On Birmingham...

Well, to make a long story short, Birmingham was driven over the cliff by the likes of Scott Beason and William Bell.  The blame goes both ways with whites and blacks in Birmingham.  I lived there for enough years to realized that the people of Birmingham (yeah, I mean all of you in the region not just within Birmingham city limits), lack discerning abilities to wise decision on whom will represent you a local leadership or the Alabama Legislature.  It just seems there is no real willpower on the part of a significant portion of the citizenry to care enough to want to make an effort to progress the city forward rather than hobble along the way.  

Even more embarrassing is the filing for bankruptcy for Jefferson County, but this is a result of urban sprawl without any regard to negative effects to the surroundings, the idiocy within the Jefferson County government, and the city of Hoover.  Hoover was the ones whom owned the sanitary sewer treatment facility on Shades Creek that overflowed and wind up with the DOJ forcing Jefferson County to take control of all the sewer lines within the immediate Greater Birmingham area. 

As today, Birmingham has become battleground for where the Alabama immigration law debate will take place with leadership from congress meeting the local leadership about how it has negatively affected the city's  resources.  All I have to say is good luck because we all know that the reason why the Congressional Republicans haven't take up the immigration debate there in DC is because they know they will be exposed for the due-nothings they are in the US House.

UPDATE:  The latest developments with Birmingham itself is the creation of its first citywide, long-range, comprehensive plan since 1961 called "The Plan Birmingham".  Yeah, I'm like COME AGAIN?  Yeah, this is the first comprehensive plan they have created since post-integration period.  This alone is an embarrassment to humanity and anyone that has worked in the planning, economic development, and public policy making in Birmingham.

On the welcome page of The Plan Birmingham, there is a picture of Birmingham's mayor, William Bell's goofy, gap-toothed smiling face with a "message" about what he feels is the vision for the future of Birmingham.  Right below, his message was Roderick Royal, the current Birmingham City Council president with his statement as well.  Why is it this is the most substance of detail about this website's home page is beyond me?  The site details including the "Birmingham Resource Book" which is most GIS maps by census tract or overall area assessments of land usage, public facilities, water & watersheds, parks & recreations, personal vision statements by citizens, etc.

Overall, it is a well put-together site, but the GIS maps need major improvement like the parks and recreation map that doesn't label or has arrows that doesn't even point to the actual location of these facilities.  That is embarrassing, and should have been done better, Barry William, who is the city's GIS manager...

Finally, why is the city of Birmingham wasting taxpayer funds for outsourcing to a Boston-based firm for consultant work when you have full-time planners that handle community planning and development at the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPCGB) right there on 1st Avenue North in downtown?   That is just plain STUPID and WASTEFUL on the mayor and city council part's not to take advantage of a free or nearly free resource of staff planners at the RPCGB, whom have done comprehensive plans for Bessemer among other area municipalities.  Also they can work on a regional scale and is very well capable of administering the regional initiatives such as the Green Birmingham, Prosperity and Opportunity economic development, and Getting from Here to There transportation and mobility initiatives with other area governments.

So ready to have this stuff over with Auburn

After nearly 3 going 4 months of silence, I feel like this is the reason why I 'm tired to that place.  I stay on the road leaving town because it is easier and there are no remainders that place.  Lately, I've been relaxing by chilling at home away from the foolishness.  Auburn is just one of those places where I feel and know people are just brought there so there can front with pseudo-egalitarian atmosphere, but in reality the place is very socially segregated and as about as anti-progressive as the rest of the state of Alabama.  Honestly, I can't truly name or point to much research Auburn has conducted that is associated with anything of importance other than farming techniques and veterinarian medicine treatments for animals.

Honestly, the most aggravation has come from me working with a moron in my assistantship that displays why I know for a fact the graduate program in community planning at Auburn University is pathetic.  For starters, the dude can bare speak English, lacks the discernment to realized that people have other responsibilities aside from working with him, and finally he couldn't teach a small child how to tie a shoe so much as bullshit suppose to be doing.  To sum it up, this shit is ridiculous and as about as productive as watching water boil.

As I mentioned last year, the area might as well be given to the state of Georgia because nothing about the region is economically or socially attached to Alabama.  The Auburn-Opelika area is basically a western extension of the Columbus area in west Georgia like Phenix City is in Russell County.  It just makes you wonder why is Auburn University in Alabama nearly half of its student body (some 40%) are from Georgia.

