Employee Free Choice Act: Fox Facts vs. actual facts

Fox News has also aired on-screen text claiming that "current law requires workers to vote by secret ballot"; in fact, current law already allows a union that shows it has the support of a majority of workers to represent the workers if their employer voluntarily agrees to recognize the union.

read more | digg story

This Week's Atlanta Underground Music Events

A run-down of this week's hottest and most promising concerts and music events in Atlanta.

read more | digg story

No bids for Vick's mansion

The auction of Michael Vick's Atlanta-area mansion failed to attract a buyer. WSB reports.

read more | digg story

Clark Howard: What to do if you're laid off

Many years ago, I had the opportunity to start an Atlanta-based civic program called Career Action. The program's goal was to provide free resources to help the jobless and underemployed find steady work.

read more | digg story

Atlanta Wages a Civil War Against Allergens & Air Quality

Atlanta advocates of clean air are quietly waging a civil war against allergens and other common air quality culprits that lead to Asthma or other causes of respiratory distress in collaboration with Kiwi air duct cleaning services.

read more | digg story

Terrell Owens Released (Cut) By The Dallas Cowboys Today

After three years, 3857 yards and 38 touchdowns, the Dallas Cowboys released wide receiver Terrell Owens. Rhis was a mistake as Owens is an exceptionally talented athlete who has no off-field problems and years left in him

Rush Limbaugh Is Wrecking The GOP And I LOVE IT!

http://www.zennie62.com -- Rush Limbaugh's idiological rants are out of touch with an economic reality that will keep The Democrats in power for at least the next 10 years. The reason is the economy itself and the need for government investment.

Between 1960 and 1999 the U.S. Economy added 20 million new jobs every 10 years, but from 1999 to today, only about 4.7 million new jobs. What happened to the 15 million jobs? They went overseas to countries like India, France, and north to Canada. And with jobs goes wealth. It's a key reason America's now the 3 largest exporter whereas we were number one for years, until 2004. We're now behind Germany and China.

All of that wealth lost has resulted in wrecked credit over time. We have to have jobs to afford our mortgages and our population did not stop growing through this period. But what happened was that we started to lose jobs from the remaining stock of them. Remember, we have millions of people that aren't even being counted in our economy -- they don't exist for employment purposes. The "Joe The Plumbers" of today are the steel workers of yesterday. With a thriving growing manufaturing industry, we were able to employ Americans and jobs were plentiful. Not today.

With this weak World Credit system we need government spending to replace the private investment spending that's gone. Indeed, with fewer businesses there's less private investment spending -- goverment must catalyze the growth of business.

All of this calls for an activist government and that's something -- that need -- will keep The Democrats in power for years to come.

Atlanta Has Snow? Wow. Snow Has Fallen In Atlanta!

Atlanta snow fun for some | ajc.com: “
It may not stick, but for many in Atlanta Sunday’s snow was quite a sight to behold — and to enjoy.”

-- And the AJC has photos -- looks like a lot of snow. I'm in Cali right now, but I could come and throw a snow-ball or three.

Atlanta PeaceTree Run Featured At AJC.com

More at AJC.com The PeaceTree run is coming up and you will be able to register for it in 12 days as of this writing. Race organizers expect 50,000 people to sign up, making it as large as the San Francisco Bay To Breakers.

Best pizza in Atlanta - Your Picks | AccessAtlanta

More at AccessAtlanta: “Your picks Best place for pizza

1. Mellow Mushroom
2. Everybody's
3. Rosa's
4. Nancy's
5. Savage”

-- Never tried any of them but I will let you know!

Flood Watch For Atlanta Metro Area Today

More at ajc.com: “Friday’s rains are expected to continue through the evening and well into the weekend, forecasters said, providing a much-needed soaking but also raising the threat of flooding.

A storm system moved into the metro area Friday morning, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a flood watch through Saturday morning.”

President Obama's Greatest Speech - State Of The Nation

In his best speech ever President Obama sounded the call for the need to stop sending jobs overseas. It was totally missed by pundits, but Obama just sounded the call for economic nationalism. It's about time.

