Saturday, May 19, 2012
Funnyman Sasha Baron Cohen is at it again, this time as a flashy, offensive Middle Eastern dictator who comes to the U.S.
From the guy who brought us Ali G and Borat comes a new character named General Aladeen – a ruthless dictator from a fictional country in North Africa who is part buffoon, horn dog and ruthless bloodthirsty ruler in "The Dictator." Through a ridiculous set of circumstances, that I will spare you the details because they are so contrived, Aladeen ends up in New York while his even sillier double is in charge of his country. There are plenty of cameo appearances from big stars to keep things interesting. As for the element of political satire we get a pretty heavy-handed lecture that borders on being a bit corny. The Dictator, like so many other characters by Cohen, is offensive but somehow there is a certain likeability to him. "The …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The North Fulton resident asks taxpayers to vote for local school board members who are pro-taxpayer and pro-educational freedom.
In a stunning show of power the State Charter Board using a little known and surprising procedural maneuver moved up the vote on FSA Middle School from June 14th to today. State School Board members stated that if FSA Middle School were granted a charter it would set a negative precedent for the education system and therefore it is believed that they will likely vote to deny a charter to FSA Middle School tomorrow. This was clearly a win for State and local educational bureaucrats who wish to deny parents of Georgia Educational freedom. It was clearly a show of power that while the Governor and Elected officials may support educational freedom --- the education system does not. It shows the contempt that entrenched educational …
34.060831
-84.308752
Fulton Science Academy Middle School
1675 Hembree Rd, Alpharetta, GA
/articles/parent-says-call-for-charter-vote-today-shows-contempt
1124290
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Monday, May 7, 2012
With two children in the school, this parent thanks them for their hundreds of unpaid hours given to the school.
At a time of great adversity and challenge I would like to thank the FSA MS Governing Board from my heart for the heroic efforts you have put forward for our community, for our school, and our children. I would like to thank you for your time and the hundreds of unpaid hours you have given selflessly to ensure that our children can continue to receive the best possible education. I would like to thank-you for your dedication, the sleepless nights, and willingness to do what it takes to keep our school open. I would like to thank you for your energy as you have given your all to make the school a success. I would like to thank-you for your convictions and staying the course when surrender would have been easier. I would like to thank-you…
34.060831
-84.308752
Fulton Science Academy Middle School
1675 Hembree Rd, Alpharetta, GA
/articles/fulton-science-academy-parent-thanks-governing-board
1124290
/locations/6953546
Saturday, May 5, 2012
A superhero all-star movie featuring Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and the Hulk makes a smash in theaters this weekend.
The summer movie season starts early, and this could be the biggest movie of the year. It is one of the most entertaining comic book blockbusters ever made – Marvel's "The Avengers." Robert Downey Jr. is Iron Man; Captain America is Chris Evans; Thor is Chris Hemsworth, and The Hulk is Mark Ruffalo. The team is assembled thanks to Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury character. They need to stop a diabolical bad guy who, you guessed it, wants to rule the world. But they spend nearly as much time battling each other as they do battling evil. What's great about this film is the sense of humor it has without disrespecting the characters or the fans who have been waiting forever for this superhero mash-up. All the main characters get plenty of screen…
Thursday, May 3, 2012
The rock legends open a successful two-concert visit to Alpharetta four years after they helped open the venue.
The Eagles opened Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in May 2008 as the first rock act on the stage. On Wednesday, May 2 they returned in the venue's fifth season. The Eagles have been around 35 more years than the amphitheater, and their 40 years performing was a topic for the band members the few times they spoke. Had the house lights been turned on, they would have realized that most of the crowd actually was born more than 40 years ago. So many of us were sporting white hair–and it wasn't a fashion statement. Ticketmaster lists the Friday, May 4 Eagles concert at Verizon as sold out, but ticket resellers do have tickets, such as the 68 listed on StubHub this morning. "It's hard to believe that it is 40 years ago this spring that our music …
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Enjoy wine tastings, beer festivals and other fine events.
