Thompson ends presidential run

Fred Thompson, actor and Republican contender, dropped his bid for the presidency today. The Sheffield native had been in the race barely five months and a handful of primaries/caucuses before bowing out.

He previously served as a U.S. Senator from Tennessee for eight years before taking a role on the NBC drama, “Law and Order.” (Insert chung-chung sound effect.) His fund-raising and campaign stops included a $1,000-per-couple shindig in Mountain Brook in July, before he even announced his run.

Alabama, which holds its presidential primary in two weeks, has never had a native serve as President or Vice President. Two American Idols, but no Commanders-in-Chief.

Were you a Fredhead? Who will you support now?

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Complete Vote 2008 coverage.

‘The Biggest Loser: Couples’ recap, episode 3

biggestloser.wadeonbirmingham.com
By Ginny

After last week’s tiny weight loss, can Roger Shultz of Enterprise and Trent Patterson drop enough to keep the Bama Slammers in the running on “The Biggest Loser”?

And what’s gum got to do with it?

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Alabama’s presidential primary is less than three weeks away. But which candidate do you support? Do you even know his or her agenda?

On Feb. 5 (the sadly named Super Duper Tuesday), voters in this state will have a fresh opportunity to pick Democratic and Republican nominees, rather than let earlier states winnow down the field arbitrarily.

In our Vote 2008 coverage, we’ll bring you the issues that matter most to Alabamians, and how candidates stack up in key positions. Start by checking out the official Web sites for their platforms.

Then, try out Select a Candidate below, by filling out your choices on top issues and finding out which presidential hopeful matches up best. Tell us in the comments about your match, your actual vote-getter and why.

(You can also try glassbooth or the MyFox Candidate Matchmaker for alternate matches.)

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Complete Vote 2008 coverage.

‘The Biggest Loser: Couples’ recap, episode 2

biggestloser.wadeonbirmingham.com
By Ginny

The Bama Slammers are back for week 2 of “The Biggest Loser: Couples.” Roger Shultz of Enterprise and Trent Patterson dropped nearly 50 pounds in the premiere, but can they stay strong in the face of double trainers and rib plates?

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‘The Biggest Loser: Couples’ recap, episode 1

biggestloser.wadeonbirmingham.com
By Ginny

It’s a new season of “The Biggest Loser,” and in case you haven’t heard, this time it’s couples. (Next season: people and their pets).

One of the couples (which is maybe not how they refer to themselves, I’m thinking) is a pair of former Crimson Tide football players. Roger Shultz of Enterprise and Trent Patterson were something called a “center” and a “guard,” respectively. Together, they’re just 16 ounces shy of 800 pounds.

How did they fare on the two-hour season premiere New Year’s Day spectacular?

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A new year means a new year’s resolution, maybe to stick to a diet or find entertainment in lieu of the writers’ strike.

Done and done.

Former Alabama linemen Roger Shultz (above right) and Trent Patterson (above left) have re-teamed to compete on “The Biggest Loser: Couples” for a shot at $250,000.

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Another whirlwind weekend of music, movies and parties known as Sidewalk has zipped by. Remember: You can still win swag from the film fest by entering our haiku contest by noon today.

But before we wrap the ninth Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, a few more capsule reviews of hits and misses …

Update: “The Devil Came on Horseback” and “Darius Goes West” added.

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Contributing writer Stacy Vance reviewed “Overflow” by Birmingham director Jana Harris:

For those of us who miss the guilty pleasure of the ABC after-school special, “Overflow” gives a respectable shot at resurrecting the teenage drama, complete with the valuable lesson to take away.

The film screens Sunday at the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival.

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Craving something serious in bite-size pieces? Try this block of shorts from Alabama filmmakers at this weekend’s Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival.

But be warned: It’s heavy slogging through these dainty dramas.

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It’s not the first time Don Siegelman and Richard Scrushy have made Page One of newspapers.

But their sentencing-turned-shackling made for front-page news across Alabama.

Check out the full gallery after the jump.

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The latest photos from City Stages Flickr group … Check back often for more images from the festival.

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Complete City Stages 2007 coverage.

The 19th edition of City Stages kicks off today. Choosing from all those acts can be a challenge, so we again present our multimedia guide to the festival, including a playlist of 12 tracks representing the best of the fest.

Three are freebies, the rest will run you about $10 on iTunes. Plus, videos of performances and more.

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I’ve been a faithful City Stages fan for years, at least 15 or so. Most of the last 10 years, I’ve paid for my tickets and happily headed downtown for three days of music and fellowship.

I dare say I’ve spent more supporting the festival than most people I know. I consider that a point of pride, almost to the point of foolishness.

After all, even if the lineup was weak — and many a year, the lineup was weak — I could count on seeing old friends and discovering worthy up-and-coming acts.

Not this year. Not with my money.

Updated with Preserve Jazz Festival attendance, plus additional links.

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Montgomery contestant finishes in final four on ‘Top Model’

Shoe seller. Dental student. Mom. And now, TV model.

For two months, Dionne Walters of Montgomery lived the fantasy of flashy clothes, international travel and celebrity encounters. But on last week’s episode of “America’s Next Top Model,” the 21-year-old hopeful went home in fourth place.

The CW reality show ends its eighth season Wednesday with one of three contestants winning a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl.

Walters spoke by phone today to talk about facing the panel, being away from family and keeping it real.

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The mean girls may love Sydney but hate Natasha. The fab four turn ugly on “America’s Next Top Model.”

The contestants learn the art of aboriginal storytelling, but the real story ends up being poor, sick Natasha vs. Renee, Jaslene and Montgomery’s Dionne Walters. Go native, go overboard or go home.

All the photos, after the jump …
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