Fresh Loaf

“I have always accepted responsibility for my actions, and this issue is no different.”

Except that he still doesn’t. Instead of admitting he made a mistake, re: driving drunk, Benji believes the mistake is not speaking out sooner about it. It’s really quite sad.

— FlackAttack of Tondee’s Tavern writing about state Rep. Ben Harbin, R-Augusta, and his recent me-so-sorry letter to constituents regarding his year-old DUI arrest.

Will we see demand for smaller, more energy efficient spaces come back? Certainly green building trends will increase - they are already on the rise, and saving energy is the primary financial driver for this (as opposed to the warm and fuzzies you get for ‘living green’). I think gas prices are already driving demand to in-town neighborhoods, although the credit crunch has stalled a lot of that movement.

— Ben at Terminal Station, an excellent Atlanta blog covering real estate and land-use issues in metro Atlanta, writing about high gas and energy prices and how the crunch may affect the intown resurgence in a tight credit market.

the trip has been incredible so far. the picture above was taken outside the fairmont lake louise. it had to be one of the most stunning settings i have seen in some time.

— James at The Arc of Time is on vacation with his family in Canada, finding Internet access where he can, and crouching in front of a lake that’s full, clean and surrounded by majestic mountains. Click the link for a photo.

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For an organization with such a large recycle center on site, DFM should make reusable bags easy to use. This might require a change to the way things have always been done in the past, either with a Costco-style receipt checker or designated types of bags that can be taken into the store…just thinking out loud here.

— Nicholas at DecaturMetro makes a case for the DeKalb Farmer’s Market to ease its at-times stringent bag policy so shoppers can bring their own.

Of the fourteen paid staff positions listed on the state Democratic Party’s website, four are held by women and none of the female staffers hold any of the “director” positions (i.e., executive director, communications director, field director, finance director, canvass director, or call center director).

— Andre at PeachPundit says the state Democratic Party staff is underrepresented by women and African Americans.

Nobody listens to flackattack. Yes, suspending the tax is a no-brainer, but going through this routine every freaking year is getting a bit tiresome.

— FlackAttack at TondeesTavern bangs his head against the computer about Gov. Sonny Perdue’s suspension of the state gas tax increase. Click on the link above to read how he thinks it should be altered and annual suspensions like this avoided.

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Yet the [Buckhead] library is a likely casualty of the ongoing movement to transform Buckhead into Alpharetta. Seems you can’t have enough mixed-use developments.

– ATLMalcontent has an excellent piece about Atlanta’s stagnant architecture scene posted at his wicked den of diatribes. He, like several others, bemoans the possible loss of the Buckhead Library.

I just don’t get it. We’ve got the Republican leadership wanting to raise taxes on 174 services, increase the sales tax and essentially nickel and dime us to death. Imagine being a small service business owner and having to deal with collecting taxes now. What a mess. I see NO focused opposition to this from the DPG, caucus or the county parties.

– sndeak at Tondee’s Tavern wonders why the Democratic Party of Georgia and local parties haven’t shown a little outrage and backbone over the outlandish tax hikes businesses and customers across the state would see with the More-Subpar-Than-GREAT tax plan, the mutated dungeon baby of House Speaker Glenn Richardson.

Even if you are not an avid biker looking to further personalize your dangerously cool lavender fixed-speed vintage bike, this will probably be a neat place to pick up tiny original works of art for your desk or elsewhere!

– Christa at Pecanne Log spreads the word about a call for art from Octane, a great coffee shop and office-away-from-the-office for one editor of a local alt-weekly. The java joint will auction off “spoke cards” April 12 to raise money for a bicycle-maintenance shop on a coffee farm in Rwanda.

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People, be careful. Especially women. Which I really hate saying because fear really sucks. Just be smart and be careful and maybe you can avoid being afraid.

– Christa at PecanneLog writes about a friend of hers who was robbed outside her Kirkwood home. The police officer who responded to the call told her friend that there has been a “rash” of these types of crimes, including break-ins and robbers forcing people to withdraw cash from ATMs.

Remember this budget is about choices. If we can give Delta a 30 million dollar tax break on jet fuel, we can restore 30 million in education cuts to our poorest counties.

