12/14/08 - NYC

	MOVIE - "Ben Button" ART - JC Superstar Gospel LOCAL - Brian Nichols lives -ajc- NYC - If you can make it there...
	U.S. - Last Christmas Bush -nyt- FRANCE - Person of the Year -lemonde- WEB - MoMA Design Store -shop-

MOVIE NEWS - The director of "Fight Club", the writer of "Forrest Gump", conceived by F.S. Fitzgerald and starring Brad Pitt...perfect, right? I've only seen a preview, but it seems like a fantastical and philosophical telling of one man's life journey in reverse - like Big Fish, but backwards. Promising. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

ART NEWS - We got to a hear a preview selection this morning from the gospel version of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Midtown Alliance yearly meeting. Dunno if I'll love it, because it's another way to enjoy a Broadway show I love, or if I'll hate it, precisely because it isn't the exact same show. I'll give it a try - I enjoyed both "Aida" and "The Color Purple". -Alliance Theater-

LOCAL NEWS - If frickin' Georgia can't sentence a person to death whose 4-victim killing spree was practically broadcast on television, then why have capital punishment at all? According to the Georgia Dept. of Corrections, it can cost as much as $18,250 per year to house a maximum security prisoner. We can pay for Brian Nichols to be in prison for 3 years, or we can buy "his and hers life-size Lego sculptures" from Neiman Marcus. -ajc- -GDOC- -neiman marcus christmas book-

NYC NEWS - 12 Broadway shows closing, 100,000 Wall Street jobs lost, MTA fares going up, Hillary stepping down, 62 degrees one day and snow the next, $40 dinner entrees, Harry Potter naked, $1000/sq ft real estate, $700/month parking - If you can make it there, you'll make it anywhere.

U.S. NEWS - Obama's on the way in...how far will he take the "green" promise of his campaign? Will we at last find out which is greener - a cut tree or a plastic one? Until then, we have the last Christmas Bush -nyt-

FRANCE NEWS - Person of the Year, Obama -lemonde-

WEB NEWS - So our friend Martha says "darling, if you are going to MoMA, you've got to go into the design store there and get the "banana holder"...seriously, it's brilliant! It's plastic and it opens up so you can store a banana inside without it getting bruised. I'm not kidding...it's perfect for kiddies lunch boxes." No, seriously Martha...I'm going to buy this from MoMA for someone under the age of 21? -shop-

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12/07/08 Gingerbread

Practice photoshoot
Kids and Gingerbread

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

MOVIE NEWS - Netflix browsing...I just happened across two scifi posters that seemed..well...simliar: -dustin-

...so, figuring that wasn't a unique case, I looked for some more: -heston-

But those are old movies...let's look to this week's new releases! They include "The Day the Earth Stood Still"... a remake ... of an old movie. Sigh. I guess the release of this scifi classic redo is a big deal, but look for "The Day Jeff Stood Still"; now THAT would be something...

...that Metropolites just might see that at tonight's "Movie and a Buffet" in Club M at 8:00. Bring a dish to share (and your place setting) and settle in to watch "Love, Actually" with your neighbors.

ART NEWS - 12/9, 7:30 PM, Outwrite - Sports author Bill Konigsberg -outwrite-

12/9, 6:30, Margaret Mitchel House - "Story Corps" - "...the most ambitious oral history project in American history, has collected the memories of more than 20,000 people from all 50 states and every imaginable walk of life, background, identity group, age and state of mind. Now some of these remarkable stories have been gathered into one exemplary volume, Listening is an Act of Love: A Celebration of American Life from the StoryCorps Project, by Dave Isay" -mmh-

12/10, 7:00 PM - Goethe Zentrum shows "Die Gustloff" - auf Deutsch. -gz-

12/11, 6:30, Margaret Mitchel House - Terry Kay "...and the Atlanta Public Schools Elementary Honors Chorus to the Margaret Mitchell House again this year for a festive holiday tradition. Kay will read excerpts from his universal holiday classic To Whom the Angel Spoke." -mmh-

12/13, 8:00 PM, Robert Ferst Center for the Arts - "A Peter White Christmas" - a merry evening of smooth holiday jazz. -ferst-

12/13, 8:30 PM, Variety Playhouse - Don't miss "Kingsized Holiday Show" at the Variety Playhouse...seriously...best Lounge/Elvis/Tiki/Pirate performer out there. -variety-

LOCAL NEWS - 12/12, 6:30, Woodruff Park - Courteous Mass, the law-abiding bicycle ride through town. Take to your bikes...please. -atlbike-

U.S. NEWS - Bailout - of the mortgage giants, of the auto industry, of a military jet, when will the madness stop? -nyt-

FRENCH NEWS - Sarkozy wants to allow (non-cultural or sports-related) businesses to open on Sundays. Retail has been closed on Sundays since the law was passed in 1906 to allow families time together during the Industrial Revolution. What's the real impetus? More time to spend more money? Isn't that how we got into this mess in the first place? -npr- -other Sunday laws in Europe-

WEB NEWS - There are some cyber-shopping pointers on time.com

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12/01/08 - Marathon!

