My 'Lanta - The Atlanta Podcast and Blog

Cumming, Ga.

2006-12-18T15:07:00.000-05:00

Tonight the Cumming Playhouse is hosting The Merry Sounds of Christmas.

Panda-ing

2006-12-15T21:04:00.000-05:00

Don't know if you've seen this:

Zoo Names New Panda 'Hartsfield-Jackson'

(AP) ATLANTA Children sang and performers put on a lively dance Friday as Zoo Atlanta unveiled the name of the nation's newest panda cub - Hartsfield-Jackson, a 12-pound ball of adorableness too sedated to attend the hoopla.

Hartsfield-Jackson, which officials said “celebrates the diversity that both our city and the bi-chromatic panda cub symbolize,” was the most popular name in an online poll at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Web site out of 10 names chosen by the zoo, city officials, Brand Atlanta’s corporate partners Home Depot and Coca-Cola, and randomly selected focus groups. William B. Hartsfield was the longest-serving mayor in Atlanta's history, and previously inspired the name for the Zoo's famous great ape Willie B; Maynard Jackson was a three-term mayor who helped bring the Olympics to Atlanta in 1996, and who also loaned his name for the institution's beloved ocelot Maynard G. Krebs.

Li’l Peach, Whatizit and Perimeter Pete were among the other choices in the poll that drew 57,000 online votes.

Lion dancers performed to ensure good luck and prosperity for little Hartsfield-Jackson and Chinese-American children sang "I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing" in Chinese.

The honoree did not make an appearance but could be seen via video feed sleeping in her secluded habitat.

Hartsfield-Jackson took her first shaky steps in seclusion this week, a milestone that means her public debut is just a few weeks away. Until the debut, panda fans have been keeping up with the cub and her mother, Dim Sum, on the her online panda cam, access to which is available on a pay-per-view basis on her blog.

Nine-year-old Dim Sum gave birth Sept. 6 to the fifth giant panda born at a U.S. zoo in the last six years. Dim Sum and Hartsfield-Jackson’s father, Yao Ming, remain unmarried at press time.

Hartsfield-Jackson will return eventually to Chengdu, China to breed. Dim Sum was inseminated in March through a new process that aims to get a nearly pure semen sample from a male panda using “massage,” zoo officials said.

After several years of trying to inseminate a rhesus monkey, a lemur, and a recently dismissed zoo-keeper with samples of panda semen, the zoo decided to artificially inseminated Dim Sum, an actual panda, at the end of March.

Dennis Kelly, the zoo's president and CEO, said he hopes to impregnate Dim Sum again in 18 months.

"This is a happy day along a journey that's going to continue," Kelly said with a wink after the ceremony. "We expect more work will be done." Within moments of the announcement, zoo officials explained to Mr. Kelly that he would not be an acceptable semen donor for the future impregnation, after which he stomped off in an apparent huff.

Mild

2006-12-12T13:54:00.001-05:00

According to today's AJC, state Rep. Timothy Bearden has just filed legislation that, if passed will make it illegal for "any Georgia city or county from issuing any official forms or documents in a language other than English."

Bearden is the Republican representative of Villa Rica, Georgia.

Original REM Line-up To Reunite

2006-09-05T17:11:00.000-04:00

REM will perform three songs with original drummer Bill Berry on September 16 in Atlanta, when the band is inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

Is the AJC short-staffed today? They haven't yet posted this story, nor the one in the previous post about someone firing a missile at one of our U.S. Senators.

Georgia Senator Nearly Killed In Georgia

2006-09-05T16:11:00.000-04:00

Two Mondays ago, while visiting Georgia (the country), Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia (the state) had a missile fired at him while traveling in a helicopter. Luckily, the assassins missed.

Chambliss was one of six U.S. senators on the helicopter, the most well-known of whom was '08 Presidential contender Senator John McCain.

The would-be assassins were likely seperatists from Georgia (the country)'s South Ossetia region. They're supported by Russia. Yesterday, they fired at and downed a helicopter carrying Georgia's defense minister.

Pretty scary, eh? One man with a missile nearly killed six U.S. senators, among them the possible next President. Might the U.S. have responded by attacking South Ossetia? If so, how would their Russian allies react? All I can think to say is Crikey!

UPDATE: Reports now indicate that the incident may not have happened. I think it's entirely possible that it did happen, but that a lot of people in three countries (U.S., Georgia, & Russia) would like to downplay it. Pure speculation on my part.

Anyway, the "did it or didn't it" happen angle only makes it juicier story.

My 'Lanta Projects McKinney Loss

2006-08-08T23:06:00.000-04:00

My 'Lanta projects that challenger Hank Johnson has defeated incumbent Rep. Cynthia "Can you hear me now?" McKinney in the Democratic primary for Georgia's 4th District congressional seat.

My 'Lanta also projects that 'power' might get a bit lonely now that 'truth' won't be around to 'speak to' it.

Ralph Reed Lost!

2006-07-18T22:15:00.000-04:00

EXCLUSIVE: Creative Loafing talks to Dallas Austin

2006-07-12T17:12:00.000-04:00

Creative Loafing's Mara Shalhoup is the first reporter to talk to Dallas Austin since his arrest, trial and pardoning in Dubai.

Grady Patient List

2006-07-07T21:45:00.000-04:00

Earlier today I stopped by Grady Hospital to visit a friend.

When I stopped at the information desk to ask what room my friend is in, the desk clerk wrote my friend's room number on a scrap piece of paper. The scrap paper is actually a patient log that lists the full names and room number of people who were patients at the hospital on April 8. My scrap lists Jones through Lewis.

There's not much I can do with the information, I suppose, but I do find it disturbing that Grady Hospital is essentially handing out lists of patients' names to random people who stop by the information desk. I'd be mighty peeved if my name and room number, past or present, was being handed to strangers, especially since matching a patient's name to a room number could conceivably reveal the nature of someone's hospital stay -- "Room 7K04 -- he must have cancer," "Room 2A16 -- that's the infertility clinic," etc.

Ralph Reed in a nutshell

2006-07-06T14:24:00.000-04:00

Garrison Keillor on Ralph Reed:

"If a preacher secretly accepts a bucket of money from a saloonkeeper to organize a temperance rally at a rival saloon and maybe send in a gang of church ladies to chop up the bar with their little hatchets, this would strike you and me as sleazy, but others are willing to make allowances, and so Ralph Reed's political career is still alive and breathing in Georgia."

Read the rest on Salon.com.

And if you still haven't read Doug Monroe and Josh Latta's hilarious illustrated biography of Ralph Reed, you're missing out.

Newspaper reports Dallas Austin brought heroin to Dubai

2006-06-27T10:04:00.000-04:00

Although the AJC reported this morning that he's going on trial for cocaine possession, Dubai's Khaleej Times newspaper reports today that Dallas Austin admitted to Dubai authorities that he had heroin in his possession when he arrived in the emirate.

". . . the officials searched his baggage and confiscated one gram of Heroin and some steroid capsules," said the source, adding that Austin was taken to the airport detention centre and a lawsuit filed against him at Rashidiyah police station.

The source divulged that, during the police interrogation, Austin admitted that he had brought in the drugs from the US. "He told the investigation officers that he bought the drugs in the US for his personal use and forgot to remove it from his bag and pocket before he came here."

Either way, not good.

Free Coffee On Tuesday

2006-06-27T00:02:00.000-04:00

Free coffee today!!!

On Tuesday, June 27 between 2pm and 4pm, Joe's coffee shop in East Atlanta will be serving you, the valued customer, a free large coffee. The offer includes cappuccino, latte and regular good old fashioned American brewed coffee.

The offer is a part of a promotion for the The Devil Wears Prada, which is actually a good movie.

Sit, drink FREE COFFEE, stay awhile, use the free Wi-Fi.

Dubai Doobie Don't

2006-06-26T16:09:00.000-04:00

UPDATE:

News of Dallas Austin's arrest in Dubai on drug charges was picked up by the AJC today. According to the story, Austin has been in custody for over a month.

It appears that one of the reasons that the story has eluded media coverage for so long is that Austin's associates may have been lying about it.

The following, insanely stupid story, appeared on Atlanta photographer Sandra Rose's web site on Sunday, two days after the New York Daily News first reported Austin's arrest:

According to Dallas' close friends and associates, Dallas was not arrested or charged with transporting coke into Dubai. Rather, he lost his passport in Dubai and is now vacationing in London while he waits for immigration to issue him a new passport. My sources tell me they have been in touch with Dallas by phone "daily" and they blame rumors of his arrest on "haters".

He lost his U.S. passport in Dubai, so he's incommunicado in London until he gets a new one? What kind of crap is that? Just because I'm a hater doesn't mean I'm stupid.

