Blog Topic: Say What

In the Loop: A Republican Congressman Thinks the Federal Government Did Something Good for Once

By Blake Aued | July 29, 2015 12:11pm

Doug Collins is a conservative Republican from Gainesville who represents part of Athens in Congress. He issued the following statement on the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act:

Read More...
In the Loop: The Jamie Hood Trial Is Completely Bonkers

By Blake Aued | June 29, 2015 11:46am

Photo Credit: Photo by @wycam1 via Twitter.

Unfortunately, Flagpole does not have the resources to send a writer to sit in a courtroom for eight hours a day for two months, but oh my God, as tragic and reprehensible as Jamie Hood's crime spree was, this story is amazing.

Read More...
Culture Briefs: Hugh Acheson Can't Find Nice Things in Athens (Updated)

By Blake Aued | May 26, 2015 2:57pm

Gucci, Gucci, Hughie, Hughie, Fendi, Fendi, Prada.

Athens' Hugh Acheson is more than the proprietor of four successful restaurants (including Five & Ten), a Bravo star, cookbook author and owner of the world’s second-most-famous unibrow behind Anthony Davis. He’s a style icon in the restaurant world!

“As he’s spent more time outside the kitchen in the past few years as a judge on ‘Top Chef,’ he has become one of the food world’s most stylish figures,” writes Jacob Gallagher in the Wall Street Journal, “favoring suits from Sid Mashburn and Gucci, and always squeezing in a bit of shopping when traveling.”

Read More...
In the Loop: Georgia State Rep Thinks Universities Shouldn't Investigate Sexual Assaults

By Blake Aued | May 22, 2015 11:29am

Photo Credit: House Photo Office

State Rep. Earl Erhart (R-Powder Springs).

State Rep. Earl Erhart (R-Powder Springs) wants to hold hearings on how colleges and universities handle sexual assaults—but not for the reason you might think.

Erhart—chairman of the House subcommittee that handles higher education funding—is not worried about sexual assault survivors seeking justice, but about the rights of the accused.

The Marietta Daily Journal explains:

Read More...
In the Loop: Athens Publisher: Gov. Deal Is Arrogant and Dictatorial

By Blake Aued | April 30, 2015 11:29am

Dink NeSmith.

Dink NeSmith, president of the Athens-based Community Newspapers chain and former chairman of the University System Board of Regents, penned a column earlier this week accusing Gov. Nathan Deal of using “dictatorial tactics” and “political meddling” in higher education.

NeSmith was set off by Deal’s remarks at recent a Grady College of Journalism event, in which the governor said that, because his staff uses Twitter and Facebook, they can communicate directly with constituents and don’t need traditional news media anymore.

Read More...
In the Loop: Herman Cain Defends Rand Paul in UGA Speech

By Evelyn Andrews | April 16, 2015 10:50am

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore

Herman Cain told University of Georgia students it is too early to make judgments about the 2016 presidential election, but advised them to discount candidates who attack members of their own party at a lecture Wednesday night.

Cain, the former Godfather's Pizza CEO who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for the 2012 presidential race, recorded a segment for his radio talk show during his third visit to campus in the last four years. The show will be replayed next week.

Read More...
Culture Briefs: Half of Athens Spent the Weekend Stalking Jon Hamm

By Blake Aued | April 12, 2015 12:53pm

Several celebrities—Paul Rudd, Jon Hamm, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Zack Galifianakis and Kristen Schaal reportedly among them—were in town this weekend, rumor has it for a “Bob’s Burgers” writer’s wedding. (In addition, Rudd is filming The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving in Atlanta; Hamm and Galifianakis are starring in Keeping Up with the Joneses, also filming in Atlanta; and McBrayer has family in Athens.)

It turned Athens into a bunch of star-struck Creepy McCreepersons. Like me, your Facebook feed is probably full of #HammSightings. Here, too, are few select tweets about this momentous occasion:

Read More...
Homedrone: R.E.M.: Actually, We Were Never Called Twisted Kites

By Gabe Vodicka | April 7, 2015 4:30pm

Photo Credit: Jason Thrasher

Nuci's Space has begun construction on the St. Mary's steeple, a project Flagpole reported on last November, and which was partially funded via an IndieGoGo campaign. As you might expect, media attention has once again been focused on the structure, which famously marks the site of R.E.M.'s first-ever public performance in April 1980.

Read More...
In the Loop: Mike Hamby and Kathy Hoard Chased a Chicken All Over the Kroger Parking Lot

By Blake Aued | March 31, 2015 5:09pm

Photo Credit: Mike Hamby via Facebook

Talk about free range.

Was this chicken looking for one of its deceased ancestors? Whatever the reason, it was roaming around the Alps Kroger parking lot a few days ago—and it was up to three Athens-Clarke County commissioners to track it down.

Read More...
Homedrone: Watch Modest Mouse's New Athens-Filmed Music Video

By Gabe Vodicka | March 21, 2015 1:45pm

Pacific Northwest indie rock icons Modest Mouse played a sold-out Georgia Theatre show earlier this month, but that's not the only thing the band was up to during its stay in Athens. The band also used the Classic City as a location for its latest music video shoot; you can stream the resulting clip, for Strangers to Ourselves single "Lampshades on Fire," below:

Read More...