Vote earlier and oftener: Our pal Taylor Bright has the story on a not-new idea: moving up state Democratic primaries from June (which makes no difference) to one of the first in the nation. Party leaders say they want to add diversity to the states — lily white Iowa and New Hampshire — voting early on candidates. Just think, for $1 million, Alabama could help choose the next Democratic loser in 2008 …
• Alabama may get an early primary [Huntsville Times]

Diagnosis: gouging: The California Nurses Association put out a study showing which hospitals have the highest markups. Brookwood Medical Center in Homewood was at No. 9, with an astonishing 804 percent cost-to-charge ratio (charging eight times the actual cost). The average among the 4,222 hospitals studied: 244 percent. However, that’s the hospital that saved my life in 1989, for a mere $20,000 (thank God for health insurance), but I shouldn’t have been charged the $7 for the single Tylenol that I threw up immediately — so we’ll call it even. I’m worth every penny, or grand.
• Study: Brookwood hospital cost mark-up one of nation’s highest [Birmingham News]

Adding it down: Economically poor students are expected to also be academically poor students. However, a Standard and Poor’s study shows that in Alabama, we’re equal opportunity underachievers. When poverty is factored out, state fourth and eighth graders still perform below expectations in math. S&P has a great educational data site, SchoolMatters, with a detailed snapshot of Alabama worth a look. As noted statistical scholar Barbie said, “Math is hard!”
• Study: Alabama’s poor performance not due to poverty alone [Associated Press]

Also:

• Summit shoppers ignore Jesus’ return for bargain hunting
• Trussville kitchen remodeling project awaits funding from dad’s second job
• Try to snatch the irony from my hand, young grasshopper

• • •

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And jolly all over: The good folks at Black and White are feeling nostalgic as they share their childhood Christmas memories. Our fave? David Pelfrey writes about meeting the Santa stationed at Pizitz downtown: “This crook-nosed ‘Santa’ was a bit more swarthy than the rosy-cheeked fellow in the Coke ads. He reeked of pastrami-on-rye and bad cologne, and he had a strange accent. Plus he didn’t like me.”

Share your fave memories in the comments section — I’ll get us started.
• A ‘Black & White’ Christmas [Black and White]

Rich arts groups get richer: It’ll be a good Christmas for many arts groups. The Jefferson County Commission is giving close to $4 million through its Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham, though 87 percent is going to established organizations The Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Alabama Ballet, Birmingham Zoo and Birmingham Museum of Art will split close to $2 million in 2006. Other groups are receiving four- and five-figure grants. One group, the Birmingham International Festival, will receive $40,000. A Post-Herald investigation showed that the festival has an unusually high percentage of its budget set aside for executive salaries, while the program has withered into a school-based educational program and conferences of little public interest.

• Arts alliance pumps about $4 million into metro area economy [Birmingham Business Journal]

Way to go: The United Way of Central Alabama beat its goal again, raising more than $34 million during its annual fund-raising campaign — despite citizens’ earlier generosity during the Katrina crisis. Chances are, some group you know or work with is among the more than 70 area United Way agencies that will benefit.
• Even in year of the storms, area United Way exceeds goal [Birmingham Business Journal]

Also:

• Former Birmingham Fire linebacker tosses football with nephews
• Weekend forecast calls for rain, freezing temps, as Nostradamus predicted
• Galleria holiday temp: ‘You don’t really have to be this tall to ride carousel’

• • •

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Hacking Saks: Remember the glory days of Saks? Neither do we, but the retailer — sorta based in Birmingham — is having a bad year. The good news? The year’s almost over. The bad news? Next year means likely cuts in jobs, stores and inventory. But where will we go to snag that one-of-a-kind $2,000 ballgown? Guess there’s always eBay …
• Saks will reduce empire [Birmingham News]

Jesus and the chocolate factory: Combining the glory of His word with the sinful goodness of sugary confection, Scripture Candy is a homegrown success story. The business, which started out in an entrepreneurial incubator, is ready to move into its own new five-acre property in Adamsville. Meanwhile, the incubator is also growing, preparing to move into the old Sears building downtown with another incubator. Let’s hope the candy company doesn’t start slacking like the lazy gits at the fortune cookie factory, who actually stuffed this into our dessert: “You will live a long time, long enough to open many, many fortune cookies.”
• Scripture Candy’s sweet success owed to incubator [Birmingham News]

