i am going to go ahead and warn you, iwill be talking about race in this post. i am going to be honest and clear in what i think. this may even include what some people might call ‘playing the race card.’ i want to get that out there up front so that if you are offended by that you can go ahead, scroll down to the comments and tell me what a communist i am without considering what i have to write.

just kidding.

the genesis for this post is the discussion that came about in annie’s post just a few down from it titled “i thought i was fearless.” it’s perhaps the most commented on post since i have been writing for the atlanta metblog which at least tells me that somebody is interested in the topic. if you haven’t read it and the ensuing comments i would encourage you to do so as it may make this post a little more understandable.

assuming that you didn’t follow my instructions here is just a tiny bit of background - annie posted about being afraid to take marta home from the dome/phillips arena station one night; frequent commenter bti questioned her about whether her fear might be racially motivated and the whole thing took off from there.

keep with me, this background is really important to the meatier discussion that is going to follow.

ok, final piece of background is on where this author comes from. first, i am a white male. second, i am a daily user of marta. several months ago i made a decision to ditch my car and take marta for my commute from north ormewood (near the zoo) to alpharetta (you can read about the decision here) and have been riding it ever since (for a running commentary of my marta adventures check out here).

okay, that’s the background, now for the meaty racial stuff after the jump -
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Take that gerund (participial phrase?) in the title either way you’d like.

Here’s the map you’re all after; do with it as you please.

Me? The wife says I can’t camp out with her due to deliver in about 17 days.

I’ll have to wait for the next iPhone or (potentially) Harry Potter.

//

‘);
map.addOverlay(marker);

var point = new GPoint(-84.364557,33.848932);
var marker = createMarker(point, ‘

‘);
map.addOverlay(marker);

var point = new GPoint(-84.338113,33.923769);
var marker = createMarker(point, ‘

‘);
map.addOverlay(marker);

var point = new GPoint(-84.388587,33.819282);
var marker = createMarker(point, ‘

‘);
map.addOverlay(marker);

var point = new GPoint(-84.373527,33.849248);
var marker = createMarker(point, ‘

‘);
map.addOverlay(marker);

var point = new GPoint(-84.462567,33.880760);
var marker = createMarker(point, ‘

‘);
map.addOverlay(marker);

var point = new GPoint(-84.256687,33.848659);
var marker = createMarker(point, ‘

‘);
map.addOverlay(marker);

var point = new GPoint(-84.338262,33.926536);
var marker = createMarker(point, ‘

‘);
map.addOverlay(marker);

var point = new GPoint(-84.509542,33.723661);
var marker = createMarker(point, ‘

‘);
map.addOverlay(marker);

var point = new GPoint(-84.441832,33.822931);
var marker = createMarker(point, ‘

‘);
map.addOverlay(marker);

var point = new GPoint(-84.397547,33.792515);
var marker = createMarker(point, ‘

‘);
map.addOverlay(marker);

var point = new GPoint(-84.328523,33.567220);
var marker = createMarker(point, ‘

‘);
map.addOverlay(marker);

var point = new GPoint(-84.604808,33.852415);
var marker = createMarker(point, ‘

‘);
map.addOverlay(marker);

//]]>

Special thanks to Tom in DC for the post idea/code.

Here’s another version of this same map, Apple’s search page and AT&T’s search page (both regarding where to camp out to get an iPod).

And if you’re Clunky, pick a location and get a tent.

Much like Voldemort, head lice or jock itch, Laura Mallory just won’t go away without a fight.

She’s still “Oh-fer” but vows to continue her pointless, silly fight:

“I’ve done the best I can with all of this,” Mallory said after the hearing.

I would contend that discretion - or in this case surrender - is easily the better part of valor (or lack thereof).

Please, Mrs. Mallory, stop this nonsense. The people of Atlanta and their children have already voted against you with their wallets and their shame. Don’t cause any more harm than you already have.

At this point I think it’s a foregone conclusion that YOU madam are far worse than any children’s book could be.

Sincerely,
Every sane person who has to hear your noise

UPDATE: Severe mathlessness removed from post title. I suxx0r at teh internets.

That would be my terribly-copywritten headline if I worked for the AJC and if they were running this story, but they’re not, I am.

You see, despite the fact that She Who Must Not Be Named wants Harry Potter out of Gwinnett public schools, Metro Atlantans are foaming at the mouth Harry Potter fever.

