Arson is temporarily banned in Texas

Driving down the freeway this morning I saw this displayed on those electronic highway signs:I assume that once we get some much-needed rain, the arson ban will be lifted.

What's eating Al?

Good God almighty, someone please tell Al Gore that eating your way to the White House is not a sound political strategy.

I wish I knew how to acquit you

Finally, the photos of Bush and Abramoff surface. And here we all thought they might be something scandalous.As Jon Stewart said the other night, thank God there was no nudity.

Houston 1836: What's your take?

How does Houston 1836 grab you? For better or worse, it really is the name chosen for the city's Major League Soccer team.

In case you're scratching your head, wondering where on Earth such a name came from, think the Alamo, Sam Houston and the birth of a city — and a name sprinkled with a touch of European flavor.

The name's main reference is the year Houston was founded by John and Augustus Allen on the banks of Buffalo Bayou. It also marks the year Texas declared its independence from Mexico, the Battle of the Alamo and the defeat of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's Mexican army at the hands of General Sam Houston in the Battle of San Jacinto during the Texas Revolution.

Houston 1836 will begin the MLS season on April 1 and will use the University of Houston's Robertson Stadium as its home.

Please post your take on the newly named Houston 1836?

That's hot...

Just when I've kicked my pricey and calorie-laden Starbucks habit, along comes a new selection of coffees for me to find irresistible. A very nifty coffee concept from Wolfgang Puck has me tempted to stray.

The new beverage makes coffee consumption a breeze thanks to a self-heating mechanism. Now, I'm no science whiz but I can tell you that when you push a button on the bottom of the can, crushed limestone and water mix to create a natural reaction which heats up the can's core. It takes six to eight minutes for the coffee get hot, and it stays that way for 30 minutes.

The coffee comes in French Vanilla, Mocha, Caramel and Espresso latte flavors and is available at Randall's and Kroger. The cans cost about $2 and while the taste isn't quite the level of Starbucks, the convenience and novelty of the product makes it worth checking out. And, I'm sure it's only a matter of time before every other hot beverage finds its way into one of these new cans.

A guide to men's resale shops

Not many men swing open their closet doors and moan, "I have nothing to wear!" But for those who do, heading to a resale shop instead of the mall can be a smart way to build a wardrobe without breaking the budget.

Men's resale shops aren't as common as those that cater to women, but Houston does have a few worth hitting. The upscale Men's Resale by the Village feels like any regular specialty store. Suits, slacks, jeans, button-down shirts, tuxedos, shoes and accessories fill the well-organized racks and shelves. Like other resale-store owners, Lily Lee accepts only high-quality items, which have been dry-cleaned, and she has a sharp eye for designer labels.

Shops like Men's Resale by the Village offer brand-name labels without the high prices.

"We take things that are in excellent condition," Lee said. "We also have people who bring in items that have never been worn, so there is a lot to choose from."

On a recent day, Lee received a slew of chinos from a local designer who wasn't able to sell them through local department stores. Lee priced the pants at $50, but they could have easily retailed for $200.

Suits in a range of sizes are another find. Armani, Zegna, Neiman Marcus and Calvin Klein are among the labels, and Lee said that the owners of M. Penner, a fine men's clothing store, are among the consigners at her store.

Most suits range from $59 to $99. Casual pants are $8 to $18, dress slacks run from $10 to $25. Watches are $45 to $68 and cuff links range from $19 to $35.

Lee splits the profits with the consigner 60/40, and pays monthly. The clothing needs to be clean, on hangers and from better department stores such as Foley's and Dillard's or other recognized labels. She won't accept items from discount or midpriced stores such as Sears or JC Penney.

Another men's resale option is the Red Door, also in the Rice Village. Women will find more than men, but tucked into the back of the store is a selection of men's suits and tuxedos. Brand-new dress shirts hang from the racks at a fraction of the cost finer department stores charge.

For contemporary clothing choices, Fashion Recycler on Westheimer is a hip resale shop that sells denim, pants and shirts. Much of the store's inventory is seasonal overstock from manufacturers that has never been worn.

Details: Men's Resale by the Village, 2437 Bissonnet. 713-522-5645.

Details: Red Door, 2532 Nottingham. 713-522-4343.

Details: Fashion Recycler, 1529 Westheimer. 713-529-7463.

Bad news on bird flu

Reuters reports: "The H5N1 avian influenza virus can survive for more than a month in bird droppings in cold weather and for nearly a week even in hot summer temperatures."

This is from the World Health Organization and strikes me as very bad news. It's one thing to get sick handling dead birds -- an activity easily avoided by many, particularly children. It's another threat entirely to have deadly virus hanging out in bird excrement, upping the odds of human exposure.

This article from USA Today puts into perspective fears of bird flu coming here:

There are no regular migratory bird pathways from Asia to the United States, but Pacific flyway birds can occasionally make it across Siberia to Alaska. It is conceivable that H5N1 could show up in Alaska and from there make its way down the West Coast or across Canada, (but) there is much less contact between migratory birds and poultry in the U.S. than in Asia. The chance of a bird flu circulating among our poultry is much less than in Asia.

All it needs is a halftime show

The closer we get to the Enron trial, the more it seems like another Super Bowl. First, there's the massive influx of reporters from around the world to offer up day-by-day coverage. Now, we find out the whole event starts with a coin toss to determine field position. Maybe Judge Sim Lake has a whistle and a robe with white stripes....

