[quote][b]THX1138[/b] - @helligater69: That still doesn't change the facts. I don't think they should try to compare one tragedy with a tragedy that was a million times worse.
[/quote]

Can't really compare the two events except, it is extraordinary, that this F5 tornado "exploded" with more force than an atomic bomb. Even though many fewer people died yesterday than in Hiroshima, I heard that this twister devastated 30 sq. miles of Oklahoma vs.4 sq. miles at Hiroshima. It seems very lucky that not more were killed.

Catman, Interesting observation. As more of ACC taxable property goes off the books, we home owners have to pick up some of the tab. The upside is that the Church's presence might bring some commercial vigor back to that languishing area. Definitely they should pay property tax on any of the space that is not being legitimately used for their outreach.

Years back I worked at the Press Box concession stand for a local school fundraising event. That section of the stadium is one of the best places ever to watch a football game. The view, the harmonics of the crowd noise, the class of the clientele, its better being there than watching on TV! Even though Auburn beat us in the final seconds, this average joe left the stadium floating on the clouds of capitalism and wishing fervently that one day one of my kids might have Press Box season tickets to the Dawg's games. Wow! Why is it that only the rich and powerful know how to be wealthy? The rest of us have to watch on TV.

Nothing better than seeing your child performing on stage at a school event or pursuing some other creative endeavor. Great to see the Athefest Organization working to promote the creative spirit in public schools in Athens.

Richard Zimdars, thank you for your opinion piece. Guns on every street corner will line pockets of the manufacturers at the expense of our right to be safe. The :"other side" can parse it however they like but there is no question that our county would be safer and less violent with stronger, less porous, background checks, a ban on assault rifles, controls on ammunition and and end to gun trafficking. Time to think about the safety and well-being of all our citizens. 2014 will be the litmus test for the future. The Ballot box is mightier than the sword or AR assault rifle.

The hard right would rather us be like a communist state with no extra money for infrastructure or services. The wealthy don't care because they can pay for what they need. The rest of us...well figure it out-- those that are supporting the republican party. Time to throw those self-serving right wing thugs out of office.

Go Hawks! You are the better team. Take the series back to Indianapolis and beat them up there!

@jtsim:

Sadly, you are right, the building of wealth and civilization through history has been carried out largely on the backs of slave labor. Although we think that the civil war ended enslavement for Blacks in the south, the practice continued until World War II through a peonage system run by local law enforcement and courts. Blacks arrested on trumped up charges were falsely convicted, given fines they couldn't pay, then sold into slavery to wealthy land owners and business owners who literally worked them to death in unspeakable conditions. This re-enslavement was common practice throughout the south, and in Georgia and provided low cost labor for large farms, timber, and turpentine interests. Locally, former state senator James Smith used the system to amass his fortune in the area which he named for himself, Smithonia. A tragic and shameful period of history which was little known until brought to light in 2008 by Wall Street Journal reporter, Douglas Blackmon, in his chilling book "Slavery by Another Name"

Incredible story--
The unedited version which ran yesterday in the Gainesville Times is at http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/6/article/82762/

KCP is a good player who has carried the Georgia team on his back. As good as he was, you have to wonder if he needed another year of experience to help him make it in the NBA. He may be one of those magical players who can step right in and make a contribution, but more than likely he will sit on the bench for several years. Look at Jeff Teague in Atlanta. Could be better off helping Georgia win the SEC and honing his considerable skills. Hope he gets good guaranteed money.

Interesting article. Nice to know that these entrepreneurs are able to use social media as a tool to sell their product and keep the "buzz" level high. Retail in Athens seems mostly geared to the young which may be why George Gibson's finally closed up shop--a great store but not quite able to stay up with the times, or whims, of the younger clientele.

Wish there was a photo-or-two of the two downtown shops as I don't know the location of either--am assuming that Onward Reserve is also a clothing store.

Mr. Mulvaney makes very good points in his column. Guns on every street corner are not the answer to stopping this epidemic of gun violence. The NRA and their gun-manufacturing sponsors, want all "law-abiding" citizens to pack heat. For them, gun violence is just the cost of doing business. Set up a system of universal background checks, criminalize straw purchasing, ban military style assault rifles, and limit the number of bullets allowed in magazines. Common sense laws will still allow use of guns for hunting, target shooting and protection of home but will help give the rest of us the opportunity to enjoy our constitutional right of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

Interesting fact that none of the larger lakes in Georgia occur naturally. According to the "New Georgia Encyclopedia" "The lack of glacial retreat, land slope, and local geology provided conditions for large and small rivers and streams but not for lakes" Most of Georgia's lakes are "manmade" except for some smaller sinkholes and depressions in the south and coastal area. Regardless of how the lakes have been formed, they still need our care as the author states, Water conservation at the top of the list for keeping our water bodies healthy.