From 1960 to 1999, the USA added 20 million new jobs each decade, but from that point to today, just under 5 million jobs were added. Where did they go? Overseas to other nations in a large process of what economists call import replacing. One example of this is the growth of Airbus Industries in aircraft manufacturing where they got the largest tanker deal in American history -- $35 billion -- and over the Boeing Company costing 25,000 jobs.

Mark Zuckerberg: Facebook's Benevolent Dictator

Mark Zuckerberg is Facebook's Benevolent Dictator who says the social network is 176 million or the sixth largest nation in the World. Electing to preserve member privacy was him being nice. Suppose he didn't do it?

Josh Wolf Documentary Project: Sierra Choi Needs Your Help

John Wolf spent 226 days in jail to protect his videos and sources, and caused the creation of a new law protecting video-bloggers. Now Sierra Choi is directing and producing a documentary - the trailer is here as part of my video blog.

At the time in 2006, I met Josh when he worked for the television division at Peralta Community College. He was also in the middle of his battle with the Federal Government, but even then was still focused on his work, and didn't spend a lot of time fretting about what could happen.

Then Josh defied San Francisco U.S. District Judge William Alsup's order to turn over the videos Josh had taken from a anti-G8 anarchist protes heldt in San Francisco on July 8, 2005. Wolf feared that the U.S. Government in the form of the FBI simply wanted to identify the people who were protesting and not solve a crime they claim had been committed against a police officer. Wolf's videos did not contain any footage of a police officer being harmed.

Still, U.S. District Judge William Alsup order Wolf to be held in jail for civil contempt of court later in 2006. Then, after negotiations, he was released but still refused to give up any of his videos, offering instead to post them online and show them to the Judge himself. Initially the judge refused, and Wolf was ordered back to jail.

Eventually, and after 226 days, Wolf agreed to show the then unseen video clip online and was released from jail. He never gave a copy of the video to the goverment.

In the wake of his ordeal and new stronger "shield" law has been placed in California law to protect journalists of all kinds, from print to blogs. We have Josh to thank for this.

Now, video film producer Sierra Choi is working to raise $250,000 to create a documentary called "Quiet Uprising: The Story of Josh Wolf" and needs our help. You can contact Sierra through me by sending an email here: zennie@sportsbusinesssims.com

Please help as many need to know Josh's story so this will never happen again.

Atlanta Bucks vs. Birmingham Vulcans, Feb. 14, 2009

Atlanta Bucks vs. Birmingham Vulcans, Feb. 14, 2009

Cell Phone Guns; Deadly "James Bond" Micro Weapon

The cell phone gun is now in media view after a raid of an Italian Mafia group last fall. A 28-year old man captured had this device, but the the others got away. I fear this weapon - which is in the United States - would wind up in our high schools.

Valentine's Day In Atlanta - Where To Go - Creative Loafing Atlanta

Creative Loafing Atlanta » Omnivore » A blog on food, restaurants, life: “On V-Day:

10 Degrees South- Offering a 3-course prix-fixe menu for $55 per person. 4183 Roswell Rd. 404-705-8807. www.10degreessouth.com
4th & Swift- Offering a 4-course menu for $75 with a $25 wine pairing. 621 North Ave. NE. 678-904-0160. www.4thandswift.com
Allegro- Prix-fixe menu for $49. 560 Dutch Valley Rd. 404-888-1890. www.allegroatlanta.com.
Anis Café and Bistro- 4-course menu for $50. 2974 Grandview Ave. Ne. 404-233-9889. www.anisbistro.com
Anthony’s Fine Dining- 5-course menu with champagne and wine pairing included for $200/couple. 3109 Piedmont Rd. NE. 404-262-7379. www.anthonysfinedining.com”

-- A great set of tips from a great blog!

Kim Hudson progressing in rehab from surgery - Braves News

More at ajc.com: “The day in December when surgeon Dr. James Andrews cleared him to begin throwing, he wasn’t halfway through the door, home from Birmingham, before he found himself a throwing partner.

“I said ‘Get your glove, babe,’ ” Hudson said.

Kim Hudson was in the kitchen. Their children were just home from school. The sun was beginning to set. Kim, who plays co-ed softball, hadn’t played catch with her husband since he was in the minor leagues.

But out the back door they went of their Peachtree City home to give Hudson his first test since his Aug. 8 surgery.

