Explore Atlanta’s Biggest Trees on Guided “Champion Tree Forest Walk” with Fernbank Museum

Fernbank Museum of Natural History will offer a special Forest Walk on May 8 to showcase the Champion Trees that live in Fernbank Forest. Champion Trees are awarded as part of a program with Trees Atlanta, recognizing Atlanta’s largest trees of each species that are found inside I-285.

The Champion Tree Forest Walk will be offered Sunday, May 8 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., offering a great way to celebrate nature in Fernbank’s old-growth forest. This 2-hour walk is led by Fernbank’s Environmental Education Programs Manager, Eli Dickerson, and is appropriate for ages 10 and up.

The Champion Tree Forest Walk begins at Fernbank Museum’s Dinosaur Entrance Plaza and ventures into the heart of Fernbank Forest on a tour of several Champion Trees. Fernbank Museum is located at 767 Clifton Road in Atlanta.

“Though many of the dozen or so champions are far off trail, the group will get to encounter a few of these champion trees up close and personal as we saunter beneath the 140-foot canopy,” Dickerson said. “Participants will also learn how to measure and nominate champions of their own. This is a true ‘citizen science’ project and we need help from the public to find more champion trees!”

The Champion Tree Forest Walk is a free program offered in partnership with Trees Atlanta and makes a great Mother’s Day activity. Please note that there are no facilities in the forest and all participants will need to stay with the group for the entire walk. Space is limited and advanced registration is strongly encouraged. For more information and to register, please email eli.dickerson@fernbankmuseum.org.

Kelly Slater’s IMAX® Surf Epic DebutS AT FERNBANK MUSEUM

The most iconic surfer of modern times, Kelly Slater, carves up Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s five-story giant screen with his first ever IMAX® film appearance in The Ultimate Wave Tahiti, opening May 6, 2011.

The perfect environment for understanding a wave’s development and energy, Tahiti enthralls audiences with incredible imagery of the ocean, commanding views of picturesque landscapes, unique Polynesian culture customs, and the quest for the perfect wave.

Don’t miss this extreme blend of surfing and ocean science with world surfing champion Kelly Slater as you travel to one of the world’s most beautiful locales. Audiences will experience the power and speed of surfing and the sensation of riding some of nature’s most intense ocean waves in a visually stimulating experience for all ages.

Join Slater and Tahitian surfing legend Raimana Van Bastolaer on a quest to ride the most commanding waves in Tahiti’s famed surf site, Teahupo’o. Watch as the two surfing experts demonstrate not only their natural athleticism but also the science behind their sport. The film dives in to explore the incredible forces of nature that create these tremendous ocean breakers.

In a series of multiple angles and views, audiences will witness the raw force of surfing conditions generated by storm cells intruding upon the shallow reef. Discover the speed, structure, volume and mass behind the creation of one of nature’s most powerful forces as millions of pounds of the ocean’s energy rumble past. The power from these storms becomes further concentrated at the sea bottom, resulting in the creation of the very waves Slater and Van Bastolaer hope to catch.

Modern surfing and its culture often mention the search for the perfect wave, and Slater and Van Bastolaer help explain where waves come from, why they are important, and how communities and people both near and far from the ocean shore are affected by the ocean’s interplay within our ecosystem. With the use of advanced animation techniques and science support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Slater’s hands-on wave experience is woven together with profound scientific insights.

“The film attempts to convey the idea that no two waves are the same. Yet, all waves share common traits,” said the film’s director, Stephen Low. “Like Kelly Slater himself—the epitome of what the best surfer in the world should be in terms of athletic prowess, intelligence and courage—to many the wave at Teahupo’o is indeed the ‘ultimate wave.’”

Creator of some of the most popular and critically acclaimed large format documentary films, Low and his production crew capture the breathtaking beauty of Tahiti’s pristine coastline using real waves and advance computer animation. The Ultimate Wave Tahiti is the latest collaboration between the Stephen Low Company and K2 Communications, Inc. and is presented by American Suzuki Motor Corporation with supporting partnerships from Tahiti Tourisme North America and Quiksilver.