Midtown Fall
Marathon-ing friends! Good Job!

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

MOVIE NEWS - Nothing new coming out this Friday, so maybe I'll have a chance to check-out the stylish "Let The Right One In" at the Plaza, or "A Christmas Tale" and "Australia" at Landmark. -plaza- -landmark-

We didn't go out to see anything this past weekend, but we did stay in to Netflix "The Covenant"...I was hoping for a male version of "The Craft"...what we got was college-angst acted out with speedos and magic jello...-nyt- has the best movie review ever.

ART NEWS - 12/4 - Bailey White is in the house! The slightly reclusive, mostly quirky, totally endearing author of short stories will be a the Margaret Mitchell House to read from her new work "Nothing Without Strings". -mmh-

12/4, 7:30 - Outwrite, Renee Jacobs calendar signing.

12/5, 8:00 - Fabulous Fox Theater begins its run of "Nutcracker". -fox-

12/6, 11:00 AM - Ferst Center hosts "Dirty Sock Funtime Band"...you know...for kids! -ferst-

12/6, 7:30 - Actor's Express hosts "Libby’s at the Express", a favorite hometown girl Cabaret Show! -actors-

LOCAL NEWS - 12/3, 7:00 PM - Outwrite Tree Lighting -outwrite-

12/5, 6:30 - Metropolis Christmas Party!

"Dear MARTA, give this a try" - In NYC, one can get a note from the transit authority proving that you were late due to a delay on transit. Now, if only they could hold your flight for you, too. -ajc-

Tech vs. UGA --> WIN!!! Tech breaks 7 year losing streak!

Tech Marching Band vs. Georgia Senate Race --> LOSE!!! The half-time "show" featured a series of "you should hate him more than you hate me" political ads instead of the actual half-time show. The Marching Band had to go all the way to New York 2 days prior to be seen on T.V. in Georgia (as part of the Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade).

U.S. NEWS - Today is "World AIDS Day", the day when individuals and organizations from around the world come together to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic. Remember those we've lost and love and support those still with us. "Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise." -wac-

The CDC has starting tracking predictive flu rates by monitoring the quantity and location of Google hits in "flu". It seems that monitoring internet queries is faster than waiting on folks to get sick and visit the doctor and report it to the government; too bad unemployment checks don't work that way.

RIP - Last month, the world lost Betty James, the woman who named the ubiquitous toy "Slinky". Throughout the decades, it has maintained it's popularity, perhaps more so this Christmas season as a toy available for under $5. We also lost Richard Knerr in January, the "inventor" of the Hoola Hoop. John Lloyd Wright, soon of Frank Lloyd and inventor of Lincoln Logs, has been gone since 1972. Happily, Gary Dahl, inventor of the "Pet Rock", is still with us.

New York Giants football player shoots himself in the leg and then is arrested for illegal possession of firearm. With his character and temperament in question, fellow teammate Amani Toomer says "I don't think people understand how good of a person he really is". Perhaps not, but we all understand "how good of a" shot he is. -nyt-

FRENCH NEWS - 12/4, 6:00 - Alliance Francaise has their quarterly open house; "Viens et prends un verre de vin!"

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ATL - 11/24/08 - Thanksgiving

THANKS to everyone who donated!!!
Terracotta Warriors (okay, black resin warrior replicas...)

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

THANKS - I'm thankful for family and my home.

I'm thankful for neighbors that support both me and the causes I think are important.

I'm thankful for friends who roll their eyes, but don't turn their backs, when I do something thoughtless.

