Duane Pontius Jr., the T. Morris Hackney Professor of Physics at Birmingham-Southern College, is the 2009 Alabama Professor of the Year.

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education honored the state and national winners at a luncheon today in Washington as part of the U.S. Professors of the Year awards program.

Pontius, who graduated from Birmingham-Southern in 1981, began teaching at the college in 1999. Beyond his class and lab work, he also leads the school’s January Interim at Sea program.

The national winners:

• Outstanding Baccalaureate Colleges Professor: Rob Thomas, professor of geology at the University of Montana Western in Dillon.
• Outstanding Community Colleges Professor: Tracey McKenzie, professor of sociology at Collin College in Frisco, Texas.
• Outstanding Doctoral and Research Universities Professor: Brian P. Coppola, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Chemistry at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
• Outstanding Master’s Universities and Colleges Professor: Richard L. Miller, professor of psychology at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Also: Pontius discusses possible life on one of Saturn’s moons.

The ABC reality show “Supernanny” is returning to Alabama for casting. Is your family screwed up enough to make the cut?

The show brings nanny Jo Frost to homes across America to help parents in need learn to raise their children right.

Producers will be in Alabama Saturday through Nov. 21, though locations have not been disclosed. A flyer by Alabama Casting services says the show will be looking especially for …

• families with unique interests;
• parents who have ordinary and extraordinary circumstances;
• teen moms;
• siblings raising siblings;
• grandparents raising grandchildren;
• single parents;
• same-sex parents;
• parents with mean girls or bullying boys;
• culturally diverse parents;
• and blended families where both sides are seeking help.

To apply, e-mail renee@alabamacasting.com or call (334) 318-9552. Parents can also  apply online at supernanny.com. For more information, call (877) 626-6984 or e-mail Supernanny@ricochettelevision.com.

• • •

Also, “Supernanny” visits the Phelps family of Hayden. See our review.

Review: Reality show comes to Hayden to take on spanking mom

Review at a glance: “Supernanny” Jo Frost works with the Phelps in Hayden to help them discipline the kids without resorting to spanking.

I’ll admit it: I have a slight crush on Supernanny, a k a Jo Frost. She just has a way of saying “Birmingham” and “naughty spot” in her British accent that slaps my tickle. I might even follow her into hell and back, or in this case, Hayden.

Back in May, Jo came to visit the Phelps family to tape a sixth-season episode of “Supernanny,” which aired Friday. The ABC reality show visits families in need of parental training. This was her first visit to Alabama.

Video: The Phelps family on “Supernanny”

Amy and Jimmy Phelps are at odds. She’s a stay-at-home mom, and he works outside of the home. They have three boys: Jacob, 9; Brody, 5; and Aiden, 2 1/2.

From left, Aiden, Brody and Jacob.

And like any three boys, they’re a handful. They eat junk food, they talk back and they’re rambunctious. Amy’s solution? A good old-fashioned spanking. Or 12.

Jimmy and Amy don’t see eye to eye on a lot of things, including the spankings. He’d rather find another way to discipline the boys, while she feels it’s an effective tool.

Amy raises her voice to Brody.

Jo makes it clear that her bag of tricks doesn’t include spanking. But throughout the episode, Amy resists the challenge to try timeouts instead of spankings.

But it wouldn’t be “Supernanny” if Jo’s patience and chiding don’t win out in the end. Along the way, we’re treated to couple’s drama, too, as we see how Amy and Jimmy argue more than listen.

Jo has the family set rules for children and parents.

Jimmy comes off as the sometimes naive, sometimes passive dad. Amy comes off as the frustrated wife and mom.

Jo insists that Aiden start sleeping in his own bed, which lays bare Amy’s pain. She had been using her baby boy to fill an emotional hole, even as he needed to sleep on his own.

Jo gives Amy a pep talk.

We’re also treated to a reboot of family meals, as Jo tells Amy she’s lazy for not fixing proper meals; the kids usually do prepackaged lunches, and then, only the dessert. The boys help choose and make a balanced dinner. Yes, okra, too.

Jimmy, left, and Jacob prepare okra for dinner.

In the end, it appears Amy has begun, reluctantly, to use timeouts whenever the boys misbehave. Jimmy says he feels more confident as a father.

It was a typical episode, but one that raises questions about whether corporal punishment really works, and if parents have alternatives.

