My own solution to the Air quality problem in Atlanta.


I believe that most people agree that if there were more abundant plant life in metro Atlanta, the air quality would be much better.

A recent American Lung Association study found that Atlanta ranks 21 in the list of cities with the most air pollution in America. How do we as a city rectify this horrible situation?

Enter the solution, Kudzu.

Kudzu could be grown in containers at or near the top of some of the taller skyscrapers around town. As the season progresses, the kudzu will grow towards the bottom of the building and in time the building could become entirely covered. As the contaminated air passes through the vines, the kudzu will act as a natural filtration system of sorts. Another effect of this green shield would be to reduce the collection and reflection of solar radiation that tends to build up around areas that are mostly covered with concrete.

If every tall building in the metro Atlanta were to undertake this initiative, I firmly believe that we will be able to improve the quality of air in this fine southern city.

I really need to stay on track with my written thoughts, my ideas are all over the place. I also don't need to remind myself of the people in this city who irk me. They can do whatever they want as long as it is not around me.

There is so much going on in the world that bothers me. I fear that I am making a transition from being full of angst to being just a bitter old man. I have finally cured my computer's vulerabilty to the Sasser worm attacks and can now return to more mundane activities like work...

I just read an article in the May/June 2004 issue of Utne Reader about walking. I am not sure who this article was geared towards. Why is these sorts of messages always being repeated to the people that do not need to hear these types of messages? The Utne readers the people who with a high probability are already working towards change?

Yes, I walk every day. I gave up driving my porsche to work. Now when I refer to my porsche, don't be thinking the impure thoughts... I am not rich, it is a an older model one of the cheapest porsches on the road. It is a four cylinder, it may be sporty but it is not fast by any stretch of the imagination. I was told by own of my coworkers about a case of resentment caused by my porsche ownership. My director said, "How can HE own a porsche? I don't make enough $$$ to own a porsche..." She must think I am a real high roller in my 1978 924 with faded paint and a busted out driver's side window.

Ok,

I am getting off topic. Back to the walk and to the message. By the way, Microsoft Windows sucks. Period. If my department would have invested in apples, we would not be having all of the stupid worm attacks...

Let's see, how long can I type until this computer crashes again? Hmmm, back to the message at hand. If walking is good for your health, good for the environment, and good for your mental health, would you do it? Would you choose to live close to where you work and walk there or ride a bicycle?

My guess that your answer is no. Why walk when you can drive? Why live close to work when you can have a nice two hour commute to save yourself the agony of living around minorities and the poor? Why I ask? The people of Atlanta could be compared to the nation as a whole in terms of intelligence, behavior, and culture. The automobile is king here. Parking is scarce even in the midst of all this sprawl ya'll. Most people who live in this city are shallow, cash grubbing, selfish, stupid and impolite and that is just when they get behind the wheel of a car.

I wonder sometimes why I care to even express these concerns. Nobody is taking up the gauntlet, changing their lives, trying alternative solutions. Did my quality of life improve since the car is out of the way? Not really but at least I can be honest about what I am doing to save the environment unlike some people I know.

I am not going to say any names but some people really would have you think that they are radicals or bonafide activists when in reality, they are just trying to be perceived a certain way by their peer group. One guy I know is all about fighting the power or at least making you think he is fighting the power when in reality he is a self-serving yuppie in disguise. He is one of those fucks who has to have the 17 inch titanium powerbook. He talks a good game but I can see through his little scheme. He was never arrested for participating in protests but he sent out an email telling others about it. He does not ride a bike but he has a Huffy.

There needs to be an afterhours spot in the ATL that is famous for its selection of sparkling mineral water.

Blimps are really cool marketing tools. It is a real shame that more companies aren't interested in this novel approach to advertising.

Ugh, what am I saying...

Blimps are arleady at the mercy of corporate welfare...

Downtown Atlanta, What can I say?

I had lunch today at Reuben's Deli at 57 Broad Street downtown. I like what is going on down on Broad street, at least around lunchtime. It feels very urban to me. Too bad that feeing only persists on Broad Street proper...
Now, I will propose a question.

Why is there not a Dean & Deluca or something like it downtown?


