dbigtex56

Now we're getting somewhere. The same thing applies to Tom DeLay and his crooked associates. His constituents should can his @$$ too, instead of trying to shout down a candidate who may bring honor back into his district.

Wow, I get to disagree with both of you...cool! According to an April 6 NYT article"across town, federal prosecutors weighed charging her in the case." So she's not in the clear yet. I hope they do prosecute her. And why wait for her constituents to deal with her? This is the reason that the Democratic party is seen as unorganized - the leaders should be demanding her immediate resignation, not only because of this incident but because the woman is visably a dull-witted boob. For Sheila Jackson Lee to stand at her side during Ms McKinney's 'apology' is a show of unity which has no merit. Ms McKinney has one issue, and one issue only: "Everyone's pickin' on me because I Am A Black Woman." When this turns out not to be the case, she awkwardly tried to initiate an incident, and (nearly) no one's buying into it. You, Ms McKinney are no Rosa Parks; Prissy is closer to it. Now let's get back to the Lampson demonstrators.

You've hit the nail on the head. I'm still learning human psychology, too. From what I've learned to this point, people tend to follow the crowd - unless they have sufficient knowlege and courage not to. An architectural example: I grew up in upstate New York, which is loaded with 19th century farmhouses, many of which were well-constructed of superior materials. In the 50s and 60s tract and manufactured housing (mobile homes) arrived on the scene. Because many were built on the cheap, they introduced such materials as aluminum and vinyl siding, textured ceilings, fake-wood paneling and artificial brick. Many owners of existing houses assumed that "new is better", and also bought into the dubious claims of zero maintenance made by the manufacturers of these products. So original hand-plastered walls were covered with Masonite fake paneling, hand-hewn clapboards covered with fake woodgrain vinyl, true divided light wood frame windows with flimsy, badly proportioned aluminum ones, high ceilings obscured by suspended ones. In some cases there were practical concerns; often it was done just to give the ol' place a facelift. Rather ironic that people seem to prefer the cheap and fake imitations to the genuine and irreplaceable originals.It's new, it cost money, it's different, it's the current style, so it has to be better...doesn't it? edit: The point (and I do have one) that I'm trying to make: this house has a stone facade. To replicate it would requre the use of expensive materials and skilled workmen. Instead the prospective buyers have asked for a material which is currently popular because it's cheap and any undocumented worker can slap it up in a day. Further, because the house wasn't built with this material in mind the stucco may cause future problems with the masonry. As I said earlier...AGGGH!

oops. Well, at least you're nice about it.

I was thinking more along the lines of a behind-the-scenes power broker. Now that he's unencombered by the ethical restraints imposed on elected officials (not that that ever slowed him down much) he's someone who can be paid as a consultant, or to reveal the dirt on a political opponant - whether inside or outside the Republican Party. He's not going to die a poor man.

The Road To Perdition (oh, wait...that one's been used) The Atkins Prairie Chicken Memorial Parkway The Big Yellow Taxi Tollroad (thank you, Joni Mitchell) Sprawl Speedway The Loopy Loop

In addition to the reasons listed by danax, stucco has rightfully earned a reputation as the material of choice for extremely low-end construction and renovation. Like pancake makeup, it can cover a multitude of sins - temporarily. Because it's cheap and easy to apply, stucco is used to conceal shoddy workmanship, termite damage, and cracks resulting from failed foundations. Not only does the original problem remain, it often is exacerbated because the stucco interferes with water drainage and the ability of a structure to 'breathe'. Remember those 'popcorn ceilings' which were popular a few years ago (and perhaps stiil are, in the more economically disadvantaged areas)? The whole point of them was that a contractor didn't have to do any prep work - just spray the crap over existing loose plaster, grime, spider webs and Gawd knows what all. The fact that they were impossible to paint and clean may have lead to their diminished popularity. I cannot imagine why anyone would purposely request this stuff to be sprayed on the beautiful stone facade shown in the picture, aside from ignorance. The sad part is that this 'remuddling' is so difficult to undo that it might doom the house from being brought back to its original condition by a subsequent owner.

Well, sure. Technology has done what otherwise would have been impossible, and the Earth is populated to a degree which would have been unthinkable even a hundred years ago. The point I think the professor is making is that huge populations will eventually fall. Due to factors we still do not understand (and perhaps never will) eventually something will come along to thin out the herd. By packing people into increasingly smaller spaces, and through unprecidented opportunities for travel, a new pathogen -whether it's bird flu, AIDS, Ebola or something yet discovered or evolved - has the opportunity to spread through dense populations and wipe them out at an unprecidented level and at dizzying speed. Those who have the dubious luck of surviving will have to rebuild whole economies, societies and political systems. What the professor is saying is that this isn't just possible - it's probable. I've seen no reasonable rebuttal. Think of the human misery. Is this really progress? Is it merciful? The Black Plague looks insignificant in comparison. Anther point: we've artifically bolstered the Earth's capacity to support human life at the expense of the Earth itself. Every day, species which we haven't even discovered or explored are rendered extinct. Human activity has undeniably done damage to some ecosystems - possibly to the climate itself. Natural resources which were once plentiful have become scarce. How many people do we need, anyway? Every life is precious, of course, but couldn't mankind reach its highest potential with fewer people? And won't those people - and the Earth itself - be better off? edit: Before anyone asks: yes, I've read Stephen King's The Stand. I've also read Huxley, Orwell and H. G. Wells. Society discounts the Futurists out of hand at its peril.

