Wade on Birmingham

Archive for October, 2015

cover up your point

Saturday, October 10th, 2015

Empathy is when
you see my point. Comedy
is when I see yours.

• • •

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a reflection in hilarity

Friday, October 9th, 2015

Let us laugh at our
foibles and shortcomings till
we forget hatred.

• • •

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the little highway that couldn’t

Thursday, October 8th, 2015

Traffic kept the lanes
thick with cars. More lanes, more cars.
Fewer lights, more cars.

• • •

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a meeting 212 years in the making

Wednesday, October 7th, 2015

The world’s oldest man
and woman should hook up for
burgers and moshing.

• • •

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Wade on Birmingham’s 10th anniversary

Tuesday, October 6th, 2015

Win a signed copy of ‘The Future of Birmingham’!

The Future of Birmingham

It’s my blog’s 10th anniversary … would you like my autograph?

Today marks 10 years of reports, essays, photos, videos, haiku and hijinks for Wade on Birmingham. It’s also the final day of our 26-part special report, The Future of Birmingham.

You may have read the essays from me and our 20 contributors. You may have downloaded the free ebook.

“The Future of Birmingham” is available on Amazon as a paperback book and a Kindle edition. Grab a copy for your coffee table ($14.99) or your e-reader ($2.99).

Want to win an autographed copy of my new book? Just leave a review on the Amazon book page by 5 p.m. CDT Friday, Oct. 9. Praise it or pan it, but make sure to review it. (And use your real name, so I can contact you when you win.)

To Amazon!

And if you haven’t looked at it yet, read all 26 parts on this site or download the free ebook.

Thank you to all of our friends, our readers, our fans, our commenters and our contributors over the years!

• • •

First, second, third, fourth, fifth, eighth and ninth anniversary posts.

The Future of Birmingham: Regaining our self-esteem

Tuesday, October 6th, 2015
Birmingham panorama

Photo: Patrick Cain (CC)

Birmingham (click to enlarge)

•

Get the full version of this essay in our free ebook.
Details at the end.

•

By James Spann

I have fond memories of Birmingham as a child.

The Future of BirminghamIn the 1960s, I lived in Greenville, but my mom’s folks were from St. Clair County. And when we visited them, a trip to Birmingham was almost always on the agenda. The city was truly magical. Listening to WSGN, the Big 610. Shopping for Christmas at the big stores downtown like Loveman’s. Hanging out at the brand new Eastwood Mall. Hopping on the rides at the Alabama State Fair at Five Points West. Watching Cousin Cliff on television.

Fast-forward to September 1979, when I started my Birmingham TV career at WAPI-13 (now WVTM). I was 23 and, somehow, Wendell Harris hired me to be their main weather guy at that incredibly young age.

A few months after I was hired, reporter Steve Sanders did a series called “Is the Magic Missing?” focusing on population loss, job market deterioration and a public education system that was faltering.

It seems like we have no self-esteem 36 years later, despite the wonderful things happening in this city.

I find it interesting that the same trolls who attack me during any winter forecast come out any time you say something positive about Birmingham. Ignore them; they aren’t worth my time, or yours.

People mocked Don Logan for moving the Birmingham Barons from Hoover back into the city a few years ago. It was a bold move, but it is paying rich dividends with record crowds.

When Trinity Medical Center moves this week to its incredible new Grandview Medical Center campus on U.S. 280, it is in the city limits. This is a huge positive for the city. [Editor’s note: James Spann has served as chair of Trinity’s board of trustees since 2005.]

Drive through downtown on a weekend, and it is buzzing with life. Loft living, new restaurants and stores, Railroad Park.

Is there crime? Of course. But crime exists in every Alabama municipality and county. Are there problems to solve? Yep. Biggest issues are fixing Birmingham schools and finding a good mass transit solution.

But the positives outweigh the negatives by far.

The future of Birmingham is:

  • People with a passion to make the city their home and a better place.
  • Focusing on the things that bring us together, not tear us apart.
  • Not being afraid of our past, but celebrating how far we have come.
  • The natural beauty in the foothills of the Appalachians.
  • Being the best place to raise a family.

And, most importantly, our future is regaining self-esteem.