My reasons for my absence

Lately, I've been trying my damnest not just up and quit with Auburn University and their clearly patriarchal, anti-non-white institutional environment.  While I'm busy trying to finish and maintain my high GPA, I'm contending with the researcher from hell in this assistantship (which I have seriously contemplating quitting after this semester).  It's clear as day that Auburn is not a place for me at all because 1) It lacks ethnic, social, and cultural diversity, 2) It's a patriarchal environment, 3) It has no connection anything I need in the long-term career goals, and 4) lack of social egalitarianism .  Sorry, but I can give 2 shits and a flush about how people perceive my comments about their "precious Auburn", I look at it the same way as I look at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, as a place whether any non-white with any dignity and a piece of mind wouldn't be unless they are visiting family in the area.

I hope to get back to somewhat sporadic posting soon, but I have much to do and little time.

Can Birmingham be saved?

I have pondered this for years now and wondering if this major city can return from the abyss of mediocrity.  It seems that everytime is something proposed, initiated, or mentioned that is productive to the civic pride of the region that the C.A.V.E. people whom will show their asses.  Also there is my personal term "P.A.V.E." people as well that exist nowadays, which are Politicians Against Virtually Everything, mainly because they didn't think of the idea themselves or because their pocket-lining lobbyists wouldn't benefit from the idea/concept/initiative.

A number of fellow bloggers have blogged on this including Mack Lyons, Wade on Birmingham, Kyle Whitmire, among many others that have echoed what I've been saying for years that Birmingham has civic disengagement or pride issues.  Meanwhile, in the surrounding suburbs there are Y.I.M.B.Y., which is Yes In My Back Yard, which is why the minor league AA, Birmingham Barons, wind up in Hoover at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium (which the name within itself is ironic), i.e. Regions Park in the first place.  Hoover, which has a serious case of "Anywhere syndrome" because the place no sense of place at all.  It's home to the  now in-its-twilight-of-existence, Riverchase Galleria, mixed-used development and Alabama's largest retail center.  Yet, it's boosters and chamber of commerce are its main culprits saying "Hoover Has It", when in reality it doesn't.  Even retail is starting to leave Hoover for other ares like most places in suburbia when its past its heyday.  


Back to the main discussion, Birmingham has so much potential from its well-organized urban core with a southwest-to-northeast gridiron layout to its wealth of areas worthy of redevelopment.  I was recently at economic development conference where the topic of most discussions were greenfield developments into 'industrial sites', which are about as need as another hole in my head.   Meanwhile, the truth of the manner is Birmingham has a plethora of brownfield sites that are mostly former heavy iron and coal processing facility sites.  These sites can be home to number of redevelopments such as mixed-use projects that could easily be integrated into the urban form of Birmingham's grid layout.  Also with the strength of UAB, the Innovation Depot, and their ability to create a variety of spin-off start-up businesses can reinvent Birmingham's economic base.  Birmingham is no longer the largest financial hub outside of the New York Tri-State region, but it has more than enough resources at its dispose to produce a skilled workforce.  Birmingham has the strong base of smaller, regional financial institutions that could aided in them building up into its next generation of major financial heavyweights.  


Birmingham should also serious explore what is its internal problems and stop electing reactionary and "catchphrase salesmen" as its elected officials such as mayor and city council members.  It's obvious the constant rehashing of the same stock of characters whom have lived and breathe manipulating the lowest common denominator of the populous hasn't worked at all.  I don't reside in the city anymore and honestly have very little interest to return anytime soon because the place isn't where I need to be nor does it feel like "home" anymore.  However, I know enough about said place to know it has the potential to rebuild itself but it has to shed some of the ailments.  

People and things that needs to get got...

Let's see, I said back in the summer of 2007 when the Democratic presidential primary season was already in a very early full swing that Hillary Clinton was going to "get got" because of the fuckery she was pedalling towards then-Illinois U.S. Senator Barack Obama.  In 2011, well I have to say another person is going to "get got" if they don't STFU soon.  That person is Minnesota's 6th District Congresswoman, Michelle "Chickenhead" Bachmann.

This fool just doesn't quit.  Let's see, she hates LGBT/SGLs, she thinks black children were better off under slavery, she thinks the White House is joking about defaulting on its debt payments, and the list goes on and on an on.  Everyone that keeps up with politics can tell she is (or has) been gunning for the "ranting white lady spot" that Sarah Palin's ass kept in herself in.

