11.30.05
Posted in News at 12:32 am by Paloma Cruz
Hurricane season finally ending, but next year could be bad, too
– reported by KTRK ABC Channel 13
The busiest and costliest Atlantic hurricane season on record officially — and mercifully — draws to a close Wednesday, with hundreds of thousands of Americans still dealing with the devastation wrought by Katrina, Rita and Wilma.
Despite the end of the June 1-to-Nov. 30 season, hurricanes could still form over the next few months. In fact, a tropical storm took shape in the Atlantic on Tuesday. But no hurricane has been known to hit the United States between December and May.
[snip]
The relief may not last very long: Forecasters say 2006 could be another brutal year, because the Atlantic is in a period of frenzied hurricane activity that began in 1995 and could last at least another decade.
Government hurricane experts say the increase is due to a natural cycle of higher sea temperatures, lower wind shear and other factors, though some scientists blame global warming.
[snip]
So, I guess I need to have my hurricane kit ready in May.
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Posted in News at 12:31 am by Paloma Cruz
Galveston Mardi Gras celebration bigger than ever this year
– reported by KTRK ABC Channel 13
The good times will roll for regulars and newcomers. The upcoming Mardi Gras celebration on Galveston Island is expected to be bigger and better than ever before. Just as Texas opened its doors to thousands of New Orleans evacuees, Galveston will be putting on an extra special show this next year to make sure they feel right at home.
[snip]
Mardi Gras festivities will start on February 17 and continue until Fat Tuesday on February 28.
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Posted in News at 12:30 am by Paloma Cruz
I’ve read so many stories about boutiques that do well by going online. This story, about an online store that finally added a retail location, captured my attention because it’s ecommerce in reverse, sort of…
Dot-com boutique opens retail storefront
– reported by the Houston Business Journal
An organic aromatherapy boutique is going from a solely online venture to a bricks-and-mortar location in the Montrose area.
Florapathics, located at 2015 West Alabama, offers customers organic lotions, shower gels, massage oils, soaps and soy candles, as well as spa services such as hot stone massages, reflexology and body polishes.
[snip]
Sounds interesting. I think I’ll add this to my shopping list for this weekend.
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11.27.05
Posted in News at 12:54 am by Paloma Cruz
From a pure sports perspective, I don’t care about this. I do, however, know that everything that can bring in tourists, etc., into Houston means more money for the city. So here’s some good news.
- Bayou Classic comes to Houston — reported by KHOU CBS Channel 11(2). “What is big about the Bayou Classic coming to Reliant Stadium is the amount of revenue it could potentially bring. And the city and businesses are playing the economic game.”
- Bayou Classic also an evacuee; New Orleans’ football tradition lands at Reliant Park — reported by the Houston Chronicle(1). “Adjusting to the move on the fly — the final decision to move to Reliant Park wasn’t made until the end of September — has presented many challenges, Weaver said, at the same time conceding it was something of a godsend for her. She attended Houston public schools through the 10th grade, earned her master’s degree at Texas Southern and most of her extended family still lives in the area. Weaver even owns a home here.”
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Reminders:
- Houston Chronicle links expire after a few days because they’re archived. If you want to access these articles after that, you either have to be a subscriber or go to the Houston Public Library and access the database using your Library Power Card.
- KHOU CBS Channel 11 requires a registration, free.
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11.26.05
Posted in News at 10:56 pm by Paloma Cruz
- Eighteen-year-old high school student sworn in as mayor — reported by KTRK ABC Channel 13. “Sessions, an 18-year-old senior, became the city’s youngest mayor on Monday when he took the oath of office. The crowd included city residents, photographers and dozens of video cameras — some from news agencies as far away as Russia and Japan.”
- Study: Coffee, decaf or not, no threat to health — reported by the Houston Chronicle(1). “The 187 volunteers were put into three groups: no coffee, 3 to 6 cups a day of regular, or 3 to 6 cups of decaf. Coffee was consumed black, no cream or sugar. Diet surveys were taken for a week at the beginning and the end so researchers could evaluate whether changes in eating habits might have affected results. The result: decaf drinkers had modestly higher levels — 8 to 18 percent — of fatty acids and precursors of LDL or bad cholesterol than the others.”
- Balloon injures two spectators at Thanksgiving Parade — reported by KTRK ABC Channel 13. “A giant balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade snagged a street light and caused part of it to fall, injuring a woman and a child, eyewitnesses said. The accident marred the holiday celebration but proved to be far less serious than a similar one eight years ago that critically injured a woman and prompted changes in parade rules.”
- That black cloud over retail has brightened — reported by the Houston Chronicle(1). “According to a Shopping in America survey, 28 percent of the country’s consumers will start their holiday shopping today, while 77 percent will begin their Christmas shopping some time before the end of November.”
- ZOOMING IN ON BARGAINS Stores ’swamped’ with early birds; Retailers worked to renew spark of traditional shopping day — and Houstonians bought it — reported by the Houston Chronicle(1). “Retailers won’t release their Black Friday sales figures until after the weekend. The day after Thanksgiving got the name Black Friday because it traditionally marks the day retailers ‘get back in the black,’ or show a profit, for the year.”
- GM to cut 30,000 manufacturing jobs — reported by KTRK ABC Channel 13. “General Motors Corp. will eliminate 30,000 manufacturing jobs and close nine North American assembly, stamping and powertrain plants by 2008 as part of an effort to get production in line with demand.”