“The first few throws were definitely exciting,” said Hudson, 33, who’d never had surgery before. “I was like ‘All right, I’m going to throw it 10 feet or 50 feet. Where is it going to go?’ “”

Toilet tiff prompts Snellville mayor to have bathroom buddy

more at ajc.com: “It’s official: Incivility in Snellville politics has gone to the toilet.

Since December, Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer, fearing potential skirmishes with a fellow council member, has asked for a police escort to the restroom of City Hall.

Oberholtzer said he requested the police presence after he and Councilman Robert Jenkins “exchanged words” in the men’s room a few months ago, although he couldn’t recall the nature of the bathroom brouhaha.

“I don’t feel comfortable around him,” Oberholtzer said. “I make it a point if I’m going to go anywhere, I’m going to have someone else with me.”

-- What? I can't believe this is on the front page of the AJC, but...

Sydney Pike CNN Pioneer Interview on How CNN Was Started

This is from YouTuber: GoodNewsBroadcas

CNN began a revolution in television with the advent of its 24 hour cable news channel out of Atlanta in 1980, challenging the three major television networks headquartered in New York that shaped th perception of current events by Americans. This revolution was to take the world by storm during the next decade as satellite and cable television provided an alternative, if not the only, source of information for people throughout the world. Sidney Pikes story is the most thorough chronicle of these changes that exists. As he met with media and government leaders around the world, trying to sell CNN programming, he faced the forces that stimulated the changes and those which offered resistance to them. Sydney Pike was a pioneer and evangelist for the global television channels and news services that are taken for granted today.

Sydney Pike CNN pioneer and evangelist for the global television channels and news services that are taken for granted today shares his thoughts about Good News Broadcast.

Pamela Graf torched home for money, then blamed it on racists, authorities say | ajc.com

Woman torched home for money, then blamed it on racists, authorities say | ajc.com: “Pamela Graf ”

-- Not a good idea.

Hawks, Thrashers have lost $174M since 2002-03 | ajc.com

More at ajc.com: “The Hawks and Thrashers have lost $174 million since the 2002-2003 seasons, including more than $50 million in the last two years, according to court documents associated with an ongoing feud between the teams’ eight owners.

The group, known as the Atlanta Spirit, bought the teams and Philips Arena operating rights from Turner Broadcasting System in 2004.

The teams and the arena lost $48.9 million in the 2002-03 season; $37.3 million in 2003-04; $12.5 million in 2004-05; $24.8 million in 2005-06; $27.2 million in 2006-07; and $23.1 million in 2007-08.

Team officials and lawyers were not immediately available for comment.”

“Has Your Car Been "Atlanta-fied?" Atlanta Metblogs

Atlanta Metblogs: “Has Your Car Been "Atlanta-fied?"
by jamsmooth
January 28th, 2009 @ 1:04 PM Musings, Rants, Traffic/Commuting
Driving in Atlanta is a harrowing ordeal, long commutes for some, bumper to bumper traffic and loads of accidents every day.  Yes all of that is bad but a more stealth danger has haunted me during my stay here.  That is the hit and run dent on your car while parked and flying rocks.

I’ve never been able to keep a car nice, new and dent free in this town.  That hasn’t been my fault. Once while parked at The Stacks visiting a friend, I walked to my car and noticed the hood of my Dodge Stratus was dented and scratched with white paint. It looked as if a white truck backed up and ran over the top of the hood. I asked around and no one saw anything.

The next incident happened right in front of my house. I sold the Stratus to Carmax and drive a Toyota now. I have a driveway at the house but one day I had to park in the street. I walked to my car to leave and couldn’t get the door to open. I looked down and saw that a car had backed into the door leaving a football sized dent. I yanked and got the door open. There was no note, nothing.”

Atlanta Businesses Host Dine Out to Raise Crime Stoppers’ Reward at Atlantans Together Against Crime (ATAC)

More at ATAC: “Atlanta restaurants and businesses will be participating in a Dine Out event on Wednesday, January 28th, 2009.  Proceeds from this event will be donated to Crime Stoppers Atlanta and go directly to increasing the reward for information leading to the apprehension and arrest of the individuals involved in the murder of John Henderson at Standard Food & Spirits in Grant Park a few weeks ago.

