This kind of tired —
aching eyes, nonstop yawning —
makes for deep slumber.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Somewhere over the
rainbow, skies are blue. And dreams
really do come true.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Holiday weekend
sends neighbors far away from here.
But who’ll feed the dog?

• • •

Read more haiku.

As ye sew, so shall ye reap: “The Stitchers” at Anniston’s First United Methodist Church prefer to work anonymously on the 10 hand-sewn purple Lenten banners. Their work will be up by Easter and will hang until May 23. One Stitcher said, “Oh, there might be a few spots of blood on one or two these, but only we’ll know it’s there, and we’re not tellin’ a soul.” The idea for the homemade banners came from a church leader, who saw similar banners at Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood in 2003. Happy (early) Easter!
• Stitchers’ Lenten banners adorn Anniston church [Anniston Star]

1040, ver. 2.0: More Alabamians than ever are filing their taxes electronically. The Internal Revenue Service estimates that 1.23 million state residents will file via Internet, a 4.4 percent jump from 2005. Wait, taxes? We paid last year. (A classic.)
• IRS: Alabamians using electronic filing in record numbers [Associated Press]

Booster busted head: Logan Young’s death has been ruled accidental. Memphis police say the Alabama booster hit his head on a railing while walking up stairs, remained on the floor, then walked through several rooms, bleeding all the while. Initially, police believed his death to be a homicide.
• Bama booster hit head, died accidentally, police say [Associated Press]

Pomp and circumstances: The Associated Press is reporting President Bush will be back in Alabama on Wednesday for commencement ceremonies at Tuskegee University. But the school’s event calendar shows graduation isn’t scheduled until May 14. Dubya will do anything for a “learnin’ gown.”
• Bush to visit Tuskegee Univ. next week [Associated Press]

Also:

• E. coli traced to eggs left by Easter Bunny
• Mayor, governor confer on secret backup dome
• Will Smith to star in 2007 comedy-action pic, “Letter from Birmingham Jail”

• • •

Send us your news tips.

Retail-covered land,
as far as the eye can see,
oh say can you spend?

• • •

Read more haiku.

Death Race 2006: For Alabama roads, it’s Saturday, bloody Saturday. While more auto accidents happen on Fridays, more fatalities occur on Saturdays. Chalk it up to those damn kids and alcohol. Friday’s high number of wrecks could be because it’s a travel day, or because, as studies have shown, fatigue is highest by week’s end. In the past decade, wrecks are up but fatalities are down, thanks to safer vehicles. God bless the Hummer.
• Deadliest day on roads is Saturday [Birmingham News]

The Vast Latino-Wing Conspiracy: How did all those thousands of protestors organize and march in hundreds of cities in only a matter of days? Communication. Networking. Outrage. Cumberland law student Sigfredo Rubio said, “About two weeks ago, we called a meeting in which we included the radio stations, members of the Catholic Church, the newspapers, the directors of the soccer leagues. (With) the first meeting of 15 people, we had a connection with a couple of thousand, just through those groups. It just grew.” Wait till we get the Koreans fired up …
• Strategy Sessions Fueled Immigrant Marches [New York Times]

Ebony on ivory: Birmingham’s Condi Rice: stateswoman, politician, classical pianist. The Secretary of State performed with the Denver Symphony Orchestra — at age 15. Now, she plays with professionals at her Watergate condo on weekends. We’d like to make sweet music with her any day.

• Rice remembers Mama for Good Housekeeping Mother’s Day tribute

• Condoleezza Rice on Piano [New York Times]

Also:

• Minor leaguers need seasoning in steroid abuse
• Hurricanes predicted to beat up state, vow to never do it again
• What you missed while ‘Idol’ was on

• • •

Send us your news tips.

Grass needs a-cuttin’
but mower cowers in fear
of lurking tall weeds.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Can Queen, a band with such a dynamic presence and catalog, liven up the “American Idol” competition? And would Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks emerge as a champion … or just go crazy?

