The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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The late Robert Schuller noted that the way we treat the English language is terrible. We say, for example, “This is the worst thing that could ever happen,” or “I’ll never get over this.” Most of us have said this at some point, and, most often, after dreadful things have happened. We probably believed the truth of our immediate response, though in retrospection would admit neither is true. But we continue to misuse words. I read someone lately who cited another misuse; namely when we say to...
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 2, 2024 – A resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) in honor of Willie Mays' life and enduring legacy passed the Senate yesterday by unanimous consent. Mays was born in Westfield, Alabama, and he spent most of his career with the San Francisco Giants. The resolution concludes, "Willie Mays personified the American Dream by relying on his relentless work ethic and d...
An Englishman named Joseph Priestley made a discovery 250 years ago that marked the beginning of modern chemistry and continues to have important ramifications today. His remarkable find was, in a word: Unlike inventions, which create something new, discoveries acknowledge something that already exists and quantify it to explain its significance. Of course, oxygen has always existed, and its utility to human life is completely independent of the need for explanation. We know exactly what it is,...
Friday, March 2, 2024 Washington D.C. the Pentagon announced on Thursday that it has reached a plea agreement with Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawasawi who planned the September 11, 2001 attack that killed thousands of Americans in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-Saks), the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, demanded answers from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on the plea agr...
Whether you're a country music fan or not, nearly everyone has heard of the icons of the genre: Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Johnny Cash, to name a few. But what about Deana Carter? Or Jamey Johnson? Sometimes, artists who once appeared to be on the cusp of country music greatness lose that momentum in the highly competitive industry, only to become dreaded one-hit wonders. Take the duo The Wreckers, for example. They released their hit "Leave the Pieces" in 2006, only to unexpectedly break u...
As he prepared recently to sign a bill requiring public schools, colleges and universities to display a state-approved version of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry made it clear he was spoiling for a fight. "I can't wait to be sued," he told attendees at a GOP fundraiser. The 74 reports that within days, nine families with children in Louisiana schools delivered. Represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church & State and...
August 5, 2024, Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-Selma) announced that the City of Birmingham has been awarded approximately $20 million by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) in hopes that it will create pathways to connect Northwest Birmingham residents to good jobs. U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) today celebrated the $20 million grant. The funding will be utilized to invest in economically distressed communities and connect Alabamians with good jobs....
When summer starts with a stifling heat wave, as many places are seeing in 2024, it can pose risks for just about anyone who spends time outside, whether they're runners, people who walk or cycle to work, outdoor workers or kids playing sports. Writing for The Conversation, Susan Yeargin, an associate professor of athletic training at the University of South Carolina and an expert on heat-related illnesses, explains what everyone should think about before spending time outside in a heat wave...
August 2, 2024 Montgomery, Ala – Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall (R) joined Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody (R) and 18 other attorneys general in opposition to the Biden-Harris administration's claim that state laws preventing de-banking are a "national security threat." Attorney General Moody and the coalition claim this is just another attempt to stoke confusion about state laws to advance extreme activist agendas. "Never in my life did I think that I would see a day in the U...
August 3, 2024 - on Friday, U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) and Katie Britt (R-Alabama) joined U.S. Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and 45 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the Biden-Harris administration protesting its partial arms embargo against Israel. The senators urged the White House to stop kowtowing to Iran, stop jeopardizing the lives of American servicemembers, and to deliver the necessary weapons systems to Israel. "While your administration delays, Hamas...
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will host public meetings in Florence, Nashville and online in August 2024 to discuss a pilot project designed to manage and prevent the spread of invasive carp within the Tennessee and Cumberland river basins and the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway. During the meetings, state and local officials and USACE representatives will be available to take questions about the proposed invasive carp deterrent projects. Alabama anglers, boaters and local residents are...
One of Alabama's most popular paddling destinations recently received a significant upgrade. State and local officials celebrated the opening of the renovated Garden City River Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 24. The renovations were made possible by a settlement against Tyson Farms for a wastewater spill into the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River. The spill occurred in 2019 at Tyson Farms' River Valley chicken processing plant in Hanceville when a pipe/hose failed and dumped...
The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) will temporarily close Washington County Public Fishing Lake in southwest Alabama after the discovery of an invasive aquatic plant – giant salvinia – in the lake. The lake will be closed starting August 5, 2024. One of the most aggressive aquatic plants, giant salvinia is a fast-growing invasive species that has the potential to double in size every two to four days. The...