Restaurants, bars, and other businesses that are interested in participating in the event should contact Rubi Cuautle (email: rubi@sixfeetunder.net).

Participating businesses are encouraged to donate 20% of their profits from the evening of the Dine Out, however any amount donated will be accepted.

A petition is available for you to complete and turn in to any business participating in the Dine-Out on Wednesday, January 28.

”

Lou Dobbs Is An Idiot On The Economy

When it comes to the Economy, Lou Dobbs is an idiot who does not get that we've lost 15 million jobs over the last 11 years or that 7 trillion in consumer debt is seeking payers and is not finding them because there's no jobs.

Diet drug blamed for psychosis in Kenneth Gerald Reese who killed officer | ajc.com

More at ajc.com: “Superior Court Judge Alfred Dempsey sentenced a cop-killer to life in prison without parole Monday, saying the defendant’s psychiatric evaluations made seeking the death penalty unnecessary.

“This is an inexplicable tragedy,” he said. “I’ve read over these (psychiatric reports) that the public will not necessarily see … that I will say justifies the plea we’re taking here today.”

Kenneth Gerald Reese, 31, confessed to ambushing 26-year-old Fulton County Police Officer Aaron Blount nearly six years ago when he was pulled over for a traffic stop. Until the murder, Reese had no history of violence or criminal behavior, Dempsey said.”

Did Sunday sales of beer and wine just get a green light? | Political Insider

More at Atlanta Journal..: “Doings in the first few minutes of the 2009 session of the Legislature:

— One of the bigger surprises of the day comes from the lobbying field. The GOP team of Clint Austin, Tony Simon and Sam Choate has been hired to help push through legislation to permit communities to hold referendums on Sunday sales of alcohol.

The Georgia Food Industry Association, which represents grocery stores, is footing the bill.

Both Simon and Choate are extremely close to House Speaker Glenn Richardson. Austin was essential to Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle in his defeat of Ralph Reed in 2006. The rules of lobbying are this:

Your support of a cause doesn’t necessarily constitute an endorsement by your close friends in the Legislature. But a smart lobbyist won’t take positions that would make his lawmaker friends angry.”

State fines 9 gas stations for price-gouging, probes 200 | ajc.com

More at ajc.com: “Georgia regulators have fined nine gas stations so far and continue to investigate nearly 200 others over consumer complaints of price gouging when Hurricanes Gustav and Ike made fuel scarce last September.

Some of the stations have to refund money to customers who can prove with a receipt they bought gas during the price spike, while others have to pay up to $5,000 in fines to the state.

The stations are among 200 the state is investigating over complaints of unfairly raising gas prices after Gov. Sonny Perdue activated the state’s anti-gouging statutes Sept. 12, said Bill Cloud, spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs.”

9 Georgians have given $50K each to inaugural | ajc.com

More at ajc.com: “Washington — President-elect Barack Obama has raised more than $24 million on the way toward paying for an inauguration that is expected to cost $45 million.

Nearly 50 Georgians have donated $250 or more for President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration celebrations.

The list of donors published on the Web site of the official Presidential Inaugural Committee this week shows that nine Georgians have written checks for $50,000, the maximum allowed by the organizers.

Rod and Leslie Aycox of Alpharetta, who gave a combined $100,000, represented the Georgia household giving the most. Rod Aycox is chief executive officer of Select Management Resource.

A handful of Atlantans are also listed as fund-raisers who collected donations from friends and associates and “bundled” them together for the inaugural. Karol Mason, a lawyer with Alston & Bird LLP, is the most prolific bundler in the state so far. She had raised $155,000 as of the official disclosure Wednesday.”

Fayette schools to teachers: Please donate your raises | ajc.com

Fayette schools to teachers: Please donate your raises | ajc.com: “The cash-strapped Fayette County school system is asking its teachers to voluntarily return the pay raises they received last spring.

School board members say if the county’s teachers would return their 2.5 percent raises, it could keep the 24,000-student system afloat. Should they all return the raises, it would add roughly $4 million to the system’s coffers.

In Monday night’s meeting, board members decided they had nothing to lose by writing a letter to Fayette’s roughly 1,800 contracted teachers asking them to voluntarily “make a donation” to the system’s financial well-being.”