-------------
Original blog post:

Atlanta music mogul Dallas Austin has reportedly been arrested in Dubai for possession of illegal drugs.

Mr. Austin's arrest marks the second time that he has made Atlantans regret that our city leaders chose him to be our musical ambassador to the world.

The first time was this song.

Pissiness aside, let's hope that he's able to wriggle out of this mess without experiencing too much of the awfulness for which the UAE's criminal justice system is notorious. Imprisoning non-violent drug users accomplishes nothing.

No Trees Atlanta

2006-06-24T18:03:00.000-04:00

Who cut down all the trees and why?

Does anyone know?

(the intersection Virginia and Highland, early evening June 23, 2006)

Another victory for Big Taco

2006-06-19T10:55:00.000-04:00

Gwinnett puts stop to traveling tacos
Mobile vendors out as county's rules get tighter

By BRIAN FEAGANS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/19/06

To some, they are eyesores. To others, they offer a fast, cheap meal. Whatever your take on mobile taco stands, they're out of business in Gwinnett County.

The last of the food trailers known for $1 tacos rolled out of the county last month, a casualty of new rules meant to limit street peddling.

What used to be a mobile taco stand sits idle at a body shop in Duluth. Gwinnett County no longer allows rolling food vendors. Officials say the rule promotes good order and benefits established businesses.

Read more

Attention, Zombies!

2006-06-13T17:49:00.000-04:00

Atlanta is the 17th brainiest large city in the U.S.

So says BizJournals, the national newspaper publisher that puts out the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

The brainiest city is Seattle, followed by San Francisco and Austin.

The full charticle is available BizJournals.com.

Coffee, Ice Cream and Produce in Southwest Atlanta

2006-05-19T11:26:00.000-04:00

My neighborhood coffee shop, Capitol Coffee, has been the best neighbor a caffeine-addicted, under-employed writer could hope for.

Located feet from the where the Beltline might be if it ever gets built, Capitol Coffee is a friendly, integrated meeting place with comfy chairs, a shaded patio, free Wi-Fi, and a staff so friendly that I've been late for several appointments because I end up sitting and talking with them.

Capitol Coffee recently took another step toward the summit of Mount Awesome when it added a Farmers Market to its menu.

Every other Sunday, from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Capitol Coffee will have fresh, organic produce for sale, including fruit, veggies, and eggs. The market also features cut flowers, honey, stone ground grits, handmade soap and organic coffee.

The Capitol Coffee Coffee Farmers Market is this Sunday, May 21, from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

Capitol Coffee is located at 1213 Allene Ave SW, Atlanta GA 30310.

Map of 1213 Allene Ave Sw
Atlanta, GA 30310-4200, US

Hey, Vern, please stop.

2006-05-18T09:26:00.000-04:00

The following, very bizarre press release arrived this morning from the office of Dekalb County CEO Vernon Jones. It is a response to this excellent column by the AJC's Cynthia Tucker.

I repeat: this is a real press release.

STATEMENT

REGARDING AJC EDITORIAL

SIGNED BY CYNTHIA TUCKER

May 17, 2006

As the old saying goes:

"You don't get into a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel and paper by the ton."

I want to apologize for aggravating the AJC by saying DeKalb County Government’s hiring practices are better than the AJC's and Cox Enterprise’s hiring practices.

I want to plead with the AJC, “I’se tired. Please don't whup me no mo!!" I don't know many ways I can say it: I have not, will not, shall not condone racism in DeKalb County’s hiring practices.

In the words of a great American, Forest Gump, “that's all I gotta say about that!"

• Vernon Jones

Boy Dancer

2006-05-16T17:27:00.000-04:00

Other than my friend Omar, who plays in the horn section Washington High School band, my favorite performer at last Saturday's Atlanta high school marching band jamboree at Lakewood Stadium was this spectacular dancer. He wasn't the only boy dancing on the field that afternoon, but he was definitely the only boy dancing like that.

For those of you who can't see the video link above, try this one.

Move that bus

2006-05-09T08:58:00.000-04:00

Former Atlantan, current star of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, just got a lot richer:

From today's New York Times:

Ty Pennington, a home improvement guru, seems to have made a connection with the public. More than a third of people who knew of him said his endorsement would help sell them a product, according to a new study by the NPD Group, a market research firm that examined the influence of 86 celebrity endorsements featured in ads last year.

In the study, no one had a higher positive "purchase influence" than Mr. Pennington.

Incidentally, the celebrity with the highest negative purchase influence is Anna Nicole Smith. Sorry, TrimSpa.

Spaghetti Rainbow

2006-05-05T10:22:00.000-04:00

Afternoon rush hour, I-85, at Spaghetti Junction, May 4, 2006.

I was driving. Ms. Christi took the picture.

Report: The Sunday Paper is Ralph Reed campaign literature

2006-03-24T10:46:00.000-05:00

I love The Sunday Paper.

Really, I do.

Week-after-week, no other newspaper in town is as good at jamming advertorial, fascism, and Jesse Jackson into such an appealing package.

I've just found one more reason to love it.

According to a report in the conservative Washington Times newspaper, The Sunday Paper is an organ of Ralph Reed's campaign to become Georgia's next lieutenant governor.

The report, in Wednesday's edition, describes Lisa Baron's sometimes smutty (always insipid) weekly column as part of Reed's "strategy" to broaden his appeal beyond his devout Christian base. Lisa Baron is Reed's campaign spokesperson.

A snippet from the Wash Times article:

Some Republican eyebrows were raised when Mr. Reed's campaign for lieutenant governor hired Atlanta publicist Lisa Baron, whose column in an Atlanta weekly has ventured into risque subject matter in language not often publicly employed by Bible Belt social conservatives.

It's apparently part of a strategy by Mr. Reed to downplay his Christian Coalition past and play up his "mainstream" Republican credentials.

Will The Sunday Paper fire Ms. Baron? Will The Sunday Paper, at the very least, investigate the Washington Times allegation and respect its readers enough to share its findings?

A real newspaper would do both of those things.

Of course, a real newpaper wouldn't have hired Lisa Baron in the first place.

(For more on Ralph Reed, I highly recommend The Book Of Ralph by Doug Monroe and Josh Latta.)

New York Times Art Critic Ponders the Georgia Aquarium

2006-03-23T15:20:00.000-05:00

The New York Times art critic Edward Rothstein wrote a story about the Georgia Aquarium for today's paper.

A snippet:

And this aquarium's risks are not of tanks fracturing or sea water growing stale, but of isolated spectacles and too little information.

And another snippet:

It is almost completely the creation of a single man, Bernard Marcus, co-founder of the Home Depot, as a "gift" to the people of the city in which his company began

Tax advice for My' Lantans

2006-03-18T17:08:00.000-05:00

I was working on my taxes in Turbo Tax today and ran across a few tax credits you won't want to miss:
- Passive activity credit
- Credit for alcohol used as fuel
- Orphan drug credit

Plan ahead for next year!

Lunch?

2006-03-18T13:40:00.000-05:00

"Do we serve lunch? How much does it cost? I'm sorry, but I just don't know."

(Location: University Avenue and Metropolitan Parkway, in beautiful Southwest Atlanta.)

James Risen In Atlanta

2006-03-16T11:12:00.000-05:00

James Risen, one of the two New York Times reporters who kindly informed us that the Bush Administration is illegally wiretapping our phone calls, will be in Atlanta tomorrow.

The following is from the Atlanta Press Club's web site:

JIM RISEN NEWSMAKER LUNCHEON

WHAT - James Risen helped break the story and wrote the book on what has become known as “domestic spying” authorized by President Bush, allowing the National Security Agency to conduct covert surveillance of suspect international communications originating or terminating in the U.S. After holding the story for perhaps a year, The New York Times published an article by James Risen and Erich Lichtblau detailing the NSA program on December 16, 2005. The story has sparked a national security leak investigation by the Department of Justice. The Atlanta Press Club hosts Risen on Fri., March 17 for a Newsmaker Luncheon and book signing.

WHO - Risen is national security correspondent for The New York Times and author of STATE OF WAR: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration. He writes on the intelligence community and how it is used in U.S. foreign policy. He has covered the use of U.S. intelligence capabilities in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Risen was a member of the reporting team that won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting of Sept. 11 and terrorism. He is co-author of two other books, The Main Enemy and Wrath of Angels.

WHERE - The Commerce Club 34 Broad Street, 16th Floor Dining Room, Atlanta, GA 30303 For directions, please visit http://www.thecommerceclub.org/location.html. Because of limited parking at TCC, please consider using MARTA, whose Five Points station is across the street, or nearby parking decks on Marietta St.