Block? Bling!: Downtown is in demand, and it’s gonna cost big. Fortunately, lots of businesses want to be there, especially if “there” is Five Points South or around the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Of course, the results are coming from a bunch of UAB students. Hmm …
• Half-block lot downtown: Write a check for $1.54M [Birmingham Business Journal]

Also:

• Desperate military recruiters asking promiscuous teens to “step it up”
• Hot holiday gifts: rifles, Xbox 360, various commandments
• Festivus carolers skip neighborhoods to hit Lakeview pubs, drown sorrows

• • •

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Big mania on campus: Heavens to betsy, what will those collegians do next? It seems like just yesterday they would stuff themselves into phone booths for kicks … Nowadays, a weekly sex column in the University of Alabama student paper has drawn some fire from parents. A letter signed by 26 campus guides claims, “Many students and parents have no objection with this material being presented to a college audience, but some do. These families represent a significant portion of our prospective students, and to risk alienating them could prove costly in our recruiting efforts.” Yes, we wouldn’t want to besmirch a fine institution known for coaching sexcapades or ranking as the No. 1 party school.
• Senior’s sex column in UA campus paper draws notice, criticism [Tuscaloosa News]

Drug dealers: An expert says he knows why Southern Research Institute on Southside has come up with six of the top 26 cancer drugs: It stuck to an area of global significance even though it was being ignored by “Big Pharma.” Hey, yo pharma so big, she went to the movies and sat next to everyone. Oh, snap!
• Drug discovery expert lauds SRI success [Birmingham Business Journal]

Bice-a-Roni: “American Idol” runner-up and one-time Helena resident Bo Bice has finally released his debut disc Tuesday, barely in time for the holidays. What are critics saying about “The Real Thing”? Early reviews call it “a barrage of saccharine rock ballads” and “a total misfire, a bland, colorless collection of rote rock” that’s “utterly forgettable.” Just great … no “From Bo to Carrie” movie, either.
• “The Real Thing” by Bo Bice [Amazon.com]

Also:

• Area workforce decimated by colds, bronchitis, sudoku fever
• Birmingham Zoo penguins petition for “March of the Penguins” sequel to be shot here
• Your New Year’s Resolution? Simultaneously drive, talk on cell phone and 50 stomach crunches

• • •

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Grammy drought: If you actually follow the sham that is the Grammys, the noms are out. After having scanned the entire nominee list, only one Alabamian jumps out: Birmingham’s Emmylou Harris. She and Rodney Crowell are competing in the hotly contested Country Collaboration With Vocals category for their single, “Shelter From the Storm.” It’s a cover of a Bob Dylan tune on Crowell’s disc, "The Outsider."
• Mariah Carey and 2 Others Lead Grammy Nods [New York Times]

Musings on a Magic Platter: Anyone who remembers growing up in Birmingham shopped at the Magic Platter in Hoover for cool CDs. What many folks don’t know is that the owner, Don VanCleave, was at the heart of a revolution in the music industry: organizing indie music stores into a powerful force, the Coalition of Independent Music Stores. While the Platter is history, VanCleave remains active in a tumultuous biz. And if you enjoyed the Killers at this year’s City Stages, you have him to thank.
• Indie Music Mogul Don VanCleave [Black and White]

Sovereignty, diplomacy and rock 'n’ roll!: Speaking of moguls, apparently Birmingham’s Condi Rice is a rock star in the take-no-prisoners world of diplomacy. She’s beloved by many the world over, and it’s all part of the plan. The man behind the woman ain’t Dick Cheney, but Jim Wilkinson, a senior aide. Ya gotta admit, even with all of her credibility problems and boss’ sinking approval ranking, she usually manages to come out on top.
• The Man Behind the Secretary of State’s Rock Star Image [New York Times]

Also:

• Fultondale home’s outdoor display targeted for ‘de-Jesusifying’ Christmas
• UPS guy, Fedex dude maintain friendly rivalry despite similar routes
• Accountant spends free time reconciling mileage log, carpool schedule

