Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2006 > July
July 2006
How the water advisory affected you
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
DeKalb County’s water and sewer department lifted its its boil-water advisory Sunday afternoon.
Do you feel confident in drinking the water?
Some residents commented in our earlier blog that they didn’t get word of the advisory soon enough? Did you? And did you boil your water as advised?
Permalink | Comments (34) | Post your comment |
Boiling water
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Friday’s water main break at DeKalb County’s Scott Candler Filter Plant compromised the clean water supply for thousands of metro residents. The county is urging residents to restrict use and to boil water before use. How are you handling the inconvenience? Do you have bottled water on hand? Have you had trouble buying some today?
Permalink | Comments (118) | Post your comment |
Balancing recreation, history
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park may put limits on running teams. Officials say groups put too much strain on the trails and parking areas. School officials say finding an alternate location may be difficult. What do you think? Is there a good balance now at the Kennesaw battlefield?
Permalink | Comments (32) | Post your comment |
Will you miss Vision?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Now that Vision nightclub is closing, let the reminiscing begin.
What’s your favorite moment from clubbing at Vision? Which celebrities have you seen there? Will you miss it and where’s the next hot spot?
Would you pay for less-busy roads?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fifty years after the creation of our nation’s interstate system, the trust fund that sustained it is drying up.
And it seems that traffic everywhere, not just in metro Atlanta, is getting near the breaking point.
Would you pay tolls for less-congested roads?
Permalink | Comments (67) | Categories: Would you pay for less-busy roads?
What’s ballet without live music?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Atlanta Ballett announced Thursday that it will use recorded music for upcoming productions, including its opener, “Giselle.” A severance package is under consideration for the 48 union musicians What do you think of ballet without an orchestra? Add your comments below, and if you want to be contacted by an AJC reporter, please include your email address.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment |
Let’s talk MegaFest
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday is the final day of T.D. Jakes’ four-day family festival of praise, worship and music called MegaFest 2006. Here are daily updates from AJC staff writer John Blake and updated photo galleries. Join in the blogging with your own observations, key moments or opinions about MegaFest 2006.
• Photos: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | • Schedule of events
Keeping comedy family friendly
From John Blake, AJC staff 8:30 p.m. Friday
Comedian Steve Harvey was about to exit the stage at Philips Arena Friday night when a woman shouted from the audience. “Hey daddy.” Harvey froze and pivoted toward the MegaFest audience, searching for the vocal fan. “Be careful,” he said as the audience began to laugh. “I reacts kind of sensitive to that name. That ain’t a church nickname. You might be telling on yourself.” The audience erupted in laughter, some rocking in their seats. The moment verged on turning a little raw, but Harvey reined it in. Afterall, this was family-friendly. It’s a challenge every performer faced at “Just Churchin’,” MegaFest’s comedy show on the third night of the four-day festival put on by Bishop T.D. Jakes. They had to balance the edginess required for comedy with the sensitivity demanded by the occasion. Turns out that most had no problem. The black church, as the late comedian Richard Pryor proved, is a rich source of material. None of the stock characters seemed unmarked by the comedians: The desperate single woman looking for “a good man at church;” the “down low” church man with the effeminate manner of clapping; the pompous overdressed pastor. Each one made an appearance Friday night. Some of the best moments came when Harvey roasted late-arriving VIPs who sat in the front, claiming they knew somebody who got then front-row seats. “You ain’t got no ‘I know somebody’ outfit on,” Harvey said. To another man he said: “I see you got your pastor’s anniversary outfit on.” Harvey almost slipped up once. He started in on a group of kids sitting in the front, when someone said something to him from the audience. A look of panic hit his face. “Oh, those are Jakes’ kids?” he said. “Let me back up.”
Talking back to the preachers
From John Blake, AJC staff 7:10 p.m. Friday
MegaFest pastors preach their messages from the stage. Megafest attendees deliver their own with their T-shirts. One of the side pleasures of attending the four-day religious festival was checking out the inspirational messages. Some of the best: “Jesus is coming, look busy” “Jesus loves me, and my tattoos” “Don’t be one of the lost ones, find Jesus” “Jesus died for Pedro” (The person wearing this shirt said he didn’t know who Pedro was) The wittiest, though, didn’t fit the theme of the conference. It was worn by a teenage girl, and said, “Kiss me before my boyfriend comes back.”
