Opinion

Opinion - Topics from February, 2010

When is it going too far in Olympic celebration?

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Friday, February 26. 2010

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The women of the Canadian hockey team politely accepted their gold medals and waved to an adoring home crowd just moments before the real celebration would begin. [Full Story »]

Land Of The Free, Not The Freebie

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Thursday, February 25. 2010

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Written by Spencer Price
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I was beat. It was early morning and I was on my way home after working a 12-hour nightshift in the ER. I stopped at a small convenience store not far from home to fill my truck with diesel fuel, grab a Coke, and get some cash from the ATM. What happened next spoke volumes about what’s wrong in America.

While standing in line to pay for my merchandise, I overheard the woman cashier talking to several middle-aged men sitting around the checkout counter (men, who, by the way, didn’t seem to be purchasing anything). The conversation was about unemployment benefits. Apparently, the cashier was well versed regarding the ins and outs of that particular government program. [Full Story »]

How much for miseducation?

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Wednesday, February 24. 2010

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In what is becoming an all too familiar strategy, the Georgia Department of Education recommended yesterday to shorten the school year to help schools cope with budget cuts next year.

The Georgia Department of Education says with state funding cuts likely to be above A BILLION DOLLARS, schools should have the flexibility to cut teacher instructional days which would shorten the school year. [Full Story »]

When plea bargaining ceases to be a bargain

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Tuesday, February 23. 2010

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Effected by the deaths of civilians in his native Afghanistan, Najibullah Zazi, a man who once operated a coffee cart near the World Trade Center site hatched a plan to join the Taliban and fight the U.S. military.

Zazi traveled to Pakistan in August 2008 but never made it to Afghanistan. Al Qaeda operatives spotted him. They had more ambitious plans and conspired with him to try to help him die a martyr in a bombing of the New York subway system, he admitted Monday in federal court. [Full Story »]

The ebb and (free) flow of journalism

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Monday, February 22. 2010

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Does anyone in cyberland remember the Free Flow of Information Act?

Introduced to the United States Senate by Sens. Richard Lugar and Chris Dodd in 2007 and later amended by Sen. Arlen Specter, the bill intended to provide a news reporter with the right to refuse to testify as to information or sources of information obtained during the newsgathering and dissemination process.

While numerous U.S. states have shield laws, the federal government has no such law. The bill is an effort to enact a shield law at the federal level. [Full Story »]

Tiger says he's sorry; will play again

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Walter Geiger

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Friday, February 19. 2010

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By DOUG FERGUSON
The Associated Press

Tiger Woods re-emerged into public life Friday, issuing another apology for his infidelity at a closely scripted event and affirming he will play golf again — he's just not sure when.

Speaking before a small group at the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse and a massive television audience, one of the world's most-recognized athletes repeatedly told his family, sponsors and fans — in essence, everyone connected with him — that he was sorry for his behavior. [Full Story »]

Er, um, slowing tickets in Georgia?

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Wednesday, February 17. 2010

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A bill that sets a minimum fine for driving too slow in the passing lane on Georgia interstates and highways raced through a committee of the Georgia House yesterday afternoon.

Members of the House Transportation Committee voted unanimously to send HB1047 to the House Rules Committee. The Rules Committee will decide in the next few weeks whether to send the bill to the full House for a vote. [Full Story »]

President expected to announce Georgia nuclear loan guarantees today

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Tuesday, February 16. 2010

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President Barack Obama is expected to announce loan guarantees today for the construction and operation of two new nuclear reactors in Georgia, the first new nuclear power plant to break ground in the United States for nearly three decades.

Loan guarantees will apply to work at the Southern Co. plant in Burke, where Georgia Power is planning the new reactors at its Plant Vogtle facility. Southern Co. estimates the project will create 3,000 onsite construction jobs and about 850 permanent positions. [Full Story »]

Do new, Georgia billboards link abortion to race?

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Monday, February 15. 2010

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According to an article by Errin Haines printed yesterday "the message on dozens of billboards across the city is provocative: Black children are an 'endangered species.'"

As the image depicts, the eyebrow-raising ads feature a young black child being displayed as an effort by the anti-abortion movement to use race to rally support within the black community. The reaction from black leaders has been mixed, but the "Too Many Aborted" campaign, which so far is unique to only Georgia, is drawing support from other anti-abortion groups across the country. [Full Story »]

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

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Friday, February 12. 2010

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It seems as if snow is inevitable for the area south of Atlanta.

As of 7:42am there was a winter storm advisory issued by the National Weather Service bringing snow and ice until 12pm EST Saturday. [Full Story »]

Welcome to Slumburbia

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Thursday, February 11. 2010

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It is unfortunate but it is true. A cruise down College Drive or a pass of 341 North as well as some Lamar extension, planned communities sit empty, sewage and power lines sticking up from the ground with the haunting allure of a headstone at Greenwood Cemetery.

As with much of the United States tile-roofed versions of a 21st century ghost town remind us of the gambling losses that took place not on the blackjack tables of Vegas but the board tables of America's financial institutions. [Full Story »]

Canadian Premier comes to US for heart surgery

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Wednesday, February 10. 2010

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Written by Bob Barr for ajc.com
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The Premier for Newfoundland, one of Canada’s eastern provinces, underwent heart surgery last week. Where do you suppose Premier Danny Williams went for his surgery? To a hospital in St. John’s, the capital city of Newfoundland? Nope. Perhaps he traveled to a larger Canadian metropolis, such as Toronto or Montreal? Guess again. Actually, the premier chose to have his cardiac repair performed not anywhere in his own country. Like so many of his fellow Canadians, Premier Williams eschewed his country’s government-insured health care system, and instead came south to the United States to undergo life-saving and time-sensitive surgery. [Full Story »]

Should smaller lawns and drought-tolerant plants be required?

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Tuesday, February 9. 2010

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In an effort to ease the strains of drought, encourage lush landscapes and enhance photosynthetic landscapes, some west coast communities are taking aim at a beloved fixture of suburban domesticity: the lawn. [Full Story »]

State of the Union - More Marxism, Less Liberty

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Monday, February 8. 2010

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Written by Robert Heiney
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While watching the 3 ring circus known as President Obama's first state of the union address, I couldn't help but wonder what they were smoking. From the fake grins plastered on the faces of Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi to the endless standing ovations over every other sentence uttered by the President – it was a surreal event. But we should focus on one main point – this is not about President Obama. While he was the Messenger-In-Chief, your attention should be directed at those standing in front and behind him. Mr. Obama is really just a figurehead for the organized crime syndicate in control of Washington DC. [Full Story »]

Geiger’s Counter: Up by the boot straps

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Walter Geiger

in Geiger's Counter

Saturday, February 6. 2010

Tom Rauch lives on an antenna farm situated along a ridge line in Johnstonville.

He spends his days surrounded by circuit boards, vacuum tubes, receivers, transceivers, amplifiers and even a few morse code keys. They have long painted the tableau of his life. [Full Story »]