It ain’t morning no more, but here are a few randomly interesting links and an awesome late 70s MARTA map pic.  (Take the last train to Tucker and I’ll meet you at the station!)  Love it or lose it.

• Over 200 residents (and Thomas Wheatley!) attend Anti-Walmart meeting [CL]
• Georgia solar bill may get new life in GA House [AJC]
• Poem with One Fact – Donald Hall [Poetry Foundation]

Photo courtesy of tracktwentynine via Flickr (click over to Flickr for a great summary of the map from its photog)

I saw this somewhere a couple of days ago, but Derych was good enough to jog my memory with this link.  Here’s a summary of a “cash mob” from the PRI article…

Instead of breaking into song, members of cash mobs break open their wallets to spend money at locally owned businesses.

Since starting last year, cash mobs have been organized in 32 states and Canada. But unlike flash mobs, which are generally entertaining and trivial, they come with a serious purpose.

The idea is the brainchild of Buffalo blogger and engineer Chris Smith, who said that Cash Mobs are sort of a reverse Groupon. Instead of offering people bargain-basement deals, people pay the regular price to support retailers in their communities.

It’s a really great idea.  I especially like the part about it that it is “a reserve Groupon”.  I’ve always had very mixed feelings about those half-price coupons.  Especially using them at my favorite local spots.  However,  we’d need to think of a fair and unbiased way to decided on which business gets a “cash mob”.  But it might be doable.

What do you all think?  After the jump, see the list of suggested rules for a cash mob from a Cleveland cash mob group.  We could adjust them as needed, but I think the “have a drink” afterwards aspect is an important one.  I’m sure J_T would organize that part, no questions asked!

Read the rest of this entry »

Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed here over the past week.

Comments close on Friday.

—————————————————————–

This week’s FFAF is sponsored by Kick in the Fit…

Are you ready to adopt a more active lifestyle, get in shape, and achieve your fitness goals? Well, join us at Agnes Scott College on Monday, March 5th as we kick off a new month and year of KITF boot camp!

This week’s Free-For-All Friday is brought to you by: Kick in the Fit, offering a free month of boot camp (morning) to one Decatur Metro reader. www.kickinthefit.com.

To enter, just send an email with the subject line “Decatur Metro Giveaway” to . Make sure to include your name and address in the email. Kick in the Fit will pick the winner at random on Monday morning.