Buzzing at the exhibit hall
From John Blake, AJC staff 3:30 p.m. Friday
The title of the book could have doubled as the theme for the bustling scene unfolding Friday at Megafest. It read: “How to Be Highly Favored and Empowered to Prosper.” It was propped up in a booth at Megafest’s exhibit hall, surrounded by vendors and attendees who appeared to have the same sentiment in mind. The sprawling hall was filled with people buying and selling. Ford salesmen sold SUVs and gave away “instant credit” at one booth. Delta employees had people spinning a wheel for free Skymiles. Pinesol salespeople held There was a raffle for a free washer and dryer at the Pinesol booth. Toss in the legions of people selling furs, Bibles, and books, and the place looked like a frenzied bazaar. The energy here doesn’t ebb and flow, it buzzes all day long. “It’s a major blessing,” said Nakia Hicks, publicist for a gospel group called Judacamp — here for a gospel music talent search. “Where else can you have access a 100,000 African-Americans from different states in one place?” The third day of MegaFest 2006 opened with Juanita Bynum stirring thousands at the Georgia Dome. In the afternoon, Pilar Sanders, wife of retired NFL star Deion Sanders put on a fashion show. Bishop T.D. Jakes’ four-day festival of worship, music, education and praise closes today, with Jakes preaching at 1 p.m. at the Georgia Dome. The event is free and open to the public.
A gospel tribute to T.D. Jakes
From John Blake, AJC staff 10:25 p.m. Thursday
The gospel singers were the stars of the show, but Thursday night belonged to Bishop T.D Jakes. The “Celebration of Unity” concert at the Georgia Dome was one of the most anticipated MegaFest events — a tribute to Jakes’ 30 years of ministry. The red carpet was literally rolled out for gospel stars such as Aretha Franklin, Fred Hammond and Donnie McClurkin. Performer after performer paid homage to Jakes, who sat near the front with his wife, Serita. The concert featured several Atlanta celebrities: Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Church; Tyler Perry, the playwright; and local radio show host Frank Ski. Also in attendance were retired NFL star Deion Sanders, R&B singer Chante Moore and actors Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett. Long shared a story about Jakes helping him during critical moments in his ministry. NFL greats Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith paid tribute to Jakes, both calling him “daddy.” Rev. Oral Roberts and Creflo Dollar sent in video tributes praising his ministry. “You have him this weekend, but he’s coming home with us and that’s that,” said Irvin, a member of The Potter’s House, Jakes’ church in Dallas.
65,000 registered
From John Blake, AJC staff 2:25 p.m. Thursday
“After the first day of MegaFest, more than 65,000 people registered, and we are expecting the number to increase because more are currently registering on site,” said Carolyn Miller, a spokeswoman for The Potter’s House, Bishop T.D. Jakes’ church in Dallas.
Youth is served
From John Blake, AJC staff 2:15 p.m. Thursday
Stroll through the MegaFest crowd at the Georgia World Congress Center and you may notice something striking: It’s filled with young people. Toddlers, kids, teenagers — all of them roamed through the event, chattering, flirting and playing with one another. MegaFest organizers have somehow done what many churches can’t do — make Christianity cool. Eddie McClan, 17, came to MegaFest with his Baptist church in Florence S.C.. Dressed in baggy shorts and a Tar Heel basketball jersey, he’s attended concerts, youth seminars and one event where kids were invited onstage to sing gospel music. McClan said hearing gospel music star, Kirk Franklin, talk about being a young Christian, left an impression. “He’s a casual guy,” McClan said. He keeps everything real.” McClan is a fan of Bishop T.D Jakes but for another reason. “I like his suits,” he said. “I wish I had a couple of them.”
