@loveUSA: Respect doesn't come standard in this country, but disrespect apparently does. Romans 13:1-7 give Christians (not assuming you or the Marine are Christians) a pretty clear direction when it comes to those in authority.

I gave respect when President Bush was in office; and felt sad that Democrats would play such petty word games, but Republicans sure haven't taken any sort of moral high-ground.

Whether anyone likes it or not, Obama is president for a few more years, and rather than spew hatred toward him on the Internet or your bumper, everyone's time would be better suited being active in your local community, where the impact of the federal government is just background noise. It's not like Obama will ever see this bumper sticker, it's just meant to antagonize fellow community members.

Saw a truck at Square One with a bumper sticker that read "MORON" with Obama O's... right next to his NRA sticker and US Marine Corps sticker. Such respect for his Commander in Chief. Actually, I thought having "Moron" on his car was quite appropriate.

Jeep should just give up with electronics. My 1995 Cherokee drives like a champ, but just about every electronic component is a piece of junk.

Yeah... the fact that we have four limbs, a backbone, lungs, a stomach, sex organs, milk production, sickness, death, fear, hunger, thirst... I could go on and on. I really don't see how people think they aren't animals. It doesn't take a scientist to know that we are not much different than any other species. I mean honestly, other than a highly developed cerebral cortex.. is there anything about being human that can't be found in another creature?

@Rock Kickass: It means a non-teaching position.

@nationalchamp1988: Funny, but inaccurate. Buildings are being built, but not torn down. Green space exists (Dudley Park, Lay Park, the Greenway) and the master plan connects those to the downtown core rather than trying to fit a large green space. The one proposal for a green space downtown is behind City Hall -- removing the existing parking lot, moving parking to the outside of the block (a net gain of 11 parking space), and putting a family-friendly park in the resultant open space.

Check out this summary of the meeting with a graphic of the plan I just described

http://www.spencerfrye.com/capitol-corner/ugas-dr-crowley-presents-downt...

@Curls: In the meeting last night it was oultined how money would be acquired:

1. Land leasing of current city/county owned property

2. A TAD (Tax Allocation District) which you can find in The Flagpole - http://www.flagpole.com/news/city-dope/2013/04/17/paying-for-the-downtow...

3. SPLOST - We are in the midst of one, and there will be two more SPLOST periods before 2030, the year that the master plan is envisioning the downtown.

http://downtownathensmasterplan.wordpress.com/ <--- if you would like to express your feedback to the planning team, you will be heard.

@E.J.: Nicotine gum is expensive. Addiction isn't about rebellion. And please source your response to me.

Stop selling cigarettes at convenient stores, and a lot of people will smoke less. It's about breaking the habit, and for me the habit is going to the GP and getting a pack of cigs. Sure I could drive over to the smoke store if they did this, but less options couldn't hurt. Also, are gas station profit margins at risk if alcohol and cigarettes were prohibited to be sold in them?

There's really not much avant-garde about Athens. We do have culture, and we appreciate art, but I'd like to hear in what ways our "avant-garde way of life" is verifiable, especially when compared to other cities.

This would be a great addition to the Macon downtown. I heard last year that at present there is in excess of 1,000,000 sq. ft of usable, vacant space in the downtown alone! This microbrewery won't put too much of a dent in that, but hopefully it will help to bring that vacant space figure down.

@mateo: Don't let a few bad eggs ruin a huge demographic group for you. (maybe a gross assumption -- it's hard to decipher intent over the internet)

It is very annoying. No one wants your dumb, unleashed dog (or leashed) dog jumping on them while they're running by.

I frequent the trails, and am sick of dog owners thinking rules don't apply to them.

Not to mention the crap left on the trail b/c the dog owner is out for a jog and can't be bothered to bag it up and bring it to the trashcans are sweep it to the side of the trail.

There's a reason dogs aren't allowed there, and it's because your typical dog owner who visits the trails is not responsible enough.

I really appreciate the concept. Sounds like a nice meal for a little less than The National, Branded Butcher or 5&10. And I prefer a smaller menu b/c I know that there is more attention given to the specific dishes.

A parking deck in Five Points is a no-brainer; I really cannot believe that it was left out of the 10-year plan.

Whenever the Shell/GP moves though, the Half Moon/Aroma's building should be extended around the bend to the alley beside Hubee D's, and, who knows, maybe Barrett Properties will include a pay-deck behind it all to help the area out.

@butseriously: From the Flagpole:

Wal-Mart had been experimenting with smaller urban markets that included aspects of drug stores and grocery stores, but it pulled out of a deal with Selig because those experiments didn't go as well as planned, Chitty said. "It wasn't specifically about Athens," she said. "There was a corporate decision to suspend that because the stores weren't performing the way they wanted them too."

It doesn't look like this was due to whining.

It's awesome that Wal-Mart isn't coming, but this has just turned into another "The Flats" or "The Standard" or whatever. If this was based on community feedback it would include a grocery store. The downtown master plan meeting pointed out the obvious; that people want a grocery store, and everyone knows downtown is lacking. Where are these new residents of the Selig development supposed to shop for groceries? What about at The Flats, what about The Standard? Do these developers even think about their future tenants or the context of their projects?

Well, I agree that they are very important, but do they not already live here? There are a lot of opportunities to diversify our focus. So many sayings "don't put all your eggs in one basket" "more than one way to skin a cat" etc. It would be great for a couple of developers to go out on a limb, take a risk, and actually encourage the downtown culture. I only wish that I could afford to do it myself, so that it wouldn't just sound like a pipe dream.

Hopefully with the results of the downtown master plan town hall meeting and the adoption of the master plan in 2013 we, as a city, can promote other residential types in downtown; students already have plenty of places to live. We need to focus on people who work downtown and families; that's how to create a stable downtown, not more high-rise buildings for transient citizens.

He greatly values his seat.. but not science. Who CARES if he values his SEAT? This isn't freaking musical chairs! This is how the country is run!

@theold33: I thought you would provide the rakes too....

You must have a big yard to need multiple people to rake it... and it take more than an hour lol. The moral of your story is "jerks will be jerks; leave them to their leaves." What a deal!

This sounds fantastic! Maybe it would be helpful to let the kids use the UGA library for a project or something. Maybe they could come by the CED and take part in a design studio!

I guarantee most students and faculty would love this opportunity. With a resource like UGA in the city, maybe these students will feel more inspired to work hard.

Patriotism - Patriarchy -- Hierarchy -- Matriarchy - Matriotism | It's all about falling into order (each side thinks THEY are the patriot), but the American way seems to be inextricably tied to masculinity.

Nightmare on Elm Street. You can't even go to sleep or Freddie gets you.

Evil Dead 1 and 2 are great.

Silence of the Lambs, 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later