They were known as the "pre-Fab Four," and the show was one of those that defined a generation. Now, one is gone. Davy Jones, one of the band's singers and perhaps the one that most fit the "teen idol" label, died Tuesday at age 66. "When I was a kid, I wanted to BE Davy Jones," actor Kevin Bacon said on Twitter when the news broke. "I just wanted to be in the show, fall in love twice in each episode and kiss the girls," Jones told The Republican of Springfield, Mass., last month. "I had no ambition to be Steven Spielberg or Cecil B. DeMille." So we want to know, what are your memories of …

The Gwinnett County school system is admittedly struggling to balance its budget for fiscal year 2012, but it certainly is not alone. The property tax meltdown has affected school systems nationwide. For now, eliminating any sports programs apparently is not in the plans, despite an $89 million revenue shortfall. Mike Emery, athletic director for Gwinnett County schools, said recently that he has of any budget cuts for the athletic programs. "We arevery fortunate," he said. However, at least one metro-area system elsewhere has resorted to a creative method to relieve financial pressure: a pay…

It has come up before, and the latest push to end Saturday mail delivery has the backing of President Obama himself. The president's recent proposal, which was widely reported, comes as pressure mounts on Congress to pass legislation overhauling the Postal Service. The agency announced recently that it lost $3.3 billion in its most recent quarter, much of it due to a payment to prefund retiree health benefits. The agency has become another casualty of technology. More and more, people are communicating by email, text messaging or social networks. Of course, bill paying by the Internet and …

Atlanta's boys of summer are back, as Braves pitchers and catchers report to spring training Monday (Feb. 20). But the Atlanta Braves will have a new look for some games in 2012. The team plans to wear cream-colored uniforms for weekend home games this season. The look is reminiscent of those worn by the Braves during their first two seasons in Atlanta (1966-67). There are four other uniform designs for the Braves. Atlanta missed the playoffs last year after a September collapse that saw them blow an 8 1/2 game lead as of Sept. 6. The team that beat them out of a wild-card spot, St. Louis, …

  A North Carolina parent has fired shots heard 'round the world. Literally. Last week, Tommy Jordan read a post on Facebook by his 15-year-old daughter shortly after he did some repairs to his daughter's laptop. Seems the post was disrespectful to the child's parents, and that did not sit well with Jordan. "I'm not your damn slave," read a part of the daughter's statement, according to Jordan. So Jordan also went online, with a rather emphatic response. He read his daughter's offensive Facebook post -- and then shot up the laptop. Really. He fired nine rounds from his .45 handgun into the …

Updated 9:21 a.m., Jan. 18, 2012 "This is the first real test of the political strength of the Web, and regardless of how things go, they are no longer a pushover. The Web taking a stand against one of the most powerful lobbyers and seeming to get somewhere is definitely a first." - Tim Wu, a professor at Columbia Law School on the efforts by the technology industry to fight Congressional bills aimed at curbing online piracy. (Via nytimes.com.) Users of leading websites such as Google and Wikipedia on Wednesday will notice major changes. Those sites are among those who are engaging in their …

According to Veterinary Pet Insurance Co (VPI) and Petfinder.com, a roundup of the most popular dog names in 2011 showed no change over the previous year.Bella, Bailey, Max, Lucy and Molly were the top 5 most popular dog names. Rounding out the top 10 are Buddy, Daisy, Maggie, Charlie and Sophie.What's your dog's name? Take our poll, and if it's not on there, add it in the comments. And while you are here - we would love to see a photo of your pet. Take a moment and post a photo of your pet, just click on the button at the top of the story labeled "Upload photos and videos."

A quote carved on the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial in Washington D.C. will be changed after the inscription was criticized for not accurately reflecting the civil rights leader's words, according to media reports. The inscription currently reads: "I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness." The phrase is chiseled into one side of a massive block of granite that includes King's likeness emerging from the stone. It became a point of controversy after the memorial opened in August, according to the Huffington Post. Poet Maya Angelou has said the truncated version made King sound…

"Tebowing" may take on new meaning now. A recent magazine advertising campaign features a picture of the popular Denver Broncos quarterback shirtless. And just when you were getting used to those Bible verses under his eyes, and that sideline pose. This is just in time for Saturday's NFL playoff game (8 p.m., CBS) between Tebow's Broncos and Tom Brady's New England Patriots, the second meeting between the two this season. (The Patriots won the first game.) So this begs the question, what do you think about Tebow's new and different look? Take our poll, and sound off in the comments.