ART NEWS - I am thankful for inspirational art - 11/28, 9:00 AM to Midnight - "Fifteen non-stop hours of Asian-inspired music, dance, and art-making!" at the High Museum. -high-

I'm thankful for independent movie houses - 11/29, 10:00 PM - Silver Screen Spook Show - The Crawling Eye at the Plaza. -silverscream-

LOCAL NEWS - I'm thankful for my good health and the good health of my friends and family - 11/27, 8:20AM - My little brother and many of my neighbors are running in the Weather Channel Atlanta Marathon! The Half Marathon folks should be arriving in front of our building as early as 8:20 AM! Go Bro! -atc-

I'm thankful for my education - 11/27, 10:07 - The Georgia Tech Marching Band is in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! Look for them on T.V. about 10:07 ("10:07" is "about 10 o'clock" in engineer-speak). -gatech-

I am thankful for trees - Atlantans won the "Root for your City" American Express challenge by charging more on their AMEX than any other participating city. That means we spent more money we didn't have on things we didn't need than any other metro area, winning us a $300,000 grant to plant more trees. Yippee! -root-

I am NOT thankful that the Georgia DOT is taking a $100 million federal grant to turn HOV lanes - that promote fewer cars on the road by rewarding car pooling - into PAY LANES - that promote...what? Elitism? -ajc-

U.S. NEWS - I'm thankful for ever-increasing support in the fight for the environment - I like this article in slate: How the Republicans can win over voters by turning "blue" states "green". Reasonable and conservative steps towards protecting the environment. -slate-

FRENCH NEWS - I'm thankful for friends (and perspective) from other countries - Sarkozy promises a plan to help France face the employment, housing, and automotive crisis. -lemonde-

WEB NEWS - I am thankful for inexpensive Christmas gift ideas - "Top 25 Life-Improving Christmas Gifts under $10" -zen-

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ATL - 11/17/08 - Xmas Cards

New York - 5th Avenue
White Ornaments
Midtown Christmas
New York - Snow

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

MOVIE NEWS - Bolt and Twilight. The dog who acts like he's a superhero and the vampire who acts like he has a heart.

ART NEWS - 11/21, 6 PM - Roy Blount Jr. at the Margaret Mitchell House -MMH-

11/22, 1:00 PM - The LIVE transmission of Berlioz’s "La Damnation de Faust". Initially, I thought this was really cool, a live, HD broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera. Unfortunately, since it's projection related, it has to be in a performance space more suited to movies than live music, so it's at Regal 24 instead of the Woodruff Arts Center. -regal- -MET-

LOCAL NEWS - Donate food to Hosea Feed the Homeless and Hungry this week so we all have something for which to give thanks! -hfhh-

11/20, 7:30PM - Tech plays Miami at home in the 'hood. Watch out for those crazy engineer tail gaters! -ga tech-

11/20, 7:00 PM, Park Tavern - Firefighter Bachelor Auction (sounds hot...'nuff said.) -aff-

11/21, 8:00 PM, Bill Hallman - Local clothing store celebrates 18th Anniversary with free cocktails and local designers! Hilarity ensues -billhallman-

11/21, 7-9, Cypress St. Pint and Plate - Metropolis "Thirsty Third Thursday" continues at the new incarnation of "Toast". Meet early in the lobby or see you at "Cypress" (behind the Biltmore).

MUGGER! Midtown Neighbor's Association and Midtown Blue are asking us to all be on the look-out for a man who has been mugging people near 10th and Piedmont. Until they catch him, don't wander around alone in the dark! -mna-

..and Baton Bob is back! He was sighted baton-ing outside Outwrite following the "No H8" demonstration last Saturday. Welcome home, BB!

U.S. NEWS - It' a divisive week for gays in the U.S., with marriage being granted to all couples in Connecticut and being annulled for some in California. Come on W., here is your chance at a legacy! Make the issue go away by allowing every U.S. citizen to choose someone that they want to make a life with and support for their entire lives - with whom they can be a pillar of their community - and allow them to share/pass on their economic resources for that mutual support. Guarantee that right cannot be refused ANY American at a federal level, and then let states decide on what level their local government should violate the separation of Church & State by granting other special rights to the beneficiaries of religious ceremonies.

Come on, W, choose! Would you let everyone benefit equally in an atmosphere of mutual support and love? Or would you have the government choose which religious ceremonies dictate fiscal policy and personal rights? What would Jesus do?

FRENCH NEWS - Front page of lemonde; Obama is considering many former member of the Clinton administration for posts in his government.

WEB NEWS - With money, space, and peace of mind always an issue, being more zen is a good way to go.

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ATL - 11/10/08 - Kidtown

Newest addition! Go War Eagles!
Finding textures around Midtown
Never too early for a Santa Hat

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

MOVIE NEWS - I can't be quiet about this one; I'm pretty excited about "Quantum of Solace"

11/11, 8:00 - Metropolis Movie Night - Bring a dish to share and watch "Hellboy II" with your neighbors. (and when it's over, watch one of your neighbors get pretty excited about the countdown to "Quantum of Solace".)

ART NEWS - 11/11 - Outwrite Books - Poetry Night. (Then come back on 11/15 for the for the Anniversary Party for this terrific local institution! Congratulations Philip!)