- Ford To Cut About 4,000 Jobs In North America — reported by Click2Houston.com. “Ford Motor Company plans to eliminate about 4,000 jobs in North America early next year.”
- GM cutting 30,000 jobs, closing 12 facilities — reported by the Houston Chronicle(1). “General Motors Corp., pounded by declining sales and rising health care costs, said today it will cut more than a quarter of its North American manufacturing jobs and close 12 facilities by 2008.”
- Holiday shopping frenzy results in some scuffles and injuries — reported by KTRK ABC Channel 13. “Retailers’ spirits have improved in recent weeks as gasoline prices have fallen. In fact, on Tuesday National Retail Federation upgraded its holiday growth forecast to 6 percent from the 5 percent it announced in September.”
- Officers use pepper spray to control shoppers — reported by KTRK ABC Channel 13. “Beaumont police say pepper spray was used to control a crowd of Wal-Mart shoppers early Friday morning. About 200 people lined up outside the store before its 5am opening, many there for a laptop computer that was on sale.”
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Reminders:
- Houston Chronicle links expire after a few days because they’re archived. If you want to access these articles after that, you either have to be a subscriber or go to the Houston Public Library and access the database using your Library Power Card.
- KHOU CBS Channel 11 requires a registration, free.
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Posted in News at 1:10 am by Paloma Cruz
In case you missed it, red light cameras went active in Houston. Here’s some coverage from the media and the blogosphere:
- Some believe red light cameras cause more wrecks — reported by KHOU CBS Channel 11(2). “Monday morning, cameras began snapping pictures of people’s vehicles that run a red light at certain Houston intersections. Those four cross streets are San Jacinto at Texas, Milam at Jefferson, Milam at McGowen and Travis at McGowen. After Jan. 1, the cameras will multiply – 10 by January, and 50 by spring.”
- Traffic cameras ready to catch violators — reported by KTRK ABC Channel 13. “The city will start using cameras at area intersections to photograph red light runners on Monday. The trial period was supposed to start November 1, but the paperwork wasn’t all signed. For the first 30 days, motorists caught running the red lights will be sent a warning by Houston Police. After 30 days, the red light runners will be sent an official ticket, including a picture of the car and the license plates.”
- Red light cameras turned on today — reported by KTRK ABC Channel 13. “Police are keeping most of the locations secret from drivers. For anyone caught running a red light over the next 30 days, the vehicle’s registered owner will get a warning in the mail. In January, tickets will be sent out instead.”
- Red light cameras are here; are speed cameras next? — found on blogHOUSTON. “Since the city and HPD didn’t lengthen yellow light times — which has proven to reduce red light running much more than cameras — we know this is NOT about safety. It’s about revenue. If it really was about safety, Mayor White would have followed through on his promise to two councilmembers to check out yellow light times.”
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Reminders:
- Houston Chronicle links expire after a few days because they’re archived. If you want to access these articles after that, you either have to be a subscriber or go to the Houston Public Library and access the database using your Library Power Card.
- KHOU CBS Channel 11 requires a registration, free.
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11.20.05
Posted in News at 8:15 pm by Paloma Cruz
More old news for you.
New park will provide downtown oasis
– reported by KHOU CBS Channel 111
[snip]
The city government and a private conservancy plan to develop the land into a new urban park complete with two restaurants, fountains, and ponds with boats — and maybe underground parking.
“There’ll be a puppet theater. There’ll be a multi-purpose ampitheater for evening movies, for music, for all kinds of events,” said Mary Margaret Jones, landscape architect. “There’ll be gardens and within the gardens, there’ll be bacchi courts and a putting green.”
So within two years, something more than empty land and empty park benches should await the downtown office workers who come here for lunch and the familes who come here to visit.
[snip]
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Reminders:
- KHOU CBS Channel 11 requires a registration, free.
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Posted in News at 8:13 pm by Paloma Cruz
More old news.
Red light cameras installed at intersections next week
– reported by KTRK ABC Channel 13
[snip]
The city of Houston is installing them at five of the most dangerous intersections in hopes of reducing the number of accidents. The testing phase begins November 1. During that time, offenders will receive only a warning in the mail. But starting in January, warnings will be replaced by a $75 ticket.
[snip]
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Posted in News at 8:13 pm by Paloma Cruz
More old news.
Houston companies score big on national rankings
– reported by the Houston Business Journal
Thirty-two Texas companies, including nine from Houston, have earned a spot on New York-based Inc. magazine’s 24th annual Inc. 500 list.
The Inc. 500 ranks the fastest-growing private companies in the country according to cumulative year-over-year sales growth from 2001 to 2004.
In terms of the number of companies ranking on the list, Texas places fourth.
[snip]
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Posted in News at 8:12 pm by Paloma Cruz
Catching up on old news.
TX leads nation in families at risk for hunger
– reported by KTRK ABC Channel 13
A higher percentage of Texas households were at risk of going hungry over the past three years than in any other state. That’s according to data released today by the US Agriculture Department.
The USDA report says that between 2002 and 2004, more than 16 percent of Texas households were food insecure, meaning that at some point they had trouble providing enough food for all their family members.
In nearly five percent of Texas households, at least one family member went hungry at least one time during that period because they couldn’t afford enough food. That’s the fourth-highest rate in the country.
[snip]
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