inDECATUR

Countrywide finally vacates Decatur office

Carl Black snapped this shot today:

First Mashable MIXER in ATL, co-hosted by Regator

Atlanta
May 14th, 2009

From Mashable:

Mashable and Regator are proud to announce the first ever Mashable event in Atlanta: we have a special evening planned so we look forward to meeting the Atlanta social media community. Mashable team members in attendance will include myself, Adam Ostrow (Editor-in-Chief), Sharon Feder (Features Editor) and Brett Petersel (East Coast Events Director). Location and ticketing to be announced shortly.

From the Regator Blog:

With more than 5 million monthly page views, Mashable is the world’s largest blog focused exclusively on Web 2.0 and social networking news. They’re partnering with the team here at Regator, the web’s most selective blog resource, to present an amazing night of networking, drinking, music, and great times on May 14. Our friends at Paste Magazine have generously offered to let us use their awesome office space (which you might recognize from Regator’s launch extravaganza last August) for the event. We really hope you’ll join us. For ticketing information, keep an eye on Mashable and this blog, follow @regator @kimber_regator and @mashable on Twitter, or email info(at)regator(dot)com and we’ll notify you when tickets go on sale.

1949 Varsity ad in Decatur Boys High annual

Sixty years ago, back when it was considered a good idea to keep boys and girls segregated in school, the Decatur Boys High annual had the inexplicable name of "Caveat Emptor."

This full page varsity ad was in the back:

Attempted car theft on Willivee

From the CHCA:

Someone tried to steal my husband's Ford F-150 pick-up truck early Sunday morning (2/22). We live on Willivee Drive between Desmond and North Decatur Road. It was locked and parked on the street in front of our house (which is where he parks his truck every night). His cell phone was stolen (but was not in sight from outside the truck) and the ignition was popped out. However, for some reason, this person was not able to complete the theft. This person made 32 phone calls, sent / received 26 text messages between 5:49AM and 12:02PM before the cell service was suspended.

Oakhurst Winter Wine Crawl

We've been reminding you for over a week. Today is the day.

From the Oakhurst neighborhood website:

February 28th 4PM to 7PM

This year's event will feature wines from around the world while exploring all the businesses in the neighborhood. We will once again have over 20 participating businesses and expect to sell out quickly. Advance tickets are now available in Oakhurst at one of these locations: Steinbecks, Kavarna Coffee, and Universal Joint for $20 The day of the event the remaining glasses will be available for $25 Please bring Photo ID to pick up glasses.

  Oakhurst webite image

Are White House plans based on rosy predictions?

By Peter S. Goodwin, NYT

A sense of disconnect between the projections by the White House and the grim realities of everyday American life was enhanced on Friday, as the Commerce Department gave a harsher assessment for the last three months of 2008. In place of an initial estimate that the economy contracted at an annualized rate of 3.8 percent — already abysmal — the government said that the pace of decline was actually 6.2 percent, making it the worst quarter since 1982.

... in drawing up the budget, the White House assumed the economy would expand by a robust 3.2 percent in 2010, with growth accelerating to 4 percent over the next three years.

“It’s a hope, a wing and a prayer,” Mr. Sinai said. “It’s a return to a sanguine view of the economy that is simply not justified.”

If, as is widely anticipated, the economy grows more slowly than the White House assumes, revenue will be lower, forcing the government to cut spending, raise taxes or run larger deficits.

Mr. Levenson noted that the weakening economy was destroying demand for goods and services even faster than the $787 billion stimulus program could replace it.

Scott Peacock on CBS Early Show Saturday

From CBS:

The Early Show Saturday Edition [he appears starting 10:45 AM on Ch. 46] is going to give viewers the chance to not only stay up-to-the-minute -- but ahead of things!

That's because, on Saturday, Feb. 28, we're going to have a special, live Webcam following around the day's "Chef on a Shoestring" as he prepares his fare for the segment. He'll also be chatting with viewers watching him getting ready to go on the air.

Just click on the Early Show page to find the link to enable you to join in! The Early Show Saturday Edition airs from seven-to-nine o'clock in the morning.

During the segment, chef Scott Peacock of The Watershed Restaurant, in Decatur, Ga., will be making a Southern-style brunch on our recession-busting budget of just $35.

And you could get to see him as he readies his offerings for the show!

Recipes

Notes & open discussion for Saturday, 2/28/2009

Notes may be added until noon. Comment anytime.

inDECATUR is 570 days (almost 19 months) old, with 3539 posts (averaging 6.21/day), all searchable in the sidebar.

DECATURadar (looking out at the world from the Decatur square)

DECATUR

Check out the tattoos at Ink & Dagger.

Little Harrison loves his tatts.

DEKALB

A Pilates exercise DVD is now available at the library on Panthersville Rd.

ATLANTA

The day started off at 34F, and wil reach 58F. Rain most of the day. Snow tomorrow. We have 20 days of winter remaining, and just 8 days until we spring forward to DST on 3/8.

On March 24, 1983; Atlanta received 7.9 inches of snow.

The record for latest measurable snow in ATLanta was 1.5 in. (39F)  on 4/25/1910. Atlanta shares this record date with NYC.

The clouds last evening blocked a great photo op. Venus would have appeared to be almost touching one tip of the crescent moon about 30% up in the western sky.

Atlantic Station Condos will be auctioned off for as little as $95K (under half the original price) today.

The Roller Derby season kicks off today.

The Scion Rock Fest is at Masquerade today.

Photo by Jeff Gunn

US

The President kept the Marines waiting 25 minutes yesterday. With all the means of communication his staff had, nobody called.

HORN TOOTIN

Decatur WiFi coverage

As Decatur Metro found yesterday, a City of Decatur page declares the Decatur WiFi project to be complete.

Unfortunately, it falls short of the ambitious goal of city wide coverage, as this map shows:

Some residences near a transmitter (such as this blogger's place) get an adequate signal. Other residences might get an adequate signal with the help of a wireless modem which can be purchased or rented.

2/3 to 3/4 of troops out of Iraq by end of Aug 2010, rest by 2011

By Ben Feller, AP

The administration now considers Aug. 31, 2010, the end date for Iraq war operations.

That timetable is slower than Obama had promised voters, but still hastens the U.S. exit.

Even with the drawdown, a sizable U.S. force of 35,000 to 50,000 U.S. troops will stay in Iraq under a new [transition] mission of training, civilian protection and counterterrorism.

All US troops will be out of Iraq by the end of 2011 (per Pres. BO's speech at noon).

He also said the US makes no claims on Iraqi territory or resources.