Bloglanta

Astonishing.  The Gwinnett Gladiators are in the Kelly Cup finals and the game is not sold out.  Where’s the love?  We’re told all the time that Atlanta loves a Champion.  Well, here they have one.  They have a team competing for their league’s championship and the two guaranteed games are not sold out.  Something is wrong here.
What isn’t wrong with this is Hockey.  Last year, the Gladiators had the highest ECHL attendance (roughly 6000 per game).  They regularly outdraw the Atlanta Hawks.  The Thrashers also regularly outdraw the Hawks and sometimes even the Braves.  Nope.  There’s something about the playoffs.
The Braves can’t sell out a play-off game to save their lives.  There’s something about not yet being the champion that sours people.  Atlanta’s last Championship Hockey Team, the Atlanta Knights,  did sell out some of their games, but not all of them. 
Show your spirit!  Help an Atlanta Team win a championship.  Don’t just say you were there… Be There! 
Games are 5:00 PM on Memorial Day and Wednesday, May 31 at 7:30.  The best seats are only $17!  some come out, support your city, see great hockey and you might just see an Atlanta Championship be born. 

Libby’s is closing.  For those who don’t know, Libby’s is a Cabaret.  In fact, it’s the only free standing cabaret in Atlanta.  Libby’s is well run, reasonably priced for what they were providing, and a great outlet for singers who really focus on the song.  Losing Libby’s hurts our community. 
Why?  It kept singers and musicians employed and making a living in Atlanta and it was one one reason that some stayed in Atlanta rather than moving to L.A.  Second, it was a great training ground and mentoring opportunity for younger song stylists to work with more experienced ones.  Third, it helped our image.  New York has a thriving cabaret scene as does Chicago, SF, and LA.  It’s the mark of a true city. 
It also means that the next generation will have fewer chances to learn about the Cabaret form and what makes it attractive. 
Libby kept the club going for six years and will close after her New Years show this year.  A smart downtown Real Estate Mogul  would offer her some affordable space and have his development associated with the well heeled clients that support Libby’s. 
In the mean time, if you like standards and hearing the in an intimate setting, get to Libby’s before she’s gone. 

I woke thinking about what this weekend means .. I know of no one in my family that is a casualty of war. http://icasualties.org/oif/ In Iraq there has been 2460 to date from the US and 75 from Georgia. The local news has not even mentioned this this morning. All I hear is stuff on the weather, fires for apartments, etc. Maybe the news just wants us to forget the war? No one wants to talk about things that are that painful. I hope and pray that you all have a great holiday. If you have family or friends that have been a casualty of war or they are serving now in the war then I pray that you may find peace of mind.

Too many Atlantans have Idol time.  Theaters across town saw their attendance dip on Wednesday, May 24.  Why?  American Idol.  People stayed home to watch Fox rather than seeing live actual people in plays, comedies, dramas, and yes, musicals.  Even the Atlantix Booths showed significant drop off in people buying theatrical tickets.  One local theater saw a night that usually draws 30 to 50 people, draw 3.  Yes.  3. 
Other cities did not suffer the same fate.  Hot Tix in Chicago had a normal night and sold out of its allotment for several shows.  Theaters in Detroit and Boston had normal nights.
So what about Atlanta makes people stay home?  Traffic?  Not on a Wednesday.  Braves, Force, Gladiators?  Not in town on the 24th.  Too some degree, we’re just a Fox kind of culture here.  Perhaps, Atlantans have been operantly conditioned to watch more TV than folks in other cities. 
In any case, this event is disturbing.  No non-news television program should have that large an effect on a populace or arts scene.
Hey!  You!  GET OFF THE COUCH and hear Really Talented People Sing!!!!

Is Air America going Away?  The Station , which is at 1690 AM here in Atlanta has been sold . 
With its sale, the future of Air America becomes dubious.  The new owner, Joe Weber, bought the station for $12 million.  Not exactly chump change. Will Weber keep such programming?  Certainly some changes are on the way.
Part of the problem is that Atlanta’s Air Atlanta affiliate is not a smash winner in the ratings.  It has a .4 rating.  That’s down in WGST territory. 
Weber, who owns 1160 AM, has not disclosed what he plans to do with the station.  Clearly his interest in the local arts scene could create the opportunity for more local programming while balancing the more interesting live national programs.
Air America has changed substantially since it first went on the air.  Chuck D & Liz Winstead have been replaced by Jerry Springer.  They added Atlanta’s Mike Malloy , and have added numerous syndicated programs.  However, there is little Atlanta focused political programming.  The Creative Loafing on the air with Ken Edelstein. 
Webber might do well to add weekday political and cultural flavor to his mix… Can you imagine Christiane Lauterbach and Jason Riggs doing a show together?

(APN) ATLANTA – It’s difficult to talk about the leftist scene in Atlanta in the 1960’s and 70’s without someone bringing up The Great Speckled Bird, the leftist alternative newspaper which influenced so many minds of the time. But what was The Bird? Who ran it and how did it operate?

Atlanta Progressive News has conducted extensive interviews and uncovered vast archives of The Bird’s back issues, to explain this historical phenomenon to our progressive readers of today.

In the 1960s, there were 800 underground newspapers in the United States. Many lasted a short time, but for eight and a half years, The Great Speckled Bird told the other side that other Atlanta newspapers were afraid to touch.

In 1971, Mike Wallace of CBS’s “60 Minutes” called The Bird “The Wall Street Journal of the underground press.”

But, what does it mean?

(more…)

At least someone is trying to do something about Genocide in the Sudan.  Our unsung hero this time is Temple Sinai.  They have actively trying to put pressure on the Bush Administration to get involved.  They’ve printed postcards for everyone in their congregation and anyone else who is interested to send to the White House.  Within this congregation they have even paid postage.  Everyone else can easily sign, stamp, and at least raised their voice.

The Secretary of State of Georgia has put up the list of people who have qualified to run for office this year. 
Among the highlights,  Sonny Perdue has competition!  It’s not serious and the guy who is running against him is young and to the right of Atilla, but at least it will force the Governor to have to answer some questions. 
Also of interest is that only two Republicans are running for Lt. Governor.  Given the weakness of Ralph Reed due to his connections to the Jack Abramov scandal, it’s surprising that more Republicans are not at least testing the waters.
Denise Majette has also returned to politics.  Two years after losing statewide in her effort to become the first Female African American Senator from Georgia, Majette is again committing to a state wide election.  This time she’s running for State School Superintendent.   She stands a good chance of at least winning the Democratic Nomination and may win the race given that Kathy Cox, the incumbent has primary competition. 
Two office holders who were considered likely to seek other office are sticking where they are.  First, Attorney General Thurbert Baker has re-upped for this campaign.   Also re-upping is Mike Thurmond, who is the Labor Commissioner.
In the Congressional Races, only John Lewis has already won.  No one would dare run against him.  Cynthia McKinney may have lucked out.  She has two primary opponents.  They may split the ABC vote and give her the opportunity to again garner the needed majority to win.  The closest race will be in Savannah where Max Burns will try to capture the seat held by John Barrow. 
State Legislative races are not yet clear.  A Federal Court has demanded that qualifying extend to noon on May 5. Republican redistricting plans have been challenged in Athens and it will be some time until the appeals and constitutionality of the lines can be considered.  If Athens suit is successful, election results may only be temporary as hundreds of other suits may follow. 
If you are not registered to vote, there is still time!  Just Click Here to download a registration form. 
If you want to know more about those seeking to represent you and those who do, Just Click Here!