Thereby ensuring the anti-evolution idiot vote

al.com: NewsFlash - Former Gov. James endorses Moore for Alabama governor

Wait, he already had that one. Oh, well.

That's a lot

Merger could cost 3,700 jobs

I was thinking maybe 1,200. Of course, this is an overall figure, not just for Birmingham. But the largest number of those jobs will be in Alabama. Hooray for mergers!

And yet Scrushy walks free

Enron Executives Guilty on Most Counts - Los Angeles Times

It's really embarrassing for Texas to be tougher on its rogue executives than we are. Lay used the Scrushy defense to the letter, and yet he's going to jail.

The ELT in the WP

Forget Politics. This Battle Is Personal.

Jeff Sessions, the Evil Little Troll, and his racist rantings, are highlighted in the Washington Post. He's just insane about this immigration bill, which is a bad bill for almost the exact opposite of the reasons that he claims it is. I repeat: The US Senate is the dumbest national legislative body in the world, and Jeff Sessions is its dumbest member.

(Via Alablawg.)

Well, yeah

Prosecution says governor strove to help lobbyist

I mean, we know they say that -- that's why he's charged with a crime. I don't really have anything profound to say, I just love these headlines that convey no new information.

If I wanted to bank at Regions I'd bank at Regions

Regions, AmSouth to merge

Big news -- not as worthy of screaming headlines as Taylor winning the talent show, but big news nonetheless -- as Alabama's two largest remaining banks are merging. It was expected that AmSouth or Regions would be a tempting takeover target for one of the outside big boys, especially since SouthTrust was bought by the ridiculously named Wachovia, but apparently they decided to join together instead.

Though it's labeled a merger of equals, it appears that Regions will be up top, with its name for the larger company and its CEO in the senior position. Do I need new checks?

It's going to lead to massive job cuts, especially in Birmingham. Their offices are in buildings downtown across the street from each other; a lot of the people in those buildings are going to get laid off. And a lot of their branches are in similar proximity and will close.

So this is it, we're going to die

Effect Measure: Indonesia: probably H2H2H

A report from WHO of human-to-human-to-human transmission of H5N1 (aka "bird flu" -- a misnomer, as is "avian influenza", as all strains of influenza are essentially bird viruses). This is very very bad. H5N1 isn't that virulent -- yet -- but it's getting there. We're coming close to a pandemic strain. I've been reading about the 1918 epidemic recently, and am convinced that it was the greatest disaster (not counting wars, though separating its effects from the First World War is difficult at times) in American history. In a much more urbanized and mobile population like today, it could be far worse, and by the time we know that a major outbreak is underway in southeast Asia it will be too late, because carriers will already be here.

Evil and eviller

Sessions raps Alfa on immigration

Jeff Sessions, who is trying to make a name for himself by taking up a position on immigration far to the right, far more irrational, and far more hatred-informed than the rest of the Republican party, feels that ALFA is too friendly to illegal immigrants. ALFA, for its part, likes illegal immigrants because they're easy to exploit and you just can't abuse American citizens like you used to. Basically, it's a battle between scum and slime.

Bizarre obsession continues

al.com - Everything Alabama

The top story on the website for three of the state's largest papers is: "Simon throws support to Taylor in 'Idol' finals". Not the upcoming election, or the major hotel development on Southside of Birmingham, or the former governor on trial, or the continuing racist shenanigans of our junior US Senator, or anything else. It's the judgment of a talent show judge.

I missed this

24 apply to fill Thomas' position

David "I didn't mean to run over a student" Thomas has been impeached and removed from the Mobile school board for his purchase with school funds of over $9000 of Mardi Gras "throws". (Normally these are beads or moon pies, so it's a lot of throws, even retail.) 24 people have applied for his position, which pays $12,000 a year.

Their bloodthirst shall not be slaked

Candidates favor sentencing changes, capital punishment

There is one thing all the gubernatorial candidates agree on -- vote for Taylor! Sorry, they all agree that we need to keep killing people. Because capital punishment works so well, I guess.

Roy Moore actually has some good things to say about sentencing guidelines and abuse of the process by judges and prosecutors, and comes out in favor of alternative sentencing for drug offenders. Of course, he couches it in some of his usual anti-Federal court language.

This is what those LA people were talking about

al.com - Everything Alabama

AL.com: all Taylor Hicks, all the time. This is the website of three of the four largest newspapers in the state. It's two weeks before the primaries, there are contested gubernatorial races in both major parties, and one of the candidates, a former governor, is on trial, and yet the front page is mostly given over to a talent show contestant.



Update: I mean, this is what's up at top on the site. Not a little sidebar, it's the equivalent of a screaming headline.

TAYLORMANIA

Showdown: Taylor vs. Katharine
	Here are 10 reasons each of this year's American Idol finalists should win on Wednesday. » More
	Blogs • Taylor Watch • Idol Thoughts • Taylor's Biggest Fan • Birmingham News Scene More American Idol	Photos • Taylor's apartment • Birmingham visit Video • Fans root for Taylor • Taylor in Linn Park

At least it works

Okay, because of the spammers, it's now 2001 again and I have gone back to using Blogger. The good news is that comments are enabled. The bad news is that my archives aren't transferable, that I have no categories, and that I have to use word verification to keep down the spammers.

I must go now; it will soon be dark and I am all out of whale oil. Tomorrow, I will venture to the trading post and attempt to exchange raw ore for oil, linen, and flour. I must depart early to return before dark, lest the wolves devour me.

I was born in a small town

calendarlive.com: TELEVISION - 'McPheever' is tepid in blase L.A.

Apparently, Birmingham, AL (metro population: 1,082,193 as of July 2004) is a "small town". I did not know that. I'll admit that the area's insane infatuation with a televised talent show is pretty embarrassing.