Let us to the hills
or the beach or the woods to
share but a moment.

• • •

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They say most awful
delicious things at salon
where cutters gossip.

• • •

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Ken Burns’ 14-hour, seven-night documentary “The War” (now with more Hispanics!) kicks off tonight at 7 on Alabama Public Television stations. The extensive look at World War II has been sanitized for your protection, as state PBS affiliates will be showing the clean version, because children will be forever scarred with the four words uttered in context of battle: “fuck” (twice), “shit” and “asshole.”

The story unfolds through the citizens of four American towns, including Mobile, which grew tremendously during the war years jumping from cotton to shipbuilding. Don’t worry: If you can’t catch it this week, the entire series repeats through November [full schedule].

Our pal Amanda at APT is working on “WWII: Alabama Remembers,” a homegrown doc with more remembrances from vets and civilians, airing on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. You can submit your stories online or by mail.

Previews of both after the jump.

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Chance Shirley, co-director of “Hide and Creep” and co-founder of Birmingham-based Crewless Productions, caught a screening of “The Ten” in New York and offers this review.

“The Ten” will be of special interest to fans of “The State,” the MTV sketch comedy show that launched the careers of a group of actors, writers and directors who would go on to work on a variety of television shows and movies, including “Stella,” “Wet Hot American Summer” and “Reno 911!”

The film will open next week’s Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival.

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Forum sheds little
light on dark reality
of city’s problems.

• • •

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Citizens of the
world find their way to the hills
of Alabama.

• • •

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Three chances to catch the mayoral candidates this week:

Tonight | 7 p.m. at WorkPlay [map], shown live on WIAT.com starting at 6:45, with an hourlong tape-delay broadcast on CBS 42 at 9 tonight. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters and several other groups.

Wednesday | 6 p.m. at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute [map], shown live on myfoxal.com, ticket required. Sponsored by One Birmingham. Update: No more tickets are available for the event.

Thursday | 7 p.m. at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens [map]. Sponsored by the Crestline, Crestwood and Red Mountain communities.

Who will actually show? How many paid political lackeys will hoot and holler? Seriously, 10 candidates?!?

Discuss.

• • •

Complete Vote 2007 coverage.

When will the next great
leader step forward and drag
us into the light?

• • •

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Just a reminder: Our free information session takes place at 6 p.m. Tuesday at John’s City Diner, 112 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N. [map]. Free refreshments provided. Our thanks to John’s for the location.

Spend an hour with us, and you’ll see why you should come to the Gulf Coast with us for the Magic City Mission, a weeklong volunteer trip to Biloxi and New Orleans. Learn more about Hands on Birmingham and the journey we’ll take in November.

Signup deadline is Sept. 28.

If you have questions, let me know.

Magic City Mission: Make it your mission to help the Gulf Coast.

1. techno chronic
   Simplest of gadgets
   baffles smartest of humans.
   Time to reboot life.
2. stage 6 (2007)
   Vault isn’t a real
   event, just a sponsor of
   Dance Depot dwelling.
    
   Take the floor as two.
   Swing your partner round and round.
   So much fun you sweat.
3. stage 5 (2007)
   Festival for kids?
   But they’re small and can’t afford
   Publix shopping. Yet.

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The sadness hangs like
a piteous cloud, marking
the loss of a friend.

• • •

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Looking at what’s on
the way seems too much for one
to handle solo.

• • •

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I remember when
you’d smile at me, and the world
would forever change.

• • •

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Hands on Gulf Coast rebuilds a house in East Biloxi.

We’re going back to the Gulf Coast. If you’ve been looking for an opportunity to help Katrina-ravaged Biloxi and New Orleans, you’ve found it.

I went with a team from Birmingham for a week in April to help rebuild New Orleans. So rewarding was the journey that we must return.

Fifty Birmingham residents are needed to join the Magic City Mission, a weeklong volunteer trip with Hands on Birmingham. We’ll divide into one team for each city, spending Nov. 4-11 working on projects, eating good food, meeting great people and having too much fun.

If you want more info, we have two easy ways to get it:

1. Visit MagicCityMission.org for all the details.

2. Come to our hourlong informational session: 6 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 18, John’s City Diner, 112 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. [map]. Free refreshments provided. Our thanks to John’s for the location.

We’ve already signed up several volunteers, and spots are going fast. Signup deadline is Sept. 28.

If you have questions, let me know.

Magic City Mission: Make it your mission to help the Gulf Coast.

Also:

• 10 reasons to volunteer on the Gulf Coast
• Hook up with us on Facebook | MySpace

Thousands murdered, and
bin Laden roams free. Where are
our priorities?

• • •

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