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Regator, the blog aggregator that acts like a mix between a standard RSS reader and Digg, has launched in public beta. Check it out at regator.com. Has the recession hit your closet-stocking habit? Hit up the Warehouse sale this weekend for a premium denim sample sale featuring such brands as Ed Hardy, Christian Audigier, SMET, William Rast, True Religion, Rock & Republic and more, for up to 80 percent off. 2-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 at the Georgia World Congress Center. For more information, visit www.thewarehousesale.com. Wordsmiths Books in Decatur, which in its brief existence has molded itself into a cornerstone of Atlanta's literary arts scene, announced a campaign yesterday to raise awareness and funds to keep the store alive through a current rough patch. (The Sunday Paper named Wordsmiths one of the best things about Atlanta in our annual SP100 issue last September.)
On the store's blog, owner Zachary Steele writes: "We need your help to save our bookstore. Beginning today, August 4th, and leading through a weekend fundraising event August 15th-August 17th, I am opening myself to your assistance. It doesn't matter how small your contribution is--with enough help it will all add up in the end. If you want to offer $25, $50, $100, $200, anything at all, it can help."
Steele cites steep rental costs at the bookstore's former location and a massive up-front financial investment for an event with a big-name author that didn't pan out as factors in the store's current financial bind. "Business has been steady, walk-in traffic consistent, sales are up and costs are down" at the new location, he says, although he notes that it's not enough to offset its debt.
The fundraising event begins Friday, Aug. 15 with an appearance by local author Jack Pendarvis, a performance by local band Sealions and a "silent robot auction" of "artisan robots of varying shapes, materials and forms, handcrafted by local businesses, entities, celebrities and individuals."
On Saturday, Aug. 16, the store will host a "pay what you can" performance by Poetry Atlanta, and a performance of local musician/poet Kodac Harrison's "Reach for the Moon."
For more information on the fundraising event as details become known, visit the store's Web site at www.wordsmithsbooks.com. It is with great sadness that I report that veteran Atlanta Braves broadcaster Harry Christopher Caray Jr.--you know him, of course, as Skip Caray--died yesterday. Caray, son of the legendary Chicago Cubs announcer Harray Caray, became the voice of the Braves over 33 seasons.
Caray had been struggling with congestive heart failure, diabetes, reduced kidney and liver functions and an irregular heartbeat. Health issues sidelined him for several weeks at the end of last season, and had relegated him to calling home games only this season. He appeared to have been doing better recently, and his voice, which sounded shaky often this season, was sounding better as well. Fans tuning in to the Braves' most recent homestand no doubt noticed Mark Lemke sitting in for an ailing Caray, although there were no outward signs that Caray wouldn't be back at the mic soon.
Our condolences go out to his family, including sons and fellow broadcasters Chip and Josh Caray. He will be missed. 1. Mr. Belding in Vegas: The gossip Web site TMZ’s pics of 57-year-old “Saved by the Bell” alum Dennis Haskins partying down with a bevy of tanorexic table-dancer types is the most troubling collection of drunken photos we’ve seen in many months. 2. The new Facebook: As if you’re not spending enough time on the social networking site already, a beta version of its new look means you have to figure out how to use it all over again. 3. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog: We can’t get enough of this online musical created by “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” guru Joss Whedon, starring Neil Patrick Harris (pictured) as a not terribly menacing supervillain. 4. Outer space snapshots: Since we can’t really see stars ITP, try browsing NASA’s brand-new space archive to get your interstellar fix. www.nasaimages.org. Photo: Hulu.com Ubiquitous homemaking magnate turned jailhouse decorator Martha Stewart is 67 on Aug. 3. Illinois’ own Sen. Barack Obama is 47 on Aug. 4. How about sending him a nice “Obama Fo Yo Mama” T-shirt? “The Happening” director M. Night Shyamalan is 38 on Aug. 6, but he definitely peaked several years before that. “Happening,” he ain’t. Spice Girl Geri Halliwell is 36 on Aug. 6. Make it last forever, Ginger Spice: Friendship never ends. Hey, David Duchovny (pictured)! The “X-Files” movie totally tanked at the box office. But the good news is, you turn 48 on Aug. 7. See? Life ain’t all bad. Broken-hearted banshee Whitney Houston is 45 on Aug. 9. Don’t be frightened: She just wants to feel the heat with somebody—somebody not named Bobby Brown. Hey, pouty “X-Files” star Gillian Anderson! “I want to believe” that you turn 40 on Aug. 9. But it seems like another crazy conspiracy theory to me.
Photo: Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images We love the Georgia Aquarium. But if you plan to go there this summer, try to plan for a weekday. This Saturday afternoon, the wait just to buy tickets was at least two hours, and those hours are spent completely unprotected from Earth's blazing yellow sun. And the line for advance ticket holders? About the same.
Out-of-state roadtrippers can't just turn around and book it home when they see the lines, but you can. Take heed! - Paris Hilton Tosses Dwarf on the Street
- Attack of the Zombie Negroes: Dick Cheney
- RuPaul: Ron Paul is my Brother!
- Spider man helps James Bond!
- Unemployed to be Used for Soup
RuPaul: Mark Mainz/Getty Images
Ron Paul: Eric Thayer/Getty Images Oh, it’s on. Another hip-hop feud involving an Atlanta rapper has set the Internet aflame —and thankfully, this one has nothing to do with 18-year-old “Crank That” performer Soulja Boy. A spokesman for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign issued a stinging rebuke to A-town heavy hitter Ludacris last week, in response to “Politics (Obama is Here),” a mixtape track by Luda and DJ Drama. In the song, Ludacris notes that Obama has named him as one of his favorite rappers. Apparently not content with his lot in life as a restaurateur, Grammy-winning rapper and respected actor (“Fred Claus” notwithstanding), Luda throws his hat into the ring for consideration as a running mate, drawling “put me in office/make me your vice president.”
He then leaps into attack-dog mode against President Bush and Senators Hillary Clinton and John McCain, with such lines as “Hillary hated on you so that bitch is irrelevant” and “McCain don’t belong in any chair unless he’s paralyzed.” (Our favorite, in response to Jesse Jackson: “If you said it then you meant it/Where you want it, head or gut?”—a clear reference to the immortal 1991 Bruce Willis/Damon Wayans action vehicle “The Last Boy Scout.”) Obama spokesperson Ben Burton was quoted as saying that “while Ludacris is a talented individual, he should be ashamed of these lyrics.” At the time of this posting, Ludacris had not responded to the statement, and rumors that Sen. McCain was composing his own diss track with Luda’s “Battleground Earth” co-star Tommy Lee were unconfirmed.
But the news wasn’t all bad for Ludacris last week: On July 28 it was announced that Chris Bridges himself is slated for induction into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame next month, along with Athens jam-rockers Widespread Panic, songwriter Keith Sweat, guitar makers Fred and Dinah Gretsch, deejay Hamp Swain and the late singer and songwriter Dottie Rambo. The Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards will take place Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Georgia World Congress Center. Tickets are $75-$1,000 (for a table of 10). For more information, please call 770-491-9494, ext. 15, or visit www.georgiamusic.org. In this wallet-crushing economy, we're looking for the best bang for our buck. Vinings boutique Hand in Pocket just annouced its end of season sale, starting July 31 and running through August 3. Just in time for tax-free shopping this weekend. All summer items are heavily marked down. Plus, fall items are 20% off for a limited time. Shopping online? Use code summer20.
Hand in Pocket
1675 Cumberland Parkway
Suite 405
Smyrna, GA 30080
678-309-9550 |