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Earl
North Carolina Evacuates Island
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Outer Bands Brushing Coast
While some meteoroligists are predicting that Earl will
turn north and avoid the Carolina coast, authorities
in North Carolina aren`t taking any chances. Neither
are tourists who have largely left North Carolina`s
Outer Banks.
The storm has strengthened in the last 12 hours, regaining its
Category 4 status.
A hurricane watch is in effect for part of the coast.
Unsettled weather associated with Earl will begin to impact
the North Carolina coast on Thursday, continuing into Friday.
Gusty winds and dangerous surf are expected based on the
current forecast track of Earl (see below).
The storm could be both dangerous and destructive if
it jogs slightly to the west while it might be just
annoying if it stays further off-shore.
The storm`s turn north should limit its impact on
the Georgia coast to rough waters and possible
rip tides.
It is expected that after hitting North Carolina Thursday,
Earl will pound both Cape Cod and Nantucket as it passes
roughly 100 miles off the New England coast Friday night.
It is expected weaken to Category 2 status by that time.
Waves will build along the mid-Atlantic and New England
coast through the end of the week, eventually reaching
heights of 8 to 12 feet from Delaware to New Jersey on Friday.
Earl - Projected Path
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- Ga. Events Mark 10th Anni. of Wildlife Grants
- From monitoring swallow-tailed kites along the coast to surveying rare fishes in highland rivers, the
federal State Wildlife Grants Program has funded wildlife conservation
across Georgia since 2000. Yet most Georgians never knew it.
Next week, the state Department of Natural Resources will celebrate the
10-year anniversary of State Wildlife Grants with events highlighting
wildlife stories and successes the grants helped make possible.
- ALEC: Georgia 27th for education
- The American Legislative Exchange Council has listed Georgia
27th among the states in terms of education.
The report, `Report Card on American Education: K-12 State
Performance, Progress, and Rerform` ranks states based on student
performance and their corresponding improvements on the fourth-
and eighth-grade reading and mathematics National Assessment of
Educational Progress, which are nationally administered exams,
from 2003 to 2009.
- Ga. Banks Improve, but Still Post $694M Loss
- According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., banks in
Georgia posted an 11 percent improvement in earnings during
the second quarter. The state`s banks, however, had a collective
net loss of $694.1 million, compared to a net loss of $785.2 million
during the same quarter in 2009.
- Kia Ga. to Add New Car, Jobs
- West Point`s Kia plant will soon add another car to its factory.
Kida Motors Manufacturing Georgia announced that it will start
building the 2011 Hyundai SUV this fall. According to Gov.
Sonny Perdue`s offfice, Santa Fe production will move from the
Hyundai plant in Montgomery, Ala., to the Georgia plant.
The move will be a big job boost for Georgia. Media reports the
production shift will up the number of workers at the Kia plant
and related nearby supplier plants from about 2,000 to 7,000
- Atlanta Home Prices Rise 2%
- According to a report by Standard & Poor`s Case/Shiller, Metro
Atlanta`s house prices showed improvement in June. Prices were
up 2 percent from June 2009 to June 2010. Prices in June also
were up 1.7 percent from May. The improvements are likely a
residual effect of the federal home buyer tax credits worth up
to $8,000 that expired April 30.
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News - Entertainment
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The Entertainment Guru - Movie Review
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I, the Entertainment Guru, thinks that `The Last Exorcism` is a
gem in the rocky ground of recent American studio genre pictures.
It’s a slow-building, character-based story filled with
atmosphere, spookiness and actual dread. Building on the concept
of a documentary team following a preacher on `one last exorcism`,
it adds music and sound effects to increase tension to move
towards an ending that is both unexpected and foreshadowed.
If it didn’t quite go where I wanted it to after the halfway
mark and even if it occasionally pulls you out of the movie by
breaking its single camera rules, this is certainly one of the
best of the American horrors released in the last few years.
Preacher Cotton Marcus is a charismatic man who has been
preaching to the converted since he was a young boy. He has easy
charm and an even easier smile that helps win his audience over
while he sermonizes, prays, heals and exorcises. The film really
allows us to spend a good chunk of time with Cotton and his
family before they hit the road to a small Louisiana town to
find poor possessed young Nell.
The film continues with its strengths here. Nell (Ashley Bell),
her father (Louis Herthum), her brother (Caled Landry Jones) and
Cotton (Patrick Fabian) are all given space to create real
characters with motivations and personalities before things
start to go all haywire.
