Former Alabama governor Guy Hunt died this afternoon at age 75 after battling lung cancer for several years. He made history repeatedly: first Republican governor since Reconstruction in 1986, first governor to be removed from office for a felony ethics conviction in 1993, and recipient of a rare full pardon based on the belief in his innocence in 1998.

He served in the Army during the Korean War, worked as an egg farmer and an Amway salesman, and served as a Primitive Baptist preacher. The Holly Pond native leaves behind a wife and four children.

• Birmingham News: Guy Hunt — farmer, preacher, Alabama governor — dead at 75

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More on Guy Hunt:

• Wikipedia entry
• BhamWiki entry

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The one-man band stole
the show, hogged the spotlight, kissed
the groupies and fled.

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I’ve always considered myself a triple threat: actor, comedian, dancer. I act like I don’t care. I know tons of knock-knock jokes. And I can square-dance like a champ.

With BMA Speaks, the spoken word celebration at the Birmingham Museum, coming up, I thought I’d try some poetry out loud. But I need your help. The free event will be 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 6 at the museum, with headliner Patricia Smith (pictured here).

Poetry should be heard aloud. Which ones do you think are the best or worst, the ones you’d like to see me perform?

I have more than 1,200 (and counting) haiku on this site. In order to qualify for the event, entrants must turn in poems by tomorrow (Friday, Jan. 30). You can help me narrow it down.

Leave a comment (you can copy and paste your favorite poem) below, and one randomly selected qualifying commenter will receive a crappy prize. I guarantee: The prize will be crappy, far beneath you or your social standing.

Entry deadline: Leave your comment by 3 p.m. CST Jan. 30.

I’ll announce the results next week. Here are the haiku for you to peruse …

• Haiku retrospective 1
  
• Haiku retrospective 2
• Haiku retrospective 3
• Haiku retrospective 4
• Haiku retrospective 5
• Haiku retrospective 6
• Haiku retrospective 7
• Haiku retrospective 8
• Haiku retrospective 9
• Haiku retrospective 10
• Haiku retrospective 11
• And the latest haiku.

Good luck!

Look ahead, but keep
your eyes on the prize. Remain
diligent, heads up.

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In a flash, nature’s
kiss icily hardens, a
hostile cold shoulder.

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True intimacy
comes from intertwining of
unsheathed beating hearts.

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Living a life of
invisibility takes
its toll on ego.

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No pressure, no rush,
no big deal, no worries, no
complaints, no hassles.

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Flames twirl in blazes
of glorious daring, a
kerosene sideshow.

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We toast from the ice
bucket and the clinking of
glasses to good times.

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What’s the best way to survive a layoff? What do you do when your full-time job has become all-time career confusion?

The current issue of the Birmingham Business Journal has an in-depth story on making your way in 2009 without a job but with direction. Lauren B. Cooper interviewed yours truly, and the incomparable Bob Farley of f8photo.org shot the portrait. My thanks to both and the paper for including me.

The link takes you to the online snippet (full access comes only with a year’s subscription at $86). Or head to your favorite newsstand today and slap down $2 for a print edition.
• Birmingham Business Journal: Recession, job cuts create a talented labor pool

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Benjamin Button,
Frost/Nixon, Milk, The Reader,
Slumdog Millionaire.

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We begin as a
single cell, expanding to
a mass of crazy.

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The American
dream starts with one voice preaching
possibilities.

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Volunteer army
battles apathy for hearts
and minds of fallen.

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