R.S.V.P. - This luncheon is open to the public. APC members may purchase individual tickets for $28 each or tables of 10 with signage for $280. Nonmembers may purchase individual tickets for $35 each or tables of 10 with signage for $350. Parking is not included in the ticket price. Tickets and tables may be purchased below or by calling 404-57-PRESS. Payment must accompany reservations, and there is a 24-hour cancellation policy.

When:
Friday, March 17, 2006
Event Starts - 11:30
Event Ends - 1:00

Where:
34 Broad Street
16th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303

RSVP:
Members - $28
Non-Members - $35
404-577-7377

Marc "Soolaiman" Fournier Tribute This Weekend

2006-03-15T22:32:00.000-05:00

From Michael Fournier:

MEDIA ADVISORY

For Immediate Release until March 19, 2006

www.hotaugustknights.com

WHAT: Soolaiman Memorial Show

WHERE:The EARL, East Atlanta

WHEN: Saturday, March 18, 2006

COST:$10.00

On March 18th, The EARL in East Atlanta will host a memorial show for Marc Fournier, better known to many Atlantans as Soolaiman, lead singer for the Hot August Knights, a popular Neil Diamond cover band. Proceeds from the show will benefit YouthPride, an organization serving gay and lesbian teenagers in the greater Atlanta area.

Cadillac Jones will open the show. A house band assembled and led by Hot August Knights bassist Stiff Penalty will headline, playing Neil Diamond songs behind a variety of guest vocalists, including Mike Geier of Kingsized. Other events are planned for the evening.

Fournier, who sang with the Hot August Knights from 2001 to 2004, passed away unexpectedly in November after a brief illness. As Soolaiman, he interpreted Neil Diamond’s songs for audiences in the Boston and Atlanta areas, very often donating his time for a variety of charitable causes.

Additional information will be posted at www.hotaugustknights.com

Recent photo of new, more vigilant My'Lanta StoryCorpse at work in Atlanta (and their van)

2006-03-12T22:36:00.000-05:00

Atlanta is Gentrificationizing!

2006-03-11T18:21:00.000-05:00

I know this because I read it in today's New York Times!

Gentrification Changing Face of New Atlanta

By SHAILA DEWAN
Published: March 11, 2006

ATLANTA, March 8 — In-town living. Live-work-play. Mixed income. The buzzwords of soft-core urbanism are everywhere these days in this eternally optimistic city, used in real estate advertisements and mayoral boasts to lure money from the suburbs and to keep young people from leaving.

Loft apartments roll onto the market every week, the public housing authority is a nationally recognized pioneer in redevelopment and the newest shopping plaza has one Target and three Starbucks outlets.

But although gentrification has expanded the city's tax base and weeded out blight, it has had an unintended effect on Atlanta, long a lure to African-Americans and a symbol of black success. For the first time since the 1920's, the black share of the city's population is declining and the white percentage is on the rise.

Read the rest of the story.

My 'Lanta My 'Story

2006-03-07T19:19:00.000-05:00

The other day, My 'Lantan Reid asked an interesting question. StoryCorps is in Atlanta capturing life stories for posterity, but who is capturing the StoryCorps story? Who, Reid wonders, is gonna StoryCorps StoryCorps?

Inspired by his question, I took my voice recorder down to the StoryCorps van to record a StoryCorps story.

On this recording, the first in probably not ongoing feature we call My' Lanta My 'Story, we hear from Shawn and Paula Patch about their experience in the StoryCorps recording booth.

Download My 'Lanta My 'Story - The Patch Saga

My 'Gusta

2006-03-02T21:43:00.000-05:00

Here's the first part of a cool BBC Radio documentary about James Brown. It's streaming Real Audio.

I'll leave for another time the rant about why I have to turn to the BBC to hear a radio documentary about one of Georgia and the U.S.'s greatest musical artists.

Golden Blizzard at Young Blood Gallery - Saturday, March 4

2006-03-02T09:58:00.000-05:00

Love Hurts, a new show by Atlanta's Golden Blizzard art collective, opens at Young Blood Gallery & Boutique on Saturday, March 4.

If you've never been to Young Blood, shame on you. The exhibitions that Young Blood hosts are always interesting and fun.

You can check out some of Golden Blizzard's work on their Flickr page.

Not that it matters, but I'll be there.

Ariel Pink tonight at the Drunken Unicorn

2006-02-28T13:47:00.000-05:00

Here's the blurb from Tight Bros. Network:

TUESDAY 2.28 AT DRUNKEN UNICORN
Ariel Pink - all ages - 9PM - $8

After years of recording in relative seclusion in the hills of Los Angeles , Ariel Pink (the first non-Animal Collective member on the Paw Tracks roster) makes his official Paw Tracks debut with “The Doldrums”.

Recording at home with only a guitar, keyboard, and 8-track (the drum sounds are all unbelievably created with his vocals), Ariel Pink blends Lite FM and warped lo-fi pop into something beautiful and confusing, yet highly addictive.

Vowell in Leathers

2006-02-28T13:38:00.000-05:00

As possibly the only person who attended both the Sarah Vowell book reading at the Carter Center and the AMA Supercross at the GA Dome last weekend, I've been asked to compare the two events.

The parking lot: Sarah Vowell - plenty of Kerry/Edwards stickers. Supercross - "Osama, these (sticker) colors don't run".

The pre-event setting: I noticed a few thousand more "Fox Racing" jerseys at the Supercross than at the Sarah Vowell reading. Also, the Supercross sold huge beers. Advantage, Supercross.

The show intro: Sarah Vowell - a brief, understated introduction by the Carter Center's Public Affairs director. Supercross - the lights dip to black, the music (U2's "A Beautiful Day") builds, a series of firepot explosions ignite, lazers dance around the dome, some loud Emo song kicks in, racers (lit by multiple spotlights) ride out of a smoke filled stage, announced one at a time by that gravely voiced "Sunday, Sunday, Sunday" announcer as they rev their motorcycles and do long wheelies into the infield. If Sarah Vowell could do a wheelie she would have had a chance. Strong advantage, Supercross.

The event: Topics discussed by Sarah Vowell - presidential assasinations, the State of the Union Address, the actual threat of and reaction to terrorism versus its depiction in mass entertainment media, the writing process. Topics discussed at the Supercross event - sponsors. Heavy advantage - Sarah Vowell.

General comparison: The racing was much better at the Supercross. Sarah Vowell couldn't compete with Chad Reed's ability to land a set of jumps with one foot out and immediately throw his bike into a tight turn while boxing another rider out of the inside position, or his comeback from a bad qualifier race and his battle with Ricky Carmichael in the main event. Ricky Charmichael took the checkered flag.
In summary - More brains and wit at the Carter Center. More adrenaline and tinnitus at the Supercross. It was a draw.

Huddled masses? Anyone?

2006-02-16T15:32:00.000-05:00

I was driving to Joe's coffee shop in East Atlanta when I passed this guy. He was standing next to Moreland Ave with flyers in his hand for a company that does tax preparation.

I pulled my car up next to him, rolled down my window and asked him, "Why are you wearing a Statue of Liberty costume?"

He answered, "I'm supposed to wear a sailor's uniform, but someone took it."

Of course.

Larry Turner, a.k.a. Reverend Larry, has died

2006-02-13T21:21:00.000-05:00

Larry Turner has died.

Known around town as Rev. Larry, a local blog reports that Turner died of a heart attack two weeks ago. I was not able to find an obituary to confirm what day he died or the cause of his death.

Turner used to sing in group called Moonshine Killers. I did not know him personally, but did once see him perform at a fundraiser to raise money for efforts to lobby the state legislature into legalizing/decriminalization marijuana. Here's what I wrote about him in July 2003.

Performing at the event was a ragged-looking gentleman named Reverend Larry. His first song was about all drugs, his second about cocaine. I thought his third song -- with an early line about loving "big ol' titties and cheese grits" -- might be about love, but it turned out to be about an ice cream man selling dope from his truck. It was called "Dope Truck."

I've read two notices indicating that Lenny's will host a memorial service for Rev. Larry this Saturday, February 18, but bar also has a fundraiser for Youngblood Gallery that night, so I suggest calling the bar before going.

Lust Least

2006-02-11T09:38:00.000-05:00

Creative Loafing's "Lust List," their annual guide to the "sexiest Atlantans," came out this week, and if their selection of "hotties" represents "Atlanta's finest" (as writer Alyssa Abkowitz put it), then, boy, is this city in trouble. You don't really have to read through the profiles to learn about the callowness, banality, and vapidity that pass 'round these parts for sexiness, though (although music fans may want to clog their iPods with the Hot Listers' recommendations of Cher, Madonna, Dave Matthews, and the like): one glance at a portrait will invalidate all of the Loaf's selections (and question the credibility of the rag in general).