The Ultimate Wave Tahiti shows daily at Fernbank’s IMAX® Theatre from May 6 through August 11, 2011. The film will also be featured on Friday nights during Martinis & IMAX®. Also showing through August 11, 2011 is Tornado Alley. Fernbank Museum and the IMAX® Theatre are located at 767 Clifton Road, NE in Atlanta.

IMAX® tickets are $13 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, $11 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for children ages 2 and younger (when seating is available). Tickets for Martinis & IMAX®, which include live music and one IMAX® film screening, are $12. Fernbank also offers special savings to those who wish to visit the Museum and see an IMAX® film with the Value Pass combination ticket, which is $19-$23 for non-members. Members receive complimentary museum admission and pay only $8 for IMAX® tickets. Annual Family Memberships start at $95. To reserve tickets, call 404.929.6400 or book online at fernbankmuseum.org.

How Raid Put A Halt To The Ant Parade At My House

You want to talk about bugs, well here is my story about the Ant Parade.

I have a steadfast rule that all food must be consumed in the kitchen or the dinning room. I do not want the boys to take food into the living room or the bedrooms for a variety of reason but the boys learned why the hard way.

It all began when a friend of mine and her son spent the night at our house prior to a trip we all planned to take to Virginia Beach. My sons and her son got along great so it they stayed up later than they should have telling ghost stories by flashlight.

At some point during the night the boys snuck into the kitchen and fixed themselves some snacks carrying it back to my youngest son's bedroom. Uh oh!

The next morning when I knocked on the door for the boys to get up they rubbed their sleepy eyes and dragged themselves to the kitchen for breakfast. Their innocent faces did not betray their nocturnal violation of the house rules. Perhaps i should have wondered more about why they didn't seem to hungry.

After some rushing around we were off to spend a week at the beach for some fun in the sun. We had such a wonderful time.

We returned late at night a week later so I didn't really notice anything was amiss until I awoke the next day. As I plodded over to the stove in the early morning light I noticed a line, a long black line, it was a conga line of small invaders progressing across the floor in their singular mission of foraging for food.

Oh my gosh I thought, I have ants! How did they get here. I followed the ants to their final destination, under my youngest son's bed. I was afraid to lift up the bed skirt but I had to get to the bottom of this infestation and when I did the answer was apparent. There beneath the bed were three dirty plates, empty soda cans, and a mostly empty popcorn bag.

What's a girl to do. Clearly some brave person, namely me needed to clean up the mess and get rid of the ants. Thank goodness for RAID. It worked and got rid of my ant parade quickly.

What happened to the perpetrators? They quickly came clean to the offense and after learning the consequences I have not had a repeat performance.

Disclaimer: I have not received any compensation for this post. I am entering this post into a contest in hopes of winning a $500 Walmart Gift Card.

Do you have a bug story of your own? Head over to 5 Minutes For Mom and share it there for a chance to win a $500 Walmart gift card.

Tornado Touches Down In NW Georgia

At least five tornadoes were reported in Georgia since the storms began Wednesday, according to preliminary reports from the National Weather Service. Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state emergency in a handful of counties, and that list was expected to grow.

An EF-3 tornado with 150 mph winds crossed Polk, Floyd and Bartow counties for a distance of 26 miles.

Another EF-2 tornado with maximum winds of about 140 mph ran from 6 miles southwest of Cave Spring, and tracked 26 miles through parts of Polk, Floyd and Bartow counties before lifting about 4 miles southwest of Kingston.

Vernon Hackett The ANTI-Hero Of The McDonald's Beat-Down

In fiction, an antihero is generally considered to be a protagonist whose character is at least in some regards conspicuously contrary to that of the archetypal hero, and is in some instances its antithesis. I'm certain if you saw the recent video of a transgendered individual on the receiving end of a vicious attack you would agree that Mr. Hackett is far from a hero.

Vernon Hackett was the young man who made the video that documented the attack with gleeful play by play of the event including advising the attackers that "Yo she's bleeding." and "She's having a Mother Fuckin' Seizure" then advising the perps to "get the fuck outta here" cause the police come yo!