– FlackAttack of Tondee’s Tavern points out Gov. Sonny Perdue’s recent reductions in education funding. Update: The House Appropriations Committee reinstated the funds.

Least shocking statement of the day:

I have high regard for Limbaugh.

Of course you do, dear. After all you are brothers in the belief that facts matter less fury.

– James at Drifting Through The Grift, writing about Jim “WootDawg” Wooten, Atlanta’s most favorite Orville Redenbacher impersonator.

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Please start with a research project focused on creating the Flying Suit from the Jetsons. Not only would that be super cool, but I predict massive benefit to our current transportation mess.

— flackattack at Tondee’s Tavern, on what he wants soon-to-be-sorta-former CLer John Sugg to research once he starts his think tank.

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excluding gas spent to drive home from south carolina for christmas, i have put $30 worth of fuel in my vehicle this month. my average weekly fuel bill prior to the switch was more than $110.
i have finished one full book, read the first half of the old testament and begun an detailed commentary on the gospel of john.

— James at the arc of time has given up driving for MARTA.

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Several blocks of Glenwood just inside I-285 were shut down with dozens of police cars blocking access to Glenwood from side streets and parking lots. A police helicopter was still circling overhead.

— Decatur-DeKalb on this morning’s killings of two DeKalb County police officers responding to a report of a suspicious person. The suspects have not been caught.

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But hey, dreaming about tax ponies will mitigate the risk of recession. How long before we hear the Stache say that?

— flackattack at Tondee’s Tavern predicts House Speaker Glenn Richardson will cite the state’s economic downturn as another reason to support his tax overhaul.

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“My wife and I both approached the podium during the period when remarks of citizens are permitted, but were physically blocked by the police chief at the direction of the Council,” Gravitt continued.

Gravitt says that he plans to file a lawsuit against the ban and also seek a temporary restraining order against its enforcement.

— Andre at Georgia Politics Unfiltered quoting Alan Gravitt, who says he was banned from speaking during the public comment portion of a College Park City Council meeting.

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Greenovation is a mash-up of green + renovation and I’m telling you it’s hot, HoT, HOT, in Hotlanta.

— EcoHome Guy on eco-friendly home renovation in Atlanta.

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So a catchy, although lame, operation name plus a call ahead to the AJC, isn’t a media response to the “embarrassment” (to quote one DeKalb commissioner) revolving around rolling back serving hours in the county? Sure it isn’t. And M.C. Hammer isn’t a washed up has-been.

— Decatur Metro calls bullshit on the media spin accompanying Operation Hammer Time, a series of police raids on DeKalb County nightspots.

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If you view immigrants as “invaders” or bad for America, or you just resent others of different cultures, you need to search your soul and your patriotism.

— Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Josh Lanier answers questions at Tondee’s Tavern.

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Atlanta Fans Regret That The Blackout Was Lifted

— Scott at Bucstats gloats about Tampa’s 31-7 pummeling of the Falcons. The blackout comment is a reference to the NFL not allowing games that aren’t sold-out to be broadcast in the home team’s city. The game was very nearly blacked-out.

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We live in an old house that still has a 5 gallon toilet. But you know what? I replaced mine in my bathroom (separate bathrooms: the key to a long and happy marriage) with a 1 gallon toilet and I like it soooo much better. The water jets out with more force, fills up quicker, and I think does a better job.But my plumber loves the 5 gallon one. He tells me you can still get them in Canada.

— Erick at PeachPundit discussing the benefits of separate bathrooms, low-flow toilets, and why Canada is not just cheap drugs, funny accents and Dave Coulier.

If I promise to support Glenn’s tax pony, will he grow back his mustachio? Because he would be taxed if his barber shaved it off for him.

— Flack Attack at Tondee’s Tavern poses a question to state House Speaker Glenn Richardson about the new website advertising the speaker’s pet project, the GREAT tax plan. The site, FA says, is paid for with taxpayer dollars.

You know, I thought we’d hit the bottom of the barrel in politics with the year of the outing of the gay Republicans–Mark Foley having dirty IMs with male teenage pages, Larry Craig trying to get gloryholed in an airport bathroom, etc. but the truth is we apparently have seen absolutely nothing yet. The Australians have actually shocked me in a way I never thought possible with the scandal that is sweeping their Parliament.