Also: “Supernanny” is looking for additional Alabama families starting Saturday.

• • •

Other Alabamians on reality television:

• “The Amazing Race”
• “American Idol”
• “America’s Next Top Model”
• “The Biggest Loser”
• “Survivor”
• “Two-a-Days”

Plus, another review from Reality TV Magazine.

• • •

Did Jo have the right solution? Did Amy know best?

Jury deliberated less than 2 hours; mayor loses office by conviction

In the Tuscaloosa federal courthouse, Birmingham mayor Larry Langford was found guilty on all 60 counts of of bribery, money laundering, fraud and conspiracy. The jury deliberated less than 2 hours this afternoon before returning a verdict.

The conviction automatically removes Langford from office. Council president Carole Smitherman becomes acting mayor until a special election is held. Valerie Abbott becomes acting council president.

Judge Scott Coogler set Langford’s forfeiture at $241,843; sentencing will take place in early 2010, in 90 to 120 days. Langford, who remains free until then, faces up to 805 years in prison.

Following the trial, Langford said he plans to appeal, adding “We all have our trials, this too will pass.”

Video: Langford chastises Birmingham media after the verdict (3 min.)

While Langford served on the Jefferson County Commission, Montgomery investment banker Bill Blount paid Langford with about $236,000 in cash, jewelry and clothes, sometimes using lobbyist Al LaPierre as a middleman. Blount and LaPierre, who were indicted with Langford, pleaded guilty earlier this year.

Langford, in turn, steered millions of dollars worth of county bond business to Blount’s firm, Blount Parrish. The three passed off the transactions as loans, creating false promissory notes to cover their tracks.

The trial was originally slated for Aug. 31, until Langford’s attorneys successfully petitioned for a change of venue from Birmingham. The next available date in Tuscaloosa was Oct. 19, and the trial has lasted 8 days. Langford was arrested in December 2008.

Langford becomes the fourth county commissioner convicted of sewer-related finances. The others were Mary Buckelew, Chris McNair and Gary White. (A fifth commissioner, Jeff Germany, was convicted of misapplying funds and conspiracy.)

He began as a reporter for WBRC-TV 6, but turned to politics after his election to the Birmingham city council in 1977. He went on to become mayor of Fairfield in 1988, where he pushed for regional cooperation to open the Visionland amusement park (now Alabama Adventure).

Langford started his service on the Jefferson County commission in 2002, and soon became commission president. He entered office with the county already $1 billion in debt in sewer-related bills.

In 2007, he became mayor of Birmingham. He also worked as public relations director for Birmingham Budweiser. (Full bio at BhamWiki.)

His conviction ends his 32-year political career.

Video: Langford’s media conference after the verdict (20 min.)

• • •

What do you think of the verdict? Birmingham’s future? Share your thoughts in the comments, please.

• • •

Complete coverage: The trial of Larry Langford from Wade on Birmingham.

Follow @LLtrial on Twitter for continuous media updates.

Subscribe to the RSS feed for daily coverage of Larry Langford’s trial from Wade on Birmingham.

Illustration by Herman Henderson

Ongoing coverage of Birmingham mayor Larry Langford on trial in Tuscaloosa for bribery.

Highlights: Attorneys made their closing arguments this morning. The prosecution said that Bill Blount bribed Langford with $236,000 in cash, clothing and jewelry for Jefferson County’s bond business.

The defense said that Blount took advantage of Langford’s generous nature and shopping addiction. Defense attorney Michael Rasmussen donned a suit jacket from a Remon’s bag covered in dollars, calling Blount the $7 million man, then broke off crumbs from a piece of bread to illustrate Langford’s cut.

Two alternate jurors were released.

The jury began deliberations shortly after 2 p.m.

Update: Jury returned a verdict of guilty on all 60 counts after deliberating for less than 2 hours.

Quote of the day: “He is a brilliant politician, but he can’t control his spending.” — Rasmussen, on his client Langford

“That badge you’re wearing says ‘juror,’ not ‘born yesterday.'” — Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamarra Matthews Johnson, to the jurors

Next: Verdict, hung jury or mistrial. It’s anyone’s guess.

• • •

Complete coverage: The trial of Larry Langford from Wade on Birmingham.

Follow @LLtrial on Twitter for continuous media updates.

Subscribe to the RSS feed for daily coverage of Larry Langford’s trial from Wade on Birmingham.

