Think you have a lot of Facebook friends, check out Coca-Cola’s page.

The Facebook page was created in 2008 by Dusty Sorg, a Coca-Cola enthusiast in Los Angeles, and so far has more than 3.3 million fans, according to an article by AJC reporter Joe Guy Collier.

The beverage maker’s fan page is second to President Barack Obama’s and just ahead of Nutella, maker of a tasty chocolate and hazelnut spread .

“The page, though, also has posed an interesting dilemma for the Atlanta-based beverage giant. As the numbers grew last year, Facebook asked Coca-Cola to take over the site, a change the company feared fans would view as a heavy-handed move by a big corporation,” writes Collier.

Seems the site had become too popular. Apparently, high-traffic sites tend to attract not only fans but folks who want to post naughty photos and content. The social networking site’s policy calls for closing the site or turning the page over to the owners of the brand. Facebook asked Coke officials if …

Continue reading Are you a Coca-Cola fan on Facebook? Why? »

Allergy sufferers aren’t getting a break today.

Atlanta’s pollen count shot up to 1,727, compared to 151 on Friday, according to the Atlanta Allergy & Asthma Clinic, keeper of the count in these parts.

The number of particles of pollen in a cubic meter of air over 24 hours.

Is the pollen playing havoc on your allergies today. Feeling kind of yellow?

Your pollen gripes? What’s your best pollen joke or one liner?

Also, check out our Weather Vent.

Continue reading Pollen have you feeling sort of – yellow? »

If you light up, you’re going to have to pay up.

Smokers will soon get hit with the single largest federal tobacco tax increase ever.

On Wednesday, the per-pack tax climbs from 39 cents to $1.01, according to the Associated Press.

To offset any loss from people deciding now might be a good time to kick the habit or cut back, tobacco companies recently raised the price of a pack of cigarettes.

Taxes are going up to help pay for a major expansion of health insurance for children, AP reported. President Barack Obama signed that health initiative soon after taking office.

Users of cigars and pipes will also see a large tax increases. For example, the tax on chewing tobacco will go up from 19.5 cents per pound to 50 cents. The total expected to be raised over the 4 1/2 year-long health insurance expansion is nearly $33 billion, according to AP.

Will the next tax send your habit up in smoke? Will you pony up the extra money to smoke or will you cut back or quit?

Continue reading Up in smoke: New nicotine tax may force some to quit »

Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday.

For many, the day consists of reflection and prayer. But some families have added their own traditions, which are more social in nature and often revolve around food and Easter baskets.

A co-worker said her family always held an Easter egg hunt. Tradition called for the youngest child to get the prized egg that was hidden in the mailbox. Another co-worker’s mother would collect the L’eggs pantyhose oval-shaped containers all year long. At Easter, she would fill them with candy for the kids.

What are your Easter traditions? Do you have a family Easter egg roll or hunt? A family fashion show or hat contest?

Continue reading What are your Easter traditions? »

President Barack Obama took steps to strengthen the U.S. presence in Afghanistan, vowing to dismantle and defeat the resurgent Taliban and al-Qaida.

Obama ordered the build up of 4,000 military troops to the Central Asia nation. He said the troops’ primary role would be to support the fledgling Afghan Army.

The situation there is “increasingly perilous.”

What do you think of Obama’s strategy in Afghanistan? Is additional troop deployment a good idea? Do you think this will prevent further attacks against the U.S.? What approaches, other than military, should the administration pursue ?

Continue reading Obama orders troop build up in Afghanistan. Right move? »

Will it be lights out for Earth Hour?

Tomorrow, millions of people around the world will turn off their lights for an hour to call attention to global warming. The lights will be turned off at the Empire State Building, The Golden Gate Bridge and Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza, according to USA Today.

The annual event is organized by the World Wildlife Fund, which urges people to turn off non-essential lights from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

What about you? Will you go dark for an hour?

Continue reading Will you go dark for Earth Hour? »

President Obama signaled to Americans last night that he was willing to compromise on some issues but would hold steadfast to his key proposals.

In a news conference lasting nearly an hour, the prsident said he would “bend, but not break.”

Obama wants to focus on the battles he can win and where he has significant support. He also made it clear that he will continue to push for initiatives that he feels strongly about, such as lifting federal ban on embryonic stem cell research, according to the AP article. He conceded there would be significant battles on his budget and energy proposals.

On the subject of the economy, Obama was asked why he hasn’t asked Americans to do more to weather the economic crisis. He said, “I think folks are sacrificing left and right.”

Did you watch the president’s news conference? Are you confident his administration in on the right track? What were his strongest/weakest points?

Continue reading Is Obama on the right track? »

With taxpayers already irate over federal bailouts of ailing industries, two U.S. automakers are set to ask for more

GM and Chrysler have a deadline of March 31 to prove to lawmakers that an infusion of emergency government loans will help them operate. Although that deadline was set last year, according to an article in USA Today, since then “the car market has hit the skids, and both GM and Chrysler have said they need even more money to survive.

“GM and Chrysler are operating on a combined $17.4 billion in government loans approved by the Bush administration. The two automakers have asked the Obama administration for another $21.6 billion and say they need it soon.”

U.S. taxpayers have never been too keen on government bailouts, but especially so in wake of revelations that insurance giant, AIG, paid millions in bonuses.

What say you? Should the automakers receive more financial aid?

Continue reading Automakers rev up to ask for more bailout funds »

A House Consumer Affairs subcommittee voted 4-3 against a proposal that would require adults in pickup trucks to buckle up.

It was the first time in at least three years a House panel has considered the issue.

Georgia is the only state that exempts adults in pickups from wearing seat belts. It’s cost the state millions of dollars in federal highway funds. The Senate has supported the measure in the past, but opponents fear it will hurt rural residents.

Should Georgia require adults to buckle up? What do you think?

Continue reading Ga. pickup drivers don’t have to buckle up »

When the economy gets tough, the tough start remodeling.

So a new home in out of the question. How do you make do with what you have? Consider remodeling or making a few improvements here and there. And you don’t have to spend a lot of money on the project.

“Low mortgage rates and falling construction costs are spurring some home-owners to go ahead with long-delayed improvement projects. As a result, home remodelers are faring better than home builders who have failed in droves amid the housing market’s meltdown,” writes AJC business reporter Russell Grantham.

But homeowners aren’t spending a lot of money on housing projects. Gone are the costly renovations. They’re opting to do it themselves or as inexpensively as possible. Savvy consumers can find remodelers who are offering good deals and throwing in a few incentives.

Here, experts offer improvement tips to make your home ready to sell.

Are you remodeling or considering remodeling your home? Do you plan to do it yourself? …

Continue reading Can’t buy a new house? Why not remodel the one you’re in? »