Recap after the jump …

Updated with multimedia, elimination.

(more…)

Cave is quite comfy
when hiding out from the world,
life in general.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Foul play for Logan Young?: Tide superfan and convicted racketeer Logan Young was found dead today in his Memphis home. Police suspect foul play. Young was convicted in June of racketeering and bribery, and his appeal was pending. His testimony helped bring NCAA sanctions against the University of Alabama.
• Logan Young found dead, apparently attacked [Tuscaloosa News]

Half-billion boost: In time for Wednesday’s 175th anniversary celebration, the University of Alabama has kicked off a $500 million endowment campaign. The money will go to scholarships, faculty salaries, libraries and construction, including expanding Bryany-Denny Stadium and renovating Coleman Coliseum. The university has already raised $299 million. OK, but where’s our free tote bag and football phone?

• Athletics department shakeup aimed at … raising money
• Tide boasts champion at … Rock Paper Scissors(!)

• UA announces $500 million endowment drive [Tuscaloosa News]

Million-dollar baby: We’re happy for Fayette native Mike Davis, really. The new UAB men’s basketball coach (formerly head coach at Indiana) will pull down $5 million for five years. Wow. Hope they won’t have to raise tuition or cut corners on campus construction.

• UAB medical schools raise tuition
• Trustees concerned about UAB biohazard lab construction costs, safety

• Incentive-laden deal could push $1 million [Birmingham News]

Also:

• School changes motto to “Chug! Chug! Chug!”
• Pledges conduct virtual panty raid on Facebook.com, MySpace
• Lacrosse team loses heartbreaking season ender in court, 12-0

• • •

Send us your news tips.

How did I end up
here in my life when I was
headed someplace else?

• • •

Read more haiku.

Alien nation: Thousands of protestors marched through downtown Birmingham Sunday to call for immigration reform. On the wish list: visas, border security, worker protection and a chance at citizenship. The report mentioned 3,000 marchers, while other reports pegged it as high as 4,000 or 5,000. Another 5,000 marched today in Albertville. Thousands of protestors marched this weekend in more than 100 cities across the United States.

Fortunately, a solution is at hand. The Alabama Federation of Republican Women wants to deny automatic U.S. citizenship to babies with undocumented parents, a right guaranteed under the 14th Amendment. Hey, wouldn’t that create more illegal aliens?
• 3,000 march downtown for immigration reform [Birmingham News]

We’ll take center square to win: Many shopping centers and condos have taken root in the Birmingham area, but perhaps none have been as splashy as SoHo Square, the residential-retail complex that ate Homewood. On its heels is another condo complex. Some residents and shop owners are concerned that the economic development is without direction or limits. Well, it was either Homewood or Hobotown, and Hobotown smells funny.
• An Outburst of Development in a Small City in Alabama [New York Times]

How about SoSo?: Terrace Court won’t live to see 100. The Five Points South apartment building, home to Dave’s Pub and Bailey’s Pub, will be demolished this summer to build … condos. Dave’s is staying, but Bailey’s is toast. But then, where will one of our favorite bands play?
• Five Points landmark [Birmingham Business Journal]

Also:

• Accountants’ pencil supplies running dangerously low
• Cell reception could be clearer, stronger
• We still haven’t found all of last year’s Easter eggs

• • •

Send us your news tips.

Muscles ache with use
(or frequent lack of use) when
furniture involved.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Loudest thunder comes
from squawking forecasters who
cloud up the outlook.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Pity the concert reviewer. Long nights, bad sound, no drinking and low pay.

Take, for instance, the Birmingham News’ review of Robert Earl Keen, who performed Thursday at Zydeco on Southside.

Well, you can’t really. The apparently unedited, unapproved review was pulled from the newspaper Web site before people could see it earlier today.

Except, we found a copy, reprinted here for your convenience.

Update: The published version appeared April 8. Ah, the wonders of proper editing.

(more…)