• • •

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Moving mountains over the mountain: Many Birmingham-area cities not named “Birmingham” are looking at ways to share resources and save money. Do Homewood, Hoover, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills need duplicate dispatch centers, jails and garages? The savings could be enormous, and the plan hinges on only one teensy tiny problem: regional governmental cooperation. Look at it this way: Separation from Birmingham for decades does have a price. Are we still willing to pay it?
• Suburbs eye sharing costs [Birmingham News]

Survival of the lamest: Alabama’s evolution disclaimer in textbooks has earned the state an F in a national study on science education standards. Not to worry: If creationists are right, we’re all going to heaven. If evolutionists are right, we’ll be wiped out when the next comet hits. Christ, it’s not like our science teachers have to beg for decent equipment and furniture, forcing them to win some ripoff reality TV contest. Heck, evolution ain’t even on the state graduation exam. Buncha worrywarts …
• New study gives Alabama ‘F’ in science, cites evolution stance [Associated Press]

The nutty professors: A&M professor Hortense Dodo has come up with a clever solution for all those peanut-allergy sufferers: a non-allergenic peanut. First, George Washington Carver invents peanuts finds hundreds of uses for peanuts. Now this. And we owe it all to SCIENCE evolution.
• Scientists at Alabama A&M create non-allergenic peanut [WAFF (Huntsville)]

Also:

• Bellsouth Christmas party riot blamed on open bar ‘closing down in 10 minutes’
• Area residents continue to pack on pounds, citing unusual cold weather, buffet specials
• PSA: Only you can start forest fires

• • •

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There is no tomorrow: At least Legion Field is good for one last thing … it’s Day 2 of the state high school football championships. Little surprise that Homewood is playing tonight for the 5A crown, and the much-televised Hoover is playing Saturday afternoon for yet another 6A title. The team has been on ESPN, MTV and now UPN 68. But is the world ready for “Laguna Bucs”? Maybe that’s why more students are leaving Birmingham for suburban schools. [live audio game feed]
• Super 6 [Alabama High School Athletic Association]

Really Rosa: A roundup of Thursday’s 50th anniversary of Rosa Parks’ bus protest:

• An Auburn PR students blog spotted the main item highlighting the Montgomery Advertiser’s in-depth presentation on the anniversary.
• A Smithsonian exhibit opens today in the state Capitol, running through Jan. 14 before moving to Huntsville and then around the country.
• While honoring Parks, President Bush asked Congress to renew the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
• Several Atlanta leaders are pushing for the Rosa Parks Memorial Bridge.
• Even the Big Apple paid tribute by leaving a seat empty in the front of each public bus.

• Alabama Paper Commemorates Bus Boycott’s 50th Anniversary [Editor and Publisher]

Pay now, pay later: Remember layaways? They never went away — and still prove useful to folks on a budget, or just in need of a hiding place for a large gift, say, a bike.
• Layaway for holidays fills shelves [Birmingham News]

Also:

• Carmike bargain movie patron demands $2 refund for $1 ‘Lord of War’
• Kwanzaa dinner accidentally booked at The Club
• Pelham Soccer mom: ‘I use my hands for everything’

• • •

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Giving flu the bird: A city pharmaceutical company is asking permission to test its new flu drug which has shown potential for treating strains — including the deadly dreaded bird flu. It could be ready to go later in 2006, but the company’s first try showed little more effective than placebos. Good news for those with health insurance. But the uninsured poor needn’t worry: They’ll receive their shots of flu randomly and for free.
• BioCryst seeks OK on flu drug for people [Birmingham News]

Riding the bus with my sistas: Thursday marks the 50th anniversary of Rosa Parks’ most comfortable bus ride — or least comfortable, depending on how you view it. But she wasn’t alone in the fight, and the occasion will focus on others who also participated in Montgomery’s civil rights struggle.
• In wake of Parks’ death, 50th anniversary of boycott shifts focus [Associated Press]

Try the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy, too: A Troy University associate professor of political science makes his case for a new state constitution. Very needed, very unlikely. Now if he had only wished for longer bulkier constitution than the one we already have …
• Listing holiday wishes for changes in Alabama’s goverment [Mobile Register]