Also in Alabama State Senator, Scott Beason, of Gardendale needs his ass to be gotten for sure.  He is not only a racist that doesn't think much of black Alabamians, but an all-around bigot.  He is trying to defend his asinine bill-turn-into-law on immigration in Alabama before the world.  It's like a horrible episode of some idiotic sitcom from the 1950s running-a-mok.  This eurocentric bullshit is what is contributing to the breakdown of civility in our society.

However when it comes to Beason,  the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), ACLU, and others organizations are fighting back.  Today, a lawsuit was filed in federal court against this regressive Alabama law  that basically gives the A'OK for law enforcement to racially profile anybody that isn't white.

(h/t to Left in Alabama)

Some random thoughts (and a little ranting)...

What is with black folks and the indoctrination of self-deprecation and self-defeating mentality on life itself.  I speak on this because when I step outside of my very tight knit circle of friends (and when I mean tight I mean less than 5 people), I see so much of this.  I only surround myself on a personal-level with positive individuals that have much to offer in life other than the same old crap I see in the world itself, negativity.  It's a damn shame that as a group black people will shift towards this "holier than thou" disposition or "leave it all to Jesus" mentality when at the end of the day it's clearly a personal issue of psychological dissonance.

There was one person in my life, that I used to have long time ago that fronted like he was pragmatic, but his deep seated psychological issues seeped to the surface and they became this overtly negative and arrogant individual.  It was awful seeing somebody of so much potential to be a very productive member of society devolve into this self-defeating and stagnant soul with an arrogant chip on their should.  I had to remove them from my life by choice because they wen't providing anything of substance to myself (rather taking).

On to more related issues, I read this evening the blog, Black Gay Men's Blog, and its topic discussion on same-sex unions, i.e. "gay marriage" amongst black males.  It seemed that even though much growth has occurred in the past several decades, many have fully embraced this internal self-deprecating and bigoted views about unions and long-term relationships.  I've had my missteps but I also realize that if you embrace negativity then you wind up more miserable than you were beforehand.  The notion another individual would allow their peers, environment, sometimes even media and stereotypes affirm whom they are then it shows how weak-minded they are as individuals.  I refuse to allow anyone define me as a person, I know I'm far from perfect but anyone with half a brain and an ounce of common sense knows themselves well enough to not allow others to make them insecure.

Honestly, I believe it is the root of the self-destructive behavior that so many black SGL/gay/bisexual men partake in such as risky behaviors like unprotected sex, drug use, and obsession with unrealistic standards for others and sometimes themselves with their body image.

It's funny I've been writing this blog for nearly 2 years, but the truth hurts whether it about whites, blacks, LGBT/SGLs, or individuals.

Rant over.

Just when you thought he would have more sense, but...

Oh Jamal!  You just had to be a SPLABOO and drive around with marijuana aka "weed" and a semi-automatic handgun.  You have to live up to being a stereotype, huh?

Jamal Parris, one of the 4 Eddie "Daddy Longstroke" Long accusers of the sexual harassment and misconduct case that blew up last fall was caught in South Florida while driving a white 2011 BMW without any tags.  According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Florida Highway Patrol officer, Sgt. Seth Dubinsky, said the vehicle smelled of weed and the size of the paraphernalia was "indicative of a drug dealer" (181 grams of marijuana).   Dubinsky said that Parris was claiming that "the car was purchased with settlement money".

Jamal Parris said this:

"He said, ‘you guys are getting the wrong impression of me.'"

Parris also talked about how he has been accepted to Miami-Dade College and has registered for classes.  Oh yeah, although Parris was in Colorado of the majority of the past year, he still uses his Stockbridge, Georgia address.

SMH, you used your settlement money to stunt, buy weed, get an automatic weapon????  Parris, you are the most decent looking one of the 4 accusers but apparently the most idiotic one of them as well.

Splabuvian behavior, minus -100 points with me because you are as DUMB as Eddie's closeted ass...