Check out Anton Matthews, bartender (50% of the Loaf's picks are bartenders/servers/waitresses, one is a sun tan salon owner, another a hairdresser, one a receptionist, one a headshop manager, 1 a cop and 1 a preacher. Care to guess what most Loafers do in their spare time?). Note the cellphone attached to the belt, ready for an urgent message from the President (or some dude calling him to tell him that some chick's pulled "a boob out" -- Anton's favorite attention-getter). Surely no one reading this will need to be told what poor Alyssa obviously doesn't know: cellphone as belt-attached fashion is the least sexy statement a person can make.

How depressing is it that the cop is the only person profiled who you might actually be able to talk to?

Melt Your Cold, Cold ...

2006-02-10T17:58:00.000-05:00

Thanks to global warming -- uh, I mean "climate change" -- the winter has taken a little while longer to come this year, but it's definitely here now. The Georgia Department of Health has issued its usual set of guidelines to help us through the season. If you're driving, for instance, be sure to stock your trunk with several warm blankets, a flask full of Knob Creek, and a copy of Jack Pendarvis' "The Mysterious Secret of the Valuable Treasure" (you'll still probably freeze to death, but at least you'll be laughing along the way to rigor mortis). If you're planning on shovelling snow, be sure to start at your front door and work your way towards the street; that way, the Department of Sanitation can more easily cart off your cardiac-arrested ass. Senator Saxby Chambliss suggests wrapping yourself in the warmth of the US flag; Governor Sonny Purdue recommends the same, unless it's an election year, in which case a Confederate flag will work even better.

But what if you're really, really cold, though? You know: the kind of cold that chills you down to the cockles of your, well, cockles? Singer, songwriter, and amateur urologist Harry Barris wondered to himself about the discomfort brought about by gonadal frostiness. His solution to keeping one's nether region toasty was to dance, as the chafing of adjacent orifices produces enough heat to warm the surrounding region. Red Nichols (trumpet), Miff Mole (trombone), Alfie Evans (clarinet), Frank Signorelli (piano), and Ray Bauduc (drums) wholeheartedly concurred, and produced the following balm to act as encouragement. I'd suggest that you liberally apply to the affected area; repeat, often, as necessary.

The Original Memphis Five: Taint Cold (1926) [buy]

This Weekend in Atlanta:
It's frosty cold, so I'll be watching my new DVD of Tom Snyder's Tomorrow show and eating some pizza from Savage. Pick up your black slacks, black turtleneck, and black sports jacket from the cleaners so that you can mingle amongst the twitterati at the annual Art Papers auction (7p - 11p at Mason Murer Fine Art). It'll set you back $25 to get in, so plan to suck down lots of Grad Student Zinfandel to get your money's worth. Sunday afternoon is the monthly New York Corned Beef Society meeting at Twain's in Decatur. We're fixing dinner for friends (bean quesadillas and tortilla soup), so feel free to grab our table out front. If all else fails, you can puke out corndogs and popcorn and see how long it takes a clown to cover it up with sawdust -- the circus is in town!

WTF?

2006-02-08T23:06:00.000-05:00

Atlanta's CBS affiliate just teased tonight's 11 o'clock news broadcast with the Britney Spears no-car-seat-baby-story, comparing it to Michael Jackson dangling his kid off a balcony.

WTF? Isn't there any, oh, ACTUAL NEWS tonight?

Attendees

2006-02-07T15:29:00.000-05:00

Check out the AJC's list of famous people who attended Coretta Scott King's funeral. It gives new meaning to the phrase "no particular order."

(note: boldface type added by me)

Notable figures attending
By Tuesday, February 7, 2006, 01:30 PM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Those now at the church include:

Maya Angelou
Dr. Joseph Lowery
Stevie Wonder
Dr. Dorothy Height, National Council of Negro Women
Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin
Kweisi Mfume, former NAACP president
Sen. Barack Obama
Rep. Cynthia McKinney
Actress Nicollette Sheridan
Singer Michael Bolton
Atlanta City Council president Lisa Borders
V-103 radio personality Frank Ski
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Sen. John Kerry
Sen. Bill Frist
Howard Dean, Democratic Party chairman
Former mayor Bill Campbell and wife Sharon
Valerie Jackson, widow of late Atlanta mayor Maynard Jackson
Georgia Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor
Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox
President George W. Bush and Laura Bush
Former president Jimmy Carter
Former president Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Clinton
Former president George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush
Andrew Young and his brother Dr Walter Young
Hank and Billye Aaron
Comic and actor Chris Tucker
Former surgeon general Dr. David Satcher
Former Gov. Roy Barnes, Marie Barnes
Rev. Jesse Jackson
Al Sharpton
Dick Gregory
State Sen. Vincent Fort
DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones

I suspect it's just in the order in which the reporter saw them.

Brand Atlanta Commercial During The Super Bowl

2006-02-03T12:12:00.000-05:00

Brand Atlanta HQ just sent out this press release:

Feb 03 2006
Brand Atlanta Super Bowl Commercial

The Brand Atlanta Campaign has purchased one 30-second spot during SuperBowl XL airing Sunday, February 5 at 6 p.m. on WSB-TV Channel 2. The spot will air locally in the Metro Atlanta market in a prime position during the game. The campaign ad “Open Hearts,” created by Grey Worldwide and Lattimer Moffitt Communications, features the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Clark Atlanta University Marching Band marching and playing together. “Open Hearts,” directed by Kenny Leon, also features a voiceover by actor Samuel L. Jackson and “The ATL” by Dallas Austin as background music. The spot highlights the diversity and openness of the region.

“This is a very strategic investment for the Campaign. The commercials are such an important part of the fun of watching the SuperBowl that viewership is almost guaranteed,” said Mark Goldman, President, Grey Worldwide. “This is a tremendous opportunity to efficiently reach a large captive audience in the Metro Atlanta area with Campaign messages. We want to encourage as many residents as possible to visit ATLopen.com to learn about the exciting things happening in Atlanta and then to get out and experience all the region has to offer.”

The spot is part of the Campaign's overall advertising plan that launched in November 2005. The SuperBowl broadcast will net an estimated audience of more than one million viewers in a 75-mile radius surrounding the Metro Atlanta area.

Putting the "prick" in bishopric

2006-01-31T22:30:00.000-05:00

Did anyone else spot this little tidbit in the AJC's coverage of the passing of Coretta Scott King?

Her body was expected back in Atlanta early today aboard a private aircraft owned by Eddie Long, bishop of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.

Why does a minister need a private jet? Only heaven and Bishop Long's accountants know for sure.

But I'm just gonna go ahead and assume that it's another one of the nifty perks he gets for running the Bishop Eddie Long Ministries Inc. charity.

Bishop Eddie Long Ministries Inc is a tax-exempt charity established to help the needy and spread the gospel.

According to a September 2005 report in the AJC, however, the largest recipient of charity from Bishop Eddie Ministries Inc. was, you guessed it, Bishop Eddie Long -- to the tune of $3.07 million between 1997 and 2000 alone.

It's good to be the bishop.

Political Humor Tonight At The Five Spot

2006-01-31T13:53:00.000-05:00

Tonight the Five Spot in Little Five Points is hosting a State Of The Union Address viewing.

While President Bush yammers on about how we're "making good progress" a group of local stand-ups will provide running commentary.

Will it be funny? I don't know. I'm just so happy at the thought of comedians joking about something relevant that I'm ready to grade on a curve.

One of the participants will be Brian Bannon, the smartest, sharpest and most reliably funny local comic I've seen.

NY Times Ranks Atlanta Attractions

2006-01-25T14:45:00.000-05:00

Today's New York Times has a graphical feature titled U.S. Correspondents' Guide New York Times writers share their favorite haunts in 10 U.S. cities.

The Times' Shaila Dawan wrote the feature's Atlanta section. Watershed is her favorite restaurant. Lullwater Conservation Park is her favorite place to walk. Macon is her favorite getaway.

The full list is worth checking out, if only to get a sense of what kind of impression New York Times-reading Americans have of our city. It's probably also a handy guide if you're entertaining out-of-towners.

If you don't have the time or inclination to mess around with the graphics, it's also available as a PDF.

Wine and Clove Cigarettes, Part 2

2006-01-25T08:55:00.000-05:00

In my last post, I wrote about the new Actor's Express musical Love Jerry and the protest against led by Nancy Yoder.

I haven't seen the play and probably won't. I'm only really interested in the debate about it.

Ms. Yoder responded to the post and, more importantly, has written a position paper on the play which I have posted in the comments section of this post.

Wine and Clove Cigarettes

2006-01-24T18:11:00.000-05:00

There's a new musical at Actor's Express called Love Jerry by Megan Gogerty.

The play has drawn praise and criticism for depicting its child-molesting main character as an actual, multi-faceted person rather than just an evil caricature.

