July 2007 Archives

29 July 2007

Marvin Zindler, 1921-2007

It's a sad day for Houston and Texas journalism.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/29/07 19:47 | Other | Technorati |

Ten Second Review: Baba Yega

I've been meaning to try Baba Yega for years, but just never have.

We grabbed brunch there this morning, and it was a really good experience. The main Sunday brunch is a buffet with many quality offerings, along with chefs preparing omelets and waffles to order. Standard brunch drinks (Mimosa and Bloody Marys) seemed reasonably priced, although we settled for coffee (a dark, rich brew).

We used to hit Cafe Noche for brunch, before it went under. I think we've finally found a suitable replacement, for the occasional Sunday indulgence.

28 July 2007

Catch Jack Saunders and Rick Poss Sunday

My friend and guitarist extraordinaire Rick Poss will be playing with Jack Saunders at tomorrow's Houston Press Music Awards Showcase.

They play at 6 pm at Slainte Sunday.

Saunders is an old accomplished hand as Houston's folk/acoustic/songwriter scene goes, but I'm really looking forward to hearing Rick play (it's been a while). He's as smooth and precise as they come on guitar.

Incidentally, Rick's just finished a solo project of his own. I'm looking forward to giving it a listen.

UPDATE (07-29-2007): Rick sounded as good as ever. And Houston live music attendees were in their usual form, talking over the performance. The more I travel, the more I'm convinced that Houstonians are some of the rudest, most ill-mannered people anywhere.

Also of note: Downtown was overrun with pushy vagrants, but I didn't see a single cop. That says a lot about the current state of affairs in the city, really.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/28/07 23:23 | Music | Technorati | Comments (5)

He didn't just compare himself to Jesus?

Roy calls criticism unfair (Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

This Roy Williams is thrilled about his role in a defense that promises to use him more like the player he was at Oklahoma and in his first two seasons with the Cowboys.

And the Roy Williams who spoke after Friday's practice smiled, laughed and seemingly was understanding of his critics.

When asked if he ever tires of the seemingly endless criticism that is thrown his way, Williams said, "All the time. All the time. It's cool, though.... It's OK to get criticized. Jesus was criticized; he was persecuted. What makes me any different?"

Err, yeah, right.

I can't help but think that Jesus would be a significant upgrade in pass defense after watching Roy Williams try and fail at pass coverage in recent years.

Jesus probably wouldn't hit as hard as Roy, but I bet He would break up more passes.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/28/07 13:20 | Dallas Cowboys | Technorati | Comments (3)

The affluent society

Good news: The world gets better (John Stossel, RealClearPolitics.com)

Relative freedom and the astounding prosperity it yielded have created one of the most humane societies in history -- the opposite of what the opponents of economic freedom predicted.

We take that prosperity for granted, since most of us are victims of what's been called "pessimistic bias." Anything undesirable about our current circumstances is taken as evidence that times are getting worse. But times were much worse throughout history. Lindsey and other writers show that Americans (and many others in the world) are stunningly wealthy compared to even our recent ancestors.

This affluence isn't just for the "rich." As Lindsey told me recently, "Ordinary Americans, not just those at the top, enjoy a standard of living unmatched anywhere else on earth or at any other time."

But many Americans don't believe it.

Fire rages through Channelview apartments (Dale Lezon, Anita Hassan & Christina Wright, Houston Chronicle)

An insufficient water supply and high winds hampered efforts to put out a five-alarm apartment fire in Channelview that left more than 100 people homeless Friday night.
[snip]

The apartments are in a notoriously high-crime area, Mackey said. The complex, built in 1968, is comprised of several two-story buildings arranged around a large central courtyard.

[snip]

Katie Standish, who lived in one of the burned apartments with her twins and their father, said she lost a big-screen plasma TV, computers, iPods, cell phones, CDs, and all of her family photographs.

[snip]

David Vasquez, 22, said he lost all of his furniture, his television and other household items. The only thing that was insured, he said, was a big-screen TV.

As Lou Minatti points out, the apartment complex that was destroyed housed low-income residents. It's interesting, though, reading about some of the expensive, high-tech gear that was lost by some of the low-income residents.

I'm not highlighting that to cast aspersions on the choices of any of the residents, especially at a time of tragedy for them. Rather, I'm posting it only to draw attention to the article by John Stossel that I recently furled. In that article, Stossel basically points out that ours is the most affluent society in the history of man -- and yet, "many Americans" are in denial of the same (leading me, in the furl post, to label that group of "many Americans" idiots).

It seems like a hard thing to deny when even our low-income citizens can afford plasma televisions.

As I also noted in that furl post, I remember when my family's first VCR (a Zenith model, with fancy-at-the-time cable-ready tuner if I recall!) was a BIG DAMN DEAL. Now, we're talking multi-tuner DVRs and satellite television/radio and giant-screen plasma/lcd TVs -- available for the masses.

These are truly affluent times, no matter how many times we might hear it's the worst economy since Hoover.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/28/07 12:49 | Other | Technorati | Comments (1)

27 July 2007

New Orleans

Callie and I tripped over to New Orleans a couple of weekends ago.

