GwinnettForum | Number 23.96 | Dec. 10, 2024
NEW ADDITION: The Braselton Visitor’s Bureau Authority announces the opening of The Mill, the town’s new welcome center, retail market and future museum. Housed in the beautifully restored Enterprise Roller Mill building in the heart of historic downtown Braselton, The Mill invites visitors to experience a unique blend of history, hospitality and local charm. Open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday, The Mill serves as a gateway to discovering Braselton’s rich heritage and vibrant community. The retail market offers a curated selection of Braselton-branded items, apparel, souvenirs and local artwork. Located just a block from Braselton Town Green at 16 Frances Street.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Shiftless complain and grumble, and jealousy grows
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Remembering Marshall Brain of How Stuff Works
SPOTLIGHT: Comet National Shipping
ANOTHER VIEW: Considering what could happen in next four years
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
UPCOMING: Andersonville site plans wreath ceremony Dec. 14
NOTABLE: Deadline approaches for Washington Youth Tour
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Two state schools offer degrees in astronomy
MYSTERY PHOTO: Where is this old-fashioned obelisk?
CALENDAR: Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra concerts are Dec. 14
Shiftless complain and grumble, and jealousy grows
By Ashley Herndon
OCEANSIDE, Calif. | Here’s a short story, but one that has been around for decades.
Herndon
Back in 1984 in my sales and management training days, I had two back-to-back week-long training seminars in Tulsa, Okla. I elected to stay over the weekend since with all the travel, I would have only had one day at home back in Tallahassee.
The Sheraton, where I was staying and holding the seminars, was only a couple of years old, still looking brand spanking new. As hotels do, they alternated the weekend manager on duty among the department heads.
The guy on duty that weekend was normally manager of all food operations, (and an accomplished chef in his own right. He had been there since the hotel opened. He left a good position in Southern California to head up this outstanding new facility. He made sure that there was great food and five-star service. (He was a native of Hungary who worked his way up from no job to this, an executive position.)
He and I were well-acquainted, as I often held a lot of meetings and seminars there. As a personal treat, that Saturday night he served me a special dinner. And it was fabulous! I congratulated him on the quality of service, which was better than most “grand” hotels in the nation in that day.
While we were visiting and sharing work/war stories, he advised that his hardest task was finding people who “wanted to work” in the services he oversaw. He said it was so bad he was bringing in workers, natives of Hispanic countries south of the border, from southern California, where he had contacts, because the local “natives” would not take the starting jobs. Or, if they did, they simply would not work as well or as hard as the “immigrant” from California.
Imagine that these “proud to be an American” people (unemployed or underemployed) were not willing to work at good paying jobs with an international firm…locally, that offered the opportunity to grow. Hmmmm.
Jack Bernard in the GwinnettForum Dec. 3, 2024, spoke to this and said it all. “Immigrants are employed in the jobs native-born Americans do not want. However, the GOP has been very successful in incorrectly portraying them as criminals and economic drains. In reality, immigrants have a much lower crime rate and higher employment rates.”
His comment shows that matters have not changed much in these 40 years.
So, be careful what you wish for and vote for, like so many just did, who voted against people who want to work, keeping them out of the nation that immigrants built. What a grand idea.
Let the shiftless complain and grumble while believing lies, and watch jealousy against those willing to work grow.
It’s fact versus fantasy. Geeez!
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Remembering Marshall Brain of How Stuff Works
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
DEC. 10, 2024 | Every now and then, someone comes along who understands matters better than others. One recently came our way who was raised in Atlanta, and simplified complex issues in a manner most of us lesser mortals could understand.
Many people were influenced by this person who died recently. He became world-renowned for his ability to explain complicated matters.
He was Marshall Brain, 63, of Cary, N.C., who was on the faculty at North Carolina State University. He is best known for creating in 1998 the site, How Stuff Works, though he accomplished much more.
