Heads and tales: Hearts on sleeves

Red state mutiny: When the Blue States are mad, who cares? But when the reddest of the Red States is unhappy, look out. A majority of Alabamians surveyed said the war in Iraq isn’t worth it, according to the latest survey by the Alabama Education Association’s Capital Survey Research Center. The results: 51 percent said no, while nearly 40 percent said yes, with a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points. Previous surveys showed declining support for the war, but this survey is the first with a majority against the current military action. But then, it’s never been about public opinion, has it?
• Statewide poll finds disfavor with Iraq war [Birmingham News]

Bang for your bucks: What’s the price of an eye? Or for 21 operations? If you’re Emily Lyons, the nurse who was nearly killed in the 1998 bombing of the New Woman All Woman clinic on Birmingham’s Southside, it’s 57 bucks and change. Although convicted bomber Eric Rudolph was ordered to pay $2.3 million in restitution among all of his bombing victims, the reality is serial murder just doesn’t pay like it used to. Mrs. Lyons, may we suggest running for county commission?
• Bombing victims get pittance from Eric Rudolph year after plea [Associated Press]

Matthew! 22! 15! Hut hut hike!: WWJD? He’d call for a wide right for a short gain to make the first down. Or, he’d simply market himself on “pro” football jerseys. A North Carolina newspaper columnist has taken issue with the Birmingham Steeldogs upcoming Faith Night, or more specifically, jerseys with Scripture references from Birmingham-based Christian Throwbacks. Rob Daniels writes: “We have suspected it all along, and now it has been confirmed: The Birmingham Steeldogs are God’s Team.” Pretty funny, until you realize Daniels will burn in hell for all eternity. All for mocking our deep abiding faith in ~~football~~ God.
• Rob Daniels: Religious jerseys fit poorly in pro games [Greensboro (N.C.) News & Record.com]

Freedom from speech: An Alabama self-described peace activist has been receiving death threats for her online movies (more like slideshows) with anti-Bush or anti-war-in-Iraq themes. Ava Lowery has made more than 70 movies for her site, Peace Takes Courage, including one movie called “WWJD?” that she submitted for the Huffington Post Contagious Festival film contest. Among the e-mailed accolades she received: “It’s people like you who need to fucking die and get raped while your corpse rots in the sun.” Did we mention she’s 15? Nice.
• Animation Producer Gets Ugly Slurs [The Progressive]

Also:

Developer eyes bunny sanctuary for garden homes, strip club
Gardendale movie theater expected to show only family-friendly fare, fold by year’s end
In case of auditor, seek tax shelter in basement in Bahamas

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