Money matters with Ramsey
From John Blake, AJC staff 12:30 p.m. Thursday
Thousands of MefaFest attendees rose to their feet in a crowded ballroom in the Georgia World Congress Center Thursday and chanted a four-word slogan that sounded odd for a mass church meeting. “Show me the money! Show me the money” The shouts reverberated around the ballroom as financial guru, Dave Ramsey, bounced around the stage like a football player warming up for a game. Ramsey was the big player at MegaFest Thursday morning. The crowds took so long to file into the ballroom to hear him speak that he started twenty minutes late. Ramsey mixed good ole’ boy humor with some personal horror stories to drive home the point that God cares how people manage their money. He said there are 800 scriptures that deal with money but most people don’t pay attention. “The problem with my money is this idiot I shave with,” he said. “If I can get him to behave, I can be skinny and rich.” To prove his point, Ramsey said at least 60 percent of a lottery winners go broke. But he said he wasn’t going to tell people that prosperity is simply a matter of prayer. “God is not a genie that when you rub his belly,” he said, “he spits out money.”
See Jakes for free
You don’t need a ticket for every event at MegaFest. In fact, most of the events where T.D. Jakes is preaching are free and open to the public. It’s just that ticket holders get preferred seating. Wednesday night’s general service was open to the public, as is the final event at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Georgia Dome.
“Help my unbelief”
From John Blake, AJC staff 9:05 p.m. Wednesday
The opening day of MegaFest 2006 ended Wednesday night with Bishop T.D Jakes preaching on one of the most famous passages from the Gospel of Mark. A father comes to Jesus and says if you can, you can heal my son. Bible students know the rest of the story. Jesus says everything is possible to him who believes and the man replies: “Lord, I believe; Help my unbelief.” Jakes entitled his sermon, “Confessions of a Conflicted Soul.” So many issues come down to belief, he said. “We pray about the root of an issue rather than dealing with the root of an issue.” Facing a crowd of thousands at the Georgia Dome, Jakes told them that Jesus answered the father’s plea. “If one person can cry out and attract the attention of a God who will help, what will happen if 70,000 people cry out,” he said. The crowd at the Georgia Dome cried out.
Loving Jakes
From John Blake, AJC staff 8:00 p.m. Wednesday
“Get your praise on!” The crowd erupted at the Georgia Dome Wednesday night when the m.c. kicked off the evening session with that exhortation. People bolted up from their seats and raised their hands. One elderly man with a shaved head and a baby-blue suit near the stage let loose with a duck-walk. The applause thundered through the dome, which was about half-full. One of the best moments came when Bishop T.D. Jakes’ wife, Serita, came on stage in a lipstick-red dress and delighted the crowd with four words. After talking about the 30 years she spent with Jakes in ministry — during times when they couldn’t afford to pay their light bill and he was laid off — she said, “I do appreciate every step I’ve taken with him.” Then the women in the dome roared when she declared with hearty emphasis: “I love that man.”
The cost of MegaFest
From John Blake, AJC staff 4:30 p.m. Wednesday
“The wages of sin,” the Apostle Paul wrote, “is death.” But what does it cost to attend MegaFest? According to some bloggers, MegaFest costs too much. Bishop T.D. Jakes has to be carting wheelbarrows of money away from the event, some say. MegaFest organizers tell a different story. Roland Hairston, CEO of The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas, Jakes’ home church, said it costs Jakes at least $10 million to stage MegaFest. Organizers also had to fly in 1,200 volunteers (there are 2,000 altogether) from the Potter’s House and put them up in hotels and give them per diems, he said. Haiston said the $40 people pay to attend MegaFest is a bargain. “This is not a money-making event for the ministry, not even close,” Hairston said. “What it does allow us to do is deliver a message.”
Merchandising
Bishop T.D Jakes likes to say he’s not just a preacher, he’s a businessman. And like any savvy businessman, Jakes had his MegaFest product table set up in the Georgia World Congress Center at the event’s opening. The table, as long as a baseball bleacher, was manned by a staff of eager volunteers - and a security guard. So what’s on sale? There was a MegaFest yo-yo, keychain, baseball cap, baseball jersey, tote bag and jogging suit. There were Jakes’ books, CDs, tapes and a special t-shirt with Jakes on the cover commemorating his 30-year anniversary a pastor. The message in it all? Many, perhaps. But at the very least one can say that Jakes isn’t just a preacher and a businessman. He’s a brand.