Ongoing coverage of Birmingham mayor Larry Langford on trial in Tuscaloosa for bribery.

Highlights: The prosecution wrapped its case with testimony from Joe Elliot, an auditor with the Internal Revenue Service. From 2003 to 2005, Langford had about $226,000 in unreported taxable income, including cash, clothes and jewelry, Elliot said. That led to almost $77,000 in taxes owed by Langford to the government.

The defense called six witnesses, including one character witness, before resting today. Langford did not take the stand.

FBI agent Tom Mayhall said testified that Bill Blount said during his interview that Langford never asked Blount to buy him anything. Cross examination of Mayhall revealed that Blount said that Langford said he wanted a tailored suit for Oxxford Clothes.

Quote of the day: “It’s in God’s hands now.” — Larry Langford

Homework: “Did Larry Langford bet Birmingham’s future on Wall Street scheme?” from the Christian Science Monitor

Alabama’s unique Constitution, which leaves county government basically unregulated, has created a system “that’s structurally designed for corruption,” says Mr. Adams. But the Langford case may indicate that wherever the new bond financing deals involve collusion and corruption, the results can be dire.

Next: Closing arguments on Wednesday morning.

• • •

Complete coverage: The trial of Larry Langford from Wade on Birmingham.

Follow @LLtrial on Twitter for continuous media updates.

Subscribe to the RSS feed for daily coverage of Larry Langford’s trial from Wade on Birmingham.

Ongoing coverage of Birmingham mayor Larry Langford on trial in Tuscaloosa for bribery.

Highlights: Week 2 began with the last of the prosecution’s witnesses on Monday. Norm Davis of NBC Bank testified that Langford asked for a loan of $50,000 to $65,000, shortly after the institution became Jefferson County’s financial adviser. Langford received a credit card with a $25,000 limit, later raised to $65,000. Meanwhile, his credit score plummeted from 585 in 2003 to 485 in 2006. (Scores below 600 are considered “high risk” for lenders.)

Davis also painted a grim picture of Langford’s personal finances: In 2007, he was $649,946 in debt (including his mortgage) and $238,192 in credit card debt.

Prosecutors also read into the record portions of Langford’s deposition to the Securities and Exchange Commission from June 2007. Langford said in the deposition that he paid for his own clothes during trips to New York; Bill Blount testified last week that he had purchased the items, including a $12,000 watch, to bribe Langford. Langford also said that Blount never loaned him or gave him money; Blount had testified that he gave Langford more than $100,000 using Al LaPierre as a middleman.

Odds and ends: Who ended up buying Langford’s Rolex for $8,500? Patrick Cooper, Birmingham lawyer and runner-up in the 2007 mayoral election.

With the prosecution on the verge of wrapping up, Langford and his team have still made no decision as to whether he’ll take the stand.

Quote of the day: “Getting ready to kick this thing off. No! It’s block by the Mount Cody of judge/jury conferences.” — Birmingham News columnist John Archibald

Homework:

• Squidoo: Who Is Larry Langford?
• “Larry Langford, as first week of trial ended, had his mind on smokes and domes” … Langford: “I’m sleeping like a baby.“

Also, what lessons have we learned from the trial so far? “Archibald: Can’t we agree on a few things?”

• Langford, under no circumstances, should be allowed to handle public money.

• Everyone who gave Langford clothes or money … you are as responsible for the fallout as he.

Next: Defense expected to begin Tuesday.

• • •

Complete coverage: The trial of Larry Langford from Wade on Birmingham.

Follow @LLtrial on Twitter for continuous media updates.

Subscribe to the RSS feed for daily coverage of Larry Langford’s trial from Wade on Birmingham.

Ongoing coverage of Birmingham mayor Larry Langford on trial in Tuscaloosa for bribery.

Highlights: Bill Blount concluded his testimony. He said Langford had great influence as Jefferson County Commission president as to which banks would be part of the bond deals.

Al LaPierre provided most of the day’s testimony. He explained that Langford came to him with money woes (past-due loan, large bills) in 2003 and 2004. LaPierre would in turn call Blount, who would pass money through LaPierre to Langford: $50,000, $69,000, $6,000. Blount also hired LaPierre to monitor the Jefferson County Commission for potential bank competitors in bond deals; LaPierre earned $201,000 total in 2003 and 2004 for his services.