11/15, 6:30 PM - Margaret Mitchell House - Local Screenwriters read from their works. You might as well attend...you already saw "Quantum of Solace" last night, so what else is there to look forward to?

11/15, 2:00 - 6:00 PM - Twelve - Local artists show/sign their work (including a VERY local photographer...come visit me!)

11/16 - High Museum of Art - The First Emperor exhibit starts. (Come see the warriors...they are all stoned.) -high-

LOCAL NEWS - 11/15 - Midtown Shop and Dine Week starts on Saturday and runs through 11/21. I've already got my reservations for Park 75! -ms&d-

Well, I've been asking; apparently the Atlanta CSO system is complete!?! Well, the detention tunnels are, anyway. The article doesn't go into what isn't done. -ajc-

U.S. NEWS - Scalpers are holding out for $20,000 for Obama inauguration tickets. (Maybe "scalpers" isn't the right word...) We don't need to bail-out the likes of Fannie Mae, AIG, and GM; just give them tickets to resell! With 250,000 tickets available, that's $5B! Obama's first big crisis solved! Yes we can! -cnn-

FRENCH NEWS - AIG and Fannie Mae losses top the front page of lemonde.

WEB NEWS - Cool design website forwarded by my brother (web surfing runs in the family). -toxel-

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ATL - 11/03/08 - Midtown

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

MOVIE NEWS - "Madgascar 2", "Soul Men", "Role Models" are this Friday's releases; no thanks, I'm saving myself for Daniel Craig and next week's "Quantum of Solace"...

...or checking-out the ongoing Latin American Film Festival at the High:

11/7 - High - "Burn the Bridges" - This gothic family drama centers on emotionally conflicted siblings awaiting the death of their terminally ill mother in their crumbling mansion.

11/8 - High - "Love Sickness" - "Three episodes tell the varying stories of love, whether new, lost or resistant, in this beautifully observed comedy."

ART NEWS - Fox Theater - “High School Musical 2”: — World premiere. Nov. 6-16. You'd better see it! High School seems like forever, but the show is only at the Fox for 11 days... -TOTS-

11/7, 8:00 - Ferst Center - Lily Tomlin. Her bit about the phone company from the mid-70's has never stopped being funny (or, sadly, true): "We don't care. We don't have to. We're the Phone Company. " -snl-

11/7, 8:30 - The folks at "Cineprov" haven't stopped making fun of movies, and this week their improv target is "Lassie". Don't worry, Timmy, Lassie will be okay, because he/she/it (?) is helping Cineprov raise money for "German Shepard Rescue of Georgia".

LOCAL NEWS - I've been pretty bummed about Midtown's retail prospects this week, what with Thread House, The Globe, and Universal Gear all closing in October and Atlantic Station not really living up to my expectations. Then, I stumbled across an announcement for Midtown Market, located Fridays and Saturdays in the parking lot next to 805 Peachtree. Cross your fingers for a Bryant Park-type outdoor holiday market!

...and in the REALLY local department, I'm pretty psyched about the return of the progressive dinner party at Metropolis...4 courses, 4 homes, 16 neighbors, and goodness knows how much wine. It is really terrific to know your neighbors and sharing a glass of wine with them goes a long way towards mediating noise disputes.

I haven't/couldn't/wouldn't see "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" on Bravo (since I'm not on it, it can't be very real, can it?)...but I love this summary by Slate writer Troy Patterson: "One might almost forgive the good citizens of Atlanta if they reacted to Bravo's depiction of their city by reanimating William T. Sherman so that he could burn it down again." -slate-

U.S. NEWS - VOTE! Tomorrow we will have a new president (Florida notwithstanding).

Who do I want to win? America. Who should I vote for? It shouldn't matter.

If you volunteered before the election on behalf of your candidate to call, to knock on doors, to register folks to vote, then keep volunteering to make "Change" in "America First".

Regardless if your candidate wins or loses today, you can continue to make a difference every day by volunteering to find a puppy a home, or deliver meals to someone housebound, or cradle a baby with AIDS, or plant a tree, or paint a school, or lend a hand at a homeless shelter.

Once elected, the candidate's job isn't over. Your's shouldn't be either.

Ghandi said it pretty succinctly: "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

-Trees Atl- -Humane Society- -Jerusalem House- -Project Open Hand-

FRENCH NEWS - Lemonde's lead story is about the U.S. presidential campaign being the most expensive in history, with over $1.55B in contributions. (If that sounds like a lot, think of it in Euros - it's only 1.22B of those.)

WEB NEWS - Some Atlanta stuff online -six degrees-

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