Some people look at the glass and see it as half empty. Some people look at the glass and see it as half full. And some people look at the glass and say "It's glass. It's probably going to get broken anyway, so why bother? Everything sucks. What a bunch of morons."

DeLay is far from done. He knows where all the bodies are buried and that still makes him an influential man. (....OMG...did I just disagree with RedScare?)

If anyone wants to share their recollections, perhaps we should move this to the Historic Houston section?

Any idea as to why the suites are listed seperately on HCAD?

Very interesting questions. I joined HAIF because of my interest in architecture. I wanted to learn more about the buildings which surround me in Houston, and to exchange ideas and opinions with like-minded people. For better or worse, 'pure' architecture does not exist in a vacuum. Factors such as flooding, demographics, the market, traffic and transportation, and even politics continue to determine what gets built. Because of this, discussions are easily sidetracked from what might be strictly regarded as relevant to architecture. Some of it, at times, is even entertaining. And much no longer applies to architecture by any stretch. My favorite posts continue to be those which display 'content', however that term might be defined. Moderators certainly have the ability to delete remarks which are not of general interest or lasting value - and this is regularly done on other sites. The tacit agreement among moderators here (most of us don't even know one another) is that only posts which are patently offensive or vulgar are edited or deleted. There are other occasions where moderation may be needed but for the most part, this forum has been largely self-regulating (for which I'm grateful). HAIF could attempt to restrict itself to informational posts, and regularly delete the rest. Will members be offended if their posts don't make the cut? Or will a more uncluttered format be welcome? I'd like to see HAIF continue to be a friendly, easy-going place to exchange ideas, but not to the point where people who have weightier things to contribute might be put off by the chatter. And I hope it doesn't become just another chatroom. Comments?

Yeah, the problem with us Mid Century Mods is that our plumbing gives out, and it makes us grumpy

Lampson's disadvantage is that he's fighting a ghost. Look for more incidents like this, because there's no one to hold the protesters accountable. If the Republicans had already named a candidate, it would be incumbant on him to denounce these tactics, or look like an ass himself. As it stands, Lampson is in an awkward position. If he ignores the protesters, he may be seen as being weak. If he tries to address them, he will be shouted down - and again, seen as weak. If he tries to outshout them, he has sunk to their level and people will remember his rudeness. Have any of you been to the Pig Stand on Washington Ave? They have a sign (I paraphrase) "Please do not argue with the Waitresses. By the time you're rolling in the mud with them, you'll realize that this is what they enjoy." Maybe Lampson needs to bring some Pig Stand waitresses to his press conferances.

Has DeLay condemnned the protesters attacks? And who should ask him to do so? This is a chess match, but one not played by gentlemen.

Enough. Further posts in this vein will be deleted.

Read the article: Council members voted unanimously to approve the contract, praising Rambo for using a transparent process and creating a project that will pay for itself. The meters, tested in downtown last year, will be paid for with revenue they collect. "This is what taxpayers want ... a project like this that is fiscally sound," said Councilman Adrian Garcia.

Is that Micheangelo's postcard dated? I'd put it at 1967-69. Hope Lower Westheimer can once again have as vital a street life. If we can persuade people to step out of their townhomes onto the street (instead of into their cars) perhaps it can happen.

You're right, he was. Unfortunately, he had prior commitments I'm not in the business but I believe that a news director determines the direction and content of the newscast. While Rather, Jennings and Brokaw all did great work with reporters in the field, today's anchors pretty much do the Ted Baxter thing and read it off a teleprompter. Ever see Elizabeth Vargas?

How's this slogan?: You don't know THE HAIF of it!

They could choose Carrot Top for all I care. It's the content that counts. But news directors tend not to be household names...

Took a trip to visit the small town where I grew up, and also to NYC, where I stayed in the East Village. When I returned, a friend was looking at one of my photos and said (rather dismissively) "Yeah, that looks like every small town in America." Funny thing is, it was taken on Ave. A. You don't get much more 'urban' than that. Skyscrapers make for pretty skylines, and bragging rights, and to serve as landmarks in cities. Much of their other attractions can be understood by reading the works of Freud.

I just have one word: AGGGH! There's been so many materials that were developed presumably for the sole purpose of screwing up nice architecture. First it was asphalt shingles Then it was asbestos shingles. Then it was aluminum siding. Then, vinyl siding. But the worst by far is this horrible stucco. Can't a 501c(3) or something be started to educate people, before it spreads any further?

Isn't that building located in the 'dry' portion of the Heights?