Saxby's Georgia: Atlanta, The Mountains and Moultrie

Oh jeez. National Geographic asked Senators to submit a hand drawn map of their home state and Saxby Chambliss (R-My Hometown) pulled out a sharpie and a napkin or something for an easel.

I suppose I should be happy our mutual hometown is so dear to his heart.

This and That

I'm baaaaaaaack.

Here are some things I've been pondering in my mini-sabbatical.

Has Peach Pundit turned into TMZ?

What the hell was Jay Bookman thinking?

Good to see The Newsman gets the same type of tepid response from the AJC powers-that-be as me.

Speaking of which, have you ever noticed instead of an ombudsman, the AJC has a "public editor". This nomencature explains much about why The Newsman and I receive such mealy-mouthed responses.

Last AJC bit - I hate to admit it but I kind of like the redesign. But in my travels, I've seen many gutted houses with pretty window dressing.

Found a new blog. Intown Writer. Given my recent fascination with the operations of Georgia Public Broadcasting, the latest entry is most interesting.

I think I may have a solution to our transportation problems. More on that later.

I will conclude my Tale of Captain Ballard and the Sunbeam.

All of these things and the usual doodads very soon. Breaks over.

Now, what's that rascal Jim Wooten been up to...

Gonzo Lawmakers - An Interlude

I'm back in the ATL and catching up. Gonzo Lawmakers will return tonight.

In the meantime, check out professional newsman Doug Richards analysis of Dave, Nwandi and the gang.

“Lawmakers” is a dry and curiously stubborn mix of inside baseball and quaint old-school television, rooted squarely in the 1960s or 70s. It is tightly jammed with information. And it all but challenges the viewer to summon the dexterity to absorb it all.

Ouchie!

Georgia Men

If you can railroad a bad man to prison, you can railroad a good man.

At that moment, an older mountain man with a long beard sitting at the back of the jury box whispered just loud enough for the other jurors to hear: “Why, I would have killed the son of a bitch.

According the powers that be, Bobby Lee is a lion. We've always known he was as bobcat.

Getting Behind

I've been getting behind in my housekeeping.

UGA Liberal has popped up on my radar. Check it out. Definitely worth it.

There are other things rolling around my head. You'll just have to wait to see what pops up next.

Blogroll Amnesty Day

Two years ago, Drifting Through The Grift joined other "smaller" blogs in celebrating Blogroll Amnesty Day - a day to turn lemons into lemonade. I'll let Jon Swift explain.

Anyone who is aware of all Internet traditions knows that February 3 is the day when we celebrate the blogosphere's greatest (and, so far, only) holiday, Blogroll Amnesty Day, a day when we salute all of the great smaller blogs that don't get the recognition they deserve. Blogroll Amnesty Day, or B.A.D. as it is known to the twitterati, was not always such a happy day. In fact, the first Blogroll Amnesty Day, way back in ought seven, was one of the darkest days in the blogosphere.

As I wrote last year about that once terrible day: "Ironically, Blogroll Amnesty Day had a net positive effect for the blogosphere as a whole. I discovered a number of great blogs and made new friends and I am sure that is true for others as well. And so instead of remembering February 3 as a day that will live in infamy, let's turn this day into a celebration of the power of smaller blogs. Let's recognize that building
an inclusive community of diverse voices is what the blogosphere should be about, not creating a new elite to replace the old mainstream media elite."

It is tradition here in the Grift to point you to Georgia blogs you may have missed. So give these a try.

Ink Drained Kvetch is Wendy Parker's place. Wendy is a sports writer who is making the transition from "traditional" media to "new" media. Her blog is not only one of the most well written new blogs to emerge but also one of the most thought provoking.

Georgia News Beat just started last month but is already becoming a must read. It's a daily recap of news from around the state and it's one of those rare beasts from below the gnat line.

Speaking of my original home - Southwest Georgia Politics covers Georgia politics from a conservative libertarian perspective with a focus on area shenanigans.

Having researched blogging in other states, I can say with pride, Georgia has one of the most vibrant communities in the land. Celebrate it today. Feel free to link to your favorites in the comments.

