Are you a fan of Aimee Mann?  Are you itching to subscribe to Paste Magazine?   Then you are in luck!

Carl writes in with word that the Paste “Pay What You Want” promotion is back after a successful run last year…this time for Aimee Mann fans.  But it looks like anyone can click the link…so head on over and sign up or renew for a minimum of $1.

This is a great deal…especially for those that want to try out Paste for the first time.  But if renewing, keep in mind that Paste is a Decatur business and perhaps shell out a little more than the minimum to help support one of our greatest local startups.

A familiar face and voice to Decaturites and Brick Store regulars alike, blues man Billy Christian Walls has produced and released his first album on Backspace Records! AntiMusic has his story.

Purchase it for $9.99 here, or perhaps inquire about it the next time you hear him rocking and wailing out in front of the Brick!

Cheers Guitar Red!

[ht:InDecatur]

The AJC has a write up today about folks that came to Atlanta for the Olympics in 1996 and never went home. One of the Grange’s owners, Darren Comer, is one of those featured.

Here’s his blurb!

Darren Comer

• Came from: Dublin, Ireland, in 1995

• Job: Rowing and kayak venue transportation manager, Lake Lanier

Comer came with two college buddies to “have an adventure in America.” Comer got a job with Wachovia, then began work with an Atlanta-based event consulting company, which took him to more Olympics, the World Cup, Super Bowl and tennis U.S. Open. His two friends eventually returned to Ireland, but Comer never found a reason to leave. He got married and two siblings have followed him here. Comer, 35 and a real estate developer, will open a bar, the Grange Public House, with his siblings in September in Decatur.

Darren points out that it was in fact three siblings, not two as stated above, that followed him to Atlanta. Two (Jen and Colin) is the number of siblings that are also co-owners of “The Grange”.

So you’ve probably already heard about the state’s billion dollar deficit, yeah? What with the sagging economy and…

“Local governments!”

Whoa. That was weird. Here I am trying to rationally explain the reasons for the state’s bad math and suddenly someone brings up local governments. Odd.

Where was I? Oh yes…so like many states, we have this massive deficit…thanks in part to overly optimistic projections. What to do?

“Local government spending is out of control!”

What the…? Now hold on just a minute! I’m trying to discuss a very important issue here and you keep attempting to distract me by shouting things about local government spending! What’s your problem?

“Local governments are spending ALL of your money!!”

Dude! Get your hands out of my face! I’m trying to explain what happened to Homeowners Tax Relief Grant money that we usually see in the form of a tax credit on our property tax bill and you’re all up in my business! Look I even brought along a pile of money as a prop to represent the HTRG money…hey…where’d it go? I could’ve sworn it was here a minute ago…

Governor Perdue! Stop! Bring that back here! What!? Yes, I know you’re short on cash, but couldn’t you try tightening your own belt before stealing my pile of money in broad daylight!? Sir! Sir?!

Hmm…you would’ve thought that the fact that the bills were multi-colored would have tipped him off that they were fake. Oh well, I guess I shouldn’t question him…he is the professional.

Good luck sir! Spend it wisely!