Do you find yourself wanting to read every single Decatur Metro comment, but can’t keep up with the torrent that filters through the 15 most recent in the sidebar?

Due to the limitations of WordPress.com blogging software, I’ve never had many options when it comes to organizing and displaying comments.  A recent update of the blogging software has promised threaded comments in the near future, but for the most part, if you’re looking to read all the comments on the site, you’re stuck with the Top 15 or scrolling down and clicking on every post.

This was once an adequate option.  But with the recent popularity of the site, often times you have to check once every 3 hours or you’ll miss stuff as it scrolls off the bottom of the screen.  Its certainly a good problem to have…but it is still a problem.

Ultimately the goal is to revamp the site some time in the new year, improving upon some things (comment organization being the biggie) and adding a few new features I’ve been dreaming up.  But for the time being, I’ve included an option for those that just can’t get enough comments.  If you scroll down the right side of the page, you’ll see the familiar RSS icon for the Decatur Metro feed.  (It looks something like this: Below that you will now also see a new “Feed for Comments” icon.  If you add that feed to an RSS reader like Google Reader, it should retain a list of all comments written on the site, beyond the usual 15.

Obviously this isn’t a perfect solution.  Those without Google Reader aren’t about to go setup an account just to keep track of DM comments.  And its a little clumsy since you have to jump off the site in order to use it.  However, for those with an RSS reader account, this is now an option.

Look for more substantial updates in 2009!

Well it sure didn’t take Atlanta long to begin its slow turn away from preservation in an economic downturn.

“A dozen people, among them preservation leaders and residents of historic districts, appealed to the City Council’s Community Development/Human Resources committee Tuesday to rehire Karen Huebner, executive director of the city’s Urban Design Commission.

Huebner was one of the 222 city employees laid off recently as the city sought to offset a $50 million budget shortfall.”

Here’s the money quote…

“A weakened UDC bodes badly for historic preservation in the city,” said Kevin Kuharic, historic Oakland Cemetery’s director of restoration and landscapes.

“In other cities like Savannah where preservation is a way of life, it wouldn’t matter as much,” he says.

“Atlanta needs that layer of protection and guidance. We can look to the past and see what happened without it.”

OK, now this sounds really interesting.

Proprietor Warren sends along a link announcing his coming ice cream and classic cars hangout in the A Plus Auto garage on North McDonough.

It’s scheduled to open next March.  The short description and the logo above have certainly peaked my interest…

It’s an old garage converted to a wonderful Ice Cream Parlor, that desires to be a museum…. Simply put, it’s Relics and Rarities. A unique place full of the weird and wonderful, from delicious ice cream to history to classic cars, and so much more.

I’ve wondered what would become of this property for quite a while.   It didn’t seem like a body shop would be able to survive downtown much longer with all this pesky gentrification.  Learning that the building will not be torn down, but instead will be embraced by a local business for its unique character brings a smile to my face.

Plus, I’m itching to see what happens when you mix ice cream and classic cars!

Linda Harris sends along this note from Peggy Merriss…

In order to continue to analyze options, refine data analysis and provide the best possible recommendation to the City Commission, consideration of annexation options that was a scheduled agenda item for Dec. 15, 2008 City Commission meeting will be deferred until the City Commission meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

Thank goodness.  Glad to know I wasn’t the only one uncomfortable with making this decision (for or against) without all the “refined data.”