Wing it, wing it like
there’s no tomorrow, wing it
till the cows come home.

• • •

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The guards lock up the
warehouse of misfits, unsure
if they’ll escape hate.

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Among artists and
dreamers, the ideas burst
like untamed fire.

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Good pacing works fine
until the end zooms up and
youcramsuperfast.

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First announced acts heavy on classic rock

Just about a year ago to the day, City Stages announced a lineup that included the Flaming Lips, Diana Ross and the Roots.

Today, the first seven major acts for the 2009 downtown music festival include classic rock and well, classic rock. Organizers changed booking agencies, from AC Entertainment to AEG Live/The Messina Group.

The performers (year of last Top 40 song), so far:

• Doobie Brothers (2001)
• Indigo Girls (1999)
• Jane’s Addiction (2003) (appearance canceled)
• Neville Brothers (never)
• REO Speedwagon (2008) (no original members)
• Styx (1999) (no original members)
• 38 Special (1997)
• Young Jeezy (2008)

A couple more dozen acts on the lineup include En Vogue, Guster and the Whigs.

George McMillan, festival president, says the festival remains about $400,000 in debt.

The festival takes place Father’s Day weekend (June 19-21). Tickets go on sale Monday through Ticketma$ter and Legacy Community Credit Union:

• three-day pass: $37.50 ($40 to $55 later);
• one-day pass: $28;
• children age 12 and younger: free.

What do you think of the initial lineup? How does it compare to the Crawfish Boil or Bonnaroo? Tell us in the comments.

Plus, video previews after the jump …

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Three fund-raisers for Birmingham-based nonprofit organizations take place tonight and Friday. Here’s a quick peek:

Drive It Forward: Have you wondered what’s it’s like for a top executive, a head honcho? At the Drive It Forward event for Junior Achievement of Greater Birmingham, you can bid of the CEO of your choice at the silent auction. Big coporations, entrepreneurs, retailers, publishers, utilities and power players will be up for grabs. Starts at 5 tonight at Tom Williams Porsche, Grants Mill Road and I-459 [map]. Tickets $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

Dancing With the Roses: See Hoover’s Fabian Sanchez, dancer and reality TV star from “Dancing With the Stars,” at the second annual Roses Dinner benefiting the Central Alabama Women’s Business Center. Win lessons at his Fred Astaire Dance Studio. Starts at 5:30 tonight at the Harbert Center, 2019 Fourth Ave. N., downtown [map]. Tickets $50, $80 for couples, $500 per table.

Raise the Volume: Rock band Better Than Ezra takes the stage Friday at Sloss Furnaces [map] in a benefit gig for the Laps for CF Foundation. Doors open at 6. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

The leaky rowboat
needs a bailout, but we sold
the bucket for food.

• • •

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‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 6 recap

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

No! Debbie, don’t look! It’s a clip show!!

Just past the third-way point of “Survivor: Tocantins,” and it’s time for … a highlights show? Not even that much, mostly unaired scenes that, quite frankly, deserved to die on the cutting room floor.

Still, a few more glimpses into the lives of Debra Beebe of Auburn, the ghostly observer destined to go far, and James Thomas Jr. of Mobile, emerging as a leader for better or for worse.

Who kept warm together on Exile Island? Who’s hustling up alliances? Find out, plus full episode video after the jump …

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Just because I don’t
believe in the Rain God does
not mean he won’t strike.

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‘Survivor: Tocantins,’ episode 6 preview

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

VIDEO: Jeff Probst introduces tonight’s episode

A quickie look at tonight’s “Survivor: Tocantins” above. Recap to follow the show.

Yes, it’s been two weeks since the last episode. Yes, it’s a Wednesday night episode (against “American Idol”). Yes, it’s clips. From the first 15 days. Oh, well.

Will James Thomas Jr. of Samson flirt with someone new? Who does Debra Beebe of Auburn find amusing? And who’s spooning who?

Catch up:

• Previous recap from us
• And one from Jeff
• Coach once took a 6,000-mile, 6-month kayak trip. Which apparently is book-worthy.

We’ll see you back here tonight after the episode.

Bonus video, after the jump …

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Where once we kept our
deep dark secrets in check, we
now blab them online.

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Let me tell you about an exciting new opportunity, one for me, one for you.

As you, dear reader, know, I’ve been a blogger for four years, a journalist since high school, and a nerd since probably birth. I’ve always enjoyed working with computers and people, and bringing the two groups together in interesting and productive collaborations.

In April, I’m launching the Birmingham Blogging Academy, a venture dedicated to helping you become a power blogger. Nothing like it exists in Birmingham.

Starting at $99, you can take beginner courses, ones that can help you figure out how to get started, what to blog about, and how it can show off your skills, your hobby, your product or your company.

I can’t wait to hear about how your goals for blogging, and how I can help you reach them faster and more easily.

Maybe you’ve wanted to launch a blog, but aren’t sure how. Maybe you’ve been blogging for a while, but you want to become a more effective publisher. Or maybe you know someone — a friend, a neighbor, a colleague — who really should be taking their funny or wise insights to a broader forum than the water cooler.

It starts with the Birmingham Blogging Academy. Check it out, and let me know what you think. And be sure to tell your friends about it.

Dead dinosaurs roam
within our tanks, combusting
for forward motion.

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I’m off to see her
somewhere down the monorail,
14 stops to go.

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Furry purr nestles
on foot of bed, dreaming of
warm keyboard, slow mice.

• • •

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