Wade on Birmingham

Archive for April, 2009

Alabama on ‘Survivor’: Girl fight

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 11 recap

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

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Wade on Birmingham - Survivor Tocantins“Our happy little family is not such a little happy family anymore.”

That’s how Debbie describes the Forza tribe during Tribal Council. The soap opera of “Survivor” just heaped on the drama tonight, with crying, scheming and fighting galore.

Is James Thomas Jr. of Mobile eating his way to victory? Can Debra Beebe of Auburn stomach the drama?

Who’s lying, who’s crying, and which two women are at war? Find out, after the jump …

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you’re not the blank boss of me

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

You tell me what to
do. Who asked you? You talk, but
no one’s listening.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Alabama on ‘Survivor’: On the hot seat

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 11 preview

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

VIDEO: Teaser for tonight’s episode

Wade on Birmingham - Survivor Tocantins

A quickie look at tonight’s “Survivor: Tocantins” above. Recap to follow the show.

Tyson is gone! Coach is scrambling! Debbie is scrambling!

Is James Thomas Jr. of Samson running the show? Is Debra Beebe of Auburn suddenly in danger of being voted out?

Catch up:

  • Previous recap from us,
  • And one from Jeff.

Plus, host Jeff Probst handicaps our Alabama contestants:

  • On Debbie: “She’s very likable … She would be a dangerous person to let go all the way to the end.”
  • On J.T.: “J.T. has a tougher job ahead of him because he’s such a physical threat. If everybody wakes up soon, they’re going to get rid of J.T., because he could win his way to the end.”

We’ll see you back here tonight after the episode.

Bonus videos, after the jump …

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Heads up: Alabama reports two possible swine flu cases

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

swine flu - playadura - flickr

Mexico City, Mexico, April 27, 2009

Alabama health officials announced earlier this evening that two sick schoolchildren in the Huntsville area are 95 percent likely to have contracted swine flu. The students attend Madison’s Heritage Elementary. As a precaution, schools and businesses in the area are closed for up to the next seven days.

A variant of influenza, swine flu is usually found in pigs and most often causes mild symptoms in humans. While regular influenza kills 500,000 people worldwide (36,000 Americans) each year — usually as a result of pneumonia in susceptible young and elderly patients — swine flu this year has caused eight deaths out of 148 cases worldwide.

The World Health Organization raised its pandemic alert to 5, the second-highest level, alerting countries to prepare immediately.

Also:

• Birmingham News: Two Madison cases probably swine flu, Alabama officials say

• • •

More headlines | send us your news tips.

elemental landscaping

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

Assorted weeds, clumps
of dirt define motley yard
begging for green thumb.

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difference of opinion

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

We may share same stage,
but we live on different
planets, idiot.

• • •

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The future of Birmingham, as told by us

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham - Imagine blog

Often in this space, we focus on Birmingham’s present and past, but perhaps not often enough on its future.

Where is the city headed? Where do we want it to be in 50 years?

The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham marks its 50th anniversary on May 11. This nonprofit organization is a public endowment, a savings account for the community, using gifts from donors to make grants to nonprofit organizations in Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Blount and Walker counties.

As part of its anniversary celebration, the foundation has launched Imagine, a blog to capture the wildest dreams for Birmingham. What could happen? What should never change?

Foundation officers asked dreamers, including Wade on Birmingham, to write and share their vision. (The utopian one, not the apocalyptic sentient-robots-enslave-humanity future.) Here’s an excerpt of our contribution, “A walk to the library”:

April 27, 2059

On the way, I see children hurrying to Miriam Witherspoon Elementary, the nation’s top-rated public school. It must be Science Fair Day, because they’re all carrying fusion-powered gizmos and genetically engineered slaw.

The air is clearer than I ever remember. Thank goodness we curbed power plant emissions and car exhaust through smart planning and regulation. Everyone can breathe more easily, and spend their time on things other than trips to the doctor and the pharmacist.

Read the rest of the story and then contribute your own.

What do you want for Birmingham in the next 50 years? Tell us in the comments.

in the shadow of Vulcan

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

Son of Birmingham
stuck with hometown, which has stuck
with him. It’s y’all good.

• • •

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frail

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

Beep. Beep. Monitor
ticks off faint heartbeats, his life
in green pulsing blips.

• • •

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a focused lens

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

We banter on the
meaning of photos, only
to expose ourselves.

• • •

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legs of an artist

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

The tent harbors a
micro-gallery of art
while the painter hides.

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Read more haiku.

EXCLUSIVE: Executive director Chloe Collins discusses Sidewalk films, finances

Monday, April 27th, 2009

Chloe Collins, executive director, Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, Birmingham, Alabama

An outsider takes the reins at downtown festival

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The first executive director was a co-founder, serving for eight years. The second rose through the ranks, serving for two years.

The third started Friday.

[Wade on Birmingham:
EXCLUSIVE: Sidewalk hires Chloe Collins as Executive Director
]

Chloe Collins has pored over the budget, fielded dozens of congratulatory e-mails and met with board members and volunteers alike. In taking the reins of the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, she inherits a 10-year-old film festival with a nearly $10,000 budget shortfall and less than five months until show time.

“The biggest challenge I can see is just getting my arms around what all is involved,” Collins says. “As I learn more, I’m realizing there are lots of people who play such an important role with the festival, and those people haven’t gone away.”

In this exclusive interview, Collins discusses what’s ahead for the festival and how she went from casual moviegoer to executive director. She talked with us in person last week.

(more…)

Alabama on ‘Survivor’: I just threw up on my feet

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 10 recap

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

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Wade on Birmingham - Survivor Tocantins

What a waste of an idol. We should’ve been clearer about the meaning behind Brendan’s departure in the previous episode of “Survivor.”

It was yet another blindside. It was the loss of his Hidden Immunity Idol, meaning, one or two are still in play.

And it was the tolling bell of doom for his buddy Sierra, caught on the wrong side of the vote.

Is Debra Beebe of Auburn ready to charge forward? Is James Thomas Jr. of Samson getting enough to eat?

Is ex-Timbira in control, or another cross-tribal alliance? Find out, after the jump …

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hot wheel

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

Steering wheel scorches
hands turning mighty beast through
stampede of rabbits.

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Teaser: A vision for the Sidewalk film festival

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

We spoke this afternoon with Chloe Collins, the new executive director of Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, a follow-up to our exclusive story from Wednesday.

Here’s a video teaser of the soon-to-be-published story. Collins discusses her vision for the annual downtown film festival.

• • •

More Sidewalk coverage.