The decline of Jefferson County, yet again

As of yesterday (June 18th), Jefferson County placed 547 employees on administrative leave without pay, i.e., they are laid off.  It's another sad chapter in the history of the most populous county in Alabama.  It seems the same character that produced one of the most bigoted pieces of legislation in modern history, has single-handedly blocked any chance of the citizens of Jefferson County any opportunity to vote upon their own future.  Instead of proving a point, he is going to cause his own constituents that reside in unincorporated Jefferson County irreparable harm via lack of basic services following a natural disaster, public protection, or reduction of public nuisances.

It's funny how history repeats itself with this place and why I'm not longer a resident of Alabama or Greater Birmingham.

In related news, Scott Beason, the bastard that is the cause of both the racially bias Alabama immigration law and Jefferson County government's decline, proved that he is also a rabid racist, whom harbors personal animus against blacks, especially the ones that votes and likes to gamble at electronic bingo casinos.  During the federal corruption trial involving a number of current and former Alabama Legislative officials, audio from Beason himself where he called blacks "Aborigines" and said they are so illiterate and ignorant they have to be bussed to the polls and enticed to vote with free food and entertainment.  


It's obvious that asshole doesn't like blacks or other people of color, so the question is will the constituents in Alabama's 

Oh goodie, New Birth is coming to Birmingham, well sorta...

Well, Refiner's House is going to become "New Birth Birmingham".  According to Monday's edition of the Birmingham News, the church housed in the old auto parts building in the Huffman area that was founded in 2001 but located there in 2007 will become affiliated with the embattled New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia in Metro Atlanta.

"We'll no longer be the Refiner's House; we'll be New Birth Birmingham," said Elder Kesia Webb Dailey, a spokesperson for the church. "We'll receive benefits of mentorship, resources, relationships."

Also the church's elder Kesia Webb Dailey said,

"That's our bishop and we love him," Dailey said. "We thank God what transpired is over. We're moving ahead."

Really Kesia?  You don't think the settlement of allegedly $25M with the 4 accusers of sexual coercion of Eddie Long had no effect on your views of him.  That is interesting to say the least, but you make your bed so lay in it, my dear.

Oh yeah, New Birth also wants to open a Denver church as well.  Ironically, where one of the accusers, Jamal Parris, now resides...

(links courtesy of the Birmingham News)

Things I must say aloud that need to be told

Riddle me this, riddle me that, why is it that certain men whom want to be 'closeted' about their lives seem to post pictures on social networking sites like Facebook and/or Twitter on Memorial Day weekend?  I mean if you are a single black males and most people realize you are a ***AHEM*** 'confirmed bachelor' then why would you travel to Miami or Washington, D.C. and then post the pix?  I'm not dumb and some others aren't dumb either people, the widely known skinfest for black SGL men and their admirers was held on the Greater Miami area this past Memorial Day weekend (as it is every Memorial Day holiday for the past 11 years) and also the DC Black Pride was held in Washington.  So...  I mean in the words of Ed Lover, "COME ON, SIR!", we all now know are suspecting that you aren't straight, but you want to play that role then have at it but don't say I didn't warn you all.  I'm not saying, but I'm just saying...

In other things, I see that the GOP side of the 2012 presidential race has turned into an attention whorefest where Sarah "I can see Russia from my backyard" Palin is riding around the Megalopolis corridor beckoning for attention.  This Alaskan heifer wants everyone to pay attention to her simple-minded ass, but yet wants to proclaim she isn't running.  Then why are you traveling up on the down the East Coast in a bus, moron?  I can't stand people whom want attention but then play dumb when they are called out on it.

In Alabama, recall they say, recall?  I don't think so.  However, Alabama State Senator (and well known corrupt politico), Roger Bedford along with Senator Marc Keahey has filed two separate but identical bills in the Alabama Legislature calling for recalls of state politicians.  However, the catch is it is only for state officials not county or municipal level officials.

“The potential for recall elections forces legislators to be more accountable to the people, and diminishes the influence of special interests groups and political party bosses,” Keahey said.

Keahey’s amendment would allow the public to recall an elected official after one year into the elected official’s term of office. To recall an elected official, Keahey’s bill states that voters must file a petition with the Secretary of State. The petition must be signed by a number of voters that equals at least 25 percent of the vote cast in the previous election for the office being recalled. The petition must then be submitted to the Secretary of State within 90 days of the original filing. If the Secretary of State determines that all requirements have been met, a recall vote will be scheduled for the sixth Tuesday following the announcement of the decision.

