The traffic-choked, sewer-impaired, panhandling paradise affectionately known as the City of Atlanta has embarked on an effort to come up with a new image. Brand Atlanta, composed of local tourism and convention officials, has hired advertising ace Joel Babbit, chief creative officer of Grey Worldwide Advertising, to help develop this image, which is estimated to cost $15 … [Read more...] about May 23, 2005: Random Thoughts on Random Subjects
2005 Columns
May 16, 2005: Some Advice For My Grandson on His Graduation Day
Dear Zack: It is hard to believe that you are graduating from high school. It seems only yesterday I was calling your mom to be sure you made it through the first day of school without getting lost or having your lunch money stolen. You are the first of the grandchildren to graduate from high school, and you have set a very high bar for those who follow: Honor student, … [Read more...] about May 16, 2005: Some Advice For My Grandson on His Graduation Day
May 9, 2005: An Apology From the Runaway Columnist
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen of the media. My name is J. Barnyard Blatherington, and I am the attorney, spiritual counselor and part-time ukulele instructor for Dick Yarbrough, the modest and much-beloved newspaper columnist who recently ran away for no apparent reason before suddenly showing up again on the arms of a knockout police babe. First off, I’m sorry we are … [Read more...] about May 9, 2005: An Apology From the Runaway Columnist
May 2, 2005: You Can Have Your MTV… Give Me Old-Time Gospel Music
It is gratifying to know I share something in common with one of Georgia’s preeminent authors, Terry Kay. Unfortunately, it is not the use of the English language. While Kay and I have access to the same nouns and verbs, he strings his together into award-winning novels. Me? I am still trying to figure out where all the commas go. What we share is a fondness for gospel music. … [Read more...] about May 2, 2005: You Can Have Your MTV… Give Me Old-Time Gospel Music
Apr. 25, 2005: If You Ain’t Southern, You Can’t Fake It
Admittedly, this doesn’t rise to the level of many of the burning issues that confront us daily, but I must tell you that it fries my hide to hear outsiders trying to talk Southern. Friends, if you ain’t Southern, you can’t fake it. I was reminded of that unalterable fact the other night while watching “In the Heat of the Night” on television. It pained me greatly to see the … [Read more...] about Apr. 25, 2005: If You Ain’t Southern, You Can’t Fake It