Garrett Epps' observations on the political shift in Virginia gives all southern moderates and liberals hope that the same can come true in places like my home state of Georgia. With the exception of Atlanta (mainly inside I-285), this state is still firmly under the thumb of hidebound conservative Republicans.

However, I can tell you that Doraville is probably a poor example to hold up as "Old South". I can't speak for Biloxi, but anyone who's been to Doraville in the past 25 years can tell you that it is probably the most ethnically-diverse community in the Southeast. Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Hispanics from many Central- and South American countries, Indian, Vietnamese, new citizens from many African nations...the businesses along Buford Highway show Doraville and DeKalb County are what the rest of the nation likely will look like in another 25 years. Mr. Epps clearly mistook Doraville for one of our fine rural towns where the stereotypes may or may not still hold true. Otherwise, a fine piece of analysis.

I thought Edward McClelland's take on the current water crisis was fairly reasoned and pretty accurate (I live in Atlanta, work in the media, and have helped produce reports on the state's water situation for more than 20 years).

There's no doubt that overpopulation and rampant growth are prime factors in the escalating water shortage.

So should some of our neighbors return to Cleveland or Detroit or Buffalo? Why not! Is life better there than here? The fact that they all moved south seems to answer that question. But the sunshine and good jobs alone don't keep them here.

McClelland's final couple of paragraphs veered off into unnecessary cultural stereotypes and crippled his thesis. If he thinks there aren't as many yokels in upstate Michigan or downstate Illinois or western New York as there are flocking to Myrtle Beach...well, he needs to get out more often (and nobody has ever been hit by falling concrete at Turner Field).

Well,out of the gate, I am not an FSU fan, but I am a photojournalist who's been covering sports for more than 30 years. I have watched the evolution of women's sports from a "necessary evil" to to a widely-accepted component of American sport.

A few years ago, the University of Georgia produced a publication for the women's gymnastics team that featured the women in evening wear. They immediately encountered the same criticism the current FSU women's basketball team is receiving. But the critics -- to a person -- failed to note that the decision to pose for the photographs was made by the athletes, not by coaches, administrators, or the sports information staff. You can check the records: the UGA women gymnasts have won most of the NCAA titles in this decade. If the FSU players are comfortable with their decision, you don't have much of a case.