4/14/09 - ATL Film Fest

	MOVIE - Atlanta Film Fest ART - Tongo Hiti -T Vic's- LOCAL - Piedmont Parking
	U.S. - Bo, Bluebeard, Billie Jean FRANCE - U.S. deports -lemonde- WEB - Habachy

MOVIE NEWS - Give me a buzz if any of these Atlanta Film Festival offerings at Landmark sound interesting! (As if the AFF isn't enough, the High is showing French Films this Friday and Saturday -high-)

Sun, 4/19, 12:30 PM - Gone With The Wind (TCM at the Fox)
8:30 PM - Animation Extravaganza

Mon, 4/20, 1:30 PM - Deadland
5:00 PM - Animation Extravaganza 1

Tues, 4/21, 4:30 PM - Killer Movie
9:35 PM - Pink Peach Shorts

Fri, 4/24, 7:15 PM - The Girl from Monaco
9:45 PM - Comedy Shorts

Sat, 4/25, 7:30 PM - Rudo and Cursi

ART NEWS -

Tongo Hiti -T Vic's- Just go...it's the most fun ever...4 hours of lounge, hula, and crooning, all drowning in the High Seas of $5 Mai Tais... ...and hardly any pirates!

Dogwood Festival - Don't forget to celebrate Atlanta's first big festival of the year as it returns to Piedmont Park this Friday through Sunday -dogwood-. Last year's festival was bumped to the Lenox Square parking deck because of the drought; this year, it's back in the Park...and it brought the deck with it!

LOCAL NEWS -

PIEDMONT PARKING - I see the Atlanta Botanical Garden got their parking pass payment scheme from MARTA's Breeze Card; you must first to buy a $5 parking card before being allowed to then purchase fares to load onto the card. The opening of the new parking deck May 2nd coincides with the closing of the old, free, Park Drive surface lot; can't wait to see how the loss of 100+ free parking spots will affect neighborhood street parking!

I like the sound of these announcement from the Midtown SPI-16 Development Review Committee. It looks like Midtown is in for more outdoor dining opportunities:

"Façade and roofing alterations and patio enclosure for new 24-hour diner (former Jocks & Jills space)"

"Ra Sushi – NE corner of Crescent Avenue at 11th Street: Supplemental Zone patio enclosure for outdoor dining and façade alterations for onstreet bar and ventilation"

Water Lilies - Monet from MoMa at the Museum (coming to the High June 6th) -nyt-

U.S. NEWS -

Bo - Seems there's a new dog living in the White House. That beats a (misbehaving, former) President living in the doghouse.

Bluebeard - What to do about the current round of pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia? With 20,000 ocean going vessels afloat at any given time, we can't very well arm every boat. If they don't get a bit part in the next Disney feature with Johnny Depp, I'm all for more archaic methods; flogging, keel-hauling, or AA.

Billy Jean - It seems the planned auction of Michael Jackson memorabilia was called off at the last moment -nyt- -julien's auction- Flipping through the catalog, I didn't see anything REALLY memorable...like a framed copy of an acquittal...or extradition papers from Dubai.

FRANCE NEWS - I didn't find this story on NYT; according to a Human Rights Watch report, a U.S. law allowing deportation of immigrants guilty of a violent crime has had the effect of deporting immigrants guilty of as little as a traffic violation. HRW proposes that the Obama administration "revisit" the law. I already called about this; they are a little busy helping "law-abiding" citizens...like bank CEO's. -lemonde-

French marines captured 11 pirates off the coast of Kenya. Is it okay...pretty please...to deport them? -lemonde-

WEB NEWS - Michael Habachy has revamped his site; check it out!

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02/03/09 - Clue

	MOVIE - Coraline, Push, Pink, He's Not... ART - Atl Contemp, "Make Room" -acac- LOCAL - Jesus Gate
	U.S. - The Graveyard Book -harper- FRANCE - President Kadhafi -lemonde- WEB - Carbon footprint -counter-

Part of the cast of S's "Clue Birthday Party"!

