Instead of bumping into random well-dressed UGA fratties last night, there were lots of well dressed older white gentlemen, especially in front of the Ga Theater. I figured it was the GOP folks and then the Theater billboard confirmed it. Instead of feeling horror being surrounded by the enemy, I was quite amused. Regardless of politics or age, we have a very fun downtown scene and I like seeing others enjoy it. We also need the cash flow so welcome to the city guys! Hope some our hippie love rubs off on ya, it's contagious.

If judges want to keep issuing probation, I would like to see some creative sentencing. Like having these guys stand in orange jump suits with a sign in front of Walmart saying: "I steal, alot" or "I'm a drug dealer." Then again, it could back fire and get them more customers/victims.

whoops, double post

I have seen (and been a part of) so many close shaves from morons who don't want to wait for cars to get over. I admit getting irked by folks slow-driving the left lane but weaving in and out is so dangerous, best to just cuss and wait for the safest opportunity to go around. The worse is when you start to get over for a faster driver behind you then that fast car swerves into the slow lane at the same time and punches the gas. I've almost been taken out by that more times than I can count. Dangerous...

Heck, I remember almost 20 years ago me and my friends caught a cab from the UGA dorms to a friend's apt for a party during a rare snow event. The cab driver offered to stop by the local bootlegger to pick up some drinks since everything was closed down. We drove by and I was game but everyone else in the cab was terrified we'd get rob, lol. They may have been right cause it was on MLK (near the corner of MLK and College Ave-well before everything started getting all gentrified). Shot houses and bootlegging has been around this town for a very, very, very long time and probably in most other towns. I'm just suprised the lady didn't get at least a written warning.

Seriously, you guys think there is adequate background checks for gun ownership today? It is a complex issue but people are so afraid of change overall they want all or nothing (and that's on both sides). We will never fix this uless we all get on the same page.

What bugs me about this issue is the flip-flop of the public on other similar issues. I agree the primary focus of screening and care of the mentally ill would be more ideal than more gun restrictions, but many also hate the current attempts to improve health care. Then to add insult to injury, the same folks who say it's their constitutional right to own a gun want to change the 14th Amendment to deal with immigration, or pass new amendments to ban gay marriage (which many see as a minority supported issue also).

I find it hard to support many of the pro-gun crowd just because we are so far apart on many other issues that I see as equally important to providing freedom and liberty for all.

I hated to see this news.We had a group that made weekend lunches once a month for years and brought them to the church. They really are some of the sweetest people in town. I hope they rebuild also, they fill such a need in the community with Our Daily Bread.

@Long Sufferer: When you take on a public service position, you give up alot of free speech or start looking for a new job. This is as tactless as putting up a baby or student on a target. Even if you are not serious about a stupid gag, it's still disgusting to quite a few constituents.

Trying to mentally view the universe as an infinite expanse is mind-numbing as we are creations of a finite world where all things eventually come to an end.

I've also pondered what created the initial material prior to the Big Bang (did it just blink into existence?) and what if our current universe is simply the latest reality birthed from that material as it expands and contracts.

These mind-blowing questions. Our continuous search for answers and understanding is why I love science so much.

War vets, gun shop, attack dog, a bunch of testosterone, and famous last words. The makings of a juicy story or a really bad country song; you really can't make this stuff up.

So, banning all pit bulls as dangerous (especially with kids involved) is applauded but increasing gun regulations (especially with kids involved) is seen as the media overhyping gun violence. Guns are dangerous in the wrong hands, like pit bulls.

I have heard many stories of shady cab drivers, particularly of drivers dumping/forcing patrons out of the vehicle in the middle of nowhere (including women) for more lucrative fares. Sounds dangerous and reckless. Glad the kid called the police since alot of folks who have been drinking tend to avoid the cops and let these kinds of cabbie antics slip by.

You have the right to remain silent...oh, wait...

Glad the girl is OK. This is my worst nightmare. I hate mimes.

I have friends that I know owe money for alot of parking tickets. You want to make it illegal for me to drive those guys around too?

If you want to make anything illegal, it should be for someone to knowingly harbor or transport an person wanted by the police. It seems alot of folks get off scott-free for hiding their kids or partner from the law. Then again, if this was enacted, most of Jackson County would be under arrest.

The real crime is that so many people consider being "Muslim" a dirty offensive thing. Just sad.

Folks think we should be free to buy our weapon of choice but blind themselves to other "babysitting regs" in regard to alcohol, drugs, and a federal ban of gay marriage, to name a few. Alcohol is considered dangerous in the wrong hands and was legal, then constitutionally illegal, then legal again but with caveats.

Even if it is people and not the gun that causes the problems, I don't see how we can avoid tighter restriction on weapons due to public perception of excessive gun violence. It's just a matter of time.

