Nap time supplanted
by laundry, lunch, ironing,
cleaning and phone calls.

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Scorching Saturday
afternoon not the same as
fall game day … someday.

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Diverse fans chatter
about calling plans and games.
Still hours to go.

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Top-down and grassroots presentations prolong the conversation

Birmingham is bleeding. After a homicidal four-day stretch over the holiday weekend with nine deaths, police officers have long days and nights ahead keeping the peace. But the city continues to bleed residents, too, forcing schools to consolidate shrinking resources in an already troubled system.

Can we turn it around?

I visited two evening forums this week to hear what leaders and citizens had to say about crime and education, two issues that continue to limit Birmingham in numerous ways.

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Strange sound buzzes once
a week from cube corner, a
signal from beyond.

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Office fridge becomes
crime scene. Pasta and salad
nabbed by hungry thief.

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It’s always darkest
before the dawn. Better to
light a candle than …

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Festive fireworks
come not from gunpowder tubes
but from gun’s powder.

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The bride-to-be runs
wild with accomplices in
tow with veiled pursuits.

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Your status changes.
I note it with interest.
Your status changes.

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Have a great holiday weekend! What’s more patriotic than American Idol Kelly Clarkson singing “God Bless America” at a baseball game? Nothing, we sez, nothing.

Be sure to check out the full list of activities for today and tonight.

And after the jump, Birmingham-born and Idol runner-up Diana DeGarmo singing more “God Bless America” at yet another baseball game …

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We don’t vote, or keep
up with current events. So
it seems we are they.

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Photo by Angelo Juan Ramos

Independence Day activities around Birmingham

The long weekend is upon us. How shall we celebrate America’s 232nd birthday?

Fireworks

Check out Friday’s shows:

• American Village | dusk (around 8 p.m.), Montevallo, daylong celebration starting at noon, $5
• Morgan Creek Vineyards | 9 p.m., Harpersville, with Tekneek performing before, $10
• Old Towne Amphitheatre | 9 p.m., Helena, with Elvis performing at 7
• Roosevelt Park | 8:45 p.m. Bessemer, giveaways to first 200 children
• Thunder on the Mountain | 9 p.m., Red Mountain (also to be broadcast live on Fox 6 and on its Web site). Check out these prime viewing locations.
• Trussville Freedom Celebration | 9 p.m., the Mall, with Three on a String performing at 8

Festivals

Eat, drink, gawk and shop before the rockets’ red glare:

• Bessemer | Marines parade, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Dickey Springs Road to Springdale Road in Greenwood
• Five Points South | bands at the fountain before 9 p.m. fireworks; food and drink specials
• Homewood | downtown festival, 6-9 p.m.; also, Jo Moore Band performing at 6 and Legends performing at 7 in Homewood Park
• Indian Springs Village | parade, 10:30 a.m.; barbecue, noon-2 p.m.
• Our Lady of Sorrows | Homewood, rummage sale 9 a.m.-4 p.m., barbecue 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
• UAB Summer Band | 8 p.m., Bartow Arena lawn

Reassuring voice
brings disembodied stirring
to stressful morning.

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Unruly brats. Stores
standing vacant. Dry cleaner,
frame shop, nail salon.

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