Marshall was born in Santa Monica, Calif., where his father worked on NASA’s lunar lander. Later the family moved to Atlanta, and his father helped engineer the MARTA system. Marshall’s life’s interest was influenced by his father’s engineering.
Brain was a graduate from high school in Atlanta (Marist), then got his bachelor’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., before getting a Master of Science degree from North Carolina State. He joined the NC State science faculty in 1986.
Brain
At first, explaining complex matters was his hobby. He founded the web site How Stuff Works in 1998 with his wife with the mission to make complex topics accessible to everyone. The site went through several rounds of venture funding totaling $8 million. It soon became not only a national, but international phenomenon. Thousands of people, many students, went to the site to understand matters. The site was acquired by Discovery Communications in 2007 for $250 million.
Check out How Stuff Works today for a plethora of topics. It has expanded to include explanations on science, tech, home and garden, auto, culture. Among specific topics:
- Why do we have middle names?
- Why is 9/10th added to gas prices?
- Why we “touch base’ at work and in baseball?
- You are probably petting your cat all wrong.
- The mystique of the horseshoe.
- And so many more.
Marshall Brain was always curious his entire life. In the midst of confusion and activity, he was continually jotting down notes to remember ideas. And he had a prodigious body of work, all the more remarkable since he never learned to type, but speedily used his two index fingers to tackle a keyboard.
He continued to expand his horizons. On television, he hosted Factory Floor with Marshall Brain, and Who Knew? with Marshall Brain on the National Geographic Channel. He was also a favorite on Oprah, Good Morning America, Dr. Oz Show and Modern Marvels.
He authored many books. One we particularly like is simply called The Engineering Book, which stays by my easy chair for easy reference. Like his other works, it is simplified, using one page (plus one page facing picture) to explain the marvels of engineering over the centuries. The topics in the 528-page book roam from explaining the Venice flood system, brain replication, parafoil, refrigeration, the Great Wall of China, and the bow and arrow principle. Each subject is a one page explanation! That was his manner. Keep it simple.
- You can find his obituary at this link.
Marshall Brain: 1961-2024: May you rest in peace.
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Comet National Shipping
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today’s sponsor is Comet National Shipping. If you have trucking needs, why pay for a WHOLE flatbed or covered truck, when all you need is half the space? Comet National Shipping of Lilburn can provide you with the transportation, packing, and warehousing solutions that will keep your costs reasonable and suited to your company’s needs. With more than 26 years of nationwide service, our customers put their trust in Comet National because we understand their shipping needs can change from shipment to shipment. In business since 1992, Comet is dedicated to delivering cost-effective solutions for transporting your products quickly and safely to your customer’s destination without compromise. At Comet National, our full-service shipping, packing, and warehousing resources are sure to fulfill your requirements. Call us at 1-800-831-5376. We will respond quickly to provide you with quotes and see to it that the loads are handled as you have specified, and delivered on time! Visit our new offices at 4149 Arcadia Industrial Circle in Lilburn.
- For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here
Considering what could happen in next four years
(Editor’s note: Once again, we remind readers that the opinions of contributors to GwinnettForum are those of the writer, and not of GwinnettForum. These ideas are presented to stimulate your thinking. –eeb)
By Gregg Stopher
PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga. | Recirculating and reinvesting money within the U.S. economy. That is the defining purpose of utilizing tariffs against other countries.
Stopher
Will tariffs potentially raise prices? Of course they will, at least in the short term.
Globalists hate it. Wonder why? Is it beneficial to our country’s America First agenda? Of course it is.
Giving Americans more control over their own economic decisions. Who better to decide how to allocate another 10 percent of your wages?
Messrs. Ramaswamy and Musk will surely point out the ridiculous nature of so many of these programs, since the vast majority of Americans have no idea with respect to the sheer amount of idiotic and wasteful “studies” that are funded within the realm of “science.”