The personal side of Jakes
From John Blake, AJC staff 3:30 p.m. Wednesday
Bishop T.D. Jakes opened MegaFest Wednesday by giving the audience a glimpse of his private side. He brought four of his children to the stage outside the Georgia World Congress Center and introduced them to an audience of teenagers. “I’m a grandpa now,” Jakes said. “Everybody say, “Pa, Pa.” His children bantered with the crowd with the polish and ease of their father. Then Jakes handed the microphone to his grandson, Malachi, a toddler who squirmed shyly and clung to his big grandfather’s leg for protection. Malachi then found his preaching voice. “Welcome, welcome to Mega…” Then he gave up because he couldn’t say the word, Megafest. Smiling, Jakes took the microphone from Malachi as the crowd cooed. For once, Jakes was upstaged.
International appeal
From John Blake, AJC staff 1:25 p.m. Wednesday
Most people know that Bishop T.D. Jakes has crossover appeal. He also has cross-nation appeal. MegaFest is an international event drawing people from around the globe. MegaFest officials typically trumpet Jakes’ global reach, but his appeal doesn’t really hit home until a festival official called up a computer program that listed how many visitors came from the 55 countries represented this year. Some numbers: One person came from Afghanistan. Three from Hong Kong. Eight from Saudi Arabia. One from Rwanda and seven from Switzerland. Last year, MegaFest was broadcast in 600 million households worldwide, said Derrick Williams, the conference manager for Megafest. “We had a group of folks who chartered a plane from Australia and came here,” Williams said. “It’s a blessing that we can reach around the world.”
Report from the opening event
From John Blake, AJC staff
Bishop T.D Jakes walked before a sweating crowd of teenagers waving a sea of fans in 90 degree-temperatures and held up a microphone. “When you scream, it will officially happen,”Jakes said. The crowd screamed, and Jakes shouted “Now.” As a stream of multicolored balloons floated to the sky outside the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta on Wednesday, Jakes shouted: “MegaFest is officially open. Make some noise now.” Heat, not noise was the story of MegaFest’s opening ceremony, held outside in the midday sun. The crowd was filled with people towels draped around their shoulders, beads of sweat peppered their faces. One teenage girl fainted from the heat in front of the stage while Jakes talked. Christian rapper Canton Jones, though, who helped open the four-day event, warned the crowd that it could be worse. “Don’t worry about how hot it is,” he said from the stage. “It’s always hot in church. And it’s hotter in Hell.”
Daily MegaFest updates and a blog
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday is Day 2 of T.D. Jake’s four-day family festival of praise, worship and music called MegaFest. Here are daily updates from AJC staff writer John Blake and updated photo galleries. But we also want to hear from the folks attending MegaFest. So join in the blogging with your own observations, key moments or opinions about MegaFest 2006.
“Help my unbelief”
From John Blake, AJC staff 9:05 p.m. Wednesday
The opening day of MegaFest 2006 ended Wednesday night with Bishop T.D Jakes preaching on one of the most famous passages from the Gospel of Mark. A father comes to Jesus and says if you can, you can heal my son. Bible students know the rest of the story. Jesus says everything is possible to him who believes and the man replies: “Lord, I believe; Help my unbelief.” Jakes entitled his sermon, “Confessions of a Conflicted Soul.” So many issues come down to belief, he said. “We pray about the root of an issue rather than dealing with the root of an issue.” Facing a crowd of thousands at the Georgia Dome, Jakes told them that Jesus answered the father’s plea. “If one person can cry out and attract the attention of a God who will help, what will happen if 70,000 people cry out,” he said. The crowd at the Georgia Dome cried out.
Loving Jakes
From John Blake, AJC staff 8:00 p.m. Wednesday
“Get your praise on!” The crowd erupted at the Georgia Dome Wednesday night when the m.c. kicked off the evening session with that exhortation. People bolted up from their seats and raised their hands. One elderly man with a shaved head and a baby-blue suit near the stage let loose with a duck-walk. The applause thundered through the dome, which was about half-full. One of the best moments came when Bishop T.D. Jakes’ wife, Serita, came on stage in a lipstick-red dress and delighted the crowd with four words. After talking about the 30 years she spent with Jakes in ministry — during times when they couldn’t afford to pay their light bill and he was laid off — she said, “I do appreciate every step I’ve taken with him.” Then the women in the dome roared when she declared with hearty emphasis: “I love that man.”