LaPierre said Blount didn’t pay Langford directly because Blount knew it to be a violation of Securities and Exchange Commission rules. Under cross examination, LaPierre said he had no express agreement with Langford to trade cash for votes. He also admitted he never told Langford that Blount had provided the money. During redirect, LaPierre said he assumed Langford knew who the source was.

Following the start of the SEC inquiry, LaPierre said Blount had all three sign promissory notes to show the payments as loans, though almost none of the money was repaid. (One check from Langford in 2008 showed a payment to LaPierre of $5,000.) LaPierre said they were creating a false paper trail.

LaPierre also said he paid Langford’s $50,000 bill at Remon’s to avoid political embarrassment during Langford’s 2007 mayoral campaign and to keep Langford happy.

Quote of the day: Prosecution: “Were these loans?” LaPierre: “At that time, that was the story we were telling.”

Homework: See our full live Day 5 coverage below.

Next: The trial enters Week 2. Prosecution may finish on Monday.

• • •

Bonus coverage

Live tweets from the media, including Wade on Birmingham. Although you can’t comment in the chat window, please feel free to leave comments in the regular section at the bottom of the post.

• • •

Complete coverage: The trial of Larry Langford from Wade on Birmingham.

Follow @LLtrial on Twitter for continuous media updates.

Subscribe to the RSS feed for daily coverage of Larry Langford’s trial from Wade on Birmingham.

Ongoing coverage of Birmingham mayor Larry Langford on trial in Tuscaloosa for bribery.

Highlights: Langford friend and associate Bill Blount took the stand, testifying to bribing him with $236,000 in cash and gifts. The Montgomery investment banker, who has known Langford for 30 years, said he used the bribes to steer $7 million worth of bond business to his firm via Langford’s position as Jefferson County Commission president.

When Langford was short on cash, Blount said he sent checks to middleman Al LaPierre. Blount said under cross examination that he and Langford never expressed any explicit arrangement.

More details emerged on the gifts, including a $1,093 sweater from a New York store and $50,000 in suits, shirts and ties at Remon’s downtown and a flight to an Atlanta baseball game, all paid for by Blount for Langford.

Quote of the day: Prosecutor George Martin: “Who did you bribe?” Blount: “Mayor Larry Langford.”

Homework: “Tweets from the jury box: jurors using Twitter jeopardize trials” from the Christian Science Monitor:

As reporters in Tuscaloosa, Ala., try out their new micro-blogging accounts this week to cover the high-profile trial of Birmingham mayor Larry Langford … defense attorney Michael Rasmussen says he’s worried about jurors also taking to the Internet to research the case or send tweets to their friends.

Next: Blount continues testimony, plus LaPierre takes the stand Friday. We’ll be there in the courtroom.

• • •

Complete coverage: The trial of Larry Langford from Wade on Birmingham.

Follow @LLtrial on Twitter for continuous media updates.

Subscribe to the RSS feed for daily coverage of Larry Langford’s trial from Wade on Birmingham.

Ongoing coverage of Birmingham mayor Larry Langford on trial in Tuscaloosa for bribery.

Highlights: City finance director Steve Sayler completed his testimony, saying the original estimate for Jefferson County’s sewer repairs was $1 billion. The former county finance director discussed the bond swaps, but said he wasn’t aware Blount Parrish was receiving hundreds of thousands in fees. Langford’s friend, Bill Blount, runs the firm. Sayler also said that Blount Parrish had no expertise at the time in bond swaps.

Other witnesses testified that Blount bought thousands of dollars of clothing and shoes for Langford and fellow county commissioner Mary Buckelew, who lied to a grand jury about those gifts. Among the items bought for Langford during trips to New York: five pairs of shoes (three women’s pairs, two men’s) for $1,684, a leather jacket for $2,000 and a watch for $12,000.

One juror was nodding off in the afternoon after fighting off sleep this morning.

Quote of the day: “Blount said he had a very good relationship with the mayor and had control of three votes on the commission.” — James Lister, banker at Lehman Bros. in 2003, when Blount called about Jefferson County bond swaps and his relationship with Langford.

Homework: “Next Birmingham City Council president could be mayor for a while,” by Birmingham News editorial writer Joey Kennedy

Who do you think is the best choice of those remaining who are likely to be picked to lead the council? The battle for president supposedly will be between Steven Hoyt and Roderick Royal.

