Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The agency apologized last week for automatically sending Tea Party and similar groups through multiple hoops before the 2012 election.
President Obama this week said efforts by IRS employees to target new conservative groups for extra scrutiny were "outrageous," echoing many administration critics who charged that the measures were politically motivated. "I have got no patience with it, I will not tolerate it, and we will make sure that we find out exactly what happened on this," Obama said in a news conference Monday. The Wall Street Journal reported that an Inspector General's report concludes there was widespread targeting of conservative-linked groups for aggressive questioning, but that no one outside the IRS was involved in establishing the practice. (The report was released Tuesday.) Former IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman, an appointee of President George W. Bush…
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
There are realities that must be admitted.
Do we know our neighbor? Do we know what is happening behind closed doors in our neighborhood? These are some of the questions often being asked since the revelation of what happened for 10 years in a house in Cleveland, Ohio. Several years ago, I became aware of a report presented by a company known as “BrainReserve.” Faith Popcorn is the Chairman of BrainReserve, an organization that studies trends in our culture, makes predictions about our culture, and informs us how to future fit our lives to respond to the changes in cultural behavior. She is an internationally known speaker in coming trends and how we can prepare to meet the changes. One of the trends that Faith Popcorn warned us about is known as “Cocooning.” This trend began as an…
Politicians, Republicans especially, are scrambling for position to replace Saxby Chambliss.
Republican 10th District U.S. Rep. Paul Broun is running for Senate in 2014. So is Republican 1st District U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston. And Republican 11th District U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey. But Republican Tom Price, who represents the 6th District, announced Friday that he's not. Which might open the door for former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel, a pal of Price's, who said in a statement last week that she'd end the suspense "in the very near future." Meanwhile, John Barrow, the only white Democrat from the Deep South in the U.S. House of Representatives, announced recently that he won't seek the seat being vacated by the retiring Sen. Saxby Chambliss. Which might mean tough 2014 sledding for Democrats, who have yet to put forth a …
Monday, May 13, 2013
What's your favorite spot in Buford?
The weather forecast for the entire week is perfect, with clear skies and an average of 80 degrees. What do you like to do in Buford during the spring? Living in Gwinnett County, we're lucky to have a large number of parks and green spaces. Take our poll below and vote for your favorite picnic spot! You can also upload photos to this story.
A database released by the federal government shows shocking price discrepancies.
How can a medical procedure that costs $7,000 at one hospital cost nearly $100,000 at the hospital down the street? Because patients don't know what anyone charges for anything. That might change soon. The federal government has released a database laying out charges for common medical procedures at hospitals across the country, The Huffington Post reports. Officials said they released the data to make hospitals more intelligent competitors and patients better informed consumers. The results are vexing: What's your reaction to the variation in health care prices? Will this information change how you seek health care? What should be done to improve medical pricing? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Frenetic adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel goes from mesmerizing to dizzying in under 30 minutes.
The premise, courtesy of the film's official website: “The Great Gatsby” follows Fitzgerald-like would-be writer Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy (Carey Mulligan), and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton). It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super-rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible …
A Generation Y publication calls out Abercombie & Fitch for eschewing plus sizes.
Even as one metro Atlanta mall hosted a casting call for plus size models last weekend, a popular retailer was discouraging larger women from dropping in. Elite Daily, "The Voice of Generation-Y," recently pointed out that mall staple Ambercrombie & Fitch doesn't carry XL or XXL sizes of women's clothing, stopping at size 10 for women's pants. Competitors such as H&M and American Eagle go much larger. The article points to a 2006 interview with CEO Mike Jeffries in Salon.com: Is it cool to just go after the "cool" kids? Does your pants size make you cool? What do you tell your children? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
All the county's events are listed in one place online. You can filter, print and set email reminders.
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Thursday, May 9
Want to check on a belly dancing class? An art show? Gwinnett Board of Commissioners meetings? Now, it's all a click away. Gwinnett government has launched a comprehensive online calendar that includes all 2013 activities, according to Chairman Charlotte Nash's Facebook page. Yes, you can filter for particular type of event, as well as type of display, such as year/month/view. Also, you can create and edit email reminders, and print for traditional display at home or office. If you need help on how to use the calendar, contact Gwinnett officials at 770-822-8000. -- What are your favorite Gwinnett events? What else would you like to see on this calendar? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
One critic says the film's premise follows that of the 2000 comedy "Meet the Parents."
"Peeples" is playing at Regal Cinemas at the Mall of Georgia in Buford. Check here for show times. --- The premise, courtesy of the film's official website: Sparks fly when Wade Walker (Craig Robinson) crashes the preppy Peeples annual reunion in the Hamptons to ask for their precious daughter Grace's (Kerry Washington) hand in marriage. Wade might be a fish-out-of-water among this seemingly perfect East Coast clan, but he’s not about to let himself flounder. Instead, in a wild weekend of fun, dysfunction and hilarious surprises, Wade is about to discover there’s room for all kinds of Peeples in this family, no matter their differences. Writer and first-time director Tina Gordon Chism (writer of "Drumline") joins forces with Tyler Perry to…
The Google-owned video sharing site reportedly is planning to charge for some premium content. Will you pay to press play?
YouTube, the popular video sharing site that also is the world's second-leading search engine, reportedly is about to charge for some content. Mashable.com has reported that Google-owned YouTube this week will begin charging for "specialist" channels to help finance production of content such as television shows and films. The service will include up to 50 YouTube channels, and subscriptions will start as low a $1.99 per month, the Financial Times reported. A YouTube spokesperson told Mashable, "We have nothing to announce at this time, but we're looking into creating a subscription platform that could bring even more great content to YouTube for our users to enjoy and provide our creators with another vehicle to generate revenue from …
Good Grief Y'all
8:51 am on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Skalawag, you're right. Lois Lerner knows and remembers what the Republicans did to Susan Rice. First, they vilify and attack the messenger/witness, destroy her reputation and career, bringing unwanted national attention to ruin her life and her family's. Then they twist and turn her words every way but loose. Republicans are famous for their attacks against women at every level - national, state… more ›