I was honored to receive two major awards for a broadcast meteorologist. When I accepted the American Meteorological Society Award for Broadcast Meteorology at its 2013 meeting in Austin, I was proud to be associated with Birmingham at this international science gathering.

Same at the 2012 National Weather Association meeting when I accepted their Broadcaster of the Year award in Madison, Wisc. In fact, many asked me how they could break into our market and move here.

This is a special city with a bright future. I am proud to be from Birmingham and Alabama. You need to feel the same way. Let’s enjoy the ride back to being the Magic City.

• • •

James SpannJames Spann is chief meteorologist for Birmingham’s ABC 33/40, joining 1 month after the station signed on in 1996. In all, he has been a TV weather anchor for 36 years.

• • •

The Future of BirminghamThe full version of this essay and many more are available in the free ebook, “The Future of Birmingham.”

All you need to do is fill out this simple form. We’ll email you a link to download the book. (And, at no extra charge, we’ll add you to the mailing list for the free Y’all Connect newsletter.)

  • I WANT A FREE BOOK!




• • •

Read more essays in our special 10th anniversary series, The Future of Birmingham.

on turning 10 in blog years

Tuesday, October 6th, 2015

Welcome to my blog.
Today, it turns 10 years old.
Now where is the cake?

• • •

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The Future of Birmingham: DIY

Monday, October 5th, 2015

Stacey Ferguson

Entrepreneur and blogger Stacey Ferguson gives the opening
keynote at the Y’all Connect conference in Birmingham.
Technology is a ripe area for startups in the city.

•

Get the full version of this essay in our free ebook.
Details at the end.

•

By Jen Barnett

The future of Birmingham could be pretty much like its past: decided by the good citizens of Mountain Brook and officials from the City of Birmingham with little-to-no input from residents.

The Future of BirminghamOccasionally, these two disparate groups produce fabulous offspring, like the Sidewalk Film Festival, Railroad Park or Regions Field. More often than not, they lock horns and produce nothing. So, when considering the future of Birmingham, my first thought was “Who cares?”

But … I do. God help me, I fucking do.

If we’re smart, we can build our own future through entrepreneurship.

These are the lessons I’ve learned from having businesses here, the ones I keep in mind as I think about next steps:

1. Plant the acorn with the knowledge that you may never see (or own) the oak. We wouldn’t have a Saturn or an Iron City if Bottletree hadn’t arrived.

2. Build a business in the tech sector. It’s the city’s blind spot for regulation, it’s a foreign language to the good ol’ boy network, and it won’t shackle you to local economic factors. Plus, you could bring in much-needed dollars from outside Alabama.

3. Don’t take private investment. Instead …

4. Build your own capital from a business you don’t necessarily love before launching your passion project. Shipt chief executive officer Bill Smith created his wealth with Easy Money and Insight Card Services. Avondale Brewery founder Coby Lake bought rental properties. If you’re a specialist, and a damned good one, you’ll have better odds than generalists like me when bootstrapping a business you love.

5. Spend more of your energy building people up, or working on your own idea, than bitching about someone else’s efforts. Bitch a little (you’re only human) to keep yourself competitive. Keep it off social media.

6. Do it more for the struggle than for the outcome. Like I said in No. 1, you may never see the outcome, but the struggle can be a lot of fun, with the right attitude.

7. If you’re going to tilt at windmills, choose ones that matter. Education, transportation, income inequality, science, arts and medicine are good ones. (#FireRayWatts is a personal fave.) Your neighbors’ lawn ornaments or sex lives aren’t.

8. Find strength in numbers. You don’t need money or power to get started if you’ve got friends. Entrepreneur Rebecca Davis and filmmaker Jen West both conducted successful crowdfunding campaigns for their projects. To make crowdsourcing work for you, make lots and lots of friends. (Loners are easier to exploit and marginalize.)

9. Develop a thick skin. The harder you try, the more haters you’ll have. This is absolutely inevitable. You don’t have to be a flippant dick about them (“haters gon’ hate”), just learn to deal.

10. If you make it in Birmingham, stay in Birmingham. That’s not a mandate, just my personal plea. Mentor someone. Buy Quinlan Castle and build a moat around it. Whatever it takes to keep you engaged with the city.