You are going to see a much more measured approach this time around with the “X-Team.” Beyond the two mentioned above, just look at the line-up: Kennedy, Jr., Gabbard, Ratcliffe, Rubio, Bondi, Bessent, Burgum, Zeldin and on and on. You may not like these folks’ politics, but you will still have to admit that these are talented individuals within their respective professions.
Gaetz was the head fake to see who would bail out on the President-elect. The Bondi name was there, and officially announced within six hours. Hegseth? He has a fondness for women. Yet another shake-up-the-system hire. But he has earned the respect of veterans, and he clearly understands media as well. Perfect guy to get up in front of press gaggle and educate us on world events, place them in context, and explain why the U.S. military implemented what we did.
People don’t seem to realize that this will become a total rewrite of the U.S. economy and by extension, the entire world. Agenda 2030 appears to be in dire straits. If they don’t assassinate Trump (and they will try), there are huge structural changes in the entire world economy on the immediate horizon.
Mr. Trump learned much the first time around, but in a strange sort of way, these four years in the wilderness for conservatives have emerged as a blessing. Much of what Mr. Trump warned about if the opponents were to take power has come to pass. High inflation, and a rise in violent crime, coupled with an open-borders immigration policy have all caused a significant decline in most Americans’ quality of the life over the past four years. Thus the “Great Awakening”, which most of the folks on the left still do not understand.
I suspect further awakening will occur once reality sets in. There are not as many predicted protests this time around, so let’s hope they are not simply delayed. There are still almost two months to go until the official handover, and a lot can happen. Stay tuned.
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Send us your thoughts
We encourage you to send us your letters and thoughts on issues raised in GwinnettForum. Please limit comments to 300 words, and include your hometown. The views of letters are the opinion of the contributor. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Send feedback and letters to: ebrack2@gmail.com.
Andersonville site plans wreath ceremony Dec. 14
National Park Service photo.
Andersonville National Historic Site invites you to remember and honor military veterans during this winter season by participating in our Wreaths Across America event. At noon on Saturday, December 14, a brief ceremony will be held in Andersonville National Cemetery to honor America’s armed forces. The ceremony will be open to the public with limited seating available. After the ceremony, attendees will be invited to place wreaths on graves in the national cemetery. This event and entrance to the park will be free of charge. To learn more, including how to participate in placing wreaths, go to our website at www.nps.gov/ande/planyourvisit/wreaths-event.htm
Wreaths Across America’s yearly mission is to place wreaths on the graves of military service members buried in national cemeteries across the country. Andersonville National Historic Site is grateful for the continued partnership and support of Wreaths Across America, the Bennett Family of Companies, the Taylor Family Foundation, Friends of Andersonville, the American Ex-Prisoners of War, Truist Bank, and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office for this annual event. For more information about the Wreaths Across America program, go to www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
Andersonville National Historic Site is located 10 miles south of Oglethorpe, Ga. and 10 miles northeast of Americus, Ga. on Georgia Highway 49. The national park features the National Prisoner of War Museum, Andersonville National Cemetery, and the site of the historic Camp Sumter Civil War prison.
Andersonville National Historic Site is the only unit of the National Park System to serve as a memorial to all American prisoners of war.
New segment of Western Gwinnett Parkway to open
On Peachtree Boulevard, the West Parkway is on the right
Gwinnett officials will unveil a new segment of the Western Gwinnett Pathway, spanning five miles between Rogers Bridge Road and Suwanee Dam Road. As a part of the 2018 Gwinnett Countywide Trails Master Plan, the pathway — with the vision to connect the Loop Trail — will extend 17 miles, connecting Shorty Howell Park, the Gwinnett Place Mall area, the Gas South District, and the cities of Duluth and Suwanee. Approximately $7 million of the total $14 million project was funded by the county’s SPLOST program. The new segment will be unveiled at 9:30 a.m. on December 12, weather permitting.