I already know the answer to this question. I guess I ask it just for kicks. I am well aware of the constant influx of people moving here from New York City, Why don't these folks try to bring some of their urban culture with them instead of simply assimilating into the sprawl around us? I know the answer to this question as well, I don't know if I need to share it as it only reflects the stupidity and selfishness of Americans in general.

I feel sorry for people who have to live downtown without access to really any of the services needed to survive in an urban location. There are no real bakeries, no real bars, no places to buy groceries. That dinky Kroger next to Sylvias does not count!! Speaking of Kroger, they just remodeled the one near my house, lets see if they can keep it clean now..

Downtown Atlanta could be better compared to an overpriced theme park than a place to live and work. The city has done its part to attract conventioneers and tourists downtown with such interesting locales. Places like Centennial Olympic Park, CNN Center, Underground Atlanta, and the World of Coca Cola. They just need to go ahead and change the name to whatever corporation wants it. I imagine Coca Colapolis or Home Depopolis, either one will work great for the city that is too busy to hate. Plus think of all that extra revenue...


As far as people living downtown, who would want to buy a 300,000 dollar residence downtown if they had to go all the way up to Buckhead to shop?
Well, if I could afford to buy a 300k loftominium then I guess I could also gas up the H2 and get all my shopping done OTP like the rest of the herd.

The weather outside is absolutely wonderful and I am inside as usual...Days like today really make me miss the joy of working out of doors. During my daily walk from five points MARTA to the office, I saw a bike courier riding over to file something at the USDC and a flood of memories came rushing back.

Yes, the couriers days, married to a bi-polar nutcase, not earning even enough money to buy a decent bicycle, living off Buford highway within the immigrant gang's turfwar zone. Good times, yes, good times indeed. What was I thinking?

Ahh, but the good memories of those times, the other bike messengers made me feel like I was part of an elite group of individuals who worked outside the system while all along providing the speed, flexibility, and punctuality to move the deliveries of architects, the doctors, the lawyers, the Ad agencies, the marketing agencies, I could go on with these groups for a while but I think you get the picture, all around the ATL. On an average day, I could easily ride about 50-60 miles, I ate nothing but fruit and bread, I drank copious amounts of coffee and water. The end of the work day found me at the stein Club in midtown on Peachtree Street. It was a great bar for couriers, it was a real dive. Cheap pitchers of beer and a nice private outdoor patio out back to wind down after a hard days work. Too bad it is now nothing more than a memory now.

Atlanta is like a memory to me now in a way. Nothing is a same as it was and strangely with all of this growth it seems that it is not getting better, it is only becoming something different. When I was much younger, Atlanta had real coffeehouses, locally owned, more hangout than the corporate coffee machine could ever be. Live music, low lighting, no pretense. I remember one such place with a great deal of fondness, it was called Homage and was over in the space presently occupied by Formosa.

There was another place on Ponce I feel needs mention as well, it was called the liquid bean and it was quite the spot. They were so low budget. They actually had a Mr coffee espresso machine and a cluttered room full of old mismatched sofas for relaxing. Who cares, its long gone now. Up the street from the bean was the first MJQ. Wait, I am not even going to get into that nonsense in this post today. Screw MJQ.

I feel that Atlanta may just be going nowhere fast. Things do change but rarely do they change in a positive way. I am not sure as to what I am getting at but it is like this city is missing something, something that could make it real. I will let you know when I figure out exactly what this may be....

I need another weekend, I can't believe that this one is gone already. Well, the yard sale was pretty much a disaster. I put so much effort into it and only generated $23.00 in revenue. Simply horrible. I had stacks and stacks of vintage design publications, Human rights Watch books, cool vintage REM t-shirts, glass art, and plants just to mention a few choice items. Well, actually the plants sold rather well. As far as the rest goes, check your local thrift store for whatever did not sell which was most of it.

I was considering spending my Saturday mornings participating in the Morningside organic farmers market and I think I should give it a go. I will need to get a Nursery permit and get started in doing something that I enjoy for a change as opposed to whatever it is I am doing now which is nothing.

Sometimes, I think I need to move to New York city. I just don't think Atlanta will ever get its act together....