Georgia Carnival: Edition 59

Welcome to the Georgia Blog Carnival…

The bloggers featured here are all part of the extensive list of bloggers from Georgia I have listed in the right sidebar of this site. Any Georgia blogger can submit a post to the carnival, or a blogger from another state or country can submit a post for inclusion if the topic is Georgia related.

If you have a Facebook profile you can now become a fan of Georgia on My Mind. Look for the link to join the group located in the right sidebar.

I remain engrossed in my efforts to categorize all of the Georgia blogs on the blogroll. Several new categories were added this week including “painting and drawing”, “travel and tourism”, and “photography”. I will be adding new categories every few days for the next month. Check back often.

The next carnival will be published here at Georgia on My Mind on Friday, September 11th.
Submissions will be due Thursday, September 10th.

If you maintain a Georgia blog and would like to host the carnival at your site e-mail me to set up a date. It’s a great way to put your own personal spin on the carnival.The last edition of carnival can be found here and the carnival archives are found here.

Now on to the carnival:

Hot Topics…

James from The Other Athens announces a protest event against “the various healthcare ‘reform’ proposals put forth by congressional Democrats and the Obama Administration scheduled for tomorrow at Oconee Veterans Park.” More information can be found in his post Oconee Healthcare Reform Protest.

Jason with Georgia Legislative Watch provides data from New Polls Regarding the Georgia Governor's Race.

Jim Galloway with the AJC's Political Insider posted Kasim Reed's Thoughts on Gay Marriage. In case you are unaware Kasim Reed is a current Atlanta mayoral candidate.

GriftDrift at Drifting Through the Grift says Finally, the Mayor's Race Heats Up.

Buzz Blog shares Mary Jo Kopechne might have been a catalyst for Ted Kennedy's career

Is it immoral to complain about tax money going to bail out people who made poor decisions? Some on the Christian Left think it is. Over at Considerettes Doug discusses how good stewardship requires that we make good use of our resources both corporately via the government, and more importantly, “individually” with our charitable dollars in his post titled Economic Morality and Responsibility: The Prodigal's Older Brother.

Speaking of taxes The Other Athens shares The Howling where James states, “I’ve been making this same point for years. Whether it is the latest iteration of SPLOST, or Homeowner Tax Relief Grants, or an increased hotel/motel occupancy tax, we are constantly being assured that someone else will pay for our local expenditures. But it does not work out that way, does it?"

Ethnic Opining

Over at Project Logic GA Slyram is discussing that saggy baggy pants thing, and makes some very good points with Black Beauty, Sagging Pants and Funny Names.

Over at An African American Analysis Freddie Sirmans states, “Nothing has been more devastated by the welfare state than the African American community in the USA.” He also asks, “Why is there out of control violence in the African American community?”

High School Sports

High School football is off and running. James over at The Other Athens provides SCHS Pigskin Update and states, “This year’s campaign will not be an easy one, as several opponents on the [Stephens County High School] schedule are ranked in preseason polls: the AJC has Flowery Branch at #3 and LaGrange at #4 in its AAA top 10….”

Keep up with all the match-ups and scores at WSB-TVs high school sports page.

Parenting and Legalese Connections

Michael Neff over at Atlanta Personal Injury Blog relates interesting findings from a new study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Is anybody out there comprehending and listening???? Read Michael’s post, For Parents, Child Household Safety is Something that Can and Needs to be Taught.

Out and About in Georgia

Wren's Nest Online has published a few pictures of the interior of the home. See Sneak Peek of Wren's Nest Interior for some great views including Joel Chandler Harris’ bedroom. For those of you not in the know the Wren’s Nest is the home of Georgia’s own Joel Chandler Harris. From the site itself….Harris’ fame as a result of the popularity of the Brer Rabbit tales made him a reluctant celebrity in his day. Harris was second in literary fame only to his good friend and admirer Mark Twain. Theodore Roosevelt visited the home during his trip to Atlanta, and his gift to Harris, a stuffed owl, can still be seen looking down on the family’s library.

The Initiative to Protect Jekyll Island has published their most recent newsletter. You can read it here. It includes the newest update regarding development on Jekyll and several announcements.

Chris Moncus shares his Fourth of July photos (has it already been nearly 8 weeks?!?) here . All I can say is….WOW!!

If you are looking for something different to do with the kids….or even adults Southern Byways has a solution for you. Sometimes something different is right in your backyard. Check out Hidden Gems: Bear Hollow Wildife Trail in Athens, Georgia.

Fieldtrips With Sue recently began a new feature called Inside Scoop which is a series of questions with an attraction insider. Check out her post Inside Scoop on Atlanta Braves for Kids where Sue interviews Meagan Swindle with the Atlanta Braves regarding special activities for kids.

A little History, Of Course

Over at History Is Elementary I took a history question from a good friend and turned it into a post regarding German immigration during World War II with Putting the EZ Into Easing Into America.

In my post Thars Gold in Them Thar Hills I examine the nation’s first gold rush. No…..not 1849 and no, not California. Try North Carolina….even better... try 1799!