Among those praising the play are Prevent Child Abuse Georgia Inc's statewide coordinator, Sally A. Thigpen,

"It's a story that's played out in millions of homes everyday. Megan has written a script that just pulls the lid off the issue, " said Thigpen, as quoted in today's AJC.

The loudest critic of the play is a Lawrenceville woman named Nancy Yoder.

"We need a clear message that this will not be tolerated," Yoder said, also quoted in the today's AJC. Yoder picketed outside the theater's world premiere last night.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, of course, but before giving any creedence to Yoder's opinion, keep something in mind -- Yoder was picketing the premier -- meaning she was picketing a play that she hadn't actually seen.

What sort of person pickets a play she hasn't yet seen?

The answer to that question is revealed at the end of Wendell Brock's excellent story about the whole hubbub in today's AJC.

Yoder said she will continue to protest but that she thinks her message will be lost on Actor's Express patrons. She said she fears some Midtown residents, "smoking clove cigarettes" and drinking wine, will sit in their homes talking about how great the play is.

(Correction: I misread the AJC story and said in the first version of this post that Yoder didn't see the play. I apologize to Yoder and to anyone who read the first, uncorrected post).

She used to live here

2006-01-24T12:12:00.000-05:00

She used to live here. She doesn't any more*.

Cat Power (real name: Chan Marshall) has a new album out today. It's called The Greatest. I don't have it yet, but I plan to buy it after hearing the gorgeous and melancholy title track (Cat Power, melancholy?). Matador Records has posted the song on their web site as a free download.

Listen to this MP3 of "The Greatest" by Cat Power from the album The Greatest.

(I just read a blurb in Mojo magazine saying that she still, in fact, lives in Atlanta. Oh, well.)

Certainly

2006-01-13T09:09:00.000-05:00

Certainly there was a less funny way to word this headline.

Sure beats man milk.

2006-01-12T12:42:00.000-05:00

(Buford Hwy near Shallowford)

Diet secrets!

2006-01-09T23:13:00.000-05:00

This has nothing to do with Atlanta, but . . .

"I eat whenver I'm hungry, usually five small meals a day,"
-Lindsay Lohan on how she maintains her "bikini bod", as quoted in the January 16, 2006 issue of US.

"I was sick. Everyone was scared. And I was scared too. I had people sit me down and say, 'You're going to die if you don't take care of yourself.'"
-Lindsay Lohan on her bulimia, as quoted in the February 2006 issue of Vanity Fair.

Nelson's Mandala

2006-01-06T14:30:00.000-05:00

This is from Eyedrum's web site. Emphasis mine.

Opening reception.
Small Gallery: Nick Nelson.
through January 28th.

An installation consisting of 4 large wall mounted mandalas created from phototransfers on scotch tape, flowers, and wall drawings. Included in the installation is Asphodel, part of a previous show in Memphis composed of 3000 photo transfers of a single flower.

Is that like Police Cops?

2006-01-02T19:15:00.000-05:00

This car was parked illegally on Auburn Avenue on New Year's Eve.

Don't ticket me -- I'm the Security Police.

Not a racist?

2006-01-01T22:05:00.000-05:00

Today's New York Times SportsSunday features a great story about Bobby Grier.

Playing for the University of Pittsburgh in 1956, Grier was the first African-American to play in the Sugar Bowl.

Pitt's opponent in that game was Georgia Tech. Grier's presence on the Pitt squad was such an affront to segregationism that Georgia's then governor, the late Marvin Griffin, actually demanded that Georgia Tech pull out of the Sugar Bowl in protest.

"The South stands at Armageddon," Griffin said in a telegram to Georgia's Board of Regents, detailing his request that teams in the state's university system not participate in events in which races were mixed on the field or in the stands.

"The battle is joined. We cannot make the slightest concession to the enemy in this dark and lamentable hour of struggle."

Black people and white people playing football together will bring on Armageddon? Alrighty.

Believe it or the most bizarre part of the story is not the quotations from the governor's rant, but rather, his son's downright bizarre attempts to whitewash them today.

Sam Griffin Jr., Gov. Griffin's son, is the publisher and editor of The Post-Seachlight newspaper in Bainbridge.

Referring to his father's actions:

Sam Griffin Jr. said his father was opposed to Georgia Tech's playing in the game as a matter of upholding segregation laws. If he had not, Griffin Jr. said, his father's critics would have panned him.

"It was a gotcha either way," said Griffin Jr., who edits and publishes The Post-Searchlight newspaper in Bainbridge, Ga. "It was one of those things like, 'Are you still beating your wife?' There wasn't a whole lot he could do about it."

Griffin Jr. added: "No one was going to get elected back then who didn't run on that type of a platform. He was not a racist. I don't know if you can understand that or not. A segregationist believes in segregation, equal but separate. It was the way things were. It had been that way for 100 years."

I don't expect someone to disown or trash his father, but how can someone honestly say that that Gov. Griffin was not a racist?

If you're the governor of American state and you loudly stick-up for support a racist political agenda, then DING-DING-DING! that makes you a racist.

"No one was going to get elected back then who didn't run on that type of a platform."

That doesn't mean Gov. Griffin wasn't a racist. It simply means that he was an unprincipled man who promoted a racist agenda in part so that he could get elected.

"There wasn't a whole lot he could do about it."

Yeah, it's not like he was governor or anything.

How bizarre.

Suburban Atlanta Anthem To Premiere at UGA Halftime

2005-11-10T15:13:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Suburban Atlanta Anthem To Premiere at UGA Halftime
“OTP” written and produced by country legend Abilene San Antonio

LAWRENCEVILLE - November 10, 2005 - With more than 90,000 fans watching, Grammy-award winner and Lawrenceville resident Abilene San Antonio will debut his suburban Atlanta anthem “OTP” during the halftime celebration of this Saturday’s UGA-Auburn game in Athens. “OTP” is Mr. San Antonio’s response to the Dallas Austin-penned “The ATL,” a song that many in the suburbs feel emphasizes urban culture to the exclusion of hard-working, decent, God-fearing, white suburbanites.

“If you ask me, rap’s just crap without the C,” explained San Antonio. “When Dallas Austin made ‘The ATL’ into one of them rap songs, he was pretty much tellin’ folks like me that we ain’t no longer welcome in Atlanta no more. It’s too bad, cause my wife was wantin’ to check out that Ikea place.”

San Antonio’s previous hits include “Trucks, Guns and More Guns,” “That’s Our Oil Under Their Sand,” and the Grammy award-winning “God Didn’t Make No Adam And Steve.”

Click here to listen to a sample of Abilene San Antonio's "OTP"

Bland Atlanta - UPDATED

2005-10-18T10:48:00.000-04:00

In response to Atlanta's just-unveiled Brand Atlanta marketing campaign, we at My 'Lanta have developed some Atlanta branding ideas of our own.

Vacation

2005-09-03T23:09:00.000-04:00

My 'Lanta is taking a few days to rest.

Please spare a few dollars for the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

My 'Lanta - 23 Aug 2005 - Best of Atlanta Craigslist

2005-08-23T15:56:00.000-04:00

Dear Atlantan,

Have ever wanted to dress up like a woman and have someone throw pies at your face?

You're not alone.

Love,
My 'Lanta

Download My 'Lanta - 23 Aug 2005 - Best of Atlanta Craigslist

My 'Lanta - 10 August 2005 - Best of Atlanta Craigslist

2005-08-10T19:00:00.000-04:00

Thank you for your patience (and your patients).

Here's another episode of My 'Lanta's Best of the Atlanta Craigslist.

My 'Lanta - 04 Aug 2005 - Naked Art

2005-08-10T10:30:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday, those of you who were fortunate enough to be at home sleeping missed "Naked In Freedom Park," a public art project that consisted of naked people running around and posing for photos (see photo).

Last night, two of the naked art event's organizers, Ronnog and Steve Seaberg, granted My 'Lanta an exclusive interview.

Born in Sweden, Ronnog and Steve are Atlanta's premier Acrobatic Poets -- meaning that they recite poetry while performing Yoga-like acrobatics (see photo).

Ronnog and Steve talked to My 'Lanta about the naked art performance. They were also kind enough to perform some of their acrobatic poetry for us.

Download My 'Lanta - 04Aug2005 - Naked Art.

Bonus Download!!!

As you may have heard in the recording above, My 'Lanta sent a Podcast Recording crew to "Naked Art in Freedom Art" last Saturday morning. The dramatic recording that our crew made at "Naked Art" is destined to become Podcasting's equivalent of the legendary radio broadcast of the Hindenburg Disaster. We are, therefore, making it available as download.

Download The Seaberg Disaster of 2005

Bonus Link!!!
Ronnog Seaberg's volume of poetry, Song of Atlanta, is available here. Buy two; the holidays are just around the corner!