Nice letter Ms. Mendecino. I don't know Mr. Haas, or his connection to the Christian Ministry, but I don't believe that the teaching of theory of evolution is at the root of our problems today. We are ungovernable because of the right's obsession with, disenfranchising voters, peering into our bedrooms, and protecting the riches of their wealthy donors. Their advantage in the US House allows them to obstruct all reasonable legislation at great cost to our country. We will see how their message plays in 2014.

Hope that Mr. Morehead will extend his concerns past tenure-track faculty and needy students to include Adjunct instructors and the lower level staff at UGA who toil at near subsistence-level wages. The Adams administration bumped all full time staff members up to the $20,000 a year level in 2005 but there have not been staff raises in 5 years and none is projected for this year. As we all know, costs for rent, insurance, food and gasoline have risen dramatically since then. At least full time staff have social security and retirement benefits. Adjuncts and lower level service workers work practically full time in a classification that receives receives no benefits or vacation. In order to get out of the legal obligation to pay social security for "contract workers" making over $600/year, UGA requires the workers to pay 7.5% of their salary into the "Georgia Defined Contribution Plan". This contribution is not invested and sits in State coffers until the employee leaves the University system and withdraws the money. The state might add a pittance of a percentage to the amount each year to boost the fund but the return on "GDPC" account is not much better than keeping your money in an interest bearing checking account. As tuition increases significantly, UGA hires more overworked Adjuncts and temps to balance the budget while paying generous upper-level salaries. UGA is not alone in its corporate exploitation of workers and reflects the general business landscape of the higher level education today. It would take bravery and a strong vision for Mr. Morehead to advocate for the underclass at UGA. It is time.

Nice article Lee, wish I had made it to the talk. Wonder if these events are available in video online?

Congratulations Coach Self! Go Glads!

Mr. Ponsoldt makes good points in his letter. Lawmakers have crafted the tax-credit bill so there is no public oversight on how the money is being spent. A fifty-million a year pot to be dipped in by the private sector without the ability to monitor who gets the benefit. Corporate welfare. Read Jay Bookman at the AJC http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2013/02/06/georgias-tuition-tax-cr...

American Gun Deaths to Exceed Traffic Fatalities by 2015

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-19/american-gun-deaths-to-exceed-t...

We have an epidemic of gun violence in this country.

Well said Mrs.Rees. The extremists that spread fear to protect the profits of gun manufacturers, bow to a false idol. Unregistered guns, large clips, and military style assault weapons are killing innocent people. Reasonable regulation will help keep armaments out of the hands of those that seek to do harm.

Mr. Roberts,
Excellent commentary. For years, the most vocal proponents for universal gun regulation have been the Mayors of large cities, and members of the Law Enforcement community. Too often, they see the carnage resulting from our weak gun registration laws, and the promotion of gun violence in our culture. The head of the NRA is a well-paid lobbyist for the gun manufacturers and profits from the death and destruction that comes with the sale of the unregistered guns, large clips and military style weapons. He promotes the idea that more "good guys" need guns--That by having guns on every street corner we will be safer. He stands in the way of common-sense regulation of firearms and ammunition at the expense of the safety and well-being of our citizens. Yes, we need a strong and clear voice from the pulpit, to help turn the tide on our nation's epidemic of gun violence.

John Kissane, Great letter. In spite of the comments here, your thoughts represent the wishes of the majority of the american people. An assault weapons ban, the banning of large clips, universal background checks, a computerized national database of guns, and increased money for mental health are all common sense steps that will help to rid our nation of the gun violence epidemic. More guns is not the answer.

Wayne LaPierre works for the gun industry that profits from continued gun violence--he does not represent the average law-abiding member of the NRA that hunts or target shoots. Once we get armed guards in all schools at the cost of 5 billion a year, will we then find the money to do the same in shopping centers, churches, downtowns, neighborhoods, etc? More guns in the hands of more people and continued ineffective regulation of gun sales will lead to more deaths and more violence. Video games and violent movies may contribute to the national epidemic but the Military Assault Weapons and large clip ammo are killing our citizens. Time to stop the madness.

Wayne LaPierre works for the gun industry that profits from continued gun violence--he does not represent the average law-abiding member of the NRA that hunts or target shoots. Once we get armed guards in all schools at the cost of 5 billion a year, will we then find the money to do the same in shopping centers, churches, downtowns, neighborhoods, etc? More guns in the hands of more people and continued ineffective regulation of gun sales will lead to more deaths and more violence. Video games and violent movies may contribute to the national epidemic but the Military Assault weapons and large clip ammo are killing our citizens. Time to stop the madness.

We have a national epidemic of violence and killing. The United States has the most heavily armed citizenry, and by far the most gun deaths per year of any of the industrialized nations in the world. More guns in more hands will not solve the problem. Keep sporting rifles and handguns at home, but ban assault rifles, large ammo clips, and keep guns out of the hands of the criminals and mentally ill. All gun buyers must be registered and the loopholes that allow possession without registration must be ended. Our Law Enforcement Officers and Mayors are in the line of fire and endorse the idea of getting military guns and ammo off the street, and keeping the criminals and the mentally ill from possessing guns at all. Congress, use common sense and act.