Also:

• Adamsville family grudgingly draws for Secret Santa exchange
• Actors prepare for last '05 show through rehearsal, chain smoking
• Condi Rice named most fascinating bureaucratic lackey

• • •

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Utility we stand: The Birmingham city council formed an oversight committee to review complaints about utilities: water, power, gas, cable and phone. Hmm. We’ve complained consistently in the past about our cable company. Nothing. And what of it? Cable’s a monopoly in this town unless you switch to dish (not an option for everyone). Same with water, gas and cable. Even the phone company — in the face of unprecendented competition — has done little to win customers over. But now, tremble before the power of a … committee.
• Official: Water panel will answer critics [Birmingham News]

Phrase your ignorance in the form of a question: The Jeopardy! brain bus will be in town Tuesday at McWane Center. The first 1,000 visitors can take a 10-question qualifying test for a shot at a contestant audition. I tried out for the college version once, and let’s just say my only hope would’ve been phrasing my answers in the form of $100 bills. At least someone from around here done good.
• Jeopardy! Brain Bus in Birmingham (press release) [Jeopardy!]

Flying high: Florida band Lynyrd Skynyrd has achieved what every crazy rocker has ever dared dream: to be worshipped by Cleveland. The group, along with Black Sabbath, Sex Pistols and Miles Davis(!), will be the next inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Skynyrd — what’s left of it — is best known for the bored audience punchline “Free Bird” and the obligatory-every-visiting-band-must-play “Sweet Home Alabama,” a song which still inspires a surprising amount of controversy (see the comments for full effect).
• Sex Pistols, Skynyrd finally in rock hall of fame [Reuters]

Also:

• Passing storms cause outage of lower right corner of TV picture
• Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
• And they’ve been known to pick a song or two

• • •

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Holy license plates!: A state representive wants to add “God Bless America” to the 100 or so license plates. Maybe the back side could have the song’s lyrics, or maybe it could just play the tune with one of those greeting card chips. We’ve submitted our design, with the Alanis God from “Dogma.” She could be one of those stars that falls on Alabama — get it? get it? And the ‘O’ in “on” is now a halo, and it could be AlaNIS instead of AlaBAMA. And I forgot the “God Bless Alabama.” Dang, so close.
• Bill would put ‘God Bless America’ on Alabama car tags [Associated Press]

Hardly working: Unemployment was up slightly in October, but ahead of October 2004. Maybe Santa’s hiring, so cross your fingers for a strong holiday shopping season.
• Alabama’s unemployment rate rises [Associated Press]

The Hills are alive with sound of munching: Looks like Vestavia Hills is trying again to rev up its retail centerpiece with more upscale restaurants in the post-Arman era. Anthony Marini took over the Calypso Joe’s location and blamed the failure of his previous restaurant, AMBA, on its location on Southside. Hmm. Marini picks bad location in a Southside shopping strip and fails to draw crowd, then picks equally bad location in poorly designed shopping center (it’s a maze of stairwells and dark hallways). Doesn’t matter how great your dishes are if no one can find you … And he’s given it the oh-so-clever name: (local) restaurant. That’s not a typo, which is probably how they’ll answer the phone (unless the number is in Sanskrit).
• New tenants usher return of fine dining [Birmingham News]

Also:

• Faith-based coaching leads Daphne to state 6A championship game
• Santa pre-approves Alabama, other red states, for guns, Bibles
• Turkey leftovers picked at by Uncle “I’m so stuffed” Bill

• • •

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Ebony and irony: Jay Reeves has an interesting story on blacks in the South, with some surprising tidbits. The South has had an influx of black residents — led by college grads — while other regions lost them during the past 10 years. Also, 78 percent of blacks claim the label of “Southerner,” more than the 75 percent of whites. But, compared to other regions, the South has higher rates of poverty among blacks (whites, too) and lower high school and college graduation rates.
• Many Blacks Proud to Be Southerners [Associated Press]

