Wade on Birmingham

Heads and tales: Rank you very much

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rank

The fat(test) of the land: Alabama, step away from the buffet. Two-thirds of us are fat, making us the second-fattest state in America, says a study by the Washington-based nonprofit research group, Trust for America’s Health. Mississippi was fattest, and Colorado was 51st (including the District of Columbia). A map of the Bible Bloated Belt shows the South leading the way in the supersizing of the world, with top showings in diabetes and high blood pressure. It’s so bad, Birmingham’s mayor has already put us on a routine of proper eating and exercise. And one Trinity cafe is finding success selling half-portions at half-price. Can the state lead the way to a thinner nation, or die(t) trying?
• Alabama gets fatter, No. 2 in country, report says [Birmingham News]

Going for broke: One-sixth of us are poor, making us the eighth-poorest state in America, says the latest U.S. Census report. Mississippi had the most families below the poverty line; New Hampshire had the fewest. In 25 years, the rate has fluctuated somewhat. Alabama’s median household income was $36,879 in 2005. And while the Birmingham-Hoover metro area was above the state average, blacks and Hispanics are faring terribly, with about 25 percent falling below the poverty line.
• State’s 17% poverty rate is nation’s 8th highest [Birmingham News]

Getting housed: Birmingham ranks ninth among 130 cities in high-cost mortgages, according to a report from social justice group, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. Nearly half of the mortgages refinanced here were at 3 or more percentage points above the national average. Blacks and Hispanics in cities often face fewer choices in loan products and services, forcing them into high-cost loans. A map shows cities in the South and Midwest gouging consumers who can afford it least. For them, the American dream is more like an amortized nightmare.
• City ranks high in costly mortgages [Birmingham News]

washington monthly

School standings: Among universities, Alabama A&M ranked 24th according to Washington Monthly magazine. And the unique survey is based on three criteria: helping poor people get into school and graduate, fostering scientific and humanistic research, and instilling an ethic of service to country. Paired with the survey is the cover story with a title that says it all: “Is our students learning?” Well, is they?

Plus, Hoover High ranks No. 1 in football in the USA Today Super 25.
• A&M gets high rank [Birmingham News]

Also:

  • Ernesto boycotts Alabama
  • Demopolis body shop owner moves fantasy football franchise to L.A.
  • Five Points South demonstrators make love, not sense

• • •

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4 Yips for “Heads and tales: Rank you very much”

  1. Curtis
    Thursday, August 31, 2006, 12:13 am
    1

    “Ernesto boycotts Alabama” … and Curtis gets to take his family to the Alabama’s Gulf region for a vacation instead of relief efforts. 🙂

  2. Wade
    Thursday, August 31, 2006, 8:37 pm
    2

    Bring us back some debris.

  3. John
    Thursday, August 31, 2006, 9:49 pm
    3

    Where your post says:

    Also:

    * Ernesto boycotts Alabama
    * Demopolis body shop owner moves fantasy football franchise to L.A.
    * Five Points South demonstrators make love, not sense

    – – –

    Are those supposed to be links? If not, what is the point? Am I missing some add-on that would make them links? I see things like that often at the bottom of posts, and I expect them to be links, but they rarely are.

    Thanks. Just curious.

  4. Wade
    Saturday, September 2, 2006, 3:32 pm
    4

    These are humorous made-up headlines. You can tell because you’re currently laughing so hard, you can’t control your bowels.

    Try to contain yourself.

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