An Announcement from the Atlanta Audubon Society

Catherine with the Atlanta Audubon Society contacted me the other day to give me some information to relate about six distinctive gardens on display southeast of Metro Atlanta in Peachtree City and Fayetteville. The purpose of the tours is to demonstrate how people can preserve the region’s wildlife and, more broadly, its biodiversity by cultivating native plants and other essentials for wildlife survival. All of the sites have been certified by the Atlanta Audubon Society as wildlife sanctuaries. More information on the requirements of a sanctuary can be found here.

Tours will take place Saturday, September 12 from 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Advance tickets are on sale for $12 by calling the Atlanta Audubon Society at 678.973.2437. Tickets are also available on the day of the tour for $15 at the first and last sites. Children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.

More information on the sites can be found here. I was very excited to discover two of the locations involve the Sams family of Fayetteville. What????? You don’t know who Dr. Ferrol Sams is!!!! Here’s a short article from Georgia Magazine and make sure you check out a listing of his works here. I read his short novel, Christmas Gift! to many of my groups of fourth and fifth graders and they always loved it (there were some parts I had to gloss over and leave out).

Georgia Roads

Georgia Road Geek's blogmaster, Steve, shows us what a wrongway multiplex is as he tries to navigate a confusing route through Rome, Georgia in his post Let's Get the US 411 Connector Built.

Literature and Art

Sara’s post titled The Feather and Butterflies over at Ashes and Glass is where she begins a series reflecting on a class she attended at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center . Go see her art and how it connects to her dreams. I love the colors!

Flannery O’Connor is one of Georgia’s most popular authors. Recently Paw Paw Bill took a trip to visit one of O’Connor’s home close to Milledgeville called Andalusia. Check out his post Flannery O'Connor's Milledgeville.

Felicia over at Fluffy Flowers has been celebrating the anniversary of Woodstock with Plushstock and through midnight on August 30th you have an opportunity to vote on her entry…PLUSH AMP. I agree with Felicia….Make Plush, Not war!

Writing Craft

Jennifer Escalona writes at a new blog on the Georgia blogroll titled The Life and Times of a Freelance Writer. On her about page Jennifer explains she is an Atlanta-based, Pushcart-nominated author and full-time freelance writer. Her goal in life (and I think this is a very worthy one) is to learn something new every day. In her post Heartsick, Footsore, and Addicted: Avoiding and Embracing Writer Stereotypes Jennifer takes an interesting look at the writing life and its consequences.

Jackie K. Cooper has been on the blogroll for awhile. His blog is the place to find all sorts of entertainment reviews and columns. Well……Jackie should be congratulated because he has been invited to become a regular contributor/blogger to Huffingtonpost.com . Check out his first contribution with his post Pat Conroy's Ode to Charleston.

Religion and Culture

Over at "Got Bible?" I ask the question, Is Your Wanter Stuck? Think about all the things or situations you want right now. I bet we could fill up a page or two with all the things we want from the insignificant (removing a hangnail) to the very significant (world peace)…from the small (a bracelet at the local department store) to the very large ( a new car, a cruise, or a new home). Yes! This is the post where I explore that so very Biblical concept…..”to covet.”

And Finally….An Announcement from the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau

Amanda Latson with the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau contacted me recently to clue me in on several Atlanta opportunities. Here’s what she told me:

1. Outdoor Explorations: Backyard Adventures in Atlanta....60 percent* of people who plan to take vacations are hoping to economize their leisure travel by finding less expensive activities or meal options. Plan an adventure in your own backyard and take advantage of the free offerings and money-saving hotel packages this withBackyard Adventures, now extended through the fall. Not sure what you want to do this weekend? Play the How do You ATL?game and design a personalized, interactive picture of Atlanta based on your unique style and preferences.Tell us what you didin your Backyard Adventure and you could win your own Backyard Adventure prize package.

2. Take a Hike...VisitStone Mountain Sky Hiketo trek through the treetops on the nation’s largest family adventure course. During the day, explore Sky Hike’s quarter-mile course of suspended wooden bridges and ropes and finish off the night on the great lawn with Stone Mountain Park’s LaserShow Spectacular.

3. See the City in Style……Hop on a bike with Bicycle Tours of Atlanta and explore the city on two wheels. See the city’s architecture, historical sites, in-town neighborhoods, dining, entertainment and some hidden jewels off the beaten path. Also tour Atlanta with flare on Segway Tours Atlanta. Beginning at Underground Atlanta, this three-hour tour gives you a new and interactive way to discover the city.

4. Root, Root, Root for the Home Team…..Head to Turner Field and cheer on the Atlanta Braves as they contend for the National League East division title. Visit Turner Field on a Friday night and stay after the game for theFriday Night Fireworks Show.

Well, that’s it for this edition of the Georgia Carnival.

Please support these fine Georgia bloggers by letting them know you have visited them with a comment. Your continued support with your links and shout-outs at your site helps to alert others to what we Georgia bloggers have to offer.

The next edition of the carnival will be found here at Georgia on My Mind on Friday, September 11th. Posts can be sent to gamind@mail.com or use the handy submission form. Submissions are due by Thursday, September 10th by 6:00 p.m.

Thanks for your continued support of the Georgia Carnival!