Deadline approaches for Washington Youth Tour
Jackson Electric Membership Corporation is accepting applications for the annual Washington Youth Tour, a premier leadership and educational opportunity for high school students. This all-expense-paid experience in Washington, D.C., is scheduled for June 13-20, 2025, and is sponsored by the nation’s electric cooperatives.
Current high school sophomores and juniors in the Jackson EMC service area are encouraged to apply by 5 p.m. on January 31, 2025. Applicants should demonstrate academic success, community service and leadership potential. Students may apply directly online at www.jacksonemc.com/wyt or be nominated by a teacher or guidance counselor.
Send us your reviews
An invitation: What books, restaurants, movies or web sites have you enjoyed recently? Send us your recent selection, along with a short paragraph (150 words) as to why you liked this, plus what you plan to visit or read next.
Two state schools offer degrees in astronomy
Archaeologists believe that locations for studying astronomy emerged very early in Georgia, and they have identified such potential sites as Rood Creek Indian Mounds, which are located along the Chattahoochee River, and are tantalizingly reminiscent of ancient astronomical observatories found around the world.
By the early 19th century more formal astronomy programs had been established at Georgia’s colleges and universities. Today the state has an enviable record of professional astronomers participating in world-class research, much of which has been recorded since the 1920s in the Georgia Journal of Science, published by the Georgia Academy of Sciences. In addition to professional astronomers, Georgia also boasts a number of amateur astronomers, many of whom are members of the American Association of Amateur Astronomers. Both amateur and professional astronomers belong to the state’s many astronomy clubs, which have made significant contributions to astronomy education in the second half of the twentieth century.
The University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens and Valdosta State University (VSU) in Valdosta are currently the only universities in Georgia to offer an undergraduate degree in astronomy. UGA also offers a doctorate in astronomy, as does Georgia State University (GSU) in Atlanta. In 1989 several academic institutions with relatively small astronomy departments and with faculty engaged in astronomical research, including UGA and VSU, formed the Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy,
At UGA astronomy was taught in the late 1800s to juniors or seniors through the Department of Natural Philosophy, which became the Physics and Astronomy department in 1887. By 1911 UGA was awarding degrees in physics. A 24-inch reflecting telescope was purchased in the early 1960s, and by the end of the decade doctoral degrees in physics were being awarded.
During the 1960s, the planetarium and large telescope at Valdosta State University attracted undergraduate astronomy students from across the country. In 2003 VSU obtained a 16-inch telescope.
Georgia State University currently boasts several advanced astronomical research programs: the Program in Extragalactic Astronomy, which concentrates on the astrophysics of active galactic nuclei; the Research Consortium on Nearby Stars, which seeks to understand the nearest of the sun’s neighbors; and the Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy (CHARA), which analyzes the astrophysical properties of stars. CHARA now consists of an optical/interferometric array of six telescopes located on Mount Wilson in Calif.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Where is this old-fashioned obelisk?
Today’s mystery is an old fashioned obelisk, to mark some occasion. Figure out not only where it is located, but what it commemorates. Send your answer to ebrack2@gmail.com, including your hometown.
The recent mystery was an echo from the past. As Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas, wrote “It was a tough one.” He added: “It is a historical photo, one of several that was used by Gwinnett County to document some of the county’s history during its bicentennial year in 2018. The photo shows a young Charlotte Nash, who is talking with a number of 4-H officials as she combs the hair of a horse. Nash had a long career serving Gwinnett County for almost 40 years. Her most recent post was to serve as the chairman of the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners from March 2011 to January 2021, when she retired. During her youth, she was a member of the Georgia 4-H Club, and during her acceptance speech to the Gwinnett Commissioners in March 2011, she referred to the fact that she was a 4-H’er when County Agent Wayne Shackelford (1933 – 2009) was an official in the Georgia 4-H Club. Shackelford is also shown in the mystery photo. He is the fourth person from the left in the center of the photo (on the other side of the horse from Charlotte).”
