beam

Temperatures in Atlanta have been hovering in the 60's. No frost, no chill, just warm weather throughout the holidays. Unfortunately, the sky won't collaborate and has given us plenty of rain and clouds to accompany those comfortable highs.

I was heading east during one of said recent days and the sky broke just at sunset to let a kiss of warmth touch the top of City Hall East. Too bad it looked much better in color.

ponce bbq

diner

After much window gazing, I finally ducked into the Majestic to see the changes firsthand. The diner has been undergoing renovations, which have become controversial due to the historic look of the longtime Ponce landmark. The owner was smart enough to respond to the accusations that he was corrupting the original decor.

Personally, I think it looks fine. It's still a diner and the only place I'll take Yankees at 2am.

bmx tourists

Met some kids from McDonough while photographing another story. The official word was they just wanted to come to the city to ride, so they asked a 32-year-old friend to drive them. The riders decided to turn the concrete wall adjacent to the Texaco into a quarter pipe. It was fun to watch, moreso because no one got hurt.

Also met some great people over the weekend. Hopefully those contacts will develop into good relationships. Still working on the next slideshow. And yes, the photos are getting bigger.

post-op

specific

take my picture

shoes

Where to begin? Georgia has lost 61,000 jobs in the past year, second only to Michigan. The city is dealing with a massive budget shortage and Mayor Franklin is annoucing the layoffs of over 200 city positions, mostly in public works and recreation. She also said 23 recreation centers would be closing and has cited a second firehouse decommission in the past seven months.

"We are cutting into what we believe is the bone," she said.

Atlanta Peach, a lifestyle/luxury magazine let go its staff and shuttered its doors. Alternative weekly Creative Loafing declared bankruptcy, fired its editor, and is getting baited by rival Sunday Paper over its situation. Cox, the private media company that owns the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, closed its DC bureau.

Peachtree & Pine, the street name for downtown shelter Task Force for the Homeless, had its water shutoff due to non-payment of utilities. The water has been temporarily restored, but $6,000 is due by tomorrow as well as a plan to payoff the $160,000 debt. There seems to be speculation that this is Atlanta's push to finally rid the coveted Midtown/Downtown area of it's homeless. The shelter beds about 700 men.

Local heavyweights Home Depot, Coca-Cola, Delta, and Turner Broadcasting seem quiet, but no major layoffs that I've heard of. I feel like Wal-Mart and Colt 45 are the only companies who will be smiling through this period.

Seems like a trek through Dante's Inferno, especially with holidays and heating bills on the horizon. I hope anyone who leaves decent shoes behind has good reason. Now is not the time for irrational decisions.

reflect