The cost of MegaFest
From John Blake, AJC staff 4:30 p.m. Wednesday
“The wages of sin,” the Apostle Paul wrote, “is death.” But what does it cost to attend MegaFest? According to some bloggers, MegaFest costs too much. Bishop T.D. Jakes has to be carting wheelbarrows of money away from the event, some say. MegaFest organizers tell a different story. Roland Hairston, CEO of The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas, Jakes’ home church, said it costs Jakes at least $10 million to stage MegaFest. Organizers also had to fly in 1,200 volunteers (there are 2,000 altogether) from the Potter’s House and put them up in hotels and give them per diems, he said. Haiston said the $40 people pay to attend MegaFest is a bargain. “This is not a money-making event for the ministry, not even close,” Hairston said. “What it does allow us to do is deliver a message.”
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment |
10 years ago tonight: Opening Ceremonies
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta formally welcomed the world to the 1996 Summer Games with an extravaganza at Olympic Stadium. The evening was capped by Muhammad Ali’s lighting of the Olympic caldron. What are your memories of that day or night? Were you there? What do you remember about the first few days of the Games?
Permalink | Comments (21) | Post your comment |
What haven’t they thought of?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Think you are bombarded by advertising now. You’ve underestimated the creative minds at work to sell you something.
The Associated Press: “US Airways wants to make the most out of a nauseating situation. The Tempe, Ariz.-based airline plans to sell advertisements on its air-sickness bags — those pint-sized expandable envelopes tucked between the in-flight magazines and safety cards.
The New York Times: CBS plans to laser imprints of its trademark eye insignia, as well as logos for some of its shows, on eggs — 35 million of them in September and October. CBS’s copywriters are referring to the medium as “egg-vertising,” hinting at the wordplay they have in store. Some of their planned slogans: “CSI” (“Crack the Case on CBS”); “The Amazing Race” (“Scramble to Win on CBS”); and “Shark” (“Hard-Boiled Drama.”).”
Barf bags and eggs are now taken. But surely we can come up with some overlooked places. Where do you suggest for ads? A great idea - and an empty space - is a terrible thing to waste.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment |
Cheating alleged at Auburn
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
An Auburn University professor has alleged that athletes were given preferential treatment in “directed reading” courses and that an atmosphere of athletics over academics pervades the university. How serious are these charges and what should be done about them?
Where are you most congested?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Downtown Connector and three Fulton County roads top lists of the region’s most congested corridors released Thursday by the Atlanta Regional Commission. What are you nominations for metro Atlanta’s gridlock hell?
Great sports blunders
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
France’s two-time world player of the year Zinedine Zidane was ejected with 10 minutes left in overtime for an off-the-ball head butt against an Italian player. What is your reaction? Do you remember other instances where an athlete made such a gaffe?
Change the channel, big time
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
That’s what they told us they were going to do with the 58th Annual Emmy Awards. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences — smarting from criticism that the same old same old’s were being rewarded year after year and that maybe they might want to start paying attention to that newfangled thing called cable — altered the nominating process this year in hopes of broadening the pool of possible winners. And yet somehow, Martin Sheen still got nominated for outstanding actor. Twice! Biggest Winners: Fox’s “24” and ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” which led the way among all series with 12 and 11 nominations respectively. “24’s” Kiefer Sutherland got a lead actor nod, as did supporting actors Gregory Itzin and Jean Smart as simply the best worst president and first lady ever! But crunch the numbers a little more and NBC’s word-of-mouth sleeper hit “The Office” scored huge wth five nods (including outstanding comedy series and outstanding actor, Steve Carell). Meanwhile, don’t ever bet against cowboys: TNT’s miniseries, “Into the West,” had the most nominations overall, with 16. Biggest Losers: ABC and the shows with which it rode so high in the 2004-05 season, “Lost” and “Desperate Houswives.” — Jill Vejnoska
You finished! Talk about the race
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
Is your boss a ‘Prada devil’?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ever have a boss who made you their personal errand gopher?
Or how about that one boss who only saw the negative side of things, but was blind as a bat to all those good things you did?
We’ve all had bosses that have behaved like Meryl Streep’s character in the just-opened film “The Devil Wears Prada.” What are your worst bad-boss incidents that are still causing you nightmares?
Permalink | Comments (7) | Categories: Is your boss a 'Prada devil'?