If I had one issue with the film it’s that it didn’t continue to
do what it was doing best, provide spooky moments. Don’t get me
wrong, it’s a fully satisfying film, but since it handled some
early eerie scenes so well, I had really wanted more. They were
there for sure, but since I’ve been a bit starved of that kind of
quality spookiness of late, I was feeling greedy. In essence, my
one complaint against the film is actually a compliment. Nell’s
transformations, her sudden appearances in shadowed hallways and
behind windows, and the variety of noises emanating from her
room all meshed together to form an extremely unsettling
experience. Even the fact that there would have to have been two
cameras filming several of these scenes can’t take away from the
film (though it does pull you out for a few seconds when you
notice it) since the filmmakers have gone to great lengths to
create a story and characters you care about, so that you really
feel the effects of what slowly happens around them. And that’s
scary.
8 out of 10 popcorns
Now Showing at the Movies at Mount Berry Square
- Friday 4:45 | 7:30 | 9:30
- Saturday - Sunday 1:30 | 3:30 | 5:30 | 7:30 | 9:30
- Monday - Thursday 4:45 | 7:30 | 9:30
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The Madd Man - Mark Miller
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OK now, everybody sing along. `It`s the most wonderful time of
the year.`
That`s right. College football starts this week. The wait is
over.
I will be parked in front of my television Thursday night with
cold beer and hot nachos to catch the opening kick of the South
Carolina-Southern Mississippi game and pulling for the Ole Ball
Coach. After that? Let the marathon begin.
Most of the major questions and predictions have been analyzed to
death for the last two months on television and radio. So, I
think we should look at some more obscure items of the upcoming
college football season.
How many times will we have to hear about Bobby Bowden even
though he isn`t even coaching anymore? My guess, too many.
How many times will we hear about Tim Tebow even though he isn`t
playing college football anymore? Again, too many. I am as big a
Tebow fan as anyone, but it is time to move on.
It should be real interesting to see what kind of reception
Colorado and Nebraska get in their Big 12 road games after
announcing that they are bailing on the conference at the end of
the year (well two years for Colorado).
If Notre Dame loses five or more games this season, who will they
blame?
If USC loses three or four games this season, will they blame
Lord Carroll or Krazy Kiffen?
Can Tennessee win five games while Derrick Dooley tries to clean
up the mess Kiffen left behind? Probably not.
Who will win the Big East? More importantly, does anyone care?
Is this the year that FSU and Miami actually return to prominence
like the experts predict? I`m not sure that either will even win
the ACC, and that accomplishment is a long way from prominence.
What happens if Boise State loses to Virginia Tech in their
opener? Does it move the Broncos back to square one on the
championship trail? I think it does. Do not pass GO, do not
collect $200.00.
Will Desmond Howard actually have one of his predictions come
true this season? It has to happen eventually, but probably not
this year.
I`ve been hearing radio ads for something called
SmartestBulldog.com. Isn`t that kind of like TallestMidget.com?
There, now you have plenty of new things to ponder this week to
help the time crawl past. It will be kickoff before you know it.
May your team make you proud. Except when they play my team, of
course. I love this time of year. Don`t you?
Mark Miller
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- Destination Dome: Hawks set to take on Georgia St.
- `It`s just another game.` So goes one of the most common clichés
used by athletes and coaches when asked to discuss the build up
towards important contests. Although it may be true that Shorter
University`s gridiron battle with Georgia State University
today means little in terms of conference standings and
championship implications, it isn`t difficult to sense the
heightened levels of anticipation from both camps.
- Hanson Finally Gets a Win
- It took Tommy Hanson two months to get a win (4-1 over the
Mets) despite allowing just 11 earned runs in eight games
during that stretch.
- Power Show Off
- Chris Masters lost his tenth game of the season as the
West Virginia Power `powered` past the Braves 12-4 on
Wednesday.
- NASCAR - Drives Can Wrap Up Chase in Atlanta
- Most of the NASCAR drivers trying to get into the Chase can wrap up
at spot in Sunday`s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Kyle
Busch is virtually guaranteed a sport while everyone
from Carl Edwards to Jimmy Johnson just need a good finish.
- Hawks Football Takes Flight Thursday
- Being part of a team`s inaugural game in an inaugural season is
something few get to experience. On Thursday night, Shorter
University`s five graduate assistant football coaches will
experience an even more rare opportunity.
Jackson Abercrombie, Matt Atchley, Caleb Carmean, Bud Keith and
Dennis Stanley, who were teammates and members of the Hawks`
first-ever football team in 2005, are part of another first-time
event - working the sidelines when the Hawks head to the Georgia
Dome in Atlanta to take on Georgia State University in its
inaugural gridiron contest.
Click for more.
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News - Business
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Credit Scores - Things to Know When you Want a Credit Card
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As with any loan, applying for a credit card involves
preparation, especially if your credit history is less than
sparkling. But a few activities, some of them not obvious, can
hurt your chances of getting approved for that new plastic.
If you`re looking for a card, the best thing you can do to
increase your chances is to pull your credit report, review it
for accuracy and analyze the data to make sure you`re in the
best possible financial standing.
The worst moves you can make to spoil your chances of getting a
credit card? Lenders and financial counselors offered these top 5.
- 1: Letting Your Credit Score Slip With increasing legal constraints on the lending industry and a
surge in consumers with money woes, many credit card companies
no longer offer credit to low-score applicants. You may be
denied a credit card based on your score. Stuck with a low score? Consider applying for a secured credit
card, which requires cash collateral, to help you build your
score in the meantime.
- 2: Applying for a Lot of Credit Cards or Loans:
Multiple inquiries into your credit report make up 10 percent of
your score. A small amount of deal shopping is no big problem. Scoring
models understand that those looking for a credit card -- like
those looking for a mortgage or an auto loan -- will often
consider several different lenders within a certain window of
time. So, how many is too many? At five or six, you start getting into red-flag territory
- 3: 3. Using Too Much Credit: Your credit utilization ratio accounts for 30
percent of your credit score. If you`re hovering near the max on
your accounts, you`re considered a high risk to credit card
companies. If you have a credit card with a limit of $10,000, and you owe
$3,500 on it, that`s a 35 percent utilization. Anything over 35
percent is considered high and can impact credit scores, and
thereby decrease your chances of getting another card.
- 4. Missing a Payment: Paying on time
accounts for the biggest chunk of your credit score, weighing
in at 35 percent. Paying bills on time for as little
as one month can raise a modest credit score by 20 points.
- 5. Changing Jobs Too Many Times:
Depending on the company, card issuers may
question your income stability if you`re constantly moving around.
Your employment history likely won`t have much of an impact on
your credit card application, since most applications are
processed electronically using calculations based on your credit
score alone. However, more than two or three changes within a
year or two might send up a red flag to some credit card
issuers.
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News - Health
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4 Ways - to Take Age off Your Eyes
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When should you start using eye cream? Home to the thinnest skin
on your body, the eye area starts to show signs of wear and tear
by your 20s. Overtime in the office, that extra glass of wine,
and even smiling all conspire to speed up the aging process. The
eyes are also the first place people look on your face. But
before you start avoiding everyone`s gaze, try these eye-opening
solutions.
- 1. COUNTING CROWS: Wearing sunglasses prevents
squinting. Sunscreen will also help, but the reason that you
suddenly start to see fine lines in your late 20s and early 30s
happens under your skin. Once your body starts to decrease the
amount of sebum it produces, you need to moisturize to keep the
outermost keratin layer, our natural sun protection factor, intact.
If you allow your skin to dry out, it will get more sun damage.
If you already have noticeable crow`s-feet, vitamin A-derived
retinols can help smooth them out by boosting collagen production
in the area.
- 2. BAGGAGE HANDLING: The biggest reason for puffiness
around the eyes is allergies. And rubbing
will only thicken the skin and cause darkening, especially in
pale complexions. If you`re past your early 30s and have tried the antiallergy
approach without success, your heavy baggage could be caused by
gravity, not the change in seasons.
- 3. BRIGHT IDEA: There are typically two causes of dark
circles: an actual darkening of the skin due to genetics and sun
damage, or shadows created from sunken valleys above the
cheekbones. For both problems inject fat or Restylane to plump
the hollowness. Brightening formulas can also even the overall skin tone but must
be combined with daily sunscreen use to prevent further darkening.
- 4. TOP SHELF
As collagen thins and skin loses elasticity, the upper eyelids
can droop, creating `hooding.` While applying creams to the upper lids was once a no-no, new formulas
specifically target this sagging area, tightening with caffeine
or promoting collagen production with peptides. However, if
you`re prone to dry skin, watch out for caffeine-based
creams because they dehydrate in order to de-puff and firm.
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- Coming Soon
- First Friday Concert
- Rome`s First Friday concert is held at Bridgepoint Plaza in historic downtown Rome September 3 from 7-10pm.
- 1st Saturday Antique Auction
- The 1st Saturday Night Antique Auction is held Saturday, September 4, from 5:30-9:00pm on Main Street in Downtown Centre, AL.
- Recital at Calhoun First United Methodist Church
- Virtuoso pianist Adam Burnette and internationally acclaimed singer Sylvia McNair present a recital Sunday, September 5, at 3pm at the sanctuary of Calhoun First United Methodist Church.
- Pioneer Days
- Sam Smith Park at Milam Farm in Cartersville hosts Pioneer Days Friday, September 3 through Monday, September 6.
- Square Dance Classes
- The Western Promenaders offer Square Dance lessons beginning Tuesday, September 7, from 7 to 9pm on Woods Road in Rome.
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