All the fuss about the Ashby high rise is over thanks to a new plan to enlarge the development. The new construction plan would make the tower the tallest building in the world and would include dedicated connections to Southwest Freeway and the light rail. Houston Strategies writer, Tory Gattis, had us going for a second yesterday with his story. Everything seemed plausible to our insufficiently caffeinated brain, including a city ordinance requiring all new towers to be at least a 1/2 mile high, until we read that Bear Stearns was providing the cash. Damn it! We hate being "gotten" on April Fool's Day. At least we can still send back dated email with Gmail Custom Time.

>> Green Building opens Houston office: Houston has gained a blue chip in the green game as an industry leader opens an office in our town. Green Building Services, a Portland-based company, is noted in the industry for its construction of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified structures. In fact, two of the projects listed on the corporate web site are classified as "high-rise residential." Huh. Perhaps the Ashby Tower folks could get them to greenify their parking garage.

>> Video Emerges in Firehouse Strip Show Case: Chief Paul LeDoux denied that a strip tease had occurred at the Pecan Grove Volunteer Fire Department in Richmond, Texas. Uh, excuse us, Chief, but everybody and their dog has a video camera. That video has surfaced. Apparently, the PGVFD dalmatian used his camera phone to shoot a six second clip. Is it really that hard to believe? They do already have their own pole (in the firehouse) after all.

>> Today's weather: You may have noticed fog this morning on your way into the office. That should be the only wetness you encounter today, except for the under-your-arm kind. But the weather jockeys are still forecasting a 10% chance - just in case. The mercury will remain in acceptable range (81/67) for enjoying Wednesday's 13 hours of daylight. Get outside and run around already.

>> In brief: Houston's trying to get back in the Super Bowl hosting business ... Tejano music star Emilio Navaira had his lung repaired following a tour bus crash ... Rick's takes over Austin strip joint ... Pregnant couple struck and killed while walking on Hardy Toll Road ... Kay Bailey Hutchison is considering a run for the capitol ... Local politicos duke it out in the run up to runoffs. ... Clinton and Obama will square off Big Lebowski style in a bowling match

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Photo by Flickr user riotjane.