Best Person You Hate to Love

Sure, she’s become prickly, thin-skinned and defensive in the last year or so, but you gotta say this about our mayor: SHIRLEY FRANKLIN keeps it real. Even when she’s gettin’ all Philly with the press, or community activists (or her online detractors, etc.), the little lady with the big flower on her lapel always calls it like she sees it, unlike countless other politicians we could name. There’s something of an unvarnished air about her, a genuineness that keeps her down-to-earth and relatable — even when you don’t agree with what she’s saying. www.atlantaga.gov/Mayor. less...

I’m a little disappointed that VERNON JONES didn’t survive this year’s Democratic runoff against Jim Martin. Martin, the less charismatic candidate, is the safer bet in the race against GOP Sen. Saxby Chambliss. But he won’t provide near the entertainment factor that Jones would have. Jones has ambition and ego to spare. A lesser man would have long ago been broken by the controversy that seems to dog him at every turn. Instead of diminishing his desire to remain in public service, however, the constant imbroglios seem to spur him onward, toward higher aspirations. The latest of those, his run for U.S. Senate, was nothing short of quixotic. But I sort of admire him for going up against insurmountable odds. He deserves a pat on the back for attempting the impossible. less...

We might just prefer to have fresh bamboo shoots driven under our fingernails than be forced to read another story about MEI LAN, the baby panda. After the wall-to-wall press coverage, the billboards, the nightly gushing and cooing by local TV anchors, the ads for panda posters in the AJC and the frickin’ panda cam, for God’s sake, we’re sick of hearing about the little beast. But, um, have you been over to the zoo to check her out? She’s actually pretty adorable in person, lounging on her log or playing with her mother. We don’t need to read any more about Mei Lan. Can we just take her home instead?

800 Cherokee Ave. 404-624-5600. www.zooatlanta.org

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He’s corny and occasionally hokey. His sincerity seems too good to be true. He’s too nerdy to be cool. But WSB-AM (750)’s CLARK HOWARD has earned his reputation as the most trusted public figure in Atlanta. He genuinely does care about the people who call his show with their consumer problems (or at least their spending habits), and he offers them sound advice. He’s already filthy rich and doesn’t need the gig; he does it because he loves it. As a college student, Howard worked for Ralph Nader, an experience that has informed him ever since. He’s not afraid to take on the powers-that-be (his contract specifies there will be no sacred cows on his show). Although it pains us to admire a guy who eats bargain meals at Burger King and scrounges for bargains, Howard’s a rare treasure: If he says it, you can take it to the bank. less...

Ooh, look at TY PENNINGTON take off his shirt and swing a hammer for the cameras on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” Isn’t he dreamy? Well, maybe cheesy is more like it. And it’s a little sanctimonious when he yells into that bullhorn, “Come on, team — let’s make this family’s dream come true!” But so what? Pennington, who was raised in Atlanta, broke into showbiz as the token hot-guy carpenter on “Trading Spaces.” Now he actually helps families in need. Among other things, he and his crew have enlarged the home of a couple expecting triplets, and remodeled a house so a wheelchair-bound teenager could get around more easily. Watch out, Oprah.
www.tythehandyguy.com.

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Well, “love” might be a strong word. But DeKalb CEO VERNON JONES is definitely a charmer - tall and handsome, with the panache to make politics look fun, and the smarts to understand what’s good for DeKalb County. He’s the kind of guy you love to like, right? Not exactly. First there were those bodyguards; then he was caught living in a townhouse where he wasn’t registered to vote “and” was accused of breaking state law by failing to disclose that he co-owns another property with his chief aide (who is facing a felony charge for sexually abusing a 19-year-old). Worst of all were the tantrums - including the huffy lecture he gives anyone who asks about them. Wait a sec - why was it that we love this guy? “www.co.dekalb.ga.us/ceo.htm” less...

DeKalb CEO VERNON JONES is a charmer - tall and handsome, with the panache to make politics look fun, and the smarts to ... well, we “used” to think he had smarts. We even endorsed the guy. Despite that bodyguard thing. Despite claims that he physically intimidated female political foes. Despite that he lived in a townhouse where he wasn’t registered to vote. But since he clobbered a weak posse of opponents in the July Democratic primary, Vernon - or at least those around him - have had a meltdown. Vernon apparently shoved the DeKalb police chief aside in a political power play. The “AJC” revealed that someone in DeKalb government performed background checks of reporters and political opponents. And, in the midst of all the controversies, the CEO took a county-funded junket to the Athens Olympics. Then, just the other day, he had DeKalb officials fax a one-line statement to reporters, which simply said that one of his critics “is a liar, no more no less.” How statesmanlike. And we endorsed this guy? Uggh. “www.co.dekalb.ga.us/ceo.htm” less...