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AROUND AND ABOUT
• Stories continue to drift in, primarily from the Internet, that
are skeptical of the efforts to locate the Homeland Security
Department's National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in places
like Athens. A recent one in the newsletter Counterpunch
(http://www.counterpunch.org/cox03262008.html) took a
rather jaundiced view of the effort, and then at the end of
last week here came one from the Associated Press, with its
reputation for objectivity. This story, complete with two scary
videos, not only thrills those already opposed (Athens FAQ's
Grady Thrasher was zinging it around the email circuit before
the pixels were dry), but would give anybody pause, with its
heavy emphasis on just what Grady has been preaching: don't
think those pathogens can't escape. Read all about it and
watch it via Yahoo at http://news.yahoo.eom/s/ap/20080411/
ap_on_go_ot/animal_disease;_ylt«AmVtT50h9ebCnazlTdWzlt
asONUE.
Meanwhile, Grady got sort of a comeuppance in the
Friday, Apr. 11 Banner-Herald letters section from PR guy and
Watkinsville City Councilman Brian Brodrick. disputing Grady's
claim that NBAF would be a “dark cloud" over the State
Botanical Garden. Brian represents the view that NBAF is the
kind of high-tech industry we need.
Brian has an interesting blog (http://oconeepolitics.blog-
spot.com/) which he calls "Voice of Moderation—-A small town
city councilman's look at local and regional issues through the
prism of a moderate Republican looking glass." Now, that's a
prism we don't usually get to look through, considering the
fact that a small-town moderate Republican is practically an
oxymoron in these parts. Maybe that's not true at all. Maybe
there are just as many moderate Republicans around as there
are moderate Democrats.
• Now comes word that Waffle House is interested in leas
ing the former chiropractor's office across from McDonald's on
Prince Ave. What about it, Cobbham and Boulevard? How can
you oppose it with McDonald's, Krystal and Popeye’s already
there? Maybe that's the reason. Driving, walking or riding a
bike through there is already treacherous, with so many cars
whipping in and out. A Waffle House might generate just
enough more traffic to smother the turn lane and cover the
sidewalk with cars trying to exit.
• This just in: Athens-Clarke County Coroner Bobby Tribble gets
out ahead of the curve by sending word that he is announc
ing for re-election. Don't worry, you're not the only one who
has no idea what the coroner does. Basically, he is required to
investigate any unexplained death, such as accident, suicide
or the death of a child. The coroner is not a medical examiner,
but more of a judicial official.
• On the street, the city is at least trying to counter the lit
ter problem it created by driving smokers downtown out of
the bars and clubs. Now there are 40 "CLRs" (cigarette litter
receptacles) downtown in heavy smoking areas to provide an
alternative to throwing them down on the sidewalk. (See City
Dope.) Here's hoping they prove useful.
• Word broke late last week that an officer at the Navy School
has been fired because it came to light that she was moon
lighting as a prostitute for the infamous "D.C. Madam" a
couple of years ago while stationed at the Naval Academy in
Annapolis. News reports say the officer had an "exemplary"
Navy career with Navy/Marine Corps commendation medals and
achievement medals.
• Finally. I ran into Mr. Lamar Lewis downtown last week,
heading into his store with his ace salesperson, Angela
Jasiulevicius. I was wearing a new shirt, and "Laymar," as his
friends call him, told me I looked good. “They put you in early,
so you could score," he said. I laughed and walked away, won
dering what he meant. Then it dawned on me. I think he meant
I looked like a substitute that the coach puts into the game
toward the end when the score is lopsided to get some experi
ence and maybe score some points, and the earlier you get in,
the more chance to score. Those subs stand out from everybody
else because their uniforms are so new-looking and clean.
Lamar is a sports fan and also a sport.
Pete McCommons editor@(lagpole com
THIS WEEK’S ISSUE:
NEWS <§2 FEATURES
City Dope 5
News and Views You Can Use
Cigarette litter a new farmers market, crime and punishment and more 1
The New Way to Play 11
Athens’ “WOW” Park (Now with Dragon!) Goes Cutting-Edge
and it’s a tar cry from the jungle gym of yesteryear
ARTS (S2 EiNTERTAO hi ^ ENT
Theatre Notes 30
Fools for Love
UGA’s A Midsummer Night's Dream captures the drama, fantasy and farce of amorous liaisons
IMUSBC
Panic in the Streets 31
The 10th anniversary of Athens’ Infamously Massive Spreadhead Invasion
A night of record-setting crowds and alcohol sales, yet surprisingly tew arrests
Challengers 32
A New Direction for The New Pornographers
Vancouver's finest have taken a turn away from synth-pop towards more organic epic rock
Disco Biscuits 33
The Spirit of the Dead
A jam band for the electronic age - Disco Biscuits push boundaries.
LETTERS 4
CITY DOPE 5
CITY PAGES 6
CAPITOL IMPACT 8
COMMENT 9
LEGISLATIVE WRAP-UP 10
WORLD OF WONDER 11
THE CALENDAR! 12
ART AROUND TOWN 14
DOWN THE LINE 20
BULLETIN BOARD 23
TOLI 27
MOVIE DOPE
MOVIE PICK
THEATRE NOTES 30
PANIC IN THE STREETS ANNIVERSARY.. 31
THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS 32
DISCO BISCUITS 33
RECORD REVIEWS 34
LINER NOTES 36
THREATS & PROMISES 37
COMICS 38
REALITY CHECK 39
CLASSIFIEDS 40
POETRY 43
COVER DESIGN by Kelly Ruberto
featuring a painting by Dave Jenkins
on display at Brick House Studio
.v-i rs;!
1
EDITOR & PUBLISHER "cte McCommons
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR l PUBLISHER Alicia Ntckles
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MANAGING EDITOR Christina Cotter
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MUSIC EDITOR Michelle Gilzenrat
CITY EDITOR Ben Emanuel
CLASSIFIEDS. DISTRIBUTION l OFFICE MANAGER Paul Karjian
AO DESIGNERS Ian Rickert. Kelly Ruberto
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Clint McElroy
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CIRCULATION Charles Greenleaf. Jimmy Courson. Justin Courson. Alex Moore. Lena Trotochaud. Alex White
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VOLUME 22
ISSUE NUMBER 15
Flagpole, Inc. publishes Flagpole Maganne weekly and distributes 17,000 copies
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NEWS & FEATURES I CALENDAR I MOVIES I A&E I MUSIC I COMICS & ADVICE I CLASSIFIEDS
APRIL 16.2008 FLAGPOLE.COM 3