I knew Bedford especially didn't truly mean to promote reform considering he is the well-known Pork King of the Alabama Legislature.  But I digress, it seems like they have formulated 2 bills hoping it will pass this late in the regular session of the Alabama Legislature, which I know they won't unless a miracle on Goat Hill occurs.  Anyways, that's that.  (h/t to Left in Alabama and the Atmore News for the links).

Clap, Clap, Bravo for Don Lemon!

I gotta give him props where props are due.  CNN weekend anchor, Don Lemon, has revealed in his upcoming autobiography about him being born a homosexual.  It's ironic considering what went down in the past few days in my own personal life.  I went bowling with a friend and a few acquaintances, and during this outing one of the acquaintances, a female and black, decided to say that she didn't "believe in" in homosexuality because of her religion.  I was about to let her have it, but decided to just let her figure out how stupid she sounded considering.

Lemon said:

As a journalist I believe that part of my mission is to shed light onto dark places. So, the disclosure of this information does not inhibit in any way my ability to be the professional, fair and objective journalist I have always been.

There you have it folks, Lemon is speaking the truth that as a journalist you must be honest as well to be able to seek the truth out for the public.  I applaud him for standing up and going against the grain on being himself.  Although there has to be idiots that shown their asses in certain spots of the black blogosphere and forumsphere about his coming out because some people just want to be sanctimonious or apathetic assholes (like some of the members whom are useless pieces of shit like the Lipstick Alley users, Ms.Devine, RightFullyWrong).  

Alright, now

I'm back to posting for this short in-between semester break and will try to continue throughout the summer when possible.  First thing first, my personal life...single again but by choice.  Couldn't deal with the idiot I dated for over a year so it had to cease and desist.  Secondly, I'm doing good academically with a 4.0 graduate-level GPA, so hopefully I'll continue this trend until the end, next year.  Third, what the hell is wrong with some people in south of the Greater Birmingham region in Alabama?  I swear this region is like the abyss for intelligence outside of these college campuses.  I've met 5 people non-affiliated with the university I attend for graduate school, Auburn University, and only 2 of them have shown any ability to hold my attention beyond 5 minutes.  Now I know why people don't deal with this region...

Anyways, on the societal issues.  Yeah, Birmingham (and Tuscaloosa but to me all of it is Birmingham since it's all one urbanized region) got hit hard by the April 27th tornado outbreak.  It turned out the tornado outbreak was quantitatively larger and deadlier than the Super Outbreak of 1974, but it is debated on the strength comparison.  I just know I was in the middle of finals when this outbreak occurred on that now historical Wednesday stuck doing presentations and examinations throughout the day.  It along with the April 16th tornado outbreak in North Carolina has shown Alabama and the world that nature still has plans under its sleeves for our increasingly belligerently ignorant and divisive society.  Raleigh and Birmingham will be dealing with the aftermath of these significant weather phenomena for the next few years.

On politics, I swear the aversive racists have shown their asses literally.  First, President Obama listens and folds to Front Lace Wig aka Donald the Chump over his birth certificate, and there was no merits to the bullshit claims.  Then, he takes out Usama bin Laden and the racists keeps adding flames to the fire by whining about seeing his body.  Then the brigade of assholes on the GOP ticket running for the presidency is laughable from Newt "I'm a whore" Gingrich to Mitch Romney.  The idiocy begins and this time it's racial.

Alright, I'm coming back

I'll be on the road today, but will blog for the first time in 2 months probably tonight or early tomorrow (before hitting the road again).  Gotta visit family in the ravished areas from the April 27th tornado outbreak, so more on what I think and feel about things coming soon...

Will resume blogging after finishing my spring semester

My life has been way too damn busy as of late to the point I barely have time to sleep.  I would like to blog about a number of issues, but papers, research, and work keeps me preoccupied most hours of the day.  So blogging will resume after the spring semester is over in early May.  However, if have a moment to actually compile a post then so be it...

Another proposal to rewrite Alabama's Constitution

This year's proposal to rewrite the Alabama Constitution to remove the racist language, allow counties possess home rule self-governance, ability to legislate local taxation for adequate funds for individual school districts.  Alabama State House Representative Demetrius Newton of Birmingham has proposed a bill calling for a draft rewriting the Alabama Constitution.  However, GOP reps like Paul DeMarco is already deterring this bill instead calling for an article-by-article rewrite of the constitution.