I've finally posted the photos to Flickr.

It rained most of the weekend, and it only cleared just before dark one day, so the lighting is pretty horrible in some of the photos.

Nonetheless, it was a good time!

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/27/07 18:18 | Travel | Technorati | Comments (0)

25 July 2007

Finally

It's the opening of Dallas Cowboys training camp.

The long, bad time of year is over.

This should be a fun football season! (but then, football season is always fun)

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/25/07 14:49 | Sports | Technorati | Comments (1)

23 July 2007

A funny

I was poking around a bit over the weekend, looking at various Family Practice physicians in Yahoo Local, and ran across this listing.

Someone at Yahoo apparently has a good sense of humor, or an inclusive view of "alternative" medicine. :)

BTW, if any Houston reader has an inner-loop/near-inner-loop GP physician you would recommend, please shoot me an email or leave me a comment.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/23/07 10:35 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (1)

22 July 2007

Maybe that GOP "nuclear option" wasn't such a good idea after all!

Constant filibuster threat is tying Senate in knots (Margaret Talev, McClatchy Newspapers)

Senate Republicans this year are threatening filibusters to block more legislation than ever, a pattern that's rooted in — and could increase — the pettiness and dysfunction in Congress.

The trend has been evolving for 30 years. The reasons behind it are too complex to pin on one party. But it has been especially pronounced since the Democrats' razor-thin win in last year's election, giving them effectively a 51-49 Senate majority, and the Republicans' exile to the minority.

Seven months into the current two-year term, the Senate has held 42 "cloture" votes aimed at shutting off extended debate — filibusters, or sometimes only the threat of one — and moving to up-or-down votes on contested legislation. Under Senate rules that protect a minority's right to debate, these votes require a 60-vote supermajority in the 100-member Senate.

There's a possible lesson for State Senator Dan Patrick, who would abolish the Texas Senate's "blocker bill" mechanism, which serves a similar institutional purpose as the U.S. Senate's filibuster rules.

Majorities will come and go in our deliberative bodies, just like the political issues that may raise our passions at any given time. While minority obstruction can be frustrating if you're on the 59% side of a given political issue, conservatives really ought not to object to mechanisms designed to temper passions, force deliberation, and "refine and enlarge the public views."

Even if it means we don't get our appraisal caps as soon as we'd like!

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/22/07 13:42 | American Politics | Technorati | Comments (0)

21 July 2007

CrapTastic!

My IP address has switched from Roadrunner to Comcast now, but apparently I am not fully "upgraded" to Comcast yet (because I haven't gotten the big email switchover notification).

As per the test above, my download speeds are now roughly half of what they were before Craptast took over. My upload speeds are about triple what they were, though.

I ditched CrapTastic cable TV for Dish Network about a month ago, because the Comcast service kept going down and the picture quality had become terrible. Dish Network so far has been a great experience -- beautiful picture quality, better value for the money, nice DVR service.

I'm really close to ditching Comcast for internet as well, and taking a flyer on a company that says I qualify for 6M down DSL service (ATT keeps saying their max is 1.5M down).

UPDATE: Here are the test results for a more distant server:

That download speed is not good, given what CrapTast charges for their internet services. If this doesn't improve soon, it looks like I'll give DSL a try.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/21/07 12:35 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (4)

19 July 2007

An airline worse than Delta?

BA sat corpse in first class (Steven Swinford, Times)

A BRITISH Airways passenger travelling first class has described how he woke up on a long-haul flight to find that cabin crew had placed a corpse in his row.

The body of a woman in her seventies, who died after the plane left Delhi for Heathrow, was carried by cabin staff from economy to first class, where there was more space. Her body was propped up in a seat, using pillows.

The woman’s daughter accompanied the corpse, and spent the rest of the journey wailing in grief.

Paul Trinder, who awoke to see the body at the end of his row, last week described the journey as “deeply disturbing”, and complained that the airline dismissed his concerns by telling him to “get over it”.

Too many recent columns by people who aren't known to travel much who nonetheless blast on the travel experience this summer seem overwrought (and not borne of personal experience), but this is definitely a "deeply disturbing" travel incident.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/19/07 20:42 | Travel | Technorati | Comments (5)

18 July 2007

Better go for E-Harmony next time

How to recognize a batterer before it's too late (Dave Fehling, KHOU-11 News)

In another context, they’d look like a good match.

An attractive social worker and a fit, smiling personal trainer she met at the gym.

But now, John Dodd is accused of killing Terry Lee by setting her on fire during an argument at her home in Conroe.

It turns out, Dodd is a registered sex offender reportedly with a trail of two divorces and allegations he harassed and attempted to hurt former girlfriends.