Next: Blount takes the stand Thursday.

• • •

Complete coverage: The trial of Larry Langford.

Subscribe to the RSS feed for daily coverage of Larry Langford’s trial from Wade on Birmingham.

Ongoing coverage of Birmingham mayor Larry Langford on trial in Tuscaloosa for bribery.

Opening statements: Federal prosecutor George Martin calls Langford a wheeling and dealing politician, one who took bribes, including a $12,000 Rolex watch. Defense attorney Michael Rasmussen countered with maybe a less? more? flattering description of Langford as a “shopaholic,” one taken in by Montgomery investment banker Bill Blount.

Highlights: Langford appointee and City of Birmingham finance director Steve Sayler testified that Langford understood bond swaps, the complex financial transactions that led Jefferson County into billions of dollars of sewer debt and virtual bankruptcy.

Remon’s owner Remon Danforah said that Langford was a regular customer, running up a tab as high as $14,000. Total bill? $54,400 in clothing. He also said that Langford’s first trip to the store included Blount and lobbyist Al LaPierre.

Quote of the day: “Everyone in the room seems to be wearing clothes by Remon. Except for us print guys, of course.” — Birmingham News columnist John Archibald

Homework: “High Stakes and Cheapstakes,” from Birmingham Weekly writer Kyle Whitmire:

Cupidity is a word that has all but vanished from our language. It is lust and materialism wrapped into one, and like the best poisons, it is lethal in small doses.

Next: Sayler resumes testimony Wednesday.

• • •

Complete coverage: The trial of Larry Langford.

Subscribe to the RSS feed for daily coverage of Larry Langford’s trial from Wade on Birmingham.

Ongoing coverage of Birmingham mayor Larry Langford on trial in Tuscaloosa for bribery.

Day 1 of the federal trial of Larry Langford has ended in Tuscaloosa, with a 12-member, 2-alternate jury seated and opening statements scheduled for Tuesday.

Birmingham’s mayor was arrested in December 2008 and charged with conspiracy, bribery, fraud, money laundering and filing false tax returns alongside Bill Blount and Al LaPierre. The two have since pleaded guilty and are expected to testify in the coming days.

To help tame the information beast of trial coverage, we’ve put together some tools to help you follow along in real time.

1. Widget: media updates

This widget can be embedded on your own site by clicking on “Get Widget” at the bottom.

2. Twitter list

Second, we’ve created a new-fangled Twitter list called LLTrial. You must be signed into Twitter to see and follow it.

3. Media Twitterers

Even if you don’t have an account, you can follow the media Twitterers individually:

• @BhamWeekly
• @CBS42
• @JohnArchibald (Birmingham News columnist)
• @Langford_trial (Birmingham News)
• @LangfordCourt (Fox 6)
• @LangfordTrial (NBC 13’s Jon Paepcke)

4. Widget: media updates

See the real-time tweets mentioning “Langford” within 200 miles of Birmingham.

Bonus: Here’s what the Facebook crowd says about Langford.

We’ll work on fine-tuning these tools and adding our own coverage in the coming days. Your feedback is welcome below.

• • •

Complete coverage: The trial of Larry Langford.

Subscribe to the RSS feed for daily coverage of Larry Langford’s trial from Wade on Birmingham.

Movie review: ‘Best Worst Movie’

sidewalk.wadeonbirmingham.com
By Kenn McCracken

Review at a glance: The documentary “Best Worst Movie” provides a good look at how an unintentionally bad movie gets made.

A scene from “Best Worst Movie.”

We’ve all seen bad movies. Once in a while, though, you’ll find a movie that takes bad to its logical conclusion, passes it, loops back on itself and becomes entertaining in its awfulness, like the horror flick “Troll 2.”

A documentary goes one step further. “Best Worst Movie” looks at the making of “Troll 2” and the camp celebrations and fandom that have sprung up around the unapologetically bad movie.

“Best Worst Movie” opens the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival tonight.

Director Michael Paul Stephenson, who played the lead role in “Troll 2,” focuses on the major players of the cast and crew, including director Claudio Fragasso, writer Rossella Drudi and Alexander City native George Hardy.

“Troll 2” — which, coincidentally, isn’t a sequel to “Troll” and doesn’t even feature any trolls — has spawned conventions, viewing parties and fan gatherings.