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AUG. 5, 2024) – Dr. Sukanya Chakrabarti at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) has won a $750,000 Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) award to support STROBE-X, a planned $1 billion probe-class NASA observatory that aims to unlock the secrets of some of the most extreme conditions in the universe. The researcher will be collaborating with an international team of scientists, including researchers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (...
Washington, D.C., August 1, 2024 – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) released the following statement after voting against Senator Chuck Schumer's (D-New York) attempt to rush a tax package through the Senate that most Republicans viewed as being flawed. "I support several provisions in the tax package, including restoring full expensing of the research and development tax credit and the goal of supporting children and their families," said Sen. Britt. "However, I cannot support ramming t...
The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures the attention of Americans starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities' Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of that journey. Whether you're a working actor or an aspiring one, you might be curious to know which movies and TV shows are casting roles near you. Backstage compiled a...
Trine Krebs is sometimes called "the leek woman," or even Miss Dry-Legume, of Denmark. The 48-year-old has for decades traveled around the country as, in her words, a "food inspirer," proselytizing about all things vegetables. "It's very important to have locally grown food," says Krebs, who has a 12-hectare farm replete with 50 different vegetables on the outskirts of Copenhagen. "It's something that I'm concerned about; what is seen in our landscapes." So when, in October 2023, the Danish gove...
I have to wonder who the GOP strategists are. Where is Karl Rove when Republicans need him? Would the late Lee Atwater take this route? The GOP are shooting themselves in the foot right now, the news networks are abuzz with GOP leader’s claims that Vice President Harris is the DEI choice. Trump did not do them any favors today with his comments at the Black Journalist Conference. By now, everyone has either read or listened to his words, so draw your own conclusions. Why did he go on there? A...
The latest Census estimate shows that the City of Birmingham's population has continued to fall. The Census estimates that the current Birmingham population is down to just 195,400. This is down from 196,644 in 2023 and down from the 2020 Census count of 200,733. This decline is part of a long-term trend that has affected "the Magic City" since the middle of the 20th century. In 1960 Birmingham had 340,887 residents. It was the largest city in the state of Alabama (by far) and the 36th largest...
The rain in our area has been relentless. This coming week will be the first week in several where there is hardly any rain predicted. Everyone here is praying for the possibility of sunny days with temperatures to be in the 90’s. Yes, you read that right. We are praying for sunny days and sweltering humidity with highs in the mid 90’s. It’s funny how that works. Just a few weeks ago, I saw a sign on a church marquee that implored us to pray for rain. Now, if I were to go back by that churc...
In an era where the cultural fabric of our nation is more fragile than ever, the contrast between the campaigns of Donald J. Trump and Kamala Harris is as stark as day and night. It' a distinction that speaks volumes about the values, vision, and moral compass guiding these two candidates for President. If you need to understand the heart of their campaigns, look no further than the artists they feature at their rallies. Donald J. Trump, a man who consistently champions the principles that made...
All men are born with the genetic knowledge and desire to cook meat over fire. It springs from the gender unconscious and forms a large part of the archetypal zeitgeist of what it is to be a Man. Every Grill Master has his own special techniques, tips and tricks. To help you win the Grill Wars by producing the perfect steak this summer, here are a few of mine. The grill: I've used a lot of grills, and nothing works better for all-around use than an old-school charcoal grill. Yes, it's more...
On Tuesday, multiple news outlets are reporting that presumptive Democratic nominee for President of the United States sitting Vice President Kamala D. Harris has chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Waltz's choice ends a whirlwind two weeks between President Joseph R. Biden (D) ending his campaign to be the Democratic nominee. Minnesota has not been won by a Republican since 1972; but a number of polls have shown that the state is in play for former President Donald J. Trump...
In an era of cupcake wars, crazy creations from cake bosses, and never-ending experimental combinations—think cronuts, brookies, or PieCaken—you might wonder whether the only desserts that matter these days are ones that go viral on social media. But the idea of eating sweets dates back to ancient times and is linked to many culinary practices, like the Romans and Greeks partaking in honey-drizzled pastries. Then, there's the aristocrats' influence of eating sweets after a meal and medieval nob...
In an age when Disney Princesses ranging from the classics such as "Snow White" and "Cinderella" to newer ones such as "Tiana" to "Merida" are incredibly popular and idolized by millions; in "The Princess Bellaheld" by Julie Sutter we are introduced to the true story of a real life princess who turns seventeen in AD 703. The daughter of Irish missionaries of the Culdean Church to the German principality of Thuringia, Bellaheld is nevertheless of noble stock on her father's side. But, she is...