Elaine Still of Braselton also recognized it: “This looks like an animal judging competition at Gwinnett County Fairgrounds. I think the person in the hat is Hal McMillan, the person grooming the horse is Charlotte Nash, and Wayne Shackelford is in the middle behind the horse. I went to high school with both Hal and Charlotte and many of us participated heavily in 4-H, so we saw Shack quite frequently. The person beside him is Bill Baughman, assistant county agent.” Also pinpointing the photo was George Graf of Palmyra, Va. The photo is from the archives of Gwinnett Daily News. Charles Anderson of Hartwell recognized Shackelford in the photo.
Charlotte Nash was able to further identify the photo: “From left are Hal McMillan, my best friend and fellow horse person; Harold Darden of the state 4-H staff; Proctor Willson, assistant county agent; Wayne Shackelford; then me, a horse-crazy teenager, and Bill Baughman, assistant county agent, The horse is “Sal’s Dexter,” a quarterhorse I showed for several years.”
- SHARE A MYSTERY PHOTO: If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Send to: ebrack2@gmail.com and mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
Going up now next to the Town Center is a multi-story, co-working space by Roam. The 35,000-square-foot building behind the existing Piedmont Bank is scheduled to open next summer and will feature a variety of workspaces, a rooftop event space, a coffeeshop and cafe. (From Peachtree Corners Councilman Eric Christ.)
Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra concerts are Dec. 14
Nutrition for a Healthy Life: How Much Protein Do You Really Need? This will be presented at the Suwanee Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on December 11 at 11:30 a.m. Learn about healthy lifestyle changes and healthy recipes to cook. This program will have Korean translation available.
Author Talk with Rosey Lee will be on December 12 at 7 p.m. at the Lawrenceville Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. She will discuss her newest book, The Gardins of Edin. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Social Security 101: Speak with a specialist to learn about retirement benefits, Medicare, and services the Social Security Administration provides. This program will be December 12 at 11 a.m. at the Snellville Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library.
The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra will perform two family-friendly holiday concerts on December 14 at Mount Pisgah Church in Johns Creek. Music Director finalist Paul Bhasin will conduct both concerts in his JCSO debut. A kid’s Christmas program will be at 3:30 p.m. on December 14. Holidays with JCSO will take place that same day at 7:30 p.m.
Lionheart Theatre of Norcross will present Game’s Afoot, or Homes for the holidays on December 19-22 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 2 p.m. There will also be a Saturday matinee on December 21 at 2 p.m. This is to be directed by Darci Rose Wells. Tickets available by calling 404-919-4022.
The Nutcracker will be the Gwinnett Ballet Theatre’s 42nd annual production on December 13-15, and December 19-22 at the Gas South Theatre in Duluth. Be captivated as Drosselmeyer’s magic ushers in an army of mice at the stroke of midnight and the Christmas tree and Clara’s beloved nutcracker spring to life. Travel with Clara and her Nutcracker prince as they set out on a wonder- filled journey to battle the Mouse King and travel through the Land of the Snowflakes and Kingdom of the Sweets to meet the Sugar Plum Fairy. For tickets, visit this link.
Holiday Pops! with the Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will be presented at the Norcross First Global Methodist Church on December 15 at 5 p.m. Kids will be invited to help conduct the orchestra on stage in the production of Sleigh Ride! For tickets, visit Gwinnettsymphony.org.
Mobile Career Lab will be at the Lawrenceville Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on December 19 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Climb aboard the Mobile Career Lab to receive assistance from a professional Human Resource Specialist in career planning, job readiness coaching, resume assistance, information about training opportunities, and more.
The Christ Episcopal Church Players of Norcross will present the Christmas Classic A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens on Saturday, December 21 at 3 p.m. at the church. A light reception will follow in Webster Hall. Those wishing to join the reading are welcomed. Rehearsals will be at noon on December 8 and December 15. The Church Players are also looking for singers for music interludes during the reading. If you are interested in joining in on those, email Tracey Rice at traceyrice99@gmail.com
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