From the huge Atlanta Food and Wine Festival to Cinco de Mayo parties and the American Craft Beer Week fests in East Atlanta and Dunwoody, May is offering up an array of wine, food, beer and spirits tastings and dinners welcoming the summer months ahead. Other choices include the Smyrna Wine Stroll, the Blues, Brews and BBQ in Piedmont Park, a beer breakfast in Decatur, “Eats and Beats” in Buckhead, and two outdoor arts events in Duluth and Dunwoody, just to point out a few. May 2 – The National Restaurant in Athens hosts at 7 p.m. Wednesday a Portuguese Wine dinner served with specially prepared Portuguese food courses. The Five Points Bottle Shop and Atlanta’s Artisan Vines Distributing is joining the restaurant and offering wines …
Saturday, April 28, 2012
A ship full of bumbling Pirates take us on a 3D Claymation animation trip worth the voyage.
A below average pirate captain (voiced by Hugh Grant) seeks to win the elusive "Pirate of the Year" award, but faces some strong competition in "The Pirates! Band of Misfits." From the folks who brought us Wallace and Gromit, the story is feather-light but strong enough to introduce the characters and establish their conflicts, which are pretty predictable. It's more of a comedy than an adventure, appealing to both children and adults. Such a film should be a crowd pleaser at the box office. Audiences love pirate movies. Toss in some quirky characters – like a twisted Queen Victoria and Charles Darwin – and you have an evolutionary success. The film is an enjoyable 90 minutes. The voice casting was mostly on merit and not on stunt casting…
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
A NY Times article explores the era of the $250 (or more) baseball bat.
Have you bought a baseball glove for your Little Leaguer lately? Did you pay more than $100 for it? How about a $250 bat? Or maybe $299.99? That's the online price of one model at Dick's Sporting Goods, Alpharetta-Milton Patch's Readers' Choice winner for Best Sporting Goods Store. A New York Times story headlined "Big Price Tags Attached to Even the Littlest Leagues," looks at the big business of equipping youngsters for participation in youth baseball and softball leagues, quoting those costs and more. "A batting helmet protects tiny heads for $39.99," the Times reports. "A pair of Nike Jordan Black Cat cleats will make your child fast and fashionable at $51.99 until he or she outgrows them." Bats and fielding gloves can be much more. …
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Teen heartthrob Zac Efron breaks out in his first real adult role as a war veteran who has come home looking for love in a romantic melodrama that is worth the price of admission.
Zac Efron plays Logan, an Afghanistan war veteran on his third tour, who comes across a picture of a woman who inspires him to search for her, stateside, in "The Lucky One." His search lands him at a kennel in Louisiana owned by Beth (Taylor Schilling) and her grandmother, Ellie (Blythe Danner). He gets a job there and, over a period of time, settles in, still not telling anyone his real reason for being there. As you might imagine, sparks start to fly. "The Lucky One" is a Nicholas Sparks movie. He's good at this kind of thing, writing books that turned into movies like "Message in a Bottle," "Nights in Rodanthe" and "The Notebook." This film, in my opinion, is one of his better stories. And, with an attractive young cast, it should be …
Monday, April 16, 2012
In a letter to Alpharetta City Council, Kyle Tripp says the renting vs. owning debate is an oversimplified analysis.
I support North American Properties' proposal per their requested stipulations including the 'for rent' units. I feel that the argument for or against the project should not be reduced to a renting vs owning debate as it was framed in Planning. Avalon has too much to offer the city to be reduced to this oversimplified analysis. The current 2030 Comprehensive Plan suggesting an 85/15 split between owned vs. rent is largely pie in the sky wishful thinking. The city's own report states that it would take 35 years to achieve this ratio. You risk killing a mixed use, smart growth concept over a proposition that may not happen in our lifetime. We all know the ratio is out of reach so to base your decision on an unobtainable goal is nonsensical. …
tom deeb
12:23 pm on Friday, May 11, 2012
For those who want to reach Georgia Board of Education please feel free to write. They need to hear our voices. Louis Erste , > , Helen Odom Rice , > Daniel Israel , Kenneth Mason > , Barbara Hampton , > Mike Royal , Wanda Barrs , > Larry Winter , Brian Burdette > , Grant Lewis , Allen > Rice , Mary Sue Murray , > "jbarge@doe.k12.ga.us" more ›