What I say and what
I do often intersect
in freakish fashion.

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Pick up the phone, quick! It could be Larry Langford calling. The Jefferson County Commissioner and former mayor of Fairfield will robo-dial 100,000 Birmingham voters today to let them know he’s running for mayor. Yes, with a mere four months to Election Day, it’s now a three-way race between Patrick Cooper, Valerie Abbott and Langford. At least the debates will be louder, if not, well, louder.

The folks over at Mixed Media — unimpressed with his slogan, “Let’s do something” — have asked for new suggestions, with a beer and a sandwich to the winning entry. Our contribution: “Welcome to Electric Larryland — enjoy the ride.”

• Birmingham News: Langford launches run for mayor

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Music in the groove.
Grassy enclave beneath tall
pines swaying to beat.

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Check comes first, before
food arrives at table. Tip
dropping by minute.

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From the penthouse to …: HealthSouth continues its long march to solvency and respectability. A Dallas real estate company will buy its 280 headquarters and giant faux hospital for $60 million from the Birmingham-based health care giant, far less than the $238 million spent on them. The money will go to paying down the company’s $4.2 billion debt, or about 1.4 percent. HealthSouth will remain in its building for a year while seeking new office space within the metro area.

Meanwhile, founder Richard Scrushy and former governor Don Siegelman are a mere 24 days away from sentencing. Federal prosecutors have asked for 25 to 30 years jail time and millions in fines and restitution. Attorneys for the pair have filed for no jail time. Naturally.
• Unused hospital, HQ sold [Birmingham News]

The unholy power of Oprah: Birmingham-based Books-A-Million saw a 40 percent jump in profit between the first quarter of this year and 2006. Was it smart marketing, long-term planning or higher productivity? Or was it the awesome power of daytime TV host Oprah Winfrey? According to the retailer’s president, Oprah’s recommendation of self-help DVD “The Secret” helped boost sales revenues. Yeah, here’s the secret: Save the Oprah, save the world.
• Books-A-Million posts 40 percent increase in profits [Birmingham Business Journal]

Jazz in the field: Moss Rock Preserve (the nature site, not the residential development) will hold an outdoor jazz festival Sunday, featuring Birmingham’s own Eric Essix and Oteil Burbridge as well as headliner Kirk Whalum. The event runs from 3 to 10 p.m., with tickets priced at $24.50. Parking will be at Regions Park (formerly the Hoover Met), with shuttles running to the preserve. [map]
• Preserve Jazz Festival site

Also:

• Citizens asked to conserve water, but ‘go nuts’ with gasoline
• Mayor’s budget funds wacky new neighbor, surprise pregnancy
• Free from schools shackles, teens start summer jobs looting, chilling

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Then and now

Rollin’ with the homies: If you like the camaraderie of sports and the relaxation of imbibing, then we have an outing for you. We met the players and organizers behind Birmingham Kickball, a loose-knit group who play on the first Sunday of each month. Tomorrow’s 3 p.m. match will be at Crestwood Park, but the gang played a match last week against the Tragic City Rollers, raising money for the Crisis Center’s Rape Response.

Our pal Philip took photos. Take a look …

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Thunderstorms tease with
dribs of rain scattered among
pockets of wasteland.

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Then and now

The leisurely stroll for mayor: Councilor Valerie Abbott decided to run for mayor of Birmingham, joining the uncrowded official field of one, attorney Patrick Cooper. With a mere 130 days to Election Day, you’d think incumbents, pols and crazies would be jumping into the fray left and right. And yet, it appears leading our fair city has all the appeal of, say, sports dome interior decorator.
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Forecast calls for more
of same: extended stretches
of drought, then more drought.

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Then and now

In like a lion: Eight students died in a spate of tornadoes March 1 at Enterprise High School. The community continues to rebuild, but paused Thursday for graduation ceremonies. Two chairs were left empty for Jessica Bullinger and Melinda Gooch, two of the 21 valedictorians honored. Our pal Bob Johnson has the story.
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Air comes in flavors
now: pine, misty morning, stale
and barbecue haze.

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Lawn crackles under
light tread. Lovely shade of brown
for this time of year.

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Precious little gets
done as compatriots share
tales of long weekend.

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Wagging tail plus a
stumbling gait minus old age
equals cutesy dog.

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