When you’re one of 93,033 screaming, barking fans Between the Hedges on a fall Saturday, it doesn’t seem like a statistically unlikely occurrence. And when you are among 4,000-plus taking in a show in the Broadway series at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre, you are not that special. When it happens somewhat spontaneously during a busy season … Continue reading Say ‘yes’ to the best
The Summer Olympic Games are once again upon us, and I am inevitably transported back to 1996 when Atlanta served as the world's host. I began my post-college journalism career at The Macon Telegraph as a general assignment features writer. It was the best job in journalism I would ever have, and I appreciated it … Continue reading Olympic memory
Atlanta is arguably the capital of the South, but it is undeniably home to the world’s busiest airport. By virtue of its geography, the visionary decision to build an international airport here, and the less-than-visionary decision to intersect three major interstates in the heart of downtown, the well worn joke about Atlanta goes something like … Continue reading Air travel trouble
As I worked this week from home in my pajamas, I couldn’t help but join the millions of Atlantans and Birminghamians, among others, in contemplating just how Snowpocalypse 2014 happened. This will not surprise you, but I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s the fault of the New South. Although much has been written already … Continue reading Snowpocalypse 2014: A product of the New South
I get my news from Will McAvoy. The fact that he’s a fictional news anchor and the events he’s reporting on are two years old is really immaterial. My good friend, Bob, gave me season one of the HBO series “The Newsroom” on Blu-ray for my birthday this year, and it took me and Carla … Continue reading News? What news?
The phrase “part of a balanced breakfast” is on the sound track of my childhood. It was included in every super sugary cereal commercial during my decade-long consumption of Saturday morning cartoons. If Cookie Crisp is part of a balanced breakfast, then there had to be some really healthy stuff to go with it to balance it … Continue reading The most important meal
Today marks the first anniversary of my joining Georgia Tech Research Institute as director of communications. I kept mentioning it to people all week because in some ways, I just couldn’t believe it. A year had flown by, and I have alternatingly felt like I have always worked at GTRI and it is my first … Continue reading One year and counting
There are two times a year I evaluate the direction of my life: New Year’s and my birthday. New Year’s resolutions are somewhat cliché, but the start of a new calendar year is a natural time to take stock of your life, look at your goals and determine course corrections. My birthday falls nearly eight … Continue reading My semi-annual appraisal
What you pack for vacation says a lot about you. Vacation is that time of year when you are released from the bonds of work long enough for your true personality to emerge. Maybe it’s the only time all year you have real choices about how to spend your time. Maybe it’s when you discover there … Continue reading Flip flops and running shoes
Weddings in the New South bring up all sorts of issues never before encountered in the history of weddings. Last weekend, Carla and I took our oldest son, Barron, to his first wedding -- the marriage of his youth minister, Matt Hester, and our friend Courtney Phillips. It was a beautiful and somewhat unorthodox ceremony and reception that … Continue reading Wedding faux pas?
New South Essays 