What emerges is a group of people best known for one of the worst movies ever made and their reactions to the growing fandom. (Novice filmmakers: Rejoice in the fact that you’ve probably made better movies for less money. There’s hope yet.)

Some of them have continued making movies or acting, while others have disappeared from the public eye altogether.

Most interesting, perhaps, is Hardy, the small-town dentist. Watching his earnest excitement grow and fall at being involved with “Troll 2” is somewhat charming, especially if you’ve ever known anyone who had a brief brush with fame.

Will he continue acting, or stick with his dental practice? Will fame go to his head, or can he remain an humble Alabama boy?

Watching “Best Worst Movie” is kind of meta. (I’m fairly certain that with some “Troll 2” cast and crew in attendance to watch themselves watching themselves, we will all fall through the rabbit hole that becomes an actual rip in the space-time continuum.)

Still, it’s a good look at what is becoming a cult classic, from the inside out, looking back.

Kenn McCracken (@insomniactive) is a director and an award-winning screenwriter (2005 Sidewalk Sidewrite grand prize, “Muckfuppet”).

He’s also a writer (Birmingham Weekly, Spin.com, mental_floss), a bassist for the Exhibit(s), an eight-time cat juggling champion for Malta and an ongoing experiment in sleep deprivation. He occasionally steals your best ideas to claim at his blog, Dairy of a Madman.

“Best Worst Movie” will screen at 8 tonight at the Alabama Theatre.

Video: Trailer for “Best Worst Movie”

Video: “Troll 2” director Claudio Fragasso
discusses the audience’s reaction.

Also:

• Official site
• Sidewalk summary
• Reviews from Blogcritics | CHUD | Cinematical | EFilmCritic | Eric D. Snider | SlashFilm | Variety

• • •

Action! Complete Sidewalk Festival coverage.

Obama picks Alabamian for top doctor post

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President Obama selected Bayou La Batre’s Dr. Regina Benjamin as his surgeon general on Monday. Born in Mobile, she earned her medical degree at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

She is perhaps best known for building a clinic in rural Bayou La Batre and then rebuilding it after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. Benjamin served as the first black female trustee (and first doctor under age 40) for the American Medical Association.

What else should you know about this Alabamian? Funny you should ask …

We present 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Surgeon General Nominee Dr. Regina Benjamin.

1. Pope Benedict XVI awarded her the papal cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice. It’s the highest award conferred by the Pope to the laity. [Associated Press]

2. She spent $800 to open her clinic in 1990. It was destroyed by Hurricane Georges in 1998, so she built further inland (yet still owed $170,000 on the previous building). The second clinic was wiped out by Katrina in 2005. [Reader’s Digest]

3. The third clinic? Extensively damaged by fire. On New Year’s Day 2006, one day before it was scheduled to open. The clinic “operates out of a tiny rented house, while Benjamin raises cash to build anew.” [U.S. News and World Report]

4. She’s a “Genius.” The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation selected her for a $500,000 MacArthur Fellowship (“genius award”) in 2008. [MacArthur Foundation]

5. Her speaker’s fee? $5,000 to $10,000. Although that will likely end as a government official under ethics guidelines. [Speakers on Healthcare]

6. She’s a hugger. “The doctor and her staff reciprocate, dispensing hugs as an essential ingredient of high-quality health care.” [U.S. News and World Report]

7. She’s Catholic and supports abortion rights. But her Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic doesn’t perform abortions. [Miami Herald]

8. Besides her medical degree, she also has an MBA from Tulane University. She graduated from UAB in 1984 and earned her Master of Business Administration in 1991 from the Freeman School of Business. [Tulane University]

9. Her father had diabetes and high blood pressure. Her brother died from HIV, her mother from lung cancer. She wants to combat what she calls “preventable diseases.” [Associated Press]

10. She was Obama’s second choice for the position. First choice? CNN correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. [CNN]

Note: See our Independence Day weekend activities for 2010.

Looking for some hot and/or cool ways to spend your Independence Day weekend?

• The Birmingham News has 12 things to do (and one not to do, confusingly labeled under “Drinks”) around town. [PDF version]

• The Alabama Tourism Department has great activities across the state from A to V (Alexander City to Valley Head). [PDF version]

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!

Photo: Flickr: Jim Brickett / CC BY-ND 2.0