tim merritt [dot] net

Shrimp Pho.

It’s a foggy warmish Monday morning. I found this displayed in the window of a clothing shop one block away from my office. First I’ve heard of this.

Twice a day for nearly twelve years, Ive seen this view looking north walking between work and the train station. I like this view… though I still dont think the Coke sign adds anything worth seeing. For one thing, the clock has been wrong since the rest of us sprang forward about two months ago.

Outside the Montag freshman dorm on the campus of Georgia Tech, 11:03 this morning.

!

Peachtree Street at Upper Wall Street, 11:36 a.m.

These guys are terrific—amazing energy, great musicianship. They play the hell out of it.

An interesting commute on the train this morning. Well down the platform from where I came up, a guy was yelling and cursing at someone I couldn’t see. He stopped after I think less than a minute. I felt a little anxious and hoped it wouldn’t be a fight, but nothing came of it. I hoped he was just having a bad morning, but I also thought that he must have some real issues elsewhere in his life to make such a scene in a place like this. I’ve ridden the train almost every working day for ten years, and can count incidents like this on one hand. The guy, apparently calm now, eased toward my end of the platform and ended up on the same car I did, standing near a door though there were empty seats, reading a newspaper. I lost track of him as I read some news on my laptop. As the ride progressed, In the seats ahead of me two people realized they’d been neighbors for years, knew people in common, and had a small old-home week. It was great hearing them make friends, sharing stories and laughing. It was nice to be near.

I thought about how lost tempers are probably more likely on driving commutes, and chances to get to know a neighbor and have a good time are pretty rare. I really like riding the train.

Watching the Yellow Jackets beat up (sloppily) on the Duke Blue Devils. Ten minutes to go in the 4th quarter, Tech is up 17-0. Go Jackets! And happy 50th to me!

Update: 27-0 final score and a photo.

Later update: Finally got the photo up; the WordPress client on my iPhone wouldn’t behave. Meh.

Well, howdy-do John Christopher Burns, fellow Atlanta blogger, fellow WordPress user, and fellow TextDriver/Joyeur.His blog is Positively Atlanta Georgia. He’s been rebuilding his house after the March tornadoes, and he’s been making progress.

Good on you, neighbor, and we wish you continued success.

A letter I sent to the local newspaper yesterday morning:

Consider these two stories on the front of the paper today: “Public defenders’ jobs cut” and “Sotheby’s enters Atlanta market.” A prestige name in auctions and real estate enters our burgeoning market for luxury homes – a very good thing – and yet the state can’t afford attorneys to protect the rights of indigents. Remember as well that the recent legislative session couldn’t find the money for PeachCare health insurance for poor children, either.

I love that this great city and this great state can support such economic growth. It makes me proud. At the same time, it’s shameful that we claim we cannot afford to provide essential legal and medical support for those who cannot afford it.

I’ll bet you can guess which party is in charge of both the legislature and the governor’s office in this great state.

Update: An hour after I sent the letter, an editor called and said they’d try, other news allowing, to print it on Wednesday, and asked if it was okay to change the end of the first paragraph to say “couldn’t find enough money for PeachCare,” since the legislature did appropriate some money for it. I said sure. I looked this morning, and they published it online, at least.

After reading Dave Winer’s post about Lisa Williams’ PlaceBlogger I checked out the Atlanta category of PlaceBlogs. There among the eight listed I found a LiveJournal blog devoted to Downtown Atlanta by a web designer calling herself Wiebke. In honor of Wiebke’s efforts devoted to the place I spend my working days, I’m creating the category of Downtown.

Thanks for the idea, Wiebke, and to Lisa Williams for starting Placeblogger. Lisa Williams has been “placeblogging” for quite a while at H2OTown, a blog about her home of Watertown, Massachusetts.