How do I know? Amazon has a nifty chart of pre-orders for the upcoming 7th and final novel, Harry Potter and the Dealthly Hallows.

As of yesterday (and today), 13 of the top 100 cities - based on per-capita pre-orders - were from Georgia, all of them in Metro Atlanta, including Decatur, Marietta and Alpharetta and Stone Mountain.

So Rodney Ho and Phil Kloer, what’s it take to get an article about Metro readers rejecting - with their wallets and eyeballs - the nut-jobbery of that female Voldemort?

And if you haven’t done so already, pre-order the book yourself!

[Via Kottke]

I wrote here about the nutjob Gwinnett mom who attempted to have Harry Potter books banned from Gwinnett County schools back in October. Looks like she’s at it again, with an appeal to the Board of Education. They vote on the appeal Thursday. Luckily, though, WSB has reported the name of the elementary school (J.C. Magill Elementary) that her poor offspring attend; hopefully some pint-size peer pressure on her kids will put a stop to this nonsense.

At least, that’s according to Laura Mallory, who wants the Gwinnett Board of Education to remove Harry Potter books from the schools because they contain (and promote, apparently) the use of magic. The school board attorney responded only half correctly.

Board of Education attorney Victoria Sweeny said that if schools were to remove all books containing reference to witches, they would have to ban Macbeth and Cinderella. “There’s a mountain of evidence for keeping Harry Potter,” she said, adding that the books don’t support any particular religion but present instead universal themes of friendship and overcoming adversity.

This is very true and useful to know. However, it’s only half correct because banning books from schools shouldn’t be done at all (insert usual caveat for not allowing pornography and the like in schools).

Luckily, though, we can all determine and vote for ourselves whether or not Harry Potter is evil. Before you vote, let me remind you of his numerous achievements in defeating real-life fictional evil and, just as important, annoying Snape.

An open Howler to Whackjob Gwinnett Mother . . .

Dear Gwinnett Mom Attempting to Remove Harry Potter books from Gwinnet School Libraries,

You claim that Harry Potter books glorify witchcraft. There is a difference between fiction and reality, and in my opinion, well-parented children can grasp this concept. If you do not want your child to read Harry Potter, I totally respect that decision. However, I do not see how you have the right to tell me what my children can read.

That being said, if I am wrong, and Harry Potter does promote evil, I really hope all those elementary school-aged Harry Potter readers get together, form a coven, and put a hex on you and a curse on your house.

Love,
Harry Potter Lover #1

p.s. Your children think you are an embarrassment.
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For years I wondered how the Virginia Highlands supported so many Thai restaurants. In addition to Pad Thai, a quick thought brings

• Surin
• Panita Thai Kitchen
• Harry and Son’s
• Ma-Li

to mind, all exisiting within a few miles of one another.

I guess this trend is reversing. Last night on my way out of George’s Bar to go running I noticed that Pad Thai looked empty and that there was a notice posted on its door. The noticed informed all who read it that Pad Thai had closed its doors forever on April 30th, 2006.

Guy in frayed shorts, on the computer and the cell phone simultaneously: “You know ____ _____? Her first kiss was in a church, during a lock-in. Let me see what else . . . she’s wearing black underwear right now . . . the last time she cried was last night. That’s kinda sad . . . No, she’s not online.”

This same coffeeshop, the other day, the teenage barista asked her friends, loudly enough for the entire coffeeshop to hear, if they [SPOILER] when [SPOILER] [SPOILER] at the end of the latest Harry Potter book. Fortunately I was the only person there at that time, and I’m not a Potter fan. Had I been, I might well have throttled her and expected to be acquitted by a jury of my peers.

Apparently there is something about the coffee here that does not compel discretion.

(As for which coffeeshop, y’all are free to guess. Hint: not Starbucks. Hint #2: not Octane.)

• Are they ever going to do anything with the old Gold Club building?
• The ‘new’ original Longhorn Buckhead location is opening on Monday. Mmm… Texas Cheese Fries…
• If you’re looking for the new Harry Potter book, the Tower Records near the corner of Peidmont and Peachtree has many many boxes of them. 30% off, also.
• The Container Store rocks!
• Is it me or should the Joe Muggs have a lot more parking?
• It is impossible to find a copy of First Things in this city. (A friend of mine has an article in it)
• Hey! The B. Dalton’s Doubleday [Thanks, Thomas] bookseller in Phipps has been replaced by a clothing store… sigh…
• I really wish the Braves were in town this weekend.