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Monday, March 15, 2010
Moonlight & Magnolia
I love Savannah, Ga.
Stay Here
Glitz and four-diamond rated
Mansion On Forsyth
Carpetbagger luxe on the riverfront
Bohemian Hotel
Modern, cool minimal
Avia Hotel on Ellis Square
Shop Here
Marc by Marc Jacobs
marcjacobs
The Paris Market
theparismarket
Eat Here
Paula Deen's
The Lady and Sons
Local 11 Ten
Cha Bella
chabella
700 Drayton at The Mansion
700drayton
Like you need a reason
Savannah Music Festival
savannahmusicfestival
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Understanding McDonald vs. Chicago
The basic argument involves "incorporation". If the US Supreme Court rules in favor of McDonald it would restore the full meaning of the Privileges and Immunities clause in the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution. The clause states, " No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the US". It is important because this clause could then be used, with one broad stroke, to incorporate the entirety of the first eight amendments of the Bill of Rights (aka fundamental rights). As the law currently stands, cases on individual rights are decided upon on a case by case basis in the Supreme Court. Selective incorporation would become obsolete. There would be no more "qualifying" fundamental rights on a case by case basis.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Signs
There was a man who lived by the river.
He was a good man.
He prayed and worshipped g-d daily.
One day he walks down to the river bank just steps from his house to sit and speak to g-d.
He prays a little and then goes inside of his house.
He sits down for his meal and switches on the radio.
A radio report interrupts warning of a flash flood and anyone living by the river should evacuate.
The man prays. He knows g-d will save him.
The river rises and keeps on rising.
The man prays and prays some more.
He says ,"G-d will save me.".
While he prays, the waters rise to reach his home. Water is rushing through the bottom of his front door.
The man hears a loud noise and looks out his window.
A helicopter is above and a rescuer shouts down to him, "Sir! We are here to help you. Grab on and we will pull you out of there."
The man shouts back to them, "I am a man of g-d. My g-d will help me."
The helicopter pilot has no choice but to leave.
The waters have overtaken the man's house and he is barely holding onto a scrap of wood from his belongings. Water is rushing all around him. He continues to pray.
A man in a rowboat calls out to him, "Let me help you! Here, climb in this boat with me."
The pious man replies, "My g-d is a merciful g-d. I put my trust in him. He will save me."
The man in the rowboat makes one last attempt and then must continue on.
The man in the water is overcome by the raging waters and dies.
He stands at the pearly gates standing before the gates of St. Peter and asks," I am a good man. A holy man. I pray. Why did you not hear me?"
G-d replies. "I sent you a radio report, a helicopter and a man in a rowboat."
"What in the hell are you doing here?"
He was a good man.
He prayed and worshipped g-d daily.
One day he walks down to the river bank just steps from his house to sit and speak to g-d.
He prays a little and then goes inside of his house.
He sits down for his meal and switches on the radio.
A radio report interrupts warning of a flash flood and anyone living by the river should evacuate.
The man prays. He knows g-d will save him.
The river rises and keeps on rising.
The man prays and prays some more.
He says ,"G-d will save me.".
While he prays, the waters rise to reach his home. Water is rushing through the bottom of his front door.
The man hears a loud noise and looks out his window.
A helicopter is above and a rescuer shouts down to him, "Sir! We are here to help you. Grab on and we will pull you out of there."
The man shouts back to them, "I am a man of g-d. My g-d will help me."
The helicopter pilot has no choice but to leave.
The waters have overtaken the man's house and he is barely holding onto a scrap of wood from his belongings. Water is rushing all around him. He continues to pray.
A man in a rowboat calls out to him, "Let me help you! Here, climb in this boat with me."
The pious man replies, "My g-d is a merciful g-d. I put my trust in him. He will save me."
The man in the rowboat makes one last attempt and then must continue on.
The man in the water is overcome by the raging waters and dies.
He stands at the pearly gates standing before the gates of St. Peter and asks," I am a good man. A holy man. I pray. Why did you not hear me?"
G-d replies. "I sent you a radio report, a helicopter and a man in a rowboat."
"What in the hell are you doing here?"
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The American Era
hegemony–(n)
leadership or predominant influence exercised by one nation over others, as in a confederation.
This recent media phenomenon is characterized by stories of "the rise of the rest", namely rising powers such as China and India. How does anyone forecast a shift in power such as this? Pretty close to impossible. What then is leadership? Is it the power to resolve any global dilemma? It seems as though the more powerful the United States becomes, the greater the number of problems we are expected to solve-an elevating standard for what it takes to be a dominant power. The US did not fare well in Vietnam and failed to overthrow Fidel Castro yet we have maintained our leadership in spite of these events. Failure in Iraq or Afghanistan does not forecast complete doom.
What makes the odds even better are that the US spends close to four percent of its GDP on the military and invests large sums of capital in military research and development. Additionally, we have established military presence in all regions of the globe-cementing US influence everywhere.
China and Japan hold a large portion of the debt of the US and are dependent on exports to the United States. They must continue purchasing American dollars to ensure their currencies are weak against it, so they maintain competitive export potential.