— Sara at Going Through the Motions catches us up on the latest scandal keeping all of the Land Down Under atwitter — a politician caught on videotape eating his earwax.

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Who would have thought the loyal opposition would be the Republican Lt. Gov.

— flackattack at Tondee’s Tavern on Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle’s apparent opposition to fellow Republican Speaker Glenn Richardson’s risky tax scheme

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After many rounds of Ubongo, we heard that there was going to be a Chocolate Symposium in the reception suite, so we gathered out things and made haste to the chocolate. As we approached the suite, we could smell the chocolate wafting through the air, inviting us to partake in sinful indulgence. They had set up a chocolate fountain with an array of fruits, cakes, and marshmallows on skewers to dip into the gushing chocolate.

— Toots at GayGamer.net on Gaylaxicon, the gay sci-fi convention downtown last weekend

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6. Never honk at anyone. Ever. Seriously. It’s another offense that can get you shot.

— Limerick Gal offers a list of Atlanta driving rules. It’s not funny on purpose, but it made me laugh because it reminds of the “jokey” FW: e-mails we all used to get back when the Interwebs was getting started.

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Rep. David Scott (D-GA)

-Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington today released its third annual report “on the most corrupt members of Congress.” Georgia’s own Rep. David Scott makes the list for what CREW describes as Scott’s “ethics issues … from allegations of tax evasion and misuse of official resources for political campaign activity.”

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For some prospective voters, a little smile goes a long way.

-Atlanta’s Shelby Highsmith, on a video blog report he did for Huffington Post about Rudy Giuliani’s recent visit to OK Cafe. If you don’t have time to watch the whole thing, at least watch the last minute. It provides a succinct and, well, frightening insight into The Political Brain.

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While the Tavern acknowledges that Glenn no longers [sic] sports the 70’s porn mustachio, we should never forget.

-FlackAttack at Tondee’s Tavern explains, with photo, why he calls Georgia Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson “The Stache.” FlackAttack also notes Rep. Tom Price’s startling resemblance to Ned Flanders. Former CL political writer Kevin Griffis noted the resemblance back in 2003. Since then, Price has begun morphing into a cross between Flanders and Vincent Price.

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Edwards - $14,909
Obama - $12,400
Richardson - $4,600

— Decatur Guy at Atlanta Public Affairs lists the top recipients of presidential campaign cash from Decatur.

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Hillary Clinton - 34%
Barack Obama - 25%
John Edwards - 13%
Bill Richardson - 8%

— Andre at Georgia Politics Unfiltered on a statewide Strategic Vision poll of likely Georgia voters

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So we get to reduce our troop number to pre-Surge levels by summer of ‘08, which means after 6+ years, we will still have a force in Iraq in excess of 120,000 troops.

And that is perceived as progress…

-— FlackAttack at Tondee’s Tavern on Surgin’ Gen. David Petraeus’ troop-deployment projections for Iraq

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Why should we give the legislature, the body that has cut more than a billion dollars from local school systems, the sole responsibility for funding our educational system?

– flackattack at Tondee’s Tavern on Glenn Richardson’s state tax-overhaul proposal. Note: Flackattack refers to Richardson as “The Stache,” a reference to facial hair he apparently no longer has.

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Here in Atlanta, we saw for ourselves what the International Olympic Committee is really all about. The IOC is filled with a werid mix of rogue, thuggish elites that think they’re worthy of titles, such as, “your excellency.” How the government of China treats its citizens is of no concern to them. Apparently as it was no concern to those that awarded Olympiads to Adolf Hitler and the peace loving USSR, who just months before hosting the 1980 Summer Olympics, invaded Afghanistan.

– Button Gwinnett at Liberal Lucidity on calls to boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

If boycotting the Olympics means not watching or paying any attention, then I’ve boycotted every one since 1984.

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This is odd. A man is suing Duluth for not allowing Walmart to build a “super store” on his land and his attorney is Roy Barnes.

– Mel at Blog For Democracy thinks it’s odd for the former governor to represent a man who wants a Wal-Mart on his land. It think it’s odd that she thinks it’s odd.

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