McCain coming to town; Edwards dropping out

Breaking: CNN.com reports that John Edwards plans to quit the presidential race this afternoon, meaning no trip to Birmingham on Saturday.

Arizona Senator John McCain, fresh from his victory in the Florida primary, will join the parade of presidential candidates courting Birmingham voters.

His free public event will take place 1:30 p.m. at the Sheraton by the BJCC. [map]

Alabama votes Tuesday with 23 other states to select party nominees. Also, absentee voter registration closes Thursday.

Will the state pick McCain or Mike Huckabee for the Republicans?

The videos that McCain doesn’t want you to see, after the jump …

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Edwards to visit Birmingham Saturday, drops Huntsville

Use extreme caution: John Edwards (the former Senator from North Carolina, not the fake psychic) is coming to Birmingham on Saturday. He had originally planned to stop in Huntsville on Wednesday, but canceled for a jaunt to New Orleans.

Not only does he want to shake your hand, he wants to control your country.

Details remain sketchy at this point, but we’ll keep you posted as the situation develops.

The state’s presidential primary is Feb. 5.

Update: Edwards will visit Huntsville on Thursday. We call this a flip-flop.

Anyone for Edwards? Anyone?

The video that Edwards doesn’t want you to see, after the jump …

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Video highlights from this weekend’s visits by presidential candidates Mike Huckabee and Barack Obama …

Huckabee and Obama on Fox 6:

More after the jump …

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Huckabee, Obama barnstorm Birmingham

Today in politics … Dennis Kucinich dropped out of the presidential race … voter registration in Alabama closed for the primary.

And coming up this weekend, a heaping helping of handshakes and stump speeches.

First, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will speak at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Samford University’s Brock Hall [Google map | campus map]. This will be the first visit to Alabama for the Republican candidate. The event is free and open to the public.

Second, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama will hold a town hall meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday at UAB’s Bartow Arena [map]. This represents the Democratic contender’s third visit to the state. The event is free and open to the public — however, attendees must pick up tickets by 9 tonight from the campaign office at 1813 Fourth Ave. N. to be admitted.

The state’s presidential primary is Feb. 5.

Are you going to see Mike or Barack this weekend?

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Complete Vote 2008 coverage.

Thompson ends presidential run

Fred Thompson, actor and Republican contender, dropped his bid for the presidency today. The Sheffield native had been in the race barely five months and a handful of primaries/caucuses before bowing out.

He previously served as a U.S. Senator from Tennessee for eight years before taking a role on the NBC drama, “Law and Order.” (Insert chung-chung sound effect.) His fund-raising and campaign stops included a $1,000-per-couple shindig in Mountain Brook in July, before he even announced his run.

Alabama, which holds its presidential primary in two weeks, has never had a native serve as President or Vice President. Two American Idols, but no Commanders-in-Chief.

Were you a Fredhead? Who will you support now?

• • •

Complete Vote 2008 coverage.

Alabama’s presidential primary is less than three weeks away. But which candidate do you support? Do you even know his or her agenda?

On Feb. 5 (the sadly named Super Duper Tuesday), voters in this state will have a fresh opportunity to pick Democratic and Republican nominees, rather than let earlier states winnow down the field arbitrarily.

In our Vote 2008 coverage, we’ll bring you the issues that matter most to Alabamians, and how candidates stack up in key positions. Start by checking out the official Web sites for their platforms.

Then, try out Select a Candidate below, by filling out your choices on top issues and finding out which presidential hopeful matches up best. Tell us in the comments about your match, your actual vote-getter and why.

(You can also try glassbooth or the MyFox Candidate Matchmaker for alternate matches.)

• • •

Complete Vote 2008 coverage.

Find this year’s latest flicks
with our Summer Movie Guide.

The summer’s barely begun, but perhaps you’ve had your fill of pirates, webslingers and crazed killers.

Have we got a deal for you? Check out more than 50 movies coming to a neighborhood near you, and more than half of them for free. Free! FREE!! They’re all in our Summer Movie Guide 2007.

Kick back and enjoy classics and family films, cutting edge and in concert. Whether it’s in the park or in the air-conditioned comfort of the indoors, you’ll find it here. No megaplexes, no inattentive ushers — just the best movies outside of the chains from “The Ant Bully” to “Zoom.”

Updated with Israeli Cann’d Film Festival …

Updated with Movies on the Mall …

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I’ve been a faithful City Stages fan for years, at least 15 or so. Most of the last 10 years, I’ve paid for my tickets and happily headed downtown for three days of music and fellowship.

I dare say I’ve spent more supporting the festival than most people I know. I consider that a point of pride, almost to the point of foolishness.

After all, even if the lineup was weak — and many a year, the lineup was weak — I could count on seeing old friends and discovering worthy up-and-coming acts.

Not this year. Not with my money.

Updated with Preserve Jazz Festival attendance, plus additional links.

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Maybe the Hoover Bucs didn’t have the best season ever. Their hopes of a mythic national championship crashed hard earlier in the season. But the high school football powerhouse could still fulfill one record-breaking goal: a fifth straight state championship.

And so, Coach Propst and company are back on familiar turf, battling for the ring in one last game. It’s time for players, couples and teams to face their destiny in the hour-long season finale of “Two-a-Days.” (more…)

The Hoover Bucs love the smell of manure under the bleachers. Smells like … victory.

And so our heroes once again face their bitter rivals, the Vestavia Hills for a grudge rematch, this time during the state semifinals. If you hate the Rebels, well, this episode of “Two-a-Days” is for you. (more…)

We interrupt this season of “Two-a-Days” for the following announcement:

This week’s episode is a lousy clip show. How the heck do you put together highlights from a mere seven half-hour episodes of the Hoover Bucs? The producers could’ve at least just made it 20 minutes of Coach Propst ranting unbleeped …

Instead, we offer our “best of” from the season to date. (more…)

Producer: “We need you kids to do something to jazz up this week’s episode of ‘Two-a-Days.’ ”

Kids: “We could have a bake sale. Or spend time with the elderly. Or cheer on the Hoover Bucs, our favorite team.”

Producer: “No! I’ve got it! You’re going to (dramatic pause) a psychic.”

Kids: (gasp!) (more…)

The playoffs continue, but the Hoover Bucs aren’t looking ahead to next week.

They’re looking ahead to next year

Yes, the seniors are looking forward to college, playing ball at another level, hanging out with their girlfriends, the whole campus experience. Except for Charlie, who may be repeating kindergarten at the rate he’s going. Even with higher education looming, the team faces the lowdown Thompson Warriors on the latest “Two-a-Days.” (more…)

Guns! Intrigue! Drills (running, not power)! Snooze.

What if they started the state playoffs, and no one really cared? Apparently, the Hoover Bucs are going through the motions, but surely that would make for another exciting installment of “Two-a-Days”? Right?

Oh, shoot. The hunt for another trophy is on. (more…)

The Hoover Bucs: scary on the field? Sure. Scary in practice? Sometimes.

Scarily dramatic? Yawn. “Two-a-Days” without drama is just a bunch of kids sorta staying out of trouble and leading humdrum lives on camera. Halloween week brings few tricks and sad little treats, including Coach Propst chasing his 100th victory. Or his 100th burrito. We lose count. (more…)