Grammy drought: If you actually follow the sham that is the Grammys, the noms are out. After having scanned the entire nominee list, only one Alabamian jumps out: Birmingham’s Emmylou Harris. She and Rodney Crowell are competing in the hotly contested Country Collaboration With Vocals category for their single, “Shelter From the Storm.” It’s a cover of a Bob Dylan tune on Crowell’s disc, "The Outsider."
• Mariah Carey and 2 Others Lead Grammy Nods [New York Times]

Musings on a Magic Platter: Anyone who remembers growing up in Birmingham shopped at the Magic Platter in Hoover for cool CDs. What many folks don’t know is that the owner, Don VanCleave, was at the heart of a revolution in the music industry: organizing indie music stores into a powerful force, the Coalition of Independent Music Stores. While the Platter is history, VanCleave remains active in a tumultuous biz. And if you enjoyed the Killers at this year’s City Stages, you have him to thank.
• Indie Music Mogul Don VanCleave [Black and White]

Sovereignty, diplomacy and rock 'n’ roll!: Speaking of moguls, apparently Birmingham’s Condi Rice is a rock star in the take-no-prisoners world of diplomacy. She’s beloved by many the world over, and it’s all part of the plan. The man behind the woman ain’t Dick Cheney, but Jim Wilkinson, a senior aide. Ya gotta admit, even with all of her credibility problems and boss’ sinking approval ranking, she usually manages to come out on top.
• The Man Behind the Secretary of State’s Rock Star Image [New York Times]

Also:

• Fultondale home’s outdoor display targeted for ‘de-Jesusifying’ Christmas
• UPS guy, Fedex dude maintain friendly rivalry despite similar routes
• Accountant spends free time reconciling mileage log, carpool schedule

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Garrison Starr has been haunting Birmingham stages a lot this fall, with another gig coming up in December. Her Tuesday show at Moonlight Music Cafe in Vestavia Hills featured something different: guitar in the round, with Michelle Malone and Nini Camps.

The two-hour show was a feast of blues, folk, rock and pop with a lotta Lilith in the mix.

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Watch shows on iPod.
Tiny Regis, Ripa spar.
Welcome to future?

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Moving mountains over the mountain: Many Birmingham-area cities not named “Birmingham” are looking at ways to share resources and save money. Do Homewood, Hoover, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills need duplicate dispatch centers, jails and garages? The savings could be enormous, and the plan hinges on only one teensy tiny problem: regional governmental cooperation. Look at it this way: Separation from Birmingham for decades does have a price. Are we still willing to pay it?
• Suburbs eye sharing costs [Birmingham News]

Survival of the lamest: Alabama’s evolution disclaimer in textbooks has earned the state an F in a national study on science education standards. Not to worry: If creationists are right, we’re all going to heaven. If evolutionists are right, we’ll be wiped out when the next comet hits. Christ, it’s not like our science teachers have to beg for decent equipment and furniture, forcing them to win some ripoff reality TV contest. Heck, evolution ain’t even on the state graduation exam. Buncha worrywarts …
• New study gives Alabama ‘F’ in science, cites evolution stance [Associated Press]

The nutty professors: A&M professor Hortense Dodo has come up with a clever solution for all those peanut-allergy sufferers: a non-allergenic peanut. First, George Washington Carver invents peanuts finds hundreds of uses for peanuts. Now this. And we owe it all to SCIENCE evolution.
• Scientists at Alabama A&M create non-allergenic peanut [WAFF (Huntsville)]

Also:

• Bellsouth Christmas party riot blamed on open bar ‘closing down in 10 minutes’
• Area residents continue to pack on pounds, citing unusual cold weather, buffet specials
• PSA: Only you can start forest fires

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Fog of nicotine
closes in on shallow breaths.
Gasp gasp pant gasp wheeze.

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Toil without praise.
Kill my supervisor, please,.
then spit on the corpse.

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Holiday sweater
has embroidered snowpeople
in blue pill “blizzard.”

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Chilly morn numbs face.
Too frosty to rise from bed.
Old Man Winter laughs.

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Cary Brothers shouldn’t be confused with the Statler Brothers or the Wayans Brothers. He’s just one man, with a band, and a whole lotta love from “Scrubs” star and “Garden State” auteur Zach Braff.

New “Blue Eyes” performed at a CD release party at WorkPlay Thursday night.

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Creamy beverage
(smells like daddy after work)
thickens down my throat.

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There is no tomorrow: At least Legion Field is good for one last thing … it’s Day 2 of the state high school football championships. Little surprise that Homewood is playing tonight for the 5A crown, and the much-televised Hoover is playing Saturday afternoon for yet another 6A title. The team has been on ESPN, MTV and now UPN 68. But is the world ready for “Laguna Bucs”? Maybe that’s why more students are leaving Birmingham for suburban schools. [live audio game feed]
• Super 6 [Alabama High School Athletic Association]

Really Rosa: A roundup of Thursday’s 50th anniversary of Rosa Parks’ bus protest:

• An Auburn PR students blog spotted the main item highlighting the Montgomery Advertiser’s in-depth presentation on the anniversary.
• A Smithsonian exhibit opens today in the state Capitol, running through Jan. 14 before moving to Huntsville and then around the country.
• While honoring Parks, President Bush asked Congress to renew the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
• Several Atlanta leaders are pushing for the Rosa Parks Memorial Bridge.
• Even the Big Apple paid tribute by leaving a seat empty in the front of each public bus.

• Alabama Paper Commemorates Bus Boycott’s 50th Anniversary [Editor and Publisher]

Pay now, pay later: Remember layaways? They never went away — and still prove useful to folks on a budget, or just in need of a hiding place for a large gift, say, a bike.
• Layaway for holidays fills shelves [Birmingham News]

Also:

• Carmike bargain movie patron demands $2 refund for $1 ‘Lord of War’
• Kwanzaa dinner accidentally booked at The Club
• Pelham Soccer mom: ‘I use my hands for everything’

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Fake fir mans corner.
(Do they still make wooden trees?)
The cheer is still real.

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Kit has all, knows all.
Turkey beats beef for frying.
Stuffed in crunchy shells.

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