As always, the Republicans and Dixiecrats are the ones calling for an alternative they never put any action behind.  I'm so tired of this bullshit with them and the Alabama Constitution.  It's inherently racist, perpetuates class stratification, and centralizes power in the state capitol ironically in a state where the motto is so individualistic and localized.  However, the state charter does the exact opposite of this encapsulating all authority there in Montgomery with the Alabama Legislature.    

Just when I thought Eddie Long couldn't get anymore ironic

This deeply-closeted bisexual splaboo is now inviting the male members of the dwindling in enrollment church to "late night prayer meetings".  This statement alone is PURE IRONY.  Now what are they going to be "praying" about?  Something tells me that he is trying to recruit more closet cases and "extra discrete" men in the Metro Atlanta area to partake in "extracurricular activities" in the late night hours...

Oh where is a nice hidden camera when it is needed...

The ever-shrinking Birmingham and Jefferson County

The 2010 count of the U.S. Census on the city of Birmingham has been unveiled and it looks like Birmingham, Bessemer, Fairfield, Midfield, and Jefferson County have all decline in population.  It's disheartening that these areas have loss a number of inhabitants since 2000, but the thing is can anyone honestly blame them?  I'm so ambivalent these days about the Greater Birmingham area because it seems to be a region without a singular voice of unison or leadership.  The current mayor, William "the Jackal" Bell is a failure in my eyes because he represents another fixture of the past grasping on to what little power is left in the city amongst some of the ill-informed, socially regressive, and in many ways prejudice citizenry.  Yeah, he has made some strides by attempting to get the Birmingham Baron back to the city from suburban Hoover along with groundbreaking with the Central Station expansion and progress of the Entertainment District @ the BJCC, but there has been little to no progress on any major infrastructural improvements on the area's mass transit system or recapturing the spirit needed to turn around areas on decaying portions of the city.  Birmingham is truly lacking and the effects of that void isn't limited to Birmingham corporate limits.  Other municipalities on the western portion of the metropolitan area are feeling this as well such as Fairfield, Midfield, Adamsville, Graysville, and Bessemer.  Although there isn't any hard numbers for Lipscomb or Brighton, but there in that same pack of economically depressed and downtrodden "suburbs" of Birmingham.  The heavily industrialized suburb of Tarrant (City) has seen a demographic shift from a white majority to a non-white majority.  Others have slid, but because of their increase in non-white populous as well like Center Point.  The one anomaly in the region, Homewood practically remained at the same population as it did a decade ago, so this stasis says something about Homewood that it's too socially ambiguous and densely developed for their liking (it is the most densely populated municipality in Alabama at 3014.7 per square mile).

Meanwhile, the more suburban in nature areas like Hoover, Trussville, Clay, Hueytown, Pleasant Grove, Fultondale, Gardendale, Vestavia Hills, Shelby County, Saint Clair County, Blount County, and Chilton County have all increased by leaps and bounds.  However, most of these new inhabitants are by the vast majority white (see a pattern...).

This all speaks to the notion that a metropolitan form of government will the only thing that will help create the needed unison for the Greater Birmingham area.

Another suspicious house fire, but this time in North Carolina then the incident in Opelika

Another suspected anti-LGBT hate crime in form of arson has occurred but this time in the Triangle.  According to Raleigh-Durham CBS affiliate, WRAL-TV, on February 4th, in suburban Clayton in northern Johnston County, a house fire was reported early morning before dawn.  Luckily, the male couple were out of town, but a neighbor reported that 2 other incidents had occurred there before and were reported.  However, the Johnston County Sheriff's Department said they knew about it but wouldn't comment.

More anti-LGBT oriented incidents seems to be getting reported more often.  I have a feeling this has been occurring for awhile now, but with more technology and vigilant citizen journalism, these incidents 

Also I'll speak on the situation that happened in Opelika.  About 2 weeks ago, Laura Gilbert and her friend, Shelia Siddell, went to a bar in a rural portion of the Lee County (Alabama), where Gilbert was allegedly attacked by 12 people for being a lesbian.  Gilbert mentioned that "I don't think they like my kind there." and was attacked.  Columbus (Georgia) CBS affiliate, WRBL, reported about the story and even did a follow-up. Initially, the incident was seen as a joke or fodder by media across the state like the Mobile Press-Register.  FYI, Alabama doesn't recognize hate crimes involving sexual orientation or gender identity.  Now after so much exposure involving the incident, the Lee County Sheriff's Department is trying to follow up on the crime and apprehend the alleged attackers.  