It’s all fun and games until someone suffers a coronary: Ray Melick’s front-page story is a good’un, about the doctor, an Alabama fan, who resuscitated a heart attack victim, an Auburn fan. Said Dr. Blake Thompson, “I know it must have looked funny. I was wearing my Alabama shirt, and here I am ripping off this Auburn fan’s jacket and pumping on his chest. I felt bad about having to ruin his clothes like that.” Good God, just think what would’ve happened to that Auburn guy had the team lost …
• Man says God put him at Iron Bowl to save heart attack victim’s life [Birmingham News]

Everybody logs on to Rick’s: The Mobile County sheriff shut down two Internet cafes, because he was shocked, shocked to find online gambling taking place. Fortunately, for those casino refugees, help is on the way.
• Internet cafes are shut down after raids [Mobile Register]

Also:

• Lone Friday downtown office worker checks e-mail, updates her blog
• Eastwood Mall unprepared for dozens of ruly holiday shoppers
• Traffic: one godd—ed idiot just cut me off!?!

• • •

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StormWatch '05: The makings of a blizzard struck Alabama Monday night. Up to zero people were killed, with a record-number zero schools closed. Let’s go to the video (click on “The Mountains enjoy snow” on the link) — actual still pictures of snow! Good thing this isn’t televised or such.
• Snow falls on northeast Alabama [WAFF (Huntsville)]

Send back the tempest-tost: Alabama has 23 new state troopers on duty to find and arrest illegal aliens. Almost 150 such arrest have been made since 2003 — and we’re guessing most were Hispanics. Gov. Riley called them “a second line of defense” in the war on terrorism. Hmm, I forget, how many of the 9/11 hijackers were from Mexico and points south? The Pilgrims had the right papers, yes?
• Number of Alabama troopers on immigration duty increases [Associated Press]

Subdivision of shame: Omar Santos-Cruz was paralyzed while working on a new home in the swanky part of Hoover known as Greystone. A court has ruled him eligible for workers compensation and medical care. The twist: He’s an illegal alien from Mexico. If only the troopers had gotten to him first …
• Alabama judge rules illegal immigrant due workers comp for life [Associated Press]

Also:

• Co-workers shun SEC betting pool champ
• Holiday carjackings starting earlier to beat seasonal rush
• Wal-Mart pits Birmingham against suburbs in fight to the death

• • •

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Bag hag: Everyone’s favorite gay racist pedophile has made it on the outside. We’re talking T-Bag, the misunderstood con who just wants to run free on Fox’s “Prison Break.” Actor Robert Knepper explains, “I love the fact that he comes from Alabama. Normally what I would have done, years ago, is call Alabama, call some filling station or a bank and talk to someone to get the talk. I still do that sometimes.” Hard to believe people still worry about the state’s image.
• Talking with T-Bag [Chicago Tribune]

Drowning in bills: Electric bills are climbing. So are gas bills. Starting in 2006, look for a jump in your water bill. The 8.75 percent increase means a family that pays $50 a month for water/sewer service can expect to pay an additional $52.50 by year’s end. Time to go back to weekly showers …
• Water rates to climb as board OKs 2006 budget [Birmingham News]

Beware of the dig: We’re always a little wary of surveys that rank cities based on this or that. Morgan Quitno Press, a research and publishing firm in Lawrence, Kan., ranked the most dangerous cities based on FBI crime data from 2004. Birmingham came in at No. 10. At least we now have something cool to tattoo besides “T-Bag 4-ever” …
• Birmingham Ranked No. 10 on List of ‘Most Dangerous’ Cities [NBC 13]

Also:

• Atlanta roadtrip delayed by roommate who ‘can’t get his s— together’
• Turkey pardoned by governor shoots five in killing spree
• McCain survives trip to Alabama with only bugs, cash donations

• • •

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Stripe for the pickin’: Ye Olde Iron Bowl takes place Saturday in Auburn (2:30 p.m. CST on your CBS station). One ref makes his prediction for the big Alabama-Auburn game and shares some amusing on-the-field yarns. Then, he gets his (body part) stuck up his (other body part).
• Iron Bowl prediction [(Talladega) Daily Home]

Encyclopaedia titannica: If you need to bone up on, say, every Iron Bowl ever played, look no further than Wikipedia. It includes this bizarre dissection of the heated tradition:

“Like many intrastate rivalries between public universities in the United States, much of the animosity between the two schools stems from sociological differences between each school’s fan base (alumni and other supporters). Many of the more heated in-state rivalries involve a state’s perceived ‘flagship university’ and a land-grant university. Traditionally, flagship universities educated the more urbanized and economically upscale portions of their state’s population. Land-grant schools, which were specifically established to provide education in agriculture, engineering, and military science, drew heavily from rural and small-town dwellers.

