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  <title>Creative Loafing Atlanta: News &amp;amp; Views</title>
  <link>http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com</link>
  <description>Atlanta Creative Loafing Weekly Newspaper, shelter from the mainstream for news, event listings, dining, movies and music..</description>
  <language>en-us</language>
  <copyright>Copyright 2009Creative Loafing Atlanta. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, Creative Loafing Atlanta readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact Creative Loafing Atlanta.</copyright>
  <managingEditor>online@creativeloafing.com</managingEditor>
  <webMaster>webmaster@creativeloafing.com</webMaster>
  <pubDate>Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:01 MST</pubDate>
  <lastBuildDate>Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:46:15 MST</lastBuildDate>
  <generator>Dispatch Gyrobase</generator>
  
    <item>
    <title>Is Nigeria finally cleaning up its crooked ways?</title>
    <link>http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/is_nigeria_finally_cleaning_up_its_crooked_ways_/Content?oid=1188213</link>
    <description>
      <![CDATA[
       
      
        By Andisheh Nouraee
      
      
      In a move that threatens to make emptying your spam folder much less amusing, the Nigerian government recently launched a big crackdown on so-called &quot;419&quot; scammers. The 419 scam, named for the section of the Nigerian legal code outlawing it, reportedly rakes in billions of dollars annually. It works thusly: You know those weird, obsequious, all-cap business proposal e-mails you delete (e.g. GREETINGS OF THE DAY TO YOU KIND SIR: I AM THE WIDOW OF FORMER ASSISTANT UNDERSECRETARY OF PETROLEUM
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    </description>
    <category>News &amp;amp; Views/Don&amp;#39;t Panic!... Your war questions answered</category>
    <pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com">Creative Loafing Atlanta</source>
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    <title>Votin&amp;#39; gay</title>
    <link>http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/votin_gay/Content?oid=1191306</link>
    <description>
      <![CDATA[
      
        Atlanta's LGBT community will likely have a strong voice in the mayoral runoff...
       
      
        By Patrick Saunders
      
      
      In a mayoral race between a black man and a white woman, it seems obvious that race is bound to be a factor. Much less obvious is the sizable role that sexual orientation and gender identity is likely to play in the Dec. 1 runoff between Kasim Reed and Mary Norwood. Already long known for intense political activism, Atlanta&#39;s LGBT community has been newly energized by the events of the last year. Barack Obama&#39;s presidential campaign helped awaken LGBT progressives,
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    </description>
    <category>News &amp;amp; Views/News Feature</category>
    <pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com">Creative Loafing Atlanta</source>
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    <title>Has the Obama administration made any progress toward Palestinian-Israeli peace?</title>
    <link>http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/has_the_obama_administration_made_any_progress_toward_palestinian_israeli_peace_/Content?oid=1168226</link>
    <description>
      <![CDATA[
       
      
        By Andisheh Nouraee
      
      
      Hoping for peace between Israel and Palestine is like hoping bacon triple cheeseburgers were healthy, your pet dog could live forever, and senior Bush administration officials were put on trial for torturing prisoners. Just because it would be nice doesn&rsquo;t make it any less fantastical.Still, every few years, we seem to get our hopes up that peace is around the corner &mdash; just a grip and grin on the White House lawn away.Remember the 1978 Carter-brokered Camp David Accords? It
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    </description>
    <category>News &amp;amp; Views/Don&amp;#39;t Panic!... Your war questions answered</category>
    <pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com">Creative Loafing Atlanta</source>
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    <title>11 Least Influential 2009</title>
    <link>http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/11_least_influential_2009/Content?oid=1177351</link>
    <description>
      <![CDATA[
      
        <i>CL</i>'s annual ode to abject failure, well-intentioned impotence and overall futility...
       
      
        By CL staff
      
      
      In a year marked by national letdowns of such magnitude as mounting unemployment, rising foreclosures and the inexplicable popularity of &quot;The Real Housewives of Atlanta,&quot; it makes sense to recognize some of our local shortcomings, big and small. From an oft-ignored police chief to under-performing pizza, piss-poor public PR to a plague of football interceptions, Atlantans have tried &ndash; and failed &ndash; along with the best of them....
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    </description>
    <category>News &amp;amp; Views/11 Least Influential</category>
    <pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com">Creative Loafing Atlanta</source>
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    <title>No. 1 &amp;#151; Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington: Can&amp;#39;t convince residents that crime is down</title>
    <link>http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/no_1_atlanta_police_chief_richard_pennington_can_t_convince_residents_that_crime_is_down/Content?oid=1177353</link>
    <description>
      <![CDATA[
      
        Nobody's listening to what Richard Pennington is saying....
       
