil.

I am new to the area, where do residents of Westbury and Meyerland go to see movies now that the AMC is closed?

I would assume that they, especially the wealthier residents, to go to the Edwards Grand Palace in the area near Upper Kirby.

Also, check this out: http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/gasout.asp

"Economics Prof. Pat Welch of St. Louis University says any boycott of "bad guy" gasoline in favor of "good guy" brands would have some unintended (and unhappy) results."

And: "The only way of reducing gasoline prices is through the straightforward means of buying less gasoline, not a simple and painless scheme of just shifting where we buy it. The inconvenience of driving less is a hardship too many people apparently aren't willing to endure, however."

As a reply, TJones, that won't help. The oil industry is too incestuous.

This Snopes article explains why - Please read it: http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/citgo.asp

"Many different oil companies buy crude oil from Venezuela, so even Americans who shun CITGO brand gasoline have no guarantee that they aren't still sending money to that country."

There is a great movie called "The Last Chase", NOT the Charlie Sheen craparama "The Chase" filmed here in Houston, this one stars Burgess Meredith and Lee Majors. It's about a retied race car driver in a world where no PRIVATE motor vehicles are allowed anymore, and Lee goes out for one more run in his old Can Am racer. A definate B-Flick, but not bad for 1981, here's a link : http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0082642/plotsummary

Puma, I actually understand why you started this ranting thread, I would love to be back at $2.00 a gallon, or even back to $0.77 like back in 1987, until enough people have had enough, and get there congressman involved, nothing will change.

Now, you got Russia making an AK-47 plant in Venenzuela for Chavez, you got Iranians running the petroleum plants that Chavez just took over. The first thing we as a people need to do is stop buying Valero and Citgo gas instantly, NO MORE STOP AND GO people, you are giving Chavez your money to buy Russian armament. If everyone stopped buying by at least HALF from these stores, it would force Chavez to lower the gas price , staggering the rest of those greedy, excuse me, capitalist oil companies.

Puma, oil is in bed with politics. I believe it is so much intertwined with politics that politics shops for all of oil's clothes now

The "Energy Crisis" in the 1970s had everything to do with politics, for instance. Fear of disrupted oil supplies (I.E. the confrontation with Iran, which is an oil producing state and a member of OPEC) drives prices up.

Okay, what in the world did the recent event with the British Navy being capture by Iran have anything to do with energy. Were supplies distrupted, oil rigs damaged, were refinery employees so worried that they could not work?

Something that was political should have never effect the energy market.

Especially when output remain constant and no changes to oil production occured, just lame fears.

I spoke with an executive with Whole Foods recently, and she said that their growth strategy is going to focus on 80,000 sq ft or larger stores - no more "little ones" like Kirby or Bellaire.

She said that means, with the exception of the one scheduled for the Eatzi's location, new stores in affluent burb areas. According to her there are NO PLANS, and I say again NO PLANS, for a store in downtown, Midtown, or anywhere near the Heights.

So, someone get that Trader Joe's letter writing campaign cranked back up.

Kingwood would be a great location for a Whole Foods.

I didn't even know they were closing.

Me neither - until I drove by today and saw the "AMC" sign taken down and the words "theater closed" on the sign.

I can't say I am surprised that the AMC closed. The theater started losing patrons when Edwards opened. I remember when the screen had no picture and a technician had to fix it.

Speaking of changing demographics, this article about Galveston ISD states that the population of Hispanics is increasing while the population of African-Americans is declining: http://blogs.galvnews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=aacab3c3ce24f0d1

Upon checking district demographics, I found that La Marque ISD is majority African-American. I wonder if many of the African-Americans from Galveston are moving to La Marque.

