Cooperation is the watchword.

At least, it is for 2006. I haven’t seen so much intergovernmental cooperation in as long as I can remember. Granted, it’s not exactly hugs and rainbows, but it’s a start.

What’s particularly striking about this quiet revolution is the young professionals movement. Not content to let the oldsters continue to run Birmingham into the ground, YPs (preferable to yuppies or some other media-friendly term) are beginning to organize, speak out, actually assert themselves and participate in the ongoing experiment of democracy.

(Hell, even MTV Spring Break 2006 is more about altruism then alcoholism, volunteerism over hedonism. Sad sad sad.)

Birmingham doesn’t stand at a crossroads — it’s been roadkill for a while. But YPs could breathe new life into old ways of governance and getting things done.

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Healthy addiction
(no matter how benign) is
destructive habit.

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After writing this blog for nearly six months, I came to a conclusion.

I need another blog.

So, without further ado, my new blog, WadeKwon.com, a chance to tell a few more stories. While I focus on all things and faces Birmingham (and Alabama) in this blog, I’m going to stretch a bit and write longer pieces for the new site.

I hope you’ll visit it in the coming days. And I thank you for continuing to read Wade on Birmingham.

Words tumble on screen
in ever-flowing burst of
manic creation.

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It’s now or never: If the occupant of the governor’s mansion can’t be colorful, at least the race to get there can be. In case you’d forgotten (and Lord knows we’ve tried), it’s an election year and three candidates are looking to unseat the incumbent for governor of Alabama. At one political rally, “A lot more people showed up this year. I guess it’s because of the governor’s race. You know, we like our politics down here in Alabama.” The observer? An Elvis impersonator. Wake us on Nov. 8.
• In Race to Lead Alabama, It’s Politics as Unusual [New York Times]

Life and limbs: The young man from Ashville dreamed of being an underwater welder. But during his second tour of duty in Iraq, Noah Galloway lost his left arm and left leg to a roadside bomb. Now the soldier is an outpatient at an army hospital in Washington, facing months of rehab. His goal is to attend college and open a gym, but first, he must master his new artificial limbs. Spc. Galloway is one of about 10,000 American military personnel injured by improvised bombs in Iraq.
• State soldier working to rebuild bomb-battered life [Birmingham News]

Silvertron shocker: Quite a few people are stunned about the death of Alan Potts, owner of the Silvertron Cafe in Forest Park. He was found dead early Wednesday, shot in the head once. The 55-year-old husband and father of two had operated the restaurant for 20 years. Police found forced entry at the back door and the gun apparently used. The restaurant was closed Wednesday, with no indication of when it would reopen. If it’s ruled a homicide, the toll would keep Birmingham ahead of this point last year.
• Owner of Silvertron Cafe found fatally shot in kitchen [Birmingham News]

Also:

• Park cleanup yields more treasures for man’s fast-food wrapper collection
• Midfield woman’s ‘bun in the oven’ was literal, not figurative
• Twelfth graders rally to improve truancy skills

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This rep sends me to
another rep, who sends me
to … I just hung up.

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Signed, sealed, delivered: We’ve discussed churches as pillars of rural communities, but let’s not forget post offices. In tiny Alabama towns, the postmaster is not just the giver of mail, but the keeper of gossip, the payer of bills and … the weigher of babies and turkeys. Said Emelle Postmaster Janet Hutcherson, “They don’t think of me as a federal servant. They think of me as a friend.”
• Heart of town [Tuscaloosa News]

Rane of preservation: You may know the YellaWood commercials, but what about the town that YellaWood built? Abbeville is in a civic revival, with help from one of the town’s companies, Great Southern Wood Preserving, and its founder Jimmy Rane. The company has put $1 million into revitalization projects during the last decade. A former gas station is now the company’s purchasing department, and a dentist’s office is now a subsidiary company’s headquarters. Says on historian, “You can stroll down Kirkland Street and see Jimmy Rane’s tracks and his impact on both sides of the street.”
• Yella Fella preserves wood and hometown [Birmingham News]