Oh baby, dance with me

I've got "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" stuck in my head. Seriously stuck. It's been in there for two days now. If it doesn't go away, I'll have to dig it out with a fork.

Oh everybody have fun tonight
Everybody have fun tonight
Everybody wang chung tonight
Everybody have fun tonight
Everybody wang chung tonight
Everybody have fun

Damn, it's catchy.

Mr. Echo - LOST

Mr. Echo's backstory has been the most interesting on Lost so far. For those that may have missed it, tonight on Lost we learned that Mr. Echo led the most evil former life of all the survivors. Even worse than Sayid.

Mr. Echo is a Nigerian who lead a brutal squad of narco-terrorists, kidnapping children and murdering anyone in his path. His brother was a Catholic priest who tried to save Mr. Echo, but due to various complications was on board the "heroin plane" that had crashed. Mr. Echo found his body, burned the plane, then made peace with himself. Mr. Echo has been saved.

We also got to see The Monster tonight. It is a black cloud of smoke. Mr. Echo met it head on, and for some reason The Monster backed off.

Wonders never cease....Levi's introduces iPod-compatible jeans

With a joystick remote control built into the watch pocket, the new jeans will allow wearers to play, pause, track forward or back and adjust the volume on their iPods without having to take them out of their pockets....A red conductive ribbon will keep wearers connected while allowing them to remove the iPod from their pockets to view the screen....

Note: I do want them, as long as they have a forgiving stretch to them. LOL

Seven science myths

Is it just me? I love these kinds of debunking lists. Especially since I have children and they are always tellin me what their friends have told them -- don't swallow that chewing gum, it will remain in your stomach for seven years. It can't possibly be true, but it's fun fiction.

To that end, Live Science has come up with a cool list of seven of the most popular myths in science. You can click through the entire list here, page-by-page. Here's a summary:

1. It takes seven years to digest gum: While it may prove a bit more difficult to break down than organic foodstuffs, chewing gum gets no special treatment from the digestive system.

2. The Great Wall of China is the only manmade structure visible from space: Astronauts can spot the Great Wall from low-Earth orbit, along with plenty of other things like the Giza pyramids and even airport runways.

3. Humans use only 10 percent of their brains: MRI imaging clearly demonstrates—with fancy colors no less—that humans put most of their cerebral cortex to good use.

4. Adults don't grow new brain cells: Studies have shown that neurons continue to grow and change well into the adult years.

5. Water drains backwards in the Southern Hemisphere due to the Earth's rotation: Water flow into the drain is to due its structure, not the Earth's rotation.

6. Animals can predict natural disasters: There is no evidence that animals possess a mysterious sixth-sense allowing them to predict natural disasters.

7. A penny dropped from the top of a tall building could kill a pedestrian: A combination of its shape and wind friction means that, tossed even from the 1,250-foot Empire State Building, it would travel fast enough merely to sting an unlucky pedestrian.

Ok, so what myths did you believe? Until recently I might have believed nos. 3 and 5, but I've learned enough about science to not buy into them. However, no. 7 was completely new to me. What if I dropped a roll of pennies?

Oh, and if you're an animal lover, feel free to disagree with no. 6. I know you will.

A good haul for the day

People leave things on my desk. Yesterday, among other things, I got a tin of meat from Canada (uh, who left that and why?) a hat from a vendor (OK, actually I begged him for the hat) and a yoyo from a PR person. Pretty good haul.

Finding spa treatments for less

Soothe yourself and your post-holiday budget with a spa treatment from an area cosmetology school.

The new Aveda Institute in The Woodlands is one of several the environmentally conscious cosmetics company operates in the United States. Even if you don't live in the area, it's worth the drive.

The new Aveda Institute in The Woodlands has everything a spa should have, but will cost you much less.

Students learn about the company's philosophies and techniques at the 39,000-square-foot facility, then practice at a comfortable, modern spa -- equipped down to the requisite fluffy robes -- that is open to the public.

The real draw is the amazing prices. A 30-minute facial is $20; an hourlong treatment is $35. A pedicure is $14; manicures are $12; and body wraps are $40.

The spa also offers hair-care services ranging from a simple blowout for $11 to highlights starting at $30. While the services are performed by students, a licensed teacher is always on hand.

Have a few knots in your back? The thought of an inexpensive massage by a student intern trained at Memorial Hermann Massage and Spa Therapy School should make you even more relaxed. The $30 one-hour massages are performed at the Wellness Center near Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital, which is a Zen-like spot in the middle of the city.

Remember though, that, unlike traditional spas, schools keep hours that are more convenient for the students than the customers.

Details: Aveda Institute, 19241 David Memorial, The Woodlands. 936-271-7700. Hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays;
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturdays.

Details: Memorial Hermann Massage and Spa Therapy School, 7731 Southwest Freeway. 713-456-8116. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays; 9 a.m.-4 p.m Saturdays.

Amazingly cool pictures for your inner space geek

I'll be brief here, because I don't have much to add. Here's a link to some terrific space photos taken last year and collected by Cal-Tech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Definitely go for the high-resolution flash presentation.

My favorites are the photos of the Earth and Mars. What are yours?

The lobbying that dare not speak its name