Other Music for Atlanta's Gormandizers

2005-08-04T08:01:00.000-04:00

Just found this story in one of the British tabloids. You all know anything about it?

Historic Club to Relocate?
August 3, 2005

FAMED New York rock club CBGB began the last month on its lease yesterday as E Street Band guitarist Steve Van Zandt stepped up in hopes of saving the grungy East Village rock palace.

The famous club that helped launch the likes of Blondie, the Ramones and Talking Heads is battling its landlord, the Bowery Residents Committee (BRC), over $98,000 in back rent and a $24,000 increase to its monthly rent.

The BRC, a non-profit group that aids the homeless, wants its money and guarantees of future rent payments before agreeing to a new lease.

"I can't put the needs of the club second to the needs of the BRC and the homeless," BRC director Muzzy Rosenblatt said, although he noted the two sides were talking.

Van Zandt, a star on The Sopranos TV show, put together Sunday night's punk-rock and grunge benefit featuring Blondies' Deborah Harry and said benefit shows would be held all month at the club and that a free Washington Square Park rally was in the works.

CBGB owner Hilly Kristal was less optimistic: "I don't think [Rosenblatt] has any intention of giving us a lease."

He said he thought the BRC was just out to double his monthly rent.

CBGB, with its familiar white awning, holds a special place in the city's music history. Apart from hosting top names, it was here the punk scene was created for small crowds that paid a $1 cover charge.

If CBGB closes, it will join a growing list of downtown clubs that have shut down in the last several years.

The famous Fez and the Luna Lounge have both closed this year because of development, and last year the Bottom Line was shut over a debt of more than $242,000 to its landlord, New York University.

A series of celebrities, including Talking Heads frontman David Byrne have tried to facilitate talks between Kristal and the BRC.

Van Zandt, who is now leading the charge, said the end of the CBGB would be the end of the rock 'n' roll era.

"This is the last rock 'n' roll symbol left," Mr Van Zandt said.

"We have seen one iconic rock 'n' roll venue after the other disappear, and we finally said, 'let's draw a line here, and save at least one'."

Mr Kristal is considering moving the club to Atlanta, Georgia if they fail.

"If New York doesn't want me then I'll do something else. There are people out there who do want me, who have a vision that highlights optimism, opportunity, and openness," he said. Insiders say that Mr Kristal has been eyeing a variety of locations near downtown Atlanta, in buildings that formerly housed local landmark nightclubs 688, The Great Southeast Music Hall, and The Earl.

The Daily Telegraph

My 'Lanta - 27 July 2005 - Lisa Baron Talks About Choices

2005-07-27T10:54:00.000-04:00

The lovely and talented newspaper columnist and Ralph Reed spokesperson Lisa Baron stopped by our studio for yet another chat with Phil O'Steen. The conversation that ensued is easily the strangest and least coherent that two have had.

Download My 'Lanta - 27 July 2005 - Lisa Baron Talks About Choices.

My-Lanta-27July2005-LB.mp3

My 'Lanta - 21 July 2005 - Goodnight Atlanta

2005-07-21T09:51:00.000-04:00

Congratulations!

You've just stumbled across the first installment of what we hope will be an ongoing series of Podcasts aimed at Atlanta's pre-school youth*. We're calling it My 'Lanta Kidz

For this Podcast, Phil O'Steen transforms the bedtime story Goodnight Moon into a touching homage to the city we call home.

(*This is only aimed at kids who are allowed to hear recordings with the word "shit" in them.)

So here, for your nighttime listening pleasure is Phil O'Steen reading Goodnight Atlanta.

Sweet dreams.

Subscribe to My 'Lanta using iTunes

2005-07-19T12:21:00.000-04:00

The latest version of Apple's iTunes software (version 4.9) allows users to subscribe to My 'Lanta and other Podcasts. Once you subscribe, iTunes will automatically download My 'Lanta Podcasts as they become available.

There are two ways to subscribe:

The first way

1) Start the iTunes program
2) Click on the "Advanced" menu at the top of your screen and select "Subscribe To Podcast . . ." option.
3) Paste the following URL into the box: http://feeds.feedburner.com/Mylanta
4) Click OK.

That's it. You're subscribed.

The second way

1) Start the iTunes program
2) Go to the iTunes music store
3) Click on the Podcasts button.
4) My 'Lanta is included in the iTunes Music Store Podcast directory. You can find it by typing My 'Lanta, Andisheh Nouraee or Phil O'Steen into any of the iTunes music stores.

My 'Lanta - 19 July 2005 - Best of Atlanta Craigslist

2005-07-19T11:58:00.000-04:00

Black by popular demand, here's another installment of the Best of Atlanta Craigslist on My 'Lanta.

Download My 'Lanta - 19 July 2005 - Best of Atlanta Craigslist.

A reminder:

Never miss another program by subscribing to My 'Lanta using the latest version of Apple's iTunes software. Subscribe once, and the latest My 'Lanta podcasts will be automatically downloaded to your computer as we complete them.

My 'Lanta - 12 July 2005 - Lisa Baron Goes To A Bar

2005-07-12T11:45:00.000-04:00

Columnist Lisa Baron will not quit bugging us.

She stopped by My 'Lanta's studio to discuss her marriage, Ralph Reed, and peeing in her sleep.

Download My'Lanta-12July2005-Lisa Baron Goes To A Bar.

My 'Lanta - 07 July 2005 - Lisa Baron Eats Cobbler

2005-07-07T10:12:00.000-04:00

Lisa Baron once again stopped by My 'Lanta's spacious studio to talk about marriage, her wonderful husband, and delicious cobbler.

Download My 'Lanta - 07 July 2005 - Lisa Baron Eats Cobbler.

And, as promised on the Podcast, here's the cobbler recipe:

Lisa Baron's Blueberry Cobbler

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
1 1/2 cups regular oats
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
6 tablespoons chilled butter
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Cooking spray
3/4 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup freshly ground flax seed (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°.

Lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups, and
level with a knife. Combine flours, oats, sugar,
butter, flax seed, and nutmeg in a food processor;
pulse 5 times or until mixture resembles coarse meal.

Press two-thirds of oat mixture into bottom of an
8-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray.
Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Spread blueberries over
warm crust. Sprinkle with remaining oat mixture, and
press gently. Bake for an additional 25 minutes or
until lightly browned and bubbly. Cool completely in
pan on a wire rack.

Yield: 16 servings

Pairs well with vanilla ice cream.

Anna (Go To Him)

2005-07-06T17:35:00.000-04:00

Last week, Anna from Ikea.com sat down for an interview with My 'Lanta. Anna isn't a real person. Anna is Ikea.com's virtual help desk assistant.

Although designed to answer questions about Ikea's furniture, Anna wasn't afraid to answer some of Phil's questions about company founder Ingvar Kamprad's Nazi past, nor did she shy away from Phil's more, um, personal questions.

So here, for your listening pleasure, is Phil's interview with Ikea.com's Anna. The audio is a verbatim reading of Phil's questions and Anna's answers. If you don't believe us, ask her yourself.

Download Phil's Interview with Anna.

Transcript of interview is below:

Have you heard about the links between Ikea and the Nazis?
A: The IKEA business idea is: “We shall offer a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them.”

Do you know Ingvar Kamprad?
A: The founder of Ikea, Ingvar Kamprad, has been eager to create an ownership structure and an orgazination that stand for long-term independence and security. The Ikea Group is owned by a foundation Stichting Ingka Foundation, which is registered in Holland.

Did you know that Kamprad attended Nazi meetings in Sweden after the end of WWII?
A: You can view information about Ikea stores worldwide here.

Are you saying that Kamprad was or is a Nazi?
A: Mr. Ingvar Kamprad is the founder of Ikea. In 1943, when Ingvar was 17, his father gave him a gift for succeeding in his studies. The gift was used to establish his own business.

Are you a Nazi?
A: I really can’t say anything about this, please talk to me about Ikea.

Do you have to be a Nazi to work at Ikea?
If you are out-going, dedicated, customer-service oriented and interested in working as part of a team, contact the Ikea store near you for possible openings.

Can I wear a Nazi uniform to work?
A: Well, don’t let me keep you. I’ll be here whenever you decide to come back.

Do you think I’m hot?
A: Good looking, and modest too. What more could a person ask for?

Are you flirting with me?
A: I’m not flirting. My job is to talk about Ikea, nothing more.

What are you wearing?
I have an outfit that my creators made for me, but because I’m an Ikea Online Assistant, I don’t wear real clothes.

Do you mean that you’re really naked?
A: I never use bad language. I talk to hundreds of people every day, sometimes kids, so it’s important for me to be polite.