If you follow these lessons and your heart, your life will be so full of passion and purpose that you’ll hardly notice what’s lacking in Birmingham.

• • •

Jen BarnettJen Barnett is a Birmingham-based entrepreneur and marketing strategy consultant.

• • •

The Future of BirminghamThe full version of this essay and many more are available in the free ebook, “The Future of Birmingham.”

All you need to do is fill out this simple form. We’ll email you a link to download the book. (And, at no extra charge, we’ll add you to the mailing list for the free Y’all Connect newsletter.)

  • I WANT A FREE BOOK!




• • •

Read more essays in our special 10th anniversary series, The Future of Birmingham.

The Birmingham channel: A seasonal shift in song

Monday, October 5th, 2015

A look at Birmingham in videos …

Singer Luis Coronel performing in August at Rancho El Centenario in Mt. Olive. From Erika Garcia.

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Canadian electronic duo Purity Ring performs in September at Iron City on Southside. From Blair Scott.

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Rancho Viejo. From El ZurdoMquez Alegre.

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Katie Hardin competes in her first U.S. Figure Skating competition at the Freestyle 2 level in summer’s Magic City Ice Classic at the Pelham Civic Complex. From Saxena Video Productions.

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A trip through the Goo-Goo Express Wash on Southside. From Kim Sebastian.

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A look at the photo archives of the Birmingham News, Huntsville Times and Press-Register in the Mobile office. From Robert Clay.

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Indiana prog rock band Umphrey’s McGee performs “Power of Soul” in September at Avondale Brewery. From psn abraxasnd.

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Singer-songwriter and former UAB football player Sam Hunt performs in September at Oak Mountain Amphitheatre. From Brandi H.

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A quick trip through downtown. From Preston Eaves.

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Pepper Place wins the Urban Land Institute Atlanta District Council 2013 Awards for Excellence. From uliatlantaawards.

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Florida metal band Bind performs in August at the High Note on Southside. From NCHC.

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L.A. rapper Earl Sweatshirt performs in September at Iron City on Southside (our vertical video of the week). From Carkles.

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Figure skaters Emily Sanders and Anna Blankenship have fun at the Pelham Civic Complex. From Aly Hathcock.

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Metal band Gwar performs in September at Iron City on Southside. From zombiegorehound.

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Atlanta rocker Tedo Stone visits LightRails downtown. From Ethan Payne.

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Buffalo Bills defensive tackle (and former Alabama player) Marcell Dareus talks to children at a city park after committing $100,000 over five years to the Birmingham Parks and Recreation. From ABC 33/40.

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A look at the Franklin Graham Festival of Hope in August at UAB’s Bartow Arena. From Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

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Birmingham rock band the Burning Peppermints performs “Ned Schneeblee” in September at Magnetic Audio in East Avondale. From Spectra Sonic Sound Sessions.

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“Motorcycles have been racing up and down First Avenue North all night. I stepped outside with my phone and heard them immediately. A police car was 100 feet behind them, did nothing.” From David Morrison.

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Driving from Southside to Inverness. From sultan sultan.

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Country singer Hunter Hayes performs in September at the Oak Mountain Amphitheatre in Pelham. From Brandi H.

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September’s Tour de Hops bike ride through Avondale and Southside. From cheesellama.

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Van Halen performs “Jump” in September at Oak Mountain Amphitheatre in Pelham. From gotcrush.

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Ride for Kids raised more than $50,000 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation in its September motorcycle event. From Rory Luther.

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More from the Festival of Hope. From Luz Clemente.

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Teaser for Good Grit Magazine. From Jordan Mahy.

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Alex on the climbing wall (our other vertical video of the week). From thkufan.

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The new class makes its entrance for the Birmingham Kappa League. From Melvin Heath.

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Timelapse footage of construction at Kinetic Communications in 2014. From Paige Simpson.

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Spanish rock group Jarabe de Palo performs in April at the Nick on Southside (our other other vertical video of the week). From liliana.

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“Alabama TV” talks with FBI agent Roger Stanton. From Latino News LLC.

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A look at the Children’s Harbor Pig Iron BBQ Challenge fund-raiser, returning Oct. 16 to the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. From United for Life Foundation.