Remembering Georgia Men

When I first saw the above picture, I smiled. Though separated by a generation of life and the icon engraving passage of time, I felt a kinship. No matter how the world painted Otis, he loved his cows.

Also separated by a generation, Dr. King long ago passed into legend. Yet, it is still the pictures of his smile immersed family life, his proclivity to tell a joke which move me today.

Today we will all dip into reflection. Much will be said of great deeds and great legacy but it should also be remembered that it was in the quieter love that the men from Georgia carried their messages beyond the bounds of their home. Love of farm. Love of family. Love of life. For it is in love, where the dream lives on.

This Means War!

I can't stop looking and laughing. That map is a hoot.

I don't give WMCC enough play. It's some of the best satire in the state and brings forth an underexposed truth - Macon is a very weird place.

The border "war" between Bibb and Monroe counties is quite serious. Well, at least as serious as our impending War of the Waters with Tennessee. You see, the big ol' Bass Pro Shops with its oodles of tax money sits in the disputed area.

Fishing. Guns. Outboards. Money. It's difficult to imagine a seriouser combination.

Count on WMCC to be there when the northern aggressors cross the Bolingbroke line.

Blog Stories 2008: #8 - Troy Davis

It is terrifying to me to think that my state might kill an innocent man in error based upon legal technicalities. If it is terrifying to you too, there is not much that we can do to stop it. Except maybe to pray. ~Sara of Going Through The Motions

Outstanding ~Rogue109 of Peach Pundit on the Supreme Court's decision to allow Troy Davis execution to proceed

Capital Punishment inhabits the rare place where passion's flames consume reason. However, it takes an unusual case to spread those flames beyond the borders of the political. It takes the impending death of a possibly innocent man.

According to a Savannah jury, nearly 20 years ago, Troy Anthony Davis brutally murdered a police officer. Seventeen years after his conviction, 7 of the 9 witnesses whose testimony led directly to the verdict say they may not have been completely truthful.

The questions in the case have led such divergent voices as a former FBI director and the Bishop of Rome to beg for pause.

In Georgia, the usual political warriors either pled for mercy or demanded blood. It also touched places that normally discuss recipes, UGA football and teenage vampires.

Finality now approaches. Davis' probable last hearing occured yesterday.

One day lives will continue and routines will return, but there is little doubt that those who inhabit the raging land and those who only briefly touched its scorching earth will forget the strange, possibly tragic path of Troy Anthony Davis.

Proceed to #7

Top Ten Georgia Blog Stories 2008

Tis' the weird season, Bubba.

Erick is simultaneously having a baby and penning intellectually dishonest screeds about religion. His minions at Peach Pundit are trying to rationlize shutting down HBCUs and discussing the latest Communist tactic of trash collection. Their flouride hating grandaddies would be so proud. Meanwhile, the Democrats are playing their favorite post-election game of hate and hair pulling.

Tis' the season indeed.

I'm going to do my best to ignore the politics for the next ten days. Sometimes the swirl of stupid becomes too dark and deep for even the most experienced cave divers.

Instead, it is time for reflection. It's time for the top ten Georgia blog stories of 2008.

Last year, the top ten spanned two entries. This year, I'll do things a bit different. The top ten will be published as individual entries over the next ten days. So let the guessing begin!

I, your humble scribe, will do my best to keep the distractions of idiots away and my eye on the ball.

Continue to #10.

Cynthia's Back!

Cynthia McKinney (G nee D - Territory of Wacko) on the alledged coverup of 5000 government sanctioned murders in the wake of Katrina.

Best Of Atlanta

Creative Loafing's annual Best Of Atlanta is out.

Congratulations to the ladies of Pecanne Log on being chosen critic's choice for Best Local Blog!

I wonder what the devil's price was this year? Wait. Did I post that out loud?

Just joking! Pecanne Log is clever with just a hint of the twisted which is why it's a regular read of mine and can be found over to the right in the Georgia Voices section. Check it out. Bookmark it. LOVE IT.

College Students Worry About Beer and Condoms

About professors oppressing their political views? Not so much.

Then again it is a liberal paper just continuing the liberal conspiracy to keep the good hearted conservatives oppressed.