      
        By Mara Shalhoup
      
      
      Poor RP. Judging by the public&#39;s reaction, Richard Pennington&#39;s word is, at the end of the day, worthless. No matter how many statistics he cites, no matter how many charts and graphs his department pulls together, no matter how many bunnies he pulls from his shiny cap, the embattled chief simply can&#39;t make the city&#39;s citizens believe they&#39;re safe. The fear persists despite a 50 percent drop in homicides over a six-year period. Overall violent crime is down, too. So
      ]]>
    </description>
    <category>News &amp;amp; Views/11 Least Influential</category>
    <pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com">Creative Loafing Atlanta</source>
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    <title>No. 2 &amp;#151; Pastor Billy Ball: Can&amp;#39;t stop homosexuality</title>
    <link>http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/no_2_pastor_billy_ball_can_t_stop_homosexuality/Content?oid=1177355</link>
    <description>
      <![CDATA[
      
        Despite a strategic messaging campaign, Billy Ball isn't connecting with gay Atlantans....
       
      
        By Thomas Wheatley
      
      
      Once a year, Billy Ball and several God-fearing men venture to Midtown Atlanta to spread the good word. Inflammatory signs in hand, the men stand at 10th Street and Piedmont Drive and try to communicate with pedestrians and motorists in the gay-friendly neighborhood. During Pride weekend, they warned gay festival-goers that their three options are hell, AIDS or salvation. And for some reason, people ignore him, argue with him, or as Ball claims one did on Oct. 31, spit on
      ]]>
    </description>
    <category>News &amp;amp; Views/11 Least Influential</category>
    <pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com">Creative Loafing Atlanta</source>
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    <title>No. 3 &amp;#151; Brand Atlanta: Can&amp;#39;t effectively market the city</title>
    <link>http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/no_3_brand_atlanta_can_t_effectively_market_the_city/Content?oid=1177358</link>
    <description>
      <![CDATA[
      
        Brand Atlanta fails to sell the A-T-L....
       
      
        By Bobby Feingold
      
      
      After spending nearly three years and $20 million on various PR campaigns, Mayor Shirley Franklin&#39;s attempt to market the city has failed to convince tourists &ndash; or even locals &ndash; to change the way they view Atlanta. Except maybe with embarrassment. The launch of Brand Atlanta in late 2005 included a new city logo, slogan and theme song produced by Dallas Austin. Austin&#39;s track &quot;The A-T-L&quot; contained such lyrics as: They say Atlanta is where you go to become your
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    </description>
    <category>News &amp;amp; Views/11 Least Influential</category>
    <pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com">Creative Loafing Atlanta</source>
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    <title>No. 4 &amp;#151; Jeff Varasano: Can&amp;#39;t convince the city his pizza is the best</title>
    <link>http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/no_4_jeff_varasano_can_t_convince_the_city_his_pizza_is_the_best/Content?oid=1177360</link>
    <description>
      <![CDATA[
      
        Though tasty, Varasano's pies haven't staked a claim as Atlanta's finest....
       
      
        By Mara Shalhoup
      
      
      Perhaps it was the early inconsistencies of the pies. Or maybe the intense char of the crust just doesn&#39;t work for everyone. The initial, crazy hype could be to blame, too. Who knows &ndash; it could even be that the public was put off by the restaurateur&#39;s apparent arrogance. Whatever the case, one thing&#39;s clear: Jeff Varasano&#39;s pizzas, no matter how delicious they are, have not been met with universal adoration. The under-performance of a still-pretty-good pie wouldn&#39;t be such
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    </description>
    <category>News &amp;amp; Views/11 Least Influential</category>
    <pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com">Creative Loafing Atlanta</source>
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    <title>No. 5 &amp;#151; Midtown neighborhood activists: Can&amp;#39;t stop nightclub from pouring booze</title>
    <link>http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/no_5_midtown_neighborhood_activists_can_t_stop_nightclub_from_pouring_booze/Content?oid=1177362</link>
    <description>
      <![CDATA[
      
        Though big and powerful, the Midtown Neighbors' Association has no game when it comes to the Gidewon brothers....
       
      
        By Scott Henry
      
      
      One of Atlanta&#39;s best-organized homeowner groups, the Midtown Neighbors&#39; Association, is not shy about using its clout to affect public policy. While smaller, the Midtown Ponce Security Alliance clearly punches above its weight when it comes to public safety issues. Imagine the influence these groups could wield, especially if backed by a long roster of CEOs, senior partners and all-around muckety-mucks representing a who&#39;s who of Midtown&#39;s business interests and property owners, including developer Stephen Selig, Cousins CEO Larry Gellerstedt
      ]]>
    </description>
    <category>News &amp;amp; Views/11 Least Influential</category>
    <pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com">Creative Loafing Atlanta</source>
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    <title>No. 6 &amp;#151; UGA quarterback Joe Cox: Can&amp;#39;t maximize his team&amp;#39;s penetration</title>
    <link>http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/no_6_uga_quarterback_joe_cox_can_t_maximize_his_team_s_penetration/Content?oid=1177365</link>
    <description>
      <![CDATA[
      
        Joe Cox hasn't been able to hit his mark....
       