Was there a reason Vernon that a macho man such as yourself couldn't have come to the aid of this human being when you manager first got the attackers to leave? Could you and your scumbag, wimp co-workers, not have maybe rushed right over to the individual as she lay there to either administer aid or perhaps helped move her to the safety of the McDonald's manager's office? Oh wait, you might have missed some of that fight.

Mr. Hackett then proudly posted his video only to have to defend himself as others attacked him for his post. Vernon actually wound up taking down his YouTube Channel because he received so much negative attention as well as his Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Do not be confused though, because while Vernon's inaction gives him some culpability for what happen he was not one of the two attackers. A 14-year-old girl has been charged as a juvenile in connection with the assault, while charges are pending against an 18-year-old woman. “

In the meantime a police report has identified the victim as 22-year-old Chrissy Lee Polis, who appears identical to Christopher Lee Polis, whose rap sheet includes convictions for disorderly conduct, property destruction, and prostitution, according to court records.

The race of the attackers and the victim are not as important as the fact that nothing was done to help this person who was savagely beaten in a public place while McDonald's employees watched.

One of those employees could have easily gone to the victim early on when the manager was chasing the attackers our the door. The victim could have been moved to a safe area like the Manager's office. NO ONE made a move to help the victim except a customer who was an elderly woman. Gentlemen take a lesson from her.

By the way, just where is Al Sharpton? Is this not a civil right issue?


***************UPDATE***************

The fast-food chain has issued a statement about the safety of its customers being paramount, and Rosedale franchise owner Mitchell McPherson yesterday announced that employee Vernon Hackett had been fired.

Mr McPherson said: 'My first and foremost concern is with the victim. I'm as shocked and disturbed by this assault as anyone would be. The behavior displayed in the video is unfathomable and reprehensible.'

Mr McPherson added that action might also be taken against other restaurant workers.

McDonald's Beat-Down Of Transgender Woman

It's the video seen 'round the blog-o-sphere but where is the outrage from the liberal media as a transgendered woman is brutally attacked by two African-American women at a McDonalds?

When at first it was thought that the victim was "merely a white woman" there were accusations that the video was only posted to drive racial tensions. Which might make someone ask if the video had shown a young African American being attacked by two out of control white women if that video might have been posted to demonstrate out of control racial prejudice by whites against an innocent African American woman.

The true story is that this is not even about race. This story is about humanity. How can one human being beat another so brutally that they cause the victim to begin having seizures?

One must also ask why the budding film maker did nothing to help the victim. Rather the McDonald's employee Vernon Hackett is heard warning the attackers that they should leave because the "po-lice is on da way" As a matter of fact he can be heard laughing hysterically at the violence in front of him.

While at some point we see the Manager asking the women to leave he quickly seems to give up after seeing the attackers leave and come back several times. The ONLY real hero is an elderly lady who begs the attackers to leave the victim alone only to be pushed herself.

Where does McConalds stand on all of this? Well a spokesman for McDonald's said: 'We are shocked by the video from a Baltimore franchised restaurant showing an assault. This incident is unacceptable, disturbing and troubling.

Well who's McLoving that? Not the GLBT groups. They want it to be investigates as a HATE crime. I would agree with them. It is a hate crime but it is a hate crime no matter the sex, race, or sexual preference of the victim so brutal was the attack. Oh but I forget, only select groups are eligible for such a classification.

Police said a 14-year-old girl had been charged as a juvenile, while charges were pending against an 18-year-old woman.

Have you seen this story on your news channel? If not you should ask why not.

I believe people should boycott the McDonald's in Rosedale, Baltimore. Let them know that ALL customers should be guaranteed safety when they visit. Let them know that you do not approve of an establishment that allows their employees to act like spectators at the coliseum while a human being is being brutalized.

A Tragic End To The Case Of Phylicia Barnes

Sadly, the case of the missing NC girl, Phylicia Barnes does not have a happy ending. The body of N.C. teen missing four months was one of two bodies pulled from Maryland's Susquehanna River.

Maryland medical examiners compared dental records of Phylicia Barnes, 17, with one of two bodies found on the Susquehanna River. Barnes, of Monroe, NC, had been missing since December.