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A mission trip to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. From Richard Womack.

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Savannah jazz guitarist Walter Parks performs “Who Am I to Play the Blues” in September at Moonlight on the Mountain in Hoover. From Walter Parks and Swamp Cabbage.

• • •

Send us links to your videos. | More videos on the Birmingham channel.

mostly hands-free commute

Monday, October 5th, 2015

Self-driving cars will
give us the freedom to flip
off other riders.

• • •

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The Future of Birmingham: Strong leadership

Sunday, October 4th, 2015
Larry Langford

Photo: Chris Denbow (CC)

Birmingham mayor Larry Langford once led a prayer rally to
fight crime, dressed in a sackcloth. The city’s prayers for
strong leadership have apparently gone unanswered.

•

Get the full version of this essay in our free ebook.
Details at the end.

•

Leadership is tough.

The Future of BirminghamA leader can do everything right and still fall off a cliff, taking everyone with him. I’ve dropped off that perch time and again, both as leader and follower.

The absence of strong leadership has left Birmingham listless, mired in potential and indecision. Few are willing to risk their own necks for the good of the city and the region.

Ironically, the influence of strong leadership has also damaged Birmingham. In politics, Larry Langford bullied his way through half-baked ideas and get-rich schemes as president of the Jefferson County Commission and mayor of Fairfield and Birmingham. In business, Richard Scrushy built national powerhouse HealthSouth and then let his greed nearly destroy the company.

Perhaps we shy away from such alpha types because we’ve been burned again and again. Perhaps we feel stuck with the limited choices before us.

The progress Birmingham has made has been in spite of, not because of, its leadership. We’ve made baby steps, but when compared to other Southern cities of similar size, we’re falling behind.

That lack of progress stems, in part, from Birmingham’s conservative nature. Not in the sense of big-blue-dot-in-a-red-state politics, but in the taking-chances-on-even-middle-of-the-road-ideas-is-scary sense. A determined leader would have at least a couple of options, either sell everyone on the idea or barrel through regardless of buy-in.

I’ve done both. I understand that great reward is almost always worth the tiny risk, though the perception may be that the risk is enormous and the reward is negligible. The real equation for me is that the fear of regret is much bigger than the fear of failure.

The leadership vacuum isn’t merely holding Birmingham back, but actively demolishing it from within. One of the city’s crown jewels, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is in the middle of a crisis.

President Ray Watts has transformed from harmless nobody into Public Enemy No. 1. The governing bodies for the faculty, the undergrads and the grad students have voted no confidence in him. And yet, he still stands, a tolerable mess, it appears.

We not only tolerate awful leaders, we promote them. The corporate citizenry has made its priorities clear: As long as their egos and their bank accounts are well served, any lackey will do.

What distresses me most in dealing with Birmingham’s leaders is lack of humility, this overwhelming sense of entitlement to power and money. A little chutzpah is necessary in any accomplished person, but too much poisons the spirit.

An antidote does exist. I first heard about servant leadership from meteorologist James Spann during one of his talks. What stuck with me was not only the concept, but also how he embodies it. James will admit his weaknesses and mistakes, and then apologize for them. He’s trying, and he’s willing to fail.

That is impressive. That, sadly, is all too rare.

The best future for Birmingham is strong leadership. We must insist upon it, though our options are few. We must support it and hold it accountable.

And, at times, we must take it upon ourselves. Tough as it may be, we cannot wait forever.

• • •

The Future of BirminghamThe full version of this essay and many more are available in the free ebook, “The Future of Birmingham.”

All you need to do is fill out this simple form. We’ll email you a link to download the book. (And, at no extra charge, we’ll add you to the mailing list for the free Y’all Connect newsletter.)

  • I WANT A FREE BOOK!




• • •

Read more essays in our special 10th anniversary series, The Future of Birmingham.

#sundayread for Oct. 4, 2015

Sunday, October 4th, 2015
reading on outside steps

Photo: Bernhard Frank (CC)

My picks for #sundayread for Oct. 4, 2015:

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Don’t miss our new 26-part series:
★ The Future of Birmingham ★

•

More posts from Wade this week:

The latest #sundayread tweets

ingredients for a costume

Sunday, October 4th, 2015

Hidden stitching, a
wig, maybe an accent, props
and a loss of self.

