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!