Fresh Loaf

VICE UNIT: Obama is Biden his time and keeping rumors at Bayh when it comes to his VP candidate, but the two senators believed to be atop his short list are given prime-time convention speaking slots, raising speculation it’s one of them.

COLOR-CODED: Reuters offers an analysis of how race has bubbled below the surface throughout this campaign, and how it manifests itself in coded language.

SAVANNAH RIVER ECOLOGY LAB: Less than two years after it looked like the ground-breaking, 54-year-old lab would be shut down for lack of funding, its own fundraising ventures have exceeded expectations and drawn in $2 million.

BIGFOOT IN THE DOOR: The Clayton County cop and former corrections officer who claim to have a frozen Bigfoot body will hold a press conference this afternoon in Palo Alto, Calif., to announce their findings. So far, even Bigfoot experts aren’t buying it.

WETLANDS: Can survive a drought, despite appearing dried-up.

BRAVES: Swept by the Cubs in six games for the first time since 1876, despite Mark Kotsay hitting for the cycle.

VICK: Bankruptcy judge appoints a trustee to oversee the troubled QB’s finances, after his initial trustee was charged with securities fraud.

ETERNAL SUNSHINE: Falcons third-string QB Joey Harrington, whose Detroit teammates used to call him “Joey Sunshine” for his sunny disposition amid miserable circumstances, still hasn’t given up hope.

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OBAMA: Wins Mississippi primary; CNN calls Texas caucus for Obama, too.

STANDOFFISH: Police surround a DeKalb home in possible hostage situation.

FISH RECALL: Don’t trust the Gorton’s fisherman.

STREAMS OF UNCONSCIOUSNESS: Georgia fish, mussels and rays are dying more often as low water levels lead to higher concentrations of pollutants.

RELEASE AND CATCH: Falcons can’t stay mad at Joey Harrington, just at his salary.

COLIN POWELL: Will join in Athens roundtable of former secretaries of state.

CLAYTON: Board of commissioners to vote within two months on citizen panel that would enforce ethics codes.

TEACH ME HOW TO LOVE YOU: Bishop Weeks pleads guilty to aggravated assault against Juanita Bynum.

KID ROCK: Kisses ass at Waffle House.

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VACCINES AND AUTISM: Feds admit vaccines led to autismlike symptoms in Georgia girl; deny evidence of broader link between thimerosal and autism.

HOLD YOUR HORSES: Unless they’ve been quarantined for a potentially fatal viral disease. In that case, you should not steal them back and take them across state lines.

MAR Y TIERRA: Y cucarachas y bacterias.

BLITCH TAPPED: South Georgia Superior Court Judge Brooks E. Blitch III, under investigation for alleged judicial misconduct, has also been spied on by the FBI.

JANE KIDD: Backs Obama, and she’s a superdelegate.

BROWN RECLUSE: Didn’t bite you.

CUTS CONTINUE: Falcons fire Harrington, leading to more speculation Matt Ryan will be the No. 3 pick.

ANDRUW JONES: Fat.

BILL CAMPBELL: Still has never had a drug problem anymore.

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According to several sources, including profootballtalk.com, ESPN, and the NFL network, the Atlanta Falcons are on the verge on inking a deal with Joey Harrington.

Just weeks after losing former Michael Vick backup Matt Schaub to the Texans, the Falcons seem to be close to signing a marquee name. Harrington, the former No. 3 overall draft pick in 2002, reportedly will be arriving in the ATL on Tuesday to sign the papers and hold up his uniform for the cameras.

Harrington hasn’t had the sort of career that your average No. 3 overall draft pick does. With big hopes, he entered the league with the Detroit Lions only to come up short under the enormous pressure put on him to save the entire franchise. He then went south to the Miami Dolphins and faltered yet again.

This is an important move — assuming it goes through. Vick has play-making ability unlike any other quarterback in the league. But with his athleticism and chance-taking is an inherent risk that few other quarterbacks ever face. And in these days of Jeff Garcia-led Eagles through the playoffs, the backup quarterback position is becoming that much more important.

Now landing in Atlanta, Harrington has the chance to resurrect his career and play like the QB he was back in college at Oregon. He has the skills, and a great arm. Maybe backing up the Vick-ster will calm him down and allow him to make the reads necessary to hit Alge Crumpler in the end zone.

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