Atlanta Streets Alive

Today N Highland Ave was shut off for 2 miles so people could come out in the streets and play.  There were pedestrians, joggers, strollers, scooters, bikers, one high wheel rider, and a few of us on roller blades.  It felt like a scene from a different city, one that you have in your mind when you travel.  You hope to find color and culture, street musicians, and pickup games with strange rules.  And weird food, but I didn't try anything more unusual than coconut water.  In fact, it's based on a weekly event in Bogotá, Colombia, where 70 miles are closed to cars.

Everyone was invited to paint.

The start of a game of Schtick Bawl.

For those who love puns, this is a Robe-bot.

This was Atlanta on its best behavior.  Everyone was friendly, yielded to each other, and helped create group projects like this Pop-up City Hall.

 

 

 

 

A lot of the comments ask for bike paths and sidewalks.

Also, some impressive athletics were on display.

An outdoor gymnast.

 

 

 

 

Cute belly dancers advertising a studio.

 Good music for the price of a donation.

An a capella group called "The Graduates."

They were playing a Romanian folksong when I passed.

And juggling.

A dying art.

By that point, I'd realized why nobody rollerblades anymore (sweaty boot rash) and headed back to reality.

My car is on the bridge in the background.  Hi, Car!

Bald-Faced Hornet Nest Under Construction

This morning I found some insects building this nest right outside my garage:

When I was taking pictures, they buzzed louder and this guy jumped down to the floor to stand guard:

 

I think these are bald-faced hornets (a type of wasp) of the species Dolichovespula maculat and they're very aggressive.  Here is a picture of what they are building from Rid-A-Critter in Conyers, GA.  Unfortunately, we'll have to terminate their project.  Fairfax County Public Schools of Virginia have a great site on these insects with some scary pictures!  Most interesting fact? Raccoons will often go after the nests. They're braver than I am.


UPDATE: This is what they accomplished after 12 hours of work:

 

 Amazing what a little spit and woodpulp can do.

 

 

Captain Planet

Though it was first discovered by Ben Franklin when he flew that kite, atmospheric energy was abandoned long ago as a viable source of cheap, renewable electricity.  Occasionally, researchers revisit the idea, which is typically presented as something like a weather balloon with a long cable attached to it.  This is potentially very portable.  One company claims to have workable patents, but every article I could find about them has the same information, as if the journalists were instructed to stick solely to the press release.  However, I am interested in renewable energy, so I made a handy chart of options: