'The Dictator' Kicks Sand in Face of Political Correctness

Funnyman Sasha Baron Cohen is at it again, this time as a flashy, offensive Middle Eastern dictator who comes to the U.S.

From the guy who brought us Ali G and Borat comes a new character named General Aladeen - a ruthless dictator from a fictional country in North Africa who is part buffoon, horn dog and ruthless bloodthirsty ruler in "The Dictator." Through a ridiculous set of circumstances, that I will spare you the details because they are so contrived, Aladeen ends up in New York while his even sillier double is in charge of his country. There are plenty of cameo appearances from big stars to keep things interesting. As for the element of political satire we get a pretty heavy-handed lecture that borders on being a bit corny. The Dictator, like so many other characters by Cohen, is offensive but somehow there is a certain likeability to him. "The …

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Will the USPS Survive the Digital Age?

Radio airwaves might still be used, but there is a reason why it is said that "video killed the radio." Will the U.S. Postal Service go the same way in the digital age?

This past week, the U.S. Postal Service announced a new strategy to keep the nations smallest post offices open. The new plan, to be implemented over a two-year period, is expected to save half a billion dollars annually and put the USPS back on a positive track. The agency has been losing money rapidly and suggestions to save it have varied from closing some post offices to cutting hours. According to a press release, the latest strategy would keep existing post offices in place, but would modify window hours to match customer use. Access to the retail lobby and PO boxes would remain the same, as would the town’s zip code. “Meeting the needs of postal customers is, and will always be, a top priority. We continue to balance that by better …

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Parent Says Call for Charter Vote Today Shows Contempt

The North Fulton resident asks taxpayers to vote for local school board members who are pro-taxpayer and pro-educational freedom.

"In a stunning show of power the State Charter Board using a little known and surprising procedural maneuver moved up the vote on FSA Middle School from June 14th  to today. State School Board members stated that if FSA Middle School were granted a charter it would set a negative precedent for the education system and therefore it is believed that they will likely vote to deny a charter to FSA Middle School tomorrow. This was clearly a win for State and local educational bureaucrats who wish to deny parents of Georgia Educational freedom.  It was clearly a show of power that while the Governor and Elected officials may support educational freedom  --- the education system does not. It shows the contempt that entrenched educational …

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Steve Rose Explains Flex Lanes Coming to Ga. 400, Next Week

A change is coming for North Fulton commuters, says Sandy Springs Police Spokesman Steve Rose. Even though you hear the blaring siren of the emergency vehicle coming up on you, don’t freak out.

Okay, here’s the thing. I know that you’re already saying to yourself “Driving on Ga. 400 couldn’t get much more fun than it is.” Well, it’s going to. Yes. The new reality show called “Flex Lanes” is coming to 400 on May 14. For those of you who are not familiar, let me explain: The following was proposed and put into play by Governor Nathan Deal: Beginning on May 14, a Monday, the southbound lanes from Holcomb Bridge Road south to the North Springs MARTA Station will include the lane, formerly known as the emergency lane, now called the Flex Lane.  The emergency lane is that lane all the way to the right which has been in the past, used for emergencies and those wanting to exit onto Northridge from 400 southbound and occasionally, those …

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Marvel's 'The Avengers' is AMAZING!

A superhero all-star movie featuring Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and the Hulk makes a smash in theaters this weekend.

The summer movie season starts early and this could be the biggest movie of the year. It is one of the most entertaining comic book blockbusters ever made -- Marvel's "The Avengers." Robert Downey Jr. is Iron Man; Captain America is Chris Evans; Thor is Chris Hemsworth, and The Hulk is Mark Ruffalo. The team is assembled thanks to Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury character. They need to stop a diabolical bad guy who, you guessed it, wants to rule the world. But they spend nearly as much time battling each other as they do battling evil. What's great about this film is the sense of humor it has without disrespecting the characters or the fans who have been waiting forever for this superhero mash-up. All the main characters get plenty of screen…

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Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: 'Remove Metal Detectors at Roswell City Hall'

Roswell resident Jake Lilley gives his take on why the city should remove the metal detectors recently placed at the entrance to city hall.

"On Thursday, April 26, the city of Roswell installed metal detectors at the southern entrance of Roswell City Hall. All visitors must pass through these metal detectors and submit to police inspection before gaining access to the building. The 600 or so city employees and elected officials who enter the building each day are not required to be screened. On Tuesday, May 15, city council will [discuss] whether or not to make the new security measures permanent [at a committee meeting]. I was out of town when the new security measures were implemented. I wanted to get a first hand look at the new procedures, so I visited Roswell City Hall on the afternoon of Monday, April 30. What I saw was quite a spectacle - orange barricades, roped-off …

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'The Pirates! Band of Misfits' A Treasure Trove of Fun

A ship full of bumbling Pirates take us on a 3D Claymation animation trip worth the voyage.

A below average pirate captain (voiced by Hugh Grant) seeks to win the elusive "Pirate of the Year" award, but faces some strong competition in "The Pirates! Band of Misfits." From the folks who brought us Wallace and Gromit, the story is feather-light but strong enough to introduce the characters and establish their conflicts, which are pretty predictable. It's more of a comedy than an adventure, appealing to both children and adults. Such a film should be a crowd pleaser at the box office. Audiences love pirate movies. Toss in some quirky characters -- like a twisted Queen Victoria and Charles Darwin -- and you have an evolutionary success. The film is an enjoyable 90 minutes. The voice casting was mostly on merit and not on stunt …

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POLL: Youth Sports Gear Too Expensive?

A NY Times article explores the era of the $250 baseball bat.

Have you bought a baseball glove for your Little Leaguer lately? Did you pay more than $100 for it? How about a $250 bat? A New York Times story headlined "Big Price Tags Attached to Even the Littlest Leagues," looks at the big business of equipping youngsters for participation in youth baseball and softball leagues, quoting those costs and more. "A batting helmet protects tiny heads for $39.99," the Times reports. "A pair of Nike Jordan Black Cat cleats will make your child fast and fashionable at $51.99 until he or she outgrows them." Roswell residents might be able to find a break at a used-equipment store like Play It Again Sports, Roswell Patch's Readers' Choice winner for Best Sporting Goods Store, but you will plunk down more …

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'The Lucky One' Has Plenty of Heart

Teen heartthrob Zac Efron breaks out in his first real adult role as a war veteran who has come home looking for love in a romantic melodrama that is worth the price of admission.

Zac Efron plays Logan, an Afghanistan war veteran on his third tour, who comes across a picture of a woman who inspires him to search for her, stateside, in "The Lucky One." His search lands him at a kennel in Louisiana owned by Beth (Taylor Schilling) and her grandmother, Ellie (Blythe Danner). He gets a job there and, over a period of time, settles in, still not telling anyone his real reason for being there. As you might imagine, sparks start to fly. "The Lucky One" is a Nicholas Sparks movie. He's good at this kind of thing, writing books that turned into movies like "Message in a Bottle," "Nights in Rodanthe" and "The Notebook." This film, in my opinion, is one of his better stories. And, with an attractive young cast, it should be …

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Speak Out: How Should Roswell Deal with Growing Coyote Problem?

After a local family's dog was mauled over the weekend, locals are debating what should be done about the growing coyote population in our area?

A weekend coyote attack of a Shadowbrook Drive family's dog has many worried about the possibility of a attacks on children. According to reports by Channel 2 Action News, the mid-sized dog was attacked just shortly after its owners let her out of the house Saturday evening. The owner told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that the local coyote population had increased over the six years he's lived in Roswell and he's worried for the safety of his three-year-old daughter now. Because of favorable conditions throughout the metro area, the local coyote population has continued to grow, stirring up the debate about whether or not trapping should be used regularly. However, the Atlanta Wild Animal Rescue Effort, maintains that there are more …

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