This is just grandstanding by Arizona lawmakers. It's more to make a point than to actually protect against voter fraud. They will end up spending several million dollars to create, police, and audit all that additional paperwork to prevent a few potential illegal votes and look good in the eyes of the people for re-election.

"The driver then pulled out a handicap placard, hung it on the mirror, then told the other woman to mind her own business."

I have been called out by people sometimes in error and I just politely correct them (that is if someone is trying to be a good person about it). No one responds well to "mind your own business." Those are fighting words.

I would have had some sympathy for the woman in the spot but soon as she mouthed off, she became the instigator. Godd call by the cops to make everyone apologze.

Ah yes, my neck of the woods too. I was trapped in that cluster-bump.

Rigs pull out into oncoming traffic at that intersection all the time (sometimes bringing traffic to a standstill). Those rigs will pull out (and they do see you coming) and pretty much dare ya to not stop for them. On the same token, there are lots of speed junkies and cowboys driving on Jefferson Rd who would rather run you down than let you slow them down, pass them, or get in front of them (I've encountered that too).

It's a game of chicken I'd rather not play with the big rigs 'cause most passenger vehicles would lose.

The problem is we are a nation of entitled folks. I don't mean just welfare. We are a society that refuse to pay market value for anything. We want $1 milk and cheap beef and bread. We want cheap fuel for our 50 mile commutes and SUVs. We want affordable housing with low crime and good schools but low taxes. We want to build homes with a view on the beach but with little risk or responsibility for disaster. We want cheap unlimited energy for our utilities, TVs and cell phones. We want cheap commodities but uncompromised quality. We want security, no matter the cost. And who has to step in to provide all that? The federal gov't. It cost money people, that's the nature of the beast. States are screaming cut, cut, cut, but do not want their people to sacrifice. This sequestration is nothing more than a lame joke. Federal employees are not the problem, the American public is the problem.

As a frequent downtown patron, I love the Washington deck. Spaces are tight for bigger cars and the elevator has been broken the past few weeks but there are many nights where I only spend a few bucks, I've had free nights occasionally (don't know how the city decides what nights are free), and I don't have to constantly feed a meter. I think the cost balances out and it's stress-free parking.

I gave up street parking because of the hassle and cut-throat mentality of other drivers. You'd think parking was life/death the way folks cut across lanes and block traffic for one space. I'd rather deck park than duke it out or pay Prestige Parking a $5 or $10 spot for what should be free parking.

One thing I did notice this weekend was the deck had quite a few cars and quite a number of boots INSIDE THE DECK!!! I thought the deck was a safe haven vs street parking, but I'm guessing a meter maid went through and booted folks hiding in the deck with outstanding parking violations.

Glad residents called the cops but I get so angry when I read about witnesses not cooperating with the police. Nothing is more infuriating that young people throwing their lives away and behaving like trash. Could have easily been multiple murders with all the bystanders.

Parents, you need to make your kids take their @** home after school or you may be claiming their bodies at the morgue next time. Just sad overall.

Seriously, he threw a cookie at a stranger? That's not normal or acceptable. While he needed a butt whooping, banning him from the store for two years would have woken him and his parents up to his horrible behavior (hopefully). His folks need to keep him on a tighter leash if he can't be respectful. I still don't think the woman should be charged if the kid can still walk and talk with no physical scars.The kid is lucky he didn't get something worse. There are crazies out there who would kill for less.

What's scariest is how the number people are pushing for armed guards in school. Seriously, we are not Beiruit. If we have to do this for protection, then something is fundamentally wrong with America. Keep your guns locked up properly, keep your kids on a short leash, and keep the mentally unstable out of gun shows.

I've been keeping an eye on this thread, cringing at the comments, and wanted to throw in my two cents. I know some of the groups that participated in this event and also know the people behind them bust their butts to reach out to the community. Some of you out there don't like the Occupy movement but this event was meant to help various volunteer groups reach out for support. I personally think it was a great idea. This town has alot of non-profits and folks looking to help out so it's an excellent idea to build a coalition, especially for smaller groups just getting started.

We all read about drugs, robberies, and drunken antics in Athens (many from our future leaders at UGA) so I think we should applaud any group or individual willing to give up their time to try and better society. We may not think one man's cause is as good as our own, but any desire to help the community should not be taken for granted.

The other issue here is that I would never pick on someone that may be unemployed but willing to volunteer. Seriously, that's what many of you have complained about with our social services, not encouraging those who may be under or unemployed to fill in the voids with community service.

Many of the comments here are emotionally based, and many others are for a quick chuckle, so I wanted to make sure the folks involved in this event know this is not the view of most Athenians. Anyone willing to devout their heart and soul to a beneficial cause is OK in my book. Good job y'all and I hope the coalition takes off.