Globalization strengthens not weakens US power. American universities attract the best minds from all over the world, creating an innovative and highly adaptive society. We are the head of the world's most popular political philosophy-democracy-as reinforced by His Holiness The Dalai Lama on his recent meeting with President Obama.
Things will go wrong as they sometimes do. But no one failure internationally is enough to topple the gigantic lead in power that the United States possesses both militarily and economically.
Even powerful autocratic nations must at least pay lip service to our democratic ideals such as voting and human rights.
If the US can convince other nations to comply with our wishes, we can lower the costs of shaping the global stage to reflect our interests.
If the US can convince other nations to comply with our wishes, we can lower the costs of shaping the global stage to reflect our interests.
Monday, March 1, 2010
REITS
Real Estate Investment Trusts
REITs pay out nearly all of their rental income to shareholders and they share hefty dividends.
Average yield runs 3.9% verses 2.4% for dividend paying companies in the S&P 500 and 1.7% overall.
REITs are taxed on dividends and paid at the regular income tax bracket so it's best to hold onto REITs and it's funds in a tax advantaged account like a 401k or IRA. You can purchase REITs in a brokerage account if you have that kind of a plan.
191 Peachtree Street Ste. 3600
Atlanta, Ga 30303
www.cousinsproperties.com
2. Duke Realty Corp.
3950 Shackleford Road Suite 300
Duluth, Ga 30096
www.dukerealty.com
3. Highwoods Properties Inc.
2200 Century Parkway Suite 800
Atlanta, Ga 30345
www.highwoods.com
4. Wells REIT II
6200 The Corners Parkway
Norcross, Ga 30092
www.wellsreitII.com
5. Colonial Properties Trust
300 Colonial Center Parkway Suite 200
Roswell, Ga 30076
www.colonialprop.com
REITs pay out nearly all of their rental income to shareholders and they share hefty dividends.
Average yield runs 3.9% verses 2.4% for dividend paying companies in the S&P 500 and 1.7% overall.
REITs are taxed on dividends and paid at the regular income tax bracket so it's best to hold onto REITs and it's funds in a tax advantaged account like a 401k or IRA. You can purchase REITs in a brokerage account if you have that kind of a plan.
Atlanta's Largest REITs
(ranked by sq ft owned)
Office
1. Cousins Properties Inc. 191 Peachtree Street Ste. 3600
Atlanta, Ga 30303
www.cousinsproperties.com
2. Duke Realty Corp.
3950 Shackleford Road Suite 300
Duluth, Ga 30096
www.dukerealty.com
3. Highwoods Properties Inc.
2200 Century Parkway Suite 800
Atlanta, Ga 30345
www.highwoods.com
4. Wells REIT II
6200 The Corners Parkway
Norcross, Ga 30092
www.wellsreitII.com
5. Colonial Properties Trust
300 Colonial Center Parkway Suite 200
Roswell, Ga 30076
www.colonialprop.com
Industrial
1. ProLogis
2791 Peterson Place
Norcross, Ga 30071
2. First Industrial Realty Trust Inc.
5 Concourse Parkway
Atlanta, Ga 30328
3. Duke Realty Corp.
3950 Shackleford Road Suite 300
Duluth, Ga 30096
4. DCT Industrial Trust Inc.
3340 Peachtree Road NE
Tower 100 Suite 1950
Atlanta, Ga 30326
5. AMB Property Corp.
3424 Peachtree Road NE Suite 125
Atlanta, Ga 30326
Retail
1. Developers Diversified Realty Corp.
3500 Piedmont Road Suite 730
Atlanta, Ga 30305
2. Simon Property Group Inc.
3393 Peachtree Road Suite 2005
Atlanta, Ga 30326
3. General Growth Properties, Inc.
1000 Parkwood Circle Suite 400
Atlanta, Ga 30339
4. Centro Properties Group
3440 Preston Ridge Road bldg IV ste. 425
Alpharetta, Ga 30005
5. Equity One Inc.
1275 Powers Ferry Road Ste. 100
Marietta, Ga 30067
Sicilian Pasta with Shrimp & Almond Cream
6 Tbs. slivered almonds
1 1/4 lb. ripe roma tomatoes quartered
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
1 lb short wide tubular pasta like rigatoni or ziti
2 garlic cloves
2 Tbs. unsalted butter
1/4 cup white wine
1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined with tails intact
2 Tbs chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
In a mortar, using a pestle, finely grind the almonds. Transfer to a bowl.
Using the mortar and pestle, grind 2 or 3 tomatoes at a time until the skins are broken and the pulp is pureed. Add the tomato puree to the bowl with the almonds. Add the olive oil and 1 tsp. salt and stir until well combined. Set aside.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 3/4 cup of the cooking water. Set aside.
Using the mortar and pestle, grind the garlic to a paste.
In a large deep saute pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the wine and cook until slightly reduced, about 1 minute. Add the almond mixture, stir until well combined and cook until the sauce has thickened, about 3 minutes. Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup of the cooking water to the shrimp. Cook until the shrimp are pink and cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the pasta and stir to coat with the sauce. Garnish with the parsley and serve immediately. Serves 4.
Pour a pinot noir with this dish.
I recommend Soter ('07) from the Williamette Valley region.
Bon Appetit.
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