A man's body was found hours after Barnes' body was discovered. Police said they had not identified the black male, who was 6-foot-4 and weighed 240 pounds.

It was not clear if there was any connection between the two bodies, officials said.

I hope you will join me in praying for the friends and family members during this turbulent time.

Jaime Kirlew's Target Adventure

To take the words writ out of Blaggo's mouth these videos are "golden".

Jaime Kirlew is the latest virtual villain and has seemingly hundreds of folks across the blog-o-sphere documenting the alleged coupon fraud she unleashed on TCL's Extreme Couponing.

Not only has Ms. Kirlew yanked her You Tube Channel but after a never ending assault on her Facbook She's yanked that too.

I know what you're thinking. Where did I get these videos. Well it was a circuitous journey indeed. I saw posts about them, mocking videos referring to them but each and every link was yanked.

What exactly was on these videos showed criminal action at the Target? I wondered. Then finally the search yielded these videos which seem to pop up over and over and over again as one blogger copies it and then the next and then the next leaving a seemingly never ending trail to the next post.

So let's get busy and dissect these videos. You know you want to.


Jaime "Jail'Me" Kirlew Committing Coupon Fraud... by JailMeKirlew

To begin with you will notice that Ms. Kirlew's is using a 55 cents off Lucky charms printable coupon but she is clearly not using them in accordance with the strict guidelines for the coupon. The coupons are supposed to be used towards boxes of Lucky Charms and not for these little cups.

For the non-coupon user or newbie to couponing you might not realize that there are some coupons out there that do NOT limit you on the size of the product you buy. In such cases you can buy a much smaller product and even get a product FREE doing this.

In this case there actually IS a specific net weight given on the coupon. This means you can only use the coupon on products that meet this requirement.

Ms. Kirlew "misspoke" when she mentioned that she had a $5 off "any Olay Cleanser" coupon rather these $5 coupons were actually for for Olay Pro-X or Regenerist. Clearly this is not the product she is purchasing so I just don't get WHY Target allows her to use this coupon for her purchase of the regular Olay cleanser.

There is a similar problem with her Vaseline coupon purchase because the coupon was for the Vaseline Sheer Infusion product and NOT the product she purchased.

The $3 Hot Pockets coupon would have been a HOT DEAl had the coupon not been for the family pack. Our super shopper didn't let that stop her, she bought the three-count Hot Pockets. Again, why did the store accept her coupons for a product that clearly does not align itself with the stated value of the coupon?

Clearly the register is kicking out many of her coupons as not being good towards the items purchased but time and time again we see the cashier over-riding these pesky little "errors". Fortunately for the cashier Jaimie is there to walk her through manually coupons when register is clearly giving her an error message.

I don't know about you but I am chuckling as Jaimie is bragging about how the manager and others are gathering around to watch all her savings. You know sort of cheering her on. Silly me, I might think they are there just in case she causes a scene when her coupons are turned down.

As a former cashier, I know that often managers just want to get trouble making customers out the door even if it means that the store takes a hit. Is that what's going on here?


Jaime "Jail'Me" Kirlew Committing Coupon Fraud... by JailMeKirlew

So does our Jaime do a better job on the second video? Well not so much.

Once again the coupons do not match-up to what was born as in the case of the $4 coupons were for Secret Clinical Defense. Jaime used this coupon on the cheaper Secret deodorant.

I think the section of the video that was most interesting was the section where she uses the $5 printable coupons for the Charmin and the Bounty. P&G has NEVER issued printable coupons for their products. That's right, I said NEVER!!!!

I actually remember going to my grocery store when this fraudulent coupon was out there and all the registers at my Kroger had signs warning that this was a fraudulent coupon. As a matter of fact our Kroger even stopped taking printable coupons for awhile.

My point? Well in my book that's STEALING. Well at least that's what they call that in my neck of the woods but maybe they call that something different in Jaime's little world.

So what's the end game in all this? TLC says that they are INVESTIGATING. Really? Is that in a sort of fox in the hen house kind of way?

Heck this has been a rating bonanza while it hurts the not so extreme couponers. Thanks!