Yes, in this particular context, "match" seems like a bad term to use.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/18/07 23:20 | Other | Technorati | Comments (0)

10 July 2007

A nice gift for baseball fans

WHAT'S THIS ABOUT A FREE PREVIEW? (Baseball Prospectus)

Most of our content is only available to those with a Baseball Prospectus Premium subscription. From July 9 to 15, however, everyone can access the great baseball content and stats that subscribers get year-round. Please click here for more information....

I'm not enough of an MLB fan to subscribe to these fantastic statistics, but I'm enough of a stat head to appreciate them opening up the thing.

Nice.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/10/07 21:10 | Sports | Technorati | Comments (1)

08 July 2007

Lodge Hibachi

I've had my eye on the cast-iron Hibachi-style grills made by Lodge for some time, but I finally bit the bullet and purchased one of the little guys today.

The steaks I grilled earlier to inaugurate thing really turned out nicely. I mainly wanted one of these for future Float and camping trips, but it may become my regular steak grill.

They're about half the manufacturer's list price at local Academy Sports stores.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/08/07 20:42 | Outdoors | Technorati | Comments (8)

07 July 2007

Ten Second Review: Nelore

We hit Nelore again last night.

We've been to the Montrose Churrascaria a number of times now, and have enjoyed each visit.

While the quality and number of meats served is just a notch below the better known Fogo de Chao in west Houston, we actually prefer the smaller, more intimate Nelore (not to mention the much shorter drive). The service is attentive, and the whole thing just feels like much less of a spectacle. And the beef dishes are quite yummy.

Be sure to go to this place hungry. It's a hell of a feast.

Today Is...

07-07-07

That is all.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/07/07 09:36 | Other | Technorati | Comments (3)

06 July 2007

Crash!

Car crashes into Southwest Houston store (KHOU-11 News)

Someone made an unexpected entrance into a Southwest Houston Food Mart when they drove their car right through the building on Friday morning.

The car was in the store parking lot when the driver hit the accelerator instead of the brake. The car drove all the way inside the store leaving severe damage and a huge hole in the wall. It happened in the intersection of Bellaire Street and Renwick.

The driver should have claimed Sudden Acceleration Syndrome and called a lawyer.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/06/07 12:03 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (0)

04 July 2007

Ten Second Review: Terlingua Border Cafe

We tried the Terlingua Border Cafe on Studemont earlier, after discovering that a number of preferred eateries were closed for the holiday.

As Houston Tex-Mex goes, Terlingua was well below average in all respects but price.

AVOID.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/04/07 20:07 | Houston | Technorati | Comments (3)

02 July 2007

Mentally retarded terrorists or Nashville record label execs?

Doug Supernaw sent back to mental hospital (KTRK-13 News)

Country music star Doug Supernaw has been sent back to the Rusk State Mental Hospital to continue his treatment before his upcoming trial.

Supernaw was arrested in Humble last November and charged with misdemeanor drug possession. He was also charged with evading arrest, but after he began talking about police conspiracies and being held captive in a Paris home for mentally retarded terrorists, the judge ordered a psychiatric exam. Today the judge determined he is not competent to stand trial and ordered him to undergo more treatment.

Mentally retarded terrorists? Are we sure those weren't just execs from his Nashville record label?

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/02/07 22:30 | Other | Technorati | Comments (1)

Glad he wasn't on my flight

Man kicked off Southwest flight for bomb threat (KHOU-11 News)

An elderly passenger was yanked from a Southwest Airlines flight in Houston Monday for making a reference to a bomb.

Officials say the man, 76, mentioned a bomb because he was mad his flight to St. Louis had been delayed for weather.

He won’t face charges for the incident, authorities said.

Why the hell not?

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/02/07 22:03 | Travel | Technorati | Comments (0)

Don't get in Abby's spot

Dear Abby: Woman throws tantrum to win parking spot (Houston Chronicle)

Dear Abby:

My husband and I were trying to park in a crowded downtown lot. The line of cars trying to get in wrapped around the block. Each car in line had to circle around until someone left because no parking spaces were available.

When we finally got to drive in, we drove to the only open spot. However, a woman had jumped out of a car that was still on the street and was standing in the spot to save it for her companion. My husband lowered the window and reminded her that because she did not have a vehicle, she was blocking traffic. She angrily told him that her car was "just around the corner" and threatened to call the cops if we didn't keep driving. My husband didn't raise his voice. He again asked her to move because she had cut in line.

Finally, after she began to go into a tirade, we gave up and circled for another 10 minutes until another spot opened. Was my husband out of line for asking her to move? What would you have done?

UNSURE OF THE RULES, Beasley

Dear Unsure:

Your husband was not out of line in asking the woman to move. She was nervy and wrong to block traffic and take advantage. And if the police had been summoned, they probably would have backed you up.

What would I have done in that situation? Had I been behind the wheel, I would have been tempted to very slowly continue parking my car until she either moved or I squashed her like a bug against the wall or the car in front. (That's why my husband does most of the driving when we're together.)

I think the old gal was hitting the bourbon when she wrote that one.

Hell, that one seemed more like Laurence's old Dear Abby is Full of Crap.

Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/02/07 21:39 | Other | Technorati | Comments (1)

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