- David Cappi, owner of DePalma's, takes some shots at downtown parking right after opening a restaurant on Timothy Road. Cappi assumes that folks don't want to go downtown because parking fines are higher, but that argument doesn't wash. When I go downtown in the afternoon or evening, it's still hard to find a spot and the parking decks are filling up as well. Granted that's a rather subjective analysis on my part, but so is Cappi's. Regardless, higher parking fines coupled with meters that permit longer parking times is the way to encourage fair and equitable turnover that doesn't punish the visitor.

- Besides, if Cappi wanted to boost business at his restaurant, I don't know ... perhaps he should try to get his food out to his customers faster than, say, 45 minutes. The Wife just visited the new DePalma's at Timothy Road with some friends, and she arrived there at 11:30 a.m., didn't see a waiter until noon, didn't get drinks for another 15 minutes and didn't get food - despite asking several times - until 1 p.m. And the staff was only willing to cut the bill in half ... and this kind of poor customer service happens all the time.

- There are a few lawsuits challenging the recent tort reform measures passed by the state, which is good. The evidence is very inconclusive the reform has actually worked, and though I have a problem with anyone saying 'your pain is worth this much' I've always had a much bigger problem with someone saying 'your pain is worth this much, but not a penny more!'

- Wilmont Greene is the Business/Newsmaker of the Year.

- Here's the first sign that Rep. David Ralston's tenure as the Speaker of the Georgia House is gonna be interesting as some Republicans are angling to loosen concealment laws to let folks tote their guns into school zones and college campuses.