The day many SEC football fans have been waiting for has arrived. Alabama and LSU will tangle -- again -- Monday night in the Superdome in New Orleans to determine the Bowl Championship Series champion. It's controversial for several reasons. One, LSU already has beaten Alabama once this season, during the regular season in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Thus, the Crimson Tide could win the national title game despite not winning their own conference. And Oklahoma State got nosed out of the title game despite winning the Big 12. Also, the BCS itself is the subject of much criticism. Its matchups are …

Talk about hitting where it hurts -- Starbucks coffee in the Atlanta area is pricier now. The coffeehouse chain said Tuesday that it is increasing prices about 1 percent on some drinks, including the "tall" coffee. That's about a 10-cent increase. Most Sunbelt states are included, but not Florida. The company says it is trying to recoup higher costs. For many, Starbucks is about more than coffee. It's a great place for business meetings, dates and just hanging out with others from the 'hood. The company website lists five stores with a Suwanee street address, with some located inside other …

The ultimate reality check after the holidays: The presidential election season kicks off Tuesday. The Iowa caucuses, touted as an essential early springboard to success, are going on today. Georgians will remember that it was a strong showing in Iowa that propelled former Gov. Jimmy Carter to success in 1976. Of course, Patch has it covered. Here's an Iowa Patch editor's picks. Also, for you poll lovers, the Huffington Post has an Election Dashboard to keep things sorted out. But we care most what people in Suwanee think. So take our poll, sound off in the comments, and hey, you might want …

Updated 1:00 p.m., Dec. 30, 2011 Several media stories have appeared recently about the possibility of reversible lanes being used on I-85. First, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle floated the idea, and now transportation officials confirm that the matter has been part of a 2-year-long study. Cagle said he wants to add movable barriers to the interstate, which would convert northbound lanes into southbound for the morning commute. The flow would reverse in the evenings, adding more capacity during rush hour. Transportation officials said the idea is  a component of a look at an extension to Ronald Reagan…

There is now a lot of online chatter about a recent New York Times story on Southern farmers and cuisine. The article reported, among other things, that some farmers are trying "to restore (Southern food's) lost traditions and dignity."   The New York Times: Today, purists believe, Southern cooking is too often represented by its worst elements: feedlot hams, cheap fried chicken and chains like Cracker Barrel.   So ... what do you think? Is the article saying that Southern food is undignified? Is the article a typical Northern snobbish look at the South? Or is it an accurate portrayal of a …

Cell phone service is a staple of 21st century life, especially in and around Suwanee. However, everyone has their horror stories too -- dropped calls, etc, hidden fees, offerings that don't always make sense. A recent Consumer Reports survey recently highlighted major cell-phone companies and how consumers feel about them. But we want to take it one step further: We want to know how people in Suwanee feel about their mobile carrier. Tell us who you use, and wny: Is it price, various features, such as text messaging (popular especially with young adults and students) and data plans, …

Atlanta-based presidential candidate Herman Cain announced Saturday that he is 'suspending' his campaign after enduring weeks of scrutiny over accusations of an extramarital affair and sexual misconduct. But the announcement had the feel of more than a suspension. MSNBC.com reported that Cain said he would announce his endorsement of a Republican candidate "in the near future" as well as launching a politically oriented website. So now we ask, what do you think? Do you agree with the allegations against Cain, or think that it was just politics as usual? Do you think that Cain, a former WSB …

  The latest 800-pound gorilla in the technology world may be about to enter the room. The Wall Street Journal has reported that Facebook, which has hundreds of millions of users worldwide, plans an Initial Public Offering for the second quarter of 2012. The report says the IPO would value Facebook at $100 billion. That would not make it the most valuable tech-oriented company, though. Apple Computers leads the world with a market cap of about $349 billion, and Microsoft still is a player, at $209 billion. Search-engine giant Google is at $190 billion. Still, it would continue the remarkable …

  Most everyone knows about Twitter, the online social-media site that allows users to post 140-character messages. Usage has become so common that one SEC school has decided to bring it into real-world preparations for a football game this weekend. Mississippi State has painted "#hailstate" in an end zone for Saturday's game vs. Ole Miss in an obvious attempt to let fans know the prevailing keyword for tweets. We hear that Alabama fans attach "#rtr" -- for "Roll, Tide, Roll" -- to their tweets, but that hasn't made it into an end zone yet. And is there a prevailing keyword for Georgia and …

  Second-guessing coaches is part of sports, though coaches themselves don't always enjoy it. A decision by North Gwinnett coach Bob Sphire on Friday in Suwanee certainly provides opportunity for second-guessing. So we're going to give you the opportunity here. With 6:58 left in the third quarter and the game tied at 7, the Bulldogs faced a fourth-and-1 on their own 29. Rather than punt and play field position, Sphire called a running play that fell short. Colquitt County took over on downs and converted the short field into seven points. The Packers went on to win 17-7, ending North's season…

It has happended many times. A marriage involving two high-profile entertainment figures goes bad. News reports Friday say that longtime star Demi Moore ("A Few Good Men," among others) and television star Ashton Kutcher, 33, currently appearing on "Two And A Half Men," are divorcing. In fact, it has happened to Moore, 49, previously -- her second marriage was to actor Bruce Willis. This comes just in the wake of news about Kim Kardashian's short-lived marriage, giving rise to buzz about how solid showbiz marriages are in the first place. So take our poll, and sound off in the comments: Were …