Domesticated
pets get fat, while feral ones
are doomed to sad lives.

• • •

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Video: Scott Douglas spars with Stephen Colbert
on the Jan. 16 “Colbert Report.”

“The Colbert Report” took up Alabama’s immigration law, HB56, once again. Monday, host Stephen Colbert “debated” Scott Douglas, executive director of Greater Birmingham Ministries.

The law has stirred debate over federal enforcement of immigration, labor rights, employment and more. Douglas spoke out against the law, saying the federal government should enforce a rewritten national law, rather than having local law enforcement uphold up to 50 separate state laws.

The comedy show had done a segment on HB56 in October, focusing on the law’s impact on state agriculture.

Video: “The Colbert Report” on Alabama’s immigration law
in October. 

Will no one bring up
the elephant in the room
that’s about to move?

• • •

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Angela Blake

The Alabama Social Media Association holds educational lunches
throughout the year at the Hill Event Center at the Alabama
Theatre downtown.

In honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, I want to turn the spotlight on one of my favorite Birmingham nonprofit organizations …

It was 1 year ago at this time that I was deep in the throes of creating a new nonprofit organization. Six weeks later, we launched.

The Alabama Social Media Association has been an exciting journey of planting seeds, asking for favors and bringing to life a sorely needed resource: social media education.

I’ve always known Birmingham to be a font of social media experts, people who offer great advice and think innovatively about how we share information in the 21st century. Why were these folks not getting more recognition?

Because this city has grown a thriving digital community, we needed to put the spotlight on it throughout the year. It has been home to great conferences, including this past weekend’s WordCamp Birmingham, and many user groups. But very little for those who don’t work in the industry to jump in and learn and discover.

In 2011, we put on five free educational events, offering networking, lunch and a speaker with a 45-minute presentation. We met a great cross-section of the community, from law enforcement, from churches, from nonprofit groups and utilities and banks and startups. And we had a lot of fun. In addition, ALsocme held social events nearly every month to expand our social circles.

Behind the scenes, it has been a never-ending list of funds to find, people to meet and tasks to do or delegate. I have found it is one thing to serve on a board for an established organization, but quite another to build everything from scratch.

The truly exciting part is doing it our way, redefining expectations and constantly striving to improve, so that we may reach more people and share the bounty of social media knowledge in our community.

If you want to find out more about the Alabama Social Media Association, visit the website and also sign up for the free email newsletter. And if you’d like to volunteer to help with our events, our blog and more, fill our our application form. If you have a question, email alsocme@gmail.com.

• Alabama Social Media Association website | Facebook | Twitter @ALsocme
  

Video: a look at the Alabama Social Media Association

A look at the life of Martin Luther King Jr.

Not all leaders were
saints, but revered for rising
above human sins.

• • •

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Dreams fly as fast as
shooting stars, hurled by young minds
unhindered by doubt.

• • •

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The physics students
discovered laws of motion
while remaining still.

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Dorothy and her
friends were surprised to find a
jive robot instead.

• • •

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They’re with the band: Kate Hudson and Patrick Fugit star
in the 2000 coming-of-age film, “Almost Famous.”
It’s part of the 2012 Thursday Club Cinema lineup.

Black and White’s Thursday Club Cinema series last graced the screen at the Alabama Theatre 12 years ago. At the turn of the millenium, before Blu-Ray, or Netflix, or Hulu, or iPads and Redbox.

The weekly series returns tonight with a six pack of films all made around the previous 1998-2000 run.

(Note: Links below are affiliate links.)

• Tonight: “The Big Lebowski” [Amazon | iTunes]
• Jan. 19: “Donnie Darko” [Amazon | iTunes]
• Jan. 26: “Rushmore” [Amazon]
• Feb. 2: “Best in Show” [Amazon | iTunes]
• Feb. 9: “Almost Famous” (director Cameron Crowe’s “bootleg cut”) [Amazon | iTunes]
• Feb. 16: “The Limey” [Amazon | iTunes]

Tickets are $9 online or at the door. The movies start at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N., downtown [map].

For more information, visit the Black and White page or email thursdayclubcinema@readbw.com.

• Thursday Club Cinema on Facebook

Video: “Tiny Dancer” sing-along, in a scene from
“Almost Famous”

Video: At the movies with Frank the rabbit,
in a scene from “Donnie Darko”

Video: Jane Lynch and Jennifer Coolidge discuss family dynamics,
in a scene from “Best in Show”

One meme said to the
other meme, “Start copying
me!” Each was unique.

• • •

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When we have no more
questions to answer, will we
remain curious?

• • •

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A look at today’s newspapers, with front pages showing Alabama’s win over LSU for the BCS National Championship on Monday.

Alabama

The Anniston Star

The Birmingham News

The Decatur Daily

The Dothan Eagle

The (Florence) Times-Daily

The (Fort Payne) Times-Journal

The Gadsden Times

The Montgomery Advertiser

The (Mobile) Press-Register

The Opelika-Auburn News

The Tuscaloosa News

Louisiana

The (Alexandria) Town Talk

The (Baton Rouge) Advocate

The (Lafayette) Daily Advertiser

(Lake Charles) American Press

The (Monroe) News-Star

The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune

The (Shreveport) Times

Zoom to full screen, zoom in on page details
and embed on your site.

Also:

• Auburn wins 2010 BCS National Championship: newspaper front pages
• Alabama wins 2009 National Championship as seen on newspaper front pages

State makes it three-peat for championships

Alabama coach Nick Saban celebrates the BCS
championship with the team Monday at the Superdome.

Alabama took care of business in 2012 what it couldn’t do in 2011: Beat LSU. The Tide, entering at No. 2, blanked the Tigers 21-0 in the BCS National Championship game Monday night in New Orleans.

Quarterback A.J. McCarron and linebacker Courtney Upshaw won the offensive and defensive MVP awards, while coach Nick Saban became the first coach to win three BCS titles, including 2009 at Alabama and 2003 at LSU. McCarron is the first sophomore QB to win a BCS title game.

Kicker Jeremy Shelley put up 15 points, tying the bowl record for five field goals. Trent Richardson tacked on something called a touchdown in the final 5 minutes. LSU hadn’t faced a shutout loss since 2002, losing to … Alabama; Saban was the Tigers’ coach at the time.

The state of Alabama brought home its unprecedented third title, following Auburn’s in 2010 and Alabama’s in 2009. And the SEC earned its sixth consecutive BCS championship, though technically also adding its first BCS championship game loss.

LSU and Alabama had already met once this season in November under similar circumstances, ranked at No. 1 and No. 2, and LSU coming away with the win in overtime 9-6.

Alabama finishes 12-1, while LSU finishes 13-1.

Video: highlights from the Alabama-LSU game

Bama’s pluck and grit
have writ her name in crimson
flame. Fight on, fight on!

• • •

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