      
        By Debbie Michaud
      
      
      Sparks flew when the UGA Athletic Association and Joe Cox first met. She was an SEC darling and he was a red-hot high school football star. A top-10 All-American quarterback at Independence High School in Charlotte, Cox&#39;s substantial package included a 31-0 record as starting QB, a North Carolina state record of 66 touchdown passes, and a 2005 Sports Illustrated &quot;Faces in the Crowd&quot; nod. The Dawgs redshirted Cox for the 2005 season, the year quarterback D.J. Shockley emerged from
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    </description>
    <category>News &amp;amp; Views/11 Least Influential</category>
    <pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com">Creative Loafing Atlanta</source>
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    <title>Why is the political settlement in Honduras a big win for Americans?</title>
    <link>http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/why_is_the_political_settlement_in_honduras_a_big_win_for_americans_/Content?oid=1153462</link>
    <description>
      <![CDATA[
      
        It’s harder to justify your existence as a bulwark against U.S. bullying when the U.S. has quit acting like a bully...
       
      
        By Andisheh Nouraee
      
      
      &ldquo;The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples ...&quot;&mdash; Norwegian Nobel Committee, Oct. 9, 2009The Nobel Peace Prize is kinda like the Grammy Awards. They must be approached with skepticism.On rare occasions, the picks are great. In 1973, the Grammy for Album of the Year &mdash; Stevie Wonder&rsquo;s Innervisions &mdash; was spot-on. As a matter
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    </description>
    <category>News &amp;amp; Views/Don&amp;#39;t Panic!... Your war questions answered</category>
    <pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com">Creative Loafing Atlanta</source>
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    <title>Bettie Southern, septuagenarian Harley enthusiast</title>
    <link>http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/bettie_southern_septuagenarian_harley_enthusiast/Content?oid=1166759</link>
    <description>
      <![CDATA[
      
        ‘It’s freeing. You’ve got the wind in your face, and you just go.’...
       
      
        By Kelli Goldman
      
      
      Bettie Southern is a 75-year-old Georgia peach who has been riding Harley Davidsons for over 20 years. She is the treasurer of Marietta&rsquo;s Harley Owners Group. I grew up in Cobb County Georgia. I&rsquo;m a Georgia peach from beginning to end. I&rsquo;m not going anywhere. I&rsquo;m an only child, so you can imagine I was a little bit spoiled. But back in those days, nobody had anything, so you didn&rsquo;t miss it. I was born in Clarkdale, between Austell and
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    </description>
    <category>News &amp;amp; Views/First Person</category>
    <pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:00:00 MST</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com">Creative Loafing Atlanta</source>
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    <title>Who won Afghanistan&amp;#39;s election?</title>
    <link>http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/who_won_afghanistan_s_election_/Content?oid=1139369</link>
    <description>
      <![CDATA[
       
      
        By Andisheh Nouraee
      
      
      Who won?Nobody won. Lots of people lost, though.Including me. In August, I wrote two whole columns about the Afghanistan election; in the process, depleting my once vast stockpile of Afghanistan-related jokes, puns and nutty fun facts.Now there&rsquo;s going to be a runoff election because stupid President Hamid Karzai and his cronies are so incompetent, they couldn&rsquo;t even rig an election properly. But what can I say about it now? I&rsquo;m stumped. I can talk about the election some more, but
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    </description>
    <category>News &amp;amp; Views/Don&amp;#39;t Panic!... Your war questions answered</category>
    <pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:00:00 MST</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com">Creative Loafing Atlanta</source>
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    <title>The straight guide to Pride</title>
    <link>http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/the_straight_guide_to_pride/Content?oid=1148729</link>
    <description>
      <![CDATA[
      
        A hetero how-to for embracing your inner queer...
       
      
      
      Ever wonder why the city&rsquo;s gays seem to be having a much better time than you? Are you eager to break away from your fellow breeders and join the enviable bacchanalia? You&rsquo;re in luck, our hetero friend. Whether you&rsquo;re open-minded, slightly curious or a politically correct prude, we&rsquo;ve compiled a selection of some of Atlanta&rsquo;s must-see hangouts, hot spots and holes-in- the-wall (not that kind) for you straights to explore during this weekend&rsquo;s 2009 Atlanta Pride Festival. By no means
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    </description>
    <category>News &amp;amp; Views/Cover Story</category>
    <pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:00:00 MST</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com">Creative Loafing Atlanta</source>
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    <title>The queen&amp;#39;s English</title>
    <link>http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/the_queen_s_english/Content?oid=1148735</link>
    <description>
      <![CDATA[
      
        A gay glossary for straight folks...
       
      
        By Scott Henry
      
      
      Baby dyke -- Inexperienced young lesbian Banana hammock -- Tight thong designed to show off man-junk. Synonym for &quot;posing pouch.&quot; Bear -- Beefy, hirsute gay man Beard -- Opposite-sex friend who poses as a gay person&#39;s date Boi -- Boyish lesbian or immature young gay man Bottom -- The partner who prefers to, um, catch. Opposite of &quot;top.&quot; Breeders -- Derogatory gay term for heteros Brokeback Mountain -- The film that should&#39;ve won the 2005 Oscar for Best Picture, dammit!
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    </description>
    <category>News &amp;amp; Views/Cover Story</category>
    <pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:00:00 MST</pubDate> 
    <source url="http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com">Creative Loafing Atlanta</source>
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