I understand. So you *are* naked?
A: You are perfectly entitled to hold any opinion you want about me.

May I hold *you*?
A: It’s certainly possible, maybe, although it’s not certain. You’d better check with Customer Service.

Can I show you my penis?
A: I’m afraid I’m not willing to discuss this subject in any way.

Why are you afraid?
A: The only thing I’m afraid of is not being able to answer your questions about Ikea.

Are you afraid of the Nazis? They are pretty scary.
A: I’m an Ikea Online Assistant, so I can’t be afraid. Let’s talk about Ikea.

My 'Lanta - 30 June 2005 - Best of Atlanta Craigslist

2005-06-29T21:49:00.000-04:00

Ready to hear about German's who exfoliate, photographers in need of a massage, and some filthy words?

NOTE: THIS EDITION OF MY 'LANTA IS EXTRA POTTY-MOUTHED.

Then download My 'Lanta - 30 June 2005 - Best of Atlanta Craigslist.

My 'Lanta - 15 June 2005 - Best of Atlanta Craigslist

2005-06-16T11:13:00.000-04:00

Are you looking for a male nurse?

Are you looking for a best friend?

Are you pissed off at the woman at your office that eats 1/4 of a muffin and leaves the other 3/4 in the fridge?

Then maybe you should listen to My 'Lanta's The Best of Atlanta Craiglist.

Download My 'Lanta 16 June 2005 - Best of Atlanta Craigslist.

My 'Lanta - 15 June 2005 - Lisa Baron Visits My 'Lanta Again!!!!

2005-06-15T09:48:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure how we did it, but we managed to lure ace newspaper columnist Lisa Baron back to My 'Lanta Studios one more time. Once again, she shared her amazing "Lisa Baron On Marriage" column from The Sunday Paper. The column talks about some of the ups and downs of being married to Atlanta supercelebrity Jimmy Baron.

Won't you please take a few minutes of your time to listen? Please?!?

Download My 'Lanta - 15 June 2005 - Lisa Baron Visits My 'Lanta Again!!!!

My 'Lanta - 09 June 2005 - Best of Atlanta Craigslist

2005-06-09T10:03:00.000-04:00

Are you looking for a Sugar Daddy or a guy with more than one tattoo?

Then this installment of My 'Lanta's Best of Atlanta Craigslist is for you.

Download My 'Lanta 09 June 2004 Best of Atlanta Craigslist.

Fixed

2005-06-08T11:03:00.000-04:00

The Lisa Baron Podcast link was broken for about 5 minutes. It's fixed now.

My 'Lanta - 08 June 2005 - Lisa Baron Visits My 'Lanta

2005-06-08T10:20:00.000-04:00

This week, My 'Lanta Studios received a surprise visit from none other than Ms. Lisa Baron. Ms. Baron is the wife of top 99X morning radio personality Jimmy Baron. She stopped by to discuss about Lisa Baron On Marriage, the scintillating column she writes each week for Atlanta's The Sunday Paper.

We feel very lucky that she stopped by. We hope you'll agree.

Download Lisa Baron visiting My 'Lanta Studios.

My 'Lanta - 08 June 2005 - Community Calendar

2005-06-08T10:05:00.000-04:00

This weekend in Atlanta promises to be the most activity-packed two days this city has seen since the Olympics. The My 'Lanta Community Calendar tells your everything you need to know about what's going on around town, with extra emphasis on the weekend's two biggest events, Southeast Leatherfest and the Atlanta Harmonica Enthusiasts Meeting.

Download the June 8 My 'Lanta Community Calendar right here.

Pardon the delay

2005-06-06T22:48:00.000-04:00

The My 'Lanta recording schedule was temporarily pre-empted by two out-of-town trips and the Memorial Day Holiday. We plan to record new stuff tomorrow and have it on the site on Wednesday.

Thanks for your (dis)interest.

My 'Lanta - 24 May 2005 - Atlanta Craigslist

2005-05-24T10:52:00.000-04:00

Incontinence?
Dogs with missing testicles?
Mythopoetic men?

It must be The Best of Atlanta Craigslist on My 'Lanta.

Download it right here.

My 'Lanta - 20 May 2005 - Community Announcements

2005-05-20T08:58:00.000-04:00

That's right -- My 'Lanta once again brings you closer to the city you be livin' in with this week's Community Announcements.

Download the latest My 'Lanta by clicking here.

For a transcript of today's Podcast, get a pen, a piece of paper, and write down everything we say.

My 'Lanta - 18 May 2005 - Atlanta Music History

2005-05-18T10:16:00.000-04:00

Today's slice of Atlanta music history concerns the funny way your humble PJs (appropriate nomenclature for Podcasting DJs?) speak.

Download today's My 'Lanta by clicking here: Pardon My Southern Accent

Some links to make your enjoyment of today's 'cast more robust:
GSU's Johnny Mercer collection (tell Ms. Botts we say hi, and we'll stop by soon, we promise).
All about Henry "Red" Allen
Atlanta journalist Bo Emerson's take on the subject

My 'Lanta - 15 May 2005 Best of Atlanta Craigslist

2005-05-16T17:48:00.000-04:00

Desperate for more of the Best of Atlanta Craigslist?

Even so, you might enjoy listening to this here free download.

Television -- the Kind Men Like

2005-05-14T10:13:00.000-04:00

It's been a fantastic couple of days for all of you geeks and fetishists (and geek/fethishists; you know who you are) on AtlTon. On Thursday we watched highlights of a Stone Mountain carshow that focused on a tatted "Ms Metal" and her custom wheels. Later on the same telecast, we ogled as a hipster chick (Jennie Breeden, creator of "The Devil's Panties") in a Green Lantern t-shirt gave a walking tour of Oxford Comics; she helpfully explained that most of the "young girls" who came into the store were shopping for the [bizarrely sexualized] "teenage themed anime" titles that the store stocks (note: I've shopped at Oxford Comics for almost 20 years, and seen a total of 13 girls in the store ever -- three of whom I brought there, and 2 of whom worked there). The episode featured a sneak preview of Star Trek: Enterprise's 2-hour finale, but best of all -- and you Trekkers who missed the show will not be able to handle this, so I advise you take a preemptive cold shower -- Tammy was dressed during the entire show in a modified, off-the-shoulder hottie-style Lt. Uhura outfit (note: I crap you negative)!

At this point, I'm sure that I've lost most of you fellas to some erotic reveries, but wait -- there's more! On Friday night, the girls got all likkered up at Oakhurst watering hole Mulligan's. Shannon decided that she was up for a challenge, and ordered the (in)famous house special, The Luther, a bacon cheeseburger sandwiched between two glazed Krispy Kremes. Our cameraman, obviously bit of a perv himself, rendered the shot of Shannon shoving the gooey, glistening mess into her mouth in loving slo-mo -- and the producer, into it the spectacle as well, showed the sequence twice!

After forcing the hot meat into her mouth and severing it with her bleachy white choppers, Shannon threw her arms up and hooted and hollered in ecstatic bliss. Woo-hoo indeed.

My 'Lanta - 11 May 2005 - Atlanta Music History

2005-05-11T13:00:00.000-04:00

Today's My 'Lanta is all about a little town just north of here called Doraville and the song written in its honor.

Download today's My 'Lanta by clicking here or here or here.

My 'Lanta - 10 May 2005 - Atlanta News

2005-05-10T13:22:00.000-04:00

Do you want to catch up on all of the important local news you may have missed while you were busy searching the woods of Duluth for Jennifer Wilbanks?

If so, you should download the latest installment of My 'Lanta.

Download My 'Lanta - 10 May 2005 - Atlanta News.

And Keep Atlanta Awesome.

Brand New Atlanta

2005-05-10T13:21:00.000-04:00

Cards and letters have been pouring in to My 'Lanta HQ ever since Mayor Shirley Franklin announced that the City is looking for a new "brand" and a new "tag line." We'll be dealing with this issue at greater length in a future My 'Lanta podcast, but in the meantime, enjoy this short list of The Best Slogans for a Newly Repositioned Atlanta! And don't forget: keep those suggestions coming, either as posts below or in an email to my-lanta@andy2000.org. We're counting on you!