MOVIE NEWS - "Coraline", "Push", "Pink Panther 2", and "He's Just Not That Into You" are all coming out this Friday.

"Coraline" seems to be a morality tale about "honor thy family, even if mom is a bad cook" and "the grass is always greener, until they replace your eyes with buttons!" Eat your vegetables...or we will turn you into a stop-action, animated film.

"Push" is the telekenetics vs. the evil government; Stephen King's "Firestarter" meets "Jump". Looks like lots of flying glass and flapping overcoats and leaping dance-fighting, with Dakota Fanning as the new Drew Barrymore. If Chris Evan's shirt flies off, I'm there.

"Pink Panther" is a sequel to a remake and ought to make all those french-hating, slapstick loving movie-goers happy. That would be not me.

"He's Not that Into You" is a chick flick about how men and women miss the boat when trying to get to know each other. I'm not that into it.

Sunday's Superbowl advertising included previews for movies being released a little further out (like August 7 - 6 months away - for "GI Joe"!). All the trailers were posted on www.apple.com/trailers the next day. Seemed like quite a bit of rehash:

"Land of the Lost" - A TV show
"GI Joe Cobra" - A cartoon, based on a toy
"Angels & Demons" - A sequel movie from a prequel book
"Transformers 2" - A sequel, based on a cartoon, based on a toy
"Witch Mountain" - A remake (w/ one original film star bit part)
"Star Trek" - A prequel, based on a TV show, a cartoon, & films.
"Fast Furious" - A sequel to a sequel to a sequel

The other three were a little more original:
"Monsters v. Aliens" - Looks like X-men, with monsters.
"Year One" - 'School of History' w/Jack Black & Michael Cera
"Up" - Pixar

ART NEWS - Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, "Make Room" -acac-. The show starts February 5th.

LOCAL NEWS - The Atlantic Station "Millennium Gate" - you know, the one that caps a Superfund site? - has a latin inscription that translates to: "This American monument was erected to commemorate all peaceful accomplishment since the Birth of Jesus Christ". What? Because all those B.C. "peaceful accomplishments" don't count? ...nor do all those A.C. crusades.

2/17 - Georgia Aquarium - Martha Stewart Book Signing - Really? She's signing a cookbook? What is it..."Martha Stewart's Beluga Whale 7 Ways"? "I Love Penguins...with Bernaise"? -ga aqua-

Last week, The City and The Piedmont Park Conservancy announced they are letting the Peachtree Road Race back into Piedmont Park. Where the heck is the "reporting" in this story? No follow-up questions like:

- What is different this year's from last year banned one?
- Was the Finish Line modified?
- Will the Finish Line have a different impact on the park?
- Is the park grass recovering?
- Is the drought over?
- Are the wells working?
- How has the city changed it's drought policy?
- Is there a city drought/park policy?
- Has the recession affected any of the decision regarding the park?
- Will any other park changes be in place in time for these events?
i.e. new pool/poolhouse, parking deck.

Pride also "gets" to be in Piedmont Park...on the city's terms...and in October. "We know you want to celebrate the June anniversary of the Stonewall Riots - the first time homosexuals stood up to a repressive society - but our grass won't be ready until October. So you can have your little party...the same weekend as Halloween." Thanks.

U.S. NEWS - - Newberry - The Graveyard Book. Read an exerpt of the children's book prize winner about Nobody Owens who was raised by...ghosts. -harper-

Making babies - The story broke that the 46-person medical team asisting a woman expecting to birth a litter of 7 babies was surprised by the birth of an 8th. What shocked me about that? "46-person medical team"! Holy crap! Who's paying for that? My suspicion wasn't confirmed until a few days later - she was taking fertility drugs, even though she already had 6 children...as a single mom! I know who should be paying that medical bill; the woman taking the drugs. Or her church. -ajc-

Superbowl ads -nyt- Best and worst -time-

Eating dirt is good for you -nyt- What I suspected all along. Read this, mom!