• • •

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The Future of Birmingham: Artful

Saturday, October 3rd, 2015
Four Spirits

Photo: Rain0975 (CC)

“Four Spirits” in downtown’s Kelly Ingram Park memorializes the
girls killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in 1963.
Birmingham is overflowing with talented artists, and the people
who support them.

•

Get the full version of this essay in our free ebook.
Details at the end.

•

By Jess Simpson

Ask me what could make the biggest difference in the future of Birmingham with the least muscle required (meaning unrealistic wads of money, seemingly unattainable widespread cooperation among politicians, core infrastructure evolution, etc.), and my answer is always …

The Future of BirminghamOur creative capital.

Birmingham is overflowing with talented artists, musicians, filmmakers, dancers, choreographers, producers, actors, playwrights, authors, painters, sculptors, metal workers, photographers and patrons.

Ask almost anyone what they like about living in Birmingham, and they will talk about a favorite event or festival; the quality of our museums, symphony and ballet; the growing gallery and visual arts scene; the discovery of a new artist; or our ever-expanding array of top-notch performance spaces.

Anyone who doubts Birmingham’s creative capital simply isn’t paying attention.

For many years, I had the privilege of working for one of the city’s art centers, seeking performers to showcase. What I found again and again while scouting “outside” talent, is that local artists have as much or more talent than almost any other community in the land. And they consistently produce beautiful, thought-provoking work with astonishingly few resources.

In March 2015, I asked a panel of these artists, “What would happen if we dreamed big artistically?” Based on their thoughtful responses, it was clear: We have no shortage of big dreams brewing in the wings — we just the need the resources to bring them to fruition.

Finding inspiration, supporting grand thinking

Along the oceanfront promenade of Zadar, Croatia, visitors can experience the impact of visionary art. In reflecting upon my recent visit, I found my thoughts once again turning to Birmingham.

The Adriatic coastal area, once heavily bombed and scarred from war, is a magnet today for locals and tourists, thanks in large part to two public art installations. One, called the “Sea Organ,” uses air created by passing boats to create music through a series of pipes, delivering sweet sounds through the city day and night. The other, “Greeting to the Sun,” soaks up solar energy to produce a giant, out-of-this-world light show at night.

Both are free, self-perpetuating and constantly running. Universally acclaimed for creating hope and excitement where once stood only devastation and despair, these projects have helped to make Zadar one of Europe’s hottest destinations.

We have that same potential to engage and transform the world through the beauty and power of art. It requires that we, collectively and individually, make a commitment to educate, nurture, recruit and support artists.

Here’s how to start …

  1. Collect work from Birmingham-based artists.
  2. Buy tickets to shows.
  3. Encourage original work.
  4. Nurture curiosity about innovative art.
  5. Help artists make meaningful connections.
  6. Use influence to seek support for artistic projects.
  7. Support bold ideas.
  8. Elevate our talent at every opportunity.
  9. Partner with artists on cross-pollination.
  10. Demand engaging art programs in our schools.
  11. Position Birmingham as a place where artists thrive.
  12. And, by all means, kick the inclination to think of local as “second tier” to the curb.

Creating an environment where the arts can flourish takes dedication. It also takes heart.

And, that’s where the good news keeps coming. Birmingham has a heart so big, it can’t long be denied.

• • •

Jess SimpsonLover of a colorful story and a good margarita, Jess Simpson is a Birmingham writer chasing a dream of slow travel through a fast world. Her recently published work includes “Greetings from Birmingham” for Paste.

• • •

The Future of BirminghamThe full version of this essay and many more are available in the free ebook, “The Future of Birmingham.”

All you need to do is fill out this simple form. We’ll email you a link to download the book. (And, at no extra charge, we’ll add you to the mailing list for the free Y’all Connect newsletter.)

  • I WANT A FREE BOOK!




• • •

Read more essays in our special 10th anniversary series, The Future of Birmingham.

drama at 2030

Saturday, October 3rd, 2015

Toddler bedtime is
a mix of dancing, tears, light
bargaining and hugs.

• • •

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