South Sanriku -- Tsunami seen from Shizugawa High School,"

Be forewarned, this video is heartbreaking.

Please pray for the victims of this tragedy and donate to the Red Cross.

Those who want to help can go to www.redcross.org and donate to Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami. People can also text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific.

Holly Bobo Is Missing

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Holly Lynn Bobo was last seen early on the morning of April 13, 2011, outside of her home in Darden, Tennessee. She was seen being led away from the carport of her home toward a wooded area by a man described as approximately 5'8" to 6'0" tall and 200 pounds, wearing camouflage clothing.

Holly Lynn Bobo was last seen wearing a pink shirt and light blue jeans.

If you have any information concerning this person, please contact your local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.

What Have I Won Recently?

What have I won lately? I wish I could say that every day my mailbox is filled with checks and tickets to far away places. Sadly it is not. Still even the little wins give me a thrill. So while you might get excited about a 50 cent win, I was OK with it. I realize the next big win may just be right around the corner.

Congratulations! You have been selected to receive a prize by registering in the Coca-Cola® and NCAA® Text to Win Game, administered by ePrize for The Coca-Cola Company.

You have won a mobile wallpaper download! This prize has an approximate retail value of $0.50.

My other "BIG" win? Mascara.

Congratulations! We're happy to let you know that you're a winner in Clinique's Let Your Lashes Say More Sweepstakes! You’re one of 100,000 winners randomly selected to receive a mini High Impact Mascara from Clinique (.07oz).

Get ready to have lusher, plusher lashes! Your mascara is expected to arrive in late April.

There's nothing you need to do except look for your prize within 8-10 weeks after promotion conclusion. If we happen to need additional information from you, we will contact you at this email address.

Tips From The Pros On Winning Sweepstakes

Thinks no one wins sweeps, well think again. I can attest that people do win and that you could too if you simply remembered this little axiom, “You’ve gotta play to WIN”

OK I didn’t make that slogan up but this slogan from the Maryland State lottery is true. As a matter of fact I am always amazed at the number of people who complain that they NEVER win only to confess that they NEVER enter.

• You have the best chance of winning by using the snail mail route. Because so many sweepstakes are moving online, old-fashioned snail mail contests are seeing fewer entries
• Don’t get disqualified, make sure you READ the rules first
• Fewer people enter contests that require a skill like a recipe or an essay, so if you possess these talents, you will have better odds.
• Send a thank-you note when you win
• Don’t ignore social media. Lots of companies are using social media to promote their sweepstakes.
• NEVER send money or make a purchase in an attempt to win a sweepstakes! Any suggestion that you should buy before entering could be illegal.

Should I Join A Sweepstakes Club?

When I first began sweeping it was a pretty solitary hobby for me and that was alright.

I was really successful with radio station call-ins but my family and friends saw this as an enigma. To them I was just lucky and they didn't understand how much effort I put into winning.

Back then snails were king and I just couldn't seem to break the code for being success. I subscribed to a magazine which provided me info about various sweeps but very little in the way of a sense of community or tips.

I've been a member of a group here in Georgia for a couple of years now and I am very thrilled to be a part of this great group of people.

I have learned so much from these men and women. I have also found a group of people who understand my frustration when the winnings seem to have dried up and who are excited for each others wins.

If you are thinking of starting this addictive hobby check out this video to find out why joining a club might be just the ticket to winning more!

Secret To Winning The Lottery

When I was in college I had to take a class called Business statistics. It involved long drawn out formulas that I have never used again and probably wouldn't recognize if they came up, bit me, and then stomped on my head.

On the other hand I did memorize how to calculate your odds of winning the lottery. That my friends was a simple equation and one that keeps me focused on sweeps.

I will say over the past week my husband and I played the lottery almost every day. We did this based on something a psychic said to me. Every day I won a free ticket or $1 or $2 which I used to buy new tickets. I have another power ball ticket I need to cash in for $4.

The point is that I am not the person to ask about the secret to winning the lottery. The odds are definitely against you.

Still I figured I'd post this video for my readers who actually think they might be the next Mega-Millionaire

Obama For President 2012

April Fools