La Marque High School: http://www.schooldigger.com/go/TX/schools/...941/school.aspx

Ball High School (Galveston): http://www.schooldigger.com/go/TX/schools/...996/school.aspx

1. As of the last count, Spring ISD was plurality African-American. SISD is not majority Black as 39% is less than 50%. SISD has 33% Hispanic, 23% White, 5% Asian, and <1% Native American: http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/tx/district_profile/955

Aldine ISD is majority Hispanic: 61% Hispanic, 32% African-American, 5% White, 2% Asian, <1% Native American: http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/tx/district_profile/83

Houston ISD is majority Hispanic: 58% Hispanic, 30% African-American, 9% White, 3% Asian, and <1% Native American: http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/tx/district_profile/499

Klein ISD is plurality White: 49% White, 27% Hispanic, 15% African-American, 8% Asian, and <1% Native American: http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/tx/district_profile/561

to sum it up...whites live in an area, blacks follow, whites move, blacks dominate for a short time, hispanics then move in droves to the now black area, blacks then move back with the whites, whites then move again...

basically, that's the story of Loop 610 to the Woodlands....Jeff Davis, Northline, etc. were white, blacks then moved in and now Aldine ISD is the white district, blacks get rezoned there from Acres Home and eventually move into the area, whites then move out to Spring while hispanics are closely making their way up I-45

Aldine ISD and HISD are now predominately hispanic and Spring ISD is now majority black as blacks have made their way up 1960 which leads to growth in Klein ISD and The Woodlands for whites.

With public transportation non-existant way out there past 1960 now..don't know when the next shift will occur but they are developing the other side of Conroe...

The AMC Meyer Park has CLOSED! It's toast, folks!

Houstonians don't know how good they have it with grocery stores. Krogers, Randalls, Rice Epicureans, Whole Foods, HEBs and their Central Market, Fiesta are all decent to incredible stores.

Houston wins big time compared to the Boston grocery scene.

Also include the lower budget chains and other chains such as Gerlands Food Fair (http://www.gerlands.com/locations.htm), Davis Food City ( http://davisfoodcity.com/ ), Foodarama, Sellers Bros., and Food Town.

GSU, what neighborhoods are you trying to get into?

I am a California native and totally understand what your saying. People in Houston love to scream about diversity. But I find here, $$ alone wont get you in. That's what I appreciate about Cali. At least if I had the $$ and means to get into a neighborhood, I could. Here, no. And if you do get into a neighborhood you apprantely have "no business in" - It will be a cold reception (I know this for a fact, living it now).

I once had a Mr. Bill shirt that one of my sister's friends gave me. My mom made that into a T-shirt quilt along with several other shirts.

It is hard to believe that Houston's finest neighborhood is still so backward. Sorry Calikid had such a bad experience. As a Black male who once lived in the Hollywood Hills the racial attitude in Houston is totally different than LA, on the west coast your money, fame or both will take you to wherever you want to be. My friends here find it very hard to believe that thousands of Black homeowners live in Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Hancock Park and other areas of La where the homes start at over $2, 000, 000 and they aren't celebrities either. It is even harder for those who never visited the west coast to believe that so call black ghetto areas of LA aren't really all black. Watts and Compton are more than 60% Hispanic, Asian and White, integrated "ghettos" Houston's Finest would just faint!

In 2000, the super neighborhood containing Afton Oaks and River Oaks, 23, had this: http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/nbhd_svc...rInfo/SN_23.htm

* 12,273 Whites

* 1,160 Hispanics

* 390 Asians

* 247 African-Americans

* 189 Two or more races

* 23 Other non-Hispanic races

* 18 Native Americans

* 13 Native Hawaiians

Yes but most of the West U kids I know all went to Lamar with me and the River Oaks kids I went to private school in middle school with continued in private school for high school. They don't go to HISD, even with the IB program at Lamar. A few do, but majority are at St. Johns, Kinkaid, etc. Right Kinkaid?

I'm not sure how many RO kids go to Lamar - I've known a few who do/did. My sister's high school best friend and fellow member of the Rangerettes lived in River Oaks. There was also a kid who moved from my neighborhood to RO who went to my high school (No, I didn't go to Lamar).

The strange aspect here is that River Oaks and West U are assigned to the same comprehensive high school (Lamar).

I do think that some people in River Oaks and its social and civic entities are old school in their thinking for the most part about integration, etc. Didn't they just allow Jews to become members of The River Oaks Country Club in recent years? My parents house hunted there in the very early 70s and were also not welcomed with a very warm reception they said. They are 2 different ethnicities, Israeli and American. They bought in West U instead, where you actually know and see your neighbors, kids play in their front yards and ride their bikes around the neighborhood and to school. You don't see much of that in River Oaks, besides that the houses are so far apart and often set way back on lots and with private drives. I guess its nice for privacy though.