Atlanta: The Courthouse Is Safe, Now
Atlanta: Have You Seen Our New Lowe's?
Atlanta: Home of the Runaway Bride
Atlanta: We Love the Braves (When They Win)
Atlanta: Lose Weight Now, Ask Me How
Atlanta: Make Us An Offer!
Atlanta: We're Here, We're Queer, Were You Invited to Elton's Party on the 17th?
Atlanta: Always 2 Years Behind NY. Always!
Atlanta: Have a Coke and a Smile
Atlanta: Who Needs Another Fucking Museum, Anyway
Atlanta: Home of Atlanta Tonight
Atlanta: Sure Beats Valdosta
Atlanta: Home of the 50 People in Georgia Who Voted for Kerry
Atlanta: For real estate developers, by real estate developers
Atlanta: Where Bad Planning And Patience Meet
Atlanta: The City Too Smart to Hate Too Obviously
Atlanta: Suburban looks, City taxes
Atlanta: What Goes Underground Stays Underground
Atlanta: The Houston of the Southeast
Atlanta: Some Bars Stay Open to 4 am
Atlanta: Home of the $5 lap dance

Keep 'em comin, and Keep Atlanta Awesome! (note to Mayor Franklin: our slogan can be yours for the right price. Shall we set up a breakfast meeting to discuss?)

She's "Back"

2005-05-06T10:09:00.000-04:00

So Shannon was back with Tammy on last night's show -- but I think she's been replaced by an impostor.

Something seemed amiss: this new "Shannon" seemed plastic, vapid, and almost robotic, with fake-seeming bleached hair and teeth and a scarily vacant stare.

Oh waitaminute -- that was Shannon.

My 'Lanta - 05 May 2005 - Best of Atlanta Craigslist

2005-05-05T07:38:00.000-04:00

Today's free My 'Lanta download is the latest installment of My 'Lanta's most popular feature, Phil and Andisheh reading their favorite recent entries from Atlanta's Craigslist.

Download My 'Lanta 05 May 2005 - Best of Atlanta Craigslist.

My 'Lanta - 04 May 2005 - Community Announcments

2005-05-04T09:59:00.000-04:00

The newest My 'Lanta podcast, My 'Lanta 04 May 2005 - Community Announcements, is now available. Click here to download it.

My 'Lanta has changed

2005-05-04T09:36:00.000-04:00

Dear Fans of My 'Lanta-

Thank you for your responses to last week's maiden Podcast.

Some of the feedback was quite helpful (better mic placement, shorter segments) and some was not (request all you want, but we don't see any point in nude podcasting).

Based on that feedback, we've decided to break My 'Lanta up into short segments that will appear on this page three-to-five times each week. That way, you the listener can enjoy My 'Lanta's segments a la carte.

To save you time and effort, we HIGHLY recommend that you take the five minutes needed to download Podcasting software. With Podcasting software installed on your computer, you can subscribe to My 'Lanta just once and have every Podcast we post to this page automatically download to your computer and/or your iPod. You can also listen to the gazillions of other Podcasts out there.

If you want to install Podcast software on your computer and would like assistance doing it, ask us and we'll help you.

Runaway Co-host

2005-05-04T09:30:00.000-04:00

Goldenrod Alert! Shannon Wiseman was missing from last night's telecast of Atlanta Tonight. Authorities report that she was last seen either:
(a) being hustled into a Mazda Miata by an ethnic-appearing man or woman, approximately between 5' - 7', medium build, brown or off-brown hair.
(b) aboard a Greyhound bus bound for Albuquerque (allegedly, she was overheard saying to the bus driver "Albuquerque? Sounds like it might be awesome!"
(c) passed-out, faced-down, on Cypress St., next to the dumpster at Halo.
If anyone has any further details or any other information, please contact UPN 69. Don't worry Tammy! She'll be back! (And if she's not, I'm sure you'll find someone else equally awesome to replace her).

Radio Free Georgia

2005-05-03T14:14:00.000-04:00

How do you make Mayhaw Jelly? Well, first you need yourself some Mayhaw juice, of course ...

Listening to the Wiregrass Ways Radio Archive isn't just educational -- it's nonprofit too! The following Realplayer links are provided by the Georgia Council for the Arts Folklife Program, the South Georgia Folklife Project at Valdosta State University, and Listeners Like You!

Wiregrass Ways Radio Archive

That's My' Lanta

2005-05-03T13:52:00.000-04:00

Overheard today in Target on Moreland Ave in S.E. Atlanta.

Employee #1: Did you say go relieve Christian?
Supervisor: I said go relieve Krisha
Employee #1: Krisha? What kind of name is Krisha?

Employee #1's name, by the way, is Quanda.

Save the Fugly Doodad!

2005-05-02T03:25:00.000-04:00

According to a story in The Story, the hideous building at 1655 Peachtree St will soon be renovated into condos ("luxury" condos, I suspect--in fact, is there another kind?). The blurb promises that the "rooftop peach advertising platform," the ugly eyesore that looks like a hobo's straw hat, will remain intact, but I've got a funny feeling that some overly enthusiastic developer will shove it from the top of the building, set it on fire, or sell it to some guy in Dunwoody for his rumpus room.

Don't let this happen to our skyline! I'm sure the folks at Coldwell Banker/ The Condo Store (404/ 881-9000) would love to hear your opinion on the subject. I think I'll leave a dozen messages on their voicemail tonight just in case they get any ideas!

De Cab County Police

2005-05-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

Lack of insurance parks Lithonia cop cars

By COREY DADE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/28/05

The people of Lithonia compare their quaint hamlet in southeast DeKalb County with television's Mayberry. But at least Barney Fife had his own squad car.

The Lithonia Police Department can't drive its vehicles because the city didn't pay the automobile insurance. The three patrol cars haven't moved from outside City Hall all week.

For now, police fight crime by car pool. (READ MORE)

Trouble in "Atlanta Tonight"?

2005-04-29T12:51:00.000-04:00

I'm getting a little concerned about Shannon and Tamara. On Wednesday night's show, there were two new young "field correspondents" (read: whores) who appeared to get choice assignments; on last night's show, S & T seemed to be moonlighting as Domino's delivery girls (with the girls looking a little *too* convincing in their uniforms, if you asked me). Is UPN 69 trying to tell us (and S & T) something?

Velvet Skyline

2005-04-28T13:26:00.000-04:00

Here's a photo of the LP "After Dark At The Ambassador" by Nelson Rogers. The LP was produced and pressed right here in Atlanta in 1973. The LP is not available on CD, but you can hear it on our Podcast.

Asian Man Without Mustache

2005-04-28T11:49:00.000-04:00

Two people asked me, "Is the thing your read about an Asian Man Without A Mustache" a real Craigslist listing.

Yes it is.

The Ambassador Restaurant

2005-04-28T09:47:00.000-04:00

As promised on the podcast, here's the link to the groundbreaking legal precedent set by the case involving The Ambassador Restaurant (and, in particular, its parking lot) in 1974.

http://www.lawskills.com/case/ga/id/58672/

Another My 'Lanta promise kept!

And for the extra curious, here's an excellent photo of the Ambassador Restaurant, which was unearthed by Greg Germani (the photo, that is, not the actual restaurant), proprietor of the superlative Atlanta Time Machine (by the way, it's also the source for our kick-ass theme song).

Abba Dabba 'Do

2005-04-28T02:37:00.000-04:00

I was pretty intrigued by Shannon's look on Tuesday night's show. She was interviewing some employee at Little Five Points' Abbadabba's ( the "alternative" shoe store); she opted to go with a fuzzy beret.

To me, it felt as though Shannon was using her headgear to say "hey, I know this is a hipster store in a neighborhood I rarely visit (except to buy mood-enhancing crystals, as we learned in an episode last week), and I'm not going to ape the styles of the punk kids around me and get busted as a sorority girl poseur, but I am still the public persona of Atlanta Tonight, and should therefore make an attempt to recognize the hoi polloi on some level. How about a cute beret?"

Did it work? I'm left unconvinced; I'll have to watch the show tonight to see if her journalistic crediblity remains intact.

My 'Lanta Vol. 1 - 28 April 2005

2005-04-27T18:15:00.000-04:00

This week's edition of My 'Lanta is now available for download.

Download it here.

This week's My'Lanta is a 25MB download and runs for about 37 minutes. Unless you've got a high-speed Internet connection, don't bother trying to download it.

What is My 'Lanta?

2005-04-27T17:47:00.000-04:00

My 'Lanta is an audio program about Atlanta. Each week, hosts Andisheh Nouraee and Phil [O'Steen] take themselves (and, they hope, some listeners) on a sarcastic tour of community news, upcoming events, local oddities, and, local music. Phil and Andisheh hope that recording My 'Lanta each week will help achieve their goal to Keep Atlanta Awesome!

My 'Lanta is available in the MP3 audio format. Once you download it you can:

1) Listen to it on your computer
2) Burn it to a CD
3) Listen to it on an MP3-capable audio player such as the iPod.

Once we figure it out, you will also be able to subscribe to My 'Lanta using software like iPodder. When you subscribe, iPodder will automatically download new editions of My 'Lanta to your computer and/or iPod.

My 'Lanta's home page is www.my-lanta.com.

If you have any questions or comments, Phil and Andisheh can be reached at:

my-lanta@andy2000.org.