Up Highway 72: Florence is becoming known for its fashion, with two designers calling it home. And if you’re in town, ask for the fried chicken and fried okra at the Hollywood Inn. Not because we’ve tried it, we’re just late for lunch.
• Florence, Alabama — Fashion Capital of the South [New York Times]

Also:

• Legislature hustles to placate voters with spending, stances
• Bus driver ignores ‘exact change rule,’ but just this once
• Only lost items found in lost-and-found bin

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“His name was Barry, he was a show guy, with 11 singers on the air and a ’50s theme, beware …”

Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks took on a Buddy Holly classic, with middling results during rehearsal. Could Barry Manilow save the day? It’s back to the ’50s for “American Idol.”

Updated with multimedia, elimination.

Recap after the jump …

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Special growling voice
comes from mix of age, smoking
and sickness unchecked.

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Hispanics, go home: Talk about tough on crime … jaywalk in Hoover, and you’re on your way back to Mexico. Robert Cahill, a Jefferson County district judge, has sent undocumented Hispanic immigrants packing after being booked with no bond for misdemeanors, a power reserved for immigration judges. A class-action suit against Cahill, the city of Hoover and the police chief claims violations of immigrants’ constitutional rights. Whew! We were afraid the Department of Hoover Homeland Security was going go illegally detain Arabs … Plus, it’s not like Hoover is ignoring the potential windfall of Hispanic business.
• Banished [Birmingham News]

Hispanics, stay here: Maybe Hoover can deport Hispanics to farm country. More than 200 farmers told Sen. Jeff Sessions that without migrant workers, farms would be ruined. Dios mio, those farmers are selfish: You can’t let a bunch of Spanish-spewing jaywalkers have the run of the place.
• State’s farmers split with Sessions on immigration [Birmingham News]

Jihad against boredom: Kids have a new place to hang out, play Xbox, shoot pool and study holy scriptures. Is it the new Baptist Family Center? Nope. Try the Birmingham Islamic Center, which has dedicated part of a prayer hall to youth activities. And we’re not kidding: The center is located in … Hoover. Now we’re just confused …
• New Islamic center provides place for children to pray, play [Birmingham News]

All clear: Here’s our travel tip for the week: Aruba! Since Alabama students and families are steering clear of Caribbean resorts, it should be less crowded and less rowdy. Plus, we bet the prices are a steal at this point. And if you should ever turn up missing, don’t worry, we’ll talk about you night and day.
• Alabamians shun Caribbean resorts on spring break [Birmingham News]

Also:

• Gubernatorial candidates stump for votes from citizens, jurors
• Supermarket samples revealed to be sales gimmick
• Local man determined to finish crossword by ‘quittin’ time’

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Send us your news tips.

Spring has sprung at last.
A lovely time for strolling and
taking in the sights.

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Oddly addictive
sound loops and pop culture pics.
You’re the man now, dog.

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Who has the ringtone
that gets the people talking?
DJ King Camphone.

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Weekend multimedia roundup:

Fellow RLCer and neighbor Duane Pontius talks with WBHM (90.3 FM) about his work on a research team that may have found life on one of Saturn’s moons. He’s an assistant professor of physics at Birmingham-Southern College. (related story)

It’s Alabama (10) vs. UCLA (2) in round 2 of the NCAA men’s tournament. Tipoff is at 7 tonight on CBS 42. And as predicted, I’m dead last in the contest pool.

Muscle Shoals native and country singer/guitarist Gary Nichols has his debut single, “I Can’t Love You Anymore,” on iTunes, a free download (through Monday). You can check out “HomeGrown,” “Unbroken Ground” and “Southern Girls” at his MySpace page.

Picking teams at will.
What’s important? Seed or skill?
Brackets go bye-bye.

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