But it does remind me of a story. Story time, chickens! Gather round!

Back in the paleolithic when I could only afford the letters grif, I participated in that annual tribal torture ritual called freshman philosophy. The prof was a gregarious old fellow who had been tenured since Charles Darwin found his finches and apropo just didn't give a damn what might come out of his mouth. Mostly what came out of his mouth were vast clouds of acrid cigar smoke despite the school's no smoking policy.

As we meandered through Plato and Descartes and Kant, unlike the rest of us who dreamed of fake ids and ties on the doorknob, one student became more and more frustrated. At times she would challenge the aged dragon but mostly she just huffed and growled. From her arguments it was apparent she was deeply religious.

Then one day, the old codger finally broke the young co-ed. He said, "I believe at least once in their college career everone should try atheism". With a gutteral moan the religious girl grabbed her belongings and stormed out of the classroom. A few minutes later, she returned to the door and began screaming "I don't understand how we can come here everyday and question the existence of God!"

The professor calmly replied, "My dear, when you signed up, you did realize this was a philosophy class and not a math class?"

Now some would call him a godless liberal. And they'd be right. Doesn't make it any less funny.

Express Lane To Denver

The thought of a road trip, even in these days of gas costing more than cigarettes (oh the price of sin), gets the blood boiling. It makes even the most road weary, drug addled blogger wish he could stow away on a bus full of Clinton democrats and later emerge from hiding somewhere around Tulsa.

Unfortunately, I missed my chance to secretly record the meanderings of the Unity Express.

But that doesn't mean we can't all virtually follow along.

They'se blogging.

They'se twittering.

They'se picture taking.

They'se flicker filming.

They'se generally having a good time. Drive safe guys and gals. And watch out for the bats.

Days

Read, learn, sing, dance, laugh, love, live.

New Blogs

New blogs added.

One on the left.

One on the right.

They'll be added to the headline thingie when I get back to civilization.

More Hate

Habitat for Humanity is trying something new.

The Atlanta-based nonprofit, which builds homes for people in need, is expected to announce Thursday the launch of a microloan program in partnership with the Maryland-based Calvert Foundation. It will allowindividuals to invest in — rather than simply donate to — Habitat's philanthropic mission.

We have a private foundation which aids the working poor without government assistance and it is now trying an innovation which has been so successful in other countries it won a guy the Nobel Peace Prize.

It is so dead in the black of libertarian philosophy it makes one weep.

You would think "so called conservatives" would also praise such success with private rather than government intervention. And surely some do.

But not all.

Wonderful. Here’s more on the plan. This program really does a good job keeping people living in economically un-viable areas. Just the ticket for feel good liberals.

Remember the rules chickens: Government trying to help anyone is doomed to failure because it is incompetent and evil. Non-governmental agencies trying help someone is still doomed because it will be run by lie-bur-als and they are inherently idiots.

My Hometown Headlines

Not dead, just intoxicated

A Moultrie woman called police on Tuesday, thinking there might be a dead body in her yard. As it turned out, it was her intoxicated grandson who was charged by police after he refused to cooperate with them.

Full story here.

What The Hell Is That Thing?

Rusty and Amber explore east Georgia.

Birds, water towers and lubrication. What more could you want?

A Legend Retires

On a cool fall night in 1994, I paid a scalper's price to witness my high school football team win a state championship.

In the three deep crowd on the chain link fence, I noticed a man with cameras standing among the students, the scouts and the alumni.

I'd seen him many times before. From my place on the field. From the crowd in the stands. Decades passed and there was always that man with those cameras twined all around his body - standing right there.

October 1971: Walt Disney World opens in Orlando, Fla. John Lennon releases “Imagine.” “Jesus Christ Superstar” premieres in New York City. President Nixon nominates William Rehnquist and Lewis Powell to the Supreme Court.

And John Mercer joins the staff of The Moultrie Observer.

Fresh out of the Air Force, where he developed reconnaisance photographs, Mercer took the job as the newspaper’s photographer, and he’s happily retained that title ever since.

Today is his last day of full-time employment here. He has worked for the newspaper for almost one-third of its 114 years.

Real newspapermen are rare these days. Read the whole thing. It's worth it.