Buddy Holly died 50 years ago today. He would have been 72. Pope Pius XXII also died in 1958; he would have been 142.

FRANCE NEWS - Mouammar Kadhafi was elected president of the African Union. I kind of missed reading about that in the American media outlets. -lemonde-

WEB NEWS - Carbon footprint -counter-

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ATL 5/4/08 - Gas & Biking

Piedmont Park - Grandpa's guitar...kite...hottie
Spring flowers - Iris...Oakleaf Hydrangea...Petals

MOVIE/ART/LOCAL/U.S./FRENCH/WEB NEWS

MOVIE NEWS - Speed Racer is pulling into theaters this Friday ...it looks like "Tron" takes on "The Matrix" ... on acid... with Hotwheels! I think I'll pass...

ART NEWS - Sweet Auburn Festival, May 9-11 - Auburn Avenue Neighborhood, Auburn Avenue and Courtland Street -link-

Shake on the Lake, May 7-10 - Get your free tickets during the day at the Piedmont Park Visitor's Center, head to the lawn at 6:00, see the play at 7:30. Shakespeare's plays have been going on since the 17th century...even the Piedmont Park Conservancy can't cancel that!

LOCAL NEWS - BIKING - We did it...biked to Stone Mountain and back with a stop at the Dekalb Farmer's Market. We burned up to 3000 calories and earned us some margaritas by the pool! -calc- Plus, we save a gallon of gas each time we bike to the Dekalb Farmer's Market.

BOOTCAMP - Here's the route, including optional 1-mile track run; try it yourself if you like before joining us Tuesdays and Thursday at 6:00 AM, Saturdays at 8:00 AM! -link-

BUDGET - Atlanta is facing a $140 million shortfall. Sensibly, Shirley is trying to correct that by reducing the city's expenses (firing city employees) and increasing its income (raising taxes). The radio has given voice to many of the ex-workers who have said things like "I pay my taxes and they still fired me" or "I've worked for the city for 28 years; they have no loyalty." No one was quoted saying "my job is vital to the day-to-day functioning of Atlanta and people will suffer if I don't come to work every day."

BARGAIN - On the way to pizza and beer at Ray's on 5th St (between W. Ptree & Spring - $6 pitcher of Coors Light & $14 pizza), stumbled across the new clothing store "Drew Lewis" (6th and W. Ptree), a sort of urban-y Nautica vibe. Check 'em out!

NATIONAL NEWS - 28 DOLLARS - Hillary and McCain propose a summer moratorium on the federal gas tax, saving $0.18 per gallon in tax. That would save the average American about $28 this summer (the extra income will buy <you 2 T-shirts at The Gap, 2 movie tickets + popcorn, or 2 wine glasses at Crate and Barrel)...

...unless, of course, the lower gas prices cause increased demand, forcing the gas price even higher. Gas would still be expensive AND we will have lost out on billions of dollars in federal revenue... $$$ that had been ear-marked for little things like repairing collapsing fricking interstate bridges in Minneapolis.

300 DOLLARS - "Economic stimulus" checks are going out. There is an IRS website with answers to many FAQ's (except for my question...how did Prez W propose to pay for this loss of federal revenue? Oh, yeah, he didn't...)

PRICELESS - Don't forget the #1 woman in your life on Mother's Day this Sunday! I love you, Mom!

FRENCH NEWS - This past weekend's tragic cyclone that caused up to 10,000 deaths was the top headline at Le Monde. While the 1989 military junta forced the west to change the English version of the devastated country's name from Burma to Myanmar, the cyclone didn't care what it was called. (The dictatorship hasn't gotten around to changing the French version - they still call it "Birmanie".) wikipedia

WEB NEWS -Some times I get stressed out about space and organization and time management ...but wait! There are websites to help out with that like REAL SIMPLE & Unclutterer. But honestly, the more I read about how to organize, the messier I feel I am!

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Atlanta - Piedmont Park Fall

Beautiful leaves and one big bird...

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