This doesn't bode well for Alabama's reputation since it already seen as a state doesn't respect people of color, but add to this injury to insult is the lack of respect for LGBTs.  Considering I'm in the area for school at the moment, the area does strike me as aversive to about anything "different' than the norm of the area...

Free wifi and IT training for Birmingham residents

Not a bad idea at all.

WiFi, short for wireless internet, is set to be installed in a couple of places throughout Birmingham particularly in some housing communities.  This initiative is funded by a $500,000 federal grant for designed to bring technology to those who can least afford it.  Also another $75,000 federal grant is to fund training and education of 15-21 year olds in information technology (IT) for certification and other computer science oriented trades.  The city of Birmingham will be distributing the funds and conducting the programs.


Of course the C.A.V.E. (citizens against virtually everything) twats are on the al.com comment section of the story on the Birmingham News site whining and proclaiming another "socialist agenda".  Of course, as usual you know most of these "commenters" are white Republican suburbanites or exurbanites that are the first to talk negative about an urban area yet will be the first to cheer for their own social welfare programs conducted by their local governments.  However, the morons fail to realize this is a form of economic development for the city of Birmingham and the region as a whole since it provides a trade for youths seeking a career in information technology. 


(h/t to the Birmingham News for the links)

Some urban planning and development stuff to chew on

OK, who thought it was A'OK for the municipality of Hoover to propose an ideal to convert the former 3-level Macy's at Riverchase Galleria mall into a convention/events center with stage theater?  The project is now on hold, but they wanted to turn the 285,000 square foot space into a public space.

Here's the pros and cons of the project according to Hoover municipal officials:

• -- The Galleria is one of the largest malls in the state/region and has helped enhance recognition of Hoover.
• -- There is a relatively large number of restaurants and retail businesses surrounding the mall and throughout the city.
• -- There's a perception of safety and convenience with parking and accessibility.
• -- Relative to its size, Hoover offers a large number of hotels.
Weaknesses included:
• -- Hoover has a limited perception as a convention destination, and the city is viewed by some non-locals as a "suburb with a big mall."
• -- The city lacks a traditional downtown and/or central business district with a density of visitor amenities and entertainment options.
• -- There are a number of potentially competitive event venues in the greater local marketplace.
• -- The city is inland, versus on a coast.

Last time I remember, Hoover is the middle of the socially and fiscally conservative territory, where "socialist" initiatives like that to a minimum or non-existent (remember how you guys didn't even want a measly bus line in your community?).  Now they want to overstep on partial owners General Growth Properties and Jim Wilson to turn their largest vacant space in their shopping center into a "public entity"?  Now the GGP and Jim Wilson  is very actively pursuing finding a replacement for the space that was to become a Nordstrom but thanks to GGP screw up it failed.  LOL  Hoover, you guys kill me because your community has low-range to mid-range hotels aside from the Wynfrey Hotel at Riverchase itself, and that is 1 upper-tier hotel.  Then there is the lack of downtown or central portion of the community to designate as a "downtown".  You are a suburb of Birmingham and that is all Hoover will ever be because its development patterns are incompatible with "hub status" of the region.

My alma mater, the University of Alabama at Birmingham aka UAB, has finally made up their minds on the design and scope of what they are going to place on the corner of 10th Avenue South & 13th Street South.  It's going to become a visual arts center with classrooms, essentially replacing the nearly 40-year-old George Wallace Humanities Building on the 13th Street of the UAB campus.  At the moment, the corner is a parking lot for the engineering buildings and Alys Stephens Center for the Performing Arts, home of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.  Also UAB, has committed to finally placing an on-campus stadium for the UAB Blazers football and soccer teams at 6th Avenue South and 12th Street South.  It will seat 25,000 to 30,000 and will have a large plaza adjacent to the stadium for tailgating.  The stadium is a part of a measure will be presented to the University of Alabama system trustees for approval soon.  The new master plan  also calls for new access roads lining Interstate 65, a new science complex on University Boulevard and 18th Street South, and the eventual elimination of much of the street parking on campus, which would be replaced by parking decks.  Score 2 for UAB and its decision to make some major moves and attempting to produce more dense and coherent development flowing with the urban core of Birmingham this past week.