“Although this is a gross oversimplification, and there are numerous exceptions to this rule on both sides, there is a core of truth to this divide. In the Iron Bowl, Alabama is the ‘flagship’ school and Auburn the land-grant school.”

All we can say is, “Good for Gary, good for Gary Hogeboom.”
• Iron Bowl (entry) [Wikipedia]

Failing upwards: Gore Vidal said, “It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail.” Or was it Ken Jennings? Anyway, the winner of the Iron Bowl will need LSU to lose at least one of its two last games to make it into the SEC Championship Game. To face off against “Jeopardy!” god Jennings.
• Surging Tigers, Struggling Tide Meet In Iron Bowl [Associated Press]

Shakeups and wakeups: ESPN columnist Pat Forde ranks the Iron Bowl as this week’s most important rivalry: “This game could have a pronounced ripple effect through the bowl picture: An Alabama win might be enough to propel the Crimson Tide into the BCS. That, in turn, would leave the SEC with at least one fewer bowl-eligible team than bowl commitments … If Auburn wins, the trickle-down scenario leads Tennessee to the Music City Bowl … and Florida to the Independence Bowl …” And you thought it didn’t mean anything.
• Iron Bowl tops the week’s rivalry games [ESPN]

Hooked on fanatics: Finally, something is being done about the sorry joke that is state public education. Introducing a set of DVDs to teach infants about Alabama and Auburn pride. Greg Scheinman, creator of Team Baby Entertainment, said, “The company is set to raise the next generation of fan. It is set up to teach kids about traditions and introduce them to different sports, marching bands and mascots.” Next up: Baby Beer Bong and Lil’ Tyke Sports Betting Palace.
• DVDs get baby on board Tide, Tiger bandwagons [Birmingham News]

Also:

• Sudden cold brings hunters out of hibernation
• Fan discovers either “Alabama” or “Auburn” could work in football-themed punchline
• Mountain Brook to create “maze within a maze” in updated street layout plan

• • •

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Better cram for that urine test: You don’t have chlamydia, right? Think again. Our pal Holly Lang reported that chlamydia rates in Alabama dropped in 2004 — because the tests were inaccurate. New, more accurate tests show that the rate is already climbing, along with rates for gonorrhea and syphilis. “Edward Hook, a UAB professor and director of the STD Control Program for the Jefferson County Department of Health, said the current campaign for more accurate testing and better awareness will eventually pay off, much like it did for national gonorrhea control efforts started in the 1960s.” Yep, we’re just itching for a solution.
• Unreliable Alabama testing led to low chlamydia rates in 2004 [Associated Press]

Who cares about child care?: Holly has another good story about the child care conundrum. More state regulations on licensed child care facilities are driving up prices — and driving away low-income parents. Meanwhile, unlicensed facilities (like the one we run in the basement) are exempt from the regs. “DHR announced Thursday that 2,000 additional children currently on a subsidy waiting list will now receive vouchers for child care. There are approximately 12,500 still on the list.” When your colleague, boss or underling is scrambling to find a sitter, you’ll know why.
• Group says Alabama rules put child care cost out of reach of many [Associated Press]

Hot flash: Birmingham is No. 3 among mid-size cities in Entrepreneur.com’s Hot Cities for Entrepreneurs list. Alabama is No. 5 among states, and Auburn-Opelika is No. 1. among small cities. One expert says in order for the state to remain on top, citizens must demand better public education to turn out a smarter workforce.
• Secret’s out: State is great for new biz [Birmingham Business Journal]

Also:

• Talk radio host screens callers for like-minded sentiments
• Cell phone service along interstate corridor upgraded from spotty to statick-y
• Shopping frenzy erupts over same-day Hanukkah/Christmas mix-up

• • •

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